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00:00:00 Good morning, I am Ansel Gibbs with a news update.
00:00:12 Fiery protests erupted in parts of Sangre Grandi on Tuesday.
00:00:16 It followed a police-involved shooting that left Brandon DeGale dead.
00:00:21 Cops say the suspect pointed a gun at officers.
00:00:25 Residents of the area say the killing was unlawful.
00:00:28 I hear my son was talking to them and then I hear pow!
00:00:33 My son was here and he was in blood by the bed.
00:00:39 An investigation will be done into the shooting.
00:00:42 An investigation will be done.
00:00:45 Condolences continue to pour in following the death of former Sangre Grandi Regional
00:00:50 Corporation Chairman Terry Rondon on Tuesday.
00:00:53 Today, approximately maybe about two hours ago, two and a half hours ago, my world was
00:01:01 just shattered into a million pieces.
00:01:05 My daddy has gained his wings and he has gone to heaven.
00:01:13 As many of you may know, he was healing for some time but he was getting better so this
00:01:19 was not expected at all.
00:01:23 He died peacefully, I can say that, and he died in the arms of the woman he loved the
00:01:28 most.
00:01:29 Terry Rondon was 74.
00:01:32 And in the weather forecast, the islands can expect mainly sunny, slightly hazy and at
00:01:37 times breezy conditions despite one or two brisk passing showers.
00:01:43 Seas are slight to moderate with waves anticipated to approach 1.5 meters in height.
00:01:50 Marine interests are reminded spring tide remains in effect and caution is advised when
00:01:55 venturing offshore.
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00:04:37 >> I'm Marlon Hopkins and welcome to "The Morning Edition."
00:04:41 It's Wednesday, November 29th, 2023 and thank you very much for joining us.
00:04:45 I hope that you have had a good night and that you're with us safe this morning, that
00:04:50 there were no untoward incidents overnight.
00:04:53 All right, so let's check out to see what's happening in the Daily Express.
00:04:56 On the front page today, residents block road, burn rubbish following police raid in Grandy.
00:05:03 Cops kill contractor.
00:05:05 Maintaining order, police officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch speak to angry
00:05:09 protesters at Immortelle Crescent Road 3 in Sanctuary Grandy yesterday following hours
00:05:15 of protest action by residents over the shooting of Brandon DeGale by police.
00:05:21 And Uncle Terry dies, Terry Rondon.
00:05:24 All right, let's check out some sport now.
00:05:27 All St. Anthony's, West Moorings Tigers, Mall Chagones, NorthSec, and Intercoll Quarterfinal.
00:05:34 One-way traffic.
00:05:36 The first half of yesterday's Coca-Cola Intercoll Quarterfinal was as one-sided as they come.
00:05:42 North champions, St. Anthony's College, advance to the National Semifinals along with Tobago's
00:05:48 Speyside Secondary following a 5-1 romp over Chagones North Secondary at the Hazley Crawford
00:05:54 Stadium in Mucorapo.
00:05:57 Yeah?
00:05:58 All right, so it's time to remind you of our Trinbago, your nice feature.
00:06:03 Remember to participate.
00:06:04 WhatsApp your videos and images to 737-3778.
00:06:10 Yeah, we do have this for you.
00:06:12 It's an image of a sunset from Point 14.
00:06:16 All right, so we do have a very packed program for you today.
00:06:20 We are going to a very short break.
00:06:21 We'll be right back.
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00:09:06 [music]
00:09:08 No longer may I seem to be a paradise of glory
00:09:13 or a river of pleasure running out to the sea.
00:09:17 But I take my refuge in my paradise.
00:09:22 All right, so welcome back, everyone.
00:09:24 So the tributes keep coming in for former chairman of the Sangu Grand Regional Corporation,
00:09:28 Terry Rondon.
00:09:29 On the line we do have this morning Mrs. Laurel Lizama-Leesing.
00:09:34 Mrs. Lizama-Leesing, thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:09:38 Good morning, Marlon, and good morning to your viewing audience.
00:09:41 Thank you very much for having me here for us to have this discussion
00:09:44 about the life and the legend, Mr. Martin Terry Rondon.
00:09:47 Yeah, that's a--I think it's a way--the way that you have described him
00:09:54 is the way that a number of people are describing him
00:09:57 as we look at the man and we look at his career,
00:10:01 as we look at his impact on the community.
00:10:05 How do you remember him?
00:10:08 Oh, it's very personal for me.
00:10:10 Ever since my own political existence came into being,
00:10:13 which would have been at the age of 12 years old,
00:10:15 I remember interfacing with Martin Terry Rondon.
00:10:18 He has always been everyone's favorite uncle, everyone's go-to person,
00:10:24 everyone's sounding board.
00:10:26 He's always been the voice of reason, a peacemaker, a way maker.
00:10:30 He's always stood on the side of goodness and the side of what is right.
00:10:35 He's been a great mentor to many people.
00:10:38 He's a servant of the people.
00:10:40 He's a man who lived love and loved life.
00:10:45 And this is a tremendous loss for all of us, for us in the PNM,
00:10:49 particularly for his family.
00:10:51 And please permit me, on behalf of the leadership, executive,
00:10:54 and members of the People's National Movement,
00:10:56 to express our sincerest condolences to his beautiful and longstanding wife,
00:11:00 his daughter Jozan, and go on to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren
00:11:05 and all of those who loved Uncle Terry very, very dearly.
00:11:09 This is, in fact, a very, very sad moment for us.
00:11:12 Yeah.
00:11:13 And I think it is safe to say that Mr. Rondon really kept--
00:11:19 he managed to keep that common touch.
00:11:21 You can always contact him.
00:11:24 He was very, very accessible.
00:11:27 Office never really--well, I can say that confidently.
