Just as the Galleons Passage set sail last week on its voyage from China to Port-of-Spain, it had to dock at a nearby port called Yokohama. Whilst berthed, the crew is ensuring that additional fuel is loaded along with provisions yam, cassava, blue metal dasheen, sweet potato, saltfish, smoke herring and “rainbow corn-beef.” After all, this voyage may last six months should we choose destination Washington DC, or 35 weeks should we simply set sail to a destination of any pavement in Trinidad.

We dare not berth in Tobago as there is a lynch mob waiting there to crucify any ship which it perceives to have come from “Calcutta.” Cut and run would not be an easy option.

At this time the captain of the ship seems to have gotten his instructions wrong. Whilst on the voyage, he is expected to take a sabbatical in Honolulu, Hawaii, to study industrial relations. There is absolutely no correlation between industrial relations and his career as a skipper but apparently industrial relations is intimately linked with elements of human rights, a key component to ensuring that the crew remains free from scurvy. 

In the meantime, crewmen appear to be griping over the perception that high office holders are in the habit of giving each other “blighs.” The President who once partook of Housing Allowances (costing taxpayers dollars) whilst being accommodated in upscale housing at Flagstaff Hill, appears to be giving his “judicial” brother a “bligh” by allowing him sabbatical leave. None other than the Chief Justice is engaging in “study leave,” which it is still unclear at what cost to tax payers.

Apparently, the Chief Justice stated as a precursor to his proposed Fellowship Sabbatical Studies, that his course director/facilitator would be the Industrial Court President, Deborah Thomas-Felix. According to Martin Daly SC, it appears, however, that Ms Thomas-Felix may not have given her approval to be the CJ’s “supervisor” during his Fellowship. Coincidentally, CJ Archie recently said that if ever Ms Thomas-Felix is considered for the position of first female Chief Justice, he “will give more than proxy to have her” (See Trinidad Express, April 19, 2017).

Dr Leighton Jackson, Dean of the Faculty of Law at UWI, Mona Campus, who has been retained on numerous occasions by CJ Archie and Her Honour Deborah Thomas-Felix to deliver speeches, judicial training etc, to the Judiciary and the Industrial Court, respectively has said to the people of T&T that we need to “move on”, “…we need to get along and not make an issue out of something…”, “…we need to stop the noise and quarrelling; we all make mistakes and we are all human. Let’s all move on…” (See Trinidad Express, March 9, 2018).
Is it as simple as moving on without proper accountability, especially when taxpayers are footing the bills? With the greatest respect to Dr Jackson, it now turns out that CJ Archie’s proposed course of study will benefit him (Dr Jackson) in updating a human rights law book by deceased Ms Margaret Demerieux.

Dr Jackson is the executor of her estate and therefore has control of the copyright of this book. Ironically, in so far as the CJ will be studying Industrial Relations, Dr Jackson has stated that this is due to the fact that Ms Thomas-Felix, “The President of the Industrial Court has not had any sabbatical so she has not had opportunity to look at it, although she is the most knowledgeable at the moment on the day-to-day operations.”

The crewmen thank God in their own way, that they never pursued education at tertiary level and in any event, not at UWI!

These players all came together in the public’s view before. Recently, the appointment of Supreme Court judge Quinlan-Williams raised concerns as there was a complaint against her for having granted bail to two accused men after the said bail was denied them by another magistrate. Former Justice Rajnauth-Lee proffered two charges against Quinlan-Williams. Deborah Thomas-Felix prosecuted whilst Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson defended Quinlan-Williams.

The Great Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona appears to have yet again played a hand in determining the charges against Quinlan-Williams close to his elevation as President Designate. These matters troubled the public when Quinlan-Williams was appointed by the CJ Archie-led JLSC in April 2017.

Unfortunately, after Carmona is thrown overboard, and Archie completes his studies, these matters will continue to affect the integrity and confidence in the Judiciary.

Next week – Part 3

A lack of venues willing to host local artistes has traditionally been a problem facing new and upcoming musicians and vocalists in T&T’s music industry.

This problem will now have been partially alleviated with the opening of T&T’s first Live Music District (LMD), which was officially launched on March 8.

The creation of this Live Music District is a key strategy being undertaken by MusicTT/ CreativeTT through the Ministry of Trade and Industry in order to not only address the challenges presented by the industry’s stakeholders but to also stimulate a new wave of economic growth through the creative industries.

MusicTT Chairman John Arnold said almost 30 venues, including bars, lounges and hotels, will be part of the first phase of the LMD, which runs from March and June of 2018. He estimated there would be approximately 700 performances, as each venue has committed to two performances per week. Arnold also said Music TT would sponsor the first 20 minutes of each performance at a rate of $500 for soloists and duets, $1,000 for small bands of three to five people and $1,500 for bands comprising more than five people. He said it was up to the performers to negotiate the rest of their fees, which should be supported by the private sector or the venue.

MusicTT General Manager Jeanelle Frontin said the venues included 4 Play Sports Bar, 51 Degrees, 63 Lounge, Alpha Rooftop, All Out, Altitude Lounge, Apex Sports Bar, The Avenue Pub House Earth, Chancellor Hotel, D Bocas, Frankie’s, Haze, Island Beer Chill & Grill, Kaiso Blues Cafe, La Locanda Italia Resturant Trinidad, M Bar, The Residence, Rizzoni’s, Samurai Restaurant, Smokey and Bunty, Tequila Twist, Trader Jack’s, Tzar Nightclub, Uncorked, Vas Lounge and Xperience Event Center.

She thanked those who had contributed to putting the project together.

Arnold said the issue of venue availability and booking would be handled through an online booking platform. He said the platform would be built by Australian online music platform company Museek, which was sponsoring 90 per cent of initiating the basic platform.

