Dieffenthaller is one of the creative minds behind the successful local soap opera “Westwood Park” which ran from 1997 to 2004.

Public Administration and Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie announced Cabinet’s decision on this matter last month. He said the new TTT will focus on local programming and Government information.

While Dieffenthaller supported the intention to increase local content on television, she said, “To say the least…we have not seen or heard of the entire plan nor do we know what the budget consideration is.” She also said no one knows, “what the selection process will be or who will be on charge of this.” Dieffenthaller also said no mention has been made about “the plan for sustainability” of the new entity.

She opined, “If the wrong people from another century are going to try to go backwards, then this is a futile endeavour.” She reiterated while the talk is welcome and long overdue, “if they’re not walking the talk, then it’s just talk.” Diffenthaller said the Filmmakers Collaborative of TT will be expressing its views on the plan in due course.

Comprising bpTT ’s interns and the company’s Brighter Prospects scholarship students, the group engaged in lively conversation with the Canadian diplomatic team led by High Commissioner Carla Hogan Rufelds.

The team was captivated by the wide range of topics discussed, which included public and political affairs, advocacy, trade, consular work, development assistance, security and personal experiences.

Rufelds was enthused about the visit. “I am really impressed by the cadre of talent present around this table and it was a pleasure for our team to discuss how the high commission works and some of our key focus areas.

It’s commendable that beyond supporting their educational pursuits and providing valuable work experience, bpTT is exposing these young people to a broader understanding of how the world works and the innumerable opportunities that are open to them. This exposure will serve them well as they grow into their expected roles as future leaders.” The young team was guided by bpTT ’s community sustainability and stakeholder relations adviser Joel Primus and human resources recruitment co-ordinator Elisabeth Latiff-Russell.

Primus gave some insight into the company’s perspective on the meeting: “Over the years, we’ve facilitated meetings for our interns and scholarship recipients with persons in high office, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General.

We see these young people as more than students and future workers. They are citizens of this nation and it is important to provide them with perspectives beyond their academic focus. It is critical that they see the bigger picture, understand the importance of building relationships and networks and their personal role in fashioning a better future for Trinidad and Tobago.” BPTT ’s internship programme enrols the brightest students who are entering their final year of studies at university, while Brighter Prospects is one of bpTT ’s flagship education programmes that offer scholarships to tertiary level students from Mayaro and environs. The young people who met with the Canadian High Commissioner represented diverse areas of study including engineering, economics, law, communications, geology, dentistry, criminology and geography.

The experience was enlightening and inspirational for Renelle Kissoon, who is currently studying criminology and criminal justice at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine. “The discussions with the high commissioner and her team were very informative and revealing.

Understanding the nature of relationships between nations has given me an insight into the concept of diplomacy and collaboration for international development,” Kissoon said.

“The discussions on topics like reform to our criminal justice system, human rights and diversification of agriculture showed just how much we can tap into international resources to facilitate our nation’s progress. I am really happy that bpTT has facilitated these discussions for us.

I am even more energised than before.

Following the teams’s last training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva yesterday morning before their departure for Panama City, head coach Dennis Lawrence had before him a 23-man squad that was slowly dusting themselves off and regrouping before their next assignment.

The campaign has come down to this – their 2018 Russia World Cup ambitions could be officially over after 90 minutes vs Panama.

TT ’s coaching staff sought to lift the spirits of the camp yesterday from the tremendous disappointment following their horrid showing in a 2-1 loss to Honduras on Friday. Assistant coach Stern John recalled in the 2006 campaign facing Guatemala at home and needing a result.

John netted a double in a memorable late 3-2 victory which saw Russell Latapy also return to the squad.

“It’s not impossible,” John told TT FA Media.

“I’ve been there before, we’ve been there before as players and as a nation so we know what it is to comeback from the dead. I remember looking at the clock around the 80th minute and thinking something has to happen but it’s not looking good at all for us. But we had that belief and we didn’t throw the towel in at any point.

I think it’s a similar scenario now just that we know what the situation is before the first whistle goes,” John said.

