Morning Edition: 27th February 2024

CCNTV6

Watch Morning Edition: 27th February 2024 - CCNTV6 on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00:00 (upbeat music)

00:00:02 - And a very special good morning everyone.

00:00:12 I'm Marlon Hopkinson.

00:00:13 As always, welcome to The Morning Edition.

00:00:16 It's Tuesday, February 27th, 2024.

00:00:19 Thank you very much for joining us this morning.

00:00:21 I hope that you had a safe and peaceful night

00:00:23 and that you're with us this morning.

00:00:25 We do appreciate it, yeah?

00:00:28 Yesterday was a tough day,

00:00:30 and I'm going to tell you why, right?

00:00:31 Let's go right away to the front page

00:00:36 of the Daily Express today.

00:00:39 Justice for Ezekiel.

00:00:41 Stop killing our children.

00:00:44 Wearing masks to hide their faces,

00:00:46 school children from the Laventille community

00:00:49 display placards during a protest yesterday

00:00:51 at the corner of Laventille Road

00:00:52 and map trace over last week's shooting death

00:00:55 of 12-year-old Ezekiel Paria.

00:00:58 Paria was fatally shot at the same corner.

00:01:02 And if we look at some of the placards,

00:01:04 Mr. Gunman, stop the killing of children.

00:01:07 We are the country's future leaders.

00:01:10 Please stop the violence.

00:01:12 Where are the leaders?

00:01:14 No sympathy, no empathy.

00:01:17 12-year-old shot dead.

00:01:21 Justice for Ezekiel.

00:01:23 Justice for Ezekiel.

00:01:25 Some of the messages on the placards here.

00:01:29 So we in pain, according to the story in the Express today.

00:01:34 Masked children remember Ezekiel wearing masks

00:01:37 to hide their faces, cause of children from Laventille.

00:01:40 Some of them friends of slain 12-year-old Ezekiel Paria

00:01:44 yesterday stood where he had been shot and killed

00:01:46 just last week, shouting justice for Ezekiel.

00:01:50 But let me just tell you about a paragraph here

00:01:52 that is very telling.

00:01:55 Former councillor for the area, Nedra McLean,

00:01:57 explained the masks that were worn

00:02:00 on some of the children's faces,

00:02:02 and they are putting on a mask

00:02:04 because they don't know if they will be next.

00:02:08 So we are hiding our faces

00:02:10 because we don't want them to see us, yeah?

00:02:14 So very troubling signs, if I do say so myself.

00:02:17 And just getting back to one of those placards here,

00:02:22 where are the leaders?

00:02:24 Where are the leaders?

00:02:25 No sympathy, no empathy.

00:02:28 And I think, you know, when you have situations

00:02:30 like these happening, there is a level of silence.

00:02:35 I'm not saying that people are not behind the scenes

00:02:38 doing work, you know.

00:02:39 I'm just saying that someone needs to come out

00:02:43 and give some strong message of assurance

00:02:47 as to, look, we are dealing with this matter, all right?

00:02:52 I'm just saying.

00:02:54 One of the other headlines on the front page,

00:02:56 send them back, fire officers wanted,

00:02:59 unsuitable US-style ladders returned to manufacturer.

00:03:04 Let me just touch on the story.

00:03:05 Fire service uses British standard equipment,

00:03:08 US-style ladders unsuitable.

00:03:10 The case of a million dollar unusable ladders

00:03:13 has taken another twist,

00:03:15 as documents show that a test was conducted

00:03:17 of the ladders, following which they were supposed

00:03:19 to be returned to the manufacturer.

00:03:21 Further documents show that Chief Fire Officer

00:03:23 Arnold Bristow signed off and approved

00:03:25 the 20 wooden ladders in 2019 as brigade's engineer.

00:03:30 In response to questions from the Express yesterday,

00:03:32 Bristow stated via WhatsApp that he was on vacation.

00:03:37 All right, so it gets murkier and murkier.

00:03:41 Let's look at some sport now.

00:03:43 In it to win it, TNT tackle Canada to earn berth

00:03:47 in CONCACAF Under 20 Championship

00:03:50 with Trinidad and Tobago Under 20 men's football team

00:03:53 will be going hard for a win

00:03:54 against their Canadian counterparts

00:03:56 in their Group D qualifying series fixture.

00:03:59 Tonight at the Hazy Crawford Stadium, Nicaragua,

00:04:02 we have a spot at the 2024 CONCACAF Under 20 Championship

00:04:06 at stake.

00:04:07 So just a tip there as to what is going on in sports.

00:04:12 All right, so it's time to remind you

00:04:14 about Trinbago, your nice feature.

00:04:16 Remember to participate, WhatsApp your videos or images

00:04:18 to 737-3778.

00:04:22 We do have this image for you.

00:04:23 It's from lovely Speyside, Tobago.

00:04:27 That's a beautiful spot there.

00:04:29 Yeah.

00:04:30 I feel after the program, I'm going to board a plane

00:04:33 and go to that spot.

00:04:35 Yeah, and just take it in.

00:04:36 Just soak it in everybody.

00:04:38 Yeah, thank you to the person who sent that picture to us.

00:04:43 We would have loved to say a very special good morning

00:04:45 to you if we had your name.

00:04:47 So again, let's, if you can give us your first name,

00:04:51 it would be lovely to say a very special good morning to you,

00:04:53 but it's a lovely picture.

00:04:54 We do appreciate it.

00:04:55 All right, so it's from Speyside, Tobago.

00:04:58 All right, so we do have a very interesting program

00:05:00 for you today.

00:05:03 You have your coffee, you have your tea.

00:05:04 I have mine, you know.

00:05:05 I sang them this morning so I could show you it, right?

00:05:08 And get something to eat, okay?

00:05:10 So we're coming back everybody.

00:05:12 (upbeat music)

00:05:14 (upbeat music)

00:05:17 - Football fans, the knockout rounds

00:05:31 of the NLCL Under 19 Community Cup is here!

00:05:34 - Is here!

00:05:35 - The exciting all-star game will be

00:05:39 at the Mani Ramjan Stadium in Marabella on February 25th.

00:05:43 The quarterfinal knockout will be

00:05:44 at the Larry Gomes Stadium on March 2nd

00:05:47 and Mani Ramjan Stadium on March 3rd.

00:05:49 Spread the word, the NLCL Under 19 Community

00:05:54 Knockout Rounds are coming!

00:05:55 - Are coming!

00:05:56 - This ad is brought to you by

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00:06:03 The Next Level Foundation,

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00:06:19 Massey Foundation, and Ram Singh Sportswear.

00:06:22 The knockout rounds of the NLCL Under 19 Community Cup

00:06:25 is here!

00:06:26 - Jazz it up with the Trinidad Express e-paper.

00:06:30 First time subscribers to the number one

00:06:32 digital news provider will receive a free ticket

00:06:35 to Jazz Artists on the Greens, happening March 16th.

00:06:38 Simply download the Express app

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00:06:52 ♪ Do you feel it ♪

00:06:54 ♪ I can feel it coming in the air ♪

00:06:57 ♪ Coming in the air ♪

00:06:59 ♪ Coming in the air ♪

00:07:02 ♪ Do you feel it ♪

00:07:08 ♪ Ooh, don't you feel it ♪

00:07:10 ♪ You remember the time ♪

00:07:12 ♪ I'm alive and I love the game ♪

00:07:15 ♪ Remember ♪

00:07:17 ♪ Ooh, don't you feel it ♪

00:07:19 ♪ You remember the time ♪

00:07:21 ♪ I'm alive and I love the game ♪

00:07:24 ♪ You remember the time ♪

00:07:26 ♪ Ooh, don't you feel it ♪

00:07:29 - Who cares?

00:07:30 - Who really cares?

00:07:32 - Who cares?

00:07:33 I care, because I know that tobacco use

00:07:35 is the single largest preventable cause

00:07:38 of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

00:07:40 Smoking cigarettes has been found to harm

00:07:41 almost every organ and organ system in your body.

00:07:45 You can do something about that.

00:07:47 Don't smoke.

00:07:48 If you do, stop.

00:07:50 I care, because cancer doesn't.

00:07:52 (upbeat music)

00:07:55 (upbeat music)

00:08:02 (upbeat music)

00:08:04 ♪ Getting together ♪

00:08:14 ♪ So should every leader ♪

00:08:17 ♪ For we are one people ♪

00:08:20 - All right, so welcome back, everyone.

00:08:21 So a regional ferry service involving Guyana,

00:08:24 Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago,

00:08:25 and that is expected to begin operations

00:08:28 within three months' time.

00:08:29 Now, this was confirmed by President of Guyana,

00:08:33 Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali,

00:08:34 who gave an update on the situation on Saturday last.

00:08:38 We do have on the line this morning,

00:08:40 TTMA board member and Vice President,

00:08:43 Regional Initiatives at Ramps Logistics,

00:08:46 Mr. Rudy Rampersad.

00:08:48 Mr. Rampersad, good morning.

00:08:50 - Hey, good morning, and how are you doing?

00:08:51 - I'm good, I'm good.

00:08:52 Good to speak with you this morning.

00:08:54 Well, Mr. Rampersad, this is very new news.

00:08:57 I'm sure that it would have come as a surprise to everyone,

00:09:00 including members of the business community.

00:09:03 And while I know that there may be not a lot of information

00:09:09 in the public domain about it,

00:09:11 but how do you feel about it?

00:09:14 And how does the TTMA feel about it?

00:09:17 - Well, good morning, everyone.

00:09:20 And the TTMA is very excited to hear this news.

00:09:23 It's a service that is much needed in the Caribbean,

00:09:27 you know, getting us into what we call

00:09:29 a truly integrated caricom.

00:09:31 So, you know, we are excited,

00:09:32 and it's a very positive move in the right direction

00:09:37 for trade-offs to be great.

00:09:39 - Yeah.

00:09:40 So according to the President of Guyana,

00:09:43 Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali,

00:09:45 he says, "We have launched the first phase of this.

00:09:49 In another two or three months,

00:09:50 that ferry will begin operations,

00:09:53 and we are hoping that this will instill confidence

00:09:56 in the private sector and for the IDB investors.

00:10:00 This is an excellent opportunity

00:10:02 to bring a regional consortium together,"

00:10:04 the head of state said.

00:10:06 He said, "We are not waiting on everyone.

00:10:09 Those who are willing to start an innovative project

00:10:12 will go ahead, and the others will join

00:10:14 when they are ready," he explained.

00:10:18 He has really expressed great optimism

00:10:23 about this project.

00:10:24 In three months' time,

00:10:25 I'm sure that some people may be saying,

00:10:27 "In three months' time?

00:10:28 That's very optimistic."

00:10:30 - Yeah.

00:10:31 Yeah, so, you know, it is, you know,

00:10:34 a shorter time period than expected,

00:10:39 but because, you know, if something is much needed,

00:10:42 and, you know, you have the right backing

00:10:43 of the government of Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados,

00:10:47 you know, things have been moving along very nicely

00:10:49 from what we understand,

00:10:50 and moving in the right direction,

00:10:52 you know, they are at the stage of now

00:10:56 putting forward, you know, vessels

00:10:57 and getting that moving, getting that approved.

00:10:59 So, you know, it is possible,

00:11:02 being with all the right moves happening

00:11:05 in the right direction together

00:11:07 and getting the right support.

00:11:08 So things are moving along very nicely.

00:11:11 - Do you think that members of the private sector

00:11:14 would be very interested in investing in this project?

00:11:18 - Yeah, I think it's something

00:11:20 that is very much needed by the private sector,

00:11:22 it's something that they themselves

00:11:24 have been loving for a while now.

00:11:26 You know, it's a service that is much required

00:11:28 in terms of getting Trinidad, the Caribbean,

00:11:31 into what we call one really integrated caricom.

00:11:34 You know, simply moving a container

00:11:37 between Trinidad and Barbados,

00:11:39 you know, sometimes has to go up to the US

00:11:41 and come back down.

00:11:42 With this service, you know,

00:11:43 that movement could happen in two to three days,

00:11:46 direct and indirect service,

00:11:48 at probably, you know, a fraction of the cost

00:11:50 of moving that container previously.

00:11:52 So it's something that is much needed,

00:11:55 but something that I think the private sector

00:11:56 would very much welcome,

00:11:58 not just for the movement of cargo,

00:12:00 but the movement of people also with the caricom.

00:12:03 - Yeah, and I know, Mr. Rampersad,

00:12:05 that your company, it does a lot of work in the region,

00:12:10 more recently so in Guyana.

00:12:14 So I suspect this is welcome news for you.

00:12:18 But let's deal with some of the challenges

00:12:22 that you think that companies in the region

00:12:26 are experiencing and how this project

00:12:30 would be able to help them.

00:12:31 - So, you know, within caricom itself,

00:12:35 you know, the biggest challenge, I think,

00:12:37 from what we've seen is integration and logistics.

