Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, says a review is to be carried out to determine if Pan Trinbago is providing value for money in the wake of allegations of corruption within the organisation made by outgoing vice president Bryon Serrette.

She made the comment in a brief interview with reporters following yesterday’s Joint Select Committee meeting in Parliament.

“We have to look very carefully now at whether we are getting value for money with respect to the money given to Pan Trinbago for Panorama, so yes that will occupy quite a lot of time and the focus of our discussions,” she said.

Pan Trinbago is still owing pan players money for performances in competitions it held in previous years.

But Gadsby-Dolly said the National Carnival Committee (NCC) “would have given the outstanding balance of the 2015/16 subvention to Pan Trinbago.” She said the amount given was $5 million and Pan Trinbago received it the last week of October.

“If there is any delay in the payments that will be a question as to why Pan Trinbago had not remitted the payments to the players,” she said.

Responding to questions on the allegations of corruption in Pan Trinbago, Gadsby-Dolly said her ministry’s interaction with Pan Trinbago was “really with respect to the monies for Panorama, so their internal politics, we are not privy to it nor are we getting into it.”

She admitted, however, that the Government was concerned about the allegations as they relate to “financial impropriety and those concern us because they (Pan Trinbago) are entrusted with large amounts of taxpayers’ money to run the Panorama.”

She said since the allegations were made she was “in contact with the chairman of the NCC (and) we have been speaking about what our approach would be, based on these allegations.” However, she said, no definitive position on their approach has as yet been taken.

“We are looking at it because as you would know, we would feel a bit troubled by these kinds of allegations that have been hitting the media. We have not made a final decision but we are actively discussing it and by next week we should make a decision on the way forward,” Gadsby-Dolly said.

Asked if she would be seeking a report on the matter from Pan Trinbago, Gadsby-Dolly noted that the steelband body submits audited financial statements “so we are going to be looking very closely at those that were submitted and we may ask for them to provide some additional evidence of their financial status.”

Body responds

Meanwhile, in a release yesterday, Pan Trinbago said it had noted the statements made by Serrette, which it said were inimical to the best interests of Pan Trinbago.

Saying Serrette had endorsed the management of the organisation throughout his tenure, the release said, “We have noted the contents of what has been said by Mr. Serrette and do not find favour with them, most of these statements are erroneous. It should be noted that through our audited financial statements, Pan Trinbago has accounted for every dollar received from government and all other sources.

“It has been said in some quarters that Mr Serrette’s ambition is to be President of Pan Trinbago. We have no quarrel with this but we continue to be a democratic organisation and we strive always to do the best for our membership.”

It added that Pan Trinbago was pursuing its legal options in the matter.

After receiving a courtesy call that I won’t be able to use my push-button “ME2-style” phone from November 11, I was told by the eager CSR not to despair but simply visit a nearby bmobile store where...drum roll please....taa daa! I could trade-in the old ME2 for a new smartphone priced as low as $49! Yes, indeed! 

Did I hear that right? From ONLY $49!

Although I prefer to keep using my faithful, still functioning, traditional handset cellphone, I couldn’t resist this “steal of a deal” offer.

So I hurried on down (as instructed) to not just one, but three bmobile stores over the last week and the story is same...(insert any anticlimactic drum beat sound effect here...like...badum tish!)

“We don’t have any of those $49 units in stock right now, but you can purchase other units from $299 upwards.”

Why is there false advertising by bmobile? And, why bully customers to purchase a new phone during these though times?

If this major overhaul is so necessary (which I doubt), then why did bmobile not stock up in advance with enough affordability-priced phones to meet demand as advertised?

Very often, just like me, I have noticed elders and even younger people expressing frustration when using these sensitive to touch, hi-tech touch screen smartphones.

Consumers should be afforded power to choose what kind of cell phone we want.

We are going to be the ones using the phones, not bmobile.

Kaul Me-Bak,

San Juan

Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino was the major omission when Soca Warriors coach Stephen Hart announced a 23-man T&T senior football squad for this country’s opening two matches in the six-team Concacaf Final Round qualifiers to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

T&T, which has qualified once to a senior Fifa World Cup, the 2006 Finals in Germany hosts Costa Rica on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, and then travels to play Honduras on November 15.

The national team will also meet USA, Panama and Mexico in their home-and-away round-robin series at the end of which the top three teams will qualify automatically to Russia while the fourth placed teams will contest a continental playoff for another spot.

Last month, Molino was dropped by Hart for this country’s must-win Caribbean Football Union Cup semifinal qualifier against Martinique which served as a Concacaf Gold Cup qualifier after it was revealed he had left the team’s live-in camp following the 4-0 win over Dominican Republic, in which he scored a hat-trick a few days earlier.

That infringement followed a similar incident a few days before the Concacaf Semifinal Round World Cup qualifier at home to Guatemala in September, in which an under-par T&T managed a 2-2 draw to reach the six-team Concacaf Final Round qualifiers to Russia World Cup 2018.

Following the first incident, Molino was reportedly slapped with a fine and the issue was dealt with internally by the technical staff, after which Molino promised to focus on the job of getting the Soca Warriors to Russia.

However, following the second infringement, which now leaves T&T needing to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup via a CFU Cup qualifying series, Soca Warriors captain Kenwyne Jones called on Molino to apologise and return to the team.

Jones called on Molino to accept blame for his actions and Molino who initially responded to the critics by stating he was taking the year off from national duties to focus on his club career seemingly bowed to pressure, had a change of heart and through his instagram page stated he was sorry for making bad decisions and said he was 100 per cent committed to representing the red, black & white if he was lucky enough to be selected again.

