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00:00:00After that performance there, I don't know how to begin.
00:00:17Let's hear a little more of it.
00:00:19Let's hear a little more.
00:00:21I don't know what to do.
00:00:23All right.
00:00:24But a very special good morning Trinidad.
00:00:26Welcome to the Morning Edition.
00:00:28It's Thursday, July 18th.
00:00:30Thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:00:32And thank you very much for the music.
00:00:34You know, there are various beats, right?
00:00:36When it comes to drumming and drums and so on, right?
00:00:39So, when you have particular events,
00:00:42there's a different beat for each event.
00:00:45You know that?
00:00:46Yeah?
00:00:47DJ man, you know that?
00:00:48I just hope you're playing the right beat this morning.
00:00:51I just hope so.
00:00:52Right?
00:00:53But thank you for the music this morning.
00:00:55How are all of you?
00:00:57I hope that you had a good night.
00:00:59It was a cool night, I believe.
00:01:02I'm not sure that we got a lot of rain overnight,
00:01:04but I'm just thinking of the residents
00:01:07who have been affected by the inclement weather and the floods.
00:01:11Yeah, we are going to be discussing that a little later on this morning.
00:01:15We have one of the councillors for the area to speak about that.
00:01:19And, you know, I was looking at the news
00:01:22that we showed you a short while ago.
00:01:25Tour drivers and even passengers,
00:01:29has there been any time that you're driving
00:01:33and you almost feel intimidated by what you're seeing around you?
00:01:39Yeah?
00:01:40This morning was a morning like that on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway.
00:01:43You should see the speed at which people were driving this morning.
00:01:48It was amazing.
00:01:49I don't know where they are going.
00:01:52A vehicle passed me.
00:01:53That vehicle was heading east.
00:01:55And I don't know if the person was late.
00:01:57They were going to the airport.
00:01:59I don't know what it was.
00:02:01And this is around 5 o'clock this morning,
00:02:03just before 5 o'clock this morning.
00:02:04You talk about speed.
00:02:06Well, I hope that person reached to their destination safely.
00:02:11All right?
00:02:12But be careful on the nation's roads out there
00:02:14and remember that they are wet these days.
00:02:17All right?
00:02:18So let's check out to see what's happening on the front page today.
00:02:21Soldiers slapped with four charges in death of Kiss driver, Neal Balai.
00:02:26Justice at last.
00:02:28And flooding nightmare.
00:02:29Inundated.
00:02:30A motorist drives a pickup past a man pushing his bicycle
00:02:33through floodwaters at Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore, yesterday,
00:02:37following overnight rainfall in the area.
00:02:40Well, let's get to the story of Mr. Balai.
00:02:44Soldier 29 facing court, four charges in Kiss driver's death.
00:02:48Close to four months after the horrific incident,
00:02:50a soldier has been slapped with four charges in the death of Kiss delivery van driver, Neal Balai.
00:02:56And his widow, Mr. Balai's widow, says this is justice.
00:03:01This is justice for Neal.
00:03:03From the Ministry of Health, three dengue deaths, 303 cases.
00:03:08Trinidad and Tobago has recorded three laboratory-confirmed deaths
00:03:11and 303 laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue fever.
00:03:15The latest death is said to be that of a 16-year-old boy of Separia.
00:03:21All right, we're moving on to some sport now.
00:03:24Find a way.
00:03:26Brathwaite wants more discipline from batters in second test.
00:03:30West Indies Captain Craig Brathwaite is hoping his batters will find a way
00:03:34to challenge England strongly for the Richards Botham Trophy
00:03:38as the second test begins at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, from 6 a.m.
00:03:44All right, so still cricket.
00:03:46This is cricket season, right? A lot of cricket all over the place.
00:03:49All right, so it's time to remind you about Trinidad and Tobago's feature.
00:03:52Remember to participate, email your videos or images to this address.
00:03:56Do we have that address? Yes.
00:03:58That is the address that you have to email your images or videos to.
00:04:02Do we have an image for our viewers this morning? Yeah?
