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Faraaz Abdool reports from the international tourism marketplace ITB Berlin held in Germany in March.

The world’s largest tourism trade fair – commonly known as the ITB has been held annually in Berlin Germany since 1966. The Internationale Tourismus-Börse which means “international tourism market,” seems to include all aspects of natural history and culture, from all over the world. Every year tourism players from across the world journey to Berlin to display, promote, and make new connections to improve their tourism industries, to enhance attractions and pull visitors. It is an opportunity to network, learn and gain new insight into what might be marketable.

[caption id="attachment_1076343" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Wildlife is pivotal to safari marketing strategies. - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]

While government agencies such as tourist boards, ministries, and foreign offices occupy significant floor space, there are several exhibitors – cruise lines, airlines, hotels, tour operators – that offer services to multiple countries. The Unesco World Heritage Centre draws attention to World Heritage Sites across the world; one of the newest of which is Northeast Tobago. Their presence supports the case for sustainability in the tourism sector.

Global tourism is on the rise again as the effects of the covid19 pandemic are slowly being relaxed. The ITB migrated to virtual platforms in 2020, 2021, and 2022, but returned to the physical space at the extensive Messe Berlin in 2023. This year, under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, a small Caribbean delegation was invited to attend the ITB Berlin.

[caption id="attachment_1076342" align="alignnone" width="683"] A shoemaker crafting traditional slippers or "babouche," just as is experienced in one of Morocco's markets or "souks." - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]

Our special group had the opportunity to interact with representatives and sample products from over 160 countries. Further, the ITB is an occasion to be part of leading ideas and concepts informing the latest travel trends. Cutting-edge research is presented to the public in structured talks in small theatres within the ITB; one has the unenviable task of choosing from over 400 discourses scheduled over three days! Networking is paramount for most attendees. Countless discussions take place over country delicacies and specialities, and relationships are forged on the fly for individuals and the countries they represent.

Opening in Oman!

Attend the ITB, they say, and you can travel the world in a day. This must be an exaggeration, we thought. However, from the immersive opening event hosted by Oman it was clear that this was no over-statement. Tremendous wrap-around screens brought the star-studded night sky overhead – stargazing is a notable activity in Oman. Then, traditional and contemporary dancers accompanied by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra wove a unique narrative and soundscape of classical and folk music. All members of this mixed orchestra were trained in Oman; the orchestra’s setlist included an original composition by their Omani conductor which was specially written for this performance and venue. Once the concert was over, everyone was treated to Omani cuisine. As a presentation, it was impressive, and as a strategy, it was instructive: here was the art of cultural immersion – the stimulation of various senses to elicit a deep feeling of connection to a place.

[caption id="attachment_1076341" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Visitors get to experience first class seats from Etihad Airways. - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]

Throughout the next couple of days, the marketing structures and methods of a vast array of countries and companies offered samples of any and everything from chocolate to hand-made shoes. Vivid colours and trendy graphics grabbed the attention. Eager country representatives approached with short, friendly conversations. It must have been a monumental task to determine what one must do in order to stand out! Some airlines offered people a seat in first class, not on a flight but in a replica cabin. Word quickly spread about Colombia offering exceptional coffee and chocolate – both delicious. Treat yourself to an authentic Swiss or Thai massage, free at ITB. Musicians in traditional dress from Morocco or Borneo played and danced. An Arab man with a teapot and a sword looked at me, said nothing, and poured me a small cup of heavily-spiced tea. As I worked my way from booth to booth, country to country, it truly felt like travelling the world.

Ever-present nature

In every place, traditional dress and food spoke effortlessly of the culture of the people. The other significant marker in each place was the depiction of the natural world; geography, flora and fauna, desert, ocean, mountain, valley or plain, city or savannah.

[caption id="attachment_1076340" align="alignnone" width="1024"] High-quality coffee and chocolate are among Colombia's finest pleasures. - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]

Nature was a pervasive presence within the Messe Berlin convention centre. Almost every booth projected some aspect of untouched nature. On the most fundamental level, the sounds and sights of nature are comforting to us. We are natural beings, after all.

Much of this natural presence was not directly linked to the tourism product, but formed the setting within which many activities could be pursued. Whether hiking trails, pristine beaches, or magnificent wildlife, all tourism seems to have nature-based backdrops.

[caption id="attachment_1076339" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Synonymous with oil, Saudi Arabia has embarked on efforts with the vision of tourism accounting for ten per cent of its GDP by 2030. - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]

In the Caribbean, we are soon to be outdone if we do not include our natural vistas beyond the beach. Destinations across the world are selling our model – sun, sea, sand – to surprising effect, including many middle eastern countries. We must go beyond.

The visitor in 2024 is expected to be looking beyond the superficial and easily duplicated activities. Parties and nightlife, for example, did not feature prominently but traditional artisans like basket-weavers and shoemakers did. Waterfalls, safaris, and scuba diving experiences adorned countless screens throughout the fair. Worldwide, there is extensive awareness and significant effort towards ensuring the highest standards regarding ecological and social welfare. The ITB openly commits to climate, environmental and animal protection and human rights in tourism.

[caption id="attachment_1076338" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Tropical nature is a high priority for visitors to Jamaica, and with 4.1 million tourist arrivals in 2023, the island must remain committed to sustainable growth and resilience of its tourism product - Faraaz Abdool[/caption]

TT stands to gain much from paying attention to the latest developments within this thriving international industry. Both islands working together, with minimal investment, can offer a wide and wonderful variety of world-class experiences within a single territory that is easily accessible and manageably sized with comfortable infrastructure and amenities.

The post Sampling the world appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana are moving steadfastly in strengthening their trade and bilateral ties.

This follows a visit by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti kingdom of Ghana, on a trade mission to TT last year. Since then, both countries have sought ways to improve their trade relations.

In light of this, Minister of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon, and the TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) led a trade mission to Ghana from March 12-17, which resulted in businesses returning with leads and contracts and several stakeholders calling Ghana “the land of opportunity.”

However, getting to Ghana has once again proven to be an issue, as the Caribbean has no direct route to West Africa. But with businesses already making deals and seeking to put plans in place to establish a proper route, TT is showing its determination to reach the land of opportunity.

Land of opportunity

TTMA president Roger Roach said 18 companies from the private sector and nine state agencies, a total of 48 business representatives, responded to the call to go to Ghana and seek business opportunities.

He was speaking at the TTMA’s AGM at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Tuesday.

“We calculated that among the 27 organisations, over 200 business-to-business meetings took place between TT companies and Ghana counterparts during the trade mission,” he said.

The TTMA also signed a memorandum of understanding with its Ghanaian counterpart, the Association of Ghana Industries, to further the private sector interests and expand trade and investment linkages between the two countries.

Gopee-Scoon met with the Asantehene, Ministers of Trade, Food and Foreign Affairs and several Ghanaian bodies to establish significant trade ties and open the doors to improving trade to Ghana.

In her remarks at the AGM, she pointed out the significant business opportunities that TT has in Ghana – a starting point to enter West Africa and the African continent as a whole.

“Ghana is real in terms of a place of opportunity for us. Ghana is a soft landing in terms of its political stability. Anyone should really see this market as a serious one – a market of more than 30 million people – with a very friendly climate in terms of doing business.”

TT has maintained a positive trade balance with Ghana, doing $15.2 million in exports and $0.6 million in imports from 2018-2022. The trade balance between the two countries increased by 24.7 per cent in 2022, moving from a surplus of $23.6 million in 2018 to $29.5 million in 2022.

Gopee-Scoon said the country has significant gaps that could be filled by TT manufacturers in terms of food processing.

“You could find yourself doing some contract manufacturing or you can probably find inputs from Ghana,” she said. TT can also provide Ghana access to a place for agroprocessing, being well on the trajectory for growth in the non-energy sector.

The statement attributed increased performance in the non-energy sector, at least in part, to the rebound of the real GDP in 2022, and its estimated expansion by 2.1 per cent in 2023.

An IMF mission concluding statement released on March 11 suggested that real GDP is expected to expand by 2.4 per cent this year, supported by growth in the non-energy sector and, by extension, the manufacturing sector.

Roach in his statements also said the TTMA will be 80 per cent complete with its goal of doubling its exports by 2025.

Establishing the routes

Despite a mutual desire to increase trade relations between the two countries, there is one little thing in their way – the Atlantic Ocean.

The distance between TT and Ghana is 6,580 km. Business Day understands through conversations with travel agents that travelling to and from Ghana by plane could take more than 20 hours of flight time.

In an earlier report, travel agents told Business Day it costs people between $15,000 and $25,000 to fly to Ghana. The shortest route would be from TT, New York and then to Ghana. That route takes 11 hours, but it can only be taken if you have a US visa.

Without a visa, one would have to go to the UK – a ten-hour flight – then a five-hour trip to Ghana. People can also take a flight over the African continent to Amsterdam, and then take a direct flight to Ghana.

Ramps Logistics’ vice president of regional initiatives, Rudy Rampersad, said the delegation had to charter a flight that went from Port of Spain to the Netherlands, then from the Netherlands to Ghana. “For us, it was about 20 hours of travel,” he said. “It is not an easy flight at all.” He said for freight, the challenge may be even greater.

As it stands now, containerised cargo, which is cargo usually transported in traditional containers by ships, trucks or trains, could take at best 21-22 days and at worst 45 days from Ghana to TT.

The longer transit lane would go from Ghana to Amsterdam, Jamaica and then TT. The shorter lane would go from Ghana to Savannah, Georgia and then make its way to TT. These transit lanes are longer and more costly.

Rampersad added that the routes are not regular with cargo carriers returning to TT once every three weeks or so. For air freight, companies such as Air France and KLM run from Port of Spain to Amsterdam with a freight hub in Amsterdam and transit lanes to Ghana.

He said while it may be possible for companies in TT to fill the cargo space going into Ghana, someone will have to foot the bill for the transport back, which may not have cargo. “For carriers, both air and ocean, they look for where they get the most revenue from both routes – the incoming and outgoing.”

He added that cargo may be bumped if the freighter has extra baggage, which would take preference.

“There are also options that we’ve explored through Ghana into Amsterdam, Ghana into London, and then use a freighter to Miami and then TT. But those things are also costly because of the distance you have to go,” he said.

Solutions are coming, but it may take time

Rampersad said conversations on establishing a proper link from TT and the Caribbean as a whole, to West Africa are already being held, but overall challenges in freight, such as congestions in the Panama and Egypt canals, posed major challenges for freight globally, slowing these conversations down.

The TTMA along with the Ministry of Trade have been looking at how TT can create a better lane to make transport between the two countries more efficient. Another challenge is the comparable sizes of the two markets.

“Simply by comparing the population people will lean toward the larger market even if the GDP for the buying power is less because you just have more numbers.”

He said some of the discussions that the ministry and the TTMA had surrounded re-routing and establishing transshipment points to minimize time and cost.

Rampersad said they have been looking at the routes through Amsterdam in the first instance as well as diverting routes through London.

“As much as these conversations have started, it will take time to understand issues such as trucking, regulations, customs, boundaries etc,” he said.

Countries such as the US would also have regulations around counterfeit goods, copyright issues or manufacturing issues that TT would have to understand and navigate.

However, despite the limitations in freight companies are already making connections and deals are already being made for transshipment of goods.

Rampersad said companies have already approached him to make arrangements for shipments of goods to Ghana, coming out of conversations and business meetings at the mission.

At a press conference on Ansa McAl Group of Companies’ financial results on Wednesday, CEO Anthony Norman Sabga III also spoke on Carib Brewery’s adventure into Ghana, saying that coming out of the mission, the company is looking at the feasibility of establishing a brewery in Ghana itself.

He said the conversations surrounding entering Ghana are still in the developmental stages.

“Given the distance of Ghana from our region, exporting is not part of the agenda, so much in the same way as we have successfully started producing our brands in other countries such as Greece and Canada, we are very familiar with acquisitions. It would not be export, but it probably would be a licence type of deal and possibly an acquisition, so you may just have to wait and see.”

The post Ghana: Reaching the land of opportunity appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

OPPOSITION MP for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal has slammed a proposal for a border protection and security agency (BPSA) recommended by a report from the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security.

Speaking at a UNC media conference at the party's headquarters in Chaguanas on March 3, Moonilal, a member of the committee, described the proposal as an act of hypocrisy in the 11th hour before a general election.

The JSC's report on illegal firearms and gun violence, laid in Parliament on March 1, said the proposed BPSA would take over the border-protection and security functions of the existing Customs and Excise Division (CED) that would then be left to focus on taxation/revenue collection.

The report also said a severe staff shortage at the CED challenged its ability to effectively carry out its current mandate.

"Law enforcement/security function should be considered separate and apart from revenue collection," the report said.

The committee said the BPSA, once formed, should then appropriately fall within the purview of the Ministry of National Security (MNS).

"Placing this agency under the MNS's remit will ease the security burden misplaced on the CED's current form, whilst affording the CED a singular focus on the customs and excise function."

The Ministry of Finance is the CED's current line ministry.

On Sunday, Moonilal said a BPSA had already been proposed in 2015 by former national security minister Edmund Dillon and had not yet been implemented nine years later.

He began addressing the issue by referencing the upcoming visit of the US deputy assistant secretary for Security Agreements and Foreign Policy Advisors, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Linda Specht.

He questioned whether or not the Prime Minister would be in Trinidad and Tobago for the visit and spoke of Dr Rowley’s travels aboard.

