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00:00:00 [MUSIC]
00:00:10 And a very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world.
00:00:24 I'm Marlon Hopkinson and welcome to The Morning Edition.
00:00:26 The voice there of the mighty Trini giving us some, and
00:00:29 you know that some songs are like forever green.
00:00:32 And I think that we can save this for this song here from Trini
00:00:37 expressing concerns about safety in Trinidad and Tobago, right?
00:00:41 Yeah, so it's January 15th.
00:00:43 Thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:00:45 We do hope that you had a very good weekend and
00:00:48 that the entertainment has started for the carnival, right?
00:00:51 So I saw many of you out, but here now, what has me very,
00:00:55 very concerned that we are seeing cases of COVID.
00:01:01 Yes, girl, there are cases of COVID.
00:01:05 Yes, boy.
00:01:07 So that has me very much concerned.
00:01:10 So here's the situation now.
00:01:13 If I go into a FET, I may be the only person with a mask on.
00:01:19 You have to deal with that peer pressure, boy.
00:01:21 So what are the options?
00:01:23 It's either you put on the mask and you go to the FET or you stay home.
00:01:26 So that's the predicament, right?
00:01:28 But the data is showing that COVID is back.
00:01:32 Of course, we don't know how many cases right now.
00:01:35 And I suspect that is something that we can get from the Ministry of Health for
00:01:38 you.
00:01:39 But it's not yet time to throw away the sanitizer, right?
00:01:44 And even the mask, yeah?
00:01:46 So and then you have the rising cases of influenza too.
00:01:51 And then you have the Sahara dust.
00:01:53 What is going on with this environment, boy?
00:01:56 Yeah, we're going to have to start walking with these masks with oxygen in them.
00:02:02 Just know what you think, yeah?
00:02:04 But a very special good morning to all of you.
00:02:06 Let's check out to see what's happening in the Daily Express.
00:02:08 On the front page today, good news at the top concerning that picture at the top
00:02:13 with those young people there.
00:02:16 Belmont Boys, Panorama's Best, Primary Schools Champs,
00:02:20 students of St. Margaret's Boys Anglican School celebrate with their trophy
00:02:25 after the Belmont Bay School placed first in the primary schools category
00:02:29 at the National Schools Panorama yesterday at the Queen's Park Savannah
00:02:33 in Porta, Spain.
00:02:34 And a very special good morning to these boys and congratulations to all of you.
00:02:41 All right, Tobago tragedy.
00:02:43 Aunt, nephew die in crash.
00:02:46 Child escapes.
00:02:48 Aunt, nephew die in Tobago crash.
00:02:49 Child thrown from vehicle.
00:02:51 And aunt and her nephew died on Saturday night in a road traffic accident
00:02:54 along the Claude Noel Highway near the Dwight York Stadium.
00:02:58 Let's check out some sport now.
00:03:01 Former NBFTT boss breaks silence.
00:03:05 I'm still a member.
00:03:06 Mitchell calls on current administration to nominate her for CBC presidency.
00:03:11 Immediate past president of the National Basketball Federation
00:03:13 of Trinidad and Tobago, Claire Mitchell, is calling
00:03:16 on the current NBFTT president, Jason Hills,
00:03:20 to retract a letter sent to FIBA in January 2023, which
00:03:24 stated Mitchell was no longer a member of the organization
00:03:29 and that the then newly elected NBFTT board unanimously
00:03:34 made the decision not to support Mitchell's unopposed nomination
00:03:37 for Caribbean Basketball Commission president.
00:03:40 All right, so another bit of back and out concerning
00:03:42 sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:03:44 Yeah?
00:03:45 You think if we get rid of the back and out in sport that we will do better
00:03:49 and the athletes will do better and we'll have a better standing?
00:03:53 Think about it.
00:03:54 Ponder.
00:03:54 Don't wonder.
00:03:55 It's time to remind you about Trinbago, your nice feature.
00:03:57 Remember to participate.
00:03:58 WhatsApp your videos or images to 737-3778.
00:04:02 What do we have for our viewers this morning?
00:04:04 A beautiful picture.
00:04:06 What do you call that studio?
00:04:13 I call it the butterfly landing.
00:04:15 All right, all right.
00:04:22 It's a very special good morning to all of our viewers,
00:04:26 especially those this morning who continue to send
00:04:29 these very lovely photographs.
00:04:31 We do appreciate it.
00:04:32 And again, put your name, even if it is the first name,
00:04:35 even if it is your subriquet, even if it is what they call you at home,
00:04:40 we want to say a very special good morning to you.
00:04:42 All right, so we do have a packed program for you this morning.
00:04:45 You have your coffee, you have your tea, you have something to eat.
00:04:48 It's going to be a very interesting and inciting program for you today.
00:04:52 We're coming back, everybody.
00:04:54 [MUSIC]
00:05:04 [MUSIC]
00:05:14 Plumbing problems?
00:05:26 Don't guess.
00:05:28 Call Plumbing Solutions at 628-4646.
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00:05:48 We are licensed and insured.
00:05:50 So call Plumbing Solutions at 628-4646.
00:05:54 Green Dot continues to deliver internet connectivity to a wide range of
00:05:58 communities in Trinidad.
00:05:59 With our combination fiber and wireless network,
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00:06:12 As communities continue to grow, we continue to deliver.
00:06:16 Call 224-GDOT or visit gd.tt today.
00:06:19 Green Dot, improving and simplifying lives.
00:06:22 Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.
00:06:26 [MUSIC]
00:06:27 Inspiration through dance is fueled by inspiration.
00:06:34 Inspiration is found in the diversity of the art.
00:06:43 Inspired good upon, directs the path.
00:06:48 Join us every Monday morning at 8.30am right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.
00:06:56 I grew up in a country, small little town called Bougmanatras in Santa Cruz.
00:07:03 Very special place to grow up in.
00:07:06 And now as an adult, I think of those children in Trinidad and Tobago
00:07:11 who do not have a safe place, who are maybe not even lying in their own beds, or a bed.
00:07:18 And there's no roof to shade them from the sun, nor to protect them from the rain.
00:07:25 When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago,
00:07:30 they answered a call I have deep inside of me.
00:07:33 What they were saying to me was that we can make a difference.
00:07:38 I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board.
00:07:42 Consider helping Habitat for Humanity in whatever way you can.
00:07:46 [Music]
00:07:56 [Music]
00:08:06 [Music]
00:08:16 [Music]
00:08:26 [Music]
00:08:41 Alright, so welcome back.
00:08:42 Before we jump into our program today, there's this beautiful little picture I want to share with you.
00:08:47 Look at him.
00:08:49 You see him there?
00:08:50 He can barely reach the pans.
00:08:56 He reminds me of me when I was small.
00:09:00 Let me tell you who he is.
00:09:02 Leading the band, a student of Guaico-Presbyterian Primary School,
00:09:05 is focused during the band's performance yesterday of Machel Montano's "Like a Boss,"
00:09:10 arranged by Tristan Marcano in the primary school's category of the National Schools Panorama
00:09:16 at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-au-Prince, Spain.
00:09:19 That's a beautiful picture there.
00:09:21 Yeah, it's a good picture to frame, wouldn't you say?
00:09:25 And we have this picture here.
00:09:27 Pan again, boy.
00:09:30 So the young people are on show this morning in the Daily Express today.
00:09:38 Let me just tell you a little bit about this story.
00:09:40 So Grandstand sees full capacity at National Schools Panorama.
00:09:44 Holy Faith, St. Margaret's Boys, victorious.
00:09:48 Holy Faith Convent, Pinal, yesterday won the secondary school segment of the National Schools Panorama.
00:09:55 While, as we told you earlier, Belmont-based St. Margaret's Boys Anglican School
00:10:01 came out on top in the primary school's category.
00:10:05 Now the National Schools Panorama competition took place at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-au-Prince, Spain,
00:10:11 yesterday beneath sometimes threatening skies that did not open up.
00:10:17 And let me tell you something, but rain is not going to stop Pan.
00:10:21 Let me just tell you, the Pan may sound a little sweeter.
00:10:25 So congratulations to all of the children who would have attended yesterday.
00:10:29 Congratulations to all of the teachers who would have participated and the leaders of the bands.
00:10:35 You all are doing very, very great work out there with the young people.
00:10:39 And special congratulations to all of you this morning.
00:10:44 All right, let me tell you some other stories that are happening in the Daily Express.
00:10:49 So Synanon, third lane coming for Highway to San Fernando.
00:10:53 The temporary bypass lane being constructed along the St. Solomon-Ho Choi Highway
00:10:58 near the Immaculate Overpass will form part of a third lane of the Highway to San Fernando.
00:11:04 Remember last week there was some controversy with this because of all of the work that is being done
00:11:09 and hundreds of motorists were being affected by this.
00:11:14 Well, you know, mechanisms are being placed to address it and hopefully there is great relief soon.
00:11:24 Yeah, UNC Crime Talks today.
00:11:27 Mounilal slams tone-deaf government with the opposition set to kick off its Community Crime Talks series today.
00:11:35 Oropooch East MP, Dr. Rudal Mounilal, has said the government is now tone-deaf and blind to the cries of the population.
00:11:43 Now Mounilal said yesterday the public consultations organized by opposition leader Kamala Prasad Vizcasa
00:11:48 showed that she had taken the lead to engage the national community
00:11:53 to hear their pleas and respond with policy and programs.
00:12:00 Another story, interesting story in the Daily Express today.
00:12:05 Gary goes after ex-chairman of the Police Service Commission, chairman in court,
00:12:14 and cultural icon, Fuller, remembered as a towering figure.
00:12:19 Of course we're speaking about Norvin Fullerton, a towering figure in Trinidad and Tobago's cultural tapestry.
00:12:25 This is how the Ministry of Sport and Community Development has described the late cultural aficionado,
00:12:33 Norvin Fullerton, Fuller, in commenting on his death.
00:12:38 Fullerton died last week at the age of 75.
00:12:42 You know sometimes, you need to think about certain things, right?
00:12:47 You don't find like, especially like for the carnival, you have like persons who are very, very close to the carnival
00:12:56 and would have contributed so much to the carnival that this time is the time that they die.
00:13:02 I don't know what, I don't know what that is about, but sometimes you see this happening, you know,
00:13:10 and we have seen it happen more than once over the past few years.
00:13:15 Gang leader held with gun.
00:13:18 Police arrested a known gang leader at St. Paul Street, East Port of Spain on Saturday.
