The Plastikeep Recovery Programme, aimed at generating public participation in recycling, has received financial support from the Massy Group. Through Massy’s contribution, collection bins will be returned to all Plastikeep collection centres across the country, for recyclable waste to be collected regularly.

“We have a role to play, along with our valued customers, to take some responsibility for disposing of our waste in an environmentally sensitive manner. 

“Our support is meant to maintain regular collection of the waste, which is a core activity to keep the practise of recycling alive and growing in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Derek Winford, CEO, Massy Stores (Trinidad).

“The entire Massy Group is behind this initiative, not just Massy Stores, because we understand that our contribution today is an investment in a cleaner, more sustainable country for our children.”

In June, Plastikeep’s operations were halted due to the pending appointment of a board for the Green Fund. Plastikeep’s project director, Rosanna Farmer, had earlier this year lamented the fact that the NGO did not receive any funding for the year from Government, which threatened the continuance of its operation. 

Massy has pledged to offset the funding of collection services and is optimistic that Government will shortly resume its funding of the project.

“I am so grateful to Massy for coming to our rescue and ensuring that we are able to keep the collection effort going. 

“The success of this programme is based on changing human behaviour and getting our citizens in the habit of recycling. 

“Without bins and a collection service, we are hindering behavioural change so Massy’s commitment to facilitating this activity is immeasurable,” said Farmer.

Today, the nation’s children return to school, thousands of them entering a new school compound for the first time in a new uniform as they move from preschool to primary school, from primary to secondary and from secondary to tertiary institutions of learning.

Minister of Education Anthony Garcia spent much of last week touring schools to ensure their readiness for opening. By the end of the week, the Education Minister was confident that there will be classrooms ready for all students and today that promise will be tested.

President of the Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Devanand Sinanan expressed cautious confidence in Mr Garcia’s claims of readiness, but warned that there were schools that were in need of serious repair that might not make the cut.

Mr Sinanan noted the condition of San Juan South Secondary School, which he described as being in a “dilapidated state” with a condemned science block.

On the resumption of a school year, it’s become an unwelcome tradition that some students face sub-standard accommodations or are asked to stay at home because their school isn’t ready to open its doors.

Six schools had to be shut down because of sewer problems in October 2015, leaving some students at the affected schools at home for months awaiting the completion of critical repairs to these facilities.

The Education Minister claimed success after this year’s Easter holidays, noting the successful reopening of all primary and secondary schools, while blaming the People’s Partnership government for mishandling and mismanaging the education system.

Employees at the ministry, he claimed, were “disorganised, saddened and disgruntled,” and his team had worked hard to “heal the rift.”

More usefully, Mr Garcia had months before signalled his intention to review the operations of the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL), the agency responsible for handling school repairs, renovations and upgrades.

That’s long overdue. Since 2012, the EFCL has been the subject of official concern, an issue that jumped into sharper relief when the Maraval offices of the state agency came under police investigation in November 2015 for running a contract millhouse, which was alleged to have backdated contracts and doctored the tendering process.

The EFCL is currently being audited and seven managers, including the agency’s CEO and COO, were terminated after preliminary investigations. Some of those dismissals are being contested legally.

The Education Minister’s sensible insistence that all EFCL contracts be reviewed as a result of those findings amplified the untidy situation that the agency finds itself in today, owing $800 million to contractors, who in turn, have slowed their operations to match the trickle of income.

Some contractors, notably those appointed since the change in administration, were said to be “working very diligently,” and the New Grant Anglican School was singled out as a new project that would be completed for today’s school opening. The school was in fact handed over yesterday.

Mr Garcia’s bold promise for today, whatever its outcome, must be only the first step in ensuring that school maintenance and upgrades are a key agenda item for the Education Ministry.

The Education Minister must work to ensure that he has a functional and capable facilities management company and supervising ministry committed to ensuring that all students have an opportunity to learn in a properly designed and maintained learning environment.

Gary Aboud

Should patriotic entrepreneurs be opening chains of foreign brands? Are good entrepreneurs not original and creative, instead of mimicking foreign tastes and flavours? Is there anything we as investors/entrepreneurs can do to play a constructive role in developing and protecting our nation? 

One way we can help is by choosing business concepts that are indigenous, locally conceived, encourages local pride, responds to and reflects local tastes, and does not pay royalties abroad.

PriceSmart was a good idea for a developed country concept to transplant its gigantic economies of scale/purchasing bulk—to then be sold to satellite stores placed in the third world Latino and Caribbean markets, with comparatively minute populations, and it worked … but did it do anything for national morale, to promote entrepreneurs, to inspire production or creativity?

