All attempts – environmental education, rubbish-bins and law enforcement – should be quickly put in place now for sustainable cleanliness after next April. All sanitation and environmental agencies should be held to strict account. Rubbish and lawlessness are strongly related.

Meanwhile we wish Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan well in his warrior-like drive to have efficiency and courtesy in the offices under his charge. The way this country is heading, it is high time to take the bull by its horns – rock some boats too. Many have grown hoarse complaining about the reckless, unmannerly habits of drivers. Pedestrians too. Last Wednesday, I saw a student dangerously rushing across the busy road from behind a parked maxitaxi, giggling with a cell-phone stuck in her ear. It seemed a miracle she was not crushed. Rubbish and bad road manners help tell you what the character of this society is.

Now cleanliness and road manners may not be country-shaking as FATCA, bank charges, poisoned water or the murder rate. But they are measures of our “development.” Do you know when the country’s GDP was significantly increasing, especially during the eighties, the overall crime rate was also increasing – suggesting that the country’s economy may not be necessarily related to our bad habits.

Part of my very early years were spent in mango-rich Quarry Road, off the Santa-Cruz Old Road, San Juan hill. Gravelled Quarry Road was largely poor then but quite neighbourly and crime-free. And by the way, of the hundred or so homes there, only three were occupied by persons of East Indian descent. The rest were all of African descent. From here I saw how people can be poor and still not get into crime. Other conditions combine and instigate. With two very young boys, my single mother struggled with poverty. We lived in a one-room shack way up onto the mountain side. No squatting, but at “pepper-corn” rent. But that for now is another story. When I attended San Juan RC School, students were drilled into road safety. Every morning, after our nails, shoes, clothes and hair were checked, we got into road safety – repeating and demonstrating: “Before crossing, look left, right, and left a gain – then cross.” How many children or even adults today do you see “looking left, right, and left again before crossing?” A lot of character-building started, or at least developed, at school – and by good teachers. That is why in 2007, with required data and analyses, I proposed to government, among other things, a centre for road safety education and policy.

Further on, when I later taught in primary school, teachers (in rotation) were put in charge of “houses” each comprising 30-40 students from all classes and supervised by a teacher – to pick up strewn papers, etc, around and inside the school.

Each “house” had a distinct name, such as “roses,” “violets,” etc. There were five “houses.” After school was dismissed, the Monday “house” would go into duty, then Tuesday “house,”etc.

Collective duty and responsibility became part of the school’s sanitation culture. Times and things have changed today. Collective responsibility, in a lot of ways, has gone through the money window.

Why? So too is responsibility for the choices people make. All of this leaving us to wonder if the school curriculum is really teaching children about what good living and a healthy life are all about – beyond cramming for exams. In other words, exams good, but what about character too?

He was identified as Joel Mentore, 29, who works as a chef at Hakka Restaurant in Woodbrook.

Neighbours say Mentore was a quiet individual who kept to himself.

His body bore stab wounds and his throat appeared to have been slit.

Mentore was last alive on Friday afternoon by his roommate.

Chaguanas police are carrying out investigations on this matter.

During the festivities yesterday St Rose- Greaves crossed the stage in a wedding dress and holding a doll and a sign which read “no child marriage”.

Speaking yesterday with Sunday Newsday via telephone, St Rose-Greaves she said that with the children playing mas and enjoying themselves she felt that it was an “apt time to make a statement”..

“In this place we start doing things and then it drops off the radar. I was just moved to make a statement.” She said in the midst of Carnival a lot of abuse happens and she took the opportunity to send a message.

In January the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill was passed setting the age of marriage to 18 years. Yesterday, St Rose-Greaves said there may be a move to undermine the legislation moving forward.

She stressed that more attention must be paid to legislation for child protection and children need to be a priority.

She also called for the legislation to return to Parliament urgently to tackle other issues that require attention.

