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00:00:00 [Music]
00:00:16 A very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago. I'm Marlon Hopkinson and welcome to the morning edition.
00:00:20 Give us some more of the music now, man. You're giving me, you're teasing me this morning.
00:00:25 [Music]
00:00:28 It's January 31st, 2024. Thank you very much studio. Thank you for picking that song. It's a nice song. It's a nice song.
00:00:34 Yeah. So, today's the last day for in January, right? And then we move on to February where we are going to have the,
00:00:46 the big bang as it were, the two days of carnival, Monday and Tuesday. In the meantime, as I constantly tell you,
00:00:53 everything in moderation when you go out to the FETs, everything in moderation. Don't drink too much and don't eat too much
00:01:00 and don't party too much and be aware of the surroundings, right? Because we want you back after the FET.
00:01:08 Remember that. All right. So, we do have a very interesting show for you today. So, please stay with us.
00:01:14 Let's check out to see what's happening in the Daily Express.
00:01:18 Clean up Calypso. Tuco President urges artists after Croco, a defamation ruling, refrain from weaponizing the art form.
00:01:28 And Close Encounter. Students of St. Joseph Boys RC School, chair at a Blue Devil character from the next level devils of Paramin.
00:01:38 That's blue and red. During their presentation at the John Cupid Carnival Village yesterday at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-Au-Spain.
00:01:45 And let me just tell you about this. These children are very, very brave. I remember as an adult coming down,
00:01:51 I remember like every Carnival Friday, there would be a parade in town. And I remember seeing these blue devils.
00:01:57 I wanted to run, you know. Yeah, it's just I was a bit ashamed. I didn't want to run.
00:02:02 And if people see me running, but yeah, they could be they could cause a bit of trauma for people.
00:02:08 All right. So all a part of the Carnival security talks in United States.
00:02:14 Prime Minister meets CIA director. Let's check out to see what's happening in sport.
00:02:20 Windy's on a roll on the 19s, overcomes Sri Lanka as World Cup second stage begins.
00:02:27 West Indies took a giant stride towards the semifinal berth and the ICC under 19 World Cup hair Tuesday,
00:02:34 when they once again held their nerves to beat a determined Sri Lanka by three wickets in their first game of the Super Six stage yesterday.
00:02:43 All right. So congratulations to the Windy's. Let's not celebrate too quickly now, you know.
00:02:48 Let me cool it a little bit now. Right. But congratulations to the boys.
00:02:54 All the same. Let's look at the front page story a little bit. So Tuko chief warns against using art form to divide.
00:03:01 Don't weaponize Calypso. And that's the view or position of the president of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians organization, Ainsley King.
00:03:14 And Calypsonians cautious after Krokro ruling. Had Krokro been a good Calypsonian,
00:03:21 he would have been more careful not to get in a position to pay two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for defamation of character.
00:03:29 When he sang his twenty twenty three Calypso, another sat is outside again.
00:03:34 This is the view of veteran Calypsonian chalk dust, Hollis Liverpool.
00:03:39 And of course, you know, Mr. Liverpool has copped the Calypso monarch title many, many times.
00:03:47 Yeah, I I've lost count. Right. So if anybody knows you can text us this morning.
00:03:53 Yeah. Even Mr. Liverpool. I know that he views TV six. Right.
00:03:57 So please tell us. I'm very much interested in that. All right.
00:04:02 So let's before we move on, let's look at this story with the prime minister.
00:04:08 Yeah. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley yesterday engaged in security meetings with defense officials at the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency director at Langley, Virginia, in the United States.
00:04:19 So some of the big stories of the Daily Express for you today. So it's time to remind you about Trinbago.
00:04:24 Your nice feature. Remember to participate. What's up your videos or images to seven three seven three seven seven eight.
00:04:33 Beautiful picture this morning. Yeah, that's an orchid.
00:04:38 Yeah. What color you would call that move? Purple, violet, plum.
00:04:44 Yeah, I like that. I like that description. Plum. That's a plum orchid.
00:04:49 And thank you very much to the viewer who sent that picture to us. It looks to be a part of a beautiful garden.
00:04:55 Wouldn't you say? Yeah. Good morning to you. And thank you very much.
00:04:58 So we do have a packed program for you this morning. You have your coffee, your tea, get something to eat.
00:05:04 We're coming back. Everybody stay right there. Have you ever experienced an unexpected power outage?
00:05:27 The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management has some important and simple tips to help you and your loved ones be better prepared for a power outage in the event of a disaster.
00:05:38 One, ensure that you have candles and extra torch lights as alternate sources of lighting to keep fully charged power banks to recharge your devices.
00:05:48 Three, use hand cranked radios to receive updates from official sources. Four, if possible, keep a power generator or AC inverter that can be connected to a car battery to use as an alternate source of power.
00:06:03 Five, ensure your grab and go bags and home emergency kits are packed and ready.
00:06:08 The ODPM wants you and your loved ones to be better prepared. For more information, visit www.odpm.gov.tt. A message from the ODPM.
00:06:21 >>Guinness brings to you...
00:06:23 >>Barney Fed, 2024.
00:06:25 >>Friday, February 2nd, Festival Capital, Queens Park, Savannah.
00:06:29 >>The Asylum Vikings with Bunjee Garland and Fionn Lyons.
00:06:32 [music]
00:06:36 >>Patrice Roberts.
00:06:37 [music]
00:06:39 >>Lyrical Nailah Blackmon.
00:06:42 [music]
00:06:44 >>Testra with her full band.
00:06:46 [music]
00:06:49 >>Nadia Batson.
00:06:51 [music]
00:06:55 >>Ola Tunji.
00:06:56 >>Farmer Nappy.
00:06:57 >>McCaltasia.
00:06:58 >>Wattix.
00:06:59 >>Neutron.
00:07:00 >>And many more.
00:07:02 >>The safest bet just got safer with end cash.
00:07:06 >>Army 2024 is powered by...
00:07:08 >>Guinness.
00:07:09 >>And fuel by...
00:07:10 >>B-Mobile.
00:07:11 >>Light us on.
00:07:12 >>Magnum Tonic Wine.
00:07:13 >>Stag.
00:07:14 >>A man's beer.
00:07:15 >>Blue Waters.
00:07:16 >>And Forest Park Punching.
00:07:17 >>Oonya Stripes.
00:07:18 >>New Feds.
00:07:19 >>Sweeter.
00:07:20 >>Bigger than Army Fed.
00:07:22 >>Universal Church presents Programs of Faith.
00:07:26 5.30am.
00:07:28 The Hour of Miracles.
00:07:30 [music]
00:07:32 5pm.
00:07:34 It's possible.
00:07:36 [music]
00:07:40 Now on TV6.
00:07:43 [music]
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00:07:50 [music]
00:07:54 [music]
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00:08:14 >>Alright, welcome back everyone.
00:08:16 So we do have a very interesting segment for you right now.
00:08:20 The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service is launching its micro and small business grant.
00:08:26 And we do have this morning, no other person but the Minister of Youth Development and National Service, Minister Foster Cummings.
00:08:35 Minister Cummings, thank you very much for coming this morning.
00:08:37 >>Thank you, Marlon.
00:08:38 Thank you for having me and good morning to Trinidad and Tobago.
00:08:41 >>Yeah.
00:08:42 Well, Minister, I'm sure that the young people of Trinidad and Tobago would be very interested in this micro and small business grant.
00:08:50 Please tell us about it.
00:08:51 >>Well, we launched this grant yesterday.
00:08:54 NEDCO is implementing this on behalf of the government.
00:08:57 It's a government policy of supporting small and micro enterprises who have good ideas, want to get into business, are skilled to do so,
00:09:08 but they lack the capital or the ability to get the funding from the commercial banking sector.
00:09:14 And this is the government's program that will assist in expanding the economy, diversification, and supporting not only young persons,
00:09:24 because 60 percent of the grants will be reserved for young persons, but of course those over 35 can also apply and the other 40 percent will go to business.
00:09:33 >>Yeah. Let's get a little deeper into it.
00:09:35 Who is eligible for this?
00:09:37 >>All citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:09:39 So that we, of course, focus on the young people because we want to encourage young people in business.
00:09:45 As you know, the agricultural programs that we are running as well, they also have access to another grant.
00:09:50 But persons over 35 will be considered for 40 percent of the grants.
00:09:57 It's 1,000 grants per year up to a total of $20,000.
00:10:01 And of course there are qualifying criteria and so forth that you must have a business registered.
00:10:08 They will look at your business plan and how you intend to execute your business program.
00:10:14 There's a period of training. It's a two-week training period that you have to undergo with NETCO.
00:10:22 There's some element of mentorship.
00:10:24 You'll be assigned to someone who is establishing business to help guide you and prepare you for the area of business you plan to go into.
00:10:35 And it's open to any business, really.
00:10:39 We know we are training a lot of persons, Marlon, so that after they come out of these skills training programs,
00:10:45 they have an opportunity if they want to go into the job market to get involved in some business.
00:10:51 Is it for existing businesses or new businesses?
00:10:55 Existing and start-ups, so that we will consider persons who have been in business for a while,
00:11:01 but they, as I said, did not have the initial start-up capital and they need that push.
00:11:06 So you, if for instance, if you did tailoring as one of our programs and you need to buy a serger, sewing machine, etc.,
00:11:13 you didn't have that capital, but you have the skill, you want to get into business, you want to take that risk,
00:11:18 we are going to give you that support.
00:11:19 Any type of business?
00:11:20 Any type of business, auto mechanic, air conditioning, as I said, tailoring, electrical, welding,
00:11:28 and even those persons who, of course, are going into new age types of business that is tied to the technology and that kind of thing.
00:11:38 So is it then, Minister, that these grants are going to be tailored to the type of business that is presented before you?
00:11:49 Well, as I said, it's up to a total of $20,000.
00:11:52 It doesn't mean that you would necessarily, if you're going to start a business that only requires $5,000, that is what you're going to get.
00:11:58 So it's up to a total of $20,000.
00:12:00 We understand as well that some people may need more than that to establish their business,
00:12:04 but of course there are other services that NEDCO offers that they can take advantage of, that's the loan program and so forth.
