To any ordinary T&T citizen, it is a no-brainer that QRC must have that property west to Alexandra Street for its future growth, but with the latest statement issued by Maxie Cuffie who wears the title, Minister of Public Administration and Communications, citizens can now breathe a sigh of relief.

Cuffie’s earlier communications suggested that Cabinet had ignored QRC’s claim and had approved the allocation to the police, whereas it was merely a temporary accommodation; and this would-be folly was aggravated and compounded by the minister of education adopting a hands-off position while not appreciating his role and function as education minister to be advocate on QRC’s behalf .

Both ministers Cuffie and Garcia could benefit from a weekend retreat to sharpen their ministerial wits.

Michael J Williams

We keep on hearing that the police need our help and it is assumed that this is all about the murders etc. Allow me to suggest a very simple act that we, the public, can do to help not only the police but Trinidad and Tobago as a whole.

Whenever there is an accident on our roads pictures should be taken immediately and the respective vehicles moved to allow for the free flow of traffic. Imagine the frustration that can be eliminated by this simple act. All reports etc, can be written up while each of us continues on our way.

On another line of thought, we had a senior policeman advising on the TV that we should pause on a green light and count to five before continuing. But what about the driver speeding along and on seeing an amber light, is he or she going to slow down and stop on the red or would he/she speed up knowing that they will surely have an extra five count?

It’s Christmas, let’s slow down and obey the law and be at peace.

Chris Knaggs,

Bayshore

Well, well, well, it is now quite obvious that the Government is beginning to feel the financial pinch by their announcement of the disbandment of the Community Comfort Patrols.

There could be no other reason for this at a time when crime and general lawlessness is on the increase, and when serving policemen are jumping on to the criminal bandwagon.

With the police manning level just about 7,000 strong, which is presently not enough to deal with our crime scenario, the disappearance of these patrols is only going to increase the activities of the criminals.

The logic of this move will leave many citizens baffled since the Government has really given no explanation for the sudden disbandment of this much-needed programme to assist the police.

GA Marques

Recently I was a patient at Ward 24 of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and I wish to thank the doctors, nurses, cleaners and all those who attended to me, for they made my stay more comfortable than I had anticipated. From the time I entered the ward to the time I left I was treated very cordially with politeness and respect; I always had the feeling that those attending to me were interested in my welfare.

Before being admitted to the ward I had to attend the Surgical Outpatients’ Clinic (SOPC), and here again I felt comfortable that the doctors were interested in my welfare.

I saw that they had many people to deal with but they gave me (and I suppose all the other patients) their full attention and time, politely responding to my questions and concerns.

I thought of them on Christmas Day and knew that they had to work on that day and all other days that the rest of us have the time off. I said a prayer for them and shall continue with this practice.

I would urge all of us to remember them in our prayers. They are doing an invaluable service.

Felix Edinborough,

Petit Valley

As we fast approach the deadline to be FATCA compliant I will like to appeal to all our politicians to let common sense prevail.

We are about to enter 2017 and there is anxiety in the lives of many of our citizens which I see as not being right. Many of them are deeply concerned about money transactions that can be more costly for them or end up in failure.

As a country we have had enough time to get ourselves straight in relation to this. Yet we have allowed a selfish attitude to come in and we have accomplished nothing so far. To both the Opposition and the ruling party, for the sake of the country and citizens, sit down and talk. Let common sense prevail. Someone will have to be big enough or come up with a balance so that we can move forward as a country.

I must say I am disappointed that this FATCA issue is taking so long simply because our politicians are at loggerheads with each other. I cannot see this sitting well with anyone. When it is all said and done we all in some way will feel the impact, some more than others.

I do hope that we will not have the same attitude in 2017 concerning FATCA, but as leaders a fast resolution will be met and we can become FATCA compliant.

Arnold Gopeesingh,

San Juan

It would appear inevitable that T&T will, in the face of a doomsday scenario, be forced to become FATCA-compliant in the shortest possible time according to the shifting deadlines unilaterally issued by the IRS/Treasury Department. But in quantifying the current and future costs of FATCA compliance one must go beyond the costs to be incurred by individuals, companies, local banks and other financial institutions and the potential loss of their billion-dollar profit margins.

We must also factor in the huge losses/blemishes that the diplomatic and international image as well as the Exchequer/economy/investment climate of the country T&T will suffer.

