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00:00:00 ♪ This kind of music is our thing ♪
00:00:03 ♪ Strong young country and guitar string ♪
00:00:06 ♪ Come join in the fun ♪
00:00:08 ♪ Come back till the morning comes ♪
00:00:10 ♪ Christmas season begins ♪
00:00:11 ♪ Summer or winter ♪
00:00:13 - And a very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago
00:00:15 and the rest of the world.
00:00:16 I'm Marlon Hopkins and welcome to "Morning Edition."
00:00:18 It's Monday, November 27th, 2023.
00:00:21 And thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:00:23 I hope that you had a very good weekend.
00:00:25 Listen to me, it's the 27th, you know,
00:00:27 so it's a dash now to the big day, Christmas day.
00:00:30 I see that you all have been out
00:00:33 and you're shopping and so on.
00:00:34 And all I want to say is just be careful
00:00:37 and be safe on the nation's roads.
00:00:39 We lost, when I say we lost,
00:00:41 the media lost one of its own on the weekend
00:00:46 on the New Point 14 highway,
00:00:50 a DJ at 96.1 and a very special,
00:00:54 how do I say, condolences to his relatives.
00:00:57 All right, so be careful out there.
00:00:59 So we were bracing for a bit of inconvenience on the weekend
00:01:04 because of what TNTec had advised us of,
00:01:09 but I think that TNTec did very, very well.
00:01:12 So congratulations to TNTec.
00:01:13 Last night we had a short interruption,
00:01:16 but it didn't cause too much of a inconvenience.
00:01:21 So a very special good morning to all of those
00:01:23 at TNTec.
00:01:24 You saw the moon this morning.
00:01:26 The moon was absolutely beautiful this morning.
00:01:30 It was big and bright and just beautiful, right?
00:01:34 If you didn't see it, you missed it, all right?
00:01:37 I wanted to stop and take a picture, you know,
00:01:39 but you know, things happening in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:01:42 I didn't want to be the main story this morning, all right?
00:01:45 So let's check out the Daily Express.
00:01:47 On the front page, police promotion comments,
00:01:50 Top Cop seeks answers on if officers
00:01:53 were erroneously advanced,
00:01:55 and a beautiful picture there,
00:01:57 fired up the tenor front line of the Kern-Somerville-led
00:02:00 Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services Steel Orchestra,
00:02:02 sings of a chorus line of red plastic bags,
00:02:05 a volcano during their performance
00:02:07 of the Beijing Soil Command's 1999 hit
00:02:09 of a National Panorama single pan semifinal
00:02:12 on Saturday night at the Arima Velodrome.
00:02:15 Musical eruption.
00:02:17 Let's touch a little bit on this story now.
00:02:19 Controversy as 859 constables move up to corporal,
00:02:23 some officers promoted in error.
00:02:25 There is a controversy brewing
00:02:27 within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
00:02:29 over the recent promotion of hundreds of police officers.
00:02:32 Some of the officers were said
00:02:33 to have been erroneously promoted,
00:02:35 while others complained that while they met
00:02:38 the criteria for promotion, they were bypassed, all right?
00:02:42 So a very interesting story there.
00:02:43 To some sport now, following ODI squad omission,
00:02:46 stepping away, but Bravo not giving up
00:02:48 after latest windy snub.
00:02:50 And aggrieved, Darren Bravo said late Saturday
00:02:53 he planned to step away just for a bit,
00:02:55 following the latest snub by West Indies selectors,
00:02:58 which saw him left out
00:02:59 of the upcoming one-day international squad
00:03:02 to face England starting on Sunday, all right?
00:03:06 So that's some of the stories
00:03:08 that we have in the Express for you today.
00:03:11 It's time to remind you about Trinbago Unite's feature.
00:03:13 Remember to participate, WhatsApp your videos
00:03:15 or images to 737-3778.
00:03:19 We do have this picture for you this morning.
00:03:23 Yeah, it looks like an orchid.
00:03:25 Is that a similar orchid
00:03:27 to what we would have shown last week?
00:03:30 (laughs)
00:03:32 And a very special good morning to Kamla Ramcharan
00:03:34 for sending that picture to us, all right?
00:03:37 So we do have a packed program for you today,
00:03:40 a very interesting program.
00:03:42 You have a coffee and tea and something to eat.
00:03:45 Yeah, we're coming back.
00:03:47 (upbeat music)
00:03:49 ♪ Come join me in a fun, fun, fun, fun ♪
00:03:51 ♪ 'Til the morning, fun, Christmas is beginning ♪
00:03:54 ♪ Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun ♪
00:03:59 ♪ This Christmas we celebrate it ♪
00:04:02 ♪ 'Cause B-Mobile, they coming with presents ♪
00:04:05 ♪ So brace yourself for plenty prizes ♪
00:04:09 ♪ 'Cause this season will be the nicest ♪
00:04:12 ♪ It's in most fields and in most vibes ♪
00:04:13 ♪ And in most cars and in most price ♪
00:04:15 ♪ The most giveaways, the most parades ♪
00:04:19 ♪ Having a Christmas season with B-Mobile ♪
00:04:22 ♪ I want a Christmas season with B-Mobile ♪
00:04:25 ♪ Bring me sorrel and levitos to a merry Christmas ♪
00:04:29 ♪ Having a Christmas season with B-Mobile ♪
00:04:32 ♪ Top up, buy a plan, sign up or pay your bills ♪
00:04:34 ♪ Enjoy the best shrimp bagel Christmas ♪
00:04:37 ♪ B-Mobile, life is on ♪
00:04:40 ♪ B-Mobile, life is on ♪
00:04:45 ♪ B-Mobile, life is on ♪
00:04:50 - [Announcer] For muscle mass, strength, deep voice,
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00:05:10 This Christmas, share with Chimere.
00:05:13 Natural herbal products for hair, skin and body.
00:05:16 You can treat yourself or someone you love
00:05:18 to Chimere Spark It Pouches.
00:05:20 Chimere.
00:05:21 ♪ Restore, renew, repair ♪
00:05:24 ♪ Chimere ♪
00:05:26 - Know your rights and learn how the law protects you.
00:05:29 - The message said double your money fast,
00:05:31 bring two friends and earn more.
00:05:32 - Yes, and there's the man who gonna make you rich.
00:05:35 - You can't lose, it's easy.
00:05:38 - You got the money?
00:05:39 - Scammers, beware.
00:05:40 There are now harsher fines and penalties
00:05:42 under the securities law to protect investors
00:05:45 and members of the public from investment scams and fraud.
00:05:48 That's $10 million and 10 years in prison
00:05:50 for you operating a Ponzi pyramid scam
00:05:53 or other prohibited schemes.
00:05:55 And $5 million and five years in prison
00:05:58 for anyone participating in those schemes.
00:06:01 It's $2 million in fines and three years in prison
00:06:04 for advertising or inviting persons to join a Ponzi
00:06:07 pyramid scam or other prohibited schemes.
00:06:10 Visit the DTSC website and download
00:06:13 the DTSC Investor Protection app
00:06:15 to anonymously report scams.
00:06:17 You invest, we protect, everyone benefits.
00:06:20 (dramatic music)
00:06:23 (upbeat music)
00:06:47 - Welcome back everyone.
00:06:48 So today we begin our week and our program
00:06:50 with special focus on the issue of gender-based violence
00:06:53 in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:06:54 Now statistics will tell you that at around
00:06:57 this time of the year, there is a spike in incidents.
00:07:00 With us this morning, we have a very special guest for you.
00:07:03 She is an attorney at law, an advocate for women's rights,
00:07:06 and one of two national champions
00:07:08 of the Spotlight Initiative, Mrs. Sharon Rowley.
00:07:11 Mrs. Rowley, thank you very much for coming this morning.
00:07:13 - Good morning, Mohamed.
00:07:14 It's my pleasure to be here.
00:07:16 - Mrs. Rowley, let's get right into this matter
00:07:21 because it's a very serious one.
00:07:22 Of course, recently, the 16 Days of Activism
00:07:27 Against Gender-Based Violence was launched.
00:07:30 It ends on December 19th.
00:07:33 Let's speak a little bit about the Spotlight Initiative.
00:07:36 - Okay, the Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership
00:07:41 between the United Nations and the European Union,
00:07:45 whereby it has been formed for the purpose
00:07:48 of eliminating gender-based violence globally,
00:07:52 and particularly now, we are at the end of a period
00:07:56 of the involvement of the Spotlight Initiative
00:08:00 in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:08:02 It would have started in 2020,
00:08:05 and at the end of this year,
00:08:08 the involvement of the European Union
00:08:11 comes to an end as they move on.
00:08:14 So we must also determine how we move on.
00:08:17 Now, the initiative itself was introduced
00:08:22 into Trinidad and Tobago because I believe
00:08:27 the partners realized that there was a need for that.
00:08:32 And when we look at statistics in Trinidad and Tobago
00:08:38 and around the world, we realize that it is a must
00:08:43 to see that we get some assistance in this.
00:08:46 We look at statistics which show that 30% of our women
00:08:51 will suffer in their lifetime intimate partner violence.
00:08:59 In millions, we see that worldwide, 736 million women
00:09:05 will at some point in their lives
00:09:10 have suffered from intimate partner violence.
00:09:15 And I think the United Nations has realized this
00:09:18 because the United Nations has what they call
00:09:21 sustainable development goals,
00:09:24 and they're global goals which will lead us to a point,
00:09:29 they say in 2030, an ambitious goal that is,
00:09:33 where we will see the elimination of poverty
00:09:38 in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:09:40 So the SDGs, and they're numbered,
00:09:43 so the gender equality is SDG five,
00:09:48 sustainable development goal number five.
00:09:52 And one of the targets of that goal is that you will have,
00:09:57 we will have the elimination of gender-based violence
00:10:02 and the empowerment of women and girls.