However, in explaining his decision to omit one of his team’s most talented player Hart said he made the decision to suspend Molino for the team’s next two matches as a form of punishment for his recent actions while on national team duties.

Hart said, “I called him and had a chat with him and commended him on making the decision to apologize, but told him that he will out of the team for the next two matches.”  

The T&T coach added, “I was told there was an Instagram apology, but I also understand there was a social media post where he vowed to take a year off,” 

“Molino sent an apology letter to management, not to me, and I called him and commended him on it, he will be able to fight for contention afterwards.”

When contacted Molino said: “The coach made his decision and his decision is final. I will always support the team and will always want to be part of the team when ever I get selected. I will be there to support the team 100-percent and will be cheering them on.”

The other notable exclusions from the Soca Warriors squad were defender Mekeil Williams of Colorado Rapids, while Louisville City FC goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh (injury), Murcielagos FC’s Shahdon Winchester and W Connection Hughtun Hector, all of whom were in the team for the September Semifinal Round qualifier against Guatemala.

Hart also announced a few surprise names among the squad in W Connection defender Jelani Peters, San Juan Jabloteh striker Willis Plaza and Central FC striker Marcus Joseph, while goalkeeper Marvin Phillip of Morvant Caledonia United returns after missing the CFU Cup qualifiers.

According to Hart France-based midfielder John Bostock of Racing Lens should receive his clearance from Fifa early next week and has been selected in the team.

 Bostock was in linen to make his T&T debut during the Semifinal Round qualifiers, but was delayed due to paper work on his switch from England to the T&T national team, after representing the European nation at youth level.

Hart said, “We have seen all the documentation and all that is left now is for Fifa to call or write us to confirm.”

The rest of the T&T team includes goalkeepers Jan-Michael Williams and Adrian Foncette; defenders Radanfah Abu Bakr, Sheldon Bateau, Yohance Marshall, Carlyle Mitchell, Aubrey David, Daneil Cyrus; midfielders Andre Boucaud, Khaleem Kyland, Neveal Hackshaw, Cordell Cato, Jomal Williams, Levi Garcia, Joevin Jones, Kevan George; forwards Trevin Caesar, and captain Kenwyne Jones.

 The T&T team is expected to begin preparations on Monday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, while the Costa Ricans will arrive on the eve of the match. 

Tickets are on sale at all Lotto Locations at TT$300 (covered section) and TT$160 (uncovered section). Prices increase tomorrow—from 5 November—until match day to TT$350 (covered) and TT$200 (uncovered).

T&T men’s squad

​Goalkeepers: Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Adrian Foncette (Police FC). Defenders: Radanfah Abu Bakr, Sheldon Bateau, Yohance Marshall, Carlyle Mitchell, Aubrey David, Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Jelani Peters (W Connection). 

Midfielders: Andre Boucaud, Khaleem Hyland, Neveal Hackshaw, Cordell Cato,  Jomal Williams, Levi Garcia, Joevin Jones, John Bostock, Kevan George, Marcus Joseph (Central FC). Forwards: Kenwyne Jones (Central FC), Trevin Caesar, Willis Plaza (San Juan Jabloteh).

Wurood is napped to land division one of the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Doncaster this afternoon, an eight-race programme which precedes a glitzy Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita; traditionally it’s an end-of-season highlight. 

Overwhelming but very exciting and it’s bonfire night!.

Officially this is the last day of our 2016 turf-flat campaign which has continually featured training exploits of Newmarket-based William Haggas, an absolute ‘favourite’ in my book which tells its own story when supporting his runners.

Last month William landed a strongly-contested six furlongs maiden at Yarmouth with Loving; third was stable-companion, Wurood, a 17/2 chance, making her debut!

Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned, Wurood, drawn one, slightly missed the break under contract jockey Paul Hanagan but soon joined issue on the outside which, undoubtedly, was a negative.

Approaching the final furlong Wurood seemed nigh on terms with Loving but just flattened in the closing stages and was beaten just under two lengths; subsequent computation of the race-time revealed a promising effort and I’ll be surprised if this Dark Angel filly doesn’t improve considerably for the experience.

Obvious danger is Roger Varian-trained Victory Angel, a close third over seven furlongs of Town Moor fifteen days ago; this one comes out similarly to Wurood on my time-handicap which clearly illustrates they are superior.

First division looks much weaker, I’ll bet a newcomer wins it!

My attention has been drawn to a twenty-runner nursery handicap throughout this week; strangely it has yielded considerable reward down the years; with four places available I’m advising La Casa Tarifa, one of two Mark Johnston’ declarations, mount of ‘computer champion, Richard Kingscote.

Sir Michael Stoute is at Santa Anita but sneaks once-raced El Cap into Chelmsford tonight for the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs; don’t oppose!

Presentation College of Chaguanas advanced to the Secondary Schools Football League Central Zone Coca-Cola Inter-Col semifinals after a 2-1 win over Couva East Secondary at Carapichaima East Secondary Ground, yesterday.

Also advancing were Gasparillo Secondary and Chaguanas North Secondary.

This after Gasparillo blanked Tabaquite Secondary 2-0 and Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground, while Chaguanas North also won by a similar 2-0 margin over Miracle Ministries at Couva East Secondary Ground.

Over in Tobago, Darrion Williams netted an 87th minute item to earn Goodwood High School a 1-0 win over Bishop’s High School in the second match of a quarterfinal double-header at Mt Pleasant on Thursday night.

