We need to find another planet to live on otherwise the human race will be extinct. Apparently the two main offenders which are destroying earth are oil and its byproduct of plastic. Petrol and diesel expelled from the exhausts of vehicles are causing many respiratory diseases and these forms of illnesses are growing at an alarming rate throughout the world, especially in congested towns and cities.There is now an alarming amount of plastic drifting in the oceans all over the world many in the form of bottles , other utensils and plastic granules which are also now found on many beaches even in uninhabited areas of the Pacific ocean.

A large quantity of the plastic is broken down into minute bits which are absorbed by fish ,birds,and turtles.

Many of these animals, including whales, die of starvation as they have absorbed so much plastic that there is no room left in their stomachs to gather any wholesome food.

These affected animals soon die and if caught are in many cases entering the human food chain. It is now predicted that human being will start dying at a younger age . It is perhaps too late to stop the what is likely to happen to the human race in the near future.

GA Marques via email

• Medical treatment – May include diagnostic testing, doctor’s visits and medication. Do you have insurance and would it cover this?

• Reduced productivity – If an individual is unwell, this reduces his/ her ability to perform at maximum potential. What would this do to the efficiency of your business operations?

• Poor worker turnout – Depending on the severity of symptoms, there may be an increase in absenteeism and sick leave application. Can your business survive without an adequate workforce? Structural and Contents Damage The ability of mold to grow indoors depends on the availability of moisture and a suitable food source. Water is the most critical factor that allows mold to grow and spread. In the indoor environment, moisture can come from a variety of sources such as wind driven rain, rising flood waters, high humidity leading to condensation, dripping air-condition units, plumbing leaks, overflowing toilets, clothes dryers that are not vented outside, cooking without using a range hood or cover, and steaming of clothes and other fabrics (eg carpet cleaning).

Mold is natural decomposers, they can feed on virtually anything that is organic eg food items, dust build up, ceiling tiles, gypsum, fabric, leather, wood, paper, and cardboard.

This means that once conditions are favourable mold can grow not only in our homes and workplaces, but on the items within it as well.

There are several financial costs associated with mold growth in a building. The cost of mold remediation varies widely, depending on numerous factors:

• The size of the area affected by mold,

• Whether or not there is mold in the air-conditioning system (duct inspection and cleaning may be required),

• Whether or not moldy materials can be cleaned or must be removed, safely disposed of, and replaced. Usually organic and porous items (eg paperbased items, ceiling tiles, gypsum, leather, fabric and wood) cannot be remediated sufficiently and may require disposal and replacement.

• Whether or not mold developed after flooding with water that may have been contaminated with sewage or other hazardous substances.

Other hidden costs may include:

• Insurance claims (Home Owners and Business Owners),

• Hiring of professionals and consultants in the field of Indoor Air Quality and Mold Remediation,

• Relocation of items as well as persons until completion of works,

• Closure of business to facilitate remediation works,

• Post Remediation Verification testing to determine if actions were effective and mold has been removed satisfactorily.

It is estimated that a simple mold removal job may cost as little as US$500 while a larger, more complicated job may cost upward of US$30,000. Is this something that you as a home or business owner can afford at this time?

The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute is the leading experts locally and regionally in the field of Indoor Air Quality and Mold Assessments. Its team of Certified Mold Consultants and Investigators offer a wide range of services that can help prevent or correct mold growth in homes and places of work. Contact CARIRI’s Environmental Microbiology Laboratory for more information at emicro@cariri.com or 285- 5050 ext 3504, 3509 or 3512.

Only recently, the world watched in horror as Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the southwest region of the United States. Then, as the full devastating effects became apparent, rescue operations kicked in. While not without its controversies owing to the sheer scale of the crisis, response eff orts in the face of Hurricane Harvey could off er us a few lessons.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. Incidentally, the US was not the only country severely affected within recent times; sadly, the same is true for Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa, and countries in Southeast Asia.

Changing weather patterns, coastal erosion, the destruction of reefs and natural habitats, and other environmental impacts are our realities. These are likely to become more pronounced as the years wear on, with dire consequences for island state populations such as ours.

Climate disruption is likely to cause more intense disasters and even new types. Consider heat waves and drought, salt water intrusion into fresh groundwater, increased rainfall and more powerful weather patterns… the list seems endless and very daunting, to say the least.

To make bad matters worse, indiscriminate human behaviour can worsen the negative effects of a disaster such as heavy flooding. Time and again, we have been urged to practice responsible waste disposal routines. Yet we ignore these calls and continue to use watercourses, pavements and abandoned lots as garbage dumps.

