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00:00:00 [MUSIC]
00:00:10 And a very special good morning Trinidad, Tobago and the rest of the world. I'm Marlon Hopkins and
00:00:17 as always welcome to The Morning Edition. It's Thursday, March 21st, 2024 and thank you very
00:00:22 much for joining us. It would seem that is going to be a very warm day in Port of Spain again. I
00:00:28 got a whiff of some smoke in the atmosphere today. So those coming into Port of Spain and having the
00:00:35 problems with your allergies and so on, work with a mask. It's still very good to have
00:00:41 in your possession these masks. Also, it's a very significant day. One, it's the day that thousands
00:00:49 of our children sit the SEA exam and you know it's very, very important to have them in the right
00:00:58 frame of mind this morning. Hopefully you all are already up, yes? And you know just for the parents,
00:01:07 just try to keep them calm as the president of the Primary School Principals Association said
00:01:15 yesterday, don't do anything new this morning. If it is that they eat a certain thing and
00:01:21 you know don't give them anything new, right? You don't want them to be thrown off in any way. I
00:01:27 remember my time with the Common Entrance Exam. That is going to take a whole two hours to tell
00:01:32 you about, all right? So to the children, I suspect all I can tell you is that we wish you the best
00:01:41 and try your best today. Put your best foot forward, all right? And then today it's World
00:01:46 Down Syndrome Day. So that is being observed today and of course we are going to have a discussion on
00:01:52 that this morning, all right? Let's check out to see what's in the Daily Express on the front page
00:01:57 today. Cops return to Valsane, horror house but leave empty-handed and SEA prayers, hands clasped.
00:02:08 Students of Grand Memorial Presbyterian School pray during yesterday's faith and confidence
00:02:12 service at the Sousmacha Presbyterian Church, Coffee Street in San Fernando for those writing
00:02:18 today's Secondary Entrance Assessment. And also there's a very interesting editorial in today's
00:02:28 Daily Express concerning the SEA. Check that out, all right? Cancer danger, doctor warns we are
00:02:35 giving antiquated drugs, if at all, to patients who have to pay privately or die. Expert tells
00:02:44 JSC antiquated drugs inefficiencies plaguing cancer care. Patients pay privately or die.
00:02:51 Some cancer patients may be getting antiquated drugs, if any at all, through the public health
00:02:56 system as shortages of some medicines are still being reported due to lack of funding among other
00:03:03 issues. Let's check out some sport now. Red Force Rally, Django's unbeaten 93 props up TNT
00:03:11 innings. Bowlers make late inroads after a disastrous start. The Trinidad and Tobago Red
00:03:16 Force rally to end the first day of their fifth round West Indies Championship match yesterday
00:03:22 against the Barbados Pride with some momentum. At the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain,
00:03:27 the hosts had to claw their way back into the match having won the toss and electing to bat
00:03:32 first but then losing four wickets in the first hour to hand the Pride the advantage. All right?
00:03:40 It's good days to go and check out the cricket, eh? You know, you want to know something? I have
00:03:47 only attended one cricket match in my life and it was at the Oval a few days, a few years ago.
00:03:56 Somebody said it's more than they would have gone to a cricket match. Yeah, yeah. I really love the
00:04:04 old West Indies, right? So I knew all of them and I knew their performances and so on. And from the
00:04:11 time things started to go downhill, I kind of stepped away from it. All right? That's just me.
00:04:16 I'm not saying to do that, but it's always good to support our teams. All right? It's time to
00:04:20 remind you about Trinbago, your nice feature. Remember to participate. WhatsApp your videos
00:04:24 or images to 737-3778. We do have this image for you. It's a beautiful butterfly on my flower tree
00:04:34 in my yard. And that's from Shoba. Shoba, thank you very much for that picture. It's a beautiful
00:04:39 picture. Yeah. And thank you to all of the persons who continue to send photographs and videos. We
00:04:48 do appreciate it. All right? You have your coffee, you have your tea, there's something to eat.
00:04:51 We're coming back, everybody.
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00:05:43 The world is in crisis. Distressing news are flowing from every quarter in the society,
00:05:50 and the hearts of many are failing them for fear. However, in the midst of these alarming
00:05:57 conditions come good news. Jesus Christ saves, keeps, and satisfies. This is the message of Daybreak.
00:06:08 [Music]
00:06:22 You want me to send you a picture of what? You really like that kind of rude stuff, huh?
00:06:28 Well, okay, but you're sure no one else is gonna see these, right?
00:06:35 Of course I trust you, babe, and I know you love me.
00:06:38 I love you, too. I can't believe he posted those photos. I trusted him so much, and now it's all
00:06:48 over the internet. It feels like the whole world has seen it. Even my friends are sharing it.
00:06:55 They call me all these names that I'm not. I didn't even want to do it, but I trusted him,
00:07:02 and now I feel like my life is over.
00:07:05 [Music]
00:07:19 Children have rights.
00:07:21 [Music]
00:07:44 I'm telling you, nobody, nobody, nobody, when you really think of it, nobody wins a war.
00:07:53 [Music]
00:07:55 Because the agony of defeat will linger. They can still hit him. One another and superpowers.
00:08:02 [Music]
00:08:04 All right, so welcome back, everyone. Thank you very much for joining us and staying with us
00:08:08 this morning. We do appreciate it. As I said earlier, I hope that you had a good night and
00:08:12 that you're safe and sound with us this morning. Well, on the agenda this morning, over the past
00:08:17 few days, the Prime Minister made a number of statements. One of the statements is protective
00:08:22 services are contributing to the crime problem in Trinidad and Tobago. Well, we do have on the line
00:08:29 this morning the President of the Police, Social and Welfare Association, Mr. Gideon Dixon, and we
00:08:35 do have also the Vice President of the Association, Mr. Ishmael Pitt. Gentlemen, good morning. Thank
00:08:43 you very much for joining us this morning. Pleasant morning, my Lord. Pleasant morning,
00:08:48 Shantanu. Yeah, the police are up very, very early this morning. Thank you very much. Yeah,
00:08:54 gentlemen, the early, the early birds get the worms, right? So we do appreciate you joining us
00:09:01 this morning. Mr. Dixon, let's get right into the meat of the matter right away. So the Prime
00:09:07 Minister, it's not the first time that the Prime Minister has made statements such as these,
00:09:12 protective services contributing to crime problem in Trinidad and Tobago. He says this problem will
00:09:18 be one for the security agencies. That is a growing concern and that is why difficulties
00:09:24 in the security agencies only help to worsen the problem. He added, we have difficulties with the
00:09:30 police. Yes, we know we have difficulties with the Coast Guard and yes, we do have difficulties
00:09:36 with the Treasury and he goes on. But it was really a speech where he was speaking about not
00:09:43 only this problem, but supporting the police in other ways and really speaking about the entire
00:09:50 crime situation. But let's deal with what he has said. The protective services are contributing to
00:09:55 the crime problem. Let me say that the title of the article, yes, not consistent with the content,
00:10:09 nor the songbites or eclipse in relation to the matter. And let me put that in the context.
00:10:18 The protective services is not only the police service. And I know that from the time the
00:10:29 headlines that have been put out there, a lot of persons in different spaces and places would think
00:10:36 that it is an attack on the police. And if you even go deeper into the article and listen to
00:10:44 what was said, I think that what the Prime Minister would have put in the public space was that
00:10:53 we have the police working. You could see that they are working because even when you,
00:10:59 as much as we have problems, when you call on the police, they are there still doing what we need
00:11:06 to do. And additionally, you're also seeing persons going before the court and recycling
00:11:14 and coming back out. So the question is, as he rightly put it, who guards the guard?
00:11:21 And in this context, everyone knows that the guard is the police who really guarded the police.
00:11:33 And I want to go a little further and say that the police as a body, we are not perfect.
00:11:39 And we make no qualms about it. We are not perfect. We are striving. We have put systems in
00:11:47 place. We have put strategic operational plans in place. We are trying to hold each other more
00:11:53 comfortable. We are one of the few entities that consistently have, even our own being taken before
00:12:01 the court. We have taken, we investigate all matters and we have them taken to a place where
00:12:10 they should be adjudicated upon. So in this context, the statement that was attributed to
00:12:17 the protective services, we believe that it was greater than the police and in the article and in
00:12:24 the presentation of the Prime Minister, he spoke to some positives being done by the police. He
00:12:29 also highlighted that there is an issue in the judicial system, which no one seems to address
00:12:37 and no one is addressing. So we oftentimes fingers point at the police. And in this instance here,
00:12:44 we are saying this wasn't fingers pointed at the police. There are agencies that work alongside
00:12:50 or should be working in tandem with the police that were found to be compromised within recent
00:12:55 times and that in itself will be of itself and hopefully those who will perpetrators of the act
00:13:02 will be brought to justice. Yes. And Mr. Pitt, as I said earlier, and I'm sure reports, newspaper
00:13:09 reports and media reports can bail me out on this. It's not the first time that the Prime Minister,
00:13:15 it's not the first time that the Prime Minister, Mr. Pitt. All right. Is Mr. Pitt hearing me?
00:13:24 All right. Gentlemen, let's try again. Are you all hearing me?
00:13:28 Okay. You know, yeah. All right. Good. All right. So Mr. Pitt, as I said earlier, and as I said,
00:13:35 media reports will bail me out on this statement that I'm going to make. It's not the first time
00:13:42 that the Prime Minister has expressed concern about law enforcement members of the protective
00:13:48 services somehow contributing to the situation of crime in Trinidad and Tobago. In fact,
00:13:54 a former police commissioner, he constantly spoke about rogue cops within the police service.