“We’ve got to go there thinking the result is within reach but we have to pull it all together and fight it out right down until the last whistle. The squad has players that can help us get the result we need in Panama. But mental strength and a desire to do it is what we’ll have to show on Tuesday,” he added. Experienced current national team defender Radanfah Abu Bakr opened the scoring for TT in a 2-1 win over Panama at the same venue in a friendly in 2015. And looking at the scenario from a team standpoint, he knows it’s make or break for the team on Tuesday.

“This could be the last World Cup campaign for a lot of us. Some of us are approaching 30 or over 30 already so we know this may be our last shot. It’s of course mathematically possible, We have to get three points against Panama and taking that momentum into the last two games. We have to recognise that this is our last chance,” he said.

Kick off tomorrow is 9:05pm (10:05pm TT time).

Dead is Ronald Marshall of Enterprise Street, Chaguanas.

According to police reports at about 1.30pm Marshall was liming with friends near his carwash at Africa Grounds, Enterprise when a man armed with a gun approached the group.

The man pointed the gun at Marshall and shot him several times to the chest. He died on the spot. A district medical officer pronounced Marshall dead and ordered the body be removed to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy is expected to be performed today.

Police say the killing was gang related. Homicide Region Three police officers are continuing investigations.

Its diploma in Caribbean Liturgical Music Studies is a twoyear programme developed specifically to improve the standard of music in the church by training peeople in the elements of music, the liturgy and choir administration. Courses include music theory and practical, fundamentals of Christian worship, choral techniques and the use of software in music.

The Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education is a comprehensive four-year GATE -approved programme designed to train and empower music teachers.

Courses include the classroom management, aural training, music therapy, ethnomusicology and music pedagogy.

For persons who are interested in music but do not have the required qualifications, CREDI also offers a one-year pre-music course designed as a bridging programme. Successful candidates can qualify to move on to CREDI’s other programmes.

For more info: 389-9745 or email musicprogram.credi@ gmail.com.

In the statement, the ministry said this represents a landmark commitment on Government’s part, by reaffirming TT’s commitment to the protection of the ozone layer as well as taking into consideration the effects of ozone depleting substances on the earth’s climate. The ministry said ratification of Kigali Amendment further strengthens efforts to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in TT, which are climate warming pollutants.

The ministry said its National Ozone Unit has begun this process with the adaptation of climate and ozone friendly technology in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector. The ministry said the aim of this objective is to have consumers adopt more environmentally friendly technology, as well as have a well-trained cadre of technicians to service and repair equipment and appliances.

The ministry highlighted a ten percent reduction of the HFC baseline in 2015 and assistance provided to local manufacturing facilities to transform their production methods to more climate friendly chemicals in the aerosol, foam manufacturing and agricultural sectors. The ministry also said national compulsory labelling standards for refrigerant cylinders have also been implemented.

Sinanan made the disclosure 24 hours before the Land and Physical Infrastructure Joint Select Committee (JSC) of the Parliament begins the first of three hearings it will hold regarding the seabridge today. The Authority was due to submit its report over the weekend. However Sinanan told Newsday the Authority has been given “more time” to complete its report. He said he expects the report would be provided to him, “by the end of the week.” The minister said some of the issues the Authority is looking at could feature in the JSC’s deliberations.

Sinanan also said he has not aware of the status of Cabinet appointed investigator Christian Mouttet’s enquiry into the procurement of the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 vessels for the seabridge. “He (Sinanan) reports to the Prime Minister,” Sinanan said. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced Mouttet’s appointment on August 15. Mouttet has been given a 30 day deadline in which to submit a report to Rowley. Sinanan, who will appear before the JSC tomorrow, reiterated that he welcomes any investigation into the procurement of the two vessels.

Efforts to contact Mouttet where unsuccessful but senior government officials indicated that he remains on target to submit his report on time. Last month, Port Authority chairman Alison Lewis confirmed that Mouttet met with the Authority’s board of directors and was being provided with documents.