00:12:10 And yes, it's going to be tailored in the sense that once you come with your plan,
00:12:14 you're going to get the assistance from NEDCO to help you work through where there are deficiencies and so forth,
00:12:21 prop them up in the areas where they are weak, give them the kind of training to fill that gap, and then the funding will come thereafter.
00:12:30 How soon after?
00:12:32 Well, it is an online application process.
00:12:35 As a matter of fact, persons can apply now, today.
00:12:38 You can apply, Marlon.
00:12:40 It's www.msbgrant.com, or you can call 821-5800, extension 2013, and you will get that support.
00:12:56 And the process should not take a very long period of time.
00:13:01 As I said, there is a two-week training period.
00:13:03 So after the application is assessed, and we say, "Okay, yes, this is one that can move forward,"
00:13:08 you'll be contacted, you'll get into the training program, you'll complete that successfully, and thereafter the funds are available to you.
00:13:15 How many people are you catering for?
00:13:17 We intend to touch 1,000 persons per year with this program.
00:13:23 The program will run in the initial stage for three years.
00:13:26 We'll assess it after that to see how it has achieved its objectives.
00:13:30 But for the fiscal, we will touch 1,000 persons minimum because we are giving out $20 million in grants totally.
00:13:40 But, of course, as I said earlier, not everyone may need $20,000.
00:13:45 So we may even exceed the number of 1,000, but that will be the minimum amount of persons.
00:13:51 And you said that yesterday the program was launched?
00:13:54 The program was launched yesterday.
00:13:55 What was the response like?
00:13:57 Excellent.
00:13:59 As a matter of fact, since the launch of the program yesterday, persons have been contacting me on my cell phone about this program.
00:14:06 And what I can say to them is, you know, it's open to everyone.
00:14:10 You go on the website, you apply on the website, and it will receive due consideration.
00:14:15 It doesn't matter whether you're from Tobago, whether you're from Trinidad, whatever part of Trinidad you're from, this program is open to all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:14:23 But, of course, with a special emphasis for the young people.
00:14:27 Yeah, and you're saying that persons can register and apply via the ministry's website?
00:14:34 It's a special website set up specifically for this program.
00:14:37 As I repeat it, it is www.msbgrant.com.
00:14:44 And the evaluation will be conducted by the professionals at NEDCO, who, as you know, NEDCO offers a suite of services,
00:14:51 granting small business loans to persons who don't normally or wouldn't normally be able to qualify from the commercial banking sector.
00:15:01 NEDCO also has a business accelerator program that offers mentorship to persons in business wanting to get in business with startups,
00:15:09 persons wanting to expand their business.
00:15:11 That is their existing business.
00:15:13 So they have the capacity to be able to share that support with those persons who are now going to be able to access the grant program.
00:15:22 So, yes, quite excited about it.
00:15:24 And a lot of persons have been showing interest in the last 24 hours of the loan.
00:15:28 Yeah. All right.
00:15:29 I want to go back through the process again because persons may just about be joining us.
00:15:38 So I want you to go through the process.
00:15:40 So I go up on the website, I apply.
00:15:44 Yes.
00:15:45 Explain the process for me now.
00:15:47 So this is, as I said earlier, it's a government initiative to assist small business.
00:15:52 So we're making it very easy for you to access it.
00:15:55 So it's an online application.
00:15:57 You go onto the website www.msbgrant.com.
00:16:06 And you will find a link there to access the application.
00:16:10 It's a seven-step application process.
00:16:13 You have seven areas to complete.
00:16:15 And when you've completed it and submitted it, you will be contacted by NETCO.
00:16:20 And NETCO will take you through the stages thereafter.
00:16:24 A most important part of this is we're not just giving away money.
00:16:30 A very important part of it is that you must go through the training component of this to make sure that you are ready to make proper use of this government initiative.
00:16:41 And having completed that training successfully, you can then access the funds.
00:16:45 And, of course, there are safeguards in place because, of course, Marlon, if you say you're going to buy a sewing machine, we want to make sure you're going to buy a sewing machine.
00:16:52 Of course. It has to be monitoring, right?
00:16:54 So there is a monitoring and evaluation of what is being done with this grant program.
00:16:58 Very strictly so to make sure the funds are put to use, the intended use.
00:17:03 And after accessing the grant, there will be follow-up by the officials from NETCO to make sure that you're getting the support along the way.
00:17:11 Because what we want to do is create successful small businesses because that in itself will, one, create employment for the person who is accessing the grant.
00:17:19 But also, once they expand, they will be able to employ other persons.
00:17:24 And so it's employment generation.
00:17:26 It is diversification of the economy.
00:17:28 And it's boosting the small and microenterprise sector.
00:17:32 Yeah. And let's dig a little deeper into that statement because why is this program so important, you think, to the government at this time and also important to the population and the applicants at this time?
00:17:52 We have been having a lot of discussions surrounding how do we steer our young population into productive activity.
00:18:02 If you observe, we have as a government launched several programs aimed at attracting our young people away from unproductive behavior.
00:18:13 Our agricultural programs. I spoke on this program before about the YAP program, which is the homestead program.
00:18:20 I spoke about the shade house program, the aquaculture program.
00:18:24 Then we also have heavy equipment operation training.
00:18:27 We are soon to launch a program in the energy sector for those persons who want to do machine shop operation.
00:18:33 We are soon to launch another program with the Ministry of Public Utilities dealing with the wireman's program, plumbing for the potential WASA workers and so forth.
00:18:45 And therefore, that suite of programs we have, including the skills program we're going to do at youth camps, which we are currently actively working on.
00:18:54 We are training persons. We are giving them the skill. But now you have to make sure that you don't leave them skilled but unproductive.
00:19:03 So some will go into the workforce because they are short. There's a shortfall there.
00:19:08 But others who want to get involved in business, we want to hold their hand to make sure that they can actually get the support in terms of capital and training so their business will be a success.
00:19:19 So people speak about crime all the time. And as I was saying yesterday, I'm no expert on this.
00:19:25 But what I do know is that if we create opportunities and avenues for some of the young persons who are on the street, not involved in any kind of productive activity,
00:19:36 but they're, you know, very open to be absorbed and recruited by persons who may not have their best interests at heart,
00:19:43 then we take away from that pool and place them into more productive action.
00:19:49 Yeah. Now, as you intimated earlier, Minister, you have been here before speaking about some of the programs of your ministry.
00:20:00 And my question is, yes, people have been applying for the programs, but have they been staying in the programs?
00:20:09 Oh, yes.
00:20:10 What has the success rate been?
00:20:12 Definitely. For instance, I can tell you with the Youth Homestead Program, where we initially had an application of over 1,500 in the first cohort, 200 persons were eventually selected.
00:20:22 We had a graduation recently for the first cohort. Over 180 persons graduated.
00:20:27 That, Marlon, is a significant success rate for programs like these.
00:20:33 In the Shade House Program, where the first cohort was 100, a bit more rigorous of a program, we do it in conjunction with UWI,
00:20:45 so there are certain matriculation requirements and so forth, we were able to graduate 68 persons in the first cohort.
00:20:54 So, yes, persons are staying in the course, and some persons have the opportunity, if they may not have passed one or two courses,
00:21:01 to repeat those courses and eventually graduate along with their peers in the second cohort.
00:21:06 Yeah. So, I think it is safe to say, Minister, that your ministry in particular, because we're speaking about your ministry and the programs of your ministry,
00:21:15 but you're giving people an opportunity, right?
00:21:17 People are being given an opportunity because the government recognizes.
00:21:20 I mean, it is the reason for the establishment of the ministry in the first place, a ministry of youth development,
00:21:27 specific to looking after the development of our young people, and they are taking great, you know, access
00:21:37 and holding onto the opportunities that are being presented.
00:21:41 All of the programs that we have launched, be it the web design program, the coding program,
00:21:48 the heavy equipment operation program, the air condition program, the auto mechanic program,
00:21:52 all of these programs are heavily subscribed, and the persons are staying in the course,
00:21:56 and we are getting persons graduating out of there and getting into jobs, getting into business,
00:22:01 and so that is why this program of this grant, this business grant, is very important,
00:22:07 because as we upskill people and put them out there, they now have the opportunity to access a program of grant funding
00:22:14 so that they can start their own businesses. I'm sure they are quite excited about this.
00:22:19 How much people do you estimate that the ministry of youth development and national service,
00:22:25 because of these programs, that the ministry has touched over the duration of these programs?
00:22:34 We have so far exceeded 3,000 annually, and our target is that we will take that up to 5,000 per annum.
00:22:46 Of course, we can always do more, but then there are other agencies, particularly in the ministry of education.
00:22:52 There are several agencies. There is the MIC. There is YTEP. There is NESC. There is COSTAT.
00:23:00 There is UTT. There is UWI. So there are many other agencies providing opportunities of training and development for young persons.
00:23:11 So if you look at the overall government program, you're really talking in excess of 20,000 persons annually
00:23:20 being given these opportunities by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:23:24 Minister, we're really at the beginning of 2024. Today is the last day of January.
00:23:31 But as you look forward to the rest of the year, Minister,
00:23:37 what sort of other programs are we going to see coming from your ministry?
00:23:43 Well, in a week or two, there is a very exciting program that we launched in conjunction with Heritage Petroleum.
00:23:51 It is at Palo Seco, and it's geared to the persons in that catchment area, their fence line communities.
00:23:58 And we're going to be doing a program there, an apprenticeship program,
00:24:03 that will offer to persons training in machine shop operation and other skills associated with the production side of things in the energy sector.
00:24:15 And I think that a lot of persons are going to take advantage of that program.
00:24:20 We also did in conjunction with NESC, and that program is going to run out of St. Madeline,
00:24:25 a drilling program for persons who want to get involved in that area.
00:24:30 And most importantly, we launched very soon as well a program in crane operations,
00:24:38 the assembly and dismantling of cranes, those tower cranes that you see on construction sites,
00:24:43 mobile crane operation, the forklift operation, dump trucks, kids' stay, etc.
00:24:51 So that you can look forward to those programs coming in the not too distant future, I would say within by March of this year.