00:14:02 What's your view on this matter? What's your take on this matter? And has there been any
00:14:09 improvement in ridding the police service? Well, you can speak to the police service. I don't want
00:14:15 to speak to the other agencies. In ridding the police services of what has been called rogue
00:14:21 cops in the past. Ismael, you go ahead with that one. Yeah. Yes. Well, Malan, you referred to
00:14:32 several media reports. Yes. Of old, and I will use your very reference point, and say
00:14:45 on several occasions, we view the newspaper and we observe that police officers are brought to
00:14:51 account having committed offenses. And it's a bittersweet sort of approach in that we are
00:15:03 demonstrating to the public that yes, we have the ability to police ourselves. But we are also
00:15:10 demonstrating to the public that as an organization, there are persons amongst us who
00:15:15 are in themselves going against the laws and the policies of the organization. Now,
00:15:24 persons are innocent until proven guilty. And we know that as a mantra regarding the justice
00:15:34 system. But I dare say when we look at the landscape and we analyze the other agencies that
00:15:44 may be as poised as we are regarding law enforcement and oversight and surveillance
00:15:52 and all these things, we have been doing what we could say a tremendous job regarding weeding out
00:16:02 persons amongst us who may be in the first instance found to have gone contrary to what is
00:16:12 practice, law and policy. So in this regard, Malan, I want to add to what my president said
00:16:20 in terms of the in the regard the guards and their persons on agencies as he quite rightfully said,
00:16:30 external to the police service, who also have been given the authorization to
00:16:37 pay surveillance and different aspects, different forms, and you know, they function in sensitive
00:16:47 areas. And we rely heavily on these departments in order to drive our intelligence and in order
00:16:55 to drive a lot of our operations. So it is always a area of concern and a scary moment
00:17:05 to have to think that even the persons we rely on externally who are seen as sufficiently elite
00:17:13 can in themselves be compromised, albeit at this point, those investigations are premature.
00:17:22 Mr. Dixon, just shy of a year ago, the Prime Minister would have spoken about vetted police
00:17:33 units. At that time, we had a conversation and you were vehemently against that proposal.
00:17:41 Do you maintain that position or is there need, judging from the Prime Minister's utterances
00:17:51 again, and if I'm to quote a media report where he says that the protective services,
00:17:58 including everyone, right, are contributing to the crime problem in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:18:02 and there is evidence of the state's contribution to criminal activity?
00:18:07 Right. Malan, again, we want to say that within the rounds and files of the TTPS,
00:18:20 we have several vetted units. We have several vetted units and the issue being alluded to there
00:18:29 was not generic to the TTPS. It is agencies outside or externally to TTPS which was compromised.
00:18:42 And I dare say that within our vetted units, which we believe is sufficient at this point in time
00:18:53 to treat it what we have to deal with on a daily basis, our operational and administrative systems,
00:19:01 we as an association feel is adequate to treat with what is before us.
00:19:10 We need to look beyond now and see if it is vetted units will be applied across the Board
00:19:18 of National Security, across the Board of all civil servants. So our thing is that we are not
00:19:28 against vetted units per se. We have sufficient within the TTPS, but we are saying it should be
00:19:35 something across all civil servants. So the demanding customs, demanding immigration,
00:19:41 defense force, and those who sit in the parliament, we all should be part of it.
00:19:48 Mr. Pitt. That is the association's position. Yeah. Mr. Pitt, the Prime Minister also said
00:19:54 that citizens engaged in reactive behaviors after crimes are committed and urge the family and
00:20:00 friends of holders of illegal firearms to report them to the authorities so that they can take
00:20:06 action to prevent crime. How is this lack of information, Mr. Pitt, that it's not being shared
00:20:16 with the police? How is this preventing you to when it comes to the fight against crime?
00:20:27 Good question. We always use our mantra, see something, say something.
00:20:33 The communities and the persons within the communities are our eyes and ears, and they
00:20:40 are supposed to be our eyes and ears. We would not have that intimate type of oversight to
00:20:47 understand exactly what is going on in every household and in all the alleys and valleys
00:20:54 of these communities. And as such, it is extremely important that the persons within communities
00:21:02 take up their civic responsibility, and when they see something, they pass on the information to us.
00:21:10 When we continue to hoard this type of information and harbor persons who are involved in these type
00:21:16 of activities, what we are doing is contributing to the crime. And these are the same persons,
00:21:22 Marlon, who when something happens, the first question they ask, where is the police? But you
00:21:29 have had the information all the time, and you did not pass it on because you feel that you have some
00:21:34 obligation towards persons who are within your community who might be seen in a particular way.
00:21:41 So it's a case of sometimes the chickens are coming home to roost.
00:21:48 So it is of paramount importance, Marlon, that communities wake up and recognize that
00:21:54 we are not the enemies. Police officers are not your enemies. We are not perfect by any means.
00:22:00 And again, when our officers cross the line, we have demonstrated that we have the necessary
00:22:07 mechanisms and approach in order to bring them to account. But don't use those few occasions
00:22:13 as excuses in order to not partner with us, to not pass on the information, to not be civic-minded,
00:22:20 to not be responsible. And when you are hit and hit in a big way, then you are asking,
00:22:27 what is the police doing? We are going to do as much as we can do, given the information that we
00:22:34 get, given the intelligence that we get, given the support that we'll be getting from the communities.
00:22:40 And we dare say, Marlon, that those communities who are bought into this philosophy, which is
00:22:45 not limited to Trinidad, but it's international in nature, are the communities that today we are
00:22:51 seeing that level of peace, we are seeing that level of progress, we are seeing that level of
00:22:58 sanctity that we all would want to be part of as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:23:03 Mr. Dixon, let's deal with an issue that you touched on earlier, and the Prime Minister
00:23:07 made a statement on it. He was speaking about the judicial system. He also noted they, criminals,
00:23:12 have another advantage too. They end up in the courthouse through one door and come out the
00:23:17 other door to continue what they are doing. I know that this has been a big concern for
00:23:23 members of the police service in the past, and I'm sure so even now.
00:23:30 100% correct. We often hear of the police one-door policy.
00:23:36 So, any member of the public could make a report at any station, regardless if the
00:23:45 offense occurred in Toco or it occurred in San Fernando, you can go to any station and make
00:23:50 that report. We are seeing that there seems to be a one-door policy with the criminals going in
00:23:58 and revolving through the door and coming back out, particularly because of the penalties or how
00:24:06 the framework of the judicial system is at this point in time. And then when you look at it from
00:24:12 the other side, it also says, and we are not hearing it sufficiently enough, that the police
00:24:19 are putting persons before the court and we are putting the criminals before the court.
00:24:25 But the criminals are coming back out. What sense of confidence that is breeding
00:24:30 to the members of the public who are looking at the system that's supposed to be protecting them?
00:24:37 Then, as a reasonable thinking man, you will also have doubts as to whether you
00:24:43 will want to give information and whether you want to support the police. So, we have to be
00:24:50 very careful in what we do and how we do it. And I'm saying we from the context as a people
00:24:57 and from the context of even the criminal justice system, by the court, they have a role and we all
00:25:04 have a role to play in terms of ridding our nation of the criminal elements. Every single one of us
00:25:13 have a part to play. And for us to get back to where we once were, we all have to buy in to change
00:25:22 and not exchange. Mr. Pitt, there has been a new... And accept our responsibility.
00:25:31 And accept our responsibility. Yeah. Mr. Pitt, there has been a new dimension when it comes to
00:25:38 crime in Trinidad and Tobago in that there is, seems to be a par-sha by persons who want to
00:25:47 involve themselves in criminal activities these days to pick up these massive weapons instead of
00:25:53 the handgun. How has this affected your officers when it comes to dealing with the criminals who
00:26:05 now have these high-powered weapons and it can result in mass killings as we have seen in recent
00:26:14 times? Well, psychologically, it's very, very significant. And it's a case of we are entering
00:26:26 into certain areas and there's always in the back of our minds the thought that we may have to
00:26:34 engage persons who have high-powered weapons. Now, we may have, or we do have the capacity
00:26:42 to respond and to respond appropriately. But the fact of the matter is, and based on what you said
00:26:49 earlier, given the strength of these weapons, given the velocity of these weapons, it is an
00:26:56 increasing concern. And it has contributed again towards sometimes an individual going for John
00:27:04 and then Peter, Paul, Saul, and several other persons having also to lost their lives.
00:27:13 So it is, Marlon, it is a very, very, very serious, serious issue. And we are asking
00:27:22 those persons who have the authority to do so, please strengthen the legislation in terms of
00:27:32 trying to create a deterrence for persons who would want to bend here in these directions.
00:27:38 If we hold you with a weapon of such mass destruction, it should be a case where when
00:27:46 you face the judicial system and you are found guilty, that the message that is sent to the other
00:27:52 persons who are on the outside who may be just as ambitious is as such that they will be significantly
00:27:58 detailed. We cannot continue to have these things being treated as a slap on the wrist. Now, we are
00:28:06 not saying that there are not laws at this point in time to address it, but what we are seeing is
00:28:12 that it could be a little more robust. Mr. Dixon, how does the police service you think
00:28:20 it should be dealing with the public's fair, as the Prime Minister is putting it, the public's fair
00:28:26 of reporting criminals to the police? Marlon, can you repeat the question, please?
00:28:33 How do you think that the police service should deal... You're hearing me, Mr. Dixon?
00:28:39 I can hear you now. All right. How do you think that the police service should deal with, as the
00:28:45 Prime Minister would have put it, the public's fair of reporting criminals to the police?
00:28:50 That is an excellent question. It is a question which seeks to test our capacity to treat with
00:29:08 the fear of crime as an element which also stifles public activities. What we are doing
00:29:18 presently as an organization is using our data to drive our operations. And we also believe that
00:29:29 if it is we have police officers on the beat, it gives a sense of reassurance to the members of the
00:29:38 public who are engaging in their lawful activities. So therefore, within recent times, we have created
00:29:45 the blue line approach, which we believe would have borne significant impact on our crime data
00:29:52 at the end of 2023. And continuing now, there has been a re-evaluation of what is taking place.
00:30:00 And I dare say we believe that it is the direction in which we ought to be going,
00:30:07 particularly to have officers out on the beat to ensure that the members of the public feel
00:30:13 that they have lost safety in both reporting and also detaining the criminal elements from operating.
00:30:19 There is room for improvement. There is significant room for improvement where that
00:30:26 is concerned because, again, even what is placed in the media or in the public space and on social
00:30:33 media, these contribute to that fear that members of the public is having. So we also as an
00:30:40 organization have to be a little more acute, a little more precise in our patrolling of cyber
00:30:48 space to deal with those persons who are going there and intentionally putting things out there
00:30:54 to cause members of the public to be in fear. So it is a holistic, multi-pronged approach
00:31:00 as an organization we need to do. But we also, as my vice president said, we need to have the
00:31:06 support of the members of the public to come forward and say what they see. So we would be
00:31:14 able to act on what they see and judge us based on our action and not necessarily on what we don't
00:31:19 know. So that dark side of reporting information which we don't know sometimes comes to haunt us.