Goodwood High now awaits the winner of the Signal Hill and Roxborough Secondary clash while Mason Hall which edged Scarborough Secondary 3-2 in Thursday’s first match will meet the winner of the Speyside Secondary and Pentecostal Light & Life match.

Meanwhile, Dwight Yorke scored a second-half double to lead Trinity College East to a 3-0 defeat of Princes Town West in the Championship Division Big-Five promotion battle. Keshorn Hackshaw opened the scoring for Trinity East in the 15th minute while Yorke got his double, in the 66th and 89th.

In the other match, Carapichaima East edged Malick Secondary 1-0 at Patna/River Estate Ground, Diego Martin. 

Cultural Roots will be going all out for a win against Morvant Elements in the Northern Football Association (NFA) First Division final round today at New Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah from 3.45 pm to take the divisional crown.

The Dibe, Long Circular-based club which blanked Barataria Warriors 2-0 on Wednesday on goals from Christian Freitas and Jameel Herbert currently sits second on the table with 16 points from seven matches, one behind fellow promoted team Miscellaneous Laventille United which has completed its campaign.

Miscellaneous also has a goal-difference of plus-ten to Roots’ plus-six, meaning a draw result would not be enough for the latter, who captured the NFA Premier ten years ago.

In today’s other First Division match, St Ann All Stars faces Football Factory at TSTT Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah.

In Wednesday’s other match, Joshua Sitney (16th), Darius Riley (19th) and Andrew Rodriguez (39th) netted to give Malta Carib Alcons a 3-1 win over St Ann’s All Stars also at Long Circular. Keith Williams got a 68th minute consolation item for All Stars.

Meanwhile, the Premier Division will be decided tomorrow (Sunday) when joint leaders, St Francois Nationals and Maple FC play their final matches.

St Francois Nationals and Maple FC are joint top with 15 points from six matches each, three more than Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

However, St Francois Nationals has a superior goal-difference of plus-ten to Maple’s plus-six.

In the final round of matches, St Francois comes up against Belmont FC at TSTT Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah while Maple faces Queens Park at New Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah, both from 3.30 pm.

On Thursday, in the Premier Division, New Millenium whipped RSSR 3-1 at President’s Ground, St Ann’s, while there is also a disciplinary committee matter involving CMFA and New Millenium.

The winner of the Premier Division will advance to the T&T Football Association’s Champion of Champions and a possible place in the National Super League in 2017.

The NFA has made a decision to play its first ever night football match at the Queen’s Park Savannah on November 25. This will be the NFA’s knockout out final and it will be played on a specially marked field directly opposite Jerningham Avenue, Belmont.

Originally, the association had planned the night match for yesterday between Belmont FC and St Francois Nationals in the NFA Premier Division.

However, the league title is now so close with one round of matches to go and a decision was made to play the matches involving the teams in the title race at the same time on Sunday from 3.30 pm with St Franocis Nationals meeting Belmont FC on TSTT Ground, and Maple FC facing Queen’s Park Cricket Club on New Ground.

The knockout competition starts on Wednesday. 

“We need to get people sensitised to the challenge we have every day here. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, we have pockets of Haiti in Trinidad, and we need to help,” Emile Elias commented at the recent handing over of his chairman’s quarterly fees to the St Dominic’s Children’s Home in Belmont. 

The cheque was for $24,750 or three months’ after-tax pay for Elias’ work as chairman of TSTT. Elias vowed to continue making an annual donation to the home throughout his tenure at TSTT. 

Sister Arlene Greenidge, the manager of St Dominic’s Children’s Home, said the money would be used to offset the cost of psychosocial services for the young people in their care. 

She told the Eliases that a psychological evaluation of a child typically costs $8,000, “but we seek out concessions. We have a service provider who will do it for $4,000 or $5,000.” The home wants to encourage psychology and social work student interns to have work experience there. 

So what is the home’s biggest challenge? Greenidge said while meeting daily costs is always important, the greater challenge was meeting needs of sexually and/or physically abused children. 

She said, “We came out of the orphanage model in the 1970s which required residential childcare because the children were orphans or because of poverty.” 

In the 21st century, children coming to the home were there because of dangerous family situations. For this reason, in 2008, the home decided to adopt a new approach that took into account the severe trauma most of the children coming into the home had experienced. “We do not have bad children but children who came out of bad situations.” 

At the same time, these children long to be with their family, “so we are always working to promote the earliest reinsertion of the child back into the family of origin or, if that is not suitable, into other families,” Sister Greenidge said.

November at Queen’s Hall is all about Love and Jazz, as every weekend there will be performances to generate a feeling of goodwill just before the holiday season. The Love Movement, Francesco Emmanuel, Etienne Charles, Jorge Pardo and the T&T Youth Philharmonic are in the line-up.

“This time of year is synonymous with great music from choirs to musicals and tributes,” said Queen’s Hall general manager Yvonne Roberts-White in a release. “The beauty about the upcoming month is that our stage will feature a different aspect of the musical spectrum and there will be something that everyone can enjoy.” 

Performances include homage to R&B legends, film and Broadway; a reflection of the indigenous cultures of three places that carry the same name; fiery Spanish passion and Christmas cheer. 

Among the tributes are Hearts Afire, performed by T&T Youth Philharmonic to celebrate the R&B band Earth, Wind and Fire on November 26 and 27. Maurice White, the group’s founder and songwriter, died earlier this year. 

Co-founder of the T&T Youth Philharmonic Kenneth Listhrop, who is a fan of the group’s music, said the concert was a way of paying tribute to a great musical influence. 

“Earth, Wind and Fire is the best band in American history. Their songs were not only love songs, but they were also about humanity and brotherhood,” Listhrop said. “The kids are enjoying it. Their music has passed on to another generation.” 