She pointed out that there is the criminalising of sexual activity between same sex children which needs to be dealt with. She also pointed out that the issue of emancipated minors needs to be discussed and questioned what would happen to 14-yearolds who have children or living with partners and they are underage. St Rose- Greaves said that in Parliament compromise is needed rather than a win/lose situation.

“Legislation really needs the attention of both sides of the House,” she stressed.

She said she was also planning to have her demonstration at the schools Carnival and in St James “because we cannot go on like this”.

The photo, which has been circulating on Facebook, replaces the national birds the scarlet ibis and the cocrico with wining women, the humming birds with the logos for Carib and Stag, the ships of Christopher Columbus with maxi taxis and the motto “together we aspire, together we achieve” with “just hold dem and wuk dem”.

On Friday the National Security Ministry issued a statement in response cautioning citizens not to deface our national emblems.

Yesterday Thomas, speaking during a telephone interview, said he saw the photo and “was not impressed by that at all”.

“At the end of the day we need to respect our national anthem, emblem and instruments. Respect the law of the land,” he said.

Thomas explained that anyone who knows him knows that he would not endorse this type of thing, nor does he endorse the sharing of dead bodies on social media.

He said, however, that this is a society where people are born free and they exercise their freedom.

Asked if he would describe the photo as disrespectful Thomas responded, “we need to be a bit more conscientious”.

“I appreciate how far the song ‘Full Extreme’ has gone, and the Ultimate Rejects family (as well), but at the same point in time we need to be conscious of our country and need to respect the laws of land.” He said for Carnival, people are coming from all over the world and when nationals take things to the extreme “it makes us not look our best”.

He made the comments yesterday during an address at the Western Division Interfaith Service held at The Church of the Nativity, Diego Martin.

He said the police have not been able to effectively impact violent crime and have consistently had more than 400 murders annually for the past four years. He said they have not been getting it down, but added that policing by itself will not reduce it.

“To do that we believe we need to put God first,” he added.

He said the interfaith services were a clear demonstration of this belief; yesterday’s event was the sixth interfaith service for the month of February out of a planned nine for each geographical police division.

Williams said, “we believe that with God all things are possible” and one of the things they want to be possible is a significant reduction in violent crime. He explained the services allows them to bring officers together, members of the community and to seek support of religious leaders as they seek God’s blessings and God’s guidance for 2017 to have a significant drop in violent crime.

He said this will take all citizens working together, being positive and calling on God for peace in this land and to rely on the teaching that with God all things are possible.

Two weeks ago at the TTPS South Western Division Interfaith Service at the La Divina Pastora Roman Catholic Church in Siparia Williams said divine intervention was needed in the fight against crime.

Yesterday, Fr Christopher Lumsden in his sermon called on young people to find spirituality and the way of peace. He said we can only ask God to heal our land and have peace if we have faith in him. “As people of God we must have peace in our hearts and believe God can do it,” he added.

Imam Farouk Ali said it is an accepted fact that the incidence of crime, violence, drug abuse, immorality and other ills in society has been increasing rapidly over the years. He said the most disturbing aspect is the substantial number of youths involved in these things, many of them teenagers.

He said the root cause of the problem is that moral, spiritual, ethical and civic values are not properly addressed when children are brought up. He stressed the responsibility for this upbringing rests primarily on the parents though many parents try to avoid this responsibility by shifting it to the teacher.

Ali said parents focus on children getting a good secular education and many times most parents work. He questioned whether they were enquiring about daycare personnel and the values of those working there.

He said parents give their children everything they need except for what they need the most – love and spiritual guidance. He advised of the need to establish an atmosphere of love and understanding for children to properly grow.

Spiritual Baptist representative Reverend Shirley Millet said it was a time of so much violence in our country especially by the youths who will become tomorrow’s leaders.

“Oh God, save us from violence, discord and confusion.

From pride, arrogance and every evil way. Fashion us into one united people,” she prayed.

Anglican representative Reverend Marsha Joseph said there are many people who do not believe in God and those who do not want peace but thrive in unrest in panic. She continued that it is God’s desire for us to love in peace.

