Morning Edition: 30th April 2024

CCNTV6

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Transcript

00:00:00 ♪ Yeah, ooh, yeah ♪

00:00:03 ♪ What's going on ♪

00:00:04 ♪ What's going on ♪

00:00:05 - Give me some, give me some music.

00:00:07 Give me some music, music.

00:00:08 Let's wake up people this morning.

00:00:10 It's Tuesday, April 30th, 2024.

00:00:14 Wake up everybody, let's wake them up.

00:00:16 Yeah, what's going on?

00:00:17 And we'll tell you what's going on

00:00:18 in Trinidad and Tobago a little later, all right?

00:00:21 But a very special good morning to all of you.

00:00:23 I'm Marlon Hopkinson.

00:00:24 Welcome to "The Morning Edition."

00:00:26 As I told you, it's Tuesday, April 30th, 2024.

00:00:29 And thank you very much for joining us.

00:00:31 I hope that you had a very good night

00:00:33 and that you're with us this morning.

00:00:35 We do have a very interesting program for you today.

00:00:38 Yeah, so I want you to spend the next two hours

00:00:41 with me today.

00:00:42 Oh, this day is so bright.

00:00:43 So I really choose it last night.

00:00:47 I say, boy, I want to test it today,

00:00:50 but it's a little bright.

00:00:52 It's looking like a shiny car.

00:00:55 (laughs)

00:00:57 Yeah, so this is what you're going to have to watch

00:01:00 for the next two hours, right?

00:01:02 So let's check out to see what's happening

00:01:04 in the Daily Express today.

00:01:06 On the front page, government wins Senate vote,

00:01:08 serious accusations.

00:01:10 Finance Minister Colin Embert speaks

00:01:11 during yesterday's debate in the Senate.

00:01:13 In set at right is Auditor General Jaywanti Ramdas.

00:01:18 And Embert announces investigation

00:01:20 into whether finance minister, ministry,

00:01:22 backdated amended accounts, falsehoods under probe.

00:01:27 And to another story, judge,

00:01:29 state failed child porn victims.

00:01:33 All right, and as you look at the Daily Express today,

00:01:37 a number of stories concerning this controversy

00:01:41 with the finance ministry and also the Auditor General.

00:01:45 So there are a number of views being expressed today.

00:01:49 Get a copy, yeah?

00:01:51 Let's check out some sport.

00:01:53 To the back page, clubs open

00:01:56 to West Indies Championship, but splash, but cash.

00:02:00 Cricket West Indies President, Dr. Kishore Shaloh,

00:02:03 is seeking to get a regional club championship

00:02:05 established in the region.

00:02:07 And some Trinidad and Tobago clubs

00:02:08 seem to be on board with the idea.

00:02:11 Now, the Express reached out to Premiership One teams,

00:02:14 Queens Park Club coach Imran Jain,

00:02:17 Mary Boy's President, Sebastian Edwards,

00:02:18 Central Sports owner, and President Richard Ramkesoen,

00:02:22 and Powagen Pinal Sports Manager, Chitram Ramjit Singh,

00:02:27 who all see the benefits of a regional club competition,

00:02:29 but they also had reservations about the cost to the clubs.

00:02:34 All right, so that's what is one of the stories

00:02:37 in sport happening today.

00:02:39 All right, so it's time to take a look

00:02:42 at what we have for you.

00:02:44 Notso, the Trinbago, your nice feature,

00:02:48 Notso Studio, put it up now, right?

00:02:51 (laughs)

00:02:52 So this is what we have for you this morning.

00:02:55 Nice picture, yeah?

00:02:57 Don't you all think so, Studio?

00:03:01 Looks very metropolitan.

00:03:03 Doesn't look like in Trinidad and Tobago.

00:03:06 Yeah, it looks beautiful,

00:03:08 and I don't mean that in a bad way.

00:03:10 Now, I'm not going to say where you think

00:03:13 that that is looking like, but nice, nice picture.

00:03:18 And thank you to the person who sent that in to us

00:03:20 this morning.

00:03:21 Remember to participate.

00:03:22 You can also WhatsApp your videos or images

00:03:25 to 7373-778.

00:03:28 All right, so you have your coffee, your tea,

00:03:31 get something to eat.

00:03:32 We're coming back, everybody.

00:03:33 (upbeat music)

00:03:36 (upbeat music)

00:03:39 - It's finally here.

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00:04:57 (upbeat music)

00:05:01 (water splashing)

00:05:04 (gentle music)

00:05:12 - How am I?

00:05:16 I cool, I real good.

00:05:18 I try to be invisible when they read you,

00:05:22 but they see me, they always see me.

00:05:24 Oh, how are my parents?

00:05:26 They're doing great, everybody's well.

00:05:29 I have bruises and marks that I have to make up stories about

00:05:32 when people ask.

00:05:34 What'd they say?

00:05:35 I fall off my bike, you know how it is?

00:05:38 They beat me up and I'm tired of lying.

00:05:40 Once, just once, I want to say no, I'm not fine.

00:05:45 Please someone, just help me.

00:05:47 (gentle music)

00:05:51 (gentle music)

00:05:53 - Children have rights.

00:06:03 (gentle music)

00:06:05 (gentle music)

00:06:08 - On Saturday, April 27th,

00:06:26 the atmosphere in Black Rock Tobago

00:06:29 will be filled with a sweet sound of jazz

00:06:32 as Black Jew Sugars and Starfish Tobago

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00:06:37 From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.,

00:06:39 a premium drinks inclusive event

00:06:41 featuring ace patients, saxophonist,

00:06:44 Arturo Taffin and band,

00:06:45 Trinidad Top Jazz Ensemble, Alan Paulette,

00:06:48 with Vaughn and Pitblood,

00:06:50 Tobago songstress, Kai Devere,

00:06:52 and just added veteran jazz guitarist, Michael Boothman,

00:06:56 pianist, Hannah Goodrich, and new sensation Rose.

00:07:00 Backed by the Beachfront Jazz Project,

00:07:02 led by Emmy Fortune, Beachfront Jazz,

00:07:06 all part of the Tobago Jazz and Music Weekend.

00:07:09 Get your tickets now at Cachet Porta Spain,

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00:07:27 Angostura Premium Rums,

00:07:28 Hennessy, Johnny Walker Scotch,

00:07:30 Amplia, and the Prime Minister's Sports and Culture Fund.

00:07:34 Beachfront Jazz, April 27th, Black Rock Tobago.

00:07:38 (upbeat music)

00:07:40 ♪ Even though the road is long ♪

00:07:46 ♪ No matter what come I know I'm gonna make it ♪

00:07:49 ♪ Yes I'm gonna make it ♪

00:07:52 ♪ Even though the road is long ♪

00:07:55 ♪ No matter what come I know I'm gonna make it ♪

00:07:57 - All right, so very special good morning

00:07:59 to all of you again and thank you very much

00:08:01 for joining us this morning, yeah?

00:08:02 We do appreciate it.

00:08:04 All right, so this morning we continue our discussion

00:08:06 on the brewing controversy between the Minister of Finance

00:08:11 and the Auditor General over the country's finances.

00:08:13 Now last Friday, Minister of Finance,

00:08:15 column member, alerted the Parliament

00:08:16 of a significant variance of $2.6 billion

00:08:20 in the country's national accounts

00:08:22 and that the Auditor General, Jaywanti Ramdas,

00:08:24 failed to take into account the increased revenue figure.

00:08:28 Now, Ms. Ramdas has since called on the Minister

00:08:30 to retract his statements and set the public record straight.

00:08:35 With us this morning is economist, Professor Roger Hussain.

00:08:38 Professor, thank you very much for joining us this morning.

00:08:41 - Yes, good morning and thank you for the invitation.

00:08:44 - Yeah, Professor, well, two things happened yesterday.

00:08:47 One, a full independent investigation is to be conducted

00:08:50 to the very serious accusations of improper conduct

00:08:53 made by the Auditor General through Freedom Law Chambers

00:08:56 against the Minister of Finance and/or officials

00:08:59 of the Ministry of Finance.

00:09:00 And one other thing, Professor, government wins vote 23-6,

00:09:05 nine of eight independents back motion.

00:09:11 The government won a handsome victory last night

00:09:16 as it received the support of all

00:09:17 but one of the nine independent senators for its motion

00:09:21 to extend the reporting period of the Auditor General

00:09:24 to examine the national accounts

00:09:26 and for the treasury to submit accounts

00:09:29 to the Auditor General.

00:09:31 Yeah, should it be eight of the nine independents,

00:09:34 I believe, yeah?

00:09:35 All right, so Professor, as we look at all of this

00:09:39 that has happened over the past few days

00:09:42 and the latest developments yesterday,

00:09:44 what do you make of it, Professor?

00:09:46 - What I would say is the Auditor General

00:09:55 has a right to respond to these matters

00:09:58 as she did when she does her review.

00:10:01 But none of this changes in my understanding

00:10:06 of the structural problem that we have in the economy

00:10:10 as regards revenue flows.

00:10:12 So we have a budget that is up to around 60 billion

00:10:16 energy revenues in the next four years or thereabouts,

00:10:21 if we use the IMF numbers, would be up to about 20 billion.

00:10:25 And the non-energy revenues,

00:10:29 let us say we post that at 30 billion, that's 50 billion,

00:10:32 we have a gap of 10 billion.

00:10:34 And given that the IMF numbers show

00:10:38 that by the end of this year,

00:10:41 we would have a total public sector debt

00:10:44 of about $140 billion, it means over the next four years,

00:10:49 we are aiming somewhere close to 200 billion in total debt.

00:10:54 Now, so regardless of, I mean,

00:10:58 I would let this 3 billion accounted work itself out

00:11:03 between the Ministry of Finance and the Minister

00:11:07 has already said he is going to allow

00:11:09 an independent review.

00:11:11 I don't know the detail.

00:11:12 I think the best thing to do is to let the matter get,

00:11:16 work itself out via the independent review

00:11:18 and let the facts come into the public domain

00:11:21 and not get distracted from the big problem

00:11:24 that we have structurally,

00:11:26 which is we are not generating enough public revenues

00:11:30 in order to meet our public expenditures as a country.

00:11:34 And some deeper work needs to be done

00:11:37 to boost non-energy export revenues,

00:11:40 which in turn probably needs stronger growth in the economy.

00:11:44 So to be honest with you, I am not at all mad on really

00:11:48 distracted by that.

00:11:49 I would let that work itself out.

00:11:51 I would look at the facts as they become available

00:11:54 for the independent review,

00:11:56 but I would urge the government and other policy makers

00:11:59 to pay attention to this diversion

00:12:03 between government revenues and government expenditures

00:12:09 that shows up in the form of a persistent fiscal deficit

00:12:13 that seems definitely on track to widen

00:12:18 and push our total debt levels

00:12:21 that would become very difficult in the medium term

00:12:25 to cope with in terms of the IMF numbers that I am seeing.

00:12:32 - But professor, what is contributing to this deficit,

00:12:35 this widening deficit you think?

00:12:37 - Well, what is contributing to it is the slow economic

00:12:41 growth, I mean, our economic growth,

00:12:44 if you look at the IMF numbers in the April database,

00:12:48 which they updated this month,

00:12:51 and it puts data until 2029,

00:12:54 our economic growth is projected to be very moderate,

00:12:59 even slow some would say.

00:13:01 The 2025 numbers, for example,

00:13:04 I think it puts us at being 192 out of 196 countries

00:13:10 in terms of the slowest growing economies in the world.

00:13:14 And therefore the fundamental problem remains

00:13:17 the pace at which we are growing this economy.

00:13:20 Now I know everyone is waiting on Manatee in 2028

00:13:23 or thereabout and hoping some gas will come and stream,

00:13:25 and that's fine, we wait.

00:13:27 But between now and then,

00:13:28 we have a serious structural problem.