00:24:58 How does the ministry go about choosing the programs?
00:25:02 We do have a lot of interaction. You would know that we have a caravan, a youth caravan, and education caravan that roves to different communities.
00:25:11 It has been a tremendous success because what we do in a program that we take to the community,
00:25:19 because we use social media, yes, we use traditional media, yes, but sometimes in the community people do not get the information.
00:25:26 So we take that caravan out there, it does two things for us.
00:25:30 It allows us to share the programs of the government with the young people in the community, but also allows us to get information.
00:25:37 So persons have come on site, they apply and so forth, but they can also give us information as to what are some of the programs they would like to see us implement.
00:25:47 And coming out of that kind of, I would say, consultation, we are able to then fashion programs to suit.
00:25:56 In addition, we have been in discussions with the Contractors Association and other such organizations,
00:26:04 and they will give us information as to where they feel we need to focus, and that is what we have been doing.
00:26:10 So then there is not a cookie-cutter approach. It's really to tailor the training, the programs,
00:26:19 after what the community suggests or desires or what is needed, what the demand is.
00:26:27 Correct. It is where the demand is in the economy, in the various industries, where we recognize
00:26:33 there is a shortfall, we are training towards filling that gap.
00:26:36 So for instance, our agricultural programs, we understand that we have an aging farmer population,
00:26:42 so that bearing that in mind, all the statistics point to that, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, by the way.
00:26:48 And therefore, when we say we are going to put 1,500 new farmers out there by 2025, it is in response to a need that exists.
00:26:58 And when we say, for instance, that we are training persons in heavy equipment operation to operate bulldozers
00:27:07 and trucks and barcodes and excavators, etc., it is in preparation for the robust expansion of work in the construction sector
00:27:19 that we have to make sure that we have persons to fill that gap.
00:27:24 So we are not just training because we want to boast that we are training. We are training to fill specific needs within the economy.
00:27:32 But how? Because you are saying that you have a situation where you all would visit the communities.
00:27:40 But in addition to that, if there are communities that feel that there is a demand for a certain type of program,
00:27:51 how do they relay that information if your officials have not visited them?
00:27:56 How does that community relay that information to the ministry?
00:28:01 You can do that through our network of youth development officers that we have throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
00:28:07 We have sub-officers throughout the country, and our youth officers conduct that sort of extension work
00:28:13 through existing youth groups and youth organizations.
00:28:16 The Police Youth Club in particular is one that we collaborate with on a very regular basis.
00:28:21 So we have ways and means of getting the data back to center.
00:28:25 And now we also have the ministry's website, www.mydns.com, and you can go on there and as well interact with us and share information with us.
00:28:35 Apart from that, we have our several stakeholders and partners that we collaborate with and have discussions with on a regular basis,
00:28:41 and that feeds us a lot of information that we require in terms of our overall--
00:28:47 And are all of these services and programs free?
00:28:50 Every single one. There is no cost. There is no cost, because we don't want--
00:28:57 when we go into communities where people do not even have the-- or where at all to travel to a particular place to get training,
00:29:05 we understand we have to take the training to them. So that we recently went into the--
00:29:11 we launched a talk-to-talk program, and we went into the community of CILOTs.
00:29:18 And I was amazed to see the young men who, when we went into the community, they were just liming on the block and so forth.
00:29:26 And they came in and sat down and chatted with us, put on our t-shirt, and listened to what we had to say,
00:29:39 but as well made their contribution as a coming out of that.
00:29:43 What we have determined is that in the CILOTs area, there's a community center that has been built that is available to us,
00:29:51 and we are going to go into that community and execute programs within the community.
00:29:57 So those guys from CILOTs, those young women, young men, do not need to leave the community to go anywhere.
00:30:03 We are going to take some of our training programs to them in conjunction with Y-TEP and MIC, Barbarin, Niel Tech, etc.,
00:30:12 and give them the opportunity to start to earn a decent income.
00:30:17 Yeah. Minister, anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
00:30:20 Well, I would just like to say, Marlon, that I want to encourage all our young people that your development starts with you.
00:30:27 You must have within you some desire to expand and achieve your full potential.
00:30:35 We, as a government, we are going to give you that opportunity and that support.
00:30:40 Reach out to us. We are going to support you.
00:30:42 We have a wide range of programs, training programs, mentorship programs.
00:30:48 Look out for the coming of the youth camps, for the residential training, our youth development centers, for the non-residential training.
00:30:56 There is going to be no excuse where there's going to be a young person who wants to get involved with something productive,
00:31:04 and they will not have the opportunity to do so. We are going to hold your hand.
00:31:09 Minister, just to repeat for our viewers out there, read the micro and small business grant.
00:31:17 Where can they get information again?
00:31:19 So, for this grant, which is to support business persons, persons interested in accessing the $20,000 grant,
00:31:26 you can log on to www.msbgrant.com,
00:31:34 and you will find a link there to take you through the stages of application,
00:31:38 and the NETCO officials will be in touch with you to assist you in finalizing your application and the training that follows.
00:31:46 We look forward to all persons who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs taking advantage of this government initiative.
00:31:52 Yeah. Minister, it was a pleasure speaking with you, and thank you very much for coming this morning
00:31:56 and sharing this suite of opportunities, if I can put it that way, with our viewers.
00:32:01 Thank you very much again.
00:32:02 Thank you so much for having me, Mal and I did promise on the last occasion that I'm available to come and share information with you.
00:32:06 Thank you. Thank you again, Minister.
00:32:07 All right, we are going to a very quick break. We are coming back.
00:32:10 [Music]
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00:33:24 Huntin' 93 and JMMB Bank are ready to burn.
00:33:30 We're back at the spacious Movietown car park in Port of Spain every Tuesday and Thursday at 4pm.
00:33:36 It's back, Carnival Burn!
00:33:39 (music)
00:33:43 Six days of real endurance and fitness from the fun and experienced instructors.
00:33:48 (music)
00:33:52 And all hosted by the awesome Hot 93 DJs and personalities.
00:33:56 Walk with your team and come sweat and vibe with us.
00:34:01 (music)
00:34:11 No, son, no!
00:34:13 (music)
00:34:16 No!
00:34:17 (music)
00:34:19 (thud)
00:34:20 (music)
00:34:28 (crying)
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00:34:45 (music)
00:35:11 Welcome back everyone. It's time for our weekly business breakfast segment with multimedia business editor, Joel Julian.
00:35:18 Joel, thank you very much for coming again.
00:35:20 Thank you very much for having me, Marlon.
00:35:22 Of course. We're speaking about this this morning.
00:35:25 Yes.
00:35:26 Beautiful picture there, Joel. I guess the focus this week is on Carnival, right?
00:35:31 Yeah, well, you know, we're in the season. The Feds are heating up. All the events are heating up.
00:35:37 So what we decided to do, you know, in terms of our conversation last time, you know, we believe that there's business in everything.
00:35:43 I think this is a sort of example of that.
00:35:46 So Carnival, we know Feds, you know, we saw the transition from cooler Feds into like the all inclusive model.
00:35:56 So Trinidadians, you go to a Feds, you have the best food, drinks, music is perfect.
00:36:04 So what we found out is that if you go to Feds now, one of the main priorities is the aesthetics of it.
00:36:11 So you see the beautiful decor, you see the stage set up. So from our cover, that was the experience Feds.
00:36:17 And you see in this head on the stage.
00:36:21 But so we decided to delve into like this has not always been the case.
00:36:25 Where did it start from? You know, why is it something that is integrated now as part of our culture?
00:36:30 So it began in 2019. You would have gone to the CIC Feds this year.
00:36:35 And I'm sure you would have seen the beautiful decor that accompanied everything.
00:36:39 I think it's one of the things that people look forward to. So in 2019, when they had the Feds with the Saints,
00:36:45 there's a gentleman called Ben Geyer, fantastic sculptor.
00:36:49 And the Old Boys Association from St. Mary's decided to hire him to do their decor.
00:36:55 And people were blown away by it. I remember in 2019 on social media,
00:36:59 you're seeing people talk about when they're walking into the Feds,
00:37:03 you're like you're walking like if you're walking into the aquarium itself and so on.
00:37:07 So after that, other Feds promoters said, hey, we we have all these other elements.
00:37:14 Why not incorporate the aesthetic, aesthetically pleasing element to add to the experience?
00:37:21 So our conversation today really looks at that decor and the inclusion of decor into Feds.
00:37:27 So we speak to Mr. Ben Geyer, who I want to say is the person who really started the movement.
00:37:33 And we have also spoken to Mr. Sheldon Stephen from the Lollaby Group, which we some of us may have known from Lollaby Cellular.
00:37:41 So they are also incorporated. They are the ones who did the experience Feds.
00:37:45 So we're seeing a whole movement and we're seeing an industry being created within our cultural space.
00:37:53 And, you know, Mr. Geyer was saying this could only help propel our product because Carnival is a product
00:38:00 and it could only help propel our product in terms of when tourists come in, they have a full experience.
00:38:05 And there's also job creation and so forth. So that's our lead story.
00:38:09 So you feel that. But do people care, you think, the patron?
00:38:15 I think you want the experience, you know, because like we were speaking about the pan semis of it, you know,
00:38:24 before pan semis was you just buy a little one ticket, two tickets, you and your partner, you and your significant other go and enjoy it.
00:38:31 But now that has also transitioned. We're seeing more corporate entities going so that when you go to the pan semis,
00:38:40 you don't have to go in this note stand, you don't have to walk up the stairs, walk down the stairs, go by the bar,
00:38:45 walk up the stairs, walk down the stairs, go and buy a little fries.
00:38:48 You know, now the corporate entities are making this an experience.
00:38:53 So you have your food there, you have your drinks available. So I think that it is part of the experience.
00:38:59 So unfortunately or fortunately, Fetting has also changed a little bit where like back in my day, you go to get sweaty,
00:39:08 you go to a party to get sweaty, but now more people are looking for the social media.
00:39:13 And they're on the phone and they're taking selfies and they're taking the video.
00:39:16 So then a beautiful background, a statically pleasing environment will help them in terms of that promotion and that perfect Instagram photo and so on.
