Most people think that bacteria or microbes are “bad,” that “bacteria are nasty, bacteria make us sick. We must get rid of them.” 

So, unwittingly, mothers refuse to put their babies on the floor, setting them up for motor deficiencies later on in life or buy special soaps to kill bacteria and thereby contribute to antibiotic resistance and beg complacent doctors to prescribe antibiotics which end up wiping out helpful gut bacteria. 

All bacteria are not bad. We may think all of the cells in our body are human but in 2012 Katrina Ray, a senior editor of Nature Reviews, seriously asked the question, “are we more microbes than man?” 

It turns out that there are more bacteria in and on our body than we have human cells. Microbes outnumber our own human cells ten to one. Every one of us is host to about 100 trillion bacteria, which all together weigh around three pounds. 

Are we just carriers for a mass of micro organisms housed in a human shell then? Or are we, as has been argued, “a superorganism, a communal collective of human and microbial cells working as one?” 

The highest density of and diversity in these micro organisms is in our intestines, which is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively called the gut microbiota. 

It includes about 1,000 different types of bacteria and this diversity is very important. Most of the bacteria in our gut are as specific to us as are our fingerprints, except that they can change.

We are not just on “friendly” terms with our gut bacteria, the relationship is infinitely more intimate than that, we are married to them. 

We are colonised by bacteria from birth, and potentially in utero. Our mothers play a vital part in providing the first bacteria for the development of our resident microbiota, jump-starting the initial colonisation of our intestines and the rest of the human body through skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding. 

Babies who are born vaginally or breastfed have very different gut bacteria compared to babies who are born through Caesarian section or formula fed. These bacteria, unfortunately, are associated with disease.

Gut bacteria have a crucial role in nutrition and health. Their functions are considered so important to our life that the gut microbiota is now being likened to other human organs, similar to any other body part like the skin or brain or muscle or liver, a vast collection of cellular organisms that belong to us and work with us to produce a unique biological phenotype, us. 

Some gut bacteria have a fundamental role in synthesising vitamins B and K. 

Some assist with the absorption of salts and water. Others help in breaking down substances that the small intestine is not able to digest by itself and provide more energy to the human body. Obese individuals have been found to have an excess of these bacteria in their large bowel. 

This now has to be factored into the “eat less, exercise more” equation of losing weight so beloved of physicians. 

Some gut bacteria assist intestinal cells to grow and regenerate. Others secrete antimicrobial chemicals or regulate inflammatory cells. Most, simply by being present in the gut, prevent harmful bacteria from taking up residence.

Like societies all over the world, our gut microbiota is losing its diversity and that is having serious repercussions on our health. The distortion in the microbial balance in the human gut is increasingly linked to serious, chronic illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s); celiac disease (gluten intolerance); nonalcoholic fatty disease; chronic reflux; Type 1 diabetes; obesity; cancers (colon, liver and pancreas); cardiovascular disease; autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis; and asthma and allergies.

The causes for this change in gut bacteria, from helpful bacteria to harmful bacteria are many and include, as suggested above, Caesarian sections and infant formula feeding, antibiotics and diet. 

Diet, whether early (breastfeeding vs formula) or later (processed vs natural food), plays a crucial role in the development of a healthy microbiota. 

Most people are aware of this. Caesarian sections and antibiotics may come as a surprise. But look at the association between Caesarian sections and obesity. 

Babies born by Caesarian section are much more likely to be overweight or obese as adults than those delivered vaginally. Caesarian sections encourage the growth of bacteria in the gut from the mother’s skin or worse, from the attending doctor or nurse, rather from the birth canal and these bacteria encourage absorption of energy from the gut. 

Antibiotics pretty much wipe out most of the bacteria in the gut, helpful or otherwise. This allows other types of bacteria to colonise the gut, affecting some of the functions above and potentially giving rise to the diseases mentioned. 

Antibiotics should be used carefully. I would think most children in T&T have received an average of two to three antibiotic courses a year by the time they start primary school. This cannot be good.

Gut bacteria from healthy individuals have become so important to our health that preliminary attempts are being made to transfer these bacteria to ill persons with successful outcomes in some cases.

If we can ever get over the “yucky factor,” then perhaps faecal microbiota transplantation may one day take its place among the other forms of organ donation. 

There might be a better way to do it though: through human milk or some of its thousands of components.

Many are familiar with television shows on bank robberies and the famous John Q movie that depicted the ordeal of hostages. How many realise that we, citizens of T&T, are hostages of fear held captive by crime. 

The effects of crime are evident in the way we live our lives; we are constantly looking over our shoulders, increasing security in our homes and changing the way we carry out our day to day activities. This fear is exacerbated by the low rate of conviction.

Over the past ten years we have had three police commissioners and seven minsters of national security, all with the introduction of several policing strategies such as community oriented policing, model stations, intelligence-led policing and at present evidence-based policing. 

However, these strategies all suffered the same fate in that they were not given a fair chance of working. More than being initiatives, these strategies must be adapted and implemented to suit the nature and requirements of our country for the best possible results. Instead, we have seen these strategies as coming and going with each police commissioner regardless of their chances for success. 

How then do we address crime and, by extension, the fear citizens feel if we cannot stick with a strategy long enough to discern its viability? The question then becomes: how serious are we about crime? 

With the increase in street lighting and late night public transportation, it may appear as if the powers that be view the crime problem facing this country as nothing more than a transitional phase on the way to First World status—one that will disintegrate the more developed we become. What we see is a blatant ignorance of social issues and a whimsical denial of culpability, while criminal elements roam the streets inflicting fear on an already traumatised population. 

