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00:00:00 the day.
00:00:03 Good morning. I'm Joe Brown.
00:00:18 Welcome to today's morning
00:00:19 Edition. It's February 15th of
00:00:21 Edition. It's February 15th of
00:00:21 Edition. It's February 15th of 2024. Thank you for joining us.
00:00:23 2024. Thank you for joining us.
00:00:23 2024. Thank you for joining us. Of course, the day after Ash
00:00:25 Of course, the day after Ash
00:00:25 Of course, the day after Ash Wednesday, the day after
00:00:27 Wednesday, the day after
00:00:27 Wednesday, the day after Valentine's Day. So, I hope
00:00:29 Valentine's Day. So, I hope
00:00:29 Valentine's Day. So, I hope those of you who went to the
00:00:30 those of you who went to the
00:00:30 those of you who went to the various beaches for that Ash
00:00:31 various beaches for that Ash
00:00:31 various beaches for that Ash Wednesday cool down and you
00:00:33 Wednesday cool down and you
00:00:33 Wednesday cool down and you can go to the beach and also
00:00:34 can go to the beach and also
00:00:34 can go to the beach and also those of you who celebrated
00:00:36 those of you who celebrated
00:00:36 those of you who celebrated Valentine's Day, enjoy that
00:00:38 Valentine's Day, enjoy that
00:00:38 Valentine's Day, enjoy that lunch or dinner. I'm sure that
00:00:39 lunch or dinner. I'm sure
00:00:39 lunch or dinner. I'm sure that local businesses, food
00:00:41 local businesses, food
00:00:41 local businesses, food establishments would have
00:00:42 establishments would have
00:00:42 establishments would have enjoyed the business of that
00:00:44 enjoyed the business of that
00:00:44 enjoyed the business of that you would have provided them but
00:00:46 you would have provided them but
00:00:46 you would have provided them but as we take a look at the
00:00:47 as we take a look at the
00:00:47 as we take a look at the express newspaper, the business
00:00:48 express newspaper, the business
00:00:48 express newspaper, the business of carnival still dominates as
00:01:02 we can see on the front page.
00:01:03 we can see on the front page.
00:01:03 we can see on the front page. That's the headline DNA singer
00:01:04 That's the headline DNA singer
00:01:04 That's the headline DNA singer runs away with the road match
00:01:05 runs away with the road match
00:01:05 runs away with the road match for 2024 and also the express
00:01:07 for 2024 and also the express
00:01:07 for 2024 and also the express is reporting the lost tribe cops
00:01:08 is reporting the lost tribe cops
00:01:08 is reporting the lost tribe cops band of the year title stories
00:01:09 band of the year title stories
00:01:09 band of the year title stories on pages four and five. Also,
00:01:11 on pages four and five. Also,
00:01:11 on pages four and five. Also, you would see as well inside of
00:01:13 you would see as well inside of
00:01:13 you would see as well inside of the newspaper. The headline DNA
00:01:15 the headline DNA singer runs away with the road match title
00:01:17 runs away with the road match title
00:01:17 runs away with the road match title it feels like destiny on
00:01:19 it feels like destiny on
00:01:19 it feels like destiny on the back page of the express
00:01:21 the back page of the express
00:01:21 the back page of the express photographs of capturing some of
00:01:24 photographs of capturing some of
00:01:24 photographs of capturing some of the carnival activity in San
00:01:26 the carnival activity in San
00:01:26 the carnival activity in San Fernando with one of the
00:01:28 Fernando with one of the
00:01:28 Fernando with one of the captions for some of the photos
00:01:30 captions for some of the photos
00:01:30 captions for some of the photos Fetting San Fernando band of
00:01:31 Fetting San Fernando band of
00:01:31 Fetting San Fernando band of the year 2024 masqueraders from
00:01:33 the year 2024 masqueraders from
00:01:33 the year 2024 masqueraders from College around masses. The
00:01:34 College around masses. The
00:01:34 College around masses. The carnival parade parade along
00:01:45 carnival parade parade along
00:01:45 carnival parade parade parade along high Street San Fernando
00:01:46 high Street San Fernando
00:01:46 high Street San Fernando on carnival Tuesday. Also we have
00:01:47 on carnival Tuesday. Also we have
00:01:47 on carnival Tuesday. Also we have a photo as well here
00:01:48 a photo as well here
00:01:48 a photo as well here persons visitors apparently from Toronto
00:01:49 persons visitors apparently from Toronto
00:01:49 persons visitors apparently from Toronto Canada taking that ash
00:01:51 Canada Canada taking that ash
00:01:51 Canada Canada taking that ash Wednesday cool down at Maracas
00:01:53 Wednesday cool down at Maracas
00:01:53 Wednesday cool down at Maracas Bay. So that is some of the key
00:01:55 Bay. So that is some of the key
00:01:55 Bay. So that is some of the key photos there in terms of sport
00:01:56 photos there in terms of sport
00:01:56 photos there in terms of sport you've seen the headline there from
00:01:57 you've seen the headline there from
00:01:57 you've seen the headline there from the National Association of
00:01:58 the National Association of
00:01:58 the National Association of leaders adding value to sport
00:02:00 leaders adding value to sport
00:02:00 leaders adding value to sport and of course you can get the
00:02:02 and of course you can get the
00:02:02 and of course you can get the latest in terms of all of the
00:02:04 latest in terms of all of the
00:02:04 latest in terms of all of the sporting news there in the sport
00:02:06 sporting news there in the sport
00:02:06 sporting news there in the sport section of the Express
00:02:08 section of the Express
00:02:08 section of the Express newspaper. Now we go on to just
00:02:11 newspaper. Now we go on to just
00:02:12 newspaper. Now we go on to just to remind you of our train
00:02:14 to remind you of our train
00:02:14 to remind you of our train big boy a nice feature to participate
00:02:16 big boy a nice feature to participate
00:02:16 big boy a nice feature to participate or what's up your
00:02:17 or what's up your
00:02:17 or what's up your own. It's a 737-377-8337-3778. That's 737-3778. A beautiful photograph there. If I'm not mistaken, it looks like photos of the scaly ibis taken here by Sham Sahadeo. A brilliant photo there. A good capturing there of just you know just birds in flight. And of course we do have a packed show for you this morning and we will be right back.
