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00:00:00 ♪ Oh, me sweet Trinidad ♪
00:00:02 ♪ I tell them no way ♪
00:00:05 ♪ No way ♪
00:00:07 ♪ How the people's mind ♪
00:00:09 ♪ Is more cautious and low ♪
00:00:11 ♪ Of war, war and scandal ♪
00:00:13 ♪ They boastful and proud ♪
00:00:15 ♪ Yet somehow I see ♪
00:00:17 - And a very special good morning, Trinidad, Tobago,
00:00:19 and the rest of the world.
00:00:20 I'm Marlon Hopkinson, and welcome to "The Morning Edition."
00:00:23 It's Thursday, March 7th, 2024,
00:00:25 and thank you very much for joining us.
00:00:27 You know, as I listen to that song,
00:00:29 and, you know, I think about all the good things
00:00:31 in Trinidad and Tobago, eh?
00:00:33 Let me give you-- let me give you a story.
00:00:37 So about two weeks ago, I went to the grocery,
00:00:42 and there is parking in front of the grocery,
00:00:45 maybe for about six vehicles,
00:00:48 and a gentleman, he comes with his van,
00:00:52 and he parks on the roadway,
00:00:54 and him parking on the roadway
00:00:57 meant that he is now blocking about four or five vehicles
00:01:01 from getting onto the compound of the grocery,
00:01:04 and I'm thinking about, and I'm saying,
00:01:06 "But what is this man doing, boy?"
00:01:09 You know, and I'm just-- I'm just thinking to myself,
00:01:12 "We as a people, we need to be more sensitive,
00:01:16 and we need to think about what we're doing
00:01:19 and how it is impacting people," right?
00:01:22 And I think, you know, we have, over the years,
00:01:26 had a-- have a situation where we have become
00:01:30 very, very selfish in everything that we're doing,
00:01:34 you know, and every now and then, we need to reflect.
00:01:37 We need to reflect on what we're doing.
00:01:39 We need to sit down and think in our quiet moments.
00:01:42 Am I doing the right thing? Am I on the right path?
00:01:45 How is this affecting this person or that person?
00:01:48 You just can't do things anymore in a do-care way.
00:01:51 I don't care about them, and I don't care about this one, yeah?
00:01:55 And, you know, I think sometimes when we sit and reflect
00:02:00 on our behavior, on our attitudes,
00:02:03 and that's why we're seeing the types of stories every day
00:02:08 about killings and shootings and woundings and stabbings
00:02:12 and whatever.
00:02:13 I'm just looking at this situation in Valsey
00:02:17 with this elderly woman.
00:02:19 So you may have gone into there to rob the woman,
00:02:22 so you have to kill the woman too?
00:02:24 Come now, man, what are we doing in this place, boy?
00:02:27 Yeah?
00:02:28 Let's check out the front page of the Express newspaper.
00:02:31 Archie upset.
00:02:32 Chief Justice writes PM on Salaries Review Commission report
00:02:36 and cops probe baby's death.
00:02:39 Grief-stricken.
00:02:40 Brandon Dudnaff, 32, consoles his wife,
00:02:43 Roshni Ramtahal Dudnaff, 25, at their home
00:02:46 at Buncee Trace Penal yesterday.
00:02:48 The couple found their 2-month-old daughter,
00:02:51 Amy Riana Dudnaff, in set,
00:02:54 in distress at the family's home on Tuesday.
00:02:57 Baby Amy was taken to the Siparia District Health Facility
00:03:00 where she died.
00:03:02 And as I told you, woman 79 found murdered in Valsey's home.
00:03:06 Let's get to the story on the SRC.
00:03:09 So 2 months to review, address anomalies report
00:03:12 goes back to SRC.
00:03:14 Unacceptable.
00:03:15 That is the position taken by the government
00:03:18 with respect of the 117th report
00:03:21 of the Salaries Review Commission.
00:03:24 So there are several anomalies.
00:03:26 According to the finance minister,
00:03:28 Inbert said for 16 key positions,
00:03:31 their salaries have been reduced by as much as 15%,
00:03:35 while for a further 41 positions,
00:03:37 their ranking within the civil service or legal service
00:03:41 had been lowered.
00:03:43 All right, so it's going to be interesting to see
00:03:45 what happens with the SRC report,
00:03:48 but at this time, government is not accepting it.
00:03:51 All right, moving on.
00:03:53 Or should I say cabinet?
00:03:54 Heartbreak.
00:03:55 TNT Divas fall short in five-run defeat
00:03:58 to Barbados women in Super 50.
00:04:00 Trinidad and Tobago's women cricketers sank
00:04:02 to a second straight defeat,
00:04:04 this time to defending champions Barbados
00:04:06 in their second-round fixture
00:04:08 of the West Indies Women's Super 50 Cup
00:04:10 at St. Paul's Sport Complex in St. Kitts yesterday.
00:04:14 And this looks like it did hurt, right?
00:04:17 Look at the picture on top.
00:04:18 Prince on the offensive.
00:04:20 Take that!
00:04:21 Trinidad and Tobago's Aaron Prince lands a left hook
00:04:23 to the head of Arena Paquela of Lesotho.
00:04:27 Yeah, boy, take that, boy.
00:04:29 That would not be easy.
00:04:31 All right, it's time to remind you of a Trinbago Unite feature.
00:04:34 Remember to participate.
00:04:35 WhatsApp your videos or images to 737-3778.
00:04:39 We do have this for you.
00:04:41 Yeah?
00:04:42 Sunset shimmers on Mosquito Creek,
00:04:45 and that's from Kim Bovard.
00:04:47 Good morning, Kim.
00:04:48 Thank you very much for that beautiful picture there.
00:04:50 Mosquito Creek, boy.
00:04:52 Mm-hmm.
00:04:54 Okay, so you have your coffee, you have your tea.
00:04:57 Yeah, you have something to eat.
00:04:58 Yeah, we do have a very interesting program for you today.
00:05:01 Why is my tie looking blue?
00:05:02 It's purple, eh?
00:05:03 I thought I would wear a purple tie this morning
00:05:05 in commemoration of International Women's Week
00:05:08 and International Women's Day.
00:05:09 Well, look, the tie looking blue.
00:05:11 And when they put on a blue tie, what would happen?
00:05:15 We're coming back, everybody.
00:05:17 Ponder, don't wonder.
00:05:18 [Music]
00:05:36 Do you want to give your child the best start in life?
00:05:39 Use Astamin C.
00:05:41 Every child needs a protective shield against infections.
00:05:43 Astamin C contains the eight essential amino acids
00:05:46 plus vitamin C, which promotes healthy growth and brain development,
00:05:50 builds immune system, muscles, and bones,
00:05:52 ensures protein formation in the body,
00:05:54 good for formula-fed babies, low-birth weight babies,
00:05:57 and improves appetite.
00:05:58 Babies just love the taste.
00:06:00 Give your child the best start in life.
00:06:02 Use Astamin C drops, available at all leading pharmacies nationwide.
00:06:08 The world is in crisis.
00:06:10 Distressing news are flowing from every quarter in the society,
00:06:15 and the hearts of many are failing them for fare.
00:06:19 However, in the midst of these alarming conditions
00:06:23 come good news.
00:06:25 Jesus Christ saves, keeps, and satisfies.
00:06:30 This is the message of Daybreak.
00:06:33 [Music]
00:06:58 It's not a thrill when your speed can kill.
00:07:01 [Music]
00:07:08 I grew up in a country,
00:07:10 small little town called Jumalatres on Santa Cruz,
00:07:14 very special place to grow up in.
00:07:17 And now as an adult,
00:07:19 I think of those children in Trinidad and Tobago
00:07:22 who do not have a safe place,
00:07:25 who are maybe not even lying in their own beds or a bed,
00:07:29 and there's no roof to shade them from the sun,
00:07:33 nor to protect them from the rain.
00:07:36 When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago,
00:07:41 they answered a call I have deep inside of me.
00:07:44 What they were saying to me was that we can make a difference.
00:07:49 I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board.
00:07:53 Consider helping Habitat for Humanity in whatever way you can.
00:07:57 [Music]
00:08:08 [Music]
00:08:27 All right, so welcome back, everyone.
00:08:29 A very special good morning to all of you again.
00:08:31 Thank you very much for joining us.
00:08:33 So let's begin today with politics,
00:08:35 and we do have with us this morning political analyst Dr. Mukesh Basu
00:08:39 to give his perspective on a number of things.
00:08:41 All right, the recent public conversations with the prime minister
00:08:44 where Dr. Keith Rowley addressed crime of the UNC's decision
00:08:47 to bring St. Lucia's opposition leader to Trinidad and Tobago
00:08:51 to advise on the problem of crime.
00:08:54 He also discussed the Strategic Services Agency had been sent on leave,
00:08:58 and there's a pending investigation as well as the economy and taxes.
00:09:03 Dr. Basu, good morning.
00:09:05 Good morning, Marlon, and good morning to all of you viewers and listeners.
00:09:09 Yeah, Dr. Basu, as I said, we do have a lot to discuss this morning.
00:09:12 So the major political parties, the PNM and the UNC, have both been holding meetings.
00:09:17 Is it safe to say that the campaign to the run-up to the general election has begun?
00:09:23 Well, the context of it, when we look at the election,
00:09:26 it is said it is constitutionally due by September of '25.
00:09:31 But when you look at the means by which the political parties are engaging
00:09:37 the discourse with the public, one can say that there's a degree of, let's say,
00:09:40 campaigning that is happening as it currently--
00:09:44 as we look at the politics right now in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:09:47 And I think it stems from coming out of the local government election
00:09:51 that we had last year.
00:09:53 It actually placed these political parties in a position to actually work towards
00:10:00 a date when the election bell is rung and how they move forward to prepare themselves
00:10:07 and how they present their views, their opinion, their promises
00:10:11 to the electorate of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:10:13 Yeah. You think that the messages, Dr. Basdew, that both political parties
00:10:20 are giving to the population and more so their constituents and supporters,
00:10:25 you think that the messages are meeting the constituents and their supporters
00:10:30 and the wider public at large?
00:10:33 I think that the issues being discussed by the respective political parties
00:10:38 is having an impact because the particular issues that are being addressed--
00:10:45 I mean, there are countless issues that political parties
00:10:48 will try to bring to the fore.
00:10:50 But those that are salient, that is affecting the lives of the population
00:10:54 on a day-to-day basis--crime, taxes, infrastructure--
00:10:59 these issues are engaging the attention of the public
00:11:03 by listening to these politicians and how they bring forth these issues
00:11:08 into the domain and for the public to actually start to think about possibilities
00:11:14 of how they may cast their ballot in the months to come.