00:13:31 And between now and then,

00:13:32 we need to put in even more efforts

00:13:35 to get the non-energy sector,

00:13:37 and not just the non-energy sector,

00:13:39 but the non-energy tradable component of the economy

00:13:43 to give us more returns so that we get some foreign exchange

00:13:47 from even more foreign exchange

00:13:49 from the manufacturing sector

00:13:50 that has not been doing badly,

00:13:52 but we get even more foreign exchange from there

00:13:54 that could help to counter this gap we see emerging

00:13:59 in the medium term period.

00:14:02 Certainly given the expectation that the external debt

00:14:08 as it increases would at some point in time

00:14:11 possibly supersede the stock of reserves we had.

00:14:15 One is about 5.2 billion, that's the external debt,

00:14:19 and the reserves is about 5.8 billion,

00:14:21 and both are going in the opposite direction.

00:14:24 And so with low growth,

00:14:26 that downward movement in the stock of reserves

00:14:30 and upward movement in the stock of external debt

00:14:33 would likely continue.

00:14:35 So there is some more work to be done,

00:14:37 some more work to be done in the non-energy export sector.

00:14:40 - Yeah, so is it that the answer then, professor,

00:14:43 is it greater diversification?

00:14:45 - Well, that has always been the mantra

00:14:50 and the call, greater diversification.

00:14:52 And I want to be very fair to the manufacturing sector.

00:14:55 They have done a good job.

00:14:57 They have made some strides in the last four years,

00:15:01 especially in food and beverages.

00:15:02 And if you look at the manufacturing sector GDP,

00:15:05 it has been progressive.

00:15:06 If you look at manufacturing sector exports,

00:15:08 there has been progress.

00:15:10 What I'm saying is that in the context

00:15:14 of the medium-term outlook,

00:15:16 I think the TTME and the manufacturing sector

00:15:20 needs to take a deep dive look,

00:15:22 probably at the HS six-digit commodity level,

00:15:25 look at export potential,

00:15:27 both within CARICOM and extra CARICOM,

00:15:31 where we have capacity to increase exports

00:15:35 and therefore fetch more foreign exchange

00:15:37 based on our existing comparative advantage.

00:15:40 And we need to do that homework.

00:15:42 And then we need to put that into motion

00:15:44 because all that low-hanging foreign exchange

00:15:48 that we could possibly go after,

00:15:49 we would need it in the next four years.

00:15:52 And I hope the policy makers are listening

00:15:54 to these type of comments and take it on board

00:15:57 because we are in route to some serious situations

00:16:01 in terms of the relationship between debt

00:16:03 and the foreign exchange stuck

00:16:05 in my understanding of the facts.

00:16:07 - Yeah.

00:16:08 Well, Professor, I think you need to push them

00:16:11 in the direction of where this low-hanging

00:16:14 foreign exchange is, right?

00:16:16 Because, Professor, this is not the first time

00:16:18 that you and I may be having this discussion

00:16:22 concerning the economy and so on and what has to be done.

00:16:25 And I know that people who have had seminars

00:16:31 and conferences and so on to discuss this.

00:16:33 But, Professor, what has been

00:16:35 or what have been the stumbling blocks

00:16:38 in the way of Trinidad and Tobago

00:16:42 when it comes to the non-energy sector?

00:16:47 Because, yes, we are still very dependent

00:16:51 on the oil and gas sector.

00:16:52 So what have been the stumbling blocks

00:16:55 in the way of really expanding the non-energy sector?

00:16:59 - Well, the biggest obstacle, I would say,

00:17:04 is political will.

00:17:06 Now, again, in raising these points,

00:17:09 I want to be very clear that there has been

00:17:14 some strides forward in terms of the diversification effort.

00:17:18 The manufacturing sector of Trinidad and Tobago

00:17:20 has improved in the last four to five years

00:17:24 when I look at the data.

00:17:25 So we cannot say that diversification

00:17:27 didn't take place.

00:17:29 What we are saying is that, contextually,

00:17:32 we commend the TTME, we commend the manufacturing sector

00:17:36 for the strides that have been made.

00:17:38 But contextually, given the expected outcome

00:17:43 in the energy sector between now and, say, 2028,

00:17:46 and even beyond that, because even with Manatee

00:17:49 and so on, when you look at the NGC data,

00:17:51 you see a rapid fall-off after two to three years.

00:17:54 What we are saying is that in the context

00:17:57 of the medium-term reality,

00:17:59 although the manufacturing sector, say,

00:18:00 made two or three strides forward,

00:18:02 we needed to make about seven.

00:18:04 We needed to make about three to five more

00:18:08 pronounced steps forward,

00:18:09 above what it has made in the last five years,

00:18:14 so that it provides an even more solid platform

00:18:18 in terms of employment, in terms of job stability,

00:18:22 in terms of technological spillovers,

00:18:24 and in terms of foreign exchange earning,

00:18:27 that when the increased pressure

00:18:31 from declining natural gas production

00:18:34 sets in even more in this economy

00:18:37 over the next four to five years,

00:18:39 we get a softer landing,

00:18:41 because the manufacturing sector

00:18:43 would have pushed shiply hard

00:18:46 and helped to provide some counterbalance

00:18:49 to the blows that are waiting for us.

00:18:51 So how do we jumpstart these initiatives

00:18:56 or move at a quicker pace?

00:19:00 Is it that we give more incentives?

00:19:03 What has to be done?

00:19:04 That's an excellent question.

00:19:09 And I am of a simple view.

00:19:12 I think that before we know what incentives to do

00:19:16 or to implement,

00:19:18 I think we need to understand

00:19:20 where the low-hanging fruits are.

00:19:22 So you go into the forest,

00:19:23 it's 1,000 acres and you see 2 million trees,

00:19:28 and you want low-hanging fruits.

00:19:30 First, you would have to find the tree.

00:19:32 And then you would have to find the trees

00:19:34 with the lowest-hanging fruits.

00:19:36 So it's the same thing I'm suggesting to the TTME

00:19:39 and policy makers in Sri Lanka,

00:19:41 but do a deep dive look at the intracaricum market.

00:19:46 I mean, you have markets like the OECS.

00:19:47 When you look at the OECS medium-term outlook,

00:19:50 you are seeing, and not only the OECS,

00:19:53 let me speak about the wider Caribbean as well,

00:19:55 you are seeing countries like the Turks

00:19:58 growing about 14% between now and 2026.

00:20:01 Antigua and Bermuda, about 13.7% between now and 2026.

00:20:06 Dominica showing sharp growth.

00:20:08 Grenada in the medium-term showing good growth.

00:20:11 Suriname expected to grow quickly.

00:20:13 Guyana expected to grow quickly.

00:20:15 So there are some low-hanging intracaricum opportunities,

00:20:19 but we need to look at these markets,

00:20:21 see what we export,

00:20:23 see where we have export potential capacity,

00:20:27 and start to close those gaps

00:20:29 with our domestic manufacturers,

00:20:31 because we already have a toe in the door.

00:20:34 We already have an idea of what they buy from us,

00:20:37 and there is therefore potential

00:20:40 to increase export in those commodities,

00:20:43 as well as widen export to other commodities,

00:20:46 and those are low-hanging fruits,

00:20:47 but we need to identify them,

00:20:49 and once we identify them,

00:20:51 we can determine what incentives

00:20:53 would make that process more doable

00:20:59 for the TTMA, for the domestic manufacturing sector,

00:21:02 and it would make the job of the Ministry of Trade easier

00:21:06 once that type of analysis is done.

00:21:09 Of course, Professor, all of this is going to take some time,

00:21:12 so my question is,

00:21:13 do you think that we do have the structure in place

00:21:16 to facilitate what you're suggesting?

00:21:19 Yes, and you know,

00:21:23 we have reached out to the TTMA

00:21:27 and the Ministry of Trade.

00:21:28 I haven't seen the Ministry of Trade reply to us yet,

00:21:31 but I know the TTMA is pushing this.

00:21:34 So let us have a meeting,

00:21:37 some of the technocrats and the relevant entities,

00:21:40 and let us see how we could go about

00:21:44 facilitating this type of intervention,

00:21:47 and then share the output with the public,

00:21:50 with the manufacturing public, that way,

00:21:53 because we don't care

00:21:54 where the foreign exchange comes from once it comes.

00:21:56 We just want a domestic entity to go out there

00:22:00 and produce more of these possible goods

00:22:03 and bring in the foreign exchange.

00:22:05 So I am hopeful that within the next month,

00:22:08 when we do meet again, Marlon,

00:22:10 that we can probably have a different narrative

00:22:14 and say that some conversation has started,

00:22:16 some action has been taken in order to put this,

00:22:20 to make the data available more openly

00:22:24 and more transparently to all the relevant stakeholders

00:22:29 so that we could go after this foreign exchange.

00:22:31 But let us be clear,

00:22:33 we don't really have a choice right now

00:22:36 than to go in this direction

00:22:37 because the agricultural sector

00:22:39 doesn't give us this type of foreign exchange.

00:22:41 In fact, net agricultural imports are on the rise.

00:22:45 And the services sector is not doing as well

00:22:48 as I thought it would have at this point in time.

00:22:51 So in a sense, the burden of responsibility

00:22:54 in the context of the expected decline in the energy sector

00:22:56 falls squarely on the manufacturing sector.

00:22:59 I think that more is going to happen

00:23:04 in the next six months.

00:23:06 They have been making strides, as I keep emphasizing.

00:23:10 I just think if we crowd in

00:23:13 that type of stakeholder consultation view

00:23:16 that the TTMA seems to take,

00:23:18 with solid analytical data,

00:23:21 the combination of that type of approach

00:23:24 would give us better results.

00:23:26 And this is what is needed in the context

00:23:29 of the rough years I am seeing ahead for this country.

00:23:34 - Yeah, Professor,

00:23:36 I suspect that we are going to have a mid-year review soon,

00:23:41 and that is going to come from government,

00:23:43 and then we look forward to the budget

00:23:45 later on in the year.

00:23:47 But as you look at the economy right now,

00:23:50 what state are we in, you think?

00:23:53 - Well, the good news is that economic growth has returned.

00:23:57 It is low to moderate growth, but it has returned.

00:24:01 Remember, since 2019, as well, in fact, since 2016,

00:24:05 this economy plunged considerably, almost.

00:24:09 By the end of 2021, we were about 22% smaller.

00:24:13 That's a significant contraction.

00:24:16 So after this economy plunged about 22% since 2016,

00:24:21 growth must, at some point in time, return.

00:24:24 Companies must replace some of their worn-out machinery,

00:24:29 and the accelerator principle will start

00:24:30 to set into the economy.

00:24:32 And therefore, growth has returned.

00:24:34 And this growth is projected, using the IMF data,

00:24:37 in which I have great confidence,

00:24:40 to be low to moderate in the medium term.

00:24:43 We now have to build and push on this growth

00:24:46 to see if we can make even better numbers

00:24:50 from a growth perspective.

00:24:52 What we have to keep in mind is that the crime situation,

00:24:57 the murder situation in the country,

00:24:59 seems to be a deterrent in some quarters

00:25:03 on investment outlay of firms.

00:25:05 So unless we take those type of hard, harsh

00:25:09 national security measures that could make

00:25:11 the business community, in my opinion,

00:25:14 feel more confident to invest,

00:25:16 then we are dealing with a situation

00:25:18 where growth may have returned.

00:25:20 The businessmen may want to invest,

00:25:23 but in the context of the overall crime situation,

00:25:26 they feel uncomfortable.

00:25:28 So the Ministry of National Security,

00:25:30 they have a very important role to play

00:25:33 in moving the macroeconomy forward.

00:25:35 On top of that--

00:25:39 - Go ahead, go ahead, Professor.

00:25:40 - On top of that, one of the concerns about the growth

00:25:45 that I am seeing is that the growth,

00:25:47 when I look at the data presented

00:25:50 in the review of the economy in Appendix 1,

00:25:54 where it shows the structure of production,

00:25:59 you notice that the growth is non-energy,

00:26:04 non-tradable sector slanted.

00:26:08 Now, growth is growth, where it comes from,

00:26:10 we take that, except that if this growth

00:26:13 is foreign exchange intensive,

00:26:16 and therefore leads to or coincides

00:26:19 with a greater drawdown on our stock of foreign exchange,

00:26:22 we have to be careful.