00:04:07I call this picture The Coming.
00:04:10You know why?
00:04:12All right, it sounds like a good title.
00:04:14Thank you to the person who would have sent that in to us.
00:04:16We do appreciate your photographs, all right?
00:04:20So we do have a very interesting program for you today.
00:04:24You have your coffee, your tea, get something to eat, and come back.
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00:04:58Remember, we like to lend.
00:05:24Remember, we like to lend.
00:05:55Everything is about to break for you.
00:05:59I was in Gethsemane.
00:06:01He dragged that, I call, salvation for man.
00:06:07Lift my eyes unto the hills.
00:06:09We only have one place to go for help.
00:06:12Hallelujah.
00:06:14So I celebrate in Jesus.
00:06:24We are destined to walk into your new season.
00:06:54Oh, oh.
00:06:56From Togo to Kareli.
00:06:58Oh, oh.
00:07:00Marava to Santsusi.
00:07:02Oh, oh.
00:07:04From Scarborough to Kokoree.
00:07:06Oh, oh.
00:07:08Profiling on Patrick Street.
00:07:10Street, street, TNT.
00:07:12Oh, oh.
00:07:14Welcome back, everyone.
00:07:16I'm just reading a story here.
00:07:18We're still speaking about calls for a curfew.
00:07:20Very strong support for the imposition of a limited curfew.
00:07:23In response to the crime epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:07:27According to a response to a poll question posted by the Express on its digital platforms yesterday.
00:07:34Of course, Imam Shiraz Ali of the Al-Sukhoor Nur-e-Salam, or Islam, has called for the imposition of a curfew.
00:07:42In some areas of Trinidad with the objective of limiting the times people are allowed to move freely to commit heinous crimes.
00:07:50Of course, this is not an old suggestion.
00:07:54There has been a lot of talk about this in the past.
00:07:57Of course, the Prime Minister has responded in the past saying that, you know, he's against things such as the state of emergencies, curfews, things like that.
00:08:07So we'll see if his position has changed, if government's position has changed.
00:08:14All right.
00:08:15So we're moving a little further into the discussion on crime.
00:08:19Shogunist West MP Dinesh Rambali says it's time to stop the political bickering and come together to deal with crime.
00:08:26He says petty politics and empty rhetoric are filling the airwaves while innocent lives are being lost.
00:08:32The MP joins us this morning.
00:08:34MP, good morning.
00:08:36Good morning, Marlon, and good morning to your viewers and listeners.
00:08:41Despite our not so good circumstances at this time, it is my pleasure and privilege to join everyone this morning.
00:08:48Yes, MP, it's always good to speak with you.
00:08:52You would have put out a statement on the weekend.
00:08:55You said a number of things in that statement.
00:08:58But do you believe that politicians on both sides of the political divide can put aside their differences and can ascribe to what you are suggesting in a sincere way?
00:09:14Well, Marlon, look, through the majority part of the past decade, no problem has worried the Trinbegunians more persistently than crime.
00:09:26I heard you earlier in this program that when you look at the comments in what I know, I think it is titled the big question that appears every day in the express newspapers.
00:09:40And when you look at the people meet the polls traditionally run on your evening news, it is clear that crime is the problem that concerns people the most.
00:09:50So I think, yes, I think that if it is that you have the uppermost concern for the people being crime, and then you have the politicians and the political leaders not understanding that this is what is the main concern for the people,
00:10:07there is going to be a major disconnect.
00:10:09And I can't see that in a small society like ours that such a disconnect will be allowed to go on for so long.
00:10:16So I think, yes, that the time is right.
00:10:19And I think it is even overdue that us, including myself, politicians, political leaders, that we are all on board with trying to come together in the interest of the nation, in the interest of the people.
00:10:32But you also say in your statement, many parliamentarians are happy with the perks of political office, but are absent when the time comes for responsibility and accountability.
00:10:43Yes, and that is, that is, that should serve as a wake up call.
00:10:51I am of the view that if we don't arise from our slumber, this is exactly what we would be castigated as doing.
