Remember the days when your grandmother rubbed your skin with homemade coconut oil? Or during the holidays you were given aloes and egg for a good purging? And what about shining bush tea? A good salve was often made from it to treat certain skin conditions. Well, how about if you can get these same benefits, only this time you won’t have to gag or make monkey faces? All you have to do is step into your shower, infuse your skin with a natural body bar of your choice and moisturise as you desire. 

Rodco Home Essentials has made this possible with its various lines of natural body products designed to treat, heal and reveal the most beautiful skin you did not know even existed, says founder, director at Rodco and creator of the lines, Colleen Malwah-Aqui. She recently visited the T&T Guardian showing off an array of her products, ranging from body butters, candles, oils and scrubs to soaps and lip balms. 

She boasts of all her products being handmade and suitable for use by anyone. That’s probably because they are made with the most natural ingredients and extracts from local fruits, plants and vegetables. In her lines you will find products made from the noni fruit, papaya, mango, caralie, goat milk, grape, orange, lavender, dark chocolate, and even beer. Yep! We did say beer. Her shandy sorrel soap and shandy beer and ginger soaps are actually huge hits among clients. 

She talks about her products being formulated to directly take care of and heal your skin, and so her products do not focus on fragrance or harsh chemicals. “It’s just all natural,” she assures. 

“We tend to focus a lot on fragrance and maybe nothing is wrong with that. But at the same time, do commercial soaps really cater to the various skin types? Are they made to protect the skin and not be harsh to it? Their labels sometimes say so, but after a use, you find your skin is either very dry, rough or sometimes for those with sensitive skin, quite a disaster. So every soap and other products made by Rodco is created to take care of you and give you back that beautiful skin you were born with.” 

How did Malwah-Aqui get involved in this type of business? According to the former fashion designer who originally hails from Tobago, she has always been into handicraft. 

“My life was pretty busy back then. I worked for a garment company and on the side did some of my own designing, making bridal wear, etc. Being very busy, you can forget about doing little important things, like just taking care of your skin. And I realised I needed to do that.” 

At the time the mother of one had two friends who were actively involved in the business of developing natural handmade beauty bars. She used a couple and was extremely satisfied with the results. 

“After using some of their products, my skin actually looked and felt better, so being the curious person that I am, I wanted to find out more. So I continued talking with them and began to do my own research on how to make handmade soap,” Malwah-Aqui related. 

She took a one-day training course with a local chemist at the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri) to educate herself on the chemistry of soap making. The rest she learned through constant research on the internet, books and by trial and error. 

She laughs when she remembers her very first bar—a soap made from the lavender plant. 

“I am no botanist, but I love plants and my favourite is the lavender plant, so of course I went with lavender,” she says through laughter. 

The result was what made her more curious and she began to think about what else she could use to make these soaps. The idea of fruits and vegetables was born. 

An economic investment 

Not only are her soaps a hit among her growing clientele, but their demand for the products has prompted her to develop new shampoos, body washes and a complete men’s line, as well as a mother and baby line to be coming on stream soon. 

But the best part her clients enjoy, she says, is the affordability of her products. “We will not kill you with a high price. In most instances when you hear the word ‘natural,’ you immediately think it must be a pound and a crown, but it is not. We want the use of Rodco’s products to be a lifestyle, not a one-off buy.” 

Malwah-Aqui also now teaches privately and at public organisations when requested. She brags that some of her students follow her footsteps and are opening their own small businesses. 

“That is such a joy to me. Because I have always lived by a personal credo where I believe instead of waiting for someone to hire you, why not hire yourself? It just gives me great pleasure to see them getting up and being creative and doing something they love,” said Malwah-Aqui. 

Asked of her challenges as an entrepreneur and how she overcame them, she says quite simply: “They were always there, but I do not focus on the problem. I focus on the solution and I never doubt myself.” 

Malwah-Aqui is getting ready for the annual Mango Festival on July 5 at the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (Namdevco) compound in Debe. The event is put on by the Network of Rural Women Producers. And she warns: it will be all things mango. “We are talking from food, to hair products, drinks and all things mango.” 

The purpose of the event is to showcase the variety of things that can be done with local fruits and vegetables. 

One can patronise Malwah-Aqui’s products by visiting her workshop at Raphael’s Plaza in Arouca, Bang Bang Home Store, Tobago, Things Natural, Tobago, The Shop at Normandie Hotel and online at www.shellsun.com. Also see her Facebook page/Rodco Home Essentials, for more information, or call 775-0365.