00:11:31 Office never got to his head.
00:11:34 He was just very, very--he never lost that common touch.
00:11:39 Yes, and I can confidently agree with you that those sentiments are,
00:11:45 in fact, correct and described in a proper way, our Uncle Terry.
00:11:49 He served--he first entered electoral politics just around '95, '96,
00:11:54 and he served an unbroken 27-year term up until the local government election
00:12:00 of this year.
00:12:01 He has served as chairman of the regional corporation.
00:12:04 He has met with prime ministers.
00:12:06 He has dined with kings and queens, and yet still he remained that very rural,
00:12:11 North Coast, Rootsy, Eastern boy Terry.
00:12:17 He never, ever lost sight of what his goal was,
00:12:20 which was the development of his region that he loved so dearly.
00:12:24 You would recall that he was awarded the Hummingbird Medal of Gold
00:12:27 September last year, and he dedicated it to his people.
00:12:31 He always called them his people.
00:12:32 He said, "My people," his people of Matlut, Matura.
00:12:35 He dedicated that national award for long service to the country of Trinidad
00:12:39 and Tobago to his people.
00:12:42 He was always available.
00:12:43 He's the person who can walk into anyone's home at any time
00:12:47 and be very welcomed and safe.
00:12:49 He knew each of his burgesses intimately.
00:12:53 He knew everyone by name.
00:12:54 He was attending everybody's christening, baptism, wedding, funeral.
00:12:58 He was there.
00:12:59 He really was a man for all seasons.
00:13:01 He was an excellent politician, and by politician I mean somebody
00:13:06 who is of service to the people who elected him.
00:13:10 Yeah, but wasn't it more than love for his community?
00:13:15 There was a kind of obsession by him for his community and serving his community.
00:13:23 I think obsession is a good word, a very good word.
00:13:28 But it was a good--it's not a terrible obsession.
00:13:30 It's actually a very good--he was so passionate about the development.
00:13:35 He, having been exposed to life outside of northeast Trinidad,
00:13:39 which we consider to be to an extent rural,
00:13:42 had seen the possibilities and the opportunities,
00:13:44 and while he wanted to maintain the idyllic, pristine tourism nature side of it,
00:13:48 he also wanted the development of the people,
00:13:51 whether it's technical, vocational, academic,
00:13:54 and whether it's economical, social, or psychological.
00:13:57 He just wanted the full development of the people,
00:14:00 and so he took everything that he got from the outside and brought it to the inside,
00:14:05 and he wanted to make--particularly his electoral district,
00:14:10 which was first Toco Fishing Pond and which is now Valencia East Toco,
00:14:14 he wanted to make the people of his electoral district--and that's a huge,
00:14:17 that's a huge electoral district, one of the largest electoral districts in the local government system.
00:14:22 And he really wanted the development.
00:14:24 He wanted to see good infrastructure.
00:14:26 He wanted to ensure that there were educational opportunities.
00:14:29 He wanted to ensure that all people who were visitors,
00:14:31 the domestic and foreign tourists who came into the region,
00:14:34 experienced really what that northeast coast was.
00:14:38 And it speaks to his--along with his passion came a great deal of hospitality.
00:14:43 So nobody would go into that area without Uncle Terry having a grand celebration for them.
00:14:49 I remember he made an impassioned plea earlier this year to have the PNM Sports and Family Day
00:14:55 in the constituency of Toco, San Gregorio, and the general council agreed,
00:15:00 and we had the family day up there.
00:15:02 And every time there was a site visit, any time there was any sort of visit,
00:15:06 any technical team coming in, even when the infrastructure was being laid down,
00:15:09 he made sure that he had breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, refreshments,
00:15:13 somewhere to go and change, and a welcoming party to greet the people.
00:15:17 Always you'd see some signage from Toco with love.
00:15:20 During the internal campaign last year when we had our internal elections, December last year,
00:15:25 he rallied with the team everywhere.
00:15:27 He created personalized items, campaign items, and paraphernalia for the members of the leaders in service team.
00:15:34 He had a particular softness for young people who were coming into the politics,
00:15:39 so he adopted a number of them, took them under his wing, both within local government and central government.
00:15:46 He would have mentored a number of young people in local government,
00:15:49 and he took current MP for Toco, San Gregorio, Honorable Roger Munro, under his wing,
00:15:55 and he trained Roger well in the ways of the PNM,
00:15:58 and Roger has turned out to be one of the greatest representatives of constituents that this country has ever seen.
00:16:05 Yeah. So we know that Mr. Rondon has been ailing for some time.
00:16:09 He had been ailing, but I suspect his death still came as a surprise to the People's National Movement.
00:16:16 I suspect that the PNM is planning something special for him.
00:16:22 Yes, he had been ailing prior to the 2020 general election.
00:16:26 He didn't have screen. You would see testimonies of that circulating, and I was part of the screening committee then,
00:16:31 and I remember him clearly talking about the surgeries that would be required,
00:16:36 and I think a lot of it had to do with his spine and other things, and he started walking with a stick,
00:16:41 but he was still very, very passionate and still willing to be of service to the people.
00:16:45 So it dates back to before 2020. Fast forward now to this year, he slowly was declining.
00:16:51 He was in a number of therapy sessions. He needed a lot of treatment, and as best as possible, help was given where needed.
00:17:01 But his passing yesterday was very sudden. He had just retained, as Joanne, his wonderful daughter, stated,
00:17:07 he had just retained from therapy and suddenly started cold sweating and feeling very unwell,
00:17:12 and from all preliminary indications seemed to point towards a heart attack,
00:17:17 which of course, you know, is something that you plan for. The PNM will in fact celebrate Uncle Terry in a huge way.
00:17:24 Yesterday, I was speaking with the acting leader of government business in the Senate, Randall Mitchell,
00:17:28 and he came to me and said, "We have to make sure that we do something extra special for Uncle Terry."