Our general apathy and dismissive attitude towards impending crises has now become quite expected. But local and global realities demand that we treat with every threat as a serious possibility.

Evacuation plans for our capital do in fact exist, but are citizens sufficiently educated about what to do in case of an emergency? Are plans in place for our other main city centres? Have we sought to close the gap on our emergency response times? Are our first responders fully resourced and well equipped? Are we consistently building resilience and capacity within our communities? In April last year, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago joined one 174 other nations in signing the Paris Climate Change Agreement at the Headquarters of the United Nations. This signalled our country’s commitment to adopt ng measures to address climate change through sustainable and targeted domestic policies. It would be good to know what further steps have been taken, to draw us closer to our objectives for the benefit of present and future generations.

While we seem to be moving rather sluggishly, yet another Hurricane – Irma – appears to be rapidly intensifying, in the northern Caribbean at the ti me of writi ng. Our only hope is that that our region and further afifi eld will be spared any serious damage.

They are among the nearly 10,000 employees in the United States (US) who are working to get operations back to normal.

This was the September 5 response of Shell Trinidad Limited to questions posed by Business Day about the impact of Harvey on its operations.

“We have all seen the devastating effects that Category 4 Hurricane Harvey had on the city of Houston. Our employees and operations in Houston have also been impacted, in fact, nearly half of our 20,000 employees in the US are now dealing with Harvey-related impacts in varying levels of severity.” “This number also includes five Houstonbased Trinidad and Tobago nationals who are all safe. The safety of our employees remains our number one priority and we have activated several support programmes for impacted staff, including temporary living supplement and nonurgent medical guidance and support.” Shell Trinidad said its US office has made donations to several agencies, including a US $1 million donation to the American Red Cross and a $250,000 donation to the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast.

The company has also activated the Shell Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) which is a stand-alone programme through which Shell employees and pensioners can make credit card donations to organisations supporting disaster relief efforts and have those donations matched by Shell on a 2:1 ratio.

Hurricane Harvey may have been downgraded to a tropical storm but by the time the slow moving, powerful weather system made landfall, refineries owned by Shell and ExxonMobil; among others, had been shut down.

According to S&P Global Platts, this removed 2.2 million barrels per day of capacity.

In addition, oil production was suspended at wells in the Eagle Ford shales and at offshore platforms.

Getting refineries, platforms and wells back to full operating capacity takes time.

Business Day asked if this and damage caused by Harvey might have an impact on operations in Trinidad and Tobago (TT).

Vice president of Shell and country chair of Shell Trinidad Limited, Derek Hudson, said, “While our TT operations are not directly impacted, our Houston business is an important part of our global portfolio and we are in contact with our colleagues to offer moral, emotional and other support to them.” “As a company, we have a lot of experience with gulf coast weather events and well-grooved processes in place to manage the phased approach to bringing our business fully back online. Caring for our people negatively impacted by Hurricane Harvey remains our top priority,” Hudson assured.

Regarding the expected time frame in which its Houston operations are expected to return to normal, Shell said, “The safety of our people and the environment are top concerns and we are taking a safe, systematic, phased approach to bring the facility back online.” As such, the company’s Houston offices were expected to open on Tuesday (September 5) for essential staff.” In terms of employees whose homes may have been damaged or destroyed during Harvey, Shell told Business Day that because its employees, “like all Houstonians, were impacted differently, this is being managed according to individual circumstances.” Asked if it would have to bear the cost of these home repairs, whether in part or full, Shell said it is working with impacted employees to “facilitate their return to normalcy as soon as possible.” Shell has therefore established a support system for its employees, which includes access to interest-free loans “to assist in the recovery process.” While travel to and from Houston was delayed by Harvey’s passage, Shell said it has no reports of any employees being stuck in either Houston or Trinidad at that time.

Asked if it is considering transferring staff to TT until operations in Houston are back to normal, Shell told Business Day this would not be necessary.

“Our Houston office is efficiently managing this process. The safety of our employees is our number one priority and many who are able to, have been working remotely.” Shell then reiterated that its Houston offices would re-open this past Tuesday “with essential staff.” The company explained that “superstars” can vary from one Shell business to another, depending on an individual’s role and responsibilities.

Business Day also asked if Shell is importing oil from its other refineries to make up for the shortfall out of Houston while its Deer Park Refinery is closed.