00:10:06 So this is where we start and this is where we move forward.
00:10:09 - Yeah. - On that.
00:10:10 - You know, Mrs. Rowley, I'm hearing you speak
00:10:13 and I'm thinking to myself, in 2023,
00:10:18 we are still having a discussion on gender-based violence.
00:10:23 To me, that says something about our society.
00:10:26 - It says something about our society,
00:10:28 but it also says something about the world we live in,
00:10:32 because you would realize it is not limited
00:10:35 to Trinidad and Tobago, but of course we focus on our own.
00:10:38 And we then have to determine what is the cause of this.
00:10:43 And I am one of two national champions
00:10:49 of the Spotlight Initiative.
00:10:52 The other one is Mohamed Mwakel of Freetown Elective.
00:10:57 And the whole purpose of the initiative
00:11:00 is so that we can help.
00:11:03 On my part, I see that there are all these women
00:11:07 who are suffering silently when abused.
00:11:12 And if I can use my voice on whatever platform
00:11:15 that is given to me, I will use it.
00:11:17 You have to speak for the voiceless.
00:11:20 Inaction is not an option.
00:11:22 Silence is not an option.
00:11:24 So wherever and whoever we are,
00:11:26 we have to realize that we have to speak up
00:11:30 for our sisters.
00:11:31 We have to be our sisters' keeper.
00:11:33 And as you said, that in 2023,
00:11:38 domestic violence is still a source of conversation.
00:11:43 But even though the UN has set 2030 as a goal,
00:11:48 I see it as going way beyond that,
00:11:51 because unfortunately it is human nature.
00:11:55 What we are looking for, and I think one of the things
00:11:57 that we must treat with is gender equality.
00:12:02 And that we do not have.
00:12:04 I mean, Trinidad has made great strides
00:12:06 towards achieving that.
00:12:08 And when we look at things like,
00:12:09 okay, we've had female presidents,
00:12:12 we have a number of females in parliament,
00:12:15 and heads of boards we have.
00:12:18 There are some countries which don't have that.
00:12:20 Women can't speak, women can't open their voices.
00:12:22 So we have made some headway,
00:12:24 but we cannot rest on our laurels
00:12:25 and sit back and say, "This is it."
00:12:28 There are women and children out there
00:12:31 who need our help,
00:12:33 who need to reach their full potential.
00:12:37 And it is for the whole of society,
00:12:41 putting forward a whole of society approach
00:12:44 towards assisting them.
00:12:45 And when I speak of whole of society,
00:12:47 you are talking about the police,
00:12:50 you're talking about the judicial system,
00:12:52 you're talking about international partners,
00:12:54 we are talking about local communities.
00:12:56 We are speaking in general about persons
00:13:00 who will assist, like you, like me,
00:13:02 like everybody else who's looking on,
00:13:05 in allowing women and children
00:13:08 to achieve their full potential.
00:13:10 And I call on Trinidad and Tobago
00:13:15 to be there for your sisters,
00:13:17 be there for your sisters who are suffering
00:13:20 as a result of DMV, domestic violence,
00:13:24 sexual violence.
00:13:26 And this type of violence has an effect,
00:13:30 a deleterious effect on our women and our children.
00:13:34 It affects them physically, sexually,
00:13:39 in their schools, in the workplace.
00:13:43 So you generally have women
00:13:47 who are not being allowed to be women,
00:13:51 to achieve their potential.
00:13:53 - Yeah. So I'm seeing some statistics recently
00:13:57 that we did have 1,900 victims of domestic violence,
00:14:03 or incidents of domestic violence this year.
00:14:08 And you spoke about persons who remain silent.
00:14:13 So I suspect there may be more persons
00:14:17 who are being abused in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:14:21 But why, let's speak a little bit about
00:14:24 the mechanisms in place to protect our women
00:14:28 and young girls and this silent group.
00:14:32 Why is it that young girls or girls and women
00:14:37 who are being abused,
00:14:40 they feel that they still can't come forward
00:14:43 and report, "This is happening to me,"
00:14:46 and they're still hesitant to seek assistance?
00:14:49 - I think basically, I think the one word
00:14:51 I would use is fear.
00:14:53 And if you as a woman are living in society,
00:14:59 in your community, and you have a spouse
00:15:02 or a partner who is continually abusing you,
00:15:05 some neighbors may hear,
00:15:07 but they will then say, "It's not my business."
00:15:09 And generally, there will, on the part of the woman,
00:15:14 be that reluctance to report to the police.
00:15:16 They will quicker report to a healthcare worker,
00:15:20 a family friend, or to the church,
00:15:24 their pastor, about what has been happening to them.
00:15:29 They will then be encouraged,
00:15:30 "Okay, you need to report to the police."
00:15:33 And some may go, some may not go.
00:15:36 And then when you reach the police station,
00:15:38 it is important that the officers
00:15:41 who are taking the reports understand and empathize,
00:15:46 not victimize the person who has been and is a victim.
00:15:51 So in that regard, it is important that we have training,
00:15:56 training of all these persons who play an important part.
00:16:01 And in fact, with the Spotlight Initiative,
00:16:04 they have been working with different sectors of society
00:16:09 so that they can be the change agents.
00:16:12 They have worked with the police and continue to do so.
00:16:16 The judiciary, the, within communities,
00:16:21 they have worked with the healthcare workers,
00:16:24 all who are important and form an integral part,
00:16:28 ensuring that the woman who is abused does not stay silent,
00:16:36 because it's very easy to do that.
00:16:38 It is very easy to hide the fact.
00:16:41 And you see that this domestic abuse
00:16:44 is not limited to persons or grassroots persons.
00:16:48 This is all of society.
00:16:50 Persons who, you know, some may say, "Ahoy, titoyete,"
00:16:54 and go about looking like that,
00:16:57 they may be the subjects of abuse,
00:16:59 but they will not come out and say.
00:17:02 So we have to, as partners in this all together,
00:17:07 keep our eyes and our ears open and look out for our sisters.
00:17:11 But haven't we always had a culture of abuse?
00:17:15 And sometimes it became very, very acceptable.
00:17:21 And I think that there's a perception still
00:17:25 that people expect some level of abuse in relationships,
00:17:31 because that has been our culture.
00:17:33 We hear about, just recently,
00:17:36 there was an incident involving a gentleman and a lady, right?
00:17:41 And the father of the victim said
00:17:44 that that relationship had a history of violence.
00:17:48 -And you are correct, because that was in the newspapers over the weekend.
00:17:52 And there was an article in the newspapers
00:17:56 whereby they had interviewed women's rights activist Diana Mahapi-Wyatt.
00:18:02 And the headlines were that men...
00:18:06 What did they say?
00:18:08 That men feel... I'll just preach you this.
00:18:12 Men feel empowered to be able to do this, to be able to abuse,
00:18:18 because once they feel they are challenged by a woman,
00:18:22 then they feel that you are challenging my manhood and my responsibility.
00:18:28 As Mrs. Mahapi-Wyatt said,
00:18:32 this is a patriarchal society in which we live.
00:18:36 Generally, there are exceptions, as there were always exceptions to the rule.
00:18:39 So generally, it is felt that the man is the head of the household.
00:18:44 And depending on, I would say, the level of education,
00:18:48 but sometimes you find educated men taking on that position that I am the boss.
00:18:54 And if you feel that, and you feel that the woman is taking control of your position,
00:19:00 then they will object, and they will object in violent ways.
00:19:05 And hence you have that abuse.
00:19:09 So we've always had it, because men have always been regarded as the head of the household.
00:19:13 So it depends on how mature and how forward-thinking our men have become
00:19:21 in treating with gender equality, in understanding that we are equal.
00:19:28 There is absolutely no difference between you and me.
00:19:33 You may have a little balding patch, but apart from that, but generally, we are the same.
00:19:41 We are the same, and we have to accept that.
00:19:44 We have to accept that women should be treated equally.
00:19:47 And when we are doing that, we have to go back, as we train our children,
00:19:52 you have to go back to the home.
00:19:54 So I think we have to start there.
00:19:56 You have a little boy and you have a little girl,
00:19:59 and you will find that the mother or the grandmother say, "Well, he doesn't have to cook.
00:20:05 He doesn't have to wash."
00:20:06 They may ask him to put out the garbage, but sometimes he may do it reluctantly.
00:20:11 And if you at that stage do not educate your children to appreciate that you are equal,
00:20:18 there's no difference, you have to also tell them that you must respect each other.
00:20:24 And that means men must respect women, girls must respect boys, boys must respect the girls.
00:20:32 And as you move forward, that remains with you.
00:20:37 And you start from early telling them about gender-based violence.
00:20:41 My grandson, he's three, at the end of the day, I will say to him, "Okay, how was your day, Liam?"
00:20:47 And he says, "It was good. I played with my friends and I didn't hit any of them."
00:20:52 Clearly, and then I said, "Okay, that was your first day."
00:20:55 It became a routine.
00:20:57 Every day I ask, I don't put anything in his mind, but he says he doesn't hit them.
00:21:02 So clearly it is being taught at the earlier levels and within the household.
00:21:06 You're not too young to learn.
00:21:08 And as you grow up, because if we do this, then we will not have the scenes that we see,
00:21:14 and we see on social media with our boys fighting the girls,
00:21:18 the girls fighting the boys, the girls fighting the girls.
00:21:22 And it pains me when I look at those videos.
00:21:26 And I'm saying at times, "Where are we going?"
00:21:28 And this is where we need the intervention of things like the Spotlight Initiative.
00:21:33 And you made a great point there.
00:21:35 It has to happen at a very young age.
00:21:38 The molding has to happen at a very young age.
00:21:40 But not only in the home, Mrs. Rowley, it needs to happen at the school.
