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00:00:00Well, a very good morning, Trinidad and Tobago.
00:00:16I'm Urvashi Tiwari Rupnerine.
00:00:18Welcome to The Morning Edition.
00:00:20It's my pleasure to be joining you.
00:00:22It's of course June 28th.
00:00:24Thank you so much for joining us.
00:00:26Surprise, surprise.
00:00:27I will be with you for the next two weeks as Marlon is on leave.
00:00:32As I mentioned, it is my esteemed pleasure to be sharing your morning with you, helping
00:00:36you wake up, get ready your cup of tea or coffee and just getting your day started in
00:00:43the perfect way.
00:00:45So how's the weather where you are at?
00:00:48Well, at this moment in Port of Spain, it is pretty calm.
00:00:52Some may describe it as the calm before the storm.
00:00:55We'll be talking a little bit about that system developing in the Atlantic a little
00:01:02later on in our show.
00:01:05Of course, we'd like to say a special good morning to all the 18,177 students who wrote
00:01:12the SEA exam and of course would have access their results from midnight and some even
00:01:18before midnight last night.
00:01:20So congratulations to you.
00:01:22And of course, if you do see your cameras at your schools in and around Port of Spain
00:01:26today, be certain to say hello and let us know how pleased you are.
00:01:31Of course, from us, it's congratulations to you.
00:01:33Well, it's time to tell you what's happening in Trinidad and Tobago and for that, we go
00:01:38straight to the front pages of the Express newspaper.
00:01:43Court asked to clarify if government is allowed to implement revenue authority.
00:01:48It's confusion over the T.T.R.A.
00:01:51Before we get to those details, in case you want to know about it, you'll find out all
00:01:55about it from Ricky Ramdas on page three.
00:01:59That feature picture fans are celebrating.
00:02:02India cricket fans celebrate at the Brian Lara Academy in Taruba on Wednesday night
00:02:07during the first T20 World Cup semifinal match between Afghanistan and South Africa.
00:02:13So telling you a little bit more about the T.T.R.A.
00:02:17A clerical error in the wording of an order of the appeal court earlier this month has
00:02:24led to uncertainty on whether or not the government is allowed to proceed with the implementation
00:02:30and of course, the operationalization of the T.T.R.A.
00:02:35Of course, PSA president, V. Roy Batiste, he's describing it as a flagrant violation
00:02:41and gross disrespect to the struggle of workers.
00:02:45And of course, Finance Minister, Colm Imbod, in a statement issued yesterday, said that
00:02:49there's no restriction from the appeal court.
00:02:52So we are awaiting the court to determine what is the outcome on this matter.
00:02:59Another interesting story that you would want to read, you've got to go to your newsstands
00:03:04and subscribe online to grab your copy of the Express newspaper.
00:03:09Cops probe sex link, they view explicit videos as they investigate the murder of nurse Sadhana
00:03:17Gangu.
00:03:18So be sure to grab your copy of the Express newspaper.
00:03:21What's happening in sport while Kemal Roach is out of the West Indies test squad?
00:03:29And thumbs down for Trub, I saw quite a number of comments online as teams slam the pitch
00:03:36as South Africa progressed to the final.
00:03:40So be sure to grab your copy of the Express newspaper to get the details of all those
00:03:43stories and so much more.
00:03:45In the meantime, let's remind you of our Trinbago Unite feature.
00:03:49Now to participate, it's very, very easy.
00:03:51You WhatsApp your videos and your images to that number on your screen.
00:03:56It's 737-3778 and we get to share it with the rest of the country.
00:04:01Oh, what a serene photograph there.
00:04:04This was, of course, sent to us from a viewer.
00:04:07I wish they would have shared where it came from.
00:04:10We've got a very packed show up ahead.
00:04:12First up, we're going to be talking about the labor movement landscape.
00:04:17We will be having the very first interview with Petaland Roberts, the newly appointed
00:04:22Secretary of Finance at the Tobago House of Assembly, the Ministry of Youth Development
00:04:28and National Service.
00:04:29They will be joining us to share with you and the young people all those amazing opportunities
00:04:36at the ministry.
00:04:37Tutor will talk to us about the SEA report and, of course, there is a tropical depression
00:04:42brewing in the Atlantic and Gary Benjamin, a meteorologist, will join us as our last
00:04:48segment on the show to just forewarn us and tell us a little bit more about that.
00:04:52In the meantime, we go to a quick break.
00:04:54Stay with us.
00:05:22Is that real?
00:05:23Can you see it?
00:05:49Hello.
00:05:50You excited for date night tonight?
00:05:52I'm seeing you at five, right?
00:05:53Of course, babe.
00:05:54I'll see you at five.
00:06:20I've definitely seen a difference in my knees.
00:06:31The stiffness in my hips.
00:06:32Because it's an oil extract, I think of it like olive oil in between my joints that are
00:06:37loosening it up.
00:06:38Omega XL has really kept us feeling great.
00:06:41So, you're not setting rules home, but telling your daughter, don't let no teacher have to
00:06:49call you because you're not following rules in school?
00:06:56You ever hear the old people say, butt in your crease?
00:06:59Better believe you could use that to set boundaries with your children.
00:07:04You are more than a friend to your children.
00:07:07Set clear, healthy boundaries for both you and your child.
00:07:11Make sure they are age appropriate and, most importantly, consistent.
00:07:16This helps them understand what behavior is expected of them and provides a sense
00:07:22of structure and stability.
00:07:25It gives you a framework of trust and understanding to build on.
00:07:29And so, at the end of the day, do your best.
00:07:32Share if you found this useful and like and follow our profile for more parenting tips.
00:07:41Letter of the day, be boundaries.
00:07:47I call the music making you...
00:08:10Well, welcome back, Trinidad and Tobago.
00:08:12You're looking at the TV6 Morning Edition.
00:08:15I'm Urvashi Tumwari Rupnirain.
00:08:17Well, much is adieu when it comes to the labor movement and the overall landscape for the
00:08:23country's workforce.
00:08:24It is a story many paint as distress for various sectors within the public and private sectors.
00:08:32We're hearing that workers are settling for meager increases, struggling to provide the
00:08:37same lifestyle for their families with less spending power.
00:08:41The contraction of the local economy, the oil and gas sectors means fewer jobs.
00:08:46A recently revealed nursing dream, the shrinking labor force participation rate.
00:08:51Where are workers going?
00:08:52And is the answer really a switch of the political powers that be?
00:08:57Joining us this morning to respond to these challenges, to tell us if there is hope and
00:09:02where that hope lies is Labor Minister Stephen McClatchy.
00:09:06Minister, let me thank you so much for joining us this morning.
00:09:10Thank you to the wider Trinidad and Tobago.
00:09:14So, Minister, maybe a nice place to start off is if you could give us your assessment.
00:09:21Are you pleased with the overall state of the labor force?
00:09:26And that is because workers say they are not getting the increases that they would like.
00:09:33It's meager.
00:09:34While the cost of living has been increasing disproportionately to the value of wages,
00:09:41the workforce, they're saying that they've been asked to do more with less.
00:09:45Could you give us your overall assessment?
00:09:50Definitely.
00:09:51Well, it's not a doing better, doing worse answer.
00:09:55It is very complex.
00:09:59It pushes social services into economics and, in particular, into investment.
00:10:07When we look at jobs and what creates jobs, it's really speaking about investment that
00:10:15both the public sector and private sector engage in.
00:10:20In Trinidad and Tobago, we have had several initiatives, particularly led by our trade
00:10:28and industry group, to encourage foreign investment into Trinidad and Tobago.
00:10:34One of those activities, for instance, is at the Phoenix Park facility that they have
00:10:45opened to encourage manufacturing and a whole lot of other things.
00:10:50To answer the question this way, I would say that nobody is happy.
00:10:55I am certainly not happy because in Trinidad and Tobago, we do not have a living wage.
00:11:04We have a minimum wage.
00:11:07We all know that that minimum wage is meant to buffer the impact of the socioeconomic
00:11:18issues that we face, but it doesn't quite cover the total cost of what it takes to live
00:11:25in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:11:27When we look at prices, it's really about the supply chain and, in particular, the global
00:11:34supply chain, where we have become accustomed to getting cheap goods on eBay and Amazon
00:11:42and all the like, but those industries are now suffering and, really, it's not going
00:11:53to get any better soon.
00:11:57I think what we have to try and do is to shift our reliance from foreign products and
00:12:03try to go local, both in agriculture, manufacturing, and so on.
00:12:09It's quite a complex situation that sometimes we are asked simple questions and we have
00:12:18to go much deeper to understand why we are where we are.
00:12:24Why we are where we are.
00:12:25Now, Minister, you did mention investment and attracting foreign investment.
00:12:31We do, in fact, have the Indian investment mission here in TNT, and if I'm not mistaken,
00:12:38you are due to be with Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gobi-Skoon at 5 p.m. today
00:12:44to tell us a little bit about the outcomes of that.
00:12:47If you are able to, can you give us a little sneak peek into some of the progress that
00:12:52has been made with this Indian investment mission, and how significant is it, really?
00:12:58Well, actually, I can tell you from a governmental perspective, it is significant because it
00:13:04is opening another door that we have not yet opened fully, and it's still in the exploration
00:13:11stages.
