- 2 years ago
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00:00 I love you.
00:00:03 Well, a very good morning Trinidad and Tobago. Welcome
00:00:18 to the morning edition. I'm Urvashi Tiwari Rupnirain. It's
00:00:22 of course December 7th, 2023. It's Thursday, the day before
00:00:27 Friday. Thank you so much for joining us. What are you having
00:00:30 this morning? A cup of coffee, a cup of tea. Well, I'm having a
00:00:34 cup of coffee this morning cuz I just really needed that extra
00:00:37 kick. We had such a packed day here at TV6 yesterday right
00:00:42 after the morning edition. We were visited by the British
00:00:45 High Commission, Harriet Cross. She did pay us a visit and so
00:00:49 you could look forward to us carrying that story a little
00:00:52 later on in the week. She was of course accompanied by two
00:00:56 youth ambassadors. I had the opportunity to interview the
00:01:00 three of them. So, we'll bring you that story a little later
00:01:03 on in the week and then after that, you know, our producer
00:01:08 Nicole, she's been trying really hard to get an
00:01:10 interviewer one on one with the opposition leader. So,
00:01:13 opposition leader couldn't do the interview live. So, we had
00:01:16 it down all the way to Pinal just opposite the Pinal Market
00:01:21 is the opposition leader's office and we had the
00:01:24 opportunity to really sit with her and flesh out some of the
00:01:28 issues in our country. We talked about her rise to
00:01:33 political public life, her political aspirations. We
00:01:38 talked a little bit about the upcoming general election and
00:01:41 internal elections. So, you don't wanna miss that one on
00:01:44 one interview. We'll bring you that tomorrow morning during
00:01:48 the morning edition. Well, as is customary, we like to tell
00:01:51 you what's happening in Trinidad and Tobago and of
00:01:53 course, the wider region and for that, we go straight to
00:01:56 the front pages of the Express newspaper. Venezuelan
00:02:01 president, well, he orders state oil companies to move
00:02:04 into the he appoints major general as governor of the
00:02:08 region. Of course, we brought you that story first yesterday
00:02:12 morning on the TV six morning edition. Maduro's mad move
00:02:16 dying as president. He of course vows resilience and he
00:02:19 has alerted allies. That story there by Anna Ramdas and of
00:02:24 course, Mark Besant and Brandon Benoit who are of course in
00:02:27 Guyana at the moment. Um that feature picture there. It's was
00:02:31 a sad day. It still is um you know, a sad period. Grief
00:02:36 stricken, Joanne Rondon, daughter of Martin Terry Rondon
00:02:40 is consoled by her sons Joshua and Jordan at his funeral
00:02:44 service held at the Saint Charles RCH Eastern Minor
00:02:47 Chinapuna yesterday. Of course, condolences to the Rondon
00:02:51 family. Mister Rondon was always uh media savvy as we say
00:02:55 always willing to chat with us and tell us what's happening.
00:02:58 He's very passionate about Sangre Grandi and he really my
00:03:02 last conversation with him. He really prided himself um with
00:03:08 having that connect to the people on the ground and he
00:03:12 attested that as the reason behind his victory success and
00:03:17 his rise to political life. So, farewell Terry. Judge stops
00:03:23 200, 20, sorry, 20 million P out. Attenees for nine former
00:03:28 finger accused file the appeal. That story by Ricky Ramdas.
00:03:33 Hundreds mourn for beloved Terry Rondon and of course, the
00:03:38 entire um coverage of the Essequibo controversy. Maduro
00:03:44 makes grab for Essequibo Guyana on full alert as tensions rise.
00:03:48 US help sort. We did see across social media diplomats who
00:03:53 being called in for dialogue with Guyana's uh foreign
00:03:57 ministry. Emergency, CARICOM also CARICOM heads also to hold
00:04:03 talks. Ria Tate has that story. The chamber says border
00:04:08 dispute is unnerving. Brazil rejects use of force. Of course,
00:04:12 we did also have a chat with the opposition leader on this
00:04:16 uh very controversy and you would be very interested to
00:04:20 hear her point of view. Woman dies after savage beating and
00:04:26 that story came from Londonville. 55 year old woman
00:04:30 died at the ICU at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences
00:04:34 Complex in Mount Hope after being beaten at a Todd's Road
00:04:37 Central Trinidad home on Tuesday. She operated a small
00:04:42 business in the area. Uh this morning, we'll of course have
00:04:45 chairman of the Kuva Tabakital Power Regional Corporation,
00:04:49 Ryan Rampersad to talk about this. He himself posted a
00:04:53 tribute to miss Pauline Rousad, Rousal who he refers to as
00:04:58 Greta known in the community as Greta. Um she died after brutal
00:05:02 beating at her home. So, he did post that and we'll be chatting
00:05:05 with him a little later on in the show about this, about
00:05:09 crime, and of course, moves he uh being made in the Kuva
00:05:13 Tabakital Power Regional Corporation. Let's find out
00:05:15 what's happening in sport. Westernies let down batting
00:05:19 fall short as England win second ODI and of course, in
00:05:25 news of football, much needed victory, Manchester United's
00:05:29 Scott Mark Tumine Center scores his side second goal and that
00:05:35 was of course during the English Premier League match
00:05:37 against Chelsea at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester,
00:05:40 England yesterday. So, have you grabbed your copy of the
00:05:45 Express newspaper just yet? Well, head out to your newsstand
00:05:48 so maybe you'd want to log on to www.trinidadexpress.com. Well,
00:05:53 it's time to remind you of our Trinbago Unice feature to
00:05:56 participate. It's very very easy. You WhatsApp your videos
00:06:00 and your images and we've been requesting Christmas themed
00:06:03 well, Trini Christmas themed videos and images to that
00:06:07 number on your screen. It's 737-3778 and we get this to
00:06:11 share it with the rest of TNT. Well, as we head off to a
00:06:15 break, just to remind you, we've got a very packed show
00:06:17 up ahead. As we head off to a break, we share with you this
00:06:20 quote. One of the secrets to living a long, happy life is to
00:06:26 continuously see old things in a new way. We'll be right back.
00:06:32 And a smile a day.
00:06:36 We promise. Contactless check-in and check-out.
00:06:49 Additional deep cleaning of high-touch surfaces. Social
00:06:53 distancing. Frequent cleaning of rooms and 24-hour gaps
00:06:57 before new allocation. Good isn't good enough. We're
00:07:02 committed to high levels of cleanliness. That means clean,
00:07:06 well-maintained, clutter-free rooms that meet our standards.
00:07:09 If this isn't what you find when you check in, then we
00:07:12 promise to make it right. We're more than ready to welcome you.
00:07:17 We are Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Trinity Trinidad. Book
00:07:21 your stay today at 669-6209 or visit our website or Facebook
00:07:26 page for more information. Are you fed up of daisy floors? Let
00:07:31 us know. 24-hour floor scrubbers. Bring back your
00:07:33 tiles, terrazzo, vinyl, and concrete floors. 24-hour
00:07:37 rentals from only 350 with free delivery included. Book
00:07:41 online or call 318-2665 today. Come on. Come on. Everyone can
00:07:48 play. Play football. It's the Ministry of Sport and Community
00:07:53 Developments. Seven-a-side tournament. Powered by Red 96.7
00:07:57 Stand and deliver. Kick your way to success and glory.
00:08:02 Listen. Listen now. Become the footballer you dream of by
00:08:07 registering for a seven-a-side one-of-a-kind
00:08:11 tournament. Represent your community, your area, your
00:08:14 people, and win prizes and fame as live TV comes your way.
00:08:20 Spots are limited so don't delay. For registration details,
00:08:24 visit Red 96.7 FM Facebook page or send your email to
00:08:27 Red 96 Football at Gmail.com. The Ministry of Sport and
00:08:32 Community Development presents Seven-a-side tournament.
00:08:36 Powered by the bigger 96. Forged from the love of sport.
00:08:43 [Music]
00:09:09 Beyond the Tape. Weekdays at 530 PM.
00:09:13 [Music]
00:09:36 And welcome back Trinidad and Tobago. So we are due to chat
00:09:41 with Walter Stewart who is the incoming NPTA president. We've
00:09:45 been trying to make contact with Mr. Stewart. So if you do
00:09:48 have his contact number, please give him a ring and tell us
00:09:50 we're trying to reach him. We wanted to talk about bullying
00:09:55 at schools, school violence, and of course his aspirations
00:09:59 for this new post. Most interestingly, there was a
00:10:05 story yesterday in Longdonville again where a five-year-old
00:10:10 boy was force-fed toilet biscuit. His mom was forced to
00:10:15 go to the police. So she made a report after he was allegedly
00:10:19 bullied and force-fed a pack of biscuits dipped in a toilet
00:10:24 and that happened at the Edinburgh Government Primary
00:10:27 School last week. She's of course a 33-year-old single
00:10:32 mother and she reached out to the Express to share her story.
00:10:36 Her five-year-old, she says, was confronted by a group of
00:10:40 older children and that was during their lunch break on
00:10:43 November 27th. She didn't want to be identified and naturally
00:10:48 this happens because you know people fear further
00:10:51 victimization either from you know the schools, authorities,
00:10:56 and other parents, teachers, community, and so on. The child
00:11:01 she says was made to eat snacks off the floor by the group and
00:11:06 later forced to eat the contaminated biscuits. The
00:11:09 older children dipped the biscuits in the toilet bowl and
00:11:12 a drain then brought them to her son. She was of course, this
00:11:16 was of course what she was told. She says quote, "They were in
00:11:21 the auditorium and the boy came across and told him to pick up
00:11:25 some Skittles off the ground and eat them. They went in
00:11:28 someone's bag, got a bag of shirley biscuits, dipped that
00:11:34 in the toilet, then in the drain and forced him to eat the two
00:11:38 biscuits. They made him eat it and then they went to tell the
00:11:42 teachers. The stakeholders report was made to the Ministry
00:11:46 of Education detailing the incident. Of course, the mother
00:11:49 says her son developed gastroenteritis. Following
00:11:55 that, he experienced vomiting, asthma, and had a lot of
00:12:00 difficulty breathing. He's of course a first year pupil. He
00:12:04 had frequent asthma attacks and he had to be treated at Eric
00:12:08 Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope. Got sick
00:12:12 on Wednesday gasping for breath, vomiting, diarrhea. I
00:12:15 took him to the health center. They said he had contracted
00:12:18 gastro. I gave him coconut water. On Friday, I took him to
00:12:23 Mount Hope and he was breathing short. They kept him until they
00:12:27 resolved the breathing problem. She said her other two
00:12:31 children attending the school had also been bullied before.
00:12:35 She said her son had been punched in the stomach and
00:12:38 struck in the eye while at school. She was disappointed.