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00:54:22 Available at Ferraro Optical
00:54:26 Available at vibes.trinidadexpress.com
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01:00:04 Welcome back. The UWE, the University of the West Indies, the St. Augustine Faculty of Medical Sciences Optometry Unit,
01:00:12 will be collaborating with Canadian VisionCare to unlock clear vision together.
01:00:17 To tell us more is Dr. Nihal Farnan. I was practicing the pronunciation when you helped me to clarify that during the commercial break.
01:00:26 Doctor, thank you so much. A lecturer of the Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences.
01:00:33 Good morning and thank you for joining us.
01:00:35 Good morning. Good morning, Marlon. Thank you so much.
01:00:38 This is Jul. This is not Marlon. Jul is here. Marlon will be back next week.
01:00:43 So just to get some clarity here in terms of what is the main aspect of this that you would like viewers to get a better understanding of
01:00:56 in terms of the issue of VisionCare in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:01:01 Yes, certainly. So this is a wonderful opportunity for the people in the region, you know, in Central,
01:01:09 to stop and think about how important our vision is.
01:01:13 You know, sometimes at the start of the year, we have these great ideas.
01:01:17 I'm going to take on my health challenges. But then also Carnival was very early this year and that can cause a distraction.
01:01:24 So a vision screening allows people to come along and get what some of the aspects of your eye health looked at for free.
01:01:33 And then we can ascertain whether you need further examination or whether overall everything is good at the moment.
01:01:39 Because a lot of things could be happening to someone and they won't even know about it.
01:01:43 And that's the challenge. And that's why these opportunities, along with the Canadian optometrists,
01:01:48 give the community an opportunity to check and make sure that everything is OK.
01:01:53 So one of the things is that out of all the people who lose their vision,
01:01:57 eight out of ten people don't necessarily need to have lost their vision.
01:02:02 And a lot of these things are happening to people. So people could be getting ready to work.
01:02:06 They could be driving. They could be at work already and they may be losing their vision very gradually and they won't even know about it.
01:02:14 And that's where these opportunities come along.
01:02:16 And we really want the community to get involved and to get their eyes checked to make sure that everything is good.
01:02:22 And if it isn't, then we will be able to help them that way as well.
01:02:26 The flyer on the screen we saw there just now talked about other issues related to VisionK in terms of diabetes screening and etc.
01:02:34 Could you have viewers understand the importance of these regular eye checkups in relation to other issues of medical health in terms of their overall wellness?
01:02:47 Certainly. So one of the big things is diabetes.
01:02:51 So diabetes is very common in Trinidad. And you know, some people don't take it on board.
01:02:57 They just think it's one of those things and you know, I'm going to live with it.
01:03:00 But it is one of those things we have to grapple with because if the sugar level keeps going up and down, then it is going to cause problems.
01:03:07 And then the back of the eye, the little vessels start to leak.
01:03:11 And once the vessels start to leak in the back of the eyes, then we have significant vision problems.
01:03:16 And again, the scary thing about that is that people might not even know because it happens very, very gradually.
01:03:23 And then all of a sudden, people start to lose their vision.
01:03:27 But between when it started and when they start to lose their vision, I mean, it could be anywhere from five years.
01:03:33 And then, of course, once something is that delayed, it's more difficult to treat with.
01:03:37 And that's why having these vision screenings when the community comes along and we can see what the sugar level is,
01:03:43 and we can examine to see what the vision is, and then redirect people as necessary.
01:03:49 One of the things the viewers need to know, the longer someone is diabetic, then the more likely that something may go wrong.
01:03:56 And this is where, you know, if you have diabetes, make sure we take it on board.
01:04:02 Make sure we control the sugar level.
01:04:04 Make sure we exercise.
01:04:06 There's a lot of things that can affect it.
01:04:08 And another big one in Trinidad is hypertension or high blood pressure.
01:04:13 And a lot of people think, "How can that affect the eyes?"
01:04:16 But again, it's these little vessels in the back of the eyes are very sensitive to changes in blood pressure.
01:04:22 And if people don't take on the blood pressure and it goes up and down again, up and down, that can affect it.
01:04:28 And, you know, we have seen quite a lot of people who have lost their vision because of diabetes, because of hypertension,
01:04:35 that if an eye exam was there and they did it routinely, then this could have been picked up a lot sooner.
01:04:43 And is the screening that you are seeking to have persons have through this outreach program with Canadian Vision Care,
01:04:53 is that something limited to any particular age group, or is it as many people, different ages, it doesn't matter?
01:05:00 You're just encouraging people to visit and have that screening.
01:05:05 That's it. That's a great question.
01:05:07 This is open to everybody, no matter whether we're young or old.
01:05:11 It's open to everybody.
01:05:13 But it's a great question because even young people, a lot of people think, "Well, you know, they're too young to get their eyes tested,"
01:05:19 or "They're too young to have any eye problems."
01:05:22 But, you know, think about it.
01:05:23 The youth of our nation are going to be the future leaders, and it's important that they see well.