Specht is expected to be in TT from March 4 - 6 and is expected to meet with government ministers for bilateral discussions on advancing the robust security co-operation between the US and TT.

A statement on the US Embassy’s website said Specht’s visit follows the” very successful visit of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to the United States last month.”

Specht is the lead negotiator for bilateral defence agreements that involve access, status protections, and burden sharing, it added.

Moonilal claimed the Opposition was told that US officials were “very concerned” with the police and “vetting TTPS officers who work and interface with the elite US security agencies.”

He said there were critical issues to be raised and wondered if National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds would be in the country for Specht's visit.

On the matter of the proposed BPSA, Moonilal said there was a reason why UNC members on that JSC refused, at times, to sign certain reports.

He said the report laid on Friday was one of them.

Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial is the other UNC member on the committee.

Moonilal said during the JSC, its members were told the topic of the agency was raised before and in the public domain.

While he said the Opposition was not necessarily objecting to a border security agency or authority, it required significant legislative change.

Such change would take time, he added.

Moonilal said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was on record suggesting the National Security Ministry be divided into different components. He said the new structure had to be worked in line with wider institutional change and that was a challenge.

He said, in principle, there might be some positive advantage with the BPSA and, clearly, TT was not in a good place with the existing agencies.

“But having said that, this will not happen. It was promised nine years ago.”

Moonilal also spoke of the five missing Cedros fishermen who have been missing since February 24.

Davanand Seepaul, 35; David Seepaul, 60; Shiva Seepersad, 20; Jeremiah Pasqual 18; and Braiyer Alexander Gonzales Ali, 21 are the missing people. On Sunday, relatives said they believed a body found by authorities off the coast of Venezuela might be one of the missing fishermen.

Moonlial said National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds knew nothing, said nothing and had done nothing in relation the the fishermen's plight.

In answer to a question in Parliament on Friday, Hinds said the Coast Guard and other agencies were still searching for the fishermen and denied claims that coast guard boats were not working.

Hinds sought to refute what he described as false reports that the men’s families contacted the Coast Guard’s Cedros Maritime Operations Co-ordinating Centre and were told interceptor vessels were not working.

Hinds then said that it was Cedros police who contacted the Coast Guard.

The men were fishing in an area well within Venezuelan waters, Hinds said.

On Sunday, Moonilal said the Coast Guard should appear before the JSC on National Security to account for its assets.

“How much are functional? How much are not functional?

"We believe there are critical problems in the Coast Guard as it relates to maintenance of the existing vessels and having the humane resources to actually manage those vessels and have them functioning at optimal capacity.”

The post Moonilal rubbishes JSC’s border security agency proposal appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

THE masterminds of international organised crime syndicates are targeting Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister revealed on February 2. However, law enforcement agencies from the United States are prepared to help this country fight these criminals.

Dr Rowley spoke at a media briefing at Whitehall, Port of Spain, after his return the night before from the US, where he met with top officials from national security agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Rowley said he travelled with Energy Minister Stuart Young, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne and Digital Transformation Minister Hassel Bacchus, and they met officials including Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Assistant Secretary of Defense Melissa Dalton.

"We also met with officials of the FBI. We do have some problems here in TT which I will not burden you with today. We do have some internal problems."

Touting the TT-US relationship, he said, "The resources of the FBI and CIA were made available to us to deal with our own internal problems.

"We met with officials of the Department of Homeland Security, who gave us a listening ear with respect to what we might need to assist in certain matters."

Rowley also met top officials of the US State Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy and attended a workshop on cybersecurity and cybercrimes at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

He said artificial intelligence (AI) can make it hard for leaders to know what is true and what is not, as he quipped it can now pass the Bar exam plus doctors' exams.

"Given the positives of the technology, there are a whole lot of negatives we now have to confront, and so we spent the morning on that and it was a great eye-opener."

The PM said local law-enforcement officers were strengthening their capabilities via US-funded security co-operation initiatives. Again, he did not go into specifics.

These programmes will help with policing strategies for crime-fighting and citizen security. They also help to create specialised and vetted units against organised crime.

"Because we are now attracting elements of international organised crime, which is very concerning to the Government, we are discussing this with the US to get as much help as we can, in ensuring that our bad (crime) situation is not worsened by these developments."

Rowley named three more areas of TT-US collaboration.

"We have made plans, and the US has agreed to help us, with increased maritime operations. So we will be working on that in the coming weeks to see what we can get out of that."

He said a gun crimes intelligence unit was a priority area of collaboration between TT and the US.

"We intend to establish a cyber security bilateral technical working group which will offer institutional technical exchanges and digital transformation support for our people here in TT working closely with their (US) colleagues."

A statement on the White House website, recounting the Rowley-Harris meeting, referred to "key priorities, including regional security issues and the imperative of addressing firearms trafficking." Rowley said he had met a congressman who was piloting a bill to curb firearms trafficking, which the PM said affects places like TT.

Rowley also told reporters on February 2 that he had not had a vacation or an annual medical check-up, but would do so just after an upcoming energy conference and Caricom leaders' meeting – both being held in Guyana. He said after the Guyana engagements, he would be away for ten days. "I will be here in spirit."

Less than six months ago, on August 17-22, the PM flew off to Barbados for vacation, after the local government elections.

In the question session, he was pressed about the interest of international criminals in TT.

He replied that TT was an open country, such as in its trade links.
"Certain criminals are liking us, and I say no more. I say no more."

The post Assistance in maritime, cyber security and gun intel – US joins crime fight appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

In modern Trinidad and Tobago, it's not uncommon to see someone dressed in traditional African clothing, especially for a formal event like a wedding.

The regular wearing of that style of dress and the black consciousness it represents is part of the legacy of businesswoman and national-award recipient Irma Ipyana Simonette.

Simonette, who received the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) in 2011 for her contribution to culture, died on January 19 in Blue Range, Diego Martin, at her family home of the last 50 years. She was 90.

The Office of the President and the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) were two institutions that published condolences after her death. The Office of the President noted she was "one of the earliest proponents of wearing traditional African clothing locally" and President Christine Kangaloo extended condolences to her family and friends. The ESC, in its tribute, said, "Her life and achievements reflected many of the qualities of character and values that we stand for and seek to instil in our community.

"These include goal-setting, risk-taking and preparedness to sacrifice to achieve positive goals, self-discipline and commitment to family, community and nation."

The ESC said Mother Ipyana (as she was fondly known) was one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most active African business people and "remained an inspiration and mentor to many a young aspiring entrepreneur."

The ESC added: "May her transition be safe and peaceful and her ancestors greet her warmly. She will continue to live in the hearts and minds of her loved ones."

She was the widow of former senator Nicholas Simonette and leaves behind five children (a sixth, Beville, is deceased), nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Newsday spoke with two of her daughters, Hélène Anne Lewis and Hazel Simonette Herndon, in a telephone interview last week about the life of their extraordinary mother.

Born in Point Fortin on March 29, 1933, Lewis said the early instilling of black pride came from her mother's father, Ignatius Wilson, from Grenada.

"He was a very strong presence in the Point Fortin community."

She said her grandfather was "blue-black" in complexion and was nicknamed "Black Prince" for his promotion of black pride. She added that he boasted of "negritude," as it was called then, and encouraged, inspired and motivated his children, especially his daughters, to display pride at all times.

"He instilled that in her. And she was able to impart the spirit to all of us. She continued all her life, and the work she did and the reach she had to inspire people to be their best selves and first and foremost to be proud of who you are and appreciate where you came from...She wasn't afraid to say that and live that in all that she did."

Vibrant and outgoing

After leaving Bishop Anstey High School, Simonette went into teaching but gave up the profession after having her sixth child. Lewis explained that public service rules back then allowed a married woman to retire if she had children. She would return to teaching five years later, at a private school.

[caption id="attachment_1060375" align="alignnone" width="768"]
Irma Mother Ipyana Simonette was a supporter of the Black Power Movement and would attend meetings, including at Woodford Square. -[/caption]

Herndon recalled her mother was vibrant and outgoing when she and her siblings were growing up. She enjoyed the outdoors, beach limes and family picnics.

"She was always up to preparing the basket and picnic food for us to go on beautiful journeys around the country. We visited every corner of the country as a family, with the picnic basket in the trunk and six of us in the back seat."

She said her father, in his role of developing the then-new party, the People's National Movement, (he was the first general secretary), travelled the country widely and took his family with him.

"Mummy was the willing and vibrant wife and mother carrying her brood with her."

Lewis said while her mother was living in Port of Spain she noticed the black people in the city lacked the black pride of those she left behind in Point Fortin and places like Fifth Company and Sixth Company in South Trinidad, homes of people of African descent who had been freed and brought to Trinidad in the early 19th century.

Lewis said her mother recognised people of African descent in Port of Spain were "not as well disposed" to black pride.

"They were more inclined to be submissive, subjugated to social norms and what the colonial government required."

This was during the late 60s and early 70s.

"The post-independence identity of Afro-Trinidadians was just beginning to emerge, but it was not highlighting Africanness."

She said her mother committed to be a role model for Africanness.

"As with all things, she was teaching by example."

Herndon said one of the key ways her mother was an example of this was by her clothing: she started wearing traditional African clothing daily, and would be dressed "head to toe" every day and for every type of function, whether casual or formal. Her mother especially loved her gele (head wrap).

Asked if her mother met with any negative responses to her choice of clothing, Lewis said their mother would share stories of her various encounters. She added that while the children did not receive any direct backlash, there were "mutterings" about their mother and her African clothes.

"Some people thought our mother was strange. But we never listened."

Herndon said some detractors questioned what their mother was trying to prove. She recalled one person questioned why she always "tied up her head" and asked if she did not have hair.

She said there was a lot of positivity as well, and "John Public" would admire her attire as she strutted up and down Port of Spain to transact business for her travel agency, Irnics Travel Service, one of six businesses she would establish.

The African wear would become integrated into the travel agency, one of the first African-owned ones in the country. Herndon said her mother instituted African wear for all her employees, with the men wearing African shirts and the women African skirts and head ties.

"It was one key way she led in encouraging African people in Trinidad and Tobago to embrace their Africanness."

Simonette's brother, former finance minister Selby Wilson, recalled the start of the travel service in a telephone interview last week.

"She was determined, purpose-driven and results-oriented. Nothing will stop her. If she had an idea, she had an idea."

He said his sister went from the conception of Irnics Travel Service to opening in just one month: it was one of the fastest-certified travel agencies in Trinidad.

"She learned the business very quickly and employed the right people."

Wilson said she became involved in the Black Power Movement in the 1970s, and had a tremendous impact.

"She believed we needed to have greater black consciousness."

He said although her husband was the PNM general secretary, she was not deterred from being critical of the government and the party when she felt they were not doing enough to promote and sustain young black people.

Black Power Movement

Herndon said her mother was a supporter of the Black Power Movement and would attend meetings, including at Woodford Square.

[caption id="attachment_1060376" align="alignnone" width="768"] The Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) said Mother Ipyana was one of TT’s most active African business people and "remained an inspiration and mentor to many a young aspiring entrepreneur." -[/caption]

In 1973, Simonette opened Cafrique, an African boutique which sold clothing and artifacts imported from Africa. The store included a stitching room where outfits would be made from African fabric. She would travel to Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal to do business.

Lewis recalled that people flocked to Cafrique during the days of the Black Power Movement and her mother helped create many African-style weddings. She was also able to impart a lot of knowledge about the clothing, including the names and how they were to be worn at different functions.

"She did have an influence on a number of people taking on and appreciating the wearing of African clothes more."

She said her mother's work in that area and how much she was admired and respected earned her the national award in 2011.

"It certainly was a proud moment for us all. Were very happy she received that honour. Sometimes we (in TT) are slow to honour and respect our high achievers. It was very nice to be able to celebrate that with her in her lifetime and not have it done posthumously. And she wore it proudly."

In 1974 Simonette opened Palaver Place, an African-themed restaurant and jazz club at the corner of Frederick Street and Gordon Street, Port of Spain. It provided a space for emerging artistes like Ella Andall, Cheryl Byron, Pearl Eintou Springer, Brother Resistance, Clive "Zanda" Alexander, Richard "Nappy" Mayers and Nadie La Fond.

Lewis recalled Palaver Place became the number-one discotheque in Port of Spain and people over 60 would remember the "very vibrant and excellent" club.

"My mother was always about lifting standards and helping infuse pride and love for ourselves and our communities."

She recalled the club had a very strict dress code and did not allow sneakers, shorts or tank tops, but encouraged classy casual and formal wear.

"So people dressed. It became a big thing, dressing up to go out to Palaver Place."

Simonette would also go on to open Itsy Bitsy, a gift shop in Long Circular Mall, St James, and at the Roundabout Plaza, Barataria, and Bev's Burger Bar, an eating spot specialising in healthy fast foods. Lewis explained her mother's desire for her children to have tertiary education was largely her motivation for getting into business: her parents would not have been able to afford that on the salary of a teacher or a politician.

But Simonette's influence extended beyond her six children. Herndon said since she died the family has received many calls from people who spoke about how she had had an impact on their lives.

She also remembered the late MP Margaret Hector, who worked for Simonette as a waitress at Palaver Place and emulated her closely, including her style of African wear. That decision would transform Hector from a waitress to a community activist to a government minister under the NAR.

"She could not have done it without my mother's influence. And there are many stories like that."

