All 39 MPs, from both sides, unanimously supported a combined Government/Opposition motion in a result that belied earlier acrimony, during debate. Before the vote was taken, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the report will be treated as interim, the JSC would meet again and the House will vote in ten days time.

The Opposition, in a minority report from the JSC, earlier on Monday claimed the JSC’s work was unfinished and the committee needed at least one more meeting to complete the work and gather all public submissions.

Rowley in reply, said the extra time would allow the JSC such activity, and that come next week Thursday, the population can judge for themselves who is really in support of the legislation.

“Some members are looking all over __ up, down and across – for a reason not to vote for the Bill,” Rowley said.

While the Opposition’s earlier amendment to the motion said the JSC’s work was incomplete, Rowley moved an amendment to that amendment, to set next week Thursday, for debate.

Refuting the Opposition’s claim that the “sky is falling” over a delay in the legislation, Rowley said the bill is prominent on the agenda of a Caricom leaders meeting in Guyana which he is due to soon attend.

Failure to get FATCA compliant could see a 30 percent surcharge for TT nationals doing business with the US.

Rowley scoffed at Opposition views to hold off on FATCA “in case” US President Donald Trump changes that law saying this is warped logic.

Later, Finance Minister Imbert said he acceded to the Opposition’s request to treat the current report as an interim one and to have one more JSC meeting where a final report will be produced to be debated under the House motion.

The House can either agree to adopt the Report as it is or with amendments, he said.

He said the Law Association was asked to submit comments five weeks ago but has no done so.

Too wait any longer, Imbert added, would be ludicrous. He noted that no one has proposed any change to the actual bill, in any comment or presentation proffered to the JSC by the likes of banks and credit union representative organisations.

The competition has been a launch pad for many female calypsonians who are now considered mainstays of the artform .

Past NWAC winners include the effervescent Sandra “Singing Sandra” DesVignes-Millington, Joanne “Tigress” Rowley and Karene Asche. Moses has already captured one title for the season having won this year’s Stars of Tomorrow crown .

Moses, 20, sang The Main Witness which called for greater legislation to protect witnesses. She sang in the last spot and began her winning performance with a skit in which she and a cousin witnessed a crime. When the police arrived and asked if they saw anything, the cousin says ‘no’, but Moses says she would testify .

The song gave a passionate plea to the country to look at its justice system. Second place went to Tobagonian Wendy Garrick whose call for the country to realise its full potential despite current difficulties, resonated with the audience .

Third place was taken by Kerine Williams-Figaro whose End of Days song made reference to events happening into today’s world cross-referenced by readings from the Bible .

The show began at 7.30 pm and saw welcome addresses by NWAC vice president Susan Manswell and greetings by Keon Francis, representative for Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly .

The committee honoured Emelda Lynch-Griffith, president of the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the one of the first women of pan, Rufina Thomas-Thompson, on the night .

Morisha Ransome’s Chief Servant, singing to the life and times of Daaga, won her eight place. Terri Lyon’s piece on the Destructive Phrase which spoke to negative labels attached to dark-skinned people won her fourth place. Lyons’ performance was impacted by what appeared to be a hoarse voice. She sang that she was looking for the man who invented the phrase, “Black and Ugly.” Many of the performances had elaborate presentations and were accompanied by multimedia presentations which saw Newsday headlines spread across the screens. A special trophy was given by the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs for the most creative calypso that emanates a message that is uplifting to the status to women in relation to contemporary issues with respect to their role in family, politics, social or economic spheres. The show ended yesterday at 12.10 am .

It’s too serious to be ascribed to chance when along the timeline of any incident surely lies a raft of preventative measures that could have been taken.

That is why we back the call by the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) for a fresh, independent inquiry into the incident in which nine-year-old Mayaro schoolboy Tristan Khan’s arm was reportedly broken by another pupil.

The NPTA rightly reasoned that doubts must necessarily surround the findings of an initial probe by the school authorities that the injury was sustained during alleged play-fighting between the two boys, when in fact any alternative finding that it was the result of an ongoing and calculated campaign of bullying against the victim would be damning to the very school authorities.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia and his team would have worked too hard at seeking to eliminate violence, taking a zero tolerance stance on bullying in the nation’s schools, to allow this incident to cast doubts over his efforts.

NPTA head Zena Ramatally rightly questioned the school’s findings by saying that even the purported scenario of the boys escaping school via a hole in the fence would in itself suggest negligence by the school authorities.

We agree with her that since the principal is responsible for pupils’ safety, his probe might be seen as “himself unto himself ” and so lack credibility.