Emphasising the importance of safety once again, Shell replied, “Our goal is to ensure a safe, reliable supply of Shell-branded gasoline in every market we serve.” “In the aftermath of Harvey, we will work in close co-ordination with our Shell-branded wholesalers to tackle any supply and logistical challenges that may arise,” Shell stated.

Business Day also spoke to CEO of the Energy Chamber of TT, Dr Thackwray “Dax” Driver, about Harvey’s impact on the energy sector.

Driver noted that “Houston is the global capital of the oil and gas industry. Most of the major oil and gas companies have offices in Houston, as do the major international service companies and engineering firms.” Some people have wondered if the disaster in Houston would lead to a boost in the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), also known as Texas light sweet; a grade of crude oil used as a benchmark in oil pricing.

This is not likely to happen, however, due to a drop in demand for oil.

Asked to explain this for those not familiar with the situation, Driver said, “Refineries buy crude oil and refine it to make products, such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, which is then sold to consumers. With many of the major US oil refineries being offline, due to the storm and flooding, the demand for crude oil will obviously decrease, hence the downward pressure on US crude oil prices (WTI being the benchmark price).” “Because the refineries are offline, the supply of gasoline and diesel to consumers will decrease, as less is being produced, hence the sharp increase in prices for petroleum products.”

Dear Ambitious Young Professional,

That is a great question – the value of professional networking cannot be overstated. Although almost everyone is on social networks these days, there is a big difference between setting up an online profile and knowing how to network effectively.

The first thing we recommend is that you cast a wide net. Your school alumni is a good place to start, but it may not be enough. I always suggest that people join at least three networks – one from their own profession (legal, IT, HR, etc), one that mixes different vocations together such as chambers of commerce, and finally, an NGO such as Rotary or AFETT.

Let’s look at the benefits of each:

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS: This is where professionals in your discipline will share trends, project ideas and discuss industry challenges. You will meet potential mentors and hear from professionals who are in positions that you hope to move into in the future.
You can also build a reputation as a thought leader, sharing expert opinions and experiences.

MIXED VOCATIONS : Networks such as Chambers of Commerce give you an insight into diverse issues. It is always useful to hear from professionals outside your discipline, as they will have experiences different from your own.

NGOs: Volunteering is a marvellous way to build a network of like-minded, caring individuals. Pick a cause you are passionate about, and then dive in. Volunteers build new skills and knowledge, boost career prospects, enjoy a sense of fulfilment and achievement, and enjoy enhanced selfesteem.

The key for success in established networks is to not just sign up for membership, but join the Board and become the president. No-one will know how great you are if you are always sitting at the back of the room.

Say Yes: In a column penned for the Harvard Business Review, Kathryn Minshew, CEO and co-founder of The Muse, advised young professionals to “Network Your Face Off” (figuratively speaking). That means saying yes to as many networking opportunities as possible. Whether it is a conference held by the Chamber or a cocktail gathering at your local Rotary club.
Every networking opportunity is one not to be missed. The only networking event that is a waste of time is the one not taken.

Be Prepared: You should have a pitch prepared for networking. Some things to consider including are: who you are, what your business is/what you do, and why that person should care. Your pitch can change depending on the event and who you’re talking to, but you should always be ready and prepared to articulate exactly what you do.

Additionally do some research so you have an idea of who may be attending, and their interests and background. This makes introductions so much easier.

Set Goals: Networking is daunting.

For each event, you should set a small and achievable goal, such as “I will talk to at least 1 new person” or “I will ask Mr. Big for advice about my new service”.

Don’t be Afraid: Even if you don’t know anyone, don’t stand at the back of the room feeling sorry for yourself.

Put your phone away and walk up to someone that looks friendly. Everyone has been in the same situation at one time or another, so they should want to help you feel comfortable.

Do Not Sell: Networking events are for sharing ideas and information and NOT an opportunity for you to sell your products and services.

Give to Get: The basic principle of networking is that you get back what you give. So hand out ideas, share advice, offer support … rather than asking for these things. Over time, this technique will rebound to your benefit.

Once you have started networking, you have to be proactive. You’ve handed out your hundreds of business cards, attended dozens of networking events and touched base with every contact you could think of. Now you can sit back and wait for the calls to start rolling in, right? Wrong. The only way you can be sure opportunity knocks is to go calling. Instead of waiting for the phone to ring, you should call new contacts (without pestering) them, as a follow up and request for further action.