What loss of value can we place on the regressive diminution of our sovereignty, political independence and the independent functioning of our Parliamentary democracy by the use of duress, reprisals, threats, interference in our internal affairs etc?

Are we still living in a globalised village, borderless world based on mutual respect and interdependence of nation-states?

The current debate seems to be revolving exclusively on the axis of blind, pro-country FATCA loyalists versus partisan Opposition-based politics. Many are claiming conveniently to putting country first by their indiscriminate short-sighted definition of the imbroglio and support, most notable of which is the Bankers Association.

The media reinforced and fed by the PNM propaganda machinery are promoting the view that the PNM Government has developed a patriotic stand. It has the ultimate and exclusive responsibility to achieve passage of the Bill with the requisite three-fifths (26) majority. Hitherto it has failed to mobilise Opposition support by influencing it positively.

The fault for this FATCA fracas lies exclusively with them and them alone. They are the Government according to the late Makandal Daaga.

The PNM has been conducting itself in a most impetuous, politically partisan, irresponsible and adversarial manner using Parliament to derive cheap political mileage by discrediting the Opposition at every turn. They even reneged on their JSC agreement. That is not the strategy that will compel and evoke the support of the Opposition—a sine qua non to the passage of FATCA 2016 Bill. Bad-mouthing the Opposition is counter-productive to your legislative agenda on constitution-amending bills. You have to stop this fruitless impulsive tirade/jihad, Faris et al.

Although the PNM dominates the corridors of power the electorate has imposed limits on the legislative reach/power of the Government. This the political neophytes cannot appreciate being bogged down by the old immature politics of confrontation and disrespect. Three mainstream media editorials have zeroed in on this. They have criticised the PNM for its wanton persistent display of garrulous political immaturity.

So far all that the PNM regime has been doing for 15 months is piggy-backing on the legislative legacy left by the PP (bail, gambling, SSA, FATCA Bills). They have been complaining about lack of automatic support from the Opposition while conducting themselves in a confrontational almost bulldozing modus operandi. That is not the road map for good effective governance, Prime Minister.

Stephen Kangal,

Caroni

T&T’s Ato Boldon, the most decorated track athlete of all times in the country’s history, was named joint best television analyst of the year by Sports Illustrated when it announced its best and worst Media awards for 2016. Boldon and Roddy Gaines of NBC were jointly honoured.

Boldon educates track viewers through his preparation, and when you listen to him, you realise how rare it is to have a sports TV analyst make you a smarter viewer. The high point for me was when Boldon tipped Japan for a medal in the 4x100-metre men’s relay prior to that Olympic race.

“This is a sleeper team,” Boldon said. “They ran an Asian-record 37.68 in their heat, beating Jamaica, and they pass the baton better than anyone else in this field … Some teams practice for a month or a week. Japan has been practicing for the entire year.”

The Japan team finished second in a new Asian-record time of 37.60 seconds, just 0.33 behind Usain Bolt and his Jamaica teammates. Gaines’s enthusiasm for his sport blasts through the screen and like Boldon, you come away from a broadcast understanding more about what makes these technicians so great in the pool.

Honourable Mention: Troy Aikman (Fox); Blackledge (ESPN); Hubie Brown (ESPN); Mary Carillo (Tennis Channel); Collinsworth (NBC); Bill Cowher (CBS); Charles Davis (Fox); Fran Fraschilla (ESPN); Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN); Kara Lawson (ESPN); Louis Riddick (ESPN); Smoltz (Fox); Chris Spielman (Fox); Jay Williams (ESPN).

James looked at his wife, Savannah, their baby daughter and two sons and feared for their safety.

“We were kind of afraid for a second,” James said.

Then relieved.

Scanning the crowd, James spotted people dangling from lamp posts and traffic lights, even a few straddling window ledges to get a glimpse of the champion Cavaliers, who were being honoured with a once-in-a-generation downtown parade after their comeback in the NBA Finals. James was awe-struck, and any concerns quickly melted away when he looked at the spectators’ faces and saw only smiles, laughter and tears of joy.

“Everybody was just rejoicing in grace and happiness,” James said, fondly reflecting on the picture-perfect day in June when Cleveland was transformed into a giant block party. “It was more than I could have ever imagined. It was unforgettable, unbelievable.”

And he had made it possible.