00:12:41 So, you know, like right now in Trinidad,

00:12:44 you know, you have guys,

00:12:45 fantastically manufactured products,

00:12:48 the challenge is now the cost to move those goods

00:12:51 within the caricom and then the transit time

00:12:54 to move that cargo within caricom.

00:12:56 You know, a lot of cargo we have seen

00:12:58 into the smaller islands,

00:13:00 I know, into Hatiba, Sin Usha coming down,

00:13:03 a lot of it is imported from the US.

00:13:05 And, you know, the cost of a container,

00:13:08 something like that sometimes can range

00:13:10 from five, six, 7,000 US dollars.

00:13:13 You know, with this integration and this service,

00:13:16 you know, we can see that cost of transportation

00:13:19 cut by sometimes 25, 20% overall

00:13:22 on just the transportation bill itself.

00:13:26 And now we are also allowing the opportunity

00:13:28 to move caricom goods, goods that are manufactured

00:13:32 within the caricom, to give those guys,

00:13:34 those manufacturers, those businesses,

00:13:37 an opportunity to expand into new markets

00:13:40 of already quality product that we produce in here,

00:13:44 in the caricom.

00:13:46 And just to add to that also, you know,

00:13:48 I know Mr. Lefanade has been speaking about,

00:13:51 you know, food security 2025.

00:13:53 - Yes.

00:13:54 - And this project, it's a big move in the right direction

00:13:58 for food security, you know.

00:14:00 Food security, the biggest challenge

00:14:01 with food security in the Caribbean is logistics,

00:14:05 you know, moving the right goods and services

00:14:08 around within the caricom at the right price.

00:14:11 And this service will provide just exactly that.

00:14:16 - Well, I know that yesterday,

00:14:18 the Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley,

00:14:20 he spoke about this and he said he was pleased

00:14:23 with the level of interest generated

00:14:25 by the decision to launch the ferry.

00:14:28 And he assured that the TNT government is committed

00:14:30 to ensuring that the commercial preparatory work

00:14:33 is completed.

00:14:34 He also said that while the government will facilitate

00:14:37 the incubation of the project,

00:14:40 it is hoped that the private sector will play

00:14:43 an integral role in the expansion of the ferry service.

00:14:48 So I think Mr. Rampersad, a bit of weight has been put

00:14:51 on the private sector, right?

00:14:53 On the shoulders of business, right?

00:14:55 - Yes, yes.

00:14:56 You know, I think the private sector will welcome that weight

00:14:59 you know, it's really good to see that type of relationship

00:15:03 continue to grow within the caricom also.

00:15:05 You see that private public partnership, you know,

00:15:08 pushing forward in this type of service.

00:15:11 So, you know, we're excited to see that

00:15:12 and we're excited to have that type of partnership

00:15:16 with the governments as we move forward.

00:15:18 'Cause you know, we need one another as we go forward

00:15:21 to continue to develop economic growth in the region.

00:15:24 So, you know, it's a partnership that is welcome.

00:15:27 I think it's a partnership that's going to work very well,

00:15:29 especially for this type of project.

00:15:31 - Yeah, but Mr. Rampersad, I don't mean to be,

00:15:34 or I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade,

00:15:38 but I think that history will show us and tell us

00:15:43 that sometimes when it comes to business,

00:15:48 there is a level of difficulty in dealing with business

00:15:53 in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.

00:15:56 There is some difficulty sometimes at the ports, yeah?

00:16:01 Especially around, let's say peak periods,

00:16:05 such as Christmas, Carnival, and so on.

00:16:09 And there may be the risk of bringing this on stream now

00:16:14 that the system just cannot absorb the amount of demands

00:16:23 and work to allow this to work effectively.

00:16:28 - And you know, rightfully so, you know,

00:16:31 we've had some challenges in the past, you know,

00:16:34 both with capacity and workforce during peaks in time.

00:16:39 But what I've been seeing so far

00:16:42 from different port authorities,

00:16:44 is that they're moving in the right direction, you know,

00:16:47 in terms of implementing the right systems.

00:16:49 We've seen a lot of improvements

00:16:51 in terms of the software delivery

00:16:53 that is being used in the port,

00:16:54 you know, to allow for fast efficiency,

00:16:57 for processing of truckers, processing of documentation,

00:17:01 you know, allowing access of where the containers are situated

00:17:04 in the port, is allowing that type of movement.

00:17:08 So we're seeing that, you know,

00:17:09 the right move with Asicuda will, you know,

00:17:12 manifest online.

00:17:14 So a lot of right moves are happening at the same time

00:17:18 with the port facilities,

00:17:20 pushed by the governments to ensure that, you know,

00:17:22 as we move into this new phase,

00:17:25 we also move the right processes,

00:17:27 the right technology that comes

00:17:29 with these type of developments.

00:17:32 And we are seeing that, we are seeing the right steps.

00:17:34 So, you know, we are very excited also to see that

00:17:37 go hand in hand together, right?

00:17:39 'Cause we would love to have this service up and running,

00:17:42 but, you know, if we don't have the right processes,

00:17:44 the right technologies, the right people behind,

00:17:47 we are going to have challenges.

00:17:49 But, you know, we have seen the commitment

00:17:51 from different governments, you know,

00:17:53 different port authorities,

00:17:55 to ensure that the right processes,

00:17:57 the right technologies are being implemented

00:17:59 as we go forward for this process.

00:18:01 - Yeah.

00:18:02 So you have expressed optimism about the project.

00:18:05 You say that the members of the business community

00:18:08 are excited about the project.

00:18:10 Is it that view, let's say,

00:18:16 the view of members of the Manufacturers Association?

00:18:21 You have had a chance to sit down and discuss this briefly

00:18:24 and come up with a position?

00:18:27 - Yeah.

00:18:28 You know, I did TTMA and the board met earlier,

00:18:32 based on what we've seen in the public domain

00:18:35 or we've been hearing through the private sector, you know.

00:18:38 We think this is a fantastic initiative.

00:18:42 I think the manufacturers itself, our membership,

00:18:45 is very excited for such a service.

00:18:47 It is allowing them a lot more opportunity

00:18:50 for new routes, new service deliveries,

00:18:53 new markets to enter.

00:18:55 And again, at the right price,

00:18:57 with CARICOM, you know, within CARICOM,

00:18:59 you know, manufactured goods,

00:19:01 we have duty-free relations between CARICOM.

00:19:05 So I think not just the private sector

00:19:07 and manufacturers are very excited,

00:19:09 but I think customers also should be, you know,

00:19:12 it's a new opportunity for customers also

00:19:14 to have a variety of new products in market,

00:19:18 quality products in market at lower prices also.

00:19:21 - Yeah.

00:19:22 Mr. Rampersad, isn't this an attempt?

00:19:25 I don't know if you would agree with me,

00:19:26 but it's another attempt at creating this concept

00:19:31 of one Caribbean and moving all the barriers,

00:19:38 the trade barriers that may be in place and so on,

00:19:42 really allowing the free movement of people,

00:19:47 professionals, goods, and so on,

00:19:51 all a part of the Caribbean single market and economy.

00:19:55 - Yeah, and you're 100% correct, right?

00:19:57 This is what we require,

00:19:59 for a real move towards one Caribbean, you know?

00:20:02 Free movement of people within the CARICOM

00:20:04 with the right documentation,

00:20:05 you know, free movement of cargo within CARICOM

00:20:09 with the right documentation,

00:20:10 the right laws, the right trade barriers being in place.

00:20:13 So it's a real process,

00:20:15 the right step into what we call

00:20:17 a real integrated CARICOM, you know?

00:20:20 - Yeah.

00:20:21 - And we look really excited even here about that news,

00:20:23 you know what I mean?

00:20:24 I can sit here in Trinidad today

00:20:26 and cargo could be in Barbados tomorrow

00:20:29 or into Guyana with this violence very quickly.

00:20:34 That in itself is what we require, you know?

00:20:36 It gives the opportunity now to smaller manufacturers,

00:20:40 guys that are doing two and three pallets of goods now,

00:20:43 to move that goods into a new product,

00:20:46 into a new market within a few hours, you know?

00:20:49 That is the type of integration we require.

00:20:51 You know, the need that we require,

00:20:54 if I pick up in Port of Spain,

00:20:55 I can just drive to Central Trinidad in a few hours,

00:20:58 you know?

00:20:59 That is the type of sense and feeling

00:21:01 and logistics that is required

00:21:04 to give us a real one Caribbean,

00:21:06 have a real integration.

00:21:07 And I think this project is something

00:21:09 that is gonna push that in the right direction

00:21:11 to give us that one Caribbean integration.

00:21:14 - Yeah, and you know,

00:21:15 we have been speaking about the Caribbean single market

00:21:18 and economy for a number of years now.

00:21:22 We have been speaking about the free movement of people

00:21:24 and goods and resources, however you want to put it.

00:21:27 But there have been some stumbling blocks along the way,

00:21:31 right?

00:21:32 Because of, you have inequalities of wealth in the Caribbean,

00:21:37 you have some countries are bigger than others

00:21:39 and all of these issues that we have to grapple with

00:21:44 in the Caribbean.

00:21:45 But do you think that more and more

00:21:48 we are embracing this concept?

00:21:51 - Yeah, so you know, previously,

00:21:56 we've had that challenge and rightfully so,

00:21:59 not just with economies, but trade barriers,

00:22:02 different things have hindered

00:22:04 the movement of what we want for a real one Caribbean.

00:22:10 With this type of project,

00:22:11 I think it gives the access to the smaller markets,

00:22:14 it gives us now integration into new markets

00:22:18 that may not have existed previously

00:22:20 for multiple different reasons.

00:22:22 It allows us not to reconnect with one another.

00:22:25 You know, I could sit right here in Trinidad

00:22:28 and I could connect with a buyer in Barbados

00:22:30 and I can have that goods move and it's there tomorrow

00:22:33 versus what is currently happening,

00:22:35 sometimes seven, eight days goes up and come back down.

00:22:39 But it also allows smaller guys to ship smaller products,

00:22:43 smaller quantities, because now we have a faster service,

00:22:46 a reliable service that gives you probably

00:22:48 a just-in-time type of situation with goods and services.

00:22:52 So you don't have to expand

00:22:53 that type of economic investment.

00:22:57 You don't have to put up a huge warehouse facility.

00:23:01 You don't have to invest in multiple containers

00:23:04 to store and reload.

00:23:06 This service allows you guys who have one or two pallets

00:23:09 to move that goods and services

00:23:11 with that investment they currently have

00:23:13 very quickly in and out.

00:23:15 So it's gonna mix, this service will allow everybody

00:23:18 to kind of open the market for a fair play

00:23:21 to allow both small, medium and large businesses

00:23:24 to come in and develop that type of service

00:23:26 and that type of economic movement that we require.

00:23:29 - Yeah, and judging from what you are saying,

00:23:31 I think that what you are saying,

00:23:33 it's really an attempt to,

00:23:35 or you feel that it's really going to level

00:23:38 the playing field.

00:23:40 - That is correct.

00:23:41 - Yeah.

00:23:42 How, as I said earlier,

00:23:45 your company has been spreading

00:23:50 throughout the region and we know more recently in Guyana.

00:23:57 How has that experience been for you all?

00:24:00 - It's been fantastic.

00:24:04 I tell you, it's allowed us the opportunity

00:24:07 to really embrace what we wanna be called

00:24:10 as the one Caribbean.

00:24:11 It has allowed us the opportunity to understand the,

00:24:16 firstly, sometimes there's challenges

00:24:17 with different trade barriers,

00:24:19 different entries to market.

00:24:21 It has allowed us to, one, understand those,

00:24:25 but more importantly, understand how we operate

00:24:28 in the Caribbean, how we do business in the Caribbean.

00:24:31 What are the entries, the barriers and entries?

00:24:36 The difference, as much as it is one Caribbean,

00:24:39 we have little differences in cultures.

00:24:41 How do we embrace those positivity?

00:24:43 How do we use that to not just do better for the Caribbean,

00:24:46 but understand the challenges that we've had in the Caribbean

00:24:51 not just in logistics, but movement of people

00:24:54 and services, and how do we now provide a solution

00:24:57 that all of us can benefit from?

00:25:00 So it's a bit of a learning experience,

00:25:04 but exciting, and it is something that we have been trying

00:25:08 to also understand and share those experiences

00:25:11 so that we should not be leaving room

00:25:13 for any other business or any other company

00:25:15 trying to enter those markets and move forward.

00:25:17 - Yeah.

00:25:18 Now, you did speak about it, or touched on it

00:25:21 a little earlier, but also CARICOM leaders

00:25:24 also received a detailed report on the progress

00:25:28 the region has made towards increasing food production

00:25:32 in member states.

00:25:34 What's the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association's

00:25:38 position on this, and how can the association contribute

00:25:43 to this initiative, this concept?