00:26:24 And so we have been calling forever.

00:26:27 Nobody seems to be listening to register

00:26:29 all the Venezuelans in Trinidad and Tobago.

00:26:32 Now, not that this will change the price of oil,

00:26:34 but what it would do, it would increase the probability

00:26:38 that a Venezuelan landing here for whatever reasons,

00:26:41 once we insist that they are registered,

00:26:44 they would feel more comfortable to work

00:26:46 in the formal tradable component of the economy,

00:26:49 then as compared to going and working in casinos

00:26:52 and dancing in bars and in rum shop

00:26:54 and all them kind of thing,

00:26:55 where they have to hide and survive.

00:26:58 So by virtue of not registering these Venezuelans,

00:27:01 it is my understanding of the facts

00:27:03 that we have a situation where a lack of policy

00:27:07 endogeneity clouds in a decline

00:27:10 in the stock of foreign exchange.

00:27:11 Why, why do we have to do that?

00:27:13 Insist on all the Venezuelans being registered,

00:27:16 you are not sending them back home.

00:27:17 Let's say we are trying to be humanitarian,

00:27:19 we are not sending them back home,

00:27:21 but register them and increase the probability

00:27:24 that they will contribute to the tradable sector

00:27:27 of the economy and by extension be less of a drag

00:27:30 on our stock of foreign exchange.

00:27:32 I am always surprised that that intervention

00:27:35 is not being done.

00:27:36 In fact, you don't even need a dialogue on it.

00:27:38 So we are where we are in part

00:27:40 because of some weak policy interventions.

00:27:44 And when you say these things,

00:27:46 you really wonder who is listening,

00:27:49 because we make these type of comments

00:27:51 and basically plea with the policy makers

00:27:54 to intervene like this over the years.

00:27:57 And I think it has now become very urgent.

00:27:59 This is my simple honest view

00:28:02 as a student of Chantilly.

00:28:03 - But you know, professor, sometimes,

00:28:07 you know, there's a saying sometimes

00:28:09 that the maths is not matching,

00:28:12 because sometimes you would hear numbers

00:28:15 and the economy is painted in a particular way.

00:28:19 But then there's the argument from the layman

00:28:22 and other people, serious minded people

00:28:24 in Trinidad and Tobago,

00:28:26 that when they go to the malls,

00:28:27 the malls are filled,

00:28:29 the construction sector seems to be booming.

00:28:31 The people who are selling cars

00:28:35 that they will tell you that there's an increase

00:28:38 in the amount of cars that they import

00:28:41 into Trinidad and Tobago and what they are selling.

00:28:44 So there's that argument sometimes

00:28:47 that the economists are saying something else,

00:28:51 but what is, but practically,

00:28:55 what you're seeing in Trinidad and Tobago

00:28:57 is something different.

00:28:59 - Well, I don't know if I can agree

00:29:03 with that view at all,

00:29:04 because what I am seeing

00:29:06 is a labor force participation rate

00:29:08 using data from the CSO

00:29:10 in which I have confidence with at 55%.

00:29:13 I am seeing an increasing economically

00:29:15 and active population.

00:29:17 I am seeing a gap between government revenue

00:29:20 and government expenditure that is widening.

00:29:23 I am seeing slow and stunted growth.

00:29:26 I am seeing a murder level

00:29:29 that is likely going to be this year,

00:29:34 three back-to-back years of the highest ever

00:29:36 in recorded history.

00:29:38 I am seeing some problems there.

00:29:39 I'm seeing economic growth has returned,

00:29:42 and I have explained that this economic growth

00:29:44 is expected to be there in the medium term.

00:29:46 Part of the reason this growth exists

00:29:50 is because we have contracted 22%.

00:29:52 Now, you are seeing a lot of people in the malls.

00:29:55 Are you seeing their sales in the malls increasing?

00:29:58 Or are people finding it,

00:30:00 finding intelligent ways to remember?

00:30:02 At some point, you still have to go out a little,

00:30:04 but you go in the mall,

00:30:05 but you have less money in your pocket.

00:30:07 That's possibly the reality.

00:30:09 You should look at the number of small businesses

00:30:11 that are closing,

00:30:13 but certainly for people to paint a picture

00:30:16 that this economy might be booming,

00:30:19 it is questionable to me.

00:30:21 Yes, the construction sector may see some sign of growth,

00:30:25 and that's because for a long period of time,

00:30:27 we were stifled for labor.

00:30:29 Now that the economy has started to open back up,

00:30:32 and we have Venezuelan labor here,

00:30:34 then that sector is drawing on the Venezuelan labor

00:30:38 increasing, but again, as I pointed out earlier,

00:30:41 if you have an increase in the number of, say,

00:30:44 grotty shop, rum shop, casinos,

00:30:48 cosmetic stores that you build in the construction sector,

00:30:54 to build these places needs foreign exchange

00:30:56 in one form or the other.

00:30:57 When they are open,

00:30:59 they use imports to sell things that use foreign exchange,

00:31:02 and therefore, by virtue of the nature of the employment

00:31:06 that we see, we are seeing a greater demand

00:31:09 on foreign exchange.

00:31:10 No generation of foreign exchange from these sectors,

00:31:13 and therefore, it will adversely or perversely impact

00:31:16 the stock of reserve that we have,

00:31:18 and that's why I was clear in saying,

00:31:20 even though growth may have returned,

00:31:23 we have to be careful to ensure that the balance

00:31:27 of this growth does not deteriorate

00:31:30 our stock of foreign exchange further,

00:31:32 and I hope that is clear to you, Malala,

00:31:34 and makes sense to the public.

00:31:35 - Absolutely, Professor, and that's a good way

00:31:37 to end our discussion this morning.

00:31:38 Professor, it's always a pleasure speaking with you.

00:31:40 Thank you very much for your analysis

00:31:42 and your perspective this morning.

00:31:44 We do appreciate it.

00:31:45 - Thank you very much.

00:31:47 Have an excellent day, you and your listeners.

00:31:48 Take care. - All right.

00:31:49 Okay, so we are going to a very short break.

00:31:51 We're coming back, everybody.

00:31:52 Stay right there.

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00:33:06 - Hello, everyone.

00:33:08 I am Charmaine Noel.

00:33:10 And welcome to the program Highway of Holiness.

00:33:13 Tune in every first Sunday on CCN TV6 at 7 a.m.,

00:33:18 where you will hear the very heart and mind of God.

00:33:22 God bless you.

00:33:23 (soft music)

00:33:27 - Man to man, violence is about self-control,

00:33:34 compassion, respect, and man's development

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00:33:41 From animality to humanity,

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00:35:26 - All right, so welcome back, everyone.

00:35:27 So, last week, there was a very interesting occurrence

00:35:33 and there was a discussion in the House of Representatives

00:35:38 concerning compensation for victims

00:35:45 of the 1990 attempted coup.

00:35:48 Now, confirmation of this came from Acting Leader

00:35:52 of Government Business, Terence Dialsing.

00:35:55 And just a little bit about what Minister Dialsing

00:35:59 had to say.

00:36:01 He told the Parliament that Attorney General Reginald Armour

00:36:04 is having the Commission of Inquiry report studied

00:36:09 and is obtaining legal advice on it.

00:36:12 He also said that Armour will subsequently advise Cabinet

00:36:16 on what are the various legal options available

00:36:20 for consideration by the government

00:36:22 about compensating victims of the attempted coup.

00:36:26 Now, every year, since I suspect the first anniversary

00:36:31 of the attempted coup, we have been discussing it, right?

00:36:35 And that discussion usually takes place in July every year.

00:36:41 So, we are going to begin the discussion this year

00:36:45 following this confirmation by the Acting Leader

00:36:49 of Government Business, again, speaking about compensation

00:36:54 for victims of the 1990 attempted coup.

00:36:57 Well, we do have a gentleman in studio this morning.

00:37:00 He is known to you because every year he engages,

00:37:05 he and other people, they engage in marches

00:37:09 across the country to remind people

00:37:12 as to what transpired in 1990 and really seeking help

00:37:17 for the victims of the 1990 attempted coup.

00:37:20 He is also a former hostage of the 1990 attempted coup.

00:37:25 He was held up in the Parliament.

00:37:27 So, we do have Mr. Wendell Eversley this morning.

00:37:30 Mr. Eversley, as always, thank you very much

00:37:32 for joining us this morning.

00:37:34 - Good morning and good morning to your listeners

00:37:36 and to those who locked on Caribbean and internationally.

00:37:39 - Yeah.

00:37:40 Mr. Eversley, well, what's your reaction

00:37:42 to this confirmation from the government

00:37:45 that it is looking at compensating coup victims?

00:37:50 - Well, last year for the 30th anniversary,

00:37:55 while I was working,

00:37:58 you was interviewing the Prime Minister.

00:38:00 - Oh, yes, I was.

00:38:01 - Because people called me after and said,

00:38:03 "The Prime Minister," and you asked him the question

00:38:05 concerning compensation.

00:38:09 Now, we had a commission of inquiry into the events of 1990.

00:38:14 It took 20 years because, as I said,

00:38:18 from the interception, the first anniversary,

00:38:21 I ran for freedom.

00:38:23 I ran from Mar-a-Lago to Port of Spain

00:38:26 because when I was released,

00:38:28 instead of I walked down Port of Spain,

00:38:29 I ran up Abercrombie Street, straight to the hospital,

00:38:34 walked down Charlotte Street and walked to St. Joseph,

00:38:37 not St. Joseph, San Juan, 'cause I was frightened.

00:38:40 I was traumatized.

00:38:41 I was beaten in the Parliament.

00:38:43 I was used as a human shield,

00:38:45 going from room to room, opening the windows

00:38:48 for a group of terrorists.

00:38:50 I know the sad thing in this country.

00:38:52 The people who fought for democracy

00:38:57 are the one who pay the price and continue paying the price,

00:39:03 and those who attack our democracy

00:39:05 are the ones who benefit and continue to benefit

00:39:10 because remember when the events of 1990 occurred,

00:39:15 we know what took place at the Jammut.

00:39:20 They receive over $20.5 million and interest.

00:39:26 But, Marlon, I have been talking about chapter 11

00:39:30 and chapter 12.

00:39:31 - Of the Commission of Inquiry Report.

00:39:33 - I bring chapter 11 here.

00:39:34 - But before we move on.

00:39:35 - I just want you to read chapter 11,

00:39:37 the introduction, what it says.

00:39:38 But are you optimistic at all that compensation will come?

00:39:42 - When I see it, I will believe it.

00:39:46 'Cause if I took 20 years with the Commission of Inquiry,

00:39:51 the report was laid in Parliament 2014

00:39:54 by then Prime Minister,

00:39:56 who's the official opposition leader,

00:39:58 and she gave the Parliament the assurance

00:40:00 that every one of the chapter would be dealt with.

00:40:06 She said when the Commissioners say chapter 11

00:40:08 and chapter 12 should be dealt privately

00:40:12 and with the victims in Parliament,

00:40:14 TTT, Radio Trinidad.

00:40:15 If you go through chapter 11,

00:40:16 you'll see all the victims' names.

00:40:18 - Mr. Ebbersley has given me some homework

00:40:22 to read the chapter 11 for you.

00:40:24 So ensuring that victims of the attempted coup

00:40:26 and the society as a whole are satisfied

00:40:29 that their pain, loss, suffering, and damage

00:40:31 have been acknowledged with a view of fostering closure

00:40:34 of the events surrounding the attempted coup

00:40:36 and with a view to the promotion of individual

00:40:39 and community healing in the interests

00:40:42 of national development.

00:40:45 - And we don't have that.

00:40:46 We don't have it.

00:40:49 And I will say, I wrote to every single president

00:40:53 of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago since after the coup.

00:40:57 Two president engaged me, personally engaged me.

00:41:02 One, the former president, Paula Merricks.

00:41:05 And I must give her kudos for starting the process

00:41:11 by recognizing, putting at the president's residence

00:41:15 and the prime president's office

00:41:17 all the names of the victims.