00:21:45 And we need to teach young people how to deal with relationships,
00:21:54 and sometimes more so how to deal with relationships when they fail,
00:21:58 because some of us just don't know how to deal with it.
00:22:01 That's very true.
00:22:02 And even as you say in schools, I went to Bishop Hans T. High School,
00:22:07 and subsequent to that, in years when I would go back to help with the children,
00:22:11 there was a personal development program in the school.
00:22:14 And I thought that something like that, and there are other schools which have that,
00:22:19 which is so important to have in all our schools.
00:22:21 And you can make that part of it.
00:22:23 You can bring in persons to talk to them, talk to the boys, talk to the girls,
00:22:27 about what domestic violence is about.
00:22:30 This is not sexual education, where you will have persons deciding whether it should be in or out of schools.
00:22:35 This is your future. This is our future as a nation.
00:22:40 And I think it is important to deal with that from that age,
00:22:44 from preschool to elementary school to secondary school, and even at university level,
00:22:50 because we have the scourge, we have the problem.
00:22:53 Yeah. And I think, as you know, Mrs. Rowley, I think that when it comes to education system,
00:23:01 sometimes in the past we would have focused so much on the academics,
00:23:07 but simple things or things that we believe to be simple, we don't focus on.
00:23:14 And, you know, I don't mean to get you in any trouble with the education ministry.
00:23:19 Well, I know where you're going. I'm just waiting for you.
00:23:22 But there has to be a holistic approach to the individual. That's my point.
00:23:27 And you're totally correct.
00:23:29 And that is why I say in some schools they realize, and probably it should be part of the curriculum,
00:23:35 they realize the need to develop the individual, to develop the child beyond the academics,
00:23:42 because it must be a holistic education that you get.
00:23:45 And when we see a problem in our society, a pervasive problem,
00:23:50 a problem which at times has been defined as a shadow pandemic,
00:23:55 then you realize, OK, we need to nip this in the bud.
00:24:00 And we can use the education system to deal with that.
00:24:04 And I think it is ongoing where you have the training of teachers in the area of dealing with,
00:24:12 treating with domestic violence and that type of thing, gender equality and so on.
00:24:16 So if you did that in all schools, if you brought in guest lecturers to speak to the children,
00:24:24 to speak to the boys, it's important.
00:24:27 As part of this whole Spotlight initiative, when we started, when I became champion in 2020,
00:24:36 and I worked with one of the implementing partners, ICAN, which is a cultural group
00:24:44 which deals with indigenous creative arts networks headed by Dara Sealy, the daughter of I.T. Springer.
00:24:53 It was most amazing because they were responsible as an implementing partner of the SI Spotlight initiative
00:25:01 to ensure the communication of the message throughout the specifically chosen areas.
00:25:09 So as part of this Spotlight initiative, they had chosen the Tunapuna-Piako regional area,
00:25:15 the Mearo-Rio Claro area, and also Tobago.
00:25:20 And these were the areas where they zeroed into in order to implement what was being done.
00:25:29 So when we started in Tobago, I had hosted the whole team, and we started with gender-based violence and me.
00:25:39 That was the first one.
00:25:41 And it was so impressive just to see these young people come and speak about GBV
00:25:49 and make suggestions, make solutions.
00:25:52 Then they went on from GBV and me, they went on to the faith and the GBV.
00:26:00 So we were talking about faith-based leaders, and we had leaders from the Christian faith, Hindu faith, Muslim faith,
00:26:11 and all contributed and put forward their ideas because, however we think about it,
00:26:16 the church is an important factor in treating with domestic violence, and it is how they treat with it.
00:26:22 I mean, you will have, you know, when you get married and they say, "Richer for poorer, for better, for worse."
00:26:30 I mean, we've gone way past that because that worse part of it, I must say,
00:26:39 you're not keeping me in something where that, if it is not working for me,
00:26:44 there's some woman who will stay in that because financially they are dependent on the man,
00:26:49 emotionally they are dependent on the man, and they will stick to this.
00:26:53 They will stay in it for the children's sake, as some say.
00:26:57 And there was one important communication period when they dealt with engaging men and boys,
00:27:04 and Mohamed Mouakel and others had dealt with that part.
00:27:09 And it was an experience because you heard the views of men, you heard the views of boys
00:27:15 as to what they think about domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and that type of thing.
00:27:22 So once we have these, and once we continue with these, it will be beneficial to all of us.
00:27:28 Mrs. Rowley, just hold your thoughts for a little while longer.
00:27:31 She's staying with us until 7 o'clock this morning.
00:27:34 So we are going to a very short break. We'll be right back.
00:27:37 I have a very nice image for you. It's captioned "Morning from San Juan," a beautiful picture there.
00:27:43 We're coming back.
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00:31:16 Welcome back. So we are continuing our discussion this morning on gender-based violence with Mrs. Sharon Rowley.
00:31:24 Mrs. Rowley, you being a mother of two young women, how do we or how did you transfer to your children that this sort of behavior of violence should never be encouraged at all?
00:31:53 Because I think that parents of females, of young girls, I think it could be a bit traumatic for parents, right?
00:32:05 And while you would have invested so much, in many cases, in the children and you see them grow up to be successful individuals and so on.
00:32:21 Because I remember a quote from Oprah, and this is the only quote I remember from Oprah, and she says, "Love does not hurt."
00:32:30 And sometimes, Mrs. Rowley, even though an individual, a woman, a young woman, is well-educated, she still cannot kind of navigate through that violent situation.
00:32:48 So from very young, how do you give young women, young children these tools to see the red flags and say, "Look, this is not for me."
00:33:00 I think basically it is all about what we consider to be learned behavior.
00:33:07 And with my children, both Keith and I invested a lot in our girls within our family environment.
00:33:18 And it is important to teach your children the whole value of being independent, even at a young age, so that I have always said, and I will continue to say, that education can give you that level of independence that you require.
00:33:41 Basically, you will say it is financial independence, because that in itself is most important.
00:33:47 But you have to guide your children on the path, along that path, along their journey in life, to being independent, to being accepting of themselves as almost perfect human beings.
00:34:07 You're not fully perfect, but you have to understand about that relationship.
00:34:12 You understand that I had two girls, so there were no boys in my environment, even growing up.
00:34:20 It was me and my two siblings, girls, female siblings.
00:34:23 But our parents would always teach us that violence is not an option, even as you play as children, and you will get into fights.
00:34:37 But it's not the kind of fights to kill that you see now.
00:34:43 Most of the time it was verbal.
00:34:45 And then you have to guide them along the way.
00:34:49 You also, as parents, must be an example, because children look at what they see, and they learn from what they see.
00:34:57 And this is why, as I just sidetracked a bit, you have intergenerational domestic violence, because children see their parents abusing each other.
00:35:09 And then they understand one of two things, that you feel that this is what life is about, so you then start to abuse your partner.
00:35:18 Or alternatively, you take the route where you feel that I am deserving of this.
00:35:24 I'm deserving of this kind of life, for little things that you may do, but you are not.
00:35:29 So it's important to guide your children along the way, particularly our girl children.
00:35:34 Because yes, men and boys are abused, they are bullied, but they scale ways in favor of women needing that protection.
00:35:45 And as parents, as I have done it, you need to be close to your children.
00:35:49 You need to have them as friends, but also understand that they must understand that you are the mother, you are the person in charge.
00:35:57 So that's important.
00:35:59 And while I hear you speak, I'm just thinking that we do have people in this society who are really engaging in activities to tear down that woman.
00:36:15 To tell her that she's good for nothing, she will not find another mate, she is this, she is that.
00:36:22 You know all of the claims that they make. And it's just a horrible situation.
00:36:29 I'm just looking at some statistics here, where the TTPS is saying that there is a 42% increase in domestic violence cases since 2021.
00:36:42 And my argument is that while there are mechanisms in place to help women, but much more needs to be done if you're talking about a 42% increase.
00:36:55 It is a phenomenal figure, and it is one which has to give us cause for concern.
00:37:04 Cause for concern about the present and the future.
00:37:07 But it is important again to understand, now I personally feel that during COVID, because we were all indoors, because we could not go out.
00:37:20 So the women and men who benefited from the man being away from the woman in that kind of environment, they were now there.
00:37:29 So you would have found that the percentages and the statistics that we got for domestic violence during COVID times had increased considerably.
00:37:39 But we see that it's still on the rise.
00:37:43 So that again we look at what is happening. What is happening with our men in this society.
00:37:50 We have crime escalating, and we see it every day from the newspapers.
00:37:57 But then we have the crimes committed against our women.
00:38:02 And we then have to decide how are we dealing with it.
00:38:06 And this is when I said that you needed that whole of society approach to treat with it.
00:38:12 And I feel the education of the, as I said before, the police, the judiciary, and all those persons, they're getting together.
00:38:21 And the teachers, because that is where we can see us getting some level of control over the situation, hopefully.
00:38:32 You know, Mrs. Rowley, I have had a major problem with the protection order.
00:38:40 I have seen where these protection orders, I know that it is really to provide protection to the victim, to the survivor of domestic violence.
00:38:51 But we have seen situations in Trinidad and Tobago where that protection order, it has angered the perpetrator so much that that perpetrator would have gone
00:39:07 and in some cases would have murdered the victim.
00:39:11 And I know that persons, judicial officers, I know that some of them may say, "Well, the protection order has worked well."
00:39:19 But to me, Mrs. Rowley, if one protection order has resulted in the death of a victim, but then we have a problem on our hands.
00:39:29 I don't know how you feel about it, how well they have worked.
00:39:33 I'm assuming because we see the instances, and those make the news, when the protection order has been breached.
00:39:42 And therefore, we have had violence with regard to the persons who were being protected.
00:39:49 But you wonder how can we protect those persons, because you're dealing with, this is within the home.