“As a people in Trinidad and Tobago we must turn back to God, love him with all our mind, soul and strength and our neighbour as ourselves.

She called on citizens to repent and those in leadership in homes, schools, government and protective services to humble themselves

He was speaking with Sunday Newsday yesterday following the Western Division Interfaith Service held at The Church of the Nativity, Diego Martin.

Williams was asked about the perennial problem of masqueraders and other patrons gyrating on police officers during the Carnival season. The Police Service has issued a release advising citizens to desist from the practice.

Yesterday Williams said the service has never taken it as an offence. “Police officers recognise it is part of the culture and people seek to take advantage of it. We try to ask them to desist but we have never taken it as offence. So you work around that for the season,” he said.

He explained they try to ask masqueraders to desist so the officers can perform their duty “free of that” but “we balance the event and we try to be as accommodating as possible and police the land so that the Carnival period can run smoothly”.

On preparations for the Carnival weekend, Williams reported the police have done “extensive preparations”.

He reported that ACP Dulalchan is the gold commander and the alternate gold commander is ACP Richardson.

He further reported that as of last Friday they briefed National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and he is satisfied with the plans.

He said that either tomorrow evening or Tuesday, Dulalchan will hold a media conference and share with the media houses the details of the plan.

“So we are comfortable that we put together a good plan but the plan will only be tested by its implementation.

And we have all the other services supporting us and we are looking for a lovely period of Carnival and a safe one,” he added.

And, he has vowed to stay strong, confident in the knowledge that Carla and his grandchildren, Kamari and Amani Collins, are resting in God’s peace.

“I believe that God has done his job,” Maxima, 64, told Sunday Newsday on Friday.

“I feel comfortable that my daughter and grand-children are resting in peace with their grandmother and great-grandmother. You can’t question God.” Police reports stated that Carla and her two children were heading to their Callis Street, D’Abadie, home, in a car driven by her husband, Keston Collins, around 11 pm on January 26, when another car, driven by Kelvin Lewis ran a red light and slammed into them.

Carla and her children died instantly after being thrown from the car. Keston, a cook in the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, survived the accident.

Autopsy reports revealed both children died as a result of massive head trauma and brain contusions while their mother also suffered severe head injuries.

Lewis, who appeared in the Arima Magistrate’s Court on February 2, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, has since been granted $350,000 bail and is scheduled to re-appear on March 2.

Maxima, in expressing thanks, paid special tribute to President Anthony Carmona, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and officials from the Defence Force and TT Coast Guard who attended the funeral.

“It surprised me to walk into the church and see the President there,” he said.

Maxima, an ex-policeman, said the TT Coast Guard had done yeoman service “in bringing everything together.” Life without Carla and his grandchildren was tough, Maxima said, adding: “I know my daughter would have not liked to see me break down so people will see me with a smiling face.

Up to today, people still breaking down on me, so, I have to keep myself strong.” Maxima said he was particularly concerned about his son Brent, who had shared a special relationship with his sister, Carla.

“Brent has said that God prepared him to be away from Carla because he moved step by step with his sister over the years up until her death,” he said.

Maxima also thanked Brent’s employers, First Citizens, for their support.

TCL claims the articles have caused and is likely to cause damage to its reputation and business including financial harm. It also says that Rock Hard Limited has begun a campaign claiming that its product is superior to TCL’s and this campaign is contrary to sections 7 and 8 of the Protection Against Unfair Competition Act Chap 82:36.

TCL is demanding that Rock Hard Limited respond urgently and by February 21 to its letter and cease and desist from repeating the statements it has published or any similar statements. It is also demanding that Rock Hard Limited confirm to TCL in writing that it will provide a written undertaking within seven days to refrain from making the previously published statements or any similar statements; publish a suitable apology and retraction of the statements complained of by TCL in a prominent position in all three daily papers; pay compensation for the damage to TCL’s reputation and any financial loss it may have suffered and reimburse TCL for any legal costs it has incurred.