Bridgemans Services Group vice-president Andrew Purdey also said he met with Mouttet last month over the course of two days. Purdey said all the information Bridgemans has on the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 were provided to Mouttet. He described Mouttet as “a professional” and said Bridgemans would supply any further information if Mouttet requires them to do so.

A total of 47 people will appear before the JSC between today and Wednesday. Today’s hearing and tomorrow’s hearing take place from 1 pm at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre.

Lewis and members of the Authority’s board of directors; former chairman Christine Sahadeo and former board members; Works and Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary Sonia Francis- Yearwood and other ministry officials and TV6 reporter Mark Bassant, are scheduled to appear before the committee today.

In addition to Sinanan, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Fitzgerald Hinds; Cadiz; Purdey; Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union president Michael Annisette; Intercontinental Shipping Limited managing director John Powell; representatives of the TT Inter-Island Transport Company; Ken Shipping and Marine Services Limited managing director Lester Kenny; marine consultant Alfred McMillan and attorney Nyree Alfonso, are due to appear before the JSC tomorrow On Wednesday, the JSC will continue its enquiry on the seabridge at the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex in Scarborough from 1 pm. Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles; THA Minority Leader Watson Duke; former Tobago Chamber of Commerce president Dianne Hadad and representatives from the Inter-Isle Truckers and Traders Association are among the 11 people who will appear before the JSC on Wednesday. Prior to this on Wednesday, the committee will hold an enquiry on the state of agriculture and fisheries in Tobago at the complex at 9 am.

The JSC is chaired by Independent Senator Stephen Creese.

Other members include Energy Minister Franklin Khan, Sports Minister Daryl Smith and Opposition Senator Wade Mark.

After these hearings, the JSC will compile a report which will be sent to the House for debate.

Sinanan will have a certain time period within which to accept or reject the recommendations of the committee.

Speaking at a news conference at the MSJ’s headquarters, St Joseph Village, San Fernando yesterday, Abdulah said the challenges facing Petrotrin stemmed from the company having to abide by government policies implemented by the board.

He said Petrotrin’s oil production has been falling considerably and its ageing infrastructure carries the risk of safety and the possibility of leaks polluting the Gulf of Paria and the Venezuelan coastline which, he said, would have huge consequences.

Prime Minister Dr.

Keith Rowley had previously said Petrotrin had run up huge debts, the first of which becomes due in 2019 to the tune of US $850 million in one payment – and another smaller payment due shortly afterwards.

On Friday at a news conference at the Piarco International Airport shortly before leaving for the US for a medical check-up, Rowley announced the names of the new directors. He said he hoped the new board would be able to restructure and turn around the company within the next two to three years. But what many did not know, according to Abdulah, was that he was also asked by the prime minister to consider being appointed as a member of the board. Abdulah said that he was asked to consider the position via a telephone call from on August 29.

“He thought I could bring the necessary competence, skills and knowledge that would assist Petrotrin,” Abdulah said.

He told reporters the request came as a surprise to him and while he thanked Rowley for the offer, he requested time to consider. The MSJ leader was among a team appointed to be part of a Petrotrin review committee that would meet with the standing committee on energy to discuss and analyse recommendations that would assist with the challenges at Petrotrin. On June 21, Abdulah said at meeting between both committees, which was hosted at the Prime Minister’s St Clair office, he and members of his team were not given a fair chance to present their recommendations and they were only allowed into the meeting for a ten to 15 minute period before the meeting ended. He said while considering the offer from the prime minister before making his final decision, he needed the responses to two crucial questions from Rowley.

“I asked the prime minister ‘who is chairman?’ Also if Cabinet considered and agreed to the recommendations of the review committee with respect to the governance arrangements we had proposed.” Abdulah said he was told by Rowley that Cabinet would decide who the chairman was and the board would have a certain autonomy with respect to decision making but would have to function within the ambit of government policy. Abdulah said given Petrotrin’s financial position, there would also have to be a clear input from the Ministry of Finance. He said he politely turned down the offer as it was clear to him the recommendations of the review committee were not considered. The recommendations, he said, entailed “governance arrangements” to enable the company to have consistent, focused mandate, facilitate long term planning and avoid the frequent changes in board and management. “The members of the board of directors are selected through a process which provides for comprehensive and transparent input and feedback from key stakeholders.