00:17:33 Similar sentiments have been expressed by our party chairman, Ann-Robin Stewart-Young, our general secretary,
00:17:39 and of course, our prime minister, who was batting year for year with Uncle Terry.
00:17:44 You know, their birthdays are just a couple of weeks apart, so they celebrated each other in a very real way,
00:17:49 both having long-standing people of Trinidad and Tobago. So the PNM and the Tope Santa Ana constituency,
00:17:55 and I suspect the Women's League as well, intends to do something very special for him.
00:18:00 We have more details of the funeral arrangements as well, but we certainly will be very supportive and involved, as involved as possible.
00:18:07 Yeah. Mrs. Leesing, thank you very much for speaking with us this morning.
00:18:10 Thank you very much for having me. And again, our condolences and we are grateful for the life and service of Martin Terry Ryan.
00:18:16 Thank you.
00:18:17 Bye for now. So it's time for a quick break. We do have this image for you.
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00:20:43 [Music]
00:20:54 Alright, so welcome back. So we do have a lot for you on the program today,
00:20:58 but we are following up for you this controversy within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
00:21:04 and it deals with the promotion of hundreds of police officers.
00:21:10 And now there are questions concerning these promotions.
00:21:14 We do have on the line this morning, President of the Police, Social and Welfare Association, Mr. Gideon Dixon.
00:21:19 Mr. Dixon, good morning.
00:21:21 Good morning to you, sir, and good morning to your viewership.
00:21:25 Yeah. Well, Mr. Dixon, I think it is safe to say that this announcement or revelation would have come as a surprise to many.
00:21:36 You have had maybe about two days to look at this entire situation and I suspect do your own investigations.
00:21:44 What have you found?
00:21:47 Well, we don't want to be premature at this point in time.
00:21:53 I know that an investigation is taking place at the level of the executive of the of the TTPS.
00:22:02 The association might have its own views in terms of where it might have gone wrong.
00:22:06 But let me put the record clear and straight that firstly, the role of the association is as kept in our regular police service act is to ensure that level of transparency,
00:22:23 accountability and consistency in the process for promotion in the second division.
00:22:29 We will provide an observer who will sit in all the interviews and ensure that that level of consistency and tread.
00:22:40 Occurs with every individual who is participating in the process.
00:22:45 Now, the process is one where it entails you have an examination score which you would have had prior to 2021.
00:22:56 So you have officers who have passed the exams prior to 2021.
00:23:00 Their scores is tabulated out of a possible thirty five points maximum against thirty five.
00:23:07 So you have to get a hundred out of a hundred to get thirty five points.
00:23:10 So the officers have their scores already.
00:23:13 You also have the performance management appraisal, which also would have been the appraisal for the year 2022.
00:23:22 That score is also out of a maximum of 40 points.
00:23:26 So they would have that score going into the final stage of the process, which is the interview.
00:23:32 The interview carries 25 points maximum.
00:23:35 When you tabulate all scores, it works out to 100 points.
00:23:39 The association has observers in the process throughout the interviews.
00:23:45 Upon the completion of that, it is expected that the points of the individual officers will be uploaded and audited and sent to the commissioner for a merit list to be generated.
00:24:00 No, the merit list is generated by the independent consultant sent to the commissioner and the promotion will subsequently occur after the list is published.
00:24:12 So all of that occurred and the association played its role in terms of being present for the interviews and ensure that our trade was in fact a bonafide one.
00:24:23 And we are at the stage now that within the last couple of days, everyone came to the realization that a document was sent on office holder to another office holder,
00:24:36 asking for accountability in relation to the impact because it was detected that there is an error.
00:24:44 So we are aware an investigation has been launched and we will not be premature in adjudicating before that final position has been communicated.
00:24:57 And from there, we will also be engaging our membership because we know at the end of the day, there will be persons affected one way or the other.
00:25:06 But the association, again, our bid is to ensure that both the organization, the membership and by extension, members of the public get transparency, accountability and the best possible solution.
00:25:19 But how has your membership received the news of this erroneous promotions?
00:25:32 I'm asking how has your membership, what are police officers saying about these reports of erroneous promotions and most of the corporals who have been promoted?
00:25:46 Well, there has been a lot of disquiet on the ground. Even at the completion of the process in September of 2023, and the promotion occurred on the 29th, but this is getting into the 28th of September.
00:26:03 You would have had persons who, like every other promotion, exercised, would have persons not satisfied, would have meritless and they would have right at the public of this process.
00:26:19 So, from the onset, we have to see in that mindset, we can go closer as to where they are. So, we are aware that several officers, a couple of general officers would have written absent to this force and the person who did it, and put it to the next room.
00:26:39 Mr. Dixon, we are losing you. We are losing your connection. I don't know if anything we can do to address that. All right, you're back with us, sir.
00:26:50 Yes, please. Are you hearing me?
00:26:51 All right, go ahead, Mr. Dixon. Continue. Thank you very much.
00:26:55 So, we are aware that it was done as early as within the police. It started as early as within the police, week after the promotion, and that audit would impact, was meritless to be revised and generated.
00:27:13 And that in itself shows that both the organization intends to have transparency in the process of revocatory and to be able to put to rest any fears and any mishaps that might have occurred and bring it to the fore and do the right thing in terms of ensuring that the right persons were entitled to get promoted.
00:27:40 All right. So we know that and you confirmed this morning that a probe is underway. Have you been given a tall time frame for this probe when it should be completed?
00:27:53 Because I'm sure that this is causing some anxiety for police officers.
00:27:59 You are correct. We are aware that the probe is nearing completion. The probe is nearing completion. And I expect, we expect that the commission of police will make a statement in relation to this matter by the end of this week or early next week at latest.