Simonette celebrated her 90th birthday last March quietly at home with her family. Lewis said at that point her mother was beginning to have health challenges and they did not want to have anything too stressful for her. She added her mother was a very avid churchgoer and had a very strong relationship with God.

Asked what their mother thought about the level of black pride in society today, Herndon said she was a very positive person and was happy to note the number of middle-class people comfortable with wearing African clothes.

"She was pleased she had influenced that trend."

Lewis added, however, that her mother lamented the effect that drugs and other negative influences were having on African people, and thought of ways to reach out and help through community activism and development.

"She was deeply concerned about young people in the environments today."

Wilson said his sister "ran a good race" and it was a race that she won.

"Irma did very well. She demonstrated a lot of courage and conviction in whatever she opted to do."

He added that she was determined, purpose-driven and focused on promoting black consciousness.

"That was her mindset and commitment and her consciousness. I'm proud of her."

Simonette's funeral will be held from 10 am on January 30 at the Church of the Nativity, Crystal Stream, Diego Martin.

The post The legacy of Mother Ipyana – Irma Simonette appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

WHILE there is no short-term fix for traffic congestion in Trinidad and Tobago, stakeholders say they are willing to offer solutions and work with the government to implement them.

The responses from supermarket owners, manufacturers and engineers, came following the recent release of a report by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

It said the average person in Trinidad and Tobago spent an average of 110 minutes in traffic daily and over 33 days monthly which amounted to a staggering economic burden of $2.26 billion annually.

The report was based on 264 responses to a survey sent out to the commuting public.

Public Administration Minister Allyson West told Newsday that the report would be incorporated into the work-from-home policy currently being drafted.

“We appreciate that a lot of time is wasted in traffic. We are hoping we can come up with a policy that will not negatively impact productivity but will allow us to provide some kind of relief to the population at large in terms of the traffic problem.”

On Friday, the Public Administration Ministry announced accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers had been hired to assist with the policy.

On January 23 she said, “The consultant is now starting their work and we are estimating they will need at least six months. So before the end of this fiscal is when we’re hoping to go public with whatever decision has been made in terms of the policy. We wrote to them to do their best to get it done as soon as possible.”

Supermarkets Association President Rajiv Diptee said while some people might think that deliveries to supermarkets contributed to traffic, the schedule was set by distributors and manufacturers.

“At the end of the day, supermarket warehouses are where goods are received off delivery trucks. There would need to be discussions at a couple of levels as if this is done in the evening or night, there are security considerations which are already very high during the day. There would also have to be discussions with the Labour Ministry regarding wages because you’d have people working very odd hours that now need special consideration, and how such remuneration would take place.”

He said other factors which contributed to congestion were too many cars, construction works, and accidents which create “macco traffic.”

“It frustrates a lot of the members because I could place an order with a supplier and it may take a couple to several hours to reach me, depending on the time of day I place the order. A pet peeve of mine is also long-bed construction trucks, which really should be moving around at a certain time. The traffic is less from supplier trucks than heavy equipment trucks.”

Diptee said there needed to be an expansion of alternate routes, as well as reliable public transport options. He said methods of getting the highest level of productivity needed to be considered.

Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association CEO Ramesh Ramdeen said the manufacturing sector was prepared to speak with relevant stakeholders to find solutions to the problem of traffic congestion.

“One suggestion of moving manufacturing fleets in the night or after working hours calls for other logistical issues to be in place such as optimal security measures to safeguard workers, having logistics and trade facilitation offices working round the clock, and for border agencies such as customs etc, need to be opened to facilitate trade.

“There is no easy fix to the problem by any one sector, especially the manufacturing sector whose fleet of vehicles represents less than 0.05 per cent of the vehicles on the road. The congestion on the road calls for a holistic approach, which allows, among other things, an improved road system, and possible staggering of working hours among other issues, but as indicated, this latter suggestion would need a rippling impact on other logistical issues to be put in place.”

[caption id="attachment_1059996" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Average daily time loss to traffic congestion on weekdays and weekends - Photo courtesy ECLAC[/caption]

Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago president Dr Trevor Townsend said there would be no easy fix to the problem of traffic congestion. He said while the association had issues with the methodology, he was happy that ECLAC had taken the opportunity to quantify the issue of traffic congestion. He said he hoped those in authority would use this as an opportunity to do a bigger study.

He said he classified congestion into three types: short-term, medium-term, and long-term.

“To fix short-term congestion, such as traffic caused by an accident, we need an adequately staffed and resourced transportation systems management organisation. The one we have isn’t adequately staffed and resourced. We need a functional transportation policy. We need decisions driven by the science of traffic engineering analysis, and it has to be applied. There has to be systematic collection and analysis over the years.

He said traffic control systems had to be properly designed and maintained, with traffic signal systems having proper timing, loops and actuation.

“We need adequate regulations and enforcement, particularly parking control, which we seem to have abandoned in most of our major cities.”

Townsend said medium-term congestion is what commuters encounter daily in travelling to and from work, home, and school.

“We need to shift our mode on the private corridors from private vehicles to higher occupancy vehicles so there can be more efficient use of the road space. You can’t build your way out of this kind of congestion. You will never be able to build or widen highways fast enough to cater for the continuous growth in private vehicles.”

He said there needs to be a shift in public transportation so that people would opt to use it.

“There needs to be an agency responsible for the overarching management, regulation and coordination of the sector. The Minister of Works and Transport can’t be responsible. The Public Transport Service Corporation is a bus-operating company, it doesn’t manage the public transportation system, of which it is a small player, as it does not carry the majority of the travelling public.”

He said there is a need for strategies, policies, and plans that govern that sector. He called for incentives for users of public transport.

[caption id="attachment_1059876" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Standstill traffic along the Beetham Highway heading into Port of Spain. - File photo by Roger Jacob[/caption]

“I would like to see a user-based subsidy, where the user can choose to use it for their preferred method of transport. We need budgetary allocations for more than highways and potholes, to create good infrastructure to improve the experience of public transport users. How you can encourage someone to leave their car (at home) if those using public transport are having bad experiences?”

Townsend said long-term congestion is caused by how land use and transport are interrelated.

“We normally talk about integrated land use transportation planning. There’s talk of a national transportation policy, but we suggest instead of having it run by the Ministry of Works and Transport, it should be administered under a national land use planning authority under the Ministry of Planning and Development Ministry.”

Townsend said if a consultant would be hired to draft the policy, this unit should be established and staffed with counterpart staff that could work with the consultant.

He said the ECLAC study brought to the fore the complete impact and wastage of traffic congestion in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are glad to discuss this in the public domain and we need to take action now. There are no short-term solutions as the problem has been happening and growing, but we need to start now so we can create an improved transportation sector.”

Requests for information and comment from Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan were unsuccessful up to press time.

What the report said

The report is titled Assessment of the economic costs of vehicle traffic congestion in the Caribbean: A case study of Trinidad and Tobago.

The average person spends 110 minutes a day, 16 hours a week, 64 hours or 2 days and 16 hours per month and 793 hours or 33 days per year in traffic.

A daily commuting population of 702,000 was used, of which 500 respondents were thought to be reasonable.

The survey was run for three months on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and WhatsApp, shared with primary contacts, and to 4,000 people through the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Maxi-Taxi Association.

Participants were people who experienced traffic congestion either as a driver, as a commuter who utilised public transportation, or as a passenger who shared a ride in a private vehicle.

The average daily time delays for weekdays for various periods ranged from a low of three minutes for nights/late nights to a high of 58 minutes for late afternoons.

Most people said their daily activities were affected by traffic congestion, including social/family activities.

Many commuters also recognised the possible health-related impacts of long-term traffic congestion, including physical health, stress, and work productivity.

The post Business groups, expert: No easy fix for $m traffic pain appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

For the Carnival season, the police, defence force and municipal police intend to take a zero-tolerance approach to public safety during the festivities.

ACP Winston Maharaj spoke about some of the measures during a media briefing on January 26. Maharaj identified a collaborative approach with state agencies, corporate citizens and the ten police divisions.

"I engaged the ten police divisions about crime and Carnival. All concerns have been noted and inputted into the plans for the overall safety and security, not just of masqueraders but the entire public."

He said the police aims to provide visibility and effective presence in every community and space, utilising various means, including sea, land, mobile, and horseback patrols. He said private security companies have offered assistance, particularly in residential areas, ensuring a multi-faceted approach to public safety.

Maharaj said discussions with corporate Trinidad and Tobago and private security companies about assistance in providing patrols and visibility, particularly in residential areas, have been fruitful.

Recognising the significance of Carnival as both a national festival and an economic event, Maharaj said there would be a heightened police and army presence along Ariapita Avenue where there had been occurrences of crime last year. He said intensified police patrols in the inner city have led to criminal displacement, particularly around City Gate, the main transit hub into the capital city.

"City Gate has been a vulnerable point with high traffic and a significant number of people traversing that hub. Now we see a displacement of criminality taking place due to the work that the police are doing.

"There is a dedicated group of officers, the transit police, whose remit is the City Gate hub and the PBR within the PTSC compound."

Despite this, he said there will be heightened security measures at City Gate, saying the overarching goal is to ensure a safe and secure environment.

“Carnival is not just fun; it's a national festival and an economic benefit to this country."

Regarding concerns over innocent bystanders being harmed by stray bullets targeting known individuals, Maharaj refrained from detailing police security operations but said there is also a plan in place. He also said licenced firearm holders would not be allowed to carry weapons in public spaces during Carnival, and designated areas for storage would be provided.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kelvern Thompson echoed Maharaj's commitment to safety, assuring nationals abroad that returning for Carnival would be safe before sharing safety tips.

“We are giving you the assurance that you can come back home; you will be safe.

“Hire a designated driver; no weapons. You will be promptly arrested if found in possession of any type of weapon during Carnival festivities. We advise you to fete and party responsibly, especially for our female population and visitors. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times."

Thompson urged women to travel in groups if they are taking public transport and to wear comfortable shoes in the event of an emergency.

Insp Michelle Lewis, the police public information officer, outlined the police's safety campaign for Carnival, which focuses on road safety and discouraging drunk driving.

The "smart campaign" encourages people to make intelligent choices, covering various safety aspects during Carnival participation.

"The TTPS recognises that Carnival is a time of celebration and reverence, and also that it is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant and exercise caution."

The post Police to employ zero-tolerance approach for Carnival appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

In the wake of a disconcerting revelation that has shaken the trust of consumers and regulatory bodies alike, the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) data breach stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of digital privacy. With Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales mandating an independent investigation into the breach that laid bare the personal details of almost one million accounts on the dark web, the incident not only underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in our interconnected systems but also the dire need for transparency and stringent cybersecurity measures. As the nation grapples with the ramifications of this exposure, individuals are left to navigate the precarious aftermath, where their most sensitive information, including IDs, home addresses, and financial data, has been thrust into the uncertain shadows of cyberspace. In response to this alarming situation, we want to offer some guidance – five essential tips to secure your digital identity and mitigate the risks after your sensitive data has been compromised

Monitor your financial statements

It's imperative to exercise vigilant financial oversight by diligently monitoring your bank and credit card statements for any signs of unauthorised activity. Quick detection is key, and should you spot any discrepancies, immediately report them to your financial institution's fraud department. They will assist in disputing charges, re-securing your accounts, and preventing further breaches. Keeping a detailed record of all transactions and communications with your bank will bolster your defence, ensuring a swift and effective response to safeguard your financial integrity in this digital landscape.

Fortify your passwords

Now is a great time to fortify your digital access points starting with a prompt update of your passwords. Opt for strong, unique passwords that employ a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using the same password across multiple sites. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security; this requires a second form of verification beyond just a password, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorised access. By taking these steps, you not only regain control over your digital accounts but also establish a robust barrier against potential cyber intrusions.

[caption id="attachment_1044473" align="alignnone" width="1024"] -[/caption]

Contacting your credit reporting agencies

Engaging with a Credit Bureau or Credit Reporting Agency is a critical step. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by directly contacting one of the major bureaus; this alert requires creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts or making changes to existing ones. The benefit of a fraud alert is that it adds an extra verification step, making it more difficult for identity thieves to misuse your information. This proactive measure serves as a sentinel on your credit profile and adds a layer of protection against the ramifications of identity theft.

Beware of phishing attempts

The risk of phishing attempts tends to spike as perpetrators often try to capitalise on the chaos. Phishing – fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information by disguising it as a trustworthy entity – can come through emails, texts, or calls. It's crucial to be vigilant and sceptical of any unexpected communications, particularly those requesting personal information or urging immediate action. With your personal data being exposed online, the phishing attempts may be more personal and direct with the additional information perpetrators have. Scrutinise emails for tell-tale signs of phishing such as generic greetings, spelling errors, and suspicious links or attachments. Always verify the authenticity of a message by contacting the supposed sender through official channels. If you do encounter a potential phishing attempt, do not respond or click on any links. Instead, report the communication to the appropriate authorities, such as your company's IT department, or use reporting features provided by most email and social media platforms.

Securing your documents

When sensitive identification documents like ID cards, passports, or driver's licenses are exposed in a data breach, it's imperative to act swiftly to mitigate the risk of identity theft. Contact the issuing agencies immediately to report the compromise and initiate the process of obtaining new documents with fresh identification numbers. This step whilst easier in some countries, may be a bit more tedious in the Caribbean but is a step that we may have to consider. This step not only invalidates the stolen details in the hands of cybercriminals but also reinstates the security of your personal identity, providing essential protection against fraudulent use of your information.