Likewise, Prestige Holdings Limited, which is a restaurant management company that successfully operates the KFC, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays and Subway, have now opened the Starbucks brand here in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Their arrival may be a death sentence to many local companies, killing their chances as they simply cannot compete with evolved concepts from larger and often more astute globally exposed economies. 

This influx of foreign brands many perceive as an increase in selection to consumers but this is an illusion. As big businesses monopolise the market and drive out local industry, they also drive out all the creative evolution/innovation and improvement born from competition leaving consumers with no choice at all.

Locally owned businesses make more local purchases, require less transportation, operate on a smaller scale and are generally more sustainable, contributing less to environmental degradation and our growing pollution problems. Local businesses reflect our local identity, develop integrated local support services, grow our economy through local service partners, help locals financially through the ‘multiplier effect’ and build our communities’ unity and cohesiveness, something Trinidad and Tobago needs now more than ever. 

Some experts argue that local businesses also generate more tax revenue per sales dollar…meaning a greater percentage of local independent businesses keep our taxes lower.

Trinidad and Tobago, on our 54th anniversary from Independence from  our colonisers, let us also strive to liberate ourselves from corporate colonialism that is simply not patriotic, and quite frankly is piggy backing on the success of foreign entrepreneurs. 

To succeed as a people, we must come together as a nation and support each other’s local content.

The New Economics Foundation, an independent economic think tank based in London, states: “Money is like blood. It needs to keep moving around to keep the economy going,” noting that when money is spent at non-locally owned utilities and services such as online retailers—“it flows out, like a wound.” Prestige Holdings can and must do better.

• Gary Aboud is the director of a locally owned and operated design/import/export company.

As we celebrate our 54th Independence, we continue to be plagued by crime with over 300 people dead in eight months along with a stagnant economy. 

This is attributed to declining oil prices and the last five years of alleged corruption by the People’s Partnership government, which has resulted in increased unemployment and everybody demanding money.

Amidst all of this the Opposition leader is still politicking. You request a meeting with PM Dr Keith Rowley to deal with crime, but days prior to the meeting you playing the blame game, accusing him of the state of crime and telling citizens you care. 

When will comedy hour conclude for you and your cabal? 

Maybe this recap can refresh your memory

Who changed six ministers of national security; Who disbanded SAUTT? 

Who left our borders wide open with the cancelling of the OPVs (which Brazil is successfully using and has ordered more)? 

Mr Manning’s plan was to have the OPVs traverse the Caribbean Sea, aimed at assisting not only ourselves but our Caribbean neighbours who are all facing the scourge of the common threat of transnational organised crime. 

You ended all this with your parochial thinking.  

Who disregarded prison officers, the Defence Force and TTPS, juggling them as you see fit. 

While you were politicking, the bandits took advantage of the porous borders and the over 48 entry points. 

T&T was left open and guns, people and goods entered this country unabated. 

Was it ad-hoc decision-making for political expediency?

You talk about mothers crying. What did you accomplish for women/gender for the five years you were in power? 

Your silence was deafening

The crime situation did not begin in September 2015, but politicians, like the proverbial ostrich buried their heads in the sand and left their derrieres exposed. 

The current situation we find ourselves in is the culmination of the games successive governments played and continue to play with the citizenry.

My question is when will the citizens wake up and stop the politicking themselves. 

We are not unique in this fight, since transnational organised crime is a global phenomenon. 

Drug trafficking and gun smuggling is linked to violent crimes and homicides. 

We the citizens are tired of the games and politicking. 

To address crime we need a concerted effort by all stakeholders to become involved, or else we will continue down this slippery road.

Rossana Glasgow

Now that the CrimeWatch show hosted by embattled Ian Alleyne has been taken off the air, there are some concerns that need to be addressed. Firstly, does that mean that the ‘voice of the people’ (as posited by Mr Alleyne and agreed to by many TV viewers) is going to be muffled? 

This had been the clarion call by Mr Alleyne, that his show was indeed a channel through which the disadvantaged and helpless could seek redress. 

This claim to an extent has been quite true, as we have seen from time to time, young children, elderly folks and even the disabled having their plight aired and receiving help. 

We have also seen individuals who have exhausted all their options for governmental and statutory bodies’ assistance turn to the show and get help. We have seen people who have been disenfranchised by the authorities get help through the show.

Secondly, is this the start of another creeping dictatorship whereby anyone who dares to bark will be muzzled? 