00:13:12I, myself, am not involved personally with the Indian delegation.
00:13:19Minister Skoon is, and I think that she will make it all clear as to where it is.
00:13:28But I have no information to give at this time since I have not been directly involved
00:13:35in the process.
00:13:36But long and short, of course, can we expect there to be jobs coming out of this initiative?
00:13:46Well, any time we talk foreign investment and we talk getting people involved in our
00:13:53economy, yes, we can expect jobs, and that's one of the major criteria.
00:14:00In, for instance, the Prime Minister and his delegation going to Ghana, what we're
00:14:08doing with Central America, what we're doing with South America, what we're doing
00:14:13with the Indians, it's all about attracting investment that translates not only into jobs
00:14:22but foreign exchange.
00:14:24So, yes, we expect to get jobs out of it.
00:14:28Minister, if we look at the labor force participation rate, and I guess that's where my question
00:14:33about jobs came from, the labor force participation rate, just a lot of viewers know this is the
00:14:40proportion of persons within the working age, let's say 18 to 65, who actually work.
00:14:47It appears, Minister, to be declining.
00:14:50It's now at 55% thereabout, and that's compared to, for instance, 2014 when it was
00:14:58about 61.9.
00:15:02Where have these workers gone, and what can we do to get them back as part of the workforce?
00:15:12Well, you started off the program by indicating that the oil and energy sector would have
00:15:18suffered a major blow with the restructuring of petrochemicals and the dwindling oil and
00:15:26gas that we have, and the lack of full exploration and production.
00:15:34So, I can think that right there you have quite a bit of a big chunk of what would,
00:15:43in fact, be the 4, 5, or 6%.
00:15:51That is not to say that in other industries, remember we had COVID, we're dealing with
00:15:572014 figures, but we had a period where all businesses were severely constrained, and
00:16:06people see, remember that we are still coming out of that episode.
00:16:12We have not kind of run past it, because when you slow down businesses, you stop them and
00:16:21you have to restart them.
00:16:23You have to then re-engage the markets that you had.
00:16:28You have to put in new investment for new equipment and so on, and sometimes that results
00:16:37in a slowdown of business activity, which we are experiencing.
00:16:41But again, the governmental encouragement of new investment, that is precisely what
00:16:52we are trying to do, which is to bring the workforce participation rate much higher by
00:16:59producing well-paying jobs.
00:17:01Do we have an idea of male-female ratio?
00:17:06Who seems to be affected more?
00:17:08Are more females working now than males?
00:17:11Yes, that is definitely so.
00:17:16The last statistics I saw, not only are they working, more of them are working.
00:17:27In fact, the pendulum is shifting where there is a lot more women taking up managerial positions
00:17:37than men.
00:17:40So you have a shifting paradigm there, where although we speak of the glass ceiling and so on,
00:17:49but women have actually been breaking that, and their participation at the management level
00:17:55right now is significant enough where it is equal to or greater than men in the workforce.
00:18:02That may be good news, Minister, for women, but we don't want men falling out of the workforce.
00:18:09Are there any targeted programs to ensure the alignment of at least male labor as it pertains
00:18:17to the country's needs?
00:18:19Well, you know, historically, that question has always been posed towards whether we have
00:18:26enough women.
00:18:28So it's a strange paradigm shift to hear whether we have any targeted issues to men.
00:18:35And I can say that we would have targeted plans for men, but at the youth level, 18 to 35,
00:18:48and that can be seen through the number of programs that are being put on by the youth ministry.
00:18:58If you look at all of those areas, they are traditional type jobs, like crane operations,
00:19:08manufacturing, agriculture.
00:19:12So we are targeting, I wouldn't say men, but we are targeting the youth as they are the most
00:19:19vulnerable group in terms of employment.
00:19:23Yes, I guess, Minister, you can finish.
00:19:28Yeah, I was going to say, let's look at it in another way.
00:19:36People can now hire someone with significant experience for the same price you can hire
00:19:45somebody without experience because the market dynamics have shifted, and there are a number
00:19:53of people, including seniors, who work much longer.
00:20:0065 is no longer old age, 65 is now middle age, and people work well into their 70s.
00:20:10So by the time someone retires and they have all that experience, and you can hire them
00:20:15on the cheap, then you know what that speaks to those who do not have the experience.
00:20:21And that is why programs like the OTT and so on is meant to fill, not completely fill,
00:20:29but certainly to fill that gap.
00:20:34So, Minister, the reason that I brought up the question about males and not wanting them
00:20:39to fall out of the workforce is because males would be more susceptible to a life of crime,
00:20:43and we don't want it to be that women are out there achieving and males are relegated
00:20:48to criminal activity.
00:20:50We would end up in some sort of social disarray.
00:20:55My own experience, and from what I'm seeing, is even that dynamic is shifting where a number
00:21:04of women are now getting very much into crime.
00:21:07So, you know, we have stereotypes that we have established over time.
00:21:14It's changing everything.
00:21:17Point noted.
00:21:18So, Minister, let's zoom into Labor Day celebrations.
00:21:22A lot was, in fact, said at those Labor Day celebrations.
00:21:27We heard of the suffering of the working class.
00:21:31People can't afford to recreate.
00:21:33They can't afford to provide for their families.
00:21:36Of course, the union, JATOM in particular, has said that government has done little or
00:21:43nothing for the workforce within these eight, nine years, and they are willing to give another
00:21:50political party they're open to talks with the opposition, UNC, and others to give them
00:21:56a chance.
00:21:58If all workers in the country feel that way, what will happen in the next general election?
00:22:06Well, I am sure the population at large is educated and wise enough to understand that
00:22:16changing A for B does not change the alphabet.
00:22:20It's the same alphabet.
00:22:23And that changes within the context of what they are looking for.
00:22:31If a UNC government, by way of giving an example, were to come in power, will they not be faced
00:22:40with the same dynamic, the same global gains, the same investment issues?
00:22:48And, therefore, one has to look at who, in that context, is best poised and best placed
00:22:56to move it out onto Bego, as we have been doing over the nine years, into a better place.
00:23:04We have changes in the landscape of the oil and gas, with the Manatee and the Lorenz fields
00:23:12and the Venezuelan deals.
00:23:14We have open discussions with several countries which regard the investment and private investors.
00:23:22And we are doing what we have to do.
00:23:25One of the things that we need to do in Trinidad is we also need to rethink our circumstances
00:23:35and what our living standards are.
00:23:38We have become a five-hour-away-from-New-York-type lifestyle.
00:23:47And we still go, and I'm not saying that you shouldn't, but we still look after luxurious items
00:23:59that we pay through our seat for, and you just have to look at the shipping companies
00:24:08and the skyboxes and so on.
00:24:11I'm not by any means suggesting that people's lives should be dramatically curtailed
00:24:18in terms of some of their wants, but certainly we need to focus on our needs
00:24:24and to ensure that those needs are fulfilled.
00:24:28I get the feeling sometimes that when we are negotiating, that we negotiate to get people
00:24:38to the point of where we fulfill every single need, sorry, every single want,
00:24:51and therefore we tend to want wages and so on to give us all our wants.
00:24:56But we really need to be prudent and we really need to look at other areas.
00:25:02This government spends a lot of money on education and health and security and all the like.
00:25:09Once you spend money on those things, it means that other things naturally will not occur.
00:25:16And just like any household, you have to make decisions on what you need and what you want.
00:25:26I myself have six children, and therefore I have known very well
00:25:32that when one child needs something and another child needs something,
00:25:37you have to make a decision on what is the priority and what are the needs.
00:25:44And no different to a country, we also have to look at what really is the needs that we have,
00:25:54and we have needs in security, we have needs to help our less vulnerable,
00:25:59we have needs to take care of our health care system,
00:26:04and therefore we need to manage within the context and cut our costs in line with what we have.
00:26:13But Minister, how would you address that particular school of thought?
00:26:18To use local parlance, we give somebody else a chance.
00:26:23How would you address that particular school of thought?
00:26:27How would you address the disgruntled working class?
00:26:37Well, when people say, we ain't do nothing for you, it brings me sometimes on the political horse lens.
00:26:46A young man told me exactly that.
00:26:49And I decided to have a dialogue with him and I asked him whether he had children.
00:26:54He said, yes.
00:26:55I said, are they in school?
00:26:57He said, yes.
00:26:58I said, if they fall down in a drain and lose their knee or their head, where would you carry them?
00:27:06He said, to the hospital.
00:27:07I said, do you pay anything when you go to the hospital?
00:27:10No.
00:27:11I said, one of the children will get in a grant, a disability grant.
00:27:18I said, so who pays the disability grant?
00:27:21Who buys the school books?
00:27:23So when people start to say, you ain't do nothing for me, are they really saying that you ain't do nothing for me today to buy a nice jersey or a nice shirt?
00:27:34Because all around you, you can see what we have done.
00:27:41If you take social services alone and the seven plus billion dollars that we hand out every year, who are the recipients of these grants and so on?
00:27:54So that question always kind of upset me because we take for granted too many things.
00:28:03Who pays the subsidy to Beagle?
