In an election result that is still shaking the world, Donald J Trump defied the polls and scored a stunning upset over Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. 

The Republican candidate’s unexpected victory was due in large part to the significant gains he made across rural America to defeat his Democratic rival, shattering the expectations of her urban supporters. 

While polling data is still being analysed, it is becoming increasingly clear that the 70-year-old billionaire businessman enjoyed considerable support in parts of the industrial Midwest of the US where whites without a college education are the majority.

At the start of this long, bruising and divisive election campaign 18 months ago, Mr Trump seemed the unlikeliest of choices and was not expected to advance beyond the primary stage, but he soon emerged as a frontrunner from the 16 Republican candidates and eventually clinched the party’s nomination.

The results of Tuesday’s US elections are much more than a seismic shift in the balance of power in the US Congress and Senate. It is not just about the GOP now having a stronger hold on both Houses of Parliament. Of greater importance are the broader global implications of right-wing and far-right ideologies gaining traction across Europe and now, it appears, in the Americas.

Mr Trump’s campaign rhetoric appealed to Americans who have long been harbouring anti-elite, anti-establishment, anti-Washington, anti-globalism attitudes. He was very successful in stirring up the same sentiments that led Britain to vote to leave the European Union earlier this year. 

These feelings are most pronounced in white working-class communities where large segments of the population feel they have been victimised by job losses and put at a disadvantage by the increasing diversity and cultural changes taking place around them. Mrs Clinton and her team had pinned their expectations on an electorate they felt had become so diverse so fast that their votes could easily outnumber those from working-class white voters.

It turned out instead that her traditional support base among African-Americans and millennials did not turn out to vote in the numbers that they did for President Barack in 2008 and 2012. Yesterday, as T&T and the rest of the world woke up to the reality of a Trump administration poised to move into the White House from January 20, the other disturbing implications of his presidency began to sink in.

It is not only about Mr Trump’s temperament but how his controversial policy positions feed into anti-immigration nationalist sentiments that border on fascism.

Populist politicians, including Geert Wilders from the Netherlands, Marine Le Pen in France and Britain’s Nigel Farage, were among the first to congratulate Mr Trump on his election victory. Farage commented via Twitter: “I thought Brexit was big but boy this looks like it is going to be even bigger.” 

Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AFD) party also celebrated Mr Trump’s win. All these share in common anti-immigration and anti-EU ideologies which, with the accuracy of hindsight, appear to be very much in sync with the US President elect’s trade and foreign affairs positions.

Taken together, all these indicate a worrying political trend taking root across the developed world. Next year, voters in the Netherlands, France and Germany—possibly Italy and Britain as well—will vote in elections that could be overshadowed and influenced, for better or worse, by the unexpected victories of Donald Trump and Brexit.

The fervent hope is that, in contrast to his campaign persona, President Trump will moderate his views and tone down his controversial world views. There is the very strong possibility, however, that he will govern as he campaigned.

Dr David Frowley, a former Christian theologian from the United States of America, has emerged as a great Hindu devotee. He is respected throughout the Hindu world. 

Dr Frowley spends most of his time at different shrines and ashrams in India, and we are fortunate to have had him visit T&T as a guest a few years ago.

In his essay, The Challenge of the Information Age, Dr Frowley writes: “Therefore the question arises particularly in the context of India: where are Hindus in this information war? 

The answer is that, with a few notable exceptions, Hindus generally are only feebly present, apologetic or half-hearted in their self-presentation in the information field.

“The image of Hinduism that prevails in the information age is created by non-Hindus and anti-Hindu forces, not only by intention but also by default because Hindus themselves seldom challenge wrong views or provide an alternative. 

In this way Hinduism is being eroded, particularly in the minds of young Hindus, who seldom find their religion represented, or to find it denigrated in the media world around them that is rapidly becoming their reality. Over the years, the Maha Sabha has been embracing new information technology to inform the population of the many Hindu practices. 

One important practice takes place on Monday, November 14, at various beaches across Trinidad. This event is called Kartik Snaan (sacred bath), which marks the culmination of almost 12 months of religious observances with the recently concluded Divali celebrations as a high point.