00:13:24 Some of the details are, police said around 9 p.m. they were acting on information
00:13:30 and they went to a Housing Development Corporation apartment at St. Paul Street where they held the suspect.
00:13:38 Police said that at the time of the incident, a Glock 17 pistol with an automatic selector
00:13:45 and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition were found.
00:13:50 They described him as a male priority offender, right?
00:13:54 So some of the stories in the Daily Express today.
00:13:57 Please get a copy.
00:13:59 A lot of interesting stories today.
00:14:04 Here's what, we are going to go to a very short break.
00:14:09 We'll be right back.
00:14:11 [Music]
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00:15:03 Get it now at leading pharmacies nationwide.
00:15:06 How advertising and news benefits brands.
00:15:11 Consumers, regardless of age, gender, or political suasion,
00:15:15 find brands that advertise with professionally produced news media to be more trustworthy,
00:15:20 more relevant, and more likely to be purchased and/or explored.
00:15:28 Universal Church presents "Programs of Faith."
00:15:33 5.30am, the hour of miracles.
00:15:38 5pm, it's possible.
00:15:46 Now, on TV6.
00:15:50 Slavery, a terrible time in our history.
00:15:54 The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit, the exploitation of another human being.
00:16:01 It still exists today. It has a new name.
00:16:04 Human trafficking.
00:16:06 Anyone can be a victim.
00:16:08 There is forced labor, sexual exploitation, and domestic servitude.
00:16:17 Human trafficking is a worldwide problem and an emerging concern for us here in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:16:24 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity,
00:16:27 call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.
00:16:34 Human trafficking is a crime.
00:16:37 Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
00:16:40 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
00:16:45 Hot 1983 and JMMB Bank are ready to burn.
00:16:51 We're back at the spacious Movietown car park in Port of Spain every Tuesday and Thursday at 4pm.
00:16:57 Get it back. Carnival burn.
00:17:04 Six days of real endurance and fitness from the fun and experienced instructors.
00:17:13 And all hosted by the awesome Hot '93 DJs and personalities.
00:17:18 Walk with your team and come sweat and vibe with us.
00:17:23 [Music]
00:17:47 [Music]
00:17:53 I have a right to free primary school education.
00:17:57 I have a right to be protected.
00:18:00 I have a right to a name.
00:18:02 I have a right to know my rights.
00:18:05 I have a right to privacy.
00:18:07 I have the right to express myself.
00:18:10 I have a right to access information.
00:18:14 [Music]
00:18:25 Children have rights.
00:18:28 [Music]
00:18:44 [Music]
00:19:10 It's not a thrill when your speed can't kill.
00:19:15 [Music]
00:19:20 Online here with this weirdo named Larry.
00:19:23 I'm getting rid of him now.
00:19:25 [Music]
00:19:36 Let's take a selfie.
00:19:38 [Selfie click]
00:19:40 It looking good boy. I'm posting it online.
00:19:43 [Music]
00:19:46 Hey, I thought you said you went to the beach with your parents.
00:19:50 Who's you?
00:19:51 It's me, Larry, from online.
00:19:55 [Music]
00:20:18 And welcome back everyone.
00:20:20 Concerns are being expressed over the execution of search warrants by police officers.
00:20:25 Especially given the many instances of criminals impersonating law enforcement officers.
00:20:31 Today we are joined by attorney at law and former legal affairs minister, Prakash Ramada.
00:20:37 Mr. Ramada, good morning.
00:20:39 Good morning. Thank you for having me.
00:20:41 It's the first appearance on your station.
00:20:44 Best of a new year to each and every one of you and your members of staff and all of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:20:49 Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Ramada.
00:20:51 And also a very special happy new year to you and your relatives also.
00:20:57 Mr. Ramada, well, you have commented on these incidents where persons are impersonating law enforcement officers.
00:21:09 And there is a concern now that police officers must now show these search warrants before they enter people's properties because of what is happening, really, the crime situation.
00:21:25 But Mr. Ramada, is this provided, what you are suggesting?
00:21:30 And you are suggesting that police officers must now show a homeowner a search warrant and give the person an opportunity to read the document.
00:21:41 Mr. Ramada, is this provided for in law?
00:21:45 It has always been the common law that you cannot enter anyone's premises without legal authority.
00:21:52 And that goes across the board for a private citizen and certainly for law enforcement.
00:21:58 It is a very sacred right, your home, your property.
00:22:01 And the only way they could enter it is with your permission and/or by legal execution of a document, which is this search warrant, which should emanate from a judicial officer listening to the basis upon which they require the warrant under oath.
00:22:17 So the answer to that question is an absolute yes.
00:22:21 They must provide the warrant for you to have access to read it, to confirm in your mind.
00:22:27 First of all, we've had situations where it's the wrong address.
00:22:31 And immediately upon a person reading it, say, no, no, that's not me, that's my neighbor, or wrong name as an example.
00:22:37 So these are issues that could easily reconcile.
00:22:39 I could tell you where I live.
00:22:40 That happened.
00:22:41 I came home one evening and I saw customs officers and police surrounding a neighbor's home.
00:22:46 And I knew that these persons could not have been the subject.
00:22:49 I called them and that was reconciled very easily.
00:22:52 It was the next door neighbor that they were looking for.
00:22:54 And that is one example.
00:22:56 So the answer is that they must show you and you are entitled to read the warrant to confirm the authenticity, first of all, and the information on it.
00:23:06 Now, is it that you are suggesting this in all cases because the argument of the police is that if they see a situation, let's say, involving domestic violence, or they see or they are in search of someone with a firearm and they see the individual and that individual runs into a building.
00:23:32 So in those circumstances, in those circumstances where the police need to act almost immediately, what should the police do?
00:23:42 And there's a substantial distinction between that.
00:23:45 And in my interview, I made it quite clear that there's an exception to what we call hot pursuit.
00:23:52 If the police are in chase of someone who may have committed a high, serious, high and serious criminal offense, of course, entitled to enter any property if that person enters there.
00:24:03 The other aspect, of course, is exactly what you spoke about.
00:24:06 You hear screaming and you're going to kill me and things like that.
00:24:09 The police are duty bound to act on those things.
00:24:13 But I'm speaking to the regular issue of the warrant where they have information and they're about to launch a search and a raid on a home.
00:24:21 That is what is provided.
00:24:22 But once there is hot pursuit and an emergency situation, of course, and we must support our police officers in that endeavor.
00:24:29 And indeed, we are duty bound once there's a legitimate search warrant to allow them to search without any hindrance.
00:24:35 So they are separate issues.
00:24:37 But I think the biggest issue that dominates the national psyche right now is the issue of criminals using police parole familiar and passing themselves off as police when in fact they enter your home under false pretenses and do the most awful things.
00:24:54 So we need to assess that also.
00:24:58 And I would suggest, as I have been for many years, that whenever police turn up at any home, there are certain things that should be done.
00:25:06 One, have a fair look at as best as you could to see how many eagles have come.
00:25:12 If there are multiple eagles and marked as police eagles, well then there's a greater likelihood that they'll be legitimate police officers.
00:25:19 The other thing that you should do is to call your nearest police station if you have access to that and or 999, which is a fiasco in itself from my personal experience.
00:25:30 So at least you could be contact with other police officers say, look, there are persons here appearing to be police.
00:25:36 Can you confirm that there's a raid going on in my area?
00:25:38 And if you could, please send some other security, some other police from that station as a buttress to confirm that all is well and proper.
00:25:48 So these are the things that we have to look at because we live in a world where access to police paraphernalia, the blue lights and so it's so easy.
00:25:57 And we have to protect ourselves. So there must be a balancing act between what the cause of the police and the rights of the citizen.
00:26:05 And at the same time to protect the citizens and criminals posing as police officers.
00:26:09 But Mr. Ramada, I think that you're also suggesting that the way that there has to be a review of the procedure by the police as it relates to the way that they are approaching homeowners.
00:26:24 Absolutely correct. There must be a respectful approach. And I know from experience, I give you one.
00:26:31 With police officers and recently I don't want to go much into detail on a rate of home, a dog barked or rushed at the police.
00:26:39 The police opened fire on the dog and shot one of their colleagues as an example.
00:26:43 So there must be a level of restraint and respect, certainly with all levels of security to the officers and to the homeowners.
00:26:51 There's another case that I know of where police went in in the middle of the night and there was not proper identification, banging on the door.
00:27:00 The husband said he wanted to see proper ID. He being the holder of a licensed firearm and the banging.
00:27:06 And so he told the criminals and he orders a shootout in which his wife was severely injured in that crossfire.
00:27:12 So that balance, I mean, of course, you have the right to rate, but the urgency must be balanced by the ability of the homeowner to confirm the authenticity.
00:27:23 And these are the things the phone calls that they should allow and a time frame for say, external police to even arrive.
00:27:31 That that will give some level of comfort. So there are practical issues.
00:27:36 And I think the commissioner police should put in place that provision so that when you call a police station, that the calls are answered in a timely manner.
00:27:45 And I reference 999. I give you an example. Two weeks ago, there was a serious accident on the highway.
00:27:50 I always call whenever I see something happen. I waited for five minutes, which are, you know, a very, very long period of time.
00:27:57 Not a single answer from 999. So we need to upgrade all of those things, communication, the external forces to confirm.
00:28:05 Yes. OK, we're going to send a squad down now that, you know, and they will join whoever they are, the legitimate.
00:28:11 And if they are not criminals, well, then you could, you know, you could capture them or at least deal with that.
00:28:16 So there are practical things that need to be put in place and we have them already.
00:28:20 But the main thing is to ensure the efficiency of these things. But you have to have a response.
00:28:27 You know, Mr. Ramada, I'm sure I can hear the police.
00:28:30 I know what they are saying because their argument has always been to that.
00:28:35 They really have fractions of a second to respond.
00:28:41 So if you are in your facility and you are asking for time to contact the police station and so on, and rightly so,
00:28:50 because you may have concerns as to who is trying to come into your property.
00:28:56 But it can also give the criminal the opportunity to be better prepared for the police officer.
00:29:06 I suspect the police are between a rock and a hard place. There is a dilemma there for the police.
00:29:11 Not quite, because when a warrant is to be executed, it is not like a like a military engagement.
00:29:19 And of course, that's the point I was raising, that, for instance, in a practical way,
00:29:24 you put a person at your home outside the gate and say police, police.
00:29:28 And if you warn people, that should alert you that something is wrong.
00:29:33 Whether it's unmarked, that should never happen, even though they have their blue lights.