00:39:59 So, do we have sufficient police officers to watch over those persons?
00:40:07 We will think, okay, do we need to move those persons into a safe house?
00:40:12 There are safe houses and there are shelters around Trinidad and Tobago, which perhaps is one of the number one means of treating with such a situation.
00:40:23 But for those persons who go back into the situation, whether voluntarily, because they feel they need to go and have one last conversation with a person,
00:40:34 or whether they feel that person is going to miss them, because of course, you know, one of the many things that brings a person back is that they feel this is true love,
00:40:44 and the person is doing what he is doing because he loves me.
00:40:48 So, you go back into that situation and you realize it's not real love.
00:40:53 I mean, you don't even get to realize that because he has killed you for going and reporting.
00:40:57 So, that I see. I mean, I am really not sure how we get out of that, save for saying that you have safe houses all over the place,
00:41:06 where we will then take persons out of that violent environment and put them into the safe houses.
00:41:13 Because how can we deal with a man who feels that you have breached his trust in you and his love and you have gone to report to the police?
00:41:23 And this is why women often don't report to the police because this is what happens.
00:41:28 Yes, yes.
00:41:30 You did touch on this matter that I am going to raise, but you have people in this society, people in authority, prominent people in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:41:44 You have religious leaders and they will tell some couples, look, yes, there was an incident of violence, but you know, that's not enough to separate.
00:41:55 And they have encouraged people, the women, to get back into that violent relationship.
00:42:02 How do you see this? Do you support something like that? Mediation? Counseling?
00:42:08 You feel, as the song says, we had a calypso some years ago. One lash is enough?
00:42:16 I must say, there is no way I can support that situation.
00:42:23 Because if you have reached a level where you as a woman feel that it is necessary to leave,
00:42:30 I do not think any faith-based leader is helping the situation by telling that woman, or in cases where there are men who are the victims, to stay in that relationship.
00:42:44 You need to move out of that.
00:42:46 As singing Francis said when her son ran away, "Do stay until they kill your dad." Right? You have to run away.
00:42:55 And this is where family support comes in, though of course we've had instances where the perpetrator has just followed the victim.
00:43:04 We have to depend on our families to talk to the victim, to get her to talk to you, and explain what she's going through.
00:43:17 Because that in itself can boost her confidence.
00:43:22 And we just have to hope, and I will say pray, that that man doesn't follow her into that situation.
00:43:29 Mrs Rowley, this is a problem with many tentacles, you know. And many layers, you know. It's a mammoth task.
00:43:37 It is a mammoth task. And this is why when the UN says 2030, which is seven years away, that to me is utopia.
00:43:49 We're not going to achieve that in 2030.
00:43:52 We'll probably not achieve it in my lifetime, but it's so important for us while we are alive, while we are here,
00:43:59 to see how best we can contribute to improving the lives of our women and our children.
00:44:06 Yeah. Mrs Rowley, I know that you have a conference coming up, the Spotlight Initiative.
00:44:10 That's right. That's right. There is a Spotlight Initiative conference, a transition conference,
00:44:19 on Tuesday and Wednesday. As the initiative comes to an end, as I said, at the end of this year,
00:44:26 it is really a conference to look at what has been achieved, to celebrate the achievements,
00:44:34 and to determine how we will build on those achievements, particularly after the European Union moves out.
00:44:45 Yes. We have to stand on our own two feet. They can no longer carry us on their shoulders.
00:44:51 So we need to jump down and see how we move forward. So this is the purpose of this conference.
00:44:57 And we have to look at how do we network, how do we raise financing, because a lot of money goes into this whole,
00:45:08 and has gone into this whole initiative. We have done well. There are a number of achievements.
00:45:15 And if you would allow me an opportunity, because I thought when Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy,
00:45:21 some time ago, had listed the achievements of the Steering Committee, because there was a national steering committee,
00:45:28 which was convened to deal with the elimination of gender-based violence,
00:45:33 and Mrs. Webster-Roy co-chaired with the UN Resident Coordinator.
00:45:39 So I will just list some of the things, the achievements, which then kind of puts into perspective
00:45:46 the benefits that we have gained and other islands would have gained,
00:45:51 but specifically deal with us from this initiative since it started.
00:45:58 First, you had cabinet's approval of a national strategic action plan on gender-based and sexual violence.
00:46:04 There were amendments to the Domestic Violence Act, which further protect victims of intimate partner violence.
00:46:12 We have seen the upgrading of the GBV registry, gender-based violence registry,
00:46:17 the development and launch of a national interagency protocol for child abuse prevention and management,
00:46:23 the digitization of the national child policy with English and Spanish versions,
00:46:28 the strengthening of prevention approaches to address GBV in the Caribbean through the foundations,
00:46:34 which is a youth organization, a youth program for youth between the ages of 13 and 24,
00:46:40 which has sensitized more than 1,000 persons.
00:46:45 We have witnessed the training of the justice and security sectors,
00:46:49 the development of a joint workplace policy on GBV because there were meetings and discussions with the unions.
00:46:57 There was a development of a GBV curriculum by the Heroes Foundation in 40 schools,
00:47:04 which has impacted more than 9,000 students.
00:47:08 And, of course, perhaps one of the most laudable results from this initiative is the development of national guidelines.
00:47:21 So there was the publication of a national clinical and policy guidelines on intimate partner violence
00:47:28 and sexual violence for Trinidad and Tobago, and I thought that was one of our most,
00:47:34 what should I say, the creme de la creme of the achievements because it deals with how do we treat with intimate partner violence and health care and that type of thing.
00:47:47 Yeah. Something jumped out there to me, the GBV registry.
00:47:53 That's right.
00:47:54 How does that work?
00:47:56 Well, as I understand it, the persons who have committed gender-based violence, there will be a list of persons there.
00:48:08 So these would have been persons who are convicted?
00:48:10 It would have to be that. It would have to be that.
00:48:13 So they are working on it?
00:48:15 No, apparently there is a registry. They are upgrading that registry.
00:48:20 Now, the thing about it is with regard to convictions, as we bring that up, how many convictions do we really have?
00:48:28 How many women will actually go to court?
00:48:32 Having reported it, you find that some will pull back on their reports and some may go straight forward with it.
00:48:39 So you take yourself through the court system.
00:48:41 A lot of women do not want to do that, just like rape victims do not want to go to court.
00:48:46 So we then have to wonder how many persons will end up in this registry, how many persons will be convicted of the crime.
00:48:56 It all depends on the victim, whether the victim is prepared to speak against the perpetrator.
00:49:03 Yeah. Sometimes I feel that the system that we have in place, sometimes it contributes to the situation.
00:49:11 I remember a gentleman calling me some months ago, and I suspect he is looking at me right now.
00:49:16 I am not going to call your name, but I am going to tell the story.
00:49:19 He lives in a home. The relationship between the gentleman and his wife became strained.
00:49:30 The court ordered them to still stay in the home.
00:49:35 The wife now has a boyfriend, and all of them are living in the home.
00:49:41 The boyfriend and the wife are living at the back, and the husband is living at the front of the home.
00:49:47 At that time, he was calling for help, and we tried to provide a level of help to him.
00:49:53 But I think that sometimes there is a disconnect, sometimes, with what is happening in the court and what should really be happening in the society.
00:50:09 Well, from the example that you have given, I think it is really amazing that we did not have the police rolling in there to roll out a deceased individual.
00:50:23 Because you find that is really in your face if all of you are living in one area.
00:50:31 So, disconnect, yes, but we need still to see how best we can create situations where we can move on.
00:50:44 And this is where we have survivors who have been able to come out and speak up.
00:50:51 And I think that is so necessary, because you can see they can tell you what they have been through and what they are doing now.
00:51:00 Some of them have picked themselves up beautifully and realized that I can be financially independent, I can live on my own.
00:51:10 And we need persons who will, organizations which will help the victim who has now decided to move on.
00:51:19 And if we do that, then I can safely say that that particular woman will be allowed to realize her full potential.
00:51:29 Are you aware, Mrs. Rowley, the type of counseling that survivors receive?
00:51:38 Because I think that sometimes, and this is just a personal view, to me if they may not be consistent counseling,
00:51:51 when an incident happens, the police may step in, the counselors may step in, and as time moves on,
00:52:00 that kind of service kind of stops because, of course, the authorities have to deal with other matters.
00:52:08 So, there has to also be a level of consistency too.
00:52:12 I'm not entirely familiar with what happens, but I would think that you're perfectly correct that there must be consistency.
00:52:20 There must be follow-up.
00:52:21 It entails the persons who are giving the counseling and the persons who are in receipt of the counseling
00:52:26 because it is important for you to ensure that you are able to follow up with you, the victim, that is.
00:52:34 That you go before the trained counselors because you have to be trained in order to impart whatever information is necessary
00:52:43 to ensure that that individual does not go back into that life of abuse.
00:52:48 Yeah. Mrs. Rowley, we just have about a minute or two again.
00:52:51 Anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
00:52:55 I think, Marlon, that I have covered nearly everything on this earth about GBV and eliminating gender violence against women and children.
00:53:09 I can say thank you for having me on the show this morning.
00:53:14 I hope that I have, as national champion, been able to impart some of our knowledge.
00:53:21 Hopefully, we will get others coming on board as we search for partners to move on in our quest to have the elimination of gender-based violence beyond 2030.
00:53:35 Yeah. And Mrs. Rowley, thank you for coming here this morning. That's number one.
00:53:40 But thank you to you for your contribution.
00:53:44 And I'm sure that people like you and similar-minded persons, that the contributions that you all are making are invaluable.
00:53:58 And I'm sure that they are inspiring people because, as you know, Mrs. Rowley,
00:54:02 we're still seeing certain people falling through the cracks.
00:54:06 And I'm sure that has to be a concern. But thank you very much again for the effort. Yeah.