Hindus believe that this present cycle of creation which started over a million years ago, the Supreme Lord (God) made descent on earth from time to time. It is the belief that God has made nine descents and the tenth, Kalki (space manifestation) will make appearance to herald the end of this cycle of creation.

The first manifestation appeared in the ocean, where life is considered to have started. And this first manifestation was called the Matysa Avatar or the Fish manifestation. Because of this, Hindus revere the oceans and other watering places where life began. 

Kartik is really the name of a month which falls around October-November. The entire month is auspicious for pujas and ceremonial bath, but the final day of the month which this year falls on November 14 is regarded as the most auspicious. Hindus, together with their pundits, will travel to various watering sites for a day of prayers and bath.

The Hindu ancients believed that worship and fasting during this month reap auspicious fruits that are equivalent to many pilgrimages. And the importance of the month is mentioned in many ancient scriptures such as the: Skand Purana, Narad Purana and the Padma Purana.

It is the belief of the devotee that this ritual bath, taken during the month of Kartik, is similar to a thousand dips in the sacred Ganges River or a hundred baths during other months. It is prescribed that those who cannot travel to have baths in the rivers, lakes or seaside, should take baths in their homes and perform puja in their house. 

It is also advised that during this entire month of Kartik, we light lamps (deyas) at our homes and in our village temples. The prescribed puja after bath must be dedicated to Radha and Krishna, while at the same time worshipping the Tulsi plant.

The devout Hindu also believes that in the month of Kartik, the rays of the sun and the moon exert a beneficial effect on Man. 

These rays provide a constructive energy to the mind and the brain of the devotee. At our own Manzanilla Beach Centre, thousands of Hindus will gather to perform congregational worship before taking a bath in the Atlantic Ocean.

Each group will have its own tent and other facilities, including their own village pundit, who conducts the puja ceremony on a Bedi (altar), created out of the sand on the seashore. 

At the culmination of puja, meals will be shared and the process of meeting and greeting fellow worshippers from across the country will follow. This will enable devotees to stay on the beach late into the afternoon. Not only will Manzanilla Beach be highly organised for the day, but in central Trinidad, at what is called the Flowerpot Beach at Claxton Bay, will receive support from our senior executives in the area, Pundit Ganpath Maharaj and Pundit Rishi Maharaj. 

At Guapo Beach Resort in Point Fortin, thousands of our devotees from the southern area will make their annual pilgrimage under the spiritual guidance of our Dharmarcharya (spiritual head), Pundit Utham Maharaj, of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha.

Our grouping in the south-east peninsula will be led by Chanka Teelucksingh who also supervises the activities at Manmohansingh Park, Bonasse Village, Cedros. Seven Hindu temples will attend and jointly perform the appropriate rituals.

We have requested of the Minister of Tourism, Shamfa Cudjoe, that lifeguards and ambulance services be provided at all the venues. This is to ensure that our thousands of Hindu devotees, together with their children have the support of professional lifesavers in the case of an emergency.

Now it’s all over and journalist Jerry George of Saint Lucia still does not know where, in Castries or Vieux Fort, electors could have cast their votes in the US presidential election, such was the level of displacement public concern over the state of the island’s economy experienced in favour of the battle for Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Back home, it has probably been no different for some folks in Westmoorings, Couva and Toco who could not find information about the nearest polling stations on Tuesday. The newspapers and broadcasters seemed to have had all the information minus the addresses for the voting booths.

Electors had witnessed the nominations, the primaries and torrid campaign and had followed the early voting trends. Some even had the t-shirts, caps and bumper stickers. However, over here, “Helleri” not “Hillary” is the name of the freshwater fish we keep in aquariums and “Donald” remains the talking duck in the comics. The one we dare not serve with roti for lunch.

It has also been up to a few of us to explain that our election date is in fact November 28 and was not November 8—however easy it was for many to make such a mistake. At least the “I Voted” stickers won’t go to waste. 

Polling stations throughout the country—rum, roti and barber shops from Toco to Cedros will remain open for the rest of the month and are due to resume activity in the next four years. Perhaps, like 2013, all 43.2 per cent of electors will turn out again for another “high voter turnout.”

You see, here it’s yellow and red and a few shades in between. 