00:29:37 So the issue of the criminal being prepared, I would imagine if you are, for instance,
00:29:43 going to execute a warrant for arms and ammunition and that this person is known to the police
00:29:49 for having engaged in acts of violence, you should move an overwhelming force.
00:29:56 Yes, and that overwhelming force is available to you, but the homeowner,
00:30:01 and for instance, I mean, there are many cases I'm involved in where they go to the wrong address,
00:30:07 break down doors in that supposed anxiety and urgency and abuse the wrong people.
00:30:14 And therefore, that I agree with you. I'm a firm believer in the support of the police.
00:30:18 Let me get that abundantly clear. And to protect them, they have to protect themselves
00:30:23 by doing it in a decent, respectful approach to the rights of a homeowner,
00:30:30 because you could always get it wrong.
00:30:32 There's something called SWATing in the United States, where persons call in and give information
00:30:37 of horrific crimes being committed in a home. And of course, the police move in with tremendous force.
00:30:44 And in cases where persons have firearms and there is not a proper process,
00:30:52 there have been shootouts and people have been killed in their own homes innocently by the need to rush.
00:30:58 But I appreciate the instance of, you know, somebody being hurt in a home.
00:31:03 Of course, you're entitled to break and enter to suppress the possible murder.
00:31:08 So there is that balance, and we must work with the police as the police must work with the citizen
00:31:13 and appreciate and respect their rights. So that balance, you're quite correct.
00:31:17 So this is here about giving criminals the time. That is why the overwhelming force is necessary
00:31:22 so that they must know if it's truly a criminal in there, that any response that they will do to hurt the police
00:31:30 will be met with an overwhelming force.
00:31:32 But Mr. Ramada, doesn't the police first have to satisfy, I believe it's the JP,
00:31:39 because they would take their case to the JP and they would first have to,
00:31:43 the JP would first have to be satisfied that there is a case before this search warrant is issued?
00:31:51 That is absolutely correct. And in that process, more in its failure than in its respect,
00:31:57 you have situations where JP's don't even question the issue of warrants.
00:32:02 We've seen that repeatedly. But the point being that once you have a legitimate, authentic warrant in hand,
00:32:09 you do not necessarily believe, or should you move on a basis that wherever you have to execute it,
00:32:18 you must be abusive, you must not be respectful. And the simple balance is to allow the person whose home
00:32:26 or property you're about to enter to be confirmed that first you're authentic police,
00:32:31 and two, that you have legitimacy of a warrant. Now it may sound almost archaic, artificial, and so,
00:32:38 but that is the way it was always intended to be. And if we move away on the basis of what is necessary
00:32:44 and from what is right, you'll have a real horrible situation. And we are, our courts are,
00:32:50 there are so many cases where there are abuses in the execution of warrants. And that is why that balance is necessary.
00:32:58 They may get it wrong from time to time. But if you just take that extra few moments and put things in place,
00:33:04 which practical issues to allow that person, first of all, to have access, and two, to make the calls,
00:33:10 and to have persons answering those calls, to say, yes, we do have a legitimate search or a raid in the area.
00:33:17 And you know how it works. Police generally, they have several warrants to detect, and they go, you know,
00:33:23 with tremendous forces, several motor vehicles, possibly buses and so on. So if you see that level of convoy,
00:33:30 well, you're more convinced that it is legitimate. If you see a single car on map, but with police blue lights,
00:33:36 then you should be highly elicited as a homeowner.
00:33:40 And I think that you did allude to the fact, and I'm going to, I'm going to just go back to that point a little bit.
00:33:49 But you also spoke about, now you have a situation where in Trinidad and Tobago, you have a lot of people with FULs.
00:33:59 So you have people outside the facility who could be police, who may be impersonating police officers.
00:34:05 And then you have FUL holders in the home. So that brings a different dimension and a frightening dimension to this whole situation.
00:34:14 I will call it sobering, because that is the point. You, let us take it to the position where in fact there are criminals,
00:34:23 murderers, rapists attempting to enter under the guise of being police officers.
00:34:28 That's why you have a firearm user's license. And for anyone coming into your home in the middle of the night,
00:34:34 in particular with the environment is one that, you know, just come to keep your mango ready to rape or murder.
00:34:42 You have to be very careful as a firearm user's license and confirm that this person has legitimacy.
00:34:48 And at the same time, that is why I make the point that the police cannot act in the way they had in the past.
00:34:53 They just go and, you know, basically break down doors and enter, because you may be met with a mistaken belief that you're a bandit and a criminal.
00:35:02 And that is why that balance is necessary, even though it may cause pause.
00:35:06 And you see this thing about it will give the criminal time to prepare. Absolutely correct. Yes.
00:35:11 But what do you mean by that? So that if you rush in and you break down a door, you're less like the criminal who is within is less likely to react.
00:35:22 No, it puts a very sobering pause so that we reassess the person on the inside.
00:35:28 So it looks out to any police officers. Do I respond to that in a criminal way or do I allow them to do what they have to do their duty?
00:35:38 And we must thank them and congratulate the police when they did it properly.
00:35:41 All this conversation is necessary to ensure that there is less likelihood of catastrophic consequences for errors.
00:35:50 So is it then, Mr. Ramada, is it that the police have been breaking the law in the past?
00:35:57 I wouldn't say as much breaking the law, but it acted a level of peace and sometimes a level of anxiety.
00:36:04 We understand that that causes the breach of law. There are many cases before the courts.
00:36:09 I know some and handling myself with terrible errors occurred.
00:36:14 And all we're seeing is the protector police by ensuring that they are properly trained, have a higher level of respect of private property,
00:36:23 and ensure that every protocol is observed so that they are protected by law.
00:36:28 And even if there is an error, they're still protected by law.
00:36:31 And more importantly, to allow a safe environment on both sides for the execution of such warrants,
00:36:39 so that for those who harbor criminal objects, arms, ammunition, drugs, and so the police can confiscate and prosecute.
00:36:47 And at the same time, for homes that are wrongly targeted, that those errors are dealt with in a very civilized manner.
00:36:56 I have one last question, Mr. Ramada. How do you deal with people who are impersonating law enforcement officers?
00:37:03 Because we have seen incidents in the past where people have been impersonating these law enforcement officers and people have been robbed.
00:37:11 All sorts of crimes have been committed against them.
00:37:15 And my personal view is that I feel that no strong statement has been made or there isn't a strong mechanism that has been put in place to prevent people from engaging in such activities.
00:37:34 I could hardly agree with you more that we need to deal with that.
00:37:38 You see, after yesterday, I saw a vehicle that in my mind could not have been a police vehicle, a police vehicle with flashing blue lights in its rear windscreen, and also to the front.
00:37:51 And I'm asking myself, wow. And along the highway, you know, brazen as that might have been, maybe I'm wrong, maybe it was a police vehicle, but it didn't appear instinctively to be one.
00:38:02 I think the police have to be far more alert to weed those out. And in any event, I agree, because awareness is critically important that citizens should be able to call in immediately when they see a suspicious vehicle with what appears to be police paraphernalia and give that information.
00:38:19 And the police should be able to not treat that as a non-emergency situation. It's the highest emergency when persons are imitating law enforcement, because it could be up to no good.
00:38:30 So I agree with you, and that the protocols that are required, we already have law. You cannot impersonate a police officer without legal consequence.
00:38:38 Are we prosecuting those? How often do we get the opportunity to do so? And it's about responsiveness, so that when they see something, say something, and they don't respond, that is the biggest problem.
00:38:49 Back to the 999, I ask citizens to probably tell their members of parliament, whomever it is, what their experiences have been. Mine, more than ever, have been very poor response time.
00:39:03 And sometimes you get some fantastic responses, and other times, no response whatsoever. That is a lifeline in a state of emergency. When people are at your door, or breaking in, or whatever, and you call, and you have to wait five minutes plus for a response, that is wholly unacceptable in these times.
00:39:20 So I ask for the Minister of National Security to have a close look at who or what is manning those lines, and see how quickly we can respond. And that will deal with a lot of issues.
00:39:33 I could speak from personal experience, where I made calls, and when they did answer, we didn't get a response for 45 minutes. But we were able to reconcile those issues.
00:39:42 So those are things. The ability to connect with legitimate police as soon as it's possible, and not seconds and not minutes. And the ability for legitimate police to respond in the event, either where there are legitimate police at your door, or where there are criminals at your door.
00:39:57 Critically important.
00:39:59 Brackish Ramada, it's always a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you very much.
00:40:02 It is more mine than yours. Thank you so much. God bless you.
00:40:05 Alright, bye for now. It's time for another break. We're coming back, everybody. Stay right there.
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00:41:56 You know what, if I go in and give a dollar, or go in and give help, I had to know where it's going. I had to see it for myself. So I look around and I realize, wait now.
00:42:05 Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago is building house for people, you understand what I said? And they're taking anything, you understand?
00:42:12 You could give money, you could get bricks, bag of cement, some tin sets, some grout, whatever you have, you understand? They're taking it.
00:42:19 If I give my time and my money there, not to say I have any big set of money, you understand me? I could know for sure that a family in this country is going and get a home.
00:42:31 And that is why I say Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago is doing the kind of work that I feel that I could get behind, you understand?
00:42:38 Put my money behind, my sweat behind, call my friends and them and say, "Come, let me go and make a line and build a house for a family."
00:42:45 Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago
00:42:55 It has some people who just have to sower everything, so what if I'm happy and I churn my child to something small?
00:43:03 You know how hard they work for that? So I have to live them up.
00:43:07 Always encourage your child in anything they do. Not pressure, encourage. Your faith in them will build their self-esteem and confidence.
00:43:20 Praise their efforts, celebrate their success, support them through challenges and acknowledge their efforts.
00:43:27 At the end of the day, do your best. Share if you found this useful and like and follow CTA's profiles for more parenting tips.
00:43:38 The letter of the day is E, encourage.
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00:45:05 Universal Church presents Programs of Faith, 5.30am, the hour of miracles.
00:45:15 5pm, it's possible.
00:45:23 Now, on TV6.
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00:45:48 Welcome back, everyone. We're here with the Lord Relator.
00:45:50 A dollar for celery, a dollar for salve. Relator, you need to do over this song, eh?
00:45:57 About five dollars for a celery and a salve now.
00:46:01 Yeah, but that's just incidentally, I went to the market last week and bought some provisions.
00:46:08 Provisions, the prices are very high.
00:46:12 All right, so farmers are concerned over the harsh 2024 dry season.
00:46:16 Now, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzalez has already put farmers on notice to secure water ahead of the season and to put new methods of irrigation in place.