00:41:20 She wrote me three occasion,

00:41:24 encouraging me to continue what I'm doing.

00:41:26 And she also said to me, right,

00:41:29 this should always be part and parcel of our history.

00:41:33 I wrote this current president

00:41:35 and never get him to acknowledge it.

00:41:37 But you know, I don't know why we hide from our history

00:41:42 because you know when July the 27th come around,

00:41:46 we see this president last year at a ceremony,

00:41:50 a secretly ceremony.

00:41:52 I don't know if she keep that for herself,

00:41:55 but when Trinidad and Tobago was attacked,

00:41:59 it was the country was attacked,

00:42:00 it was the seat of parliament

00:42:02 where she sat as Senate president.

00:42:04 Now she's the head of state.

00:42:06 And this is something we should let our country,

00:42:10 we cannot run from our history.

00:42:12 They're always teaching us American history in school.

00:42:15 They're always teaching us the Spaniard history,

00:42:18 the Portuguese, right?

00:42:20 And you go down the road, the European.

00:42:23 But when it comes to our own history, we run in from it.

00:42:27 The view has been expressed that if,

00:42:32 and it's so many years now,

00:42:33 and we're still grappling with this situation

00:42:37 and how to compensate victims and so on.

00:42:41 But the view has been expressed,

00:42:42 it was expressed maybe about a year ago,

00:42:45 that the country needs to be very careful

00:42:49 as to how it observes this event,

00:42:52 because it may give the impression to people

00:42:57 who would want to engage in such events in the future

00:43:04 that tribute is being paid to them.

00:43:09 So there's a concern about that,

00:43:13 that the way it is observed.

00:43:15 - And who are those people that the view is coming from?

00:43:19 - Do you know that our parliamentarian,

00:43:22 when the American ambassador invite them

00:43:25 to recognize what took place in America, September 11th,

00:43:29 do you know all our opposition members

00:43:32 of parliament and government ministers

00:43:34 attend the Memorial Day?

00:43:38 Do you know that in America,

00:43:40 I went once to witness because Trinidadians die up there,

00:43:44 or also get killed.

00:43:46 Do you know that the Democrats and the Republicans

00:43:48 put away their differences and come together

00:43:50 and recognize that this was an attack

00:43:52 on the United States of America?

00:43:54 And do you know that they weed out everybody in here?

00:43:57 Do you know that over 2000 something people

00:43:59 have been compensated already?

00:44:02 Do you know that they take and they put measures in place

00:44:06 to make sure that something like that didn't happen again?

00:44:09 Do you know that I was in America in 2020,

00:44:12 when there was attack on the seat of the parliament

00:44:15 where the Congress and the Senate was meeting

00:44:17 to ratify the current president?

00:44:21 And do you know that people already making jail

00:44:24 and some still before the court?

00:44:26 And do you know how they deal with it?

00:44:28 And do you know that when you watch events on the television

00:44:32 the day when it happened,

00:44:33 while I was watching it in America,

00:44:35 the policemen and them who get killed, who get trampled,

00:44:38 you see this African policeman was trying to defend

00:44:43 the people from entering and they was charging,

00:44:45 charging him and he get his, he meet his debt.

00:44:48 - Since the laying of this commission of inquiry report

00:44:51 in the parliament and a number of recommendations

00:44:56 were made in that report about compensation

00:45:00 for the relatives of victims or former hostages,

00:45:05 has there been any attempt by anyone to have a discussion

00:45:13 with any or all of you?

00:45:15 - None.

00:45:16 A matter of fact, I received a call,

00:45:19 I'm sure you remember Edison Carr.

00:45:21 - Yeah.

00:45:22 A former hostage.

00:45:23 - A former hostage at the Bridge of Trinidad.

00:45:24 - Yes.

00:45:25 - He interviewed me on many occasion on his program

00:45:28 and the person told me, right,

00:45:32 I must come and visit him because he's very low.

00:45:34 And Edison Carr told me one day while he was interviewing me

00:45:39 he said, "Mr. Eversley, I never get over 1990."

00:45:43 Raoul Pantin came and sit with me

00:45:46 while I was passing in front of the White House.

00:45:48 He said, "I never the same."

00:45:52 Say former minister, Selby Wilson, Joseph Toney,

00:45:55 Emmanuel Hussein, Roy Raphel,

00:45:58 always keeping in contact with me and they say,

00:46:00 "Why it is we haven't been compensated?"

00:46:03 I saw Selby Wilson was beaten in our parliament.

00:46:07 I saw Lauren Cabarro, who got shot, dragged in front of me,

00:46:11 bleated that Friday night and I couldn't lift her hand.

00:46:14 When I tell one of the guys I'm not opening him

00:46:16 no more windows, I get beat in the head here.

00:46:19 See, I ask her for life, blood running down my face.

00:46:23 When July 27th come around,

00:46:28 nobody don't know why this people went through.

00:46:31 Nobody do.

00:46:32 And you know, Mr. Eversley,

00:46:35 and just now and a few times this morning,

00:46:40 I recognize the emotion

00:46:43 on your face and I'm hearing it in your voice.

00:46:49 So I think it may be safe to say

00:46:53 that the trauma that you continue to experience,

00:46:56 there may be other persons who have been affected

00:47:03 in a similar way?

00:47:04 - Yeah, last time when I finished work,

00:47:06 'cause I do a work in Tobago on the 25th

00:47:11 and the 27th in Trinidad.

00:47:13 When I finished my work, I left with my weak self,

00:47:18 went to Moruga, lay a wreath at SRP Solomon grave.

00:47:23 I shocked to see that, you know that?

00:47:27 A young man now come out from training

00:47:31 and sent to the police headquarters, met his death.

00:47:35 And if you see the condition of his grave,

00:47:38 I fought for the Tobago Assembly

00:47:42 to recognize the role of Robert St. Paul

00:47:44 as the prime minister.

00:47:46 If you see his condition was his grave

00:47:49 and he was the former prime minister

00:47:51 and former president of the republic.

00:47:54 It showed me that I don't know something wrong

00:48:01 with those who are in charge of our country.

00:48:03 'Cause you know you have the upper, the lower house.

00:48:08 When July the 27th come, none of them cares.

00:48:13 You just see none of them.

00:48:14 - Now, a number of recommendations have been made

00:48:21 in the commission of inquiry report.

00:48:27 You think that these recommendations,

00:48:32 these suggestions are satisfactory, you think?

00:48:36 - Yeah, if you read chapter 12, for the security,

00:48:40 how it should treat with security.

00:48:44 We see a lot of improvement in it.

00:48:46 'Cause when you enter parliament,

00:48:48 when I first entered the parliament,

00:48:50 it was a free for all.

00:48:51 Anybody could have go into our parliament

00:48:55 without proper checks and balance.

00:48:57 They don't know who was coming in there,

00:49:00 what they have in the position

00:49:02 and all those different things.

00:49:04 I have to give kudos to the army

00:49:06 'cause the army stood up for our democracy.

00:49:10 And if they didn't stood up on that day,

00:49:13 who knows what could have happened in Trinidad and Tobago.

00:49:15 - So in the area of security, you have seen improvements.

00:49:20 But when it comes to compensation for the relatives.

00:49:24 - Yes, chapter 11, the Hain says touch, touch chapter 11.

00:49:28 The touch chapter 12, which talk about the security.

00:49:34 The government must make sure that the people lives

00:49:40 have been well protected, state properties, everything.

00:49:43 They talk about putting security command centers in place.

00:49:48 'Cause we didn't have that.

00:49:49 When you listen to the commission,

00:49:51 I went to 90% of the sitting on Henry Street.

00:49:56 I really listened to some of those people

00:49:57 who went before the commissioners

00:49:59 and when there was given a rundown,

00:50:02 they used to have the head of the,

00:50:04 at that time I think they call it the special squad

00:50:09 or the fire squad,

00:50:10 used to report to the prime minister alone.

00:50:13 - It had to be a special branch.

00:50:15 - Yeah, the special branch reported

00:50:17 the prime minister alone, no command center.

00:50:20 So you have this one man, right?

00:50:22 Reporting to the prime minister.

00:50:24 And that's why we see today the national security,

00:50:28 so national security apparatus centers

00:50:31 and all them different department we see in today.

00:50:34 It was 1990.

00:50:35 - You feel that compensation will come Mr. Eversley?

00:50:39 - Well, I listened to what the minister of health,

00:50:42 but I didn't hear somebody said,

00:50:45 "Will you flip in?"

00:50:46 And once I heard where MP,

00:50:50 I think it's Rodney Charles,

00:50:51 ask him.

00:50:52 - He said nothing was done by the PNM

00:50:54 either to address this issue

00:50:56 because at that time the acting leader

00:50:58 of government business, Mr. Terence D. Alcing,

00:51:00 he was speaking about,

00:51:02 well, these recommendations were also laid before

00:51:07 a UNC government.

00:51:10 - Yeah, UNC and he said nothing have done about it.

00:51:14 But I thank the government for mentioning it

00:51:18 in the parliament, right?

00:51:20 But it's left to see now if action will be taken.

00:51:25 And I think it's long overdue

00:51:28 because it have many people didn't have see treatment,

00:51:33 many, many people.

00:51:34 If I give you the stories that I heard

00:51:37 from former prime minister,

00:51:38 even Ayanna Robinson,

00:51:40 where some of his own cabinet ministers came to him

00:51:44 instead of the study, the victims,

00:51:46 they were studying the business associate

00:51:49 and they suffered, they should work on conversation for them.

00:51:53 - Mr. Wesley, what keeps you going?

00:51:55 Because as I said, and people know,

00:51:58 every year we see you observing this day

00:52:03 and trying to not let the country forget

00:52:08 what was done on that day.

00:52:09 What keeps you going?

00:52:10 - It was an attack on our democracy.

00:52:14 It was an attack on the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

00:52:18 It was an attack on the seat

00:52:20 of where we elected members of parliament

00:52:25 to go and make laws to govern this country.

00:52:28 And nobody should want to get up one morning

00:52:32 and take up arm against a elected government.

00:52:36 We have a system how we elect a government

00:52:39 and we want to continue that system.

00:52:41 The other thing, what I'm doing right now,

00:52:43 because I'm in the process of writing two books.

00:52:45 One is for the schools to let the children know

00:52:48 there must be patriotism to their country.

00:52:50 There must be loyalty to their country

00:52:53 to let them know that 1990 must never happen again.

00:52:57 So I'm in the process of writing these two books

00:53:00 and also the European ambassador, Cannibal,

00:53:05 reached out to me and he said,

00:53:08 and what he said to me, he said,

00:53:11 "It's surprising that something in this Western hemisphere

00:53:15 and something like this happened in Trinidad

00:53:17 and nobody seems to care."

00:53:19 - Mr. Evers-Lee, we have run out of time,

00:53:21 but thank you very much for taking the time this morning

00:53:24 to come down and speak with us.

00:53:26 We do appreciate that.

00:53:27 We also appreciate your calls that we get from you.

00:53:30 And for sure, we will continue this discussion sometime

00:53:34 because I know that the anniversary is coming up.

00:53:37 So we will speak about your plans at that time.

00:53:40 - I already wrote my letters for Tobago,

00:53:44 the president, the prime minister,

00:53:45 the speaker of the House of Representatives.

00:53:47 - Mr. Evers-Lee, again, thank you very much.

00:53:49 We're coming back, everybody.

00:53:50 (upbeat music)

00:53:53 (singing in foreign language)

00:53:56 (dramatic music)

00:54:08 (speaking in foreign language)

00:54:15 (water splashing)

00:54:20 (dramatic music)

00:54:23 (crowd cheering)

00:54:26 (dramatic music)

00:54:29 - That is a rejection.

00:54:31 - Oh, wow!

00:54:31 - Look at this.