00:39:26 So I think, yes, I think that it.
00:39:28 And to answer my question, I think that people do care because I think that our behavior when it comes to Fetting in certain environments, we we kind of adapt.
00:39:43 Yes. So if we're talking about the big, all inclusive Fetts, it's not really a Fett to, as you say, go and get sweaty.
00:39:52 It is to pose and take pictures. And so but if you go to other Fetts, the sweaty Fetts.
00:39:59 Yeah, I'm not going to call you. Yeah. But but so so we kind of adapt.
00:40:06 But I think that that you are right, that that this decor, it's it's something that that patron is very, very much interested in.
00:40:20 Also, I think that what we are seeing at these big Fetts with the decor, the beautiful, expensive looking decor, I see it as really as a progression as to what is happening in the carnival.
00:40:37 Because when we were younger, but you remember that even at Skinner Park, you would have this tent, a stage and a normal tent, white tent.
00:40:54 Now things have changed and you have this grand infrastructure and the lighting and the sound and it's all a part of a big production now.
00:41:05 So I suspect what I'm saying, it's it's it all it can really do is to help the carnival.
00:41:10 Yeah, agreed. And so, you know, there was a time where climbing, climbing a speaker box, climbing the truss was part of it.
00:41:19 But now, you know, there are other elements. So I think it, as you rightfully said, I think it is a progression.
00:41:25 And one, it helps in terms of employment. It helps in terms of skills. So we'll see where it goes.
00:41:31 Yeah. Now, it is a very short carnival season, just a week again before the big two days.
00:41:40 Have you all been seeing anything different about this carnival?
00:41:45 I've been hearing people saying, well, it started off a little bit slow and maybe it was because of of the Christmas season into January and people didn't get their funds yet, their salaries and so on yet.
00:42:03 Have you all seen I don't know if you would have noticed, but have you all seen people going out there and spending more and doing more things and attending the fest?
00:42:14 What have you all been seeing?
00:42:16 The interesting thing is that when you have a short season, there are so many competing interests.
00:42:21 And you know, well, January, that month of January, sometimes not the period where people have a lot of disposable income.
00:42:29 So what we have been seeing is that the fest that hit have been hitting, but they're also competing interests.
00:42:36 So you will have the NCC hosted something called the John Cupid Carnival Village.
00:42:43 And what they did is it was free. So, you know, you'll also pull a crowd and they were making numbers during the night.
00:42:51 So I think that there are some events that have hit and there are some events that have unfortunately taken a hit because of the shortened season where people now have to determine with this scarce resources.
00:43:05 Where do I place my scarce resources?
00:43:08 But, you know, in terms of like hotel accommodation and stuff like that, this has been sold out long time.
00:43:14 I think that even when you're trying to prepare for 2025 carnival, you might be people trying to do bookings and stuff like that might already begin difficulties.
00:43:22 Yeah. So the shortened season, I think, please has a huge impact in terms of what is going on now.
00:43:29 And we'll see how it goes because we have like a week or so left before the action really starts.
00:43:35 All right. So let's it's not only carnival, not only in the express business.
00:43:43 You all would have done a story on migrants still being paid less than the minimum wage.
00:43:50 So this, as you know, Marlon, when the year started, one of the things that people were looking forward to is the increase in minimum wage from 17.50 to 20 dollars and 50 cents.
00:44:02 Since then, well, that increase in minimum wage will impact businesses because there's additional costs that they have on a budget.
00:44:12 Unfortunately, because our migrant population sometimes is a vulnerable population because some of them may not be properly registered, etc.
00:44:25 And as a result of that, being a vulnerable segment within our population, people take advantage.
00:44:33 So what we did is we looked, we had a conversation with the principals of the La Casita Hispanic Cultural Center.
00:44:40 I don't want to butcher her name, so I would not try to pronounce it.
00:44:44 So but she was saying that some of the persons that she would have spoken to, because what they do is that they offer assistance to the migrant population.
00:44:53 Is that some of them are saying that they still not even receiving the 17.50, you know, in terms of their payment.
00:45:00 No, the minimum wage has increased. They still not receiving what was the previous minimum wage.
00:45:06 And the unfortunate thing in a situation like that is the fear of victimization, the fear trying to because the Ministry of Labor gives you avenues to report unfair treatment.
00:45:19 And they are fearing that, you know, in in trying to report that unfair treatment, they will be eventually victimized.
00:45:25 And I said in some cases, some of them are here illegally and are not properly registered.
00:45:31 So it's like, what do you do in a situation like that?
00:45:34 And I just wanted to highlight it because the increase in minimum wages are one of the things that we as a population would have looked forward to for 2024.
00:45:42 And we're just looking at the impact in different different ways.
00:45:45 And there are avenues by which members of the migrant population can report these transgressions, as it were, by their employers.
00:45:58 All right. Another story. I think that we did touch on this last week. Green transition through government and private sector urged.
00:46:06 Yeah. So last week, one of the main events that took place was the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference held by the well hosted by the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:46:15 And within that conference, there were several panel discussions.
00:46:20 And one of the panel discussions that we focused on was the whole conversation of the green transition, because, as you know, the use of fossil fuels is being frowned upon because of its impact, its negative impact to the climate, etc.
00:46:35 So it's just that in Trinidad and Tobago, we have benefited from our oil and gas industry.
00:46:41 So I would suggest how do we transition? Because Prime Minister Dr. Keith Raleigh would have mentioned that, yes, it is nice to transition.
00:46:49 Yes, it is necessary to transition. But with that comes a cost and an exorbitant cost.
00:46:55 So one of the conversations that was coming out from the Energy Chamber, the Energy Conference, sorry, is Robert LeHunt, who was a former cabinet member here.
00:47:05 He's the executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank. And he's saying that while it would be expensive for an exorbitant cost for government, the state, why not have that conversation and collaborate with the private sector?
00:47:17 Because the private sector has access to funding and so on.
00:47:21 So just how do we get to where we would like to go? And the only way to really do that is collaborate.
00:47:28 So the conversation is not like a proper partnership, it's not only expecting one to do the heavy lifting, but we come in together and see how we can get to where we would like to be.
00:47:38 Yeah, so I suspect they're going to have to strike the right balance.
00:47:43 Yes.
00:47:44 Tell us about this story here. Sunlight for natural gas.
00:47:49 So this is one of our guest columnists, Dr Curtis Budu. And Dr Curtis Budu, what we try to do at the Express Business is we don't want business or even the magazine to just be like a niche group.
00:48:04 So we open, we allow guest columnists and Dr Budu is one of our guest columnists and he's an expert.
00:48:11 So he's just basically analysing the whole situation of natural gas because natural gas has been seen as the sort of driver between fossil fuels to the green transition.
00:48:23 That little driver that will get us where we need to be.
00:48:26 So we're just looking at natural gas and how it benefits and the impact that it has on Trinidad and Tobago in terms of revenue generation and so on.
00:48:36 So it's a good read, it's a good analysis of the energy, the national gas space and the industry within itself.
00:48:43 Yeah. And a topic that I have spoken about in the past, not with you, but I have spoken about it.
00:48:51 And it's a topic that I'm very interested in and also excited about.
00:48:56 You all have a story today driving a secure cashless ecosystem in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:49:03 So, you know, that is a conversation that has been taking place.
00:49:08 Unfortunately, that has gotten us sort of hit because of the different hacking incidents.
00:49:14 Right. Cyber attacks.
00:49:15 Cyber attacks. You know, so sometimes people we know is one of those things where we know where we would like to be.
00:49:22 Cashless is the way to go. But how do you ensure that people feel safe?
00:49:29 Because to be honest, I would still prefer to go and line up in the bank as opposed to you go to the ATM and so on.
00:49:38 Yes. But the reality is that these things, these transitions, these improvements are something, are things that are needed.
00:49:45 And it's just how do we get to that cashless society that we understand is necessary.
00:49:51 And in this week's magazine, we have Visa.
00:49:56 So Visa is talking about the benefits of the cashless society.
00:49:59 And how do we get to where we want to be in terms of implementing it and effecting it?
00:50:05 Yeah. I think that we do still have a culture in Trinidad and Tobago where we want to feel the money.
00:50:11 Yeah. We want to feel that. And that's why so many people are still going to the banks and so on.
00:50:17 But I think. Sorry to cut you a moment.
00:50:19 But the interesting is that we have Mr. Abud. Yes. From Model Life. Yes.
00:50:26 Talking about increasing in counterfeit. Right.
00:50:29 So, yeah. So it's like one of those situations where you're rightfully say we as Trinidadians, we love to feel our 20 in our pocket.
00:50:36 You know, you feel that you have the cash.
00:50:38 So while cashless has its issues in terms of the cyber attacks and so on.
00:50:46 And I feel like I want to see my cash. There are still people who take advantage of that.
00:50:51 Because especially now, this carnival time, I was talking to a taxi driver who was saying it was after one of those events around the Savannah.
00:51:00 Yes. A guy came into his taxi. So drive. You have a change for 100.
00:51:04 This is like about 10 o'clock in the night. You know, so it's not too late, but it's not too early.
00:51:09 And the driver was driving from. So he's passing the Savannah heading into the downtown Portisby. Right.
00:51:15 And the guy in the back of the taxi, just the two of them, he's feeling the money.
00:51:21 He said something about it just didn't feel right. Right. Right.
00:51:24 He's looking at the money. You know, I have time. I just get a little upset.
00:51:27 Like you go by fast food outlet and you see them watching it. Yes.
00:51:31 It feels a little bit disrespected. So he was he was doing that.
00:51:35 He was looking at this in the light. And what he realized after like a two minute inspection,
00:51:42 while the guy is in the car is everything about this bill says one hundred dollars,
00:51:48 except that instead of one zero zero, it have one.
00:51:52 So like they would have washed a dollar, a regular dollar bill, a red note, washed it,
00:51:57 did what they had to do and have this thing looking like a hundred dollar bill.
00:52:01 So it's situations like that. You know, now is the time where a lot of cash is passing hands.
00:52:06 Because you go by the Savannah for Panorama semis, you're going to buy a beer.
00:52:13 Yeah. You know, I'm going to put out the ATM card because you don't have that access.