00:28:05Who pays for the seniors to ride on the bus?
00:28:08Who gives, well, they don't call it pension anymore, but who gives senior citizens grants?
00:28:16So the narrative of they ain't do nothing for me, is that you want something done specifically for you and yours.
00:28:27That's where I rest on that.
00:28:30Are you then telling workers, hold strain, hope is near?
00:28:38Hold strain, hope is near.
00:28:40I am telling workers that one, we need to be productive because productivity gives you the wherewithal to make increases and to create a better life for yourself.
00:28:58The hold strain, yes, because better jobs are coming.
00:29:04We are working on it.
00:29:06We are not naive or our heads are not in the sand to understand that a lot of our population is not working and we need to get them jobs.
00:29:17But these things take time.
00:29:20So for instance, the investors from India are here and any business or activity that they would get into may require a gestation period of a year or two.
00:29:34So it's not going to be like next month they come and next month you see something.
00:29:39So yes, I would say hold strain.
00:29:41And meanwhile, I encourage them to reinvent themselves.
00:29:49Use the opportunity to take, to access education and skills and learning and all the like.
00:29:59Because it makes no sense bringing jobs and when you ask for the skilled workers, they're not there.
00:30:07So this is a time when economies like this get slow.
00:30:12We really should be retooling and enhancing our skill sets.
00:30:16Minister, is this a discussion that you would have with the rest of cabinet?
00:30:21Is this a discussion that you would have with the finance minister?
00:30:24Please say that workers are disgruntled.
00:30:26They are seeking to exercise their political choices.
00:30:30One, that 45% of the workforce, of the labor force, they are not participating.
00:30:40Are these discussions that you legitimately have?
00:30:42And what are some of these solutions?
00:30:45Well, we spoke about some of the solutions earlier.
00:30:49And any government will be discussing these things on an ongoing basis.
00:30:55This is not a conversation for Friday the 28th of June.
00:30:59This is a conversation that takes place every day in every ministry and every cabinet.
00:31:06Where what we do and when and how we do it is all geared and aligned to a whole-of-government approach.
00:31:14Because that is what is needed, a whole-of-government approach.
00:31:19Pockets of government trying to do things on their own will not work.
00:31:25Minister, how do you feel about, oh, let's talk about the National Tripartite Advisory Committee.
00:31:34That has, of course, collapsed, for want of a better word.
00:31:39The unions pulled out as they claimed that no one was listening to them.
00:31:43But at Labor Day, they called for more participation and they called for it to be reinvented.
00:31:49What is your role and your position as it relates to the National Tripartite Advisory Committee?
00:31:58My thought on it is that this is an absolutely necessary body.
00:32:07Because the opportunity to speak our truth and to agree, disagree and find common ground.
00:32:18In the absence of it, then there is one-handedness that is not good for anyone.
00:32:27In my ministry, I would have asked my Industrial Relations Advisory Committee to look globally at what is available as tripartism.
00:32:42And to come up with a model that would fit our circumstances.
00:32:50The good thing is that although they are not around the table in terms of tripartism,
00:33:00any issues we have with regard to development policy and so on,
00:33:06when we go to them, and I tip my hat to them, they have used a very mature approach of giving us their candid feedback and provide, like I say, feedback of substance.
00:33:19So, we may not be on the table, but certainly there is an understanding that things labor must have a labor input.
00:33:33And they have been very mature in that sense in providing what we need to do.
00:33:42I was just going to ask, when was the last time the committee met?
00:33:48That would have been a good two and a half years ago, three years.
00:33:52In that case, since you have come to the conclusion as Labor Minister that this is something that we need going forward,
00:33:59and just as these unions have indicated their intent to speak with other political parties,
00:34:04is it now time to make advances towards the unions, to ask them to come back to the table?
00:34:11Can we expect that, Minister, and how soon?
00:34:15Yes, you can expect that we would start a conversation, but we have to do so in a new framework and with a new paradigm.
00:34:24We cannot go back to the same old way of managing that process and expect a different result.
00:34:33So, just by way of example, there are several jurisdictions, like say South Africa, who actually have tripartism in law,
00:34:44with complete rules of engagement, that no party that comes in, in one term, to change the rules and things like that.
00:34:55So, there is stability, there is an understanding of who does what, when you meet, how do you pass the documents and proposals forward,
00:35:09how is feedback received, things like that.
00:35:13I'm not state football that far, but certainly it is one of my pet areas that I really would like to see some kind of movement before the end of 2020.
00:35:29Before the end of 2024, and I could see the unions would be very welcoming and happy of that initiative to particularly legislate tripartism.
00:35:40But then, at the same time, we wouldn't want any of those three parties to think that they have the power to still meet any particular initiative because it's legislated.
00:35:56Right, and I'm saying, and I may repeat, I'm not saying that it will be legislated, I'm just giving an example, and I don't know we may go that far.
00:36:06But what I will say is that tripartism comes with a level of maturity and a level of sensibility that no one person rules.
00:36:24And therefore, it is a give and take, it's a negotiation, it's a place of finding shades of grey rather than black and white, and you find solutions that everyone can live with.
00:36:39You cannot have a super high wage that favors the union or a super low wage that favors the entrepreneurs, the business class, and then expect to have social peace.
00:36:56So you have to have somewhere in the middle, you have to find a wage, and I'm just giving this as an example, you have to find a wage that the employee is happy with and the employer is able to and happy to pay.
00:37:12Now, what that is, it may not satisfy either party, but certainly it will give you a forum to move forward and maintain industrial peace and productivity and so on.
00:37:29Understood. As we continue this conversation, Minister, how do you feel about the predicted collapse of the national insurance system and the bid to move the retirement age to 65 or probably even increased contributions? Where are you in this paradigm?
00:37:52Well, we really have to look at that closely because if we don't do one or the other, the system will collapse.
00:38:07And if the system collapses, think about the catastrophic effect that we have or will have on the 15th of every month when people get their checks.
00:38:23That cannot be allowed to happen. I note that the unions are pushing back on the extension of the age to retirement, but I think it's early stages yet because there's a lot of dialogue to be had with the various stakeholders.
00:38:50And I wouldn't want to signal any one of those items. Who knows, it may be both.
00:39:04Yep, it may be, I believe, a combination of both. But just to add that this topic would be a perfect point of discussion for the National Tripartite Advisory Committee to all meet and forge a way forward.
00:39:22Definitely.
00:39:24And of course, Minister, just to remind our viewers that this issue as it relates to the national insurance system is not distinct or unique to Trinidad and Tobago.
00:39:37It's a global phenomenon and that's because of the decrease in birth rates. So we have less persons contributing or going to be contributing to this scheme.
00:39:48And of course, Minister, as we continue the discussion, what about the remote work pilot project or discussions as it relates to remote work? How do you feel about this? And of course, feedback, anything additional that you could give us?
00:40:02I am a champion for remote work because I have seen the impact, its effect, and I've also seen its impact on productivity.
00:40:16However, I note that not all jobs can be done remotely. And the civil service jobs, particularly those that interface with the public, may not be very open to that kind of a work from home remoteness.
00:40:43But certainly in some areas, it does lend itself. Our Ministry of Public Administration have been looking at that particular issue.
00:40:56And I believe just this week I saw something that spoke to it being ready for rollout and discussion.
00:41:09Don't hold me to that, but in something in the recent past that spoke to the Ministry of Public Administration being well advanced in terms of defining and suggesting the methodology for work at home. But I support it 100%.
00:41:31So do I, Minister. And just to say, when we talk about remote work, we don't mean you work remotely permanently. You may have to check into the office twice a week from time to time.
00:41:45And as you mentioned, it's not for every single job, you know, and then there must be accountability measures into that to ensure that while persons are at home, they do in fact work.
00:42:00Yeah, well, I have seen that. One of the things is when people are at home, you know what to do more than if they're in the office.
00:42:08Because when you check in, you have a daytime stamp. When you produce work, you have to put it on the system so you know. So if you have no daytime stamps and you have no work coming onto the system, then you're not working.
00:42:23Yeah.
00:42:24So it's quite, it's not to monitor. In fact, it's easier to monitor.
00:42:28Easier to monitor. I mean, just one day this week I worked from home and I found myself producing much more work than I would usually do at the office. I don't know why, but it just happened that way. Less time in traffic, you don't have to get ready to come to work or go back home in traffic, you know.
00:42:45And you have a lot of flexibility, particularly for people who have children of school age or toddlers and so on. I have seen where it has done very well for them in terms of their family, family life and so on.
00:43:01Yes. And, you know, it gives that person more peace. Minister, we're going to close the interview now. We have just about 10 seconds. Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?
00:43:13Yes, I would like to say that, you know, one of the things that we skip sometimes is the whole issue of productivity and creating more and more goods and services. And if we're renowned in terms of our workforce, then certainly our productivity and so on needs to improve.
00:43:37Certainly. Stephen McClatchy, Minister of Labour, thank you so much for joining us this morning as our first guest on the TV6 Morning Edition. Do have a pleasant day.
00:43:47Same to you and to the rest of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:43:50Thank you so much. Well, it's now time for a quick break. But first, let's look at this image submitted by Anjali Parasramsingh. Pretty in pink.