00:12:42 She says in this situation and the way it was handled by the
00:12:45 administration, she was not contacted by staff but was told
00:12:50 about the force feeding by her eldest daughter who also
00:12:53 attends the school. The parents alleged the bullies had not
00:12:56 been told by the school of what had been done to her child
00:13:00 until she insisted on a meeting. She says, quote, there
00:13:04 are protocols and so on. They're supposed to call and
00:13:07 say, so so so happened. Nothing like that happened. The
00:13:10 principal told me she was waiting for my daughter to come
00:13:13 home and tell me. No parents of the children who forced him
00:13:18 were contacted either. I went to the community police and
00:13:21 they told me to wait on a call from the principal which to
00:13:24 this day I have not received. On Thursday, she returned to
00:13:28 the school demanding a meeting with the parents and staff in
00:13:33 the meeting. She explained her frustration. So, of course,
00:13:38 this is one story of bullying, one story of violence but of
00:13:44 course, it isn't the only we see on so many occasions very
00:13:50 very often we see bullying events in secondary schools and
00:13:56 primary schools. We see violence. We see uniforms, blood
00:14:02 stained. It is really tragic but for this to happen to a
00:14:07 five-year-old is very interesting. How do how do
00:14:11 teachers deal with this? How does the school administration
00:14:14 deal with this? It brings into question, you know, it brings
00:14:20 into question. What are the protocols in place to deal with
00:14:24 situations like this? I understand mister Stewart, the
00:14:27 incoming NPTA president has joined us a very good morning
00:14:30 to you mister Stewart. And thank you very much. Um over
00:14:34 here, pleasant good morning to you as well and to your
00:14:36 viewership. Happy to be on your show this morning. Well, of
00:14:40 course, you're the incoming NPTA president. So,
00:14:43 congratulations on that. Thank you. Thank you very much.
00:14:47 Much appreciated. Alrighty. So, let's get straight to it. Um
00:14:51 have you any more details on this? Did you also learn of
00:14:55 this incident that this five-year-old boy being forced
00:14:59 by toilet biscuits from the express? Yes, indeed. Um that
00:15:03 was the method by which I got the information on this
00:15:07 particular incident and upon um reading of this issue, I
00:15:12 immediately contacted the current region president,
00:15:15 Miss Testa, Paula Smith, um who is even at this time um
00:15:20 seeking to contact the president of the PTA at that
00:15:24 school and other officials to get additional information. Um
00:15:28 so I'm awaiting um a call from Miss Testa Smith either today
00:15:32 or the very worst tomorrow so that we can get an in-depth
00:15:36 understanding and knowledge on this particular incident but
00:15:39 of course, based upon the report, it's very disturbing.
00:15:43 Um we are very concerned and um we really would want to know
00:15:47 how this happened and what measures can be taken in order
00:15:50 to alleviate mitigate such incidents in the future. Are
00:15:56 there protocols in place for teachers or the school
00:15:59 administration to deal with incidents of bullying
00:16:03 particularly? Well, in this case, in primary schools, this
00:16:06 is a first-year student. Yeah. Um there is a national um
00:16:13 school code of conduct um which of course um should be
00:16:17 implemented. It's being implemented. There's also a
00:16:20 discipline matrix in our schools as well and more
00:16:24 importantly, we are guided by our school-based management
00:16:28 which of course inculcates certain types of procedural
00:16:34 um issues that would help and guide the school system in
00:16:38 dealing with bullying and other types of antisocial
00:16:41 behaviors. Now, of course, a lot of these incidents occur
00:16:45 before school, after school, during uh the break time or
00:16:50 lunch time. Does this call into question is supervision of
00:16:53 students during these times? Certainly. Um and what we are
00:17:00 trying to do, of course, this is a very new executive. We are
00:17:03 just about 3 weeks old um but we are deeply engaged in
00:17:10 looking at the parental involvement in all our
00:17:14 schools. Um in the past, PTAs have been considered as the
00:17:18 fundraiser buddy as it were. In other words, we only consider
00:17:21 raising funds for the school. That has since evolved and we
00:17:25 are now trying to ensure that we are a um a stakeholder in
00:17:32 the education process. So that and of course you mentioned um
00:17:36 the issue about school supervision. It is not
00:17:40 controversial to think that parents can be engaged in
00:17:45 attending school, going to our schools so that we can assist
00:17:49 and provide some kind of support to the school
00:17:52 administration and the teachers early mornings for example
00:17:55 before the school bell rings during the break time, during
00:17:59 the lunch time and certainly post school termination um when
00:18:02 the school closes at the end of the day. Because we have a
00:18:05 stake in this thing. I mean we are concerned about all our
00:18:08 students, all our children in Finland and Tobago. Over 200
00:18:11 thousand of them we consider them our children, our
00:18:14 grandchildren and we want to ensure that their learning
00:18:17 experience in the school is meaningful and that we are
00:18:21 playing a significant role in ensuring that the children
00:18:24 value outcome is one that we are all pleased with. But just
00:18:29 to be clear Mr. Stewart, as it stands, teachers are not
00:18:32 required to supervise students during these times.
00:18:37 Well, there is some concern about that. When you're sending
00:18:42 your charges to school, what happens during the break time
00:18:46 or what happens during the lunch time? Are they allowed to
00:18:48 room to do their own thing and supervised? Certainly the NPTA
00:18:52 would not want to encourage that. That's why we are saying
00:18:56 of course teachers are entitled to their lunch time. Students
00:18:59 are entitled to a break in the process so that an engaging
00:19:05 parent teacher association or an engaging parent in a school
00:19:09 even according to the school-based management
00:19:11 operation would be willing to ensure that those times that
00:19:16 the teachers are otherwise having lunch or engaged that
00:19:20 we can play a significant role in ensuring that our students
00:19:24 are safe and secure during those times. But of course, you
00:19:28 know this will involve a relationship between the
00:19:31 ministry. This will involve the vetting of these parents. They
00:19:36 must be trusted and also they must be trained because we
00:19:39 don't want parents using excessive force. I mean, let's
00:19:43 be real not bury our heads in the sand. There are pedophiles
00:19:47 and so on out there who will look for opportunities like
00:19:51 this to have their way. So we it would require a structured
00:19:55 approach. Oh, certainly this might even call for legal
00:20:00 intervention as well. We are due to meet with the Honourable
00:20:04 Minister very soon and we want to take this recommendation to
00:20:09 her. Certainly it will have to be discussed at the cabinet
00:20:14 level and as I said, even taken to Parliament as well. But we
00:20:17 are so passionate as parents and passionate about our
00:20:22 charges, our children that we are willing to go to work and
00:20:25 you are certainly correct. We do have to be able to vet our
00:20:30 parents who are going to be so engaged, so involved, but we
00:20:33 really want to play a major role, Ubashi, in the school
00:20:36 system, in ensuring that all our children who go through
00:20:39 seven years or five years of school at the primary,
00:20:41 secondary level, that they really do have quite a
00:20:44 meaningful experience during the school journey and we must
00:20:51 play a significant role with regards or in collaboration
00:20:55 with the other stakeholders to ensure that this happens. Now,
00:20:58 Mr. Chiyo, these incidents of violence, of bullying, it's not
00:21:03 only restricted to primary schools. We see videos almost
00:21:07 on a daily basis of full-on beatings taking place at
00:21:12 secondary schools and of course, the Ministry of
00:21:15 Education, they would have recently announced cabinet's
00:21:19 decision to place students who are expelled in programs such
00:21:25 as My Lats, Serval and others. What are your thoughts on this?
00:21:33 Well, we have come out openly already endorsing the cabinet's
00:21:37 decision through the Ministry of Education relevant to the
00:21:40 My Lats program. I was fast to tell you, Ubashi, that
00:21:44 myself, I'm the first vice president, I call her the
00:21:47 Czar of the PTA, Mrs. Gina Ramatali, visited the My Lats
00:21:52 Center in Mausika just last week and we had a conversation
00:21:56 with the program director and the principal and the outcome
00:22:01 of that meeting left us very impressed with the
00:22:06 success stories of course and of course, the operation of
00:22:10 the My Lats Center. So that even further endorsed the fact
00:22:16 that we are in full support of the My Lats program. As you
00:22:20 are aware, Ubashi, the My Lats program is for male students
00:22:23 16 years to 20 but of course, in conversation with the
00:22:27 minister, of course, there is the leeway for under 16 and
00:22:30 there's a program that is already in train even to cater
00:22:33 for under 16 male but more importantly though and of
00:22:37 course, we have said this publicly as well, we are
00:22:39 definitely concerned about all female and you're correct. I
00:22:42 mean, we've had several videos recently and if you pay
00:22:45 attention to those videos, by and large, the female are in
00:22:49 the fall. So, what happens to those female students who are
00:22:54 involved in antisocial behavior, deviant behavior? There
00:22:57 has to be a similar program and of course, the minister has
00:22:59 also spoken to that for all female students along the same
00:23:04 line. All credit to the minister of course. She did
00:23:08 say that when the school discipline matrix is
00:23:12 introduced more than likely in the majority of situations,
00:23:18 students reverse their antisocial behavior. They
00:23:22 manage to make changes and very few actually reach that stage
00:23:26 of expulsion. I think she mentioned about three last
00:23:31 year, 2022 but we've moved to about ten this year. Is this
00:23:36 is this data sufficient for you to note that it is an
00:23:43 upward trend? Well, listen, three students being expelled
00:23:50 from the school system, ten students being expelled from
00:23:53 the school system, three too many, ten too many. I mean, our
00:23:57 ideal is of course, they have no students at all in any school
00:24:00 year being expelled so that the enforcement of the punitive
00:24:08 action to be taken if and when students fall afoul would
00:24:14 ensure that they are made examples and of course, the
00:24:17 other students who are looking on would not even venture to
00:24:22 commit such acts and of course to be treated the same way.
00:24:26 That's how we we are looking at it and how we view it. What
00:24:29 happens to the female students in the meantime? Well, again,
00:24:34 let me refer to a meeting held with the minister recently. For
00:24:38 now, they are being referred to civil from all information
00:24:45 that we have at our disposal so far but of course, you know, as
00:24:50 I did say before, we are scheduled to meet with madam
00:24:52 minister so that we have suggestions and recommendations
00:24:55 of our own which we want to put on the table because there has
00:25:00 to be a level of promptness in dealing with this. There needs
00:25:04 to be no further delay in this particular matter and we are
00:25:10 really ensuring. We have to really ensure that promptness
00:25:18 and of course, early resolutions in such matters are
00:25:23 being addressed on a timely basis as we close mister
00:25:26 Stewart as the newly instated and PT president. Would you
00:25:31 share with our viewers some of your hopes, your aspirations
00:25:34 for this term of office? Thank you very much. The office runs
00:25:39 for 2 years 2023 to 2025 and the first executive meeting
00:25:44 that I was that I was given the privilege to chair. I presented
00:25:49 to the 13 member executive is 16 point plan. High on the list
00:25:55 of that of course is the national parenting program. I
00:25:59 said at another media house just yesterday that we are
00:26:05 concerned about the responsibilities of our
00:26:07 parents. Many persons think that our parents are too young.