00:10:59That, look, we are quite happy to occupy positions.
00:11:02We are quite happy to enjoy perks associated with the office.
00:11:10But when it comes to really standing in the gap for the rights of the people, in the interest of the people, that we are not interested in doing so.
00:11:18So I am making my call very clear.
00:11:20It is not castigating.
00:11:22It is not an indictment at this point in time.
00:11:25What it is, this is simply a call on all of my parliamentarian colleagues that we need to really set aside the politics.
00:11:33And I want to start by saying as well, Emalan, that the worsening of the crime problem is the direct result of the government's incompetence and apathy.
00:11:45I don't want my statement to be taken out of context.
00:11:49I do not want to be construed, Emalan, as though the Prime Minister, Dr. Rowley, and his Minister of National Security, Minister Hines, are in any way absorbed from their responsibilities.
00:12:00My call for politicians and leaders to work together does not mean that those who are charged with the responsibility for safety and security are not responsible and accountable to the public.
00:12:14So I want to make that apology clear, that when I am also talking about these discussions and making such a call, I am talking about persons on all fronts of the political divide.
00:12:26I am referring to competent, competent politicians.
00:12:30And I am referring to politicians who are not in any way affiliated whatsoever with criminal elements.
00:12:36Emalan, look, we are in July of 2024.
00:12:42I remember doing a phenomenal amount of press conferences in 2022.
00:12:48And the reason for doing so was because we were seeing that we were all set.
00:12:53The criminologists had said in Trinidad and Tobago that we were set to break the record of the amount of murders for any particular year in the history of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:13:08We were there. We were out there.
00:13:10The United National Congress, Mrs. Posada's successor, on her instructions, I myself was there beating all of the stations because crime was out of control.
00:13:23And lo and behold, what we attempted to stop did not come about.
00:13:27In other words, we still reached the level of criminality and we recorded the highest number of murders.
00:13:36We are in July 2024.
00:13:38Why is it that we can't get this thing right by at least starting by putting our heads together?
00:13:44Crime has become uncontrollable.
00:13:46It is clear that law enforcement alone will not curb it.
00:13:50So we, the politicians, have to quickly reach agreement on the most comprehensive crime fighting and rapid crime reduction program ever proposed in this country.
00:14:02It is imperative that all the kings are worked out, all the details are fleshed out.
00:14:09I know that we are going into an election year, but politics must be remote to successfully complete this mission, Marlon.
00:14:18You see, on the one level, we are talking about guns and ammunition.
00:14:22That has been dominating all the media in the last few months.
00:14:27That is on one level.
00:14:29The Prime Minister seems much more frightened of citizens having guns to protect themselves than he does about the criminals having the guns.
00:14:38So he is therefore being extremely myopic in terms of allowing ordinary citizens, farmers, the criminal elements, have the upper hand because even businessmen,
00:14:51the farmers, the ordinary citizens, the businessmen, they have not been allowed to have access to firearms, whereas the criminal element does.
00:14:59So I leave that there for now, but I say at the end of the day, the free flow of guns, drugs, ammunition are a major concern.
00:15:06That is on one level.
00:15:08On another level, Marlon, we are talking about our porous borders.
00:15:11The fact that Trinidad continues to be the ideal transshipment hub for guns and other ammunition and trafficking of illegal drugs and humans.
00:15:20You have yet another level.
00:15:22We are talking about the gangs and the gang warfare and criminality.
00:15:26This is now spilling over into the home invasion.
00:15:30The discussion cannot ignore, I saw even in the Express newspaper today, if I'm mistaken about reading it early this morning, it may have been in last night's news, TV6 news.
00:15:40The discussion cannot ignore the school violence and what is happening right under our noses in the school system.
00:15:46But you know MP, there has always been a perception, and I suspect it's a true perception,
00:15:55that if one political party supports another political party, it may give the political party that is in power the advantage over the other political party, if you get what I'm saying.
00:16:12And that has been one of the problems.
00:16:17That's why politicians can't get together.
00:16:20There have been many calls for them to get together on the issue of crime.