The NPTA head also rightly states that the probe will benefit both victim and perpetrator. If it turns out to be not a case of an accident or recklessness but of intent, then some diagnosis should be done on the offending pupil. Is he a narcissistic bully who derives pleasure from his victim’s humiliation, or is he himself the victim of abuse at school, at home, or elsewhere, that he is now acting out, and what type of abuse? An independent party can unearth these details to help victim and perpetrator.

This is also an apt time for us all to take stock of the efficacy or otherwise of the oft-mouthed campaigns against school bullying.

While some measure of horseplay may be said to be natural among boys, bullying is a deliberate act aimed at demeaning the victim, whether done in the schoolyard, home or workplace.

Form teachers, deans, principals, counsellors, child psychologists and even parents of pupils must deploy a range of measures to nip bullying tendencies in the bud. Small interventions firmly applied at the onset can pre-empt disasters down the line when bullying becomes habit and invites massive retaliation by victim.

In addition, parents and pupils should be able to turn to an oversight agency (perhaps school supervisors) who can ensure their complaints to the school authorities are heeded, and without such complaints in turn setting up the complainant child for victimisation by the school authorities.

Anti-bullying awareness must pervade the school day, and not be just a publicity campaign wheeled out from time to time. Further, schools must work to lift the esteem of all pupils. For example, let’s get pupils away from the frenzied mindlessness of dancehall music (as cited in Prof Selwyn Ryan’s report, “No time to quit”) and instead better socialise them by the likes of team sports.

Local and foreign studies on bullying abound such that what is needed now is enactment of their recommendations, rather than resurrection of a debate as each bullying incident arises, the latest of which threatens a negligence lawsuit against the Ministry of Education.

Scientific research indicates that sea levels world-wide have been rising at a rate of 0.14 inches (3.5 millimetres) a year since the early 1990s. The trend, linked to global warming, puts thousands of coastal cities, and even whole islands, at risk of being claimed by the ocean.

Core samples, tide gauge readings, and, most recently, satellite measurements tell us that over the past century, the global mean sea level has risen by four to eight inches. However, the annual rise rate over the past 20 years has been 0.13 inches a year, roughly twice the average rate of the preceding 80 years.

Over the past century, the burning of fossil fuels and other human and natural activities have released enormous amounts of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere which have caused the Earth’s surface temperature to rise.

The oceans absorb about 80 percent of this additional heat and when water heats up, it expands.

About half of the past century’s rise in sea level is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.

Large ice formations, like glaciers and the polar ice caps, naturally melt each summer. However, recently, persistently higher temperatures caused by global warming have led to greater-than-average summer meltings. Data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center, all in the US, the Met Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit in the UK and the Japanese Meteorological Agency all show rapid warming in recent decades with the last decade been the warmest on record.

In August 2016, due to the melting ice, a cruise ship, the 68,670- ton Crystal Serenity, with 1,070 passengers on board, was able to navigate through the previously impassible waters of Alaska’s Northwest Passage through Nunavut to Greenland, Boston and ending in New York.

When sea levels rise rapidly, even a small increase can have devastating effects on coastal habitats. As seawater reaches further inland, it can cause destructive erosion, flooding of wetlands, contamination of aquifers and agricultural soils, and loss of habitat for fish, birds, and plants.

Hundreds of millions of people live in coastal areas that will become increasingly vulnerable to flooding. Higher sea levels would force them to abandon their homes and relocate to higher ground.

Low-lying islands, including some in the Caribbean, could be submerged completely.

Already, some of the islands of Kiribati in the South Pacific are under water and its Government has purchased land in the Fiji Islands, 2,150 miles to the north-east, in preparation for the relocation of its population of 113,000 people, should this become necessary. For comparison of distance, Miami is 1,622 miles north-west of Trinidad and Tobago.

Most predictions indicate that the warming of our planet will continue and will likely accelerate.

Oceans will continue to rise, but predicting the amount is an inexact science. We in TT are concerned about now, and not with what may happen in the future. Lands at Invaders Bay are on the front burner.

These and other low-lying lands at Westmoorings could be inundated by rising seas in the future.

There are just under 900 sea-level monitoring stations throughout the world of which four are in TT, one each in Port-of-Spain, Cedros, Scarborough and Charlotteville.

One of the foremost monitoring agencies is the Caribbean Planning and Adaptation to Climate Change Agency.

It is desirable that institutions such as the UWI , the Meteorological Services and the Institute of Marine Affairs keep Trinis aware of climate change and of rising sea levels.

Asked to respond to the claim made in another daily newspaper as well as complaints over the unavailability of Grand Stand tickets, de Silva said: “Absolutely not true! The NCC did not oversell tickets for Sunday’s show nor did we say that grand stand tickets were not available.” The article also stated that Pan Trinbago PRO Michael Joseph accused the NCC of being the cause of Panorama going till after 4 am Monday. Joseph admitted in the article that they wanted to give small bands the opportunity to play to the big stage audience but that never happened since the stands remained almost bare for more than half of the small bands presentations.