00:28:19 That is of the expectation. We have written our correspondence and similarly coincided with the correspondence. We are expecting to have an utterance, members of the public and more so the officers who are affected as to what would have occurred, the impact of what occurred and what is the final position of the organization.
00:28:40 Yeah. But I'm also seeing, Mr. Dixon, I'm also seeing in the in the newspaper this morning, it is being reported that your association has not ruled out legal action in connection with this matter.
00:28:54 Well, that is correct because again, as I said, we will have officers affected one way or the other. And we understand that our membership would want to have this matter addressed and the place where you would find that your constitutional rights are protected.
00:29:20 So we at the end of the process, our membership, once they...
00:29:29 Mr. Dixon, Mr. President, we're losing you again.
00:29:33 Can you hear me?
00:29:35 Yeah, we're hearing you better now.
00:29:37 Hello?
00:29:38 Yeah, we're hearing you better, Mr. Dixon.
00:29:41 Once the membership gives the mandate in terms of having to seek redress at the court, the association will be prepared to go to our members who are affected and the court to adjust the matter.
00:29:54 Yeah. And Mr. Dixon, yes, a probe is underway. But when I suspect members of the public saw or heard of this announcement on the weekend, I think that it is safe to say that some people felt the police again.
00:30:14 What is happening within the police service? Another controversy has hit the police service. What is this doing for... and it's a term that you and other officers have used in the past, trust and confidence in the police service.
00:30:35 That is a question that we continue to grapple with on a daily basis. Both trust and confidence, the image of the organization, those things are things that the career holds dearly and we continue to strive to improve.
00:30:54 The reality of the situation again is one where everything that occurs in police appears to be going into the public domain. It doesn't happen with other institutions and unfortunately it's happening with ours.
00:31:10 And we are not perfect, likewise other institutions, but most of our shortcomings are placed in the public space. That is a matter that needs to be addressed from the executive level and throughout the trend of the organization.
00:31:26 To improve our confidence and our trust, we are saying at this point in time, transparency and accountability is the direction that we must go because you must be able to breed that level of understanding, appreciation and support of the persons who participate in the process by being more transparent and accountable.
00:31:48 So one of the things that we are calling for immediately is upon the completion of any exercise, let the officers have their marks in a timely manner and also put the marks out for all to scrutinize.
00:32:03 These things will alleviate mistrust or disbelief in the system that is put there. The system itself is a good system, but we are also saying that we are not distance from the organization in the past.
00:32:24 We should have had mistakes in even the process that was applied. So we have history of that, but those things were corrected both administratively and even to the court.
00:32:34 So again, it appears that we are going down that road and it should be stopping. We expect it to stop. We just need to do better. We need to double check. We have to be a little more precise, accurate in our disposition and be able to get the best results moving forward.
00:32:55 Mr. Dixon, we just have about 30 seconds again. One last question I have for you. What do you think about the way that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has dealt with this situation?
00:33:07 Yes, we know a probe has been initiated, but what about have they done enough, the TTPS, have they done enough to give assurances to police officers that this is going to be a fair probe and at the end of it, or should I put it this way?
00:33:32 What assurances you think, if any, have they given to police officers and are these assurances enough?
00:33:42 That is an excellent question, Mr. Hopkins. From the association lens, we believe that more could have been done in light of what would have been social media and the public space. There is room for improvement to our ability to communicate and we need to use and embrace whatever technological and support mechanisms there are to communicate with the officers.
00:34:11 Because we are in 2020, we are in 2024. I think that the quality of communication in the organization also needs to change with the times that we are in. The officers are more educated, the officers are amped up to go to visit their attorneys and officers have the ability to use the freedom of information to acquire information.
00:34:35 With these things being in place, our ability to communicate with the officers also has to transcend where we came from to be present and coherent in these times that we are in.
00:34:49 Yes, Gideon Dixon, thank you very much for speaking with us this morning and we will be monitoring the situation. Thank you again, sir.
00:34:56 Let me just say congratulations to the family of Mr. Rundon and all those who are his close associates on behalf of the association. He was in fact a true representative of people and the association would always acknowledge persons who have done tremendous in the field and try to also partake.
00:35:17 Thank you again, Mr. Dixon. All right, so it's time for another break. We are coming back.
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01:30:31 >> Welcome back, everyone. We have Mr. Trevor Byron, a professional artist.
01:30:41 You have come with a number of beautiful pieces that I suspect we will get a chance to look at shortly.
01:30:51 What do you have for us this morning?
01:30:53 >> What I give praise and thanks to the almighty for is I entered the international watercolor masters competition.
01:31:03 >> Can I see it?
01:31:05 >> I won first one, 2020, and I won two awards.
01:31:15 >> Yeah. All right. So it says international watercolor masters, May 16th to the 29th, finalist award certificate.
01:31:25 Highly commended, Trevor Byron. Yeah. And you have another award. Yeah. I have to be careful with this, you know, Mr. Byron.
01:31:35 I wouldn't want any mishaps here. That would look bad.
01:31:39 >> And then this is my most recent award.
01:31:41 >> Uh-huh. All right. All right.
01:31:49 So these are two recent awards that you have been given. How did this happen? Is it that you have to apply, you have to register?
01:32:01 How does this happen?
01:32:03 >> No, it's open to artists, professional artists all over the world.
01:32:07 >> Right.
01:32:08 >> And we send photographs or paintings to the establishment.
01:32:18 >> Yeah.
01:32:19 >> And out of thousands all over the world, they select.
01:32:24 >> Yeah. So is it that you have a launch coming, an exhibition?
01:32:31 >> Well, I have an exhibition coming at my home.
01:32:35 >> Yes.
01:32:36 >> And I have a studio at my studio upstairs.