00:16:25But I suspect political parties believe, well if we support certain legislation and initiatives and so on, it may give the advantage to the other political party.
00:16:36Well Marlon, that cannot simply be relegated to perception.
00:16:44That is a reality at times that the population is very much justified in seeing it as more than a perception and seeing it as a reality.
00:16:52And this is why my call has come about.
00:16:54If we are serious as elected officials, as politicians, on either side of the political divide, wherever you may be in the political landscape, as a stakeholder or as an elected official,
00:17:07if you really are interested in putting people and country first, that cannot be part of the equation.
00:17:15It cannot be a dominating consideration anymore.
00:17:18It certainly is not for myself.
00:17:20I can speak for myself, and I'm calling on all my colleagues.
00:17:23We need to put down the political gun, because we cannot consider ourselves first in terms of holding political office if it is we intend to really come together.
00:17:36And the last point I wanted to say, when I was making these points, that you have different levels of how this criminality is manifesting itself in our society.
00:17:47The last, which is where I think that the politicians should be the least worried, Marlon, about if it is we are able to put our heads together and deal with crime and actually start to push back against it.
00:18:00I am saying that we need not worry, because I am also saying that another level of this, or dimension of this problem, and it is certainly not the least, is the reality picture that has been painted for over the past nine years,
00:18:14which is the compelling enough evidence that you have increasing numbers of people who do not have meaningful opportunities or access to assistance to improve their own lives.
00:18:28And I mean by local means.
00:18:30And so reliance on crime has become an acceptable alternative.
00:18:35And that, in my mind, is even more worrying now, because we are going to be forcing people to now turn to a life of crime.
00:18:43And I am saying that whether you be a politician or anybody else, the least concern you will have is that with this broadening category on the element of crime is something that is frightening.
00:18:54And this is where we must rise up to the task, Marlon.
00:18:58You know, there is also a perception that some politicians just do not care.
00:19:03And I am talking from time immemorial with our experiences with politicians over the years.
00:19:11That politicians just do not care because of their circumstances.
00:19:16In many cases, they are immune because of the communities that they are living in.
00:19:21Sometimes they do have security and so on.
00:19:26And they just do not understand the pain and the trauma that the common man is going through.
00:19:34Marlon, if that is true, and I think that that may be real in some instances, unfortunately, even I am beginning to think that members of the government, members of the national security apparatus, this incompetence and apathy is a real thing.
00:19:55And therefore, that is most unfortunate.
00:19:58But I think that the population's frustration with the lack of treatment with crime is becoming so overwhelming.
00:20:07And it is something I made mention of in my budget presentation last year, that it is soon about to reveal itself in bold anger.
00:20:17You see, statistics may be 600 and whatever it may have been in 2022, a little less on the figures in 2023.
00:20:31And this year, we seem to be spiraling out of control again.
00:20:34But the crime is not limited to those numbers.
00:20:37Each person who is murdered, they are just part of a nucleus, right?
00:20:44Their family unit is affected.
00:20:46Those are the immediate victims.
00:20:49Then you have the secondary category of persons who are affected in the community.
00:20:53So these numbers, in my budget presentation, I carried it well into a figure of 200,000 based on my calculation.
00:21:01I am saying that these people are not going to take this very lightly.
00:21:05Notwithstanding that we are now in the final year of leading into an election.
00:21:10I don't think whether you are PNM, UNC, or any other party, this party or otherwise, that you are going to take this situation involving crime lightly.
00:21:19And I think you are going to see some very prominent and vociferous voices coming out against the lack of approach on the part of the government and the lack of cohesion and cooperation on the part of all elected officials.
00:21:36It is going to be condemned.
00:21:38I think that is why I am making the call because I am seeing the movement and I am seeing the shift in the thinking of the people and people want betterment in this country.
00:21:48You say citizens no longer believe in the ability of political parties to work in their best interests.
00:21:53This disillusionment has further exacerbated the challenges we face.
00:21:58This cannot be recovered in the short term.
00:22:00It must be recovered in small steps.
00:22:02The first step is showing that there are consequences to crime.