00:46:25 There are also concerns over how this will affect consumers' prices.
00:46:30 Yeah, so President of the Agricultural Society, Darrell Rampersad, he's on the line this morning.
00:46:35 Mr. Rampersad, good morning.
00:46:37 Good morning and good morning to your viewers.
00:46:40 Yes, and Mr. Rampersad, happy new year to you and thank you for your continued contribution to the Morning Edition.
00:46:47 We do appreciate that.
00:46:49 So, Mr. Rampersad, let's look. The dry season has been declared officially.
00:46:54 How is this going to impact on farmers?
00:46:57 Well, of course, water is life, right?
00:47:00 And we are already seeing effects of the unavailability of proper water supply within some of the farming projects throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
00:47:10 If you look around, traditionally around the third week of January or so, you usually see a drop in the prices of some of the commodities such as tomatoes or even sweet peppers.
00:47:22 And as of yesterday, these commodities were still being retailed as $15 a pound due to the availability of water.
00:47:30 I heard earlier on you mentioned the Minister of Public Utilities declared this would be a dry season.
00:47:37 I want to also commend that minister because since last year, he was actually looking into programs as to what can they do to make water available for farmers and whatnot.
00:47:51 We actually had a program last year where we started conducting exercises if we could have used wastewater back into wastewater, back into agriculture.
00:48:03 I know that he's also looking into how we are going to get water available for some of the farming projects outside this.
00:48:10 I just want to say kudos to the Minister of Public Utilities. He's done a wonderful job so far.
00:48:15 Yeah. But what would be the ideal situation for you and the farmers, Mr. Rampersad, if you were to create an ideal scenario, an ideal situation in light of this dry season?
00:48:30 What would be best for you?
00:48:33 All right. So looking into that, the Agriculture Society, since last year actually, has been having discussion of the same issues that we are talking about now
00:48:42 because everybody knows that I preach a lot about climate change.
00:48:46 And when we think about the aspects of climate change, some might think, "Internet, that is only refers to when we get flooding and additional rainfall."
00:48:54 However, you are aware that climate change also pertains to what we are going to see with the different changes in the weather pattern,
00:49:02 including the drought periods or the dry season as well, what we are going through.
00:49:07 What we are looking at and having talks on and looking at getting funding for is actually an agricultural census that is going to pick up the data,
00:49:18 not just into how much commodity we have, but in terms of agricultural infrastructure, because in order to fix the issue in agriculture,
00:49:28 we need to know where the issues are and where it lies.
00:49:31 So we are looking into doing an agricultural census that is going to pick up that collective data in terms of agriculture infrastructure as well.
00:49:39 So coming from that standpoint, if we are serious in agriculture and we want to deal with some of these issues, including what we see coming out of climate change,
00:49:48 we need to know how we go about addressing it and where do we need to pay particular attention to.
00:49:55 So coming out from such a census, usually we pick up in terms of how much we have planted, but coming out of such a census,
00:50:02 we can now see which particular area is in dire need of infrastructural attention to deal with some of these issues, some climate change.
00:50:12 But off the back of my head, I could call out certain areas such as Drillingham that has been waiting more than eight years now for their area to be drenched,
00:50:21 their main drain, and that area in which we are looking at.
00:50:25 So when we talk about that, when we cry in the rainy season, to have it drenched is to remove the water.
00:50:31 When we cry in the dry season, it's to bring the water.
00:50:35 So the same channels that we please interclay is actually the same channels that we can also utilize for water within the same time.
00:50:44 So within the last couple of months, we have heard almost $250 million, which was going to be made available for agricultural infrastructure,
00:50:55 which will be going through the Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises.
00:50:59 And I hope that some of these things is not just a talk show, because when we move around to some of the farming groups,
00:51:05 what was done in some of these farming areas were next to nothing.
00:51:08 And so many farmers are going to be coming forward on some of these issues in which we're going to have in the near future a platform
00:51:18 where we are going to be bringing all these issues forward to the Ministry of Agriculture, of course.
00:51:25 But tell us a little bit about the preparations. How well prepared are you and how well prepared do you think the authorities are for this dry season here?
00:51:37 Well, if it is that we are talking about funds, right, first of all, we need to and I'm not bashing anybody,
00:51:45 but first of all, we need to have that political will to get it done for the farming community.
00:51:52 So whilst we saw that the Ministry of Works and Transport did quite a lot of drenching around some of the residential areas last year to avoid flooding,
00:52:01 food production is as equally important to housing, I want to believe, because we have to eat on a daily basis.
00:52:09 And as a country, I still don't think that as a country, Toronto and Tobago is prepared to deal with climate change,
00:52:17 there needs to be an additional effort being placed within the farming communities, the planting projects, right?
00:52:25 What we need to see happening is that some of these channels that I am speaking about that has not been cleared for close to seven to eight years,
00:52:34 imagine the Orange Grove planting project was a designated planting project for years, even coming out of the sugarcane days as well.
00:52:43 And yet still some of these areas of infrastructure is not being properly paid to some of the planting projects.
00:52:50 We have Orange Grove, we have Felicity, we have Juningham again, we have Tabakit.
00:52:55 We need to see that improvement in terms of agriculture infrastructure taking place to benefit the farmers.
00:53:04 What we are asking for as the farming community is access to our farms, which of course will deal with your roads and infrastructure.
00:53:12 And of course, most importantly, no life source can survive without water, right?
00:53:19 So this is what we are asking for.
00:53:21 In the year of 2012 or 2013, I believe going into 2013, there was a pond project where they tried to make water available for all in terms of agriculture.
00:53:33 And since that project was done, there was no repeat in terms of maintenance of the same.
00:53:39 So, of course, now you may have some areas that may have been given ponds and whatnot.
00:53:44 However, we may need the assistance in terms of the silt and making the water source available at the same time.
00:53:52 Mr. Rampersad, what can you tell us about the feedback that you have been getting from your membership, your farmers?
00:54:00 What are their main concerns right now?
00:54:04 Well, two concerns, right? Coming out of that, what we are speaking about in terms of availability of water.
00:54:10 Of course, our market is based upon supply and demand.
00:54:13 And due to the amount of water that they may be having, they will have to cut production based upon the availability of water.
00:54:22 They wouldn't be able to produce as much.
00:54:25 And therefore, what you're going to see taking place there from that drop in production, you are going to see an increase in prices.
00:54:33 And again, this is what we need to be mindful of.
00:54:36 Our market here in Toronto, Vigo, is based upon supply and demand and nothing else.
00:54:41 So if, of course, there's a cut in production, there's a reduction in what is available for sale, the cost is going to go up.
00:54:49 And this shouldn't be that way.
00:54:53 It needs to be profitable to the farmer who is the producer, but yet affordable to our consumers at the same time.
00:55:01 So from the membership, they are speaking about cutting their production, dropping their production to be able to take care of what they have.
00:55:10 But what about areas such as Paramin and Lupino, even Blanchard Shares?
00:55:16 And some of these areas also just depend on rainfall, which is no fault to anybody there.
00:55:24 But if it is that we do not have significant amount of rainfall as well, we're going to see a drop in production coming out of even these areas as well, too.
00:55:33 So you're going to see a significant increase.
00:55:36 So on one hand, talking about moving agriculture into different areas of technology, greenhouse, farming and whatnot,
00:55:46 we also need to think about the cost factor involved in moving agriculture into that stage.
00:55:54 Because where we are in agriculture right now in Toronto, Vigo, we are a couple of footsteps backward in agriculture.
00:56:01 We should be in that area of greenhouse farming and all of that.
00:56:05 What we need to look at as well, and I always preach it again, is how accessible is our agricultural incentive program.
00:56:14 So whilst it is we may have one of the best incentive programs in the entire curriculum, if you read that incentive program,
00:56:22 it caters to the needs of all a farmer would want.
00:56:27 However, it's how accessible is the incentive program to drive agriculture and that type of agriculture,
00:56:35 moving agriculture into the area of new technology.
00:56:38 There's a cost attached to it.
00:56:40 And if it is that we are able to access the incentive program, properly access the incentive program on a timely manner,
00:56:49 in which I recall in the last few months $150 million was made available, I suppose, for that as well.
00:56:56 If it is that we are able to properly access our incentive program to lend assistance to our farming community,
00:57:04 that is going to assist in driving agriculture production at the same time.
00:57:10 But if it is that we have an incentive program, but yet still I have farmers coming to me and seeking them after two years
00:57:19 to access the incentive program, yet still when you have a farmer's badge as well, if the badge is expired,
00:57:25 you cannot access the incentive program.
00:57:28 It takes you sometimes up to one year to receive your farmer's badge and then you have the remainder of the period to use it.
00:57:36 So we need to address these issues because when we talk climate change, and going back to what you just said,
00:57:42 if we are prepared to deal with it, I don't think so.
00:57:45 That we are ready to deal with the effects of climate change in Toronto.
00:57:49 Yeah, Mr. Rampersad, we just have about one minute again, but I think you're also saying,
00:57:54 our farmers, our local farmers, are they at a stage now where you feel that they are ready to embrace the future?
00:58:04 Because I suspect a number of them are still involved in traditional farming.
00:58:09 You think they're ready to break free of that and embrace the future, as I said?
00:58:16 Well, what we observed last year is that we saw quite a few farmers taking each step,
00:58:21 taking it upon themselves, because remember, this is their livelihood as well, and they need to protect their investments.
00:58:27 So we saw quite a few farmers taking that step to go into greenhouse farming and hydroponic systems.
00:58:34 However, we have a percentage of farmers that is willing to go into that direction.
00:58:40 The issue is going to be cost and affordability for these individuals, how they take that step to reach across there.
00:58:48 So maybe we need to talk about grant funding and introduction of grant funding into assisting some of these farmers
00:58:56 who are interested in going into the area of new technology, protected agriculture.
00:59:02 Yeah, Mr. Rampersad, it's always a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you very much for your perspective this morning.
00:59:06 We do appreciate it. Bye for now.
00:59:08 Thank you.
00:59:09 Okay, it's time for a quick break. We're coming back.
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01:01:32 All right, so welcome back, everyone. So we do have a lot more to discuss on the program today.
01:01:38 Yeah, while we wait, did I show you all the pretty ladies? Yeah?
01:01:44 I didn't show you all the pretty ladies, yeah?
01:01:47 Are you out there having fun? Yeah?
01:01:52 So ladies, go out there, have fun in a safe way, right?
01:01:56 Everything in moderation. All right?
01:02:01 Let me just touch on a few other things in the newspaper today.