00:54:33 (dramatic music)

00:54:35 (upbeat music)

00:54:38 (dramatic music)

00:54:41 (upbeat music)

00:54:43 (dramatic music)

00:54:46 (upbeat music)

00:54:49 (upbeat music)

00:54:51 (upbeat music)

00:54:54 (upbeat music)

00:54:56 (dramatic music)

00:55:10 (upbeat music)

00:55:12 (upbeat music)

00:55:19 (upbeat music)

00:55:24 - This is Mohammed Faiz,

00:55:27 and I'm coming to Centre Point, Mauritius, Guanas

00:55:29 for our annual Mother's Day Spectacular concert.

00:55:31 See you all there.

00:55:32 Love you all.

00:55:33 (upbeat music)

00:55:36 - Faiz joins our very own kings of song.

00:55:39 Relive the unforgettable '90s with "Endal."

00:55:42 (upbeat music)

00:55:45 And immerse in the vocal mastery of "Lefal."

00:55:49 (upbeat music)

00:55:52 Be the Mobile's annual Mother's Day Spectacular,

00:55:56 The Prince and the Kings.

00:55:58 Saturday, 11th May at eight o'clock,

00:56:00 Centre Point Mall, Auditorium, Guanas.

00:56:03 This concert partners with Solo Heavages,

00:56:05 Extra Foods, The Little Store,

00:56:07 and Royal Castle, 6381171.

00:56:10 (upbeat music)

00:56:13 (dramatic music)

00:56:20 (dramatic music)

00:56:22 (upbeat music)

00:56:42 - Good morning.

00:56:45 I am Ansel Gibbs with a news update.

00:56:49 The finance minister is responding to allegations

00:56:52 made against him by the Auditor General.

00:56:56 The minister is denying any wrongdoing.

00:56:59 - This matter now requires a full independent investigation.

00:57:03 The findings of which will be reported

00:57:05 to the Public Service Commission

00:57:07 and any other relevant office holder

00:57:10 for the review and whatever action

00:57:12 these independent institutions deem appropriate.

00:57:15 - The opposition says they are prepared

00:57:19 to take the matter of the Auditor General

00:57:21 versus the finance ministry to court.

00:57:25 - You are lawfully attempting

00:57:27 to get this parliament

00:57:32 to engage in an action, Mr. President,

00:57:36 that the government knows fully well.

00:57:41 Is not lawful, is not constitutional.

00:57:49 (dramatic music)

00:57:50 - And in the weather forecast,

00:57:52 mainly hot, sunny, and at times breezy conditions prevail

00:57:55 despite the low chance of the odd isolated shower.

00:57:59 Meanwhile, seas are smooth to moderate in open waters

00:58:03 with swells ranging from one and a half

00:58:06 to two meters in height and steady.

00:58:09 (dramatic music)

00:58:17 - The TV6 Daily Health Tip is brought to you by Omega XL.

00:58:21 - All right, so welcome back, everyone.

00:58:26 So we are asking the question this morning,

00:58:27 could your food choices be fueling your depression?

00:58:31 All right, so diet and depression.

00:58:33 Research suggests dietary choices

00:58:36 can influence depression symptoms,

00:58:38 particularly through gut health.

00:58:40 Certain bacteria in the gut are linked

00:58:42 to the presence of severity of depression symptoms.

00:58:46 Nutritional diversity, a varied diet

00:58:49 might help alleviate depression by affecting gut bacteria

00:58:53 and their production of mood-related chemicals.

00:58:57 Incorporating more fiber, omega-3s, and antioxidants

00:59:02 and reducing processed foods may improve mental health.

00:59:06 Combining dietary changes with other treatments

00:59:09 like therapy and stress reduction can enhance effectiveness.

00:59:13 And that's your TV6 Health Tip for today.

00:59:16 We're coming back, everybody.

00:59:17 - As a former Miss World, I have spent many hours

00:59:28 walking in high heels and constantly on the move.

00:59:32 So I understand the importance of joint health.

00:59:34 That's why I trust Omega XL.

00:59:37 As you know, beauty works from the inside out.

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00:59:52 Remember, we like to lend.

00:59:54 - Transforming to better serve you.

00:59:58 Your participation is key.

01:00:00 Embark on our digital transformation journey.

01:00:02 Understanding your needs is our priority.

01:00:05 Here's how to complete the survey.

01:00:07 Step one, log on to www.wasa.gov.tt.

01:00:12 Select the customer service improvement survey

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01:00:16 Step two, fill out the relevant sections.

01:00:19 With your WASA bill and a form of identification in hand,

01:00:22 complete the required fields.

01:00:24 Step three, geotag your property.

01:00:27 Ensure accuracy by geotagging your property

01:00:29 in the customer account information section.

01:00:32 And if you complete the survey at your location,

01:00:34 the PIN will default to where you are.

01:00:36 It's that simple.

01:00:38 Step four, click submit.

01:00:40 And you're done.

01:00:41 Your feedback matters.

01:00:43 Transforming together for a better tomorrow.

01:00:45 Thank you for your participation.

01:00:47 (upbeat music)

01:00:50 ♪ Do you hear me ♪

01:00:59 ♪ I can feel it coming in the air ♪

01:01:03 ♪ Coming in the air ♪

01:01:05 ♪ Coming in the air tonight ♪

01:01:10 (upbeat music)

01:01:12 (indistinct)

01:01:38 (dramatic music)

01:01:42 (indistinct)

01:01:44 (indistinct)

01:01:47 (indistinct)

01:01:49 (breathing heavily)

01:02:02 (upbeat music)

01:02:14 (upbeat music)

01:02:17 - All right, that's the music there.

01:02:23 You caught me dancing, right?

01:02:25 That's the music there of the late and mighty shadow.

01:02:27 Ding-go-lay.

01:02:28 Well, my next guest,

01:02:29 I don't know if studio was playing that for my next guest.

01:02:31 We'll see if the person who is here with me

01:02:34 is going to ding-go-lay this morning.

01:02:35 So we do have TTPS media ambassador, Sergeant Ansel Ford.

01:02:39 Mr. Ford, it's good to have you here.

01:02:42 - Mr. Ford doesn't know how to act.

01:02:44 (laughing)

01:02:45 - Pleasant morning, Marlon.

01:02:47 Pleasant morning to you, too.

01:02:49 Marlon, definitely I know the ding-go-lay.

01:02:51 (laughing)

01:02:52 And I remember my last carnival that I really had fun.

01:02:56 Yeah, it was a ding-go-lay.

01:02:57 (laughing)

01:03:00 - Good to have you here, Mr. Ford.

01:03:01 What do you have for us this morning?

01:03:02 - All right, Marlon, before I get into our presentation,

01:03:06 Marlon, you're good friends

01:03:08 at the Port of Spain Blood Bank.

01:03:11 - Right.

01:03:12 - And they said to tell you hello.

01:03:13 - The nurses.

01:03:13 - The nurses, they said to tell you hello.

01:03:15 And that you need to visit them.

01:03:17 (laughing)

01:03:17 - You need to visit them to get them blood.

01:03:19 (laughing)

01:03:21 - Yes, Marlon.

01:03:21 - Yeah, they were very nice nurses

01:03:23 and very professional nurses.

01:03:24 So to the nurses at the Blood Bank in Port of Spain,

01:03:27 very good morning to you.

01:03:29 Thank you.

01:03:30 - Yes, Marlon.

01:03:30 So Marlon, we are delivering a message

01:03:34 on behalf of the Commission of Police,

01:03:37 our executive, all ranks of TTPS.

01:03:40 And myself included, Marlon,

01:03:42 to members of the public, yourself,

01:03:46 and all the other stakeholders who has supported us

01:03:51 and continue to support us in our efforts

01:03:55 to deal with crime.

01:03:56 Now, we cannot underscore the importance

01:04:00 of the members of the public in our whole trust.

01:04:04 And as I say trust, it speaks to that level of trust

01:04:09 and confidence that the members of the public,

01:04:11 they show in the TTPS,

01:04:15 notwithstanding some of the negatives, right?

01:04:17 So Marlon, by way of the public support,

01:04:22 they enable us to do many things.

01:04:24 One, by just sharing the information with us,

01:04:29 regardless of whether you have verified

01:04:32 the information or not,

01:04:33 but you believe it to be true,

01:04:35 you believe it to be solid information, right?

01:04:39 By just sharing it with us,

01:04:41 you would have enabled us to deal with the issues

01:04:44 of murders, robberies, home invasions,

01:04:47 where persons would have been arrested

01:04:51 and in some cases, prosecuted for such offenses, right?

01:04:55 On the other hand, Marlon,

01:04:56 by sharing information to us about persons

01:05:02 who are involved, let us say, in organized crime, right?

01:05:08 And when I say organized crime,

01:05:11 I'm dealing with the issue of trafficking firearms,

01:05:14 trafficking narcotics, the issue of,

01:05:17 let us say, kidnapping, right?

01:05:24 Now, by just the way of you communicating to us

01:05:28 the information about these persons

01:05:30 who live within your community,

01:05:32 who you suspect to be involved in criminal activity,

01:05:36 but you have not necessarily seen them, right?

01:05:39 But you suspect very much.

01:05:40 That would have enabled us,

01:05:42 by way of our intelligence-led anti-crime exercises,

01:05:45 to deal with the issue of firearm removal

01:05:49 from on the streets,

01:05:51 the issue of narcotics, right?

01:05:54 Removing drugs from on the streets,

01:05:56 destroying marijuana fields.

01:05:59 Marlon, we would have also had the ability

01:06:00 to infiltrate gangs and also to target,

01:06:05 let us say, prime offenders,

01:06:08 the powerful persons who are within your community.

01:06:12 They wield a certain amount of power, right?

01:06:15 But it is because of that organized,

01:06:19 let us say, enterprise,

01:06:20 that criminal enterprise that they are involved in.

01:06:23 So by way of you sharing us that information,

01:06:28 we would have been able to deal with a lot,

01:06:30 to a great extent, we would have had success.

01:06:32 It's not where we want to be,

01:06:34 but yet still, your continued support

01:06:37 is so important in what it is we do, right?

01:06:39 - Let me just make a point on that

01:06:40 and ask you a question,

01:06:42 because I'm sure that there may be more people

01:06:45 who are looking at us this morning and hearing you

01:06:48 and saying, "Well, I want to help the police," you know?

01:06:50 But there is still a concern

01:06:53 about the information that they give.

01:06:56 It's going to remain private

01:06:58 and that the police will protect their anonymity.

01:07:03 - Yes, Marlon, it is important

01:07:05 that persons who give us information

01:07:08 have that sense of remaining anonymous,

01:07:13 feeling that it is safe

01:07:14 to communicate information to the police.

01:07:16 Now, whilst it is we do have the established anonymous lines,

01:07:21 right, such as 555 and Crime Stoppers, right,

01:07:26 Marlon, we want to encourage members of the public, right,

01:07:30 to continue to repose that level of trust in us.

01:07:34 Now, you may not want to give the information

01:07:37 to any and every police officer,

01:07:39 but you of yourself may know police officers

01:07:43 who you have that confidence in.

01:07:45 They may not necessarily reside at the station

01:07:49 where you live, right,

01:07:51 or the station that concerns the issue,

01:07:54 that information that you have,

01:07:56 and you can feel free to pass that information

01:08:00 on to the officer who you have that trust in, right,

01:08:04 knowing fully well that the information

01:08:07 will be treated with the strictest of confidence

01:08:09 to ensure that you remain anonymous.

01:08:12 And if you choose simply to send us the information,

01:08:16 we have advised and will continue to advise

01:08:20 that you can use 555 and Crime Stoppers

01:08:25 as two anonymous means of communicating to the police.

01:08:28 - I'll just speak briefly to this.

01:08:30 I remember there is, the name escapes me,

01:08:34 but as I tell you, I'm sure that you will be able

01:08:36 to tell me what I'm speaking about.

01:08:38 It's an effort to create this closer relationship

01:08:43 with members of the community and police officers.

01:08:47 And I believe, is it that every police station,

01:08:50 there's this--

01:08:53 - Station council.

01:08:54 - Station council.

01:08:55 - Yes, Marlon.

01:08:56 - Speak to that to us.