As evident by the recent reports, our elderly population is being subjected to heinous acts of sexual abuse and other forms of physical harm. Our women are afraid to be alone at night, whether walking the streets or at home. Parents are fearful for their children. Bullets stray and take the lives of the innocent; casualties caused by mistaken identity, a lack of respect for the law and those who uphold it have resulted in the death of many of our officers. 

Bottom line, more needs to be done about the crime situation and the effect it has on the lives of citizens. We cannot continue to let telecommunication companies sell us a false sense of security and profit off our fear while we cower, hoping that the man behind us in the street at night isn’t the one to inflict harm upon us. 

Renee Maingot-Pesnell

I am a bit confused. How on earth is it that the Chief Fire Officer did not know that the Couva fire station did not have a fire tender for the past 18 months? 

He is supposed to be the boss and he do not know that his employees did not have the tools to do the job? Because of this great negligence these people have lost their home to fire.

That is the most ridiculous statement that was made. He should not have said anything. Did the ministers of national security in the last Government know about this? 

This is unbelievable—for 18 months no one said anything? Then what were these officers in Couva doing? 

This is something that needs to be investigated. Too many wrong things are happening and nobody seems to care, everybody just turning a blind eye to these problems. It is time to make all wrongs right.

Modicia Martin

The World Health Organisation has classified red meat as a possible cause for cancer. The Minister of Health has held a media briefing to assure us that “Yes you can eat ham for Christmas.”

It amazes me that the very food that the Messiah condemned has become the gourmet on the celebration of his birth. In Matthew 7:6 he states: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” 

And in Peter 2:22 it is stated very clearly why the pig is abhorrent: “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire (filth).”

The real injunction, however, which condemns the eating of pork can be found in Deuteronomy 14:8. “And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” 

Is it not a mockery that in the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we call for the consumption of the very food that he condemns on the basis of Biblical teachings?

Imaam Iqbal Hydal,

Felicity

The everyday traffic gridlock as outlined in your editorial of November 1, has been a source of anger for many years to the travelling public. Its impact on productivity, absenteeism etc, has been well documented.

One simple solution to the problem, although not the only one, is to limit the number of cars on the road on a daily basis, using the number plates of the vehicles as the determining factor. 

This would work by not allowing cars with number plates ending with a 1 or 2 on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays and so on, to Friday. Taxis, buses and trade vehicles would be exempt. 

I believe this system is used successfully in some major cities. Another deterrent would be the introduction of tolls on the two major highways, the income from which can go towards road and bridge maintenance. A $2 toll would bring in approximately half a million dollars each day. Again, taxis, buses and trade vehicles would be exempt. 

Of course underlying all this is the need for an efficient public transport system.

Roger Henderson

The citizens of T&T who form the backbone of the United National Congress need to understand why they keep losing. The UNC is unable to win control of government unless they are aligned to other parties and, importantly, if People’s National Movement voters decide to not vote on election day. 

The UNC needs the assistance of other political parties because the core voters are spread over what is termed “UNC territory.” The Republic of T&T is not just half of Trinidad.

The scattered enclaves of UNC sympathisers are located in mainly south and central Trinidad. There is little or no representation in Tobago unless it is paid support. 

Defeat in 2015 was achieved on the backs of a deplorable negative campaign strategy of character assassination of the then Opposition Leader and the total collapse of a misguided Congress of the People. The COP which had formed the main prop to the UNC in 2010, collapsed abominably and dislike the description or not, the COP is one political foot from the grave. Success for the UNC is now tied inextricably to finding a leader with significant political appeal beyond the core constituencies. Truth to say, Mrs Persad-Bissessar may no longer be as politically beautiful because of her five straight defeats at the polls but she appealed to many female voters as first female prime minister of T&T. That novelty has worn off and she is back to square one.

Speaking frankly, not mincing words, not coating the political medicine, it does not matter who wins leadership of the UNC unless the core people of the UNC show that they love and trust all of T&T. This is not about race. In death all the bones look the same. This is about spreading UNC campaigns into so-called “enemy territory.” 

Do not leave the understanding of yourselves as fellow citizens on the backs of the families who come into all areas of Port-of-Spain working as doubles and coconut vendors. Apart from the brilliant young people who attend the University of the West Indies, contact with our Indo brothers and sisters has remained far too separate.

Proportional representation is an admission of political defeat as it really means putting citizens into racially-lined prison boxes. It is totally ridiculous that the UNC campaigned in Port-of-Spain once and expected to win the general elections of 2015. 

The harsh reality is that the People’s National Movement has spread its national appeal well inside UNC territory. Voting is no longer about race. No one race will win government without help from the other.

It will forever remain necessary to win at least half of the northern constituencies to form the government of T&T. Winning in Chaguanas is too easy. I do not anticipate Chaguanas ever being made the capital city. The real political challenge is Port-of-Spain, the North West and the East/West corridor.

Lynette Joseph

What is the matter with the drivers of those trailer trucks? I have written numerous letters about the upending of those trucks and the consequent chaos that is created. 

Once again we read and experienced the horror of a truck capsizing on the south-bound lane of the Solomon Hochoy highway and the massive gridlock that resulted. 

Again, the reason for the mishap—a bad drive. Nonsense! 

Speed is the cause. A long, loaded truck combined with excessive speed is a potential projectile and dangerous object. I am also saying that the drivers of those trucks should be on the alert for those “bad drives” as claimed.

I am asking the owners of those trucks to take heed and duly instruct your drivers. 