00:52:17 You don't have any other thing. So, you know, it's cash.
00:52:19 And so it's one of the issues in terms of that whole cash, cashless conversation
00:52:25 and the dangers of both. And how do we really get to where we want to be?
00:52:31 Yeah. But I see that the wheels are turning towards it. Yeah.
00:52:36 Joel, we just have a few, maybe about one minute again, you know, again to our viewers.
00:52:42 We have been discussing the express business. Yeah.
00:52:47 Anything else you'd like to tell us, Joel, before you leave us today?
00:52:51 Well, first of all, I really appreciate this opportunity for us to speak on the magazine.
00:52:56 One of the stories that I also found interesting within the magazine is T.T. Post.
00:53:01 So T.T. Post is trying to do this digital transformation.
00:53:05 And the story is T.T. Post being a sleeping giant. And that's basically what it has been.
00:53:12 You know, because T.T. Post has information is key in this time.
00:53:16 You know, we see all these big data companies do all kinds of things to get information, your data.
00:53:22 And T.T. Post has that sort of access in terms of they know where Marlon Hopkins and live in because of the delivery.
00:53:28 They do? They do. You know, so just like how do they use the information that can help the organization also benefit.
00:53:36 And they're trying to get into like exporting and e-commerce.
00:53:40 So honestly, it's one of those entities that I would like to see really get to where they want to be and really become what they can.
00:53:50 So that was also an interesting read. But more importantly, I really appreciate the opportunity.
00:53:55 Of course, man. Of course. All of that in the Express business today. All right.
00:53:59 So please get a copy. So, Joel, we'll see you right back here next week.
00:54:04 It's a week before Carnival, you know. Yeah, I'm coming in my costume.
00:54:10 All right, Joel. Next week, we are going to a very short break. We're coming back, everybody.
00:54:14 This brings to you.
00:54:27 We said twenty twenty four Friday, February 2nd Festival Capital, Queen's Park, Savannah, the Asylum Vikings with Bungee Garland and Fe and Lion.
00:54:40 Patrice Roberts, Lyrical Nila Blackburn, Chester, a full band, Natty, a.
00:55:00 NG, former Nappy, Macau, Tasia, Waddix, Neutron, the safest bet just got safer with and cash.
00:55:10 Army twenty twenty four is powered by Guinness and fuel by Be Mobile.
00:55:15 Lights on Magnum tonic wine, a man's beer, blue waters and forest park punching your stripes.
00:55:24 Bigger than Army fat plumbing problems. Don't guess.
00:55:30 Call Plumbing Solutions at six to eight for six for six.
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00:55:38 We do it all maintenance and repairs.
00:55:42 New construction, sewer lines, inspection, drain cleaning, leak detection.
00:55:50 We are licensed and insured. So call Plumbing Solutions at six to eight for six for six.
00:55:57 I grew up in a country small little town called Malatras and Santa Cruz.
00:56:03 Very special place to grow up in.
00:56:06 And now as an adult, I think of those children in Trinidad to be who do not have a safe place, who are maybe not even lying in their own beds or a bed.
00:56:18 And there's no roof to shade them from the sun, nor to protect them from the rain.
00:56:25 When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity, Trinidad and Tobago, they answered a call I have deep inside of me.
00:56:33 What they were saying to me was that we can make a difference.
00:56:38 I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board, consider helping Habitat for Humanity in whatever way you can.
00:56:46 [Music]
00:56:56 [Music]
00:57:02 Good morning. I am Ansel Gibbs with a news update.
00:57:07 The people of this country are being urged to do more introspection to help curb crime in TNT.
00:57:14 We know that crime is big up on top, you know. But we want to let you know the first place is to start is in the family.
00:57:20 The first thing to do is to start with yourself. And that's what we want to do.
00:57:24 We want to tell we, we need to change too. We need to change.
00:57:28 Because if we change, we can't get nobody to move the cocaine.
00:57:31 If we change, we can't get nobody to move the weed.
00:57:34 If they move weed, we can't get nobody to do no killing for them.
00:57:37 The results of the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index are out.
00:57:42 In 2023, for the second consecutive year, Trinidad and Tobago's CPI score is 42.
00:57:51 Considering 50 as the past grade out of 100, we need to do much better.
00:57:58 Greater effort is needed for us to combat the perception of corruption in this country.
00:58:04 And in the weather forecast, a significant layer of Saharan dust haze will likely reduce visibility across the marine area and to some extent across the islands.
00:58:18 This will promote dull, hazy and at times breezy conditions, despite the low chance of the odd isolated shower.
00:58:27 Residents, visitors and marine users should ensure they monitor the situation and have plans ready in case of a medical emergency due to respiratory issues related to the dust haze.
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00:59:10 Revitalize your liver today.
00:59:12 Get it now at leading pharmacies nationwide.
00:59:16 Guinness brings to you Army Fed 2024.
00:59:21 Friday, February 2nd, Festival Capital, Queens Park, Savannah.
00:59:25 The Asylum Vikings with Bungee Garland and Fe and Lyons.
00:59:29 [music]
00:59:58 Many more.
00:59:59 The safest Fed just got safer with end cash.
01:00:03 Army 2024 is powered by Guinness.
01:00:06 And fuel by B-Mobile. Life is on.
01:00:08 Magnum Tonic Wine.
01:00:10 Stag, a man's beer.
01:00:11 Blue Waters.
01:00:12 And Forest Park Punching.
01:00:13 Oonya Stripes.
01:00:15 There's no Fed safer.
01:00:16 Sweeter.
01:00:17 Bigger than Army Fed.
01:00:19 I grew up in a country, small little town called Jumalatres in Santa Cruz.
01:00:25 Very special place to grow up in.
01:00:28 And now as an adult, I think of those children in Trinidad and Tobago who do not have a safe place.
01:00:36 Who are maybe not even lying in their own beds or a bed.
01:00:40 And there's no roof to shade them from the sun, nor to protect them from the rain.
01:00:46 When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago, they answered a call I have deep inside of me.
01:00:55 What they were saying to me was that we can make a difference.
01:01:00 I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board.
01:01:04 Consider helping Habitat for Humanity in whatever way you can.
01:01:08 [Music]
01:01:19 [Music]
01:01:28 [Music]
01:01:56 Alright, so welcome back everyone.
01:01:57 So we do have a lot more for you on the program this morning.
01:02:01 But let me just touch on a story, one particular story I'd like to tell you about.
01:02:06 So the U.S. reimposes sanctions on Venezuela.
01:02:11 The United States has reimposed sanctions on Venezuela following a ruling by the Venezuelan Supreme Court
01:02:18 to uphold a 15-year ban on Maine opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado from the presidential election schedule for this year.
01:02:28 And of course, when we see this happening, we're thinking what impact it is going to have on the Dragon Gas deal, right?
01:02:36 Okay, so things sticky.
01:02:39 Alright, so we do and we are going to be discussing now the St. James Traditional Mass Committee
01:02:47 in conjunction with the St. James Police Youth Club Project XL will be once again hosting its traditional mass competition.
01:02:55 So to tell us more about it is Derek Shabady, Vice Chairman and newly appointed Treasurer of the St. James Traditional Mass Committee.
01:03:05 Mr. Shabady, good morning.
01:03:07 Morning, good morning, Father Marlon. I almost said good evening to you and Mr. Alexander.
01:03:13 I took notes.
01:03:17 Yeah, Mr. Shabady, well I didn't know that you had a love for the mass.
01:03:22 I'm seeing that you're a treasurer of the committee.
01:03:25 What's in store this year for Mass in St. James?
01:03:29 Well, St. James Traditional Mass Committee is celebrating their 24th anniversary.
01:03:35 So you can appreciate the fact that they are putting traditional mass at home.
01:03:41 And you cannot celebrate Cannibal without its historical content.
01:03:45 And the traditional mass provides you with the history and how it started.
01:03:52 And we are so warmly to appreciate our traditional mass and what it was offering.
01:03:57 So this year, Tony, Ariel and from the Pro Team, just today at 7pm at the St. James Amphitheater,
01:04:06 will come alive in terms of a number of different characters.
01:04:11 You have the usual local tramps, the devil, the fancy carers, the dolls, the midnight robber, the gorilla bat, the oxy, the fancy Indian.
01:04:24 And so many different characters will be coming to display and just interact.
01:04:30 It's just a beautiful environment where people can appreciate the traditional mass and the character and what it offers.
01:04:39 And more than that, we intend to ensure that the young people are the beneficiaries of the traditional mass this year from the 24th.
01:04:48 Yeah. And you're saying, because we have been getting some audio issues as it relates to hearing you,
01:04:58 but you're saying this all happens this evening at 7 o'clock at the amphitheater?
01:05:05 Yes, at the St. James Amphitheater.
01:05:08 7pm and it will end around 9.50pm. We have to talk to the judges, who will decide when the final show comes.
01:05:22 Alright. I heard you speak about judges. It's a competition?
01:05:27 Oh yeah. It will be a different category.
01:05:33 Alright, studio. I'm having some great difficulty in hearing Mr. Shabadi.
01:05:39 Mr. Shabadi, I'm going to try again. We are having some problems in hearing you.
01:05:45 Is it too late for people to register? Can people still register?
01:05:51 Yes, registration is at the centre. People can register at the centre where you can throw the day.
01:06:06 You can file the competition and register.
01:06:12 Alright, Mr. Shabadi. We are trying to correct this audio issue that we do have.
01:06:21 So let's go to a very short break and we'll be back. We're coming back everybody.
01:06:26 [Music]
01:06:43 The 2024 dry season is upon us.
01:06:46 And with that expectation, harsh dry conditions and in the face of rising global temperatures, we must all do our part to conserve our water use.
01:06:56 At the Water and Sewage Authority, we applaud the efforts made by citizens in 2023 to conserve water and value every drop.
01:07:04 How can you get involved?
01:07:06 By employing simple water conservation techniques at home.
01:07:09 Here are some tips.
01:07:12 Close the tap when brushing your teeth and washing dishes.
01:07:15 Use a bucket instead of a hose when washing your vehicles and driveways.