01:08:56 - Yes, Marlon Station Council has been established,

01:08:59 I wanna say for a couple of years,

01:09:02 could be probably nearing five years, right,

01:09:05 that officers within the particular station districts,

01:09:09 the senior officer, the officer in charge,

01:09:11 and his, let's say second in command,

01:09:15 they would have meetings with persons within the community,

01:09:19 be it business persons, be it leaders of NGOs,

01:09:24 be it leaders within the community, right?

01:09:27 And by way of having these meetings,

01:09:30 they are able to discuss some of the issues

01:09:34 that are affecting the particular community

01:09:37 and assist the police by developing strategies, right,

01:09:42 to enable us to help deal with the situation.

01:09:46 So it amongst a tailor-made situation

01:09:50 where it is we don't operate as if it is

01:09:54 we know exactly what the issue is.

01:09:58 We invite the persons in the community to partner with us

01:10:03 and then design the particular approach

01:10:05 to attend to the issue.

01:10:07 And basically, that is the framework

01:10:10 of the station council.

01:10:11 - Yeah, yeah.

01:10:12 - And it has been a success.

01:10:15 And for the persons who are involved,

01:10:17 they themselves can speak to it.

01:10:19 The persons who are not involved may not be fully aware,

01:10:22 but we want to encourage persons within the community

01:10:26 who would like to be part and parcel

01:10:28 of that sort of station council

01:10:31 to reach out to the officer in charge

01:10:33 of your particular station

01:10:35 and get information about the meeting

01:10:39 and whether you can be a part of it

01:10:41 to assist them dealing with the particular issue.

01:10:43 Yes, Marlon?

01:10:44 - Yes.

01:10:45 - Yes, so Marlon,

01:10:48 we are quite aware of the concerns

01:10:51 that members of the public have

01:10:52 because from time to time,

01:10:53 persons would have complained.

01:10:56 From time to time, some of our very own officers

01:11:00 would have exhibited behaviors that are unbecoming.

01:11:03 And we understand how that impacts

01:11:06 on how you would feel knowing that at the end of the day,

01:11:09 I still have to go to probably this particular officer

01:11:12 who I'm not comfortable with, right?

01:11:14 So based on that, Marlon,

01:11:16 we are saying that there are alternatives, right,

01:11:20 that you can use within which

01:11:24 to communicate your information, right?

01:11:26 And you do not have to, I want to say,

01:11:30 live in fear of crime befalling you

01:11:35 because you observe things

01:11:39 and you feel if it is I speak about it,

01:11:42 then I am likely to be targeted.

01:11:44 Now, why is it that we are not saying

01:11:47 that this may not have happened

01:11:48 if persons involved in crime learned

01:11:50 that you may have been the one who spoke to the police?

01:11:53 We're not saying that that never happened

01:11:56 where somebody might have tried to victimize you

01:11:57 as the case may be.

01:11:59 But understanding that your,

01:12:02 let us say what you perceive, right,

01:12:05 with your own senses is so important to help us

01:12:10 because we would not be fully aware

01:12:13 as to who is committing the particular crime

01:12:16 or who committed the particular crime

01:12:18 because we may not have been there.

01:12:20 But the investigation, it is so important

01:12:25 that it starts with, let us say,

01:12:28 our interview of persons who we believe

01:12:31 may have had information to assess.

01:12:33 And if it is that persons remain, you know,

01:12:36 in that sort of position

01:12:38 where they are reluctant to speak to the police,

01:12:41 the information that they have,

01:12:42 they keep it to themselves, right,

01:12:45 they would not be helping themselves.

01:12:48 They would not be helping their household,

01:12:50 their children, their family, their community

01:12:53 because the situation would remain

01:12:55 and continue to get worse, right?

01:12:58 So understanding that, we try our best

01:13:02 to ensure that the information you give to us,

01:13:06 that it is treated with the strictest of confidence, right?

01:13:09 But for an investigation to move from,

01:13:13 let us say, point A to point B,

01:13:16 that is after an incident would have happened,

01:13:19 if it is that we do not get that sort of assistance,

01:13:22 that support from members of the public,

01:13:25 you might know, Marlon, who committed the crime.

01:13:29 And if it is you adopt the position

01:13:31 that I am not going to tell the police, right,

01:13:36 or you may know that this person was involved,

01:13:40 you saw that person, right,

01:13:42 probably leaving the scene, right?

01:13:44 But we don't know that.

01:13:45 And when we speak to you, you say,

01:13:47 "Oh, is John wrong, you know?"

01:13:52 But I can't tell you more than that,

01:13:55 or I'm not willing to assist further.

01:13:58 Now, we have information, is John wrong?

01:14:01 But information is not enough for us to--

01:14:04 - It's not evidence.

01:14:05 - To take, it's not evidence,

01:14:06 it's not enough for us to take to the other point.

01:14:09 And oftentimes, in investigations, Marlon,

01:14:13 we would have a lot of information,

01:14:15 and we would try our best to take that information

01:14:20 and convert it into evidence.

01:14:22 But there are standards that we have to meet, right?

01:14:26 And oftentimes, when we speak to the DPP,

01:14:29 dealing with serious matters,

01:14:31 and the DPP has to ensure that his advice is sound,

01:14:36 looks at the merits in terms of the evidence

01:14:40 that we will bring,

01:14:42 and where it is lacking,

01:14:44 will tell us, "Hey, you need to continue

01:14:47 "more inquiries into the matter."

01:14:49 And we have to go back again

01:14:51 to interact with members of the community

01:14:53 to assist us, right?

01:14:55 Separate and apart from scientific evidence,

01:14:57 we're talking about in the absence of scientific evidence,

01:15:00 that support from you, the members of the public,

01:15:04 that we have received and we continue to receive,

01:15:07 it is critical, if it is we are to address

01:15:10 any particular situation involving crime.

01:15:13 Now, the effects of crime, Marlon,

01:15:15 the things that you are,

01:15:20 it's obvious to you,

01:15:21 because you may actually experience it, all right?

01:15:26 And we can look at the issue

01:15:27 in terms of some of the emotional aspects of it, right?

01:15:30 How traumatic persons are,

01:15:32 the psychological aspect of it,

01:15:34 financial aspect of it,

01:15:35 even the spiritual aspect in terms of, you know,

01:15:39 how you feel within your community,

01:15:41 the same in the church, right?

01:15:44 Sometimes the church itself adjusts the hours,

01:15:47 because members of the congregation

01:15:49 will often come out at a certain time, right?

01:15:51 But again, all of these are,

01:15:54 I wanna say intangible effects of it,

01:15:58 but then you have the tangible effects,

01:16:00 where it is you actually become a victim of crime

01:16:02 or a relative, right?

01:16:04 A friend, where you actually witnessed a crime, right?

01:16:07 And if it is that the support

01:16:12 that you, the public, give to us,

01:16:14 if it is not given, pity how things can worsen, right, Marlon?

01:16:21 So again, we continue to express how important it is

01:16:26 and how grateful we are for that level of support

01:16:28 from members of the public.

01:16:31 Now, Marlon, to identify some persons

01:16:36 within the public who we say are stakeholders

01:16:39 without leaving persons out, right?

01:16:42 Marlon Demedia, yourself,

01:16:46 thank you very much for having me here on a Tuesday

01:16:50 and engaging me on many issues, right?

01:16:53 Allowing me to be able to speak to the public

01:16:56 and give information, critical information,

01:16:59 such as just safety tips, right?

01:17:02 Critical information in terms of the role

01:17:04 that members of the public play

01:17:05 in the whole scheme of us fighting crime.

01:17:08 Our law enforcement colleagues,

01:17:11 we're speaking about our very police officers,

01:17:14 prison officers, fire officers,

01:17:17 the defense force, who oftentimes

01:17:19 are there with us, the individual citizen, Marlon,

01:17:24 our entertainers, local entertainers,

01:17:26 who partnered with us during the carnival time

01:17:28 to send some positive messages,

01:17:30 our sports personality, the youth groups,

01:17:34 our police youth club, Hearts and Mind,

01:17:37 scouts, cadets, brownies, junior achievers,

01:17:41 all of these bodies that really and truly

01:17:45 deal with the young people in our society, right?

01:17:48 And the parents who took the time

01:17:52 to get their children involved in these bodies, right?

01:17:55 It is so important and noteworthy.

01:17:58 Marlon, the family unit, obviously we understand

01:18:01 the importance of the family unit in assisting us.

01:18:03 The schools, ministries, the Ministry of Education,

01:18:07 the Ministry of Sports, Marlon,

01:18:08 our faith-based organization, churches, definitely,

01:18:13 the government and the opposition,

01:18:16 they are critical in the whole scheme of things.

01:18:19 Our NGOs, corporate public, Arrive Alive, Marlon.

01:18:23 Arrive Alive, who continues to call

01:18:27 the members of the public to be safe

01:18:29 while it's on the roads, in conjunction

01:18:31 with the efforts of the police service.

01:18:33 The community groups, such as the station councils,

01:18:36 watch groups, party groups, Children's Authority, right?

01:18:41 Who have that mammoth responsibility

01:18:44 to ensure that our children are safe.

01:18:47 Another mention, Marlon, Police Complaints Authority.

01:18:49 That independent body that acts as a watchdog,

01:18:55 I want to say, over the police service.

01:18:59 And members of the public who sometimes feel

01:19:02 that I am uncomfortable going to the police

01:19:05 know that they have the Police Complaints Authority,

01:19:09 right, who maintains oversight, right?

01:19:12 And sometimes investigates reports, right?

01:19:15 So they, and all, help us in maintaining

01:19:20 the work that we do, and ensuring that members

01:19:23 of the public know that AIDA is an alternative,

01:19:25 even to the police service, right?

01:19:27 So, Marlon, because of all of this, we would have had--

01:19:31 - Sergeant, we just have about 30 seconds again.

01:19:33 - Sure.

01:19:34 Because of all of this, Marlon, we would have had

01:19:35 some success in, let's say, many of our crime initiatives.

01:19:40 What we can do going forward, Marlon,

01:19:43 is to commit ourselves, the police service,

01:19:47 towards trying to be professional, to be accountable,

01:19:52 to be transparent, and to be firm, yet fear

01:19:57 in how we dispense our responsibilities.

01:20:00 And where we fall short, we want members of the public

01:20:04 to not hesitate to report it where necessary,

01:20:09 and we will endeavor to do better.

01:20:12 But we look forward to you, the members of the public,

01:20:15 being our third eye to help us in our initiative

01:20:19 in terms of fighting crime.

01:20:20 - Yeah.

01:20:21 Sergeant, it's always a pleasure having you here.

01:20:23 Thank you very much.

01:20:24 - Thank you, Marlon.

01:20:24 - And we'll see you right back here next week.

01:20:26 - Thank you, have a great day.

01:20:26 - We'll give a short break, everybody.

01:20:27 We're coming back.

01:20:28 Stay right here.

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01:20:44 ♪ Plenty of sweetness and togetherness ♪

01:20:49 - I love the look and (sniffs) smell of litter.

01:20:57 From this huge pile, I can see that many people

01:21:02 also find it attractive.

01:21:04 - Yes, Charlie.

01:21:05 Litter is indeed attractive.

01:21:08 It attracts roaches, flies, and mosquitoes, and rats.

01:21:13 - My pets.

01:21:14 - Don't be a litterbug, Charlie.

01:21:18 Do the right thing.

01:21:19 Don't litter.

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01:22:31 ♪ Can you hear a distant drum ♪

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01:22:44 - Studio, right artist, but wrong song.

01:22:47 We should be playing Raleigh, Raleigh,

01:22:49 our only West Indies, not so?

01:22:51 Yeah?

01:22:52 So we are about to discuss the just concluded

01:22:55 regional cricket conference.

01:22:58 You remember that conference that was held a few days ago?

01:23:01 So we do have in studio this morning,

01:23:03 come on studio, we do have in studio this morning,

01:23:05 the secretary general of the Caribbean Association

01:23:07 of the National Olympic Committee

01:23:09 and immediate past president

01:23:11 of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, Brian Lewis.