The T&T Youth Philharmonic, which was formed in 2006, will perform 29 songs taken from Earth, Wind and Fire’s vast discography. In addition to the full orchestra, there will also be a choir. 

Spanish flautist and saxophonist Jorge Pardo and Flamenco dancer Nelida Triado will perform at Flamenco and Jazz on November 24. Hosted by the Spanish Embassy, the concert is a fund-raising event to assist the Mt Hope Renal Youth Group and the Kidney Recipients Association. Proceeds will help provide financial support for dialysis, transplant and medication for kidney patients in T&T.  

A self-taught musician, Pardo was very connected to jazz as a means of freedom. In the past twenty years, he has shared ideas, music and experiences with the master of flamenco guitar, Paco de Lucia. Since then, Pardo’s flute and soul belonged to flamenco. His 2013 album Huellas earned him the award of Best European Jazz. 

Tirado, a principal dancer, began her formal training at Ballet Hispanico of New York at the age of six. The recipient of the 2007 and 2010 BRIO Awards for Artistic Excellence, Tirado has performed in Carmen with the Metropolitan Opera of NY and was the featured flamenco star in Riverdance on Broadway.

On November 20, trumpeter Etienne Charles will present the San Jose Suite. It is a collection of original work that connects the three San Joses—Trinidad, Costa Rica and California, USA. 

“It’s a special piece of music,” Charles said. “It’s going to be a fun night.” 

The music reflects indigenous and African tones and was commissioned through a Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The work premiered in California last year and has since been to Indiana and twice to New York. This is the collection’s first visit to Trinidad. 

Etienne will be accompanied by musicians Brian Hogans (alto saxophone), Alex Wintz (guitar), Sullivan Fortner (piano), and John Davis (drums). In keeping with the season, Charles will also perform music from his Creole Christmas collection.

Francesco Emmanuel will host a one-night-only concert on November 12. A Night of Guitar II. Seven of Trinidad’s talented guitarists will be in the spotlight. Among them are jazz guitarist Dean Williams, who played with soca star Machel Montano; Terry Shaw, who used to play with the late Andre Tanker as well as childhood friend John Hussein, whose avante garde style is often heard when he plays with Mungal Patessar. 

Graeme Newling, Emmanuel’s guitar teacher, will be doing flamenco pieces. Not wanting to give away the programme, Newling said this year’s event will include music of a different era. 

“People will be pleasantly surprised. Everyone would be able to sing along,” he said.

But he did share that Kyle Richardson, whose recent appearance as Jesus of Nazareth in the JSC produced Jesus Christ Superstar, will add the Christmas spirit. Part proceeds from this show will go to Vitas House and the Society of St Vincent de Paul. 

To kick Love and Jazz month off, The Love Movement presents When Love Came Down. Their performances started last evening and continue until November 6. The show is a blend of Disney classics, a popular movie musical, Motown and Christmas and will be performed by Love Movement’s three choirs. 

For the finale, in the spirit of the upcoming season, the three choirs will come together to sing some Christmas favourites. 

On October 27, Nestlé T&T, through the Nescafé brand, launched its award-winning Dolce Gusto coffee machine at Estate 101. 

Dolce Gusto is a single-serve machine which boasts delivery of up to 15 bars of professional pressure to make the perfect cup of coffee, every time, in the comfort of your home. 

Dubbed The Modern Art of Coffee, the event brought together the “who’s who” of T&T to experience the new product. Throughout the event, guests were immersed into an environment surrounded by sight of performance art and video projections, aromatic smells of coffee, and sounds of perfectly blended classical and modern music, a release said. Numerous attractions grasped attendees’ attention during the evening, including artist James Paul’s transformation of a 3D hand painted Café into a 2D painting, using a live model; artists James Hackett & Reuben Gonsalves sketches of patrons, live at the event; a photo booth shot by Marlon James; a coffee Instagram booth where attendees placed their cups, chose a background and props and took the perfect coffee photo and video projections; where an array of scenes were cast (projected) onto the walls of Estate 101, displaying various times of day in six different locales - Paris, New York, London, Marrakesh, Rome and T&T. 

Attendees experienced a virtual and immersive time lapse and city tour and the world of Nescafé Dolce Gusto through flavours Cafe Au Lait, Americano, Cappuccino, Marrakesh Tea, Espresso Intenso & Chococino and there was a live performance by Arielle Cowie & The A Team band. During his welcome speech, Nestlé T&T country manager Michel Beneventi, expressed pride in working for a company that supports an economy in transition, through innovation. He said the launch of the Nescafé Dolce Gusto machine in T&T and soon, across the Caribbean, provides consumers with the ability to prepare specialty coffees and even teas, in the comfort of their homes. 

A 20-year-old man was shot and killed while liming with friends in Mt D'Or during the early hours of Saturday morning.

According to reports, Zachary Roberts, who lived on Private Road, was with friends at the corner of First Avenue and Mt Lambert Circular Road when they were approached by a man who pulled out a firearm and started shooting at Roberts.

Eyewitnesses said the shooter was of African descent with light brown complexion, low-cut hair, and about five feet, six inches tall.

Officers including Sgt Benjamin, Cpl Dass and PC Dillon visited the scene.

Investigations are continuing.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Global has introduced changes to its globally recognised qualifications to ensure they remain industry relevant. 