00:31:29 Yeah. Gentlemen, we have, we are running out of time, but Mr. Pitt.
00:31:35 I can't hear you, Marlon.
00:31:36 Yeah. Mr. Pitt, are you hearing me?
00:31:38 Gentlemen? Mr. Pitt, you're hearing me?
00:31:42 We can hear you, Marlon.
00:31:45 All right. I think that we're having some problem. But gentlemen, we have run out of time,
00:31:50 but thank you very much for speaking with us this morning. If you are hearing me,
00:31:53 we thank you very much.
00:31:54 Yeah, and you know.
00:31:55 We thank you very much.
00:31:56 Gentlemen, thank you again.
00:31:58 Very well.
00:31:59 Bye for now.
00:31:59 Be safe.
00:32:00 Be safe, gentlemen.
00:32:01 So we are going to a very short break. We are coming back, everybody.
00:32:04 [Music]
00:32:23 Get ready for an electrifying night of entertainment.
00:32:26 As John Thomas presents Showtime, a musical theatre extravaganza you won't want to miss.
00:32:32 Join us at Queen's Hall on April 5th and 6th for a dazzling showcase featuring Trinidad and Tobago's
00:32:38 brightest young stars.
00:32:39 From the spellbinding magic of Wicked to the irresistible energy of Mamma Mia.
00:32:44 Be entranced by the enchanting melodies of The Little Mermaid,
00:32:47 captivated by the show-stopping numbers from The Greatest Showman.
00:32:51 And inspired from touching moments of Dear Evan Hansen.
00:32:54 Showtime has something for everyone.
00:32:57 Get your early bird tickets now at Queen's Hall box office or at queenshalltt.com.
00:33:02 Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of Showtime.
00:33:06 Welcome to O2N Lifestyle, where we unravel the stories of those who at first glance may seem
00:33:15 worlds apart, yet share an unspoken connection.
00:33:19 Different parts, different worlds.
00:33:21 May you be inspired to embrace change, seek joy within, and recognize that common thread
00:33:39 that continues to bind us all.
00:33:41 O2N Lifestyle.
00:33:43 Where we unravel the stories that connect us all.
00:33:45 [Music]
00:33:54 I grew up in a country, small little town called Bougmanatras in Santa Cruz.
00:34:00 Very special place to grow up in.
00:34:03 And now as an adult, I think of those children in Trinidad and Tobago who do not have a safe
00:34:10 place, who are maybe not even lying in their own beds or a bed, and there's no roof to
00:34:17 shade them from the sun, nor to protect them from the rain.
00:34:21 When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago, they answered a call I
00:34:29 have deep inside of me.
00:34:31 What they were saying to me was that we can make a difference.
00:34:36 I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board.
00:34:39 Consider helping Habitat for Humanity in whatever way you can.
00:34:43 [Music]
00:34:54 The one who invented music has got to be terrific, got to be the one who created the sun and
00:35:02 the trees, rivers and sea.
00:35:05 [Music]
00:35:14 All right, so welcome back.
00:35:15 We are discussing now an upcoming anti-money laundering conference, and we do have on the
00:35:22 line this morning Nigel Matthew of NEMLC, founder and lead consultant with over 28 years
00:35:30 management and executive experience in the financial industry.
00:35:34 Mr. Matthew, good morning.
00:35:35 Hi, good morning to you, Marlon, and good morning to your listeners.
00:35:39 Yes, good to speak with you this morning, Mr. Matthew.
00:35:41 Well, let's get right into it.
00:35:42 Let's speak about the Caribbean Anti-Money Laundering Conference.
00:35:46 Yes, the Caribbean Anti-Money Laundering Conference will be held next week, Thursday,
00:35:50 Thursday the 28th of March at the Trinidad and Hilton.
00:35:53 It will be a hybrid event, meaning that there will be persons in person at the Hilton, and
00:35:58 of course persons all over the world.
00:36:00 To date, we have all the Caribbean countries will be represented.
00:36:03 We have participants from the US, from the UK, and South Africa.
00:36:06 Who's this conference for, Mr. Matthew?
00:36:10 Repeat that again, Marlon, I didn't get that.
00:36:14 Who's this conference for?
00:36:15 I missed you again.
00:36:20 Could you repeat?
00:36:20 All right, I'm trying to find out who's the conference for, who should be attending, who
00:36:25 should be interested in the conference?
00:36:27 Well, with respect to anti-money laundering, there are reporting entities that should attend,
00:36:32 because by law, they have to put systems in place with respect to their internal controls.
00:36:36 I'm referring specifically to financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, mortgage
00:36:42 companies, credit unions, business societies, and of course also what we call listed businesses,
00:36:48 non-financial organizations, who also have a financial obligation to subscribe to AML
00:36:54 and CFD conditionalities, like motor vehicle sales, people in the real estate, art dealers,
00:36:59 and the likes.
00:37:01 What is it that you think that you would like to shed when it comes to money laundering?
00:37:10 What light would you like to shed on money laundering you think that we have not seen
00:37:18 before?
00:37:18 What sort of information is it that you think would be revealed at the conference?
00:37:24 Well, what would be revealed at the conference?
00:37:27 Because we have many disruptors.
00:37:29 The first disruptor was, let's say, COVID in terms of 2019.
00:37:34 The other disruptor is artificial intelligence.
00:37:38 So hence, the theme of the conference being AML, AI, the compliance disruptor.
00:37:42 So how we used to treat with controls and systems to sort of manage compliance, try
00:37:47 to prevent what we call criminal property from coming in the organization, it has taken
00:37:52 a drastic twist.
00:37:53 And that is why we have speakers like Professor Reddy Cummings, who will share her global
00:37:57 insights into technological developments, more precisely in AI, in terms of looking
00:38:02 at trends.
00:38:02 How do we set controls?
00:38:04 What would be the disruptors?
00:38:06 What would we prevent?
00:38:07 Or what sort of technological solutions with respect to cybercrime and also fraud that
00:38:14 could penetrate your organization and bring harm to your stakeholders?
00:38:17 Yeah.
00:38:18 Have you, Mr. Matthew, have you already been seeing the impact, the negative impact that
00:38:26 AI is having on money laundering?
00:38:29 Have there been spikes, you think, in incidents where people are using AI to do this?
00:38:36 Yes, most definitely.
00:38:38 I'm not too interested in that because, as you're aware, we have had experiences with
00:38:42 respect to cyber attacks.
00:38:44 Now, in terms of the control, we have, yes, individual institutions are putting systems
00:38:48 in place.
00:38:49 But in terms of the legislative requirement, we are falling short.
00:38:52 And that is why the Attorney General will give an address at this conference, and he
00:38:57 will speak to legislation with respect to the fight against white collar crime.
00:39:01 He'll also speak to data protection and, of course, emerging technologies such as AI.
00:39:05 So I believe the country awaits that announcement with respect to where do we go, because in
00:39:11 Trinidad, we are somewhat behind in terms of our data protection and privacy regulatory
00:39:17 mechanisms.
00:39:17 Yeah.
00:39:18 Can you speak, Mr. Matthew, to the situation, re-money laundering in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:39:25 and maybe how it is impacting other countries of the region with specific emphasis on AI?
00:39:34 Well, yes, money laundering in Trinidad and Tobago, we have done a fairly good job in
00:39:40 terms of reporting, meaning the institution reporting matters to the FIU.
00:39:44 And today, from the FIU in terms of the FIU being really fully operationalized from 2011,
00:39:50 we have had over 9,000 suspicious activities report.
00:39:54 To date, meaning my calculations up to September 2022, we have 88 persons before the court
00:40:00 in excess of over 1,700 matters.
00:40:03 Now, that was then, but now we have gone into a new realm in terms of artificial intelligence.
00:40:07 What we have seen is that people are using, and then because of the proliferation of online
00:40:12 transactions, whereby people can transfer money from any account, anywhere, anytime,
00:40:17 that has been the challenge.
00:40:19 So I believe what could also help with that is the legislative requirement, compelling
00:40:24 organizations to put in certain systems with respect to incident reporting, detection,
00:40:29 prevention, so that at the end of the day, we can have a database in our country to really
00:40:34 manage those financial ills.
00:40:37 But what are some of the red flags that maybe we should be looking for before we engage
00:40:42 in transactions?
00:40:43 Well, the red flags is really the system that people would have put in place, most organizations
00:40:48 have gone online.
00:40:49 And the red flags is that when you get transactions coming into your bank account, because somebody
00:40:54 may have your bank account as a customer or as a member, look to see the identity of those
00:41:00 individuals.
00:41:01 Do you have a record of the member or the customer bank account so you know exactly
00:41:06 where it's coming from?
00:41:07 You may have also spikes going into the accounts, and these are online.
00:41:11 Now, what has happened too is that someone can, what we call peer-to-peer transfers.
00:41:15 So we look to see the relationship.
00:41:17 Are there any commercial or reasonable relationship between parties transferring monies to and
00:41:22 from each other's accounts?
00:41:23 So those are some of the red flags.
00:41:25 And I guess, yes, organizations must put systems in place to sort of detect and manage to in
00:41:31 order to determine the legitimacy of those transactions.
00:41:34 But Mr. Matthew, isn't it a sort of a web that before you engage in transactions, now
00:41:42 you have to decipher what is real and what is not real, and you have to pay attention
00:41:49 to maybe email addresses, account numbers.
00:41:52 It's really, as I said, it's really a web that you have to untangle, right?
00:41:59 Precisely, and as I said before, this has been a disruptor because of COVID.
00:42:04 Everyone just went virtual online.
00:42:06 So we are playing catch-up not only to Canada but also the Caribbean.
00:42:10 But we must admit that countries like Jamaica and Barbados, they have already put in place
00:42:14 their data privacy, their ESG, environment, social and corporate governance mechanisms.
00:42:21 We hopefully will be doing that shortly.
00:42:23 So at the end of the day, I guess it's a commercial situation with financial organizations.
00:42:28 They have to go online.
00:42:30 They have to go virtual.
00:42:31 But yes, to do that in terms of prerequisite, the systems and controls must be in place.