00:22:06I read that part of your statement to link it to what you said a short while ago.
00:22:13Do you believe that if the politicians in general, on both sides of the divide, if they do not deal with this issue of crime in an analytical way, in a decisive way,
00:22:26and there is assistance for the citizenry very, very soon, you think that there are going to be political consequences?
00:22:36Marlon, there are going to be political consequences.
00:22:41I think that if it is the population that does not see leadership, to start with, from the political leaders, and then that translates down to other members of parliament that do not see the population,
00:22:54does not see cooperation taking place, by all concerns, I think that you will be seeing a drastic shift moving forward.
00:23:03And I will tell you why.
00:23:05In the highest court of the land, being the parliament, what we saw, and this is what I am amazed by, and I can't understand why we can't expand on this.
00:23:15We had significant debates on the bail amendment laws in this country.
00:23:22On the one side, and it's not that I'm criticizing my own side and praising another or vice versa.
00:23:28I am saying, if we use that as an example, there was significant debate and discussion, and it seemed as though we were never going to agree on bail amendment laws in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:23:38But then, just two weeks ago, or roughly two weeks ago, in the parliament, that being one of the last pieces of legislation to be debated,
00:23:46I saw where the leader of the opposition got up and spoke in the debate, very early in the debate, on the part of the opposition side,
00:23:54and said that, look, she is speaking on behalf of all members of parliament in the opposition, and that we will be supporting that piece of legislation,
00:24:03which went against what was being said on the part of the opposition for quite some time.
00:24:09And then, immediately thereafter, Dr. Rowley, as the Prime Minister, got up and said, but you know, this was one piece of legislation which I had wanted to be discussed as part of prime discussion,
00:24:22but which never took place. And therefore, what is the leader of the opposition and the Prime Minister signaling to the population when they do things like that?
00:24:32I think they are saying that it is not impossible. I think that they are saying that we can, in fact, get this done.
00:24:38Otherwise, they have been very hypocritical as two political leaders, and I really would like to think that that is not the case on the part of both of them.
00:24:46So, you believe that crime talks should be put back on the table?
00:24:49Yes.
00:24:50Is it safe to say that you were disappointed that the crime talks didn't take place, and you believe that there is the opportunity again for crime talks to be put back on the table?
00:25:00Yes, I think so, because based on those statements that they made, and it is on Hansard, I am thinking that, imagine if we didn't support those crime talks then, in the early part of 2023,
00:25:13where would the country be today, halfway through 2024? Who knows? We could have been well on our way to curbing these amount of violent crimes, curbing the home invasion.
00:25:24So, I think that it really needs to be put back on the front burner, and I think we all over the country are duly to get involved in this.
00:25:33Look, Marlon, our leaders, I know that our time is short, I think we may be well out of time, but our leaders, and this is the point I was making, that look, we can do things, our leaders and elected officials can get the entire public on board.
00:25:47I really see no reason why we can't establish a think tank. I mean, people do it in community groups, people do it at different levels.
00:25:56I am sure in the media houses, they have a think tank as to where they think they can fix it in discussion.
00:26:01Ask the professionals, get the criminologists who are very much eager, willing, ready, willing and able, every day or every other day I see them willing to venture their positions in the media,
00:26:12and let them come up with some short-term suggestions or statistics, and simultaneously, you allow people in their own communities to proceed with what they have come up with.
00:26:23For example, we saw a situation, and I just want to use this one example, where people got together and they were setting up guard posts and so on.
00:26:31I mean, there's one prominent activist, Inshan Ismail, and they went ahead and they set up guard posts.
00:26:37Why is it that we saw the need to then go down the road of demanding that they demolish it?
00:26:43So, open up some of the non-traditional legislative solutions which are being come up with by the communities.
00:26:51An MP, I want to just speak about that, what you're speaking about, non-traditional initiatives.
00:26:58Because, I mean, as a citizen MP, sometimes I am disappointed, I am frustrated, I am troubled by the discussion that I continue to see in the Parliament.