01:07:19 Repair leaks in toilets and overflowing water tanks.
01:07:23 Use your washing machine for full loads only.
01:07:26 Also, use the #ValueEveryDrop hashtag in your social media posts showing how you conserve our precious resource.
01:07:35 Join the movement as we value every drop.
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01:09:23 Alright everyone, so welcome back.
01:09:25 We are continuing our discussion about the St. James Traditional Mass Competition.
01:09:30 We do have on the line Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the St. James Traditional Mass Committee, Mr. Derek Sharbody.
01:09:41 Mr. Sharbody, let's try again. Let's see if we have you and that we're hearing you clearly.
01:09:46 Good morning again, sir.
01:09:48 Good morning.
01:09:50 Alright.
01:09:51 My audio is coming across.
01:09:53 Well, we're trying. We're trying. You know how things go sometimes.
01:09:57 Alright, so Mr. Sharbody, let's continue our discussion concerning this mass competition.
01:10:04 Of course, people still have the opportunity to register. Is there a fee?
01:10:09 Actually, there is no fee. You are required to work with some form of ID and by extension name the particular character that you will be presenting this evening at the event.
01:10:30 Yeah. I was speaking about a registration fee.
01:10:35 No, there's no fee.
01:10:37 There's no registration fee.
01:10:39 And this competition is free also to members of the public.
01:10:44 That's right. Members of the public are invited. It's free, free, free.
01:10:49 And there is no pay for it. There is no special fee. People can just come and enjoy. It's a wonderful event.
01:10:59 Yeah. Do you have prizes for the competitors? And if so, what are some of the prizes?
01:11:07 Yes, we have the prizes. Very colorful prizes.
01:11:14 Mr. Chairman of the area will be advertising, promoting on Adidas.
01:11:25 We look at it as if we see it as part of our hearts.
01:11:30 So we will be presenting some of the prizes, but rest assured, everybody will be getting a prize for their participation.
01:11:40 All right. Mr. Sharbody, let's repeat for some of our viewers where the event is being held again.
01:11:53 It will be held in James Amphitheater, West St. Lawrence.
01:12:00 Right next to it is James Police Station.
01:12:03 We want to thank Mr. Batson and Senior Superintendent Henry, who have supported us and will be providing support.
01:12:14 There will be no recce. People can park. No indiscriminate parking, of course.
01:12:19 So that's what we have made available.
01:12:23 Yeah, Mr. Sharbody has made reservations for some of you. You hear what the gentleman said. There will be no recce.
01:12:30 But of course, there are going to be some restrictions, traffic restrictions in St. James, right?
01:12:39 That's right. And parking will be available within the West St. Lawrence area.
01:12:50 All right. Yeah. Okay. So, Mr. Sharbody, we're still having some difficulty, but anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:13:03 Yes, and I want to thank St. Jamie on Sunday. Also, we have a recce coming out at 1.30am.
01:13:16 And we'll be giving a platform for all the recce families.
01:13:20 There's a staff battle plan that's coming out, and we would like to invite members of the public to support our recce families via this Sunday.
01:13:30 So, we're very much supported by St. James Recreation and Community Self-Protection.
01:13:36 Yeah. Derek Sharbody, it's always a pleasure speaking with you, sir.
01:13:40 And thank you very much for your contribution to communities all over Trinidad and Tobago, and particularly St. James.
01:13:49 We thank you very much for speaking with us this morning, sir. And Happy New Year.
01:13:53 Yeah. Bye for now.
01:13:56 Yeah. So, the event, the St. James Traditional Mass Competition, is going to be held at 7 o'clock this evening at the Amphitheatre in St. James.
01:14:07 Of course, Officer Sharbody said that there will be no recceing, but he has asked you all not to park indiscriminately.
01:14:16 And of course, we are going to have some traffic restrictions heading down into St. James this evening.
01:14:24 Also, on Sunday, the St. James Committee is also having the Children's Carnival Parade also.
01:14:35 And that is to begin, I believe, at 1.30? 1 o'clock.
01:14:40 1 o'clock. Yeah? Alright, Mr. Sharbody, as always, thank you very much. Thanks again.
01:14:46 Blessings to you.
01:14:48 Alright. So, we are going to a very short break. We are coming back, everyone.
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01:15:28 For two nights of sensational sweet Soka music.
01:15:32 This Wednesday, bring your girls' line to Sapa San Fernando to support your favorite Soka queen.
01:15:38 And the very next day, Thursday, 1st February, Napa, Port of Spain, will be a movie.
01:15:44 Supporting the queens is Prince Olatunji and Prince Mikhail Teja.
01:15:50 Tickets are 300 and 250 if they last.
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01:17:32 [Music]
01:17:55 Welcome back, everyone.
01:17:57 Remember recently there was a case study of Trinidad and Tobago done on the direct economic cost of traffic in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:18:09 And it was done by ECLAC Caribbean.
01:18:12 And some of the information is that the direct economic cost of traffic in Trinidad and Tobago is an estimated TT $2.26 billion per year.
01:18:23 That's 1.37% of the GDP with the average commuter spending an average of 793 hours cumulatively, 33 days, one month of the year in traffic delays.
01:18:40 Now, these are two of the main findings of this study assessment of the economic costs of vehicle traffic congestion in the Caribbean.
01:18:48 As I said, it's a case study of Trinidad and Tobago produced by ECLAC Caribbean.
01:18:53 We do have in studio this morning lead researcher and author of the study and economic affairs officer at ECLAC Caribbean, Mr. Willard Phillips.
01:19:04 Mr. Phillips, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:19:07 Thanks for having me.
01:19:08 Yeah.
01:19:09 Well, I touched on two of the main findings in this report, Mr. Phillips.
01:19:15 What are some of the other findings in this report?
01:19:19 Well, apart from the big numbers, which apparently got a lot of attention, we made some observations which perhaps we think would not have been as well known.
01:19:31 Weekend traffic, for instance, Saturdays we noted as a fairly heavy traffic day, notwithstanding that it's not the same as perhaps during weekdays.
01:19:42 The spatial analysis part of the report, and we did that, showed that the central region of the island of Trinidad, Chagonas, and its related hinterland suburbs,
01:19:58 perhaps have the highest intensity of traffic on the island.
01:20:05 In the case of Tobago, notwithstanding that we know, we think that Tobago doesn't have the same level of traffic congestion as there's Trinidad,
01:20:15 but it is also a growing problem in Tobago and the southwest and in some of the suburban parts around Scarborough.
01:20:24 We found that there's a significant amount of traffic there.
01:20:29 We also looked at some of the social elements as reported by our respondents, and indeed it's well known that traffic congestion is a major stressor, yes,
01:20:43 but the quantum of funds that are spent by individuals to mitigate or to avert or to treat with traffic, we also thought was quite significant.
01:20:54 That's about some of the other elements we think bear noticing and commenting on in this study.
01:21:01 Yeah. You spoke about central. What is the reason for this?
01:21:06 Is it because of, let's say, more people have gravitated towards central housing developments?
01:21:17 Residents have more vehicles in central, an explosion in economic activity?
01:21:25 Well, it is perhaps all of that, and notwithstanding that we're pointing to the extra intensity of traffic in central,
01:21:41 those issues that you describe or point to are really common for the whole country.
01:21:48 Trinidad and Tobago, as a part of the Caribbean region and the LAC region for that matter,
01:21:53 is in a region that is among the highest in terms of rates of urbanization and motorization.
01:22:02 So although we see as the highest intensity that situation in central Trinidad,
01:22:09 but I think it's true to see that those elements manifest themselves right through the islands.
01:22:16 Yeah. But why was there a reason to do this study?
01:22:20 Okay. What happened is this particular work continues some work we began,
01:22:26 this was at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean about two years ago,
01:22:31 where we started to inquire, to examine the question of sustainable land transportation in small island developing states.
01:22:42 Now, I think it's true to see that most people assume once you're on an island,
01:22:46 a small island at that is not obvious, evident that you should be seeing this kind of traffic.
01:22:53 And our work in terms of scoping the global set up, we saw that this is an area of work that was not well done for the Caribbean.
01:23:07 Typically, when this kind of work is done, even for the Latin America and the Caribbean,
01:23:14 it doesn't give us much of focus on the islands.
01:23:17 And so we thought this was a gap of research that we needed to fill.
01:23:21 We set about doing this in 2022 when we looked at policy issues and emerging from that set of work,
01:23:30 we noted the question of traffic congestion and so we opted to do this.
01:23:35 Let me take the opportunity to say that although this is a case study for Trinidad and Tobago,
01:23:41 as a regional commission, our work typically gives focus to the region.
01:23:49 And our intention at the beginning was to do several countries.
01:23:53 It just happened that in 2023, a number of circumstances mitigated us doing more than one country at a time.
01:24:02 And so we began the work here in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:24:05 We expect, we hope, subject to resources, of course, that we would do other countries thereafter.
01:24:12 Yeah. Mr. Phillips, this was a good place to start, where sometimes one vehicle can shut down the entire country.
01:24:19 So the problem of traffic congestion has become a major challenge among Caribbean small island developing states,
01:24:25 especially in the context of the subregions growing urbanization and increasing levels of motorization over the past three decades.
01:24:32 The study notes that the road network in TNT evolved in the manner typical of SIDs,
01:24:38 with limited land resources, economies of scale, and hilly topography limiting options for expanding road infrastructure.
01:24:48 And I think that's a telling finding there.
01:24:52 Well, I mean, it is actually not easy to build and expand road networks in small territories like we do have hilly terrain.
01:25:04 I think it's more costly, it's difficult, it's a little more challenging.
01:25:13 And the evidence suggests that with the rapid urbanization and motorization we've had,
01:25:21 and the Caribbean, by the way, is among the higher measures of levels of motorization,
01:25:31 I think you know 30 years ago or thereabouts the region started to have this thing we call roll on, roll off.
01:25:40 And that led to an explosion of the availability of an access to personally owned vehicles.
01:25:50 And the evidence suggests that several regional governments have struggled to keep pace with the development necessary for that level of motorization.
01:26:04 Yeah. Now the study also notes that population growth and urban expansion outpaced the development of road networks.