At an official ceremony to announce the changes at the Hyatt Regency In Port-of-Spain, Aneal Maharaj chief financial officer at Ansa McAL said: “When you look at what is happening with ACCA today and when you look at the great uncertainty across the world, whether you call it Brexit, presidential elections in the US, or impact on pension funds due to volatility in the market, there is so much chaotic change that has happened today. I think its wonderful when there is so much change that an organisation is stepping up, standing up.”

Maharaj said relevance in terms of ACCA in building change is critical as a professional body and therefore there is need to pay attention to the details. Being relevant ad an accounting body is bring able to make business simple; predictable and well controlled.

Shane Mission, business development manager, ACCA, said the new innovative case study included in the modules blends technical ethical and professional skills and prepares the graduate to handle the dynamics found in the workplace when it comes to issues surrounding ethics.

Some of the other changes at the level of Bachelor of Science under applied knowledge  cover the accountant in business, management accounting and Financial accounting. Under the applied skills module topics include corporate and business law, performance management, taxation, financial reporting, audit and assurance and financial management. 

Masters programme changes cover strategic business reporting, strategic business leader and the student has the option of choosing two subjects.

Nobody is going to expect Finance Minister Colm Imbert to suddenly change his operating style, not even after a decisive dressing down by the Prime Minister.

But it’s to be hoped that a career politician, a man with 25 years of experience in Parliament, would be sensible enough to realise not just when he’s out of his crease but has been comprehensively stumped.

“It really is a question of how he expresses himself,” Reginald Dumas, former head of the Public Service, told the Sunday Guardian.

Last week, speaking at the 2016 International Monetary Fund Caribbean forum at the Hyatt Regency, Mr Imbert made two statements that caused significant ripples of concern. 

He announced that the Government’s offer for the next bargaining cycle for public servants would be 0-0-0, or no increases for the next three years and rather archly noted in a panel discussion that he had raised the price of fuel twice and citizens “haven’t rioted yet.” 

Then, he noted with a chuckle, “So I might raise it again.”

Having managed to insult the patience of the nation at large with needed tax increases and to rile up the whole trade union community in one day, Mr Imbert has since steadfastly refused to apologise for speaking both out of turn and in absolutely the wrong place.

Imbert has identified himself as the point man for blunt talk in Government, speaking both for his ministry and his political party. His colourful performances in Parliament has tread a line between outrageous and deftly punishing.

This can be tremendously useful for a political party, particularly when the politician taking this position is demonstrably and consistently feisty and argumentative. 

It can be invaluable when that politician, as is the case with Mr Imbert, puts in the work to ensure that his positions and statements are backed by facts, comprehensive documentation and articulate presentation.

But there is a time and a place for everything and Mr Imbert found himself staring at his carelessly tossed ball being smacked into the stands by Thursday, when his Prime Minister declared the statements to have been made “in a vacuum,” while representing a “speculative position, unfortunately made.”

Having been raked over the coals by his political leader, the Finance Minister clearly feels that he has paid the price for his mistake, but the Prime Minister’s pointed extraction of his Government and its policies from Mr Imbert’s statements does not constitute an apology to anyone.

Indeed, Dr Rowley’s description of Mr Imbert as an excellent doctor with poor bedside manners sums up the challenge that the Finance Minister must face.

Pincered between a challenged economy and an electorate accustomed to being pampered and subsidised, the challenge that the Cabinet faces generally and the Ministry of Finance faces in particular, is balancing a steady tightening of the fiscal belt and the continuous test that those contractions will place on the public.

The unions, who must understand the situation, are waiting for their apology, Mr Imbert, as are the citizens of T&T, who believe in this country and are willing to sacrifice for it, but take a dim view of your cheerful laughter at our willingness to do so.

Today the COP 22 United Nations climate change talks kick off in Marrakech, Morocco. Tomorrow the US presidential election decides if a climate denier assumes the presidency or if the US continues to be a Most Valuable Player in climate change science, policy and funding.

It is in Marrakech that the worldʼs leaders try to tackle the single greatest threat facing humankind. This threat is not Donald Trump, but human caused climate change. Nonetheless, if Donald Trump is elected the doomsday clock might move one minute closer to midnight.

Trump is on all our minds. Much of the opposition to him is centered on immigration and womenʼs rights. I am no fan of illegal immigration but I do believe in an open world, in which talented and hardworking people can legally move across borders to contribute to global societies. Without it, great societies have died, smothered of new ideas and talent.

The worldʼs countries are roughly divided between countries that citizens abandon because they fail to deliver a minimum quality of life, and more appealing, successful societies that import people, talent and innovation. Many Trinidadians and Tobagonians depend on this open world to flee poverty, crime and lack of opportunity of which the single resource state is but a symptom. We see it as a right to emigrate, a survival strategy, but this comes at a cost to our own country.

If it is true that 75 per cent of university graduatesʼ first career move is to leave, then a Trump presidency might reduce T&Tʼs brain drain. Maybe a good thing? I have no idea if the 75 per cent figure is accurate, but I do know that we need our best and our brightest to stay here and develop our own society, however much of an individual sacrifice that is.

It is a contrarian view of emigration (note that I use the word emigration, and not immigration) that is not in sync with the main concerns about a Trump presidency. This hypothetical benefit, cannot weigh up against the negatives of the closed society that Trump stands for.

My main concern is the threat Trump poses to the effort to turn back climate change and what this means for renewable energy technology. Trump has called climate change “bull----”. He says that the planet is “freezing” instead of warming. His climate change opinions are anti-science, anti-factual. He believes it is an elaborate Chinese ploy to undermine American industry.

If elected, he vows to scrap the Paris climate change agreement, which went in to force last week Friday, and stop spending on climate change research. The Paris agreement aims to limit human caused climate change to two degrees centigrade and phase out the burning of all fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil.