00:27:12And when we speak about crime, it seems to me that the same things are being spoken about all of the time.
00:27:20The anti-gang legislation, the bail amendment bill, and then we run into problems with it.
00:27:26And then, I think MP, those pieces of legislation, and you can prove me wrong, but I believe that those pieces of legislation and types of legislation such as that, they have not served us well.
00:27:42They have been found to be flawed, and I put it in the context of, if they were working well, then I suspect more persons would be arrested and charged and convicted when these pieces of legislation and laws are ruled out.
00:27:58Marlon, I agree with you entirely with that observation, and this is where I think it comes down to political will.
00:28:09And that is where I say that what I am calling for in no way absolves the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security from being responsible for where we are.
00:28:19The government and the Cabinet has to own up this responsibility.
00:28:24If it is you want assistance with the legislative agenda, I am saying let's get it done.
00:28:28Let's get it out of the way.
00:28:30Let's agree on short-term suggestions.
00:28:32Let's agree on the medium term, which I think will probably be dealing with more the criminal justice system, what has to be done.
00:28:40And let's talk about the long-term initiatives that we need to get into the schools and educate the public.
00:28:46And even that stringing initiative that we have heard about, you want to come up with certain social programs and otherwise that you want to implement, let's agree it.
00:28:57Let's come up with it, let's agree, and let's talk about implementing it with a defined time period.
00:29:03And let us have some measurable indicators that we can come back to the population and say something is working and something is not.
00:29:11But right now I can tell you, the talk of anti-gang and bail amendment, you say you want this legislatively to fix and to deal with crime, but you have to have political will to implement it.
00:29:23You must be able to proceed with the infrastructure for it.
00:29:26And you have to report back to the population to say where it is we are going.
00:29:30And the Prime Minister himself must take the fall for that.
00:29:34And I want to just quickly say that I saw today nauseating crime narratives.
00:29:39That is the editorial today in the Express newspapers.
00:29:43And what they are saying is that whenever we have these upsurges, these spikes in crime, which are untenable situations on their own, but we have had many of these,
00:29:53what you see is the Prime Minister simply coming and calling this roundtable conference in the Prime Minister's residence or wherever he is having them.
00:30:02And it is a cut and paste of what he has said before that you are hearing again.
00:30:07And the population does not want to hear that.
00:30:09They want to hear, look, Dr. Rowley, you said in 2023 that we were going to do A, B, C.
00:30:15We were going to implement citizen patrol.
00:30:17We were going to heighten security, whatever else.
00:30:20How did you do it?
00:30:21And therefore, where has it, how has it been operationalized?
00:30:25Where has it succeeded and where can we make it better now?
00:30:28How are we feeling?
00:30:29We are not hearing that.
00:30:30We are getting cut and paste time and again.
00:30:33And so I really commend the Express editorial today, nauseating crime narratives, because I think that is exactly what we are being asked to digest.
00:30:42So MP, what's the next step by you?
00:30:44Are you going to take your suggestion officially to the leaders of your party and also take correspondence to the government for the politicians to sit down and maybe have talks again to deal with the crime situation?
00:31:01Well, Malin, when you are an elected official and you hold public office, the fact that I put out a public release and I think all of the media has carried it, which I am grateful for,
00:31:11that in itself is official communication to another public official as to whether I will need to codify anything else in writing to make it more, I should say, make it more available.
00:31:26If it needs to be, and to explain my position and my thoughts in Claret and what I have done, yes, I am most prepared to do that.
00:31:34But I think as it stands now, there isn't any different way I think I can articulate my English, my command of the English language to say what I have said.
00:31:42Let us put aside our differences and unite for a common good.
00:31:47And I am saying that together we can address the root causes of crime and create peace, safety for Trinidad and Tobago for all.
00:31:53So for me, what would I write?
00:31:55I will write the leader of the opposition and I will write Dr. Rowley and my parliamentarian colleagues to say, I again urge all leaders to step up and fulfill your duties to the nation.
00:32:06I am not going to do that.
00:32:07The time for action is now. I am saying it. The people are saying it as well.