James, who ended 52 years of sports heartache by bringing Cleveland a championship and used his superstar platform to address social causes, was chosen as The Associated Press 2016 Male Athlete of the Year, an award he won previously in 2013.

Results of the vote by 59 editors from AP member newspapers and customers were announced yesterday.

James collected 24 first-place votes, beating out a pair of Olympic legends: Michael Phelps (16) and Usain Bolt (9), the fastest men in water and on land who are not accustomed to finishing behind anyone.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, the NL MVP who led his team to its first World Series title since 1908, tied for fourth with Golden State star guard Stephen Curry, last year’s winner. Cristiano Ronaldo, Von Miller and Andy Murray also received votes.

James joined Michael Jordan as the only NBA players to win twice. Jordan won it three straight years from 1991-94.

US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was named AP’s top female athlete on Monday.

A rabid sports fan, James was flattered to be in the same class with Phelps, the 23-time gold medalist who added five more to his record collection at the Rio Olympics.

“To be that dominant in your respective sport, to see what he’s been able to do over the years, what he does in that water, man, it’s tremendous and very inspiring,” James said. “When you have that type of tenure to be able to dominate, when you know that the entire competition is gearing up to beat you — and only you — and you’re still able to come away No 1 or always be at the top of the food chain, that’s very inspiring.”

That James received the honour in an Olympic year underscores the weight of his accomplishments.

His third NBA crown was for Cleveland, delivering on a promise James made to a city that hadn’t celebrated a major championship since 1964 and had endured many torturous sports moments since.

James, whose game shows no signs of aging as he approaches his 32nd birthday in a few days, came up short in 2015, leading an injury-depleted Cleveland team to the finals where they lost to the Warriors. And although James posted the best statistical series of any player in history, his critics were quick to point out his 2-4 record in the finals compared to Jordan’s 6-0.

The Cavs got a rematch with the record-setting, 73-win Warriors. Led by Curry, the league’s unanimous MVP choice, Golden State was being talked about as potentially the best team ever, an argument that gained steam when it took a 3-1 lead.

James, though, wasn’t going to be denied again. He scored 41 points in Games 5 and 6 and posted a triple-double in an epic Game 7 that will be remembered for his chase-down block of Andre Iguodala in the closing minutes — a defensive gem that stands as the signature play of his magnificent career.

After the final horn, James collapsed on the floor and when asked moments later about his emotions, the Ohio native who proudly says he’s “just a kid from Akron,” screamed at the TV camera: “Cleveland, this for you!”

“At that moment,” James said, “I felt fulfilled. To know the history of our sports here and how heartbreaking at times it was for all those years that our fans had to go through, and the circumstances that we came back from, it was so fulfilling.”

James’ journey to his greatest triumph coincided with the passing of another great — the greatest of all — as Muhammad Ali died on June 4. During the playoffs, James watched tapes of Ali’s fights for motivation. It was in the spirit of the boxing legend and global ambassador that James stood on stage with close friends Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony at the ESPYs in July to decry violence against unarmed black men and encourage fellow athletes to do more to support local police and improve communities.

James later donated $2.5 million for a Smithsonian exhibit honouring Ali, and he’s producing a documentary on the champ.

“He’s definitely a person I’m inspired to be like, to have a social conscience about things,” James said. “What I always saw in Ali was that he was always educated about everything he was speaking about. He was never just talking to be talking. There was a method to the madness.

“Ali definitely showed me the way.” (AP)

Paralympic gold medallist and record holder Akeem Stewart was named the top Men’s Athlete of the Tobago Falcons Athletic Club for 2016 at the club’s 17th annual awards ceremony held at the Conference Room of the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (DIPU), Shaw Park, Tobago on December, 17.

Stewart was the overwhelming favourite after his gold and silver medal performances at the Rio Paralympics in September. The Scarborough Secondary School past student first won the men’s F 42-44 javelin with a distance of 57.32m. His winning mark was a world record in the F 43 class. He was going for a second gold in the discus was had to settle for silver with 61.72.

On the local scene, Stewart improved his own national Men’s Open shot put record mark to 19.96m at Zenith Relays on June 19. He was aiming to qualify for the Rio Summer Olympics but missed the qualifying standard of 20.50m. The 24 year old won the shot put and discus titles at the Falcon Games and shot put crown at the Hampton and Southern Games.

Chelsea James took the top Women’s Athlete honour after her bronze medal effort in the girls under 20 shot put at the Carifta Games in April.