01:05:28 Now, a lot of people think, "Well, if my child had problems, they would tell me."
01:05:33 But remember, the child doesn't know what they're meant to see.
01:05:36 So when a child is sitting beside little Timmy or little Jimmy and they can't see the board,
01:05:41 they just assume Jimmy or Timmy cannot see the board.
01:05:44 And, again, it's through these routine regular screenings, eye examinations that we can pick up,
01:05:49 "Well, actually, do you know your son or your daughter doesn't see as well?"
01:05:53 And, of course, if they're not seen as well, they won't be able to see off the board.
01:05:57 They won't be able to contribute in the class.
01:06:00 They may start to act up.
01:06:01 The teacher may think they're dotish and different things,
01:06:04 when all it is is that they just cannot see the board.
01:06:07 And so that's one thing.
01:06:09 Now, over the age of 40, nobody knows why, but over the age of 40, our eyes have a lot of changes.
01:06:16 And, again, a lot more things can happen once we hit 40.
01:06:20 So, again, there's all type of ranges that are going to be suitable for this screening,
01:06:25 and we encourage everybody in the community to come along and have this screening performed.
01:06:30 We went through the carnival period where persons would have been outside in the sun.
01:06:34 We also had Ash Wednesday yesterday.
01:06:36 Of course, the weekend, no doubt, persons will be visiting the beaches and so on,
01:06:41 on very sunny days and those kind of hot conditions,
01:06:43 but just in terms of the issue of protecting the eyes, a polarized lens and that kind of thing.
01:06:48 What do you say to viewers in terms of just making sure that they have the right equipment
01:06:54 or the right protection or shades, as you would call it,
01:06:57 or those of us who have glasses who can get the clip-ons and that kind of thing?
01:07:01 How important is this in terms of eye care?
01:07:04 That's it. You hit the nail on the head there.
01:07:07 That's so excellent because it is the UV protection that is needed.
01:07:11 It's not just the shade, not the tint, the green, the gray.
01:07:15 It's the UV protection.
01:07:17 And so a lot of these cheaper ones that people buy in the market, they don't have the UV protection.
01:07:22 And even today, it's very sunny and there's a lot of UV out.
01:07:26 And that can cause early caloracts.
01:07:28 It can cause changes to the front of the eyes.
01:07:30 And, you know, I'm sure many shades were lost over Carnival.
01:07:34 And you may think, "Nah, I don't need to get a new one."
01:07:37 But again, it's very sunny today and UV protection is vital.
01:07:41 Another thing, you notice this Sahara dust.
01:07:44 And a lot of people would have been jumping on the road the last couple of days
01:07:47 and there's meant to be a new Sahara dust storm coming.
01:07:50 And a lot of people get, you know, irritant eyes because of that.
01:07:54 And a lot of people think, "Well, that's just normal."
01:07:57 And a lot of people don't know that there are newer eye drops out there that can help itchy eyes.
01:08:02 A lot of people go to the pharmacy, just get a basic drop.
01:08:05 But nowadays, there's much more modern technology that can stop this irritant eye.
01:08:09 So a lot of people don't even need to have itchy eyes anymore because of the latest technology in drops.
01:08:15 So again, it's all about preventing and acting on so we can get the best out of your eye.
01:08:21 For those who may not know, in terms of the UWE Optometry Unit,
01:08:26 is this something that is specific in terms of research?
01:08:30 Or is it that members of the public can access certain medical services at the unit?
01:08:37 How does that work?
01:08:38 Great. So, yes, the Optometry Clinic, which is in the Coover Multi-Training Facility,
01:08:45 which is that lovely building just off the highway after the Pre-SAL interchange, it's open five days a week.
01:08:52 Most months of the year, apart from exam time.
01:08:54 And we actually see patients because we're training the future of optometry.
01:08:59 And we have a lot of services. We have appointments in the morning.
01:09:02 We have appointments in the afternoon.
01:09:04 So again, we see all ages. So we see six-month-old babies.
01:09:07 We've seen 100-year-old patients.
01:09:09 And we have a lot of different types of contact lenses.
01:09:12 We specialize. Sometimes kids are not using the two eyes together.
01:09:16 So they have learning difficulties.
01:09:18 We also have a special clinic for people who have lost their vision.
01:09:22 And we're able to give them magnifiers and telescopes.
01:09:25 So it is open to the public. It's where we train our students.
01:09:29 So the students alongside qualified optometrists see the patients.
01:09:34 And then we direct them whether they need spectacles, contacts, telescopes, magnifiers.
01:09:40 The print may be a bit small on the screen.
01:09:42 So if you could just let viewers know in terms of the vision screening outreach,
01:09:46 exactly which communities, the dates and so on,
01:09:49 so that persons who have that interest will be able to know what days they will be able to visit
01:09:55 and also which communities and if it's on specific days for specific communities.
01:10:00 Excellent. So it's all happening next week.
01:10:03 And on Monday we'll be in the Balmain Community Center.
01:10:07 And that's from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
01:10:10 And then on Tuesday we'll be in the Tabakee Community Center, again 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
01:10:16 And then on Wednesday and Thursday we'll be in the Tatuga Community Center, again 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
01:10:23 So all those surrounding areas, so Chronic in Town, lots of Vancouver, all those surrounding areas,
01:10:30 everybody's welcome. There's never a moment not to think about your eye health.
01:10:35 This is a great opportunity. We're very grateful for the Canadian ophthalmologists who are coming down as well.
01:10:40 And you know, previous ones, people have met at a community event.
01:10:44 So the community gets together and they come on down and they look after their eyes
01:10:48 and get everything checked for it that way.
