- 1 year ago
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00:00:00 [MUSIC]
00:00:06 And a very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world.
00:00:09 I'm Marlon Hopkins and as always, welcome to the Morning Edition.
00:00:11 It's Tuesday, June 11th, yeah?
00:00:14 How have you all been enjoying the rain?
00:00:18 This morning there was, how do I say, boy?
00:00:21 It was a very hard shower, yeah?
00:00:28 That woke me up, yeah?
00:00:30 But I'm good with the showers, it's just the wind I don't like.
00:00:36 But I've been enjoying the cool days, and
00:00:40 I think that a lot of people have been enjoying them.
00:00:44 You still need to pay attention when it's very hot,
00:00:48 because I think that sometimes people are not realizing
00:00:52 what impact the heat is having on your body.
00:00:56 And in many cases, people are becoming dehydrated and
00:01:00 not really realizing that, and that can make you very, very sick, all right?
00:01:05 So let's keep that in mind, all right?
00:01:08 So I hope that you had a good night and that you're safe and sound with us this
00:01:11 morning. We do have a very interesting program for you today, so
00:01:15 stay with us for the next two hours.
00:01:17 Let's check out to see what's happening in the Daily Express.
00:01:19 On the front page today, 15-year-old stabbed during lying with friends.
00:01:25 Deadly play fight.
00:01:27 Teen suspect surrenders to police.
00:01:29 Hurting, Ansel Reyes tried to restrain his son, Jasani,
00:01:33 as he was overwhelmed with grief at the funeral service yesterday for
00:01:36 his brother, Jaden.
00:01:38 Now Reyes was shot and killed along with three other men during an attack on June
00:01:42 2nd at the end of a friendly neighborhood football match.
00:01:47 Agony over lost brother.
00:01:49 Teen hit by stray bullet outside bank.
00:01:52 And as you look at some of these headlines on the front page today,
00:01:56 you have to wonder what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:01:58 As some of, one of my friends would say, well, you're hot or what?
00:02:02 Yeah?
00:02:03 You know, maybe the rain can cool down some of these tensions that we're seeing
00:02:08 in Trinidad and Tobago, yeah?
00:02:11 All right.
00:02:11 Taruba Full House.
00:02:13 Can, 12,000 tickets already sold for West Indies versus New Zealand.
00:02:18 Trinidad and Tobago local organizing committee director of operations of the
00:02:22 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Omar Khan, is expecting a full house at Taruba
00:02:27 tomorrow night.
00:02:28 And ACP Kelvin Thompson, who is goal commander for security for
00:02:32 the event, is confident everything is in place to ensure the safety of all.
00:02:38 I don't mean to be a wet blanket, huh?
00:02:41 But what would happen if it rains?
00:02:43 Yeah? We're going to have to get some men out there to cover the pitch and
00:02:47 squeegee the field and so on, huh?
00:02:49 Yeah? Let's hope it doesn't happen.
00:02:51 But I'm just, I'm just saying, yeah?
00:02:53 This is the environment we are operating in, yeah, the rainy season.
00:02:58 And, you know, that has to be a concern.
00:03:01 All right?
00:03:01 But we wish you all the best for tomorrow's game.
00:03:05 Yeah?
00:03:05 Studio, you going to be down there?
00:03:09 All right.
00:03:09 I'll not tell them what you all said, yeah?
00:03:13 All you like, all you like the biggest wet blanket, right?
00:03:16 So studio said yes, they're going to be down there in their numbers.
00:03:19 All right?
00:03:20 So it's time to remind you of a Trinbago Unites feature.
00:03:23 Remember to participate, WhatsApp your videos or images to 7373778.
00:03:27 What do we have for our viewers this morning?
00:03:29 All right?
00:03:29 That's a beautiful picture there, man.
00:03:32 Yeah?
00:03:33 It shows the business side of Trinidad, wouldn't you say?
00:03:38 In Port of Spain.
00:03:38 So that's the Hyatt and that's the financial complex there.
00:03:44 Yeah?
00:03:45 Yeah, beautiful picture there.
00:03:46 All right.
00:03:48 So as I told you, we do have a lot for you on the program today.
00:03:51 Stay with us.
00:03:52 Get your coffee and tea.
00:03:53 That's very important on these cold days.
00:03:56 Get your coffee and tea and get something to eat and come back.
00:03:59 All right?
00:04:00 I'm waiting on you.
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00:04:04 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:04:08 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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00:05:41 (upbeat music)
00:05:43 (upbeat music)
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00:05:49 (upbeat music)
00:05:51 (upbeat music)
00:06:17 - It have some people who just have to
00:06:19 soar everything soar.
00:06:21 So what if I happy and I cheer on my child
00:06:24 for something small?
00:06:25 You know how them work for that?
00:06:27 So I have to move them up.
00:06:28 Always encourage your child in anything they do.
00:06:35 Not pressure, encourage.
00:06:38 Your faith in them will build their self-esteem
00:06:41 and confidence.
00:06:42 Praise their efforts.
00:06:44 Celebrate their success.
00:06:45 Support them through challenges
00:06:47 and acknowledge their efforts.
00:06:49 At the end of the day, do your best.
00:06:54 Share if you found this useful
00:06:55 and like and follow CTA's profiles
00:06:58 for more parenting tips.
00:07:00 The letter of the day is E, encourage.
00:07:05 - Hello, this is child labor.
00:07:09 Child labor is defined as the work
00:07:12 of the Christ children of their childhood.
00:07:15 This interferes with their schooling
00:07:17 and is harmful to their mental
00:07:19 and physical appearance.
00:07:21 Stress, I feel tired, I feel unloved
00:07:26 and I feel overworked
00:07:28 and I am forced to work as an adult.
00:07:31 It is my right to have an education.
00:07:35 It is important for me to have an education.
00:07:38 To eventually help mommy and daddy
00:07:40 out of this poverty situation.
00:07:43 Legal age of employment in TNT is 16 years old.
00:07:48 Or maybe my parents forgot.
00:07:51 Why else would they send me to sell butterdogs?
00:07:54 Mentally, I got frustrated.
00:07:58 Physically, I got weak and thin.
00:08:02 My wish is that children's education
00:08:04 will not be sacrificed.
00:08:05 Stop child labor now.
00:08:07 - Report child labor to the labor inspectorate unit
00:08:10 at 299-0300 option 302855133 option four.
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00:09:01 (upbeat music)
00:09:09 - All right, so welcome back everyone.
00:09:20 So our discussion continues on the state of the economy
00:09:23 and the analysis of the finance minister's media review,
00:09:26 which he delivered last Friday.
00:09:27 Joining us this morning, we do have with us here in studio,
00:09:30 Roger Roach, president of the Trinidad
00:09:32 to Bagel Manufacturers Association.
00:09:33 And we do have online agricultural consultant,
00:09:37 Riyad Mohammed.
00:09:38 Gentlemen, thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:09:40 - Good morning, good morning.
00:09:41 - Good morning, thank you.
00:09:43 - Mr. Roach, let's begin with you.
00:09:44 And thank you very much, Mr. Roach,
00:09:46 for braving the rains this morning
00:09:47 and joining us in studio.
00:09:49 So the finance minister would have delivered
00:09:53 his media review last Friday.
00:09:56 Of course, we're just a few months away
00:09:58 from the next budget to be presented
00:10:00 by the finance minister.
00:10:02 But over the past few days,
00:10:03 we have been really discussing a recent IMF report
00:10:07 and we have also been discussing a recent affidavit
00:10:12 of the finance minister.
00:10:13 Let's deal with the IMF report.
00:10:16 And over the past few days,
00:10:18 we have also been discussing that the manufacturing sector
00:10:22 seems to be a major driver
00:10:25 for the economy of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:10:27 So the IMF report says over the past decade,
00:10:29 non-energy manufacturing has been one of the most dynamic
00:10:33 sectors in Trinidad and Tobago's economy.
00:10:35 The report said non-energy manufacturing stands
00:10:38 at the second largest non-energy subsector
00:10:43 after trade and repair.
