Subject to correction, I think the report said that police officers should be the first to be the subject of this test, and this is where I disagree with the senator. I think the first to be tested should be our politicians. Yes, let them lead by example. And they should also be willing to be subjected to random drug testing.

A Pierre Marabella

Misbehaving refers to activities associated with street parties that may not be culturally acceptable at other times, eg during Lent.

This concept of misbehaving can be applied to activities of cancer cells. Cancers represent uncontrollable cell growth. That is, cells disobey the law for normal cellular growth at particular sites in its body. We generally name the type of cancer based on the site of abnormal growth, eg breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer etc.

Such cells grow at rates that are much faster than other cells in the same location.

During Carnival, one often observes that the “misbehaviours” by one or two revellers soon become the movements and gyrations of the particular section of the band or the entire band of revellers. This is achieved through bodily and verbal communication with nearby revellers.

Similarly, cancer cells are able to communicate and co-opt normal cells into their way of behaviour (misbehaving). In so doing, the normal cells can become cancerous and begin to misbehave in a manner similar to the cell co-opting it. This mode of misbehaving becomes the new norm and can be rapidly adopted by nearby cells until all cells tissue or organ become cancerous. The cancer can now spread throughout this tissue at this location. The cancer is referred to as malignant. When such cells move to other parts of the body far removed from their original location and continue the malignant process, the cancer is said to have metastasised. This is called metastasis.

For revellers, Ash Wednesday marks an end to much of the misbehaving.

Revellers return to their normal mode of operating. When cancer cells stop their misbehaving, the resulting tumour is said to be benign.

People requiring treatment to stop cancerous cells from spreading may experience periods where such cellular activities are not easily detected. Such people are said to be in remission. Remissions may last for months or years. For others, death is the eventual outcome.

Poor lifestyle choices such tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, poor dietary practices leading to overweight and obesity and unprotected sexual intercourse are potent risk factors. It is time to join the fight to put an end to misbehaviour at the cellular level. We can reduce the cancer risk by taking a few steps on a habitual basis: * Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to about four servings a day.

* If overweight or obese, get your weight into the normal range for your height. This may involve increasing your daily level of physical activity.

* Increase your level of physical activity. At a minimal, it should be about half hour of brisk walking three times a week.

* Learn and practise reducing your stress levels daily.

* Monitor and adjust fat and salt content in your meals with levels recommended for good health.

* Avoid sexual intercourse at an early age and practise responsible sexual behaviour thereafter.

Reduce your risk for cancers by participating in activities that stop your cells from misbehaving.

Dr Selby Nichols Faculty of Food and Agriculture UWI, St Augustine

Once upon a time, when racing was held at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain and Marabella in San Fernando, it attracted large numbers of fans and people looked forward to those particular outings.

But Santa Rosa today attracts small spectator support. The question is why, and why is it also that millions of dollars keep being spent on this sport of kings which only benefits a select few when there are other sporting discipline in need of support? A rich man’s sport by all means, so let them fund it themselves.

C Peters

It’s really very important to get a picture of the whole and ask the right questions.

In this country, foreigners outside of the Caribbean are making life-changing decisions for us, and on a continued basis citizens in this neo-colonial environment are witnesses to the wholesale importation of foreign agents and cultural goods undermining the fabric of our indigenous society yet nobody gives a damn about that.

However, in one neck of the woods, a Vincentian (a Caricom neighbour, with close geographical and cultural ties to the majority of Trinidadians, who is accepting of local rules), who contributes to the indigenous soul of the society is thrown out of a competition purportedly seeking cultural excellence through competition.

I wonder aloud whether Jean Michael Gilbert, French national, could be separated and banished altogether from the French “Grammy” success of Linda McCartha Sandy-Lewis (Calypso Rose), or for that matter American Andy Narell from any local competition whose standard and promotion of the indigenous musical art form has been unquestionably phenomenal? By restricting participation in this way to only citizens, consequently lowering the cadre of participants from a small and probably dwindling pool of repeat performers, and denying the country’s development by way of fresh injection of a breath of experiences and population growth, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) is doing itself a social and financial disservice in suppressing other opportunities to develop our indigenous art form. Financial, because each Caricom territory has a financial following and social interest in contributing to this art form.

Finally, the only question which TUCO should ask itself is whether Vincentian- born calypsonian Lornette “Fya Empress” Nedd-Reid, in contributing to the local development of the art form which it appears she has been allowed to do transparently for some time, competed justly, openly, fairly and successfully for a position in the 2017 Calypso Monarch final, and having regard to the regional sale and marketing of Trinidad Carnival and its products, whether it is in TUCO’s interest to include Nedd-Reid’s performance in that competition.

Kathleen Pinder via email

It is important that whatever you are doing over the next few days that you have your head on. With this in mind here are tips to keep you safe: 1. Be very careful where you find yourself for there are predators out there looking for opportunities.

2. Strangers should never be accommodated.

Understand the times we are living in; be aware.

3. You may say it is just one more drink but what’s your state when you take that “last drink.” Have you made yourself vulnerable? 4. When it is all over, how are you getting home? Trusting a stranger is surely not a good choice.

5. The records show that nine months after Carnival there is an increase in births. Remember you have your life to live after Carnival. Have your head on.

6. Alcohol and driving do not mix.

If lives are entrusted to your care, stay away alcohol.

7. Never isolate yourself. Stay in communication with family or friends.

Your protection and safety are in your hands. Enjoy your Carnival.

