This event will be followed by Pichakaaree Sunday on March 19 and 12 contestants will compete for the Pichakaaree Champion title starting at 2.30 pm.

Holika Dahan at the kendra has taken on a unique form and has turned the stage where, instead of burning the traditional holika bonfire, “burning issues” of global, national and community significance are addressed.

This year’s drama will be a shortened in order to explore the various genres of Phagwa songs in the Hori experience.

A variety of music will come from Smt Purwa Joshi of Mumbai, India; Pandit Rana Mohip and Shri Prashant Patasar. The event will focus on hori and chaithi of India by Joshi and the local genres by Mohip. The event is geared to enlighten local musicians on the wide range of Phagwa music.

Local ethno music scholar and sitarist Dr Sharda Patasar will deliver an address on hori – words, sounds and songs.

The Kendra Phagwa festival’s theme titled “Home First” is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the end of indentureship.

The journey will take hikers to some well known and some not so well known spots, as hikers seek to sample the various water delights.

This will be mainly a river hike and life jackets will be provided.

Rate: Moderate to moderately challenging Duration: 1 hour and 30 mins one-way Assembly Point: Sherwin Williams car park, O’Meara Rd, Arima Assembly Time: 7.30 am.

For mor info: hikersinctt@gmail.com

A statement from the Arima Borough Corporation said the reopening follows a meeting on March 10 between Mayor Lisa Morris-Julian, Deputy Mayor Cagney Casimire, Chairman of the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) Edwin Gooding and PTSC General Manager Ronald Forde. During the meeting, Morris-Julian expressed concern that senior citizens currently have no seating accommodation at the lay-by. She was assured by the PTSC officials that the concern will soon be addressed.

Morris-Julian also suggested placing a large bus hub in Arima at the unused transport facility which is located by the Priority Bus Route (close to Arima’s Licensing Office).

The suggested hub is to be called Borough Gate and is part of the Arima Borough Council’s vision for 2016- 2019.

Morris-Julian, according to the statement, said the transportation needs of the borough have far surpassed existing structures.

The fleet of taxis for areas such as Cumuto, Brazil and La Horquetta has outgrown the space available at the respective taxi stands in Arima and the proposed bus hub will, therefore, house these taxi stands in similar fashion to City Gate.

Responding to a question in the Senate, Gopee-Scoon said that equipment is 25 years old but she has been advised that the problem which caused a breakdown in rice processing has been rectified.

She said this was important in terms of placing more locally produced rice in supermarkets and reducing the importation of foreign parboiled rice.

Gopee-Scoon also said NFM is in the process of evaluating certain proposals and this exercise should be completed in June.

The minister said this would not affect arrangements between the company and rice farmers. On reports of the closure of some senior citizens activity centres, Gopee-Scoon said two were closed because of “poor management practices.” She said the Social Development Ministry is undertaking a review of the operations of the remaining centres. Gopee- Scoon stated this review would be completed by mid-April and a note would be sent to Cabinet.

Responding to a question in the Senate on Tuesday, Sinanan said, “We have been assured that the police and the army will be deployed to get the job done.” The minister said this is not a new phenomenon and it has been happening in different parts of the country.

Sinanan said his ministry is, “determined to ensure that this practice is stamped out.” Later in the sitting, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said protocols for the deportation of TT citizens from the United States who have criminal records, have been in place since 2000. He indicated that while there is no evidence of an increase in criminal deportees from the US to TT under the Trump Administration, the ministry will re-assess staffing arrangements should such an increase occur.

At a news conference at the OPM in St Clair, Young said the ministry has advised against an acquisition of the plant by the Government. He also explained that the investors, who the Steel Workers Union have asked Government to partner with, lack the experience needed for the venture.

Young said Government communicated with the union on several occasions, indicating that it could not intervene in this matter as the steel company is under the control of a liquidator. In the Senate on Tuesday, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus said Government was awaiting legal advice on this matter. The plant was closed last year.

The strategy announced to do so however, raised more questions than answers, when the Tourism Minister announced the plan to dissolve the Tourism Development Company (TDC) and create two separate entities. The 150 employees will be asked to reapply for jobs in these new entities; this is the part that raised more questions than answers.

Now keep in mind, that in an ongoing entity, the company has a duty to pay laid off workers, severance and other benefits. A dissolving entity may not necessarily have to pay such benefits to employees unless there is something like a successor agreement. These workers can therefore be out of jobs with little or no buffer or support.

I read the claims of the President of the representing Communications Workers’ Union (CWU), that this was a decision made after “startling revelations.” I personally think that the claims reported were a bit far-fetched, that such a huge decision would be purely based on the single item of award of contract at the Maracas Bay Project. Until evidence is provided, I intend to treat that idea as mere speculation and press ahead.

The decision to abruptly but not immediately dissolve TDC as they are sorting out the legal arrangements makes me consider the following:

• As an HR/IR Consultant the first pressing question and concern would be “people” issues. Would government use the same approach as with the TIDCO decision, where the TDC was considered its successor Company and employees were able to their carry over benefits? Would the current TDC staff be allowed to do the same? How would they treat with workers with ten years plus industry skills though they have been on a revolving employment contract?

• Given that no further explanation has been forthcoming about the reason, it begs to question the abruptness of such a decision with deep and far-reaching implications to economic and social consequences. The point was made by the Minister that this was necessary to give the THA autonomy to market its destination. If this is a move to grant the THA the much-desired autonomy, then why not just set up a separate or new entity for Tobago or just simply change the current structure internally to achieve that end?

• An assumption may be that after auditing the company it was revealed that its current business model, and talent needs are obsolete? Was there ever an evaluation to ensure skills match roles and responsibilities in line with industry norms? Were there not occurrences of constant adaptation within the company? Even if the company has become obsolete why not embark on restructuring, as the employees are contracted, giving the company a little more flexibility to reorganise itself.