00:11:18 So we are looking at about 18, 19 months, 20 for the most
00:11:23 for an election, so the population is being prepared.
00:11:26 And the way the political parties is engaging in the discourse
00:11:30 is to make the public aware of some of these issues that are on the front burner.
00:11:36 Yeah. Let's look at the both sets of meetings that both the opposition
00:11:42 and the PNM are having.
00:11:44 I know that tonight the PNM also has a meeting.
00:11:47 Two days ago you had the conversation with the prime minister.
00:11:51 So let's deal with both types of meetings separately.
00:11:55 Now I know that the UNC, they have been having their town hall meetings,
00:12:00 and that's specifically to discuss the crime situation
00:12:03 and to even come up with suggestions and recommendations as to how to deal with it.
00:12:07 Earlier this week you had the opposition leader of St. Lucia
00:12:10 attending one of the meetings.
00:12:14 Is the objective or are the objectives of these meetings being achieved?
00:12:22 I think the objective is being met because the decision by both opposition
00:12:27 and government to bring this, let's say this burn an issue,
00:12:32 into the discussion forum with the population, we can get a feeling
00:12:38 that crime is a central issue that is affecting our society.
00:12:44 The decision by the opposition to engage in this method of using the crime forum
00:12:50 to engage the population throughout the length and breadth of this country,
00:12:55 as the opposition indicated, is to get first-hand view from the ground
00:13:00 of how this policy problem is actually affecting them
00:13:04 and to get the views of persons. And hopefully what may come out of it,
00:13:09 we may see some form of policy document that the opposition may bring forth.
00:13:13 We can also sense that the prime minister's decision this week
00:13:18 to actually discuss salient issues, and he spent a portion of his time
00:13:23 focusing on the crime issue. So we can see that both political parties
00:13:27 that occupy the corridors of power in the parliament
00:13:31 are focusing their attention on this key issue, which is the crime.
00:13:35 But it's interesting to see how they move forward.
00:13:38 It's like what we are seeing is a continuation of discourse.
00:13:41 It may not be in the way that the prime minister may want,
00:13:45 in that you have a sit-down with four members of both sides
00:13:49 sitting down within a room and you discuss the pertinent issues.
00:13:53 What we are having is the crime discussion currently taking place
00:13:57 between government and opposition, but it's taking place in a different format
00:14:01 and where the prime minister is out with his cabinet colleagues
00:14:05 and he is discussing pertinent issues while the opposition is doing it
00:14:10 in their own form and fashion. So there is a discourse that is taking place
00:14:14 within the context of crime.
00:14:16 But do you think, Dr. Basdeou, because we have been hearing for months now
00:14:20 about these proposed crime talks, of course they have not materialized,
00:14:26 but do you think that both main political parties, they feel the weight,
00:14:33 the responsibility to adequately address the crime situation
00:14:39 and maybe they do feel an obligation to engage in talks on crime
00:14:47 before the general election?
00:14:49 I think both political parties realize the political value
00:14:54 that is placed on this problem itself.
00:14:56 For the government, there is a recognition because the prime minister,
00:15:00 in his address to the population, in his conversation,
00:15:06 he did admit that the country was basically affected
00:15:12 by this high level of crime.
00:15:14 He did admit that the society is traumatized,
00:15:19 it is being threatened and so forth.
00:15:21 So there is a rubric of confession of the impact of the crime.
00:15:26 And the opposition at the same time is recognizing that this policy problem
00:15:31 is one of the, what we consider, one of the failing areas
00:15:36 where the government has been unable to actually get a hold of it.
00:15:40 So when you think of it, both political parties recognize
00:15:44 the political value associated with this problem.
00:15:48 For the opposition, their strategy is primarily to move forward,
00:15:52 to have this discussion, and then bring into the public domain
00:15:56 some sort of policy document that will form the basis of,
00:16:00 let's say, a manifesto promise.
00:16:03 The question is that for the opposition,
00:16:05 the problem for the government is now how do they meet the opposition
00:16:10 in the middle point?
00:16:11 Now in the prime minister's conversation, he did allude to a number of
00:16:15 measures and he made mention again of the Bill Amendment Bill,
00:16:20 which is linked to the government's policy of actually dealing
00:16:25 with the crime situation, but I would consider it as a short-term measure
00:16:30 rather than a long-term measure.
00:16:32 Are there political repercussions for both the opposition
00:16:37 and the government if this problem is not addressed adequately, crime?
00:16:42 There are repercussions on both sides that can suffer,
00:16:47 because once you have the crime situation, and the crime situation
00:16:51 is in the face of the population on a day-to-day basis,
00:16:55 the level of the crime, the nature of the crimes,
00:16:58 and the total--how the population would view it as--
00:17:04 that the criminals have what we call a free reign
00:17:07 in how they conduct their criminal activities.
00:17:10 If it is that, the greater emphasis will be on the government
00:17:15 to get a hold of it, where the population--that fear of crime
00:17:19 will continue to rise.
00:17:21 The opposition now will face a similar political backlash
00:17:25 because the individuals who are affected and those who are looking on
00:17:30 can develop a sense of, let's say, awareness that neither side
00:17:35 is really interested in dealing with the problem,
00:17:38 and therefore it can have, I recall, a knock-down effect on both parties,
00:17:42 one failing to do it and the other failing to participate
00:17:45 in finding a solution to the problem.
00:17:48 So there is a risk that both sides can actually face,
00:17:52 but the risk and the political risk can be more in the form
00:17:56 of the incumbent, because the incumbent is in office,
00:18:00 access to resources, access to state machinery,
00:18:04 and to the institution that can bring about some form of change
00:18:08 to the population when the population is affected.
00:18:12 Yeah. So is it safe to say that you feel that members of the electorate
00:18:18 may say, "Well, the government had ample time to deal with the issue of crime.
00:18:27 We have--and let's be blunt--we have not really seen
00:18:32 a great decrease in crime in Trinidad and Tobago over the years."
00:18:37 And you feel that if members of the electorate feel that way,
00:18:41 well, when they go to the polls, that can make--that can have a great impact
00:18:46 and a difference as to what happens at the end of the polls,
00:18:51 at the end of the general elections.
00:18:53 What it may have is that what we would have seen last year
00:18:57 in the local government election, decreased participation,
00:19:00 no voter turnout, and that can actually find its way
00:19:06 into the upcoming general election.
00:19:08 So one way that voters may express their dissatisfaction
00:19:12 with the political parties is by staying at home,
00:19:15 not casting a ballot, not dipping their finger in the ink,
00:19:20 and that is a very good--in some ways, you could say they are non-committed
00:19:24 to any of the political parties because there is this sense
00:19:28 that the political parties in general have not addressed their major concerns.
00:19:34 So they don't see the value of actually staining their finger
00:19:37 for either political parties.
00:19:39 So there is a possibility that these types of policy problems,
00:19:43 whether it's crime, the economy, and so forth,
00:19:46 it can have a knock-down effect in that it can lead to
00:19:50 what we call low voter turnout.
00:19:52 And when you have a low voter turnout, it can affect what we call
00:19:55 the abilities of these political parties in actually retaining their seats
00:20:02 in the legislature, or whether which will be--
00:20:05 because there's a slim majority that the government--
00:20:09 the ruling PNM actually has is 20 to 19, so there's a slim majority.
00:20:13 So what can actually happen in such a scenario is that
00:20:16 the political risk is much higher for one party to retain
00:20:20 and the other party is to gain on the failings of the incumbent
00:20:26 that is in power.
00:20:28 Yeah. Dr. Bazel, how do you think that members of the electorate,
00:20:31 the population, they are viewing this recent controversy
00:20:33 concerning the head of the SSA and the removal--
00:20:37 Well, the issue of the removal of the head of the SSA
00:20:40 that the office of the prime minister put out a press release on Saturday
00:20:46 and made a statement that the existing head has been sent on administrative leave
00:20:52 with immediate effect, and that the ambassador to Washington
00:20:56 was basically recalled to take over the responsibilities
00:21:00 and to carry out an internal investigation and then to put systems in place.
00:21:05 It leaves a lot of questions because what has happened is that
00:21:09 there is little information that is forthcoming.
00:21:12 So it leaves a lot of room for what we call persons to develop
00:21:18 all kinds of conspiracy theories.
00:21:21 And what we are sensing is that there are information
00:21:24 that when the prime minister alluded to what we call a police investigation,
00:21:28 a police intelligence that have basically led to his decision
00:21:33 to send the director on administrative leave.
00:21:37 So what we are sensing is that there are some sort of what we call
00:21:42 information that has reached the prime minister that came from the police.
00:21:46 The problem is that if it is that nothing emerges in the form of a legal
00:21:52 that someone is charged or anything in that capacity,
00:21:56 then all that we can actually gauge from it is that
00:22:00 it isn't another means of where the political reach of the political directorate
00:22:07 is going overboard by engaging in what we call this kind of fear
00:22:14 that what the information, but the information is not credible enough
00:22:17 to lead to what we call, let's say, charges of a criminal nature.
00:22:22 So it can backfire on the government where the prime minister
00:22:28 may be seen as taking a decision, but it's not based on what you call proper facts.
00:22:34 Yeah. Dr. Bazi, we have a few more questions for you.
00:22:37 I have to speed this morning because I want your perspectives on these other issues.
00:22:42 Let's look at what has happened over the past few weeks.
00:22:45 Re, the at least two smaller parties, one the NTA, and there was a perceived rift.
00:22:52 Of course, Mr. Gary Griffith has said there is no rift.
00:22:56 And I'm seeing today where it would seem that talks have resumed
00:23:00 between both political parties, the NTA and also the UNC.
00:23:04 And then you have a situation where we're seeing the PEP leader,
00:23:08 Philip Alexander, now saying, well, if it is that there is no rift
00:23:13 between the NTA and the UNC and the NTA is back in the arms of the UNC,
00:23:20 well, the PEP wants nothing to do with the UNC
00:23:23 and the political leader of the UNC must now make a decision.
00:23:26 How do you see this situation unfolding?
00:23:31 But clearly from how you just relay that information,
00:23:35 it would seem to me that the rift is not between the UNSP and the PEP,
00:23:43 but rather the PEP, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Griffith.
00:23:46 That is where the political issue actually lies,
00:23:49 between these two leaders of these two political parties.
00:23:53 As what has entered into the political domain,
00:23:58 the opposition had made a statement a couple of weeks back at a public forum,
00:24:03 and Mr. Griffith had followed up with a statement.