01:10:50 So that's where it's important that we get that.
01:10:53 Do you think that the issue of eye care gets enough attention when you're dealing with,
01:10:57 as a society, as you would have pointed out, issues of diabetes, for example,
01:11:01 or issues of cardiac concerns, heart concerns, and that kind of thing?
01:11:07 Is it that eye care is not necessarily on that tier or level that you would like it to be?
01:11:14 Definitely so, because again, 8 out of 10 people lose their vision and it's not necessary.
01:11:20 An eye exam, which is painless, can make all the difference between whether you can see your grandchildren
01:11:26 the next day, whether you can work, whether you succeed in university, or whether you succeed in school.
01:11:32 That's where it really does make the difference.
01:11:34 And unfortunately, a lot of people, when they have the issue, that's when they want to go back in time.
01:11:39 And that's where now is the time to handle it. Now is the time to take it on board.
01:11:44 What is the number one, in terms of when you do screenings at the unit,
01:11:49 what's the number one issue that tends to be detected by those like yourself or the optometrists who are treating the unit?
01:11:59 It's a glaucoma. Glaucoma is one of the leading losses of vision in the Caribbean, unfortunately,
01:12:04 because it is quite prevalent. There's a family history of it.
01:12:08 So, you know, if your father or your mother had glaucoma, your brothers and sisters have glaucoma,
01:12:13 and again, there's no sign, there's no pain, there's no anything.
01:12:16 And then by the time the patient notices it, that's when people are thinking, "Oh, I wish I could go back in time."
01:12:22 So glaucoma, and then the other one is diabetes, as we've mentioned before.
01:12:27 I'm just wondering, how did this partnership with Canadian Vision Care, how did that occur?
01:12:34 So, you know, they were interested. They've done missions in Jamaica, they've done missions in Guyana,
01:12:40 so they wanted to come down to Trinidad.
01:12:42 And then, you know, of course, that we are the University of West Indies Optometry Program,
01:12:46 and we are helping the future of optometry. So they connected with us, and we've had this relationship.
01:12:52 And the really nice thing about this group, I want to tell the viewers, is that they're also giving back
01:12:57 to the optometry students. So Monday, Balmain, Tuesday, Tabakid, Wednesday, Thursday, Tutuga.
01:13:04 But on Friday, they'll actually come into our clinic to teach our students some of the differences
01:13:10 between optometry in Canada and optometry in Trinidad.
01:13:13 So that's a wonderful thing for this group, that they're also giving back to the future of optometry.
01:13:18 And what is the future of optometry looking like in Trinidad and Tobago, in terms of, let's say,
01:13:24 when persons who are seeking a career in medicine, do they gravitate towards this, as opposed to,
01:13:32 let's say, ones that may be considered more lucrative in terms of private practice?
01:13:38 What are you seeing in terms of that level of interest in the next generation coming up
01:13:42 in this particular aspect of healthcare?
01:13:45 Well, definitely so. I mean, we have 80 students at the moment, and every year we get a new batch of students.
01:13:52 I mean, the difference with optometry is it's a nice career. You're not really on call all the time.
01:13:58 You don't have to bring work home with you. So if anybody's thinking about the career of optometry,
01:14:03 again, this is another opportunity. Come to the screenings, and you can see,
01:14:06 because there will be a lot of optometry students, there will be registered optometrists,
01:14:10 and if people are interested in the career, because certainly the nation does need more eye help,
01:14:16 and it needs to be more in the public's mind, because, again, we only get one pair of eyes,
01:14:22 and unfortunately, if we lose our vision, there's not much that can be done.
01:14:26 And that's where these opportunities, we want to make people aware, oh, I've been thinking about,
01:14:33 ah, now is the time to get it done. And so this is a wonderful opportunity,
01:14:37 particularly to people in the central area, to come on down on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,
01:14:43 and we'll look after you and give you lots of advice and tell you what's exactly happening with your life.
01:14:48 And just finally, just in terms of, let's say, for the issue of the cost, for example,
01:14:56 these are free services you're offering, but if persons, let's say, over time have to deal with issues
01:15:04 that require surgery and the cost, what is the savings that could be accrued by just these regular eye care visits?
01:15:14 Well, again, that's an excellent question, because a lot of these things, if they're picked up on time,
01:15:18 it means the operation doesn't need to be as severe, and that's where things can be easily solved,
01:15:25 and then always, as the public health system, we have wonderful ophthalmologists in the public health system,
01:15:29 and then the sooner we get into the public health system, the sooner that we will be seen.
01:15:33 And so, again, if the diabetes has gone out of control, we're going to need a lot of lasers,
01:15:38 we're going to need a big operation, but if the diabetes of the eye is picked up sooner,
01:15:42 it's a lot more able to look at that. And the same with glaucoma.
01:15:46 So when glaucoma is first picked up, thankfully, again, with the wonders of eye drops, we can do a lot more.
01:15:52 If the glaucoma is not picked up on time, then it needs a bigger operation,
01:15:56 and that's where prevention is always the key. Prevention is always the key.
01:16:01 I want to thank you very much, Dr. Farnon, for your insight and also letting viewers know about this free vision screening,
01:16:09 the collaboration between the UWE St. Augustine Faculty of Medical Sciences Optometry Unit and Canadian Vision Care.
01:16:18 And just to remind viewers, on February 19th, they'll be at the Balmain Community Centre.
01:16:24 On February 20th, Tabukit Community Centre. February 21st, Tugur Community Centre,
01:16:29 and also at that same centre on the 22nd of February. I believe I have it right there, sir.
01:16:35 That's it. That's excellent. Thank you so much.