If possible use GPS technology to track the position and speed of your vehicles. 

You have every right to protect your property and consequent life and limb and untold hardship.

To the police, I have a novel suggestion but it requires effort and willpower. 

The gridlock can be prevented if the police lookout areas along the highway are utilised. 

A sign can be placed on the opposing lane indicating dual carriageway. 

Traffic cones can be placed in the middle of the highway along the length of the section so affected. 

At the nearest turn-off the traffic can get back onto its normal path. 

What I am trying to get at is simply to create a diversion to bypass the accident and alleviate the long, unnecessary, tiring wait. 

Sahadeo Ragoonanan

UNC youth arm chairman, Nicholas Morris has used some weighty arguments in support of his political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar when claiming that she should not be blamed for the recent loss at the general elections.

Morris contends, in a most-convoluted manner, that in spite of the ill-fated Kamla-2015 campaign, everyone must take collective responsibility. 

Irrespective of that argument, everyone knows the buck stops with the leader. 

As a young man hoping one day to fill the large shoes of party leadership, I suggest he first try to understand the principle, ethics and statesmanship that Steven Harper of Canada exhibited when he ceased to be prime minister. Only then will he understand the true character needed to be a leader.

The best advice I can give to Mr Morris is please do not defend the indefensible.

R Khan

Pointe a Pierre

I don’t know what the health minister had to say about ambulances, but it would have been impossible for me to get my prone husband back home without one. 

How on earth is a family supposed to get a loved one back home if they weigh over two hundred pounds, can’t walk, can’t talk and are still unwell?

What we need are more ambulances. I was once transported, in the United States, by ambulance from one hospital to another. There was probably more medicine and equipment in that ambulance than there is in any one of our hospitals. 

Stop making life hard for people who are already ill—get some more ambulances.

AM

A 20-year-old woman who re-appeared in court on a gun possession matter yesterday, ended her day facing a murder charge.

Khadijah Robertson was supposed to have been told by a State attorney why she was charged with being in possession of a gun based solely on a photograph. Instead, she was told she would be charged with killing constable Montgomery Guy, becoming the second person charged with the alleged crime. 

Her boyfriend, Abdias Julien, 19, appeared in court on October 30 charged with killing the lawman while Robertson was charged with gun possession and granted $100,000 bail based on a picture dated September 30 at her Texeira Street, Diego Martin, home.

Her attorney Gerald Ramdeen told the media following the court appearance last week he found it peculiar that his client was charged with possession of a gun and ammunition based on a photograph and that the actual illegal items were not in the possession of the police. 

He added that a state attorney was mandated by magistrate Adrian Darmanie to inform the court why the charges were laid without any physical evidence. This was to be done yesterday by a senior State attorney who failed to attend court.

Robertson and Julien, of Lutchman Drive, Dibe Road, Long Circular, are alleged to have murdered Guy on October 4. 

Guy, 49, of Bon Air Gardens, Arouca, was shot once in the head as he drove along Agra Street, St James. Julien, who is also charged with possession of a gun, is alleged to have had the weapon on him on October 21 at lower Duncan Street, Port-of-Spain. 

The duo were initially arrested in relation to Guy’s death, released and re-arrested days later. The couple will re-appear in court on November 23.

The lives of prisons officers are daily being “sacrificed” as those in authority have continuously ignored the pleas to improve the Prisons Service.

Prisons Commissioner, Sterling Stewart, in an interview with i95 yesterday joined the chorus of the organisation’s membership in urging Government and other stakeholders to deal with the matter which had been neglected for far too long.

“The supermen in our society, the cartoon characters need to stop the foolishness and know that people losing their lives. We believe at this stage that we are being set up because at this stage what can we do?” Stewart asked.

He added that over the past ten years some 17 prisons officers had been killed and all had been done with impunity.

“We have been talking the same talk over and over and it is like a recurring decimal. We are being attacked, we are being killed, we are being sacrificed.

“On top of the agenda is safety and security and I stay positive with the National Security Minister Edmund Dillon because I know he is a person of action and I respect his vision. 

“But in going forward I need to know how can my officers be attacked from these blatant, disregard for human life... it cannot continue this way,” Stewart added.

He also said all right-thinking citizens needed to stand up against the darkness that was engulfing the country.

“Too many persons are not saying anything. The voiceless... is too much wickedness that is generated from the top to the bottom that is being condoned and facilitated. Unless persons change and we hold persons responsible then... what we asking?” Stewart asked. 

Regarding Monday’s killings of prisons superintendent David Millette, Stewart confirmed a possible link between an attack on three prisons officers which occurred at the Maximum Security Prison on Sunday.

It is alleged that during a routine search an inmate refused to hand over a knife to a prisons officers following which the officer called for back-up.

Before the knife was seized, however, three officers had sustained injuries.

Stewart said after Millette’s murder the executive of the Prisons Service held an emergency meeting.

“A preliminary investigation reveal that it is highly probably it was called from behind the walls, specifically at Maximum Security Prison, arising out of an incident that took place on Sunday.

“All on board need to come together to treat with this problem because this is a wicked problem,” Stewart added.

Asked about stab and bullet proof vests to be issued to prisons officers, he said some, both “overt and covert,” were issued to prisons officers.

“We are now seeking to purchase stab-proof vests as necessary for the relevant officers but there are a number of officers who have already received these vests,” Stewart added.

Asked whether he believed the prisons executive is capable of stamping out contraband coming into the prisons, Stewart said any officer caught trafficking illegal items must be immediately dismissed.

“I want swift action. I want him dismissed immediately. Whenever it takes to put that in place that is one of the things I want to see happening.