00:26:11 In other words, they need to be parented themselves and we are
00:26:15 taking uh an approach whereby we are taking the national
00:26:20 parenting program into our schools because we are all
00:26:25 aware that our students are involved in sexual activity so
00:26:28 that there's the propensity, the potential to become a parent
00:26:32 once we're involved in sexual activity. Given the right
00:26:37 direction as to parenting and responsibilities involved in
00:26:41 parenting. We are taking this to our schools, exposing our
00:26:46 children, teenagers to parenting. We are taking this
00:26:49 to our health centers so that prenatal with our mothers to be
00:26:54 go into the health centers for example um for their checks. We
00:26:59 are going to be there lecturing and speaking with them about
00:27:02 parenting. We are taking our parenting program to our
00:27:05 primary school parents when we have our PTA meetings, PTA
00:27:08 conferences, etcetera to our secondary school stationery. We
00:27:12 are really taking this message of national parenting
00:27:15 seriously and taking it through all the length and breadth of
00:27:18 Philadelphia and Tobago. That's one of the issues. Then of
00:27:20 course the other issue I can just talk about briefly is the
00:27:23 school-based management. Now, let's go this management was
00:27:26 introduced as um a roadmap to success. And of course, we are
00:27:31 going through the document page by page, line by line, and
00:27:35 seeing how we can enforce and implement all the facets of the
00:27:40 school-based management. Some of the list of course, of course,
00:27:43 we as parents is the stakeholder engagement as
00:27:46 parents in that whole school-based management
00:27:48 process. As I said, it's a sixteen-point plan. Kevin
00:27:51 doesn't allow me to go through each of them. But of course,
00:27:53 the executives going to meet very shortly to go through each
00:27:56 of those um plan items and see how best in a two-year term, we
00:28:01 can achieve and accomplish what is stated on those plans.
00:28:05 Mrs. Stewart, let me thank you so much for joining us. Walter
00:28:08 Stewart, of course, he is the new NPTA president. Thank you
00:28:12 so much for joining. Thank you so much for sharing and we do
00:28:15 wish you all the best in accomplishing all of those
00:28:19 aims on your sixteen-point plan. All the best to you, Mr.
00:28:22 Stewart and we look forward to chatting with you soon.
00:28:26 Alrighty. Well, viewers, it's now time for a quick break. As
00:28:32 we go off to that break, we share with you this quote. You
00:28:36 can't go back and change the beginning but you can start
00:28:40 where you are and change the ending. We'll be right back.
00:28:46 There's a tale of goodwill and with a cheerful chance, you'll
00:29:02 witness all its glory and splendor in a glance. A
00:29:05 Christmas story to put your emotions in a trance and
00:29:09 luckily, rhythmic vibrations coming out to sing, act, play,
00:29:13 and dance. The rhythmic vibrations and rhythm-based
00:29:17 performing arts company presents My Christmas Story.
00:29:21 And tis the season for a tremendous tale. Ah yes, Sunday,
00:29:26 December 17th from 6 PM sharp at the Shore Park Cultural
00:29:30 Complex. Bring the entire family to enjoy this
00:29:33 heartwarming production. Tickets cost $150 for adults
00:29:38 and $75 for children. Tickets are available at Den's
00:29:41 Electrical Port Mall, Scarborough, Tobago or via any
00:29:45 company member. For more information, contact 773-1426.
00:29:50 See you there.
00:29:53 This Christmas, get ready for the most enchanting holiday
00:29:57 experience of the year. Journey into the heart of the
00:30:00 season with Believe. Christmas around the world. A
00:30:04 mesmerizing Christmas concert spectacular. Immerse yourself
00:30:08 in the spirit of Christmas like never before as melodies from
00:30:12 every corner of the globe fill the air with joy and wonder.
00:30:17 Experience the magic at two iconic venues. Catch the
00:30:20 spellbinding performances at Naperi Mabol on the 15th and
00:30:24 17th and feel the holiday chill light up Queen's Hall on the
00:30:27 22nd and 23rd. Tickets are available now at Island
00:30:32 E-Tickets.com or at Queen's Hall Box Office. Don't miss this
00:30:36 unforgettable celebration of unity, love, and the true
00:30:39 meaning of Christmas. Believe in the magic of the season and
00:30:43 let the world's harmonies inspire you. John Thomas'
00:30:46 Believe. See online platforms for details.
00:30:53 I'm going to do this.
00:30:57 I'm going to do this.
00:31:02 I'm going to do this.
00:31:06 I'm going to do this.
00:31:10 I'm going to do this.
00:31:14 I'm going to do this.
00:31:18 I'm going to do this.
00:31:22 Welcome back TNT. Thank you so much for staying with us.
00:31:45 Well, we're jumping across to the Kuva Tabaki Talpara
00:31:48 Regional Corporation where a lot seems to be going on.
00:31:52 Joining us now is Ryan Rampersad. He's of course
00:31:55 chairman of that regional corporation. Mr Rampersad,
00:31:58 thank you so much for joining us. Hi, good morning everyone.
00:32:02 Good morning. So, there's some bad news this morning.
00:32:07 Yes, so we have some bad news this morning. Well, a number of
00:32:11 fun items of bad news. So, the most
00:32:16 Mr Rampersad, the zoom connection seems to be
00:32:25 sticking just a bit. If you could deactivate the video,
00:32:31 audio should be should be okay.
00:32:35 Okay, so we will try to reconnect with Mr Rampersad.
00:32:47 Maybe if he could log off and log back in that may help but
00:32:51 he was just going to tell our viewers about the Palmist
00:32:56 Government Primary School. It was burned to the ground and
00:32:59 that means all those students, no fatalities, no injuries, but
00:33:03 all those students have found themselves displaced and of
00:33:08 course that primary school also acts as a community center, the
00:33:11 meeting place for everyone in that community. So, it's not
00:33:17 just a blow to education but for the entire community.
00:33:21 Usually, when students are displaced, they're moved to a
00:33:24 community center or temple or church but in this case,
00:33:27 alternative and alternative location will have to be found.
00:33:32 Mr Rampersad, are you there?
00:33:35 Yes, I'm here. Alrighty. So, Palmist Government Primary
00:33:41 School was burned to the ground.
00:33:44 I wish I yes, I got a call at 5 AM. I've not visited just
00:33:51 yet because I'm because I needed to get this interview
00:33:53 done and then I'll head down there. The Palmist Government
00:33:56 School as you know, this is Palmist in central Trinidad,
00:34:00 Palmist in San Fernando. Just like south of the London
00:34:04 Valley area, it houses a couple of hundred children. Very
00:34:08 noteworthy is that is the fact that there is no community
00:34:13 center in this village of Palmist. The school actually
00:34:17 acts as the community center. So, with the school being
00:34:20 burned right now, you know, everyone is very much worried
00:34:23 as to what contingency measures would be put in place to house
00:34:28 these children come January when school has to be reopened
00:34:31 because we know, I mean, no one expects a school to be rebuilt
00:34:35 in a short space of time. The neighboring schools would be
00:34:38 Londonville Government Primary School and the Torgs Road RSC
00:34:41 schools. Couple of miles away north and south of the
00:34:44 Palmist School. So, that I think that there are fire officers
00:34:48 on site, police officers, and so on. The cause of the fire has
00:34:51 not been determined just yet but the school has been burned.
00:34:54 The reports I got is school has been burned and cannot be used
00:34:57 for for for hosting, you know, activities at the school
00:35:01 anymore. And I'm pretty sure there were a whole host of
00:35:04 activities carded for the Christmas time into New Year's.
00:35:09 Yes, just yesterday, one of the teachers, the same teacher who
00:35:13 called me indicated that they were preparing toys and so many
00:35:16 different things for the children. Children are very
00:35:18 much excited as you know, school, some schools are closing
00:35:21 today, some tomorrow, I think and the children were very
00:35:23 excited to go to school and close off with a little class
00:35:26 parties and so on. So, it's very very heartbreaking. On on
00:35:30 on the positive side, I I don't think there were any injuries
00:35:34 or anything like that. No loss of any life, you know. But it's
00:35:38 still very much a very sad situation with one of our
00:35:42 schools, you know, being destroyed by a fire. And of
00:35:46 course, in addition to to that bad news, Pauline Rozelle, she
00:35:52 was beaten and subsequently died at the Eric Williams
00:35:56 Medical Sciences Complex and of course, you posted to your
00:35:59 Facebook page that it it has left the community in despair.
00:36:05 The entire community is in mourning because Pauline,
00:36:09 better known as Greta, is a household name in our
00:36:12 community. She heals from from from a very good family, a
00:36:17 family that is well known, her family, they actually would
00:36:20 have hosted Easter sports activities in our community
00:36:24 for many, many, many years. So, the entire community were
00:36:27 assembled by by by their place of residence, you know, over
00:36:30 over the years, especially when her father was alive, he
00:36:33 passed away a number of years. But but but you know,
00:36:36 Pauline is also a businesswoman in the community. A business
00:36:39 business, actually the first business you would encounter
00:36:42 as you enter the community of Torchwood. And you know, she
00:36:44 you would see her in mornings when when I'm driving out, you
00:36:47 would see her sweeping the front by the pavement, cleaning
00:36:49 up her place, you would see on afternoons and it's very
00:36:53 unfortunate. It stemmed from a domestic violence dispute I
00:36:56 understand. The perpetrator is in police custody. But the
00:37:01 entire village is in mourning. I stopped by the house last
00:37:04 night for the week and you know, they have residents,
00:37:07 relatives from abroad who would have to come in and so on for
00:37:09 the funeral. But the entire entire village is in mourning
00:37:13 because everyone has to take in the social media. We have a
00:37:16 lot of residents who would have migrated, you know, so you're
00:37:19 seeing condolences coming in from countries all over. It's
00:37:22 a really sad situation and we really mourn with the Rosal
00:37:26 family. Well, you know, we've got to thank the police for
00:37:29 their swift action there in apprehending the perpetrator
00:37:32 but it just goes to show the high level of violence and this
00:37:36 is in fact a crime. But of course, your regional
00:37:40 corporation, you're taking things into your own hands and
00:37:43 coming up with your own initiatives. Do you care to
00:37:46 share with our viewers some of these? Indeed, that definitely.
00:37:51 So, it is public knowledge that a number of schools would have
00:37:54 been vandalized and broken into just recently. The Orange
00:37:57 Field Hindu School, they were broken into last week, Thursday.