00:24:07 So what has happened coming out in the media today is that they have basically reconciled
00:24:14 and they're going to reengage into what they call this partnership arrangement
00:24:18 that they have coming out of the local government election.
00:24:22 So the issue with Mr. Alexander is that he really has a problem with Mr. Griffith,
00:24:27 and I think it really has nothing but the opposition,
00:24:30 from what the opposition commentary was based on,
00:24:34 is they are willing to talk with any individual or organization that are willing to join
00:24:39 in the platform leading up to what they call a common platform
00:24:45 to deal with issues related to the government in power.
00:24:49 So it's not an issue.
00:24:51 Go ahead.
00:24:52 It's not an issue.
00:24:53 I see primarily as an issue between both the political characters of Mr. Alexander and Mr. Griffith.
00:24:59 I think that is where the issue really is at.
00:25:02 But do you think that these two small political parties,
00:25:05 they do have the political weight at this time to be making demands of the UNC
00:25:12 or the political leader of the UNC?
00:25:16 Well, when we look at the two political parties, it's quite right that Mr. Alexander is quite correct
00:25:21 that his party has been tested in that in the local elections and in general elections.
00:25:27 So he has that experience of being tested at that level.
00:25:31 However, when we think about Mr. Griffith and his party,
00:25:34 the NTA is fairly new to the political scene, but has been tested in the local government election,
00:25:40 to the extent of which the success would basically extend to the parties gaining electoral votes
00:25:46 that allowed it to actually have an alderman in the Diggle-Martin-Borough Corporation.
00:25:52 So there are some degree of success.
00:25:54 The question is that how will their support and their support base now impact upon what we call a general election scenario?
00:26:02 What will be the impact?
00:26:03 Will their support basically turn the tide?
00:26:06 Will they be able to actually wrestle some of the much-needed seats that will allow their so-called coalition
00:26:13 to actually gain what we call the necessary majority to form the government in the next 20 months?
00:26:19 So the question now comes down back to the influence and the political, let's say,
00:26:25 ability of these political parties to gain the momentum.
00:26:29 As it currently stands, we have what we call a two-party system.
00:26:32 A two-party system does not say that it's only UNC and PNM.
00:26:36 What it really talks about is there are two parties currently existing that have the political ability to actually win seats and to be in the legislature.
00:26:45 It does not exclude that there are other parties existing, but we have a two-party system.
00:26:50 And this is what it currently has.
00:26:51 We have basically come from a period in time where we had a multi-party system.
00:26:56 If you think about it in the context of the People's Partnership, and we had a coalition in the fall of 1994 and 1995 general elections.
00:27:07 But we have emerged now from 2020 elections of where we have what we primarily have a two-party system.
00:27:14 And the other parties exist within the political, let's say, in a political environment.
00:27:19 They are just meant to actually get in because the credibility will really mean for these other parties,
00:27:25 whether or not they can win a seat and be a part of the legislature to have that input in the policymaking process.
00:27:31 But where we stand right now is that we have a two-party system.
00:27:36 The question is whether the coalition politics is what is required now to basically wrestle power away from PNM.
00:27:44 And that is where the basis now, how do when the formulation and formulating this coalition politics,
00:27:51 what will be the role and function of the partners?
00:27:55 But it's clear that you have what we call a large party in the form of the UNC and you have other parties.
00:28:03 So the question is, what do they bring to the political table?
00:28:06 I think this is the discussion currently right now.
00:28:09 It's not much so the demand. There's a question on demand, but the question is always on input as against output.
00:28:15 When we look at these political parties.
00:28:17 Yeah. Dr. Wazir, let's speak a little bit about Tobago now, because sometimes when we're discussing general elections,
00:28:25 they run up to general elections. We sometimes we forget Tobago.
00:28:29 Let's speak about the Tobago factor and what is happening right now in Tobago.
00:28:33 Re the oil spill and how government deals with this oil spill in Tobago.
00:28:41 The question of the oil spill in Tobago, the ability of the THA and managing and handling the Tobago oil spill would be important.
00:28:49 It is going to have, let's say, a political impact in the question of Tobago, because much of that has much of the oil spill has affected only the island of Tobago.
00:29:01 Trinidad has basically been spared. The north coast of Trinidad has been spared in this context.
00:29:07 So Tobagonians will be looking carefully at how the THA manages and the level of what we call support from what we call central government.
00:29:18 Now, coming out of the THA elections a few years back, the question was being raised as to the what would be the likelihood of the PNM retaining the two Tobago seats.
00:29:31 As it currently stands right now, Marlon, if we factor in the two Tobago seats, if it is that the PNM were to lose one or both seats in Tobago,
00:29:41 if we look at the current parliamentary makeup and if that status quo remains in Trinidad, it will literally mean that the government will either become what we call
00:29:50 holding on to the very slimmest of majority with 21 seats, which is what is required.
00:29:55 If they lose both seats, then it means that the PNM has basically lost the election.
00:30:01 Even the two seats goes to the Farley-led administration in Tobago.
00:30:07 It will lead to some form of what you call coalition arrangement between Trinidad, because the two Tobago seats will become integral into who will form the government.
00:30:16 So while we focus on the politics in Trinidad, it is those two seats in Tobago that will hold the balance of power.
00:30:23 As it currently says, how I see it is those two seats. With all the two seats, the PNM priorities are 20, which is 21 is required to form government.
00:30:32 With the two seats in Tobago, if we take it in the end, the UNC has 19, but that makes them 21 if they form a coalition arrangement.
00:30:41 That is what will get them into, let's say, the corridors of power.
00:30:45 So the politics in Tobago is very dicey at this point in time and needs to actually look at to see whether or not the two PNM MPs are able, are doing what is necessary to actually.
00:30:58 So what, when, if, how the managing of this oil spill will, we have what we call a political, might you get political gains or it can basically suffer political loss in Tobago.
00:31:11 Dr. Bazer, I'm going to take one more minute.
00:31:15 You have something that happened over the past hours where the SRC report or the report has gone back to the SRC because of a number of anomalies.
00:31:29 Now, since the SRC announced these proposed increases, the increases have been condemned.
00:31:39 Is this something you think that should our politicians be receiving increases at this time in the run up to the election?
00:31:53 Is this something that the electorate would want to see?
00:31:59 I don't think that the electorate would have been, let's say, pleased if the recommendation of the SRC was adopted by the majority in parliament, if the majority had supported it.
00:32:15 Because what you have to understand is that those that are looking on within the public would have been recipients of, let's say, a 4% over two triennial.
00:32:27 And those would have been the arguments put forward by the Ministry of Finance and by the government.
00:32:33 This is what we can pay for you all based on what we call all the economic indicators with standard of living and disposable income.
00:32:42 So coming on the heels of these 4% wage negotiations, and then you have these types of increases that key officeholders are receiving.
00:32:53 Now, I know that the report in the newspaper is that certain officeholders got a decrease and some got an increase.
00:33:01 It is not something that you go into an election because these recipients of these 4% they are voters.
00:33:10 And we cannot separate that they are voters and they are workers.
00:33:15 And therefore, when it comes to what we call their pocket, these workers will basically dip their hand in their pocket and say, "Okay, I'm not feeling anything based on the 4%."
00:33:28 But they can reflect it in the form of how they vote. It can be a vexatious vote when you think about it.
00:33:35 So it was a correct move on the part to basically send back the report to the SRC for further review.
00:33:43 But I think it was politically wise to do such, to take such a decision at this point in time.
00:33:49 Yeah. And let me just say, I think I said, I know I said politicians before, but it also deals with increases, proposed salary increases for a number of other offices.
00:33:59 All right. So not politicians alone.
00:34:02 So, Dr. Basdy, as we wind up this morning, as you look at the two main political parties again heading into the general election, what are the chances for both of them at victory?
00:34:17 Well, at this point in time, I would see that both political parties at this point in time, if an election is to call in five weeks' time, both political parties may have a chance of basically wrestling political power.
00:34:31 Why do I say such a thing is that election is basically, well, once a date in election said five weeks must be the preparation time for the hosting and holding of an election by the EEC.
00:34:42 Given the current condition the country is at, given the issue of crime, given the issue of the economy and other issues, I think it will be an uphill battle for the PNM to actually convince the electorate that a two-term in office and they can resolve the problem.
00:35:04 The UNC may have a slight advantage in that the policy problems that the population is basically being facing, crime, the economy, infrastructure and so forth, they may have an opportunity to basically capitalize in what we call the political discontent.
00:35:21 But then at the same time, Marlon, we must understand if it is that there is a significant portion of the population, the electorate, who are dissatisfied with both political parties, then we may see what we call low voter turnout and therefore that will basically affect both political parties.
00:35:40 Dr. Bazdeou, interesting times and we are going to be right here looking on.
00:35:45 Dr. Bazdeou, as always, thank you very much for speaking with us this morning. We do appreciate it.
00:35:49 Thank you, Marlon. Good morning to you all.
00:35:51 All right, bye for now. So it's time for another break. We do have this video for you. It's from Andrew Joseph, Corn Birds. Andrew, a very special good morning to you. Thank you very much for that video, Andrew. We're coming back, everybody.
00:36:04 [Music]
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00:39:11 All right, so welcome back, everyone. So we are going to be discussing something now which is very important. It's about the trade license unit. And we are joined this morning by Chief Trade Officer, Sandra Peter Sarabjit. Ma'am, thank you very much for coming this morning.
00:39:30 Thank you and good morning to you.
00:39:32 Let's get right into it because some people may say, "But what is that?" So please tell us a little bit about what we're speaking about here this morning.
00:39:41 Okay, so the trade license unit is a department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. I think most people are aware the Ministry of Trade and Industry is one of the front line government ministries.
00:39:52 Trade license unit supports the ministry's mandate in promoting trade and facilitating investment by administering policies related to certain specific laws of Trinidad and Tobago. These being the imports and exports control regulations.
00:40:10 I'll put it simply, the import and export negative list. I think most persons are familiar with the negative list. The third schedule of the Customs Act and the recently Scrap Metal Act of 2022. Additionally, the unit has responsibility for regulating the imported used car industry or the foreign used car industry as well as the scrap metal industry.
00:40:32 So in essence, the trade license unit is a public body that is authorized to issue licenses for import and export. And I should say that the unit has been in existence for more than six years.
00:40:46 It has been known by different names over time. It was once upon a time called the Commerce Unit. Then it was popularly known as the Licensing Unit. Today it's resident for many years now it has been resident within the Ministry of Trade and Industry and is known as the Trade License Unit.