“All the venues and the artistes will be hosted on that online booking platform, artistes will be able to upload their photos, bios, and links to their own music on YouTube, Soundcloud, everything will be automated, including performance contracts,” said Arnold. “Performing acts can add an unlimited number of users to their accounts, including their managers, band members, even their accountants.”

He added that a Live Music District app, which will be released at the end of March or beginning of April, will enable members of the public to know when performances are happening. This will be a great help to artistes to draw audiences to their shows, as well as for the venues. “You will be able to see the schedule of the District, access the venues and access specials which will be offered by the various venues.”

Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon said the LMD presents an opportunity for artistes to hone their skills through the live music circuit, and will create employment opportunities as “venues with increased patrons will require more personnel to provide associated services.”

She continued: “Sound engineers, stagehands, lighting technicians, stage/set managers, booking agents, and many other positions will also be required for the success and maintenance of this initiative. The creation of this District will also encourage more young persons to consider careers in the music industry as performers and looking beyond performance to production, sound engineering, composing, recording, publishing, etc.”

The Minister said the establishment of the LMD would also have a positive effect on the entire local music ecosystem, “where an efficient fully-functioning industry will bring local and foreign investment into music and an increased socio-economic contribution. Revenue for the global music industry is estimated at US$15.7 billion dollars and of course T&T must have a stake in that, particularly as music is an integral component of the domestic creative sector that has demonstrated international market appeal, a source of employment and a generator of foreign exchange.”

Krave Restaurant, located in Tarouba, south Trinidadm has been introducing food lovers to international flavours and styles since it opened in 2014.

Next week the restaurant is hosting a Peruvian Food Festival, headlined by guest Chef Artistoteles Brena Jamie, a Peruvian native.

Chef Artistoteles is taking time off from the helm of restaurant Nazca 21 in Casco Viejo, Panama, to ensure customers are treated to authentic and Peruvian inspired dishes.

From March 20-25, patrons will have a chance to savour the best of Peru. Tuesday’s a la carte steak night will include a “live” station with Peruvian inspired cuisine. Wednesday evening will feature a Peruvian Seafood buffet dinner.

With Ceviche being considered the national dish of Peru, guests can expect an array of delicious seafood. Thursday and Friday will feature a three-course Prix Fixe meal curated by Chef Artistoteles and the Sunday brunch will be an all you can eat Peruvian Food Fiesta.

Krave has attracted a loyal fan base that enjoys and savours the restaurant’s regular speciality buffet nights, Sunday brunches and a la carte offerings. The culinary team, headed by Belgian Executive Chef Dominique Beens, works hard to keep guests coming back to enjoy the food and ambience offered in Krave’s chic dining room.

Krave Managing Director Damion Persad has assembled a talented team and is determined to continue growing Krave’s reputation.

“The visit by Chef Artistoteles is another first for us and we look forward to continuing our commitment to offering our guests on-trend experiences of phenomenal food,” he said.

In the Paramin community, the white panel van bearing the bright yellow logo—Saut Dough Bakery—is symbolic.

Not only does it meanders around the hilly terrain supplying freshly baked bread daily, but it advertises opportunity.

The bakery provides a platform for the neighbourhood youths to harness their skills and subsequently become businessowners themselves.

A thrust which proprietor Garvin Luces believes will not only enrich the lives of Paramin residents but eventually will inject much needed capital into T&T’s challenged economy.

But Luces story is also one of inspiration: starting off as a dish washer to laboriously working his way to head baker at several local and regional establishments.

His 23-year journey in the culinary world has been both arduous and eventful.

Leaving what was formerly known as the Belmont Junior Secondary School and then the Tranquility Government School with three O’Level passes, Luces said it was sheer grit and determination which propelled him to become the hard worker that he is today.

“I came from very humble beginnings. When I left school with just three subjects I did not let this deter me. I wanted to make something of myself and I not want to sit on the block and just do nothing.”

The husband and father of three said he also drew inspiration from his great grand-mother who walked tirelessly throughout Paramin to sell bread.

“She would bake bread in this big dirt oven and walk from door to door through the community to sell. So you could say that baking also runs through my veins,” he quipped.

Luces also grew up in the farming sector where he, like the majority of Paramin residents, are herb connoisseurs.

Seasonings such as thyme is a key ingredient in some of his baked creations.

In reminiscing about his early days in the world of work, Luces said he felt, at times, like he was being exploited, as hours seemed never-ending with very little pay.

“When I started to work at 18 I had nothing. So I had to take whatever opportunity that came my way and learn all what I could.”

On one occasion he applied for a job in the bakery of a large supermarket chain but as there were no vacancies at the time Luces said he was instead given the position of pushing trolley.

“I left but returned soon after because that supermarket called me back and I was placed in the bakery. It was a fantastic experience because everything was made from scratch; nothing came from boxes,” he said.

But four years later Luces decided he could do more.

At 23, he returned to school where he completed programmes in food preparation and cafeteria operations which prepared him with additional skills in entrepreneurship.

As he slowly elevated, doors opened which paved the way for rewarding experiences throughout his culinary education.

Among those included being taught by Bob DeMeir, a Belgian master baker who played an instrumental role in teaching Luces about the technical aspect on the trade.

Luces was also the chef of a restaurant in Antigua for a year and, during that time, he opened a bakery for the owner on that island.

He was also fortunate to work as a pastry assistant on a five-star Celebrity Cruise liner and at the Hilton Hotel where he advanced his knowledge about the world of baking.

But the 43-year-old explained that his dream was always to be truly independent; to not only become a successful self-made businessman but to “feed” a community which he holds dear to his heart.

“Learning is continuous. When I felt I wasn’t challenged any more I moved on.”

Coupled with this was the fact that he had just got married and had a daughter.

“The hours were just too long and it wasn’t worth it. I chose my family and a new path for myself,” Luces said.