01:16:37 Thank you very much, doctor. I appreciate it. Thank you for your time.
01:16:40 We will take another commercial break and return with more of The Morning Edition.
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01:19:46 Welcome back to the TV6 Morning Edition.
01:19:49 We are now going into another segment of the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals,
01:19:55 Trant & Beagle Chapter, a non-profit organization that will be hosting its 2024 Dinner and Awards presentation on Friday.
01:20:03 They will also be having a conference focusing on a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach
01:20:11 to ensure plant and equipment are 99% reliable.
01:20:16 Joining us is Kiril Al-Rampisad, Chairman of SMRP, Trinidad Caribbean Chapter.
01:20:23 Good morning and thank you for joining us.
01:20:26 Good morning, Joel, and thank you very much for having me on air.
01:20:31 And best wishes to you and to your listening audience.
01:20:35 Well, thank you very much and the same to you.
01:20:37 I'm just checking my notes here that the SMRP, the chapter that you have there, that you will have a special guest at this dinner.
01:20:47 Could you tell viewers who that guest will be?
01:20:50 Yes, but Joel, before I get into introducing my guest,
01:20:55 I would just want to let the viewing audience know that the SMRP will be hosting its 2024 Maintenance and Reliability Engineering Conference.
01:21:07 Now, the purpose of this conference is that companies worldwide have spent billions of dollars in breakdown maintenance.
01:21:17 And when you have a piece of machinery and it's failed, it's going to cost the company a lot more in the long run.
01:21:24 It could cause maybe loss of limbs. It could cause loss of production and also shareholder's values will be dropped.
01:21:33 So to prevent machinery from failing, we take a proactive measure to ensure that these things don't happen to the machinery and plant.
01:21:44 And may I say that if you have a piece of machinery and it's available, it's OK.
01:21:51 But if it's available, is it reliable? And that's the question you got to ask yourself.
01:21:57 So that's why we are saying once it's available, the reliability of the machine must be almost 100 percent.
01:22:06 So to do so, to ensure that your machine is 100 percent reliable, there are certain parameters that you must take.
01:22:17 And I'm going to do an analogy here. Let's say the human body, you want to be healthy and you want to live a good lifestyle.
01:22:26 So what do you do? You visit your doctor on a regular basis, on a periodic basis.
01:22:32 And the doctor will take certain parameters, a certain test.
01:22:37 You would do a blood test. He will do x-rays. He will do ultrasound detection and so forth.
01:22:44 And based on the data that he collected from those tests, he will tell you your health of yourself.
01:22:53 In this case, what we do, we will take a lube oil sample from the machine.
01:22:59 We will analyze the lube oil and tell you what is the condition of the lubricant and how it's going to affect the equipment in the short term and long term.
01:23:12 And that is not the only parameter that we choose. We have vibration analysis.
01:23:20 We do planning and scheduling and also asset integrity. Those are the four modules will be covered in the conference.
01:23:29 Now, the oil analysis and the vibration, these are the two most important parameters that take the data on these machines to ensure that what is the mechanical health of the piece of machinery.
01:23:46 Mr. Rappesad, just for clarification, when you're speaking about machines and plants and so on, just for viewers to have a better understanding,
01:23:54 are you talking about those in the energy sector, those in the manufacturing sector or across the board?
01:24:02 All all machineries and plants, it includes oil and gas sector, food, beverages, manufacturing, every sector and even the health sector,
01:24:13 because you have machineries, you have generators, you have pumps, you have compressors and all these things into all all the sectors.
01:24:22 So it's based on every sector that you can think of, even even at your home, even at your homes, because you have your let's say you have your stove at home and you want to use a lubricant to lubricate your fridge,
01:24:39 your hinges in your fridge or your stove. You cannot use any and any lubricant.
01:24:43 You have to use lubricant that is that is approved for food and beverage industry. So it's a wide variety of machinery that use.
01:24:54 And let me say, let's say, for example, let's say, for example, BP providing gas, natural gas to Atlantic LNG.
01:25:05 And that's for some reason that piece of machinery, which is a compressor that transport the gas, the gas from the offshore platform to Atlantic LNG.
01:25:15 Let's say that piece of machinery fail, there's going to be a chain reaction. If it shut the wells down, you're going to have a lot of issues to actually get that machine up and running.
01:25:26 And at the end of the day, Atlantic LNG would not be getting the gas. The power generation company would not be getting gas to run the plant.
01:25:35 And also the customer who are on the other end waiting for those natural gas would not be getting it in a timely manner. So that's the effect it's going to have.
01:25:46 So what we are doing, we are presenting four modules on those two days, which is the conference, the 22nd and the 23rd of February.
01:25:55 And it's you know, it will be focusing on how to maintain your plant and equipment by taking a proactive measure rather than a reactive one.
01:26:06 Mr. Ampersad, as you mentioned, the issue of proactivity in that aspect of let's say the energy sector, you raised the issue of Atlantic LNG, BP and so on.
01:26:14 Is it from your perspective that that proactivity takes place?
01:26:18 So we've heard sometimes that issue of asset integrity being raised, for example, with we've had oil spills, let's say, at older facilities of the state oil company in recent years.
01:26:31 But in terms of just the general energy sector, do you see that level of proactivity as a regular feature in doing business?
01:26:41 Yeah, I would say that we are taking a proactive measure, but not an effective one as possible, not as effective as possible or as optimal as possible,
01:26:56 because if we do, we would not be having catastrophic failures in these industries.
01:27:03 We would not have people getting killed, people losing limbs and the impact on the environment.
01:27:10 So we are taking a proactive measure, but not to meet the targets that we would like to.