This might be music to the ears of some in T&T, who hope that a resurgence of the fossil fuel industry will save us from economic decline. They resist the new economy because they have a stake in it, or lack the imagination to understand it. They are our local Trumps.

Trump has said that the fossil fuel industry will thrive under him. He intends to roll back regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions and make dirty coal king again. If Trump is elected and carries out these plans, it is difficult to see how the United States will compete in a world economy that is increasingly driven by research and development of renewable energy technology.

Renewable energy attracted more investment and created more jobs than the fossil fuel industry in 2015. This trend has continued in 2016. It is a global industry that Trump cannot stop but he can blunt the cutting edge of the United Statesʼ renewable energy industry.

What can bad policy do? Domestic US policy kept gas prices at the fuel pump low. This nearly killed Detroit car makers. Cheap gas encouraged US auto makers to roll gas guzzlers off the assembly line that could not compete with fuel efficient foreign cars built in countries that taxed gas; or as I would say, gave gas a proper value that reflects some of the environmental costs of fossil fuels. Detroit never recovered. It is not unreasonable to think that Trump can do this to the entire US renewable industry. 

Cutting edge industries such as the self-driving Tesla electric vehicles, which is sets world standards for electric vehicles, is threatened by Trumpʼs policies. Tesla is a flagship of the new economy, but there are thousands of other businesses like it. It is the future of U. industry and US knowledge that is on the line.

In a policy environment that favours fossil fuels, US manufacturers will be at a disadvantage globally. Like with the Detroit car industry, policy will steer technology and investment towards products that will not be able less able to compete globally. The USA spends more than any country on research and development, produces the most scientific papers, produces the most Nobel Prize winners and has the most scientists.

Forget about the high number of people in the US who are anti-science, climate change deniers. The world cannot do without US climate change leadership.

Hilary Clinton offers policy continuity. It is not enough but it is not rollback either. President Obama is the climate change president for pushing CO2 emission reduction policy. He is also the president under whom the United States fossil fuel industry boomed like never before. Most of this is due to natural gas fracking, which he did little to prevent. In fact, he takes the credit for this. Under Obama both renewables and fossil fuels thrive.

Obamaʼs predecessor, Bush Jr, was accused of being in Big Oilʼs back pocket. This did not stop the development of renewables. History shows that renewable energy technology cannot be stopped. On the one hand it is driven by policy, which speeds along development but something new has happened: the market has taken over. Electricity from renewable sources are competitive with natural gas, and even coal, in many markets.

Mooreʼs law applies to renewable energy. Capacity doubles every 18 months, prices come down. Oil and gas prices go the other way. Long-term, fossil fuel prices have risen by three per cent per annum and reserves are harder to get at. The supply and demand market has taken over, renewables cannot be stopped, but they can be slowed down.

Time is of the essence. Climate is changing so rapidly that we are on course for a three degree centigrade temperature rise. Research on the effect of melting polar ice sheets and sea level rise shows that 1-2 degree global resulted in 20 foot sea level rise. We are already at nearly 1.5 degree C. Regardless of who becomes president we will have climate change, sea level rise and renewable energy.

Trump cannot stop the market, but he can cool it. To deal with these challenges we need technology that removes greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. It will take decades. In the beginning there will be little return on investment unless this research is driven by policy.

This is why the US presidency is so important. Trump has announced that he will roll back renewables and promote coal. He endangers both the economy of the US and the global climatic system. Letʼs hope the United States chooses for science and the new economy.

GARVIN HEERAH

A very wide range of criminal activities can be conducted transnationally in an organised fashion, and new forms of crime emerge constantly as global and local conditions change over time. The implied definition of transnational organised crime encompasses virtually all profit-motivated criminal activities with international implications. (UN convention on Transnational Organised Crime 2003)

Research in this country and abroad has proven that most organised criminal activity come to the attention of the police only when they take pains to proactively investigate. What T&T needs to note is that the ability to detect organised crime is contingent on a police force with the resources to take on this additional work beyond the considerable case load involved in responding to citizens’ complaints. 

It also requires a police force with the skills to conduct long-term, often clandestine investigations. And it requires a police force able to resist the corrupting influence of organised crime groups whose resources may far exceed those of law enforcement. 

In many parts of the world, and right here in T&T, one or more of these elements is missing so very little organised crime activity is registered. Even in countries with plenty of capacity, the attention given to any particular area of organised crime differs. The definitions of crime can also vary based on local values. As a result, criminal justice statistics may reflect political priorities more than the state of the underlying problem. 

There have been changes in the trends of transnational organised crime generally. Much of the discussion to date has been conducted by law enforcement authorities and, for reasons described above, they have been deeply concerned about the nature of the groups involved in organised crime. 

There appears to be general consensus that both highly structured and loosely structured organisations are involved in transnational organised crime and a number of authorities have argued that the former are losing out to the latter. As we progress slowly through these treacherous challenging economic times, fuelled by global developments and shortfalls, it is evident that within T&T there is now a significant rise in transnational organised criminal activity, especially for organisations to stay afloat, it can be easily defined as: “How do we continue to make money.”

The loose networks that go by through day to day activities can be a reference to the mutable commercial ties between buyers and sellers of contraband in illicit markets here in T&T.

Human beings seem to have a natural tendency to self-organise and do so spontaneously when no higher authority provides order and when proper enforcement and monitoring is weak. People, groups and organisations or activities that the state fails to regulate tend to fall under the control of local actors who then vigorously defend this power from reacquisition and funding by the state. 