01:26:12 Additionally, the high per capita car ownership of 0.5 vehicles per person is contributing to the intense traffic congestion and long commutes.
01:26:24 So is it then that there has to be monitoring of this situation, a cutting down of the amount of vehicles that we are allowing into Trinidad and Tobago?
01:26:42 That's, on the face of it, that would appear to be one of the strategies that could be adopted.
01:26:50 I mean, governments have their own reasons why they would adopt certain policies.
01:26:58 Of course.
01:26:59 But alongside that issue, we've identified strategies, for example, to expand public transportation systems.
01:27:13 We think that can help.
01:27:16 We've also identified the question of, especially given the post pandemic experience or the pandemic experience,
01:27:25 how we might enhance teleworking, telecommuting so as to reduce the need for all of our labor force to be commuting on a daily basis.
01:27:41 We also think that overall strategies to reduce travel demand.
01:27:50 I mean, it's been shown in many places that even if you were to build additional roadways and so on,
01:28:02 if you're not also at the same time managing travel demand, which is to see the conditions that require people to travel,
01:28:12 going to government offices for relatively straightforward transactions, et cetera, or physical decentralization of services, et cetera.
01:28:24 We think these, alongside managing the number of vehicles or the rate of motorization, can help.
01:28:31 Of course, it's not easy to do.
01:28:36 Right.
01:28:37 And, you know, I think it's important to see, even given the reaction that the public has had to this study,
01:28:46 traffic congestion is widespread. It's all over.
01:28:51 And every function in economy will have some measure of traffic congestion.
01:28:59 The challenge really is to find that optimum where it doesn't become such that it really then imposes a substantial economic good.
01:29:09 And we also, notwithstanding that we didn't measure this, we think the social side of this equation is also quite substantial.
01:29:19 And it is work, I think, to be done.
01:29:22 And we know that on the strength of just what people tell us and our own empirical experience,
01:29:28 it's a considerable social burden, traffic congestion, stressors, and all the rest of it.
01:29:34 Yeah. And did you all go a little further into that area as to the stress that it is having on the population?
01:29:45 In this study, we tried to gauge how the population felt by looking at what we call averting behaviors,
01:29:58 in terms of what you do, what additional things you do to deal with traffic.
01:30:06 And also we did ask our respondents to share their views regarding some important aspects of their daily lives vis-a-vis traffic.
01:30:17 What we did not do was to attempt to put a number on that social element of it.
01:30:23 But I think it's reasonable to imagine that that is also going to be substantial.
01:30:30 Yeah. How is the information compiled? What was the process used?
01:30:35 This kind of work typically involves perhaps two broad steps.
01:30:42 One is to form an opinion about how much time is lost to commuters.
01:30:50 We did this by – we did a field survey, and then we used an index of wage rates and the labor participation rate to see,
01:31:03 given that on average each worker in this society, in the economy, loses this amount of time sitting in traffic,
01:31:13 then if they were productively employed working and earning a wage, that wage earning for the time amounts to a metric of how much direct economic burden there is on the economy.
01:31:28 Of course, we know there are far a lot of other measures.
01:31:34 The one that as an economist I reflect on often is that our fuel has been subsidized here in Trinidad and Tobago for a long time.
01:31:44 And if you think about thousands of vehicles, the estimate, the last number I saw in another study suggested about 260,000 vehicles come to Port of Spain daily.
01:31:56 If that number of vehicles sitting in traffic idle and burning fuel, subsidized fuel, you get another sense of further indirect cost.
01:32:07 We did not, of course, quantify that.
01:32:10 Our estimate here is just the direct cost, direct burden on the economy, imputed in terms of the value of production, productivity lost in the economy.
01:32:22 So, Phillips, I think judging from some of the information in your study here, to me we have to act now as a society to deal with this traffic congestion because I feel that things may get worse.
01:32:38 Well, you know, at the Commission our job is simply to provide the numbers.
01:32:46 And I want to be very careful here because we provide the numbers as objectively as we can and we make some suggestions as to what could be done.
01:32:58 The information is in the public space.
01:33:01 Now, we think the stakeholders that have that information now have the opportunity, the privilege even, of acting on it.
01:33:12 And we hope that they find that the effort we've made is sufficiently worthwhile that they may actually do so.
01:33:20 Yeah, I like how you would have put that, Mr. Phillips.
01:33:23 It was not a prepared speech.
01:33:25 [Laughter]
01:33:27 So, then, Mr. Phillips, because I see and you did touch on some of the recommendations, all right?
01:33:38 So, they were short to medium term, including continuing efforts to strengthen public transportation services, including strategies to make public transportation more accessible, safe, and attractive to commuters.
01:33:50 I would put Mr. Phillips reliable, enhancing the role of paratransit or auxiliary service providers, increased telecommuting to reduce the need for physical commuting, especially among professional workers,
01:34:04 further investment in a school bus service, which could mitigate school-generated traffic congestion or tragic congestion, and I believe it's traffic congestion.
01:34:15 And application of better spatial planning and traffic management tools when planning for annual and/or seasonal events.
01:34:23 So, a number of suggestions and recommendations.
01:34:27 Again, of course, you would have said that the report is now in the public domain.
01:34:33 How many respondents were part of this process?
01:34:37 Yeah. This survey was in the field for four months, from June, mid-June until mid-September.
01:34:46 Over that period of time, we managed to secure the response of 264 respondents.
01:34:54 Now, I know concerns have been raised about that sample size.
01:35:02 It's small. We think we are not overly concerned about that because in this process, while the statisticians will say a representative sample is necessary and important,
01:35:23 but the size of the sample also depends on the variability of the issue that is being examined.
01:35:31 And we think that in the contemporary experience of the average commuter in Trinidad and Tobago, there's not as much variability,
01:35:43 so that a relatively small sample provides a good assessment of the real experience out there.
01:35:51 Additionally, an aspect of the study that we emphasized, or we looked towards, was the question of the spatial dimension of the problem.
01:36:03 And our mapping, that hasn't come out a lot in the public, but the mapping of the experience we've documented is very consistent with the empirical experience of people who commute
01:36:16 pretty much the north to south corridor, San Fernando to Port of Spain, the east to west corridor, Arima to Port of Spain, on to Degomartin.
01:36:29 And some growing towns, San Gregrande, Pinal de Be, those areas reflect the reality, and of course in the case of Tobago, southwest area.
01:36:44 So, notwithstanding that we know the sample size is small, we think it still gives us a good basis.
01:36:54 And this is in a sense, corroborated by other studies we've referenced, not done by us of course, but put our estimates pretty much within the same ballpark.
01:37:06 So we're comfortable with these estimates.
01:37:08 Perhaps you believe that because of the people that you would have spoken to, the respondents, and the interviews, and the information that you would have compiled here,
01:37:22 you feel that this is a situation for concern in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:37:28 It is because the measures are not trivial, as we see in the report.
01:37:38 1.37% of annual GDP is not a shocking amount, but it is not a small amount.
01:37:49 And more importantly, the reaction to the report tells us that the public here shares it as an important concern.
01:38:00 And in any case, we see it every day. We live it. I mean, I live here, so I know, I've experienced it myself.
01:38:10 Yes, I think it is an issue that requires a public policy response.
01:38:17 But at the same time, I would also emphasize, and I want to really make this clear,
01:38:25 I don't want the public to go away with the idea that Trinidad and Tobago is the poster child of this experience,
01:38:33 because indeed, within the wider Caribbean region anyways, the problem is actually quite pervasive.
01:38:41 And Caribbean small island states, by and large, have relatively high levels of motorization.
01:38:49 Trinidad and Tobago's number of vehicles per capita compares to that of Germany and Italy, or Germany, for example.
01:38:58 And several small island states in the Caribbean have relatively high motorization rates, so the problem is also there as well.
01:39:06 Yeah. Mr. Phillips, just briefly, where can people see the report?
01:39:12 This report is available digitally at our digital repository online.
01:39:19 You can Google ECLA Caribbean's pages, and the report is also physically available there.
01:39:27 And while I have the opportunity, I know you introduced that I'm the lead researcher, and indeed I am the lead,
01:39:34 but I also want to acknowledge here that I've had good support and partnership in doing this with my co-researchers
01:39:42 and co-authors, Elizabeth Thorn and Esther Chong-Ling.
01:39:48 Yeah. Mr. Phillips, thank you very much for your good work.
01:39:51 Thank you for having me.
01:39:52 All right. So we are going to a very short break. We're coming back, everybody.
01:39:56 [Music]
01:40:10 [Music]
01:40:12 Trinidad and Tobago!
01:40:14 [Music]
01:40:16 Get ready for the National Stick Fighting Semifinals!
01:40:20 Come witness the excitement, the chanting, the drums, the skill as the strongest fighters square off!
01:40:26 On Wednesday, 31st January from 7pm, the Diego Martin Sporting Complex will become the arena of the Gael, the ring of liberation!
01:40:36 We invite you to gather around for this cultural experience.
01:40:39 Only $75. Get your tickets at the NCC head office, grandstand ticket booth, and online at islandetickets.com.
01:40:46 For more info, visit the NCC Facebook page or call 622-1670.
01:40:51 This event is presented by the National Carnival Commission and powered by Forest Park Punchin' Rum, Blue Waters, and Monster Energy.
01:40:58 There is no fight like a war fight!
01:41:02 [Music]
01:41:04 I'm moving, moving forward every day.
01:41:09 Jesus, I just let him lead the way.
01:41:13 Every second, every minute, every hour of the day.
01:41:18 I'm moving with Jesus every day.
01:41:22 I'm moving with Jesus every day.
01:41:26 I'm moving with Jesus every day.
01:41:29 I'm moving with Jesus every day.
01:41:33 I'm moving with Jesus every day.
01:41:38 So, you're not setting rules home, but telling your daughter don't let no teacher have to call you because she's not following rules in school?
01:41:51 You ever hear the old people say "butt in your crease"?
01:41:54 Better believe you could use that to set boundaries with your children.
01:41:59 You are more than a friend to your children.
01:42:02 Set clear, healthy boundaries for both you and your child.
01:42:06 Make sure they are age appropriate and most importantly consistent.