01:32:39 >> Okay.
01:32:40 >> At 10 Railroad, Princess Town.
01:32:42 >> Yeah.
01:32:43 >> Okay. Where I want to celebrate my, you know, my winnings.
01:32:47 >> Yeah.
01:32:48 >> I've dedicated years and years to painting and watercolor. I also paint oils and acrylics.
01:32:54 All right. But this is one of the most prestigious watercolor competitions in the world.
01:33:01 This is 105 countries of the world.
01:33:04 >> Really?
01:33:05 >> Yes.
01:33:06 >> So how long have you been an artist?
01:33:09 >> Well, I should say I started painting when I was four years old.
01:33:13 I'm 73 now. I never stopped. I kept painting and painting year after year.
01:33:18 My parents, my godparents, always kept supplying me with materials to fuel my, you know, my painting passion.
01:33:29 I never stopped painting.
01:33:31 >> Is it that it's only watercolors you paint?
01:33:35 >> No, I also paint oils and acrylics.
01:33:37 >> Yeah.
01:33:38 >> But I paint mainly watercolor, mostly watercolors.
01:33:40 >> Okay. All right. Mr. Byron, you brought some pieces for us?
01:33:46 >> Yes.
01:33:47 >> Is it so?
01:33:48 >> Yes, yes. I brought the winning piece.
01:33:50 >> Could we have some? Yeah, I'm going to have to show the pieces here. Yeah.
01:33:55 All right. So we're going to bring some of the pieces from Mr. Byron. Yeah. Be careful with them.
01:34:05 This is live television, people. It's happening live.
01:34:09 And now, Mr. Byron, hold this for me for now. I wouldn't want anything to happen to these.
01:34:19 Yeah.
01:34:21 >> Yes, thank you.
01:34:22 >> Yeah. Careful, careful, careful, careful.
01:34:26 >> All right. Okay. All right. So, Mr. Byron, what are we looking at here?
01:34:32 >> Okay. This is a painting, a watercolor painting of Down the Islands.
01:34:36 >> Down the Islands.
01:34:37 >> Yes. Executed in a series of washes.
01:34:40 >> Yes.
01:34:41 >> Right? From light to dark. You see the sky is a light with little hints of color.
01:34:47 That is the white of the paper that I leave to show my highlights, to show my whites.
01:34:53 Okay. And it's a buildup of wash over wash, darker and darker as we get, as we add more washes.
01:34:59 >> Yeah. Let me just take a closer look at it.
01:35:01 >> Yes.
01:35:02 >> So this is watercolors?
01:35:04 >> Watercolors.
01:35:05 >> Mr. Byron?
01:35:06 >> Yeah. And watercolor paper.
01:35:08 >> All right. Put this over there.
01:35:11 >> Okay.
01:35:12 >> I'm going to give you another one.
01:35:15 >> Yeah.
01:35:16 >> Right? Another lovely picture here.
01:35:19 I shouldn't say picture. It's a painting, right?
01:35:21 >> Painting. Yes. Watercolor painting.
01:35:23 >> Yeah. Malin, know your place.
01:35:25 [ Laughter ]
01:35:26 >> Yeah. But, Mr. Byron, how long do you take to paint these photographs?
01:35:34 >> All right. Well, I've grown more realistic over the years. Okay?
01:35:38 So a piece like that size takes about a month.
01:35:42 >> So is it that you have to go to the site for about a month?
01:35:47 >> No. I do -- I --
01:35:49 >> A picture?
01:35:50 >> I take pictures on the site. I do sketches on the site.
01:35:53 And then I go at home in the comfort of my studio, and I paint from my sketches and pictures.
01:36:02 >> All right. I have one more.
01:36:06 We have some big ones here.
01:36:08 >> Yes, and I have the winning one there on the other side.
01:36:12 >> All right.
01:36:16 >> That one was an intricate one that took me about three months.
01:36:19 >> Right.
01:36:20 >> I call it ducks on the old canoe, wild fowl truss.
01:36:24 You've heard of wild fowl truss?
01:36:25 >> Of course, yeah.
01:36:26 >> All right. Good. Yes. That took me about three months.
01:36:29 >> Yeah. And if you look carefully, you're going to see birds.
01:36:34 >> Birds.
01:36:35 >> One, yeah.
01:36:36 >> Yeah.
01:36:37 >> Those are birds, you know.
01:36:39 On the canoe.
01:36:41 So is it that -- is it that -- let's look a little bit at inspiration.
01:36:48 How does this happen?
01:36:50 You just -- it could be a Sunday evening, and you feel to go for a drive, and you take a drive, and you see something that captures you?
01:36:57 >> Yeah, this is how it was.
01:36:58 Has always been, you know.
01:37:00 I go -- I like to hike, I like to, you know, go about and take pictures and do sketches.
01:37:08 Long time I used to paint on this spot, you know.
01:37:11 But I have become more realistic, so I have to sit down and devote hours and hours each day to the paint.
01:37:21 >> Now --
01:37:22 >> Now I'm completed.
01:37:23 >> Allow me to -- we have a big one here.
01:37:32 Yeah, we're just preparing to show you this.
01:37:35 Yeah.
01:37:36 Can we pick that up?
01:37:38 You're seeing it?
01:37:41 Yeah.
01:37:42 So is this the winning --
01:37:45 >> No.
01:37:46 >> No?
01:37:47 We have the winning one?
01:37:48 >> We have the winning one.
01:37:49 >> I was thinking this one was the one, but --
01:37:53 >> Yeah?
01:37:54 >> This one didn't win.
01:37:56 >> Right?
01:37:59 >> This one took me about two years.
01:38:02 >> Two years?
01:38:03 Yeah?
01:38:04 >> But the thing about it is I work on several at once, you know.