00:41:04 This unit is for what group of workers? Should I say workers, not maybe what group of workers, but people involved in what type of businesses?
00:41:15 Alright, so once you are engaging in some form of trade, whether it be import for personal reasons or export for personal reasons, chances are, 90% chances of you need us.
00:41:30 Alright, you may need advice, you may need a license depending on what the item is, or you may need some sort of concession to engage in your production. So we serve different walks of life from the individual to the firm level.
00:41:48 Yeah. Now, from what you're telling us here this morning, you will provide a number of services. Which ones are the most popular among members of the public and consumers?
00:42:00 So if we go back to our mission, we are really administering policies as they relate to certain laws. So the first, our primary service area would be in the issuance of licenses for items on the negative list.
00:42:18 Now let me just explain a bit about the negative list. Most people are not even aware that all the goods entering or leaving Trinidad and Tobago are subject to an open general license.
00:42:31 It's something that just happens on full, you're not aware of it. But there are certain exceptions. And those goods which constitute that exception are negatively listed.
00:42:42 They may be negatively listed for a number of reasons. Sometimes it may be health reasons, sanitary reasons, environmental considerations, national security, public safety.
00:42:55 It may be obligations we have under treaties or in, you know, with respect to trade agreements. So for that reason, some measure of monitoring and control need to be exercised.
00:43:08 And those goods require a special license. So if they are negatively listed on the import side, you need an import license.
00:43:16 If it's negatively listed on the export side, you would need an export license. So we issue licenses for those items based on a criteria, fulfillment of that criteria, and in accordance with the laws, the import and export.
00:43:32 So that's just one type of license. Then, that is particularly appealing to manufacturers and concessionaires and others, would be duty-free licenses, which grant you import duty exemptions on critical inputs into production.
00:43:48 For example, as well as your machinery, equipment, supplies. We also facilitate requests on behalf of local companies who are concessionaires for suspension of the common external tariff and on items which also constitute critical inputs into production.
00:44:09 We manage the foreign used car industry through various means, by means of having a registered dealership system, having a quota system and distributing that quota to each registered dealer, ensuring that the dealers who are registered with us comply to certain set standards that we have in place,
00:44:31 and of course, encouraging them to engage in good business practices. For example, providing warranty agreements, resolving complaints between consumers and themselves, and in instances where those complaints may not be easily resolved between both parties, we intervene as a mediator in it.
00:44:51 And then, of course, the scrap metal industry, we regulate that as well.
00:44:56 Before we move on to that, because you did speak about the negative list, how does one get information as to what may be on the negative list or not?
00:45:09 So our website is well populated, so I would encourage all viewers and listeners to visit the ministry's website at trading.gov.tt and look for the trade license unit and you would see copies of the negative list.
00:45:26 Now the negative list is not one list per se. It comprises of a series of legal notices. The list is not by any means static. It's always evolving. It's a bit dynamic. We do add and we do take away, all depending on the circumstances of the day.
00:45:44 All right, let's speak about something that you touched on, and in recent times it has been a controversial issue, right? And that's the issue of the scrap metal industry. Tell us about how the unit helps to regulate the scrap metal industry.
00:46:00 So within the trade license unit, we have a scrap metal unit, a dedicated unit towards all matters concerning the scrap metal industry. As you know, in 2022, new legislation came out which governs the industry.
00:46:14 Its aim is to have a new and well-regulated scrap metal regime in Trinidad and Tobago. So the legislation in itself speaks to the registration of dealers. So that's one of our responsibilities, and by August the 14th, and from now, we have actually issued an advisory asking all dealers to be duly registered under the Scrap Metal Act.
00:46:39 We have published the requirements for such, so we have responsibility for registering dealers, also collectors, also in the whole conduct of scrap metal business, the way in which they keep their registers, their ledgers, etc.
00:46:56 So it's a holistic approach that is being taken with the industry. But most importantly, is to encourage that industry to be a very productive and resourceful one, and we have been playing a key role in enabling the exports of scrap metal.
00:47:15 So we have on board inspectors, scrap metal inspectors, who certify scrap metal for export, among the many other duties such as inspections, etc. So the industry is very much up and running. A lot of business is taking place.
00:47:34 But we are still in stages of getting the dealers. The dealers will be registered under the new Scrap Metal Act by August the 15th. Currently, there's an extension of time on the licenses that they held under the Old Metals and Marine Stores Act.
00:47:55 Before we move on to other things, but all of these, what is in this new regime, it is an attempt to really streamline the way that the scrap metal industry has been, well, to streamline it because we know of some of the problems that have occurred in the past.
00:48:24 So this new regime and these new regulations are being put in place to really put it on a straight and narrow path.
00:48:33 Correct. And they are already very much on the way. Since last year, February, the industry would have reopened. So a lot is happening.
00:48:45 Let's talk a little bit about what happens to scrap metal dealers after August 14th, 2024.
00:48:51 Okay. So in our public advisory, we have indicated that currently is a temporary measure is in place where the licenses they held under the Old Metal and Marine Stores Act is now extended to August the 14th.
00:49:06 Beyond that, we do expect them to be registered under the Scrap Metal Act. So we invite the applications from scrap metal dealers under the new act and we have issued a public advisory which really tells you all the requirements to have in place, whether you are an individual, a company, a partnership, or a cooperative society, what are the requirements that you need.
00:49:34 It comprises of a fee payment, some documents that you need to have in place, as well as certain approvals from the Environmental Management Agency, Town and Country, a fire services report, as well as you will be subject to an inspection by one of our scrap metal inspectors.
00:49:56 Right. And is this for people who are already involved in the industry?
00:50:04 Yes, as well as new ones who wish to enter the industry. Once you satisfy the criteria, you would have met the requirements to be a registered dealer.
00:50:14 All right. So is it a situation that if people need additional information that they can be in contact with your unit and you provide all of the information?
00:50:25 Certainly, certainly. We are available by phone, of course, by email, tlu@gov.tt, as well as the trade and investment business portal on our website also has information. So there are various means by which you can contact us.
00:50:48 And as I say, we would have issued a public advisory which carries all the information that you need, and you can visit the website for ease of reference.
00:50:58 Yeah. And these licenses, are there fees for these licenses?
00:51:05 Okay. So we are talking about two types of licenses. The dealer licenses, there's a fee and application fee, all right, for the dealer and for the collector. It's $500 for the dealer, $150 for the collectors.
00:51:21 But the other types of licenses, the other trade licenses, like the import licenses, the export licenses, those do not carry any fees attached to it.
00:51:30 All right. Well, that's good to know.
00:51:32 Yes.
00:51:33 Studio, can we take our break now and we'll return? Yeah? All right. Okay. We're not breaking as yet.
00:51:42 But I think that is your ministry and is your unit prepared to help? And I suspect it's a rhetorical question because I'm just asking this question because of what is sometimes put out in the public domain.
00:52:05 Are you prepared to deal with all challenges that are brought to you by people in the scrap metal industry or other industries?
00:52:20 Because I think that sometimes we do hear a lot of noise from certain sectors and that the ministry is not doing enough to help certain sectors.
00:52:33 So the question is, are you all prepared and willing to help all in different industries and to address the concerns?
00:52:43 Well, I'm sure you'll appreciate challenges are a common thing.
00:52:48 Yeah.
00:52:49 And we've been dealing with challenges and I can proudly say that we have dealt with our challenges quite well.
00:52:54 We are one of the top service providers. Any one of our licenses, depending on the nature of the license, can be gotten within an hour.
00:53:05 Yeah.
00:53:06 Anywhere within an hour. So that's just one example of how we've dealt with challenges.
00:53:11 But more so, we are always open to communication. We recognize the need to have a well-regulated scrap metal regime.
00:53:20 So particularly for scrap metal, we've been very facilitative. We've been there, able to always provide information and assist as far as possible.
00:53:32 So I think I can fairly say that we have been dealing with our challenges quite well.
00:53:39 And the industry itself, the players in the industry have also been very supportive and understanding as we channel these new areas.
00:53:49 All right. So the doors are open and remain open. All right.
00:53:53 Always.
00:53:54 All right. So we must go to a very short break. We are coming back.
00:53:59 What?
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00:55:08 Why do I have so many boyfriends? Because I'm young and I'm pretty and I want to have some fun.
00:55:15 They all think I'm beautiful and they love me.
00:55:19 Girls call me bad names behind my back. They are obviously jealous.
00:55:24 They have to be.
00:55:26 But they don't know the real reason why I do this.
00:55:31 My dad used my body for his pleasure because I was his little girl, his property, and he could do whatever he wanted.
00:55:40 All my boyfriends use me and I'm okay with that.
00:55:45 I guess I just want their love.
00:55:47 The only way I know how to show love is by using my body.
00:55:51 It's hard to unlearn what I've been taught by the first man in my life, my dad.
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00:56:10 Children have rights.
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00:56:45 All right, so welcome back everyone.
00:56:47 So we do have some breaking news for you.
00:56:49 Some news just in from our multimedia journalist Urvashi Thawari Rupnirain.
00:56:53 Fiery protest in Claxton Bay at this time.
00:56:56 Tires set ablaze on the roadway, blocking traffic from leaving or entering.
00:57:01 Now the residents say they are frustrated as contractors in the area are employing outsiders and are refusing to hire persons from the village.
00:57:10 We'll have more on this story for you as it comes to hand.
00:57:14 All right, so we are taking another break.
00:57:16 We are coming back.
00:57:18 [Music]
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00:57:55 Learn more and register online at ttprose.net or call 796-7281.
00:58:01 Check us out at Young Leaders TT.
00:58:04 Hi, I'm Apostle DeVince welcoming you to my television broadcast, Turning Point.
00:58:13 I believe that this could be the turning point in your very life.
00:58:17 Join me every second and fourth Sunday of the month at 6am for a dynamic turning point moment in your life.
00:58:25 The Lord bless you. Have a wonderful day.
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00:58:36 You want me to send you a picture of what?
00:58:39 You really like that kind of rude stuff, huh?
00:58:43 Well, okay, but you're sure no one else is going to see these, right?
00:58:48 Of course I trust you, babe, and I know you love me.
00:58:53 I love you too. I can't believe he posted those photos.
00:58:58 I trusted him so much and now it's all over the internet.
00:59:03 It feels like the whole world has seen it.
00:59:06 Even my friends are sharing it.
00:59:09 They call me all these names that I'm not.
00:59:12 I didn't even want to do it, but I trusted him.
00:59:16 And now I feel like my life is over.
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00:59:33 Children have rights.
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00:59:59 It seems like forever and a day we've been on this ride.