00:42:37 My information on the ground, there are sufficient controls, but of course, there's room for
00:42:45 improvement.
00:42:46 But is it that businesses, they are coming on board and they are embracing systems and
00:42:58 putting protection systems, if I can put it that way, in place to protect their businesses
00:43:04 and also the consumer?
00:43:06 Yes, I don't think businesses have a choice.
00:43:10 It is a must that in terms of a new business model, because you see what we have to recognize
00:43:14 to that artificial intelligence and these new emerging technologies are really causing
00:43:19 a disruption in terms of our business model.
00:43:22 How do we survive?
00:43:23 How do we sustain?
00:43:24 So you find that coming to the conference and hearing speakers from the UK, from South
00:43:27 Africa, our own very own Professor Renny Cummings and some other experts on cybersecurity, also
00:43:33 data protection, that information will create the awareness, will equip them in terms of
00:43:39 what is new, what can we look forward to, what are systems and controls that you need
00:43:43 to impose in your organization to protect what we call the assets of the organization,
00:43:48 meaning shareholders.
00:43:49 Yeah.
00:43:50 I guess you're also saying, Mr. Matthew, that some of the information that is going to be
00:43:56 revealed at this conference is going to be of great benefit to every organization who
00:44:04 is involved in e-commerce, et cetera.
00:44:07 Yes, definitely.
00:44:09 And the conference, always the Caribbean Anti-Money Laundering Conference, it spans not only
00:44:15 organizations who have to subscribe to anti-money laundering, counter-financing of terrorism
00:44:20 mandate, but also organizations who are serious about looking at their technological systems,
00:44:25 their controls.
00:44:26 We have a session on cybersecurity.
00:44:29 We have a session on general data protection regulations.
00:44:32 We have a session on economic environment, social and corporate governance.
00:44:36 And of course, we're looking at data protection, data management, and sort of looking at screening,
00:44:42 what we call sanction screening.
00:44:43 How do we onboard?
00:44:44 What are the controls?
00:44:45 What are the alerts that we should do before we bring someone in our system as a customer?
00:44:52 Yeah.
00:44:53 It's a frightening state of affairs, Mr. Matthew.
00:44:57 Definitely.
00:44:58 When we think about business and the way that business is being conducted, and so many people
00:45:05 out there trying to infiltrate your business and to take the funds that you have worked for,
00:45:14 and so on.
00:45:14 But is this a problem?
00:45:18 And I suspect it's a rhetorical question.
00:45:20 This must be costing organizations here and abroad millions of dollars sometimes in losses.
00:45:29 Well, you said millions, but I would say more billions of dollars.
00:45:33 Because at the end of the day, you have to look at your reputation.
00:45:36 So if there is a infiltration into your systems and you are shut down, meaning that you cannot
00:45:42 perform.
00:45:43 So I think the issue now is on the governance, the systems of controls, the directors, most
00:45:49 of who have to be, who should be at the conference, the regulators who have to put systems in place
00:45:53 to compel organization to comply with certain conditionalities.
00:45:57 And that is why the attorney general is present at the conference in terms of the legislation
00:46:03 to fight white collar crime, data protection.
00:46:06 You know, as a country, we need to know what we have to do.
00:46:09 OK, so that it's really frightening.
00:46:12 And if we don't address it, I believe that certain organizations may be hampered negatively,
00:46:18 which may cause some sort of shutdown or even collapse in certain quarters.
00:46:22 Yeah.
00:46:22 As we look at this problem in a holistic way, Mr. Matthew, is it that we in the Caribbean,
00:46:28 you think that we are more at risk to these sort of threats when compared to other countries
00:46:37 of the world internationally?
00:46:39 Yes, most definitely, because we in the Caribbean, we are what we call small, small country states.
00:46:45 And we may not have the money to really put the system in place in terms of the technology
00:46:50 as compared to two large organizations.
00:46:52 And when we're looking at international standards like financial action task force,
00:46:56 global forum conditionalities, you find that it is one size fit all.
00:47:01 So you find the larger economies like the USA, England, China, those places,
00:47:07 they have what we call deep pockets to really put system in place.
00:47:10 I know Prime Minister Muthley has been a very advocate in terms of we have been penalized
00:47:16 as small countries to subscribe to these onerous conditionalities.
00:47:19 But notwithstanding, we are living in a global village, in a global world.
00:47:23 We have a lot of correspondent banking.
00:47:25 And one of the issues with correspondent banking is that they want to know that before they do
00:47:29 business with you, that you must have all the controls.
00:47:32 You will normally do an audit to make sure that in terms of your computer systems,
00:47:37 vulnerability testing, those things are adequate in order to prevent that contagion risk.
00:47:44 Because once you have the internet, once there is a connection, there's always the potential
00:47:49 for some sort of cyber attack, whether at your country or at your partner country.
00:47:55 But how do we keep up and how do organizations keep up?
00:47:58 Because as you know, Mr. Matthew, the technology, it's changing by the minutes, by the hours.
00:48:06 Sometimes you put in a system today and by next week it is obsolete.
00:48:10 So how do you keep up?
00:48:11 And I'm sure that it is costly sometimes for organizations to protect themselves.
00:48:18 Yes.
00:48:18 Well, yeah.
00:48:19 To keep up, again, we have to have more of these type of seminars,
00:48:23 more of these types of engagements.
00:48:25 So the narrative must continue.
00:48:27 So that is why we encourage people to come and hear from the international speakers who
00:48:31 can lend some support, not only to the reporting organization, but also the legislators, the
00:48:37 regulators.
00:48:38 So as I mentioned before, we have Professor Rene Cummins.
00:48:40 We have Mr. David Schwartz.
00:48:42 He's the CEO and president of Financial and International Business Association out of
00:48:47 Miami.
00:48:48 We have Mr. Stephen Platt.
00:48:50 He's a world-renowned compliance expert.
00:48:53 And of course, he has the number one bookseller in terms of criminal minds.
00:48:56 So those type of information that will be shared.
00:48:59 We also have Dr. Prince Loh out of South Africa.
00:49:02 So it's not only the Trinidad information or systems you're hearing, you are hearing
00:49:07 what is happening on the global scene.
00:49:09 And I think that's Trinidad we are developing, we are expanding, we are doing a lot of exports,
00:49:13 we are doing more corresponding banking.
00:49:15 We need that type of information.
00:49:17 We need that type of awareness.
00:49:18 So once you come to the conference, at least it could be just a continuation of what you
00:49:23 know or what you don't know and what you should put in place to prevent not only your
00:49:28 organization, but our financial system in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:49:31 And the Caribbean.
00:49:32 Yeah, but you get the impression that the regulators are coming on board, the governments
00:49:37 are coming on board because they understand how serious the problem is.
00:49:40 Because as you know, Mr. Matthew, we do have a sort of culture in the Caribbean from time
00:49:49 immemorial when it comes to technology and so on.
00:49:52 It's very hard to embrace it.
00:49:53 But do you think that more and more, as I said, the regulators and governments are coming
00:49:57 on board?
00:49:58 I would say so, slow, slow as it may be, but they are coming on board because you see what
00:50:05 happens sometimes is that change really triggered from external forces.
00:50:11 So you find because of those, let's say, external shocks, like all those breaches in
00:50:16 respect to data privacy, cybersecurity, I think as a country we are now forced to propel
00:50:22 our legislative mandate to sort of encourage organizations to report whatever incident
00:50:28 they may have, look at that in a database, try to determine trends, and of course, try
00:50:32 to come up with guidelines.
00:50:33 I know that Central Bank came up with a sort of cybersecurity guidelines, and I believe
00:50:39 organizations are putting those things in place.
00:50:41 But those are only guidelines.
00:50:42 I think we want more teeth from a legislative standpoint and, of course, official regulations.
00:50:48 I believe we are coming on board.
00:50:49 As I said, there are some countries in the Caribbean ahead of us, but notwithstanding,
00:50:55 I know the regulators will be at the conference, Central Bank will be at the conference, other
00:50:59 SEC and the FAU as well, so that they will have the information at their fingertips,
00:51:05 and they can use it in terms of trying to protect the financial system.
00:51:08 All right.
00:51:09 And of course, Mr. Matthew, there is still time for businesses to register.
00:51:12 Yes, you can register if you want.
00:51:15 You can call 222-8928.
00:51:17 You can go on our website, which is NEM Leadership Consultants, and you have all the registration
00:51:22 details.
00:51:23 Everything is online.
00:51:24 You register online.
00:51:25 You pay online.
00:51:26 And of course, you will get your confirmation online.
00:51:30 So that we also have to embrace technology, especially with the payment systems.
00:51:34 We really don't accept cash or checks.
00:51:36 Everything must be done online because we also need to know that we have proper systems
00:51:41 in place so that people can have a really good experience come Thursday, March 20th
00:51:47 at the Trinidad-Hilton Conference Center.
00:51:49 What time do the proceedings begin?
00:51:50 At 8.15, and it will end at 4.30 p.m.
00:51:56 Yes.
00:51:57 All right.
00:51:57 Mr. Matthew, it was a pleasure speaking with you this morning.
00:52:00 Thank you very much for all of the information, and we wish you all the best concerning the
00:52:05 conference.
00:52:05 Thank you very much, and it was a pleasure for you to have me on your program this morning.
00:52:10 All right.
00:52:11 Thank you very much, sir.
00:52:12 All right.
00:52:13 We do have to go to a break, but we do have this image for you.
00:52:17 Green-winged macaw feeding on seeds of the tea tree from Shamboi.
00:52:25 Sham, that's a beautiful picture.
00:52:26 Yeah.
00:52:27 It looks like the tree looks familiar, right?
00:52:31 Yeah.
00:52:31 It's a tea tree.
00:52:33 All right.
00:52:34 Thank you very much, Sham.
00:52:36 We're coming back, everybody.
00:52:43 [Music]
00:52:56 Like sharks shaking my body.
00:52:58 Shingles, a pain so intense it could disrupt your life even for months.
00:53:04 Likely you already carry the virus that causes shingles.
00:53:07 If you are 50 or older, ask your doctor about shingles.
00:53:11 [Music]
00:53:13 Is something trying to get out?
00:53:14 Every ghost we've ever caught.
00:53:16 An army of ghosts?
00:53:18 Led by an unimaginable evil.
00:53:21 Phoebe!