01:27:19 And we would must we must take into consideration that when an employee is trained and certified to handle this piece of machinery, to maintain them,
01:27:32 it will be a great asset to the company so we can avoid most of these catastrophic failures and these issues that we are having into these companies.
01:27:44 And recently you hear about we heard about people getting killed in one plant.
01:27:50 One happened just recently, the oil spill and all these things.
01:27:54 So if we really put things in place to ensure that these things are properly managed and properly monitored and collect these data and use them as evidence to ensure that we put forward the proactive measures,
01:28:12 we would have reduced the possibility of any catastrophic failures.
01:28:21 And thanks for that. But I'm also wondering as well to the conferences like this,
01:28:26 do you see the opportunity for persons, not just those who deal with the issue of maintenance,
01:28:31 but also a certain level of connectivity with those who own and operate these plants, operate the machines and whatnot,
01:28:39 to have that conversation about the importance of what you're talking about to avoid issues of harm or plants being shut down for long periods
01:28:50 because they were being maintained properly, etc.?
01:28:54 Yes, it is very important for every piece of the human resources into the organization to get involved to understand what is happening.
01:29:04 Because at the end of the day, if something happens with a plant, the managers would be responsible to account to the shareholders and directors why this happened.
01:29:16 So everyone within the organization should be able to have some sort of knowledge and understanding what it takes to ensure to avoid all these issues that we are having in these companies.
01:29:32 I would imagine this is very interesting because as you mentioned, Atlantic LNG, for example, you mentioned also BP.
01:29:41 We have the issue of the expectation according to the government of gas from Venezuela's Dragonfield,
01:29:47 whenever that begins, maybe the next couple of years or thereabouts, once all things are equal, as you say, in terms of the US sanctions issue, etc.
01:29:57 In terms of that, in the context of if you're seeing that level of resurgence, more activity in Puerto Rico, so renewed activity or increased activity,
01:30:07 this you're maintaining these plants because I think one of the issues is that we do have plants, let's say in Puerto Rico,
01:30:14 or in other areas that are fairly old or may not be, but in terms of age and constantly keeping these things up to date,
01:30:24 how critical is that and is that something you would want to focus on as well in your conference?
01:30:30 Yes, it is very, very, very critical and a very good point you have raised there.
01:30:35 A lot of our, most of our industry are running optimum as the time being, and there are some that is down right now.
01:30:43 For example, it's no big secret we have the Petrochemical Refinery is down right now,
01:30:51 and we're looking for potential buyers or operators of that facility.
01:30:58 Those equipment are down for a very long time, and we don't know, the public don't know that if what measures or what preventative measures are taken right now
01:31:08 to ensure that when they're ready to start up these facilities, what we are going to meet.
01:31:16 So they should have continuous monitoring and continuous activities taking place there.
01:31:21 The monitors, the motors, the monetary compressors, all the actuators, the flow recorders, the meters, and all these things in the plant.
01:31:28 So when you're ready to start the business, we will meet our required target to say that the plant is safe and ready for operation.
01:31:40 Unless you don't do that and get the quality assurance and quality control certificate from the relevant authority.
01:31:47 And when I say the relevant authority here, the OSHA and the Ministry of Energy or any of the ministries,
01:31:56 under those industries, they should be able to have all this data readily available to give the OK to go ahead and start the operation.
01:32:09 If you don't do that, if you don't do that, you will have serious, serious consequences.
01:32:15 As you mentioned that, I'm just wondering. So let's say hypothetically that the government,
01:32:22 as you mentioned the issue of the state-only five wind point appear mothballed since the restructuring,
01:32:28 as the government called it, of petrochemical and petroleum is limited.
01:32:32 So in late 2018, that plant has basically been just there. I don't know what inspections are taking place or so on.
01:32:40 If someone does show an interest and decides they would want to buy or lease said refinery from the state,
01:32:47 how long could it take for that level of inspection and all of the other things you mentioned for that to occur before such a plant can be up and running at optimal level?
01:33:00 Well, it depends on the size of the plant and how many additional plants there are have within the system.
01:33:07 Right now, at the point of refinery, they have about 18 smaller plants.
01:33:11 And we don't know right now how they are monitoring and what preventative action they are taking,
01:33:18 proactive action they are taking right now to ensure the plant is readily for operation when the time is due.
01:33:27 We have the Asala Metal plant. It's no big secret. It's in the news.
01:33:33 It's worldwide news. The Asala Metal plant was down for a while.
01:33:37 And the new entity that took it over, which is the Trinidad and Tobago Iron and Steel Company,
01:33:44 recently, recently, and I'm sad to make this comment, is that one of my students who came to one of our conferences,
01:33:55 he passed away because of an incident at the defuncted and revisited Asala Metal plant.
01:34:06 He died a couple of weeks ago. So the thing about it is that while that plant was down, we have to ask ourselves,
01:34:13 was it being monitored or was it being QA/QC, quality control quality, assured that when the plant is going to be operated,
01:34:23 that all measures are put in place? And if so, who did the QA/QC and who authorized the approval to continue to start the process?
01:34:38 If that was done, but therefore something went wrong for this person to get killed in the workplace.
01:34:45 So these are the things that we have to take into consideration. So to answer your question,
01:34:52 we need to put measures in place to ensure that all these plants that are down,
01:34:58 to put measures in place as I said, to ensure that we don't have this failure.
01:35:02 Plants that are running right now, we have to continue monitoring it, whether it be on a weekly basis, monthly basis, or quarterly basis.
01:35:13 You have to monitor it because when you monitor these pieces of machinery, let's say you're monitoring them on a monthly basis.