00:38:00 They lost a lot of valuables. They were actually preparing to
00:38:04 host a raffle. So, the prizes for the raffle, some really
00:38:06 attractive prizes. They lost those items and just a couple
00:38:11 days prior to that, the Waterloo Hindu School, they
00:38:14 lost about fourteen or $15,000 in cash. The
00:38:20 perpetrator, he would have cut the fence and you know, came
00:38:24 in with a gun and so on and as you know, these schools are
00:38:27 manned by just one, one personnel, one security
00:38:30 personnel, unarmed. So, you know, that person can't really
00:38:34 stand up and fend for themselves if you encounter,
00:38:37 you know, an armed bandit. Prior to that, as you know,
00:38:43 during the Ram Leela celebrations, that period of
00:38:46 time during the Wadi and so on, we had a number of religious
00:38:48 institutions being broken into in central Trinidad, the
00:38:52 Templin C, you had you had vandalism in Macbain and
00:38:56 Calcutta and so on and other parts of the country. We also
00:38:59 had the West Secondary School, I believe they were vandalized
00:39:03 and robbed. I would be reaching out to them a bit later today
00:39:06 and a number of churches and so on. So, all in all, we know we
00:39:11 we lays with the officers from the Freeport Police Station,
00:39:13 the goodly officers there, goodly officers from the Cooper
00:39:16 Police Station, senior superintendent Simon from
00:39:18 Central Division and we know they are trying their best with
00:39:21 the very limited resources that they have but the key words
00:39:24 they are very limited because a team of of of of members of
00:39:30 council would have visited the top brass of TTPS a couple
00:39:34 about 2 months ago at Police Administration building and you
00:39:38 know, we laid it on the table, what are our concerns as the
00:39:41 regional corporation and you know, we were told by the
00:39:44 seniors from various divisions. What are some of the
00:39:46 challenges, lack of vehicles and so on. In Bastrop, we
00:39:51 actually, you know, two police stations would have been closed
00:39:54 within our region. It's in Raphael Police Station and the
00:39:56 Brassil Station also. Those officers are now housed at the
00:40:00 Grand Cooper Station. So, we are asking for the reopening of
00:40:02 these stations and so on but nonetheless, what I recognize
00:40:06 is that we have very experienced police officers who
00:40:10 are retired but they are still willing to serve and give of
00:40:13 their time. So, you have the names, you have people like
00:40:17 Johnny Abraham, former senior superintendent from Central
00:40:20 Division. When you hear the name Johnny Abraham, if you're
00:40:24 on the wrong side of the law, it strikes fear into you and if
00:40:26 you're on the right side of the law, you would feel a bit of
00:40:28 comfort hearing the name Johnny Abraham. Succeeding Johnny
00:40:34 Abraham would have been former senior Kenny McIntyre. He's one
00:40:38 of my budgets as also and one of my present, all the men at
00:40:42 the regional corporation, Mr. Paul Bandu, he's a retired
00:40:44 officer. Combined just with the three of these officers, they
00:40:48 have over 100 years experience and very good officers they
00:40:52 will. So, you know, out of frustration, just over the
00:40:55 weekend, I was reading the stories about the schools being
00:40:58 broken into and you know, the the students being left with
00:41:01 their, you know, their their sense of security shaken and so
00:41:04 on. So, I decided to make some calls to the gentlemen and ask
00:41:07 them if they would be willing to come on board for us to take
00:41:10 a more proactive approach. Let us visit the schools because
00:41:13 whilst the goodly police officers from Hoover, Freeport
00:41:16 and Chagones would have visited the schools and would have done
00:41:19 their reports and so on. They are very much burdened with the
00:41:22 high levels of crime in the country that they cannot go
00:41:26 beyond what is expected of them. You know, and and I'm not
00:41:29 sure exactly what is expected. It was just to do the reports
00:41:31 and investigations but we decided, mister Abraham, mister
00:41:35 McIntyre, mister Bandu and some others that we would go in and
00:41:38 have a look at the physical infrastructure of the schools
00:41:41 and we may be able to to identify loopholes in their
00:41:45 systems and so on their security systems and and that is exactly
00:41:49 what happened because we visited on Tuesday. We visited
00:41:52 those two schools and we were able to identify areas where
00:41:55 they could be for their security. It involves a bit of
00:41:58 construction and redesigning and so on but it's not just about
00:42:01 advising them. The regional corporation, we are committed
00:42:06 to go a step further. We are willing to assist them with
00:42:09 much needed labor. As you know, EFCL is shut down and EFCL
00:42:13 would have been that company that would have been doing
00:42:15 infrastructure works in in the schools but that company has
00:42:19 been shut down and from our feedback, it is very much a lot
00:42:21 of bureaucracy and red tape to get things done in these
00:42:24 schools when it comes to infrastructure works and
00:42:26 repairs and so on. So, at our regional corporation, we would
00:42:30 have spoken and we would have discussed and we would have
00:42:33 decided, listen, we have welders, we have masons, we
00:42:36 have engineers, we have carpenters. So, in
00:42:39 collaboration with the principals, the denominational
00:42:42 boards, and the PTs, they would come up with materials and so
00:42:45 on and we have, we are looking for security because they
00:42:49 remain susceptible, right? After all the reports are done,
00:42:53 if there's no addition to their security features, then the
00:42:56 the schools are very much open to being vandalized again and
00:42:59 this was my concern. So, these good gentlemen have indicated
00:43:03 that they are willing to go around the country, not just
00:43:06 within if there are any religious institutions, you
00:43:10 know, schools and so on who want their expert advice, they
00:43:14 are very much willing to help and they are doing it pro bono.
00:43:17 Mr. Ryan Rampasad, of course, chairman of the Kuva Tabakita
00:43:21 Alparo Regional Corporation. We'll have to invite you again
00:43:24 to talk about this Barbados fish fest that you intend to
00:43:28 bring to your regional corporation but unfortunately
00:43:31 we've run a little short on time. So, I'm gonna thank you
00:43:34 so much for joining us. Thank you so much for sharing and of
00:43:37 course, everything that you do trying to ensure our schools
00:43:41 and religious centers are safe. Thank you so much. Thank you.
00:43:47 Well, Taviewers, as we head off to the break, we share with
00:43:49 you this quote. We need strength while doing the
00:43:54 impossible but we need faith while doing the impossible.
00:43:59 We'll be right back.
00:44:02 Introducing Berberine Plus by Aja Nutrition. Two doses a day
00:44:20 keeps the blood sugar at bay. Cholesterol levels in check. In
00:44:23 your immune system strong. Made with ancient Ayurvedic
00:44:26 ingredients. Berberine, bitter melon, and banana leaf.
00:44:29 Berberine Plus is clinically proven to improve glucose
00:44:33 metabolism, enhance insulin sensitivity, and slows glucose
00:44:36 absorption in the gut. Berberine Plus, providing a natural path
00:44:40 to a healthier you. Pick up a bottle today at Pennywise and
00:44:43 all leading pharmacies nationwide. Around the right
00:44:47 house this Christmas when you advertise with the Express
00:44:50 Classifieds. Hit your targets with our audience. Our readers
00:44:53 remain true. We have special rates and discounts that were
00:44:56 made just for you. So whether you've been naughty or nice,
00:45:00 take advantage of every special price. Around the right house
00:45:03 this Christmas, place your booking with the Express
00:45:06 Classifieds. Consider it sold. Whatever your style, BiGiant
00:45:11 semi-permanent hair color gives you oil-rich conditioning
00:45:14 formulas. You can relax and color on the same day. So get
00:45:17 rid of those grays or try on a little shade. With BiGiant
00:45:21 semi-permanent hair color, it's all your style.
00:45:26 We're here at the Vikas Country Club in Bharatpur for TV6 and
00:45:33 Taj 92.3 FM's newest, most vibrant, most energetic singing
00:45:38 competition to hit Trinidad and Tobago.
00:45:42 [Music]
00:45:44 [Music]
00:45:46 [Music]
00:45:48 [Music]
00:45:51 [Music]
00:45:54 [Music]
00:45:59 [Music]
00:46:12 [Music]
00:46:15 [Music]
00:46:21 [Music]
00:46:25 [Music]
00:46:29 [Music]
00:46:35 [Music]
00:46:39 [Music]
00:46:42 [Music]
00:46:46 [Music]
00:46:50 [Music]
00:46:54 [Music]
00:46:58 Universal Church presents Programs of Faith.
00:47:03 5.30am, the hour of miracles.
00:47:09 5pm, it's possible.
00:47:13 Now, on TV6.
00:47:19 [Music]
00:47:37 [Music]
00:47:40 [Music]
00:47:44 [Music]
00:47:48 [Music]
00:47:52 [Music]
00:47:56 [Music]
00:48:00 [Music]
00:48:05 [Music]
00:48:08 [Music]
00:48:12 [Music]
00:48:16 [Music]
00:48:20 [Music]
00:48:24 [Music]
00:48:28 [Music]
00:48:33 [Music]
00:48:36 [Music]
00:48:40 [Music]
00:48:44 [Music]
00:48:48 [Music]
00:48:52 [Music]
00:48:56 [Music]
00:49:01 [Music]
00:49:04 [Music]
00:49:08 [Music]
00:49:12 [Music]
00:49:16 [Music]
00:49:20 [Music]
00:49:24 [Music]
00:49:29 [Music]
00:49:32 [Music]
00:49:36 [Music]
00:49:40 [Music]
00:49:44 [Music]
00:49:48 [Music]
00:49:52 [Music]
00:49:57 [Music]
00:50:00 [Music]
00:50:04 [Music]
00:50:08 [Music]
00:50:12 [Music]
00:50:16 [Music]
00:50:20 [Music]
00:50:25 [Music]
00:50:28 [Music]
00:50:32 [Music]
00:50:36 [Music]
00:50:40 [Music]
00:50:44 [Music]
00:50:48 [Music]
00:50:53 [Music]
00:50:56 [Music]
00:51:00 [Music]
00:51:04 [Music]
00:51:08 [Music]
00:51:12 [Music]
00:51:16 [Music]
00:51:21 [Music]
00:51:24 [Music]
00:51:28 [Music]
00:51:32 [Music]
00:51:36 [Music]
00:51:40 [Music]
00:51:44 [Music]
00:51:49 [Music]
00:51:52 [Music]
00:51:56 [Music]
00:52:00 [Music]
00:52:04 [Music]
00:52:08 [Music]
00:52:12 [Music]
00:52:17 [Music]
00:52:20 [Music]
00:52:24 [Music]
00:52:28 [Music]
00:52:32 [Music]
00:52:36 [Music]
00:52:40 [Music]
00:52:45 [Music]
00:52:48 [Music]
00:52:52 [Music]
00:52:56 [Music]
00:53:00 [Music]
00:53:04 [Music]
00:53:08 [Music]
00:53:13 [Music]
00:53:16 [Music]
00:53:20 [Music]
00:53:24 [Music]
00:53:28 [Music]
00:53:32 [Music]
00:53:36 [Music]
00:53:41 [Music]
00:53:44 [Music]
00:53:48 [Music]
00:53:52 [Music]
00:53:56 [Music]
00:54:00 [Music]
00:54:04 [Music]
00:54:09 [Music]
00:54:12 [Music]
00:54:16 [Music]
00:54:20 [Music]
00:54:24 [Music]
00:54:28 [Music]
00:54:32 [Music]
00:54:37 [Music]
00:54:40 [Music]
00:54:44 [Music]
00:54:48 [Music]
00:54:52 [Music]
00:54:56 [Music]
00:55:00 [Music]
00:55:05 [Music]
00:55:08 [Music]
00:55:12 [Music]
00:55:16 [Music]
00:55:20 [Music]
00:55:24 [Music]
00:55:28 [Music]
00:55:33 [Music]
00:55:36 [Music]
00:55:40 [Music]
00:55:44 [Music]
00:55:48 [Music]
00:55:52 [Music]
00:55:56 [Music]
00:56:01 [Music]
00:56:04 [Music]
00:56:08 [Music]
00:56:12 [Music]
00:56:16 [Music]
00:56:20 [Music]
00:56:24 [Music]
00:56:29 [Music]
00:56:32 [Music]
00:56:36 [Music]
00:56:40 [Music]
00:56:44 [Music]
00:56:48 [Music]
00:56:52 [Music]
00:56:57 [Music]
00:57:00 [Music]
00:57:04 [Music]
00:57:08 [Music]
00:57:12 [Music]
00:57:16 [Music]
00:57:20 [Music]
00:57:25 [Music]
00:57:28 [Music]
00:57:32 [Music]
00:57:36 [Music]
00:57:40 [Music]
00:57:44 [Music]
00:57:48 [Music]
00:57:53 [Music]
00:57:56 [Music]
00:58:00 [Music]
00:58:04 Good morning, I am Ansel Gibbs with a news update.