• This leaves me to wonder if this is the most efficient strategic decision, for tax money to be spent? Even considering whatever point TDC is at in its current stage of its business lifecycle, is dissolution more effective than restructuring? What are the political risks involved? If it appears that the Ministry is appointing its own people without having to pay severance or other benefits without full accountability to the people, there can be a political price to pay.

• What will happen to those “unsuitable” candidates? Will they be given the opportunity to be absolved in other State companies’ vacant and suitable positions, or the public service? Will the Government be responsible for callously changing the variation of our productive work-force, when people are sent home and especially when they cannot receive benefits? To think that they can easily or will find another job in this time is not being realistic as we know our current realities. While there is a flow of people moving around the job market, it may not necessarily be new entrants but industry cycle. It is possible that employees are moving from company to company without many new entrants filling positons.

I now look on intently to see how government treat this situation as this affects 150 families, (not persons), their standard of living and psychological circumstances.

“I was the ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) in that station district for about two years.

So I know the extent of work that she would have been carrying out.” Jennings-Smith said senior officers from the Morvant Station had praised Joseph as a very hard-working officer. “The policing job is a most dangerous one. It is something that when you go to work, you don’t know if you’ll return home.

While police officers did not locate the missing officer, they again came across quantities of illicit drugs as was the case on Monday, when officers who were searching a mangrove in the Sea Lots area, came across 21 packets of compressed marijuana. Yesterday at 2 pm, officers in Sea Lots arrested four men and seized a kilo of compressed marijuana.

The men were taken to the Central Police Station where they were later charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. They are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate today.

As curious residents looked on, while police with sniffer dogs combed the area, under the glare of media personnel, some said that after five consecutive days of futile searches, it was time for the police to search areas outside of Sea Lots for WPC Joseph.

“She ent here. It’s time for the police to search elsewhere,” a resident said.

“That man has a car.

If he did kill her, I think he would have dumped her body somewhere far,” said another resident alluding to the fact that a man from Sea Lots, who was intimately involved with WPC Joseph, remains in police custody.

Joseph, 22, of Marie Road in Morvant, was last seen alive last Thursday in the company of a 32-year-old male companion who remains in police custody.

She is feared dead based on reports that the man confided to Sea Lots residents that he had killed and buried WPC Joseph in a shallow grave in the area. The search continues.

Playing at home, Hillview would have been eager for a win to seal the crown as second placed Fatima were only four points behind. However, Hillview would have won the title with a loss yesterday as Fatima fell by six wickets to Naparima.

Hillview did not take any chances wrapping up a comfortable win to seal the title which the school last won in 2013. Bowling first, Hillview dismissed Shiva Boys for a modest 96 in 35.3 overs with national youth cricketer Nathaniel McDavid finishing with brilliant figures of five wickets for six runs in 7.3 overs.

Hillview captain Dexter Sween snatched 2/19 in six overs, while Rajiv Gosine (24) and Damien Singh (23) were the top scorers for Shiva Boys.

In reply Hillview got off to a shaky start, but national youth cricketer Leonardo Julien and Sween steadied the innings. Julien finished 26 not out, while Sween pitched in with an unbeaten 20 to bring joy to the Hillview supporters which included students and the principal Leslie Mahase. After sealing the title Hillview coach Richard Kelly said, “It feels great (to win the title). Kudos to all the players over the years. This year we had an excellent team but we did not underestimate the opposition.

We played hard cricket and thanks to God and all the support from the principal, teachers, students and all the parents.” Kelly said the plan is to win the Intercol T20 title later this season.

“That is our plan (to win the T20 tournament), only God could decide whether we are going to make it or not.” Sween was elated that Hillview achieved their goal. Sween said, “First I would like to say thank God to the Almighty, without him nothing is possible. At the start of the season we had a goal to win the title and it is nice to see us fullfil it.” Sween was thankful that his brother Dwayne Bravo and other members of his family were in attendance yesterday to motivate him.

The Hillview captain said defeating defending champions Fatima in round five was crucial to the team’s success. “It was very important (to our success), because we were first and second on the table (at the time). I have a lot of friends in Fatima so the rivalry was high.” Shiva Boys and Trinity East will be demoted to the championship division next season after ending the premiership season as the bottom two teams. Signal Hill and St Benedict’s earned promotion to the premiership.

Summarised scores – FATIMA 68 (24.3 overs) – Jean Paul Rocke 26 not out; Clevon Kalawan 4/15, Jevon George 3/11, Ryan Bandoo 2/6) vs NAPARIMA 69/4 (15 overs) – Cephas Cooper 22, Justyn Gangoo 17, Kyle Roopchan 16 not out, Giovanni Letren 2/24).

Naparima won by six wickets.

PRESENTATION CHAGUANAS 176 (42 overs) – Matthew Patrick 59, Aneil Pitiram 39, Vishal Roopnarine 3/26, Stephon Katwaroo 3/18 vs BARRACKPORE WEST 180/5 (34.4 overs) – S Katwaroo 51, Renee Jangeesingh 48; Emilo Gopaul 3/35. Barrackpore West won by five wickets.

SHIVA BOYS 96 (35.3 overs) – Rajiv Gosine 24, Damien Singh 23; Nathaniel McDavid 5/6, Dexter Sween 2/19 vs HILLVIEW 97/3 (15.1 overs) – Leonardo Julien 26 not out, D Sween 20. Hillview won by seven wickets.

CARAPICHAIMA EAST 250 – James Duncan 103, Akeil Antoine 58 vs TRINITY EAST 163 – Tevon Jadoo 67. Carapichaima East won by 87 runs.