00:53:27 We're gonna need a bigger trap.
00:53:29 Ghostbusters.
00:53:32 [Music]
00:53:42 [Music]
00:54:06 It's okay to be open-minded, you know?
00:54:08 Not so open-minded that your brains fall out.
00:54:12 But being willing to listen and even try new ways and methods of doing things
00:54:17 that can help create a better family environment.
00:54:20 Is not only your way or the highway.
00:54:24 Being open-minded as a parent can help you understand and appreciate
00:54:32 your child's unique personality and perspective.
00:54:35 You are not always right and you can learn new things even from your children.
00:54:41 Teaching children to be open-minded can help them be respectful and tolerant
00:54:47 of other person's views and approaches even if they go against what they feel and believe.
00:54:53 At the end of the day, do your best.
00:54:57 Share if you found this useful.
00:55:00 Like and follow CTA's profiles for more parenting tips.
00:55:05 The letter of the day is O, open-minded.
00:55:09 Did you know that vaping with nicotine can permanently affect
00:55:14 brain development in people under the age of 25?
00:55:16 Did you know that e-cigarettes are associated with increased risk
00:55:24 of stroke, heart attack and heart disease?
00:55:32 Did you know that for some people, vaping with or without nicotine
00:55:36 disrupts the normal lung function in otherwise healthy people?
00:55:39 Consider the consequences and don't vape.
00:55:59 Good morning, I am Anselm Gibbs with a news update.
00:56:03 Just over 18,000 primary school pupils are expected to write
00:56:08 the secondary entrance assessment exam today.
00:56:11 In a social media post on Wednesday,
00:56:14 the education minister had some words of encouragement for those doing the exam.
00:56:20 You've come a long way and you've worked hard.
00:56:23 Go out there tomorrow and do your best.
00:56:25 Always remember, SCA is the start of a new journey, it's not the end.
00:56:31 Make yourself proud, make your parents proud and make your teachers proud.
00:56:35 The NGC Bocas Lit Fest is set to kick off on April 25th.
00:56:42 Organizers say it's the 14th celebration of words, stories and ideas and One Caribbean Media,
00:56:49 the parent company of CCN TV6, is once again a media partner.
00:56:55 The Bocas Lit Fest serves as an annual catalyst for both the creation and retelling of our stories
00:57:02 in our own words by writers from our own spaces.
00:57:06 And in the weather forecast, conditions remain mainly sunny, hazy and breezy,
00:57:13 despite the low chance of one or two brief passing showers across the islands.
00:57:19 Seas may occasionally become choppy, with waves ranging from one and a half to two meters in height
00:57:25 in open waters, yet near calm in sheltered areas.
00:57:29 Get a loan at Bremont. The process is simple. Fast and efficient approvals.
00:57:43 Receive funds within 24 hours once approved and no penalty for early repayment.
00:57:48 Located at 4 Gallon Street, Woodbrook. Remember, we like to lend.
00:57:52 Available at Ferrero Optical.
00:58:08 [Speaking Spanish]
00:58:18 Shut up! I've had enough of all of you. You ungrateful...
00:58:22 I've had enough of you! You took us from our countries and now false pretense,
00:58:26 have us working day and night like slaves and expect us to be grateful?
00:58:29 [Speaking Spanish]
00:58:37 [Music]
00:58:41 Just allow us to leave, please. Give us our passports and allow us to leave.
00:58:47 You could for nothing say free to leave. If you step one foot out of here,
00:58:55 I will cede that immigration sends you back to whatever hell you came from.
00:59:03 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity, call the counter-trafficking hotline
00:59:08 at 800-4CTU or 800-4288. Human trafficking is a crime. Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
00:59:17 A message from the counter-trafficking unit of the Ministry of National Security.
00:59:22 [Music]
00:59:32 [Music]
00:59:54 I rotate because life is precious. Plus, I can't afford to pay another speeding ticket.
01:00:04 A message from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
01:00:10 [Music]
01:00:26 Welcome back everyone. We are discussing now Down Syndrome. You all got a shot of my socks?
01:00:34 You're supposed to, you know, you're supposed to in support of the children, right?
01:00:40 So I have later studio men, make sure and get a picture of my socks.
01:00:46 So we do have with us this morning Natalie Mohamed. She's the director of the Down Syndrome Family Network
01:00:53 to tell us about the 2024 Down Syndrome Conference being held this week.
01:00:59 Oh, it has been held? It has been held. It has been held already.
01:01:04 Alright, so let's, before we discuss the conference that was held, let's speak a little bit about how serious is the issue
01:01:13 of people who have Down Syndrome in Trinidad and Tobago. I didn't want to say children because it's not children alone.
01:01:22 It's a society. It's right, society. So how serious is the problem in Trinidad and Tobago?
01:01:27 I didn't say it's a problem. I mean, having Down Syndrome, it's just an intellectual disability, right?
01:01:33 And we have, there's still parts of the country that doesn't know about the Down Syndrome Family Network
01:01:43 and we are trying our best to reach all ends of the island because it's more so that the network was set up to give information
01:01:54 or to help parents have the understanding to better be able to help their child to be as independent as possible
01:02:01 and to be included into society.
01:02:04 How long has the network been around?
01:02:07 This year is 12 years.
01:02:10 And what type of service is provided to families where you have a person with Down Syndrome?
01:02:23 Let's go more in depth into services because as I was telling you, Ms. Mohamed, as a younger person,
01:02:33 you would see people who would have had or had Down Syndrome.
01:02:41 And I think that there was a bit of, I don't know how to describe it, but how do you deal?
01:02:49 Deal may not be the right word. How do you relate?
01:02:54 That may be a better word, a more sensitive word, to deal, to have relations with someone who has Down Syndrome.
01:03:03 So is it that that sort of, there has been improvement because of organizations such as yours
01:03:11 that provides a level of education and also how to interact with that person and so on.
01:03:25 That person may have a more comfortable life, if I can put it that way.
01:03:31 I think what you're trying to say is growing up, you would not have seen the appearance
01:03:38 because with Down Syndrome, unlike other disabilities, it's more physical.
01:03:43 So you can see somebody outright having Down Syndrome.
01:03:46 So therefore you would know that, okay, because of their physical appearance and certain physical features,
01:03:52 you would think, okay, they have Down Syndrome.
01:03:54 Growing up, you would not have seen as much persons with Down Syndrome in society because parents,
01:04:01 I mean, having a child with a disability is a stigma, which we are trying to break daily.
01:04:09 They would think that they would get these tears or maybe child might have sudden outbursts or the individual
01:04:17 and they were not integrated into society.
01:04:19 Parents would have shunned away from taking them out into public and kept them locked inside.
01:04:25 For lack of better words, they would have kept them locked inside because they didn't want the staring
01:04:30 or they didn't want, oh my God, look at that child or whatever.
01:04:34 But now as we're getting older and things are changing, and yes, because of networks like my own
01:04:42 and the previous ones that was instituted, we are trying to break that stigma.
01:04:47 We are trying to show that there's more to them.
01:04:51 They have ability other than their physical appearance or you may think that they have a disability.
01:04:57 So now we are trying to educate the parents.
01:05:00 Okay, so now you don't have to hide them away and they are capable.
01:05:04 They are capable of doing much more.
01:05:06 And if it is that you set the standard high, because like typical children, you have a child growing up,
01:05:13 they do something wrong, what would you do? Leave them?
01:05:16 You would correct them.
01:05:18 Same as a person with disability, you correct them.
01:05:21 So therefore, when it is that you go into society, you would not have that outburst
01:05:25 because this is how you are growing up your child, to be independent, to be included,
01:05:29 because that is what you want for them.
01:05:31 So we are trying to encourage parents to do that.
01:05:34 So now more so than before, you would see that happening.
01:05:38 You would see them involved in different activities.
01:05:41 You'll go to the mall, you'll go out for dinner.
01:05:43 You would see persons with their children out in public.
01:05:46 Other than back then, you would not have seen that.
01:05:49 Yeah, so there are better systems in place now.
01:05:52 To be honest, Ms. Mohamed, I think that people felt uncomfortable
01:05:59 because they just did not know how to react.
01:06:04 And I'm sure that would have impacted the people who had Down syndrome too.
01:06:11 It was just an uncomfortable situation for everybody.
01:06:14 Yeah, well, you can't really blame society as much
01:06:19 as growing up did you have somebody with Down syndrome in your class?
01:06:24 No.
01:06:25 Were they included in anything?
01:06:26 So therefore, you were not able to grow up with that person.
01:06:29 But now if they are included in the classroom environment
01:06:33 and you see them from a child growing into an adult,
01:06:36 they are in the supermarkets, they have jobs, they are in the workplace,
01:06:41 it's not going to be anything new for you.
01:06:44 So therefore, the stigma, the staring would not be there.
01:06:47 So therefore, you need to involve persons not only with Down syndrome
01:06:51 but other disabilities into the environment, include them,
01:06:55 so that therefore when they get older, we are all aware,
01:06:58 we are all understanding, we have that thinking now how to deal,
01:07:05 cope, talk to them like normal, treat them like everybody else.
01:07:09 Yeah.
01:07:10 We discussed earlier there are different levels
01:07:14 how individuals are affected.
01:07:17 Okay, yeah.
01:07:19 Well, Down syndrome is an intellectual disability.
01:07:22 It doesn't mean that they don't understand.
01:07:25 It just takes from a teacher's perspective
01:07:28 because I'm a special educator by profession
01:07:32 as versus from my job spec being a special educator
01:07:36 versus the typical school's regular teacher,
01:07:39 it just takes a little more time, a little more visuals, sounds,
01:07:46 more hands-on work, right?
01:07:49 It doesn't mean that they can't learn a little more repetition.
01:07:52 So it's not that they can't learn,
01:07:54 they just learn at a different pace than the typical child.
01:08:00 But they can, they can.
01:08:02 And if it is that you include them and you get them to be involved,
01:08:07 you have early intervention, that is what I was looking for, early intervention,
01:08:13 you are not going to have that problem when they get older
01:08:16 because you started from young, you started to adapt to different things.
01:08:22 Yeah.
01:08:23 How do we get our society to--
01:08:32 because we did, you did mention this level of people still staring
01:08:41 at people who have Down syndrome.
01:08:45 How do we as a society become more sensitive?