TCL claims in the pre-action protocol letter that Rock Hard Limited has been making intentionally false alerts and publishing information to mislead the public and relying on fiction and intimidatory tactics; that TCL is involved in dishonest business practices and knowingly trying to mislead the public with information that it knows to be false. TCL claims that in one of the articles the chairman of Rock Hard Limited, Ryan Ramhit, stated that “other brands have not and do not test their cement as rigorously as Rock Hard. They cannot confirm meeting all of the requirements of the standards” (ASTM). TCL says those statements suggest that it does not rigorously test its cement and does not or cannot meet the ASTM standards.

The pre-action protocol letter states that in fact TCL provides certificates as to the quality and age of its cement to its large customers and these certificates are available for examination upon request. It says that TCL accepts and is open to fair competition and expects competitors to comply with all legal requirements and standards to ensure its products meet those standards.

This area carries the alluring name Verdant Vale, which suggests rolling pastures and green hills. And once upon a time, this was so. But now it is the home of four rock quarries, where formerly forested hills have been bulldozed and dynamited into hideous, frightening bare earthscapes.

Notwithstanding regulations, none of these quarries have adequate settling pits to collect silt from rainwater run-off. Almost all of the waste overburden created by mining the stone washes down and pollutes the Arima River. The silt will continue to wash down for decades after the stone is all taken.

River life is being buried in quarry silt. As you leave the Vale and the quarries, and start ascending again, you will be in green forested surroundings once more. After winding through a piece of lush forest, where the tall trees shade the road and beams of sparkling sunlight pierce the canopy to create rainbows in the mist, you will suddenly find yourself in the open again — looking at acres of christophene plantation on the hillside, above and below the road. The road winds around perilous corners through this “farm” high in the hills. At first there is an appeal to it all, for the views up, across and down the valley are spectacular.

But then you realise that more than a mile of important roadway is beset all along by landslips.

Land deforested for this farming is slipping from above, across the roadway, sometimes blocking the road altogether; and deforested land below the roadway has slipped, and continues to slip, creating grave dangers to all road users.

If you are brave enough, you will re-enter the forest and find that for the most part, the road is clear, solid and safe for traffic.

And if you keep on driving, whether to beautiful Asa Wright Nature Centre, the villages of Brasso Seco or Morne la Croix, or all the way to Blanchisseuse, you will become aware of something you may not have “studied” before. And this is that all of the major landslips you encounter, all of the retaining walls being built, whether above or below the road, are on sites where the original forest trees have been felled in order to “plant garden”.

There are areas you can look at today which have recently been “cleaned” by food crop farmers to plant their gardens. Monitor these clearings, because within five years, the slopes will begin to slip away as landslides which damage so many of our rural hillside roads.

We need to learn one of nature’s basic lessons — removing trees and forests from hill slopes will cause the hills to collapse and eventually wash away.

That is an absolute fact and in order to try to prevent the hills slipping away we build expensive retaining walls, a total waste of money incurred by unnecessary forest destruction.

Some will rail against these “vandals” who go and cut tracts of our forests in order to plant food.

And I understand that. But these people who have no other land to plant, work ever so hard to fell and clear the forest, then to plant and care for it all before they can reap the food we (well some us!) eat.

We should not need to have to plant gardens on forested hillsides.

But most of us do not drive these hills and valleys. So we do not see the devastation wrought by quarrying and injudicious farming.

Some of us take pride in how we have “developed” some of our valleys closer to town.

Diego Martin is the prime example of the havoc we have wrought.

Destroying all of the lower reaches of the original forest, to clad the valley in asphalt and galvanize; “straightening” all of the former meandering rivulets into efficient concrete box drains, and turning the Diego Martin River into a concrete sewer, we have created the perfect flash-flood scenario every heavy rainfall, and more and more mountainsides wash into the sea.

The Maraval, St Ann’s and Santa Cruz valleys will follow Diego Martin, into development until destroyed.