Hence the Saut Dough (pronounced so dough and is French for water jump) bakery was born which Luces proudly boasts was named after Saut D’eau beach which can be easily spotted from the evergreen Paramin hilltops.

Getting his business of the ground was no easy task. Although he had garnered some savings, this was still insufficient to purchase all the commercial baking equipment costing $300,000.

“At first I invested little because, over the years, I made contacts in the industry and was very fortunate to receive some equipment. I would pay them something every month,” Luces said.

To augment his production capacity, Luces built a clay oven by himself at the back of his home where he turned out creations such as his signature herb bread, a blend of traditional Paramin seasoning including rosemary.

Beet root and cheese and spinach and cheese bread are also favourites.

The oven itself became an attraction to curious residents and even to those from far-flung areas.

Within the last three years, Luces described businesses “as doing very well,” so much so that he was finally able to expand his kitchen.

This, unfortunately, resulted in the demolition of his infamous clay oven to make room for larger counter space and convection ovens.

Luces says he intends to construct another clay oven, also from scratch by the end of the year.

And contrary to popular belief Luces insisted that the convection ovens have impacted neither on the taste nor quality of his products.

“People have a notion that dirt oven and wood fire creates a different taste. But in my experience it is all about recipe and formula.

“The heat is always the same. It does not matter if it is convection, conduction or radiation. With the clay oven there is a 360 degree baking; heat from all around which gives the bread a fast swell. But it boils down to recipe because any bread will cook in heat,” Luces said.

So where does Luces see himself in the future?

First and foremost, he said, was primarily giving back to his community.

“If any one comes to work with me I don’t hold them back because no one held me back. I try to instill in my young workers that discipline of reaching to work on time, good work ethics and good principles and with that formula you would be successful in whatever profession.”

Each day Saut Dough Bakery uses about 700 pounds of flour, creating an array of products including pastries and breads.

Financial assistance difficult

When Luces became self employed, he had no employees. His assistance came from his wife Esme and three children: Annalee, Daniel and Elijah.

Today, Luces has six workers and has constructed a preparation and production area at the back of his home.

Additionally, he has an outlet along Maraval Road.

He has accomplished this without taking a loan mainly because he felt the process to be onerous and discouraging.

“I never went for any loan because as small businessman, the banks want to know what you have. They want to know if you have deed and all sorts of things; security to loan you this money. It is not very encouraging. I took whatever I had and invested it back in my business and I’m still doing that,” Luces said.

He advised that the financial system itself ought to be tweaked to foster growth and development among the micro and small business sector.

Helping youth

Busily chopping an array of seasoning was Djimmon Thomas.

Thomas, fresh out of Queen’s Royal College already sees himself as opening his own business.

The 18-year-old business graduate described working at Saut Dough during the last year as a golden opportunity not only for himself but for other Paramin youths who yearn to become self sufficient.

“When I came out of school I didn’t have anything to do. I wasn’t sure where I was going in life.

“So Mr Luces told me to come across to the bakery. When I started I realised it is more of an art than a trade and it is something I like,” the teenager said.

He expressed gratitude to Luces not only for knowledge gained but providing him with an income.

“I plan to open my own bakery one day. Working at Saut Dough has not only given me a job but a sense of purpose and independence in life,” Thomas said.

His brother, Jeurgen, 21, who also works at the bakery said he too has plans to start his own bakery.

The ideological debate remains.

Should there be national health and education systems that would protect the less fortunate in society?

Should governments raise the age of retirement as many countries across the world are grappling with the aging factor?

Should robots play a greater role in the future as there are fewer workers due to societies aging?

Michael Falk, partner, Chapter of Investment Professionals (CFA) and consultant spoke on Monday night at a seminar hosted by CFA T&T at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, Port-of-Spain.

The American investment consultant discussed retirement, healthcare and education—the subject matter of his latest book, or monograph as he chose to call it.

It is titled “Let’s All Learn How To Fish…To Sustain Long-Term Economic Growth.”

The book’s foreword, written by Laurence B Siegel, director of research at the CFA Institute Research Foundation, said the book should not be treated as a “left-wing nor right-wing treatise” as the author advocates for a social safety net and, at the same time, calls for self reliance and not over dependence on the State.

Falk said the reason for social policies is to provide a safety net.

“It is to protect those of us who fall, to protect those of us who are unable to continue to live our lives at some level. When we think of safety nets we usually think of two parts of the population, the very old and the young.”

At the same time, he said, a safety net should not be an excuse for people to be overly dependent on the State.

“Good policies have both safety nets and trampolines. Those who are able to bounce back from whatever it was that took them down. What we need to do is to alter the incentives so that we can get people out of the nets, but we don’t want to weaken the nets.”

National insurance

Falk said that T&T nationals needs to increase contributions to the National Insurance System if the system is to remain sustainable in the future.

He was responding to a question from the audience on the diminishing ability of the National Insurance Board (NIB) to finance the national insurance system over the next few years.

According to a T&T Guardian report in November 2017, the NIB fund could go broke in the next 12 years because it is out of alignment with no long term sustained initiatives to generate rates of higher return.

The fund now stands at some $25 billion but, to be sustainable it needs to be topped up to some $75 billion so as to ensure efficient payments could be made in the coming years.

“There’s only a few levers that you can pull. There’s a very simple pension equation which is C+I=B. Contributions plus investment performance equals benefits. Contributions will have to go up and benefits will have to go down. That is clear as I can make it. Contributions going up means taxes go up. T&T needs to reduce the benefits and increase the contributions and people need to age to get it,” Falk said.

He also suggested a means testing to decide who needs state support and those who can support themselves after a certain age.

He admitted that he does not know enough about the intricacies about the local NIS scheme to say what should be the ideal contribution and benefit rates.