01:08:52 For one, today is World Down Syndrome Day
01:08:56 and we usually have lots of SOCKS campaign.
01:09:01 Everybody's doing it.
01:09:03 Everybody's saying, "Yes, it's the day for Down syndrome and we wear any SOCKS."
01:09:08 But do you really know why or what is the purpose of it?
01:09:13 So society knows it's a point because they only know it for today
01:09:18 because it has become more of a fashion statement
01:09:21 than what it's actually meant to do.
01:09:24 It's to educate persons.
01:09:27 So I would say no, yes, they are more aware because of the SOCKS campaign,
01:09:35 but to get society not to stare, I could say that they are a little more sensitized
01:09:44 because of the campaign now, so they're more aware of it,
01:09:49 and if it is that we continue to put persons with Down syndrome
01:09:53 into positions that they are in the eyes of persons, they wouldn't have that
01:09:59 because they would see that, okay, they're more than their physical disability.
01:10:03 They would be like they're more capable of doing things.
01:10:07 Every day should be Down syndrome day, and I mean that when it comes
01:10:13 to placing the focus on people who have Down syndrome, right?
01:10:20 Just inclusion.
01:10:22 Let's speak about that, inclusion.
01:10:25 Have we as a society been including people with Down syndrome more and more, you think?
01:10:33 Yes, lately over the last few years now, yes, we are.
01:10:40 I have seen that they are making changes.
01:10:43 They are doing things to include persons with Down syndrome
01:10:47 because as a network that I represent, we are fighting for persons to have jobs,
01:10:55 to be included in school, to be included in everything,
01:10:58 and it's not just that you have a job and say, okay, this person has Down syndrome
01:11:04 and we're putting them here to say that we're giving a person a job.
01:11:07 No, they have to be gainfully employed.
01:11:09 They have to be able to work properly for that job and not just collect a paycheck.
01:11:15 We don't want somebody just to show a face and meet and greet.
01:11:20 No, they have to be included in all aspects.
01:11:24 What is the job spec of the job and for them to be there, and this is your position.
01:11:29 This is your responsibilities.
01:11:31 Yeah, but how has that fight been going?
01:11:34 Have organizations, have they been opening up their arms to that concept?
01:11:41 They are. Right now, the founder of the network, Mr. Glenn Niles,
01:11:46 his son is gainfully employed with Detour.
01:11:50 Also, Detour has had fashion inclusive fashion shows that they include persons with Down syndrome into.
01:12:00 They were heavily involved in the Lots of Sucks campaign with us every year.
01:12:05 We have other self advocates who were gainfully employed at IMAX, at Central Bank, at Republic Bank.
01:12:15 So there are availabilities now and companies are coming towards us to get to have positions to be filled for persons with Down syndrome.
01:12:27 But as we were talking about before, a long, long time ago, parents didn't see the need to educate their child to be independent,
01:12:36 to be able to be more than what society made them think that their child would have been.
01:12:44 So they didn't bring them up in that way.
01:12:46 So now we are trying to change the mindset of the parents coming up to have their children be educated,
01:12:52 to have their children be included in everything because you don't want that your child doesn't have a life because that's what they thought.
01:13:00 They wouldn't have a life beyond. They are more capable of that.
01:13:03 And I always tell parents, set the benchmark, the benchmarks high and let your child reach it and then set it higher.
01:13:11 And that's the only way that they are going to succeed.
01:13:14 Yeah. Let's talk about the recent conference. What was it meant to achieve?
01:13:18 Oh, we at our conference, because today is World Down Syndrome Day, we usually have the conference on the 21st, the same day as World Down Syndrome Day.
01:13:28 But it's SCA.
01:13:30 Oh, yes.
01:13:32 And because it's SCA, we invite teachers, we invite students.
01:13:38 You know, it was conflicting, one. And two, one of our self-advocates, Rochelle, she's right in SCA and she has Down syndrome.
01:13:47 You know, so they could reach the point that they could get there. Don't think that they can't. They can't, right?
01:13:55 So we had to switch dates. So therefore we had to move up the dates for the conference.
01:14:01 So we had the conference on the 19th in the Hyatt and we had it yesterday in Tobago.
01:14:08 The conference was wonderful. Our guest speaker, Nicole Flynn, I mean, whoever missed it, they missed it.
01:14:18 Be sure to come to our workshops, our conferences, because she was such a great speaker.
01:14:25 She was powerful. She was commanding. And she showed the abilities, what you're capable of.
01:14:34 And our conference is more so to show society and to show persons, our stakeholders, these are what persons are capable of.
01:14:44 This is what they could do. This is her speaking, because she's an advocate for persons with Down syndrome.
01:14:51 And she's giving the message that set the benchmark higher.
01:14:56 Show that you are powerful. Show your capabilities.
01:15:00 Are there children or are there much children who have Down syndrome in the public school system?
01:15:13 Or is it that it's a situation where you have to get specialized training for people?
01:15:23 I would not say that you have to get specialized training. As I said earlier, it's a little more work.
01:15:31 And because the typical schools, it's fast paced and teachers may find it harder to accommodate a child with a disability
01:15:43 because you need to get a curriculum done. You need to get it done in a certain time.
01:15:48 We do have children with Down syndrome in the public schools.
01:15:53 But now it's just a few. But we are pushing for parents, more parents, to get their children involved.
01:16:02 But how has that worked?
01:16:04 It's working good because as I said, Rochelle is in Senate 5 and she's writing an essay.
01:16:09 So she is an advocate on her own because she has her own business.
01:16:15 She is a baker and she's in the system and she's writing an essay.
01:16:22 So she's advocating and saying and showing the other parents now, you know, your child could do this too.
01:16:28 Because if she could do it, their child could do it.
01:16:31 Yeah. And the reason why I'm asking that question is it is because I know how we can be.
01:16:37 We can be very insensitive sometimes. We could be frustrated sometimes by what sometimes we don't understand.
01:16:48 We don't know what to do. So that was the reason why I asked that question about children in the public school system.
01:16:58 If parents, families do have within their families people who have Down syndrome,
01:17:10 and we spoke about your organization that provides that level of help to the families to cope.
01:17:25 And you see, I'm having difficulty because I want to say the sensitive things
01:17:30 because I don't really like using words like cope and so on.
01:17:33 Yeah. Because I think to say words like that, I am giving the impression that there is a problem.
01:17:42 And I don't want to give that impression that there is a problem.
01:17:45 You have a member of your family who has Down syndrome.
01:17:49 There may be challenges and we have to find ways of dealing with it.
01:17:55 So there are greater mechanisms in place now to assist families.
01:18:00 As a network, the network was instituted. It was established by Glenn Niles.
01:18:08 And he, together with a group of parents, they came and they found as a network.
01:18:15 He founded that and they established that network.
01:18:20 Now this network, because he went away and he saw, he went to conferences
01:18:27 and he saw that the capabilities of persons with Down syndrome and what was happening there.
01:18:32 And it wasn't happening here.
01:18:34 And with his knowledge now and the other parents, they know that the struggles that they had
01:18:39 to bring their child to what they are now.
01:18:43 And the parents now, whatever issues or things that may come up that they need advice on,
01:18:53 they come to the network. That's why we have the conference.
01:18:56 That's why we have workshops, quarterly workshops, because it's a group of parents.
01:19:00 And we are educating them and we are giving them the, say, the helping hand now
01:19:06 for them to help their child with Down syndrome.
01:19:09 It's not only for parents. It's for, like, caregivers. It's for teachers.
01:19:14 It's for everybody who is in close contact or would be of assistance to persons with Down syndrome.
01:19:20 So if it is that I may have had a child with Down syndrome and I was having some issues
01:19:26 finding a dental institute that I could take that understands how to deal with a person with Down syndrome,
01:19:34 the network is there. It had parents who took their children to the dentist.
01:19:39 How can people get in contact with the network?
01:19:41 They could find us on Facebook, Instagram, all social media, TikTok, YouTube, you know, like, subscribe,
01:19:51 follow us to keep updated on what is happening, to keep updated on upcoming events, you know, things like that.
01:19:59 So if it is that you need further assistance, send us a message and we'll get back to you on how we can help.
01:20:07 Also, if you are interested in volunteering, I'm the volunteer coordinator.
01:20:12 You know, shoot me a message on there and join, help, because it doesn't, it takes a society, right?
01:20:20 Pretty much it takes a society, not just one individual. And we are trying to advocate for all.
01:20:26 Yes. So, yeah, Miss Mohammed, it was a pleasure speaking with you this morning.
01:20:29 It's a work in progress, right? It is. It is. But we have come a long way.
01:20:33 Yeah. And that's good to know that we have come a long way. Thank you very much, Miss Mohammed.
01:20:39 Yeah. Thank you for having me. Of course. All right. So we go to a very short break.
01:20:43 We do have the sunrise for you from Moruga and it's submitted by Dave C. Mirage.
01:20:49 Dave, a beautiful picture. Thank you very much for coming back, everybody.
01:20:53 [Music]
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01:21:21 We make style showing off who we are without saying a word.
01:21:26 The Oxygen with Nicole Foundation presents O2N Style at O2 Park, Chagaramas.
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01:21:55 One minute they're boiling in your ears and the next the house empty and you wonder where all the time gone.
01:22:04 Time does fly. You have to make sure that you spend quality time with your family.
01:22:10 Doing so will help build your relationship with them and create lasting memories.
01:22:17 You can create memories by doing things together that you and your children enjoy,
01:22:24 such as playing games together, going on outings, cooking and eating together.
01:22:30 It doesn't have to be costly or extravagant, but simple things that allow for bonding.
01:22:37 Meaningful connections are about the quality of time that you spend together,
01:22:43 rather than the length of time spent together.
01:22:46 Try to be wholly present, totally present at those times.
01:22:51 Put down the cell phone, forget about social media for a while,
01:22:57 take off the TV and give your children your undivided attention,
01:23:02 listening to them and talking to them.
01:23:06 At the end of the day, do your best to create memories with them,
01:23:11 warm, lasting memories.
01:23:14 Share if you found this useful and like and follow our profile for further parenting tips.
01:23:20 Today's letter is Q for quality time.
01:23:26 Create memories before it's too late.
01:23:29 [Music]
01:23:47 Welcome back everyone. We are speaking now about World Social Work Day.