Cyber attacks and data breaches unfortunately are going to be a part of our daily lives, given the times that we currently live in.

You don’t want to be in a situation where may you travel to a country for the first time and you are held at immigration, due to your IDs being used for illegal activities and you are now jailed in another country. Lots of crazy things happen when you are not in control of your identity. I hope these tips help.

Keron Rose is a digital strategist who works with Caribbean businesses to build their digital presence and monetise their platforms.

Learn more at KeronRose.com or listen to the Digipreneur FM podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or Google Podcast

The post Protecting your identity after a data breach appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

THE TOBAGO Chamber of Industry & Commerce has given the island’s second October carnival a perfect score.

During a news conference on Wednesday at the party’s headquarters, Mc AL Building, Milford Road, Scarborough, chamber president Curtis Williams said there were no losers in the carnival.

He said everyone, from the roadside vendor to major hoteliers, benefited.

In terms of trade, Williams said, bar owners, promoters, supermarket owners and wholesalers reported a 500 per cent increase in earnings from last year.

Businessmen in the entertainment sector also reported a 500 per cent increase in earnings over the period.

“So we definitely see there is somewhat of an upward trend going forward in terms of sales.”

Saying the chamber was very happy there were no reports of serious crimes over the carnival weekend, Williams applauded the work of the security team and the Tobago Emergency Management Agency.

The chamber’s vice president Demi John Cruickshank, who also addressed the briefing, said the accommodation sector reported near record occupancy levels.

“All the villas, all of the hotels, we spoke to the hotel association they indicated that they were close to 100 per cent occupancy across the board. So again, that augurs well for the carnival,” he said.

Cruickshank also praised the T&T Inter-Island Transportation Company, which, he said, “did exceptionally well in terms of what they did in terms of moving people between the islands.

“We did not hear, at any point in time, that you had a backlog on the port. I think that is historic in terms of this carnival and even on the island on a whole because in the past we would have had problems, bacchanal, people saying that they missed their sailings. That did not happen.”

He said from October 25-31, the ferries moved 17, 410 passengers and 5,405 vehicles over the carnival weekend.

Cruickshank said although they have not yet received the figures for Caribbean Airlines, “people did not have a problem travelling between the islands with CAL.

“It moved the people that they promised us that they will move. So between CAL and the Port Authority, I want to say kudos to them.”

He said taxi operators and car rental agencies also reported being fully booked.

Cruickshank said although there were some hiccups, “I know that as we go forward in 2024, 2025, 2026, that things will improve and only can get better.”

He added, “It was an exceptionally well-put-together weekend. The visitors that came to the island, both foreign and local, meaning Trinidadians, they all indicated to us that they had an excellent time in Tobago.

“From the business point of view, we could not have asked for better than what we had over this weekend.”

Williams commended the THA Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation for its decision to employ people to gather data from visitors concerning their impressions of the carnival.

He said the chamber hopes to meet with culture secretary Tashia Burris and other tourism stakeholders as soon as possible to discuss plans for next year’s carnival, which is expected to take place from October 25-27.

The post Chamber: 500% increase in business for Tobago carnival appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

"Your present situation is not your final destination."

This is one of the messages Caricom Youth Ambassador Samantha Rampersad wants young people to keep in mind as they navigate the challenges of life.

Rampersad, 25, took up the position on September 8 and will continue in the role until July 31, 2025. She said all her work will focus on youth and national development.

"I know this might sound very cliche, but helping people and trying to prepare a better world for the generations that come after me gives me a sense of belonging, happiness, and fulfilment.”

She said the world is not a safe place and the crime situation in TT was already bad. She believes if TT does not progress in preserving its culture, society and youth, who are the future leaders, it may end up in a similar situation to the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and that is not the kind of world she wants her nephew or her future children to live in.

“I see myself as being very fortunate and blessed to be born in TT, where we don't have those sorts of imminent attacks to worry about.

“I see the duty falling on me, because if we, as the young people of this generation, don't fix it, nobody else is going to do it. So the onus is on us.”

Rampersad said she has yet to be given guidelines as to her role as youth ambassador, but there were several projects she wanted to pursue and intended to pitch to Caricom.

Her main idea involves the use of seaweed, as most Caribbean islands have it. Its abundance means it could be a cost-effective way to benefit people and the environment. Seaweed could be used to create building blocks, fertilisers and recycling bins.

The idea for the blocks came about because she wanted to build a homework centre for Venezuelan migrants to access a stable and safe space for learning. However, the project was very expensive and there were few resources. She saw the idea of making blocks out of seaweed on social media, and thought it could be a solution to the problem.

She also noticed pollution is a big problem in TT, as there is always litter on beaches and rivers. She believes recycling bins made of seaweed and putting on beaches could help minimise the issue. And seaweed fertiliser could provide a clean and sustainable option for farmers as an alternative to chemicals that make their way into streams and rivers.

She said the project could be one to encourage Caribbean youth integration.

[caption id="attachment_1040235" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Samantha Rampersad speaks to secondary school students in Kingston, Jamaica about gender-based violence and life motivations at the Jamaica Youth Forum in December 2022. - contrax creative studios[/caption]

Over the years Rampersad has volunteered with governmental, non-governmental and UN agencies and so understands her purpose and the impact she could have on the world through simple projects.

In September of this year she was part of the UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Caribbean Forum on Population and Development in Antigua and Barbuda, where she discussed Caribbean population dynamics such as challenges with sexual health and reproductive rights, and accessing sexual health and reproductive information and services in the Caribbean.

She has been training with the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) as a young peace-builder, and is considering how TT could provide practical support for people who want to leave a life of crime and gangs.

She said TT does not have proper programmes to reach people “on the ground” and give them the opportunity to leave their criminal lives behind: leaving a gang could be a death sentence, but there are no protective measures for young people who wanted to do so. She said on-the-job training or skills programmes are not enough, as if they leave, they would have no money or job to support themselves, and many could not get a job because of their history or home address.

She is also president and founder of United by Diversity, an organisation started in 2016 as a pageant project focusing on the holistic development of young people. She and her “pageant sisters” revitalised it in 2018 and have since run awareness programmes focusing on young people on the topics of agriculture, sexual health and reproductive rights, crime and gender-based violence, the use of social media and other topics youths may not want to ask their parents about.

In addition, she is the director of participation and youth adviser in the UNFPA Youth Advisory Group of TT, vice president of the Trinidad Youth Council, and co-founded the group Youths for Empowerment.

Advocacy in beauty

Rampersad’s advocacy started at 14. She just wanted the experience of being in a beauty pageant, so she entered the Miss Teen Beauty TT Pageant in 2012 and was first runner-up.

[caption id="attachment_1040236" align="alignnone" width="480"] Caricom Youth Ambassador Samantha Rampersad roasts fish on Nelson island during a trip hosted by the National Trust, on September 30, 2023. Photos courtesy Samantha Rampersad. -[/caption]

“But then I realised if you're doing pageantry, you really have an opportunity and a platform to reach other young girls like yourself, who are actually willing to listen to you.”

During a pre-university business management programme at UWI Roytec, she began speaking up on LGBTQIA+ rights, suicide prevention, and more.

But her official journey into activism began in 2016, when she participated in the Miss Teen Awareness TT Pageant and had to choose a project highlighting a societal issue in her community in Chaguanas.

"The reason I gravitated so much towards it was that, at that point in my life, I was searching for more. I wanted to really advocate, but advocate with a purpose.

“Growing up in an East Indian household and just seeing your neighbours and people in your community condone domestic violence as if it was nothing, just a part of life – it didn't sit well with me.

"And so when I joined this pageant, I was given the opportunity to speak about domestic violence. I researched it more, and that was really the building ground for me to speak on gender-based violence."

She was crowned the winner. She said the process showed her how far she could go with activism, which has had the biggest impact on her life so far.

Rampersad is in her final semester of a double major in political science and management studies at UWI, St Augustine.

She is hoping to do a masters in international relations, but still has to decide on a university. She said she sees herself working in the diplomatic and international relations fields. While monetary compensation is important, it is not the driving factor in what she does.

[caption id="attachment_1040237" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Samantha Rampersad with other youth participants during the UNAOC's Young Peace builders training in Merida, Spain in July 2023. -[/caption]

Rampersad said from a young age her parents taught her no matter how difficult things were, someone always had it worse, so she should always try her best to assist others. She said she grew up seeing her parents helping neighbours, family and friends, not just by giving them money or food, but listening to them or giving advice.

“So my parents had a fundamental part to play in the foundation of me. Just by living through that experience with them and seeing it, I would have learned that behaviour. I could say they provided the fertile ground for me to, like, plant my roots with activism and go ahead and spread my wings if I wanted to share by branches.”

She said her parents sacrificed a lot to provide for her and are very supportive, even though they do not fully understand all she does.

Positive through pain

Rampersad has had some painful and negative experiences in her young life. But instead of giving up on people or the world, she used them to propel her forward.

She recalled shopping with her mother and a friend in a Port of Spain fabric store when a man held her and tried to drag her into the back of a panel van. She also had some scary experiences while taking public transport, and was raped by someone she thought was her friend.

“Even now, every time I go into a taxi or maxi I’m always on fight-or-flight mode. You always have to be on the lookout for perpetrators. You never know who is going to touch you in a wrong way.”

Her experiences led to trust issues with herself and others. Even with loving parents, she kept her rape to herself, out of shame. She was depressed and wanted to give up. She often contemplated suicide, but never succumbed to her negative thoughts, as she wanted her nephew to have an aunt in whom he could confide.

It took two years before she could talk about her rape. She did so while attending the local leg of her first international pageant, Miss Supranational, in 2020. The pageant had a confessional segment in which the girls spoke about their traumas. She was not aware the organisers were going to release the video, which was how her family found out about the rape.

She was additionally traumatised, as people insisted she tell them about the experience, but she eventually dealt with her emotional damage.

On a positive note, after the video was released, women with similar experiences contacted her and she realised her story was helping others. She also realised how prevalent the sexual abuse of women and girls was in TT and the lifelong impact it had on its victims.

She saw how victims lived with guilt and fear and demonised themselves, and realised because they did not speak about their experiences, they were not aware they were not alone.

“All these things that happened to me is what really fuels my passion to do what I do. Now I can relate to a rape victim. I can sit down and I can truly understand your experience and we share each other's feelings.

“Sometimes we see situations happening to us and we ask God why. We question so much, and we blame Him for so much, but you really don’t understand how that one situation can be the foundation or extra push in a direction that God really wants you to go.”

Rampersad said her favourite quote is, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," by Eleanor Roosevelt, as it gives her comfort and helps her believe in herself.

She said as she grew up in a middle-class family, her dreams seemed impossible to achieve. While she did not become a princess and no longer wanted to be a lawyer, she has achieved many other dreams, including becoming an activist, being a part of the UN, attending university, travelling abroad and helping other young people.

“Life is not what happens to you but what you make out of it. It is never too late to start. Whatever your situation may be, understand that it is not your final destination. No matter how difficult your current predicament may be, you have the power and ability to live your dreams. Stay committed and disciplined with your goals and aspirations, and in all you do, believe in yourself – because if you don’t, you can’t expect others to believe in you.”

The post Samantha Rampersad works with youth to ‘fix’ Trinidad and Tobago appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

THE EDITOR: As the Government contemplates the pressing challenges of crime and security, it is crucial to look beyond our shores and consider the successes of other nations. Across the globe, countries have grappled with similar challenges, and their experiences offer valuable insights that can guide our strategies. We do not need to reinvent the wheel.

The foundation of any effective crime-deterrence mechanism is its legislative framework. Singapore, for instance, has long been recognised for its low crime rates, a success attributed to its strict laws for major crimes. The stringent penalties for offences such as kidnapping and robbery in Singapore serve as potent deterrents.

Similarly, the UK's pioneering use of DNA databases for crime detection offers a blueprint. Their National DNA Database has been instrumental in solving numerous cold cases and has acted as a deterrent for potential offenders.

Beyond legislation, the state must also adopt innovative and proven policies. India's Aadhaar programme stands out as a beacon in this regard. This biometric database has revolutionised identity verification and streamlined countless governmental processes.

In the US, law enforcement agencies in states like California have seen the benefits of mobile biometric devices, enhancing the efficiency of police checks.

The extensive CCTV network in the UK underscores the importance of surveillance in modern crime-fighting.

Australia's embrace of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems showcases the potential of technology in enhancing road safety and aiding law enforcement.

Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system exemplifies the advantages of digitised immigration services. Meanwhile, Estonia's e-Government initiative stands as a testament to the transformative power of digitisation.

While a direct parallel to the proposed TrustPin Network might not exist, the underlying concept resonates with community policing initiatives seen in places like Japan. Here, local businesses and residents collaborate closely with law enforcement, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility for safety.

China's integrated surveillance network offers a glimpse into the future of urban security.

However, as we draw from these international examples and consider our path forward, it is essential to recognise a fundamental truth: fighting crime requires collaboration and consensus.

The leadership needed lies in our Parliament. The strategies and tools are at our disposal, but their effective implementation hinges on our collective will and co-operation.

The nation is watching all of us closely, awaiting decisive action and unity in purpose. The safety and future of TT depend on our ability to rise above divisions, work collaboratively, and prioritise the well-being of our citizens.