00:10:45 So I can suggest and I suspect from all of this
00:10:52 that is being said that the sector seems to be doing well.
00:10:55 - Yes, thank you.
00:10:57 Good morning again.
00:10:58 Good morning, Trinidad and Tobago.
00:10:59 We're working hard to grow
00:11:03 the non-energy manufacturing sector.
00:11:06 Reason being Trinidad, as you know, is an energy economy
00:11:09 and it's a mature province.
00:11:12 And because it's mature and we're not earning
00:11:15 the kind of revenues we were earning before,
00:11:18 it's resulting in a lack of accessible foreign exchange.
00:11:21 Foreign exchange is the lifeblood
00:11:24 of our manufacturing sector.
00:11:26 Because from a raw material standpoint,
00:11:29 we import a lot of raw materials
00:11:31 and we could convert these raw materials
00:11:33 through processing, through manufacturing,
00:11:36 through packaging and so on to create the finished goods
00:11:38 and the brands we see on our shelves.
00:11:40 To sustain ourselves, we have been doing a lot of work
00:11:45 in terms of growing our export markets
00:11:48 and our export potential.
00:11:50 And really creating a new breed of entrepreneurs,
00:11:54 especially in the small and medium-sized sector,
00:11:57 who, when they're manufacturing their products,
00:12:01 when they're innovating,
00:12:02 when they're conceptualizing their target markets,
00:12:06 they look outside of Trinidad and Tobago
00:12:08 primarily for growth.
00:12:10 And while the carry-on markets has been kind to us,
00:12:15 we've started looking further afield
00:12:17 to larger markets for that growth.
00:12:20 We see ourselves as resilient.
00:12:24 We are entrepreneurs, we are innovators,
00:12:26 and we are creative.
00:12:27 And we are doing our part so that we can be self-sufficient
00:12:32 and add to the GDP growth of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:12:35 - Yeah.
00:12:36 All right, we are now joined by Mr. Riyad Mohamed,
00:12:39 as I told you earlier, he's the agricultural consultant.
00:12:42 Mr. Mohamed, you know, every time we discuss the budget
00:12:46 and every time we discuss the economy,
00:12:48 we always discuss also that we do have,
00:12:52 as it relates to oil and gas,
00:12:54 I mean, our resources are not what we want it to be.
00:12:57 We always speak about agriculture,
00:12:59 we need to, and that we need to pump more resources
00:13:02 into agriculture.
00:13:04 Let's talk a little bit about government's thrust
00:13:07 in that area.
00:13:08 Is it acceptable to you, satisfactory?
00:13:10 - I'm not satisfied just yet, however, there are some wins.
00:13:15 So let me just state that for fiscal 2023 to 2024,
00:13:19 we were allocated, when I say we,
00:13:21 the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
00:13:23 was allocated $1.442 billion.
00:13:26 Now, there are several issues that still plague
00:13:30 the agricultural sector.
00:13:31 Those of 30 years ago still plague the sector.
00:13:34 Now, some of them are access to financing,
00:13:38 land tenureship, water access issues,
00:13:40 even in the early season,
00:13:42 grid deal loss and issues, marketing opportunities,
00:13:45 well, a lack of them for the livestock sector
00:13:47 in particular, value added, products and processing.
00:13:52 We need to understand a bit more of how we'll be creative
00:13:54 and protect our intellectual property
00:13:56 as we dive deeper into the food production sector
00:13:59 and the food processing sector.
00:14:01 Reliable labor actually seems to be a huge problem
00:14:04 on our farms at this time, climate change.
00:14:07 This is something we need everybody on board with,
00:14:10 you know, to try to support, be educated and trained
00:14:13 to adopt these new methods.
00:14:15 Environmental damage of the agri sector is not new.
00:14:19 It is now globally known.
00:14:21 We need to focus a bit more also on food safety
00:14:23 and assurance even.
00:14:25 We have some outdated agricultural policies.
00:14:27 For example, I could debate with you for hours
00:14:29 on why farming, yeah?
00:14:31 The cost of investing in technology
00:14:33 and information systems, even the adoption systems,
00:14:36 those things are costly and are taking some time.
00:14:40 And even to represent my public sector partners,
00:14:43 even when we get these allocations
00:14:45 and so many Ministry of Finance,
00:14:47 that does not mean that in the Ministry of Agriculture
00:14:49 or in any other ministry that the funds are readily
00:14:52 or easily accessible, you know?
00:14:54 So those are some of the issues
00:14:55 that we are combating simultaneously.
00:14:58 - Yeah, all right.
00:14:59 We also have on the line,
00:15:00 Chief Technical Advisor of the Division of Finance
00:15:03 in the Tobago House of Assembly, Mr. Anselm Richards.
00:15:05 Mr. Richards, good morning.
00:15:08 - Good morning, Marlon.
00:15:09 Good morning to the fellow.
00:15:11 Good morning, Trinidad and Tobago.
00:15:14 - Yes. - Good morning.
00:15:15 - Good morning.
00:15:17 - Mr. Richards, thank you very much
00:15:17 for joining us this morning.
00:15:19 Mr. Richards, what's your perspective?
00:15:22 Re to Bagel.
00:15:25 Of course, the Finance Minister would have presented
00:15:28 the mid-year review last Friday.
00:15:30 I'm sure that was of interest to you.
00:15:32 Anything jumps out to you?
00:15:36 - Well, Marlon, I'm very concerned
00:15:38 about how this budget presents for the people of Tobago.
00:15:43 So yeah, we are locked into this DRC recommendation
00:15:48 that we should be awarded a minimum of 4.03
00:15:52 to 6.10% of budget.
00:15:54 When the minister comes to the parliament,
00:15:56 the national budget by 2.3 billion.
00:15:58 If we stay within that accepted convention,
00:16:03 Tobago should have been awarded a minimum
00:16:05 of $94 million.
00:16:07 We only allocate the $50 million
00:16:09 to specifically with the oil spill,
00:16:11 which is a contingent expenditure.
00:16:13 And if we take that as given as part of the 4.03 budget,
00:16:17 we are saying at this particular point in time,
00:16:19 we would, $44 million.
00:16:21 Therefore, Tobago cannot be happy.
00:16:24 In that perspective, and this has been a cost-effective trend.
00:16:29 If we go back to the last year,
00:16:31 the committee review again,
00:16:33 that year was supposed to get more short again.
00:16:37 I have the document here,
00:16:38 I put $53 million based on the formula that had been set up.
00:16:42 And when we do cumulatively over the year from 2017,
00:16:47 in spite of the parliamentary allocation,
00:16:51 the ministry of finance have released $164 million
00:16:55 out of the parliamentary allocation to Tobago.
00:16:58 And that has a telling impact on our ability
00:17:00 to put our development agenda.
00:17:03 In addition to that,
00:17:04 the ministry of finance has changed the release,
00:17:08 the prescribed format for the releasing of funds
00:17:10 to the Tobago assembly,
00:17:12 where the law said that the resources should be released
00:17:15 quarterly and block,
00:17:16 meaning that you should get three months allocation.
00:17:20 So it gives you a cashflow predictability
00:17:24 to do your operation.
00:17:25 Over the years, because of the minister said
00:17:27 it was cashflow problems,
00:17:29 the change that have been released in the funds
00:17:32 monthly to the TGA,
00:17:33 that create what you call cashflow problems,
00:17:36 causing the TGA to dip into the overjab facility
00:17:39 that is tied to the fund account,
00:17:41 that has accumulated,
00:17:42 you know the cost of overjab funding.
00:17:45 It has accumulated over the years from night from 2017
00:17:48 and overjab entry over $80 million,
00:17:51 which has not been in the very essential.
00:17:54 But those are the kinds of challenges
00:17:57 that the people of Tobago and the TGA
00:17:59 have to deal with when it comes to this budgetary process
00:18:02 and the way it is being executed and presented
00:18:05 in the national arms space.