James was third in the women’s shot put finals at the National Senior champs setting a pb of 14.85m which qualified her for the World Under 20 Champs. The triple Carifta champion also won the national senior discus title as well as the National junior girls under 20 shot put and discus crowns.

She was also fifth in girls under 20 discus Carifta finals. The Carnbee resident also completed the shot put and discus double at the Falcon Games and took the shot put crown at the Southern Games. She was also the most outstanding female under 20 performer. Both Stewart and James were previous multiple winners of the club’s athlete of the year accolades.

Carifta competitor Omari Benoit (U20 Boys) and Clarence Hannibal (U18 Boys) were the age class winners, while former Carifta representative Peaches Stewart took the Under 18 Girls honours. Hannibal was also the most improved athlete. Christopher Crawford (Boys) and Shannon Daniel (Girls) took the home the Under 16 trophies. Daniel was voted the most discipline athlete. Elvis Turner secured the Most Outstanding Distance Runner prize.

Orville London, the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Collin Nimblett were specially honoured for their support of the Falcon Games.

Tobago Falcons 2016 Honour Roll

Athlete of the year: Akeem Stewart (Men)

Athlete of the Year: Chelsea James (Women)

Open: Akeem Stewart (Men)

Under 20: Omari Benoit (Boys); Chelsea James (Girls)

Under 18: Clarence Hannibal (Boys); Peaches Stewart (Girls)

Under 16: Christopher Crawford (Boys); Shannon Daniel (Girls)

Under 12: Le Bron James (Boys)

Most Outstanding Distance runner: Elvis Turner (Boys)

​

Special Awards

Orville London (Chief Secretary, THA)

Collis Nimblett (Tobago Baking Service)

Most Inspirational Performance: Akeem Stewart

Most Disciplined: Shannon Daniel

Most Improved: Clarence Hannibal

Encouragement

Ihouma Straugh-George (Under10 Girls)

Omari Lucas (Under 10 Boys)

Kailon Edwards (Under 14 Boys)

Jodi James (Under 12 Boys)

Adanna Duncan (Under 18 Girls)

Shakeera Kirk (Under 16 Girls)

Something is wrong, something is amiss, something clearly is not what it should at least if you are talking T&T cricket at the moment .

While the local courts will probably influence which group will run cricket in 2017, there is little doubt, that the longer the sport remains on this pathway, then destruction and erosion of the quality along with added shame of the field, will descend on all our cricket. Certainly this cannot be what is desired by those in authority.

At this stage of the regional four-day tournament, T&T is languishing in last place, with a number of defeats, after winning our opening match which suggest that somewhere, somehow, something has gone wrong within this team.

In the first place, there is no doubt, that this is not the best T&T team, and we are talking about best available team based on the players who are eligible for selection.

But unless we lose sight of the failing Richard Pybus Professional Cricket League plans, it would appear that the problems arose with the squad selected by T&T. A cursory glance among the teams in the premier division would raise more questions than answers about the policy of the T&T selectors.

It is probably no surprise to listen to the T&TCB which immediately has cast blame on national coach, Augustine Logie. It would appear from all indications the coach Logie was very instrumental in the selection of the team, if that is not true and Logie too must defend himself, otherwise his record is being tarnished on every occasion that T&T has failed to date.

It does not help the current situation, when certain players selected have been called into question because of either family connections or local club connections to some of the executives of the TTCB.

There is also the obvious failure of the TTCB, not to realize that the selection of non-T&T players was not working in this tournament for T&T, as it would appear that there was an obvious disconnect among many of the players and a belief, that many of the local players left out of the team were in some cases better or equal in ability to the overseas based players selected. I believe that the TTCB misunderstood the success of the Caribbean Premier League format of T20 cricket being similar to the four day regional tournament .

Another error again which we have to be shared with both the coach and selectors, is the choice of the team captain, which is more critical than it appears to those in authority. Given the amount of chopping and changing of the captain over the last 12 months with at least four changes to that leadership position, this has created a lack of stability and will undermine team spirit and camaraderie which are certainly lacking in the players’ body language out in the field.

It is embarrassing to watch how the rest of the region continues to strive in the four-day tournament, while our team appears to lack mental strength and aptitude for long cricket battles. At the moment, our team seems to lack the concentration and the willingness to compete. The competitiveness of a team can be inspired by a strong leader on and off the playing field.