00:25:46 - The association thinks it's the right move.

00:25:49 We have to work towards having food security in the region.

00:25:54 Within CARICOM, sometimes there's 60, 70, 80%

00:25:59 of our food import bill comes from the US, right?

00:26:03 We spend close to a few hundred million dollars a year

00:26:06 very easily imported from the US, China, Europe

00:26:10 for our bill, right?

00:26:12 Food products.

00:26:13 I think this one allows us the opportunity now

00:26:16 to not just import or purchase from CARICOM,

00:26:20 but allows us to understand the quality of our products,

00:26:23 the nutrition value of our products,

00:26:25 understand where our food are grown,

00:26:28 what are the products that are being used.

00:26:30 It's not just a move towards security,

00:26:33 but allows us an opportunity now to understand more

00:26:36 about the type and quality, the nutritional value

00:26:39 of our food, and it allows us now to also help

00:26:43 develop new markets.

00:26:44 In Guyana, Mr. Ali has a few programs where the government

00:26:49 supports new initiatives for young farmers,

00:26:53 helping them with grants to develop new products.

00:26:57 Recently, I just did one in Farnsworth,

00:26:59 and you'll see there's lettuce,

00:27:02 romaine lettuce, different styles of lettuce

00:27:05 that we would have traditionally imported,

00:27:07 now being grown right here in Guyana.

00:27:09 So it really allows us an opportunity

00:27:12 to expand into new markets,

00:27:14 allow young entrepreneurs an opportunity to really grow,

00:27:19 but allows us in the Caribbean now

00:27:20 to understand better products

00:27:22 and have a security of understanding now

00:27:24 where these products are coming from,

00:27:26 how quickly we can have those products,

00:27:28 and then allows us an opportunity now to secure that

00:27:30 in terms of understanding that where we have

00:27:33 these products coming at, at a lower cost.

00:27:36 - Yeah, and my argument has been, Mr. Rampersad,

00:27:41 that our taste in the Caribbean has really changed, right?

00:27:45 All of a sudden we have a taste

00:27:47 for what is being produced abroad.

00:27:51 So we have that sort of taste now.

00:27:53 But I think that you made a point earlier

00:27:56 that maybe what entrepreneurs or business people

00:28:03 need to be thinking of in Trinidad and Tobago

00:28:06 and in the region is to create similar type products

00:28:11 as to what is being produced abroad here,

00:28:15 so that what you do, and in fact,

00:28:17 is to lessen that import bill.

00:28:21 - Okay, rightfully so, right?

00:28:23 And another side of that is,

00:28:26 we all eat with our eyes first, right?

00:28:29 For us to also understand the type of packaging

00:28:31 we would like from these type of products,

00:28:33 'cause we have really good products in the Caribbean,

00:28:36 products that could rival anywhere in the world

00:28:38 in terms of quality.

00:28:39 And I think the next step as we go forward

00:28:41 is to understand the type of packaging

00:28:44 we have on those products,

00:28:45 how we do the labeling, how we market our products.

00:28:48 So it's a full 360 in terms of our business development

00:28:52 of our product itself,

00:28:54 and understand how we make that more appealing

00:28:57 to the Caribbean, not just in price,

00:28:59 but in the look and feel and touch of those products

00:29:02 and all of those.

00:29:03 And in TTM, what the boarders look forward to

00:29:08 as we go forward in the next six months,

00:29:09 is to really launch a program

00:29:12 that allows small businesses, medium and large businesses

00:29:15 to understand those type of things,

00:29:17 understand the different types of packaging

00:29:19 that is available, packaging and give care of your product

00:29:21 and your longer shelf life.

00:29:23 You may have to pay a few cents more,

00:29:26 but you have a longer shelf life on your product,

00:29:28 a different feel of the product,

00:29:29 a product that may be a type of packaging

00:29:31 and keep the freshness of your product.

00:29:33 So different little things as we go forward,

00:29:35 you'll see come forward from TTM as we go forward

00:29:38 that help push this program of food security forward

00:29:42 in different aspects of that project.

00:29:44 - Yeah.

00:29:45 So Mr. Rampersad, is it safe to say

00:29:46 that the position, RE, the ferry service,

00:29:49 is that your interest is peaked?

00:29:52 And when I say your interest, from the business community,

00:29:55 you are excited about the project,

00:29:57 you are willing to invest in the project,

00:29:59 but at this time you still have limited information

00:30:03 and you'd like to get additional information.

00:30:05 - Yeah, yeah.

00:30:06 And you're right, so you know,

00:30:08 I think the private sector is very excited.

00:30:10 They are very optimistic also having this come forward.

00:30:13 It's something that is required.

00:30:15 As we go forward, you know,

00:30:16 and to get more information on that,

00:30:18 I think we're gonna see a lot more coming forward

00:30:20 in the public toolkits as we go forward

00:30:22 from the private sector and the investors

00:30:25 in the project as we move forward.

00:30:26 - Yeah.

00:30:27 Rudy Rampersad, it was a pleasure speaking

00:30:28 with you this morning.

00:30:29 Thank you very much.

00:30:30 - Pleasure.

00:30:31 And thank you very much for having me.

00:30:32 Thank you very much, guys.

00:30:33 Take care. Cheers.

00:30:34 - All right, bye for now.

00:30:36 So it's time for another break.

00:30:37 We are coming back, everybody.

00:30:38 (upbeat music)

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00:32:51 I can write.

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00:32:56 I can protest.

00:32:59 I can stand up for my rights.

00:33:02 And I can enjoy my rights.

00:33:06 I have the right to express myself.

00:33:09 - Children have rights.

00:33:12 (upbeat music)

00:33:14 - I grew up in a country,

00:33:30 small little town called Bougmanatras in Santa Cruz.

00:33:34 Very special place to grow up in.

00:33:37 And now as an adult,

00:33:38 I think of those children in Trinidad and Tobago

00:33:42 who do not have a safe place,

00:33:45 who are maybe not even lying in their own beds or a bed.

00:33:50 And there's no roof to shade them from the sun,

00:33:53 nor to protect them from the rain.

00:33:55 When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity

00:33:59 Trinidad and Tobago,

00:34:01 they answered a call I have deep inside of me.

00:34:05 What they were saying to me

00:34:07 was that we can make a difference.

00:34:10 I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board,

00:34:13 consider helping Habitat for Humanity

00:34:16 in whatever way you can.

00:34:29 - I am your mother.

00:34:30 - Aunt.

00:34:31 - Grandmother.

00:34:32 - Guardian.

00:34:33 - Friend.

00:34:34 - And I promise to protect you in all situations.

00:34:38 - Because someone has hurt you.

00:34:40 - Violated you.

00:34:42 - Harmed you.

00:34:43 - Abused you.

00:34:44 - And you were brave enough to tell me.

00:34:47 - You trusted me.

00:34:49 - You came to me for help.

00:34:50 - To defend.

00:34:52 - For support.

00:34:53 - To protect you.

00:34:55 - No amount of money.

00:34:57 - Or bribes.

00:34:58 - Favors or gifts will stop you.

00:35:02 - You are most important to me.

00:35:05 - You are worth more to me than any material thing.

00:35:09 - I will do all in my power.

00:35:11 - In my heart.

00:35:13 - To make sure that you are taken care of.

00:35:16 - And that justice is served.

00:35:19 - And you thrive.

00:35:20 - Together my daughter.

00:35:22 - My son.

00:35:23 - My child.

00:35:24 - We will live and love.

00:35:26 - I will protect you.

00:35:28 - Break the silence.

00:35:30 Report all cases of child sexual abuse.

00:35:33 (upbeat music)

00:35:35 (upbeat music)

00:35:39 - All right, so welcome back everyone.

00:35:50 So as concerns continue to rise over the shooting

00:35:53 at the Gloucester Lodge Primary School last week

00:35:56 and the impact on the students and the community,

00:35:58 counselor for Belmont South, Raphael Bones,

00:36:01 tells us it is worrisome.

00:36:03 He now joins us.

00:36:05 Counselor, good morning.

00:36:06 - Yes, hi, good morning and good morning

00:36:10 to Trinidad and Tobago.

00:36:12 Nice to be on the program.

00:36:13 - Yes, counselor, well, let me put it this way,

00:36:16 a very blunt question.

00:36:17 What is happening in Belmont?

00:36:20 Because I think that in recent times

00:36:23 we have seen an upsurge in violent crimes in Belmont.

00:36:28 We have seen situations where murder has come out of it.

00:36:33 What is responsible for all of this upheaval,

00:36:38 if I can put it that way in Belmont?

00:36:40 - Well, but firstly, let me say that

00:36:46 over the last three weeks have been very trying

00:36:50 to our community and undoubtedly our sense of safety

00:36:55 and security have definitely been shaken.

00:36:57 So firstly, I know it's crucial to recognize

00:37:01 the pain and the fear of these incidents as caused.

00:37:05 But I believe it is a (indistinct)

00:37:10 in gang activities.

00:37:12 I cannot authenticate or verify, but this is the basis.

00:37:17 I think there's a lot of issues.

00:37:19 There's a lot of issues facing Belmont and Gonzales

00:37:23 at the moment.

00:37:25 So I know we are working feverishly with the police.

00:37:29 They are doing their initial investigation.

00:37:33 We as a community, myself along with also counselor,

00:37:38 we decided that this is a total involvement

00:37:42 where everybody is all hands on deck from our church

00:37:45 to our community group, to the activists,

00:37:49 everybody needs to come together.

00:37:51 Because as I said, it has been a trying time

00:37:55 and we are trying our best.

00:37:56 We know the government is doing what they need to do,

00:37:58 but other community, we also need to do what we need to do,

00:38:01 which is I as counselor make sure that,

00:38:05 the basics are there, the lighting,

00:38:06 the utilities are up and about,

00:38:10 but it's about creating a better environment

00:38:12 because I'm asking myself the question,

00:38:15 what can we do really to stop the gun violence?

00:38:19 And there's a lot of ideas coming.

00:38:21 We have a lot of security experts

00:38:23 that live in our community

00:38:26 that has come on board to offer some ideas.

00:38:29 So we are at the stage now

00:38:30 where we engage in all stakeholders

00:38:33 to come, partner with us, let's bring a level of comfort.

00:38:38 Yesterday, the school, Southern Moravian School,

00:38:41 spoke to the principal.

00:38:43 I also spoke to some representative of tutor

00:38:46 as what we as a council could contribute

00:38:49 in order to make the space that we exist in,

00:38:53 comfortable and as secure as possible.

00:38:56 - Counselor, I know that you and your colleagues

00:39:01 would have been out in the field

00:39:03 trying to test the temperature

00:39:05 as to what is happening in Belmont.

00:39:07 I know earlier that you mentioned

00:39:10 that some people have expressed fear

00:39:13 because of what is happening in Belmont.

00:39:16 What are the people feeling?

00:39:19 - Well, generally it's a bit of mixy motion.

00:39:26 When you speak to somebody, you say they get anger.

00:39:31 When you speak to some people, it's pain.

00:39:33 And when you speak to some others,

00:39:34 it's like they throw their hands up in the air.

00:39:37 But I'm telling our community, don't lose hope.

00:39:41 I understand that a death in any way

00:39:44 is a painful situation to deal with.

00:39:47 I mean, and having to come out in the road

00:39:49 and see one of the abortionists lying down

00:39:51 there in front of a school during school hours.

00:39:54 I mean, that hurt me to the core

00:39:56 because the gentleman in question,

00:39:58 I know him, I grew up in the neighborhood

00:40:00 with him while I was at Belmont,

00:40:03 he was a QRC, what have you.

00:40:05 So I understand the outrage and I understand the concern.

00:40:08 But at this point in time,

00:40:10 I would like to bring some reassurance

00:40:12 that we are working on it as best as possible

00:40:15 to bring that comfort.

00:40:16 And I need all hands on deck

00:40:19 because this is not a one man show.

00:40:20 I mean, the police is doing what they need to do.

00:40:22 They have a precedent.

00:40:24 I think the counselors from Ministry of Education

00:40:27 visited the area, the school in question.

00:40:30 And you know, they had their say,

00:40:32 we talked, we did the rest of them.

00:40:33 But there's a lot of work to be done

00:40:35 in changing the mindsets of the people.

00:40:37 Because you know, you think about

00:40:39 what type of individual will come to commit that crime

00:40:41 in front of a primary school,

00:40:43 where they're infants, where they're teachers,

00:40:45 where parents are dropping off.

00:40:47 So you know, we're looking at a society,

00:40:50 even though you may have an issue with someone,

00:40:53 I mean, there are many ways

00:40:54 that we could settle our differences.

00:40:56 But to bring guns in front of a school,

00:40:58 I mean, that's telling.

00:40:59 And as I said, there is a sense of concern

00:41:02 and it's valid how the budgets feel.