01:38:07 So say I'm working, say, five, six hours a day on this, I might work another two, three hours on other paintings as well.
01:38:14 >> You all thank you for giving me the responsibility of holding this, the painting that Mr. Byron took two years to do.
01:38:23 Okay?
01:38:24 I don't feel nervous at all.
01:38:27 I don't feel -- we have another one, huh?
01:38:29 We have another one?
01:38:30 Yeah?
01:38:31 Camera man, come in, man.
01:38:34 Careful.
01:38:35 All right.
01:38:36 So we have another one for you.
01:38:37 So tell me something.
01:38:39 >> This is the winning one coming up.
01:38:41 >> The winning one is coming up.
01:38:43 >> So you are saying that these paintings are for sale?
01:38:47 >> Yes, they are.
01:38:48 >> Yeah?
01:38:49 >> Yeah, they are for sale.
01:38:50 >> So is it, Mr. Byron, that this is what you do?
01:38:54 >> Yeah, this is what I do.
01:38:55 I'm a retired art teacher.
01:38:57 >> Right.
01:38:58 >> I taught for about 31 years, right?
01:39:01 And, well, I always -- I was one of the most prolific art teachers in the country because I had exhibitions every year, you know?
01:39:10 I balanced teaching and painting, you know?
01:39:13 >> Mm-hmm.
01:39:14 All right.
01:39:15 The winning --
01:39:16 >> The winning one is here.
01:39:17 >> The winning one is here, according to Mr. Byron.
01:39:22 Yeah.
01:39:23 Mm-hmm.
01:39:24 More pressure for me.
01:39:25 >> And the name of this one is "Seren Deputy in Blues," "Plover."
01:39:28 >> Uh-huh.
01:39:29 Let me see.
01:39:30 I have to come this way.
01:39:32 All right.
01:39:35 Let me see.
01:39:36 Right.
01:39:37 I have to straighten it up for you.
01:39:39 All right.
01:39:42 So is this -- you would have taken a picture from where to do this?
01:39:48 >> From the back of my brother's home in Gulfview.
01:39:51 >> Right.
01:39:52 >> There's the sea.
01:39:53 So I went and took a nice picture around.
01:39:58 It's an area of mangrove in some parts and sand and mud and things in other parts.
01:40:05 You'll be surprised to know how the reflections of the sky comes on the waters, you know, because those are usually brown waters.
01:40:15 But it's reflected blue.
01:40:17 And look.
01:40:18 >> Yeah.
01:40:19 So is there anywhere, any place, Mr. Byron, that people can come to view your paintings and to even purchase?
01:40:28 >> Yes.
01:40:29 Well, I have exhibitions.
01:40:32 My last exhibition was art gallery in south.
01:40:36 So I usually have exhibitions in galleries around the country.
01:40:40 But I also have a studio gallery at my home.
01:40:45 I live downstairs and upstairs is my studio art gallery.
01:40:49 And patrons can come and visit at my studio art gallery.
01:40:54 >> What about parents who may have children who are interested in painting?
01:41:04 Do you still train people, teach people to paint?
01:41:09 >> No.
01:41:10 >> You have retired.
01:41:11 >> I have retired.
01:41:13 I can't handle the teaching and the painting.
01:41:18 Because what I noticed, after retiring in 2000 as a teacher, I had classes, private classes for about 15 years after.
01:41:31 You know?
01:41:32 So when I reached somewhere like 65, 66, I retired.
01:41:37 >> So after these two awards, Mr. Byron, what's the next step for you?
01:41:42 >> Well, I want to win it outright.
01:41:44 Okay?
01:41:45 I want to win.
01:41:46 I feel confident now that I could do it because I've done it twice in a row.
01:41:52 So the next time is the first place.
01:41:55 >> How frequently are these competitions held?
01:41:57 Every year?
01:41:58 >> Every year.
01:41:59 So hopefully next year there should be one.
01:42:02 You know?
01:42:03 I would like to take part.
01:42:05 >> Good stuff, Mr. Byron.
01:42:06 >> Thank you.
01:42:07 Thank you.
01:42:09 The winning painting, it didn't take me as long as this big one.
01:42:13 It's half the size.
01:42:16 It took me just about five months or so.
01:42:18 Five months.
01:42:19 But how I paint, if I reach, say, halfway in a painting, I might have started another one or two.
01:42:28 And I jump from painting to painting because I get my inspiration, you know, through the different themes.
01:42:36 It might be different areas, but the different subject matter gives me the inspiration to keep working.
01:42:42 So I might get tired of one a little bit.
01:42:44 I jump to the next one.
01:42:45 I have the energy.
01:42:46 I paint that one.
01:42:47 So I keep going.
01:42:48 I keep flowing.
01:42:49 >> Mr. Byron, we just have a few seconds again.
01:42:52 If people have to get in touch with you, how do they do that?
01:42:56 >> Okay.
01:42:57 I have my phone number.
01:42:59 388-2891.
01:43:02 They can call me and make an appointment to see my work.
01:43:07 >> Mr. Byron, it was a pleasure speaking with you this morning and thank you very much for bringing these paintings.
01:43:12 It has inspired me.
01:43:13 I'm going home to try something.
01:43:15 >> Very good.
01:43:16 That's good.
01:43:17 Because my paintings, the theme of my paintings is nature, right?
01:43:23 Preserve, conserve.
01:43:25 And this is what I've been doing all my years.
01:43:29 I try to replicate the beauty of nature so people could be inspired to preserve nature and conserve.
01:43:36 Because you see what we have now, global warming, because they're destroying our environment.
01:43:41 I also do diving, right?
01:43:44 And I did the first marine life exhibition as an artist in Trinidad, documented more than 150 different species of fish.
01:43:51 So I want to do that as well in the future.
01:43:54 In the near future.