01:02:07 One person would have written in their contribution to the newspaper today, a letter of the day.
01:02:16 "Belaid Bazdopande had clarified he was not a fan of the TNT Constitution as it currently exists, which reeks of authoritarianism.
01:02:26 Moreover, he did not favor constitutional amendment, which merely tinkers with the Constitution without making substantial changes, but favored constitutional reform."
01:02:38 You know, that conversation was very, very interesting last week concerning constitutional reform, and constitutional reform affects a lot of things in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:02:49 All right. So we are talking about the ferry, the ferry between Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados.
01:02:57 We do have on the line this morning, Chairman of the Tobago Chamber, Mr. Martin George.
01:03:06 Mr. George, good morning. Yes. Hi.
01:03:09 Good morning to you and good morning to your viewers on TV6.
01:03:15 Happy New Year. And it is indeed a pleasure to be here. Yeah.
01:03:19 Happy New Year to you, Mr. George. A few weeks ago, I would have given you a shout out.
01:03:23 I hope that you heard it. But it's good to have you back with us.
01:03:27 Yeah. I'm going to see you always in very, very good spirits.
01:03:31 Well, Mr. George, let's speak about the ferry that the prime minister spoke about a few days ago, linking Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados.
01:03:41 Yes. Well, I mean, the thing is, we are all in favor of continued connectivity and increased transport links between the islands of the Caribbean.
01:03:55 That is always great. That is always something great.
01:03:58 But the thing is, what one wonders about Marlin in the circumstances, do we really have an efficient and sufficiently working system for transport simply between Trinidad and Tobago?
01:04:14 Because that, I think, remains a concern. I mean, so while we are happy, of course, for the interconnectivity between Barbados, Guyana, Tobago, Trinidad, whatever, we are happy for that.
01:04:26 But let's ensure that we do have a proper working system. Marlin, if you go now to try to book, to have a vehicle between Trinidad or Tobago, it's a nightmare.
01:04:38 You are facing these problems. So I am saying that, look, we have no challenge or difficulty with expanding the network.
01:04:45 But let's remember that charity begins at home.
01:04:49 Yeah. And I think with the greatest of respect to everyone, Mr. George, we do have problems in Trinidad and Tobago, just between the route between Tobago and Trinidad.
01:05:03 And there seem to be, while I think that it would be safe to say that the government has put vessels in place to address this problem, but there are still a lot of problems concerning this route between Tobago and Trinidad.
01:05:23 And that is our main concern. I mean, even the domestic air bridge, the flights, that is something that has not yet been fully settled or resolved at all.
01:05:36 And that's something that I think really still needs attention. And I mean, as I say, the ferry idea is a great idea.
01:05:44 But the point is, look at what happened over the Christmas season with the cruise ships when they arrived.
01:05:51 Then the cargo star could not dock, so you couldn't have cargo being moved between Tobago.
01:05:56 So therefore, clearly, you need an expanded terminal or port there whereby persons can now ensure that, look, if you have a cruise ship, you can also have the cargo vessel docking at the same time.
01:06:09 And that's one of the challenges we face. And we need to get these things resolved before we go off into saying, well, we're going up the Caribbean or other places.
01:06:19 Yeah. Well, there may be an argument that there is strength in numbers, because if it's Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados,
01:06:27 I'm sure that there may be the perception that Guyana and Barbados may, because they do have an interest, may have to invest in this project also.
01:06:38 No, but the point is, they will be investing in the inter-Caribbean ferry.
01:06:44 That's not going to solve the problem of transport between Trinidad and Tobago. Of course.
01:06:49 Yes. So, you know, of course, you will be happy for the investment and for them to be part of it.
01:06:54 And I think it's a wonderful idea. I think people should actually be able to carry their cars.
01:06:58 You know, if you're going to Barbados for two months, you should be able to drive on the ferry with your vehicle, go drive about Barbados,
01:07:05 you know, get a temporary registration in Barbados, whatever. I think that it's a wonderful idea.
01:07:09 But the point is, I am saying while we are focused on that, let's not lose sight of the fact that we have not solved our basic Trinidad,
01:07:19 Tobago, Tobago, Trinidad movement of persons, vehicles, cargo, goods, you know, et cetera.
01:07:27 And that I think we need to get right first.
01:07:30 And I fail to mention, Mr. George, that the prime minister would have suggested that the galleons passage,
01:07:39 that they're considering using the galleons passage for this exercise.
01:07:44 I'm sure that you may also be suggesting that.
01:07:49 Well, I don't want to. You will speak for yourself, Mr. George.
01:07:52 But I suspect I suspect I can see or judging from what you are saying, my interpretation is that that may not be a good decision to take.
01:08:05 In fact, what may be needed is that a new vessel may have to be acquired for this whole arrangement to work well so that the sea bridge between Trinidad and Tobago does not suffer.
01:08:20 And that's exactly the point. Marlon, you actually may need to look at a purpose built vessel, you know, that can definitely do that type of run,
01:08:29 because at the end of the day, you don't want to just Barbie does.
01:08:33 Diana Trinidad said, Benson will say, hey, but you're not stopping by us.
01:08:36 Come by us. Antigua will say, look, yes, you could come.
01:08:39 So that's where you need a vessel that can make that basically circle around the Caribbean to all the ports.
01:08:47 You would need more than one vessel because one vessel alone will not be able to do it.
01:08:51 So therefore, it just appears to be a little bit of a knee jerk reaction just to simply say, well, we have the Galleons Passage.
01:08:58 We'll use the Galleons Passage. I think it needs to be thought out a bit more.
01:09:02 There needs to be more input from Caribbean leaders, other Caribbean leaders.
01:09:06 We need to get more buy into the project.
01:09:09 And we certainly need to have purpose built vessels for, you know, for this project.
01:09:15 And as I say, we ought to then ensure that the respective Caribbean governments implement the necessary legislation so that persons can drive on their cars and wherever.
01:09:25 So, for instance, you're going to Antigua for a month, two months.
01:09:29 You could drive your car on from Trinidad and onto the ferry.
01:09:33 You go up to Antigua, you drive off your car, you have it registered locally, you get a temporary registration there in Antigua, you use your vehicle, whatever.
01:09:40 Come on, we in the Caribbean, we need that type of interconnectivity.
01:09:44 So that's why I say I'm all in favor of it.
01:09:47 But I don't want the approach to simply be, you know, a type of ad hoc, you know, off the cuff approach to it when you are not yet resolving your own local issues in terms of inter-island transport between Trinidad and Tobago.
01:10:06 And you are now targeting a vessel that was earmarked for the inter-island transport and say, well, look, we have that. We could use it.
01:10:14 It just doesn't appear with the greatest respect.
01:10:17 And, you know, Marlon, I'm always very respectful to persons in authority, but it just doesn't appear to be the best thought out idea the way it's been canvassed right now, you know, from the highest levels in our country.
01:10:30 Mr. George, is there a need for wider consultation concerning this issue?
01:10:35 And when I say consultation with the business chambers, TTMA, organizations such as these?
01:10:42 Of course there is, because the point is you're looking now at your exports, you know, so therefore if you're talking exports now among the Caribbean islands using this ferry service, then that's great.
01:10:54 But then, of course, you have to consider, you know, your common external tariffs. You have to consider your arrangements in terms of what exemptions you have with Caricom neighbor states.
01:11:03 So therefore, I think that it's a wonderful idea, but I think we just need to press the pause button and come up with a holistic, intracaribbean ferry service that is going to be long term and sustainable, where you have maybe four or five dedicated vessels running all the time.
01:11:23 You know, so they'll be running up and down breathless like maxi taxis basically throughout the Caribbean, creating that interconnectivity, but with a properly structured system.
01:11:33 You could have the headquarters in Trinidad, it doesn't matter. The point is we need to have it as a Caribbean effort, not just, you know, on the fly, you know, statement, well, we have the galleons passage, we'll use that.
01:11:47 It needs, I think, a bit more mature thinking and respectful insight and introspection and planning and detail.
01:11:57 And as I say, involvement of the stakeholders, you know, because you have to make sure that the other ports are able to receive this vessel alongside their normal, you know, you know, shipping traffic, you know.
01:12:10 So there's a whole lot more, I think, that needs to go into this idea to see it work effectively. But the reality is that it's a brilliant idea throughout Europe.
01:12:21 You see that, you know, these countries, they use that all the time. They use ferries all the time, you know, to even connectivity within the country.
01:12:30 You know, they use their rivers, they use their canals, they use their lakes, whatever, and you have ferries running up and down.
01:12:36 So it's something that is needed. But what I'm saying, Marlon, is let us take a mature, sensible, rational approach, plan it out properly, have, you know, the experts come in, let's have proper vessels, proper ports, proper designated areas, etc.
01:12:54 And then now we can say, yes, we as Caribbean leaders, we are all ready to launch this Caribbean ferry service. Let's not behave as if, you know, you're pulling bull.
01:13:07 Right? You're not pulling bull.
01:13:11 As only Mr. George can put it, you're not pulling bull.
01:13:17 Mr. George, if you'd allow me, let's step away from this issue a little bit for now.
01:13:23 And let's reflect a little bit on 2023 and how business was for you and other business people in Tobago.
01:13:30 And let's also look at the outlook for 2024.
01:13:35 Well, Marlon, as we are all aware, there were challenges. I mean, persons were still recovering.
01:13:40 You did hear people still talking about, you know, recovering from the pandemic and stuff like that.
01:13:45 But I'll tell you this, Marlon, the crime situation is actually now the greatest concern that we see on the island, because, you know, persons are thinking that, well, look, if you have these challenges with crime and criminality in Tobago, we're in its ugly head.
01:14:01 Then what is going to happen in terms of the confidence of persons coming here to say, well, look, I want a safe, relaxing vacation.
01:14:09 So that's why we of the Tobago Business Chamber, and I mean, I will use your forum, Marlon, if you'll permit me, to issue a personal invitation to the Commissioner of Police, Ms. Erla Christopher-Herwood.
01:14:22 She has my number. She knows how to reach me.
01:14:25 Ms. Christopher, we of the Tobago Business Chamber will host you and your executive any time you wish to come across to Tobago.
01:14:32 It is important for you to come to Tobago. And I'll tell you why.
01:14:36 The people of Tobago, they will appreciate that respect that is shown to say, well, look, the Commissioner actually took time out of her busy schedule to come and speak with them, discuss their concerns, and try to canvass solutions.
01:14:49 That's what we need. Because, Ms. Christopher, I am appealing to you.