“We want you dismissed from the service and we are seeking to get rid of them by all means necessary because it is causing an enormous threat to the lives of hardworking, committed men and woman of all ranks,” Stewart urged.

Describing prisons conditions as less that accommodating, Stewart, however, said efforts have been made and were being made to improve conditions, including plans to construct a new Remand Prison which has been on the drawing board.

“There are a lot of positive programmes being offered and we even have programmes geared now towards the Remand. 

“Even my officers who they are seeking to hunt down and kill are teaching a number of these individuals in educational programmes. Those who we fail to educate we will continue to incarcerate,” Stewart added.

Senior programme co-ordinator of the Agricultural Policy and Value Chains, Juan Cheaz Pelaez, says it is important for farmers to be aware of their environment and the decision-making policies.

He was speaking yesterday at a press conference at the 3W Pavillion, Cave Hill, Barbados, where the Caribbean Pacific Agri-Food Forum is taking place. The event began on Monday. 

“Sometimes farmers go about their business and are just recipients of decisions. We are trying for them to be aware of their own environment and not just complain,” he added.

He said they were not advocating just complaining.

He added: “They need to know what issues are in place and understand it. We are trying to promote and advocate that. 

“We are trying to promote that farmers need to understand the key obstacles and we want to help them to understand and be equipped with policy-makers and know that they are part of the solution.” 

Pelaez said they were trying to reach countries like Haiti to reach an alliance.

“Haiti is a producer of dasheen and has high competitive rates in the Caribbean,” he said.

Samson Vilvil Fare, the associate programme co-ordinator, who also attended the briefing said that the Pacific had developed “smart” crops for droughts and used new techniques.

Fare said transport was still a problem for many of the farmers in the Pacific.

“We are looking at specific value changes and we hoped the conference will bring experiences and contribution and share their experience,” he said.

Fare said from primary school pupils were taught the importance of eating local produce.

“We promote that in schools and this needs to be done positively every day,” he said.

Dozens of participants from various countries in the Caribbean, the Pacific and as far as India are attending the four-day forum which consist of 12 workshops.

The theme is Link, Learn and Transform.

Lawyers representing the UNC have been told to produce evidence to prove their claim that its loss in the September 7 general election was caused by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC)’s decision to extend the polls by an hour due to heavy rainfall. 

Chief Justice Ivor Archie repeatedly made the request from the political party’s lawyer Timothy Straker, QC, yesterday, as he and two of his colleagues began hearing submissions on why they should not overturn a High Court judge’s decision to grant initial approval of the election petitions over the extension. 

While he admitted that Archie’s inquiry was central to the claim, Straker said the court should not solely be focused on the number of people who benefited by the extension, but also its impact on his client, which claims that it was not able to effectively mobilise its agents as it was informed late by the EBC. 

“We are looking for stability of government. 

“That includes a huge number of factors including confidence in the electoral regime,” Straker said. 

Straker suggested that the court, in determining the petitions, could undertake a statistical analysis of the impact of the extension. 

However, he noted that the court should not attempt to “peer inside the voting booth.” 

Archie did not seem convinced as he said: “One cannot point to every single consequence and say give me leave. 

When you come for leave you have to say what was affected.” 

Stating that the party had to convince the court that the result of the election was materially affected by the extension in order to convince it to void the election, Archie reiterated his view that the UNC should have possibly been required to provide additional proof before the petitions were approved by Justice Mira Dean-Armorer in mid-September. 

“There must be some particulars to explain what you are really complaining of other than the breach of rules,” Archie said. 

His discourse with Straker appeared to intensify as Straker attempted to make his submissions on his client’s allegation that the People’s National Movement (PNM) requested the extension from the EBC. 

Straker: We have an unfortunate situation where a party did approach the commission and a response was made. 

Archie: Isn’t it enough to know the EBC has done something that appears to be against the rules. 

Why is it necessary to colour it with something said in a newspaper report. 

Can you please move on to your next point. 

Straker’s subsequent attempts to rephrase his accusation were all denied by Archie, leading him to say: “I am anxious to have the point recorded.” 

The UNC filed the election petitions for six constituencies—La Horquetta/Talparo, Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, St Joseph, Moruga/Tableland and San Fernando West within a week of its loss in the general election. 

In its petitions, which will be heard in the High Court provided the appeal is dismissed, the party is claiming that the EBC acted illegally when it took the decision to extend the polls. 

It is also alleging that it was informed late of the extension and after the PNM was. 

The EBC, which presented its submissions yesterday, is denying any wrongdoing and is contending that it acted within its remit. 

The PNM, which has been joined as an interested party, will continue its submissions at the Hall of Justice this morning. 

The UNC is also being represented by Gerald Ramdeen and Kent Samla, while the EBC is being represented by Senior Counsel Russell Martineau and Deborah Peake. 

The PNM’s legal team includes Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and John Jeremie and attorneys Michael Quamina, Kerwyn Garcia and Celeste Jules. 

The shutdown of PowerGen was long in coming and is actually a good thing, say former energy ministers in both past PNM and PP administrations.

The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), which represents most of the company’s 278 workers, is resisting plans to send them home.

However, former PNM minister Conrad Enill and former PP minister Kevin Ramnarine, who held energy portfolios in their respective governments, are saying the shutdown of the Port-of-Spain power plant, nearly 70 decades old, can actually save T&T money.

“There will be no need for natural gas, which is in short supply at this time, for this plant,” Ramnarine said. 

He said the extra natural gas could be sold and would fetch additional revenue. 