Music has always been a major part of Gerard Placide’s life. The son of talented singers—his father was a lead vocalist in the T&T Police Choir and his mother encouraged him to sing from an early age—it was only natural that music has helped frame his life, lifting him out of the bad times and leading him to success on stage and in the military.

Originally from south Trinidad, Gerard now divides his time between the land of his birth and the United States where he served in the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. 

His most recent homecoming was highlighted by a concert, His-Story, staged at the auditorium of Presentation College, San Fernando, with a supporting cast of family and many of the people who helped shape his vocal talents. 

The event drew a sell-out crowd and was under the patronage of San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein, with several dignitaries in attendance, including Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee and former Culture minister Joan Yuille-Williams.

This was not just a display of musical talents. Gerard, who is candid about struggles he has faced in his life, including homelessness, suicidal tendencies and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), used the event to thank the many people who have helped him along the way. It was also his testimony about making it through the dark days, surviving the many rejections and achieving success.

In recounting the bad times, he admits: “In those days I knew about Jesus but I didn’t know Him.”

Now a celebrated gospel artiste, Gerard willingly speaks about the pitfalls, including a broken marriage and a recent heart wrenching personal loss and how he put it all behind him. He now uses his time and his music to inspire and encourage others, and taking full advantage of his dual citizenship, now actively campaigns for immigration rights and reforms.

Gerard’s musical star began to rise after he migrated to the US in 1997. He began singing on the New York subway and caught the attention of social activist Rev Al Sharpton who invited him sing at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.

He entered the McDonald’s Gospel Fest in 2001. One of the contestants, noting his Trinidadian accent and shabby clothes, tried to discourage him. Gerard silenced her and his other critics by winning the McDonald’s Gospel Soloist Award. He won again the following year and became the first non-American to hold the title for two consecutive years.

The events of 9/11 led to another transformative experience for Gerard, who joined the US Army following the terrorist attacks.

He said: “I wanted to give something back to this country that had given me so much.”

He received a proclamation from the United States Army in 2010 for his service and has had the privilege of singing for many dignitaries around the world including Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, President of the UN 57th General Assembly Julien Hunte, Senator John McCain, former presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, and current President Barack Obama. 

Gerard has shared the stage with gospel greats such as Grammy Awards nominee Vickie Winans, Grammy Award winners Donnie McClurkin and Hezekiah Walker and Dove Award recipients Alvin Slaughter and Norman Hutchins.

Among his prized possessions is the proclamation he received in June 2009 from US House of Representative Congressman Hank Johnson for his work in pushing cross-cultural integration between Caribbean and American nationals. He was presented with the award at the Annual Caribbean American Gospel Concert Series which celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month.

Gerard, who left the US Army last year, is now dividing his time between T&T and the US, focusing on recording new music and keeping up with his social activism.

His recent concert, with many standing ovation performances, include solos by Placide’s sister, Alicia Placide-Goberdhan and younger brother, Rene Placide, a police officer.

One of the emotional high points was a surprise appearance by Rev Peter Regis, who joined Gerard and his brother in a moment that drew a loud response from the crowd. Gerard was unable to hold back the tears of joy as he hugged the popular pastor, taking a few moments compose himself before he resumed singing.

Later, reflecting on his life, Gerard said: “There were a lot of people who turned their backs on me and are waiting for me to fail but there were just as many who have supported and encouraged me along the way.

“I should have failed, but a lot of people made sure that I didn’t.”

The ranks of the Order of the British Empire are Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE). Francisco was made an Officer of the British Empire.

The UK Guardian posted a full list of 2015 recipients from crown dependencies and Commonwealth honours here.

22-year-old New York-based T&T national Shemika Charles has broken the world record for limbo.

Charles first danced her way to a spot in the Guinness World Records back in 2010, when she limboed down to an unbelievable eight-and-a-half inches (the height of a beer bottle), but this latest achievement is on another level.

Watch her bend over backwards, literally, to claim her place in history.

Source: Barcroft TV

John Oliver just upped the ante in his war of videos with ex-Fifa official and ex-Minister of National Security Jack Warner.

The embattled Independent Liberal Party leader is among several powerful figures in global football now facing charges over widespread corruption over the past two decades.

Two weeks ago, Warner produced a paid political ad called The Gloves Are Offg, to which Oliver responded on Tuesday by airing his own piece, “he Mittens of Disapproval Are On.

Last week, in response to Oliver's riff, Warner posted a short video that used as its score a YouTube video literally titled Epic and Dramatic Trailer Music. 

In the final segment of Sunday’s Last Week Tonight, Oliver used it to score his own response.

“Because, you have magnificent music under yours, well played,” he said. “Well, I see your music choice, and I raise you fire!”