Not red and blue. And the ballots do not also ask how you want your chicken done or how high the gallows need to swing. It’s yellow or red. Red or yellow. Simple. Balisier or Rising Sun.

All of this confusion might have perhaps been understandable since indeed we have had our own email scandal complete with forensics, leaks and intrigue and have fired at least one alleged daylight crotch-grabber who occupied high office. 

There are also those who’d prefer we build a wall to keep out “the immigrants” who bring us crime and whose English does not sound the same as ours.

“Small islanders,” Guyanese, “de Chinee and dem,” “de Syrian and dem” together with the West African and Jamaican economic refugees we put to guard our businesses. 

They’re all there in the public discourse, complete with maps, analysts, xenophobes and sell-outs of our patrimony. One character “writes them up” from time to time, “small islanders” being collective code for people of a failed ethnicity.

There has even been a “gun lobby” comprising people who believe that gun ownership should be a constitutional right especially in the face of the threat of criminal terror. “Give we de guns” is yet to appear on t-shirts but there is one perennial character whose urological examinations have finally found someone with the testicles to declare that black people, Latinos, gays and Muslims are all sub-human.

Yes, someone who thinks the disabled are “funny” to look at and imitate and who believes climate change is a hoax. Takes a lot of balls to hold such positions indeed.

Only a matter of time before the next one who once proposed incentivised sterilisation in crime “hot spots” receives posthumous accolades in the face of prevailing political incorrectness. Now the worms can wriggle out of the cracks—as if we hadn’t noticed or known them before.

And the rallies. Yes, the rallies. No Jay Z or Beyonce, but enough stage space for Machel, Crazy, Sugar Aloes and Rikki Jai with Bollywood favourites Faris and Stuart for good measure.

Seventy years after earning the right to vote, for all adults it seems that not unlike our Carnival, our style of campaigning for elections has become contagious. Claims of rigging, bribery, sexual innuendo, race-baiting, empty slogans, wildly contrasting poll results and terminally flawed candidates. Then the usual bacchanal at the close of play.

After all of this, on November 28, all 60 per cent of us can be expected to stay at home and flick to CNN, Fox and MSNBC and the Cooking Channel where the real action resides.

One wag over at the Bulldog Bar polling station in Tunapuna—who of course had no plans to vote last Tuesday—reckons that after 70 years of “adult suffering” we don’t look that bad, after all and might actually be able to provide tips on running a true election campaign to others. Like the mas, there is export potential in this.

Although president-elect Donald Trump undoubtedly remained an unconventional and controversial presidential candidate throughout his campaign, it is likewise undeniable that he always proved himself as someone who could be for the people. 

And while he and his opponent Hillary Clinton both quite remarkably had high unfavourable ratings, Trump crucially outscored Clinton in areas of honesty and trustworthiness. 

Where Clinton appeared distant and opaque, Trump had a “what you see is what you get” demeanour and in the 2016 US election, the people voted for what they could see.

The post-mortem of the US election will show that Clinton failed to connect to the American people, most of which were the minority African-American and Hispanic voters but also, and quite critically, a demographic which Clinton perhaps overlooked—the rural and working class American workers who felt left behind by a failing political establishment. 

Trump’s presidential victory was owed to this key vote of dissatisfied blue-collar citizens. 

In spite of his lack of qualifications, poor temperament, and divisive rhetoric, Donald Trump rode the wave of populism which ultimately propelled him to being declared the president-elect of the United States of America.

On a broader global level, Trump’s presidential victory has implications for the future of politics. Seen first with the Brexit vote, Trumpism has again shown that what matters most to people may not necessarily be experience, qualifications, or policy. 

Trump defied what the typical politician should symbolise and while this will be reason for concern when he officially assumes office, he will nevertheless go down in history as embodying a new, radical type of politician. 

The ability to connect with voters, understand the source of their dissatisfaction and present yourself as being for the people seems to be the future of global politics. 

Let this be a lesson to our current, and future leaders of T&T.

Jarrel De Matas,
Diego Martin

Donald Trump has been elected President of the USA. He defeated Senator Hillary Clinton who had too much baggage. No party normally gets three consecutive terms. Barack Obama had two.