Small bands took from 9.30 am on Sunday until 5.26 pm to get through their paces, after which the medium bands played from 5.46 pm to 10.20 pm, then came the start of the 14 large bands.

Recalling a time when small bands had their day to shine with much larger audiences wherever the semi final was held on the day before the medium and large band semi finals, de Silva too, wondered why small bands were listed to appear on Sunday.

He then added that the NCC will be putting out an advertisement in all dailies within 48 hours to clarify their position on panorama.

When Richards asked if there were any safety issues at the North Stand last weekend during the Panorama semi-finals, Gadsby-Dolly replied, “To the contrary, there have been no reports of safety incidents posed or any unsafe incidents posed to patrons at the North Stand during the semi-finals of the Panorama competition

He was held on allegations of fraud committed against an elderly man over a period of several months.

Investigators are awaiting instructions from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on how to proceed against the 22-year-old officer who has two years service.

The officer was wanted in connection with a number of fraudulent offences including uttering false documents, obtaining credit via a valuable security (altering cheques and cashing it), larceny and money laundering.

It was reported that at 9 am on Monday, the officer was removed from his desk inside the chargeroom and taken to the Fraud Squad office in San Fernando.

Following his arrest, two houses — one in San Fernando and the other in Marabella — were searched and a number of household appliances seized. The case file was sent to the DPP yesterday.

Responding to a question from Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh, during sitting of the House of Representatives, Rowley said, “The company is due here in short order for discussions and possibly signing an agreement.” Rowley said he was unaware of any commitment made by Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus that 35,000 locals would get employment in Canada through this company. Rowley said he was unaware of allegations by Indarsingh that Hire Pro was under investigation in the Canadian province of British Columbia with respect to its offshore recruitment processes.

In the 2016/2017 Budget debate in the Senate last October, Baptiste- Primus said her ministry was exploring, “overseas employment opportunities for retrenched workers and those who are unemployed.” Against this backdrop, she said then, “I am pleased to report today that this ministry, we are partnering with Hire Pro Drivers of Canada, a Canadian-based recruitment agency.” Checks by Newsday indicated that this agency, established in collaboration with Mountain Transport Institute Ltd, “provides a comprehensive ‘turnkey’ solution to carriers seeking professional, experienced, class one drivers, mechanics, welders and other trade-related skilled professionals.

Baptiste-Primus said then Hire Pro will be sending a team to TT last December and “they have indicated to us that they have identified 35,000 vacancies in Canada for long-haul drivers and they have welcomed the opportunity to partner with us.”

Dyer was before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor and a jury of nine, on trial for chopping Kwasi Lewis, 16, on November 6, 2005, at Market Street in Fyzabad. It took 12 years for the case to move from the magistrates court to the High Courts for trial. During the long wait, Lewis passed away. It was not disclosed to the jury, the cause of Lewis’ death.

Lewis’ evidence during the Preliminary Inquiry in the magistrates’ court, was read to the jury during the trial which was prosecuted by Maria Lyons-Edwards and Sarah De Silva. Sergeant Ablacksingh who laid the charge, gave evidence at the trial.

Attorney Jason Jackson and Persuha Lord represented Dyer who opted not to go in the witness box and testify on his own behalf. Dyer’s defence was that he was provoked by Lewis during an argument at which, stones were thrown at him (Dyer).

The prosecution also proffered bad character evidence in which it was revealed that Dyer has a propensity to violence having been charged with assaulting a police officer and escaping unlawful custody. On December 8, the jury found Dyer guilty of wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

In passing sentence on Monday, Justice Windsor said Dyer is currently in custody on a charge for which he is awaiting trial.

She sentenced him to six years and four months imprisonment with hard labour and said he must undergo anger management counselling.

The presiding magistrate in the Point Fortin Court set a new bail in the sum of $150,000.

The accused was also ordered to stay at least 100 feet away from the victim’s workplace and her residence and also to report to the Gasparillo Police Station three days per week.

It was reported that on January 25, a 20-year-old waitress boarded the accused man’s car at Library Corner in San Fernando bound for Point Fortin.

On reaching La Brea, the driver went off route.

The victim told police she was taken to a camp located in a lonely area in Sobo Village where she was raped.

The accused was arrested last week Wednesday during a ‘sting’ operation in Gasparillo and subsequently charged with the offence.

Cpl Thompson of the La Brea CID laid the charges and the accused made his first appearance in court last week Thursday.

He will return to court on March 14.