In T&T we have seen the embryonic development where there exist, without the formal apparatus of government and access to the courts, of local dons, gang leaders and “community leaders” who are compelled to settle disputes with violence, or at least the credible threat of violence. These dons and “community leaders,” and the organisations they build, constitute the hierarchical groups most commonly associated with organised crime in the public domain.

What must be drawn to the attention of our authorities, both governmental and law enforcement, is that this form of organised crime grows in geographic areas and communities that the state has neglected, such as impoverished, under-provided areas, and socially displaced communities.

Socially excluded communities frequently respond to the lack of opportunity by creating their own sources of credit, job access and security. Unregulated, unmonitored and un-policed, these schemes can devolve into extortion, labour racketeering and protection rackets. What began as efforts of a marginalised community to protect and provide for itself can transform over time into a source of predation, threatening their own community and society at large. 

In T&T we have seen that these organised crime groups are extremely territorial, guarding their turf jealously. They graduate their activities as tools and the muscle of the hierarchical level of the TOC triangle. So the legitimate and illegitimate business enterprises that camouflage their trading, money laundering, illegal trades and corruption, have gravitated to using them as the executors of criminal activity to maintain control, instil fear and unite with heavy monetary gain, to prevent the backlash of robberies, kidnapping and extortion from the funnels of their financial depth.

This well-oiled machinery is the underlying threat that faces our nation’s national security planners. Therefore it is extremely important that the matter be prioritised on the agenda of national security and a focused, concentrated effort that is all encompassing, be urgently undertaken. 

Failure to move an operational plan to the front burner could very well see a further spiralling out of control of crime and criminality in this country. The economic environment is not expected improve anytime soon, as we all embrace the intent of macro-economic recovery, it is equally important to attack the heart of the organism—transnational organised crime. 

• Garvin Heerah, former head of the National Operations Centre, is an expert in the Safe City Concept and Homeland Security Solutions and a module leader with Anglia Ruskin UK

Imagine politicians can get so bold-faced as to try and fool the entire population not once, not twice but all the time. Imagine that one Minister of Government will try to use a play with words and think that the entire population of T&T is illiterate to such an extent that one day he makes a statement which Trinbagonians are accustomed to and the next day he tries to change the statement by using an alternative word.

To clarify this point let us look at the two words in contention (freeze and restraint) as explained in Oxford English Reference Dictionary (2003).

Freeze means make or become motionless of powerless through fear, surprise etc/fix or stabilise prices, wages etc/react or cause to react with sudden aloofness or detachment.

Restraint means stop/check, control/agency of influence, bondage, shackles/action seeking to interfere with free-market conditions. It seems as though the Minister has indeed put his foot in the proverbial mouth. It also seems apparent that a “restraint” is worse than “a freeze.”

It seems as if the PM is on the correct path when he distances himself from statements made by the Minister of Finance and he says that he is “speaking from a vacuum.” People cannot show such disdain and disrespect to an intelligent population.

It clear that the current minister of finance holds the population in very low esteem.

This is evident in the wisecrack (with a chuckle) “I have raised the price of fuel three times in one year and there has been no riot, maybe I will make another increase by  April 2017.” I don’t think that an intelligent population like ours deserves a decision-maker like that. 

No Government can continue to seek the trust and respect of the people when the PM has to continually distance himself from irresponsible statements from his own team.

WKS Hosein,
Chaguanas

The Government put in place the subsidy on fuel in the past, wining and dancing, essentially telling us the people “See how generous and caring we are, providing cheap fuel for you to drive your car. 

Enjoy yourself, and oh, don’t forget to vote for us.” Now the economic situation has changed and partly because of your (the Government’s) mismanagement of the economy, you are now telling us the people a different story, “Look I raised the price of fuel three times in the past year alone, 15 per cent each time, and you didn’t utter a boo; you didn’t protest or riot so why not raise it again!”

All the while joking and laughing. Mr Minister, I feel ridiculed and laughed at by you. Perhaps you are forgetting that the patrimony of this country belongs to its people in the first place and you are placed in a position in trust of their wealth. This a display of disrespect instead of thanking us the people for our understanding and maturity during these trying times.  

I’m calling on you to resign immediately and in lieu of non-resignation, you should be fired, no explanation needed, as was needed in the case of the firing of former ministers Ancil Antoine and Nicole Olivierre.

Ghassan Youseph

I am really trying to understand why the Haitian student Luxon Saint-Herve, who arrived in Trinidad on August 16 to pursue a degree at Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies, is being deported. Is there more to the story than what we have been told, or is it that the Immigration authorities are being totally uncaring and insensitive to our Caribbean brother?

From all reports, this young man met all the requirements to be here legally. He applied for a student’s visa before arriving here and got a three-month visa. On applying here for an extension, he was refused, even though the Cipriani College presented all the required documentation, and even though his sponsor here with whom he is staying and who has taken full responsibility for him, has provided all the required documents, including his banking information.

Luxon has had to show the Immigration office his ticket to return home to Haiti. Return home to Haiti to what? Return to Haiti, a country that has been ravaged by earthquake and more recently Hurricane Matthew, and still can’t catch itself? 

Return to Haiti to bewildered relatives who, at great sacrifice, sent an ambitious young man off to better his education, and to return in three years qualified and able to lift the rest of his family?

We were so quick to start collecting canned food and clothing for the “suffering” people of Haiti... both after the recent hurricane and after the earthquake some years ago. Here was a real opportunity to help one of its citizens. 

H Barnes

Recently there has been a sort of “war” between regular large boat owners and a party boat operator in Turtle Bay on Monos Island. The owners have been for years tying their boats on weekends onto some wooden pilings abandoned by the Americans since world war two.