The new President-elect brings different qualifications and experience to the table. He is not a person you would want to negotiate with because of his skills. People must welcome change just as they did with Obama. Do not fear the unknown.

Mr President-elect, I want to wish you well. Make America great again. A change is as good as a feast.

AV Rampersad,
Princes Town

Donald Trump has emerged victorious in what was considered a nail-biting election finish. The American electorate has spoken and as with all other democratic operations the decision must be respected. 

While many may have wanted Hillary Clinton to win, for various reasons, let us wait and see how this all plays out. Believe me, the world will still go on in the midst of Donald Trump winning of the election. 

I am hearing people say the Caribbean can feel the pinch of Trump’s victory. It is wise to wait and see for it is a different scenario on the hustings than actually winning. 

In the case of America, Mr Trump is now the President-elect of that country not just for those who may have voted for him. 

Mind sets will have to be adjusted. As a Caribbean region we have been through many storms and came out on top. That shows what we are made up off. So all those who in their hearts think that it is the end of the world, I have got good news for you—we will continue to live and move forward whether it is Trump or Clinton. Have that confidence in yourselves, and this includes our leaders also. 

Let us not count our chicks before they are hatched but pray, wait and see. 

I repeat, Trump victory is not the end of the world, life goes on.
   
Arnold Gopeesingh, 
San Juan

T&T Soca Warriors will be going after a first win over Costa Rica in World Cup qualification in their CONCACAF Final Round 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 7 pm. 

The teams have met in ten previous World Cup qualifiers, five each at home and away, with the best result for T&T, a 0-0 draw at tonight’s venue on March 3, 2005. Coach Stephen Hart is not underestimating his task against what he described as quality opposition.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference at the Maracas Room, Courtyard Mariott Hotel, Wrightson Road, yesterday, Hart said his opponents have a good balance. “What we have to do is not be afraid to play when we are in possesion. We will need to try and disrupt the way they play as much as possible and make them uncomfortable.”

The Central Americans who reached the quarterfinal round of the last World Cup, have several international faces in their line up including Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Sporting Lisbon attackers Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz and Celtic defender Cristian Gamboa. “They are quality players and we are all aware of them. We have an idea of what we will like to do when they are in certain parts of the field and we also know who are their main supply lines, and will try and take that away from them and keep them away from the areas that they are comfortable in.”

Hart said there was no doubt that Costa Rica had pedigree. “They have just recently played in the European Champions League, but we also have our own qualities and hopefully we get it right.”

Concerning his team’s preparation, Hart said, “I think we have modified our training a little bit to address some things that we weren’t sure about, so we have done that and we are now in a situation now of having to do the things that have gotten us this far over the last three years. If we do the things that we know we are capable of doing, then this team can play with anyone. We have proven that, but the margins in international football are very very slim, and the USA game is a prime example.”

Reflecting on a 4-0 semifinal round loss to USA in September, Hart explained, “We played one of the best halves we have ever played and came away 1-0 down and then things fall apart. The game is over 90 minutes and there is no room for complacency, no room for error and no room for relaxation. We have to play, we have to fight and we have to play again, that’s how it is.”

With only captain and striker Kenwyne Jones, midfielder Khaleem Hyland and goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams being members of past T&T teams to reach the final round of World Cup, Hart said he expects some nerves among his players.

“To be honest I think everything is new. The scrutiny, the anticipation of the game, everybody is talking about it, it’s all new for most of the players.”

“But this is what you have to deal with when you reach this stage in the final six, it’s the six best team in the conference and you have to be at your best physically and mentally as I keep saying and I think a number of players realise that.”

“Yes there will be some nerves, if there is no butterflies and nerves, then they are dead,” stated.

Concerning the lapses in defence, Hart said he and his technical staff have been addressing it. 

“The thing about football is that if your back-line is doing one versus one defending and winning a lot of balls, and defending well, it means the team is not defending well.

“If the ball doesn’t get to the backline it means the team is defending well, so defending is about the team.”

The T&T coach noted that his team had no real injury concerns, but just the usual little knocks. 
 

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and Donald Trump put acerbic rows and profound differences aside in a 90-minute transition meeting at the White House yesterday, hoping to quell fears about the health of the world’s pre-eminent democracy.