Sadly, in all areas, this current team looks inadequate at both the batting and bowling which regularly fell short on the first day of play. The players look as if they are not playing with any pride for country or even themselves. Changes are definitely needed, but unfortunately T&T has already selected a core squad from among those who are receiving monthly salaries which makes it very difficult to replace them now.

In my opinion, if the TTCB is serious about our cricket then the selectors should also be dismissed and not just target the coach who to me is being used as a scapegoat for the team’s poor showing so far this season. If the Coach was solely responsible for selection all the players then his head is the ultimate prize, but the selectors headed by Raffique Jamadeen are just as responsible and must be held accountable too.

More than any other year, in 2016 I have come to know so many people who live with a mental illness or who have had to support a family member with a condition. Of course, it is no surprise to me because I have fully accepted that there is an overwhelming amount of undiagnosed illnesses among us.

I also know that debilitating stigma which exists making people cagey about their situations – illnesses, disorders, conditions, and challenges.

I encourage non-disclosure even while hoping that everyone would feel sufficiently comfortable to be open. But disclosure has its drawbacks in an ill-informed and intolerant society as ours.

That said, I have no wishes for the State for mental health for 2017 that I want to place here. To me, I hardly have hope because the policymakers are so busy grappling to “hush” crime since they are without a plan to curb the violence.

But 2016 should be celebrated for the spaces it has opened up in the lives of so many people. Week after week, I have had responses to either this feature or to the Facebook page Mental Health Matters (@MHIsUnderstood) which has provided much opportunity for meeting the needs of others.

I have peer counselled every age group from adolescence upwards and many have followed through with the advice. Among those who found aid with the recommended interventions, whether it was a psychiatrist or a Web page, some took time to call or write again to say how they were affected. That makes my advocacy fulfilling.

One recurring theme among those of us who live with mental illness (PMIs) is the concern, sometimes fear, of prescribed medication. I understand this issue from many angles since the struggle is active for me, also. Whenever I am recommended medication for mood stability many things come up as problematic. Foremost, is the fact that my weight changes when I medicate.

What I know though is that I am a better person when my mood is regulated. I accept that biologically I do not function like other people. But I also understand that almost everyone I know has a chronic health challenge for which they need medicines.

Very often this year I have had to remind people that if they had the flu they take meds, that if the doctor says they are hypertensive or they are living with diabetes or cardiovascular diseases they always take their medication. I have had to teach that it should be no different with psychiatric prescriptions.

But it is. It’s almost as if people assume once they take drugs for a mental illness they are confirmed as “mad.” It’s as if you become less of a person when you see a psychiatrist or a psychologist and it is all related to the lack of national education campaigns and the burgeoning unawareness.

Thankfully, I trust the heart surgeon as much as the dentist, the general practitioner and the psychiatrist. So this year when the pressures of life bore down on me, I sought a psychiatric intervention and willingly accepted that I needed to use meds along with my art for therapy, prayer and meditation, serenity and solitude. For the first time since I was a teenager, I began having anxiety attacks in 2016. It was a weird thing initially, so unexpected (because I wasn’t paying attention) that one night I almost called an ambulance. Then the knowledge kicked in and I knew exactly what to do, thankfully.

For me, a big part of living a contented and reasonably healthy life is having the knowledge of what portends. All of us should seek out such information. Everyone needs an understanding of these issues – even a basic understanding and level of acceptance.

I say that against the background of untold grief from among those who suicided and those who committed other negative acts of passion because they and those in their support system were without the appropriate information to help or to direct them to help.

I cannot erase from my heart the young man who almost told his mother that he would take his life and she, while listening to him felt he should have told her something. She missed every cue. Her lamentation after he had suicided was that “he could have tell me something.”

My chest tightens every time I think of this parent – so uninformed, so unaware, so blinded by the stigma, she could not hear the plea. It’s the same feeling I carry for the young mother who was postpartum depressive and who suicided.

Though these are sombre recollections, I hope that using it could inspire you to determine to educate yourself and those around you. Ask questions of people who have a better understanding. Do not doubt the statistics that say many of us are ill, do not let it get in the way of saving a life. Don’t just laugh and say “more outside than inside”.

For 2017, I wish you knowledge.