01:00:02 And all the things that you do for me, my gratitude I can't hide.
01:00:06 And all the ups and downs turn around, you're always right by my side.
01:00:10 All right, so welcome back, everyone.
01:00:12 So we are continuing our discussion just for a little while longer about the Trade License Unit of the Ministry of Trade.
01:00:19 Again, Sandra Peter Srabjit, she's here with us this morning.
01:00:23 Mrs. Srabjit, let's speak a little bit about, because I know that you all, your unit, recently launched a public awareness program.
01:00:33 Yes, that's correct.
01:00:35 Since the beginning of this year, we embarked on this public awareness campaign.
01:00:39 We recognize the need to help and empower consumers so that they become familiar with the procedures and guidelines when importing and exporting goods.
01:00:50 Many times, you know, they have encountered situations where they did not realize that they needed to satisfy certain requirements or there are certain requirements expected of them.
01:01:03 So this campaign is about empowering them and it also, more importantly, it's to ensure that their rights are always kept intact and that in no way are they disenfranchised in that regard.
01:01:17 How has the campaign been working?
01:01:19 So, so far, we have issued two advertorials in terms of we've selected what are some of our more popular services.
01:01:31 And licenses for motor vehicles tend to be a very popular, you know, area.
01:01:37 And we've, we focus on foreign use cars in terms of if you, as an individual, decide to import one on your own, the tips that you should follow, or if you are going to a registered dealer, things that you need to look out for.
01:01:54 We will be in the upcoming weeks going into other areas of some of the more popular, you know, requests in terms of a refrigerator.
01:02:03 Many persons tend to, they are not aware that if you are purchasing a refrigerator from abroad and bringing it in yourself, importing it in other words, that you need a license.
01:02:16 They only realize that when they go to get it cleared at customs, then the officer would ask where is your license.
01:02:24 The reason why a refrigerator or freezer or even an AC unit require a license is because they are all outfitted with refrigerants.
01:02:36 There are certain refrigerants which are allowed and those which are not allowed.
01:02:40 So a license is required to ensure that the refrigerant in the appliance that you are bringing in is one that is permissible.
01:02:49 Yeah, but I do understand that some of the mistakes that members of the public may make because when we are thinking of, we may just see it as a small item, you know, a bringing in a stove, a bringing in a...
01:03:02 Well, the stove does not require. It's just those appliances which are outfitted with a refrigerant, a gas.
01:03:10 Remember, those belong to the category of ozone depleting substances of which we have some environmental considerations.
01:03:19 We are signatory to the Montreal Protocol as well as other, you know, obligations in that regard.
01:03:25 So then the question is what should be the process from beginning to end?
01:03:33 Because I think what you would have is people going up on the online, ordering their fridges, yeah, and equipment and items such as these, and then they run into problems at this stage with customs.
01:03:50 So what should be the process?
01:03:52 Okay, so this campaign is aimed at educating consumers so that you would know these are the items you choose to import one yourself. You need a license.
01:04:04 And the process of obtaining a license is a very simple one. It can be done in under an hour, as I say.
01:04:11 Yes.
01:04:12 There are two ways in which you can obtain your license. You can go the route of most of our licenses are online system and we can boast about, you know, we are fully online.
01:04:24 Or you can come into our office at number 42 10th Avenue Barataria in the TTMA building and submit an application for the license for a fridge.
01:04:36 But is approval given on the same day?
01:04:39 Yes, it is within an hour, all depending on the queue.
01:04:43 Well, again, not bad.
01:04:45 Yes, we boast of our delivery.
01:04:48 So, but what about people who want to import or export items and they go up onto, let's say, your website? Is it because some of the things that you're explaining to us here this morning, and I'm listening to you and I'm saying, gosh, this sounds a lot of voluminous documents.
01:05:14 Is it in a palatable way? Is it in a way where it could be easily interpreted and people can move on?
01:05:23 Our website carries all the information together with the requirements for any type of license that you may require.
01:05:31 So, as an individual wishing to import anything, I think the first starting point would be to find out what are the requirements to import this.
01:05:42 Of course, apart from you doing the research yourself, you can also rely on a customs broker, customs brokerage company to assist you.
01:05:51 But why not when the information is available?
01:05:55 So, you ensure, first of all, whether the item that you wish to import is one that is negatively listed.
01:06:02 Yeah.
01:06:03 All right.
01:06:04 Similarly with export.
01:06:05 Once you know it's negatively listed, you know you require a license.
01:06:09 Once it's an item under $20,000, you can come in to us, except, well, very rare you will find a car under $20,000.
01:06:19 Yeah.
01:06:20 But once it's under $20,000 and it's for personal use items, you can submit a paper application, but it's easier to do the online route.
01:06:29 Yeah.
01:06:30 You have to be duly registered on our TTBizLink, which is a 24/7 portal for the receipt and processing and delivery of licenses.
01:06:39 Yeah.
01:06:40 Anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:06:42 I know you have said a lot.
01:06:43 Well, yes, I have.
01:06:47 Anyhow, you know, you can obtain more information.
01:06:50 I have, you know, explained where all our information rests.
01:06:56 You can call us.
01:06:57 We'll be happy to hear from you, and we will be on the promenade with World Consumer Rights Day on March the 15th, so you can pay us a visit as well.
01:07:05 All right.
01:07:06 And thank you very much for coming this morning and spending so much time with us.
01:07:09 We do appreciate it, right?
01:07:11 You're most welcome.
01:07:12 We are coming back, everybody.
01:07:14 [Music]
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01:08:32 Three hours in Gethsemane, he dragged that tire called salvation for man.
01:08:36 [Music]
01:08:39 Lift my eyes unto the hills.
01:08:42 We only have one place to go for help.
01:08:45 Hallelujah.
01:08:47 So I celebrate in Jesus.
01:08:49 [Music]
01:09:00 Walking to your new season.
01:09:03 [Music]
01:09:30 It's not a thrill when your speed can't kill.
01:09:34 [Music]
01:09:41 The Kirop and Coastal Empowerment Ministries International of 27 McDonnell Street, Kirop, Trinidad, West Indies presents Empowerment Through the World.
01:09:51 Come with us as we affect humanity with the life transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
01:09:58 We invite you to sit with us and be glad.
01:10:02 [Music]
01:10:26 There's something about a live band, you know.
01:10:29 There's something about that voice.
01:10:31 So Temperature the band was formed by Malcolm Boyce, who is a past member of the TTPS band.
01:10:36 Now the band is approximately 14 years old and it's based in Tacoragua.
01:10:41 Now Temperature has performed for many events in Trinidad and Tobago, which includes Renegades, Independence Fest, Fire Fest, NWRHA Carnival event, Second Star event.
01:10:51 They're performing all over the place.
01:10:54 We do have the co-manager ahead with us this morning, Oral Rodriguez, and we do have Denzel Tidd, percussionist.
01:11:02 Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:11:04 Thanks for having us.
01:11:05 Yeah.
01:11:06 As I said, gentlemen, there is something about these, something about live music being played by a band.
01:11:17 Let's talk a little bit about, well, we have just come out of the Carnival season, and also some of your plans as we look at the coming months and into another Carnival.
01:11:31 Well, the Carnival season, I should say, as you start, I will start there.
01:11:35 Carnival season definitely was a plus for Temperature in that we copped the 42nd time, 2nd consecutive year, the NCC's Brass Bacchanal competition.
01:11:46 We ended up on top again.
01:11:50 It's a title we have great pleasure and a great level of seriousness in going into that competition and obtaining that title.
01:12:02 Other than that, we played in a numerous number of fests, as we say.
01:12:10 Same Second Star event, we did that.
01:12:13 We do a lot of work with Pretty.
01:12:16 Pretty is one of the artists who actually stays side by side with Temperature and guides us along, helps us along the way.
01:12:22 He sort of nurtures us into that mainstream, which is where we want to get our feet, actually, into the mainstream of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, and regionally as well.
01:12:35 We want to be the Kess, the Marshall Montano's band.
01:12:42 We want to be that band there that people will say, "Hey, Temperature is playing, so this fest will be good."
01:12:48 Is Temperature a soca band?
01:12:51 Yes, Temperature is a soca band.
01:12:53 What we do, we convert, I want to use the word convert, to a full brass band for this NCC Carnival.
01:13:03 The reason we have that, I will use the word artillery, in that the musicians in Temperature, they all grew up together.
01:13:11 They all learned music in the same school, so they have a comradery, a lifelong comradery.
01:13:18 It's qualified musicians.
01:13:20 They all read music.
01:13:22 Playing in Brass Bacchanal is sort of an easy thing for them, in that you just get the music prepared, in which our arranger himself, he grew up with all the musicians.
01:13:37 It's a real family that we have in Temperature.
01:13:40 The arranger who arranges for us for Brass Bacchanal, three years straight, he grew up with all the musicians.
01:13:47 They learn music together, so it's a real, real unit that we have there.
01:13:52 Denzel, I want to bring in Denzel here now, because as I look at Denzel, Denzel is a young man, he's younger than me.
01:14:02 Denzel, as I was listening to the audio provided here this morning, there is something special about that live band.
01:14:14 Over the years, I remember the days of being at Soka Village, and I remember being on the road for Carnival and seeing every mass band with a live band.
01:14:33 There was something special about it.
01:14:35 I think that over the years, and many people will agree with me this morning, that that is lacking, right?
01:14:43 As I listen to your music, you feel that there is a renewed interest in having these live bands again on the nation's roads for Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
01:14:59 Will we see a return to, well, we spoke about Brass Bacchanal, so I suspect it's a return to that brass band type of atmosphere.
01:15:11 I think definitely, yes. You could definitely feel the difference with the expressions.
01:15:18 When live music is playing, compared to DJ, it resonates more with the crowd.
01:15:28 People tend to gravitate more towards the live music, because it's just the musicians on stage expressing themselves and meshing with the energy from the crowd.
01:15:40 So live bands will definitely make a comeback. I think everything is a full circle, and that live band aspect is coming right back.
01:15:48 Are you all making a comeback? When I say "are you all", I'm speaking in general. Do you feel that this live band intervention is coming back?
01:15:57 Definitely. And for Brass Bacchanal, you actually see, you know, during the Carnival season, Marlon, you may not see as much brass band as you see on the road.
01:16:08 But for Brass Bacchanal, you have so many brass bands, and young brass bands as well.
01:16:15 We have a lot of young musicians out there, and they are waiting for that avenue to release musically.
01:16:22 And I think the re-intervention of brass on the road will certainly create an avenue for them as well.