00:18:07 There's a significant need at this particular point in time
00:18:11 for not even constitutional reforms,
00:18:12 but for constitutional transformation.
00:18:15 We need a new constitutional construct
00:18:17 that would provide some kind of empowerment
00:18:19 to the people of Tobago
00:18:20 and the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:18:22 This is nothing more than state capture
00:18:25 that is happening here and it's passing for government.
00:18:29 - Thank you very much, Mr. Richards.
00:18:30 Now, Mr. Roach, according to the bilateral trade floor,
00:18:34 and that's according to the IMF report again,
00:18:36 data at the harmonized system product level,
00:18:39 non-energy manufacturing contributes to about 95%
00:18:43 of the TT's total non-energy exports.
00:18:46 It said, however, it says,
00:18:48 exports in the sector declined in value.
00:18:50 The report indicated attributing the decline
00:18:52 to overall economic conditions in TNT
00:18:55 and heightened global competition.
00:18:57 It said, however, that the sector's decline
00:19:00 may have bottomed out during COVID-19
00:19:03 and is due to turn around.
00:19:05 - Well, the facts are the facts.
00:19:09 - Yes.
00:19:09 - In terms of the sector bottoming out,
00:19:14 that is in terms of decline.
00:19:16 We would agree to that,
00:19:18 but in 2003 versus 2023 versus 2022,
00:19:24 the non-energy manufacturing sector grew by 29%,
00:19:28 led by a substantial growth in the food and beverage sector.
00:19:32 We saw growth in tobacco.
00:19:34 We saw growth in textiles and apparel.
00:19:37 We saw growth in printing and packaging.
00:19:39 And we saw growth in chemicals and non-ionic materials.
00:19:44 Coming out of that rapid growth,
00:19:47 we expected a slight decline the following year.
00:19:52 But if we take what is gonna happen in 2024,
00:19:55 with the kind of work we're doing with Export TT,
00:20:00 with Invest TT, with Ex-Im Bank,
00:20:02 and all the trade missions that we're going on,
00:20:06 the future is bright for non-energy manufacturing.
00:20:11 I wanna explain something
00:20:12 to the people of Trinidad and Tobago,
00:20:14 that as a small country,
00:20:16 we export our products to 120 countries across the world.
00:20:21 And if we take some of the countries
00:20:23 that re-export those products,
00:20:25 it goes up to 144 countries.
00:20:28 That is a tremendous feat for small countries such as ours.
00:20:32 And the quality, the packaging,
00:20:35 the creativity of our products that are on the shelves
00:20:39 can match with any products internationally.
00:20:42 And we see it on our own shelves.
00:20:43 You have local products
00:20:44 matching up against international products,
00:20:46 and are doing quite well and are acceptable
00:20:48 to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:20:51 More than 80% of the Caribbean trade in non-energy exports
00:20:55 is in Trinidad and Tobago's favor.
00:20:57 Right?
00:21:00 And those countries, a lot of those islands
00:21:02 do not have a manufacturing base.
00:21:04 So you're really competing against international products.
00:21:08 The fact that we can do it in CARICOM,
00:21:11 it means that we can do it in Latin America,
00:21:14 in North America, in Africa.
00:21:16 And you would have recently seen
00:21:18 one of our brevish manufacturers
00:21:19 sign a deal in India.
00:21:21 We just brought back a large contingent from Ghana,
00:21:25 48 members, 23 different companies
00:21:29 came back from Ghana in March,
00:21:31 followed by a visit of the Prime Minister two months later.
00:21:34 So we're looking far afield for growth,
00:21:38 and 1% growth, 2% growth in markets that size can all go well,
00:21:43 not only for the companies involved,
00:21:46 but for the employees, for foreign reserves,
00:21:49 and for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:21:51 - Yeah.
00:21:52 Mr. Mohamed, earlier you mentioned some of the challenges
00:21:54 facing the agricultural sector.
00:21:56 And it says to us this morning
00:21:58 that something has to be done
00:22:02 when it comes to an injection of greater resources
00:22:07 or energy into this sector, right?
00:22:09 - Yeah, definitely.
00:22:12 So let me just say that one good thing
00:22:15 that I think the Minister of Agriculture
00:22:16 and Fisheries is doing
00:22:18 is to give those grants and incentives and subsidies
00:22:21 to all registered farmers.
00:22:23 I would also like it for non-registered farmers as well.
00:22:26 Now, we have some questions arising,
00:22:28 you know, from those distributional grants, right?
00:22:31 So for example, we have 400 million to allocate,
00:22:35 250 million for the incentives,
00:22:37 and 150 million for the PSEEL,
00:22:39 Opalo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Company.
00:22:42 So let's focus just on the 250 million for now.
00:22:45 So many questions that what arises,
00:22:47 how much of the 250 million has been spent
00:22:49 and by which ministry?
00:22:50 Is it Ministry of Agriculture alone
00:22:52 or other ministries as it relates
00:22:53 to agricultural activities?
00:22:55 How many stakeholders have accessed this grant?
00:22:58 And more importantly,
00:22:59 how many have applied and not accessed, right?
00:23:03 And how has the incentive aided really
00:23:05 in the reduction of food prices for the consumers?
00:23:07 That is, I think, the heaviest question to answer
00:23:10 because if me and you go to the grocery
00:23:12 and we're still paying higher and higher prices,
00:23:14 food, some adjusting equation is just not matching up,
00:23:18 right?
00:23:19 We must see that benefit on our pocket, yeah?
00:23:22 Or that impact on the pocket.
00:23:23 And as it relates now to the 150 million for PSEEL,
00:23:28 some questions that were posed to me up to last night,
00:23:30 who has benefited from this disbursement?
00:23:33 Now, one of my rebuttals would have said that,
00:23:35 you know, the PSEEL also did a lot of works
00:23:37 in road rehabilitation,
00:23:39 drainage works and even land slip repairs.
00:23:42 But these are the questions that pop up
00:23:43 when you talk about incentives, funds, grants, subsidies.
00:23:48 Yeah.
00:23:49 - Yeah.
00:23:51 Are you finished, Mr. Mohamed?
00:23:53 - Yes, so far, yes.
00:23:55 - Yeah, I wasn't sure.
00:23:56 I thought that we had a dropout there.
00:23:59 But Mr. Richards, how do we right some of the wrongs
00:24:02 that and some of the challenges
00:24:04 that you would have spoken about earlier?
00:24:07 And I wanna put it in the context also
00:24:10 that there is, and I don't mean to be dramatic,
00:24:15 but there's a greater risk this year
00:24:20 as it relates to the Tobago economy, yeah?
00:24:23 Because we know that you all rely heavily on tourism
00:24:26 and we have seen an uptick in criminal activities in Tobago.
00:24:31 - Yeah, that is very correct, Marlon.
00:24:35 But in terms of cheating
00:24:36 with some of the issues that I've highlighted,
00:24:39 we need to do some serious fix
00:24:42 on the constitutional construct
00:24:43 that establishes the government of Trinidad and Tobago
00:24:46 and the island.
00:24:46 One of the things we have to do,
00:24:49 we have to ensure that the legislative autonomy
00:24:53 for the island government of Tobago
00:24:55 is fairly and comprehensively established
00:24:57 in the constitution.
00:24:58 And they are settled on what the central government can do
00:25:02 and should do in Tobago,
00:25:03 and what they cannot do
00:25:04 and what they should not be allowed to do in Tobago.
00:25:07 So that's, we need to do an amendment
00:25:09 to identify one of the constitutions
00:25:12 that is a factor on the central government
00:25:14 in terms of responsibility in Tobago
00:25:16 and what the, parallel to that,
00:25:19 establish the role and authority of the island government
00:25:21 of the executive of Tobago.
00:25:24 That's a fundamental shift in the constitutional construct
00:25:28 by the kind of autonomy that is necessary in this region.
00:25:31 - Mr. Richards, hold on.
00:25:34 I think that we're doing a disservice to you
00:25:38 because I'm not hearing you
00:25:39 and it would be a disservice to you
00:25:41 and also our viewers if we're not hearing you.