01:42:11 This helps them understand what behavior is expected of them and provides a sense of structure and stability.
01:42:20 It gives you a framework of trust and understanding to build on.
01:42:25 And so at the end of the day, do your best.
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01:42:36 Letter of the day, be boundaries.
01:42:41 [Music]
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01:42:51 [Music]
01:43:18 Yes, and that's the voice there of Soka artist Sukre.
01:43:22 And Sukre is in studio with us this morning. Sukre, thank you very much for coming.
01:43:26 Thank you very much for having me.
01:43:28 Yeah, Sukre says the meaning of Sukre is sweet, you know.
01:43:31 You see, he put on his shades and things for the girls, eh?
01:43:35 For the girls. Sukre, for people who may not be too familiar with you and your music, tell us a little bit about you and the music.
01:43:44 Right, Sukre is a singer, songwriter, music producer and performer, right?
01:43:50 Sukre, let's give you a little insight about the name and why I chose the name.
01:43:55 Yes.
01:43:56 To me, it's the product of what the Caribbean has to offer.
01:44:02 But it also has that international finish so that we could see ourselves on the international scale with a lot of the mainstream artists as well as everybody else, you know?
01:44:13 Yeah.
01:44:14 Is this your first foray, as it were, into Soka music?
01:44:20 No, this is actually my first season as a performer, yes, but I have done production, work and writing work since, I believe, 2017.
01:44:29 Yeah. For you and other artists?
01:44:32 For other people, yeah.
01:44:33 Yeah? So you would have written songs and produced songs for other artists?
01:44:38 Yes. Some of them include Max's Vibes, Aoife, Unity and most recently, College Boy Jesse.
01:44:46 Yeah.
01:44:47 For this season, his song Pump.
01:44:48 Yeah.
01:44:49 I did that, yeah.
01:44:50 What? Sukre boy!
01:44:51 So, when did this journey begin?
01:44:55 Honestly, actually, I was sort of born into a musical family in the sense that music was what really brought us together. We fellowshiped in music. We did a bit of music, even began music teachers in their own right.
01:45:12 Right.
01:45:13 So, since I was small, all the way up to, I would say, 2015, when I made the conscious decision to get into it professionally.
01:45:20 Right. And is it at that stage you decided, well, here's what, yes, I'm writing for people, I'm producing for people, but when did you decide, look, I want to be on this stage too, because I could sing.
01:45:36 That's very same time, because the reason why it took so long for me is because I decided I wanted to take my time and develop my craft as a performer, even though the music creation came easily. I knew that it had a little bit more work to do in order to become the performer that I would study and be inspired by, you know. So, I had to bridge that gap and take that time to develop my craft.
01:46:02 Yeah. Well, look, Sukre, you know, Sukre dancing and thing, boy. The ultimate performer and artist. Yeah. What's that song we're listening to and looking at, Sukre?
01:46:14 This song is Oh My Baby. This is like an Afro-Suka fusion.
01:46:18 Let's hear a little bit of it, studio.
01:46:33 Oh, my God.
01:46:53 Just one touch, just one touch, just one touch, just one touch.
01:47:08 What would have inspired this song, Sukre?
01:47:11 I would guess there's a sub-genre or maybe a genre by itself from South Africa, I believe. It's known as Amapiano, and it was really trending last year. And I was just in a creative zone. I studied it a little bit, and I decided maybe this could be fused with Suka, because it's still Afro and Suka and African music.
01:47:34 It sounds similar, right?
01:47:35 Yeah. You know, because we came, Sukre came from Africa, you know, with the descendants of the African slaves and whatnot. So I felt like it would mesh really good.
01:47:44 Yeah. And how long did that entire process take from writing to the video, everything?
01:47:52 Writing the song and creating the song, that really didn't take long, because I've spent so many years practicing and doing it. Especially with this song, it was really just a vibe and a good feeling that I just let continue. You know, it was a chain of inspiration for that.
01:48:07 Yeah.
01:48:08 It didn't take long to shoot. The video didn't take long to shoot. So I would say probably roughly about two months.
01:48:18 Right.
01:48:19 You know, especially with different schedules from the different people working as well as myself.
01:48:22 So Sukre, this is what you do. This is your job?
01:48:27 This is my job. This is my job. Yeah.
01:48:31 All right. The next song you have for us, it's "Life I Love It".
01:48:36 "Life I Love It", yeah.
01:48:37 Yeah. Let's hear a little bit of "Life I Love It".
01:48:40 Sukre, join in. It's your song.
01:48:45 It's your song.
01:48:59 Hands up like so.
01:49:14 Yeah.
01:49:32 And Sukre, you know what I'm hearing from you? And we did touch on it a little earlier. But I'm really hearing the experience, you know. Really voice.
01:49:40 Yeah.
01:49:41 You don't sound like a new artist. You sound like you have been out there for about 15 years.
01:49:48 Yeah. Well, I'm actually also a graduate of University of the West Indies with a bachelor's in musical arts. So I had some formal training, some classical training in that regard.
01:49:58 Yeah, man. You have the thing right up, Sukre. You're not kicks in with this thing.
01:50:03 No, it's not kicks in.
01:50:04 So it's two songs that you have for this season here.
01:50:07 Two songs for this season, yes.
01:50:08 How has the season been going for you?
01:50:10 The season has been going very well in terms of the goals and the objectives that I set because I'm also under the management of Zig Boy Movement, who is also responsible for the likes of College Boy Jesse and association with Mr. Killer and Terry Lyons and Lady Lava.
01:50:25 So we have a tight, a tight ship running there. I'm also the newest frontliner for Traffic the Band. You know, Eddie Charles and Traffic the Band.
01:50:34 Yeah. So I've had some platforms put in place for me in that regard. So everything is just going good and it's going according to plan.
01:50:42 So so we're speaking about Traffic the Band. It's a new incarnation, as it were, of the former band.
01:50:49 Yes.
01:50:50 Wow. That's that's a lot of weight on your shoulder, you know.
01:50:54 Yeah, I realize.
01:50:55 Yeah, because they they they were known to be a great band, one of our best brass bands in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.
01:51:03 So how is how has that experience been for you?
01:51:06 That experience is definitely a learning experience, one which is always needed, you know, understanding the different stages you're going to touch and just being a part of the experience and learning what to do, what not to do and how to move forward from there.
01:51:21 So everything I just take as they come.
01:51:23 Yeah. Have you been touching the various stages for Carnival?
01:51:29 Yes, we have. We have a good bit of stages. Most recently, I would say I Love Choker. We will be at PNM and Manifetta as well this coming Sunday and Monday.
01:51:42 So, yeah.
01:51:43 Yeah. And how has the stage experience been for you and performing?
01:51:48 Well, I always love the stage.
01:51:50 Yeah.
01:51:51 That's like my my happy place.
01:51:53 Yeah. Your second home, right?
01:51:55 Yeah, definitely.
01:51:56 And what has the response from the crowd been?
01:52:00 The crowd, they definitely getting used to the new faces. They definitely getting used to the new faces mixed with the old familiarity, as you would say.
01:52:08 Yeah.
01:52:09 You know, so everything has been going good so far.
01:52:12 Yeah. So you are performing your pieces and also pieces of other artists.
01:52:20 Yeah, a mixture.
01:52:21 Yeah.
01:52:22 As long as I get the platforms.
01:52:23 Yeah. And again, how has that experience been? Because I'm sure for the performer for Carnival season, it's a it's a very tiring time.
01:52:33 Of course, when you're getting the work, it's always a good season for you. But how do you deal with all of that?
01:52:41 Time management, really and truly, because performing, just practicing sometimes it could take a bit out of you because you have to be able to put yourself in the context of the performance itself in order to know what exactly you're going to do.
01:52:56 Or at least to have contingencies, because at the end of the day, you can't exactly plan for an unexpected audience reaction.
01:53:02 You know, so you have to exert a certain amount of energy in the practice room. And then after that, you have to be able to rest, you know, because at the end of the day, you have to preserve your energy and preserve your tools, your assets.
01:53:17 Of course.
01:53:18 Before you actually hit the stage. And it's even a lot. It could get a bit more difficult when you have a packed, let's say a packed weekend.
01:53:27 Like we would have Friday, Sunday, Monday, as well as we're going to be on the road Monday and Tuesday, Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
01:53:34 Yeah. So time management in order to take your rest is much needed.
01:53:39 Yeah. Where can people contact you if they wish to?
01:53:43 People can find me at all platforms at Sucre_official with two L's.
01:53:48 S-U-C-R-E_official with two L's.
01:53:51 Yeah. Anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning, Sucre?
01:53:54 Just that I wish everybody a happy and productive Wednesday and a safe and productive Carnival.
01:54:00 Yeah. Well, Sucre, let's, and studio, let's take us out with some of Sucre's music again. Yeah?
01:54:07 Backing in the vocals?
01:54:10 Anything.
01:54:11 Anything.
01:54:12 This is the life, I love it. I don't want nothing else. So sweet like a fetish, man, talk in the air.
01:54:19 This is the life, I love it. I don't want nothing else. So sweet like a fetish, man, talk in the air.
01:54:27 Every second of the update.
01:54:30 How do you get your head like Sucre?
01:54:33 That's right. I'm doing it real good.
01:54:35 Sucre says, "I'm doing it real good."
01:54:39 Update, update.
01:54:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:54:43 When Sucre leaves here, it's a crazy boy. That man can't dance at all, right?
01:54:47 But, Sucre, it was a pleasure speaking with you here this morning.
01:54:50 And we wish you all the best in your future endeavors. I like the music.
01:54:54 Thank you. I appreciate it.
01:54:56 And, I mean, to me, you're touching really every part of this industry for you to be successful.
01:55:02 So, we do expect much success from you in the future. It was good speaking with you.
01:55:07 Thank you. And I appreciate you for having me.
01:55:09 Of course, of course. All right. So, that's going to do it for our program for today.
01:55:12 Remember, Emmy Prime comes up this evening.
01:55:14 In the meantime, we leave you with this from Anjali Parasram Singh.
01:55:18 Anjali, always a beautiful picture.
01:55:21 [Music]
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