01:16:32 But certainly there are a lot of young brass bands out there who are actually eager and waiting to exhale.
01:16:41 But I am actually seeing that growth, that reboot of the brass bands out there.
01:16:47 But then, who's in the crowd? Young people in the crowd, or people like me from way back, from the Soka Village days?
01:16:55 It varies. You'd be surprised at how mixed it is in terms of the spectrum of age.
01:17:03 The older folks would appreciate it more because that's what they would have been brought up with.
01:17:07 And even the younger folks experiencing this new, I would say new, this new feel, I would say, it kind of draws them towards the music.
01:17:17 Yeah, because they don't know about it. They don't know about it.
01:17:21 It's that man telling you, "Put your hand in the air, put your hand in the air, go to the left, go to the right, put the lady on your shoulder."
01:17:28 They don't know about that. "Good morning, Ronnie. Good morning."
01:17:31 They don't understand that, but there's a vibe, boy, and there's an energy to that.
01:17:36 And there's a benefit to it. It's just an experience.
01:17:41 We feel that energy, Marlon, on Brass Backin' House. I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity of coming to one of the Brass Backin' House.
01:17:49 But even online, we have a lot of people tuning in online, and we get remarks on younger people.
01:17:55 We get wonderful remarks from them as well. They actually judge online.
01:18:00 They will say, "Okay, this band's song is good. I think this band is going to win."
01:18:04 They have their own judging criteria and things that they operate with online.
01:18:10 When you look at the crowd as well, Brass Backin' House now is a sit-down event.
01:18:15 It's not really a--
01:18:16 It's a sit-down event?
01:18:17 It's a sit-down event, like a cooler event.
01:18:19 Okay, all right.
01:18:20 It's not the flag man running down in the middle.
01:18:23 Really?
01:18:24 And Marlon holding someone on top of the shoulder.
01:18:28 What?
01:18:29 It's a really cool event. You come and you sit down, you relax, and you're really taking some good brass.
01:18:38 Well, I know-- The Brass Backin' Isle, is it the-- This year was the third installment, second installment?
01:18:46 I can't remember.
01:18:47 Third.
01:18:48 Third?
01:18:49 Yeah, third.
01:18:50 Right. And as you told us earlier, that Temperature, the band, you all were judged as the top band?
01:18:58 Yeah, on three occasions.
01:19:00 On three occasions?
01:19:01 All three occasions, yeah.
01:19:04 So all you fellas, since the first competition, you all have been at the top?
01:19:09 Yes, yes.
01:19:10 What is the preparation like for that competition?
01:19:16 Well, Temperature, we get prepared early.
01:19:19 And thanks to our band leader, our band captain, musical director, Mr. Justin Phillips.
01:19:26 He's very integral in getting the band prepared, along with our next manager, Mr. Lewis.
01:19:33 And we start our preparation by basically August.
01:19:37 Together with the writer, the arranger, they will sit down and listen to music, listen to different types of music,
01:19:46 whether it be from Kitchener, Spiral, whoever, and decide upon, okay, what we're going to do, what we're going to play.
01:19:53 The arranger will then take it, get his juices on it, and within probably three days, four days, he's a very fast arranger.
01:20:02 He will come up with an arrangement.
01:20:04 Our practice sessions will start, let's say, around November.
01:20:10 Like this year, we started November, and we already started practicing by November, had our arrangement, everything.
01:20:17 So our preparation is really in-depth, and we do it early.
01:20:23 So come January, when everyone is busy all over, and it's hard to get people to come and actually practice,
01:20:30 we already put in a lot of practice November, December.
01:20:34 So January is just a brush up, and do a little editing and stuff.
01:20:39 It's late night practice, long practice sessions, detailed practice sessions to get this, how we're supposed to get it on that day.
01:20:52 So as we continue our discussion here, is it possible that we can get a little bit more of temperature of the band?
01:20:59 Yeah?
01:21:00 [Music]
01:21:20 This is at the Fanyard line?
01:21:21 Right.
01:21:22 [Music]
01:21:39 Gentlemen, as I listen to this, my pores are raising.
01:21:42 You're not seeing it, eh?
01:21:44 I'm not seeing it, but it just takes me back to when I was younger and being a part of the Fats, and really just enjoying this type of atmosphere.
01:22:01 And I am really happy this morning that we're seeing something like this really coming back, because it was really, really sad that it had disappeared.
01:22:12 Denzel, how, I mean, everyone has to make a living, eh?
01:22:20 How is it? What are the challenges?
01:22:23 Because sometimes a band such as Temperature, the band, and Oral was saying, and he admitted that it's a soca band,
01:22:33 and soca and calypso, they are both still seen as seasonal in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:22:39 So what are the challenges for you all as you look at the coming months here and we go back into carnival?
01:22:50 As they would have mentioned, the seasonal part of the soca and calypso, that kind of poses a little challenge,
01:22:58 but as we see now, there's a lot of carnivals outside of Trinidad. I think almost every month there's a next carnival somewhere.
01:23:09 I think right now the major challenge would be probably getting in contact, making the contacts outside.
01:23:17 But that would really be dependent on the stamp, the re-stamping our name here first.
01:23:24 So the major challenge really is getting out there to avoid that seasonal kind of effect on the band.
01:23:33 Oral, how are you all looking for the rest of the year as we look at another carnival?
01:23:38 We have come out of one, but we're looking at another one. We do have some footage for you, eh?
01:23:43 Yeah, we're going to put up that shortly.
01:23:48 So is it that you all are looking to, as Denzel said, you all are looking to other countries to take your talent to in the coming months?
01:24:00 Definitely. We consider ourselves as a fresh band, a new band, so we're always looking for that breakthrough.
01:24:09 So all avenues we try to look at in getting the band out there.
01:24:14 Look at Denzel, Denzel's singing and doing.
01:24:20 So we look at all avenues at getting the band out there.
01:24:23 What we have on the table right now is actually our music school.
01:24:29 Tempter is opening a music school soon, and that's under Mr. Justin Phillip. He's the musical director of the band.
01:24:36 All instruments will be taught at that school, all brass instruments, woodwind instruments, pan-national instruments, music theory.
01:24:46 Mr. Justin Phillip, he's qualified, he has his degree in music as well.
01:24:51 So that's one of the main things we are looking to do, to encourage the youths, to mold them.
01:24:58 That's one of my functions around the band, as the eldest in the band. I'm also a member of the Chicago Police Band.
01:25:06 So my role is to guide them along, to make sure everyone is on the right path, musically, socially, that kind of thing.
01:25:15 First, speaking about the music school, at what age do you want to...?
01:25:21 I always say at age seven, someone can begin to learn a pan.
01:25:28 They can identify songs. Even younger than that, they can identify songs.
01:25:32 Once you can identify songs, and pitches and stuff, I say, "You're ready."
01:25:38 So if I'm having a wedding coming up, or a christening, I could call Tempter the band and say, "Yo, will you come now?"
01:25:46 I'll just say the word.
01:25:49 I don't know if I'll have any wedding coming up.
01:25:52 I don't know if you may want to put two rings on your finger.
01:25:55 So gentlemen, how do people get in contact with you all?
01:25:59 Through Tempter the band Facebook page, Tempter the band Instagram page.
01:26:04 You can message us there, or you can contact me, 360-0725.
01:26:11 And we can have a discussion from there.
01:26:14 I think that a large part of what would have contributed to us seeing brass bands no longer being so much involved in Carnival and at the Fets,
01:26:31 I know that there was a cost factor.
01:26:34 So if I need Tempter the band, I mean, I expect it to give me a cost here,
01:26:39 but it's something that I suspect people can negotiate and we can come up with a reasonable cost, right?
01:26:45 Definitely.
01:26:46 And it's going to be tailored to what the event is.
01:26:50 Yeah, yeah, yeah. And your workload and all of that.
01:26:53 But Tempter is very negotiable.
01:26:55 We are very aware of the position we hold right now.
01:27:00 So we are a very negotiable band.
01:27:03 But what's the future of brass bands, you think, in Trinidad and Tobago?
01:27:08 Yes, we all admit that they seem to be coming back.
01:27:12 They're here to stay. I hope yes.
01:27:15 I would hope yes.
01:27:17 But I think the future of brass bands, it holds a lot of...
01:27:22 It's like so many people are responsible for that.
01:27:25 Right.
01:27:26 The artists.
01:27:27 The promoters.
01:27:28 The promoters, mainly.
01:27:31 Even NCC with this brass backing on a show, I think that's very, very, very integral.
01:27:36 Because it really highlights a lot of brass bands in Trinidad.
01:27:40 And if you could get some continuity with it, as them having something during the year.
01:27:45 I think the more the brass is highlighted, I think the more the promoter will see,
01:27:50 "Okay, we need to reignite the brass in effects."
01:27:53 The artists may say, "Hey, we need to put two brass players with our band."
01:27:57 We never had brass players, that kind of thing.
01:28:00 I think once we get that, we can see the return, full return, I should say.
01:28:05 Because we still have some bands like Bungee Gallon, All Stars, Temperature of the Band,
01:28:11 who still have Brass to the World.
01:28:14 It's coming back.
01:28:15 Yeah, still have brass.
01:28:17 What are your front line singers?
01:28:18 We have Lika and Kassel.
01:28:21 Two very good front line singers.
01:28:24 They are new to the world, the soca world, I should say, as opposed to the knowns.
01:28:34 But they do a very good job, and they do a very good job at entertaining, I should say.
01:28:41 Yeah, Danzel, it's kind of amazing that, and it's really, I'm speaking about people for your age,
01:28:49 that this is something new.
01:28:51 And it's just amazing, as I said, that we have, over the years, not seen this type of activity,
01:29:00 except for the big bands that you have spoken about.
01:29:02 But when I speak about brass bands, of course there were big brass bands back in the day,
01:29:09 but I'm generally speaking as to what happens on the road for carnival and so on.
01:29:15 But it's something new for the young people.
01:29:17 And they're soaking it up.
01:29:20 Yes, yes, yes.
01:29:21 And what happens to them, we kind of encourage them to pick up an instrument also.
01:29:26 Back in the day, sometimes, you know, your parents, they're really paying much attention to the music,
01:29:32 sideway, become a doctor, lawyer, or whatever, you know.
01:29:35 But seeing young people on stage also, it might give someone the encouragement, you know,
01:29:40 like, I want to follow this path also.
01:29:43 Yeah. Gentlemen, I'm glad, you know, for where I came from.
01:29:50 Being in the fest with the brass bands, I'm glad that it is coming back.
01:29:57 This is "Temperature of the Band." At what event?