01:35:22 Every month you will go and collect the data and by looking at the trend analysis,
01:35:28 it will tell you all the data when this piece of machine is going to fail.
01:35:33 So it will give you enough time to plan and to schedule to get all the relevant resources to ensure that you are going to shut this piece of machine down,
01:35:46 to take proactive measures to ensure that it don't fail while delivering goods and services.
01:35:52 And in this way, while you're planning and you schedule it, you could inform or advise your customer,
01:36:02 we are going to have a shutdown. So you will be getting the low volume of gas or low volume of products.
01:36:10 So you will be able to advise your further customers downstream at what it is that's going to happen.
01:36:18 And this way, all the measures will be taken in place to ensure that the machine is reliable rather than being available and it can do what it's expected to do.
01:36:30 It's like you have a motor car. If you have a car and the car is supposed to take you from point A to point B,
01:36:36 and if it's not reliable and you're going to start it in the morning and it wouldn't start, then something is wrong.
01:36:46 It is available, but it's not reliable to take it from point A to point B.
01:36:50 Mr. Abesada, we are actually unfortunately running out of time in this segment.
01:36:56 So just very quickly, as I had begun, and I thank you very much for clarifying what the conference will be about and taking the questions on the issues we have been discussing.
01:37:05 You do have a guest, a high level government official from Ghana, if I'm not mistaken.
01:37:11 If you could just give viewers quickly a sense of who that is and why they'll be there.
01:37:17 All right. Joe, I'm glad you asked the question in the beginning, and I'm not going to take the time to give you that information.
01:37:25 We have in our midst a high power delegation approved by the president of Ghana, and this delegation will be led by His Honorable Dr. Mathieu Pempe.
01:37:35 He is the Minister of Energy in Ghana. He will be accompanied by 16 of the top executive members of companies under his ministry.
01:37:47 They will be here for the conference, and they will be also receiving awards, international awards, here on the 23rd.
01:37:59 They will be arriving here in Trinidad on the 20th of February, and they will be departing on the 25th.
01:38:06 Now, they will be meeting with their counterparts here in Trinidad.
01:38:13 For example, we have the Ghana Petroleum Commission. They will be meeting with the National Energy Skills Center.
01:38:21 They will be visiting the Institute. They will be also visiting the Drilling Academy.
01:38:27 We have another company under me.
01:38:29 Mr. Abbasad, I hate to interrupt you, but unfortunately we have run out of time in this segment.
01:38:34 I do thank you very much for the very comprehensive overview you gave on the issue of maintaining the safety of plants and equipment in the energy sector in particular, but in general.
01:38:45 And, of course, I do wish you all the best for your conference that will be taking place, that will see the Energy Minister of Ghana being present at the conference.
01:38:54 Thank you very much, sir.
01:38:56 You're most welcome, and thank you very much for having me on air. Thank you again.
01:39:00 Thank you very much. We take a commercial break and return with more of Morning Edition.
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01:40:27 Always encourage your child in anything they do.
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01:41:12 Good morning.
01:41:13 If you're joining us, this is TV6 News Morning Edition.
01:41:16 We are now beginning another segment.
01:41:19 With us via telephone is Brad Lewis, CARNOC, Secretary General and TTOC immediate past president
01:41:26 to speak with us about sports and the importance of sports.
01:41:30 And in his words, part of TT DNA like carnival.
01:41:36 Using his words there, Mr. Lewis, good morning.
01:41:39 Good morning and thank you for having me.
01:41:42 Yep, as I was saying in the Things That Matter blog today,
01:41:48 Chinbago, carnival and sport is in the Chinbago DNA.
01:41:53 It is in our soul and our DNA and our spirit.
01:41:58 And how do you see the link between the two?
01:42:02 Because some may say, well, that they are two separate things in terms of the athletic endeavor
01:42:10 and also the issue of carnival in terms of in general, are you speaking about or specific areas such as, let's say, mass?
01:42:20 No, in terms of the reality of it is who we are.
01:42:24 It's the essence of being Chinbago. We love to play.
01:42:28 We love to love our music or carnival.
01:42:32 We love our sport. And, you know, sports does not only have just like carnival.
01:42:39 It doesn't only have the external and physical component.
01:42:43 It is a significant emotive, emotional and psychological component.
01:42:49 That is the very essence of who we are as a as a Chinabagonian.
01:42:54 And, you know, while we are, we tend to be very critical and speak and focus on all the negative aspects.
01:43:03 The reality is that our carnival mentality is really our strength in as much as it is also our weakness.
01:43:12 But when you look at the last two days, notwithstanding all the negativity building up and you see the joy and the creativity and innovation,
01:43:23 it's the same thing that happens on the field of sports.
01:43:27 Why do so many people take an emotive interest in sport?
01:43:32 Because it is a critical part of who we are, our identity as a people, in our case, Chinbagonians.
01:43:39 What is your assessment, as you mentioned, the issue of carnival?
01:43:43 And I know that you are quite a participant in terms of carnival itself.
01:43:47 What is your sense of Carnival 2024?
01:43:51 Well, I grew up in Belmont, so let me just say that carnival is in my DNA and I have a carnival contract.
01:43:56 And so small as along many people.
01:44:00 Again, the Carnival 2020 was fantastic. There was a lot of displays that represent the best of who we are.
01:44:11 The music, the road match battle between Mikel Teja, DNA, Belmont Gonzalez, Carnival contract with Bungie Gallin.
01:44:22 You saw the mass displays of the bands, Genetic, which won the medium band, is a well-known sports person and carnival person.