Recently, a party boat operator has barged in. The boats owners complained, nevertheless he built an illegal large wooden shack, and cut off all the pilings at water level. Now there is no place to tie the boats belonging to those who complained about this intrusion. 

These pilings, which extend way out into the bay, cannot be seen as they are now just under the surface of the water. Death is on the way. Pleasure craft owners who are not aware of these pilings are going to start crashing into them and cause serious injury and maybe even death of children.

The CDA, T&T Coast Guard, The Harbour Master and Marine Police have to take immediate action and place marine markers to warn of this newly created marine hazard. 

Dr David Salinger,
Maraval

Well, maybe I just don’t understand the logistics of the situation. According to Minister Imbert, the citizens may have to pay more for gas next year and the public servants have to work with “0-0-0” salary restraint.

What about the ministers, will they be sharing in the challenging times by salary restraints or cuts? 

Do they have to pay gas bills themselves or are these paid for them as part of their perks? 

Their salaries are paid by citizens’ taxes. Share and share alike, I say.

So how about it, Mr Imbert, will the ministers be sharing the citizens’ pains as we struggle to make our ends meet?

Annie Downie

Kareem Perry fired in an 83rd minute winner as Police FC stunned leaders FC Santa Rosa 2-1 in a heated contest in the T&T Football Association National Super League Premier Division at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Sunday.

The Lawmen took the lead in the 34th minute but Santa Rosa drew level thanks to an own goal in the 66th before Perry banged in the winner with seven minutes left on the club.

However, the match was marred by a mini-brawl involving players from both clubs. Four  yellow-cards, two for Santa Rosa, and Police FC’s Nykell James, the second of which came in the 87th.

Despite the loss, Santa Rosa remained top of the 14-team table with 41 points, three more than defending champions, Defence Force which won by a similar, 2-1 margin over 1976 FC Phoenix at Canaan Recreation Ground, Bon Accord, Tobago while Police FC is now third with 32 points, the same as Club Sando Moruga, but with a match in hand.

Phoenix took the lead two minutes before the break through Dominique Kerr, only for Josimar Belgrave to fire in his league leading 23rd item of the campaign to get Defence Force.

Ronald “Sharky” St Louis then got the decisive item for Defence Force in the 79th minute after which they held on for the valauble win to close to within two points with six matches left for both teams and the top two teams set to meet on Sunday at Chaguaramas. 

In other matches, Club Sando Moruga and last year’s runner-up Guaya United drew 1-1; Petrotrin Palo Seco and Real Maracas Fc fought out a 4-4 draw; Matura Re United and WASA FC drew goalless; Queen’s Park Cricket Club and Bethel United drew 2-2, and Marabella Family Crisis Centre spanked Siparia Spurs, 4-2.

Results
 Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 50th, Ronald St Louis 79th) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 1 (Dominique Kerr 43rd)
Police FC 2 (Keron Clarke 34th, Kareem Perry 83rd) vs Santa Rosa 1 (own goal 66th)
Bethel Utd 2 (Dwane Marcelle 49th, Kevon Woodley 70th) vs QPCC 2 (Kevaughn John 53rd, 81st)
Guaya United 1 (Jody Allsop 67th) vs Club Sando Moruga 1 (Nigel John 5th)
Matura Re United 0 vs WASA FC 0,  Arima Municipal Stadium, 3.30pmMarabella Family 4 (Kerville Jeremiah 15th, Juma Clarence 25th, 64th, Kurlan Khan 31st) vs Siparia Spurs 2 (Marvin Seuradge 37th, Marcus Kelly 80th)  
Petrotrin Palo Seco 4 (Tigana Sparks 19th, 32nd, Xavier Seales 63rd, Bevon Bass 86th) vs Real Maracas 4 (Marvin Manswell 21st, Kheelon Mitchell 54th, 80th, Ricardo Bennette 82nd)

Latest Premier Division standings 
Teams    P    W    D    L    GF    GA    Pts
1. Santa Rosa    20    12    5    3    42    20    41
2. Defence Force    20    11    5    4    48    37    38
3. Police FC    19    9    5    5    31    22    32
4. Club Sando Moruga    20    9    5    6    35    38    32
5. Siparia Spurs    20    9    4    7    47    43    31
6. Guaya Utd    20    8    5    7    39    33    29
7. Matura Re Utd    20    8    5    7    41    45    29
8. Petrotrin P/Seco    20    8    3    9    49    43    27
9. 1976 Phoenix    20    5    10    5    33    30    25
10. Real Maracas    20    7    4    9    37    36    25
11. WASA FC    19    6    4    9    26    38    22
12. Bethel Utd    20    5    5    10    32    46    20
13. QPCC    20    4    6    10    32    42    18
14. Marabella Family    20    4    2    14    26    45    14

Sunday’s Matches
Defence Force vs FC Santa Rosa, D/Force Headquarters, Chaguaramas, 3.30 pm
1976 FC Phoenix vs Bethel Utd, Canaan Ground, Bon Accord, 5 pm
Police FC vs Siparia Spurs, St James Police Barracks (inside field), 3.30 pm
QPCC vs Petrotrin Palo Seco, St Mary’s Ground, Serpentine Rd, St Clair, 3.30 pm
Marabella Family CC vs Guaya United, Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre, 3.30 pm
Real Maracas vs WASA FC, Maracas Valley Rec. Grd, 4 pm
Club Sando Moruga vs Matura Re United, Grand Chemin Rec. Ground, 3.30 pm