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00:45:58It's not a thrill when your speed can't kill you.
00:46:26When your speed can't kill.
00:46:57Welcome back TNT. Well, some bad news. Petalan Roberts, who's the newly appointed secretary of finance, she's due to be sworn in at 10 o'clock today at the office of the president.
00:47:11She is not able to join us. So the good news is that we will be able to take your calls and find out what's happening in your neck of the woods.
00:47:21You can, we can, of course, talk about just about anything. Confusion over the T.T.R.A.
00:47:29We can talk about the murder rate, what's going on with UNC MP Dr. Rye Ragbir.
00:47:41The opposition leader, of course, said that government favors Jindal for the refinery.
00:47:47What are your thoughts on this? And then there's that issue with the Silk.
00:47:52Atty. Wayne Sturge would have filed a freedom of information request to the office of the attorney general to find out, or should I say, get to the bottom of the of the distribution of senior counsel status.
00:48:08Earlier was it last week, I believe.
00:48:11And then cops probe sex sling. This seems to be a very interesting story because when Sadhana Gangu tragically died after being shot, just as she exited the health center where she was posted and about to enter her BMW vehicle, she was shot to death.
00:48:32It was very tragic and a lot of people came out on social media asking for a reason.
00:48:36Now, granted, there's no reason that could be given for a murder.
00:48:42There may be a motive. So if you'd like to share, you can call us at 623-1711, extension 1995.
00:48:51Let me read a bit of that story for you.
00:48:54Police have viewed explicit sex videos as they investigate the murder of nurse and beauty pageant contestant Sadhana Gangu.
00:49:02At least one of those videos, which has been circulating on social media, shows two women and two men.
00:49:09One of the women believed to be Gangu. I had a glimpse of that lackluster video.
00:49:16And you did see the woman, Gangu, does have a particular tattoo on her leg that was visible in that video.
00:49:24In the days before her death, Gangu, 44 years old, told colleagues, relatives and the police that people wanted to kill her.
00:49:35At the scene of her murder near the Princess Town District Health Facility on Wednesday, three of her relatives said they knew why she was targeted, but they declined to speak for fear of also becoming victims.
00:49:47One of the sex videos involved two men, one a businessman's grandson and the other a state employee.
00:49:57One person who spoke with the Express yesterday, that story done by Nikita Braxton-Benjamin,
00:50:03one person who spoke with the Express under strict anonymity said the registered nurse and contestant in the local leg of the Mrs. India Worldwide Competition
00:50:13was leading a double life and she felt unsafe. She didn't live a very nice life, but she was a nice person.
00:50:22A source said police attempted to serve a summons on Tuesday on a person who had threatened Gangu with death over one of those videos.
00:50:32Gangu was yesterday described as an independent person who was able to rise from an underprivileged life. The registered nurse was also a proprietor.
00:50:40She possessed several items of jewelry and other accessories.
00:50:45When thieves broke into her home in 2021, footage from the camera in her bedroom helped officers in the investigation.
00:50:53It is suggested that the video circulating online was in fact at her home in her bedroom and that camera appeared to be hidden for want of a better word.
00:51:05So it's not quite certain whether the participants would have known that they were being filmed.
00:51:14Powder Magazine joins us. A very good morning to you Powder Magazine. How are you doing this morning?
00:51:18Very good morning to you. I haven't seen you or heard you for a long, long while.
00:51:23I'm here, I'm here. Do you watch the news at night? I usually have stories in the 7pm news so you definitely hear from me.
00:51:30I was involved with the cricket now, working with the ICP and the cricket so I was very busy.
00:51:37I want to start off by saying congratulations for having you for the next two weeks.
00:51:43And I want to say congratulations to the young children who took the C exam and the results come out today.
00:51:51And they will be jumping around and they will be so happy. It reminds me of so many years ago when I saw my name on the newspaper.
00:52:00So I just want to say congratulations to them and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours, whatever school they are placing.
00:52:09But I have a situation where I'm living in Powder Magazine here with a rat infestation.
00:52:15I have brought it to your attention with the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
00:52:21I saw her outside Marnie Street in the two nights with Major General Rathbone and I had a one on one with her.
00:52:28And I told her how serious this rat infestation is. This is an agency compound.
00:52:35I am paying her a mortgage which I have paid off already.
00:52:38And not only for me, but for the children in the community, the rats are a very dangerous thing.
00:52:46And I am disappointed that this Minister has never never dialogued with me and contacted my number.
00:52:53She assured me that she will look into the matter.
00:52:56The bins that they have there presently now, the base of the bins are eroded and rotten.
00:53:03As a result, when they are throwing the garbage, it's spilling all over and rats are running all over Powder Magazine.
00:53:11Help us, please. If you would like to send a cameraman to see, I will be there to show you all what is happening here.
00:53:19Powder Magazine is under siege with the rats on it and the Minister must take action.
00:53:24This is their plea. Thank you.
00:53:27Thank you very much, Powder Magazine.
00:53:30But it seems as though rat infestation seems to be all over the country.
00:53:35But that is, of course, the responsibility of the regional corporation.
00:53:38We will try to reach out to you, Powder Magazine, and get some resolve over this situation.
00:53:43Because we would hate to hear that anyone would get leptospirosis.
00:53:47So it's now time for a quick break.
00:53:50Thank you so much for sharing your views with us.
00:53:53Of course, we were able to just take that one call from Powder Magazine.
00:53:55So thank you very much, Powder Magazine.
00:53:58We now go to a quick break and then straight to the 7 a.m. news when we get back.
00:54:03March is happening at the Ministry of Youth and National Service.
00:54:08You don't want to miss it. There are lots of opportunities that you can learn about on the other side of the news.
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00:55:48Good morning. I am Anselm Gibbs with a news update.
00:55:54The wait is over for more than 18,000 pupils who wrote this year's Secondary Entrance Assessment,
00:56:02as SEA results were scheduled to be released at midnight.
00:56:06The Ministry of Education in its analysis of the results found
00:56:11nearly 1.5% of pupils scored above 90%,
00:56:15nearly 58% of pupils scored above 50%,
00:56:20and just over 14% of pupils scored 30% or less.
00:56:28For the first time in the history of the Tobago House of Assembly,
00:56:32a woman has been sworn in as finance secretary.
00:56:36I think the time is appropriate now to introduce Mrs. Petalan Robots
00:56:42to Tobago in this new sphere of public service.
00:56:47Given her experience and her expertise, I feel extremely confident
00:56:53just handing over the keys to the Division of Finance, Trade and the Economy.
00:56:58I will go to bed with my eyes closed, as I do every night.
00:57:02I'll sleep soundly because I know that she will do an excellent job.
00:57:12And in the weather forecast, today you can expect initially sunny and hazy conditions,
00:57:18which may become partly cloudy as the day progresses.
00:57:22Showers are expected in some areas.
00:57:25Gusty winds, street and flash flooding may occur in or near heavy showers and thunderstorms.
00:57:31High temperatures are forecast at 33 degrees Celsius in Trinidad and 31 in Tobago.
00:57:37Seas will be moderate with waves between 1.5 and 2 meters in open waters
00:57:44and below 1 meter in sheltered areas.
00:58:08From our physical fitness to our mental well-being.
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01:03:07Welcome, Attranet and Tobago.
01:03:09The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service has designed a suite of programs
01:03:14in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
01:03:17One of those programs include the Youth Agriculture Homestead Program.
01:03:22Joining us on set to tell us more about this particular program is Anisha Beach.
01:03:27She's the program coordinator of the YAP, as we call it.
01:03:32And of course, Nairon Williams.
01:03:34He is a student.
01:03:36Good morning to you both and thank you so much for joining us.
01:03:38Hey Rishi, thank you so much for having us this morning.
01:03:40So I did kind of mention, well, just a brief intro about the program.
01:03:44But could you give us some more details about the program for those out there
01:03:49who may be hearing about it for the first time?
01:03:52OK, so the Youth Agricultural Homestead Program, otherwise known as YAP,
01:03:56is a strategic and social intervention designed for youth between the ages of 18 to 35
01:04:01to provide them with access to land, a grant, as well as a home
01:04:06after they have completed two years of training at the UCT at EKIAF campus,
01:04:10as well as NAMDEVCO and NEDCO.
01:04:13We started in 2022.
01:04:15We have had part-time and full-time training.
01:04:18And right now we have applications open for our third cohort of full-time participants.
01:04:23I was about to ask how many cohorts you've had so far,
01:04:26but how long actually is the program?
01:04:29So I'm guessing online may be a bit longer than...
01:04:32No, actually, it's two years across the board.
01:04:34So for full-time, it's two years in-person training, Monday to Friday.
01:04:378 a.m. to 4 p.m.
01:04:39And for part-time, it's two years as well,
01:04:43but it's online during the week, Monday to Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.
01:04:47and on weekends in person at EKIAF campus,
01:04:50Saturdays and Sundays, 7 a.m. to about 1 p.m.
01:04:53OK, so that seems to be a little bit...
01:04:57It's a lot. It's a lot.
01:04:59It's intense. It sounds intense, is what I should say.
01:05:02So if you started in 2022,
01:05:03the first cohort, have they graduated as yet?