00:25:44 Studio, could we see if we could correct that?
00:25:47 And I'll speak to Mr. Roach in the meantime.
00:25:50 But Mr. Roach, I think what the view has,
00:25:55 that has also been expressed in recent times
00:25:59 that there has to be,
00:26:02 or that persons within the manufacturing sector,
00:26:05 they need to work at a faster pace.
00:26:08 Because as you know, I don't have to tell you, Mr. Roach,
00:26:10 that we are in dire need of a forex.
00:26:15 And as we discussed earlier,
00:26:17 the manufacturing sector is seen as a major driver
00:26:21 to do that.
00:26:21 - I agree.
00:26:24 (laughing)
00:26:26 - Simply.
00:26:26 - There's nothing to disagree about.
00:26:29 And I think that is why we're doing the work
00:26:31 that we're doing.
00:26:32 I mean, for this year alone,
00:26:34 we have already visited Belize,
00:26:38 the Bahamas, Suriname,
00:26:40 Curacao,
00:26:43 and we have already planned a trade mission
00:26:45 to Canada in September.
00:26:47 Between July 10th and July 13th,
00:26:52 the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association
00:26:55 will be hosting its 25th anniversary
00:26:58 of the Trade and Investment Convention
00:27:01 at the Center of Excellence.
00:27:03 At that convention,
00:27:05 we will have 13 countries exhibiting at that convention.
00:27:11 And visiting us will be buyers
00:27:14 from 23 different countries.
00:27:17 From Africa, we have Nigeria and Ghana.
00:27:21 Asia, India, China, Bangladesh.
00:27:25 From South America, we have Venezuela.
00:27:28 And from the United States,
00:27:30 we have United States and Canada, among others.
00:27:33 Coming to see what Trinidad and Tobago has to offer.
00:27:38 And not only in products,
00:27:40 not only in manufactured products,
00:27:42 which you know we advocate for,
00:27:44 but also in services.
00:27:45 Because at that convention,
00:27:49 it's a multi-sectoral convention.
00:27:51 We have energy companies, finance institutions,
00:27:54 tourism companies, manufacturing companies,
00:27:57 and a large section of the craft sector,
00:27:59 a lot of which we sponsor,
00:28:01 so that small and medium-sized businesses
00:28:03 get that exposure.
00:28:05 Now, last year, we had 20,000 persons visiting the TIC.
00:28:10 And this year, we anticipate
00:28:15 about 25,000 persons passing through the TIC.
00:28:19 The first two days are just business to business days.
00:28:23 250 meetings internationally have already been booked.
00:28:27 And all our seminars have been sold out.
00:28:31 There's still room at the webinars.
00:28:33 That talks to the heightened interest
00:28:37 in trade, in manufacturing, and in doing business,
00:28:41 not only among the B2B sector in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:28:44 'cause there are opportunities there,
00:28:45 because if you could substitute buying a foreign product
00:28:48 for a fellow local product, there's opportunities there.
00:28:51 But also, there are opportunities
00:28:53 to talk to international buyers
00:28:55 who are coming at their own expense
00:28:59 to see what Trinidad and Tobago has to offer the world.
00:29:03 And in total, we have about 320 booths,
00:29:06 and the show is completely sold out.
00:29:10 And that is happening just next month.
00:29:11 - It's a good sign. - Yes.
00:29:12 - It shows that we are open for business, right?
00:29:14 - Yes. - Yeah?
00:29:15 - Yeah. - All right.
00:29:16 I believe that we do have Mr. Richards back on the line.
00:29:19 Mr. Richards, you're there with us?
00:29:21 - Yes, my husband, I'm here.
00:29:22 I'm here. - Yeah, yeah.
00:29:23 Mr. Richards, could you continue
00:29:24 the point that you were making?
00:29:26 - Yes, I was saying that we need to do some fixes
00:29:29 to the existing constitution.
00:29:30 So one of the areas that we have to treat with urgently
00:29:35 is amendment to section 75 of the constitution
00:29:38 that places a factor on the central government,
00:29:43 the cabinet, and its authority
00:29:47 in terms of its operation in Tobago,
00:29:49 vis-a-vis what the Tobago Assembly
00:29:51 is constitutionally responsible for.
00:29:54 So that is set a clear mark
00:29:55 as to what the central government is in charge of
00:29:57 in Tobago, and what the island government of Tobago
00:30:01 is in charge of.
00:30:01 So that requirement is needed in terms of an adjustment
00:30:04 to section 75 of the constitution.
00:30:06 We also need to make an amendment
00:30:08 to section 113 of the constitution
00:30:11 that provides for the appropriation below the budget,
00:30:14 and establish in law what is the minimum share
00:30:18 of the national budget that should be afforded to Tobago,
00:30:23 or the Tobago Assembly for the execution of its work.
00:30:26 What we have, we have a recommendation from the DRC
00:30:31 that says between 4.03% and 6.9%.
00:30:34 That is not law, but it has been the convention since 2000.
00:30:39 The 4.03% was based on the population size of Tobago
00:30:42 at the time, which is 23 years ago.
00:30:45 And the distance between 4.3% and 6.9%
00:30:48 was based on some conditionality
00:30:51 that was legally prescribed in the act
00:30:53 that should be funded, such as the fact that Tobago
00:30:56 is the absence of the multiplier effect in Tobago,
00:31:01 Tobago remoteness from the center of economic activity
00:31:06 in Port of Spain, and a host of other things
00:31:08 that are listed in the legislation.
00:31:10 So those things have to be funded to compensate
00:31:13 for the development requirement of the island.
00:31:16 Those things have not been funded
00:31:18 since the act have been passed in 1998.
00:31:20 So we need to have an established constitutional share
00:31:25 of the national budget.
00:31:26 And we cannot leave this to the human,
00:31:30 to the milk of human kindness of the Minister of Finance,
00:31:33 which is not given to the rule of practice
00:31:35 at this particular point in time.
00:31:37 This has to be established in law,
00:31:39 and not be left to the milk of human kindness
00:31:43 of the Minister of Finance,
00:31:44 which is really better for Tobago
00:31:45 at this particular point in time.
00:31:47 So that's one.
00:31:48 We need to have a clear definition
00:31:51 of what constitute Trinidad and Tobago,
00:31:55 what constitute Tobago,
00:31:57 and what constitute Trinidad
00:31:58 in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
00:32:00 in terms of geographical space.
00:32:03 And Tobago need to be afforded the ability,
00:32:08 the constitutional authority to make the laws,
00:32:12 to give respect to its policy prescription
00:32:15 for the development of the island.
00:32:17 You cannot develop an economic space
00:32:20 without legislative authority to give policies,
00:32:24 life to the policies that you have prescribed
00:32:27 and for the island development.
00:32:28 So in that regard,
00:32:30 section 53 of the constitution
00:32:32 that establishes the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
00:32:35 needs to be amended and provide for the establishment
00:32:39 for the two-billion rule legislature.
00:32:42 And its ability to make laws for the matter
00:32:44 for which the island government of Tobago
00:32:46 has final constitutional responsibility.
00:32:49 Those are the simple things to this, you know.
00:32:52 This issue has been discussed since 1970,
00:32:56 when the motion was passed by Mr. Robinson,
00:32:58 taken to Parliament by former President A.R. Robinson
00:33:03 and debate and pass.
00:33:04 We are how many years after
00:33:06 and we still face with this challenge
00:33:09 because of our unwillingness of the people
00:33:11 and successive government of Trinidad and Tobago
00:33:14 to deal frontally with this matter.
00:33:16 - Yes, all right.
00:33:18 - And it is significantly affecting
00:33:20 the development potential of the island.
00:33:22 Tobago is, let me tell you what is happening, Marlon.
00:33:26 We submit a budget to Port of Spain
00:33:28 with our program for the fiscal year.
00:33:30 The Minister of Finance determines what project is funded,
00:33:35 what is not funded,
00:33:36 and what we should spend it to be able
00:33:38 without any conversation with the executive council
00:33:40 and the Secretary of Finance.