The time for decisive action, underpinned by collaboration, is now.

I trust the Government has a genuine interest in collaborating with the Opposition United National Congress as I am sure we are ready and willing to continue to act in the interest and welfare of all – as we have always done.

RUSHTON PARAY

MP, Mayaro

The post Crime-fighting strategies for Trinidad and Tobago appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

In 2011 actor Sanjiv Boodhu starred in the award-winning Trinidadian-Canadian short film Doubles with Slight Pepper, and after its release there were discussions of a feature-length follow-up. But he had no idea he would be returning to the role more than a decade later.

He stars in the narrative drama Doubles, which will have its Caribbean premiere at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF) opening night gala on September 20. The film is by Canadian-born award-winning director and screenwriter Ian Harnarine, and centres on a Trinidadian street vendor (played by Boodhu) who must travel to Toronto and decide if he will help save his estranged father from dying. For Boodhu, the role is the culmination of some 26 years of acting.

[caption id="attachment_1035919" align="alignnone" width="540"] Sanjiv Boodhu in a scene from Doubles. -[/caption]

He and his elder brother Rajiv (who also appears in Doubles, together with his cousin Kala Neehall) grew up watching their father, veteran actor Kenneth Boodhu, on stage with the long-running Strolling Players Theatre Company. The brothers would be taken to performances every weekend.

"Growing up with an actor as a father, it was normal for us to gravitate to the stage."

Child Stroller

He began his career at six and was coached by late Strolling Players founder and celebrated playwright Freddie Kissoon and by his father. Boodhu recalled his first memory of being on stage was a Strolling Players performance at the then Arima Senior Comprehensive. His job was to sing the national anthem before a "massive audience." Owing to nerves, he could not start his performance, but a teacher came out and held his hand, which gave him the encouragement to begin.

Boodhu's duties would soon be upgraded to acting, and he appeared as the character Sonny in Kissoon's best-known play, Zingay, which follows a married couple who believe their child is the victim of black magic. He would play several father/son roles with his father over the years in stages across Trinidad, including in Mayaro, Rio Claro, Blanchisseuse, and at City Hall in Port of Spain. He described Kissoon, who died in 2016, as a brilliant man.

"A visionary. Extraordinarily intelligent and a disciplinarian."

He added that Kissoon would not tolerate rudeness or drinking and was very organised. Boodhu credited him with bringing a lot of discipline into his life.

"I am certainly a better human being having been taught by Freddie Kissoon."

And how was the experience as a young actor?

"It was an absolute wonder. And it was something natural, as I would see my father do it every weekend. It was normal. I did not know other people were not involved in theatre and drama."

Boodhu also appeared as a student in the play School Project, written and directed by his father and co-starring his cousin Tamara Dolsingh.

[caption id="attachment_1035916" align="alignnone" width="689"] Actor Sanjiv Sanjiv Boodhu is also an attorney and a businessman. -[/caption]

For the next 15 years, Boodhu had over 50 stage performances throughout the length and breadth of Trinidad, in keeping with Kissoon’s vision of “taking drama to the people.”

By about 18, he had outgrown the teenage roles of plays like School Project. He shifted his focus from acting to working and going to university.

From Doubles to Doubles

Then in 2010 while at a construction site, his father called and said he had a meeting with a Canadian filmmaker (Harnarine). Boodhu met with Harnarine and the director offered him a supporting role in his short film Doubles with Slight Pepper. He would play young doubles vendor Dhani in Trinidad, who is reunited with his estranged father, who has returned from Toronto and is suffering from a serious illness.

[caption id="attachment_1035915" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Sanjiv Boodhu in a scene from Doubles with Slight Pepper was a filmed in 2011. -[/caption]

"When he offered, I of course categorically said, 'Yes.'"

Harnarine, Canadian-born to Trinidadian parents, came to Trinidad in 2011 with his crew and filmed the movie in numerous areas of the island over aweek. During the filming, Boodhu was reunited with veteran actor Errol Sitahal, who was his father's good friend and ran a drama club at his father's school.

"It was poetic."

He said Sitahal was very much an uncle to him.

"Errol coached and guided me in acting. I was happy to learn. He is extremely talented and passionate."

He also credited his father, who played a doctor in Doubles with Slight Pepper and appeared onscreen in films like The Right and the Wrong and local series like Calabash Alley and Sugarcane Arrows, with helping him to transition from theatre to film acting.

"His guidance was very on point. And whatever he said I put in practice and was in line with what Ian wanted."

Doubles with Slight Pepper made its way around the globe and appeared in numerous film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Canadian Short Film, and to NYU and Cannes, and went on to win Best Live Action Drama at the 32nd Genie Awards.

"I was taken aback by its success. I could not fathom it."

He explained that when acting onstage there is a limit to the number of people who can watch the performance, and he was therefore surprised by the global reach of Doubles with Slight Pepper.

[caption id="attachment_1035914" align="alignnone" width="460"] Actor Sanjiv Boodhu during the filming of Doubles in Toronto.
-[/caption]

"I credit Ian and his team for putting in the hard work and getting the film to where it has gotten."

In 2022, Boodhu was flown to Toronto to appear again as Dhani in Harnarine’s feature film follow-up, Doubles. He said he was not surprised by the sequel, as it was always the intention, but did not expect it would take such a long time.

"It did surprise me that they came back 11 years (later) and wanted me to play the same role. It was very humbling. I thought I was no longer fit for the part or the age. But Ian thought I did not age as badly and was eager to get me back."

Harnarine's team assisted Boodhu with getting his visa, work permit and approvals from a government agency in Canada, and after flying him to Canada put him up at an Airbnb for a month.

"It was quite a challenge and I am very grateful."

In the 11 years between films, Boodhu had not been doing much acting besides a few commercials and had been focusing primarily on his work.

"I had to deal with the emotions of whether I was living up to their expectations as a performer. They spent so much money and went through so many hoops. If I was not able to deliver, it would be disappointing. It was very stressful."

But Boodhu benefited from living and working with Sitahal, who returned to the role of his father, Ragbir.

"We would act together all day and come home and rehearse all night."

He thanked his wife, Anna-Lee Boodhu, for being so courteous as to allow him to go. She joined him in Canada for the last week of filming. It was also his first experience of winter.

"It is not easy for a husband to say they packing up to go Canada for a month to film a movie."

And how was it returning to the character of Dhani after so long?

"It was a very interesting thing. I had to struggle with being consistent with the character from Doubles with Slight Pepper, and with the fact that I was 11 years older and had seen more films and actors and had a different view of the world, more life experience to draw on, especially for the emotional scenes."

Boodhu has not seen the film yet and Harnarine told him it would be best to see it with an audience.

"I am happy to take his guidance. He is a very experienced and educated man and I have a lot of respect for him."

Emotional tale

He described the film as "doubles with heavy roast pepper," as it is a very emotional and genuine film about a father-and-son relationship strained by emigration.

"It is very common in TT and the Caribbean. So many of our families have been split by the emigration process due to the need for financial stability. One parent leaves behind the other to go and make a better life for the family, only to find out it is not really a land of milk and honey."

He said the film will resonate with viewers regardless of their background. He also expressed hope people would leave the film with rejuvenated knowledge of the importance of family and understanding each other's differences and remembering that TT is a force to be reckoned with creatively.

"We are not a people to sit and look on. We are doers with talent, training and education. We have fought to be on the world map not only in calypso, soca and Carnival (but in other creative sectors) like art and theatre."

He encouraged people to take advantage of opportunities provided by the government in the creative sector.

An attorney by profession, he said he would love to be a professional actor, but cannot, because he has to earn a living. He "tipped his hat" to professional actors.

Asked about his acting future, Boodhu said he would be happy to work with any filmmaker or theatre company.

"This (role) is not a retirement but a beginning."

Doubles premieres at 6 pm on September 20 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann's, at the TTFF launch.

About the actor

Aside from his acting career, Sanjiv K Boodhu is a successful attorney in private practice with offices in San Fernando, Arima and Sangre Grande.
He is also a member of the Rotary Club of St Augustine, a director of Heartbeat International TT (a charity organisation), a director of the Housing Corporation Development (HDC), and a director of his family business group, Kenneth Boodhu Agencies Ltd, which runs, among other things, the popular home furnishings, fabric and curtain brand known as Ojoes.

The post Sanjiv Boodhu: From Strolling Players child actor to Doubles star appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

Though the island of Curacao is only 64 kilometres long, it is jam-packed with rich culture, music, history, food and clear-water beaches, all of which leaves visitors wanting more. This is keeping in line with the island's push for tourism as its main source of income after its refinery Isla Oil Refinery downsized.

Regional manager for the Caribbean of the Curacao Tourist Board (CTB) Elaine Hart Francisca spoke to Business Day on its visit to the country – from September 1-5 – on September 2 about the influx of tourists after covid19 lockdowns, moves to make the island a must-visit destination and suggested ways tourist boards of other countries can all work together to bring foreign exchange to the entire region.

"We have reached pre-pandemic levels and surpassed (them), especially from the market of TT: (we) have seen drastic increases, with more than 200 per cent increase compared to last year."

She said this increase is owing to the expansion of Caribbean Airlines services to the island twice weekly – Tuesdays and Fridays – and Copa's flight to the island through Panama and added that the stay-over arrival count for TT from January till Monday was 5,890 people.

Francisca said aside from the Caribbean flights, the country has also entered an agreement with Corendon, from the Netherlands, which is also linked to the Corendon hotel brand. The flight will also connect to people in Germany and Amsterdam increasing the number of travellers. She added that the airline is also set to introduce the first adult-only cabin.

[caption id="attachment_1034152" align="alignnone" width="977"] Elaine Hart Francisca, regional manager of the Caribbean Curacao Tourist Board.
Photo courtesy CTB -[/caption]

"Overall, tourism has been really good. We are aiming to reach half a million visitors by the end of this year."

Francisca said the influx of tourists from all over the world is a direct result of the services expansion the country has been working on, as some properties were opened – all-inclusive properties and Sandals Royal Curacao – during the covid19 pandemic, which Francisca described as, "A blessing in disguise." With the Sandals franchise in the island, she said the aim is to get more traction from the US and the Caribbean.

Coming from the airport, one can see many buildings under construction – some are apartment buildings, others hotels, – as there were not enough to cater to the spike in visitors. So far there are 8,000 rooms projected to come on the hotel market once construction is completed. She added that during Business Day's visit, all the city's hotels were completely booked.

One of these buildings will be home to the Marriott Courtyard by the end of the year, with two others to join between now and 2025.

Curacao's main source of income, she said, "used to be oil for a very long time before that downsized, so right now our main economic pillar is tourism, and I think that is also why our government is really focusing on that right now and that is why they are putting more priority on it leading to more tourist arrivals.

"We are also trying to invest more in human capital in the sense that we are trying to train more people in the tourism and hospitality sector because of its importance."

People getting into the sector are given the chance to do training courses with the CTB in collaboration with the government – Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Education.

[caption id="attachment_1034142" align="alignnone" width="768"] The Queen Emma bridge or the Koningin Emmabrug, Curacao's famous Bridge, with the Otrobanda at the back. Photo by Vishanna Phagoo -[/caption]

"We started with everything – training and offering courses – last year, so they are trying to train these people and get them into the real world. So we have been working with hotels and restaurants to work with these people to train them, but also give them internships, so they can feel the business through this. So the interns have been getting jobs with these establishments and some have even been opening their travel guide businesses, so we are trying now to go to another level."

Francisca said the board and ministries involved are looking at bringing in another cohort of trainees, especially with many losing their jobs because of covid19 and still being unemployed or working part-time.

The CTB, in expanding its offerings to tourists, started working with the founders of the Kaya Kaya Festival, Clayton Iasten and Kurt Schoop, to bring more tourists to immerse themselves in the country's music, art, food and culture over the past two years. The Kaya Kaya Festival – kaya means "street" in Papiamento, the local language – has been around for five years and was created by Iasten and Schoop in Willemstad, the island's capital, as a way of developing the Ser'i Otrobanda community. Schoop said this is because it was deemed a dangerous area and decided there needed to be a change.

Francisca said, "Because of this event, every time, the organisers are always trying to renovate or add new lights to attract tourists and because they come here so often, nothing bad happens here any more. In general, the crime rate is very low, it's nothing compared to Jamaica, TT or Suriname."

[caption id="attachment_1034141" align="alignnone" width="768"] Chichis displayed at Chichi Curacao, Willemstad, Curacao. Chichis represent the eldest sister in a family who takes care of her siblings and the household at times. -[/caption]

Though there are no exact figures on how many people visited or the income it generated for the island yet, from Business Day's observation, the entire Promenade Willemstad was crowded with people waiting to get in from the festival's start at 5 pm on September 2. The crowd and festivities did not dissipate until 4 am.

On why the CTB decided to work with the Kaya Kaya Festival, Francisca said, "The festival was something very much dedicated to a community in Curacao, but again, when you're thinking about the culture and history, you would want to share that with tourists, so we thought about what would make it more attractive for the people outside to fly in for this. So we worked together with all the travel agencies and markets to send this out and make people travelling to Curacao aware that the event is happening."

Francisca said the festival sold around 20,000 plane tickets, with 1,000 being international ones for the second year with CTB actively on the Kaya Kaya Festival board as they are considered local. She explained that CTB was able to gather data from the organisers which includes the number of tickets sold.