01:14:53 Tobago is the smallest division in the police service. As Commissioner, could you give the commitment that if there's one division in the entire TTPS that you are going to make safe and secure, let's start with Tobago.
01:15:09 Let Tobago be the example. And then use that as a template to then go on to other divisions in Trinidad, one by one, making them safe, one division at a time.
01:15:18 So, again, I make the plea directly to the Commissioner of Police, Ms. Christopher Herewood, I am appealing to you on behalf of the Tobago Business Chamber, please contact me, please make arrangements.
01:15:30 We will host you in Tobago, you and your executive, so that we can find a way out of this crime debacle that we seem to be facing here in Tobago.
01:15:40 Because, let me tell you, if this is not arrested and put to a stop very soon, it's going to spiral out of control.
01:15:47 And pretty soon we are going to be ruined the day that we did not take effective action.
01:15:53 It is not too late. It can be salvaged. It can be saved. But we need that leadership from the top.
01:15:59 And I think your presence on the island is going to make a difference in terms of how people will react and interact with the solutions suggested by the TTPS.
01:16:10 But have you seen thus far steps by the police in Tobago to adequately address the situation?
01:16:18 Well, we've seen roadblocks, we've seen they've conducted some raids, we've seen that they've seized some arms and ammunition, and we saw that they had a battalion from Trinidad had come up to give some assistance.
01:16:32 But the point is, Marlon, while these things are, you know, I mean, band-aids or plasters you put on the soul, it does not go to the root of the cancer that is afflicting the society.
01:16:46 Let me tell you, you see, the thing is, it starts with so many young persons who are out there dispossessed.
01:16:53 They have no sense of direction, no sense of belonging. They are not able to fit into mainstream society.
01:17:00 If you come out of secondary school and you have zero passes, zero subjects on your certificate, where does that leave you?
01:17:10 Our society does not cater for you. And that's where the problem starts. So therefore you feel powerless, you feel, you know, that you don't have a place, you can't do anything.
01:17:21 But then now, you take a young person like that, you put a gun in their hands, and suddenly they have power.
01:17:27 So, I mean, we have to understand the dynamic and understand how alluring this is for young persons who are just drifting aimlessly, where they can now feel, well, look, hey, I am somebody.
01:17:39 You know, people have to listen to me now. I have control. And that's part of the social problem that we face in this scenario.
01:17:48 So while we always call upon the TTPs to do their jobs and to ensure that they provide safety and security,
01:17:54 we can't divorce ourselves from the reality that there is a socioeconomic underpinning to the entire situation, which really is feeding the crime frenzy in Tobago.
01:18:09 Mr. George, I have two more minutes, and we do appreciate the fact that you're spending some time with us this morning.
01:18:15 But you know, Mr. George, I always have a surprise for you when I'm speaking with you. I like to put things on the table, right?
01:18:22 Mr. George, I have two words for you, two words for you. Tobago autonomy.
01:18:27 Well, the thing is, you know, Marlon, it's something that is really just a political football.
01:18:34 And our political leaders, they love to tease Tobagonians.
01:18:40 And for the life of me, I don't understand why Tobagonians don't recognize and realize that, look, it's all a mind game.
01:18:47 They love to tease them with the idea, oh, yes, autonomy, autonomy. But you ask yourself, what does autonomy really mean for the average Tobagonian?
01:18:55 If you walk through Scarborough, Crown Point, Pigeon Point, wherever, you ask 10 random Tobagonians, what does autonomy mean for you?
01:19:02 You may get 10 different answers. So I have always said that, look, maybe we need to do a rethink.
01:19:09 And instead of focusing on this idea of, you know, asking Trinidad for autonomy or trying to pass a bill in Parliament to get autonomy,
01:19:17 maybe we ought to focus on trying to get Tobagonians to achieve financial autonomy, economic independence.
01:19:25 Because once you have that, Marlon, you don't need to ask anybody for independence.
01:19:30 When you were a small Marlon and living in your parents' home, you have to ask mommy and daddy, well, yes, you want money for lunch, you want money for this, you want to buy shoes, sneakers.
01:19:38 But once you start working and you become a famous, internationally known news person as you are, you don't need to go back to your parents to ask them for anything.
01:19:48 You say, well, look, I am doing this, I am doing that. You basically inform them, you notify them.
01:19:54 And that's what I'm talking about. Because really and truly, if you look at how the autonomy issue has been with Tobagonians, it's like a dog chasing down a car.
01:20:03 So you're running, running, running, running behind the car. When you catch the car, what is the dog doing with the car?
01:20:09 Yeah. Mr. George. You don't have a clue what to do with it. You might walk around the car, you might pee on the tires. After that, what?
01:20:18 Mr. George, boy, you're special, you know. Mr. George, Michelle is saying about you, you know, like a boss.
01:20:26 Mr. George, it's always a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you for the perspective. Thank you for the energy.
01:20:32 And, you know, we're glad to be speaking with you again. And I'm sure that we will speak to you more during 2024.
01:20:39 In the meantime, stay well, Mr. George. We do appreciate you.
01:20:44 And the very best to you and your team at TB6 Marlon. OK, bye bye for now.
01:20:48 OK, so we are going to a very short break. We will be right back.
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01:23:59 All right, everybody. So we are talking fire prevention now.
01:24:02 And we do have the acting director, Forest Resource Inventory Management at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Dave Samaya.
01:24:10 Mr. Samaya, thank you very much for coming this morning. Good morning. Thank you for having us.
01:24:14 Having me here, of course. Well, Mr. Samaya, the last week they met office would have declared that the dry season has begun.
01:24:26 And I know with that it poses a number of challenges ahead or judging from past experience,
01:24:37 and what would have occurred in the past, what are some of the challenges that is faced this time around?
01:24:46 Well, I'll face this time around. Well, as based on what the Met Services has declared.
01:24:52 Yes, we are in for a more drier season than normal.
01:24:59 Intense weather within the first three months of the year.
01:25:03 Let's say the second three months is going to be a little easier.
01:25:07 And but this brings the threat of perennial forest fires.
01:25:12 And these forest fires pose a great threat to our environment, to our resources.
01:25:18 And it puts a burden on the economy as a whole.
01:25:22 Yeah. But, you know, Mr. Samaya, there has been a view that in some cases, persons would have lit these fires.
01:25:32 And in other cases, these fires would have been lit naturally. Is that so?
01:25:38 OK. In the Trinidad scenario, we have no, how do you say, no factual evidence to support the unnatural lighting of fires.
01:25:51 In other countries, you find fires, forest fires are ignited through lightning.
01:25:56 But in our dry season, we don't have lightning.
01:25:58 You find that there's some some research says self-combustion.
01:26:02 We don't have that scenario here. Most of our fires, in fact, all of our fires in Trinidad and Tobago is caused by human influence.
01:26:12 It's a sad reality. Because a few days ago, Mr. Samaya, I was driving along the highway coming into Port of Spain.
01:26:23 And I'm seeing that I'm seeing this bushfire. And I was of the view that this would have because, you know, a lot of Nancy stories are being told in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:26:34 You know how we are, that there may have been a bottle there or a piece of glass or something.
01:26:41 And because of the intense heat, it would, of course, the fire.
01:26:44 And that's that's not true at all, because the reality of it is that somebody might have been driving along the roadway smoking a cigarette without properly extinguishing it.
01:26:56 Just like the butt outside and with the dry grass, you know, sometimes when the instructors cut the road edge and the dry grass is there, it's excellent fuel.
01:27:08 A simple thing as a cigarette butt will ignite that or something. You scratch a match and you throw it on you and extinguish the match.
01:27:17 That's all it takes. Is there a difference between a forest fire and a bushfire?
01:27:22 Well, a forest fire is an unplanned, unscheduled fire that occurs in the forest.
01:27:29 Bushfires are what you find more outside, like on the road edge.
01:27:35 Bushfires will normally start on the outside and gravitate towards the forest, igniting the forest.
01:27:43 We in the Forestry Division, we more concentrate on forest fires because we have a hundred and ninety two thousand hectares of forested lands to maintain.
01:27:54 Right. So you find a lot of time that the public will call the Forestry Division and say they have fire, like currently in those rice fields.
01:28:03 But that does not fall under the Forestry Division purview. Right.
01:28:07 Because those are more bushfires and we are concentrating on the forested areas.
01:28:12 So you're telling me, Mr. Samaya, that those fires that we're seeing in the mountains, people are lighting that?
01:28:18 Yes. And for what purpose? They are lighting it because you find that you might find it strange that in these mountains,
01:28:26 in these very remote areas that you see in fires, but it's always because of humans. You find that people going up there, you have hunters.
01:28:33 They're trying to flush out animals, they light the burrows to flush out the animals.
01:28:38 You have hikers going up. You have hikers going and they light a little fire to make their coffee or something and they didn't properly extinguish it.
01:28:46 You have people going for recreational purposes. You know, people like to go to the river and make a cook.
01:28:52 You go and you make a cook and you don't extinguish the fire properly.
01:28:56 And you have people up there who squat in. Squatting is one of our major problems.
01:29:02 When you look at the Northern Range, you see a lot of bare areas. All of a sudden you see an area that's crop of bare.
01:29:07 And that's from slash and burn agriculture. And these people, the easiest way to clear these areas is to light a fire and let it burn.
01:29:15 Sometimes you'll find some people who live in these hillside areas, they want to clear the land.
01:29:23 And the easiest way to clear the land is just light a fire without any care for anybody around.
01:29:29 Does the ministry have any data as to how many hectares of land are destroyed or trees, hectares of trees are destroyed every year because of this type of behavior?
01:29:46 Yes, we do. The Ministry of Forestry and Regional Keepsake, based on our patrols, we normally document and record every fire that we encounter and the area.
01:29:57 Last year, that's 2023 for instance, we had over 375 fires. And that amounted to over 1,500 hectares of land being burned.
01:30:10 And 1,500 hectares of land might seem a little bit, but remember we are a small island state.
01:30:16 Our land is a small amount, so we have to manage and protect every single hectare that we have.
01:30:24 Let's speak a little bit. Are there repercussions for people who are lighting these fires indiscriminately?
01:30:33 Yes, there are. Now, what I should mention first is that during the dry season, which starts from the 1st of December to the 30th day of June under the Agriculture Fires Act,
01:30:45 you are required by law to get a permit to light a fire in your property.
01:30:52 These permits can be acquired from any fire service station and there are stipulations on the permit,
01:31:00 how, where, when you can light your fire, not during high winds, not during the peak of the day, which is the hottest time, and these kind of things.