00:33:42 - All right.
00:33:44 - That is the situation.
00:33:45 - Mr. Richards, we will continue on this point,
00:33:47 but allow me to bring back in Mr. Mohamed on the discussion
00:33:50 because Mr. Mohamed, and these are my words,
00:33:53 don't you think that the agricultural sector
00:33:56 has been really treated,
00:33:57 and I'm not talking, I'm just talking from time immemorial
00:34:01 as a bastard child in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:34:03 because every year from time immemorial,
00:34:05 we have spoken about, well, we need to put more,
00:34:08 pump more resources into agriculture and so on,
00:34:10 but you continue to complain, stakeholders in agriculture,
00:34:14 about predialogy, poor infrastructure,
00:34:18 and the structure on the whole,
00:34:22 as it relates to making the lives of farmers easier
00:34:27 and making the industry much more viable.
00:34:31 - Yeah, I can agree with that sentiment.
00:34:34 And let me tell you, one of the solutions going forward
00:34:36 is we need to connect the public sector
00:34:41 to the private sector and the education sector.
00:34:43 You see, we do have a nice continuum of information flow,
00:34:48 right, going from institution to institution.
00:34:50 So usually the universities will publish
00:34:52 these nice fancy papers and put them on the library shelves.
00:34:55 What we need to do is to send that to the public sector,
00:34:57 to our extension officers, let them read, understand,
00:35:01 do extra trials and tests,
00:35:03 and then set practical information to our farmers
00:35:06 so that they will be updated
00:35:07 with the modern production methods.
00:35:10 And for example, we love coconuts in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:35:12 I'm sure all of us here maybe love coconuts
00:35:14 in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:35:16 And let me just touch on the coconut industry
00:35:19 just for two minutes, if so much.
00:35:21 Right, so the government had planned to rehabilitate
00:35:24 and replant 900 acres of coconuts
00:35:27 to boost the coconut industry.
00:35:28 This was mandated and recited last year, right?
00:35:32 Fiscal 2023 to 2024.
00:35:35 Where has this production taken place?
00:35:38 Why are the consumers paying so much more
00:35:40 for the water of life, right?
00:35:42 How are we really effectively controlling
00:35:44 the coconut weevil, right?
00:35:45 And this is really a pest that is linked
00:35:47 to the devastating red ring disease.
00:35:50 What is the status of the rehabilitation
00:35:52 and replanting program of the East Coast of Trinidad
00:35:55 aimed really at revitalizing Asian plantations?
00:35:59 And that was a PSIP project,
00:36:01 Public Sector Investment Program.
00:36:03 Also, questions that always pop up.
00:36:05 What is the status of the survival
00:36:07 of the superior planted material
00:36:09 that we got from Guyana under MOU
00:36:12 aimed at significantly boosting the quality
00:36:15 and quantity of local coconut production?
00:36:18 You know, so these are the questions that pop up
00:36:20 when you focus on each and every industry.
00:36:23 Yeah, so a lot of disconnects I am seeing.
00:36:25 - Yeah. - Independent.
00:36:26 - Mr. Roach, but I think judging
00:36:30 from what you have told us here this morning,
00:36:31 all in all, the economy seems to be doing well.
00:36:36 The manufacturing sector, they seem to be doing well
00:36:40 and there has been major development in this sector
00:36:42 and it would seem that it's blue skies ahead for you all.
00:36:46 - Well, you have to work hard for it.
00:36:49 It's not just, the sky is blue,
00:36:52 but you have to get there.
00:36:53 I mean, we have been on a sort of evangelical pursuit
00:36:59 of increasing our non-energy exports
00:37:02 and we will continue to do so.
00:37:04 We work very closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry
00:37:09 and we're working hard with them
00:37:12 to create an enabling environment.
00:37:13 - Yeah.
00:37:14 - There are some good programs in there,
00:37:16 such as the Export Booster Initiative,
00:37:19 which provides funding for registration
00:37:21 of products overseas, certification of products overseas,
00:37:25 product testing in market promotions,
00:37:28 and some grant funding to supplement
00:37:31 the purchase of machinery.
00:37:32 This is pretty encouraging
00:37:36 for small and medium-sized businesses.
00:37:39 There's also the Forex window at Exim Bank for manufacturers.
00:37:44 - But how well has that been working?
00:37:47 - That has been working very well
00:37:49 and since its inception, it has been recapitalized.
00:37:55 Over 176 different companies have benefited from it.
00:37:58 - Right.
00:37:59 - And we have seen where companies are able to get Forex
00:38:03 at a much faster pace, secure their raw materials
00:38:06 so that they convert it to goods
00:38:08 and then sell it to the public.
00:38:09 - Because that has not been the case for a lot of SMEs, eh?
00:38:15 - Yes.
00:38:16 And if I were to comment on the rest,
00:38:19 on other sectors in the economy,
00:38:22 for an economy to work well,
00:38:23 all sectors have to be on firing on cylinders,
00:38:27 but sometimes markets change.
00:38:29 - Right.
00:38:30 - So for a business who is primarily importing
00:38:34 all its supplies, and I'm talking about finished goods
00:38:37 supplies, paying for it in US dollars in hard currency,
00:38:41 and then only selling those goods in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:38:45 we'll find that those businesses
00:38:48 are having a hard time accessing US dollars.
00:38:52 And sometimes in business, we may need to pivot a bit.
00:38:56 - Right.
00:38:57 - To try to augment the business
00:38:58 to see where the market is going.
00:39:00 Because 20 years ago, 15 years ago,
00:39:05 we didn't have this proliferation of credit cards,
00:39:08 and we didn't have this appetite
00:39:10 for buying all these goods online.
00:39:13 So once the product that you want
00:39:15 is easily substitutable online,
00:39:18 then your business could be facing difficulty
00:39:23 in terms of getting US dollars.
00:39:25 But once the energy sector,
00:39:28 and you see from the IMF report,
00:39:30 they're predicting an uptick in the energy sector
00:39:34 in the next two years.
00:39:35 Once a country begins to earn the kind of forex
00:39:39 that it was earning, let's say in the 2000s,
00:39:41 or even half of that, right?
00:39:43 It means that there will be more US dollars
00:39:46 for everybody to pull from.
00:39:49 And once more of our manufacturers become net exporters,
00:39:52 there'll be more US dollars in the system
00:39:54 for us to pull from.
00:39:57 And we all have to work together to make sure
00:40:00 that the economy remains resilient
00:40:03 and that persons are not left behind.
00:40:06 But from a business perspective,
00:40:07 sometimes you have to look at your business
00:40:09 and say, "Listen, the time has come for me to pivot."
00:40:12 - Yes.
00:40:13 - "For me to do something else
00:40:14 so that I can continue to maintain the lifestyle,
00:40:17 keep my employees employed,
00:40:19 and do something that contributes not only to your business,
00:40:22 but the well-being of the economy of Trinidad and Tobago."
00:40:24 - Yeah.
00:40:25 Gentlemen, we're just about at the end of our discussion.
00:40:29 We only have a few minutes again.
00:40:31 Mr. Richards, your final comments?
00:40:33 - Father, I will want to say to the national government
00:40:39 that if we have to live in (indistinct)
00:40:44 we have to collectively (indistinct)
00:40:47 and work toward an institutional arrangement
00:40:51 because our (indistinct)
00:40:56 I think that is a (indistinct)
00:41:00 has not worked or it has worked,
00:41:04 is not working.
00:41:06 And therefore, we talk how we govern our (indistinct)
00:41:11 If you look at the (indistinct)
00:41:15 you are still sick of failure.
00:41:17 (indistinct)
00:41:19 - All right, Mr. Richards, I do apologize again.
00:41:22 I don't know if it is the rain
00:41:24 that is causing this problem.
00:41:26 But Mr. Richards, I think that we do get the gist
00:41:28 as to what you were saying.
00:41:30 We do appreciate you joining us here this morning,
00:41:32 Mr. Richards.