To be an effective networker it is important to be polished: That snazzy new jacket may help cement the right first impression at your next networking event or interview, but being polished extends far beyond your wardrobe. It means proofreading every email you send, being polite even three hours into a painfully boring conference and not drinking too much at that business mixer. It also means not making bad decisions on social media.

Building an effective network takes times time and effort. But it is totally worth it. I can attest to that.

AFETT is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 2002 with the goal of bringing together professional women and engaging in networking opportunities, professional training and business ideas. ASK AFETT is a column meant to address issues and concerns of professionals seeking advice to assist in progressing in their careers.

Today’s response was written by AFETT member, Lara Quentrall-Thomas, founder and first president of AFETT, and chairman of Regency Recruitment & Resources Ltd – www.regencytrinidad.com . Learn more about AFETT at www.afett.com, search for AFETT Events on Facebook, follow us @ AFETTEXECS on Twitter or contact us at 354-7130. Email us your career-related questions at admin.afett@gmail.com.

SOURCES: http://www.careerbuilder.com/ advice/7-networking-tips-for-youngprofessionals https://www.linkedin.com/ pulse/20140914205239-190598742- 5-networking-tips-for-young-businessowners

“I’m a third-year medical school student,” said Khandhai as she reflects on how she ended up playing the lead female character.

“I met Christian (James) on a flight to Tobago. He told me I looked like what he imagined Rosalie would look like, I auditioned and here I am,” said Khadhai in a media release.

She is one of just under 100 local actors that bring Michael Anthony’s beloved novel Green Days by the River to the big screen nationwide on September 27.

Though Kandhai had no acting experience, James and Michael Mooleedhar coached her to make her “feel real.” “Rosalie inspired a boy to want to become a man, you had to see her and feel her powerful innocence,” said Mooleedhar, a UWI film school graduate.

Mooleedhar teamed up with James to win the bpTT Best Film in Development award in the 2014 ttff. Three years later, their latest project, a locally shot period movie will open the film festival.

“It’s really an honour to show our film not just at the festival, but the nation,” said James as he described the feeling of seeing the movie’s poster on show at MovieTowne Port of Spain last month.

“[This year,] 2017 is the 50th anniversary of the Green Days by the River novel so in a way, it feels like serendipity that the movie’s opening coincides with such an important milestone in our nation’s literary history,” said James.

“So many of us read this book in school, I hope that parents, children and grandparents will come out to see the film.” Speaking of her company’s support for the festival and other projects, Danielle Jones-Hunte, bpTT manager corporate communications said: “Over the years, bpTT has helped Mayaro grow and develop but we never lose sight of the natural beauty of the community and the people who live there. This film showcases the lush greenery of Mayaro as the backdrop for a coming of age story many of us know and love.

“We support local film through the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival. We don’t usually do individual projects but this one was based in our host community so it took a while, but we found a way to support.” Support also came from Look Opticians and First Citizens Bank, while bmobile retained title sponsorship of the movie.

To reconnect audiences to the characters of the novel and the beauty of the Green Days by the River movie production, bpTT is currently running a VIP ticket giveaway on radio stations where anyone can win tickets to see the film by answering questions about the book and film production.

“Over 200,000 people have viewed the Green Days by the River movie trailer online,” said Mooleedhar. “We hope that these promotions and giveaways funded by bpTT will continue to raise public interest in the film which will only stay in theatres as long as moviegoers go out to see the movie.” Thousands are expected to see the movie – including the friends and family of the key cast of characters, not the least of which is the “real” feeling Khandhai.

“I never pictured myself on the big screen. I never pictured members of the public answering questions about me to win contests,’ said Khandhai. “It’s a surreal feeling – in a way it’s like I’m coming of age because of the movie – just like my character.”

At 3 pm, Carapichaima East will square off against Fatima while, two hours later, reigning champions Shiva Boys will tackle Naparima.

The other Round One matches will take place on Saturday, all starting at 3.40 pm – St Benedict’s versus St Anthony’s, Speyside versus QRC, St Mary’s versus St Augustine, Fyzabad versus Trinity College Moka, Trinity College East versus Signal Hill and Presentation College San Fernando versus San Juan North.

The 2017 season was launched yesterday at the National Cycling Centre, Couva and SSFL president William Wallace, in his feature address, promised those gathered that its website will be up and running in a few days.

He added, “the (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) has met with us and has agreed on the inevitable, that is acknowledgment that the SSFL has a major role to play in youth development.