• Caroline C Ravello is a strategic communications and media practitioner with over 30 years of proficiency. She holds an MA in Mass Communications and is pursuing the MSc in Public Health (MPH) from The UWI. Write to: mindful.tt@gmail.com

It’s almost as if people assume once they take drugs for a mental illness they are confirmed as “mad.” It’s as if you become less of a person when you see a psychiatrist or a psychologist and it is all related to the lack of national education campaigns and the burgeoning unawareness.

Flow has announced that it will spend $5,730,060.00 over the next three years as the presenting sponsor for the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF).

A release said the continued partnership which was ten years old this year, was sealed by Flow MD Brian Collins and Festival Founder Bruce Paddington at a small ceremony at Flow’s Head Office at Victoria Square, Port-of-Spain at which the contract was signed taking the sponsorship which started in 2005 to 2018.

Collins said at the ceremony, “We consider the TTFF to be one of our flagship relationships. We signed on to support TTFF very soon after the event launched in Trinidad and Tobago and we’ve seen it grown into a major attraction on the T&T event calendar attracting local and overseas film aficionados. Through the TTFF I have seen local film grow from strength to strength and this year we saw three excellent and compelling films this year alone. For the past two or three years each year has seen at least two excellent films from Trinidad and Tobago and more if you consider the entire Caribbean. The TTFF has also spawned a thriving local Film Festival industry with events that focus on European films, environmental films and animated content as well.”

Bruce Paddington, Festival Founder and Director said, “We continue to be grateful to Flow as they have continued to be a leader in the private sector, shining a light to support the development and exposition of local and regional film. We’ve had many sponsors over the years and we’re thankful for all of them, however Flow has never wavered in working as hard as possible to ensure that we continue to grow as a Film Festival. We’re happy that they have signed on and look forward to building on the TTFF success over the next three years.”

The TTFF started in 2005 and celebrates films from and about the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as from world cinema, through an annual festival and year-round screenings. In addition, the ttff seeks to facilitate the growth of Caribbean cinema by offering a wide-ranging industry programme and networking opportunities.

President of the T&T Automotive Dealers’ Association (TTADA) Visham Babwah said yesterday that some 200 foreign used car dealers could go out of business in 2017 if Government sticks to the vehicle importation policy implemented at the beginning of this year.

He said the new policy has resulted in significant declines in business of 50 to 60 per cent for small and medium used car dealers. However, he could not give a monetary value of losses incurred as each dealer has different quotas.

“The only dealers that would have raked in a profit this year, according to the financial statements, are the big dealers. They are getting foreign exchange to import,” Babwah told the T&T Guardian.

“We are an import driven economy, not a manufacturing or export driven economy, because of various factors . If they stifle the small and medium businesses they will fail.”

Babwah said some dealers were only able to import 20 per cent of their quotas this year.

“There are 565 dealers and with this four year range policy I am sure a lot of them, between 30 to 40 per cent ,will go out of business this coming year,” he said.

The TTADA president also said that usually at the end of December letters to collect licenses are sent to the used car dealers out by the Ministry of Trade. That has not yet happened and Babwah is hoping there are no delays in collecting those documents and no surprises like the ones they had last year when there was a change in the age of vehicles that can be imported into the country.

He said several letters were sent to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley,Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon and Minister of Finance Minister Colm Imbert requesting a meeting but there has no response.

“After this last fiscal budget, Minister Gopee-Scoon was in Chaguanas for a budget discussion with the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce and I was told they were conducting an audit into the industry and soon letters will be sent out for consultation but nothing up to now,” Babwah said.

“Maybe they are thinking that by not engaging the people the problems will go away but it will not.”

Contacted for comment yesterday, Gopee-Scoon, who is currently out of the country, said that the policy has already been reviewed. She said consultations will be held with the dealers in early January.

The revised used car policy

The revised policy, announced on January 15, Trade a Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, is as follows:

• Age limit of gasoline-powered foreign used cars allowed for importation revised to four years from the existing six years with immediate effect.

• Current age limit of three years for diesel-powered cars and four years for CNG-powered cars will be maintained;

• Individuals will be allowed to import foreign used right-hand drive cars for personal use once every four years instead of once every three years. The age limit on such cars imported for personal use will also be four years.

• The Ministry of Trade will temporarily suspend the application process for any new person or business seeking to register as a foreign used car dealer at the Trade Licence Unit (TLU).

A Roman Catholic priest broke from tradition and blessed no toys during the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Innocents at the Lady of Perpetual Help Church in San Fernando yesterday.