00:41:35 Let me give Mr. Mohamed,
00:41:37 Mr. Mohamed your final take.
00:41:39 Mr. Richards, you're back with us?
00:41:41 - Yes, I'm here.
00:41:42 You hear me now?
00:41:43 - All right, go ahead, Mr. Richards.
00:41:44 You have about 30 seconds.
00:41:46 - So what I was saying is that we need to work
00:41:48 towards a new social contract
00:41:50 because the existing constitution is not working for us.
00:41:53 Our institutions of state are not working.
00:41:55 The service commission, the police service,
00:41:57 the prison, the public service,
00:42:01 all are malfunctioning at this particular point in time.
00:42:04 So we have to reconstruct this society.
00:42:07 We have to reconstruct the institutions of state
00:42:09 to ensure that at the end of the day,
00:42:10 we leave our heritage for the next generation.
00:42:13 That is much better than what we experienced
00:42:14 in this particular point in time.
00:42:16 - Yeah, Mr. Richards, thank you very much again.
00:42:18 Mr. Mohamed, your final comments.
00:42:20 - Hi, yes, thanks so much.
00:42:22 So I would like to say thanks to the ministry
00:42:24 of agriculture, land and fisheries.
00:42:25 We have several good ongoing projects,
00:42:28 PSIP projects that are benefiting the farmers,
00:42:31 the consumers and several other stakeholders
00:42:33 in the agricultural sector.
00:42:35 And what I want to focus on as the last closing statement,
00:42:38 we need to understand the impact of sustainable agriculture
00:42:42 and circular economy principles
00:42:44 as we redesign the entire agricultural sector
00:42:47 from top to bottom.
00:42:49 Thank you.
00:42:50 - All right, thank you very much, Mr. Mohamed.
00:42:51 Mr. Rocha, final comments.
00:42:53 - My comment would be that the Trinidad and Tobago
00:42:56 Manufacturers Association stand ready to work
00:42:59 with the powers that be, including the government,
00:43:02 to create a better enabling environment
00:43:06 for business to grow.
00:43:08 We need to look at tax reform.
00:43:10 We need to look at improving the efficiencies on our port.
00:43:15 We need to address the crime situation in the country.
00:43:20 And we need to all pull in one direction
00:43:24 if we are to make a better Trinidad and Tobago.
00:43:27 We were happy to see the allocation of $660 million
00:43:31 for goods and services in terms of the appropriation,
00:43:35 the supplementation, so that suppliers will get paid.
00:43:40 And we just look forward to working closely
00:43:43 with the government, with our members.
00:43:47 And I want Trinidad and Tobago to look
00:43:51 to the manufacturing sector more closely,
00:43:53 purchase locally produced goods,
00:43:56 because that is what sustains employment
00:44:00 and support the trade and investment convention
00:44:04 between July the 10th to July the 13th.
00:44:08 Thank you very much.
00:44:09 - Mr. Rocha, as always, thank you very much
00:44:10 for joining us here this morning.
00:44:12 We do appreciate it.
00:44:12 Mr. Mohammed and also Mr. Richards,
00:44:14 thank you very much, gentlemen.
00:44:16 All right, we have to go to a very short break.
00:44:18 We are coming back.
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01:20:50 - All right, so welcome back, everybody.
01:20:52 So we do have a gentleman here known to you, familiar to you.
01:20:56 He has braved the rains to be with us this morning.
01:20:59 He even braved the sun to be with us this morning,
01:21:02 and he told me, "Well, the police is just a phone call away," you know?
01:21:06 Sergeant Ansel Ford.
01:21:08 You hear that introduction, Sergeant? What more do you want?
01:21:10 - Nothing more, Marlon. Thank you very much.
01:21:12 Pleasant morning. Marlon, pleasant morning to you and to Begu.
01:21:16 - What do you have for us this morning?
01:21:18 - Marlon, all done in the rain.
01:21:20 Marlon, we're focusing on child labor.
01:21:23 - Child labor. - Yes, child labor,
01:21:25 and the law as it relates to child labor.
01:21:28 Now, on the 12th of June annually,
01:21:33 the world recognizes their stance against child labor, right?
01:21:38 And in light of that,
01:21:42 the Commission of Police saw it fit for us to discuss the issue of child labor.
01:21:47 Now, child labor--
01:21:49 basically, we are speaking about the employment
01:21:53 of a person who is under the age of 16 years, right?
01:21:58 Now, this does not speak to, let us say,
01:22:02 a family business or a business that is run by a family,
01:22:07 and they may have a young family member
01:22:09 who might be in the business from time to time,
01:22:12 learning the business or helping out in the business, right?
01:22:15 This speaks to--and I would read for the purpose of clarity, right?
01:22:21 According to Section 105 of the Children's Act,
01:22:27 subject to Section 106--
01:22:29 Section 106 deals with some exemptions, right?
01:22:33 I will speak about that later on.
01:22:35 "A child under the age of 16 years shall not be employed
01:22:39 "or work in any public or private undertaking
01:22:43 "or in any branch thereof
01:22:45 "other than an undertaking owned and controlled
01:22:48 "by members of the same family
01:22:50 "and any person who employs any such child
01:22:53 "commits an offense."
01:22:55 So as I alluded to a short while ago, Marlon,
01:23:00 that family business would not necessarily fall
01:23:04 within the consideration of child labor.
01:23:08 Now, we must understand that as parents, guardians,
01:23:15 we have a responsibility to protect our children
01:23:20 from being victims of abuse and exploitation,
01:23:25 even at the hands of an employer.
01:23:28 Now, circumstances, financial or other reasons,
01:23:33 may sometimes force a child to seek employment, right?
01:23:40 Be it to assist the family
01:23:42 or to even assist in taking care of themselves.
01:23:45 Now, whilst we understand that,
01:23:49 some forms of labor, it is hazardous,
01:23:53 it is strenuous, right?
01:23:55 And it could, in fact, be harmful to the child.
01:23:59 Now, one such form of labor is construction, right?
01:24:05 And sometimes you may well see young men
01:24:08 assisting someone in mixing concrete or toting cement, right?
01:24:17 These things are strenuous and could, in fact, harm the child.
01:24:21 Some forms of employment might be hazardous
01:24:24 due to the nature of the employment,
01:24:26 be it chemical or some other undertaking
01:24:29 that exposes the child to some form of danger, right?
01:24:33 And I want to say that the world has recognized
01:24:39 that children have been victims of child labor.
01:24:44 And in so doing, you have international conventions
01:24:49 that sought to develop policies
01:24:52 to help govern this sort of activity.
01:24:56 And Trinidad and Tobago, we are not, let us say,
01:25:01 a country that did not adopt these policies,
01:25:05 but there are now laws that govern us, right?
01:25:08 So the penalty, Marlon, for someone who employs a child, Marlon,
01:25:15 whilst it is that we have various forms of employment,
01:25:21 I will speak to them one by one,
01:25:24 and we'll deal with the penalty associated with it, right?
01:25:28 Now, oftentimes, Marlon, we would see children on the streets.
01:25:32 We would see them begging, right?
01:25:36 We might see an adult in their company
01:25:39 or they in the adult's company, right?
01:25:42 We may even see them selling items, right,
01:25:46 under the supervision of an adult, right?
01:25:49 Marlon, this is an offense, all right?
01:25:52 And simply because you're dealing with a child,
01:25:56 someone who is under the age of 16,
01:25:59 and the law recognizes that up to the age of 15
01:26:03 that a child should be in school, right?
01:26:06 And when it is, you allow a child to be on the streets
01:26:12 or any other place begging,
01:26:15 you are committing an offense as the adult who has a child there.
01:26:19 And according to the Children's Act,
01:26:23 you are subject to a fine of $3,000
01:26:27 and to imprisonment for six months.
01:26:31 We oftentimes see it, and we,
01:26:35 the persons who are going about our business
01:26:38 may feel somewhat sorry, right?
01:26:41 And may oftentimes give the child something.