It may be too late to save Diego Martin, but all of the other valleys can be saved if we take judiciously conscious decisions regarding forestry, agriculture, quarrying and “development”.

Can you imagine what would have occurred if the rain event which fell on the northern slopes of the Northern Range late last year had fallen on the southern slopes? Had all of the Arima, Lopinot, Caura, Maracas and Santa Cruz Rivers, in full flood, hit the silted Caroni River? Ponder that, disaster experts and doubters alike.

And save our forests and hills, for good reason.

Before you arrive: Inform your bank If you try to budget too tightly with your cash and end up using your bank cards in Trinidad and Tobago, you run the risk of having your accounts frozen until you get back home. The Caribbean and Africa are high risk regions and banks will freeze your accounts to avoid fraud unless they were informed of your travel.

For those returning to America It might be a good idea to miss Carnival if you travel a lot, even if it is for work, and you have visited places Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen because you may end up being denied entry to America if President Trump is not impeached by Ash Wednesday.

Send down a barrel with food Trust me, it’s cheaper to raid a Walmart and/or Aldi, pack two to three barrels, and ship them down in time to coincide with your arrival.

It might be a bit too late now, but I would also suggest that you do it earlier because the crowd to clear goods at the ports at Carnival time is just as terrible as the Christmas season. Alternatively, walk with plenty money to get ripped off. It is what it is.

When you get here: Lose the accent or go mute Speaking of rip off; if you decide to show off your newly learnt American or British accent after only living away for 6 months, you may want to shelve it while you’re here unless you don’t mind being charged double or triple for everything.

For example, a taxi ride from Machel Monday to Chaguanas may cost a local TT $150, whereas accented folks get charged in US dollars, starting at a nice round figure of US$50. Accents work in your favour at certain places like government agencies and KFC, but not with coconut vendors around the Queen’s Park Savannah, some taxi drivers, and scalpers! Learn to wine Lord Kitchener said that you cannot have Carnival without wining and you cannot have wining without a movement of the buttocks. Practice makes perfect.

Oh, and by the way, if you are coming to be stush, there is plenty bush to party in.

Know what to wear, when Dressing appropriately is important for any Carnival pump. Cooler fetes are for shorts. All-inclusives and concerts require a bit more class.

And it is against the law to purchase a new outfit to play J’Ouvert.

Be Careful Ladies, stay with your friends.

Don’t get separated in a party or on the road and think you will get them by phone. Reception in huge crowds is almost non-existent, especially if your sim card is green! It is actually possible to be calling for hours before you get a ring, and even then, they probably won’t hear/feel the phone.

Stay close. And if a random “thurst man” tries to grab you to separate your from your girls, put him in his place quickly. Additionally, we have a lot of people here who love your possessions more than you. Be vigilant.

Eat properly Yes, I know KFC in America sucks.

I know locally made roti and doubles will always be better than the roti from Roti Joupa in London or the doubles from Ali’s in Brooklyn, but that does not mean that you should consume that junk for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

These delicacies are especially a no-no after a cooler fete or an all-inclusive party where you know you abused the liberal flow of drinks. Do so at your own risk because your next drink may be Pepto-Bismol.

Don’t eat any and everywhere Ask questions, folks. Find out where the good food places are; don’t be fooled by long lines and smoke.

Use Trip Advisor for the more established places and word of mouth for the best local cuisine. Of course, you cannot leave our shores without some good crab and dumplings, but just remember, when cooked, crab should not have hair on its legs.

Tune out media negativity Watching, listening and reading media negativity will most likely make you too afraid to go out to have fun. Yes, I know that Trinbago may not be the same place you left and foreigners may have heard a lot of bad things about our society, but I promise you, the majority of us are good people.

Unfortunately, like the Yanks and Brits, we are also being run by idiots and that is why we are in the position we are in.

Don’t let it dampen your vibe at all! Happy Carnival, folks! I’ll be back in two weeks after I recover.