01:30:00 The Brass Bacchanal. Yeah, NCC's Brass Bacchanal.
01:30:03 Let's take a little bit of "Temperature of the Band," a little more of that.
01:30:08 [music]
01:30:11 [music]
01:30:14 [music]
01:30:18 [music]
01:30:46 [music]
01:30:49 [music]
01:31:08 [music]
01:31:11 It takes me back. Gentlemen, I don't want to sit down here and cry this morning, because that will happen.
01:31:22 We'll continue this discussion a little more.
01:31:25 But it's really nice to see that it's happening. Gentlemen, what's next for the band?
01:31:29 Well, we have some events that we are preparing for, "Renegades," which is an annual thing we do.
01:31:36 We have a fire fest in South, actually. That's actually an independence fest that we are keeping.
01:31:45 And one or two stuff still coming in, you know, and we're hoping to get a lot more stuff on the itinerary.
01:31:52 Aurel, give us your contact information again. I don't want people to miss that.
01:31:55 Yes, it's 360-0725, Aurel Redfrigeris.
01:32:00 Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:32:02 I'm glad to have been here.
01:32:05 Reignite your flames.
01:32:07 [laughter]
01:32:09 Reigniting my temperature.
01:32:12 Thank you very much. Thank you very much for the music. I like what I'm hearing,
01:32:16 and I hope that other people like what they are hearing, and that to the promoters there,
01:32:22 out there, the temperature of the band is here.
01:32:25 I like what you're doing, but I also like your focus on the young people.
01:32:30 I also like the focus on the training also. You know, it speaks about succession planning, too,
01:32:36 and I do appreciate that. Gentlemen, thank you very much.
01:32:39 Pleasure being here. Thanks for having us.
01:32:41 All right. So we are going to a very short break, everybody. We do have this for you.
01:32:46 [music]
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01:33:26 Call 224-GDOT or visit gd.tt today.
01:33:30 Green Dot. Improving and simplifying lives.
01:33:33 [music]
01:33:56 [speaking in Spanish]
01:34:03 Shut up! I've had enough of all of you. You ungrateful.
01:34:08 I've had enough of you. You took us from our countries and the false pretence of us working day and night like slaves
01:34:14 and expect us to be grateful?
01:34:16 [speaking in Spanish]
01:34:22 [music]
01:34:27 Just allow us to leave, please. Give us our passports and allow us to leave.
01:34:33 You could for nothing say free to leave.
01:34:36 If you step one foot out of here, I will see to it that immigration sends you back to whatever hell you came from.
01:34:48 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity, call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.
01:34:58 Human trafficking is a crime. Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
01:35:03 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
01:35:08 [music]
01:35:33 Hello, I'm Peter, an Englishman living in Trinidad for many, many years.
01:35:38 I've come to love this country because of the warm-hearted people, the diverse culture, the fantastic food, and of course the great weather.
01:35:46 A few years ago I came across Habitat, and boy, oh boy, this is what the country needs.
01:35:50 At Habitat they work alongside families, give them a better life, providing more opportunities for families, especially the children.
01:35:57 If each one of us does the same, then all our actions will add up to create major changes.
01:36:01 I work with Habitat for Humanity to make small but significant actions which contribute to the life I have come to love in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:36:08 Help build a home, and a home means an awful lot.
01:36:12 A house is not a home. A home is a home. It's where the heart is.
01:36:15 So come with me, and let's make it happen.
01:36:18 [music]
01:36:34 Slavery. A terrible time in our history.
01:36:38 The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit.
01:36:42 The exploitation of another human being.
01:36:45 It still exists today. It has a new name.
01:36:48 Human trafficking.
01:36:50 Anyone can be a victim.
01:36:52 There is forced labor, sexual exploitation, and domestic servitude.
01:36:59 Human trafficking is a worldwide problem and an emerging concern for us here in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:37:07 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity, call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.
01:37:18 Human trafficking is a crime.
01:37:20 Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
01:37:24 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
01:37:29 [music]
01:37:31 The world is in crisis.
01:37:33 Distressing news are flowing from every quarter in the society.
01:37:38 And the hearts of many are failing them for fear.
01:37:42 However, in the midst of these alarming conditions come good news.
01:37:48 Jesus Christ saves, keeps, and satisfies.
01:37:53 This is the message of Daybreak.
01:37:56 [music]
01:38:02 Yes, girl. I'm online here with this weirdo named Larry. I'm getting rid of him now.
01:38:07 [music]
01:38:11 Eh-eh.
01:38:12 [typing]
01:38:15 [laughter]
01:38:18 Let's take a selfie.
01:38:20 [camera shutter]
01:38:22 It looking good, boy. I'm posting it online.
01:38:25 [music]
01:38:28 Hey. I thought you said you went to the beach with your parents.
01:38:31 Who's you?
01:38:33 It's me, Larry, from online.
01:38:37 [music]
01:38:51 [music]
01:39:01 All right. Welcome back, everyone.
01:39:03 So we do have a lot more for you on the program today.
01:39:07 But let me just touch on this situation.
01:39:10 Re-Haiti. Have you all been monitoring what has been happening with Haiti?
01:39:17 And what is the state of Haiti right now?
01:39:20 Well, let me just tell you, because I was shocked to see what I saw on international news last evening.
01:39:27 So in the newspaper this morning, stalemate on Haiti.
01:39:31 CARICOM unable to reach any form of consensus.
01:39:35 Now, the Caribbean community, CARICOM yesterday said it has not been able to reach any form of consensus
01:39:43 regarding the situation in Haiti, despite working on the issue over the past three days.
01:39:50 Now, despite of many, many meetings, we have not yet been able to reach any form of consensus
01:39:57 between the government and respective stakeholders in the opposition, the private sector, civil society, and religious organizations.
01:40:06 Now, that's according to CARICOM chairman and Guyana president, Dr. Irfan Ali.
01:40:11 So he said that in a statement yesterday.
01:40:14 So he described the unfolding situation in Haiti, which is part of the 15-member regional integration movement,
01:40:21 as complex with many moving parts.
01:40:26 He said it is compounded by the absence of key institutions functioning, such as the presidency and the parliament.
01:40:35 This is further undermined by the outbreaks of violence and a lack of humanitarian aid.
01:40:42 Now, he said CARICOM has been urging all Haitian stakeholders of an urgent need for a consensus,
01:40:49 given that they all agreed that the solution must be Haitian-led and Haitian-born.
01:40:56 Now, we have been speaking for some time now about the gangs taking over Haiti,
01:41:03 and that is what is happening in Haiti right now.
01:41:06 Absolutely amazing to see what has happened over the past few weeks, over the past few months in Haiti.
01:41:14 Now, let me give you another story concerning Haiti.
01:41:17 Now, Haiti's prime minister faces pressure to resign as gangs take over the capital.
01:41:23 See what I've been telling you about?
01:41:25 So the gangs have taken over the capital.
01:41:28 Haitian politicians started pursuing new alliances yesterday, seeking a coalition that could lead the country out of the gang violence,
01:41:36 but has closed the main airport and prevented embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning home.
01:41:46 Did I pronounce that right, or is it Henri?
01:41:48 Now, Haiti remained largely paralyzed, with schools and businesses still closed,
01:41:54 amid heavy gunfire blamed of the gangs that control an estimated 80 percent of the capital.
01:42:00 Port-au-Prince, where several bodies lay on empty streets, the country's two biggest prisons,
01:42:06 were also raided, resulting in the release of more than 4,000 inmates over the weekend.
01:42:13 All right? So a very serious situation in Haiti there.
01:42:18 All right? So we're getting back home now, and we do have with us this morning,
01:42:25 and we are going to be speaking about the QRC International Women's Day launch,
01:42:30 and we do have Carla Bryan, head of business development and chair of SHE's Royal Program,
01:42:38 and we do have Lana Lovell, sociology teacher and deputy chairperson of the SHE's Royal Program.
01:42:47 Ladies, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:42:49 Good morning, Mylon. Thank you for having us.
01:42:51 All right. Well, let's get into it right away.
01:42:54 Tell us about what you have in store for International Women's Day and the launch.
01:43:00 And the launch.
01:43:01 Hi. Morning. Thank you for having us.
01:43:03 Of course.
01:43:04 So at Queen's Royal College, we have a SHE's Royal Program.
01:43:08 The program is designed to educate the young men about gender-based violence, male towards female.
01:43:15 So for International Women's Day, our theme that we are focusing on is inspire inspiration for economic empowerment.
01:43:25 So what we are encouraging the QRC community as well as our stakeholders
01:43:32 and everyone who has an interest in eliminating gender-based violence towards women
01:43:39 to support us by wearing the colors purple.
01:43:43 Ladies wear purple. I see you have your purple tie.
01:43:46 And you're purple.
01:43:48 And the males wear their orange, which is the color to make a statement against gender-based violence.
01:43:58 So for tomorrow, that is what we'll be focusing on.
01:44:03 Yeah. How have the boys been responding to what you all have been transferring, relaying to them?
01:44:16 How are they responding to that?
01:44:19 OK. So we're entering our third year.
01:44:22 Every year we do our annual acknowledgement of our anniversary in April.
01:44:26 And we have full support from our student population.
01:44:29 Full support, we do a walk around the Savannah.
01:44:32 It's a week-long preparation where our students create posters that they will walk along with.
01:44:38 We also have a student committee, and most of our members are volunteering.
01:44:43 And they are coming to us.
01:44:45 We don't have anything out there stating we're looking for volunteers.
01:44:48 The students are actually approaching us, and they are coming to us.
01:44:51 For those who have not joined the committee, they will walk up to us, and they will engage us in conversations.
01:44:56 So yes, we have had a positive impact thus far within the college.
01:45:01 And we also have now joined with St. Francis, Bishop, and St. James Secondary,
01:45:09 who from time to time we partner with them for different activities supporting this program.
01:45:15 And that has also been quite positive.
01:45:18 Now, this is not the first time that you all have embarked upon such an initiative, right?
01:45:23 No, it's not the first time.
01:45:25 And do you see greater participation by the students from the first time that you started to now?
01:45:34 Yes, we are seeing greater participation.
01:45:37 Yes, from not just our student committees, but also from student population.
01:45:41 And also from our support schools now, which is again St. Francis, Bishop, and St. James Secondary.
01:45:48 Let's speak a little bit, because I want to really focus on the male focus and the young males.
01:45:57 Why do you think that a program or the information that you all are relaying to these young men,
01:46:05 why is it so important, you think, for them and to society at large?