01:43:55 >> Mr. Byron, as I said, it's a pleasure having you here this morning.
01:43:58 Thank you very much for showing us your paintings.
01:44:01 We do appreciate it.
01:44:03 >> Thank you very much.
01:44:04 I appreciate it.
01:44:05 >> We are going to another very short break.
01:44:07 We'll be right back.
01:44:09 [ Music ]
01:44:19 [ Music ]
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01:45:01 Journey into the heart of the season with Believe, Christmas Around the World, a mesmerizing Christmas concert spectacular.
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01:45:22 Catch the spellbinding performances at Naperi Mabowl on the 15th and 17th.
01:45:27 And feel the holiday chill light up Queens Hall on the 22nd and 23rd.
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01:45:43 Believe in the magic of the season and let the world's harmonies inspire you.
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01:45:53 [ Music ]
01:46:07 >> I'm very excited.
01:46:08 I did a different kind of performance.
01:46:09 I did an English song.
01:46:11 [ Music ]
01:46:29 >> Excellent performance.
01:46:31 And of course you can tell me about the experience.
01:46:34 [ Music ]
01:46:49 [ Music ]
01:47:07 >> All right, everyone.
01:47:08 Welcome back.
01:47:09 So Project U is moving into Christmas and is in the midst of its bells of hope drive.
01:47:15 So to tell us more this morning, we have CEO of Project U, Joshua Hossain.
01:47:21 And we also have Hannah Lee Anderson, General Secretary.
01:47:25 You know them.
01:47:26 They have been here before.
01:47:27 Yeah?
01:47:28 Joshua and Hannah, good morning.
01:47:29 Thank you very much for coming.
01:47:30 >> How are you doing, Marlon?
01:47:31 >> I'm good, I'm good.
01:47:32 >> Always the best dressed Marlon on morning TV.
01:47:34 >> I'm not seeing you in the suit yet.
01:47:35 >> I keep forgetting.
01:47:36 >> You have to get one in the new year.
01:47:37 >> Next time, next time, next time.
01:47:39 >> Tell us about the bells of hope.
01:47:41 >> So those of your viewers that know Project U would have known that throughout the year we've done a number of drives that were specifically geared to different causes.
01:47:52 We had paws of hope for animals, paws of hope for the ladies.
01:47:56 We did stuff for kids going back to school.
01:47:59 And now moving into Christmas, we were sitting in a meeting and we were trying to figure out, okay, you know, who do we revisit for Christmas?
01:48:08 And somebody said, well, everybody.
01:48:11 Because how do you choose who to leave out, especially at a time of the year like this?
01:48:15 So bells of hope is sort of like an amalgamation of all the things that we have done this year.
01:48:22 We seek to provide food hampers for low-income families.
01:48:26 We're going to be doing care packages, which is like toiletries and other sanitary products for the homeless across Trinidad and Tobago.
01:48:31 We're going to be doing a buffer donation to all the animal shelters and rescuers.
01:48:36 And we're also hoping to send to all the kids in residential care both food hampers to the homes and period products for the ladies.
01:48:44 Yeah.
01:48:45 But, Joshua, I want you to be specific, because when you're asking for donations, food donations especially, what are we speaking about?
01:48:55 Tinned foods?
01:48:56 We're speaking about rice?
01:48:57 We're speaking about?
01:48:59 We're speaking about non-perishable food items, things that can last even for those without a refrigerator or anywhere to store it properly.
01:49:06 We're hoping for things that can last quite a while.
01:49:09 Yeah.
01:49:10 And that is a critical issue, because there are quite a number of homes in Trinidad and Tobago that if they don't have a refrigerator, they just don't have electricity on the whole.
01:49:19 And you don't want them to be in a situation where any donations that they receive last for a day.
01:49:25 How many people are you catering for? How many people do you wish to help this Christmas season here?
01:49:32 It's a mix. So we estimate there are 1,000 homeless people across Trinidad and Tobago in the hotspot areas.
01:49:39 When I say hotspot areas, you have a concentration of them in Port of Spain, you have a concentration of them in Chagonas, the Promenade in San Fernando, and Arima.
01:49:48 So the aim is to hit all four and give all that we can find in those locations.
01:49:53 Our estimation is 1,000.
01:49:55 The food hampers, that really comes down to the generosity of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:50:02 We aim in for 1,500, God willing.
01:50:05 Period products, that one.
01:50:09 So when we did Pads of Hope, we were hoping to get 20,000 packs of pads.
01:50:14 We got 100,000.
01:50:15 So we never know how that's going to flow.
01:50:17 And then the dog and cat food for all the animal shelters, that really as well is going to come down to how Trinidad responds.
01:50:25 But we're hoping for maybe two tons.
01:50:28 Hannah, where do we drop off these items for you all?
01:50:31 So we have drop off locations in North, South and Central.
01:50:35 It's actually listed on Instagram.
01:50:37 We have them at centralized locations, so it shouldn't be too hard for anybody to drop off.
01:50:43 Also, if you want to drop off personal donations, you can contact any of our members.
01:50:47 Most likely it will be me, the general secretary.
01:50:50 And we could always arrange a pickup or anything like that if you need some extra help getting us the items.
01:50:55 Yeah. So is it, Joshua, that if people have to donate, they have to donate now?
01:51:01 Because, I mean, we're speeding to Christmas now.
01:51:04 We set an original cutoff date of the 8th of December.
01:51:10 But we have a meeting today and I think that we're going to extend to the 15th.
01:51:16 10 days should be sufficient to get everything out.
01:51:19 But I do want to give Trinidad, it's a busy season, give them the opportunity to really get involved.
01:51:24 Coming down to the end of these drives, usually where the bulk comes in anyway.
01:51:28 So most likely December the 15th.