Oliver then demanded an even “more spectacular” video from Warner by next Sunday, or “I will accept your graceless defeat.”

Watch the John Oliver response video below.

The Priority Bus Route (PBR) has been opened to the public and will remain open until further notice, according to a release from the Ministry of Communication.

The traffic diversion comes as a result of the congestion and inclement weather affecting drivers and commuters.

Rising floodwaters in and around the capital city left commuters attempting to make their way into and out of Port-of-Spain.

There are also reports of flash flooding in parts of south, central and north Trinidad.

A St Mary's College student braves knee-high flood waters outside City Gate, Port of Spain, June 15. Photo: Jeff Mayers

​
But T&T is not under any tropical storm threat, watch or warning, according to meteorologist Shakeer Baig.

The rainfall activity, Baig said in an information bulletin issued today at 12.15 pm, is due to the passage of a tropical wave over the southern Caribbean which is interacting with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

“Over the past few hours, T&T have been experiencing cloudy conditions with periods of rain and showers, some of which have been moderate to heavy in intensity,” Baig said.

Similar conditions were expected continue into this evening.

“Some showers can become heavy and to a lesser extent thundery at times. A decrease in frequency and intensity of rain/showers is expected towards late evening into tonight,” Baig said.

“Localised street or flash flooding is likely in heavy or prolonged downpours and gusty winds may be experienced in the vicinity of showers or thundershowers. There is also the likelihood of landslides/landslips in elevated areas, particularly in Tobago,” he added.
 

Still wondering why you couldn't access your favourite websites and Internet services last night? Wonder no more.

Flow has apologised for the outage and is advising customers who are still having issues to contact their official customer service line, 223-3569.

Internet users in T&T, Barbados and Jamaica were affected by a near-total disruption in broadband Internet services on June 14, starting from about 5.30 and continuing until around 10.30 pm.

"The disruption in service occurred during a maintenance procedure which was being conducted by one of our international Internet Service Providers which lost connectivity with their respective ISPs," Flow said in a statement issued on June 15.

The company said it would "work with our Internet access providers to ensure that they provision sufficient alternative capacity to their providers to support our growth, and review their maintenance procedures and operations to ensure there is not a recurrence."

While most Internet services were impacted, "locally cached services such as Google, certain YouTube content and Cricinfo for example, as well as services delivered using local peering, remained unaffected," the release said.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

With his feet and hands bounded, Barrackpore father Ramcharan Maharaj was helpless as he was shot dead by bandits who invaded his family home early Monday morning.

Police said Maharaj, 45, the brother of Cpl Vishuamath Maharaj, was asleep at his home at Cunjal Road while his wife Amelia, 37, was preparing breakfast and his son, Gabriel, 17, was in his bedroom.

Around 2 am, when Amelia, a traffic warden, opened their front door, she was ambushed by two bandits, one with dreadlocks and the other with a gun.

The bandits tied up the family using plastic straps before filling several bags with jewelry, cash, perfumes, wallets, purses and cellphones. 

They also took two television sets. Before leaving, the gunman shot Maharaj in his right temple and escaped in his silver Toyota Corolla car, which was later found abandoned in Lengua.

Recalling the incident yesterday, Gabriel, a form six student of Naparima College, San Fernando, said his father, a truck driver at Gosine Enterprises, had to leave home at 2.30 am to reach a quarry in Sangre Grande. 

He said he was chatting on the phone with his girlfriend when one of the bandits walked into his room. 

“As my mom opened the front door and turned around, two men came in and pushed her on the couch. 

“It was like they were waiting outside for her to open the door. I was on the phone with my girlfriend and I heard mumbling outside, then someone opened my door. 

“I turned around a few seconds later, I saw a man and he said ‘Soldier, turn around.’ 

“I put a pillow over my head and turn over, and he took a tie strap and tied my hands together. 

“He closed the door and went outside where he had already tied up my mother and father.

“They came back to my room, ransacked it, emptied all the compartments in my wardrobe, took all my gold, clothes and perfumes. 

“I heard when a man asked my mother where the car keys were and she pointed them out on the wall. 

“They started the car and I heard the back door closed. As I came out to see about my mom, the man said ‘Soldier, go back inside,’ so I went back to my room and he tied my hands and feet together behind my back.

“A few minutes after I heard a gunshot and a car driving away. My hands were sweaty because I was nervous so I wriggled my hands out of the tie-strap and went to help my mom. 

“When we went inside the next room, we saw my dad lying in a pool of blood,” Gabriel said. 

Maharaj’s father, Kissoondath Maharaj, 72, believes it was not a mere robbery and his son knew his killers. 