“If we were to look at T&T nationals over time and different routes, what’s the level of fixed cost exposure to the average T&T national when they retire? We want to immunise that. Because not everyone gets rid of the mortgage, not everyone gets rid of the car payments. They probably need electricity, they probably need food. That’s where to start the dialogue.”

He also spoke about T&T’s falling birth rate.

“T&T fertility is about 1.5 births per female on an average. 2.1 is the alleged replacement rate of birth so what that means is that being under 2.1, you’re shrinking the size of your society. Overtime, T&T’s society is shrinking.”

Touching on the retirement age debate that is going on in T&T right now, he said the retirement age should be over age 65 in T&T.

Falk advocates a national pension system that is run by the State, but done in an efficient way.

“You want to make the economics work, you have to raise the retirement age right now. I don’t mean in 10 years.”

He then recommended a two-tier system, where white collar workers would retire at age 65 but blue collar workers would retire at age 60.

“For those of us who work with our brains and our minds, we have to work a lot longer. For the people who are labourers, who bust their backs, they should be able to retire younger, by at least five years. This would much more fair.”

He said there is a disparity in the life expectancy between blue collar workers are tend to be poorer and the knowledge workers who tend to be better off.

One of the oldest surviving business club in T&T, the Trinidad Union Club (TUC) has found a new home at the Flamboyant room, Kapok Hotel.

“The management team of the TUC is motivated by the interest of the members who have continued to support the club over the years,” said chairman, Michael Alonzo.

We are excited about the prospect of encouraging past and new members to join in paving the way for the future success of this historic club,” said Alonzo.

Alonzo said the new marketing manager and committee have already begun planning events for the club at its new location.

Recently, there was a media release of the ratings of our government as to its performance over the last two and a half years. In particular, it was found wanting in its handling of the economy so much so that the population is disappointed that the economy has not rebounded.

The major complaints were that foreign exchange is still not available in the quantities required to satisfy the need/demand for imports together with the forced reduction in government spending giving reductions in transfer and subsidies and on-shore business activity.

This shortage is due to the drop in prices of oil and gas on the global market and the reduction in local production of both, causing the usual hardships: increased unemployment and taxation. Still, there is a recent increase in these commodity prices but nothing yet to celebrate.

What is strange is that given our plantation economy we all should expect its boom-bust nature. We are now experiencing a bust and hence foreign exchange will be in short supply.

It may not be the short term fault of any government that we are in a bust given our economic model, though we can lay it at their feet in part that we have not over time diversified the economy.

As a small open economy we must import most of what we consume. Hence we must export.

Thus it is high risk to depend, as it were, on one crop. However, the development and maintenance of a sustainable economy depend on the integration and collaboration of the private sector, the government and the R&D institutions. As a result, the failure to diversify the economy is indeed a failure of the three partners of the triad to collaborate in building globally competitive export companies.

To plagiarise Professor Michael Porter’s comment: “Governments do not compete in the global market, companies do. Yet no one berates the private sector on its failure to produce export companies.”

In our present model the government manages the exploitation of our petroleum resources so ensuring that some foreign exchange is retained in the on-shore economy. The private sector uses this foreign exchange to import, mark-up and sell anything that the population may desire.

The R&D/education institutions train graduates. Many of them are not required by the present economy and 70 per cent of our graduate workforce emigrates. We are even being told that our welltrained petroleum graduates are not getting jobs in T&T. (The plan is for the Government to employ the best of them as they are seen eventually as the future managers/ planners of the sector).

Hence, diversification is about the reconstruction of the economy, getting the triad of government, private sector and the R&D institutions to create this integrated activity; build other export companies. The fact that we have been calling for this reconstruction/ diversification for over 50 years suggests that there are apparently unsurmountable hurdles.

Prof John Foster of the University of Queensland, Australia, tells us that an economy is a complex adaptive system; complex in that it is made up of a number of autonomous economic interacting sub systems and adaptive in that it can adapt to changes (technological, other disruptive ones) in the economic environment. However this adaptive property can atrophy, can become rigid, depending on the history of its economic activity.

In our case the history of the economy is that of a plantation, though there have been changes in the commodities exploited.

The model of the economy has remained unchanged; the plantation/ off-shore earns the foreign exchange and the on-shore private sector imports the requirements of the population.

The model has become rigid and it is difficult for it to naturally adapt particularly to the looming depletion of the petroleum resource.

The current reaction: the private sector complains of lack of foreign exchange, government tries to maintain the plantation/ energy sector model and the population is disappointed in government’s performance.

The private sector, in general, is looking for foreign exchange to also expand into the region, into its traditional import-sell activities.

The question then is: what kind of intervention is required to initiate this economic transformation?

Other countries have successfully made such an intervention; examples are South Korea, Taiwan, Chile and Singapore. In these cases government policies and investments galvanised the private sector and the R&D institutions into action and, as such, it was the initiator of change.

Initially, the establishment by our government of its Economic Development Board (EDAB) and that organisation’s move into the creation of a local innovation system, promised by its development of an economic roadmap via a foresighting exercise, gave us some hope that such an intervention was underway.

The resignation of the EDAB’s chairman, Dr Terrence Farrell, has dashed such hope.

Further, the government has retreated into its conventional Pt Lisas position of couching its “diversification” thrust in part in plans to build an aluminium industry based on imported ingots to produce motor car wheels, wire, cable and flat plate.

Our comparative advantage appears to be cheap natural gas/ electricity, possibly imported from Venezuela. The rigidity then is also in the culture of our Cabinets and their leadership.

Mary K King

Here is Dexter’s journey in his own words:

My journey started just over 25 months ago in the world of bodybuilding. I was a marathon runner previously but because of an injury, I decided to take some time off after the Boston marathon to attend to the injury and it got me back onto the stage.

My first outing was not a successful one, of course, because I was not into bodybuilding before. So the expectation was not high, I placed dead last and that was a good thing for me because with that disappointment reality kicked in. I am not a loser by any means so that really motivated me to go again.