01:44:31 Peter Samuel, Lost Tribe, I personally played with, for the last years I played with Belmont, exotic stylish sailors, a fancy sailor band,
01:44:42 which is led by Ansel McLean, a well-known Belmont, former past cricketer with Unity.
01:44:48 So carnival was fantastic. I mean, there is a lot you could point to that didn't work, but at the end of the day, the crime came off the front pages.
01:45:01 And you know what you're seeing now is that a lot of young people getting involved in carnival, the steel pan, the traditional masks, it's absolutely fantastic.
01:45:12 We embrace it and bottle it. We will do very well as a nation instead of having self-contempt and self-hatred about something that is part of us,
01:45:22 which is our carnival, going back from Campbell later now.
01:45:25 As you mentioned traditional masks, what is your sense in terms of where that is in the context of modern day carnival?
01:45:34 We would have seen the display of traditional mask costumes on Arpita Avenue, for example, just the week before carnival, etc.
01:45:43 What is your sense in terms of that level of support? Is it getting enough? Is it involved enough in the general sense of what we know carnival to be now?
01:45:52 I think traditional masks is making a comeback, honestly.
01:45:58 But I think what happens is that because so much focus of the media, and this is no slight on the media, they focus on what they focus with.
01:46:07 So whether it is the bikini and feathers and all the other aspects of carnival, but there were a number of small bands, including Belmont Exotic Stylish Sailors,
01:46:21 that produced traditional masks. You had Tribal Connection out of Gasparillo playing fancy Indian masks.
01:46:30 I saw a lot of traditional characters on the road. Then there is also the regional carnival.
01:46:38 So the traditional carnival is making a comeback.
01:46:43 I'm quite sure if the media focuses some attention on the small bands and the traditional masks, people will see those images.
01:46:51 But carnival has evolved, and there are modern day challenges. There are more people playing masks.
01:46:58 I hear people constantly talk about the empty stands, but I told someone, "Well, the stands may be empty because most people are playing masks."
01:47:07 It's not to say that there are not things to be improved, but I think overall we came out of Carnival 2024, or should come out of it, in a renewed optimism
01:47:21 about Trinidad and Tobago and where we are. The challenge is how do we capture all that went well for the carnival,
01:47:30 the management of crime, etc. A safe carnival, the tourism, everything.
01:47:37 But I see only optimism coming out of Carnival. I love Carnival every year. It renews my faith in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:47:48 Mr. Lewis, only as you mentioned the issue of the observations of some about empty stands during the period of the bands on Monday and Tuesday,
01:47:57 a caller did earlier have a suggestion or certainly raise a concern about whether or not the North Stand should continue to stay as it is there
01:48:08 for that Monday and Tuesday period of the period of the bands, if in fact it is not going to be filled at all or almost empty as the case may be.
01:48:20 We know that there is a place there certainly for Panorama and all of the events thereafter, including Carnival Monday and Tuesday,
01:48:27 but what is your take on that in terms of let's say Carnival Monday and Tuesday? Should the North Stand remain or not?
01:48:33 Well, I think it's a valid concern because it may send the wrong optics. The challenge of course would be the logistics of breaking down the North Stand
01:48:45 between Panorama and Dimash Graha and Carnival Monday. I think it is almost impossible.
01:48:52 Maybe what they may need to do is create a package where you encourage homes, the police youth groups, you know, police youth groups to sell homes,
01:49:08 give them free tickets to go to the North Stand, to give you that experience. I think that there is a lot of history and tradition that can be learned on educational value of Carnival.
01:49:24 I think that may be a better consideration than the idea of breaking down the stand, if that is what the caller was saying.
01:49:33 I think it is almost a logistical impossibility.
01:49:39 And certainly just in terms of what you would see generally in terms of on the road, whether or not you are seeing persons in Port of Spain as much as they used to be watching mass?
01:49:55 Well, what I can say, my experience on the road this year was that the crowds seemed to be coming back.
01:50:06 Meaning, for example, when we were coming across Arapeta Avenue, there were good crowds of people, very encouraging.
01:50:19 And don't talk for when you came down to the downtown judging point on Salt Key, there was a good crowd of people.
01:50:28 More improved than I have seen in recent years. Piccadilly was well attended.
01:50:35 I just feel that some of the bigger bands should embrace, let's use the current jargon, their corporate social responsibility, some of these party bands, and visit Salt Key and Piccadilly.
01:50:53 Stop avoiding East Port of Spain, which is the home of Carnival, where it all began in terms of Gambole.
01:51:02 The police presence and the people of East Port of Spain and Port of Spain love the Carnival and they want to see it.
01:51:11 And I just think that they should get that because I don't know how many bands participated in downtown and East Port of Spain and Piccadilly, but certainly more could help.
01:51:26 So the issue to me is not so much the people coming out, but what they are coming out to see.
01:51:34 I forgive the band.
01:51:37 Sorry, let me interrupt you. Go ahead as you close your point.
01:51:41 No, I was just going to say that the bands have to also understand that they can't only be playing masks for themselves.
01:51:51 If they want people to come out and see the mass, the people must come out and see something.
01:51:57 It's not only about having a party on the road and masqueraders rushing to get past the judging point so that they can get to the drink truck.
01:52:07 It is about playing masks. It is about interacting with the people and then the people will come back out.
01:52:13 But as I said, there were people. We didn't participate along the route.
01:52:21 Nobody. As I said, it was also the impression I got was more improved from previous years.
01:52:28 Mr. Lewis, I want to thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us this morning and give your perspective in terms of Carnival and issues of masks and the parade of the bands and so on.
01:52:37 Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
01:52:44 Thank you very much.
01:52:47 Thank you very much for that.
01:52:49 And we will now take a commercial break and return with more of Morning Edition.
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