00:32:11So with no disrespect meant to any of them, I say to everybody on your program, Malin, through you, I want to say to all of my fellow politicians, all of them,
00:32:21let's stop trying to keep our jobs and start doing our jobs.
00:32:26MP, it's always a pleasure speaking with you.
00:32:29Thank you very much for your perspective this morning.
00:32:31We do appreciate it.
00:32:32Bye for now.
00:32:34Malin, thank you so very much.
00:32:36And to your viewers, thank you.
00:32:38So it's time for a quick break, everybody.
00:32:40But first, check this image for you.
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00:33:30Extreme weather is only getting worse.
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00:33:39You don't need PhDs and fancy gadgets to do what we do.
00:33:46It's always insane.
00:33:49Don't face your fears.
00:33:52Ride them.
00:33:58Hola, amigos.
00:34:00Minute Maid and KFC proudly present the biggest circus from Mexico, the Suarez Brothers Circus,
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00:34:50The Suarez Brothers Circus will now open on Friday, 19th July at the Queen's Park, Savannah.
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00:34:58Did you know that vaping with nicotine can permanently affect brain development in people under the age of 25?
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00:35:58Hey, let's have a party.
00:36:03A Caribbean party.
00:36:06The entire region together.
00:36:11In one big splashdown fiesta.
00:36:16A Caribbean condition.
00:36:19And we are going to be continuing our discussion on the crime situation.
00:36:24Just a point in the Daily Express today.
00:36:26Criminologist urges government to act on police reform.
00:36:29Set up inspectorate.
00:36:31Criminologist Professor Ramesh Devasaran has called on the government to quickly establish the police inspectorate,
00:36:37which was recommended by the Policeman Power Audit Committee.
00:36:41Professor Devasaran had chaired this committee, which submitted a 600-page report to the Prime Minister in 2017.
00:36:48The Prime Minister said then that the report would be used as a blueprint for the road ahead with respect to transformation of the police service.
00:36:59And again, in the Express, strong support for a limited curfew.
00:37:04Very strong support for the imposition of a limited curfew in response to a crime epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:37:10According to the response to a poll question posted by the Express on its digital platforms yesterday.
00:37:17All right.
00:37:18So, as I said, as we continue our discussion on crime, we do have Chairman of the Confederation of Regional Businesses on the line at this time.
00:37:27We do have Mr. Vivek Charan.
00:37:29Mr. Charan, good morning.
00:37:31Good morning, Marlon.
00:37:32Yeah.
00:37:33Happy to be on this morning.
00:37:34Of course.
00:37:35Always good to see you, Mr. Charan.
00:37:36Well, there is a discussion this morning since the beginning of this week about a limited curfew.
00:37:44There are some in the business community who are in support of this.
00:37:50Has your confederation at all discussed it, taken a position on it at all?
00:37:58The discussion about bringing up, you know, talk of a limited curfew as well as, let's say, a state of emergency has come up.
00:38:07The reality is I don't think that the time for a limited curfew is now.
00:38:16I do believe that a limited curfew, if we look at the last state of emergency that we had, which was under the UNC.
00:38:25There was, in fact, a state of emergency with a curfew.
00:38:30That curfew lasted a while.
00:38:32And I think it hurt businesses, particularly those businesses in the evenings and those that operate at night, more than anything.
00:38:40And it didn't really get the results.
00:38:42What it really did is keep the criminals off the streets for a certain period of time.
00:38:47But what we really need, Marvin, is we need more than maybe things like a curfew is cosmetic in a sense.
00:38:57What we really need is the dismantling of the gangs.
00:39:00So when you see the public as a whole, you know, weighing in and saying things like, we want a curfew.
00:39:09We want a limited state of emergency.
00:39:12We want the government and the opposition to be working together.
00:39:16What's it really saying?
00:39:17It's really saying to us that people are in a state where they feel the government doesn't have all the solution.
00:39:25They feel that the efforts that they're seeing from those agencies, the TDPS, the Commissioner of Police, it isn't giving the results that they feel comfortable with.