00:54:14 My pleasure. Thank you, Marlon.
00:54:16 Please come again. Please come again.
00:54:18 Indeed. Thank you.
00:54:20 We are going to have a very short break. We are coming back.
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00:58:06 Alright, so welcome back everyone. So it's time for our Business Breakfast segment,
00:58:10 brought to you by Value Optical. So today we are speaking with the manager,
00:58:15 Group Brand Management at Republic Bank, Ms. Reena Gopal.
00:58:20 Thank you very much for coming this morning.
00:58:22 Thank you, Marlon. It's a pleasure to be here.
00:58:24 Yeah, and we are speaking about the Power to Make a Difference initiative.
00:58:28 Yes, so the Power to Make a Difference initiative is Republic Bank's corporate social responsibility program.
00:58:35 It's been around for just about 20 years, and we actually just launched the newest five-year phase
00:58:42 for the Power to Make a Difference program last Wednesday.
00:58:46 Our focus for this program is really on four pillars.
00:58:50 The power to learn, the power to care, the power to help, and the power to succeed.
00:58:55 So what we tend to do is we invite applicants for this program
00:59:01 who may require funding to execute different projects that may help different people in society.
00:59:08 So whether it's socially marginalized, whether it's an environmental initiative,
00:59:13 we would want to review various applications that we invite on an annual basis.
00:59:19 Yeah. Tell us a little bit about the organizations that can apply,
00:59:24 because I want to give our viewers a clear understanding that if they have a certain type of organization,
00:59:32 if they can apply or not.
00:59:34 Yes. So essentially, organizations are nonprofit organizations,
00:59:39 organizations that register with the Board of Inland Revenue.
00:59:43 So these organizations, we have over 52 partners right now,
00:59:49 and they tend to be any organization in the sphere of--
00:59:54 could be from religion to domestic violence awareness to arts and culture.
01:00:01 We tend to not turn away those who fall under the pillars that we focus on.
01:00:08 All in all, for this year, we have actually pledged $25 million towards various causes,
01:00:15 and we look forward to working our partners in this space.
01:00:18 Right. So it's organizations that are making a contribution to the community
01:00:26 in uplifting people within the community and making a change in the community.
01:00:31 That's what we're speaking about.
01:00:32 That's correct. And what we tend to do as well is these organizations,
01:00:36 it's not just about giving money.
01:00:38 These organizations actually have sustainable programs where they measure their results.
01:00:43 They are able to let us know how many people they've assisted.
01:00:48 They are able to track their progress year on year.
01:00:51 We do have some long-term partners, and we also tend to align our various staff.
01:00:58 So our executive leadership team, we assign them as champions
01:01:03 to different non-governmental organizations.
01:01:06 So they would give their time and their energy.
01:01:08 They would help use their influence to support these organizations
01:01:12 in achieving their objectives.
01:01:14 What we also tend to do is we bring our staff, our network of over 3,000 staff,
01:01:20 to come on board and assist through volunteerism.
01:01:23 So it's something that is deeply embedded within our DNA.
01:01:27 We would like to really truly make a difference.
01:01:30 We feel as though as an organization it's the ethical thing to do,
01:01:34 to give back to our societies.
01:01:36 And we have actually rolled out this program across all territories.
01:01:41 We have 14 territories in which we operate,
01:01:43 and the programs are replicated in the territories.
01:01:47 But I get the feeling, Ms. Gopal, that there has to be some level of structure
01:01:53 to the organization that is applying for these funds
01:01:58 so that your bank can see where the organization would have started
01:02:05 and to look at the progress of the organization,
01:02:08 to look as it relates to the contribution of the organization,
01:02:13 and maybe even the transformation that it has or the impact it has had on the community.
01:02:19 That is very correct.
01:02:20 So as I said before, the organization actually, they would report back to us.
01:02:26 So as part of the process, they would always send us both financial
01:02:32 and testimonial reports from their various beneficiaries.
01:02:37 We find that these organizations that we work with,
01:02:42 they are already deeply embedded in doing good for the community.
01:02:46 So it's not difficult for them to get that sort of feedback from their beneficiaries.
01:02:51 But what if it is a new organization?
01:02:54 A new organization, we do have an evaluation process in place.
01:02:58 So we internally, when we receive our applications, which we invite annually,
01:03:04 we would review it on the basis of the four pillars.
01:03:07 And what we tend to look at as well is do these pillars align with the project,
01:03:14 or does the project align with one of the pillars?
01:03:17 Also, does the project actually give back to the society?
01:03:23 Does it align with one of the sustainable development goals?
01:03:27 Because Republic Bank has signed up for the UN's principles for responsible banking,
01:03:31 and we are trying to move the needle on any of those 17 sustainable development goals.
01:03:36 We're particularly interested in climate change, anything to support climate change,
01:03:40 anything to support entrepreneurial excellence and growing SMEs in our marketplace,
01:03:47 and anything that is focused on renewable energy.
01:03:51 But it doesn't move us away in focusing on these new SDG areas.
01:03:55 It does not move us away from our core focus areas,
01:03:58 which initially were poverty alleviation, helping the socially marginalized,
01:04:03 health care, arts and culture.
01:04:05 So once these organizations are able to show transparency in their operations,
01:04:10 a proper level of governance, ability to track how they invest and the benefits,
01:04:16 we tend to give them the opportunity to work with us.
01:04:20 Yeah. And are applications being invited for right now?
01:04:25 So we tend to invite applications.
01:04:28 They're received year-round via our website, republictt.com,
01:04:32 republictt.com/pmat, as we call the program.
01:04:37 That is where you would go, and there's application form online.
01:04:42 But we do receive those applications year-round.
01:04:45 We tend to open it up for the new fiscal around July.
01:04:50 But we don't discourage people from sending year-round.
01:04:53 We do keep them on file.
01:04:55 And at the evaluation process period, we tend to look at all
01:05:00 and assess which ones will be selected for the year to come.
01:05:04 So you said earlier it's $25 million in funding?
01:05:11 For this annual year. So we just rolled out--
01:05:13 These are loans, right?
01:05:14 No, they're not loans. They're grants.
01:05:16 They're grants. All right.
01:05:18 So this year we're giving $25 million in funding.
01:05:24 And this year our theme is in the business of doing good.
01:05:27 But every five years we launch a new phase.
01:05:31 So this is our fifth five-year phase that we're beginning.
01:05:35 And our focus for this five-year phase is sustainability,
01:05:40 doing less harm and more good.
01:05:43 And for this five-year period we are pledging $125 million
01:05:48 to Trinidad and Tobago.
01:05:50 So this first year will be $25 million,
01:05:53 and every subsequent year we would hope to contribute
01:05:56 $25 million in grants to different organizations.
01:05:58 But how does the bank decide on how these funds
01:06:02 are going to be disbursed?
01:06:04 If I make an application and another organization
01:06:10 also makes an application, how do you decide
01:06:14 whether my organization gets $50,000
01:06:18 and the next organization $100,000?
01:06:21 How is that assessed? How is that done?
01:06:23 So essentially we tend to look at--
01:06:26 Not every organization asks for the same amount, right?
01:06:29 So we try to help as much as possible,
01:06:31 but organizations are encouraged to supplement their funding
01:06:34 and not come to the bank for the full funding.
01:06:38 And we do have some long-term partners
01:06:41 where it's a rollover because we are satisfied with their work
01:06:45 and their continuous sustainable work in this space.
01:06:49 But we do tend to--
01:06:51 When we have applications come in,
01:06:53 we look at all on the basis of do they hit the various marks
01:06:57 on the various powers that we are trying to achieve.
01:07:01 And we also look at duplication.
01:07:04 So if an organization comes to us
01:07:06 and we have a long-standing partner
01:07:08 that is already operating in that space doing the same work,
01:07:11 we will probably not go in that space again
01:07:14 because we want to make sure that when we disburse our funding
01:07:18 that we have as equitable a distribution as possible
01:07:23 so that we cover the different areas
01:07:25 and we don't, you know, overspend in one area
01:07:29 to the detriment of another area.
01:07:31 So we wouldn't want to overspend in, say, in arts and culture
01:07:35 and poverty alleviation and suffering.
01:07:37 - Right. - Right?
01:07:38 So we try to be as equitable as possible.
01:07:41 Yeah.
01:07:42 How-- Let's talk a little bit about
01:07:45 the performance of the program over the years.
01:07:49 I'm sure that the bank would have expended
01:07:54 millions and millions of dollars.
01:07:56 Has it been value for money, you think?
01:07:59 It has, I think.
01:08:01 You know, corporate social responsibility
01:08:04 isn't just about value for money
01:08:06 because you want to look at the impact on society.
01:08:09 You want to look at the beneficiaries.
01:08:12 And once we see that the beneficiaries are truly gaining
01:08:18 and, you know, coming away with a better experience--
01:08:21 - And performing. - --whether they-- Yes.
01:08:25 So we tend to look at not just the NGO
01:08:32 but the recipients of the funding.
01:08:34 Do they move on?
01:08:35 Do they get better opportunities as a result of this funding?
01:08:39 You know, are they able to come out of a difficult situation?
01:08:43 So we have partners like Chosen Hands
01:08:45 that they do arts and wellness programs
01:08:47 with, you know, at-risk youth.
01:08:50 We have partners like Zebra Peak.
01:08:53 They provide--they actually have a carnival band
01:08:57 for at-risk youths who don't normally get to take part in culture
01:09:01 and they probably would be classified as socially marginalized
01:09:04 because they don't have the opportunity to participate
01:09:06 in Trinidad and Tobago's carnival,
01:09:08 which is, you know, a key part of every Trinidadian growing up
01:09:12 and Tobagonian.