The outgoing president and his successor met one-on-one and sat in high-backed chairs before the Oval Office fireplace for what Obama characterised as an “excellent conversation.”

The meeting, which came less than 36 hours after Trump’s shock election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, had the potential to be awkward. The two had traded barbs during the heated battle for the White House.

Trump, who previously called Obama the “most ignorant President in our history,” said it was a “great honour” meeting with the US leader, adding that he looked forward to receiving the President’s counsel.

Obama, who previously said Trump was a whiner and “uniquely unqualified” to be commander-in-chief, vowed his support. He told Trump his administration would “do everything we can to help you succeed because if you succeed, then the country succeeds.”

The two men ended the improbable and historic White House encounter with a handshake and refused to take questions 

“Here’s a good rule. Don’t answer questions when they just start yelling,” Obama told Trump, referring to the press.

White House officials said the two men had discussed a range of issues, including Obama’s meetings with leaders from Germany, Greece and across the Asia-Pacific during foreign travel next week. 

On that trip, Obama is likely to be inundated with panicked questions about America’s role in world affairs. 

Anger over the Republican property mogul’s upset election win over Clinton spilled out onto the streets of US cities late Wednesday, as chanting protesters lit bonfires and snarled traffic.

But in the days after Trump’s shock election win, which virtually no poll had predicted, both sides spoke of healing the deep divisions sown in a bruising two-year campaign.

The Republican Party leadership, too, embraced their new-found champion yesterday.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had distanced himself from Trump in the final month of the campaign, pledged to “hit the ground running” and work with him on conservative legislation.

The two, along with Vice-President-elect Mike Pence, met on Capitol Hill for lunch after Trump’s talks with Obama.

On Wednesday, Trump huddled at Trump Tower in New York with a group of advisers, planning a transition strategy to take over stewardship of the world’s largest economy.

Team Trump unveiled a transition website — www.greatagain.gov— that highlights the colossal human resources challenge facing the incoming administration under the headline “Help wanted: 4,000 presidential appointees.”

During a bitter campaign that tugged at America’s democratic fabric, the tycoon pledged to deport illegal immigrants, ban Muslims from the country and tear up free-trade deals.

Those campaign messages were embraced by a large section of America, grown increasingly disgruntled by the scope of social and economic change under Obama.

But they were passionately rejected by Clinton supporters.

Thousands of protesters — in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland and other cities and school campuses — rallied Wednesday to express continued opposition to the incoming leader they accuse of racism, sexism and xenophobia. In Los Angeles, a giant Trump head was burned in effigy. (AFP)

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has extended congratulations to United States President-elect Donald Trump.

In a letter to Trump in the wake of his sweeping victory over Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, Rowley re-affirmed the commitment of the Government of T&T “to strengthening and deepening the already excellent bilateral ties which exist between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America.”

Citing Trump’s victory as an indication of the confidence placed in him by the American people, Rowley conveyed best wishes to Trump, his administration and his family, an Office of the Prime Minister statement confirmed.

Meanwhile, one T&T nationals who is happy Trump is now US President-elect is his former neighbour in Trump Towers in New York, Jack Warner.

“Immediately on the morning he won, I sent him a congratulatory email,” Warner said yesterday, sounding very happy at Trump’s victory over Democrats contender Hillary Clinton.

Still elated at Trump’s victory yesterday, Warner said: “My email to him congratulated him on his stunning victory. I told him what he has done is turn politics on its head and that he has made pollsters become irrelevant.”  

Warner, who is currently fighting extradition to the US in relation to his operation as a former CONCACAF/FIFA executive, said Trump had been his landlord and neighbour for 20 years while he (Warner) was at CONCACAF.

“The CONCACAF office I had headed was on the 17th floor of the Trump Towers from 1990 to 2010 and my own apartment was on the 52nd floor of the Trump Towers as well. In fact, my apartment was opposite his and we were accustomed to greeting each other,” Warner said.

“I had rented the office space for (US)$11,000 a month and by the time we vacated in 2010, the rent was (US)$100,000 monthly. I would also often go to his casino in Atlantic City, so I’m all for him and wish him the best.”