Arnold Gopeesingh via emai

Justice Frank Seepersad yesterday quashed the August 12, 2016 decision of the Registration Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB) to approve the PSA as the recognised majority union for monthly paid workers of the CAA.

The CAA had been given leave to have the court review the decision by the RRCB to grant certification to the PSA.

The authority alleged that the Board acted outside of its jurisdiction by considering the PSA’s application for certification.

The CAA also complained that the RRCB breached the rules of natural justice by failing to inform the CAA of the information and submissions made by the PSA as well as its (RRBC’s) examination of the union’s records and failing to allow it (the CAA) to respond to same. The judge was also asked to review the CAA’s complaint that the decision of the RRCB was contrary to the policy of the Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 88.01.

In granting the CAA leave, the judge also stayed the RRCB’s decision to certify the PSA as the recognised majority union for monthly rated workers.

In his ruling, Seepersad held that the CAA successfully established that the RRCB did not have the requisite jurisdiction to confer the requested certification to the PSA.

He said the RRCB acted improperly and erroneously and violated the principles of natural justice.

He is calling on the Minister of Agriculture to immediately begin talks with the Minister of Finance and other relevant stakeholders to start the process to make the idea a reality as quickly as possible.

In a statement Maharaj who is also political leader of the National Solidarity Assembly said “There is no doubt that innovative ways must be found to stimulate the agriculture sector in order to assist in the diversification of the economy and allow this sector to be the foundation upon which the diversification stands. This is especially in light of the fact that Trinidad and Tobago imports billions of dollars of food every year.” He added that converting the ADB into a commercial bank will allow for a more enabling agricultural environment with the ADB operating on the basis of profit making but with a flexibility based social conscience and understanding of the unique circumstances in which the country’s agriculturists sometimes have to undergo such as natural disasters and surplus of reduced produce. He said Ali’s suggestion should be considered by those in authority and subjected to a proper logistical study after which the necessary legislative reforms could be drafted.

Maharaj said if these laws are properly implemented they can help stimulate economic growth ensure food security create employment make agriculture attractive to the young and ease the financial constraints facing the country.

He said the idea will allow people engaged in the agricultural sector to escape the trappings of sometimes unimaginable bank charges and procedures that sometimes make financial assistance to those engaged in agriculture almost impossible especially when farmers are on tenanted lands State lands or Caroni VSE P lands.

Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke-Soo Hon and Mark Mohammed yesterday reserved their ruling to a date to be fixed following submissions by the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Partap’s lawyer.

Partap in 2013 was found guilty of refusing to subject himself to a breathalyser test and was fined $5,000 by Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.

He has appealed both the conviction and fine.

Partap’s attorneys are contending that there was no statutory authority for field sobriety testing and refusal to take the test could not be illegal.

He eventually took the test at the Belmont Police Station after acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams directed the police to charge him.

Partap’s lawyer Ravi Rajcoomar argued that the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act specifically stated police officers were required to request a “breath test” and not a field sobriety test if they suspected someone of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

He said Partap, who was driving a black SUV after leaving the nightclub, was stopped by police and asked to submit himself to a field sobriety test.

On February 22, 1997, Piparo which was previously known as the home of reputed drug lord Dole Chadee, gained further national prominence when villagers were awakened to tremors and a deep rumbling sound which unleashed the most powerful mud volcano eruption in local history. Villagers, many still in their sleeping clothes, scampered out of their homes in an attempt to save life and limb as within the first few minutes, the mud volcano spewed black mud and gases some 50 feet into the air.

According to an eyewitness, six minutes into the eruption, an even more powerful eruption occurred as mud spewed about 120 feet into the morning sky.

Cars and homes were buried under a square mile of mud that quickly hardened into a concrete- like mixture. Half of the village cemetery remains buried under the (now solidified) mud “lake”, which has two small oozing mounds at its centre that occasionally spatter out small eruptions of mud-like clay. Though no one was killed, 31 families were permanently displaced from their homes.

According to villager Sachin Ramsubag, 20 years later many persons, both foreign and local, still visit the site to observe the black sulphur-rich mud and the still bubbling mud mounds. Another resident, Ben Lal Ragbir, whose family of four had been resettled at Buen Intento Village, Princes Town, and who was instrumental in organising the prayer sessions, said this was the villagers’ way of giving thanks for their lives being spared on that fateful morning.

“Anyone who lived through that day would understand why we do these prayers year after year,” he said, adding, “We are just thankful for our lives although we lost almost everything to the volcano.”

Two of the mothers tested positive for the zika virus, the cause of the microcephaly, during the course of their pregnancies.

Of the 718 zika cases confirmed since the onset of the epidemic in February last year, the ministry said, 463 confirmed were of pregnancy cases. The ministry’s is currently awaiting the results of tests done to determine the cause of the other two cases of microcephaly, the release said. It noted that this was in keeping with expected international rates of zika related complications.

The ministry is also reminding the public, especially pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant, to take protective measures to reduce the likelihood of contracting the zika virus.

Members of the public are advised that if a member of the household are suspected or confirmed of having the zika virus, to visit the nearest health centre to seek medical assistance.

They are also advised to inform the Insect Vector Control Division at 612-IVCD (4823).

The release said that the ministry was in close communication with the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services to ensure that assistance, as required, is made available to the babies and families affected by the disease, in keeping with established policy.