01:23:52 We do have in studio this morning Simone Alexander-Jayke,
01:23:56 Coordinator Suicide Prevention Hotline at the National Family Services Division.
01:24:00 And we also have Farisha Mohammed, Family Service Social Worker
01:24:05 at the National Family Services Division to tell us about World Social Work Day.
01:24:11 Ladies, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:24:14 Thanks for having us.
01:24:16 Yeah, Mrs. Jayke, look over here.
01:24:19 [Laughter]
01:24:22 It's the first time I am really hearing about World Social Work Day.
01:24:28 Tell us a little bit about this.
01:24:30 So, World Social Work Day is celebrated globally.
01:24:34 It was first started in 2007 and from then to now we are celebrating each year in the month of March.
01:24:43 Yeah?
01:24:45 Mrs. Mohammed?
01:24:48 So, we have World Social Work Day as Mrs. Jayke would have said.
01:24:50 It started in the year 2007 and what it really does is it highlights the achievement of social workers globally.
01:24:57 What we do is recognize particularly on Social Work Day the impact that social workers have had on society at large on a global basis
01:25:09 and the impact that we would have had individually, community-wise, families and society in general.
01:25:17 But ladies, how do we pay tribute to the social workers on this day?
01:25:22 Is it that the ministry contacts them? Is it that the social workers contact the ministry? How is this done?
01:25:29 So, our ministry, we hosted an interfaith service which was in recognition of giving thanks to the Most Supreme Being
01:25:41 for allowing us the ability to execute our duties daily because one of the things that was highlighted at that interfaith service
01:25:50 is the fact that we need resilience ourselves as social workers in order to execute duties on a daily basis
01:25:58 because we deal with a vast array of issues that affect persons individually, as I said before, familiar and so forth.
01:26:08 Yeah, Mrs. Jeky, when we speak about social workers, who are we speaking about?
01:26:11 We are speaking about persons who would have trained in a university, having attained a degree
01:26:16 and also in that degree to have practical placements where we get practical training.
01:26:22 So, when you look at social work, we look at persons who are trained to be qualified to practice in Trinidad and Tobago
01:26:32 and globally that you have to have at least a first degree to practice in Trinidad and Tobago and globally.
01:26:38 Yeah. Go ahead.
01:26:41 Yes, so we have about four to five universities in Trinidad and Tobago that offer social work practice.
01:26:47 So, that entry level is five levels and certificate or A-levels in social work or A-levels.
01:26:57 So, entry and some persons could matriculate on age and experience.
01:27:03 Yeah. So, is it a situation where you're seeing more and more young people, other people, gravitating towards this type of work in Trinidad and Tobago?
01:27:14 Most definitely. So, when we look over the years that passed, we have seen an increase.
01:27:18 So, when I graduated some years ago, it only had one university, the University of the West Indies.
01:27:24 However, today we could speak at it have four out of three other universities offering social work.
01:27:29 So, every year there's a graduation, churning out more persons trained to see about the social issues of the country.
01:27:36 Yeah. So, people can see it as a viable option for a sector that they can get in to have a job and make a living and so on?
01:27:47 Definitely a viable profession. And it gives you self-satisfaction.
01:27:56 Yes, it don't pay a lot, but the intrinsic motivation that you're bringing that balance and that equilibrium to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:28:06 That individual, that group, that family that you could bring about that change.
01:28:12 So, yes, it gives you that self-fulfilling and also help alleviate some of the issues in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:28:19 So, you are being used to help eradicate crime, poverty, other social issues.
01:28:25 So, you have that self-satisfaction.
01:28:27 Yes.
01:28:29 Mrs. Jeky says it doesn't pay a lot.
01:28:31 Yes.
01:28:33 So, something has to be done in that area, right? But it still gives satisfaction.
01:28:37 So, what is the contribution? And Mrs. Jeky would have touched a short while ago on it, but the contribution of social work in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:28:46 Let's talk a little bit about the impact on how it is improving the lives of people and so on.
01:28:53 Okay. So, what we usually do on a day-to-day basis is use strategies and interventions based on theories, right?
01:29:04 Frameworks that we would have, as Mrs. Jeky said, learned throughout our years at university.
01:29:12 And in doing that, what we are trained to do and we develop skills is basically to impact persons who are afflicted with poverty, families who are experiencing various issues such as domestic violence, the abuse of elderly, and so forth.
01:29:30 We also do persons in need of care and protection.
01:29:35 We can use domestic violence as an example where we can take a victim and place him or her into a shelter for safety.
01:29:45 We can also take the children out of the situation and place them where there is safety.
01:29:51 We also have persons living with disabilities where we do, you know, if we find out that persons who may be afflicted with a disability, they would be being treated less that we go into the situation.
01:30:05 We try to bring balance within the family because sometimes it's not that, you know, they are purposefully doing whatever.
01:30:13 So what we try to do is make a complete assessment of these situations that I just highlighted a few of in order to bring, you know, that stability to homes and communities by extension.
01:30:24 Yeah, Mrs. Jeky, it's important to work, right?
01:30:27 Very important.
01:30:29 Yeah. How is the ministry this year observing World Social Work Day?
01:30:36 As Ms. Mohamed would have mentioned, yesterday we had an interfaith service, the executive of the ministry, and we would like to say thanks very much for recognizing us, you know, recognizing the work that the social workers do.
01:30:48 So we had the interfaith service and we have other activities planned coming up because the entire month is being celebrated.
01:30:56 So we have other activities planned coming up.
01:31:01 Yeah. Does the, because we spoke about a number of qualifications for persons who are involved in this, does the ministry also provide assistance, help to other persons in society?
01:31:23 Let's say NGOs that have been set up and they also provide some level of social work that they are doing in the community and so on. Is there a mechanism such as that at the ministry to help NGOs?
01:31:40 Right. Thanks very much for the question. As we speak, the ministry do have an NGO unit and they will, NGOs throughout Trinidad and Tobago register and any subvention, any help they need, whether it be training in whatever area, specialization, they offer, that unit offer to the NGOs that is registered and anybody who is willing to come on board NGOs, they could come and register and be part of that team.
01:32:06 Now ladies, you all are representing two very important divisions here at the Ministry of Social Development. Mrs. Jeky, let's talk a little bit about the service that your section in particular provides to members of the national community.
01:32:27 And you're the coordinator of the Suicide Prevention National Family Services Division. Let's talk a little bit about the work that you all have been doing.
01:32:35 Right. So first of all, the National Family Services Division have four, under its remit, four programs. So we have the parenting program, which caters for parenting nationally, where it would coordinate any parenting requests from individuals, NGOs, groups or anything like that.
01:32:59 And it will coordinate anything relating to parenting Trinidad and Tobago. Then we have the HIV unit and the HIV unit cater to the needs of the staff in addition to the clients of the ministry. In addition, we have the general National Family Services, they offer consent to individual family groups, they do community work.
01:33:21 And then finally, the Suicide Prevention Hotline, where we offer that emergency if you're in crisis and you need somebody to talk to, because every life is matter. So if you are feeling frustrated, stressed, you feel like, you know, I have no hope, there's no way out, you call 800-COPE, it's toll free.
01:33:40 And then we have the 24-hour hotline, confidentiality is paramount to our service. So yes, it is catered for the entire Trinidad and Tobago. So if anyone is feeling overwhelmed, please call 800-COPE. It could be one o'clock in the morning, three o'clock in the morning, five o'clock in the evening, call us, there's always somebody there at the other end, listening. Every staff member is well trained and have at least a degree. And continuous training is provided by the ministry.
01:34:07 And Ms. Muhammad, let's speak up a little bit, of course, your Family Service Social Worker, also from the National Family Services Division. Anything you'd like to tell us about the work that you all have been doing?
01:34:20 So as Ms. Jeky would have touched on, we provide individual counseling, we provide counseling to groups and families. We also make referrals to different agencies, because a big part of the social work profession is networking. So let's say we have a client who may come in with some sort of mental health issues, we are not trained to diagnose, we are not trained to medicate.
01:34:42 So what we would do is we would have key stakeholders who we network with on a daily basis, where we would know, okay, this person needs to be referred here for a diagnosis, whether it may be within the ministry where we would refer them to a different department, whether it be social welfare or wherever. We do those sorts of referrals.
01:35:03 And then what we do is we provide training for persons where, you know, they have different areas in which we are called upon to provide lectures, you know, to conduct workshops and so forth. So we network with schools, we network with the community police and so forth. So any type of work that is going on within communities, we are very present there, you know, in trying to execute and fulfill the mandate of the ministry.
01:35:32 Thank you, ladies. We just have about a minute again. Any additional information you'd like to share with us before you leave us this morning?
01:35:37 So as a social worker, our roles are diverse and we practice, it could be in any setting, whether it be in schools, medical, general practice, we are diverse and accessible. Always remember that, you know, there's always someone in the ministry or any to assist the public in receiving service. So please feel free to call.
01:36:01 So we as if anyone is looking on this morning who would be interested in receiving services from the National Family Services, in addition to the 800 Cope, you can also call 623-2608. That number again, it's 623-2608 extension 6701 to 6711.
01:36:26 Yeah, ladies, go ahead.
01:36:27 And I just would like to say thanks very much to all my social work colleagues for the exceptional work you have been doing. I love you dearly. The executive of our ministry really like the work that we are doing. So let's continue pushing and pressing so the citizens could get the best service offered.
01:36:47 This is Jiki giving out love this morning. It was a pleasure speaking with you all. Thank you very much for the contributions that your various divisions or your division continues to make to Trinidad to be able to appreciate it. Thank you very much.
01:37:02 Thanks for having us.
01:37:04 So we are going to very short break, everybody. We're coming back.
01:37:07 [Music]
01:37:28 [Music]
01:37:56 The Lions Club of Arima presents its third annual fundraising golf tournament happening Saturday, 6 April at the Millennium Lakes Golf and Country Club. Cost of entry is $2,500 per team with part proceeds benefiting the Voice of Lupus Foundation. For more information, call the Lions Club of Arima at 361-5637 or email arimalionsclub@yahoo.com. Info is also available from any of our authorized members. It's the Lions Club of Arima's exciting third annual fundraising golf tournament. Register today.
01:38:25 [Music]
01:38:34 No, son. No!