01:09:13 We also do a lot of work in Tobago as well
01:09:15 with Tobago Carnival, with Tobago Heritage Festival,
01:09:18 with Habitat for Humanity.
01:09:20 All in all, you know, we try to make sure
01:09:23 that the beneficiaries are the ones that we look at
01:09:27 as opposed to--yes, the NGO is there,
01:09:30 but the good work of the NGO has to hit the mark
01:09:33 for the beneficiaries.
01:09:35 And how many applicants--
01:09:40 and I suspect this has to be consideration
01:09:43 every time this comes around--
01:09:45 how many applicants are you looking for
01:09:49 during a particular period?
01:09:51 So more or less we tend to want to look for
01:09:55 an average of 50 to 75 applicants.
01:10:01 We tend to get around that every time, every year.
01:10:05 So we--because it's a finite amount of funding, you know,
01:10:11 so if you have too many, you do end up in a space
01:10:13 where you have to turn away more.
01:10:15 The funds are going to become thin.
01:10:17 Correct, correct.
01:10:19 So what we would want to do is ensure that, yes,
01:10:22 our long-standing partners are taken account for,
01:10:25 but we also try to bring on new partners.
01:10:27 And we have been focusing on partners that are operating
01:10:30 in that sustainability space,
01:10:32 so renewable energy projects related to agri-entrepreneurship.
01:10:37 We have a new partner we brought on,
01:10:39 the Marvister Institute of Agricultural Training
01:10:41 and Development.
01:10:43 We're actually rolling out a year-long program with them
01:10:45 where they are going to farmers in various communities.
01:10:49 Every month they will have a different type of training
01:10:51 where they are training these farmers to do organic farming,
01:10:55 and in doing so, raising the sustainability levels,
01:11:00 the crop yield levels.
01:11:02 They have a particular formula through sustainability
01:11:06 where they are able to almost double the yields
01:11:08 of these farmers, and that's something that we are trying to do.
01:11:11 One is coming up this week for papaya production,
01:11:15 which we know as popo.
01:11:17 Popo, yeah.
01:11:19 And that is coming up this week.
01:11:23 And what we are trying to do there is ensure
01:11:27 a greater food sustainability security for Trinidad and Tobago
01:11:30 because we import so much food.
01:11:32 And our agricultural entrepreneurs,
01:11:35 they are actually very appreciative of the fact
01:11:40 that we are able to provide this training,
01:11:42 and not just the training.
01:11:44 We actually have a microloan facility available to them,
01:11:48 and we also have for them--
01:11:51 we built into the program of the training
01:11:54 financial literacy for agri-entrepreneurs
01:11:57 because what we tend to find is that agricultural farmers,
01:12:02 they know their trade.
01:12:04 They know how to go out and get the best out of their fields,
01:12:08 their bookkeeping, their actual planning, financial planning,
01:12:12 and how to move from one crop to the next
01:12:15 and ensure that you have that constant stream
01:12:17 to keep your business going.
01:12:19 That is something that they need some support with.
01:12:21 So we are bringing in our branch staff
01:12:27 as part of the training to sort of sit with them
01:12:30 and to go through what they need to understand in that space.
01:12:33 So it truly is a more holistic approach in that regard
01:12:37 where it's not just the training.
01:12:39 It means that we are also offering them loan facilities
01:12:42 as they may require,
01:12:44 and the advice to help you really maximize that loan facility.
01:12:48 You are seeing a thrust by people
01:12:57 to get into non-traditional sectors
01:13:04 because if we're speaking about things like climate change
01:13:08 and renewable energy and things like that,
01:13:12 you're seeing people gravitating towards that,
01:13:15 coming to the bank and looking for funding
01:13:17 for projects such as those?
01:13:19 So under the Corporate Social Responsibility Program,
01:13:23 we are seeing NGOs that are trying to build awareness
01:13:27 of the importance of renewable energy,
01:13:30 and that's where our funding will go in that space.
01:13:33 It will be helping organizations like Sustain TT
01:13:37 who are trying to promote renewable energy use.
01:13:42 Separate and apart from that,
01:13:45 the bank has pledged 200 million U.S. in financing,
01:13:50 which is separate from our Corporate Social Responsibility Program,
01:13:53 to fund projects related to renewable energy,
01:13:56 to clean vehicles, the clean fuel use, etc.
01:14:01 So yes, our Corporate Social Responsibility Program
01:14:06 is focused on that renewable energy side,
01:14:09 but the bank as a whole has a strategic focus
01:14:12 on enabling and unlocking opportunities
01:14:16 for our country to get into that space.
01:14:19 Yeah, Ms. Gopal just spoke about 200 million U.S.
01:14:22 Ms. Gopal, anything else you'd like to tell us
01:14:25 before you leave us this morning?
01:14:27 Well, essentially I would like to say to Trinidad and Tobago
01:14:31 that we are here, the Republic Bank is here,
01:14:34 to support our various communities,
01:14:37 from sport to culture to environment
01:14:41 to the socially marginalized.
01:14:43 Please visit our website, come talk to us.
01:14:46 We are very willing to listen and be able to support
01:14:50 any opportunity where we may be able to really make an impact
01:14:55 in our societies.
01:14:57 Our staff are very much invested in this.
01:15:00 We are also focused on projects related to diversity,
01:15:02 equity and inclusion.
01:15:04 So please talk to us.
01:15:06 Yeah, and they can contact any bank?
01:15:08 They can contact any bank, but we encourage them
01:15:10 to either visit the website or they can email pmad@rfhl.com.
01:15:16 That is our dedicated email box
01:15:19 for our Corporate Social Responsibility Program.
01:15:22 Yeah, Ms. Gopal, it was a pleasure speaking with you.
01:15:24 Thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:15:25 Thank you very much, Marlon.
01:15:26 Thank you for having me.
01:15:27 A pleasure as well.
01:15:28 Bye for now.
01:15:29 So it's time for a break.
01:15:30 We do have this image for you.
01:15:31 It's of an orchid blooming this morning in Chagonas,
01:15:36 and it's from Paula.
01:15:37 Good morning, Paula.
01:15:38 Thank you.
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01:18:04 Yes, you ready?
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01:18:11 [laughter]
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01:18:21 Here's to one more tradition shared.
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01:19:46 All right, welcome back.
01:19:47 So for the sixth year, the Inter-American Development Bank
01:19:49 is once again teaming up with the Office of the President
01:19:52 to confer the President's Award for Innovation and Service Excellence.
01:19:56 All right, so to tell us more, our Corrina Corburn,
01:19:59 Country Representative, IDB, and Ryan DeWenerine,
01:20:03 Manager of Quality Assurance at MIC.
01:20:07 Ms. Corburn, Mr. DeWenerine, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:20:11 Yeah. Well, let's get right into it.
01:20:13 Let's talk about the IDB Praise Awards 2023.
01:20:17 Sure, morning.
01:20:20 First of all, I would say that this is a program
01:20:23 that we're extremely committed to,
01:20:26 and so is the Office of the President.
01:20:29 The new president, President Christine Kangaloo,
01:20:34 was approached about this as soon as she came into office
01:20:38 and agreed to continue this very important program.
01:20:42 The aim of it really is to recognize public sector entities
01:20:48 and institutions, agencies that are under severe constraints,
01:20:56 sometimes actually implementing important initiatives
01:21:01 to improve service to citizens
01:21:04 and to improve citizens' experience of government services
01:21:08 that they have to use.
01:21:12 So we do find that this is particularly important
01:21:17 because in many cases, public servants are not recognized
01:21:21 for the excellent work they're doing on a daily basis.
01:21:24 And this is just a way to acknowledge that
01:21:28 and to shine a light on the important work that they're doing.
01:21:32 So praise is actually a representation of the president's awards
01:21:38 for innovation and service excellence for the public sector.
01:21:43 Yeah. Mr. DeWenerine, let's speak a little bit about
01:21:46 the MIC's participation here.
01:21:49 Sure. Well, the MIC had the distinct privilege of entering
01:21:53 the Praise Awards in 2022 and emerging with the award
01:21:57 in service excellence as well as the People's Choice Award
01:22:00 in service excellence.
01:22:02 So we can attest to the value that the Praise Award brings
01:22:06 to the public service providers,
01:22:09 both as a recognition of the work that is put in
01:22:12 as well as a platform to build on that work
01:22:15 and really catapult it from success to success.
01:22:18 Yeah. What was your project?
01:22:20 Our project was titled Rediscovering Tivet.
01:22:23 And that emerged as we reentered the market from the pandemic
01:22:29 into a very volatile situation.
01:22:33 So rediscovery was really the process of adapting our processes
01:22:38 to a dynamically changing environment
01:22:41 and focusing on integrating our stakeholders more
01:22:46 into our processes, not to reinvent the wheel,
01:22:49 but rather to use the foundations that were already there
01:22:53 and through collaboration, you know, enable ourselves
01:22:59 to adapt to the changing demands that we were seeing.
01:23:02 Yeah. How did it make the organization more,
01:23:07 I suspect, efficient?
01:23:09 So partnership and collaboration, again,
01:23:12 we really focused on deepening those bonds with our trainee base
01:23:16 as well as our partners.
01:23:18 What that allowed us to do is ease some of the strain
01:23:23 and the limitations that we operate under
01:23:30 and navigate better along the changing environment.
01:23:35 So, for example, we were able to, the project itself had several arms.
01:23:40 Yes.
01:23:41 Digitalization coming out of COVID was a big movement for us.
01:23:46 So we were able to evolve our online training platforms.
01:23:51 We were able to integrate digital literacy more
01:23:55 into our training programs.
01:23:58 Accessibility as well, which capitalized on the digitalization,
01:24:03 but also allowed us to pivot to more short-form training
01:24:08 so that persons could access skills development
01:24:11 while still balancing their home and their work life.