01:51:32 But I'm just thinking what you're telling me and I'm just thinking that you all have to have a team in place,
01:51:39 really working nonstop to not only collect these items, but to pack the items and then distribute the items.
01:51:47 It really is like that. We are working nonstop, 24/7.
01:51:50 Emails are going out every day.
01:51:52 We're talking to people every day, calling our contacts, putting things in place for the distribution system.
01:51:57 And then we also have a day that we already have planned, which we had originally put for the second week of December.
01:52:03 But should we get more donations, it'll be a little bit more.
01:52:06 I'm hoping that we do, even if we run a little late.
01:52:09 Yeah. So it's a mammoth exercise.
01:52:12 Unfortunately, my house turns into a warehouse.
01:52:15 It does, every time.
01:52:17 We end up having these overnight lines where we do our packing and distribution.
01:52:24 But, you know, I think that we have a really large and beautiful group of people and we enjoy what we do.
01:52:31 Yeah. So it's not a difficult task.
01:52:33 Is there still room for people, like minded people who want to volunteer their time?
01:52:39 Is there still room for you all to take them in and to assist in this process?
01:52:44 Of course. Of course. I mean, hopefully at some point when you enter activism,
01:52:50 at some point the goal would be to have one, how many people in Trinidad now? 1.5?
01:52:55 You went into activism, eh? You know, he's trying to sound so profound.
01:53:01 You're hoping for 1.5 million activists in Trinidad. I mean, realistically, all of us.
01:53:09 I would love that.
01:53:10 When you look around, you know, you would hope that everyone would care about everybody.
01:53:14 At that point, you would end up with a society that works.
01:53:18 And I think sometimes it's daunting to get into it on your own.
01:53:21 So it's nice when you have a group that's already experienced.
01:53:23 They have the knowledge. They have the experience with it to help us, to help them do what they would like to.
01:53:30 But it doesn't change the fact, Joshua and Hannah, that you all are young people.
01:53:35 And yes, I've said that this is a mammoth task, but there has to be something that is driving you, that is motivating you.
01:53:47 So that you don't get up one morning and say, "Look, I'm not doing this anymore."
01:53:53 There has to be something that is driving you.
01:53:55 Oh, definitely. And that is driving on the promenade in San Fernando and seeing young families without shelter, without food.
01:54:03 I actually went down there to give food the other day, and the swarm of people was immense. I didn't have enough.
01:54:08 It's heartbreaking to see. It's seeing these street animals that are lying in the cold when it's raining.
01:54:13 It's things like that that really keep us going, honestly.
01:54:16 And also meeting the children when we had our Children's Day this year.
01:54:19 It means so much to them. It's not that they wanted the bouncy castles and the cotton candy.
01:54:24 What they wanted was to spend time with people and have fun and play games.
01:54:28 And that's honestly what keeps me going.
01:54:30 Well, for me personally, I'm sure Joshua wouldn't be too different.
01:54:33 If I could add to that.
01:54:35 When you're into activism, eh?
01:54:37 Well, I'll tell you. When you look at the diversity of the ages and races, Project You Foundation is really a pay-all out to everybody.
01:54:49 Our youngest member is 16. Our oldest member is in his 50s.
01:54:55 And I think, I would speak for myself, you know, my reason for activism, and I think a lot of them on the team as well.
01:55:06 At some point, we're all going to be parents, hopefully, God willing.
01:55:10 And when you have children, or those that look up to you, you want to be able to tell them that the country that I have given you,
01:55:19 the world that I have left for you, is better than the one that I inherited.
01:55:23 And you would like to inspire that within them to do the same.
01:55:27 Mm-hmm. Lady, gentleman, we're in the dying seconds of our interview for this morning.
01:55:36 Hannah, any final words?
01:55:38 Not particularly. Just if you can donate anything, it would be super appreciated.
01:55:43 And to try and think about others during the holidays.
01:55:46 Yeah. Joshua?
01:55:47 I just want to say thank you once again to TV6, always willing to accommodate us.
01:55:51 Thank you to you, Marlon, and Nicole.
01:55:53 Thank you so much.
01:55:54 Where can people drop off the items again?
01:55:56 We have a list. You can get us on the Instagram, or you can reach out to us.
01:56:00 I think I sent some contact information. You can run that on your screen if anybody wants to give us a call.
01:56:05 We do have it there.
01:56:06 Yes, beautiful. If you want to give us a call, we can arrange to have things collected as well.
01:56:10 Yeah. Joshua, Hannah, thank you very much for the work that you all have been doing,
01:56:14 and touching people out there who need it the most. Thank you very much.
01:56:18 Thank you so much, Marlon.
01:56:19 Okay. So we are going to another break. We are coming back.
01:56:23 [Music]
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01:58:07 You're a mean one.
01:58:08 Well, it seems that TARGET's 92.3% Sound of the Season
01:58:13 will be at Gulf City Mall on November 26th.
01:58:17 I am going to steal the Christmas!
01:58:20 Wait, wait, wait, wait.
01:58:23 That is the Grinch talking about TARGET's Sound of the Season?
01:58:26 Nah.
01:58:27 You know, Santa will be there along with the G-San and the TARGET team.
01:58:30 It's Christmas, next for sure!
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01:58:36 [♪♪♪]
01:58:39 All right, everybody, welcome back.
01:58:54 Just enough time to say bye-bye,
01:58:56 but thank you to all of you who participated in the program today,
01:59:00 and thank you very much to our viewers.
01:59:02 Remember that Emmy Prime comes up this evening.
01:59:04 We do have this image for you.
01:59:06 It's of a red sunset picture taken by 14-year-old Anaya.
01:59:11 Anaya, good morning, and thank you very much for your photograph.
01:59:14 See you tomorrow, everybody. Bye for now.
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01:59:39 (upbeat music)
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