00:58:08 A High Court judge has set aside a $20 million award to nine men acquitted of kidnapping and murdering Vindra Naipaul-Cullman.
00:58:19 As Governor John Charles ruled, the proceedings had not been properly served on the Attorney General in accordance with the State Liability and Proceedings Act.
00:58:28 Attorney General Reginald Amor says it's an important victory. Attorneys for the nine men acquitted have filed a notice of appeal.
00:58:39 Hundreds of people came out to say a final farewell on Wednesday as former Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Chairman Terry Rundon was laid to rest.
00:58:50 What I recognize in this short space of time is the amount of people my father and his work would have touched and the contribution he made to Trinidad and Tobago.
00:59:04 And I can stand here today saying that I am proud of what he has done. I am proud of his achievements.
00:59:10 [Music]
00:59:12 And in the weather forecast, a mostly clear and occasionally windy day will be broken up by periods of partly cloudy to cloudy skies, occasionally with isolated showers.
00:59:25 The odd isolated thunderstorm is likely to occur during the morning. Strong gusts and isolated thunderstorms may cause street or flash floods in addition to heavy rain, and seas may be occasionally turbulent during the day.
00:59:40 [Music]
00:59:47 Cruise into pleasure.
00:59:50 Room service, may I help you?
00:59:53 Cruise into flavor.
00:59:55 Mmm.
00:59:57 Cruise into celebrations.
01:00:00 Cruise into business.
01:00:02 And in this fiscal year.
01:00:04 Cruise into the sunset.
01:00:07 Cruise in hotel and yachting center.
01:00:12 Cruise in to a whole new world.
01:00:16 This Christmas it's more than merry at First Citizens.
01:00:21 It's more than merry at First Citizens.
01:00:26 For all your financial needs, 'cause Citizens is the one you need. And if you really want to succeed, just come with us and take the lead.
01:00:33 And get it pre-approved, it's a breeze. Help you finance new properties. We have loads of green energy. And you could win a new SUV or take a vacation.
01:00:41 If you need a break, get more time cash back and low rates. With First Citizens all is yours. We're giving you more than Santa Claus.
01:00:48 It's more than merry at First Citizens.
01:00:55 [Music]
01:00:56 This season, the best gifts are quality, value and performance.
01:01:00 With our expanded range of household appliances.
01:01:03 Including 10, 16 and 18 cubic foot single door refrigerators.
01:01:08 21 cubic foot stainless steel French door.
01:01:10 And side by side refrigerators.
01:01:12 Ceramic cook tops with 4 or 5 burners.
01:01:15 Chest freezers, 4 and 5 burner stoves.
01:01:18 Washing machines and more.
01:01:20 'Tis the season for quality, value and performance.
01:01:24 So gift yourself the best range of appliances.
01:01:27 Available nationwide.
01:01:29 [Music]
01:01:32 [Music]
01:01:34 [Music]
01:01:35 [Music]
01:01:37 [Music]
01:01:39 [Music]
01:01:41 [Music]
01:01:43 [Music]
01:01:45 [Music]
01:01:47 [Music]
01:01:49 [Music]
01:01:51 [Music]
01:01:53 [Music]
01:01:55 [Music]
01:01:57 [Music]
01:01:59 [Music]
01:02:02 [Music]
01:02:03 [Music]
01:02:05 [Music]
01:02:07 From the sacred hallowed halls of the St. Joseph's Convent Chapel,
01:02:12 this December 9th and 10th, join us for an evening of enchanting melodies and timeless tradition
01:02:18 at Carol's at the Convent, under the direction of John Thomas and Cecilia Salazar.
01:02:23 Be captivated by the awe-inspiring performances of the award-winning St. Joseph's Convent Choir, Port of Spain.
01:02:31 Alongside their esteemed special guests.
01:02:34 Tickets are $200 and are available at select outlets, St. Joseph's Convent Office,
01:02:39 the Abercrombie Tea Shop, the Living Water Bookshop and Kitchen Corner Long Tequila Mall,
01:02:45 or call 625-4502 for more information.
01:02:49 Don't miss this musical masterpiece where every note resonates with the spirit of the season.
01:02:55 Carol's at the Convent. Get your tickets today.
01:02:59 [Music]
01:03:02 [Music]
01:03:11 No, son, no!
01:03:19 [Music]
01:03:22 No!
01:03:24 [Music]
01:03:27 Please, no!
01:03:29 [Music]
01:03:32 [Speaking in Spanish]
01:03:56 You have she and her manners, boy.
01:03:58 I wish I had your touch, boy.
01:04:01 You have to groom them. First you have to target them.
01:04:04 Scope them out. See if they have low self-esteem.
01:04:08 Family problems, you know?
01:04:10 Then you move in and gain their trust.
01:04:13 After that, you fill a need.
01:04:16 Some of them like nice things like fancy phones, hairdos, clothes, food.
01:04:22 You have ones who only looking for somebody to care and listen to their problems.
01:04:26 You feel me?
01:04:28 What's important, though, you have to isolate them from the people.
01:04:32 Let them believe it's all about you and them.
01:04:37 Then you get through.
01:04:39 Nice, nice.
01:04:41 Look one right here. Try it now.
01:04:44 [Music]
01:04:47 [Music]
01:04:49 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
01:04:56 [Music]
01:04:59 This segment is brought to you by Panadol Cold and Flu.
01:05:04 Welcome back, Trinidad and Tobago.
01:05:09 So we're due to chat a little bit about health.
01:05:14 We're going to focus on your health with a discussion with Dr. Fuad Khan, former health minister.
01:05:19 We just wait for him to join us via our Zoom link.
01:05:25 In the meantime, let's talk about what's happening in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:05:30 As a matter of fact, in the region, what's going on in the Assequibo.
01:05:37 Of course, Ghana is on full alert.
01:05:40 Maduro's moves.
01:05:43 [Music]
01:05:45 [Music]
01:05:48 [Music]
01:05:51 [Music]
01:05:54 [Music]
01:05:57 [Music]
01:06:00 [Music]
01:06:03 [Music]
01:06:06 [Music]
01:06:10 So there is this map in this photo here from AFP.
01:06:14 President Nicolás Maduro, he holds a map of the Assequibo region, which he claims is part of Venezuela.
01:06:21 So there was also this map floating around social media.
01:06:26 I'm not sure if you all got sight of it, but quite interestingly, it has Trinidad as part of Venezuela's claimed region.
01:06:38 So that was a little bit shocking and jarring to me.
01:06:43 And people have been questioning on social media discussions when you go out into the streets, into the public.
01:06:51 After Assequibo, what's next?
01:06:55 Does Nicolás Maduro intend to claim other parts as Venezuela's territory?
01:07:03 Interestingly, I posed this question to opposition leader Kamala Bissette Bissette yesterday during our one-on-one interview.
01:07:10 And she did refer to the country's founding father, the first prime minister, Dr. Eric Williams, and his statements about Trinidad and Tobago's territory,
01:07:22 about Venezuela's claim on other territories, on other islands, on even Guyana, the Assequibo region.
01:07:32 I think we're joined by Dr. Khan. Dr. Khan, good morning to you.
01:07:36 Okay, are you unmuted? Because I don't seem to be hearing.
01:07:42 Still not hearing.
01:07:45 We're just waiting on our directors to just iron out that minor technical issue.
01:07:58 Dr. Khan, are you there?
01:08:00 Can you see me?
01:08:07 We are seeing you and I'm now hearing you loud and clear.
01:08:12 So Dr. Khan, what are we talking about this morning? What health tips do you have for us?
01:08:18 What I wanted to speak about, I was thinking of prostate and prostate diseases, but I was thinking about the health of the body.
01:08:27 I don't know about the diseases, but a thought hit me this morning about the mental and psychological destruction of boys and men.
01:08:37 And I was thinking I would like to speak on that because that is what is happening a lot in the world, Trinidad and Tobago also,
01:08:48 that boys are being left behind, gills, and as a result of that, the psychological and mental state has been deteriorating over the last, well, for a very long time
01:09:00 because of things that have been put in place. Would you like to talk about that or would you prefer to talk about prostate cancer?
01:09:10 What are some signs that we can pick up on, particularly as it relates to boys, that they are undergoing some sort of psychological distress?
01:09:20 Well, I want to start off by saying that boys, well, males, are developing life at a slower rate,
01:09:31 from babies onwards, than girls. And the psychological and physical development lags behind by months.
01:09:43 So what you may find as the rolling over test, the follow your eyes test of babies, the follow the object test, the speech, standing up and walking, etc.
01:09:59 Boys tend to lag behind girls. So a girl may pick up a bottle and start a walk at the age of eight months.
01:10:07 A boy may do it at 12 to 15 months. Some boys do it earlier. But the development stage as we go through from toddler stage, baby to toddler, to infant and onwards,
01:10:21 boys lag behind. Now, what I am coming to, when we start to push the boys to be faster development, faster speaking, faster development,
01:10:35 and you reach a stage in, let's say, boys are more playful, girls become a little more serious, a little more dedicated.
01:10:44 So when you go, let's suppose you have to write SCA together, sorry, you write at the same age almost, and the boys are at a disadvantage.
01:10:57 So they write the same test with the girls who are much more developed, much more advanced because of the genetic makeup.
01:11:06 And the boys are bit a feel. They get into secondary school, they get into whatever school and they keep going up. Some boys don't make it.
01:11:14 And they end up at the secondary school level, same age, 16, 16, writing the different exams. And so then you get the girls outperforming the boys.
01:11:26 And the boys happen to feel inferior because not to know, as you see, fault of their own. So if you continue that trend and you don't look at it,
01:11:37 and you look and see that whether you suppose boys have to write the same exam at a later age than girls to make it equal in the academic play field,
01:11:49 or whatever, boys are more or less pushed into manual labor if they feel. And as you continue up the university spectrum or the professional spectrum,
01:11:59 or the labor spectrum, you may get a girl who is now going to become a BSc, medical doctor, engineer, everything else, and there are less males and less boys in it.
01:12:14 Because they didn't have the foundation, didn't pass the exam at the same time, and they're not there. So you get an 80-20% discrepancy.
01:12:22 That, in a nutshell, causes men, boys, etc., to go into a psychological tailspin where relationships are concerned. And as a result of that, they can't handle it.
01:12:40 And a lot of them resort to things like depression, domestic violence, etc. So a lot of what is happening today, violence, is where young men try to prove to the girls that they are good,
01:12:57 because they want to have a relationship with the girls.
01:13:02 So Dr. Khan, from what you've so far explained, does this now call for a restructuring of our education system? Do we need to assess boys and girls differently at different times, different levels? Will this help?
01:13:18 The answer, Yuvashi, is yes. I have tried to advocate it when Adesh Dhanan was there, Tim Bukisi was there, and I even spoke to Mr. Manning about it,
01:13:30 and I have been noticing that trend. Now, if you're the mother of boys, not girls, you will find that your boys are lagging behind, and you're trying to figure out why.
01:13:40 Why aren't they doing as well as girls, and why sometimes become overtly vocal and violent? Just because they want to be accepted.
01:13:49 So if we restructure the educational system, where we give boys a better chance to become successful, we're not merely coddling them, it's just because of the mental aspect and the age development aspect, we're giving them a fair chance.