Asked for her thoughts on how TT markets itself through tourism, Francisca said though she has only been twice, she knows TT is known for its Carnival, but that's only once a year.

[caption id="attachment_1034140" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A painted mural for the Kaya Kaya festival by Mervin Hous in Willemstad, Curacao
Photo by Vishanna Phagoo -[/caption]

"I know TT is rich in culture and history, so I think that would be something that could be embraced as a tourist destination. People right now are not interested in sun, sand and sea only, they also want to know the history of the culture and people, and they want to be more involved in that aspect. So I think if TT can embrace that a little bit more and put that as a unique selling point, the tourism sector could develop into something more."

She added that the Caribbean market has generated a lot of buzz for the country with its culture, history and that it has more than 55 nationalities.

"We try to promote those kinds of things, especially in the Caribbean and European markets, because that has a little bit more advantage to it than just promoting the sun, sand and sea, since all Caribbean destinations have that, so what else do you offer?"

Francisca added that the TT tourism boards can work with the CTB to share each others' strengths and weaknesses and learn from each other.

"We're all different in cultures, so we are not competitors in that term. So working closely together would be a big start to having a good partnership."

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The TT Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TT Chamber) will be leading a trade mission to Barbados from October 12-15, seeking to explore trade opportunities in 13 sectors.

The mission is open to all businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are interested in exploring this Caricom market.

It is being spearheaded by the Chamber’s Trade and Business Development Unit (TBDU) as part of the Chamber’s strategic focus on SME growth and expansion into the global market.

This focus is directly aligned with the strategic intent of the TT government to diversify the markets for non-energy exports.

A survey was conducted by the TBDU for the Chamber’s membership and extended to include the wider business community during December 2022- January 2023. It explored potential markets of interest and challenges faced by TT’s businesses. This included scarcity of foreign exchange, effects spiralling from the covid19, international supply chain issues, and continuous vulnerability in the Caribbean due to climate change.

Businesses indicated the importance of re-establishing relationships in neighbouring markets which would have been negatively affected during the pandemic.

Mission Benefits

The mission to Barbados will be led by president of the TT Chamber Kiran Maharaj and other official representatives.

[caption id="attachment_1028494" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TT Chamber president Kiran Maharaj - File photo/Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

The agenda will include an opening ceremony with key government and regulatory agencies, business-to-business (B2B) meetings with Barbadian counterparts tailored to the represented sectors and a social networking event.

The target is to provide at least five B2B meetings for each participating exporter, in addition to other leads for business opportunities.

The outcomes of these B2B meetings will also be tracked.

Prior to the official visit, registered participants will be afforded several value-added benefits: a pre-mission session on Doing Business in Barbados to which diplomatic representatives, counterpart business service organisations and experienced exporters will be invited.

Why Barbados?

The Chamber’s survey results revealed that Barbados was ranked in the top 3 markets of export interest for companies engaged in both the goods and services sectors – leading to its selection for the current Mission.

Moreover, the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Policy Review identifies Barbados as a relatively small and open economy with a GDP per capita of some US$14,619 in 2020.

Barbados is highly dependent on imports of goods and on exports of services, particularly tourism, and was thus strongly affected by the covid19 pandemic.

In 2020, real GDP declined by 14 per cent and grew by 0.7 per cent in 2021.

Its medium-term Growth and Development Strategy 2013-2020 recognised the need to sustain private-sector and investment-led productivity and export-driven growth.

The Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) Plan – apart from restoring fiscal and debt sustainability – also aims to rebuild reserves and increase growth.

[caption id="attachment_1027338" align="alignnone" width="1024"] -[/caption]

As it pertains to trade policy, Barbados' objectives are to promote and facilitate the development of international trade, improve competitiveness, and pursue the small vulnerable economies agenda in the WTO.

Barbados also has the objective of achieving a fossil-fuel-free economy by 2030.

Barbados’ recovery from the covid19 pandemic gained momentum in 2022 with the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) estimating a 10 per cent rebound following a contraction of 0.3 per cent in 2021 and 13.5 per cent in 2020. This growth exceeds the average forecasted rate of 8.9 per cent for the neighbouring Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

This recovery has been driven by the tourism sector but has been buoyed by expansion in other sectors such as construction, manufacturing, distribution and financial services.

Out of the pandemic, Barbados introduced a new 12-month Barbados welcome stamp – a visa that allows non-residents to relocate and work remotely providing a path for service providers to build credible networks in its economy.

Barbados trade profile

The country applies the Caricom common external tariff (CET) with several exceptions.

Through Caricom, Barbados signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), which gives it quota-free and duty-free access to EU and the UK.

It also has preferential access to the US through the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and to Canada through CARIBCAN.

Foreign investors are generally granted national treatment with very few exceptions mentioned in sector-specific legislation, such as telecommunications services, tour operators, and travel guides.

[caption id="attachment_1028495" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TT Chamber's annual business meeting
(File Photo) -[/caption]

Private investment in broadcasting, banking, and insurance is subject to prior government approval.

Water and postal services are government monopolies. Since its last review in 2015, Barbados has successfully streamlined customs procedures, including the transition to ASYCUDA World in September 2019, the initiation of a trusted trader programme, and a considerable reduction of processing times for import licenses.

Also, the use of reference prices for the customs valuation of certain imports was abandoned during the period under review.

The use of a customs broker is recommended.

TT Chamber Collaboration with exporTT

The Chamber’s current mission is being supported by exporTT under its Export Booster Initiative (EBI).

The EBI was developed out of a strategic effort to counteract the impact of covid19 on the manufacturing sector.

Its primary objective (developed at inception) is to increase the value of non-energy exports of goods to $3.21 billion or by 10 per cent by end of the fiscal year 2020/2021 and to double that to approximately $6 billion by 2024.

To achieve this target, the EBI is pursuing sixteen initiatives under three broad strategic areas namely export promotion, capacity building and institutional strengthening.

A main goal of the Chamber is to enhance the TT business community’s competitive advantage, assist in providing opportunities for business expansion, increased foreign exchange earnings and wealth generation through export-led growth.

This is pursued through a variety of initiatives including the current mission.

Local business operators are encouraged to register and avail this opportunity.

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DIRECT flights from Piarco International Airport and Caracas, Venezuela are set to resume on Saturday, paving the way for increased tourism and trade between both countries.

CAL announced on April 24, the resumption of direct flights. Initially, flights will operate every Saturday and a higher frequency is expected in the future.

“This marks an important step forward for the airline as it continues to connect the Caribbean region and provide added value to its customers.

"With the largest network in the region, Caribbean Airlines is committed to offering its passengers convenience, allowing them to fly within, to and from the Caribbean with ease,” the airline said in a statement.

Garvin Medera, CEO of CAL expressed his enthusiasm for the airline's continued growth and commitment to the Caribbean region.

“The Caribbean is our home and we are dedicated to connecting our people and communities,” he said.

He continued, “Caribbean Airlines is ready to grow, and we are delighted to resume flights to Caracas and provide reliable and convenient travel options for our valued customers."

With increased frequency expected in the future, travellers can look forward to more travel options to and from Caracas, Venezuela and other destinations in the Caribbean.

At the beginning of April, the Venezuelan airline Rutaca had reactivated Piarco-Margarita flights and vice versa as part of shopping tourism.

Since last year, only the borders between TT and Venezuela were open to travellers by sea. Several Venezuelan and Trinidadian vessels left from the ports of Cedros and Chaguaramas bound for Tucupita and Guiria.

However, only the local shipping company Triniflyer has the legal authority to bring passengers from Venezuela, complying with the requirements demanded by the immigration division.

Flights through Caribbean Airlines can be booked in the company's website. Until last weekend, the closest reservations enabled were for Saturday, June 3.

The price of the ticket shown on the official website is US$554.40 for a round trip. This includes the payment of taxes, fees and charges. In Venezuela, some travel agencies are offering tickets for US$600.

Both trips would last approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Until now, going to Venezuela by air could be done with a stopover flight in Panama with a price close to US$1,000 for a one-way ticket.

Businessman and co-founder of Medl – an IDB Lab and Microsoft-backed Insur/Health-tech social enterprise – told Newsday that reopening of the air route between Piarco-Caracas was great news for TT.

“We need to aggressively position ourselves as a welcoming place for Venezuelan migrants and their human capital,” he said.

Mohammed believes if positioned correctly, this could be combined with intensive Spanish language teaching in schools to give TT a competitive edge in the lucrative and untapped Latin America market.

He also said that in TT, several companies such as Massy, ABIL and Bermúdez regularly enter Colombia and Costa Rica to do trade.

"Let's treat the Venezuelan influx not as a threat but as an opportunity to expand this momentum," he said.

Dennys Hernández, a Venezuelan political scientist, economist and lawyer, said reactivation of the Caracas-Piarco route is great news for his country.

"Taking into account the political, social and economic situation Venezuela is going through and that it is an extraordinary country that offers wonderful places which can be visited by the citizens of TT, it would mean an extraordinary income in tourism in the first place and that leads to other businesses," he said.

He said the previously only route to and from both countries i.e., by the sea, was one taken advantage of by shipping companies which raised the price of sea transport excessively.

"With the reopening of the direct flight route, these shipping companies will now be forced to adjust their prices back to more realistic rates given there is now competition,” he said.

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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called out the Prime Minister's planned vacation in Barbados as "highly suspicious" amid investigations there and in TT over the "abduction" by Barbadian police and return of firearms dealer Brent Thomas reportedly on a request by TT police.

The Prime Minister on Thursday said he had arranged his trip to Barbados to spend with friends since April and had no plans of speaking with officials on the issue which arose in a High Court judge's ruling to stay charges against Thomas in a scathing criticism of how law enforcement officials handled his detention and return to Trinidad.

Dr Rowley has since tasked National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds to get a report from Police Commissioner Erla Christopher-Harewood in the matter. It emerged in the Barbados media on Wednesday that the country's attorney general Dale Marshall has also asked their police commission for a report on the incident.

"It is unbelievable that Rowley’s sudden and highly suspicious trip to Barbados is a personal vacation that was planned in advance and not related to this expanding abduction scandal engulfing both governments," Persad-Bissessar said in a statement after Rowley's media conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's.

"The Commissioner of Police does not have the authority to deploy officers to function in any operation outside of the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago without government knowledge via the Minister of National Security."

The Prime Minister had said the method by which Thomas was removed from Barbados had been used several times but he gave no details of the nature of such arrangements nor the cases.

Persad-Bissessar said Rowley's position that he has “nothing to answer for” was "unbelievable."

In his ruling on April 25, Justice Devindra Rampersad found that warrants for Thomas executed by senior officer ASP Birch and others were "unlawfully obtained." He criticised the police for the "abduction of Thomas in Barbados" by the use of a non-commercial aircraft of the Defence Force. However, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young disclosed in Parliament last Friday that the aircraft was assigned to the Regional Security Services in Barbados. RSS was formed in 1982 as a Caricom agency to respond to regional security threats. He was responding to Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal who raised the issue during a no-confidence motion against Hinds. Hinds in a statement via state-owned TTT on Tuesday denied any government official was involved and implied some criminals had links in law enforcement agencies, Parliament and the Judiciary, and that the judge's ruling would be appealed. Attorney General Reginald Armour has since defended Hinds against criticisms of this statement, confirmed the appeal which the Prime Minister said would be filed on Friday. Although saying he was not directly involved he said the police would present their case in the appeal.

Persad-Bissessar questioned the explanations.

"Rowley wants citizens to believe that as members of the National Security Council, he and Fitzgerald Hinds had no idea how police officers ASP Birch, Senior Supt Suzette Martin and Cpl Joefield were all able to commandeer a CARICOM aircraft, to forcibly and illegally detain and abduct Brent Thomas from Barbados.

"It is my information that:

• If any police officer has to travel abroad for any duty, approval is required from the Minister of National Security.

• The Commissioner of Police does not have the authority to deploy officers to function in any operation outside of the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago without government knowledge via the Minister of National Security.

• With respect to the use of a Caricom aircraft, no commissioner of police would have unfettered access, to use said aircraft at his or her pleasure without the Minister's approval."

"Therefore, the question must be asked, why hasn’t disciplinary action been taken against these officers for this illegal abduction?"

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THE Judiciary has sought to provide the public with the reasons for a court discharging four men of human-trafficking charges in March.

In a release, the Judiciary released the ruling of the Chief Magistrate in the case involving Jose Raphael Sorzano Perez, with dual citizenship in TT and Venezuela; Keron Pascal; Shaquille Noel and Judah James, all of Diego Martin on March 23.

It said it was doing so to bring “clarity on the matter " to the public.”

Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle discharged the men after dismissing an application by the prosecution to tender the alleged victim’s statements into evidence because the police were unable to find her. In her ruling, she was highly critical of the police.

The State’s evidence suggested the victim, a Venezuelan minor, entered Trinidad illegally, in 2019, but was forced into prostitution.

On October 2, 2019, the victim was arrested at a house in Diego Martin by officers of the Western Division. One man was arrested there while the others were held at different locations in the district.

In its application, the prosecution listed a number of steps to locate the victim who had run away from a safe house since May 10, 2021, without success. The defence objected to the application because the steps taken by the police were “inadequate, irrelevant and incomprehensible.”

In her ruling, Earle-Caddle said the court was of the view that the prosecution’s steps to locate the witness fell woefully short of what was reasonable. “The investigations were inadequate and unacceptable. Thus the prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that all reasonable steps were taken to locate this witness.”