01:31:12 And someone who is caught in the act of lighting a fire without a fire permit is liable to a charge of $20,000 and six months' imprisonment.
01:31:25 So it's a, given the fact that the fine was previously $1,500, and in 2015 I think it was, the Forestry Division lost one of its officers in a fire.
01:31:38 And based on that, the fines have subsequently been reviewed and it's now $20,000 and six months, not all, and six months' imprisonment.
01:31:49 Because of these new fines that are there, you think that it has somehow impacted positively in that people now know what the repercussions are and they are not engaging in lighting forest fires so often?
01:32:13 Honestly, although the fines have been increased, people still take their chances to do these activities.
01:32:24 Because at the end of the day, it's all about enforcement and you have to get somebody in the act to prosecute.
01:32:35 And we have to change the thinking and the mindset of our society and let people understand that our environment is precious and it's not, we have to secure it for our future generations.
01:32:54 Let's talk a little bit about the impact that this is having on the mountains, the forests every year.
01:33:03 Well, at least one of the key things, I'm sure yourself, when you drive up during the rainy season, you like to see the forest green.
01:33:10 During this period that we call the dry season, we lost the aesthetics of that because you're seeing brown, everything is burnt.
01:33:19 With that now, you have all the smoke and ash that couples with the Sahara dust.
01:33:25 We have medical issues, we have loss of vegetation, we have loss of fauna, we have all the wildlife, we lose the habitat.
01:33:35 You have people lost property, some people lost houses, people who have legitimate gardens lost all the gardens are burned.
01:33:46 You know, they lost crops, so it's a financial loss, socioeconomic loss, it's loss right wrong.
01:33:53 Together with that now, you have the ripple effect of fires because when a fire occurs now, you burn the land as bare.
01:34:02 Then the onset of the rainy season, so you find when the rain falls now, there's no shrub or grass to retain that water.
01:34:10 So that water comes gushing down now, moving into causing flooding.
01:34:14 Coupled with the flooding, you find you get erosion, you get siltation of the waterways.
01:34:19 You get a lot of different problems, you know, from one activity, unplanned activity.
01:34:26 Yeah. And then you have a situation, sir, where if you destroy thousands of hectares of land and thereby you no longer have trees and the flora and the fauna and so on,
01:34:43 but this doesn't grow overnight, right?
01:34:46 No, no. It takes years and years and years.
01:34:49 A forest takes between 70 to 100 years to reach maturity.
01:34:52 We, some of us, might not even last that long.
01:34:55 So we have to protect it for our future generations.
01:34:59 What can the Forestry Division do to reduce forest fires?
01:35:03 Well, we do a lot of, well, this is one avenue here.
01:35:08 Of course.
01:35:09 To come and enlighten the public.
01:35:11 We do a lot of community outreach where we go out to communities who are in the forest, the high prone forested areas.
01:35:18 We talk to school children because we believe that the message has to start from young, going up.
01:35:24 Right. We do a lot of different publications.
01:35:28 We do brochures. Only last week, the Forestry Division was involved in a bio-reach project, which is a global environmental funded project.
01:35:38 And one of the objectives of that project is fire suppression, fire management.
01:35:44 And the Forestry Division had in training some of its forestry staff together with community groups for an entire week on forest management,
01:35:55 forest fire management, forest fire detection, suppression and stuff like that.
01:36:00 What is the role of the individual? Do they have a role? The citizen?
01:36:05 Every citizen has a role. Every citizen has a role.
01:36:07 We have to be conscious of what we are doing out there.
01:36:10 If you are a smoker, properly extinguish your cigarette.
01:36:16 If you are a lineman and you are in the river, properly extinguish that fire when you leave there.
01:36:21 Make sure that there is no smoke. Right.
01:36:24 If you are a natural enthusiast and you are going to walk and camp, don't throw the litter.
01:36:30 Don't light anything.
01:36:32 If you light a fire for some reason, make sure it's properly extinguished.
01:36:35 And always be a birder keeper.
01:36:38 If someone in your group is doing the wrong thing in terms of fires and stuff, enlighten them.
01:36:46 Let them know the effects of it.
01:36:48 Yeah. Is there a fire season?
01:36:51 Yes. As I said earlier, the fire season is under the Agriculture Fires Act from the first of December in one year to the 30th of June, the subsequent year.
01:37:02 However, the Forestry Division, our fire season is normally from the first of March to the end of May.
01:37:09 Because that is why we consider our hottest period for us.
01:37:14 But in Trinidad and Tobago, the fire season is from the first of December to the 30th of June.
01:37:20 Is there a particular area or are there particular areas in Trinidad and Tobago that are known for forest fires annually?
01:37:30 From our data, we have recorded, we have observed that there are certain areas that are very, very prone to fires.
01:37:40 For instance, the Dago Martin area.
01:37:43 That hill is going up to Cumberland and stuff like that.
01:37:46 Every year, that's the prime area for burning.
01:37:49 You find that the area around Hillview College, that Calvary Hill, that whole area, that's our next hot spot.
01:37:57 What we consider a hot spot.
01:37:58 In the southern areas, we have a lot of areas like the Brickfield areas, Princess Tongsum areas, and on Cedars side, you'll find key hot spots.
01:38:10 Those are areas that we closely monitor and concentrate our groups on.
01:38:14 Yeah. But how do you deal with that?
01:38:17 If you, and let me ask it in this way.
01:38:21 If it is that I, as a citizen, notice that there's a forest fire, how do I contact the Forestry Division?
01:38:28 How do you all deal with it?
01:38:30 Once you can contact the Forestry Division via our forest hotline, Forest Fire hotline, which is 225-3816.
01:38:42 When that call comes to us, we will then send back a call to the respective group that is in the area.
01:38:51 Although, sometimes that call might come in, but our group might be on site already.
01:38:57 Because how the Forestry Division operates during the fire season is that we have our group stationed throughout the country.
01:39:04 In all of what we call conservancies.
01:39:07 And we have men on the ground teams that will go on and deal with the fires.
01:39:12 Yeah. Should I take it upon myself to try to extinguish this fire?
01:39:20 I wouldn't advise that, right?
01:39:22 If it's a small little fire that's coming to the edge of your property or so, you can just probably out it.
01:39:28 But remember, with the fire, there's a lot of smoke.
01:39:30 Yeah.
01:39:31 There's a lot of heat.
01:39:33 And you're not sure what physical condition you might be in.
01:39:36 And you're not sure. You're not trained, so you're not sure how the wind condition might turn.
01:39:40 How different environmental factors might change.
01:39:44 And that fire could turn on you.
01:39:46 So it's better to be careful and protect yourself.
01:39:49 And it has even turned on the professionals in the past, right?
01:39:52 Professionals, yes, it has.
01:39:53 Yeah. Mr. Samai, anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning, sir?
01:39:57 Well, again, I just remember that forests are part of our lives.
01:40:02 And we need to protect it.
01:40:04 It maintains our livelihood.
01:40:07 It maintains the beauty of Trinidad.
01:40:10 And in order for us to maintain that, we have to stop fires.
01:40:13 We have to be more conscious of the littering, of the destruction, and all that goes with it.
01:40:18 Yeah. Mr. Samai, it was a pleasure having you here this morning.
01:40:22 We do thank you very much for the information.
01:40:24 Just again, if people need to contact you all, how do they do that?
01:40:29 They can contact us via 225-3816.
01:40:33 That's our Forest Fire Hotline.
01:40:35 And then they can also contact the ministry via the ministry website.
01:40:40 All right. Thank you very much again, sir.
01:40:42 All right. We are going to a very short break. We're coming back.
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01:42:49 When your speed can't kill.
01:42:52 [Music]
01:42:58 Online here with this weirdo named Larry.
01:43:01 I'm getting rid of him now.
01:43:03 [Music]
01:43:06 Eh eh.
01:43:07 [Music]
01:43:11 [Laughter]
01:43:13 Let's take a selfie.
01:43:16 [Camera click]
01:43:17 It looking good boy.
01:43:19 I'm posting it online.
01:43:21 [Music]
01:43:23 Hey.
01:43:24 I thought you say you went to the beach with your parents.
01:43:27 Who's you?
01:43:28 It's me.
01:43:29 Larry.
01:43:31 From online.
01:43:33 [Music]
01:43:47 Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.
01:43:51 [Music]
01:43:58 Inspiration through dance is fueled by the spirit.
01:44:01 [Music]
01:44:03 Inspiration is found in the diversity of the way of life.
01:44:07 [Music]
01:44:09 The inspired word of God directs the path.
01:44:12 Join us every Monday morning at 8.30am right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.
01:44:20 It have some people who just have to sow everything so eh.
01:44:25 So what if I happy and I cheer on my child for something small.
01:44:29 You know how hard them work for that.
01:44:31 So I have to live them up.
01:44:33 [Silence]
01:44:35 Always encourage your child in anything they do.
01:44:39 Not pressure eh.
01:44:41 Encourage.
01:44:42 Your faith in them will build their self-esteem and confidence.
01:44:46 Praise their efforts.
01:44:48 Celebrate their success.
01:44:49 Support them through challenges and acknowledge their efforts.
01:44:53 At the end of the day, do your best.
01:44:57 Share if you found this useful and like and follow CTA's profiles for more parenting tips.
01:45:03 The letter of the day is e.
01:45:07 Encourage.
01:45:09 [Music]
01:45:14 Calypso is the medium by which we express ideas.
01:45:20 [Music]
01:45:24 Differences of opinions are good and bad examples.
01:45:31 Get ready for the grand opening of the classic Calypso tent on Wednesday 17th January from 7pm at City Hall Port of Spain.
01:45:40 Come celebrate our 25th anniversary with All Rounder, Crazy, Contender, Versatile, Hamid Dula, Brian London, Sherlyn Hendrickson, Lady Wanda and many more.
01:45:51 General admission 200 or get your 2 on 1 tickets for $300.
01:45:55 It's the grand opening of Classic Russo for Classic Calypso.
01:45:58 Creative and innovative.
01:46:01 Alright, so everyone welcome back.
01:46:03 So we are talking Classic Russo and my next guest is a lady that I look forward to speaking with every year you know.
01:46:10 I love the energy that the lady brings into the studio.
01:46:13 Everyone, Sherlyn Hendrickson.
01:46:16 Pleasant good morning to all of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean region and the entire world.
01:46:23 All y'all come back home.
01:46:25 You come back home too.
01:46:28 So Sherlyn Hendrickson is here in the capacity of Vice Chair of the Tuco North Zone and as I said she's going to be speaking about Classic Russo.