We have seen in the past how people in high places can walk into radio and TV stations and wield their power if anything controversial is aired. 

Later that same power turned into venom for police officers and the wanton waste of national resources all because “one man has all the say.”

And thirdly, what does this mean for the entire population? Does it mean that sooner or later voices over the radio, newspaper articles like this one and even loudspeaker and PA system vocals are going to be silenced? 

This situation has some serious repercussions for the freedom of the people and indeed the press.

This situation, if there was a problem, could have been handled differently. There are laws in this country governing slander, libel and blasphemy. We have often heard of people being sued for libellous statements. Why is this one any different?

WKS HOSEIN
Chaguanas

Is the so-called “transformation” of CEPEP touted by the new chairman of the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), a euphemism for “replacing” People’s Partnership-appointed contractors with People’s National Movement appointees?

Let us not be fooled, the real issue is that eleven months in office and the PNM is unable recall contracts given out under the PP administration in order to have them re-distributed among its own supporters. 

Most of the PP-appointed contractors have a signed three-year contract with a dispute resolution clause that effectively blocks arbitrary dismissals.

It appears to me that the new CEPEP board is using the restructuring argument to get around this stumbling block. The CEPEP board is seeking to introduce several extraneous matters in order to make its case for the removal of contractors. It is therefore easy to predict that CEPEP will be tied up in much litigation if the matter of the contractors is not handled properly. 

The CEPEP programme deviated from its original 2002 moorings and became a nest for party patronage by the same PNM that is complaining today. The programme degenerated into a reward for foot soldiers of the party in power. Party supporters from both sides came to expect it.

Therefore, chairman Trevor Lynch will find it very difficult to erase this perception, especially with CEPEP coming under line minister Franklin Khan, who is also the chairman of the PNM. Transformation of CEPEP? What transformation?
 
Harry Partap
Tableland

Like many other Trinbagonians, I sincerely believed that the T&TFA and the management of the Hasely Crawford Stadium had gotten their act together after the debacle of herding fans like cattle into the HCS in November 2015 against the USA. 

In stark contrast, the flow into the March 2016 game against St Vincent was smooth, and I was proud to even have carried a visiting colleague from Brazil to that game. But last Friday versus Guatemala we seemed to have lost the plot once more… or perhaps the relatively lower attendance of the St Vincent game disguised what was otherwise another substandard performance by the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

I arrived at the entrance to the venue about 30 minutes before kick-off, and joined the herd with my four-year old daughter in my arms. After she had taken a few random pushing elbows to her face I decided to turn back and wait until halftime. By then hundreds were still entering, security searches had mysteriously stopped and an attendant grabbed our covered stand tickets out of our hands as we passed by. I had to turn back and negotiate to get the tickets back so that I could properly identify myself as a patron of that section when I arrived at the turnstile of the covered stand.

Up to this point I truly considered walking back to my car and going home, contemplating launching a campaign to boycott future matches, but I thought that the dedicated lads on the pitch should not have to suffer because of poor organisation and incompetence.

To the organisers—opening the gates early must not preclude having a smooth and organised flow into the venue. Reaching the entrance 15-20 minutes before kick-off should not equate to being jostled and crushed amidst thousands of people trying to squeeze into a single entrance, with a mere five slots, each a foot wide.

I am sure the executives of the T&TFA and HCS are well-travelled and have thus experienced fan-friendly treatment when entering football and sporting arenas across the world. Recently I had the pleasure of disembarking public transport in Bordeaux, France and within 15 minutes found myself comfortably seated amongst 42,000 fans for a European football match. A week later my friends and I parked at the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, USA and in less than 20 minutes walked straight to our seats into the Copa America Final along with 82,000 others.

Now that we have qualified for the HEX, here are a few humble recommendations for our next five (and potentially six) home matches:

I. Properly zone the respective sections of the HCS, including having numbered seats. For example, a person could purchase a pre-assigned seat e.g. Zone A, Row H, Seat 14. 
II. Offer a “season pass” to be purchased in advance for specified seats—both in the covered and uncovered sections.
III. Allow these “season Pass” ticket holders to purchase a limited number of additional tickets in a pre-sale period before tickets go on sale to the general public for a particular match.
IV. Work with the traffic authorities and protective services on a comprehensive traffic management plan for the Woodbrook, Mucurapo and Invaders Bay area on the day (before and after the game).
V. Consider implementing shuttles from pre-designated parking lots around the city, and allow priority access according to the pre-agreed traffic management plan.
VI. Ensure there are multiple entrances utilising the full geographic space around the HCS, where pre-screening and security checks are carried out.
VII. Ensure enough well-identified LOC staffers are stationed as far as Ariapita Avenue, Mucurapo Road and Wrightson road to assist patrons in finding their zone. 
VIII. Utilise ropes or long barriers along the streets leading into the venue, so that persons can start getting into their respective zones, along with appropriate signage.
IX. Consider alternative entrances for the physically challenged, elderly or patrons with young children.
X. Once inside patrons must be able to fully utilise the already available multiple turnstiles into the HCS to access their respective zone.
XI. There must be sufficient staff and security presence within the stadium to enforce seating designations.
XII. Ensure all concessionaire booths are utilised and encourage patrons to form lines.
XIII. Open all the barriers, gates and turnstiles immediately after the match.

As a long standing die-hard supporter I am volunteering to help. And I am sure there are also many other competent nationals who want our sporting events to be executed safely and at very high standards. Get us involved, ask for feedback and the fan-base will come forward to support.

Vikash Supersad
Chaguanas

There is an old Trinidad saying that the police are the first judge and jury. The truth of this saying is demonstrated by the fact that if the police don’t charge you, you will not have to face a judge and jury. 

The saying comes to mind when reading the message of the President that the public should not beat up on the police. It is his Excellency’s opinion that the police are being unfairly criticised for failing to do what they have been employed to do.

In fact, it simply confirms that it is easy to lose touch with the common man who is not protected by the protocols of high office and authority. The many people who have lost their relatives and friends in exchanges with the police have no one to speak out on their behalf, as the President appears to be doing for the police.

It has become the norm for people who are shot by police officers to be found in possession of a gun and one round of ammunition. Does that not seem strange? Even stranger is the tendency for such people to point the gun in the direction of the police without actually firing a shot.

Apropos of the meeting between the Government and the Opposition, the question may well be asked whether an Opposition which recently demitted office without making any impact on the crime situation really has any contribution to make now that they are out of office. The meeting is just another opportunity for the politicians to play themselves for public consumption and blame each other for not being able to do anything about the situation.

The Opposition is going to come out of the meeting expounding on all the plans that failed when they were in office and blaming the Government for not being able to do anything. The Government, on the other hand, will blame the people for not doing the police’s job and the blame sharing will continue as before.

Anyone who expects anything else is living in a dream world.

Karan Mahabirsingh
Carapichaima

It would appear that Mr Rowley, the leader of the opposition, and the Privy Council are all in agreement that we still have the right to implement the death penalty.

The question then is, why are we not reinstating the commencement of hangings? It is now one of the only deterrents left to deter the loose killers running around on this island murdering innocent citizens at random on a daily basis.

GA Marques

PAJOTTE: BERNICE née De La Chevrotiere died peacefully on Saturday 3rd September, 2016. Wife of the late Emanuel Pajotte. Mother of Lita and Kervin Pajotte. Sister of Verna Henry. Grandmother of Kellysha Kobe, Kristien and Krystal. Great Grandmother of Jahdel. Sister-in-law of Ellis Salandy and Carmen Chevrotiere. Aunt of Hollis Nicholas, Elizabeth Morgan, Hunte, Joseph and Chevrotiere families. Friend of Helen Charles, Gertrude Francis, Claudia Achille, Ednora of Grenada and Janet Gomes.

The funeral service for the late Bernice née De La Chevrotiere Pajotte takes place at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday 7th September, 2016 at Divine Destiny Worship Centre, Diego Martin Main Road, Diego Martin. Interment at Cemetery Street Cemetery, Diego Martin. For enquiries call R. M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited 223- 2007/637-2009.  

LUM LOCK, Alfred Alfie passed away peacefully on Saturday 3rd September, 2016. Husband of Allison. Father of Kurt and Fane. Father in law of Rebecca and Franayma. Grandfather of Charlotte and Isabella. Brother of Kim, Mary, David, Thomas, Anne, Kenny, Elizabeth, Christine, Donna and the late Dave and Cleven. Special 'brother' of Choy Chan Sing. Cousin and friend of many.

Funeral service for the late Alfred Alfie Lum Lock takes place at The Church of the Nativity, Crystal Stream, on Thursday 8th September, 2016 at 10:30 am followed by private interment. Funeral entrusted to C&B, 625-1170. For enquiries, please contact Chancellor Walks Funeral Services, 287- 0403/ 04.  

