Given our current economic environment, it is indeed noteworthy to see the great nationwide, clean-up initiative set in motion by Hosein.

I have seen the effects of this removal of garbage — old cars, fridges, stoves, washing machines, kitchen counters and exercise equipment — removed from streets in the east/west corridor.

This initiative becomes even more laudable given the current “excuse” for non-action by all officials — there is no money available. However, Hosein has shown how creativity and entrepreneurship can overcome all obstacles because he has achieved his nationwide exercise in spite of said “excuse”.

We definitely need this inventiveness applied to crime, education, diversification of our economy etc.

Roger Gordon Cascad

Many of our churches are to be blamed, because they are against hanging. Our juveniles are being killed every day, gang warfare is rampant, and there is a general disenchantment with the politicians.

The times demand great political sagacity.

Our Government must take urgent measures to stop the crime surge, which can lead to anarchy.

CLYDE PODMORE San Fernando

He made this promise in his message for World Radio Day 2017.According to Cuffie, “Today, in a world where the internet ensures that information is disseminated with amazing speed and frequency, radio competes both for space and relevance.”

However he stressed, “It is radio more than any other medium, however, that is uniquely positioned to bring communities together and promote positive dialogue for change.” Cuffie added, “There is no doubt that where social media and audience fragmentation can easily place populations in media-bubbles of like-minded people, radio can serve to bring us together.”

Noting the theme for this year’s celebration is “Radio is You,” the minister said this theme, “certainly resonates with many countries in the developing world where the radio continues to be the main source of information, education and entertainment, especially for the less privileged.”

As he acknowledged the long history of radio operations in TT which began with a single station during war time to today’s scenario where approximately 36 radio stations compete for bandwidth on the available spectrum, Cuffie observed, “It is this proliferation of radio stations that, for better and sometimes for worse, helps shape the national dialogue, and to which we remain indebted for the valuable service they perform.” He noted the sterling contributions of former radio personalities such as Holly Betaudier, Kathleen Davis (“Aunty Kay”), Raffie Knowles, Dave Lamy, Barbara Assoon, Brenda de Silva, Sharon Pitt, Dennis Mc- Comie and Hans Hanoomansingh

And since government is a major prize sponsor, it could be aiding and abetting in the piracy of songs. In a statement issued on the weekend, the foundation released a resolution it passed during a meeting on January 31 at the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) headquarters at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas, in which it urged artistes to publish and submit for clearance, in order to determine they are not infringing any melody or lyrics without permission of the owner.

Explaining what the resolution meant, NCF president Dr Vijay Ramlal said, “I think that 99 percent of the songs in in this year’s competition were copies or remixes of Bollywood songs. None of the competitors have permission from song owners to use said songs.

“Everyone knows that this has been going on for some time and it has been ignored, but this is the first time it is being pursued in this way.

People are asking why now, but there is no timing for these things.

More and more Bollywood artists have started to pursue the matter legally, and, it is in the artiste’s interest to protect themselves.” Ramlal said that in the absence of a written agreement between local artistes and foreign song owners, owners can take legal action against local artistes.

Action can range from courts injunctions to stop the use of a song, to local artistes having to pay money earned through use of a song, to foreign song owners.

Hypothetically, winners of Saturday’s competition would never see their prize money if Bollywood song owners decided to take action, the NCF president said.

Ramlal named one Bollywood artiste, Kumar Sanu, who is pursuing similar matters through the TT Copyright Collection Organisation.

Ramlal said Trinidad and Tobago is a member the World Intellectual Property Organisation and breach of copyright is a significant factor seriously considered by United States and Canadian investors, in deciding whether to invest in a country.

He added that the NCF recently met with Culture Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly after passing the resolution, and she assured them, the matter would be looked into.

The statement said, on behalf of the citizens and on his own behalf, Dr Keith Rowley has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Calypso Queen of the World, McCartha Sandy- Lewis, for her historic and outstanding achievement in winning the ‘Album de Musique de Monde’, World Music Album of the Year Award at the French ‘Victoires de la Musique’ Award ceremony.

The event was held last Thursday in Paris, France.

Rowley said Calypso Rose’s winning album Far From Home was released last year and continues to enjoy phenomenal success both in Trinidad and Tobago and abroad. The Prime Minister acknowledged Calypso Rose’s remarkable achievement of being the first soca artiste to attain the prestigious award.

“Calypso Rose has consistently delivered high quality music and entertaining performances to a wide variety of audiences during her long career.

Trinidad and Tobago is justifiably proud of her latest accomplishment.” The statement noted that Rose’s single, Leave Me Alone, from the winning album is one of the most popular songs circulating on the airwaves and played at Carnival fetes this year.

Mohammed said members of the newly- formed group, Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago (MOTT), were yet to see the proposals to the amendments to the legislation in its entirety.

The amendments are expected to be laid tomorrow in the House of Representatives.

“The only plan that we really have is to ask for it (proposals) to go out for public consultation and for us to have a meeting with the Attorney General (Faris Al-Rawi) as well,” Mohammed said.

He said the MOTT will write to the AG this week requesting a meeting with him.

“If we had the draft we could have given a more detailed position on the issue or suggestions as to what we are okay with in the legislation and what we are not okay with,” Mohammed added.

He agreed with head of the Islamic Front Umar Abdullah, that several of the proposals contained in the anti-terrorism legislation infringed on the movement of Muslims.

“You can’t assume that you are going to commit a terrorist act and then charge you,” he said in relation to one of the bill’s proposals.