01:14:09 Now, that is what I've been advocating, and this results, Yuvashi, this results in domestic violence. A lot of domestic violence comes about as a man, I'm not saying it's correct,
01:14:26 but when he starts to feel inferior, being pushed aside, or in a relationship, a girl moves forward and dumps him, you get serious, serious depression.
01:14:38 Now, that in a nutshell is why we need to change the whole approach and the whole system of education where boys and girls are concerned, and we will decrease the domestic violence in our society.
01:14:54 We will decrease the amount, I mean we get a better mix of intellects, because at the age of 20, let's say 21, and the girls are 18, boys are 21, you'll find that they catch up, but it's too late academically, because the university degrees have gone already.
01:15:12 Now, sorry, a girl tends to wean off later down the road, they become lonely, they start to become depressed because they don't have a family, etc.
01:15:24 Yes, there are some people who like to be courteous, women, etc., but they do have the man to match them, and then you find the boys are compromising and becoming more feminine, because they want to be accepted.
01:15:36 That's why you find all this whole structure of society, male/female dynamics, is causing a lot of depression and mental, as they say, pressure on males.
01:15:49 Dr. Khan, has this been researched? Because, you know, from what you're explaining, the data seems to be there in terms of, we do see from SE, girls outperforming boys.
01:16:02 When it's time for scholarships, we see more females accessing scholarships, females now being more graduates.
01:16:11 A simple thing, like I would drive down the road and you look around, you no longer see, I mean like drive time, heading to and from work, you no longer see the man driving a car, you mostly see females in the workforce, going out and being career driven, and so on. Is this researched?
01:16:30 Yes, this is researched. If you look at articles, and what I'm saying, you do an internet search, a scholarly article search, you will see that boys are at a disadvantage, because the whole society is structured on equal age, doing this thing at equal ages, not equal stages of development.
01:16:54 As a result of that, you end up having the academically deficient boy, the girls moving ahead, because at the same age, the girls are way serious, more advanced, as they say, mentally, and boys are not, they're playful.
01:17:12 When you look at a boy at the age of 10 to 12, they are playful, and they are now coming into their own. You put an exam on them, and a girl at the same age, she's going to be academically better.
01:17:26 So, you end up now, once you take X and Y into mixed schools, and girls schools over boy schools are different, you will find that the boys, up to the age of 15, 16, they are not as academically, they're still playful, that's why they do better at sports, etc.
01:17:44 However, if this thing is done properly, we could get less depression, less relationship problems, and an equal playing field in the workforce.
01:17:55 Now, Dr. Khan, for those who this system would have missed for those boys, for those men, 18, 19, and over, I also note, when we look at, when we do get reports of suicides and so on, it's quite often a male.
01:18:13 And the question is asked, why? Why did he do that? Why did he have to do that? What are some of the warning signs that we could look out for?
01:18:23 One, depression. Depression is a big factor. You have the depression, the men don't cry for help, they kill themselves. If they're crying for help, they'll be considered weaklings.
01:18:37 Men don't cry, men don't this, men don't that. But the younger male today, is the younger male who are trying to look and become more feminine, to be accepted. After a while, that develops into depression.
01:18:58 It develops into mass, as you say, I don't use the word mass, the slave, but dominant and subordinate. The man has to become subordinate now, because they have to put women on a pedestal, because they're more academically forward.
01:19:15 They may be the breadwinner. The men are now relegated, not to equal status, but underlings, subordinates. If you see how the social media, TikTok, and Instagram, and all those things, portray men.
01:19:33 Even the show called Barbie, Barbie did the same thing. It made the men into subordinates. That is what social media has pushed, because the men cannot be academically equal, etc. So they have to be subordinates.
01:19:51 That is why you end up with men becoming extremely depressed. Remember men are stronger, so that's where domestic violence results in females being killed. It's not right.
01:20:07 That is the psychology behind it. That is the medical aspect behind it, which nobody is looking at. Yes, we say we have to stop this, we have to stop that, but it starts at the school level, age.
01:20:23 From toddler to kindergarten, difference. You have different makeup, different genetics, different development. It goes to toddler stage, kindergarten again, then it goes to standard one, standard two, standard three, and it keeps going up.
01:20:41 Because the image, a lot of them are not as mentally ready or academically ready to develop. So you end up now with a different age group, sorry, a different academic group, but the age is the same.
01:20:58 So it has to be addressed. If you want to stop domestic violence, depression, and the mental aspect of suicides in your society, violence, boys tend to join gangs because they can't find money or they are not academically equal.
01:21:18 So they join gangs, and that is what happens. The gangs take their mean and they use them because they want to show that to the women that they are special. No, you can't do it academically because you're being kicked over your system.
01:21:33 So you join a gang, and that is, we have a gang culture, domestic violence, I mean, you have depression, everything, as a result of one simple little tweak.
01:21:45 Dr. Fuad Khan, former Health Minister, thank you so much for taking the time. Thank you so much for waking up this early and joining us. I know you're on a bit of a travel, so extra thank you to you.
01:21:56 Thank you. Okay, I hope the authorities listen now. Thank you so much.
01:22:00 Thank you so much again. All the best to you. Well, it's now time for a quick break. We'll be right back.
01:22:04 [Music]
01:22:10 Anadol Cold and Flu
01:22:12 [Music]
01:22:16 Do you want to give your child the best start in life? Use Astamin C.
01:22:20 Every child needs a protective shield against infections. Astamin C contains the eight essential amino acids plus vitamin C, which promotes healthy growth and brain development,
01:22:29 builds immune system, muscles and bones, ensures protein formation in the body, good for formula-fed babies, low birth weight babies and improves appetite.
01:22:39 Babies just love the taste. Give your child the best start in life. Use Astamin C Drops, available at all leading pharmacies nationwide.
01:22:46 Beautiful color can be easy with Bi-Gen Easy Color for Women. Bi-Gen has a gentle conditioning formula that leaves hair healthy and shiny.
01:22:55 It's easy to apply. No stains, no drips. Bi-Gen Easy Color for Women.
01:23:01 [Music]
01:23:08 [Music]
01:23:11 And welcome actor Anand Zubair. Thank you so much for staying with us.
01:23:15 Well, we're talking about the Tunapuna Pop-Up Market. Joining us live on set is President of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ramon Gregorio.
01:23:26 And he's here to tell us about, as I mentioned, the Tunapuna Pop-Up Market. Very good morning to you, Mr. Gregorio.
01:23:32 Thank you so much for, you know, taking the time to drive down all the way to Port of Spain from Tunapuna to join us in person.
01:23:37 So, tell us what's happening and of course it's happening this Sunday.
01:23:40 Yes, it's this Sunday, the 10th of December, from 9am to 6pm at the Seneca Singles High School compound.
01:23:47 It's our first artisan and Christmas market for the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
01:23:52 Something we are very excited and pleased about. It's really about celebrating the SMEs, small and medium-sized businesses in the Tunapuna and environs area.
01:24:01 It's giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents, showcase their wares, but also help them build capacity to grow.
01:24:07 So, it's really not just an artisan and pop-up market alone. It's also an educational building because we have persons from Export ET,
01:24:16 we have persons from the Republic Bank who will be showing them mobile money and how to use different types of payment methods.
01:24:21 Export ET is about scaling and being able to upgrade their products and services and be able to export to local and regional markets.
01:24:30 So, it's really about a celebration of small and medium-sized businesses on that day.
01:24:33 Why did the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce decide to do this?
01:24:37 Coming out of the pandemic, a lot of SMEs would have come to the chamber and would have expressed interest in wanting to be able to showcase their wares
01:24:47 or having a platform to be able to do so. So, we sat down as a board and we decided that we were banding around quite a few concepts.
01:24:56 The first concept, based on the current trend that we saw going out throughout the country, is the market concept.
01:25:00 So, we came together, we developed a philosophy of what we were going to do, and when we pitched it to the SMEs, they were quite pleased.
01:25:07 Actually, as a matter of fact, quite a few of them got on board. As a matter of fact, we have up to 100 vendors who will be participating at the event,
01:25:14 which makes it slightly larger than the average flea market and pop-up shop type environment that persons are familiar with.
01:25:22 So, it's going to be quite big, huge in that regard, a wide variety of vendors.
01:25:26 And of course, it will be at the St. Augustine Girls High School compound, Evans Street, QEP. So, that's big enough for everybody.
01:25:33 Yeah, and as a matter of fact, we have to really celebrate the partnership with the St. Augustine Girls Alumni Association.
01:25:39 They partnered with us almost immediately when the concept came out and provided their facility.
01:25:44 So, we really celebrate that spirit of partnership, and it's something that we, it's not really necessarily going to be a one-off for our chamber.
01:25:51 We want to have different types of activities, really celebrating these small and medium-sized businesses,
01:25:55 because we all know the challenges of COVID-19 and pivoting and persons who are otherwise employed,
01:26:04 but looking for side incomes and developing side income, passive income streams and active income streams.
01:26:10 So, it's really an interesting concept, because quite a few persons who we didn't even know belonged to the artisan fraternity
01:26:18 have come to us and have come out and have really expressed an interest in being part of the market also.
01:26:22 And of course, they get to introduce themselves to the wider community.
01:26:26 Of course, of course.
01:26:28 What sort of booths can we expect there?
01:26:31 Oh, it's a wide range. So, we have digital technology booths.
01:26:34 So, we have the tried and trusted baked products. Of course, it's Christmas time, so everybody has to have their black cake, sponge cake and so on.
01:26:43 We also have plants. A lot of persons are into plants now, so into technology plants.
01:26:46 We'll have some displays from some of our corporate sponsors.
01:26:49 So, as I mentioned, merchants will be able to sign up for the NCASH solution,
01:26:54 as well as some of the persons who come, the first few persons who come, first 50 persons I believe it is,
01:26:58 will be able to sign up for the NCASH.
01:27:00 We also have Kerbin Airlines giving away two tickets to Curacao as a prize.
01:27:06 So, a lot of persons are expressing an interest in there for somebody like myself who has never been.
01:27:11 I really wish I was on the other side, so I'll be able to participate.
01:27:14 But, there's something there for everyone.
01:27:17 So, of course, you have the jewellery, handmade craft, you have fashion design, art.
01:27:23 So, quite a few areas that I think is quite diverse enough for persons to be interested in.
01:27:29 I'm seeing self-care. You've got a beverage bazaar, a fruit fair, so you get fresh and juicy fruit.
01:27:39 There's a professional pavilion which offers services to simplify your life. What is that exactly?
01:27:44 So, persons, different personal development coaches, different personal development image management personalities.
01:27:50 So, as I said, it's really a compendium of talent.
01:27:53 So, it's not just products, it's services as well?
01:27:55 Correct, very much so. And, of course, the chamber will also be present there.
01:27:58 Of course, encouraging persons to join a membership, to join an association,
01:28:02 simply because a lot of small and medium-sized businesses often believe that they don't belong to a chamber.
01:28:08 That's not for them, that's a big business.
01:28:09 And, really trying to change the narrative and change the philosophy as it relates to that.
01:28:14 So, it's really about saying, "No, once I have a business and I have an interest in growing my business,
01:28:18 a chamber, an association, be it the Tunapuna Chamber or some other chamber,
01:28:22 there's a space for you to express yourself." And, that's what we celebrate in.