He said having robbed the family, there was no reason to shoot his son who was tied up in his bedroom.

Often when it comes to politics many young people in this country refuse to have an opinion or even a desire to vote on election day. 

However, in 2015 this state of affairs cannot continue. The upcoming election places the nation at a crossroads in our development history. 

It presents the nation with the opportunity to elect a government which has the fortitude to make crucial policy decisions even if unpopular at the moment or to continue the debilitating cycle of individualistic hand-out politics. 

As such these elections will significantly impact the future of young people in particular and they must allow their voices to be heard both at the ballot box and in an evaluation of the issues.

In order to make the right choice young citizens may find it useful to evaluate party positions against five primary dimensions of the development agenda likely to impact them most.

The first involves the economy. The quality of fiscal management will influence the future handling of education, employment opportunities, cost of living, housing as well as the standard of living. 

We must select an administration who can best manage the GATE mechanism, create an environment of sustainable job growth, have the will to honour allowance payments to national scholars on time as well as accelerate the diversification of the economy. The oil and gas heydays are gone, we must find alternatives quickly.

The second dimension relates to national security. 

On this front parties must show that they can put the national interest above narrow party rhetoric. 

The nation’s borders remained unprotected when the incumbent administration cancelled its predecessor’s order for OPVS only to purchase OPVS of a different make at the close of its term. 

There must be sufficiently feasible plans for the simplification of the process to appoint a commissioner of police, new model crime fighting technology as well as methods to clean up the police service to restore confidence and improve detection.

Healthcare forms the third dimension. 

This necessitates not only building new hospitals but government aspirants must demonstrate that they will have the capacity to ensure that patients are treated with dignity, a reduction in waiting times, adequate drugs for chronic and HIV patients, safe maternity and surgical procedures and a comprehensive prevention mechanism for chronic diseases. Young people must be mindful of the treatment of this issue, as it will affect their life expectancy and quality and cost of care.

Technology is another major issue. Development in this sphere must go beyond a mere distribution of laptops to pupils but instead involve a capacity-building exercise. A new government must commit to improving bandwidth and the national digital backbone platform to facilitate high speed data and connectivity. T&T must seriously treat with this issue in order to compete in this age.

The final dimension represents the capacity for good governance and respect for the rule of law. Without this the nation will be faced with situation of collapsed values and institutions which will militate against development. 

We must elect a prime minister who can effuse strength and good judgment in making appointments. 

Firing ministers after public outcry is not good enough. The buck must stop with the PM. Whoever is elected must be able to respect the separation of powers and due process and engage the parliament for the nation good as opposed to partisan interest. 

A truly people-centered approach to constitutional reform must be embarked upon, the need for which have been amply aroused by this government.

Therefore, in gauging development it is clear that the concept goes beyond box drains, road paving and ten-days to encompass the wider macro context to which the voter must have regard. 

Frankly, the incumbent’s performance in all five dimensions aforementioned remains severely lacking and begs the question of the suitability and sustainability of their governance model. 

Young citizens must let their voices be heard and demand discussion on real issues affecting them and refuse to be ensnared in propaganda and character assassinations which are cheap substitutes for debate and which are used to avoid any real challenges to the debilitating national status quo which is detrimental to future development. 

A failure to engage on such a level and a failure to participate in elections is tantamount to irresponsibility on the part of our young citizens.

Vaughn Thomas,

Sangre Grande

In the past two days, the service from both WASA and T&TEC in the Gittensdale community in Glencoe has been exceptional and requires public commendation. 

On Sunday morning, a massive leak along the road was repaired within two hours by a crew who were prepared and equipped to deal with the situation. 

The work WASA has done in the community cannot be understated. Not so long ago, it was not uncommon to spend two or three days a week without a supply of water and water trucks were a feature of everyday life. I often used this medium to plead to the authorities to improve the service in the area. 

However, in just two short years, WASA’s improved water supply to the area has converted water tanks into decorative pieces—they are hardly ever used. 

I hope that this level of service is extended to residents across the country who cry out for this essential service. 

On Monday morning, three T&TEC technicians were undeterred by the constant and torrential rain in their efforts to remove an old utility pole. 

Their conduct was extremely professional and thankfully, they observed all health and safety precautions under the inclement weather conditions. 

It is easy to fall into the trap of writing only when things don’t get done, but these examples of almost heroic service must not go unnoticed. 

Abbigail Ajim,

via email

The process of economic development does not just centre on the ability of countries and their firms to make more of the same goods and services they already produce. Most of the successful cases of development around the world have been associated with the capacity of countries to produce new and better quality goods and services — that is, to engage in processes of productive transformation that stimulate economic development. As important as it is, focusing on increasing efficiency with which production is carried out — a characteristic of a static approach to economics, of ‘doing more with less’ — is not enough: Catching up with advanced countries may require a dynamic process of productive transformation (Schumpeter, from IDB’s Rethinking Productive Development).