01:23:14 Now Mr. Lewis, you know Mr. Lewis

01:23:16 and Mr. Lewis would have attended

01:23:19 the first day of the conference.

01:23:21 Mr. Lewis, it's a pleasure having you here.

01:23:22 - Thank you very much for having me on.

01:23:25 - Yeah, so well, we have heard

01:23:28 snippets of what transpired at the conference.

01:23:33 We saw a number of leaders speak about cricket,

01:23:37 including our prime minister, Dr. Keith Rowley.

01:23:40 We also heard from the Barbados prime minister

01:23:42 and also the president of Guyana.

01:23:44 Judging from what you would have heard on the first day,

01:23:49 what is your impression?

01:23:50 - Well, first off, let me say that

01:23:51 it showed the power of sport.

01:23:54 In the room had everybody and anybody

01:23:58 who had an interest and a stake and an investment,

01:24:02 whether it's emotional or otherwise,

01:24:04 in this institution that is West Indies cricket.

01:24:08 Meanwhile, I would have liked to have seen more,

01:24:10 greater input from the current crop

01:24:13 of West Indies cricketers

01:24:15 and from people such as maybe Stacey King

01:24:19 and Nisa Mohammed, to name a few.

01:24:21 In terms of the women, we did have some views for them.

01:24:24 I think that would have been an important consideration.

01:24:27 But let me also say that in the context of Canuck,

01:24:31 the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee,

01:24:34 we would have been invited to the Caricom Conference

01:24:39 by the cricket West Indies president, Dr. Kishore Shallow.

01:24:43 Canuck would have worked and supported

01:24:48 the cricket West Indies and the ICC

01:24:51 in their efforts to get cricket on the Olympic games

01:24:55 and by officially endorsing it and the efforts

01:24:58 in terms of hosting the World Cup.

01:25:00 So the Olympics aspect of it is an interesting element

01:25:05 that really wasn't dealt with at the conference,

01:25:11 but it is going to have potential impacts

01:25:15 just as the takeoff of cricket in the USA

01:25:20 by the Major Cricket League.

01:25:21 These, if one were to do a SWAT or use the SWAT framework,

01:25:25 they would present both an opportunity and a threat.

01:25:30 But the conference, I think was necessary.

01:25:35 There were some very strong views

01:25:37 and I have to give President Shallow some credit

01:25:43 because he and John Graves, the CEO,

01:25:45 because as you would have noted,

01:25:48 they had to take some very withering lambas

01:25:53 from many powerful and profound figures.

01:25:56 - Yeah, but is it your view

01:25:58 that these talks are long overdue?

01:26:01 These talks are long overdue, you think?

01:26:04 - Yeah, but they have to be put in context.

01:26:07 If you do this, I mean, you would have followed this thing,

01:26:10 the involvement of CARICOM and CARICOM's interest.

01:26:13 Cricket is such a powerful institution,

01:26:17 not just in terms of sport,

01:26:20 but socially, culturally, and historically

01:26:23 in what it represented from the time

01:26:26 the West Indies Cricket Board was formed in 1926

01:26:30 and that first West Indies Tour in 1928.

01:26:36 So, you remember in 2011,

01:26:41 there was a CARICOM, this CARICOM minister,

01:26:45 sub-prime minister's ministerial,

01:26:49 sub-ministerial group.

01:26:51 There was 2011, 2015, 2017,

01:26:53 there was the Patterson Report, the Wellby Report,

01:26:56 the Professor Barreto Report.

01:26:59 So it has been, I think, a long time in coming

01:27:05 for this type of open conversation

01:27:08 where you get everybody in the room.

01:27:10 I mean, prior to that, you had the CARICOM subcommittee,

01:27:13 you had the legends speaking, the players criticizing.

01:27:17 - But you feel that this time, it's a bit different,

01:27:21 that action will follow the talk.

01:27:23 - Because from my experience,

01:27:25 while there is always a risk

01:27:28 that it could be another talk shop,

01:27:32 the conversations were so frank, transparent, and open

01:27:37 that I think there is a greater level in Canock's view

01:27:43 of accountability to see something come out of it.

01:27:50 I mean, there was some very definite recommendation made.

01:27:54 Prime Minister Rowley and Motley

01:28:00 focusing on, one of the things they focused on

01:28:03 was the 50-year CPL/CWI contract,

01:28:08 even though Peter Russell tried to defend it.

01:28:11 Of course, it's hard even for you and I to sit down

01:28:14 and see that we would sign a contract for 50 years

01:28:18 given the explosion in cricket and in particular T20.

01:28:22 You had then and now Ram Narain's recommendation

01:28:26 that legislation be used because Prime Minister Motley

01:28:31 spoke about the power of legislation

01:28:34 and then Ram Narain made the point

01:28:36 and the strong recommendation that good governance,

01:28:41 he's speaking about Western cricket, should be legislated.

01:28:45 And that's a call I would support,

01:28:50 even though some people may be concerned

01:28:52 about the involvement of government

01:28:55 and government interference.

01:28:56 I don't think it is government interference per se,

01:29:00 but just like any other industry,

01:29:02 a recognition by the governments of CARICOM

01:29:08 that cricket in particular is a public good

01:29:13 and has such great significance and relevance

01:29:15 to the West Indian people

01:29:16 that it requires that type of intervention.

01:29:21 I would however say it is the same

01:29:24 that should be said for a number of other sports.

01:29:26 - Of course, because you know,

01:29:29 I mean you have been around sport for so long

01:29:31 and in various capacities.

01:29:33 - Advocating for good governance.

01:29:34 - Yeah, but it has to be a holistic view of things

01:29:38 and everyone has to buy into it

01:29:40 and we need to take all the egos out of it,

01:29:43 we need to take all the politics out of it

01:29:45 and we just need to discuss the issue very, very frankly

01:29:51 and chart a course forward.

01:29:54 - But what I mean, the president of Carnegie Jews,

01:29:57 the current president was there also on the first day

01:30:01 and even though he attempted to make a contribution

01:30:05 in the whole hustle and bustle of the thing,

01:30:06 the moderator didn't get the opportunity, let's say,

01:30:11 for it to hear his take on some of the points being made,

01:30:16 which was unfortunate,

01:30:18 but it is not only,

01:30:22 so there are some issues aside from the good governance

01:30:26 and the governance issue that are historical

01:30:28 in Western East Cricket,

01:30:30 that it was encouraging to see the prime ministers

01:30:35 and President Ali in particular

01:30:40 put it in the context of the contemporary reality.

01:30:46 - Right.

01:30:47 - One of the noticeable things about the conference,

01:30:52 especially from the legends who have a lot invested,

01:30:54 I mean, Derek Murray, for example, made a statement,

01:30:57 I think when they won the first World Cup in 1975,

01:30:59 they got $250, I'm not sure about that,

01:31:02 but that's what I think I heard it said.

01:31:05 It is important, however,

01:31:08 in addressing the contemporary challenges facing cricket

01:31:11 and these challenges can't be divorced

01:31:14 from where the society in the Caribbean is,

01:31:17 in terms of youth and young people,

01:31:19 that we learn from the past,

01:31:24 but we resist the temptation to live in the past.

01:31:29 And as passionate as some of the legends are,

01:31:34 and committed and dedicated,

01:31:39 they also have to recognize that some of the things,

01:31:43 the nostalgia that they harken back to

01:31:46 is not going to come back.

01:31:48 T20 is this generation version of Test Cricket.

01:31:53 I know people get uncomfortable when that is said.

01:31:58 - Yeah.

01:31:59 - The traditionalists.

01:32:01 And while there is a space and room for Test Cricket,

01:32:04 one would have to acknowledge and admit

01:32:06 that T20 is more of this contemporary era.

01:32:14 You know, people no longer could devote five days

01:32:16 to a game with no results at the end.

01:32:21 That's just not how modern contemporary society is.

01:32:24 - And I do agree with you,

01:32:26 because I think that the T20

01:32:28 has put another dimension to things,

01:32:30 and that's why a lot of cricketers

01:32:33 are heading towards T20 rather than Test Cricket.

01:32:37 - And I think that while we could only lament

01:32:40 about the opportunity lost for cricket West Indies

01:32:45 and cricket in the West Indies,

01:32:49 when for whatever various reasons,

01:32:54 leverage and the opportunity of the dominance of that era,

01:32:59 when the West Indies ruled the world and beat on,

01:33:02 we didn't harness that opportunity,

01:33:09 and we allowed, so for example, in 1984,

01:33:12 people are wondering about government.

01:33:13 In 1984, you recall, Australia got a whipping,

01:33:17 and the Australia government stepped in.

01:33:21 The then captain was crying.

01:33:23 - It was a crisis, right?

01:33:23 - In tears, crying.

01:33:25 Right?

01:33:27 Snotty nose, snotty nose.

01:33:30 But what has happened,

01:33:31 Australia embraced the opportunity of addressing that failure,

01:33:37 and the West Indies,

01:33:39 and the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:41 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:43 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:45 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:47 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:49 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:51 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:52 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:53 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:54 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:55 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:56 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:57 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:58 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:33:59 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:04 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:09 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:14 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:19 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:24 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:29 And the West Indies have been able to do that.

01:34:34 - And I think that's a very important point.

01:34:37 And I think that's a very important point.

01:34:40 How are we in the Caribbean faring?

01:34:45 Because you mentioned earlier about the introduction

01:34:49 of cricket also into the US.

01:34:51 And we'll be speaking about the US.

01:34:53 We're talking about resources.

01:34:55 Resources galore.

01:34:56 - It's gonna be huge.

01:34:57 - So how do we compete?

01:34:59 - Well, I think what West Indies,

01:35:02 cricket West Indies has to do and Carycom

01:35:05 is including the conversation kind of.

01:35:09 I mean, it's not a obvious plug,

01:35:11 but in terms of the Olympics and what is the impact,

01:35:14 because I heard calls made for there to be a West Indies team

01:35:18 in the Olympics.

01:35:20 But under the current rules

01:35:22 of the International Olympic Committee,

01:35:24 that is not likely to happen.

01:35:28 How do we deal with that and react with that?

01:35:32 I mean, there are advantages in terms

01:35:35 of the individual countries,

01:35:37 as has happened with the Stanford,

01:35:39 getting the opportunity to expose players and et cetera.

01:35:44 So it can be a plus.

01:35:46 But again, if we hold on singularly

01:35:51 to this notion of West Indies cricket for the Olympics,

01:35:57 it could cause some lost opportunities.

01:36:01 So it may be the elephant in the room,

01:36:03 but there's a conversation that needs to be had.

01:36:05 But coming back to West Indies cricket

01:36:09 in terms of the ICC,

01:36:11 I think it is a very important institution

01:36:13 and it really needs all hands on deck.

01:36:16 And as President Shalhoub said,

01:36:18 a collective responsibility to addressing this issue.

01:36:22 West Indies cricket means a lot

01:36:25 to all of us in the Caribbean.

01:36:28 - Yeah, Brian Lewis,

01:36:30 I think that's a good way to end our conversation this morning.

01:36:33 We always appreciate speaking with you.

01:36:35 We appreciate your perspective.

01:36:37 Thank you very much for coming this morning.

01:36:39 - Thank you for having me and have a blessed day.

01:36:41 - All right, so we're going to a very short break.

01:36:43 We're coming back, everybody. Stay right there.

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01:40:13 - All right, so welcome back everyone.

01:40:14 So the board of directors

01:40:15 of the Trinidad and Tobago Association

01:40:17 for the Hearing Impaired

01:40:18 will be having its annual meet and greet this Saturday

01:40:22 at the TTAHI compound.

01:40:25 Here to tell us more about the event

01:40:27 is Mr. Kamabach,

01:40:28 and we also have Miss Niobe Rodriguez.

01:40:31 She's going to be signing for us this morning

01:40:35 as Mr. Kamabach speaks.

01:40:37 Mr. Kamabach, good morning.

01:40:40 - Good morning to you

01:40:41 and good morning to Trinidad and Tobago.

01:40:43 - Yes, Mr. Kamabach,

01:40:44 well let's get right into things.