01:28:26 Oh, my favourite part, the food fiesta. What can we expect when we get pastels?
01:28:34 We have pastels, we have baked goods, we have a number of caterers who have come on board celebrating their ways.
01:28:38 Obviously, Carnival is around the corner and we have quite a few micro-entrepreneurs out there
01:28:43 who do quite fantastic food that don't get the light of day sometimes.
01:28:47 So, this is really, as I said, a celebration, an opportunity for them to be able to do that,
01:28:52 and that type of event.
01:28:54 Is there a fee to enter?
01:28:56 No free, totally free. So, we're encouraging parents, grandparents, kids to come out.
01:29:01 We're encouraging them to bring clothes. So, the facility, as you had mentioned, Owashe,
01:29:04 it's a wide and expansive area, so there's lots of parking, secured parking at that,
01:29:09 and lots of giveaways. So, some of our other sponsors, we have Blue Waters doing some distributions there,
01:29:15 we have different brands, quite a few brands to name, will be doing giveaways at the event.
01:29:21 So, it's a lot for everybody, all members of the family.
01:29:24 And, you can do your Christmas shopping right then and there, right?
01:29:27 Correct, correct.
01:29:30 As I mentioned, two return tickets to Curacao, Côte d'Issue, Caribbean Airlines,
01:29:33 there are food vouchers from Massey Stores.
01:29:35 Food vouchers from Massey Stores to help with your Christmas shopping.
01:29:38 Yeah, you can sign up and cash, you can go cashless, Côte d'Issue, Republic Bank.
01:29:42 And, guys, from noon to 2pm, there's a selfie booth, so you can strike a pose,
01:29:47 and you can capture, you know, memories to last a lifetime.
01:29:50 That's 360 degree photography as well. That's something that I've been aching to try out.
01:29:58 So, Mr. Gregorio, just remind our viewers of why they should come to Sintika Singles Compound
01:30:05 on Sunday, December 10th, and of course, it's from 9 to 6pm.
01:30:10 9am to 6pm. As I said, it's really about celebrating business in the Tunapuna and Environs community,
01:30:15 being able to showcase some of the talents and the wares that we have,
01:30:19 and some pretty impressive talent we have in the Tunapuna and Environs area.
01:30:23 So, it's not just Tunapuna, it's persons from Curap, persons from Tunapuna,
01:30:27 persons from Karani, persons from Valzcene.
01:30:29 So, it's a compendium. From the SAG side and the alumni side,
01:30:33 it's about reconnecting with some of your members, who are in fact artisans also.
01:30:36 So, it's really, as I mentioned before, it's really a compendium of things happening at a particular time,
01:30:42 but all celebrating SME growth and development, because this is where the future of Trinidad and Tobago lies.
01:30:48 And, of course, this is your first.
01:30:50 This is our first, correct.
01:30:52 What do you hope will come out of this?
01:30:55 We're going to find, of course, opportunities for them to grow,
01:30:57 and see opportunities where they can scale their businesses to be able to go to the next level.
01:31:01 From a chamber perspective, really to grow and continue to celebrate,
01:31:05 and to have different pockets of opportunity, where persons can benefit and relate to some of the chamber's work, one,
01:31:11 but also see that the chamber is here as a partner,
01:31:14 and a partner that is willing to support small and medium-sized businesses to be able to realize their potential.
01:31:19 And, of course, I know it's the 11th hour, but can artisans, can they still join in?
01:31:24 Can they still be part of the pop-up market?
01:31:26 We have a few spots remaining, possibly just a handful of spots.
01:31:31 Today is the actual deadline, but, of course, sometimes in New Trinidad, we have a rush for registration today.
01:31:37 So, at our office at No. 10 Eastern Main Road, we have quite a few persons coming to sign up and register and pay today.
01:31:45 So, today is actually going to be quite hectic, because it's the deadline this afternoon.
01:31:49 Right. So, Mr. Gregorio, let me thank you so much for joining us.
01:31:53 Thank you for sharing with the TNT public.
01:31:55 Wish you all the best with this. I might just, you know, come through on Sunday.
01:31:59 I think I will pop through. I'll check out what you have to eat and drink, most likely.
01:32:05 And, of course, for those of you artisans out there who'd like to be part of this pop-up market,
01:32:11 you've got to get to the Greater Tonopuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce today.
01:32:16 It's the deadline, your final chance to sign up.
01:32:19 Thank you so much again.
01:32:22 This is now time for a quick break. We'll be right back with much more.
01:32:25 [Music]
01:32:39 This Christmas, share with Chimere.
01:32:41 Natural herbal products for hair, skin and body.
01:32:44 You can treat yourself or someone you love to Chimere's pocket vultures. Chimere.
01:32:50 [Music]
01:32:54 Could you spare a piece of chocolate for a starving orphan?
01:32:57 I'm sorry, my child. I don't have any on me.
01:33:00 Oh.
01:33:02 [Music]
01:33:04 Ladies and gentlemen!
01:33:07 I give to you, chocolate.
01:33:09 [Music]
01:33:14 Wonka.
01:33:16 It's just a bit of chocolate.
01:33:18 Correction. It was actually my chocolate.
01:33:22 Great PG.
01:33:24 The Trinidad Express e-paper is rated triple E. Adaptable, accessible and available.
01:33:32 Download it for all your Android or iOS devices and enjoy bonus pictures and video with select stories.
01:33:38 Get news, sports, weather, lifestyle articles and more.
01:33:42 Translate it into 11 languages with a convenient voice reader function for when you're on the go.
01:33:48 Set up customized alerts for the content you want.
01:33:51 And never miss a story with access to past editions at any time.
01:33:55 Plus, it's affordable and easy to use.
01:33:58 So what are you waiting for?
01:34:01 Go through the Android or iOS app store or visit digital.trinidadexpress.com today.
01:34:06 It ain't have no shame in crying, no matter your age or sex.
01:34:11 Or laughing and kicksing for that matter.
01:34:15 It's when we keep things in, then the pressure does start.
01:34:20 You need to express yourself.
01:34:23 [Music]
01:34:27 Establish a safe and non-judgmental environment in your home and family circle.
01:34:34 Your child should feel comfortable, not afraid to discuss their feelings with you.
01:34:42 Be open in expressing your feelings as well in open and honest conversation.
01:34:48 Always respect each other's emotions.
01:34:54 At the end of the day, do your best as parents.
01:34:57 Share if you found this useful.
01:35:00 Like and follow our profile for more parenting tips.
01:35:05 The letter of the day is F for feelings.
01:35:10 [Music]
01:35:24 And welcome back Trinidad and Tobago.
01:35:27 Well, believe it or not, there are Trinnies and Trinbagonians, I should say, doing great things all across the world.
01:35:34 And it's now my pleasure to introduce you to our artist segment.
01:35:39 We're joined by Anthony Cole, who's telling us a little bit about his Soca offerings for Carnival 2024.
01:35:45 But more interestingly, Anthony is, let me get this correct, Senior Program Manager for Amazon Music.
01:35:54 Believe it or not, he's joining us all the way from Seattle.
01:35:57 A very good morning to you, Anthony.
01:35:59 Good morning, good morning. Thank you for having me.
01:36:01 So, first, I'm so interested in your job, Program Manager for Amazon Music.
01:36:08 Yeah, so I've been with Amazon for the last six years.
01:36:11 Most recently, I moved over to Amazon Music, where I lead the Critical People programs for Amazon Music.
01:36:17 And also, I've also served in the capacity as President of Amazon's Black Employee Network, where I focus on driving retention programming,
01:36:27 really trying to develop opportunities for us to interact with our community and focusing on DEI efforts.
01:36:34 And what is really interesting is that I have been able to kind of integrate my talent as a singer-songwriter into my corporate function.
01:36:42 And one of the cool ways I've been able to do that was I developed a song called "Bar Razor" for Amazon's Bar Razor program.
01:36:50 And it was a massive campaign that we did in which there's a music video that I composed, and it basically is a jingle.
01:37:00 And it was really cool because it surfaced because of a talent show competition I participated in, and the public relations team asked me to do that.
01:37:10 So, it's just a really cool way to kind of integrate your talent as well as your corporate endeavors in that function.
01:37:20 So, how did you work your way up to being the Senior Program Manager at Amazon? What was your field of study?
01:37:30 Yeah, well, I studied business in college, specifically business management with a concentration in finance.
01:37:36 And I think, you know, a lot of that, my background, some of it that really related to that was I started off in private banking with JP Morgan.
01:37:45 I went to a firm called WealthX where I led the client success team.
01:37:50 And those skills kind of really helped me to develop the program manager functions, which is having a high technical capacity for being able to do project management.
01:38:01 And, you know, really diving deep into problem solving. That's how I was able to make that transition.
01:38:09 So, what about your childhood and history? Where in Trinidad did you originally heal from? And, you know, what was growing up here like?
01:38:19 Yeah, well, I grew up in Sangre Grandi. And I think the talent that I have kind of came up organically because my uncles, they were parenteros.
01:38:31 So, I do remember as a kid in this Christmas time right now, I don't know, getting wake up around 2am in the morning with the band waking me up. That was really fun.
01:38:42 And then I transitioned to Arima Boys RSC. And I think that's where I really first learned to hone into my talent because I entered an extempo competition and I did really well.
01:38:53 And from there I went to Fatima College. So, you know, shout out to any of the Fatima old boys that will be seeing this. And, you know, I just have really fun memories growing up back home.
01:39:04 When did you migrate?
01:39:06 I left Trinidad in 2001. So, I left in Form 4.
01:39:11 Okay. And you went across to the United States, you studied and so on.
01:39:16 Yeah, exactly. So, I went to a school called Edward R. Murrow High School. I did that for about two years. And what was really interesting from my experience, you know, you always hear about Caribbean students having a really strong affinity to do well when they move to the States because of our educational system.
01:39:39 So, kudos to, you know, the education system back home in Trinidad and Fatima particularly because I remember I didn't really study when I was a high school student in the States. I think a lot of the material from back home I was able to retain and apply it.
01:39:55 So, I do remember like within the first week I did an exam and I did really well on it and I did not pick up a book.
01:40:02 How do you compare life in TNT as compared to, you know, life in Seattle?
01:40:09 It's very different. You know, there's a lot of elements of Trinidad, you know, our Caribbean culture that I do miss.
01:40:17 For example, during Christmas time, you know, that very fun festive spirit that we do have. It doesn't really exist here on that level. You know, there's nothing like a Trini Christmas.
01:40:29 Seattle is very rainy. So, right now, you know, during the winter months, we don't get snow, but we get a lot of rain. But, you know, I think the cool elements would be the environment. So, there's a lot of hiking, a lot of outdoor activities that folks do and I do, you know, try to enjoy that.
01:40:52 So, let's talk about your musical career. How did you manage to maintain that and is it that, you know, as you mentioned from, you know, the Parandera Days, Exemple at Arima Boys RC, did you just continue along the way, even in the United States?
01:41:12 Yeah, good question. So, even while in my corporate pursuits, I've always leaned into my talent and in various ways. Like in college, I mentioned I went to City College of New York. I did talent show competitions and I was very popular in the New York college circuit.