00:41:05 But as I said, we are trying, my colleagues and myself,

00:41:09 and the extension may our best

00:41:11 to bring a sense of calmness, security, serenity back.

00:41:15 And as I said, that's why we are trying

00:41:17 to work on many fronts, environmental change,

00:41:19 get in the area, because we know that

00:41:21 your environment really help,

00:41:24 or help with your mindset mentally.

00:41:27 We are trying our best to talk to the students.

00:41:31 I have some talks started, you know,

00:41:33 in terms of motivation and what we could do.

00:41:36 And I'm even still sitting,

00:41:39 just a small competition I actually,

00:41:41 this was the right about what they feel,

00:41:45 and right about what about community.

00:41:47 - Counselor, have you all had the opportunity

00:41:51 to speak with parents of students of the primary school,

00:41:55 and even had the opportunity to speak with students?

00:41:59 What are they feeling?

00:42:00 Because I know according to reports

00:42:02 that classes resumed yesterday.

00:42:05 - Right, but classes resumed yesterday,

00:42:08 and what we did, and after time,

00:42:10 the community policing unit,

00:42:12 they had a press conference there

00:42:14 where they were speaking to students,

00:42:15 counseling the students,

00:42:17 and they're listening to what they are doing.

00:42:19 I also know that some counselors from the ministry

00:42:21 also paid a visit to the school in question.

00:42:23 So they are doing human service,

00:42:25 and trying to set their minds,

00:42:27 and the hearts and the spirits of the students,

00:42:29 as well as the teachers.

00:42:31 We as counselors, myself and my counselor,

00:42:35 we're going to assume that there was a piecework

00:42:38 that we're going to have a meeting

00:42:39 with some of the teachers in order to initiate.

00:42:42 It's just our way of protesting

00:42:45 that we are not just sitting by,

00:42:47 and letting these things happen,

00:42:49 and letting criminal elements overrun our community.

00:42:53 I myself have planned,

00:42:55 I planned anything which you are quoted in.

00:42:59 - All right, counselor, I think that we--

00:43:06 - We'll be there for our motivational day

00:43:08 at the Belmont Community Center,

00:43:09 for Bursala School, as well as Australia.

00:43:12 Please try it.

00:43:13 Hello?

00:43:15 - Yeah, counselor, I think that we are losing you.

00:43:17 Is it possible that you can repeat

00:43:19 what you would have just said?

00:43:21 - Right, what I'm saying is that,

00:43:26 (audio cuts out)

00:43:28 the school rest did resume yesterday,

00:43:31 and what I was saying, we had a president

00:43:33 from the community policing unit,

00:43:35 and other law enforcement officials,

00:43:37 but was there.

00:43:39 Our city was contacted, ASP Watkins,

00:43:43 he had volunteered some members

00:43:46 to come and have a talk with the students.

00:43:48 We, as a community, are planning some outdoor activities

00:43:52 and what the (audio cuts out)

00:43:57 - All right, counselor, I think that we are having

00:44:04 some difficulty in hearing you.

00:44:07 Counselor, we are going to take a break.

00:44:12 We are going to take a break.

00:44:14 Let's see if we can work out those technical problems,

00:44:16 and we'll be back with counselor Raphael Bones,

00:44:21 counselor Belmontsa.

00:44:23 We're coming back.

00:44:24 (upbeat music)

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00:45:25 - Hola, my name is Elena.

00:45:28 It's actually not my real name.

00:45:31 You don't really care, do you?

00:45:34 All you care about is once you pay your money to my boss

00:45:38 that I look pretty, smell nice, smile for you,

00:45:43 and let you have good time,

00:45:45 enjoying yourself and doing to me

00:45:47 whatever you want to do for the money you pay.

00:45:50 What you don't see or know is that

00:45:53 I don't get any part of the money you pay.

00:45:56 My boss takes all of it.

00:45:59 I am forced to work,

00:46:01 taking as many clients as my boss tells me to.

00:46:05 I am beaten, made to take drugs,

00:46:08 and I cannot leave this kind of work on my own.

00:46:12 I am a victim of human trafficking.

00:46:16 Please, por favor, help me.

00:46:18 - Fellas, things in Trinidad and Tobago

00:46:32 you know can be frustrating.

00:46:34 And we have the right as human beings, as males,

00:46:37 to be angry sometimes, to be frustrated sometimes,

00:46:40 to be jealous.

00:46:42 It's all natural, it's all normal.

00:46:43 But what we don't have the right to do

00:46:46 is to be abusive towards our partners.

00:46:49 We have daughters, we have mothers,

00:46:52 we have female friends.

00:46:54 We wouldn't want abuse to be a part of their lives.

00:46:58 So why make it a part of our lives?

00:47:00 ♪ It's just like a racket ♪

00:47:09 ♪ It pays dividends for a few ♪

00:47:12 ♪ But what does it profit in masses ♪

00:47:14 ♪ I mean laymen like me and you ♪

00:47:17 ♪ While the leaders play in their chess games ♪

00:47:20 ♪ Using the masses as pawn ♪

00:47:22 ♪ With political propaganda ♪

00:47:25 ♪ The massacre still goes on ♪

00:47:28 ♪ The soldiers, they never started ♪

00:47:30 ♪ But they give their lives easily ♪

00:47:33 ♪ While the leaders are in a safe place ♪

00:47:36 ♪ Working out strategies ♪

00:47:41 ♪ So you see ♪

00:47:43 ♪ I'm telling you nobody ♪

00:47:45 ♪ Nobody ♪

00:47:46 ♪ Oh nobody ♪

00:47:49 ♪ When you're ready ♪

00:47:50 - All right, so welcome back everyone.

00:47:52 So we are continuing this discussion

00:47:54 concerning the shooting outside

00:47:55 the Gloucester Lodge Moravian Primary School in Belmont.

00:47:59 Of course, the school or classes resumed yesterday.

00:48:04 But there is an interesting point

00:48:07 that is being made here in the Daily Express.

00:48:11 Following an interview with some parents yesterday.

00:48:16 Now, according to the Express,

00:48:18 the Express was told by several parents

00:48:21 who came to remove their children from the school

00:48:23 after this incident became known,

00:48:25 as well as teachers that the children

00:48:28 were traumatized by the shooting.

00:48:31 Counselor Raphael Barnes.

00:48:33 - Yes sir, I'm here with you.

00:48:36 - All right, thank you very much

00:48:38 for being back with us, counselor.

00:48:41 So the Express has interviewed some parents

00:48:46 and what some of the parents and teachers are saying

00:48:49 is that the children were still very much traumatized

00:48:53 by the shooting.

00:48:54 My question is, do you think that enough has been done,

00:48:58 counselor, to give assurances to the children

00:49:02 and for them to feel comfortable

00:49:05 in the school environment once again?

00:49:09 - Well, based on knowledge

00:49:12 that I've been to the school yesterday,

00:49:14 but what I could say to that is,

00:49:17 more can be done in any aspect.

00:49:20 When you look at it, this is not like a one and done.

00:49:24 And I think therapy and counseling is an ongoing process.

00:49:28 So I believe we have to exercise a little bit patience

00:49:32 because for a matter of fact,

00:49:33 I know the community police were there,

00:49:35 I know counselors from the ministry were there.

00:49:37 I know there were representatives from future

00:49:40 and I myself visited the school in which

00:49:42 I spoke to the principal that day

00:49:43 and she gave me some of her concerns.

00:49:46 She told me of certain collaborative efforts

00:49:49 that she would like to have with the council

00:49:51 going forward and I gave the undertaking

00:49:55 from our aspect, what based on our resources,

00:49:58 based on our limitations and our guidelines,

00:50:00 what we can do to contribute to the peace of that school.

00:50:03 But going forward, I believe that

00:50:05 this should be an ongoing process

00:50:06 because that is a very traumatic experience.

00:50:09 I mean, to come to school as a young person,

00:50:11 as an infant, as a standard four, three, two or five

00:50:16 and to witness or hear something like that.

00:50:18 So I don't believe it's a one and done situation.

00:50:20 I think more can be done from all stakeholders,

00:50:23 including my good self.

00:50:25 And I would like to give a commitment

00:50:27 to be part of the ongoing process

00:50:29 until some semblance of normalcy,

00:50:31 some semblance of healing would have been achieved.

00:50:35 I know it's gonna take time,

00:50:37 but as I said, we are in this together.

00:50:40 - Yeah.

00:50:41 So Councillor, I think it is safe to say

00:50:43 it's really a work in progress.

00:50:46 What can we expect in the, let's say in the next few hours,

00:50:50 in the next few days, in the next few weeks,

00:50:53 Rhi, your efforts and people working with you

00:50:58 in the community in order to bring this level of peace

00:51:03 to Belmont because Councillor,

00:51:06 you have been a part of the community for a while.

00:51:10 And I know people living in Belmont

00:51:12 and people in Belmont,

00:51:13 they still stick to the concept

00:51:16 of leaving their windows open at nights

00:51:18 and leaving their doors open because they always felt safe.

00:51:22 And there was this,

00:51:23 always this concept of community in Belmont.

00:51:27 - Right.

00:51:29 Marlon, I want to strongly agree with what you just said

00:51:32 because I am a third generation Gonzalian

00:51:36 because my parents, my grandfather, my father,

00:51:39 we grew up in Gonzales.

00:51:40 I went to Roche-Ruiz RSC school

00:51:42 and then to Belmont Intermediate,

00:51:44 which is now St. Francis College.

00:51:45 My first job was at Joe's supermarket back in the days.

00:51:51 So I know the community in which I represent

00:51:55 and I understand, yes,

00:51:56 there were values back in those days in the 70s,

00:52:00 even up to the 90s.

00:52:01 They could have really leave it open,

00:52:03 you know, the neighbor look out for each other.

00:52:05 Everybody had each other's back

00:52:06 and there was a sense of morality

00:52:10 and respect for our elders.

00:52:13 And especially.

00:52:18 - All right.

00:52:22 I hope that we're not losing the counselor.

00:52:24 Counselor, my last question.

00:52:28 - For our children.

00:52:29 - Yeah, because there has been some concern.

00:52:32 - I'm going to be some society.

00:52:35 Things have changed.

00:52:40 Change is imminent.

00:52:42 Change is evident in everything that we do.

00:52:47 If you're not changing, well, I guess you're alone.

00:52:50 - Yeah.

00:52:51 - Yes.

00:52:52 - Counselor.

00:52:52 - Are you with me?

00:52:53 - Yeah, counselor, but I'm going to risk one more question

00:52:56 because we're still having audio issues.

00:52:57 - Yeah, the concerns.

00:53:00 - But is there need counselor for.

00:53:03 - If you groups are coming out,

00:53:07 we are partnering with others.

00:53:10 Yeah, go ahead.

00:53:17 Madam.

00:53:18 - All right.

00:53:19 Counselor, you're hearing me?

00:53:21 All right.

00:53:23 - Are you hearing me?

00:53:24 - All right, counselor.

00:53:25 We are having some difficulty in hearing you,

00:53:28 but all the same,

00:53:30 thank you very much for speaking with us this morning

00:53:32 and laying on the table.

00:53:34 What are the concerns of the community in Belmont?

00:53:39 And we wish that peace returns to Belmont very, very soon.

00:53:44 So counselor, thank you very much

00:53:46 for speaking with us this morning.

00:53:48 - Okay, thank you very much, Marlon for having me.

00:53:51 And as I said, I am available at any time.

00:53:54 If you need any additional information.

00:53:56 - Yes, bye for now, counselor.

00:53:58 - Okay, thank you.

00:53:59 Have a good morning.

00:54:00 - All right.

00:54:01 Yes.

00:54:02 Okay, so we do have a break for you

00:54:03 and also the seven o'clock news.

00:54:05 (upbeat music)

00:54:09 - Good morning.

00:54:13 I'm Nicole M. Romany with your news to the hour.

00:54:15 The president of Guyana says,

00:54:17 CARICOM does not need lyrics

00:54:19 that promote violence in this region.

00:54:22 And he says, CARICOM heads of government

00:54:24 have to take this situation very seriously

00:54:27 and ensure that the lyrics of the region

00:54:30 are those of positivity and positive things.

00:54:33 Guyana's president spoke on the matter

00:54:35 as CARICOM began its 46th regular meeting

00:54:38 of the conference of heads of government.

00:54:40 - As leaders of this region,

00:54:42 we have to take this situation very seriously

00:54:47 and ensure the lyrics of the region

00:54:49 is the lyrics of Bob Marley,

00:54:51 the lyrics of positivity

00:54:53 and the lyrics of positive living and positive change.

00:54:57 We must take this responsibility on today.

00:55:00 - President Ali did not say

00:55:02 how the heads of government should in his words,

00:55:05 take the situation very seriously.

00:55:07 While many CARICOM member states,

00:55:09 including Trinidad and Tobago

00:55:12 have been dealing with a spike in gun violence,

00:55:14 they also have freedom of expression

00:55:16 as a constitutional right.