The activities of past and present governments of T&T — negative listing, encouragement to improve technologies etc — fall under the area of increasing the economic efficiency of the on-shore sector, which have not done enough to initiate a productive transformation necessary to diversify the economy — a failure of the market to grasp opportunities in a facilitated environment.

Economic performance of a country is usually indicated by the technological complexity of its exports and ability to use these skills to expand into new and higher quality products and services. In our case, export performance is dominated by the energy sector, which provides some 90 per cent of the foreign exchange earned by the country. Further, this sector is driven by foreign investment and its technology. Hence, our export performance based on the products from our natural resources gives no indication of our own economic performance; our low complexity non-energy exports.

If then, we were to consider the production of new and better quality goods and services in our diversification thrust, the selection of sectors in which we place our efforts is the first policy decision; some consider this to be the elephant in the room — we all know it is there, it has to be addressed systematically, but we ignore it — very easily done when the energy sector is performing well. Successive governments appear to have made choices of sectors for this economic development/diversification; tourism, marine-ship repair, IT, financial services, added value petrochemicals and even downstream aluminium. But to date these choices are mere palliative as we continue to ignore the elephant in the room.

It is indeed possible for the productive sector of a country to perform this economic transformation on its own as it leverages its productive capabilities in current products into other sectors that require similar capabilities — so expanding its range of products. However, according to Prof Ricardo Hausmann, the skills of our energy sector, the engine of the economy, are ring fenced and are of no use in other sectors of the economy. However, most countries that have succeeded in transforming their economies implemented deliberate development strategies and policies that enhanced their capacity to upgrade and expand their products. What this infers is that governments have to play a defining role in this economic transformation. Unfortunately, the creation of sectors dealing with new products is risky and is grounded in less sharply delineated theories; the literature shows that there is no one size or approach that fits all. We need to start, for example, with a template as suggested by Eztzkowitz in his Triple Helix, identify the parameters that also define the strengths and weaknesses in our economy and fill in the blanks in our diversification policy as we proceed.

This basic template has been used by Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and even from early by the US. However, the details of the processes involved in the various countries differ depending on the initial local capabilities and capacities. What this says to us is that there is a set of integrated processes in which we have to engage to bring about this economic development, diversification. The first concerns understanding how the present on-shore economy works (see Lloyd Best), its strengths and weaknesses, its adaptability and in particular how the last has been influenced/constrained by our socio-economic history. For example, it is widely believed that our private and financial sectors are risk averse as regards investment. Since the creation of these envisioned sectors involves higher risks than the economy is accustomed to, any development thrust has to counteract this characteristic, has to provide some risk alleviation so that the current private sector can participate. Again, our economists, in recognition of this characteristic, have over the years been recommending that part of the rents received from the energy sector be allocated to building an economy that can produce better quality and new goods and services — something we have been unable to do though we have managed to save a bit in the Heritage Stabilisation Fund (HSF).

This understanding of our socio-economy can enable the top level design of the development system, based on the Triple Helix, which is particular to our circumstances. However the Triple Helix is implemented, it must continuously generate new and innovative ideas, goods and services. The next process is the initial choice of sectors which the economy has to address. The first step in this process is to try to identify potential or latent comparative advantages that for some reason the current private sector has not exploited. If these exist then government, by a suite of vertical policies, should attempt to encourage the private sector’s involvement — seek to overcome the constraints that prevented the private sector’s exploitation. Since knowledge and innovation are crucial inputs to global competitiveness, these vertical policies/interventions have to include the creation of requisite knowledge centres. Brazil created its R&D unit, Embrapa, when it decided to improve its agricultural sector, which has now become one of the largest exporters of food in the world. It is common knowledge that our country possesses a fine cocoa and that UWI is the repository of important genetic knowledge on cocoa. Also, two eminent bankers, Messrs Ewart Williams and Richard Young, are attempting to make the perceived comparative advantage of our International Finance Centre into regional if not global competitiveness. Possibly, these are comparative advantages we can exploit, if both the related constraints to their exploitation to date can be overcome and we can innovate.

The next step is to try to identify new industries or technologies that, for example, address the emerging global problems or the future path of the global economy. This is the more difficult and even the more risky aspect of the decision on the choice of sectors for development. For example, one of my co-authors of a recent paper chose to work in the area of energy efficiency. He identified that electric motors are the largest users of electrical energy. His work in the area produced a patent for a device which improves the efficiency of electric motors. This approach has to be widened and put on a more formal basis. When the technologies/industries are selected then the details of our version of the Triple Helix can be fleshed out to support the required acquisition of knowledge, its implementation and generation of new ideas/products/services.