My second show I placed last again and I kept going. I kept going because I then started to evaluate myself and look at this more seriously. It became sort of a personal goal for me to overcome this defeat, so I persevered. I went to three and four and five and over time, I got to the fifth place. Being in fifth place was pretty good for me after being last a lot of times. But the story behind this for me and the great take away is the level of determination. My children saw me going through it, the people that I train...People know that this was a new sport for me and they would say “Dexter, when are you going to stop?

When are you going to give up?”

By that time, the momentumwithin me was already going, that momentum to become the best in the country. Soon after, I became the best in the country but that wasn’t enough, the fire was lit and burning so much.

It was not an easy journey because the higher I went the more difficult it became.

My training days became longer, I had to train more frequently. I had to mix my personal life, had to spend less time with my children.

It became more difficult. I stared to do regional shows and I started to come fourth, fifth, second, first, then win at regional shows. But that wasn’t enough for me. That wasn’t enough for Dexter Simon, so I decided to compete internationally. Again, you start from the bottom— from ninth place and you work your way up from seventh to fifth to third to fourth tosecond, and last year 2017 was the toughest year.

When you are doing things like this people must understand that it’s really difficult in terms of sustaining that continuity.

You need support, you need good people to support you, you need positive people in your life. I have positive role models in my Coach Lawrence Marshal, I have positive support at home from my partner and from my kids, from my family, and my brother and friends who saw that I wanted to do something different for Trinidad and Tobago.

The support that I get from my sponsors enables me to continue on this journey and I want to thank My Medicine Bag Ltd, Hero Worship Supplements, Artie’s Meats, Central Athletic Gym, and JCA Optical for their unwavering support.

So last year, I started with the Olympia out of Colombia and I was second. That was my first major medal, then I went on to the Diamond Cup which is a Pro Elite Qualifier. I was second again, and then I went on to Las Vegas Olympia and I was third there. Then the big one came because we realised, we being the bodybuilding fraternity, that I was within reach of becoming a professional, earning my Pro Card. But to do that you have to win your class and then win overall at an international show.

By that time I was highly ranked in the world already in just 24 months.

Right now, I am actually in the lead for a Guinness Book of World Records doing the most shows in the least time. I am at  done before, because of the continuity and my hard work and determination. Like I was telling my kids, “You see where daddy started from losing and he just kept going.” And that’s the lesson from this. In 25 months I achieved my Pro Card. I was first in the Arnold Classic in Europe winning my Class and the overall against some big countries: Portugal, Argentina, Hungary, Italy, Great Britain, and 35 other countries. I dominated, I came first and got my Pro Card.

So the story behind it, behind Dexter Simon is anything is possible. Make sure you see that door and you kick it open. Have that discipline. I train seven times a week, three times a day non-stop. My rest period is eightten hours sleep at night. That determination and drive and discipline is what will take you to success in anything you do.

Apply that and you will become a person that is unbelievable.

Legal action has been filed against the State and more is coming from attorneys for several people detained by police during the Carnival threat alert.

By tomorrow, at least three of some 13 people detained and released in the Carnival searches would have issued legal letters to the State.

On February 8, police revealed they had credible information concerning a plot to disrupt the Carnival.

A total of 15 people were detained in police searches from El Socorro/Aranguez, Malabar, and other parts of the East-West Corridor to central and south Trinidad. Exercises were also done in Tobago where one person (from Trinidad) was held. Thirteen of the 15 were released after seven days without being charged.

Two—a couple—were charged with firearm component possession. The man was not given bail, but the woman was. They reappeared in court last Friday.

Where other detainees are concerned, attorney Wayne Sturge said he issued a pre-action protocol letter to the State last week on behalf of Clint Rivers.

Rivers, a customs officer of Malabar, is seeking compensation for false imprisonment. Rivers is currently on suspension from Customs, Sturge confirmed. Rivers is a Muslim, he added.

Sturge said "The basis of Rivers’s action is that security forces told him he was never a suspect. Therefore there was no basis for detaining him. They just wanted information and there was no information.

"He was allegedly told he was held as a person of interest after a television story which claimed he didn’t return from Hajj in 2016 and had 'gone to fight with the Islamic State (ISIS)'.”

Sturge confirmed Rivers attended Hajj, but returned home. "In fact, there's a video of him returning home with the group—which went to Hajj—which we wrote to the TV station about."

Sturge said Rivers’ computers and phone were seized by police. Following receipt of the letter, the State has 28 days to respond.

Sturge is also representing the couple who appeared in court on alleged gun components’ possession.

AG to get legal letter tomorrow

Attorney Criston Williams also said yesterday, legal action letters on behalf of his clients—Kirson Mohammed of San Juan and Imam Edoo Mohammed of Enterprise, are being delivered to the Attorney General’s office tomorrow.

Both Mohammeds were detained after February 8.

Williams said Kirson Mohammed is suing for false imprisonment, defamation as well as loss of technological equipment, belonging not only to him but his clients.

Williams said Mohammed owns and operates an Information Technology (IT) equipment outlet. He said police seized items from the store including laptops belonging to Mohammed’s clients and the Ipads of Mohammed’s children.

Williams said Mohammed was told the items were taken to the Police Cybercrime unit, but the items were not returned to him. Williams said there was particular concern since his clients' property was seized, not his alone.

Williams said Edoo Mohammed is also claiming damages for false imprisonment.

Williams said Mohammed was picked up and questioned by police two weeks before the Carnival threat was revealed on February 8.

At that time of the first detention, Mohammed was questioned about a plot that could disrupt Carnival.

Williams said when Mohammed was detained a second time–after the threat revelation—he was asked the same questions by police which he had been asked the first time. Mohammed has also claimed he was followed for two weeks after the first detention.