00:55:19 (air whooshing)

00:55:21 There's dissatisfaction among postal workers.

00:55:24 They staged a protest on Monday

00:55:27 with the support of the joint union movement

00:55:30 outside the office of the chief personal officer.

00:55:33 This is the latest demonstration of objection

00:55:36 to the salary review commission's recommendations

00:55:39 by the labor movement.

00:55:41 Postal workers say their issues are many,

00:55:44 but cooperation from the government has been lacking.

00:55:48 They claim that line minister Marvin Gonzalez

00:55:50 is yet to respond to a letter dated February 1st, 2024.

00:55:55 The union says several matters,

00:55:58 including salary negotiations, pension plans

00:56:02 and the implementation of the finding of a job evaluation

00:56:05 were highlighted.

00:56:07 (upbeat music)

00:56:09 Taking a look at the weather,

00:56:11 generally sunny and hazy

00:56:13 and at times breezy conditions can be expected

00:56:16 despite the low chance of one or two spotty showers.

00:56:20 A mild to moderate concentration of Saharan dust

00:56:23 is present in the atmosphere.

00:56:25 As such, people sensitive to changes in air quality

00:56:28 should take the necessary health precautions.

00:56:31 And springtime remains in effect for yet another day.

00:56:34 Remember to exercise caution when venturing offshore,

00:56:37 especially during high tides.

00:56:39 And that there is your news to the hour.

00:56:41 (upbeat music)

00:56:45 (upbeat music)

00:56:48 - Available at Forever Optical.

00:57:03 (upbeat music)

00:57:05 (upbeat music)

00:57:08 - Hello everyone, I am Shami Noel

00:57:18 and welcome to the program Highway of Holiness.

00:57:21 Tune in every first Sunday on CCN TV six at 7 a.m.

00:57:26 where you will hear the very heart and mind of God.

00:57:31 God bless you.

00:57:35 (upbeat music)

00:57:37 (upbeat music)

00:57:40,

00:57:43 - This is Mary.

00:58:10 Mary has bills to pay and takes a chance

00:58:13 parking in front of the building at the no parking sign.

00:58:16 Mary returns to her car and this is what happens.

00:58:21 Mary decides to call when she's five minutes away

00:58:31 to let her daughter know that she is close by.

00:58:33 But Mary forgot one thing.

00:58:36 (speaking in foreign language)

00:58:40 After two tickets,

00:58:44 Mary just isn't paying attention to her speed.

00:58:48 Don't be like Mary.

00:59:05 Obey the laws of the road.

00:59:07 A message from the TTPS.

00:59:09 - I have a right to free primary school education.

00:59:22 - I have a right to be protected.

00:59:25 - I have a right to a name.

00:59:28 - I have a right to know my rights.

00:59:31 - I have a right to privacy.

00:59:33 - I have the right to express myself.

00:59:36 - I have a right to access information.

00:59:39 - Children have rights.

00:59:53 (soft music)

00:59:55 (upbeat music)

01:00:12 - Is about to break for you.

01:00:17 I was in Gethsemane.

01:00:18 He dragged that tire called salvation for man.

01:00:22 (upbeat music)

01:00:25 - Nice and to the hills.

01:00:27 We only have one place to go for help.

01:00:30 Hallelujah.

01:00:31 So I celebrate in Jesus.

01:00:34 (upbeat music)

01:00:36 - Walking to your new season.

01:00:47 - I am your mother.

01:00:52 - Aunt.

01:00:52 - Grandmother.

01:00:54 - Guardian.

01:00:55 - Friend.

01:00:56 - And I promise to protect you in all situations

01:00:59 because someone has hurt you, violated you,

01:01:03 harmed you, abused you,

01:01:06 and you were brave enough to tell me you trusted me.

01:01:10 You came to me for help.

01:01:12 - To defend.

01:01:13 - For support.

01:01:15 - To protect you.

01:01:16 - No amount of money or bribes, favors,

01:01:21 or gifts will stop you.

01:01:24 - You are most important to me.

01:01:27 - You are worth more to me than any material thing.

01:01:31 - I will do all in my power.

01:01:33 - In my heart.

01:01:34 - To make sure that you are taken care of.

01:01:38 - And that justice is served.

01:01:40 - And you thrive.

01:01:41 - Together my daughter.

01:01:43 - My son.

01:01:44 - My child.

01:01:46 - We will live and love.

01:01:48 - I will protect you.

01:01:49 - Break the silence.

01:01:51 - Report all cases of child sexual abuse.

01:01:54 (upbeat music)

01:01:57 (soft music)

01:02:00 - You want me to send you a picture of what?

01:02:07 You really like that kind of rude stuff, huh?

01:02:11 Well, okay, but you're sure no one else

01:02:15 is gonna see these, right?

01:02:16 Of course I trust you, babe, and I know you love me.

01:02:22 I love you too.

01:02:23 I can't believe he posted those photos.

01:02:26 I trusted him so much, and now it's all over the internet.

01:02:31 It feels like the whole world has seen it.

01:02:34 Even my friends are sharing it.

01:02:37 They call me all these names that I'm not.

01:02:41 I didn't even want to do it, but I trusted him.

01:02:44 And now I feel like my life is over.

01:02:47 (soft music)

01:02:49 (soft music)

01:02:52 - Children have rights.

01:03:04 (soft music)

01:03:07 (soft music)

01:03:09 (upbeat music)

01:03:29 (upbeat music)

01:03:33 (upbeat music)

01:03:35 (upbeat music)

01:03:38 (upbeat music)

01:03:49 (upbeat music)

01:04:00 (upbeat music)

01:04:03 - All right, so welcome back, everybody.

01:04:25 So it's NGC Bocas Lit Fest time again, right?

01:04:30 And this time we're speaking

01:04:31 about the children's storytelling caravan,

01:04:35 and we are joined now by Melvina Hazard,

01:04:38 children's program manager, Bocas Lit Fest.

01:04:41 Melvina, thank you very much for coming this morning.

01:04:43 - Thank you, good morning.

01:04:44 - Yeah, well, let's get right into it, Melvina.

01:04:48 Melvina, when did you have this aha moment?

01:04:53 Let's do this.

01:04:54 - Well, the aha moment really came

01:04:55 from the founders of the festival,

01:04:58 who is Marina Solandi-Brong,

01:04:59 and then one of the directors, Daniel De Leon.

01:05:03 So they created this program, had this brainwave in 2011,

01:05:07 and have been doing this caravan

01:05:09 all over Trinidad and Tobago every year,

01:05:11 except when it was during the lockdown.

01:05:14 - Yeah. - Yeah.

01:05:15 - Who's this program for?

01:05:17 - Well, this program is really targeted

01:05:18 to children five to 12.

01:05:21 So we normally target primary school age children.

01:05:23 - Yeah. - Yeah.

01:05:25 - But how is this caravan, how is it,

01:05:29 how does it, how do you rule out the caravan?

01:05:32 - Okay, so the caravan is actually the prelude

01:05:35 to the actual children's festival.

01:05:37 - Right.

01:05:38 - So between a month and six weeks before the festival,

01:05:42 we go all over Trinidad and Tobago.

01:05:45 We typically would go to libraries,

01:05:47 'cause we work through NALES and community centers.

01:05:50 And, but this year I've changed it up a little bit,

01:05:53 so we have a larger scope by including a school tour.

01:05:57 So it's sort of like 60/40 mix.

01:05:59 And so we would go with a professional storyteller.

01:06:02 - Right.

01:06:03 - We have our Dragonzilla mascot, right?

01:06:06 We have a team which is like a scribe and our assistants,

01:06:10 and the storyteller will lead a storytelling session.

01:06:13 Sometimes it's interactive, it's very dynamic and engaging.

01:06:17 And then after that session, we then work with the children

01:06:20 in two groups, two age groups, to create a story,

01:06:23 to create a story with them.

01:06:25 And we record that story, and then we actually edit it

01:06:28 and publish it in this annual anthology.

01:06:30 So this is just a galley of the one for this year

01:06:33 that was produced from the caravan last year.

01:06:36 - Children's Storytelling Caravan.

01:06:42 Oh, it's a coloring book.

01:06:43 - Yes.

01:06:44 So what we do is that we send titles in advance.

01:06:49 I don't know if you can see it.

01:06:50 - Yeah.

01:06:52 We send titles in advance so that they could sort of like

01:06:54 think in advance about what they want to do

01:06:58 during the brainstorming.

01:06:59 And the subject matters range from anything

01:07:02 from the environment to tolerance,

01:07:05 to cultural appreciation.

01:07:08 You know, this year, for example, in Tobago,

01:07:12 we're looking at the environment.

01:07:13 So the story title is "The Mystery of the Oil Spill."

01:07:16 And that is a very open title that could be anything.

01:07:20 You know, it could be fantasy, it could be comedy.

01:07:22 - Yeah.

01:07:25 So Melvina, these stories that I'm seeing here,

01:07:30 every one of them is written by a child?

01:07:34 - Not by a child, but by a group of children.

01:07:36 So we have the workshops,

01:07:38 like we divide them into five to eight, nine to 12.

01:07:42 And then we have two separate teams

01:07:43 doing a brainstorming session with them.

01:07:46 And we actually record, you know,

01:07:48 the story as it unfolds on a big flip board

01:07:51 so that the children could actually see

01:07:53 how the storytelling and creation process rolls out.

01:07:57 Then when we take those notes from those flip boards

01:08:00 and we edit them and then, you know,

01:08:03 do all of the final proofing and all of that,

01:08:05 and then send them over to Illustrator.

01:08:10 And then, yeah, and then we send it through.

01:08:12 So this is just now at the stage,

01:08:13 just before it goes into final print.

01:08:16 - Right.

01:08:16 So what, I'm sure that it must do something

01:08:21 for the morale of the children

01:08:24 when they're seeing that their work is being published, huh?

01:08:28 - Yes, and that is exactly one of the reasons

01:08:30 why we do this process.

01:08:32 I mean, children now are really at risk, you know,

01:08:35 it's really, you know, the collateral damage.

01:08:39 So it's very important that we continue

01:08:41 to celebrate and elevate them.

01:08:43 One of our main purposes at the Boca's Lit Fest

01:08:46 is to create and promote new voices,

01:08:48 help with the development of new voices.

01:08:50 And obviously it will start with children.

01:08:53 So it's very important that we give these children

01:08:56 the power and make them feel empowered,

01:08:59 that they can see their names in print.

01:09:02 And then some of them go through the program.

01:09:07 So this year for the actual festival,

01:09:09 we're going to have some of the children

01:09:11 who participated in last year's workshops

01:09:13 actually coming to read their stories.

01:09:15 Yes.

01:09:16 - Yeah?

01:09:17 - Yeah.

01:09:18 (laughs)

01:09:19 - I don't know if you can see it, but I'll still try.

01:09:21 Children, you're on TV.

01:09:23 (laughs)

01:09:24 - It's a lot of fun.

01:09:26 - And these are some of the books

01:09:28 that have been published previously?

01:09:30 - Yes, yes.

01:09:31 - So is it that these books are going to be on sale

01:09:37 at bookshops across the country?

01:09:38 - Yeah, they will be at sale mainly at Paperbase Bookshop,

01:09:40 which is at the Writers' Center.

01:09:42 And we will also be distributing the books

01:09:45 free of charge to the children who attended the workshops

01:09:47 and the storytelling session.

01:09:49 And we also give them out as prizes for other events.

01:09:52 For example, when the festival comes up in April,

01:09:56 it's going to be a big prize

01:09:57 that we're going to be giving out.

01:09:59 - Yeah.

01:10:00 Is there still time for children

01:10:03 to participate in this exercise?

01:10:04 - Yes, yes, we've just started.

01:10:06 So this interview is the first of it.

01:10:09 You can go online, bookerslitfest.com/children.

01:10:13 Parents can register.

01:10:14 We're also registering to the schools that we're going to.

01:10:18 So if I have time just to run through the program

01:10:21 very quickly. - Of course, of course.

01:10:22 - Okay, so the first one we have is on Thursday, March 7th,

01:10:26 and we are going down to Cedrus AC.

01:10:29 And then we are going to Arima Public Library

01:10:32 the following Saturday, that's on March 9th.

01:10:35 Then we go down to, oh sorry,

01:10:37 the first one is to St. Mary's Government Primary in Moruga,

01:10:40 which is a relatively new site for us.

01:10:43 Then to Arima on March 9th.

01:10:45 Then on March 14th, that's the school day,

01:10:48 we are going down to Cedrus AC Primary.

01:10:50 Then on March 18th, we are going up north side.

01:10:54 So we're going up to Matura and Sully Bay RC schools.

01:10:58 Then on Saturday, April 6th,

01:11:00 we come back to Coover as we did last year.

01:11:03 Then on Saturday, April 13th,

01:11:06 we are going to Debe Public Library,

01:11:07 haven't been there for a while.