Editor’s note: Mary King is an economist, former Senator and former Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs. 

The process of economic development does not just centre on the ability of countries and their firms to make more of the same goods and services they already produce. Most of the successful cases of development around the world have been associated with the capacity of countries to produce new and better quality goods and services — that is, to engage in processes of productive transformation that stimulate economic development. As important as it is, focusing on increasing efficiency with which production is carried out — a characteristic of a static approach to economics, of ‘doing more with less’ — is not enough: Catching up with advanced countries may require a dynamic process of productive transformation (Schumpeter, from IDB’s Rethinking Productive Development).

The activities of past and present governments of T&T — negative listing, encouragement to improve technologies etc — fall under the area of increasing the economic efficiency of the on-shore sector, which have not done enough to initiate a productive transformation necessary to diversify the economy — a failure of the market to grasp opportunities in a facilitated environment.

Economic performance of a country is usually indicated by the technological complexity of its exports and ability to use these skills to expand into new and higher quality products and services. In our case, export performance is dominated by the energy sector, which provides some 90 per cent of the foreign exchange earned by the country. Further, this sector is driven by foreign investment and its technology. Hence, our export performance based on the products from our natural resources gives no indication of our own economic performance; our low complexity non-energy exports.

If then, we were to consider the production of new and better quality goods and services in our diversification thrust, the selection of sectors in which we place our efforts is the first policy decision; some consider this to be the elephant in the room — we all know it is there, it has to be addressed systematically, but we ignore it — very easily done when the energy sector is performing well. Successive governments appear to have made choices of sectors for this economic development/diversification; tourism, marine-ship repair, IT, financial services, added value petrochemicals and even downstream aluminium. But to date these choices are mere palliative as we continue to ignore the elephant in the room.

It is indeed possible for the productive sector of a country to perform this economic transformation on its own as it leverages its productive capabilities in current products into other sectors that require similar capabilities — so expanding its range of products. However, according to Prof Ricardo Hausmann, the skills of our energy sector, the engine of the economy, are ring fenced and are of no use in other sectors of the economy. However, most countries that have succeeded in transforming their economies implemented deliberate development strategies and policies that enhanced their capacity to upgrade and expand their products. What this infers is that governments have to play a defining role in this economic transformation. Unfortunately, the creation of sectors dealing with new products is risky and is grounded in less sharply delineated theories; the literature shows that there is no one size or approach that fits all. We need to start, for example, with a template as suggested by Eztzkowitz in his Triple Helix, identify the parameters that also define the strengths and weaknesses in our economy and fill in the blanks in our diversification policy as we proceed.

This basic template has been used by Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and even from early by the US. However, the details of the processes involved in the various countries differ depending on the initial local capabilities and capacities. What this says to us is that there is a set of integrated processes in which we have to engage to bring about this economic development, diversification. The first concerns understanding how the present on-shore economy works (see Lloyd Best), its strengths and weaknesses, its adaptability and in particular how the last has been influenced/constrained by our socio-economic history. For example, it is widely believed that our private and financial sectors are risk averse as regards investment. Since the creation of these envisioned sectors involves higher risks than the economy is accustomed to, any development thrust has to counteract this characteristic, has to provide some risk alleviation so that the current private sector can participate. Again, our economists, in recognition of this characteristic, have over the years been recommending that part of the rents received from the energy sector be allocated to building an economy that can produce better quality and new goods and services — something we have been unable to do though we have managed to save a bit in the Heritage Stabilisation Fund (HSF).

This understanding of our socio-economy can enable the top level design of the development system, based on the Triple Helix, which is particular to our circumstances. However the Triple Helix is implemented, it must continuously generate new and innovative ideas, goods and services. The next process is the initial choice of sectors which the economy has to address. The first step in this process is to try to identify potential or latent comparative advantages that for some reason the current private sector has not exploited. If these exist then government, by a suite of vertical policies, should attempt to encourage the private sector’s involvement — seek to overcome the constraints that prevented the private sector’s exploitation. Since knowledge and innovation are crucial inputs to global competitiveness, these vertical policies/interventions have to include the creation of requisite knowledge centres. Brazil created its R&D unit, Embrapa, when it decided to improve its agricultural sector, which has now become one of the largest exporters of food in the world. It is common knowledge that our country possesses a fine cocoa and that UWI is the repository of important genetic knowledge on cocoa. Also, two eminent bankers, Messrs Ewart Williams and Richard Young, are attempting to make the perceived comparative advantage of our International Finance Centre into regional if not global competitiveness. Possibly, these are comparative advantages we can exploit, if both the related constraints to their exploitation to date can be overcome and we can innovate.