The family of El Socorro based Tariq Mohammed–the first person to be detained on February 8–are also preparing legal action against the State.

Mohammed’s father, Shamoon, said the family and others in the immediate vicinity had been traumatised by the way the search-and-enter exercises were conducted. They said people sustained injuries and homes were damaged.

The entire family—including the families of three sons—which was affected is being represented in Tariq's legal action.

Shamoon Mohammed said the family also took the issue to the Police Complaints Authority and another of his sons gave interviews to the PCA last Friday.

When detainees were released, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi had said he was prepared for any legal action that could arise. Yesterday police said investigation into the threat was an ongoing matter.

As she stood at the podium in front of the who’s who gathered at the Queen’s Park Savannah, those on different sides of the political divide who unanimously agreed on her selection, watched on as Paula-Mae Weekes wrote her new page in history.

She wrote her own page, because, like any good legal mind, she searched far and wide to confirm that her job description was not clearly defined. Like the self-described Pollyanaminded optimist, however, she decided on her purpose—that of “humble servant first.”

President Weekes made history not just because she came after five male predecessors, but because, unusually, the people of this country heard an inauguration speech that wasn’t mostly prescriptive, authoritarian or judgemental. While she may have described herself as “Pollyana minded” in her enthusiasm, those who know her say her spine of steel makes her the furthest thing from frivolous.

Grounded in realitybody.

Appreciating the weight of the new mantle on her shoulders and aware of the reality before her, our new President didn’t deliver an abstract judgement, she demonstrated that she had the capacity to identify with those she now stands before as Head of State.
With the Health Minister seated just behind her, President Weekes had no problem telling us that she too was frustrated by the ailing public healthcare system.
With the Prime Minister and National Security Minister just a few feet away, she acknowledged that she too had been a victim of theft and was pained by the all too many cases of domestic abuse, violence and crime that now seem to define us.
As her speech flowed, she seemed bent on conveying the message that “comprehending the state of the State” was more important to her than perhaps playing peacock.
While it’s pleasant to some and patronising to others to focus on gender, President Weekes has the potential to change the game.
Over the next few days, everything our new President says will be dissected and analysed, including her “three wishes”—finding a way to make a positive difference, communicating responsibly and being more mindful in our language.
She’ll also go from being a notoriously private judge to being in the spotlight. And to be honest that is, in fact, fair. This newspaper believes that we need to know who our leaders are—not just who they claim to be through words on paper. Speeches can be beautiful but actions and expressions are always more telling.
From her first word to the media, President Weekes made the effort to demonstrate that she was unconventional. Presidencies, we’ve learned in this country, aren’t just about pageantry, cocktail parties and rubber stamps, they wield power.
Like others, we can choose to be negative, pessimistic and cynical about President Weekes and the inauguration speech. We can say neither her gender nor her grit will make a difference to anything tangible in this country.
Or we can choose to be hopeful that her conviction and her spirit will inspire all of us, reminding us that we can and must make T&T a better place.

Hospitalism is a term one rarely hears about nowadays although it seems to be making a comeback at the Children’s Hospital at Mount Hope where, at least in the Paediatric Intensive Unit, parents are not allowed to be with their dying children.

Hospitalism differs from hospitalisation. Hospitalisation is the temporary confinement of a seriously ill person in a hospital. Good hospital practice prevents hospitalism.

Poor hospital practice leads to more illness whether the patient is an adult or child.

Part of good hospital practice is insisting that close physical and emotional contact between patient and family and friends be maintained, even at the expense of medical and nursing procedures, including emergency procedures.

People simply do better in hospital when their loved ones are present.

Hospitalism was a paediatric diagnosis we used up to the 1970s, to describe infants who wasted away while in hospital because of lack of contact with their mothers.

Because of modern methods of caring for hospitalised children, it is rarely seen now and the term has been somewhat forgotten.

I remember first being told about it by Dr George Graham, Professor of Nutrition at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Head of the Nutrition Research Institute in Lima, Peru, making the point that these children wasted away, both mentally and physically, despite very adequate nutrition.

It seemed strange at the time to be told that a child could fail to put on weight despite getting enough food.

The fact that it was described by the Professor of Nutrition and the evidence there, in front of our eyes, a child in our hospital, well fed by the nurses but failing to gain weight and regressing socially, impressed us.

The term was introduced by Dr René Spitz through his work, some of which can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvdOe10vrs4&feature=youtu.be.

He arrived at this conclusion whilst defining disorders in infants who were institutionalised for long periods and deprived of maternal care.

The notion was later expanded to refer more generally to severe and lasting maternal deprivation, whether in hospital or at home.

Children with hospitalism suffer because their mother, or a substitute mother, is not around to care for them. Care refers not only to nutrition but to affection.

Lack of physical and emotional care results in stress.

This happens to everyone, adults as well as children, and perhaps explains much of the unhappiness and anger in T&T these days.

Prolonged severe stress or toxic stress, such as not having your mother around to hug you and feed you for months or having to spend three and four hours a day in traffic for years or having to live in fear, night after night, in your neighbourhood, results in illness. Toxic stress raises the level of stress hormones in the realitybody. People cope with stress through social means, by seeking, giving affection and touching \ each other.

What is the power of touch? Why does it make us feel so good?

Loving touch releases powerful hormones from our glands into the blood stream and into our brains.

Among the most influential are endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, also responsible for the “high” that athletes get at the peak of their powers.

Touch raises the level of serotonin, relieving depression. Touch counteracts the release of stress hormones like cortisol. Touch switches on growth hormone and makes children grow. And it provokes the release of the love hormone, oxytocin. Touch then is not only an expression of love, it also stimulates feelings of love.

Absence of love results in physical and emotional illness. In growing and developing humans ie children, it results in failure to grow, they become malnourished (“marasmie”), as well as affecting them socially and linguistically (“someone put maljo on them”).