01:11:09 On Wednesday, April 17th, we're heading over to Tobago,

01:11:13 to Scarborough Library, where we're going to be inviting

01:11:15 schools from Tobago to register students.

01:11:19 April 20th, we'll be at Prince's Tongue Public Library.

01:11:22 And then we finally end during the Children's Festival

01:11:25 on Saturday, April 27th at Nallis.

01:11:27 That's normally where we have our final session.

01:11:31 - Is there anything else you'd like to tell us

01:11:35 before you leave us this morning

01:11:36 about the competition, anything?

01:11:38 - Well, we just want to encourage parents

01:11:40 and teachers and caregivers of young children

01:11:43 to really take advantage of this opportunity.

01:11:46 It's a really fun session for them.

01:11:48 And it's really a way of us trying to develop

01:11:53 and recruit new voices, new writers.

01:11:56 - But tell me something,

01:11:57 how do you compete in an environment

01:12:01 where a lot of our children, they want to be on the tablet

01:12:05 and they want to be on the phone?

01:12:07 Does reading still have a space in this environment?

01:12:13 - I think so.

01:12:13 I mean, we've have, you know,

01:12:16 seen a lot of people, children who love to read.

01:12:19 And one of the things that we do is really promote

01:12:21 the love of reading for reading's sake,

01:12:24 reading for pleasure, because at school,

01:12:26 you know, you have to read through,

01:12:27 you have to plough through the textbooks

01:12:29 and children tend to develop a distaste for reading.

01:12:34 So what we try to do with these sessions

01:12:37 and with our other programs, because we are year-long,

01:12:40 is really to really show that you can read for pleasure

01:12:44 and try to make the experience as pleasurable as possible.

01:12:47 So we take our professional storytellers

01:12:50 and they're there and they're ruling along

01:12:52 and they're using musical instruments

01:12:54 and they're interacting with the children

01:12:56 and that lesson, then we really appreciate how a story

01:12:59 unfolds and then in turn, the children

01:13:01 then form their own stories.

01:13:03 - But isn't this also an attempt to plant a seed?

01:13:08 Because I'm sure that there are children

01:13:14 who are interested in reading and also writing.

01:13:18 And it is because of caravans such as these

01:13:21 and exercises such as these,

01:13:23 the seed is almost cemented.

01:13:28 - Yes, and the metaphor for seed is very important

01:13:32 because that is exactly what we want to do.

01:13:34 We want to plant those seeds.

01:13:35 And that's why we go to places like Moruga and Seijoas,

01:13:38 places that wouldn't necessarily have access

01:13:41 to the things that children up in Northwest have.

01:13:44 And so we go around, you know, we're like John Appleseed,

01:13:46 you know, just planting little seeds

01:13:48 and little hopes, little pieces of inspiration.

01:13:51 - Yeah, until you have a forest.

01:13:53 - Yes, that is what we want.

01:13:54 - Yeah, authors and people who are really involved

01:13:58 in storytelling and so on.

01:14:00 Melvina, so I'm seeing here that the caravan

01:14:06 is for the period March 7th to 28th, right?

01:14:10 - March 7th to 27th.

01:14:13 - Of April? - Yes, yeah.

01:14:14 - Of April, all right.

01:14:17 Where can people get additional information?

01:14:20 - You can go to BocasLitFest/children

01:14:23 and then we'll also be starting to promote on social media.

01:14:26 And of course it will be in other parts of the newspapers,

01:14:29 other parts of the press, you know.

01:14:30 And I will be doing more interviews on radio, TV, online.

01:14:34 - Yeah, and people can also get in contact

01:14:37 with you all via phone numbers?

01:14:39 - Yes, at 48 Bocas.

01:14:41 Or you can email storytelling@bocaslitfest.com.

01:14:47 - Yeah, Melvina, it was a pleasure

01:14:49 speaking with you this morning.

01:14:50 - Same here, thank you very much, thank you.

01:14:51 - Okay, so we are going to a very short break.

01:14:54 We do have this image for you.

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01:18:00 - Welcome back, everyone.

01:18:01 So we're speaking about the issue of stolen vehicles now,

01:18:04 and Sergeant Ansel Ford is here, TTPS Media Ambassador.

01:18:09 Sergeant, always good to have you here.

01:18:10 - Hi, nice to be here, Marlon.

01:18:12 Morning, Trinidad and Tobago.

01:18:14 Yes, Marlon, we more or less are gonna spend some time

01:18:18 dealing with the issue of stolen vehicles,

01:18:20 and we wanna advise members of the public.

01:18:23 Now, we are looking at the period,

01:18:27 January 1st to February 22nd,

01:18:31 and based on reports that are on record,

01:18:35 263 vehicles were involved

01:18:41 in terms of vehicles being stolen.

01:18:43 Now, when I say stolen, I'm speaking about vehicles that,

01:18:48 for instance, somebody would have parked up,

01:18:50 secured, went away, came back, and their vehicle was gone.

01:18:54 That's larceny, right?

01:18:56 Then you have robbery,

01:18:58 where the vehicle may have been the subject,

01:19:01 where you would have been in the possession of your vehicle,

01:19:05 you may have been in your vehicle,

01:19:06 and somebody came up to you

01:19:08 and forcibly took that vehicle away from you,

01:19:10 whether it be that they were armed or unarmed.

01:19:13 So you're looking at the issue of robbery, all right?

01:19:17 Now, however, we wanna look at it.

01:19:21 We're dealing with it broadly as in stolen vehicles,

01:19:23 and for the period thus far, 263 stolen vehicles.

01:19:27 Now, of the particular types involved in these reports,

01:19:31 Nissan, the Nissan make would have topped the vehicles

01:19:36 with a count of 123 Nissan-type vehicles being stolen.

01:19:41 Second was Toyota.

01:19:42 Third, Hyundai.

01:19:45 The fourth, Kia.

01:19:47 Honda vehicles running fifth,

01:19:51 and then other vehicles with decimals making up about 20.

01:19:55 All right?

01:19:56 But Toyota's over 53,

01:19:58 Hyundai 28, Kia 25, Honda 14.

01:20:01 Now, whilst it is that we identify those vehicles

01:20:06 as the ones that are more popular

01:20:08 in terms of being stolen,

01:20:10 every vehicle that someone invests in

01:20:13 is a, I wanna say, a worthwhile investment, right?

01:20:17 And they may be paying a loan, all right?

01:20:21 And to be paying a loan for your vehicle

01:20:23 that would in hundreds of thousands, right?

01:20:27 And you don't have the service of your vehicle.

01:20:29 That is a real disadvantage to be in, right?

01:20:32 Now, understanding that these are the mix

01:20:36 of vehicles involved, Marlon, I wanna go further

01:20:39 to speak to some of the divisions

01:20:44 and station districts, right?

01:20:46 Where it is that most of these reports

01:20:49 would have emanated from.

01:20:50 So if we identify out of the 263 vehicles

01:20:55 in Port of Spain division,

01:20:57 last in motor vehicles would have been 22.

01:20:59 A robbery of motor vehicles would have been eight,

01:21:03 that being a total of 30.

01:21:05 South, Southern division, last in motor vehicles, 35.

01:21:11 Robbery, six, totaling 41.

01:21:14 Western division, 18, last name, seven,

01:21:18 a robbery, totaling 25.

01:21:21 Northern, North, as in part of Northern division,

01:21:27 10, last in motor vehicles, six by way of a robbery,

01:21:30 totaling 16.

01:21:31 North Central, 36, last in motor vehicles,

01:21:35 29, a robbery, totaling 65.

01:21:38 What we identify here is that North Central division

01:21:42 would have recorded the highest number out of that 263

01:21:47 by way of the last new robbery of the vehicles, right?

01:21:50 Now, once I dealt with some of the divisions,

01:21:55 I wanna speak a little bit more

01:21:57 in relation to stations, right?

01:22:01 So Marlon, within the divisions,

01:22:03 we have 12 top stations, station district.

01:22:08 And for viewers and listeners,

01:22:12 you would want to pay particular attention

01:22:13 to the station district

01:22:15 because it might be right in your backyard, right?

01:22:16 - Yeah.

01:22:17 - All right, so St. Joseph, St. Joseph station,

01:22:21 which is part of North Central division,

01:22:24 recorded 33 of those reports of vehicles being stolen.

01:22:29 Chagones came second with 18, Arruka, 17,

01:22:36 St. James, 15, Barataria, 14, San Juan, 14,

01:22:42 Prince's Town, 13, Tunapuna, 12, Woodbrook, nine,

01:22:47 Sinclair, nine, St. Madeline, eight, Arima, seven.

01:22:53 That is just the 12 top station, right?

01:22:55 - Yeah.

01:22:56 - Now, how do we get members of the public

01:23:00 to let us say, do things differently,

01:23:03 to reduce the chances of their vehicles being stolen?

01:23:06 It speaks to a certain level of awareness, right?

01:23:09 And being aware means that you will take certain actions

01:23:14 that are within your control, right?

01:23:17 Barring somebody who comes upon you unsuspectingly

01:23:21 and robs you of your vehicle, right?

01:23:23 But then in case of the last Nimoto vehicles,

01:23:26 some of these reports are preventable by and large,

01:23:30 but they can't stop all, they could reduce some of them.

01:23:34 So Marlon, let's look at the issue of mechanical devices.

01:23:40 Anti-theft device that members of the public can look at.

01:23:45 Now, if my vehicle costs me $100,000, $200,000,

01:23:50 if I have to put in an anti-theft device

01:23:53 that costs me a couple of hundred dollars,

01:23:55 a two or $3,000, right?

01:23:57 Isn't it not worth it?

01:23:59 - Yes.

01:24:00 - Because you wanna safeguard the investment that you made.

01:24:03 So we look at GPS tracking, which is really affordable,

01:24:08 and you can get it almost anywhere.

01:24:10 If you look it up in the directory,

01:24:11 you might find a supplier and installer.

01:24:14 You can speak to your electrician

01:24:18 to put in a kill switch in your vehicle for you, right?

01:24:22 Additionally, even to advise you, what fuse,

01:24:27 for instance, you park your vehicle,

01:24:29 what fuse you need to remove, right?

01:24:31 From being in place so that the vehicle

01:24:34 will not be able to start, right?

01:24:35 Your electrician or your mechanic can advise you

01:24:38 simple things like that, and you know,

01:24:40 I park my vehicle, I disengage the fuse,

01:24:43 as the case may be, and my vehicle will not start.

01:24:46 Ignition disablers, your electrician, again,

01:24:50 can install that for you, minimal cost.

01:24:53 We look at the issue of steering wheel locks, right?

01:24:57 We refer to that as the club, right?

01:24:59 And while it is that it doesn't stop the person

01:25:02 from getting into the vehicle,

01:25:04 it prevents them from getting very far with your vehicle

01:25:08 once it is at the lock, the steering wheel lock is engaged.

01:25:12 Similarly to the gear shift lock,

01:25:15 where it locks the gear shift in place,

01:25:19 that they cannot put it in reverse,

01:25:21 they cannot put it in a gear, all right?

01:25:23 And these things are not very costly.

01:25:25 Well, the alarm system is somewhat basic,

01:25:28 and a lot of us, we do use it.

01:25:30 - But John, before we move on,

01:25:33 for what purpose these vehicles are being taken for?

01:25:38 - Okay, Marlon, I want to say predominantly,

01:25:42 they are stolen to go and commit another crime.

01:25:48 So they commit a crime to steal a vehicle

01:25:51 to go and commit another crime.

01:25:53 Oftentimes, it's a serious crime, such as murder, right?

01:25:58 And then they will abandon the vehicle in most cases.

01:26:01 Now, whilst it is we identify to go and commit a crime,

01:26:06 we also have the issue of chop shops, right?

01:26:10 Where it is a lucrative trade,

01:26:14 you have young men, other persons involved

01:26:17 in stealing vehicles,

01:26:18 and then selling it to unscrupulous person,

01:26:22 be it a straightener, all right?

01:26:24 Who in turn would chop that up?

01:26:27 We cannot, I want to say, remove persons

01:26:32 who engage in the sale of motor vehicle parts, right?

01:26:36 Be it dealers, we cannot remove them

01:26:39 from also being involved in this sort of trade.

01:26:42 But by you employing the devices,

01:26:47 changing your behavior, right?

01:26:50 In terms of how you treat with your security arrangement

01:26:55 can reduce the number of vehicles being stolen.

01:26:59 And it's sort of protect your investment, right?

01:27:01 So whilst we spoke about the mechanical means, Marlon,

01:27:05 let's also look at the action of the driver.

01:27:09 Now, as we said yesterday, someone called me

01:27:13 and this person, Marlon, was about to enter a car park.

01:27:17 And whilst driving in, looking to park,

01:27:22 a male just reached up to them and pulled the door.

01:27:26 - Right. - Right?