Earle-Caddle said while not “all” steps needed to be taken to locate the witness, “reasonable” ones were anticipated in the quest to find her.

As she analysed the evidence, Earle-Caddle said the victim’s address in Venezuela was known to the police as well as her parents and siblings’ names. She also referred to other Venezuelans with whom she interacted as well as her ex-boyfriend in Venezuela. Earle-Caddle said it was “ludicrous” they were not contacted by the police to find the witness.

She said the witness used phones, laptops, tablets and other electronic devices allegedly belonging to the accused and frequented “little shops” in the area.

“Is it too farfetched to expect the complainant to seek the assistance of the cybercrime unit and the internet provider/s to extract sites visited, check the metadata of photographs etc. to obtain contemporaneous connections to these profiles? I don’t believe so.”

The chief magistrate also said the police’s doctor examined her in October 2019, and another in July 2020. Personnel from the Venezuelan embassy also spoke to her on March 10, 2021, and provided identity confirmation documents.

“The court does not expect every henhouse, whor*house, outhouse, HDC house, fashion house or clothing store, bar or restaurant or brothel to be searched, but at least the places with which there was some element of a connection.”

Sixteen statements were given by the witness who was said to be “extremely co-operative,” and also formed a bond with a victim support officer.

“...What enquires were made of these victim support officers by their colleagues in the TTPS? NONE.”

She said checks were made in two areas once on February 21, 2022, and four more another time. She said the court did not know the connection to at least three of the areas but the other places were checked once in March 2022.

“The Children’s Authority and Anti Kidnapping Unit were informed and what was done? We do not know. What connection could possibly exist with the Ministry of Works and Transport? We do not know, but checks were made there along with the Ministry of Legal Affairs, for the date of birth of a Venezuelan national, the Immigration Department for her travel records, (were these applicable in this case?), prisons and the hospitals,” the magistrate said in her ruling.

She said apart from not contacting victim support officers, the magistrate said the police also did not contact or interview the witness’s friends nor was there surveillance of the home of the person identified as “the boss.”

She also said none of the residents from three state homes was interviewed but a 72-year-old caretaker from one of them was questioned.

“What prevented the complainant or any other officer from speaking with other residents to further the enquiries to locate (the witness).”

She also said the girl “appeared to have limed or hung out at the basketball court at night.”

“In fact, all or most of her movements appeared to be at night. Was any surveillance done at the basketball court? Was there any night patrol at all? The answer to both questions is NO.

“Was any surveillance paid to [area 3], (which she said she knew well)? No. (The witness was an illegal immigrant who had not collected her registration documents.

“Did anyone check the Immigration Detention Centre or the Living Water Community? No, neither was checked. The document from immigration was in response to whether she had a passport from Trinidad and her travel details. Is this applicable to an illegal immigrant who is not in receipt of registration documents? No.”

Instead, she said enquiries were made from a fruit/vegetable vendor.

“What was the connection? The absurdity is tantamount to the defence’s observation that the police ought to have conducted searches at restaurants and bars known to employ or engage the services of young Venezuelan nationals. Because of the number of establishments that fit this description, the Court did not find this prudent nor to be a reasonable step.”

Earle-Caddle said the offences for which the court was enquiring were “heinous” if true but the “apparent lackadaisical, half-hearted and nonchalant approach by the police and, I dare say, the state agencies must be strongly condemned.

“This case pertains to a child in need, a victim of human trafficking. Yet the search for her commenced more than a year after her disappearance! Do we even know whether she ran away or was kidnapped?"

Earle-Caddle continued, “What measures were put in place to secure her attendance with the full knowledge of her proclivity to abscond? More importantly, what measures were put in place to ensure and preserve her well-being?

“What were these fancy-named highly qualified child advocates and victim support officers doing for this child who had described the harrowing experience of how she had arrived in Trinidad.”

She said it was not for the police to begin to look for witnesses when the prosecution sought to file applications such as the one they filed in this case.

“NOTHING was done, however, between May 2021 and February 2022 to locate this missing child.

“The excuses forthcoming for nothing substantial being done in 2022 were primarily that the complainant stated she had gone on vacation leave and the anti-kidnapping squad was stricken with covid19. To add insult to injury, the complainant had the audacity to bemoan the lack of sufficient time to complete enquiries even though she had had knowledge of her disappearance since May 2021.”

She said the victim was not a “fugitive from the law in the strict sense and the court did not expect the police to comply with the instructions of the US marshall character portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones.

“The court expects that the police or whoever undertakes the care of prospective witnesses to keep in touch with and be alive to the witnesses' needs now more than ever before…

“...The investigations were inadequate and unacceptable,” the chief magistrate said as she dismissed the State’s application to use the victim’s statement in the case.

The four men had been charged by WPC Rodriguez of the Counter-Trafficking Unit with Trafficking in Children contrary to Section 18(1) (a) and (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act Chapter 12:10 for recruiting, transporting, receiving or harbouring a child in TT for the purposes of exploitation.

James was also charged under the Children’s Act with allegedly having sex with the minor and he was also discharged on that allegation.

The Judiciary also said the records showed no evidence that the child was made a ward of the court as required by the Children’s Authority Act when a child is taken into care.

In a separate ruling involving similar circ*mstances, a judge of the Family Court Division was also highly critical of the Children’s Authority failure to adhere to its statutory duty, eight months after nine female minors were held by police in April 2022.

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Tobago Festivals Commission CEO John Arnold is unfazed by the late launch of the Tobago Jazz Experience 2023.

Speaking with the media after the launch at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on Tuesday, Arnold said as an event personnel, there are two things that could happen.

“Because the excitement is there, it would not affect it to the extent that we may think it would. Also, people travel in short times now and so I feel that we would have a very good turnout, especially for the Sunday (international night).”

Tobago Jazz will be held from April 20-23 featuring a gospel concert, reggae show and international night.

The cast of artistes include R&B legends Boyz II Men, Grammy-winning reggae sensation Koffee, Everton Blender, Richie Spice, Positive, Samuel Medas, Jonathon Nelson, Tobago singer Sharon Phillips, jazz artiste Vaughnette Bigford, jazz guitarist Theron Shaw and a host of others. Arnold said more artistes are being considered.

“There are some others that are being sent to us that we are going to evaluate from that list. We certainly can’t take all. We would also include the (medium band) pan winners, Katzenjammers, and also we’ll be talking to the Pantastic three: Duvone Stewart, Ojay (Richards) and Kersh (Ramsey) to do a threesome in the international night.”

With the return of the festival for the first time since 2019, Arnold said patrons can look forward to excellent performances combined with a breathtaking atmosphere.

“...I think what you would get this time is a festival with what I call a concentrated set of energy and entertainment.

“I think you are going to get nostalgia. I remember when (singer and guitarist) George Benson was here, people were dancing on the lawn at the park – I see the same thing happening with Boys II Men; I see the same thing with Koffee; I see the same thing with people like Richie Spice. That’s what I see, a kind of nostalgic, reflective kind of experience.”

However, he said the “much more than music” slogan must resonate,

“I think there is so much in Tobago that a lot of people don’t realise.

"How many people have actually been to Nylon Pool? How many people have been to No Man’s Land? How many people have been in the rainforest? How many people have been to Little Tobago?

"So there is a lot to do in Tobago and I think it’s totally unexplored. I think it’s really about coming here and experience what we have to offer as an island, so you take in the music but you take in the other things that we have.”

Questioned on the budget for this year's event, he said: “That would be revealed next week when the final tabs, we’re calling a press conference later on next week, that would be revealed at that time.”

He said the marketing machinery is already in motion.

“Our marketing department along with Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd, they’re working on several initiatives with that. One of the good things this year is that we started a sponsor caravan about three months ago, so what we’ve been doing – the marketing manager and myself – we’ve been going to Trinidad and meeting with several sponsors, a whole heap of them and one thing that we got was buy-in from everybody, they’re interested in being a part of this.”

He said discussions with the authorities managing the domestic airbridge and seabridge have started at different levels and will continue.

“We’re having two sets of discussions – one at the level of the agency and at our level, I have already contacted CAL and I’m seeking to have the kind of conversation that can address what we can do to increase that (number of flights).

"So we’re working with our partners, we’ve also spoken to the minister of tourism and culture for any assistance they can give us from their own end but overall, we’re working collaboratively with all the agencies to ensure that happens.”

He said the aim is for Tobago Jazz to be well managed and stick to its tight schedule.

“We need to get people out of Tobago on Sunday night. That’s another thing we want to work on – keeping the shows tight, really, really tight. There are change-over times, we really working with that. I really like this idea of starting on time but even more than that, finishing on time.”

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National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said his is satisfied with the safety and security of the country during Carnival thus far, based on law enforcement reports.

He was speaking during a walkabout downtown on Carnival Tuesday, accompanied by Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, Acting Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Dexter Francis, Prisons Commissioner Deopersad Ramoutar, and Chief Fire Officer Arnold Bristo.

The group walked down Abercromby Street, across South Quay, up Charlotte Street, through Piccadilly as they headed to the Queen's Park Savannah.

Speaking to reporters on Independence Square, Hinds said he was quite happy with the efforts of law enforcement to keep TT safe and secure.

“Having been briefed and having briefed the Cabinet and the National Security Council on the operational platform that the police commissioner and the other heads of national security agencies have put in place, thus far, on behalf of all us, I can say I am quite sanguine, quite happy.

“So far I have had an opportunity to see, and even in this morning’s report, with both the safety and security so far, it appears that the systems that have been put in place, whether aerial, on the sea, and certainly on the land, into this festivity, seem to have been working.”

He appealed to people to continue to behave well.

“I ask us as Trinidadians and Tobagonians, those of us involved in the activity, and even those who are not, because sometimes things happen at home, to conduct ourselves in a very civil and dignified manner and realise that your disputes can be solved in ways other than to hurt or kill each other.

“Remember we have thousands of visitors here, I just saw some of us in the band behind us, because they want to support our economy, support our Carnival festivities, and they deserve that we would provide them with happiness and most of all protection.”

Harewood-Christopher said the Carnival has been safe thus far and there have been no reports of any major incidents.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank all my officers for their outstanding efforts. All areas are covered. Officers who were on vacation were required to come in and they did.”

She said there were no truth to reports of industrial action being taken over the signing of a four per cent salary offer with the government.

She was asked about masqueraders or participants who might be travelling with legal firearms, as well as measures to detect illegal firearms.

“I would advise our masqueraders who have legal firearms who have come to enjoy the festivities to continue to be responsible in their behaviours. I want to advise that we continue our road monitoring to minimise the entry of illegal firearms and keep the festivities safe.”

Harewood-Christopher said while there had been an increase in firearm applications before the Carnival festivities, these would not have been granted owing to the need for a stringent investigative process.

Ramoutar said prison officers were in full attendance on Monday and over the weekend.

“I have to commend my officers. The prisoners are quite calm and all is in order. We are quite safe.”

Francis said the Defence Force is out in full numbers and supporting each division throughout TT.

“No incidents have been reported. Soldiers respond to calls for assistance by members of the police service. In that regard, any authority soldiers carry out, they carry out at the behest of the members of the police service. The soldiers will allow the police to do their jobs and will provide a safe and secure environment to do so.”

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Ramesh Lutchmedial

On February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria at 04.17 am Turkish time. Nine hours later, a 7.7 magnitude aftershock occurred.

The World Health Organization describes the earthquakes as the worst natural disaster in a century.

The graphic images streaming daily across television screens of the aftermath of the earthquakes and the rising death toll, which at the time of writing was 37,000, brought back vivid memories of the deadly 7.0 magnitude earthquake which struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.

On that fateful day, I was booked to travel with other colleagues on flight AA880, departing Miami at 9.55 am, for Haiti, to attend a board meeting of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security System, the aviation organ of Caricom. For unexplained reasons, and despite the unyielding urgings of my colleagues, who were adamant that I travel on the same flight with them, I made a last-minute decision not to travel on that flight and instead rebooked for the 2.05 pm flight, arriving in Haiti at 4 pm.

I was on my way from the airport to the Montana Hotel when my taxi stopped at an intersection less than a quarter of a mile away from the hotel. Suddenly, at 4.53 pm, the taxi began to shake violently and I quickly jumped out into the road, only to witness all the buildings around me imploding in seconds.

[caption id="attachment_1001550" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Ramesh Lutchmedial among guests camped on a tennis court at Montana Hotel, Haiti on January 13, 2010 after a devasting 7.0 earthquake on January 12. Lutchmedial, a former director general of the TT Civil Aviation Authority was on the island for a Caricom conference when the quake struck destroying the hotel. Photo courtesy Ramesh Lutchmedial -[/caption]

Hundreds of people in my immediate vicinity were trapped under debris with very serious injuries, frantically begging for help. A man came up to me holding a baby with a crushed head, bawling in heartbreaking distress.

As a first-time visitor to Haiti and unable to speak French, I was seriously disadvantaged in rendering assistance. I tried using my mobile phone to make calls, but all wireless communications were down owing to power outages.

The prison walls had collapsed and prisoners, including convicted murderers, escaped and were freely roaming around.

The utter chaos, mayhem and carnage that followed were gruesome.