The Trinidad Generating Unit (TGU) at La Brea, originally built for the scrapped Aluminium Smelter Plant, has excessive power with the capacity to supply all the country’s needs for a long time said both ministers.

Ramnarine said plans to close down Powergen were in the making since 2009 under the former PNM administration. 

His ministry under the last People’s Partnership government continued the process and if they had won the September 7 general election would have also shut down the plant, he said.

“It has been known for a number of years PowerGen will be shut down. 

Yes, it was on the cards a long time and regardless of September 7, it was going to happen,” he added.

He said under a new Power Purchase Agreement signed between the T&T Electricity Company (T&TEC) and PowerGen there was an agreement that T&TEC would take around 20 per cent less power than before which would be supplied by the TGU.

“Hence, the need to close the Port-of-Spain plant,” Ramnarine said.

Ramnarine said the TGU, the most efficient of T&T’s four power plants, requires 8,000 kilojules per kilowatt hour while Powergen needs 14,000 kilojules per kilowatt hour.

“The TGU alone could supply half of the country’s power.”

Enill said the TGU was built to supply electricity to the smelter project planned by the former PNM administration but which was halted when the PP came into power.

He said the country had more power than it needed but added his main concern was how power would be distributed from La Brea to Port-of-Spain and environs which were serviced by Powergen.

He said the necessary infrastructure needed to be in place. 

Ramnarine said the last government began the process of installing transmission lines and other infrastructure to accommodate the distribution of power from La Brea to other parts of the island and by September the work was almost completed.

He said all the necessary infrastructural work should be completed by year’s end.

He said the company had been in negotiations with the OWTU and, as far as he knew, 150 workers from PowerGen’s Port-of-Spain headquarters were to be offered voluntary early retirement (VERP).

“Some would have already accepted it and other workers were to be redeployed to PowerGen’s other two plants in Penal and Point Lisas. 

There were some who would have also been offered voluntary separation of employment (VSEP).”

Ramnarine said Fitzroy Harewood, former Powergen CEO, now Petrotrin president, had overseen this process.

Enill felt the use of renewable sources of energy like wind and solar energy has to do with government policy more than anything else.

Several attempts to reach Powergen officials yesterday, as well as OWTU president Ancel Roget, were unsuccessful.

The T&T Guardian was told Powergen managers were in meetings and to call back the following day.

The OWTU said all officers were attending a colleague’s funeral. Calls to Roget’s cellphone went to voice mail.

A planned ten-day shutdown of Desalcott’s Point Lisas Desalination Plant is causing anxiety among businesses in south Trinidad and the 40,000 households estimated to be affected, despite assurances by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) that contingency measures are in place.

After WASA yesterday announced its revised water schedule for the shutdown period, November 13-23, several business associations were fearing major setbacks given past experiences of such shutdowns.

During a joint media conference yesterday, WASA’s director of operations Steve Joseph said the dry rainy season had depleted the authority’s average water stock by at least 30 per cent.

With a now daily 40 million gallons deficit, WASA’s senior manager, corporate communications, Daniel Plenty, said that would affect its delivery to customers.

Plenty said that despite the recent rainfall in T&T, it was nowhere close to the amount required to restore its reserves.

Desalcott’s operations manager, Steve Thompson, explained that the annual maintenance shutdown was supposed to have been done in July but through an agreement with WASA it was rescheduled to this month.

He said the shutdown would begin on November 13, resulting in a ten per cent decrease in output and a cease operation by November 16.

“We’re going to try our hardest to come back up quicker than that but we have already planned the work as far as possible to be carried out with many activities at the same time. This is to minimise the shutdown duration.

“The shutdown was originally planned for July but the rainy season hasn’t been as intense as normal and in agreement with WASA we have put back the shutdown to November, which is normally the heights of the rainy season. The plants need to be fully prepared for the upcoming dry season,” Thompson added Among the contingencies being used, Joseph said, were production at the Caroni Water Treatment Plant and Navet Waterworks being increased to full capacity, while reservoirs at Marryat Street, Chacon Street and Mount Hope will be filled. The Point Fortin Desalination Plant will also be used to stem the shortfall in affected areas.

He added: “What it means is that the level of service to customers currently served off these plants will also be affected. In looking at the whole shutdown, we estimate that just about 40,000 households will be impacted by the shutdown, meaning that they would receive a reduced level of service for this period.

“Out of 242 million gallons we produce daily, we are currently operating at 88 per cent capacity, which is still fairly good. The whole country is not impacted by the dry season just yet, there are just certain areas where we have made cutbacks on our facilities, Caroni being the largest.

“Once we experience that reduction, through a process of redistribution, areas that get water seven days a week will be reduced. Some would

Students of the St Joseph Secondary School will return to classes on November 9.

This, after Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday directed principal Cheryl Julien to ensure the school was ready for occupation.

Julien was also instructed to secure the services of two teachers for maths and English.

Following a mid-morning meeting with Julien and other officials at the school at Farm Road, Curepe, Garcia promised to have T&TEC assist with rectifying the electrical issues at the school.

During a closed door meeting, Garcia was informed that the 875 students and 54 staff members had been away from school for the past month, following two recent fires.

He explained that due to an overloading of circuits, the school’s electricity supply began fluctuating, which posed a danger to both teachers and students and which eventually resulted in students being sent home on October 5.

In addition, the issue of overcrowding arose after several classrooms were condemned following the physical dilapidation of Block B, as missing louvre panes resulted in the students being drenched whenever it rained.

Addressing reporters as he emerged from the meeting, Garcia said: “I have directed that the school should be made available or accessible to students by Monday November 9.