Father Martin Sirju had asked parents not to bring their children’s toys to church.

Instead, he anointed the children’s forehead with blessed oil, placed his hands on their heads and said a silent prayer for each of them. Sirju said there was nothing wrong with blessing the toys.

“I don’t think it is wrong to bless the toys. I just don’t think today is the day to do it.” 

Sirju said he researched it and did not see the significance in blessing the toys, except that it is a tradition in T&T.  

Sirju said the blessing of the toys cheapens the true meaning of the Feast. A few parishioners who did not know about the priest earlier request brought their children’s toys to church. The toys remained on the pew while the children went forward to be blessed.  It has become a tradition for parents and guardians to take their children to church with their Christmas toys to be blessed.

The Feast on December 28 is in commemoration of the massacre of male children, between the ages of two years old and under, ordered by King Herod in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill baby Jesus.

The priest used the occasion to comment on violence meted out against children in various forms, including  through physical abuse and the lack of love and education.

“The lack of love is form of violence against children,” he said.

He said one of the greatest responsibilities of parents was to love the children they bring into the world, but noted that many children, including teenagers, sometimes cry out to him and his colleagues for love and attention.

“How do we start to take away violence from a violent Trinidad, we start by loving our children.”

Another form of violence against children, he said, was the lack of education, especially of people in the lower income bracket.

Noting that the majority of the prison population was illiterate and many suffer from mental illness, he said: ‘This is the net effect of neglect by many stakeholders not just in the education system but a network of people that neglect when it comes to education, contributing to the violence that we see in our society and the lack of proper education of the poor is itself a next violence inflicted on them.”

Another form of massacre of the innocence, he said was the level of physical and sexual abuse in the country.

He said his friend, a licenced therapist, who came here to work after working with low income families in the United States told him the level of physical violence inflicted upon children in T&T was much more widespread than in New York.

Saying that people needed to relate in more a peaceful manner, he said the first example has to be set by the parents. 

“If they do not communicate in a peaceful way to their children, their children will not communicate in a  peaceful way.”

Sirju said the fourth way, a more subtle way, in which violence was meted out to children was by not baptising them.

Teaching children carols and the scriptures, he said, should not only be the responsibility of the church.

He said some children could recite by heart songs from the US and Jamaica, but they do not know Christmas songs by heart.

A 59-year-old man from Barataria is expected to appear in court today charged with the murder of his 15-year-old stepson almost two weeks ago.

Joel Pompey was brought to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court yesterday for his court appearance but had to be taken to hospital after he complained of feeling unwell.

Pompey, a retired employee of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), was expected to be brought back to court afterwards but due to delays at hospital, his court appearance had to be deferred to today.

Pompey is accused of murdering Josiah Martinez during an argument at their home at Upper Seventh Avenue, Malick, Barataria on December 16.

Several of Pompey’s relatives were in court for yesterday’s hearing.

A father of two young children lost his only means of earning an income yesterday when he was disqualified from driving for three years on his second conviction for drunk driving.

Rabindranath Deonarine, 36, a tractor truck driver, was also slapped with a $12,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to the offence before San Fernando Traffic Court Magistrate Natalie Diop.

Deonarine was arrested by PC Shiva Roopchan last Friday after he was stopped around 10.32 pm during a routine road check at Papourie Road, Picton Village.

Prosecutor Sgt Kassiram Lutchman said Deonarine was 50 microgrammes above the legal limit which is 35 microgrammes.

Deonarine asked for a “lil time to pay (the fine), saying he has a wife and two children, ages nine and one year old. He admitted that in August 2002 he was convicted for a similar offence at the Siparia Magistrates Court and fined $3,500. 

In handing down the sentence, the magistrate told him that she has often told people that by their very conduct they tied the hands of the court.

She said on a second conviction for a drunk driving offence the court was mandated to disqualify a person from driving for a period of time.

When he realised that the court was taking away his licence, Deonarine pleaded, “That’s my form of work. How will I be able to work and pay this (fine) off then?”

The magistrate told him she may appear to be harsh but he should have considered that before he got behind the wheel while intoxicated.

“The law is the law. You have a duty to obey the law. Do not drink and drive,” she said.

The magistrate advised him that after six months he could make an application to the court to get back his licence. If he fails to pay the fine in two months he will serve 18 months hard labour.

She also commended PC Roopchan for his diligence in detecting such offences. 