01:26:46 But we need to discourage the parent or the adult
01:26:50 from having the child there.
01:26:53 So it's a fine and imprisonment.
01:26:55 Fine and imprisonment, right, Marlon?
01:26:57 So we need to advise, inform the parents
01:27:00 that what you're doing there is unlawful, right?
01:27:03 You ought not to have the child there, all right?
01:27:06 If it is that you as an adult have some reason
01:27:12 to be out there to ask for assistance,
01:27:15 the child should not be there with you.
01:27:18 And this is between the hours of school
01:27:21 and outside the hours of school.
01:27:23 So you're saying this should not be done at all.
01:27:25 At all, right? They should not be there, all right?
01:27:29 So, Marlon, further, a person commits an offense
01:27:34 under Section 1 whether or not the child engaged in
01:27:39 or pretended to engage in any singing, playing,
01:27:42 dancing, performing, or for anything for sale or otherwise, all right?
01:27:46 So you can't have the child there as a sidekick, right?
01:27:52 Supporting you in, for instance, if it is you are beating drums
01:27:57 and the child is there probably dancing,
01:28:00 or you're playing a guitar and the child is there probably dancing, right?
01:28:05 Or even they're playing an instrument.
01:28:07 Whilst it is you are there and your intent is really to beg,
01:28:12 the child ought not to be there, all right?
01:28:14 So, Marlon, a more serious issue is that of child prostitution.
01:28:22 Right.
01:28:23 And it is long established, Marlon,
01:28:27 that we have people who engage children to be prostitutes, all right?
01:28:36 And this is a serious issue.
01:28:39 And more serious, Marlon, is the adults who know that it's a child
01:28:46 and go to that environment to prostitute a child.
01:28:52 Does that exist in Trinidad and Tobago?
01:28:54 Marlon, whilst I cannot speak to it in terms of number,
01:28:58 according to data, it exists.
01:29:01 It exists, and it is something that we, the police service,
01:29:06 we are aware of, and as much as possible,
01:29:10 we investigate and where there is evidence, we prosecute.
01:29:17 So, Marlon, what is prostitution according to Section 17 of the Children Act?
01:29:25 Prostitute, well, let me say what is prostitute.
01:29:29 Prostitute means a person who, whether or not compelled to do so,
01:29:34 offers or provides sexual services to another person
01:29:38 in return for payment or a promise of payment to that person or a third person,
01:29:45 and the prostitution shall be construed accordingly, right?
01:29:49 So, whether it is that the person is compelled to do so or not, right,
01:29:55 but they are a child according to the law, right,
01:30:00 and we understand that a child under the Children Act is a person under the age of 18 years, right?
01:30:07 That person is committing a serious offence,
01:30:11 and what the law says is that a person having responsibility for a child
01:30:17 who causes or encourages the seduction, prostitution, or sexual penetration of that child
01:30:24 commits an offence and an indictment is subject to imprisonment for life, right?
01:30:32 No fine, nothing of the sort, imprisonment, right?
01:30:36 That is how serious the matter is.
01:30:38 According to Section 12(2), a person who being the owner, occupier, or manager of a premises
01:30:47 be having control of the premises.
01:30:51 So, you are not the owner, you are not the manager, but you have somewhat overall control over that premises, right?
01:30:57 Or assisting in the management or control of premises
01:31:03 permits a child to resort to or to be in or upon the premises
01:31:09 for the purpose of causing or encouraging the seduction, prostitution, or sexual penetration of that child
01:31:16 commits an offence and is liable on conviction and indictment to imprisonment for 10 years.
01:31:23 Marlon, sometimes you may visit an establishment such as a bar, right Marlon?
01:31:37 And other than what is the front, the bar, you have some illegal practices taking place, right?
01:31:47 And it may involve the use of young children, right?
01:31:55 And persons may go to the bar and they know what they are asking for
01:32:02 and the operator of the bar knows what they are asking for, right?
01:32:07 And they may pay the requisite amount of money
01:32:13 and then they are escorted to an area where they can benefit from that sort of activity, right Marlon?
01:32:23 And it often times, or it may involve children.
01:32:28 And we are taking a serious stance on the issue
01:32:34 and where it is, as I said before, we have information, we will investigate Marlon
01:32:41 and we will charge persons.
01:32:44 But what is my responsibility as a citizen?
01:32:48 If I am aware or I suspect that certain people are involved in such activities
01:32:57 what is my responsibility?
01:32:59 Am I to contact the police?
01:33:01 Am I to turn away and say it is not my business?
01:33:03 What should I do?
01:33:05 Marlon, you have a duty of care for that child or for children in general as an adult
01:33:15 to seek the interests and the well-being of that child, right?
01:33:21 And you are expected to bring that to the attention of the authority.
01:33:27 We speak to the children's authority, we speak to the police, right?
01:33:32 In relation to what you believe is taking place or what you have knowledge of that is taking place
01:33:39 and the children's authority have their powers, right, to take the appropriate action.
01:33:46 And likewise the police, we have our powers to deal with it in a particular way.
01:33:51 So it is not to turn a blind eye, Marlon, but it is to report it to the attention of the authorities.
01:33:58 So, Marlon, we deal with the issue of sexual services of a child.
01:34:03 We spoke about prostitution, right?
01:34:06 We are dealing with sexual services of a child.
01:34:09 According to Section 13(1), where a person procures for himself or any other person the sexual services of a child
01:34:18 and he makes a promise of payment for the services to that child or a third person
01:34:27 or knows that another person has made or promised such payment, he commits an offence and is liable
01:34:34 on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for 10 years
01:34:40 and on indictment to imprisonment for 25 years.
01:34:45 Marlon, according to Section 13(3), notwithstanding Subsection 1,
01:34:50 where a person commits an offence under this section against a child and sexual penetration is involved,
01:34:58 that person is liable to imprisonment for life.
01:35:02 And Marlon, the sanction speaks to how serious the issue is, right?
01:35:08 So, Marlon, causing or inciting prostitution.
01:35:13 So, I read again.
01:35:16 According to Section 14(1), where a person causes or incites a child to become a prostitute in Trinidad and Tobago,
01:35:24 he commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for 10 years
01:35:31 and on conviction and indictment to imprisonment for 25 years.
01:35:36 So, Marlon, sometimes you may have a child under the care of someone because of circumstances beyond the control of the child
01:35:51 and if that person causes that child or induces,
01:35:58 no causes can be whether you force that child to engage in prostitution
01:36:04 or you induce that child by way of promoting some sort of gift or reward,
01:36:11 for that child to engage in prostitution, Marlon, again, you are committing a serious offence.
01:36:18 Sergeant, you have two minutes.
01:36:20 So, Marlon, the penalty on summary conviction is $50,000 and imprisonment for 10 years
01:36:30 and on indictment, a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 20 years.
01:36:35 So, Marlon, if it is that an employer wishes to engage a young person,
01:36:45 and I want to say a child, someone under the age of 16 years, not 16, sorry, 18 years,
01:36:52 that employer has to do certain things, one of which is to maintain a register of the name of the child,
01:37:02 the age of the child and the particulars that is required by law for that employer to maintain
01:37:10 and the reason is so that if it is that the inspectors, labour inspectors under the Ministry of Labour
01:37:23 comes to your establishment to determine whether you have young persons in your employment,
01:37:29 that information is available to them, Marlon.
01:37:33 So, Marlon, while it is, we run out of time to finish the discussion.
01:37:39 We will cease to continue, but what I want to leave the listeners and the viewers with is that child labour is a serious matter.
01:37:50 It is.
01:37:51 It takes away that enjoyment of being a child from the child and that can impact on the child's development
01:38:02 and we are not saying that teaching a child business or teaching a child a skill as an apprentice is bad.
01:38:14 We recognise these things to be also part of development of that child,
01:38:20 but what we are saying is that it must not be contrary to what the law prescribes
01:38:27 and it must not take that child away from that period of education.
01:38:34 Okay?
01:38:36 We would continue this discussion, Marlon?