[caption id="attachment_1001549" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Guests camp on the tennis court of the Montana Hotel, Haiti on January 13, 2010, a day after a devasting 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. Photo courtesy Ramesh Lutchmedial. -[/caption]

A UN peacekeeping force was in Haiti. After getting directions from one of the English-speaking peacekeepers, I walked to the Montana Hotel. I was horrified on seeing that the entire hotel had collapsed, as my colleagues who travelled on AA880 to Haiti were also guests there. With much difficulty, I was able to make my way to the Caribe Hotel, where some other colleagues were staying. I got there in the darkness and spent the night with them on an open tennis court, without electricity or bathroom facilities.

Approximately 360,000 people perished in the earthquake, including all my colleagues who were staying at the Montana Hotel.

The death toll overwhelmed the very limited medical, rescue, disaster relief and security resources. Equipment to clear debris to rescue trapped persons and mortician services were utterly inadequate. By the time foreign rescue teams arrived, thousands had perished and their bodies were piled up along the roads. They were just fingerprinted and buried in mass graves, wiping out the memories of entire families who had died.

According to the UWI Seismic Research Centre, “Trinidad and Tobago are well within the range of several geological faults and seismic source zones that are capable of producing strong (magnitude 6-7) and major (magnitude 7-8) earthquakes. In 1766, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 occurred between Venezuela and Trinidad resulting in the total destruction of the then capital San Jose and all masonry buildings in Trinidad."

The Elected Officials Guide to Earthquakes in TT, published by the UWI Seismic Research Centre in May 2013, states: “Catastrophic earthquakes can adversely affect the environment, overwhelm production facilities, distribution systems and economic markets; jeopardising the financial stability of businesses, insurers, communities and the nation."

The guide further states, “Should a moderate earthquake cause ten per cent of the infrastructure to be damaged (this is the typical provision in countries that have well-established and enforced building codes that are based on life safety), it can result in losses over TT$100 billion.”

The TT Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), together with other local and foreign agencies, does earthquake simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of national and international responses.

Up-to-date contact information for all first responders such as trained medical personnel including doctors, nurses, paramedics and security personnel, is critical for timely rescue operations. Civil works contractors can facilitate the rapid mobilisation and deployment of heavy equipment for rescue operations.

If an earthquake occurs during peak traffic hours and roads and overpasses become impassable due to structural damage, there must be contingency plans for helicopter operators to medivac the injured to medical facilities or to transport medical personnel and equipment to disaster areas.

Most importantly, an independent annual operational audit of the ODPM should be carried out to determine the efficacy of its published disaster preparedness plans and procedures.

Powerful earthquakes, unlike other forms of natural disasters such as hurricanes, strike without warning, causing devastation and death at lightning speed. Every second in rescue operations makes a life-and-death difference.

Unless we are truly prepared, untold numbers will perish. In January 2010, I experienced that reality in Haiti.

Ramesh Lutchmedial
is a retired director general of Civil Aviation.

The post Earthquake preparedness appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

THE Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago collaborated with several emergency response agencies on Wednesday to stage a full-scale emergency exercise at the ANR Robinson International Airport, Tobago.

The exercise, which is conducted every two years, ensures compliance with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and regulations as promulgated by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, for renewal of aerodrome certification.

[caption id="attachment_996528" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A fire officer helps "injured" people during Wednesday's emergency drill at the ANR Robinson International Airport, Crown Point. - Scott' Photography Industries[/caption]

The activity tests emergency-response capabilities and evaluates preparedness of the authority and all stakeholders to respond adequately to an airport accident.

In a release, the airport’s Deputy General Manager Pamela Scotland-Benjamin, commended the mass co-ordination of all response teams.

[caption id="attachment_996530" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Fire officers carry an "injured" man during an emergency drill at the ANR Robinson International Airport on Wednesday. - Scott' Photography Industries[/caption]

She said, “An exercise such as this is not only a regulatory requirement, but also allows us to satisfy our mandate to provide a safe and secure airport environment. This exercise is critical to our operations, as it allows us to be in a state of readiness for any incident.”

The authority thanked the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, Police Service, Tobago Emergency Management Agency, Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, Air Guard, Caribbean Airlines and all of the other emergency response agencies, who participated in the planning and successful execution of the exercise.

[caption id="attachment_996531" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Emergency responders collaborate at Wednesday's emergency drill at ANR Robinson International Airport on Wednesday. - Scott' Photography Industries[/caption]

It also thanked members of the public for their co-operation.

The authority said it is committed to working with all stakeholders to provide the highest standards of safe and secure aviation services for the benefit of all travellers and airport users.

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THE CRUISE-SHIP season is in full swing, bringing with it a welcome boost to tourism arrivals.

It’s the first time in almost three years that these ships – sailing from countries like Italy and the US ­– have been able to stop along our shores, thanks to the abatement of the global covid19 situation.

But while these vessels bring with them impressive numbers (often they can hold as many as 5,000 passengers; and future stops in TT are already confirmed into 2024) we should not be fooled into thinking their mere presence is a miracle cure for our tourism woes.

Agencies in both Trinidad and Tobago need to do more to court these cruise lines and to encourage them to make our country a fixed part of their itineraries. Cruise-ship visitors don’t just provide a source of income. If they have a good experience, they spread word about the attractiveness of TT as a destination, something that is key to reversing our tourism fortunes.

With air travel becoming relatively more prohibitive owing to energy-price fluctuations, aviation-industry uncertainties and the darkening outlook when it comes to carbon emissions, sea travel may well come to play an even greater role in global travel. The commitment of many cruise lines to using vessels that have been adapted to cause less pollution or to cleaner fuels will only make them more viable in the long run.

But while the ships have returned and may well be here to stay, it is important to ask: what are these passengers visiting when they stop in on our islands for a few hours or half a day? What is their first impression at the port? How much revenue are they really supplying? And are we doing enough to make a big impact? Or are we complacently taking for granted our attractiveness as a destination, to our detriment?

Welcoming cruise ships and their passengers is about more than photo opportunities and sprinkling a few moko jumbies here and there at ports. As Tobago officials recently experienced, there needs to be improvement in basic logistical systems, such as the provision of ground transport. If a tourist only has a few hours to get around an island, such matters are instrumental in shaping the overall experience, and it is bad when taxis simply run out.

There should also be a clearer understanding of the TT brand. This is even more important when we are dealing with ships that literally make several ports of call before dipping into our shores. An effort should be made to preserve and maintain unique heritage sites that are in close proximity to ports. There should also be greater focus on hospitality-industry standards.

It is a crowning irony that ships have returned at precisely the moment when this country is recording historic levels of crime. It goes without saying that the management of our national security is also a key element if we wish these passengers and ships to return regularly.

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AMIDST orange-level riverine and flood alerts, the government says public servants, once able, are to return to work to avoid any further unnecessary loss of productivity.

Many entire communities are without water, owing to clogged water treatment facilities, while others are without electricity, primarily because of fallen power lines.

All schools have been closed on Monday.

Faris Al-Rawi, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, said clean-up operations will follow immediately after flooding subsides, while everyday government services must continue, requiring a full workforce.

Al-Rawi, along with Minister of Communications Symon de Nobriga, Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, held a media conference on Sunday evening, during which they addressed the mass reports of flooding, damaged and collapsed roads, fallen trees and other emergencies, causing safety and mobility issues around the country after three successive days of heavy rain.

The TT Meteorological Service had at that point issued separate orange-level riverine and flood alerts. The latest alerts are in effect until 6 pm on Monday.

Poor weather hasn't yet hampered air travel, however, with the Airports Authority announcing that operations will continue as normal on Monday.

At Sunday's news conference, Al-Rawi sought to reassure the public about the ability of the State to respond adequately to the vast number of reports.

"The resourcing was done prior to these events," Al-Rawi said.

These resources, he said, were budgeted for and obtained by his ministry's 14 Disaster Management Units (DMU).

"We catered to these things during the preparation for the budget. We purchased, we stocked. I personally visited a number of the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) co-ordination points."

He said sandbags, mattresses, dinghies and other items have been provided for relief in Tunapuna, for example.

A vast number of state agencies and personnel have been deployed throughout the weekend, he said, to deal with emergency situations, like the collapse of homes and relocation of people to shelters, numbering over 30, so far.

"What we do is we cluster our assets. So WASA's assets, T&TEC's assets, (TT Defence Force) Engineering Battalion, municipal police, the regional corporation, the Ministry of Works and Transport and the volunteers (are all working together)," he said, adding that the Ministry of Social Development is available to provide various forms of relief.

Al-Rawi relayed the vast number of reported incidents of landslides and street flooding issued earlier by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), as well as the rivers which have overflowed or threatened to overflow.

As at the time of the media conference, there were some 61 significant floods reported, 39 of which had started to subside.

A further 106 landslips/landslides have occurred, 41 of which Al-Rawi said have been "attended to," and 31 fallen trees. He said 28 were cleared.

At 8.45 am, the Caroni River at its El Carmen River station was at full capacity, accounting for significant flooding in and around Valsayn.

The ODPM reported three landslides and one fallen tree in the North West region, causing the collapse of two homes in Laventille.

A tree, it said, fell before the walkover to Hilton Trinidad on the Lady Young Road, Morvant, so the the road had been closed since Saturday afternoon.

Sinanan said the ministry is experiencing major challenges there.

"The road was closed (yesterday) and cleared last night but today a lot more landslips (occurred) and a lot of trees and electricity lines came down," he said.

Sinanan encouraged the public to heed the notices, saying some had ignored instructions and driven beyond the barrier, putting themselves at risk.

There were four reports of significant flooding in St Helena. Some residents in the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation, it said, were evacuated.

Newsday also received reports that residents were evacuated from Realspring, Valsayn on Sunday evening and the Community Emergency Response Team evacuated residents from La Paille Gardens, Caroni, later that night.

In South Central region there were six reports of landslides, one collapsed road and six reports of flooding.

There were three landslides between the Brasso Police Station and Martha Lane, along the Caparo Valley Brasso Road, resulting in the road being restricted to single-lane traffic.

It also reported a collapsed road at La Vega Village, Gran Couva, and extensive flooding was reported in Cunupia and environs.

In the South West region, flooding was reported in parts of Penal and La Romain.

The Eastern region recorded 14 reports of fallen trees and flooding in several parts of Biche, Mayaro and surrounding communities.

There were no reports of incidents in Tobago at the time of the ODPM’s release.

In an update at 5.30 pm on Sunday, the ODPM said the Caparo River was at 76 per cent capacity, Caroni, El Carmen was at 100 per cent capacity, Caroni Bamboo number three was at 86 per cent capacity, North Oropouche was at 81 per cent capacity and South Oropouche was at 80 per cent capacity.

The Ministry of Works and Transport also announced the closure of four roads in a statement late Sunday. They were: the Southern Main Road, near Nathaniel Crichlow Drive (near UTT Valsayn Campus) to Caroni Roundabout, North Coast Road, 18km mark, nearZorro Road, Brasso Caparo Station Road, near the 3.2km mark, Gran Couva and Couva Road, near the 12.5km mark, Gran Couva.

At the media conference, Al-Rawi used the opportunity to highlight the human cause of flooding, saying, "I'd also like to remind that when people wilfully build and intrude on waterways and water courses or they think it's okay to throw a fridge into a waterway, these are things that (have) man-made consequence, and whilst we engage in cyclical and habitual clean-up exercises, there has to be a degree (of accountability)."

With reporting by Melissa Doughty

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Two Trinidad-based travel agencies topped the honours for Caribbean agencies at the 2022 Global Piton Awards in St Lucia, earlier this week.

Lazzari & Sampson Ltd placed first and Amral’s Travel Service (2002) Ltd second among the top five placings for the Caribbean at the event celebrating the best-selling St Lucia travel agents.

Organised by the St Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), travel agents from the Caribbean, US, UK and Ireland were feted from November 10-14.

The regional honourees included Indar Weir Travel Centre of Barbados, AVS Voyages, Martinique and Sunny Voyages, Guadeloupe.

Caribbean Airlines was among 16 airlines recognised for their support with the SLTA Partnership Awards.

The travel advisers were celebrated with an immersive weekend from VIP arrival services to custom experiences including the Luxe Lucian Lime, the Gros Islet Street Party, and a co*cktail reception at the Prime Minister’s official residence.

The weekend culminated with an award ceremony at Sandals Grande St Lucian, where the top 35 winners were honoured for their contributions to Saint Lucia’s tourism in a regenerative period.

The 2022 Global Piton Awards were bestowed upon travel advisers who booked the most room nights from July 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021, through the Saint Lucia Expert (SLEx) programme created in partnership with Recommend magazine.

For the first time, the Caribbean market joined the global mix honouring five travel professionals. They all received the exclusive “Mark insignia” of St Lucia along with a locally handcrafted trophy.

“At a time when the world looked to tourism as the main economic driver, our travel advisers and carriers placed special confidence in St Lucia. A major part of our success and global prominence is attributed to their continued selling of our island’s offerings. They undoubtedly remain the pulse of our industry and we are delighted to express our appreciation,” said Lorine Charles St Jules, CEO of the SLTA.

There were 15 winners from the US, five from Canada, and ten from the UK and Ireland.

Trish Hockin of Tropic Breeze received the chairman’s award for excellence in sales for the top-selling tour operator in the UK and Europe.

Receiving the Minister of Tourism award for exceptional sales performance in the UK and Ireland was independent travel agent Sheila Sparkes of Holidaysplease. The pinnacle of sales excellence was achieved by Nancy Finn of My Island Getaways who was bestowed with the Prime Minister’s Award for exceptional sales performance in North America and the Caribbean.

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