01:27:27 But the person was alert

01:27:29 and responded quickly by throwing him reverse, right?

01:27:32 And the person, based on what was explained,

01:27:34 held on to the door while his vehicle going

01:27:36 because the hand probably or whatever,

01:27:38 it was just sort of jammed within the handle, right?

01:27:41 Now, advise that person to make a report

01:27:44 and notwithstanding, but it speaks to, right,

01:27:47 you having to be aware of, I want to say, every action.

01:27:51 You have to be aware.

01:27:52 So you, we look at the issue of locking your doors

01:27:55 whilst driving, all right?

01:27:58 Now, you come to a stop, ensure that your doors are locked

01:28:03 because you don't know if somebody's looking

01:28:05 to rob you of a vehicle.

01:28:06 You know, they come in a few times a carjacking, right?

01:28:09 But notwithstanding that,

01:28:11 you are aware of these reports taking place.

01:28:13 So you want to be aware of your surroundings.

01:28:16 So you're coming to a stop, be it by a traffic light,

01:28:21 a corner or some other place that you have to stop.

01:28:24 You cannot simply stop and, you know, I want to say,

01:28:27 think that all is well and that nothing could happen to you.

01:28:31 - Yeah. - You have to be

01:28:32 conscious of it.

01:28:33 - Sergeant, I want you to speak about this

01:28:35 because what about some of us who we have pulled up

01:28:40 to the gates of our homes, we get out of the car

01:28:45 and still have the key in the ignition and the car running.

01:28:49 Then there are some of us who like to park

01:28:52 across the roadway.

01:28:54 Again, the car is running to open up the gates.

01:28:56 And then there are some of us who would have

01:28:58 these electronic gates, electric gates,

01:29:02 and you drive in and you leave the gate open.

01:29:04 - Marlon. - All of these scenarios.

01:29:06 - Marlon, definitely.

01:29:07 Now, that practice of stopping, exiting your vehicle,

01:29:12 whether it is just to enter,

01:29:14 who want to open your gate, enter your yard,

01:29:17 whether it is to run into the parlor to get something,

01:29:20 right, is not very safe because as you do that

01:29:25 and jump out of your vehicle with the vehicle running,

01:29:28 somebody could just jump into your vehicle

01:29:29 and drive away with your vehicle, right?

01:29:31 So you need to, I want to say, revise that practice.

01:29:36 It may be easier to switch off your vehicle,

01:29:39 open your gate, come back, and that way you know

01:29:41 your vehicle not going anywhere

01:29:43 unless you start it again, right?

01:29:45 - Marlon-- - Sergeant, we have a call for you.

01:29:47 - Sure. - Good morning, caller.

01:29:49 The caller is gone.

01:29:50 Go ahead, Sergeant.

01:29:51 - Yeah, Marlon, we are all guilty.

01:29:52 I myself sometimes do that, right?

01:29:55 Taking it that everything is all is well.

01:29:58 And all is well that ends well.

01:29:59 (laughing)

01:30:01 But it's not a safe practice.

01:30:03 So-- - Sergeant, we have another call.

01:30:05 Good morning, caller.

01:30:07 - Morning, Marlon, morning, Sergeant.

01:30:09 - Hi, pleasure, morning.

01:30:10 - Yeah, Sergeant, I have a scenario here.

01:30:13 There are people that said to me,

01:30:15 and I've seen it happen,

01:30:17 that in the early hours of the morning,

01:30:20 let's say one, two o'clock in the morning,

01:30:22 you come to a traffic light in some areas,

01:30:24 they refuse to stop,

01:30:27 fearing that if they stop at the red light,

01:30:30 something might happen.

01:30:32 Someone might, you know, run out

01:30:34 and probably stick them up and stuff like that.

01:30:39 What do you say about that?

01:30:40 - Okay, caller. - Caller.

01:30:43 - The traffic lights-- - Thank you, caller.

01:30:44 - The traffic lights are there to regulate traffic.

01:30:48 And the meaning of red means to stop.

01:30:52 And if you get a red light, you're required to stop.

01:30:55 Now, stopping doesn't mean that you simply stop

01:30:59 and you don't pay attention to your environs.

01:31:02 You must pay attention to your environs.

01:31:04 And if whilst you have stopped,

01:31:07 and someone engages you, and you are threatened,

01:31:12 and the way ahead is clear,

01:31:14 caller, I think you would know

01:31:18 that you need to get out of the area

01:31:21 and make it safe, right?

01:31:23 But you won't just run a red light.

01:31:25 The intention is to stop

01:31:27 and comply with the directions of the traffic light.

01:31:30 Yeah? - Yeah.

01:31:31 I know people who say that they would drive slowly

01:31:36 when approaching the traffic light.

01:31:38 So you don't have a situation

01:31:39 where they are at a complete stop.

01:31:41 Of course, they're looking at the light

01:31:43 and just coasting.

01:31:46 - That is a good practice, Marlon.

01:31:47 I myself do it as well, that you time the light

01:31:52 so you would avoid actually coming to a stop.

01:31:54 Sometimes you still end up coming to a stop, right?

01:31:56 - Yeah.

01:31:57 - But whilst you come to a stop, you need to be vigilant.

01:31:59 Be aware of your surroundings.

01:32:01 Be aware of the flow of traffic.

01:32:03 Just in the event that you need to make a move

01:32:05 to get away from some threat that presents itself.

01:32:08 - Give another call. - Sure.

01:32:09 - Good morning, caller.

01:32:11 - Good morning. - Morning.

01:32:12 - Sergeant. - Hi, morning.

01:32:13 - And great program again.

01:32:16 I want to ask a question, Sergeant.

01:32:19 - Sure.

01:32:20 - And I don't know if they fall under your TTPS

01:32:24 concerning a lot of illegal vending

01:32:28 on the streets of Trinidad.

01:32:31 If you come to Co-op in the evening from six o'clock,

01:32:37 you see like it's a Spanish town.

01:32:40 I don't know if that fall under your preview

01:32:43 as the region of Tunapu, Napiaco,

01:32:46 or if the corporation is not doing their job.

01:32:50 But we cannot allow people to be inconvenient in people

01:32:55 from using the pavement.

01:32:57 And if you take a drive on evenings throughout Co-op,

01:33:02 you will believe that you're in Venezuela.

01:33:06 And Sergeant, I don't know what to turn to

01:33:09 or who to report to,

01:33:10 but we must bring law and order in our land.

01:33:15 The other thing, what I'm going to do,

01:33:17 I am going to write the government

01:33:20 to come down on those kind of music

01:33:23 that play on our radio that encouraging violence.

01:33:26 - All right, thank you very much.

01:33:29 All right, caller, in terms of--

01:33:32 - Illegal vending.

01:33:33 - Well, I want to say street vending, right?

01:33:36 Oftentimes, persons may set up a stall

01:33:40 that is causing an obstruction.

01:33:42 And the resident police, be it if it's in a corporation,

01:33:47 the borough police would typically deal with those offenses

01:33:51 such as market offenses and so on.

01:33:54 But the resident police as well

01:33:56 will speak to the vendors and at some point in time,

01:33:59 they may even arrest the vendors

01:34:01 if it is that they breach the law.

01:34:04 We are also mindful that persons are out there

01:34:08 and they are, for want of a better term,

01:34:11 they are making a hustle

01:34:13 by engaging in the sale of their stuff.

01:34:16 They may in fact breach the law,

01:34:19 but not necessarily that you may want to arrest them,

01:34:22 but you may want to caution them, advise them

01:34:24 what they're doing is causing an obstruction.

01:34:27 And if it is, it feels, by all means,

01:34:29 we will enforce the law.

01:34:31 - We just have about a minute, again.

01:34:32 - Sure.

01:34:33 So Marlon, we continue, why it's not public place,

01:34:37 we look at the issue of you,

01:34:39 ensuring that your doors are locked,

01:34:42 ensuring that you are aware.

01:34:43 Now, based on where you live,

01:34:45 unfortunately, some persons don't have the ability

01:34:47 to park in their compound,

01:34:49 they have to park along the roadway,

01:34:51 but seize the opportunity to make your vehicle a target.

01:34:56 For instance, a simple thing

01:34:58 is to lock the steering wheel all the way

01:35:01 to the side that they cannot go forward, right?

01:35:05 So you park up to the left of the drain,

01:35:08 lock your steering wheel all the way to the left

01:35:10 and then lock it in place

01:35:11 so the person haven't had a task, right?

01:35:13 Similarly, when you park inside of your yard,

01:35:16 you park in such a way that the angle is difficult

01:35:19 for someone to get in and go with your vehicle.

01:35:22 What we want persons to do is simply become more aware,

01:35:25 change their behaviors and let us reduce

01:35:28 the number of motor vehicles being stolen.

01:35:30 It is your property, we wanna ensure that you protect

01:35:33 and you enjoy your property.

01:35:34 - Sergeant, it's always a pleasure.

01:35:35 Thank you very much again.

01:35:36 - Most important. - Yeah.

01:35:37 - Welcome. - We're going to a very short break.

01:35:38 We're coming back, everybody.

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01:36:17 - Come on, come on.

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01:37:14 - Hello, I'm Peter.

01:37:19 An Englishman living in Trinidad for many, many years.

01:37:22 I've come to love this country

01:37:23 because of the warm-hearted people,

01:37:25 a diverse culture, the fantastic food

01:37:28 and of course the great weather.

01:37:30 A few years ago, I came across Habitat

01:37:32 and boy oh boy, this is what the country needs.

01:37:34 At Habitat, they work alongside families

01:37:36 and give them a better life,

01:37:38 providing more opportunities for families,

01:37:39 especially the children.

01:37:41 If each one of us does the same,

01:37:43 then all our actions will add up to create major changes.

01:37:46 I work with Habitat for Humanity

01:37:47 to make small but significant actions

01:37:49 which contribute to the life I have come to love

01:37:51 in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:37:53 Help build a home, and a home means an awful lot.

01:37:56 A house is not a home, a home is a home.

01:37:59 It's where the heart is.

01:38:00 So come with me and let's make it happen.

01:38:18 Slavery, a terrible time in our history.

01:38:22 The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit,

01:38:26 the exploitation of another human being.

01:38:29 It still exists today.

01:38:30 It has a new name, human trafficking.

01:38:34 Anyone can be a victim.

01:38:36 There is forced labor,

01:38:38 sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.

01:38:43 Human trafficking is a worldwide problem

01:38:47 and an emerging concern for us here in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:38:50 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity,

01:38:55 call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.

01:39:00 Human trafficking is a crime.

01:39:05 Identify it, report it, stop it.

01:39:08 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit

01:39:10 of the Ministry of National Security.

01:39:13 (upbeat music)

01:39:16 - Welcome back everyone.

01:39:24 So that should answer everything, right?

01:39:25 So East Yard Enterprises and the Mexican Embassy

01:39:28 in Trinidad and Tobago,

01:39:29 they're having a photographic exhibition.

01:39:31 So joining us this morning, we do have Kevon Fodringham,

01:39:34 founder and principal consultant, East Yard Enterprises.

01:39:37 And we also have Flavio Gonzalez,

01:39:39 head of Trade, Cooperation and Cultural Affairs,

01:39:42 Embassy of Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:39:45 Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming this morning.

01:39:47 - Thank you for having us.

01:39:47 - Flavio, let's begin with you.

01:39:49 Tell us about the rationale behind this.

01:39:52 Why, what is the reason for it?

01:39:54 And why is this so important, you think?

01:39:57 - Well, good morning everyone.

01:39:58 So for the Embassy of Mexico,

01:39:59 it's a very great pleasure to be here.

01:40:03 To be honest, we have in this year, the 2024,

01:40:05 a large program of cultural affairs.

01:40:08 We are trying to explore more Trinidad.

01:40:12 And that's the idea why we are moving

01:40:13 our cultural activities from another cities,

01:40:16 not only in Porto, Spain, right now in Arima,

01:40:19 the heart of the Trinidad.

01:40:22 So we are working with a special allies like Kevon,

01:40:27 that he's a very relevant artist.

01:40:30 And we are trying to connect with more

01:40:31 with the Trinidad and Tobago peoples

01:40:34 to share our culture in relevant spaces

01:40:37 and to help us share it.

01:40:40 - Yeah, Kevon, how did this alliance come about?

01:40:43 - It's actually a really interesting story.

01:40:47 So last year we hosted our first Arima Arts Festival.

01:40:50 So you see I put that on and we had some press.

01:40:54 So it was in the paper and stuff.

01:40:55 So the Mexican ambassador came to Arima

01:40:59 to attend the mass of the Santa Rosa First Peoples.

01:41:02 He saw it in the, he saw the ad in the paper

01:41:05 and he literally walked across.

01:41:07 So we connected and he came to the space, he loved it.

01:41:10 And he said, we had to do something in the future.

01:41:12 So that would have been last year, September.

01:41:15 And so now this has happened.