01:38:38 Thank you very much.
01:38:40 Thank you. Thank you because, Sergeant, I don't have to tell you, we have been seeing instances of this throughout the country.
01:38:47 Definitely.
01:38:48 And I think that some people have taken the decision, well, those children belong to me.
01:38:53 So, parents have taken the decision, those children belong to me and I can do with them what I want and that is absolutely not the case.
01:39:00 Well, Marlon, I will deal with the issue of neglectful care on the next occasion.
01:39:06 Thank you very much, Sergeant.
01:39:07 Alright, so we are going to have a very short break, everybody. We are coming back.
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01:41:12 Alright, so welcome back everyone.
01:41:14 You know what I always say, sometimes what is going on behind the scenes is more interesting than what is going on here.
01:41:20 So Dominion Promotions presents its annual praise and worship concert in his presence at Shaw Park Complex in Tobago.
01:41:29 So to tell us more about the event is Chairman of Dominion Promotions, Vern Joseph.
01:41:34 Mr. Joseph, good morning and thank you very much for joining us.
01:41:37 Good morning, good morning, good morning to all the listeners of TV6, good morning to you.
01:41:45 Yes, well Mr. Joseph, tell us about the event.
01:41:49 Of course, yes, on June the 19th at 5.30pm at Shaw Park, you know, we will be having our annual gospel concert.
01:42:00 It's named in his presence and this is our 11th edition of this event.
01:42:07 It's become a staple, it's an event that people look forward to on the island of Tobago and Trinidad.
01:42:12 And this year we are having, you know, Mr. Tim Godfrey, you know, with one of his more popular songs that, you know, that our God is a very big God.
01:42:23 And on the 19th, you know, we are going to join with thousands of people and declare that our God is a very big, big God.
01:42:32 He's not no small God, he's not no peony God, he's not no second, second, any, always God.
01:42:36 He's a big God and we're going to make that statement on the 19th of June in Shaw Park, Tobago.
01:42:42 So we're inviting, you know, as much people from Trinidad to come across and join with us as we make this statement.
01:42:49 Because, you know, the atmosphere, we need more positive energy, we need more positive thing in this space at this time.
01:42:56 And we think this is timely. We are going to make that declaration on the 19th of June.
01:43:01 Late, but it's a holiday.
01:43:04 Yeah. Mr. Joseph, but let's go through the program on that day.
01:43:13 Because, yes, it's not the first time that you're having such an event, but for persons who may be interested,
01:43:19 but are not familiar with the type of how the program is rolled out on that day.
01:43:26 Do that for us this morning. All right.
01:43:29 On that day, you're going to walk into an atmosphere, you know, you create an atmosphere.
01:43:33 Every year we try to up our logistics and you will walk into an atmosphere that is of an international standard.
01:43:40 And we are going to start off with one or two local artists and then we are going to have some breaks and then we're going to have some dance and we're going to have some prayer.
01:43:48 And then we will have the main artists and then we will have some artists closing up the show.
01:43:53 And that's the format. It's going to be about two to three hours show, the maximum three and a half hours.
01:44:00 It's an event that is catered for everybody from the baby to the seniors are invited.
01:44:06 We create that atmosphere for every family members, every individual in Trinidad and Tobago, no matter what background you come from.
01:44:15 We create that atmosphere where you can come and fellowship and give almighty God all praise and honor for the good things,
01:44:23 the great things, the wonderful things you are doing that we are not hearing about.
01:44:27 You know, because some hearing will be negative. Good news doesn't travel fast as bad news.
01:44:32 But this is good news. And we create that atmosphere where you can come.
01:44:36 There is no alcohol. There is no job. And all of these things are nice, clean atmosphere where you can just come and enjoy yourself with your family.
01:44:46 Yeah. Mr. Joseph, I think that you touched on one of the of the artists who is going to be performing there.
01:44:52 Do we have a list of the other performers?
01:44:56 Yes. Tim Guthrie is the main international artist.
01:45:00 We have Chantal Lindsey, homegrown from Tobago, dynamic person in her.
01:45:06 Then we have a young man coming up from Trinidad, a lot of the youths, you know, gravitate towards love, peace, love.
01:45:15 And then we have this. We have Jazzy. And then we have Rennie.
01:45:21 We have Rennie and we have, you know, our young Tobago artist that we are giving, you know, the first opportunity.
01:45:27 Her name is Gabby Williams. She's going to be, you know, launching a lot on that day.
01:45:32 We have a young dance group called Mita. It's a set of children.
01:45:37 You know, you know, you want to see children ministry.
01:45:39 Are we giving them the opportunity not to be in something good instead of, you know, otherwise.
01:45:45 So these are some of the lineups. And, you know, we have other in-between stuff that we will be doing give giveaways and such like.
01:45:54 So I think it is safe to say, Mr. Joseph, it is going to be an atmosphere of praise, right?
01:46:01 Atmosphere of praise from start until the finish. Matter of fact, some of the experience carries over and over and over.
01:46:11 You know, it's great and good atmosphere. And as I said, we need this type of atmosphere in our space at this time.
01:46:17 We need some positive. We need some some encouragement. We need some inspiration.
01:46:22 We need some motivation. And this event delivers that type of atmosphere, this type of input that is hope.
01:46:30 And there is not dismay in this country. What about.
01:46:36 Because I get the feeling also it's going to be a sort of gospel type concert atmosphere.
01:46:46 So is it is it and I'm speaking for the elderly persons who would want to participate or would want to attend.
01:46:54 Is there going to be a seating area? Because judging from what you have told us earlier, it's going to be an atmosphere of praise.
01:47:01 So I suspect people are going to want to stand up and dance and praise in their own way.
01:47:10 But what about for the elderly? Do have you put mechanisms in place where they can come to the concert and enjoy it?
01:47:24 Yes, of course. The venue is a seated. It's a seated arena. It's something like the Napa.
01:47:29 It has a seat on it. It's a seated area. But also there is an area where if you want to get up and dance,
01:47:36 there's an area for that where you can get up and dance. So, yes, the seniors are catered for and they are not even too close to the stage.
01:47:44 You know, they can sit anywhere they choose to sit in the auditorium. Yes.
01:47:49 So we cater for the senior. There's a lot of seating available for seniors.
01:47:54 Yeah. I have to ask for them, you know, Mr. Joseph. Mr. Joseph, where can people get the tickets?
01:48:00 All right. You can get the tickets at 98.1 in Trinidad and Alison Priority in San Fernando.
01:48:07 In Tobago, you could also get them at Tova Tickets online. In Tobago, you could get them at Dominion Appliance and gift shopping.
01:48:14 Can be you can get them at Double B Supermarket, Government House Road, House of Judith and things that is in Speyside,
01:48:22 Sweet Table in Roxborough and Blessings Variety Store at Portmore in Scarborough, Tobago.
01:48:28 And also we have we even cater for people coming from Trinidad, Hustle Free, a one stop shop like you just called Chem Solutions and Services.
01:48:41 And they will arrange everything for you. Also, you can visit our Facebook page Dominion Promotions and you'll get all the information there.
01:48:51 You can call him at 293-8068 and he will arrange travelling or transportation if you want a little restaurant.
01:49:00 Whatsoever your need is, they will arrange everything for you. Even airfare and boat tickets.
01:49:07 What do you hope would be the greatest takeaway from the persons attending the event?
01:49:17 The greatest takeaway is that they're going to be making a declaration and sending this positive atmosphere, positive praise in the atmosphere.
01:49:27 It will be there will be left inspired and motivated as they encourage that we have hope in this country, Tobago and Trinidad and Tobago by extension.
01:49:38 Mr. Joseph, if you put it that way, I may have to take a trip.
01:49:41 But Mr. Joseph, thank you very much for speaking with us this morning. We do have all of your contact information up and we wish you all the best with your event.
01:49:49 Mr. Joseph. Thank you. Thank you.
01:49:53 So for me this morning, we are going to very quick break.
01:49:56 We're coming back, everybody.
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