Also yesterday, former national security minister Gary Griffith said he had given his successor, Edmund Dillon, contact for Trump confidante Rudy Giuliani, tipped to be Trump’s attorney general or Homeland Security head, last year when the PNM took office. 

Griffith said that was given in an anti-crime plan which Giuliani had done for the People’s Partnership government.

LOWKIE:- DORIS died 11.11.1987. Suddenly and quietly you slipped away. Only listen and you would hear her say. Don't cry, don't be afraid, All is well with my soul. As my loving Saviour I now behold. Remembered by: Daughter Sheila. Son-in-law Kenny. Grandchildren:- Sherry, Adesh. Great grand Brandon, Brent & Schweta.

​LOWKIE:- MAMA Doris died 11.11.1987. For a dear loved one, you filled the world with special joy and happiness untold. You always had a funny way and a lovely heart of gold. You made life so much brighter just being thoughtful to and saying kind and helpful things was typical of you. Lovingly remembered by daughter:- Susan. Grand-children:- Renny & Chauntelle and great grand Arya.

RAMNARINE, BOYIN "RAM"passed away on Monday 7th November, 2016. Funeral service for the late Boyin Ramnarine takes place on Saturday 12th November, 2016 at 12:30pm at Belgrove's, Trincity. Funeral entrusted to C&B, Chaguanas. For enquiries, please contact Chancellor Walks Funeral Services, 287- 0403/04.

PEREZ: Yvonne Sladden- of ¼ mm Pierreville ,Mayaro died on 7th November 2016. Daughter of the late Charles & Martha Sladden. Wife of Vernon Perez. Mother of Rawle, Wendell, JillAnn and the late Kerry Perez. Step-Mother of Victor , Lenora , Ronald and , , others.

Sister of Dilworth Sladden , Myrl Zoé and the late Barbara, Biz, Sisly and Ossie. Grandmother of Khasif, KJ, Jemel, Lauren Ashley, Sera Leon, Charis, Najih, Michael. Great-Grandmother of Kamari, Kyle and Marius. Mother-in-law of Nicole Perez. Sister-in-law of Enez Sladden, Gloria Clarke Sladden, Patrick Zoé and the late John & Helena Moore.

Aunt of Felix , Brandon, Lisa, Gerard , Michelle, Perry, Simone & Patrick Jr. Great Aunt of many. Relative of Keith & Donna Ligoure, The Richards, Thomas, Phillip, Brooks, Carter, Stewart and Rauceo families. Friend of Nerissa Phillip, Lenor Bango and Elton Gomez.

Funeral Service of the late Yvonne Sladden Perez takes place on Saturday 12th November 2016 at 10.30 a.m from the St. Peter & St.Paul R.C Church, Church Street, Mayaro thence to Radix Cemetery. The Body will Repose at the Church from 9.30 a.m. Enquires can be made at Wight s Funeral Home Ltd, #15-17 Toco Road, Sangre Grande , 668-2453/ 3510.

PUNNETTE: Joel- formerly of Pole 5 Amow Street Enterprise Chaguanas departed this life on Wednesday 02nd November 2016 at the age of 59. He will lovingly be remembered as the: Husband of: Lisa Punnette. Father of: Sherlan, Sheldon & Sherwin Punnette, Ayanna & Kimberly Dindial. Son of: The late Herbert & Thelma Punnette. Grandfather of: Ophelia, Theodore & Ellison Punnette, Isreal Nathan Waldropt. Brother of: The late Noel Punnette, Ilene Punnette, Irene Punnette & Vivian Holder. Relative of: Many. Friend of: Many.

The Funeral Service for the late Joel Punnette has been entrusted to David Guide Funeral Services and will take place on Saturday 12th November 2016 at St Thomas Anglican Church, Chaguanas at 1:00pm followed by an Interment at Longdenville Cemetery. All Enquires can be made at David Guide Funeral Services Phone: (868) 636-2435 Email: dgfuneralservic

Over the last five years some $63 million of taxpayers’ money has gone down the drain as pharmaceuticals ordered for public health institutions had to be discarded because they had expired.