01:41:17 - Yeah.

01:41:18 - But you know, and someone in our studio

01:41:20 is speaking about the similarities between the culture

01:41:24 of the First Peoples in Trinidad

01:41:29 and also the Mexican people.

01:41:31 So it's really a very organic relationship, right?

01:41:35 - Correct, yes.

01:41:36 And then last night the chief came.

01:41:38 So there was a First People presence there as well.

01:41:41 And even how they dressed,

01:41:43 it really mimicked the actual photos, you know?

01:41:46 So there is that synergy.

01:41:47 - Yeah.

01:41:48 Flavio, has the exhibition, is it underway?

01:41:53 - Yes. - It has begun?

01:41:54 - Yes, yesterday we have the opportunity

01:41:56 to the an opening in East Yard.

01:41:59 And the exhibition is called

01:42:02 "The Death of the Skin".

01:42:05 "La Muerte en la Piel" in Spanish.

01:42:07 He's from the Mexican artist Mauricio Silerio.

01:42:10 He's from Querétaro.

01:42:11 He's a large artist that he exposed in another countries

01:42:16 as USA, Romania, and Spain.

01:42:20 And he's with his art here in Trinidad.

01:42:23 We have 16 photographs regarding the day of the death.

01:42:28 - Right.

01:42:29 - And as you mentioned,

01:42:30 the cultural fusion is very, very important

01:42:33 because yesterday we appreciated the feeling

01:42:36 that the Trini is looking the photographs

01:42:40 and feels very good.

01:42:42 And we have an explanation

01:42:45 about how is relevant for us the day of the death

01:42:48 and how the day of the day began

01:42:50 with a similar idea as the carnival.

01:42:53 For example, the carnival is coming from some Catholic,

01:42:57 some previous historical activities

01:43:02 and the day of the death as well.

01:43:03 It's in a mix of tradition,

01:43:05 it's in a mix of culture,

01:43:07 it's in a mix of art.

01:43:08 And that's the idea of the concept

01:43:09 that we have in an exhibition in Arima right now.

01:43:12 - Yeah.

01:43:13 What has the response been?

01:43:15 - Last time was fantastic.

01:43:17 So we had a special opening,

01:43:19 specially invited guests.

01:43:21 And I mean, the event was supposed to end at seven,

01:43:24 people were there until 10 p.m.

01:43:26 So it means that they really liked it.

01:43:28 But what they really found interesting

01:43:31 was that the costuming around the day of the dead,

01:43:35 so much reflected our own carnival costuming.

01:43:38 - Of course.

01:43:39 - Bright and brilliant and use of the flowers

01:43:42 and stuff like that.

01:43:43 So people loved it.

01:43:44 So we opened yesterday

01:43:47 and we will run until the 16th,

01:43:52 yeah, the 16th of March.

01:43:53 And that includes a school open day and stuff like that.

01:43:56 So we're gonna get the children in,

01:43:58 those who are studying Spanish and art,

01:44:00 and they'll get to interact with the people from the embassy.

01:44:04 So we're gonna see,

01:44:05 get them speaking Spanish and stuff,

01:44:07 but also the whole idea of researching different cultures.

01:44:10 - Yeah.

01:44:11 So do you want me to put back some of those pictures

01:44:14 in an attempt to see if we can see some of the pieces here.

01:44:19 Yeah, very beautiful, colorful pieces.

01:44:22 Yeah, that we're seeing there.

01:44:24 Flavio, why do you think that it is so important

01:44:29 for the embassy to expose us in Trinidad and Tobago

01:44:36 to your art and to your culture?

01:44:39 Yes, we do have the similarities.

01:44:41 - Yes, correct.

01:44:42 - But why is so important, you think?

01:44:44 - Yes, it's important because in the embassy of Mexico,

01:44:46 we have an idea that Mexico is in a Caribbean country

01:44:49 as well.

01:44:49 So we are trying to find some similarities

01:44:52 between the fantastic Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico.

01:44:56 And we as a Caribbean country,

01:44:58 because as you know,

01:44:59 we have a part of the Caribbean Sea in Mexico

01:45:01 in the north of the Caribbean.

01:45:03 So we would like to find the dissimilarities.

01:45:05 And dissimilarities is not only with connecting

01:45:08 by the Caribbean,

01:45:09 it's connected by the history,

01:45:10 it's connected by the art.

01:45:12 And the art and the culture is in a bridge

01:45:14 that connect countries and connect people.

01:45:17 And we are looking, for example,

01:45:18 yesterday, one of the dancers,

01:45:21 a dancer about the Gaspar Yanga.

01:45:24 Gaspar Yanga was one of the first persons in Mexico

01:45:29 that fighted against the slavery.

01:45:34 And he has an enlarged history

01:45:37 about how he fought against the persons

01:45:42 that colonized Mexico in the 15th century.

01:45:46 So we have an history in common for the Afro-descendants.

01:45:50 And we are having a history common of different cultures.

01:45:53 We have a common history about the fight

01:45:55 against the persons that are trying to change our mind.

01:46:00 So the idea for Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago,

01:46:06 in terms of culture,

01:46:07 is to share a little bit of testing

01:46:09 about the Mexican culture.

01:46:11 Because we have a 68 different language in Mexico

01:46:14 as a part of their cultural diversity.

01:46:18 And we have a different areas in Mexico

01:46:20 as maybe the Trinidad and Tobago knows Mexico

01:46:23 for maybe Cancun, maybe the Riviera Maya.

01:46:25 - Football.

01:46:26 - Maybe the football.

01:46:27 We are playing the same area of football.

01:46:30 Maybe for Mexico City, but Mexico is more than.

01:46:33 Mexico is a large diversity

01:46:35 and we try to collect a little bit histories

01:46:37 about Mexico here.

01:46:38 The Day of the Dead is a very nice start.

01:46:41 We are pushing in institutions like the UWE

01:46:45 and we are sharing lectures in UWE.

01:46:48 We have other history of Mexico.

01:46:50 We are trying to share pictures about Frida Kahlo.

01:46:53 She's very famous here in the region.

01:46:56 We are trying to share more Mexico here in Trinidad and Tobago

01:47:00 because we would like to know each and another

01:47:03 in terms of what is Mexico,

01:47:05 what is Mexico more than the common person knows.

01:47:10 - It's amazing.

01:47:12 Do we have our break now?

01:47:14 All right, gentlemen, we are going to very short break.

01:47:16 We're coming back.

01:47:16 - Okay.

01:47:17 - Thank you.

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01:48:15 - All right, everybody.

01:48:18 So we are continuing our discussion

01:48:20 on the photographic exhibition

01:48:23 being hosted by East Yard Enterprises

01:48:25 and the Mexican Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:48:29 Kevon, let's speak a little bit about the venue

01:48:33 and all important information, times and so on.

01:48:38 - Okay, East Yard is located on Prince Street, Arima.

01:48:41 So we are in the heart of Arima.

01:48:44 For those who know it,

01:48:45 we're just a block after the post office.

01:48:46 So it's really easy to find.

01:48:48 We are closed on Mondays, but on Tuesday and Wednesday,

01:48:52 you can come see the exhibition by appointment.

01:48:55 But Thursday, Friday, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

01:48:59 anyone is welcome to just visit the gallery

01:49:02 and come take a look at the exhibition.

01:49:03 - Is it free?

01:49:04 - Yes, 100% free.

01:49:05 - Yeah, well, Kevon, we come in.

01:49:07 (laughing)

01:49:08 - We put it that way.

01:49:09 - 100% free.

01:49:10 - Yeah.

01:49:11 Let's speak a little bit about any upcoming initiatives

01:49:17 from the Mexican Embassy.

01:49:19 - Yes, of course.

01:49:20 So this is activity with East Yard

01:49:23 is the first activity of the year.

01:49:25 We are trying to organize one activity per month.

01:49:28 The next activity is in March

01:49:30 regarding the International Women's Day.

01:49:33 We will recognize two important female leaders

01:49:38 in Trinidad and Tobago that is fighting all day

01:49:42 for the gender-based matters.

01:49:45 So this is an oncoming event in March.

01:49:48 It's regarding the International Women's Day,

01:49:51 and we will recognize her.

01:49:53 And in April, we would like to organize an activities

01:49:58 regarding the pictures.

01:50:00 And we would like to participate in the Film TT

01:50:04 with Mexican short films.

01:50:06 And we are trying to organize a concert.

01:50:09 And so we are trying to organize more activities.

01:50:12 - The full Mexican experience.

01:50:13 - Yes, it's music.

01:50:16 And we are organizing a culinary experience

01:50:21 as well in April.

01:50:23 And in May, we can organize a conversation

01:50:28 in the University of the West Indies

01:50:30 regarding the 5th of May.

01:50:32 The Cinco de Mayo is very famous here.

01:50:35 And to be honest, we are open to collaborate

01:50:41 with institutions, schools.

01:50:43 Some schools asking Mexico to visit the students

01:50:47 that is learning Spanish because as you know,

01:50:50 Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country.

01:50:53 And we are collaborating with schools

01:50:57 in elementary, secondary, or college

01:51:00 that would like to know more about Mexico.

01:51:03 We prepare information about that.

01:51:05 And we have a program in terms of trade as well.

01:51:08 We have a very good connections

01:51:09 to promoting trade in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:51:11 But as the Ambassador Morales,

01:51:15 as Ambassador Victor Hugo Morales,

01:51:16 he pushed a lot to all the staff in the embassy

01:51:19 to work to collocate more Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago

01:51:23 and to promote more our culture.

01:51:25 And each month to promote activities.

01:51:27 And please follow us on Instagram or Next

01:51:31 or Facebook, Embassy of Mexico.

01:51:33 And we can see in our Instagram or X

01:51:36 all our activities that the embassy is doing.

01:51:39 And you can check that all the Embassy of Mexico

01:51:41 is moving in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:51:43 Yes, and in different sectors and matters.

01:51:46 So we are always open.

01:51:47 So please contact us.

01:51:49 - Yeah, I see Kevon is smiling.

01:51:51 He has already signed up for the culinary event.

01:51:54 - Well, yeah. - I didn't see that, right?

01:51:55 - Last night they brought tacos and stuff.

01:51:57 So I mean, yeah. - What?

01:51:59 (both laughing)

01:52:00 So where can people get additional information

01:52:03 about the exhibition?

01:52:05 - You can visit East Yard on Instagram.

01:52:07 So it's underscore East Yard.

01:52:09 Or you can reach out to me directly, 491-3684.

01:52:13 Or you can email info@eastyard.org.

01:52:16 - Yeah, are these pieces for sale?

01:52:18 - No, no. - If people want to purchase?

01:52:19 - No, it's just for exhibit, yeah.

01:52:22 (both laughing)

01:52:23 - Maybe next time, boys and girls.

01:52:26 Gentlemen, anything else you'd like to tell us

01:52:28 before you leave us this morning?

01:52:29 We just have maybe about a minute again.

01:52:31 - I just want to thank the ambassador

01:52:35 and the Embassy of Mexico for having the foresight

01:52:40 to do something of this nature.

01:52:42 And it's really opening up something else for us at East Yard

01:52:45 where we intend to partner with another resident embassy

01:52:50 each month to do something similar.

01:52:52 It may not be photos, it could be film,

01:52:54 it could be something else

01:52:55 to showcase other cultures here locally.

01:52:58 And I'm a champion for taking things out of Puerto Spain.

01:53:02 Everything is so centralized

01:53:04 because Trinidad is more than just one spot.

01:53:07 So I'm always happy to get the opportunity

01:53:09 to do things outside of Puerto Spain

01:53:11 and bring it to Arima.

01:53:13 - Yeah, and you know, gentlemen,

01:53:15 throughout our discussion this morning,

01:53:16 it's absolutely amazing that we see the similarities

01:53:21 between Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico.

01:53:24 And I'm sure the art that is on display,

01:53:28 it's really in a form that we can understand and partake in.

01:53:33 Yeah? - Yeah.

01:53:34 - Gentlemen, it was absolutely a pleasure

01:53:36 speaking with you all this morning.

01:53:38 What time is the exhibition open?

01:53:40 - It's open on from Thursdays to Saturdays

01:53:44 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

01:53:45 - Yeah.

01:53:46 So gentlemen, it was a pleasure

01:53:47 speaking with you all this morning.

01:53:48 Thank you very much and we wish you all the best.

01:53:50 - Thank you. - Thank you.

01:53:51 All right, that's gonna do it for our program for today.

01:53:53 In the meantime, we leave you with this image,

01:53:55 Moon over La Romaine.

01:53:57 It's from Glenda.

01:53:58 Good morning, Glenda.

01:54:00 See you tomorrow, everybody.

01:54:01 Bye for now.

01:54:02 (upbeat music)

01:54:04 (singing in foreign language)

01:54:08 (upbeat music)

01:54:27 (singing in foreign language)

01:54:31 (upbeat music)

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