“It has been too long for students to be out of school. Whenever students are out of school, they are being denied an education and as Minister of Education, I will do everything that is possible to ensure that students are not denied that very important right.”

Revealing he had also mandated the necessary repairs to Block B in time for Monday’s opening, Garcia said a meeting was scheduled for yesterday evening with the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL), the agency responsible for repairs and construction of schools.

Pressed to say why the new school, which was toured earlier this year by former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh was never opened as promised, Garcia replied:

“I have been told that the contractor was fired in July this year and a new one was hired. I will be better apprised following the meeting (yesterday).”

He assured the staff that all efforts would be made to have the new building “up and running in the not too distant future.”

A visit to the new school which was constructed behind the old premises, revealed that the grounds were overgrown with bushes and grass was seen winding its way up the washed out walls. 

A workman was also observed standing atop scaffolding, scraping the flaking paint off the eastern wall.

Attempts to question Julien about the school’s operations were abruptly shut down by Garcia, as he instructed reporters to address him alone.

Becoming visibly upset when he was faced with questions about the number of schools which still remained closed, including the continued closure of the Munroe Road Hindu School where the parents and children were facing similar problems, Garcia insisted that he would only entertain questions relating to the school he was visiting.

It was a similar situation over at the Aranguez North Secondary School where Garcia again insisted reporters should address him alone.

Although principal Gerard Thomas stood next to Garcia, it was the minister who disclosed what issues were affecting the school’s operations.

Revealing that the malfunctioning air-conditioning system had resulted in the 650 students and 54 staff members having to remain at home since schools opened on September 8, Garcia was critical of the design and layout of the two schools he visited.

He said: “I am of the view that the designs of these schools have been poor, very poor.

“If these schools do not have a functioning air-condition system, nothing can work. Even the water supply, flushing of the toilets and the electricity supply, everything falls down if you do not have a functioning air-condition system.”

With classes having resumed on Monday, Garcia offered his perspective as he said: “In my view, if consideration was taken by those responsible for designing the schools, that we live in a tropical country, we would not have had these problems. 

“I cannot see for the life of me, why schools have to be air-conditioned when you have a free flow of air passing through the classrooms.”

Promising that feature would now be included in future designs of schools, Garcia said a proposal by a member of staff for students to be allowed an extra year at school to make up for the lost classroom time, was something which needed to be carefully considered.

Head of the UNC’s Women’s Arm Stacy Roopnarine is firmly non-committal on the recent statement from the Women’s Arm, which pledged support for incumbent leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the party’s December 5 internal elections.

Putting some distance between herself and the statement issued by the unit she heads, Roopnarine said, yesterday, she still hasn’t decided whom she would support in the party’s leadership election, despite the statement supporting Persad-Bissessar.

The statement was released on Monday. It was signed by unit PRO Dianne Bishop. She stated that as PRO, she was expressing “our full faith and confidence” in Persad-Bissessar and on “behalf of the women of the UNC, we fully endorse” Persad-Bissessar.

The statement added: “As we seek to rebuild, rebrand and redevelop the institutional organs of our party, we believe there is no other person than Mrs Persad-Bissesar who commands the majority of support of our party and who possesses the required qualities to take us back into government in the shortest possible time.”

Bishop’s statement added: “Persad-Bissessar continues to enjoy a high percentage of support both within the party membership and nationally. The predominant feeling among our female membership is that Mrs Persad-Bissessar together with the right team can make the fundamental changes needed to make our party more attractive to the national community again.”

Yesterday, Roopnarine was unable to say if she agreed with the statement, adding she hadn’t yet decided whom she was supporting, that is, whether incumbent Persad-Bissessar or challenger Roodal Mooonilal, who some party insiders claim she may support.

Roopnarine, added: “I saw the Women’s Arm release. Everyone is free to speak, that’s democracy. The good thing about election is, it’s a one-man/one-vote system and all supporters have the ability to translate their support to vote.”

Pressed on if she agreed with the statement, Roopnarine said: “I haven’t decided who I’ll be supporting or what post I may contest, if at all. Everyone’s entitled to their personal views but I don’t believe it’s right for me or any member to speak on behalf of the party.”

UNC officials, while admitting there was split support in the Womens’ Arm, said the executive determined the general position, and not any one member. 

UNC Senator Vasant Bharath also remained silent on whether he would contest the leadership after hinting he might give a decision. Bharath didn’t answer calls or a text message on it up to yesterday. 

At last week’s UNC parliamentary arm meeting, all six chairmen of UNC-controlled corporations pledged support for Persad-Bissessar. Yesterday, more support came from the UNC’s Princes Town executive. Area MP Barry Padarath was the first to support Persad-Bissessar.

Constituency chairman Gowrie Roopnarine said: “Mrs Persad-Bissessar remains highly favoured among the UNC membership in Princes Town and constituency as a whole. She continues to demonstrate her competence and ability to bring the party together and lead from the front. At this time in our party’s life, we need a leader who can attract persons and groups who aren’t politically active. Mrs Persad-Bissessar has been able to bridge these gaps before. We believe she can do this again with the right team of professionals and people willing to rebuild the UNC.”

That unit stated: “This is an opportunity for her to assemble a team that will work in the party’s best interest... We call on those with personal ambitions and pride to work with her to ensure we return to government.”

The UNC’s national executive meets tonight to finalise election issues including a team to supervise the polls, general secretary Dave Tancoo said.

WALTER ALIBEY

Defence Force claimed their second straight title at the 5th Annual SW Touring/THA Tobago Invitational Masters (Over 40) Football Tournament which ended at the Plymouth Recreational Grounds on Sunday. 