This was one of the matters raised at yesterday’s Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting in Parliament as National Insurance Property Development Company (NIPDEC) general manager David Benjamin and head of the Pharmaceutical Board Marisa Austin appeared before the JSC. Nipdec has the responsibility for ordering pharmaceuticals for public health institutions.

The revelation came even as patients at several health institutions complained about the shortage of basic pharmaceuticals which relatives have to purchase from private pharmacies. Austin said there were several factors which accounted for this wastage. Firstly, she said Nipdec not having direct access to inventory was an issue.

“Drugs stored at the RHA (regional health authorities) level, we, Nipdec, we do not have direct access to the stock at hand or the inventory. 

“We are aware of the returns when they are sent to central stores, either within two or three months of the expiry date and at that point in time we are unable to redistribute the stock. Secondly, we have had instances, particularly in the non-pharmaceutical industry, where the decisions taken at the evaluation committee are not adhered to by the users in the institution,” Austin said. Another issue, she said, which was very prevalent was that they often stocked items, like generic drugs, which very often ended up not being used by the medical institutions.

“We do not have the authority to force the user at the institution to utilise the drugs. We have the option of going to the Ministry of Health, which strongly supports our initiatives to try to move the stock, but without a nationwide health information system where we could actually see the inventory levels at the institutions, we are actually in the dark,” Austin said.

She added, “So we are not aware that these large quantities...sometimes when we speak about stock out and institutions, it is not necessarily that there is a stock out but where the drugs are being stored it is not equitably distributed.”

On what was being done by Nipdec to redistribute drugs before expiration, Austin said the company had put several measures in place, including improved co-ordination with various bodies including the pharmacists.

“And most recently, for the central nervous system drugs, we have discovered that while we may not have stock at central stores, there is a lot of availability within the region,” Austin said.

She said, however, that competitive tender provided the most value for money. 

Regarding the shortage of cancer drugs, she said this again spoke to the issue of funding, as the medication was provided by international suppliers. To ensure there was no shortage of stock, Austin said adequate funding must be provided on time, but gave the assurance that in the interim, procurement of the drugs was being done for a longer period. 

Asked what measures were in place to ensure doctors were not taking drugs from public hospitals to use in their private practice, health sector advisor Asif Ali said he could not say.

Historian and author Angelo Bissessarsingh, who was hospitalised earlier this week after contracting pneumonia, has been listed in a serious but stable condition at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital. 

The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in 2015, has been warded for the past four days.

He is being given antibiotics intravenously and also administered oxygen to help him breathe.

The Guardian understands that Bissessarsingh's family has been flooded with calls from concerned friends and fans. President Anthony Carmona also called Bissessarsingh's relatives, the Guardian learned.

However, doctors have advised that his visitors should be limited to only immediate family.

Bissessarsingh was scheduled to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) on Thursday. 

Bissessarsingh’s books, Walking with the Ancestors—The Historic Cemeteries of Trinidad, published in 2013; Snapshots of the History of Trinidad and Tobago, Virtual Glimpses into the Past; and Pancho's Dilemma, all published in 2016, have earned him many accolades.

He was given the keys to San Fernando by former mayor Kazim Hosein (now Local Government minister) earlier this year and the Hummingbird Medal - Gold during this year’s Independence Day awards. 

President of the San Fernando Business Association (SFBA) Daphne Bartlett said she is concerned that burglars were able to smash a glass window at the Courts, San Fernando, outlet and escape with almost $100,000 in electronic items yesterday without being detected by police. 

Bartlett questioned what was happening with the mobile patrols which should be patrolling the main shopping centre, where people like her make heavy investments, employ people and pay taxes to keep the economy afloat.

She chastised the low police detection rate and the little value citizens were getting for the billions being invested annually in the National Security Ministry. 

“What concerns us (business community) is that the perpetrators are so brazen, that even though there are security systems installed, they can still break in, rob the place and get away with it. What is even more disturbing is that the police station is about two minutes walk away from where the crime occurred. At that time of the morning there is no traffic, yet the perpetrators got away.”

She said if the perpetrators knew that the security cameras were being constantly monitored, that could act as a deterrent.