In adults it may do the opposite, make people overweight. It certainly makes us anxious and depressed.

Wonder what per cent of the population is on chronic alcohol, anti-anxiety tablets and anti-depressants.

The Korean War was fought from June 1950 to July 1953. It ended in a stalemate, with an armistice agreement that divided the peninsula into two countries and committed the United States into maintaining an active military presence to help defend the democratic and prosperous southern half. But now, after more than half a century of tensions and diplomatic stagnation, an opportunity to resolve this remnant of the Cold War is finally starting to take shape.

President Trump shocked the world two weeks ago when he accepted an invitation to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. It’s a complete turnabout after months of verbal tit-for-tats exchanged by the two leaders and the possibility of a renewed war. But this sudden rapprochement was the result of a slight thaw in relations between the Koreas that started at the Winter Olympics and was followed soon after by bilateral talks. In fact, it was the South Korean national security adviser who delivered the invitation to Trump while briefing him on the recent visit with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang. While there’s no assurance that this meeting will take place, the varying agendas involved will undoubtedly make any forthcoming negotiations a complex endeavour.

Despite his naivety in the fine art of international diplomacy, President Trump is right about one thing–America’s strategy of “strategic patience” hasn’t worked. The policy that promoting democracy would slowly weaken and eventually destabilise totalitarian regimes is, more often not that not, wishful thinking. After all, the United States didn’t triumph over the Soviet Union as much as the Soviet Union collapsed. If it could happen to them, it was assumed that it would happen to other communist states as well.

But North Korea isn’t a “workers’ paradise” but a nation of slaves in service to the Kim family and a small circle of military and political elites. And the decades of isolation only succeeded in allowing the totalitarian regime to tighten its grip. However, as similar regimes toppled around the world in recent decades, the Kim dynasty sought to develop a nuclear weapons programme as a deterrent against outside intervention, especially from the Americas. Now that they have such capabilities, the question is–what’s the price to give them up?

That being said, North Korea’s timing in offering this proposal puts them in an advantageous position. They’ve had a year to size up the Trump presidency. His White House appears chaotic, with a revolving door of advisers and cabinet members. And the continuing investigation into the suspicion of collusion with Russia casts a shadow over its legitimacy. Along with these internal distractions is the fact that the US is also missing key members of its negotiations team: they have yet to appoint an ambassador to South Korea and their chief State Department adviser on North Korean policy recently retired.

The North Koreans may also be aware of President Trump’s desperate desire to “make a deal”–any deal–even if it ends up leaving America’s traditional allies out in the cold for the sake of making himself look good. However, it would be foolhardy to underestimate Donald Trump. In a twisted way, his bombastic personality is the perfect counter to Kim Jong Un’s image. The juvenile retort that “mine is bigger than yours”, while distasteful and beneath the manner befit an American president, has inadvertently shown that the repeated threats of war from the “Dear Leader” are nothing but hot air.

Ultimately, both Korea’s want the same things–survival and security. The Kim regime may be willing to give up their WMDs for the guarantee that they are left alone. The South, in turn, might be willing to agree to such an arrangement, but the challenge for them is whether their neighbour can be trusted. The North, however, has made the first move, so it’s left to be seen if the Americans will reciprocate. Perhaps in the same way that, “Only Nixon could go to China,” maybe only a man like Donald Trump could succeed in going to North Korea.

Ryan Hadeed

Congrats! Congrats to our first woman President. What an historic moment.

The focus is now on Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes and judging from all the comments that I have heard over the past few weeks, she is definitely the person for the job.

I know that there are mix feelings about this office but the role of the President is, in my opinion, very important. Our President is the Chief Executive, responsible for executing the law, appointing key officials, granting pardon and reprieves. Also he/she is responsible for running the armed force (Commander and Chief). That person is the Chief legislator who signs or vetoes legislation and introduces legislation. Along with the above there are other responsibilities, especially to key appointments etc.

The President is also responsible for bringing balance, giving good advice to all including our leaders, and as the head of state, motivating all by fostering unity so we can progress as one nation.

I congratulate Paula-Mae Weekes on this achievement. You have proven yourself over the years by your faithfulness, commitment and discipline. May God give you the strength to carry out your new mandate without fear or favour.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH,
San Juan

MUMBAI, India – West Indies will visit India for a bilateral series for the first time since the controversial abandoned tour four years ago, when they play two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a one-off Twenty20 International later this year.

News reports here said the series, which bowls off in October, will include India’s first-ever day/night Test, with the T20 involving the World champions carded for Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Cricket Association of Bengal president, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, confirmed the venue for the T20 International.

“We will host the Caribbean team for the one-off T20 international at the Eden Gardens,” media reports quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, the day/night Test once approved by the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators, is expected to be played in Rajkot, the Indian Express reported.

“If the approval comes, then Rajkot is likely to have the first day/night Test,” said a BCCI official who requested anonymity.

Quoting an email exchange between Cricket West Indies president, Dave Cameron and BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, the Express said Cameron was also keen on the idea of a pink-ball Test.

West Indies have already played two – the first against Pakistan in Dubai two years ago and the second during the summer tour of England last year.

The ODIs, meanwhile, have been scheduled for Mumbai, Guwahati, Kochi, Indore and Pune in early November.

West Indies’ last tour of India ended in shambles when the Caribbean players pulled out following the fourth ODI in Dharamsala, after failing to settle a pay dispute with CWI.

The abandoned series resulted in the BCCI slapping CWI with a US$42 million claim in damages. However, the matter was eventually resolved with the two boards agreeing on a schedule of tours.

Since then, India have toured the Caribbean twice – for a four-Test tour in 2016 and a limited overs series last year. (CMC)

HARARE, Zimbabwe—Marlon Samuels countered Brendan Taylor’s spectacular tenth One-Day International hundred with an audacious half-century as West Indies completed their fifth highest run chase in One-Day Internationals, to beat Zimbabwe by four wickets and haul themselves back into contention for a spot in next year’s World Cup in England.