The Army Coast-Guard Combination edged Have-A-Time 4—3 on penalty kicks after both sides played to a goal-less draw at the end of regulation time. Playing at home, Have-A- Time were hoping to win the title and be the first team from the sister-isle to do so,but the Soldiers spoiled their plans. 

Ex national and Defence Force goalkeeper Earl “Spiderman” Carter pulled off a number of spectacular saves to deny Have-A-Time striker Bert Leith in the opening 20 minutes. 

The homesters enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the first half. In the fifth minute Carter was quickly off his line to prevent Leith a clear chance at goal early. And later Carter was again called upon to hold on to Leith’s right side shot in the 12th minute saving. 

The Army barely had a sight at their opponent’s goal in the opening half and found themselves having to fend off a persistent Have-A-Time offence. In the closing minute of the half Leith, who singlehanded carried the home team’s attack, found himself with some room in the goal area, but scuffed his attempt wide. 

In the second half, the home team continued to press for the opening goal but Defence Force stood firm in defence and countered when the opportunity came. Have-A-Time custodian Maurice Goddard kept a clean sheet for his side denying Defence Force with four minutes left in the game. 

With the game ending scoreless, kicks from the penalty mark were used to determined the champions. Have-A-Time’s first kick from Shawn Job was missed while the Army’s captain Kelshall Alexander beat the dive of Goddard to put his team in the lead. 

Renford Charles and Marvin Joseph were both successful for Defence Force from the kicks while Maurice Goddard and Robert Dennis netted for Have-A-Time to leave the score at 3-2 in favour of Defence Force. 

However on the final round of kicks Warren Nelson netted for Have-A-Time to take the tally to 3-3. But Dexter Durant made no mistake by beating Goddard to earn Armu the title 4-3. THA Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport Huey Cadette presented Defence Force with the championship trophy. Cadette played 1976 Phoenix.

Speaking after collecting his MVP award, Carter said he had to step up for his team-mates. He added that he was injured last year which prevented him from players. 

His replacement Darryl Julien was equally competent and walked away with the MVP and best Goal Keeper awards as well. 

The winners collected the winners’s trophy and US$2,000 cheque while Have-A-Time took home for US$1500. Carter walked away with the Best Goal Keeper and Most Valuable Players Awards while Kevin Olivera of Sunday Krew bagged the Most Goals Awards with his tournament tally of six goals. Carter and Olivera each were rewarded with US$150. 

In the semi-finals earlier in the day, the outcomes were determined by kicks from the penalty spots. Defence Force got past Toyota 8:7 in sudden death penalty kicks after both squads were locked at 2-2 after full time and 5-5 after the five kicks. The Alexander-led team got the edge after netting its eight attempt while Toyota missed. Have-Time overcame Sunday Krew 4-2 from the mark after the match finished 1-1at the final whistle.

Defence Force advanced to the semis after beating Empire of Barbados 1-0 in their quarterfinal clash while Toyota clipped Wildey’s of Barbados 2-1. Have-A-Time took care of another Barbadian outfit, Flow, 2-1 and Sunday Krew dismissed 2012/2013 champs Juventus of St. Johns 3-0. The start of the quarterfinal games were delayed due to high wind and heavy rains. 

Many of the games were played in rain in contrast the bright sunshine which prevailed first two days of the tournament stayed at Canaan/Bon Accord Recreational Grounds. 

In the Losers’ Plate finals Old Magic of Tobago beat TSTT 1-0 courtesy a Sherwin O’Neil goal. THA Assistant Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport Jomo Pitt was part of Old Magic’s line up. The 2015 edition featured 13 teams (three of the 16 registered sides did not show up) with three from Barbados and one each from Grenada and Guyana. 

The theme for this year’s tourney is “The Return to Sporting Paradise”. One of the goals for the event is to expose visiting participants and spectators to the unique identity of Tobago's culture, entertainment and cuisine. 

The tournament was sponsored by the THA’s Divisions of Tourism & Transport and Division of Education, Youth Affairs & Sport, Screen Stars, Hyper Malta, Dasani Waters, Power-ade, Bumpy’s Roast Meat, Hunte’s Bar Services and Nestles.

awards

Winners-Defence Force

Runners’-up-Have-A-Time

Most Valuable Player-Earl Carter (Defence Force)

Best Goal Keeper-Earl Carter (Defence Force)

Most Goals-Kevin Oliviera (Sunday Krew)-six goals.

Finals;

Defence Force bt Have-Time 4-3 on Penalty kicks after game ended 0-0)

Semifinals;

Defence Force bt Toyota 8-7 (5-5) on penalty kicks after game ended 2-2

Scorers: Steve Mayers-2 (DF); Rodney Stokes (Toyota)

Have-A-Time bt Sunday 4-2 on PK. Game ended 1-1

Scorers: Eldon Paul (HAT)

Quarterfinals;

Defence Force 1 (Kelshal Alexander)-Empire 0

Toyota 2 (Wendel Periera, Edmund Homer)-Wildey’s 1 (Anthony Ford)

Have-A-Time 2 (Burt Leith, Liston Winchester) bt Flow (Anthony Lane)

Sunday Krew 3 (Bernard McCall-2, Kevin Oliviera)-Juventus of St. John’s 0

Losers’ Plate;

Finals: Old Magic (TOB)1 (Sherwin O’Neil)- TSTT (TRI) 0

Semifinal: Old Magic (TOB) 1 (Frankie Skeete) bt GT Masters (GUY) 1 …4-3 on penalties. 