01:05:06So, Mr. Williams, he's part of the first cohort
01:05:09and they have completed their training as of April 30th of 2024.
01:05:13And on July 8th, they will be receiving their licenses for their land.
01:05:19OK, so there was the graduation program and everything already.
01:05:23Yes, and we have a lotification ceremony that is on July 8th
01:05:27at the site at Chatham Dairy Farm.
01:05:30So that is where they will be assigned.
01:05:31So that is where they will all be getting their lots.
01:05:34It's one lot?
01:05:36Yes, one two-acre lot per student.
01:05:39OK, how many cycles or cohorts do you have outstanding?
01:05:47How many more?
01:05:49So thus far, we have had three full-time and two part-time cohort training.
01:05:54We intend to, as well, continue with about three full-time cohorts
01:05:59and two part-time cohorts.
01:06:01Because if I remember, when the program was launched,
01:06:04you had a set target of the number of participants you wanted.
01:06:07Yes, so we were working in tandem with CARICOM's target
01:06:10of 20% reduction of food import bill by 25% by 2025.
01:06:15So our aim was to, by the year 2025, produce 1,500 farmers.
01:06:191,000 in the YAP program, 200 in the Youth Aquaculture program,
01:06:23as well as 300 in the Youth Agricultural Shade House project.
01:06:27So that would be 1,500.
01:06:28And how are we so far in the numbers of students in the YAP program in particular?
01:06:34We are definitely on track, given the fact that we have our two full-time cohorts
01:06:40that one would have completed, one is in training.
01:06:42So that would have been 400.
01:06:44Our part-time, which is two part-time cohorts, that's 400.
01:06:50And our other full-time that is starting in September, that's 200.
01:06:54So that's 1,000.
01:06:55And you intend to run the same number of cycles as before?
01:06:59Yes, based on the overwhelming success of the program,
01:07:02we decided that we are going to continue.
01:07:04And that would mean that we would surpass and almost double that 1,500?
01:07:08Yes.
01:07:10That is excellent news. So let's get down to Mr. Williams now.
01:07:13Mr. Williams, if you don't mind sharing with us a little bit about
01:07:16what your life was like before YAP.
01:07:19Well, before YAP, I basically had the lockdown for COVID.
01:07:23And I started doing a little home gardening,
01:07:27starting little seeds and neighbors coming around and friends of the family
01:07:32coming around and seeing what I was doing and decided to say,
01:07:35well, I need you to do something for me.
01:07:37It's looking good, I want you to do something for me.
01:07:39Do some seedlings for me to do my home gardening.
01:07:41Sometimes I'm a producer, give it to family, give it to neighbors.
01:07:45And the hobby became my passion.
01:07:48As I always say, I'm a farmer by mistake or a technician.
01:07:51Technician by trade.
01:07:54And the farming just grew on to me.
01:07:58And I just, it was, it was an experience.
01:08:02And not too long afterwards, the YAP program came about.
01:08:06So I decided, I said, well, why not in it now?
01:08:10And people were believing in me.
01:08:12Why not go into the YAP program and get all the experience
01:08:17and the technical aspect about it?
01:08:19Because sometimes you're doing something, it's working,
01:08:23but you don't really know the background.
01:08:26And sometimes you just need to go to that program to cement to yourself,
01:08:29okay, yes, what I was doing was correct.
01:08:31Or maybe I need to do this, that or the other.
01:08:34Yes, that is exactly what it is.
01:08:37Even before I did the YAP program,
01:08:39I had established a business called Leading Seedlings and Exotic Plants.
01:08:43I was doing little, small, little things.
01:08:44And starting YAP, it opened up my eyes to new things
01:08:48and made me perfect the things that I was doing
01:08:51and realized the things I was doing wrong.
01:08:53It really opened up my eyes on the 360-degree farmer
01:08:58and agricultural entrepreneur.
01:09:01And that's what YAP kind of opened my eyes to.
01:09:05And just, basically, things that I didn't know,
01:09:10I know now thanks to the YAP program.
01:09:11So, what was the course like?
01:09:14Which one did you go for?
01:09:16The course, I was in YAP full-time.
01:09:18Full-time.
01:09:20Full-time, and it was complete.
01:09:22In person.
01:09:24Yes, in person.
01:09:26That was the 8 to 4, Monday to Friday.
01:09:28And we had all different sorts of modules.
01:09:31Some things like animal livestock.
01:09:33I was never even thinking about it.
01:09:35I had to see.
01:09:37I was kind of a little afraid of chickens and all these kind of things.
01:09:39But just being there in the community and studying it,
01:09:43and the fear for the chickens,
01:09:45it just dwindled away.
01:09:48I don't have no fear for them.
01:09:50I don't have no fear for large animals.
01:09:53It just became a love for the whole agricultural aspect,
01:09:57all the different sectors.
01:09:59We did processing.
01:10:01We did the crop technology.
01:10:05We did the business aspect about it.
01:10:06It's just like a whole 360 experience.
01:10:10It had nothing that they didn't touch on.
01:10:12And they do things like,
01:10:14if you can't feed it,
01:10:16it feeds like forage, like grasses.
01:10:19Things that you would,
01:10:21if you don't have the finances,
01:10:23you still have a way to be able to do the farming business.
01:10:26So it's like from farm to table, as they say.
01:10:29Yes, that is exactly what it is.
01:10:31So at the end of the program,
01:10:32you said it started off with the plants,
01:10:34hatching little seedlings and so on.
01:10:36Where are you now?
01:10:38Well, currently,
01:10:40my business,
01:10:42as a leading seed and exotic plants,
01:10:44that we get invited to a lot of pop-up shops,
01:10:48the agri-expo.
01:10:50We went and we take agri-expo,
01:10:52thanks to NYDNS.
01:10:54It's just,
01:10:56we just go to court.
01:10:58It's an experience.
01:10:59Being in YARP opened up a lot of doors.
01:11:01And do you,
01:11:03are you now,
01:11:05have you now expanded to include
01:11:07like more varieties
01:11:09that you would have not had at the beginning?
01:11:12Yes, that is one thing.
01:11:14We did horticulture in UTT.
01:11:16Before, I used to buy stuff to sell over.
01:11:19Now through the program with YARP and with UTT,
01:11:22I do all those things for myself now.
01:11:25So I even registered my business
01:11:26and I get linked up with the companies that sell.
01:11:29So I will get things at a wholesale price.
01:11:31And it's just,
01:11:33it just opened up my eyes to the inventor.
01:11:36And I get the impression you started on your own.
01:11:38Yeah.
01:11:40And you now employ people.
01:11:42Yes, I employ people.
01:11:44That is,
01:11:46you really brought the true success story
01:11:48with you here this morning, Ms. Beach.
01:11:50So how would you, Mr. Williams,
01:11:52encourage persons out there
01:11:54who are at home
01:11:56probably not doing anything much,
01:11:58sitting down, looking at the TV today?
01:12:01Right.
01:12:03So I would tell anybody out there,
01:12:05the YARP programmers out there,
01:12:07for you to apply for,
01:12:09even if you think farming is a hard thing,
01:12:11farming is not hard.
01:12:13We live in the 21st century
01:12:15that technology makes farming easy.
01:12:17So don't really think about it
01:12:19as a hard work.
01:12:21You'll be sweating.
01:12:23It is nothing like that.
01:12:24It's something to embrace.
01:12:26We open up it.
01:12:28It makes you feel yourself
01:12:30and feel your nation
01:12:32and help with food security.
01:12:34And food security is an important thing
01:12:36and to reduce the food bill
01:12:38because things are expensive all over.
01:12:40For you to be able to plan something
01:12:42to feed yourself,
01:12:44feed your family,
01:12:46feed your neighbours,
01:12:48feed your country
01:12:50is a plus for everybody.
01:12:52And a young person
01:12:54well,
01:12:56YARP opened up
01:12:58some things that I would never really
01:13:00like to do.
01:13:02And within the programme,
01:13:04I did it.
01:13:06I never used to like to do nothing
01:13:08from no seeds in.
01:13:10I used to like to buy plants
01:13:12and put it in the ground.
01:13:14My teachers and them from UTT,
01:13:16especially my crop teacher,
01:13:18I'm in love with crop and planting.
01:13:20So that is one of my passions.
01:13:22I never used to like to
01:13:24go to the farm and the teachers
01:13:26how to repair our tools like our workers
01:13:28and how to maintain things
01:13:30so it will last long.
01:13:32And it's just an experience
01:13:34I would advise anybody to do
01:13:36because it's all worth it.
01:13:38The two years in the programme,
01:13:40it's worth it.
01:13:42You wouldn't regret it.
01:13:44It could build from it
01:13:46and it could grow from it.
01:13:48And I encourage anyone
01:13:50to take the opportunity and do it.
01:13:52So you are due to receive
01:13:54a lot of support around right now.
01:13:56What do you see?
01:13:58What do you envision?
01:14:00For me, I envision
01:14:02getting down on the land
01:14:04and helping with the food bill
01:14:06because food is a major problem.
01:14:09And to have healthy food
01:14:11and enough to really
01:14:13lower the prices
01:14:15so people could afford
01:14:17to feed their family
01:14:19with healthy food,
01:14:21healthy and nutritious food.