01:40:46 Tell us about the meet and greet this weekend.

01:40:50 - Well, it will be on Saturday.

01:40:52 That's May the 4th.

01:40:54 That's at 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

01:40:57 And it's basically an opportunity

01:40:59 for our members to get together

01:41:02 and for people who are interested

01:41:03 to become new members.

01:41:06 Right?

01:41:07 - Yes.

01:41:08 - And also we have invited certain officials

01:41:10 to be there as well.

01:41:11 It's an outdoor event,

01:41:13 and it's located at our compound,

01:41:15 which is on Rice and Road

01:41:17 between licensing and UTT,

01:41:21 that road that leads to the port.

01:41:23 That is where our compound is.

01:41:25 Most people know it as Dretschy.

01:41:28 - Yes, we do.

01:41:29 Mr. Kamabach, yes, we're seeing meet and greet,

01:41:32 but what is the message

01:41:35 that you'd like to give to our viewers this morning?

01:41:38 Read the Herring Impaired in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:41:43 - Well, I think what we like to reach out

01:41:46 to the public about

01:41:48 is that in our society,

01:41:52 we have a challenge

01:41:54 dealing with people with disability.

01:41:57 We don't always succeed in doing it properly.

01:42:00 And people who, as a matter of fact,

01:42:02 it was pointed out to me some time ago

01:42:04 that infants who are born deaf,

01:42:06 their parents keep them at home,

01:42:08 and they, you know,

01:42:10 it's almost as though they're ashamed

01:42:11 of the fact that they're deaf.

01:42:13 But right now,

01:42:16 we are trying to make an--

01:42:17 we are making efforts to offer services

01:42:22 to as many deaf and hard of hearing people as possible.

01:42:27 At our compound, we offer hearing testing

01:42:32 and the fitting of hearing aids and that type of thing.

01:42:36 Also, I want to mention that it's not just deaf people.

01:42:38 It's hearing people who suffer hearing loss

01:42:42 from either maybe people who've beaten steel band all night

01:42:46 or just walking in the street and playing mass

01:42:50 and being close to the sound.

01:42:55 That is why we encourage people to wear earplugs.

01:43:00 So, Mr. Cumberbatch, is it--

01:43:02 judging from what you are telling us here,

01:43:04 is it that, let's say, after the carnival,

01:43:07 there is maybe-- I can describe it this way--

01:43:11 a spike in people coming to your organization for assistance

01:43:15 because they have been impacted by the very loud noise

01:43:19 from the speaker boxes for carnival?

01:43:22 Right.

01:43:23 Well, I would say it's a kind of unscientific data.

01:43:27 Yes.

01:43:28 But one of the problems we have to realize

01:43:30 is a lot of people who are hearing,

01:43:32 it takes them a while before they realize

01:43:34 that they're hearing is--

01:43:36 that they're losing their hearing.

01:43:38 That's number one.

01:43:39 And number two, in most cases,

01:43:41 a lot of people don't even know what to do, where to go.

01:43:44 So that is why, hopefully, with this session today,

01:43:48 we would encourage people who think--

01:43:51 or maybe your children, they might--

01:43:53 what we call-- long time we used to say,

01:43:56 "You're hard of hearing or what?"

01:43:58 Right?

01:43:59 So we want to encourage parents of children like that.

01:44:03 We want to encourage adults to make a call,

01:44:07 make an appointment,

01:44:09 and come to our office on Rising Road,

01:44:12 and we will do our hearing testing with you.

01:44:15 But have you seen in recent times or in recent years--

01:44:20 I don't know if you have the data this morning,

01:44:22 Mr. Cumberbatch--

01:44:23 but have you seen an increase in people

01:44:27 who are having problems with their hearing?

01:44:32 Well, it's hard-- from a data point of view,

01:44:35 it would be difficult for me to say we have the data,

01:44:38 because that's one of our challenges,

01:44:40 data collection.

01:44:42 But what I could say is by observation,

01:44:45 we have noticed a spike in the number of hearing people

01:44:50 who need attention.

01:44:53 Can you say-- or is there a trend

01:44:56 as to what may be contributing to this?

01:44:58 We did discuss carnival as one of the factors,

01:45:02 and when I say carnival,

01:45:03 the loud music from the trucks and so on.

01:45:08 So we are seeing that as a contributing factor,

01:45:11 but what are some of the other contributing factors?

01:45:15 Well, I'm sure that one could talk about--

01:45:18 but I'm not a medical doctor, of course--

01:45:20 but one could talk about failures

01:45:24 of our functioning system.

01:45:29 And I think that in a lot of cases,

01:45:32 I notice more that a lot of people--

01:45:37 you know, maybe especially with age, too--

01:45:41 they begin to lose their hearing.

01:45:43 And I think it's very important

01:45:45 because something could be done about it.

01:45:48 You know, that's kind of the message

01:45:50 that we want to get out today,

01:45:52 that something could be done about it

01:45:54 to help you to improve your hearing.

01:45:57 But how have we as a society, Mr. Cumberbatch,

01:46:02 how have we embraced people in Trinidad and Tobago

01:46:06 who may be having some difficulty with their hearing

01:46:10 or children who were born this way?

01:46:13 Have there been improvements?

01:46:15 Have there been developments?

01:46:17 Have we been more embracing when it comes to that?

01:46:21 Well, you know what?

01:46:22 Honestly, I would like to be able

01:46:24 to answer positively to that question.

01:46:26 Right.

01:46:27 But I feel there's always room for improvement.

01:46:30 Like, for instance, when we look at--

01:46:33 you know, we have an education committee.

01:46:36 And when we start to look at deaf children

01:46:38 and their education,

01:46:40 we realize that we have really failed as a society.

01:46:44 And maybe this blind could say the same thing, too.

01:46:47 You know, we have failed.

01:46:49 Think about it.

01:46:50 When a child is born deaf,

01:46:52 between--from birth to probably 3 or 4 years old,

01:46:56 what do the parents do?

01:46:58 There is no--

01:47:00 there is hardly any opportunity

01:47:03 for preschoolers who are deaf

01:47:07 to get education.

01:47:09 And that's one of the things,

01:47:10 talking about what we are going to be doing,

01:47:13 we decided to do something about it.

01:47:16 And the reason being,

01:47:17 we have so many early childhood centers around the country,

01:47:21 and I don't think any of them are equipped

01:47:23 to deal with deaf children.

01:47:26 So what we are doing,

01:47:27 we are embarking on a pilot project

01:47:29 where we will be taking certain--

01:47:31 we are going to take maybe about 8 centers

01:47:33 around the--geographically located around this country.

01:47:36 We're going to--

01:47:37 together with the Ministry of Education, of course,

01:47:40 we're going to ask each school,

01:47:43 each one of those 8 areas,

01:47:45 to send a teacher for a training.

01:47:49 The training will be done at UWE.

01:47:51 It will be in deaf education

01:47:54 and with sign language as well.

01:47:56 So in other words, at the end of this program,

01:47:58 hopefully I think it's about a 6-month program,

01:48:01 these teachers would be able to go back

01:48:03 to their early childhood centers,

01:48:05 and then collectively as a nation,

01:48:10 we have a responsibility now

01:48:12 to indicate to parents of deaf children

01:48:18 that there are certain centers

01:48:21 that caters to their needs, educational needs.

01:48:24 And that is one of the key initiatives

01:48:27 that we are embarking on right now.

01:48:29 Yeah.

01:48:30 So I think it is safe to say

01:48:31 that there is greater need for sensitivity and empathy

01:48:36 and also education as to how to deal.

01:48:39 Well, yeah.

01:48:40 Yeah?

01:48:42 Yeah, definitely, definitely,

01:48:43 because, you know, it's just simple things.

01:48:46 As we have a sign language interpreter on today,

01:48:49 just think about it.

01:48:50 A deaf person has to go to the doctor,

01:48:53 or a deaf person has to go to see a lawyer,

01:48:56 go to court.

01:48:57 You know, what do they do?

01:49:00 You know, so that is why sign language interpreters,

01:49:04 in the meantime, are important.

01:49:07 But we don't have enough sign language interpreters,

01:49:09 so that's another thing.

01:49:11 We're going to start an aggressive program

01:49:13 to train people in interpreter, to be interpreters.

01:49:20 And also, I think there is something

01:49:22 that we are trying to do.

01:49:24 There is AI, and I think that there is an indication

01:49:29 that there is a development of software

01:49:32 where you could probably,

01:49:33 where a deaf person can take their phone

01:49:36 and be able to, in the presence of their lawyer

01:49:39 or their doctor, get assistance on the phone

01:49:43 with sign language.

01:49:45 So that's another thing,

01:49:46 because we don't have enough sign language interpreters

01:49:50 to serve the needs of the country.

01:49:53 Yeah. Mr. Kambabach, I know that we have been

01:49:55 really speaking about the hearing impaired

01:49:58 in a holistic way,

01:49:59 but I've been really trying to make it clear

01:50:04 to our viewers why the meet and greet is so important

01:50:08 and why they should be contributing in any way

01:50:11 that they could to an organization such as yours.

01:50:15 Mr. Kambabach, anything you'd like to share with us again

01:50:18 about the meet and greet?

01:50:21 Well, first of all, it will be a fun event.

01:50:24 It will be an outdoor event.

01:50:26 We are providing live refreshments

01:50:29 so people don't have to pay to come in.

01:50:31 We are encouraging our members,

01:50:35 because it's hard sometimes to get in touch

01:50:37 with all of our members,

01:50:39 so we like to encourage those who are members

01:50:41 to attend from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

01:50:44 It's casual wear.

01:50:46 We also like to encourage people

01:50:49 who would like to find out more about the organization

01:50:52 and find out what services we provide

01:50:56 to consider becoming new members.

01:51:00 Now, the key is how do they get in touch with us,

01:51:03 because to come to the meet and greet,

01:51:05 we are encouraging people to register

01:51:08 so that we could cater for the number of people

01:51:11 who will be there.

01:51:12 So what I could do in the meantime

01:51:14 is I could leave you my phone number.

01:51:16 Well, we do have your phone number,

01:51:17 and we also have your Gmail account.

01:51:20 So we do have that on the screen right now.

01:51:23 Good.

01:51:24 So, Mr. Kambabach,

01:51:25 thank you very much for speaking with us this morning.

01:51:27 As I said, we do have all of your contact information.

01:51:31 So we do appreciate you speaking with us this morning.

01:51:35 And, Niobe, good morning.

01:51:37 Bye for now.

01:51:39 Bye-bye. Thanks very much.

01:51:41 Of course. We are going to a very short break, everybody.

01:51:43 We're coming back.

01:51:44 [music]

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01:52:07 that are loosening it up.

01:52:08 Omega XL has really kept us feeling great.

01:52:11 The only thing you have to lose is the pain.

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01:53:03 [no audio]

01:53:26 [music]

01:53:52 You all remember this?

01:53:55 You know what that is?

01:53:59 That is a nest of jack spaniards.

01:54:03 I was having a conversation with someone the other day

01:54:06 about, I don't, well, in the area where I'm living,

01:54:09 I don't see it anymore because people have these,

01:54:12 not the wooden roofs anymore,

01:54:15 they do have the steel roofs,

01:54:16 so apparently the jack spaniards,

01:54:19 they can't build their nests there.

01:54:22 But you know how many stings I got back in the day

01:54:26 of taking a slingshot and trying to take down the nest?

01:54:31 I mean, this is a part of our childhood, eh?

01:54:36 Yeah?

01:54:39 Boy, not you want to be stung by them,

01:54:42 but this was just a part of our childhood at that time, right?

01:54:47 So, I'm thankful for this picture in the Express this morning.

01:54:53 So, thank you to all of you who appeared on our program this morning,

01:54:57 our viewers, right?

01:54:58 So, that's going to do it for our show today.

01:55:00 We leave you with this image, yeah?

01:55:02 Not of a jack spaniard nest, but this, right?

01:55:05 See you tomorrow, everybody.

01:55:06 Bye for now.

01:55:07 [Music]

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01:55:27 [Music]

01:55:37 [Music]

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