Local Government Minister, Kazim Hosein made an appeal to private contractors, businessmen and ordinary citizens to join with his Ministry in its national clean-up drive next month.

Hosein called a meeting at City Hall, San Fernando yesterday with mayors, chairmen and chief executives officers of all the country’s 14 regional corporations to discuss the plans for the campaign. He hoped he can achieve his goal through volunteerism. 

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Hosein explained his plans for 2017 to clean up the country. 

“I asked all the mayors, chairmen and CEO’s of all 14 corporations to come forward to have this meeting in San Fernando about a national clean-up, which is scheduled to start in the second week in January,” he said.

“The clean up campaign involves removal of derelict vehicles, taking down all dilapidated buildings, getting rid of old tyres, batteries, cleaning of underground drains, cleaning up of open lots, basically it’s cleaning of the country.”

Hosein said that although the first meeting was hosted by the council he once lead, he was not showing favouritism but rather hoping to visit each corporation at least once a month. 

While the idea of the campaign was widely embraced, several chairmen, including head of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation Henry Awong and Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Martin Terry Rondon, expressed concern about getting contractors and citizens to volunteer their time and equipment to cause.

Both chairmen said they feared they may not be able to get contractors to commit to the entirety of the operation without being paid. 

|In response, he said, “Some of the chairmen were thinking about funding, now while we are in a period where funding is little we are calling the volunteers, especially the contractors and people who live within each community to come forward and assist in each area by cleaning up their villages, their cities, wherever they might live.”

He recalled the success of the clean-up campaign in the San Fernando City Corporation, which he spearheaded during his tenure as mayor.

“When I did it in San Fernando, it was very successful and people have heard about it (national campaign) and for the last three or four days, even Christmas Day, people were calling me—contractors and even ordinary citizens—want to be a part of this clean-up drive, I assure you all it will be a success.”

Asked about the cost to the Ministry, Hosein said a budget had not been finalised but when it is, it will be a small budget. 

Attorney General and San Fernando West Member of Parliament, Faris Al-Rawi, also attended the meeting and addressed the those gathered briefly. 

He described the campaign as a “grace period” and warned when it was over the corporations would act to ensure those who do not comply with the law are charged. 

He said the campaign was also a precursor for Government to bring legislation on waste recycling and waste energy production.

Deputy Fire Officer Kenny Gopaul says members of the public should not leave flames and small fires unattended as there were $570 million in losses during the past year for both house and commercial fires and 8,000 bush fires.

Gopaul was speaking in wake of several house fires that occurred during the past week that left over 30 homeless in Morvant, Marabella and Moruga.

In a brief interview yesterday, Gopaul said that many of the fires in the past year were not accidental.

“Arson is a crime which is investigated by the police and they are not accidental. They are definitely not. There are signs of forced entry and incendiary devices and for example and channa. Once it catches it spreads all over like a scratch bomb,” he said.

He said the country could not afford losses especially at this time with the economic downturn.

“There were 8000 bush fires but we could only respond to half of that or it burned out before we reached,” he said.

Gopaul said altogether there were six houses that were destroyed in bush fires this past year.

“Clean around their property, keep the grass low and clear so there is not a trail to your house. Even gardeners who flash and burn, this is illegal. You need a fire permit, you are not exempted.”

He said there were a lot of fires due to careless use of open flames.

“Somebody comes home drunk and cook food and went and sleep. Some playing with things near open flames, near curtains and combustibles. Some use candles and lamps where animals can spill these things. It must be supervised and nowhere near any combustible material,” he said.

Gopaul said that another problem was the prevalence of scratch bombs and fire works.

“They are not only illegal but dangerous. Every year we have fire calls with these things causing fires, bush fires and people becoming injured or severe burns,” he said.

He said members of the public should exercise caution.

Gopaul said between December 1, 2016, to June 30 next year is fire season and under the Agriculture Fires Act a fire permit is needed to light any outdoor fire.

“It is for $10 and available at any fire station and we will send a fire guardian to show you how to do it. There is a way to do it and there must be water and help,” he said.

Gopaul said fire-fighters also responded to a high amount of calls that reported road fatalities this year.

“There were a lot of road deaths recently due to people speeding and not following the speed limit. A lot of motorists are losing their lives due to stupidity. Drinking and driving don’t mix, drive for the other guy to and drive safely,” he said.