01:14:22I'm smiling and nodding
01:14:24everything that Mr. Williams is saying.
01:14:26And you certainly agree.
01:14:28You knew him before.
01:14:30How was he screened into the programme?
01:14:32So the screening process
01:14:34is actually done by
01:14:36a Cabinet-appointed committee.
01:14:38So once we receive the applications
01:14:40and usually you receive over
01:14:42about 1,200 to 1,400 applications,
01:14:44it is taken to that
01:14:46Cabinet-appointed committee.
01:14:48They vet all of the applications.
01:14:50They go through based on
01:14:52the number of applications
01:14:54and then the top 200 are selected.
01:14:56So I would have not met Mr. Williams
01:14:58until he would have joined the programme.
01:15:00And then he is,
01:15:02I'm smiling and nodding
01:15:04because he is an example
01:15:06of many of the students
01:15:08about their feedback,
01:15:10about what they would have
01:15:12brought forward where they said
01:15:14they would not have been exposed
01:15:16probably to animal husbandry,
01:15:18something along that line.
01:15:20And it has just opened their eyes
01:15:22to what we can do.
01:15:24A tutor, anything?
01:15:26Or just a coordinator?
01:15:28Because you seem very invested
01:15:30and you know everything about it
01:15:32and exposure, farms, everything.
01:15:34I think mainly because of the fact
01:15:36that the youth are very important.
01:15:38They encompass about 500,000
01:15:40of the country's population.
01:15:42And so we have to be invested
01:15:44in our youth
01:15:46in order for us to feed ourselves,
01:15:48in order for our population
01:15:50to grow and develop.
01:15:52So in the programme,
01:15:54in terms of training,
01:15:56we are all invested in this
01:15:58because it is so crucial
01:16:00for them to actually be a success at the end.
01:16:02And how would it feel come July?
01:16:04I think you said about 400
01:16:06in his first cohort?
01:16:08200.
01:16:10So 200,
01:16:12each of them getting two acre plots.
01:16:14So that's two by 200
01:16:16is 400 acres of land
01:16:18that is due to be cultivated.
01:16:20Is it specifically food crops?
01:16:22Yes.
01:16:24The certificate in agriculture
01:16:26and agro-processing technologies
01:16:28opens these students
01:16:30a vast number of opportunities.
01:16:32They, during their two years,
01:16:34would have decided on what they
01:16:36would really like to get into.
01:16:38So we have crop production,
01:16:40we have livestock production,
01:16:42et cetera.
01:16:43We also have some students
01:16:45who are deeply involved
01:16:47in agro-processing
01:16:49as well as apiary.
01:16:50So they are producing as well.
01:16:52It's 400 acres,
01:16:54so it's a vast expanse.
01:16:56So they are placed based
01:16:58on their production type.
01:17:00And they are also,
01:17:02because they receive training
01:17:04and guidance from NAMDEVCO,
01:17:06they would be given some advice
01:17:08based on what they can produce
01:17:10or what they should produce
01:17:12so there would not be
01:17:14a glut on the market.
01:17:16And when they go down on the land,
01:17:18it's not as though we're just
01:17:20doing something on a small scale
01:17:22and then two acres.
01:17:24Two acres, exactly.
01:17:26So what is your expectation
01:17:28on these 400 acres?
01:17:30I mean, I'm just getting excited
01:17:32because I'm just seeing more food,
01:17:34as Mr. Williams said,
01:17:36on the market.
01:17:38It may be even more affordable.
01:17:40Yes, so the expectation is twofold.
01:17:42We would like to see a transformation
01:17:44in the type of food that is produced
01:17:46as Mr. Williams would have indicated,
01:17:48a lot more healthy options
01:17:50and we would like to see
01:17:52a transformation in the 0.14 area
01:17:54and Chatham.
01:17:56Chatham is a very underdeveloped area,
01:17:58a very quiet area,
01:18:00but we would like to see
01:18:02some action happening down there
01:18:04to become like a food basket
01:18:06of Trinidad and Tobago
01:18:08so people would see Chatham
01:18:10as somewhere that they can go
01:18:12visit these students,
01:18:14see it as a model as well.
01:18:16And so what we also would like
01:18:18to encourage is even though
01:18:20people would be interested
01:18:22in just producing their food,
01:18:24apart from probably going down
01:18:26to the students and asking them
01:18:28for advice and even being employed.
01:18:30There's so much excitement
01:18:32over this program.
01:18:34I know you said it's for 18 to 35,
01:18:36but we have some persons in the studio
01:18:38and they want to know
01:18:40if there's anything for older persons
01:18:42because they're so excited about it.
01:18:44So that is the number one issue
01:18:46or complaint that we receive,
01:18:48but the thing is we are
01:18:50a program that actually saves
01:18:52young people between the ages
01:18:54of 10 to 35.
01:18:56There are programs, however,
01:18:58that are available through
01:19:00the Ministry of Agriculture,
01:19:02Land and Fisheries,
01:19:04which is one of our key stakeholders as well.
01:19:06We are partnered with them
01:19:08and they offer a number of free programs
01:19:10through the EATUS program.
01:19:12So I always encourage people
01:19:14over the age of 35,
01:19:16especially those who have access
01:19:18to land resources, et cetera,
01:19:20to really want to focus on our youth.
01:19:22There are many people who always say
01:19:24we don't give the youth opportunities.
01:19:26There's nothing out there for these.
01:19:28No, there's a lot available
01:19:30for the young people.
01:19:32And even for older persons.
01:19:34So you can go visit
01:19:36the Ministry of Agriculture website.
01:19:38As we close, could you give our viewers
01:19:40some details about the program?
01:19:42So the program right now,
01:19:44especially the application period,
01:19:46is open and the deadline is July 15th.
01:19:48You can visit our website,
01:19:50www.mydnstt.gov.tt.
01:19:52We also have our social media outlets
01:19:54at MyDNSTT
01:19:56or at Youth in Agriculture.
01:19:58So you can visit either one
01:20:00for information.
01:20:02You can also call us at
01:20:04612-9367
01:20:06extension 5010
01:20:08or 5003 or 5002.
01:20:10We are always welcome
01:20:12and willing to give you some advice
01:20:14or give you some information.
01:20:16And of course, all that information
01:20:18is on the screen.
01:20:20And we can tell you,
01:20:22it's absolutely free.
01:20:24Absolutely free, yes.
01:20:26So let me thank you both
01:20:28so much for joining us and sharing.
01:20:30And Mr. William,
01:20:32let me wish you all the best.
01:20:34You have to invite us down to your farm
01:20:36when you really get it in your hands
01:20:38and have it cultivated
01:20:40in one of these good days.
01:20:42No problem.
01:20:44Thank you so much.
01:20:46Thank you so much.
01:20:47Thank you so much.
01:21:17So people, in the end,
01:21:19the guest didn't come.
01:21:21But we should not be surprised.
01:21:23He just couldn't speak the truth.
01:21:25So he didn't turn up.
01:21:27But I won't back down.
01:21:29No, I'll never surrender.
01:21:31Listen, and listen very clearly.
01:21:33Trinidad and Tobago
01:21:35will always be first.
01:21:37We will always be number one.
01:21:39We will always be number one.
01:21:41We will always be number one.
01:21:43We will always be number one.
01:21:45We will always be number one.
01:21:47Yes, there is the door.
01:21:49You can close it on your way out.
01:21:51This is the world
01:21:53I was made to do
01:21:55Are those crocodile tails?
01:21:57Crocodile tails? Really?
01:21:59This is how you sport?
01:22:01That won't work here.
01:22:04Andre Errol Battiste
01:22:06Born for This
01:22:13The Curah, Pentecostal and
01:22:15Portland Ministries International
01:22:177 Macdonald Street, Curette, Trinidad, West Philly presents Empowerment Through the Word.
01:22:23Come with us as we affect humanity with the life-transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus
01:22:29Christ. We invite you to stay tuned and be blessed.
01:22:47Welcome back TNT. We're talking SEA results are out and of course the analysis has been
01:23:03released by the Ministry of Education. Joining us is Tutor President Martin Lumpkin to give us his
01:23:08perspective on this year's SEA report and that of course was from the Ministry of Education.
01:23:15But just overall, Mr. Lumpkin, maybe you would be in a better position to let us know.
01:23:20The portal was supposed to be open at 12, well midnight last night. Of course, I know someone
01:23:28sent me results before that so I am just assuming that the portal worked well. There were no glitches.
01:23:35Have you had any reports? Good morning, Ms. Tawari. Good morning, Trinidad and Topego.
01:23:44At this point, I have not gotten any reports on the release of the SEA examination.
01:23:52Actually, last night I'm on a chat with educators and someone did say the portal was open before 12
01:23:59midnight. I wasn't able to check so I can't verify that but there seems to be no reports,
01:24:09ill reports or good reports thus far. I know during the course of the day we will get
01:24:14information as it relates to the process of accessing that result online. I'm guessing
01:24:21everything went smoothly because other than that we would have seen it all over social media. We
01:24:27would have seen the complaints all over social media. Yes, I think so and the Ministry of
01:24:33Education did have one year in order to fix the glitches that they experienced last year.