The next step is to try to identify new industries or technologies that, for example, address the emerging global problems or the future path of the global economy. This is the more difficult and even the more risky aspect of the decision on the choice of sectors for development. For example, one of my co-authors of a recent paper chose to work in the area of energy efficiency. He identified that electric motors are the largest users of electrical energy. His work in the area produced a patent for a device which improves the efficiency of electric motors. This approach has to be widened and put on a more formal basis. When the technologies/industries are selected then the details of our version of the Triple Helix can be fleshed out to support the required acquisition of knowledge, its implementation and generation of new ideas/products/services.

Editor’s note: Mary King is an economist, former Senator and former Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs. 

Eleven persons are recovering from injuries sustained in an accident involving a 12-seater red-band maxi-taxi on the Priority Bus Route (PBR).

The maxi-taxi, driven by Leon Williams, collided with a Toyota Rav 4 sport utility vehicle driven by Wendy Nesbitt, the widow of the late Earl Nesbit, a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Community Development yesterday. 

The collision took place at the intersection of the PBR and Dinsley Main Road, Tacarigua.

Eye-witnesses reported that the maxi was travelling east when it made contact with the SUV, as Nesbitt attempted to exit the PBR by turning right onto the Dinsley Main Road.

Emergency Health Services ambulances took the ten passengers in the maxi-taxi and the driver of the SUV to the Arima Health Facility and the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope.

If you have experienced power outages today, we want to hear from you.

Join us on Facebook to let us know how and when you were affected.

So far, readers reported power outages in several parts of central Trinidad.

Around 11 am, the Guardian offices at Rodney Road, Chaguanas were also hit by a brief outage.

​Although further South seemed to be unaffected, readers told us that parts of north-west Trinidad, including Woodbrook, Maraval, St James and Diego Martin, were also hit.

Along the East-West corridor, outages were reported in Arima, El Dorado and Santa Cruz.

We're keeping an eye on the situation.

Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has accused his former Cabinet colleague Jack Warner of being a spoiler and an agent of the People’s National Movement (PNM).

Training his guns on Warner at the United National Congress’s (UNC) Monday Night Forum in Couva, Moonilal told the audience that the embattled former National Security Minister, who is facing extradition to the United States over allegations that he committed fraud during his tenure as vice president of Fifa, was no longer interested in winning power or a seat in the September 7 general election.

He said because of his legal troubles, his goal was to remove his former leader Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at all costs, and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley was using him to fight his battles.

He said Rowley was staying quiet but was using Warner to divide the vote.

“He is using Jack Warner to fight his battle. Rowley is using him to divide the vote, to be a spoiler in this election.

“Jack Warner has committed every muscle in his body, every drop of blood to remove Kamla Persad-Bissessar. His goal is to remove Kamla Persad-Bissessar, but he cannot score that goal because he got ban from football,” he told the cheering yellow-clothed audience.

He also condemned Warner who he said was taking two supporters and 40 members of the foreign media to socially distressed places in the country. “He (Warner) could walk in Beetham and he could walk in Marabella, but he can’t walk in America,” with reference to his Fifa troubles and ability to travel abroad.

At the first gathering of faithfuls at the United National Congress’ home base in Rienzi Complex, Moonilal made reference to the avalanche of files Warner was purported to have against him, the Prime Minister and Attorney General Garvin Nicholas, including files about marijuana being found at the PM’s private home. 

“He say he has a file on Garvin, he has a file on Kamla, he has a file on Moonilal. Well, the people of Oropouche East tell me to come here and tell him is only one file he need. It is called the Nicholson file.”

Producing a tool, he explained to the audience, “Tonight I bring a gift for Jack Warner. This is the only file that he need. It is a Nicholson 12-inch file and this is a file he need to saw his way out of an American jail.” 

Moonilal also took a swipe at the Trinidad Express, accusing that newspaper of bias.

“We have to take note of the role of the Express and we have to take note of what I call the Mack/Jack combo, where it is alleged that persons involved in the Trinidad Express have been fingered by the FBI in money laundering.”

He said the Express had been unfair to the UNC and accused it of having eight commentators dedicated every week to attacking the PP Government.

Moonilal called on supporters to reject Rowley, dubbing him an angry and clueless politician.

He said Rowley had embarrassed himself by having to apologise to President Anthony Carmona over the timing of a letter requiring consultation on the appointment of two members of the Integrity Commission. 