Facing a must-win scenario at Harare Sports Club, West Indies overhauled the hosts’ impressive 289 with an over to spare, with the right-handed Samuels unfurling a Man-of-the-Match top score of 86.

He got support from the stylish Shai Hope who weighed in with 76 while opener Evin Lewis struck 64, as West Indies pulled off the highest run chase of the ICC World Cup qualifiers.

Impressive 21-year-old fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani (2-36) and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (2-63) both picked up two wickets apiece but were unable to prevent West Indies clinching the crucial win.

Earlier, Taylor stroked a magnificent 138—his tenth ODI hundred – while opener Solomon Mire got 45 and Sean Williams 34, to help give the innings momentum on a good pitch after they had opted to bat first.

Captain and seamer Jason Holder was outstanding with four for 35 from ten overs while new-ball partner Kemar Roach claimed three for 55 and rookie pacer Keemo Paul, two for 55.

With the victory, West Indies climbed from third to the top of the standings with six points with one match remaining against Scotland.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, slipped to second place—one point behind—with one match remaining against United Arab Emirates on Thursday, while Scotland lie third also on five points.

West Indies made early inroads when they reduced Zimbabwe to 28 for two in the sixth over, with Holder having left-hander Cephas Zhuwao caught at short fine leg by Keemo Paul without scoring and then sending back Hamilton Masakadza for seven to a catch at the wicket.

However, Taylor came to his side’s aid by anchoring three successive half-century stands to put the innings back in good shape.

First, he put on 51 for the third wicket with Craig Ervine (14) before adding 76 with Williams and a further 79 with Sikandar Raza (22).

All told, the 32-year-old Taylor struck 20 fours and two sixes in a 124-ball knock before perishing in the 44th over, skying a heave at Roach to cover where Ashley Nurse held a difficult catch.

Needing to win to stay in the qualifiers, West Indies got a solid start as Lewis and veteran Chris Gayle (17) posted 38 off 35 balls for the first wicket.

The left-handed Gayle looked ominous in belting two sixes—back-to-back straight hits off off-spinner Sikandar Raza in the fourth over—but fell to a catch by Kyle Jarvis running in from third man after miscuing a slash at Muzarabani in the sixth over.

Any hopes Zimbabwe harboured of making further inroads were then dashed as Lewis, Hope and Samuels combined to put the contest firmly in the Windies favour.

Lewis struck seven fours and a six off 75 balls, adding 72 for the second wicket with Hope, before driving a return catch to Sikandar Raza in the 22nd over.

Hope found an ally in Samuels and together they posted a fabulous 135 for the third wicket to put the result seemingly beyond doubt.

Samuels was at his absolute best, stamping his authority on the innings with six fours and four sixes in 80 balls at the crease, while Hope faced 97 deliveries and counted five fours and a six.

With the required run rate having climbed to nearly eight an over, Samuels released the pressure by slamming Sikandar Raza for two successive straight sixes in the 36th over which cost 18 runs, before raising his 29th ODI half-century in the following over off 54 balls.

He then ripped into Cremer in the 39th with a pair of straight sixes and a similar boundary as the over leaked 19 runs.

Against the run of play, he edged Muzarabani behind in the 44th over, triggering a slide which saw the Windies dramatically lose four wickets for 20 runs in the space of just 12 balls

Hope holed out to a low catch at deep mid-wicket by Sikandar Raza in the 45th over off left-arm spinner Williams and in a moment of madness in the 46th over from Cremer, Holder (6) picked out long off while Shimron Hetmyer (13) was stumped missing a wild heave, to leave the Windies tottering on 265 for six .

However, Rovman Powell (15 not out) and Nurse (8 not out) spared the Windies blushes in an unbroken 25-run, seventh wicket stand which saw their side over the line.

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe vs West Indies—Super Six
ZIMBABWE Innings
S Mire b Holder 45
C Zhuwao c Paul b Holder 0
H Masakadza c wkp Hope b Holder 7
B Taylor c Nurse b Roach 138
C Ervine b Roach 14
S Williams c Nurse b Paul 34
S Raza b Holder 22
G Cremer c & b Roach 0
T Chisoro c Nurse b Paul 18
K Jarvis run out 1
B Muzarabani not out 0
Extras (lb3, w7) 10
TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 289
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-28,
3-79, 4-155, 5-234, 6-246,
7-250, 8-284, 9-288, 10-289.
Bowling: Roach 10-0-55-3,
Holder 10-0-35-4,
Paul 10-0-55-2,
Bishoo 10-0-73-0,
Nurse 4-0-28-0,
Powell 4-0-26-0,
Gayle 2-0-14-0.
WEST INDIES Innings
C Gayle c Jarvis b Muzarabani 17
E Lewis c & b Sikander Raza 64
S Hope c Sikander Raza b Williams 76
M Samuels c wkp Taylor b Muzarabani 86
S Hetmyer st Taylor b Cremer 13
J Holder c Sikandar Raza b Cremer 6
R Powell not out 15
A Nurse not out 8
Extras (lb1, w4) 5
TOTAL (6 wkts, 49 overs) 290
Did not bat: K Paul, D Bishoo, K Roach.
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-110,
3-245, 4-249, 5-263, 6-265.
Bowling: Jarvis 9-0-49-0,
Sikandar Raza 7-0-58-1,
Muzarabani 9-0-36-2,
Cremer 10-0-63-2,
Chisoro 7-0-38-0,
Williams 7-0-45-1.
Result: West Indies won by four wickets.
Points: West Indies 2, Zimbabwe 0.
Man-of-the-Match: Marlon Samuels.
Toss: Zimbabwe.
Umpires: M Gough, S Fry; A Holdstock.