01:24:41I am imagining that they would have looked at that. They have a very good IT department in the
01:24:47Ministry of Education so I am confident that they would have looked at that, done the necessary
01:24:52testing but one of the things would have been the traffic around 12.01 and so that access and that
01:25:01robustness of the system. I think they would have looked at that. Certainly, so of course the
01:25:08ministry prior to opening the portal and allowing students and parents to access their results they
01:25:15would have released their analysis. We're seeing as it relates to mean raw scores when it comes to
01:25:24mathematics and English language arts writing they appeared to be an increase in that mean
01:25:33raw score which went from well let's take mathematics for instance 50.4 in 2023 to 50.7.
01:25:43It increased just by 0.3. We saw English language arts writing went from 53.4 to 59 but we saw a
01:25:54drop in English language arts from 61.6 to 53.4. It sounds like a lot of numbers but
01:26:02how do you interpret that variation this year as compared to last year?
01:26:09So firstly let me say congratulations to all the students and to the teachers as well. We
01:26:18sometimes forget or we sometimes not remember the stress that our teachers would have gone through
01:26:25for this high stake examination. So tutor congratulates the entire community of educators
01:26:32as well as the education system. When we look at the numbers and every year the ministry of
01:26:37education will do their analysis of the performance of the students year by year and make a comparison.
01:26:45We also have to remember that one coming out of COVID there was learning loss and the
01:26:52ministry of education has attempted to bridge that learning loss. However there are factors within
01:27:00each year that we have to be cognizant of. So comparing statistics every year looks good on
01:27:07paper. It's a nice public relations way of saying that we are doing what we're supposed to do.
01:27:14However we have to really drill down into what has been taking place at the nation's schools.
01:27:20Every school has its own unique situation and that is where it should be done. That tracing and the
01:27:30statistics or even that level of testing needs to be done at the level of the school. By and large
01:27:38the majority of our schools do it. They will teach and they test what they teach and they
01:27:45reflect and they would adjust. That happens. However in some schools unfortunately not like
01:27:52others that level of testing is not done to the level that should be. So coming back to the
01:28:02statistics there seems to be an overall improvement. However and what is the factors
01:28:10of improvement as well too? Is it that this year we would have had more support and resources? The
01:28:18ministry is saying that through the after school program. We are to see the results of that still
01:28:26and you know let us get seriously into a tutor's position in terms of this high-stake examination.
01:28:34This summative test that we are placing on students not only SE, CSEC and CAPE.
01:28:41We are just educating our children to pass examination. Is it that education and even
01:28:50schooling is supposed to be the best years of our children's lives? Is it really such that
01:28:59the children are enjoying coming to school or is it that you know other aspects are being neglected
01:29:06because of the subjects that have to be tested? So we need to have that conversation and we look
01:29:15forward to Minister of Education, our government who will say seriously let us look at it
01:29:24because it is affecting psychologically our children. We speak about psychological abuse
01:29:31of children and my question is are these examinations psychological abuse on our children?
01:29:40I mean as you mentioned Mr. Lumpkin, this is a long overdue discussion. We're seeing
01:29:47some of our regional partners have departed from these as you call it high-stake examinations and
01:29:54well the discussion may be what do we replace it by? But before we get into that part of it,
01:30:00whereas you would have said that it seems to be an improvement and that would be reflected in
01:30:05mean raw scores, what I did note is that when we look at the year-to-year students who would have
01:30:14scored above 90 that decreased from 2.11% to 1.42%. Even the above 50 decreased just a bit from 58.06
01:30:27to 57.91 and interestingly the below 30 increased so those doing scoring below 30% went from 13.5
01:30:41to 14.3%. Does your position remain that there was an improvement?
01:30:49Well when we look at statistics, statistics can be manipulated depending on which side of defense
01:30:56you sit on. Now generally when you look at overall, so you're looking at a mean score,
01:31:03an average score, it seems to be. So when you actually drill down, so we have not had an
01:31:08opportunity to actually get into the figures and those statistics that you would have revealed,
01:31:15it shows that at the top level and at the lower level there needs to be a review of that and we
01:31:23are really concerned about the below 30%. It means that you are not functioning at a level
01:31:30that you're supposed to. What will be done in order to one, in the primary school level address that,
01:31:40but two, those students if they are placed because of age in the secondary school, what level of
01:31:46support will be given to them? Far too long they have been sent to secondary schools and the support
01:31:54isn't there in order to bring them to at least being functionally literate. We just throw them
01:32:00into the schools and tell the teachers you go, you do what you could and our teachers are sometimes
01:32:06not trained to deal with because these children also may, I'm sorry I'm trying to be careful,
01:32:13may have some other baggage that they carry apart from learning issues. There are other issues
01:32:20and so we need to strengthen this and again utilizing a standardized national test is not
01:32:30the best way. Literature will show that this is not the best way to assess the education system
01:32:37and to by and large place children because the SE is a placement examination. I think we are too
01:32:45far gone in our education system to have competitive placement. Secondary education
01:32:52should be universal for all and the area of tech work has, I know the ministry is trying to improve
01:33:00but it is taking far too long. Some of these children will do well into tech work areas, even
01:33:07those that we deem as being excellent in the basic curriculum, the core curriculum. They may
01:33:14choose a tech work area as well too so it's not only for what we term don't see children but it
01:33:20is throughout the entire nation. But does that Mr. Lumpkin now call for a complete overhaul of our
01:33:28education system? We have been saying this over the years, tutors when we check the records we have
01:33:35been consistently calling for a comprehensive review of the education system. We have to start
01:33:43by defining what is the nature and purpose of education and how it relates to national
01:33:49development. We don't do that. We have this colonial system so when we do the history
01:33:57because there were not sufficient places for secondary in the past we had these examinations.
01:34:03Now that should be a thing of the past. We should be placing our children based upon their needs
01:34:09into secondary schools. The ministry is trying these thematic schools. We look forward to see
01:34:17what they are doing with it. However you know we are not sure on it so we continue to meet
01:34:24with the ministry of education but there must be within all schools. All schools should be deemed
01:34:30prestige schools no matter the school. There should not be that category of my school is
01:34:36better than yours because of x y and z. All schools should be given the opportunity
01:34:42to educate equally throughout Trinidad and Tobago. So tell me more Mr. Lumpkin because
01:34:49you really intrigue me there with these thematic schools. So is it that for instance
01:34:55students who are interested in sport or music or different sex can access these
01:35:04different schools and is it fair to streamline students from primary school in this regard?
01:35:10Within the primary school so let me start off the second part within this primary school
01:35:15and even ECCE because that's the foundation and you're laying that foundation in ECCE.
01:35:22So once the education system is such that it caters for the needs of the children at that level
01:35:29so we all think about ECCE and children reading and writing. Yes they will do the basic skills
01:35:35but it is about motor skills as well as interaction and interpersonal skills as well too.
01:35:41That should be the greater aim of it and you'll do some of that. Within the primary school there
01:35:47should be such that you have the basic level of learning and within the primary school you can
01:35:55children can start to explore areas that they are comfortable with and I know the experiences that
01:36:03by primary to secondary sometimes you change. We all have great dreams of being this and that and
01:36:09so but within that let the children dream let them explore. One of the things I admire about
01:36:16the United States of America the children can speak and speak on any topic most topics fluently
01:36:24and that show and tell aspect of it you know that's a great thing. Our children are sometimes
01:36:31hesitant or shy of speaking in public so you know that's one of the areas as well. When we are going
01:36:38now to secondary and children have a fair idea of what they would like to pursue then if they
01:36:46are schools that will cater to specific areas then they go to those schools once it's close
01:36:53enough to their geographical area. However all schools in secondary should have the basic
01:37:00subject and core subject as well as other subject areas. So the ministry is attempting now
01:37:06to blend the core curriculum with specialized areas and four schools were chosen.
01:37:15We were not able to get the rationale for choosing these four schools and so we are still meeting
01:37:22with the ministry and why they were chosen and how would it impact on the specialized areas
01:37:29if they are not. So for example St. George's College is doing STEM so what about the other
01:37:36areas is it would it impact such that they would not need some of the teachers would they now be
01:37:43removed from the school. These are questions that we have been asking now. The principle behind it
01:37:49we will not agree until we get full information. We understand what the ministry of education is
01:37:59attempting to do within the next year and so but we are not clear as to how if and how and if it
01:38:06will be rolled out to other schools as well too. Is it going to be by districts is it you know
01:38:12that is not clear but the idea of having you know certain specialized areas is not a bad idea
01:38:23but it needs to be thought of carefully and implemented carefully as well.
01:38:28How far has this program gone because you said that that there were some concerns
01:38:33Yeah so we our understanding is that it's supposed to be rolled out by September
01:38:412024 the new academic year and the first term. We are not certain that everything will be put in
01:38:48place for that. We have spoken to some of our principals and they are not even aware of what
01:38:54the program will be like and they are the schools involved for schools so that we we're really not
01:39:02confident that it will be in time for September 2024. What we were told it is based upon a loan
01:39:10by the IADB so they have this fulfilled certain requirements and tutor has always said yes you
01:39:18may be getting the funding yes you may have certain deadlines however if it is not implemented properly
01:39:25the best idea is not implemented properly will is destined for failure and we have seen some
01:39:32initiatives in the past that has that have failed because of the lack of proper planning and
01:39:39execution. And particularly when you're dealing with the education of young children you know.