“When you judge people, you have to have evidence,” he said.

“There are a lot of scenarios where people may want to go to Syria and to go to other countries that might be restricted.” At present, Mohammed said there were several humanitarian groups doing relief work at hospitals and shelters in Syria during its ongoing civil war.

“If people in Trinidad want to go there to be involved in this type of work, then you cannot tell them not to go because if Trinidad was to have a disaster tomorrow, you would be depending on foreign people to come in and help us as well, just as in Haiti.” Mohammed added: “While we have Trinidad people who are going out and joining ISIS, at the same time you cannot judge all of them in the same way.

America has people who joined ISIS, England, France, all over have people who have joined ISIS but at the same time they did not tell their citizens that they cannot go to this country and that country.”

He was relieved of his firearm by one of the arresting officers, Newsday was told.

He was later taken away by his colleagues to the Fraud Squad office in San Fernando where he remains in custody. A file is expected to be submitted today to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for directions on how to proceed.

Newsday learnt that the officer who has two years service, was wanted in connection with multiple counts of forgery including uttering false documents, obtaining credit via a valuable security (altering cheques and cashing it), larceny and money laundering.

At 9 am yesterday, police sources said, under the leadership of Ag Snr Supt Totaram Dookie who is the Head of Fraud Squad, a team of officers including Sgt Bachoo, Cpls Badree, Bassarath and WPC Adams went to the San Fernando Police Station and placed the surprised constable under arrest.

Following the arrest, two houses — one in Ramnanan Street, Marabella and the other in Lower Hillside, San Fernando — were searched and a number of household appliances seized. It is believed the items were purchased with money falsely obtained. The officer, Newsday was told, has been under investigation for the fraudulent acts allegedly committed over a period of time against an elderly man known to him.

Responding to a question in the House of Representatives on Monday, Dillon stated the unit is being strengthened with “extra officers who have distinguished themselves so they can address outstanding investigations.” Dillon also said attempts to strengthen law enforcement’s detection rate is also being pursued through the establishment of a DNA database. The minister said a DNA custodian recently came on board .

He also said the Police Service will be introducing additional technical software to aid in the management of homicide investigations. Earlier in the sitting, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2017 was laid in the House. While the Order Paper showed it being listed in Dillon’s name, it was announced as being laid in the name of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi .

The AG first spoke about the bill at a post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on February 2 .

Morgan of Salazar Trace, appeared before Senior Magistrate Gail Gonzales in the First Court and was not called upon to plead as the charge was laid indictably. The magistrate read the charge which alleged that on February 6 at Naparima Mayaro Road in New Grant, he murdered Sambury.

Sambury, 38, who also lived in New Grant on the outskirts of Princes Town, was shot three times outside a supermarket. Sambury was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he subsequently died. Sgt Stephen Ragbir of the Princes Town Police Station laid the charge.

Yesterday, Morgan’s attorney John Heath told the magistrate that his client had received threats from relatives of the deceased. Saying he was concerned for Morgan’s safety, Heath added he would write the Commissioner of Prisons on the issue of protection (while his client is in custody).

The State has 12 witnesses in the matter, court prosecutor Sgt Roger Richardson said. Morgan was remanded into custody as murder is a non-bailable offence, and the case was adjourned to March 13.

CWU head Joseph Rem, said 200 to 300 retirees were affected.

He accused RBC Trust Company of not making timely payments of pension orgdue increases to these sums.

“We had a settlement for the 2011 to 2013 collective bargaining period.

Our pensions are pegged to our final salary and since August last year, based on the 2011 to 2013 collective agreement, RBC has not paid the adjusted pension for 200 to 300 retirees.

“They also have to pay a retroactive payment.

This lump-sum payment should plug the shortfall in past payment of pension calculated at a lower salary than a worker’s final salary, upon which the true quantum should be paid.“ Remy said that against that background, the CWU has embarked on a series of protests demanding that RBC honour its commitment to those retirees. “RBC, to us, is really disrespecting the citizens of TT. In the face of their refusal and their contempt towards retirees, they want to lay off 200- plus workers. They want to challenge the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board. And they came and raised their bank charges this week here. We are totally upset with RBC.

We are demanding that the Pension Fund Management Committee take steps to have RBC removed as trustee for our pension fund.” He said for each of the TSTT and Telco Pension Funds, this committee is made up of representatives of both the union and each respective company. The Telco Pension Committee is chaired by an independent person, while the TSTT Pension Committee is chaired by TSTT’s vice-president for industrial relations/human resources.

Remy said if each of 200 retirees is owed $36,000 to $50,000 in a lump sum, the full cost would be $800,000 to $1 million. Saying that actuaries have given clearance for the two pension funds to pay out these lump sums and to increase the monthly pension paid, Remy said RBC must now do so. While the bank is laying off workers, he said the hike in bank charges means it should instead be ensuring it has hired enough staff to process these pension payments.

Remy bemoaned that even as RBC staff had waited five years for the Bank, Insurance and General Workers Union to be approved as representatives by the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board, the bank management is now challenging this by filing a judicial review in the courts.

RBC told Newsday the 200 retirees would get their pension hike after February.

RBC’s corporate communications senior manager, Nicole Duke-Westfield, said in a statement the bank was aware of the union’s concerns over the timely payment of adjusted pensions.

She said RBC always tries to work with clients, in this case TSTT, to provide apt products, services and advice to suit their financial needs.

“In the case of our trustee service, our clients would normally provide direction about payment amounts, and RBC uses this direction to issue cheques. “This process is not affected by the number of RBC