Play-off #1: GT Masters (GUY) bt 1976 Phoenix (TOB) by default

Play-off#2: TSTT (TRI) 1 (Jerry Gill)-Real Old Men (GRN) 0

Team captain Alanna Lewis scored a hat-trick to lead defending champions Paragon to an 8-5 come-from-behind triumph over Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) in the T&T Hockey Board Indoor Championship Women’s Open Division at the Woodbrook Youth Centre, Hamilton-Holder Street, Woodbrook on Saturday.

Lewis, also the co-captain of the senior national women’s team netted in the 18th, 33rd and 35th minutes while national midfielder Avion Ashton (eighth & 15th) and Keima Gardiner (13th & 23rd) added two goals each, and T&T forward, Kristin Thompson, the other in the 20th minute.

For, GCC, Gabriella Xavier had a beaver trick, first getting the opening goal of the match in the third minute, and the added items in the 16th, 29th, and 39th while Aaliyah Gordon also scored in the tenth.

With the win, Paragon improved to maximum nine points and certain of a semifinal spot, while Ventures and Harvard Checkers are next with six points each with a match left for each of the top three clubs.

Ventures’ got back in the title hunt with back-to-back wins over winless Courts Malvern, 4-3 and then Harvard Checkers 3-2 while the latter edged GCC 1-0 in the other women’s matches.

...Dames hand Paragon men first loss 

Kieth De Peza scored with a minute left on the clock as Notre Dame inflicted the first defeat on Paragon, 4-3 in the Men’s Open Division, also on Saturday.

Paragon, which won its first three matches before dropping its first points in a 4-4 draw with Courts Malvern, looked set to rebound when Australia-based Akim Toussaint fired in a fifth minute opener only for De Peza to get the Dames even three minutes later.

Paragon then stamped its authority on the contest with goals from Toussaint (12th) and Syl Sinnette (19th) for a 3-1 lead.

However, instead of folding, the Dames mounted a stunning comeback with Aidan De Gannes (24th) and Chad Pedro (34th) getting their team on level terms, before De Peza’s second item seal all three points.

Despite the loss, Paragon still lead the seven-team table with ten points from five matches, one ahead of Petrotrin which has a match in hand, and two more than the Dames, who also have played a match less.

The Dames also drew 7-7 with Defence Force on Saturday, while reigning champions, Queen’s Park had a 6-2 win over Fatima and a 4-4 draw with Malvern to stay in the chase for a semifinal place with five points.

And in Saturday’s other match, Defence Force trounced Malvern 9-1 led by a Roger Daniel beaver trick.

Saturday's T&THB National Indoor results:

Men's Open:

Notre Dame 7 vs Defence Force 7 (Shane Legerton 8th, 9th, Roger Daniel 23rd, 28th, Nicholas Wren 36th, 38th, Marcus James 21st) vs Notre Dame 7 (Shaquille Daniel 6th, 32nd, Aidan De Gannes 10th, 14th, Joshua Olton 16th, 26th, Darren Cowie 40th)

QPCC 6 (Kadeem Fortune 7th, 38th, Nicholas Camcho 21st, 29th, Dominic Young 11th, Jerry Bell 36th) vs Fatima 2 (Che Modeste 23rd, Jeremy Nieves 32nd)

Malvern 4 (Kristien Emmanuel 12th, Leary Inglesbirth 13th, Kieron Emmanuel 18th, Anthony Marcano 40th) vs QPCC 4 (Dominic Young 5th, 39th, Jerry Bell 24th, Kadeem Fortune 26th)

Defence Force 9 (Marcus James 12th, 26th, 31st, Roger Daniel 13th, 32nd, 33rd, 37th, Mickel Pierre 9th, Nicholas Wren 24th) vs Malvern 1 (Kieron Emmeanuel 33rd)

Notre Dame 4 (Keith De Peiza 8th, 39th, Aidan De Gannes 24th, Chad Pedro 34th) vs Paragon 3 (Akim Toussaint 5th, 12th, Syl Sinnette 19th)

Women's Open:

Paragon 8 (Alanna Lewis 18th, 33rd, 35th, Avion Ashton 8th, 15th, Keima Gardiner 13th, 23rd, Kristin Thompson 20th) vs GCC 5 (Gabriella Xavier 3rd, 16th, 29th, 39th, Aaliyah Gordon 10th)

Harvard Checkers 1 (Patricia Wright-Alexis 12th) vs GCC 0

Ventures 3 (Amanda George 27th, Arielle Cowie 35th, Gian Sealy 40th) vs Harvard Checkers 2 (Kwylan Jaggassar 17th, Patrice Padmore 39th)

Ventures 4 (Jade Piper 7th, 21st, Amanda George 10th, Ornella Schneider 3rd) vs Malvern 3 (Krizia Layne 10th, 38th, Sherlan Cabralis 6th)

Current T&T Hockey Board Indoor standings:

Women's Open Division:

Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts

Paragon*3*3*0*0*15*8*9

Ventures*3*2*0*1*8*5*6

Harvard Checkers*3*2*0*1*9*7*6

Malvern*3*0*0*3*9*15*0

GCC*2*0*0*2*5*9*0

Men's Open Division:

Paragon*5*3*1*1*24*17*10

Petrotrin*4*3*0*1*19*14*9

Notre Dame*4*2*2*0*19*18*8

QPCC*4*1*2*1*15*15*5

Defence Force*4*1*1*2*22*17*4

Fatima*4*1*0*3*14*20*3

Malvern*5*0*2*3*12*25*2