01:39:45So Mr. Lumpkin we're about to close this interview and as we close is there anything you'd like to
01:39:50share or just sum up your thoughts on the SEA exam? So tutor again is willing to meet with the
01:39:58ministry of education and all our stakeholders when it comes to this placement high stake
01:40:04examination. We are saying again there was a review a couple of years ago tutor was part of it
01:40:10however the results of that have not been released as yet. That task force was led by
01:40:18professor Delia and since then we have not had the results of it and we are calling on the
01:40:25ministry of education to release the results of that task force. However we are strongly of the
01:40:31belief that this high stake examinations examination really needs to be reviewed and there must be a
01:40:39better way to place our children in secondary schools. A better way to place our students in
01:40:45secondary schools. You heard it from president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers
01:40:49Association Martin Lumpkin. Mr. Lumpkin thank you so much for joining us and do have a great day.
01:40:55Same to you. Thank you very much. Well to our viewers it's now time for a quick break but first
01:41:00let's check out this beautiful image captured by Matti. We'll be right back.
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01:43:32is
01:43:46you can describe it as the calm before the storm but don't take my word for it. We've got
01:43:51meteorologist Mr. Gary Benjamin joining us the TNT meteorological service and the national hurricane
01:43:58center. They are monitoring a strong tropical wave that's expected to develop into a tropical
01:44:04depression or a tropical storm near TNT. Of course as I mentioned meteorologist Gary Benjamin joins
01:44:11us. Mr. Benjamin good morning to you. Thank you so much. I am so wary of using meteorological terms
01:44:18because I don't want to get things wrong but could you um give us uh let me first thank you for
01:44:24joining us and of course um ask you to give us a brief idea of what this system is in the Atlantic.
01:44:33Okay good morning to all your viewers listeners and to you yourself a pleasant good morning.
01:44:39Let me just frame the situation to the east of Trinidad and to Beirut and the Lesser Antilles
01:44:45as it stands right now. Just to our immediate east there is a low-level trough. Some analysts
01:44:52over the region has called it a tropical wave but reality at DMS med service in Trinidad and
01:44:59to Beirut is calling it a trough and we should see the effects of that sometime late tonight or
01:45:05tomorrow into tomorrow. We would get some cloudy periods and one or two isolated thunderstorms.
01:45:11The region or the area or the system of concern to the east of us is AL95 which has been
01:45:21investigated this time for development. There is an 80% chance a very high chance for development
01:45:27into a tropical cyclone by um in the next 48 hours and a 90% chance of it developing in the next
01:45:36seven days. This system is expected to reach Trinidad and to Beirut by either very late Sunday
01:45:43night or early Monday morning and the prognosis is that it most likely would be a cyclone even if
01:45:54and I want to make this clear if it didn't develop into a cyclone that is if it would pass as a
01:46:00strong tropical wave if it does develop into a cyclone it would either be a depression or a
01:46:06named storm. The effects of this system would be the major effects or the more intense effects
01:46:13would be just to the north of Tobago and around Barbados area would be the major
01:46:21and more core centered intense effects of this system but Trinidad and Tobago being so close
01:46:28to the south of the system it's going to pass and it's going to destabilize our atmosphere somewhat
01:46:34and therefore it is possible for us to get some weather out of it but we are not directly
01:46:40threatened at this time from that from that system. Not directly threatened. So Mr. Benjamin
01:46:47is it early for early within the hurricane season for the development of a tropical storm?
01:46:56Well for this season we have predicted above normal amounts of tropical system formation
01:47:04within the Atlantic Basin, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and also for our area of interest
01:47:11our predictions are the Trinidad and Tobago meteorological service we are going for above
01:47:17normal amounts of development systems so if we are going for above normal amounts then
01:47:24it is expected that we would see an early start to these developments. An early start. So you did
01:47:32say we may start to see effects late Sunday into early Monday even if it doesn't develop
01:47:41into a tropical cyclone as you mentioned we will get some level of rain and wind I'm assuming?
01:47:48Well that is most of it would be in the area north of Tobago and just north of Barbados
01:47:54as it stands as the prediction stands right now. This is why I am asking and the Trinidad and Tobago
01:48:01service is asking the citizens the population anybody who have our information to keep abreast
01:48:07of it and listen carefully as things evolve most likely according to the predictions
01:48:14it could be a tropical cyclone as it reaches the eastern Caribbean and along our long reaches.
01:48:24And in that case as it relates to preparations and so on what should citizens do at this point?
01:48:31Well we have always from the very beginning we have put out our predictions for the rainy
01:48:37and hurricane season so the preparations should have been started long before now and at this
01:48:44point what should be happening is that if in case of any adverse weather that might happen in your
01:48:50area for instance if you live in a flood plain prone area then you should already be somewhere
01:48:57following your preparation so prevention or mitigation against flooding you should have
01:49:02your emergency rations your emergency preparation bar in case you have to evacuate in any system
01:49:09you should also have your medications and important documents secure in waterproof containers
01:49:16and also for the wind you should also have trim your trees clean your gutters and don't leave
01:49:22loose objects around the area. And of course take care or make arrangements for our pets as well.
01:49:29Yes the pets is always an important part the pets young children and the elderly and you must secure
01:49:34yourself first because if you need to help anybody around you you must be first healthy to carry on
01:49:41that job secure yourself and secure make sure you take care of the pets and those around you who may
01:49:46not be as able as you to take care of themselves. Mr Benjamin and what about thrill seekers like
01:49:51those persons who would hear and know and look at warnings and know that a system is about to
01:49:57approach and they would venture for instance to the beaches how do you advise or address these persons?
01:50:06Personally as a human being personally as a meteorologist I do not recommend it I
01:50:13I want to firmly discourage it but we know whether we recommend or discourage that people
01:50:22would do what they want to do so we have to get our information out there and I'm saying today
01:50:28to those who are listening it is a no-no it is discouraged on my part so please take heed
01:50:36and keep yourself safe basically keep yourself safe so that means you behave appropriately and
01:50:42do the right things so that you will not get yourself in problems. And of course Mr Benjamin
01:50:46if you could remind our viewers as to how they can follow with you with the med services the
01:50:51development of this system and how they can be most informed. Okay we are putting out official
01:50:58statements one is to come out around eight o'clock this morning that would be the third one because
01:51:03every time the system reaches approximately halfway between the African coast and the
01:51:09Antilles then we start to do official statements about eight o'clock this morning we're going to
01:51:15have one an update and that is going to give you updates on the system. Every day we have
01:51:20forecast 6 a.m 10 a.m and 4 p.m we also are on different social media platforms for instance
01:51:29Facebook Instagram and Twitter and once you keep abreast of all these bits of information
01:51:35you may be hearing a lot of different types of information coming through from different sources
01:51:40but of course go ahead listen to them if you like but see if you can always look at the network
01:51:47sites and come back to the forecast and the updates we are having. We also have five day
01:51:53outlooks and updates that we will be doing from time to time so the information is out there the
01:51:59information from the Trinidad and Tobago Mutual Protocol Service is out there for you on different
01:52:04platforms so that it is available and please avail yourself of it. Mr. Benjamin it's this system is
01:52:11expected to develop and organize itself like let's say within the next 48 hours it is predicted
01:52:17you said to be somewhere close to us late Sunday early Monday by Sunday morning or Saturday night
01:52:24would we have a better idea or when could you tell us like you know we'll know the exact track
01:52:29well not exact but as close to exact as possible track of this system and we would be able to know
01:52:35whether or not it will affect us and how badly. The prediction from now is as I said the track
01:52:42of it would take the major the central part of the system north of Tobago and just around north
01:52:48of Barbados within that area where the heavier weather is concerned of course as you go nearer
01:52:54and nearer or later in the future you have more and more information it is an 80 percent
01:53:02chance for development in the next 48 hours that is a very high chance so more than likely it is
01:53:08going to develop into a cyclone and also the track we can say with a certain amount of confidence
01:53:16that the track would go as we are predicting but there is always the chance that it may vary so
01:53:22that is why I'm saying that because it's an 80 percent chance means that there's a 20 percent
01:53:28chance that it may vary differently so I'm saying for now this is how it looks like and once we
01:53:35keep up to date we will see the progress as it comes to us. Gary Benjamin a meteorologist thank
01:53:42you so much of course you're attached to the Met Services thank you so much for sharing with us and
01:53:46of course this public advisory to members of the public to be on alert and of course to follow the
01:53:51Met Services to get their regular updates thank you so much for joining us. Much appreciated be
01:53:56safe and take care always. Thank you so much well that brings us to the end of our show but before
01:54:02we leave you we share with you this image instead of of ending the show let's go to a quick break.
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01:55:17so
01:55:47right
01:55:52welcome back TNT well we came back just to say goodbye that brings us to the end
01:55:57of the show but before we leave you we share with you this beautiful
01:56:00image top of the morning to you TNT
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