“This is a man who wants to lead this country. He has no plan. He has no vision.”

He said the first thing Rowley wanted to do should he get into power was raise his own salary.

Former Minister of National Security Jack Warner has released a new audio recording purported to be of an ex-National Security Minister discussing a marijuana find.

Click to listen to the full audio recording of Jack Warner's press conference

It comes days after news broke of an allegation from Warner that a quantity of marijuana was discovered outside the private residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Phillipine. The recording was released this afternoon at a news conference held by Warner at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

Warner has claimed that he, Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal, ex-National Security Minister Gary Griffith and former DCP Mervyn Richardson participated in 2013 in a cover-up of the alleged discovery of four ounces of marijuana outside a window on the Prime Minister’s property.

A number of Government and Police officials—including Roodal Moonilal, Errol Mc Leod and Surujrattan Rambachan—have distanced themselves from the allegations.

Former Minister of National Security Gary Griffith also denied Warner's claim.

The police have confirmed the discovery of marijuana at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's private residence on April 19, 2013.

The Commissioner of Police has ordered an invesitgation into an alleged cover-up of the weed find.

The release came just after former Minister of National Security Jack Warner released a new audio recording purported to be of an ex-National Security Minister discussing a marijuana find.

Assistant Commisisoner of Police Ainsley Garrick was appointed to lead the probe.

Read the full statement issued by the T&T Police Service below.
 

Full text of the Police statement issued on June 16, 2015

ST JOHN’S, Antigua—Newly-appointed Leeward Islands head coach Reginald Benjamin will make the first pick when the second Player Draft of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League takes place tomorrow.

Fortunately Benjamin earned that right on his team’s misfortune in the 2014-15 Regional four-day tournament.

The selection order for this year’s Draft is the reverse order of the final league position of teams in the last tournament.

The Hurricanes finished at the bottom of the table last season and will be hoping to exploit new rules in the tournament to shore up their batting.

Each franchise will now have to include two players from outside of their home territory in the remaining five players drafted from the Player Pool, unlike last year when there was no stipulation.

The second change reduces the time allocated for each selector to make a pick in the Draft.

They have now been allotted two minutes—one less than last year—to complete their choices.

The new rules have triggered special interest among cricket enthusiasts eager to see how they will impact upon the selection of players on the six franchises.

While some teams will be looking to import batting talent from outside of their home territory to give backbone to their line-ups, others may use the Draft choices to add a bit more edge to their bowling.

The Draft will be conducted over five rounds has been organised with the goal of achieving an equitable distribution of the available player talent.

The list of pre-selected players and players that will form part of the Draft pool is expected to be released today.

The new PCL draft will be staged at the Accra Beach Hotel in Barbados, starting at 1 p.m. and fans can view the “live” webcast on the WICB’s website, www.windiescricket.com. (CMC)

Bossy Guest has been ‘placed’ to perfection at Royal Ascot today; second stage of the five-day(s) marathon kicks-off with former England International soccer player Mick Channon saddling his 2000 Guineas fourth for the group three, £75000, Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs and what beats him will win.

A tough genuine Medicean colt Bossy Guest achieved by far his ‘career-best’ effort when finishing just over three lengths behind Gleneagle and, but for being squeezed out somewhat approaching the final climb, would probably have beaten Ivawood for third place.

On this occasion Richard Hannon’s charge carries 5lbs more and yet Richard Hughes has nominated him as a ‘special’ in his weekend Racing Post column; waste of time running, according to my time-handicap.

Channon, never one to let thoroughbreds idle away time in their boxes, has given Bossy Guest six weeks to recover, good thinking, and we’re totally convinced he’s a banker, despite stern opposition from fifteen rivals and several different countries, including USA and Sweden.

Mick is represented by Lincoln in the thirty-runner Royal Hunt Cup Handicap over the straight mile, we fancy this fantastically-named four-year-old and, significantly, mount of Hughes.

Easton Angel will be strongly-fancied for the £100000 group two Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs and you can bet Rah Rah attracts plenty of money; both are trained in the North and unbeaten from two races.

Price-wise we’ve got to be with Chester winner Rah Rah, she looked game, genuine and progressive when landing the prestigious ‘Lily Agnes’ with a tremendous rally in the last 100 yards under a tremendous ride by Franny Norton.

William Buick is booked for Mark Johnston’s charge because Rah Rah is now ‘owned’ by Godolphin!

This promises to be a tremendously intriguing, informative ‘juvenile classic’ and while respecting the chances of Easton Angel and so many others we’re mindful of the actual time-figure clocked by Rah Rah.