01:24:15 You see that reflected in some of the partnerships we have ongoing
01:24:19 from 2022 and still ongoing now with entities such as
01:24:24 the Ministry of Trade and Industry,
01:24:26 the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service,
01:24:30 with whom we've been able to provide a wealth of training opportunities
01:24:34 in engineering, in woodworking.
01:24:38 We have an upcoming training opportunity,
01:24:41 which will see the marine industry,
01:24:44 and that is with existing ministerial partnerships
01:24:46 as well as in partnership with Caribbean Fisheries
01:24:50 Training and Development Institute.
01:24:52 So through that collaborative approach and those strong networks
01:24:58 that we developed through that project,
01:25:00 we have been able to better adapt, again, more efficiently.
01:25:04 Yeah. Ms. Coburn, what were you looking for in selecting the projects?
01:25:09 So we tried to look for entities and projects that are doing something new,
01:25:16 something innovative, something that maybe hasn't been tried before.
01:25:22 In the service excellence category,
01:25:25 we certainly try to highlight entities that see citizens
01:25:31 and clients as people they're serving.
01:25:38 We want them to empower their staff to better serve these clients.
01:25:44 We want them to invest in learning, training,
01:25:48 capacity building for their own people.
01:25:50 We look for engagement to make sure that employees of these agencies
01:25:55 are very happy serving the client and that they look for feedback
01:26:01 on the way that they're serving,
01:26:03 and then they have implemented measures to continuously improve.
01:26:09 So that's in the service excellence category.
01:26:11 In the innovation category, we do look for elements of digital transformation,
01:26:18 the use of digital tools and technology,
01:26:21 but also just transforming processes.
01:26:25 Even if the digital tools are not the focus of the initiative,
01:26:31 they would just be assisting in helping these initiatives
01:26:36 to meet their ultimate objective,
01:26:38 which is to transform a process and deliver a better service.
01:26:43 Yeah. But how do organizations become a part of the project?
01:26:47 So we advertise a few months before the adjudication process takes place.
01:26:55 We also write directly to the heads of ministries, departments,
01:27:01 agencies, and local government authorities.
01:27:07 So we invite them to apply.
01:27:10 We advertise through social media.
01:27:13 And this year, we were privileged enough to receive
01:27:17 about 15 applications in each category.
01:27:21 So I would think that it is something that is growing and developing.
01:27:26 Entities understand that this is a way to really highlight
01:27:29 the important work they're doing.
01:27:32 So is it that the registration period for this period here
01:27:37 that we're dealing with, can persons, can organizations still apply?
01:27:41 No, no, no, no, no. It's over.
01:27:44 Actually, the judging process took place a few weeks ago.
01:27:49 We have a very eminent panel of judges who are not from the public sector,
01:27:54 but who are very familiar with what's going on in the country
01:27:58 and how these entities are performing.
01:28:02 And so they made their presentations.
01:28:04 We have prepared video features on each proposal.
01:28:09 And so those will be posted this week for the public to vote.
01:28:15 So, Brian mentioned there is a People's Choice category as well.
01:28:19 So there's the main award, which is adjudicated by the eminent panel of judges.
01:28:25 And then the People's Choice award is based on public voting.
01:28:31 And how do people participate?
01:28:34 So there is a platform that we use called Menti.com.
01:28:37 It will be open for the next two weeks.
01:28:40 It will be on my social media pages,
01:28:43 but the entities themselves have already been talking about it.
01:28:47 And they will be promoting it through various means.
01:28:51 They'll be on the radio, they'll be on TV, they'll be in the newspapers,
01:28:54 I'm sure, promoting their initiatives
01:28:58 and inviting the public to reflect their appreciation by voting.
01:29:03 Yeah. So David and Ryan, why should organizations be excited about this award and participating?
01:29:13 Well, certainly it is an opportunity, again, for organizations in the public service
01:29:20 to showcase and shine a light on some of the hard work that they have been doing.
01:29:27 Right now, as we are in the run up to the awards and there is voting ongoing,
01:29:36 they now have the opportunity to reach out to their shareholders, stakeholders rather,
01:29:42 and share their story and share their work.
01:29:48 Particularly now where the voice of your stakeholders is being called upon,
01:29:55 it's important to engage them because as you begin to encourage your stakeholders to vote,
01:30:01 they will ask the question, "What am I voting for?"
01:30:04 And that question becomes that impetus and that motivation for them to dive deep into the project
01:30:10 and the information that you are providing to them at this stage
01:30:14 and really learn about your organization, what you are doing, what you are about.
01:30:19 And as I said, as much as the Praise Awards is a recognition of work done,
01:30:25 by exposing that self and giving persons that insight into your work,
01:30:30 the philosophies that underpin your work and the values that drive what you do,
01:30:35 it also is a launch pad for cultivating new partnerships,
01:30:41 for cultivating new stakeholders and reinforcing existing stakeholders.
01:30:47 So the Praise Award is both a recognition of work that was done,
01:30:54 but also a wonderful platform for the continuation of that and building upon your success.
01:31:01 I suspect it can also act, Ms. Coburn, to motivate workers within the organization
01:31:09 and at the end, the end product, it's going to be greater efficiency at the organization also.
01:31:17 Yes, that's true. We've seen over the years where this is not just about bragging rights,
01:31:23 but also a way to consider the work that you have done, reflect some praise and appreciation
01:31:32 for the work of employees and also to push the organization to greater heights in the future.
01:31:40 And so we do see repeats applications from entities over time,
01:31:46 but also new entities who want to be recognized with this very important award.
01:31:54 And so we think it has been useful in that respect.
01:31:57 And as I mentioned, we do see more applications on an annual basis.
01:32:01 So is it just for the bragging rights?
01:32:04 Yes, there's no financial award, believe it or not.
01:32:09 When we first started thinking about this award many years ago,
01:32:12 we thought about whether there should be a monetary award.
01:32:16 And ultimately we decided against it.
01:32:20 It is, you do receive a trophy.
01:32:25 There is a video feature, as I mentioned, that is prepared on the entity that they use for marketing purposes.
01:32:33 And, you know, these entities are mentioned in the budget speech.
01:32:38 The very first winner is continuously recognized.
01:32:43 And it's a different motivation when the award is a non-monetary award.
01:32:50 Yeah. All right. OK.
01:32:54 All right. Ms. Coburn, anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:32:58 Yes, I'd like to say that this is an opportunity.
01:33:02 I know a lot of the time, you know, citizens are not satisfied with the services that we receive.
01:33:08 And we spend a lot of time critiquing those services and those entities.
01:33:14 But if you are pleased and you have been impressed by the work of one of these agencies,
01:33:20 it's very, very simple. It doesn't really cost you anything to get online and vote for one of these entities and reflect your appreciation.
01:33:29 Yeah. So people can still vote. When do you have the awards again? What date?
01:33:36 So the award ceremony will be on December the 12th.
01:33:40 The voting will continue right up until the 10th of December.
01:33:47 Voting is open. So anyone can go online and vote and reflect.
01:33:53 Is it going to be a physical award?
01:33:55 Yeah. There is a trophy that's presented by the president.
01:33:59 Right. And quite a glitzy award ceremony at the Hyatt Regency.
01:34:06 And everyone will be there. The entities will bring their supporters.
01:34:11 Normally, the ministers who represent those agencies also attend to show their appreciation.
01:34:18 So it will be publicized and a celebratory event in a very important time of the year.
01:34:26 So we're looking forward to it. Yeah. Ms. Coburn, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:34:31 Also, Mr. Devin O'Ryan, congratulations again to you and your team.
01:34:34 Thank you, sir. Yeah. OK. So we are going to another break.
01:34:38 We are coming back.
01:34:42 [Break]
01:34:50 [Music]
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01:36:24 Slavery. A terrible time in our history.
01:36:30 The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit.
01:36:34 The exploitation of another human being.
01:36:37 It still exists today. It has a new name.
01:36:40 Human trafficking.
01:36:42 Anyone can be a victim.
01:36:44 There is forced labor.
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01:37:10 Human trafficking is a crime.
01:37:13 Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
01:37:16 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
01:37:21 [Music]
01:37:44 Alright everyone, so we are talking now about the UTT Sport and Exercise Machine Seminar.
01:37:51 We do have live on set Adrian Palmer, Head of Rehabilitation, UTT, and Nikolai Mills, High Performance Basketball Student-Athlete, to tell us about this seminar here.
01:38:03 Mr. Palmer, good morning. Mr. Mills, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:38:07 Thanks for having me.
01:38:08 Let's get right into it. Tell us about the seminar.
01:38:10 Alright, so this seminar we are having on Wednesday at the Chagaramas Campus.
01:38:16 So this is our Sport and Exercise Medicine and Sport Science Seminar.
01:38:20 In many developed countries and even some of our fellow countries within the Caribbean, they have sports medicine associations, sports science associations.
01:38:29 So these associations will put on events where the different professionals, the coaches, the players, the sports managers, the physiotherapists,
01:38:38 could come to these seminars where they could learn up-to-date knowledge in terms of how you train athletes, how you develop athletes, how you care for athletes.
01:38:48 But here in Trinidad and Tobago, we do not have anything like that.
01:38:52 At UTT, we have a sports program for quite some time now and we are producing these professionals.
01:38:58 The other day we sat and said, "We need to put something in place where our local professionals could come and receive continuing professional development."
01:39:07 And that's where this idea came from.
01:39:10 Let's talk about some of the objectives of the program, of the seminar.
01:39:17 Yes. So as I said, one of the main objectives is we want to make this an annual event and we want to get our coaches out.
01:39:26 We want to get our massage therapists, strength and conditioning coaches, sports nutritionists, physiotherapists.
01:39:33 We want to get these persons out so that we could provide a development opportunity for them.