“We cannot accept people doing this to us and getting away with it. We invest, pay taxes, employ people. While we appreciate the police catching guys who are speeding on the roads, they cannot put all their efforts into one area.” Around 2.30 am yesterday, thieves carted away close to $100,000 in electronic items from the store located at the corner of High Street and Chancery Lane, San Fernando.

The bandits smashed a large glass window pane located on Chancery Lane to gain entry to the building. 

Police responded to the call and, when they arrived, discovered several electronic items, including tablets and laptop computers, missing.

Officers are hoping that CCTV cameras on the compound and those on nearby buildings would be able to assist them in the arrest of the burglars and recovery of the items.

Chief Justice Ivor Archie has called on a group of new attorneys to help improve the image of the legal profession by remaining humble. 

Addressing a ceremony at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Archie told the more than 100 new attorneys being called to the bar that despite their academic achievements they should consider being admitted to the profession a privilege. 

“You have a duty to give to your clients and the court service that is characterised by self-sacrifice and integrity. That is what will keep this profession noble and humble,” Archie said. 

Family Court Judge Betsy-Ann Lambert-Peterson also addressed the attorneys, who were accompanied by their relatives and friends, and encouraged them to continue to educate themselves throughout their careers. 

“In order to hone your reputation publicly and professionally you have to commit yourself to lifelong training,” Peterson said. 

Speaking after the ceremony the top performer of all the graduates of Hugh Wooding Law School, Ashley Roopchansingh, said she was relieved to finally be admitted to practice as an attorney.

In addition to being given the awards for being the top performer at the school over her two years there, Roopchansingh also received commendations for her performance in civil law and conveyancing. 

“It was always my dream growing up but it became more important in later years as I want to understand my rights as a woman and where I stand,” Roopchansingh said. 

The 24-year-old, whose petition was presented by Senior Counsel Israel Khan, said she planned to practice civil law. 

“Currently I am doing civil law and I like it but I don’t know where I might end up in the future,” she said.

Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis says T&T is seeking to reduce emissions from power generation, transportation and energy by 15 per cent over the next 14 years.

She said that during a signing ceremony for the Preparation of T&T’s Third National Communication and First Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 

Robinson-Regis and Resident Coordinator of the UN in T&T Richard Blewitt were the signatories. It will provide grant funds to enable T&T to meet its reporting requirements to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

There is also a Biennial Update Report (BUR) component which will also enhance understanding of greenhouse gas emissions and the domestic mitigation actions required. 

She added that it was government’s intention “to reduce cumulative emissions in the three sectors by 15 per cent by 2030,” adding that “an implementation plan will be finalised by January 2017.”

Robinson-Regis said: “There is a recognition that climate change is also very much a developmental issue and so integrating climate change into national development is critical if we are to build the requisite climate resilience to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.”

She added: “A policy and legislative analysis has been completed and the next steps would be to rationalise gaps through amendment and the development of policy and legislation across all sectors.”

According to Robinson-Regis, the signing of the agreement “signals our deep commitment to discharge our obligations under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), to ensure reporting of emissions in a transparent manner that would contribute to the global effort of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a level that will avoid dangerous interference with the climate system.”

It will also enable the necessary domestic data and information to be compiled and analysed in order to inform domestic policy to address climate change with a deep understanding of the importance of these requirements, the environmental policy and planning division of the ministry has been collaborating with the UNDP to develop a project seeking grant funding from the global environmental facility to prepare T&T’s third national communication and its first biennial update report to the UNFCCC.

Under this project T&T is expected to receive the sum of US$952,000 in grant funding over three years in addition to grant funds from the UNDP, which has been pledged in the order of US$50,000 to support work in the form of technical cooperation. 

T&T will have no direct financial contribution in this project but will, however, have to provide in-kind contributions associated with project management and logistical and administrative support through the environmental policy and planning division of this ministry.

Through the national development strategy, the Vision 2030 strategy, the Government has placed valuing and enhancing our environment as a key theme with an understanding of the link between sustainable economic development and the environment.. This is an increasingly important issue nationally and internationally .

Among the initiatives implemented by the ministry includes the training of more than 500 air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians in good refrigeration practices in the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry and the training of Customs officers in the monitoring and controlling of Ozone-depleting substances. 

She said citizens should “switch off lights when not in use and demand energy saving technology in our stores and more.”