The second recommendation listed included organisational structures.

The Arima school which has had several issues with the construction of a new building since before 2010, is now facing electrical problems. In 2012 the school was closed for the new term because parents did not want their children on the compound as the buildings were dilapidated. The Education Ministry constructed and installed pre-engineered classrooms which housed infants to standard three students while standards four and five remained in the concrete structure of the original school.

In September 2013, first year to the standard three students had to stay home for more than two weeks because of the previous year’s unresolved issues with the buildings. During the July/August vacation period this year, the school’s cafeteria was burnt.

When Newsday visited the Pommegranate Avenue, Phase One school, one workman was seen doing minor work. The area where the steel frame for the new school is being built, suggested no construction was done for some time as bush has overtaken most of the walking area.

One parent said, “Tomorrow (today) the parents would be protesting as we are fed up of the same thing every year.” In response to the fears communicated by parents concerning the reopening of the school, Minister of Education Anthony Garcia said, “There is nothing preventing the school from being reopened. After we visited the Arima North Secondary School, we went to Malabar Government Primary and the contractor is doing the final cleaning work. There is no problem associated with that school.” When asked about the resumption of work on the new school, Garcia said, “I have spoken to the contractors and they have agreed to resume operations shortly.” Garcia also explained the burnt area of the Malabar school was refurbished and the school was going to be ready.

When told parents wanted to protest outside the school this morning, Garcia said, “They would look like fools.”

Some students will be anticipating the opportunity to relay the stories of their holiday exploits with great excitement, exaggeration and embellishments, while others will be worried, nervous and anxious as they embark on adventures into the unfamiliar territory of a new school with its unknown faces and high expectations.

The educational staff – the teachers, the heads of departments, the classroom assistants, the clerical workers, and all the other employees who keep the wheels of the education system spinning are not immune to those mixed emotions. That joy parents have when the holidays are coming to an end knowing that soon your children’s constant complaints of being bored or hungry will stop, your ears will get a rest from hearing their choice of music or worse – the tuneless singing to the music, or the concern about their safety.

They too will also be worried, nervous and anxious. The overall health and well-being of educational staff is a serious matter, but unfortunately it does not get the attention that it deserves. A study was undertaken by the NASWTU Union of 4,908 teachers in the UK and six in ten teachers said that in the last 12 months the job had negatively affected their mental health and one in ten teachers were taking antidepressants to cope with work-related stresses.

As the daughter of a retired teacher, I know only too well how much hard work most teachers put in on a day-to-day basis, and the sacrifices they make to cope with their ever-increasing workloads. I have seen my mother come home completely exhausted after a day at work.

She was teaching classes that were too large, having to cope with administrative issues, office politics, non-functioning or inadequate equipment, and give extra attention to those children struggling with lower level intellectual cognizance and behavioural challenges. She was teacher, social worker, counsellor, mediator and sometimes nurse while at school, and then come home to be a mother to her own moody, often mischievous, adolescent children.

She would prepare dinner, listen to our woes and protestations, help with homework (we decided to do it), deal with our outbursts of sibling rivalry and our father’s shenanigans, and still have do lesson planning or marking students’ assignments. I feel exhausted just thinking about it.

The demands of teaching are unique. Educational staff are expected to not only set examples for their students, but to respond to their needs sensitively, compassionately and empathetically even as they cope with issues of workloads, staff shortages, redundancies, lack of resources and bullying. All of which can take a toll on the mental well-being of the staff and some will succumb to alcohol and drug misuse, prescription medication dependency, self-harm, suicide ideation or destructive behaviours.

It is evident that to achieve high-quality education, the emotional and mental health of the staff must be factored into any plans, policies or practice.

Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UK-based disability and mental health specialist advisor. She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society. Contact her at yr@ efficacyeva.com