01:46:12 Alright, so I think that it's important because education is a very powerful tool in changing mindsets
01:46:21 and creating hope for the future generations.
01:46:25 If we start at a young age, you know, where they are impressionable,
01:46:29 then we can impact, you know, the future males, the future men,
01:46:35 because they will become men one day, and they will have to deal with, you know,
01:46:40 their female counterparts and so on.
01:46:42 And the idea is we want to bring the awareness of this issue so that change could be effected.
01:46:49 Yeah, you have seen the transformation because, you know, sometimes for, let me put it this way, quite bluntly,
01:46:58 because sometimes the people who are influencing our young people,
01:47:06 they too need to be influenced in a positive way, positively.
01:47:11 And I think that sometimes the information being given to young people, it could be sometimes skewed and biased.
01:47:21 So the information that you all are giving to our young boys, the young boys specifically,
01:47:27 you're seeing the transformation in them and the understanding?
01:47:32 Yes, we are seeing transformation in their behaviors.
01:47:35 As Miss said, changing mindset. This is a walk, it's not a run.
01:47:39 So we have initiated programs per level to catch that level's attention,
01:47:45 and we are seeing positive change within our students,
01:47:49 especially when we have other students visit, especially our sister schools,
01:47:53 their interaction with those students.
01:47:55 So we are seeing it present within our student population.
01:47:59 So I know that the launch is tomorrow.
01:48:02 Yes.
01:48:03 Right? What have the preparations been over the past few days for tomorrow?
01:48:10 Okay. So what we have done thus far, we had an assembly.
01:48:15 We normally have assembly on Monday mornings.
01:48:18 So what we did just to launch it, just to create the awareness that International Women's Day is coming up,
01:48:24 we just allowed the students to form that symbol of the heart, that is the pose for this year's theme, Inspire Inclusion.
01:48:35 So we wanted them to just be aware that on Friday is International Women's Day.
01:48:40 This is the theme, and this is what we are going to be focusing on.
01:48:45 All right? So that, you know, that preparation is just to sensitize them so that they could be aware.
01:48:52 And then, of course, ultimately they will wear their orange on Friday to show their support, you know,
01:48:59 to end gender-based violence towards women and girls.
01:49:03 Let's look at how the proceedings are going to be rolled out tomorrow.
01:49:07 Okay. Okay. So tomorrow, please go ahead.
01:49:10 They come in with their colors.
01:49:13 The orange.
01:49:14 The boys in their orange.
01:49:15 Yeah.
01:49:16 The staff and the females on the compound in their purple.
01:49:21 All right?
01:49:22 And then, you know, we just go about our normal day-to-day activities.
01:49:26 You know, we have an assembly.
01:49:29 We highlight the theme, and they go back to their regular proceedings because we can't have anything during the course of the day based on our situation at the college.
01:49:41 We are engaged in mock exams at the moment.
01:49:44 We just want to highlight these issues on the day itself.
01:49:49 Yeah.
01:49:50 Miss, anything else you'd like to add before you leave us this morning?
01:49:52 Yes, and, of course, two members of our CHISWORK committee will also make a brief presentation tomorrow as well.
01:49:57 Yeah.
01:49:58 Yes.
01:49:59 Ladies, it was a pleasure speaking with you all this morning, and we wish you all the best tomorrow.
01:50:02 Thank you very much for having us.
01:50:04 All right.
01:50:05 We are going to a very short break, everybody.
01:50:06 We're coming back.
01:50:07 [Break]
01:50:16 [Music]
01:50:41 The Curip and Coastal Empowerment Ministries International of 27 McDonald Street, Curip, Trinidad, West Philly presents "Empowerment Through the World."
01:50:52 Come with us as we affect humanity with the life-transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
01:50:59 We invite you to sit here and be blessed.
01:51:02 [Music]
01:51:03 [Music]
01:51:26 All right.
01:51:27 So welcome back, everyone.
01:51:28 Candy Braffet, Director and the owner of Pathway to Health, is here to share some information with us this morning.
01:51:36 We do have, or she does have, an upcoming five-day health retreat.
01:51:41 Candy, good morning.
01:51:43 Good morning.
01:51:44 Good morning.
01:51:45 Trinidad and Tobago, good morning.
01:51:46 Yeah.
01:51:47 Candy, well, let's get right into it.
01:51:49 Tell us about this five-day health retreat.
01:51:52 Okay, so we are having -- Pathway to Health is having their first health retreat after COVID, post-COVID.
01:52:02 And this health retreat is for five days.
01:52:05 It's going to be held in a beautiful guest house in Toco.
01:52:09 And it promises to be grand.
01:52:12 We are catering for individuals with lifestyle diseases and CDs, any lifestyle diseases.
01:52:18 And what we do, we personalize the program for each person.
01:52:23 So whatever your situation, your ailment, you will get a personalized treatment.
01:52:28 The date for this event is carded for May 1st to May 6th, is six days, five nights.
01:52:37 All right?
01:52:38 And so it's carded for that date.
01:52:42 And for registration, you all can call and get the number, get the information when you call to be registered, et cetera.
01:52:51 Yeah.
01:52:52 So, Candy, I think that you all are giving people enough time to register so that you all are au courant as to what their ailments are
01:53:03 and that you can tailor your service towards every individual.
01:53:10 Yes, definitely.
01:53:12 So when individuals call us and inform us of their situation, we meet with them beforehand so we would know exactly how we would personalize each package for each person.
01:53:26 However, this is not the first time we are doing this.
01:53:29 We have been doing this for the past 12 years.
01:53:32 All right, Parts of the Health has been doing a number of health retreats, Trinidad, Tobago.
01:53:37 We did a lot in Tobago and even Jamaica.
01:53:40 So this is not -- a lot of persons know us, you know, a lot of individuals know us.
01:53:46 We have helped a lot of persons in the community, and we are back at it again.
01:53:52 So please, if you know anyone who is suffering from any lifestyle diseases, if you yourself, you are suffering or you are at risk of or want information
01:54:03 so that you would prevent these lifestyle diseases that is so common in Trinidad, you can contact us.
01:54:10 Yeah, Candy, let's get a little deeper into the retreat because I want people to be very, very clear as to what they can expect at the retreat.
01:54:22 Yes, right.
01:54:24 So when you come at the retreat, well, we focus on natural healing.
01:54:29 All right, so the first thing, when they come, we register and we do personal consultation.
01:54:34 So you'll do an assessment and a personal consultation so we know exactly what we'll be doing with.
01:54:40 Blood works will be done because we need to assess the clients to find out exactly where the cholesterol levels are, blood sugar, pressure, et cetera.
01:54:50 So all of those vitals, blood works will be done initially.
01:54:53 Every day we do health lectures.
01:54:56 So we have a series of different diseases I imagine that would be attending.
01:55:01 So you'll learn exactly why you would have gotten sick and what you need to do, the pathway that you need to take to regain health.
01:55:10 And we have served nutritional meals.
01:55:15 Everything that you eat would be nutritious.
01:55:19 It would benefit your health.
01:55:21 And I usually inform individuals, you know, you can buy the best food.
01:55:26 You can purchase it, but you kill it.
01:55:29 So while you're eating it, you don't gain the full benefit.
01:55:33 So we teach our clients how to prepare their meals also.
01:55:36 So you get wholesome meals that is full of nutrition.
01:55:40 And while you're eating, it benefits your body.
01:55:44 You space your meals to give the digestive system enough time so that the meal is digested and it doesn't ferment in the system.
01:55:51 All right.
01:55:52 So you benefit from that.
01:55:54 And also we have coaches that we're going to do exercising because sometimes we get some individuals that have strokes and we do therapy with them.
01:56:03 We plan to have massages where our clients, those that need the massages, they get massages, facials.
01:56:10 So they would be pampered.
01:56:12 We have a number of patients who are retired and they're coming down with these diseases and they want to go on a vacation.
01:56:20 So what we offer is a health vacation.
01:56:24 So you come, you stay with us, you get all of your meals, you're taking care of you all, your health needs is taken care of, and you are pampered also with it.
01:56:36 Health vacation, Kandi.
01:56:38 Kandi, let's speak a little bit about the expertise of your staff who's going to be attending to the people who participate in the retreat.
01:56:50 Right. So our staff, we have doctors, we have a doctor on call.
01:56:54 We have retired nurses.
01:56:56 We have individuals who are trained in the health field and health care providers.
01:57:02 Also, we have medical missionaries.
01:57:04 Now, the medical missionaries, that's a term that most persons would not know.
01:57:08 These are individuals who are trained in natural remedies and understand the anatomy and physiology of the body and also use Bible principles to regain health.
01:57:19 And what we specialize in is using the A-Doctors.
01:57:23 The A-Doctors is what we refer to as the acronym, as New Start.
01:57:28 And those include nutrition, exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, fresh air, rest, and trust in divine power.
01:57:37 So those are the A-Doctors.
01:57:39 So our staff, basically, we combine all of these different natural remedies and conventional medication to ensure that we get the best results.
01:57:54 Yeah. Candy, from what I'm hearing you speaking about this morning, is really aligning the individual, eh?
01:58:02 Yes. Yes.
01:58:04 Yeah. So at the end of the retreat, Candy, you should have an individual who, as I said, should be on the right path to better health.
01:58:22 But you are also providing to them knowledge, education as to how they should continue this journey to better health.
01:58:34 That's right. Well, hence the name of our company, A Pathway to Health, because we believe that we have the antidote.
01:58:41 We understand exactly why individuals get sick, because we make poor choices.
01:58:46 And, you know, I must say this, the Minister of Health spoke about, you know, the fast foods and all the different bad choices that we make.
01:58:55 And we as individuals, the responsibility is ours. They are parents. They are allowing their children to make bad choices.
01:59:02 And if we take the right pathway to health, our health can be regained. Those of us who have lost it.
01:59:08 And I believe when individuals are educated, they make better choices. So we focus strongly on education.
01:59:16 All of our clients, when they finish at our retreat, they are better well informed. They can go and inform and teach others themselves.
01:59:24 And make better choices.
01:59:26 How do people get in contact with you all?
01:59:28 OK, so our numbers are 492-0158. I'll repeat it, 492-0158.
01:59:39 Yeah. Candy, it was a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you very much.
01:59:42 Thank you very much. Thanks for having us.
01:59:45 All right. Bye for now. So that's going to do it for our program for today.
01:59:48 In the meantime, we leave you with this image. Highway photos taken by Summer.
01:59:52 Good morning, Summer. Thank you very much. See you tomorrow, everybody.
01:59:56 [Music]
01:59:59 [Music]
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