01:46:38 So Sherlyn, what's in store for Classic Russo this time around for the carnival season?
01:46:43 Plenty, plenty, plenty, plenty thing all year.
01:46:46 So we have a cast of 25 dynamic performers, inclusive of the big man all rounder.
01:46:53 And he sends his love and happy new year and he will be coming in on his timing, you know, once you all are ready for him.
01:46:59 And the only man in the world who has been, I think he has now been given natural citizenship up at St. Ann's, Edwin Iyong, Uncle Crazy.
01:47:10 Yes, yes.
01:47:13 I'm telling you, and you know, as I'm going down, let me just give them a little taste of the names of the eclipses.
01:47:18 That is 24/24 selection.
01:47:21 I love you.
01:47:22 And he say he must be able to roll your tongue when we see each other on the street.
01:47:26 I love you.
01:47:28 And Uncle Crazy say God ain't black.
01:47:31 Mark John, the contender, peace, love and harmony.
01:47:35 Cheryl Hector, versatile, is also coming with one up underneath his arm and his bag, inclusive of man child.
01:47:41 And Hamedullah say hell, that's the name of it.
01:47:45 Lady Wonder say AI, that's artificial intelligence.
01:47:50 Chirlane says does black life matter?
01:47:53 It matter at all?
01:47:55 And Brian is also London, holding one up underneath his arm there to entice us all.
01:48:00 Dr. Wilby say overnight success.
01:48:03 And we have seen Robbie G, no racist, QP, quiet prince, says rule the world.
01:48:09 Mark Eastman, our lone finalist last year, 2023.
01:48:14 And we want to say commendations to him.
01:48:17 And Mark says generation.
01:48:19 Kaiso Mark says crime is big business.
01:48:22 God Sinclair is asking a pertinent question.
01:48:25 He's asking, is it we and them or is it we and them?
01:48:30 He says black man's luck.
01:48:33 Stanley Adams say Pratt and Morgan.
01:48:36 Kyle Cowie, who sings one of the lead singers with Brass to the World, he's saying for the people.
01:48:41 King Soul, he says she-ca shut down.
01:48:45 And Bettany Lightbourne, first time she sang with us, first time in a big Calypso tent, 2023.
01:48:50 She made it to Skinner Park last year.
01:48:53 And this year she's saying rhythm, the heartbeat of Trinbago's carnival.
01:48:57 Sikhanals is another newcomer.
01:49:00 And Carsten Cupid from Tobago is with us this year, straight from the heart.
01:49:04 Andre Nelson, Trinidad is home.
01:49:07 Eugene Caraschero, one of them who came through from the community-based tent, North Zone Patriots,
01:49:12 he is saying aye for Kamla from the heart as well.
01:49:16 And Bonnie Bino says cherish the ladies.
01:49:19 So with that kind of lineup and with those sorts of themes, we are rearing and ready to go.
01:49:25 And as you know, we're opening on Wednesday, 17th.
01:49:28 We're back home, you know.
01:49:30 We miss home, City Hall Auditorium, you know, for the COVID period.
01:49:34 We have not been there for about, what, three years or so
01:49:37 because the police administration would have occupied the space in the hall.
01:49:42 But we salute the youngest mayor of Port-au-Prince, his Worship Chinua Allen,
01:49:48 and his team and the councillors, and they are hosting us there once again.
01:49:52 And we tell his excitement.
01:49:54 Our rehearsal has started, Friday gone, Friday the 12th,
01:49:58 and continuing into our dress rehearsals tomorrow evening, and then we open up on Wednesday.
01:50:04 >>Chirlane, classic Russo greedy, you know.
01:50:07 >>I know.
01:50:08 >>Classic Russo have all the big guns.
01:50:10 >>I know. I just love when you say that, and I hope that North, no, South, South,
01:50:15 and they open Friday evening bumper, you know, Bumps Club, they had a wonderful opening.
01:50:20 And then Caravan in the East, they open Saturday night.
01:50:23 And our, we would always call them the mother tent, Kaiser House,
01:50:28 it's going to be entitled the Savannah Grass Complex.
01:50:31 They are opening on Thursday the 18th.
01:50:34 So you know what, we're not magnificent, glowing, to be good, and open already.
01:50:37 I tell you, we something about this year, 2024.
01:50:42 Let me tell you something, it's vibrancy.
01:50:44 And I like how you said it, you said it, we are opening with some of the big guns
01:50:48 because our tent, classic Russo, came through from the CDC Calypso Theater.
01:50:54 >>All right, Chirlane, cool your toes for a little while.
01:50:56 We are going to a very short break.
01:50:57 We're coming back with Chirlane Hendrickson.
01:50:59 [ Music ]
01:51:20 >>Things don't always go as expected.
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01:51:48 >>Universal Church presents Programs of Faith.
01:51:52 5.30am, the hour of miracles.
01:51:58 5pm, it's possible.
01:52:01 [ Music ]
01:52:06 Now on TV6.
01:52:10 [ Music ]
01:52:30 [ Silence ]
01:52:33 [ Music ]
01:52:44 [ Music ]
01:53:04 >>Chirlane Hendrickson.
01:53:06 Chirlane, let's continue with the song studio.
01:53:09 And Chirlane, Chirlane can sing a little piece for us.
01:53:14 [ Music ]
01:53:20 All right, so we're going to go back to the top.
01:53:22 Just incidentally, what would have inspired this song?
01:53:25 Who would have written this song?
01:53:26 >>This is Chirlane's composition.
01:53:28 You know, I write for myself and Lady Wonder, and I also assist my father.
01:53:33 But when I see the level of crime, and it's not just the level of crime.
01:53:37 When I see that we are somehow losing the morals and ethics that would have been concretized by our grandparents, our aunties, our uncles coming up.
01:53:47 I'm wondering now what is happening.
01:53:49 You know, I'm seeing all my race walking into people's homes, you know, and shooting people.
01:53:56 You know, a long time ago, we at least used to have a disagreement, and we used to talk it out.
01:54:00 Now there's no talking out, you know.
01:54:02 It's bow, bow, bow, straight up like that.
01:54:04 So whoever is in line.
01:54:05 So something has to be wrong somewhere.
01:54:07 >>Yeah, let's take in some of this song, Chirlane, and you're free to join in.
01:54:11 [MUSIC]
01:54:39 [MUSIC]
01:54:49 [MUSIC]
01:54:59 [MUSIC]
01:55:19 >>You know, you're all known for that.
01:55:21 >>Yes.
01:55:22 [LAUGHTER]
01:55:24 >>Chirlane, we just have a few seconds again.
01:55:26 Let's get back to the classic Russo.
01:55:28 >>Yes.
01:55:29 >>Any additional information you have for us?
01:55:31 >>Oh, yes, and of course, we will be making our traditional visits, too.
01:55:35 We open on Wednesday.
01:55:37 We're not there on Thursday.
01:55:39 We're going out to support the Big Ten.
01:55:40 They're opening on Thursday.
01:55:42 And then Friday, Saturday, we're back to City Hall.
01:55:45 Sunday, oh, you want to say a pleasant good morning to the Diego Martin Community Complex, the council down there.
01:55:52 They are rearing and ready to go.
01:55:54 I understand tickets are almost sold out there.
01:55:56 That's Sunday evening.
01:55:57 And then during the course of the week, we go back again to the tent and on the 28th, we want to salute Ms. Sue Ann Vinson,
01:56:05 the chairperson of the Maloney Regional Council Complex up there.
01:56:09 We will be there under the auspices of Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Camille Robinson-Ragis, and her entire team.
01:56:17 And then we clash in.
01:56:19 Imagine we clash in with Kaiso House up at Kaiso House Tent, Queen's Park Savannah,
01:56:25 back to the tent and the fiesta.
01:56:28 We're asking everybody to come on down Skinner Park.
01:56:31 Saturday, 3rd of February, 2 p.m., we're starting promptly down there,
01:56:37 and we close off our entire season on Tuesday, February the 6th.
01:56:42 Tickets are so reasonable.
01:56:44 $200 if you're single, if you have no one to come with you, two persons on one ticket, $300.
01:56:50 And tickets are available, Tuco's head office, Tuco North Zone office, office number 70, second floor,
01:56:57 and at Crossbees, Western Main Road, in St. James.
01:57:00 So there's no, no, no losing, no way.
01:57:02 Just come on out, have really good fun, and Kaiso, straight up in your quinks.
01:57:08 All right, we'll take that. Chill in, chill in.
01:57:10 It's always a pleasure speaking with you.
01:57:12 And please give All-Rounder our regards.
01:57:15 Oh, yes, he's coming out gunning at it.
01:57:17 All-Rounder, we wish you a good season, and we wish you a good season, surely.
01:57:21 Thank you.
01:57:22 Okay, so we are going to another very short break. We'll be right back.
01:57:25 [Music]
01:57:38 I am a veteran of the Air Force.
01:57:40 I have a family of eight and a cousin.
01:57:43 I was born in a town called Fulham, and I have a family of eight.
01:57:48 I have a family of six, and I have a family of eight.
01:57:52 I am a veteran of the Air Force.
01:57:54 I have a family of eight.
01:57:55 I was born in a town called Fulham, and I have a family of six.
01:57:58 I was born in a town called Fulham, and I have a family of eight.
01:58:01 I am a veteran of the Air Force.
01:58:03 I have a family of six.
01:58:05 I was born in a town called Fulham, and I have a family of eight.
01:58:09 I have a family of six.
01:58:11 Give us a call at 235-5479.
01:58:16 The Community Hospital of Seventh-Day Adventists.
01:58:21 Where good private health care is affordable.
01:58:26 Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.
01:58:30 Go out and tell the world of Jesus.
01:58:34 Tell of the wondrous things he has done.
01:58:37 Inspiration through dance is fueled by the Spirit.
01:58:39 Go out and spread the gospel.
01:58:41 Inspiration is found in the diversity of nature.
01:58:45 Go to the inspired beautiful, direct from the past.
01:58:50 Join us every Monday morning at 830 a.m. right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.
01:59:00 [Music]
01:59:06 All right, welcome back.
01:59:07 Just enough time to say goodbye, everyone, but that's the end of our show for today.
01:59:12 Tune in for Emmy Prime this evening.
01:59:14 In the meantime, we'll leave you with some more music, right?
01:59:18 Yeah?
01:59:19 And this beautiful picture there.
01:59:22 See you tomorrow, everybody.
01:59:23 Bye for now.
01:59:24 [Music]
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