01:39:39 Because sometimes what we have, we have a lot of persons that would have become a coach, say, 10, 15 years ago.
01:39:45 And they're applying techniques and these things that have been outdated.
01:39:49 Because the science in which we develop and care for athletes, it's not that it has changed. It is changing.
01:39:57 So it's a continuous thing.
01:39:58 Dynamic.
01:39:59 It's dynamic.
01:40:00 So one of the objectives is to provide that opportunity for them.
01:40:03 And we want to also use this seminar to highlight some of the work that we've been doing at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:40:09 So within this seminar, we'll be having a networking and poster session.
01:40:13 So some of our students will be alighting the research that they have been doing.
01:40:17 And so we just want to also use it to promote.
01:40:20 Because we have to remind persons that UTT is a national university and sports is something that is big on the agenda.
01:40:27 And we want to promote sports and not only develop sports, but we want to develop the professionals within sports.
01:40:33 Yeah.
01:40:34 Mr. Bills, let's bring you in here.
01:40:37 You're a student athlete.
01:40:39 Tell us about your participation.
01:40:41 I've been a student athlete with UTT since 2020.
01:40:45 And the journey has been rough.
01:40:47 But it's been a good journey in terms of getting a mentor and I feel interested in strength and conditioning.
01:40:54 And there's a family at UTT and a high performance team.
01:40:57 Yeah. Yeah.
01:40:58 Let's get into the program of study that you are participating in.
01:41:05 If you could just repeat for us and let's go a little deeper into it.
01:41:10 So I am doing a bachelor's in kinesiology with a specialization in exercise science.
01:41:16 And well, it feels like physiotherapy, manual therapy, massage therapy, strength and conditioning as we go nutritionist.
01:41:24 These are some of the things that could become after doing the bachelor's in kinesiology.
01:41:30 Yeah. But Mr. Palmer, isn't this what we're speaking here a very holistic view when it comes to sport?
01:41:44 And I know it happens in other countries of the world.
01:41:47 I'm not sure how widespread it is throughout the Caribbean.
01:41:52 But to me, if we are to treat sport in the most serious way in which we should be treating it.
01:42:01 But then all of this has to be very, very important.
01:42:05 Yes. And that's one of the reasons why we have in this seminar.
01:42:09 Yes. Because we need to have the conversation.
01:42:12 I could see for a fact I've been living in Trinidad for seven years and I could tell you when we're not short on talent, we are very talented athletes.
01:42:22 But where we fall short is developing athletes. Yes. And that is why we need to have this discussion.
01:42:28 That is why we need to get our coaches here in one location, because it's not just all about teaching what's new.
01:42:36 We want to facilitate discussion, interaction, networking, sharing of knowledge, because we have to change the silo mentality in sports.
01:42:45 And that is one of the things that led to us developing the seminar as well, because you have athletes participating in strength and condition,
01:42:52 because the focus of the conference will be strength and conditioning and sports nutrition.
01:42:57 And the coach would tell him that, hey, don't do S&C. S&C is going to make it too bulky.
01:43:02 You're going to get big, you're going to get slow. And the coach will stop them from S&C.
01:43:06 There was an athlete, she's a swimmer. And when the coach stopped her from participating in S&C, her times got slower.
01:43:14 When she returned to S&C, she got a scholarship. Right.
01:43:19 So it does improve performance. It does develop athletes. So we want coaches to see the importance, we want them to see the science behind it.
01:43:28 You know, so we're creating that opportunity where they could come or could learn or could have the discussion or could change our approach and start to focus on developing athletes and not just depending on talent.
01:43:38 Because if you look at the Commonwealth Youth Games that we had recently, yes, we did well in some aspects.
01:43:43 But when you look at countries like Australia and England, we say, boy, when you look at those students, those students are very developed.
01:43:50 But we're thinking always because they have better stadiums. Sometimes not what they have is how they develop the athletes.
01:43:56 So we're bringing this into the discussion because this is something that we need to focus on in Trinidad.
01:44:02 And I think you use a very important word there. There is a science to this and it has to be addressed in that way.
01:44:10 And it cannot and there must be structure and it cannot be done in an ad hoc way where someone someone is doing something just because they feel to do it.
01:44:22 Or someone in the past would have told them, look, this will work. It has to be a science.
01:44:27 Yes, they have to be assigned. So, for example, we still have a lot of coaches that will tell the athletes you much you must stretch before you go on training, must stretch.
01:44:38 You must do static stretching because it will prevent injury.
01:44:41 But all the studies within the past decade show that it doesn't prevent injury as a matter of fact, it could it could impede their performance.
01:44:47 Yeah. Mr. Palmer, hold your thought. We're just going to a very short break. We'll be right back.
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01:47:24 [Music]
01:47:44 Alright, so welcome back everyone. So we are continuing our discussion on the University of Trinidad and Tobago Sports and Exercise Medicine and Sports Science Conference 2023.
01:47:54 We do have Adrian Palmer and we also have Nikolai Mills. Mr. Palmer, who's this seminar for?
01:48:03 Alright, this seminar basically is for anyone. Once you train, you develop athletes, you mentor athletes, this seminar is for you.
01:48:13 So whether you're a coach, a trainer, a sports manager, a sports administrator, a massage therapist, a strength and conditioning coach, a physiotherapist, a sports nutritionist.
01:48:24 If you're even appearing for an athlete, because there are certain things that athletes need and the parents don't understand.
01:48:30 So there's also the opportunity for them. And we're also targeting students. So whether it be students at the sixth form level studying physical education or those at UA, UTT within a sports program.
01:48:42 Because as I said, we'll be having a networking session as well. So we want to expose the students to other industrial leaders locally so that they could start becoming familiar with the person.
01:48:52 So that when they finish their degrees and they're ready to go forward, they have someone say, hey, I've met so-and-so at the event.
01:49:01 So it's for everybody involved in sports. Because the information we can at the university, we have all the science and we know all the science.
01:49:10 So, for example, in our high performance program, when students matriculate into this program, there are so many deficiencies that we see on a year to year basis.
01:49:21 And then when we sit down, we said, no, we can't wait to fix the problem when only a few athletes come here.
01:49:27 This knowledge, we have to disseminate it to the rest of the population because we can't do everything.
01:49:33 And that is why we're targeting everyone that is involved in developing, treating, mentoring athletes.
01:49:39 We want all of them as a part of this discussion because there's something in it for everyone.
01:49:44 Yeah. And Nikolai, let's speak about that. Something in it for everyone. How does this help the student athlete?
01:49:50 I think just understanding that strength and conditioning and nutrition as a whole, as an athlete, is together, is not something separate.
01:50:01 It's not you go out there and you play and you train and you do this strength and conditioning and nutrition when you want.
01:50:07 It directly affects your performance. It could help you reach a level that you didn't think you could have reached,
01:50:13 especially if there's someone who's not doing strength and conditioning or who's not taking nutrition seriously right now.
01:50:18 This event could give you all the knowledge, as you said, meet industry leaders.
01:50:22 You could have a mentor there that you can meet and it could change your life.
01:50:25 It could be a life changing experience every year for students and sports enthusiasts.
01:50:29 Yeah. And this seminar happens on Wednesday, November 29th, 9 o'clock to 6.30 p.m.
01:50:37 As I look at the program here, it's a full day of discussions and activities.
01:50:44 Yes, it's a full day of discussion and activities. And as you see, we have a lot of speakers.
01:50:50 We have about 17 speakers, you know, so it's a lot to go through.
01:50:54 And some of our speakers will be international persons.
01:50:57 So, for example, we'll be having Richard James, who is a former Jamaican Olympian,
01:51:02 and he's also a strength and conditioning coach and adjunct lecturer at LIU in the States.
01:51:07 He specializes in developing youth athletes because that is an important thing we need to bring into discussion
01:51:14 because there are so many myths around training children.
01:51:17 Right. So we'll be having him. We'll be having Dr. Michelle King.
01:51:21 She is the person who invented the Gatorade sweat patch.
01:51:25 So when I told her about the initiative and I said we really want to develop sports and our sports and professionals locally,
01:51:31 she was like, OK, I'm ready and I'm willing to be a part.
01:51:34 And we have other strength and conditioning coaches from other universities in the States, Jamaica, Barbados,
01:51:39 will also be present. And I say it's a variety of topics and the topics are not hard up.
01:51:45 We choose topics based on the issues that we are seeing.
01:51:49 So the information that everyone will get from this seminar will be very applicable.
01:51:54 I'm telling you, no one will attend this seminar and leave without something to change the way they practice sports.
01:52:00 Yeah. Gentlemen, anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:52:06 OK, I know. All right.
01:52:10 How does one need to register or they can just come to the venue?
01:52:14 All right. They could get more information on the UTT website.
01:52:17 So once they go on the website, they will see the banner. And once I click on the banner, they'll get all the details there.
01:52:22 Right. So we're really encouraging our coaches and our local professionals to be a part of this.
01:52:28 It's a developmental initiative. And as I said, the silo approach cannot continue in sports.
01:52:33 And if we want to get forward and want to maximize on the talent that our youth in Trinidad have,
01:52:39 we have to apply the science correctly so that we get the best of all of our athletes.
01:52:44 Yeah. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure speaking with you this morning and we wish you all the best for your seminar.
01:52:50 Thank you. All right. So we are going to another short break. We are coming back.
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01:53:16 I'm very excited. I did a different kind of performance. I did an English song.
01:53:31 I did a performance. Of course, you can tell me about the experience.
01:53:54 All right. And that's going to do it for our program for today.
01:54:18 Thank you to all of our persons who are on our program today and to our viewers.
01:54:24 Remember that Emmy Prime comes up a little later. We leave you with this image.
01:54:27 Red sunset picture taken by 14 year old Anaya. Good morning, Anaya. Thank you very much.
01:54:48 Thank you.
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