To this end, a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is currently being drafted which speaks to both organisations working together in the area of Coaches Education and Player Development.” Wallace also pointed out that a number of coaches were certified by the TT FA, an initiative which received assistance by sponsors Coca- Cola.

He also revealed that at least one member of the technical staff from each school will be trained as a “first responder”, in the event of a major injury or incident affecting a player on the field of play.

Representatives from the 2017 SSFL sponsors also spoke at the launch – Lisa Guissepi, marketing manager of Digicel; Tanya Lee, head of marketing at SportsMax, Jinelle Holloway, product manager of First Citizens; Aneka Mentor, community relations advisor at Shell and Maritza Ballack, marketing activation manager at Coca-Cola.

TKR suffered a 38-run defeat to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Qualifier One at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba.

With the win Patriots booked a spot in Saturday’s final at the same venue at 9 pm. Today, at 8 pm, TKR will have a second opportunity to advance to the final when they face either Guyana Amazon Warriors or Jamaica Tallawahs, also at the BLCA.

Last evening Amazon Warriors and Tallawahs played in Eliminator One.

A workmanlike unbeaten half century from Patriots captain Chris Gayle (54) got Patriots to 149 for seven. In reply TKR were dismissed for 111 in 19.3 overs.

Gayle, did not bat with his usual destruction, but Patriots coach Phil Simmons said it is great to see him bat through the innings.

Simmons said, “It is good to see him taking that responsibility and he (Gayle) feels if we don’t get a blistering start… then he has to be the one to stick around and nurse things through. That’s a different side to him that we are seeing and we are enjoying it.” Gayle lost his in-form opening partner Evin Lewis for six as he was brilliantly caught by CPL debutant Daniel Christian. The former Australia all-rounder, running back from extra cover, dived just inside the boundary to take the catch.

Colin Munro could not contain his excitement as he jumped on Christian’s back for a piggy-back ride.

Mohammed Hafeez and Gayle restored the innings with a 35-run second wicket partnership. The fightback was halted when Hafeez chased a wide delivery and was caught for 21 by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off Kevon Cooper.

The score read 42/2 after 6.4 overs.

The TKR bowlers kept the Patriots at bay as they progressed to 61/2 after 10 overs.

Gayle and Brandon King played some shots, but struggled to get boundaries regularly as spinners Sunil Narine and Shadab Khan kept Knight Riders in front.

King going for a big shot could only sky the ball to Ramdin off Dwayne Bravo to leave Patriots on 90/3 after 13.3 overs.

Carlos Brathwaite (14) came to the middle and asserted himself quickly by hitting Dwayne Bravo for four to long off.

The catching was not only excellent on the field, as a spectator took a one handed catch when Gayle struck a six over long on off Khan.

Twenty seven runs off the last two overs got Patriots to a competitive total with Gayle leading the way with some help from Devon Thomas (eight). Gayle’s 51-ball knock included three fours and three sixes.

Dwayne Bravo was the top bowler taking four for 38 in four overs, while fast bowler Ronsford Beaton grabbed 2/22 in four overs.

Simmons, the ex-Zimbabwe, Ireland and West Indies coach, said Patriots are now looking like a championship team, but says his team has to play even better to win their first CPL title.

“I think we are now getting there, we are now getting to where we want to be,” Simmons said. “I think we looked a lot sharper in the field hitting the stumps a couple times. We have been asking for a clinical performance and I think (on Tuesday) we were close but we will save it for Saturday.” The TKR top order failed to impress without McCullum for the first time in the tournament. McCullum was the second leading runscorer in the tournament when he broke his left arm while batting against the Barbados Tridents last Saturday.

TKR were six runs for three wickets when Sunil Narine (duck), William Perkins (one) and Colin Munro (five) were all dismissed. Narine was run out by a direct hit from Lewis, Perkins was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Thomas and Munro was caught and bowled by fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell.

Denesh Ramdin and Darren Bravo tried to restore the innings with a 36-run fourth wicket partnership.

However, TKR sunk into further trouble with the score on 42 when Ramdin got a leading edge and was caught by Gayle in the covers for 19.

It was soon 59/6 in the 13th over when Darren Bravo was run out for 29 going for a single, before Christian was unlucky to be given out leg before for four.

Dwayne Bravo entertained with a quick 24 from 13 balls but he could not rescue his team as TKR were dismissed for 111. Left arm fast bowler Cottrell was the best Patriots bowler snatching 3/17 in four overs.

Dwayne Bravo said playing on a fairly new surface and venue at Tarouba was not an excuse for the defeat.