MAHARAJ: Ramnarace Seepaul- better known as Paul Maharaj of Diego Martin, passed away in Houston Texas on Wednesday 31st August 2016. He was the husband of Penny Maharaj and father of Cindra Maharaj.

A Service will be held on the 7th of September 2016 in Houston Texas, to be followed by a Memorial Service in Trinidad at a date to be announced.  

GOBRAY JOCELYN of Maraj Street ,Perseverance Village ,Chaguanas died on 04/09/2016. Lovingly remembered as the wife of the late Taslim Mohammed. Mother of Marlene & Zalina. Mother-in-law of Frankie & Abbey. Aunt of Bryan, Patsy, Sharon, Jill, Chubby & many more. Grandmother of Avinash,Trisha, Lilly, Chelsea, Naveeta, Vikash & Avidesh. Sister of Dolly (deceased) Jitt (Deceased) Jasmine (Deceased), Polly (Deceased), Rosaly (Deceased), Ballo & Bose. Cousin of the late Parry (Of Balmain). Friend & Neighbour to many.

Funeral takes place on Wednesday 7th September 2016 at 9.30am & thence to the Yankaran Cremation Site Waterloo for cremation  

FUNG, LEOLA Octavia née Chin Cheong died on 31st August, 2016. Daughter of Joseph and Lillian Chin Cheong (dec.). Wife George Audley Fung (dec.). Mother of Roger. Sister Aldric & Elma (both dec.), Edna, Aldwyn (dec.), Francis (dec.), Laurie & Vernon (both dec.) and Julius.

Funeral service at 9.30am on Monday 5th September, 2016 at Church of Assumption, Long Circular Road, Maraval thence to the Woodbrook Cemetery. For enquiries; call C&B: 625-1170  

BRUTON, JUNE age 77 yrs died on 31st August, 2016. Former Teacher of St. Roses Girl R.C. School. Former Principal for the Deaf also former Guidance Officer for the Touch of Christ Community. Daughter of Roumania and Edgar Bruton both dec'd. Sister of Lyle & Neal both dec'd and Grace Warner. Sister in law of Lennox Warner. Aunt of Four (4). Great Aunt of Two (2). Relatives fo Bertrams, Popes, Raymopnds, Johns, Williams, Brathwaites, Rahims and Flemmings. Friend of Wendy, Winifride and many others.

Funeral Services at St Francis R.C. Church located at Belmont Circular Road on Tuesday 6th Septmber, 2016 at 1:00pm thence to Lapeyrouse Cemetery.  

ALLADIN, PHYLLIS, née Albert sadly passed away on August 31st, 2016. Wife of Winston Alladin. Mother of Natasha Taylor and Nadia Alladin- Elliott. Grandmother of Nicholas and Nathan Elliott.

Funeral service will take place at Woodbrook Presbyterian Church at 9.00 am on Thursday 8th September, 2016 thence to the St James Crematorium. All those wishing to pay their respects are welcome to join the family. For enquiries; call C&B 625-1170 To send condolences please visit our website www.clarkandbattoo.com 

ANTON: PAUL age 52 died on 1st September, 2016. Son of Geoffrey and Joceline (both deceased)Brother of David (Yvette), Christopher (Janice), Ruth Costelloe (Danne), William (deceased), Kathy Boos (Anthony), Tony (deceased), Brian (Ivonne) and Bruce. Nephew of Rene de La Bastide.

Funeral mass for the late PAUL ANTON takes place at 10:00am on Friday 9th September, 2016 at the St. Joseph's RC Church, Abercromby Street, St. Joseph. Enquiries, Lee's Funeral Directors, 663-1010.  

One wonders who at UWI could have come up with this “no thoroughfare” through UWI without passes plan and have it advertised the day before term reopens (a Sunday) in the newspaper. It shows lack of foresight from those in charge of our premier higher learning institution. 

I am a parent who has to drop off two daughters at different times. Please note that it’s not me alone but my wife also, and some cases my brother who works in St Augustine. None of them can now pass through until we get a pass. 

The funny thing is you are allowed one pass alone. So how on earth can this be achieved? Monday was total pandemonium trying to get a pass. A simple solution was to give a cut-off date like a week or so to get your pass, not the day before. And to make matters worse, car owners at a nearby bar are always double-parked, contributing to already heavy traffic.

It reminds me of my days in UWI when the burly guard stopped me with my heavy school bag to ask for my pass, but right across the road in UWI’s compound was the nuts man passing through. I suppose he had one too.

Markie Ceasar,

Curepe