01:38:37 [Music]
01:38:40 No!
01:38:42 [Music]
01:38:44 Please, no!
01:38:48 [Music]
01:39:08 Did you know that vaping with nicotine can permanently affect brain development in people under the age of 25?
01:39:16 [Music]
01:39:19 Did you know that e-cigarettes are associated with increased risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease?
01:39:25 [Music]
01:39:29 Did you know that for some people, vaping with or without nicotine disrupts the normal lung function in otherwise healthy people?
01:39:38 [Music]
01:39:40 Consider the consequences and don't vape.
01:39:43 Don't vape.
01:39:45 [Music]
01:39:51 [Music]
01:40:18 Alright, welcome back everybody. So, NAPS Combined is comprised of students of Naparima Girls High School and Naparima College.
01:40:25 Now, the band began practice in October 2017 as the brainchild of Mrs. Bernadette Roberts, the former music teacher of Naparima Girls High School.
01:40:35 To share more, are Cathy Ann Sedeno-Cook, a NAPS Combined leader, as well as Amanda Ramjohn, NAPS Combined manager.
01:40:46 Cathy, please thank you very much for joining us this morning.
01:40:48 Good morning. Thank you for having us.
01:40:52 Of course, the pleasure is all ours. Cathy Ann, let's speak a little bit about the NAPS One Love concert. What's in store?
01:41:02 So, that concert takes place on Friday, 22nd March. That's tomorrow evening at 7pm at Naparima Ghoul.
01:41:11 The name of the concert, One Love, was chosen because it's a very topical issue at this time, with the movie One Love just being released.
01:41:21 As well as in our current international climate, where there's so much crime and fighting, we thought that there was a need for peace, love, unity, and respect.
01:41:37 So, that's why we chose that theme for our concert this year.
01:41:42 And Amanda, for people who would want to patronize the concert, what's in store for them?
01:41:53 Well, NAPS Combined themselves, the Steel Orchestra themselves will be performing.
01:41:58 And we have a lot of guest artists that are associated with Naparima College and Naparima Girls High School.
01:42:06 Joshua Regrello, Khadira Mohammed, former students of Naparima College, as well as a current student of Naparima College, Vinay Ramnarine.
01:42:18 We also have a teacher on staff, daughter and sister performing as well.
01:42:25 Those that support the college, Chris College, Chrison Joseph, as some of the entertainers, guest performers.
01:42:35 And then we also have some who will be performing with the band themselves.
01:42:40 So, is it, Cathy-Ann, it's going to be a mixture, a callaloo that is going to be in store for people who attend the concert?
01:42:53 Definitely is. We have a little bit of brass musicians joining the band and some tassa.
01:43:01 So, it's a lot to look forward to.
01:43:04 Yeah. And Amanda, it's an event for all of the family?
01:43:07 Definitely. Definitely. Because it comprises of Naparima College students and Naparima Girls High School students. So, it is family oriented.
01:43:18 Yeah. Cathy-Ann, go ahead.
01:43:21 So, we do have tickets with adults and children available. The tickets for adults are $2.50 and for children it's $1.50.
01:43:32 So, that we are encouraging families to bring out their children to enjoy the evening with them.
01:43:38 We expect the show to run for about two hours from seven to about nine o'clock.
01:43:44 We're going to have a brief intermission and then it's just going to be a fun-filled epic evening.
01:43:52 Yeah. And Cathy-Ann, at the beginning of our conversation, you spoke about the theme of the concert.
01:44:03 And I believe that you all feel that in order to make the concept and the theme more palatable to members of the public, that this was a good idea.
01:44:22 To bring everyone together under one roof, if I can put it that way, in a united approach as we deal with what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:44:38 Yes, we did think that that was a good idea.
01:44:44 Even for our students, our students are always, when we bring them to the Pan Yard, they get together as one.
01:44:52 Even though we are from two different schools, the boys and girls have this safe space in which they can make good friendships and be examples to the rest of the world, to the rest of the community.
01:45:06 So, we do see that our show is going to show that unity.
01:45:12 We do hope that in our last item for the performance, that all of the crew and cast will be on stage celebrating with us One Love.
01:45:22 Yeah. Amanda, anything else you'd like to tell us about the One Love concert that we may have missed?
01:45:32 Well, we still have limited tickets available. You can contact us. I can tell you the number. Either one of us, 782-0956 or 704-9694. They're also available at the schools as well.
01:45:50 Yeah.
01:45:52 Kathy-Ann?
01:45:55 We just also need to say thank you to our sponsors, the people who have supported us since our inception, which would be Skiffle, Pantheatre, Skiffle, and Unipet, who have been with us since we began in 2018.
01:46:19 Yeah. Ladies, just for our viewers again, please remind, because we have put it up here, do you all have a social media presence where people can get additional information?
01:46:36 Yes, we do. Through the schools, Naparima Girls High School on Instagram and Naparima College on Instagram and Facebook. We have been sharing the information there so they can search it up on Facebook or Instagram. All the details are there.
01:46:51 Yeah. Kathy-Ann, any final comments?
01:46:55 No, just come out as much as you can to have a wonderful evening. It will really show appreciation to the work that these young people are doing.
01:47:09 Yeah. Ladies, it was a pleasure speaking with you all. We wish you all the best for your One Love, the concert. Bye for now.
01:47:18 Thank you for having us.
01:47:20 We're going to a break, everybody. We're coming back.
01:47:23 [Music]
01:47:45 Get ready for an electrifying night of entertainment.
01:47:48 As John Thomas presents Showtime, a musical theatre extravaganza you won't want to miss.
01:47:54 Join us at Queen's Hall on April 5th and 6th for a dazzling showcase featuring Trinidad and Tobago's brightest young stars.
01:48:02 From the spellbinding magic of Wicked to the irresistible energy of Mamma Mia.
01:48:06 Be entranced by the enchanting melodies of The Little Mermaid, captivated by the show-stopping numbers from The Greatest Showman.
01:48:14 And inspired from touching moments of Dear Evan Hansen.
01:48:17 Showtime has something for everyone.
01:48:19 Get your early bird tickets now at Queen's Hall box office or at queenshalltt.com.
01:48:24 Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of Showtime.
01:48:30 [Music]
01:48:45 TV advertising offers mass coverage and is guaranteed to hit your target market.
01:48:50 Welcome to O2N Lifestyle, where we unravel the stories of those who at first glance may seem worlds apart.
01:48:59 Yet share an unspoken connection.
01:49:01 Different parts, different worlds.
01:49:04 Look at that smile from DJ Bravo.
01:49:06 Miss Maracas Valley, Asha Abrams.
01:49:09 [Music]
01:49:15 May you be inspired to embrace change, seek joy within and recognize that common thread that continues to bind us all.
01:49:23 O2N Lifestyle.
01:49:25 Where we unravel the stories that connect us all.
01:49:28 [Music]
01:49:36 [Music]
01:49:41 [Music]
01:49:52 [Music]
01:50:01 [Music]
01:50:12 [Music]
01:50:16 [Music]
01:50:28 Alright, so welcome back everyone. We do have some local news for you.
01:50:31 [Music]
01:50:36 Good morning, I am Anselm Gibbs with a news update.
01:50:42 Just over 18,000 primary school pupils are expected to write the secondary entrance assessment exam today.
01:50:49 In a social media post on Wednesday, the Education Minister had some words of encouragement for those doing the exam.
01:50:58 You've come a long way and you've worked hard. Go out there tomorrow and do your best.
01:51:03 Always remember, SEA is the start of a new journey. It's not the end.
01:51:10 Make yourself proud, make your parents proud and make your teachers proud.
01:51:14 The NGC Bocas Lit Fest is set to kick off on April 25th.
01:51:20 Organizers say it's the 14th celebration of words, stories and ideas and One Caribbean Media, the parent company of CCN TV6, is once again a media partner.
01:51:34 Bocas Lit Fest serves as an annual catalyst for both the creation and retelling of our stories in our own words by writers from our own spaces.
01:51:44 And in the weather forecast, conditions remain mainly sunny, hazy and breezy, despite the low chance of one or two brief passing showers across the islands.
01:51:57 Seas may occasionally become choppy, with waves ranging from one and a half to two meters in height in open waters, yet near calm in sheltered areas.
01:52:08 All right, so welcome back, everyone. So I just have a few minutes before we end for today.
01:52:17 I just want to read this story for you before we end.
01:52:21 There is confusion over court privy council to decide on the merit points appeal.
01:52:27 Now, the Privy Council will have the final say on which court people have to petition in bringing appeals against penalties imposed on them under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Acts, the merit points system.
01:52:44 In this badly drafted legislation, there is uncertainty as to whether the district courts, the high court or the court of appeal should be petitioned to hear such challenges.
01:52:59 Five law lords at this country's highest court in London, England, yesterday heard submissions from attorneys representing the state and those for a man whose driver's permit was suspended for six months after he amassed 10 points under the system.
01:53:15 All right, so a very interesting story, and we'll see how that plays out. All right.
01:53:22 I'm not leaving you as yet. I'm not leaving you. We have some some time still.
01:53:28 So another story. And to me, this is very, very interesting.
01:53:33 And I told you about it this morning. Now, some cancer patients may be getting antiquated drugs, if any at all, through the public health system.
01:53:42 Shortages of some medicines are still being reported due to lack of funding, among other issues.
01:53:51 To me, this is very, very serious. Ministry of Health, I think you need to say something.
01:53:57 This was announced yesterday at a joint select committee of Parliament. All right.
01:54:03 So there is is need to address this situation. So that's going to do it for our program for today.
01:54:10 Thank you to all of our guests. Thank you to all of our viewers.
01:54:15 Very interesting weighty issues we discussed today. And we thank you for staying with us.
01:54:24 Today, it's S.E.A. Day. Yeah, it will all be over in the next few hours.
01:54:29 And I know that there's going to be a great celebration after. Right.
01:54:35 We do have to do in the morning. Yeah. So as we look at this whole S.E.A. issue, so tutor in the morning.
01:54:41 So that's going to be it for our program for today.
01:54:44 I mean, in the meantime, we leave you with this image today of a Tobago sunsets.
01:54:51 And we also have the beautiful composition of the late Lord Kitchener.
01:54:57 See you tomorrow, everybody. Bye for now.
01:54:59 [Music]
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