01:41:30 So, like I opened up for Beanie Man, I opened up for Mr. Vegas at the college shows and then moving to Amazon, like I was mentioning, I always took any opportunities to showcase my talent and I've actually done songs for the company.
01:41:46 And one of the cool opportunities I had was me and Casey Phillips on Precision Productions. We partnered on making a song for during the pandemic for the return to office initiatives that Amazon had.
01:41:59 And, you know, most recently, I also launched an EP called Good Vibes Only. And the success of that EP allowed me to actually do a tour with the Madarako Festival. And I was one of the opening acts for a band called Southeast Soul.
01:42:16 And Southeast Soul is one of Kenya's top Afro pop groups. And I actually toured several different cities this summer. So, I went to Houston, I went to New York, we went to LA and we'll be, I think, doing at least 20 cities next year as part of the tour.
01:42:32 So, about your release for Carnival 2024, inspiration behind it, it's called Disorder.
01:42:43 There's a lot of Trini in there, there's a lot of Carnival in there when you talk about Disorder.
01:42:48 Indeed, indeed. So, Disorder is just a high energy, fun song for Carnival. It really just kind of gives the Carnival vibe. It's a power soaker song. It was produced by Advocate, Kit Israel.
01:43:01 Kit and I partnered on this release. And I think, you know, once you hear it, you're going to feel that Carnival vibe, you're going to feel that power soaker energy. And I think it's just a really fun song that anybody listening to it will get into.
01:43:15 So, let's see if we could just play a part of that song, you know, while we close off this interview. But before we do that, you know, from Amazon perspective, from a musician perspective, Afrobeats or Reggae or Soca, which one?
01:43:31 Soca all day.
01:43:32 Okay, after Soca.
01:43:35 Well, Afrobeats for sure for myself, because I think what Afrobeats is doing is really allowing us to fuse the different genres together in a very interesting way. As you see some of the big collaborations. So, like this past summer, I was one of the opening acts at a festival called Blast Fest.
01:43:55 So, I got to meet Asake and Tiwa Savage. And, you know, they're really keen into Soca. They know the music, they love it too. And I think there will be some great opportunities for like partnerships in the future with that.
01:44:08 Okay, so the Jamaicans, they're going to mail you about that. They're going to tag you on social media about that. But really and truly, it's just amazing how so many decades later, so many years later, the music from different regions still has that similarity. The vibe is almost the same, yeah?
01:44:29 Indeed, indeed.
01:44:32 So, as you speak to your fans for 2024, can we expect you here in TNT? Will you be performing? Can we see you on the stage? What can we expect?
01:44:44 Yeah, for sure. So 2024, I will be in Trinidad and definitely looking forward to performing. You know, I think I've been trying to really circulate and get some of the DJs playing the song. So, DJ Puffy, you know, from Barbados, he was really excited about it and it will be in rotation with him.
01:45:04 So, yeah, looking forward to coming to Trinidad, performing with Carnival and of course the tour that I mentioned, Madaraka Festival. Excited about that as well next year. And hopefully, you know, we will be able to bring some of those artists from the tour to Trinidad.
01:45:18 You know, you just have to call up DJ Private Ryan and I'm sure you could pull some strings with that, yeah?
01:45:23 Indeed, indeed.
01:45:25 So, Mr. Anthony Cole, let me thank you so much. So, you don't have a subrookie, you just go by Anthony Cole?
01:45:31 Yeah, I go by my name, Anthony Cole. I said, if I'm going to do music, I want to represent myself and you know, what you get is really a part of me, it's part of my DNA. So, yeah, Anthony Cole. You know, it's a good stage name too.
01:45:44 Yeah, yeah, definitely. So, let me thank you so much for joining us. Thank you so much for sharing with us and I do look forward to seeing you on the stage or in person or somewhere we might just bounce up, maybe in Grandy somewhere when you return for Carnival 2024.
01:45:59 Looking forward, looking forward. Thank you so much.
01:46:01 All the best to you once again and thank you for flying that Trini flag high wherever you go, in Amazon, in Seattle, you just do that. Fly the Trini flag high. Proud Trini.
01:46:11 Thank you so much. All the best to you again, Anthony Cole. And viewers, as we head up to the break, we'll be playing Anthony's song. It's a power soca track titled Disorder.
01:46:21 Disorder.
01:46:22 Disorder.
01:46:24 Disorder.
01:46:25 Disorder.
01:46:27 Disorder.
01:46:29 Hey.
01:46:33 Hey.
01:46:41 Welcome to the sacred hallowed halls of the Saint Joseph's Convent Chapel. This December 9th and 10th, join us for an evening of enchanting melodies and timeless tradition at Carol's at the Convent under the direction of John Thomas and Cecilia Salazar.
01:46:57 Don't miss this musical masterpiece where every note resonates with the spirit of the season.
01:47:18 Carol's at the Convent. Get your tickets today.
01:47:21 I am your mother.
01:47:23 Grandmother.
01:47:25 Guardian.
01:47:27 Friend.
01:47:28 And I promise you, I will never forget you.
01:47:30 I am your mother.
01:47:32 Grandmother.
01:47:34 Guardian.
01:47:35 Friend.
01:47:36 And I promise you, I will never forget you.
01:47:38 I am your mother.
01:47:40 Grandmother.
01:47:42 Guardian.
01:47:43 Friend.
01:47:44 And I promise you, I will never forget you.
01:47:46 And I promise to protect you in all situations.
01:47:49 Because someone has hurt you, violated you, harmed you, abused you, and you were brave enough to tell me you trusted me.
01:48:00 You came to me for help, to defend, for support, to protect you.
01:48:06 No amount of money or bribes, favors, or gifts will stop me.
01:48:14 You are most important to me.
01:48:17 You are worth more to me than any material thing.
01:48:21 I will do all in my power, in my heart, to make sure that you are taken care of.
01:48:28 And that justice is served.
01:48:30 And you thrive.
01:48:32 Together, my daughter, my son, my child, we will live and love.
01:48:38 I will protect you.
01:48:41 Silence. Report all cases of child sexual abuse.
01:48:45 And welcome back to another Ante Vigo. Thank you so much for joining us.
01:48:59 So we may just have a little bit of time to get your views in at the end of our show.
01:49:05 So I'll have you say segment.
01:49:07 Our phone lines are open. The number to call is 623-1711.
01:49:12 Extension 1995. We'd love to hear from you.
01:49:16 Of course, just to remind you, the show was in fact a very packed show.
01:49:21 We did start off with our NPTA president, the new president, Mr. Walter Stewart.
01:49:28 He spoke on bullying and school violence.
01:49:31 They are at this time just trying to get the report on exactly what happened to that five-year-old boy at the Edinburgh school.
01:49:41 He was force fed biscuits, which were dipped in a toilet and drain.
01:49:46 We'd love to also hear from the Ministry of Education on this matter as school violence and bullying continues.
01:49:55 We've got a caller on the line. Caller, very good morning to you.
01:49:58 Pleasant morning, Miss Tuari Tabakit here today.
01:50:02 Tabakit, good morning to you. It's pouring cats and dogs in Port of Spain.
01:50:07 How is it in Tabakit?
01:50:10 Let me get straight with it for time.
01:50:12 My question this morning, I would like to know when the Prime Minister returns from London, what is that situation?
01:50:23 How will the citizens be affected with that strategic deal?
01:50:28 How will you deal with it?
01:50:30 Because you continue to hear a lot of deals, a lot of signings in the technology sector.
01:50:37 When the citizens is not benefiting out, that's my question this morning to the Prime Minister and the Energy Minister.
01:50:46 Mr. Prime Minister, how citizens will benefit from that energy deal?
01:50:52 Thank you, Miss Tuari.
01:50:54 Thank you very much, Tabakit. Thank you very much for calling and of course sharing your views with us.
01:50:59 Tabakit wants to know how citizens will benefit from that energy deal.
01:51:05 Getting back to our show this morning, we of course heard from the NPTA President on bullying and violence in our nation's schools.
01:51:12 He of course supports the school discipline matrix, supports students being enlisted into MILAT and of course serve all for deviant behavior if and when they are expelled.
01:51:28 We also chat with Ryan Rampersad who is Chairman of the Kuva Tabakit Talpara Regional Corporation.
01:51:35 He of course spoke to crime and initiatives in his community.
01:51:40 He also let us know that the Palm East Primary School, it was burned to the ground this morning.
01:51:46 So there would be no school for students. Thank God this is the, at least it's the last week of school.
01:51:54 So they won't be displaced and at least the Ministry of Education would have, you know, just a few weeks before school reopens in January to find alternative accommodation for those students.
01:52:05 Mr. Rampersad also spoke to the issue of crime, to the issue of vandalism, school break-ins.
01:52:13 And he has got together a team of retired persons, retired police officers, Johnny Abraham being one of them, to visit those schools, visit those religious centers which have been vandalized and to really look for the loopholes, look for the places where they can in fact beef up their security.
01:52:35 So that's one initiative going on at the Kuva Tabakit Talpara Regional Corporation.
01:52:42 And finally, Mr. Rampersad, we didn't get to chat much about it, but he of course visited Barbados quite recently.
01:52:49 I saw an interview on the morning show in Barbados about his visit where he visited for the fish festival and there are plans to sort of make a parallel fish festival in the Kuva Tabakit Talpara Regional Corporation.
01:53:09 And of course to spur that type of activity within Kuva Tabakit Talpara.
01:53:16 They do have a lot of fishing taking place there, so to sort of mark that fish festival and have one of our own.
01:53:24 Mr. Rampersad did of course say that being in Barbados, you saw people from across the world that would go to Barbados specifically for that fish festival.
01:53:35 This is outside of things like the carnival and so on. People would go specifically for that.
01:53:42 So if we could have such a fish festival in TNT, maybe we'd be able to get that inflow of tourists coming specifically for that.
01:53:51 It's not just for Trinidad Carnival, it's not just for Tabakit Carnival. Here we'd have another event to attract tourists and tourism.
01:54:00 Of course the Law Association, they have an event coming up this weekend at Napa.
01:54:08 So if you want to be part of it, you can support them. The proceeds go to helping students who may need that extra pick-me-up.
01:54:15 We heard from former Health Minister Dr. Fuad Khan about depression in boys.
01:54:21 There's a Tuna Puna pop-up market going on this weekend as well.
01:54:26 And we heard from Anthony Cole who launched his 2024 Soca Song this autumn.
01:54:35 So guys, we've come to the end of today's show. I'm going to invite you to join us for Emmy Prime this evening.
01:54:40 And as we leave you, we share with you this quote. Oh, this image.
01:54:47 He is definitely not for the pot. Believe in your dreams and have a beautiful day.
01:54:55 Top of the morning to you, TNT.
01:54:58 [Music]
01:55:03 [Music]
01:55:08 [Music]
01:55:13 [Music]
01:55:18 [Music]
01:55:23 [Music]
01:55:28 [Music]
Recommended
1:56:57
|
Up next
1:55:24
1:55:28
1:59:59
1:59:58
1:59:37
2:00:22
1:55:24
1:55:46
1:54:53
2:00:18
1:55:10
2:05:15
1:57:28
1:55:39
2:00:08
1:55:12
1:54:00
1:55:13
1:53:36
1:54:53
2:08:32
1:55:35
2:54
2:26
Be the first to comment