He said, “No excuse, we are all professional cricketers, we have to play on whatever we turn up on.

“We just did not bat properly.

Both teams played on the (same) wicket, we just did not bat smart enough and we got some soft dismissals.”

The natural tropical landscape alone has generated a strong and unique tourism sector that has seen record numbers of visitors to the Caribbean year on year.

The region is renowned for its exotic varieties of fruit and vegetable, so it’s no surprise either that agriculture is the major economic land-use activity in most Caribbean countries.

But the agricultural market itself contributes very little to GDP in the region as many countries import a whole lot more than they export. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) 2015 report, almost all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries import more than 60 per cent of the food they consume, with half of them importing more than 80 per cent of the food they consume.

The report also states that CARICOM countries currently import in excess of US $4 billion in food annually, an increase of 50 per cent since 2000. Food imports are projected to increase to US $8-10 billion by 2020 according to FAO, highlighting a huge problem on the horizon for the region as its food import bill is getting bigger and bigger.

The large food import bill is a huge element of the Caribbean’s rising food insecurity challenges. In several essential food groups, national production per capita has declined across the Caribbean, most notably in the fruits and vegetables category. There is also declining intraregional agricultural trade, decreasing foreign exchange earnings due to the collapse of many export agricultural crops, persistent poverty especially in rural regions and underdeveloped domestic food systems in the Caribbean.

The FAO report states that Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti , which together account for 83 per cent of the region’s population, are the Caribbean’s top food importers. Processed foods, grains (wheat and corn), and livestock products (meat and dairy) are among the top five food import categories, accounting for over US$ 1 billion which is equivalent to approximately 25 per cent of annual food imports regionally.

From a stability standpoint, CARICOM’s food and nutrition security can be described as precarious, given the Caribbean region’s risk due to the high occurrence of tropical storms, floods, droughts and earthquakes. The spectre of climate change and its impacts undoubtedly adds to this risk Historically, food imports were fairly stable over the 1990-1994 period (averaging about US$ 1.4 billion annually).

However, since 1995 the value of food imports has been increasing by six per cent annually between 1995-2004, then more steeply by 13 per cent annually between 2004-2011.

Another disadvantage that the rising import bill brings is other resultant rising costs. Health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart conditions across the region have been attributed to an increasing reliance on processed foods resulting in the high cost of medical treatment.

Food security is essential for the region, not only because it carries significant benefits for human health, but because it essential for the short term and long term economic growth. Strategies for food security cannot be seen in one dimension; it requires a combination of coordinated actions across a number of areas including agriculture, health and nutrition, infrastructure and finance.

Crucially, farmers across the Caribbean need to be better equipped in supporting the Caribbean’s agricultural market as they play a vital role. Finance professionals can greatly support them as they can offer advice on increasing efficiency and adopting more innovative farming practices. Given the current land and water limitations of the region, technology must be factored in, to produce higher yields to satisfy domestic use and exports, while ensuring the region can reduce the water footprint and use the land effectively.

There have been several initiatives implemented to improve Caribbean agriculture. Recently delegations in Canada and Jamaica of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), with support from Rural Routes International, Grasshill Farm and the Canadian Livestock Genetics Associati on met in Jamaica to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and promote future collaboration in the area of dairy goat genetics.

Food manufacturers from several CARICOM countries also gathered in Trinidad in 2016 for two days of food safety training that could help them access major export markets. The sub-regional workshop on “Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan Development and Implementation” was attended by private sector participants from Guyana, Haiti , Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

There is clearly a huge potential for the Caribbean’s food industry and a huge benefit if it is able to lower their food import bill. Finance professionals can support this industry through in depth knowledge of the market and knowledge to support farm business which will experience challenging times as they strive to change for the better. It is this type of support that will make all the difference

The charges stem from a robbery at the home of Padarath’s relatives at Couva on July 21 when gunmen stormed into the premises while a Ramayan (Hindu prayers) was in progress. The gunmen robbed several people of personal items such as cash, jewelry and cellular phones.

Rechier appeared before Couva Magistrate Siumongal Ramsaran who denied him bail and remanded him into custody to return on October 6.

Cpl Dexter Duncan of the Couva CID charged Rechier with four counts of robbery, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger lives.

Duncan also charged him with shooting at Kern Joseph with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm and assaulting Padarath with intent to rob him.

Rechier of Perth Avenue, Perseverance was not called upon to plead to the charges as they were laid indictably. The matter has been adjourned to October 6.