00:39:40So if we ask ourselves, is it political, is it anti-government to say, I am not comfortable.
00:39:46I am anxious. I am afraid.
00:39:49I don't feel confident given the current crime situation or the environment in the country.
00:39:54And we'd have to say, no, no, no, it's not political.
00:39:58And it shouldn't be.
00:40:00What is the measure by which you can say as an individual, without, let's say, data and the statistics available to the TDPS and so on, about how far you feel this crime situation has become and that it's affecting.
00:40:14So let's ask ourselves this question.
00:40:16How far away from you from a serious crime?
00:40:19How far away from you is, let's say, a home invasion?
00:40:23So let me speak for myself.
00:40:27My cousin was a victim of a home invasion.
00:40:31My neighbor.
00:40:32Two colleagues in chambers in the Confederation of Regional Chamber.
00:40:38Another colleague who is in another chamber.
00:40:41A very good person.
00:40:43Lots of service over the years and so on.
00:40:46And just this week, a young lady that I know, her family, and that one wasn't in the papers.
00:40:52Some of what I'm speaking of was never really in the papers.
00:40:56And all of these have been verifiable.
00:40:58So all of this goes to show that when you find yourself one person away or a phone call away from someone who has been a victim of a serious crime like a home invasion, then, you know, the perception is that crime is on the rise.
00:41:13I can also say certain communities in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:41:16You can ask the question, how far are you away from, you know, a gang-related killing where it involves firearms and it involves, like, you know, executions and so on?
00:41:29And the reality is that in some communities in Trinidad and Tobago, people will say, but I had gunshots every other night.
00:41:37Or I know somebody in my area that got killed, you know, just the other day.
00:41:42Or I know these people and so on.
00:41:44So the crime is coming close to home.
00:41:46It mightn't be happening to you, but it is coming close to home.
00:41:49And that, I feel, is the perception that a lot of people have.
00:41:52So where do we go?
00:41:55Yeah, you feel that because of the events of last weekend, you feel that the crime has taken on another dimension now because of how many murders would have occurred last weekend?
00:42:10Exactly, because we keep hearing about hotspots, but the reality is when you look at how wide the area that crimes are happening, then you realize that it's not just in what is called a hotspot.
00:42:24Port of Spain, sometimes the Samoa area, Tunapuna often has gang-related killings, Arima.
00:42:33Things are happening in St. Helena, Bish, you know, South San Fernando, Pinal.
00:42:42So, you know, many of these places were traditionally hotspot areas, but then crimes are happening in these areas as well, too.
00:42:49So there is the sense that it's becoming too much for people, and that is why there's this outpouring of, you know, we need more to be done.
00:42:59So, you know, so where does the responsibility really lie, Marlon?
00:43:03Is it for you and I to say that I have a plan and I want to tell the Commissioner of Police what my plan is?
00:43:10I want to tell the Minister of National Security what my plan is.
00:43:13And I must say that, you know, I don't really think that that is our role.
00:43:17And it's not our role because the people who are directly, you know, who are directly responsible for looking after the population or looking after us and dealing with this crime situation would be, let's say, some aspects of the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police and the TTPS.
00:43:40Both the Minister and the Commissioner of Police were hand-selected, they were picked, they were put into office.
00:43:46And while they were put into office, all this, you know, this responsibility, I'm sure it's a very onerous thing to be, you know, the head of the TTPS, particularly at this time.
00:43:58And I'm sure the same must be said about the Ministry of National Security.
00:44:02Nonetheless, it does not take away from the fact that the responsibility for the safety of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago falls squarely upon their shoulders.
00:44:10Not upon yours and not upon mine.
00:44:12We might have a role to play, but, you know, surely the responsibility falls upon them to do that.
00:44:18And the reality is that formulating a crime plan is not for amateurs, Marlon.
00:44:24If it is that you are on the inside and you have access to the data and the statistics and an idea of what are the resources available at your command and so on.
00:44:34And remember that the real data and the real statistics aren't just what is reported in the papers.
00:44:38Most of the crimes that, you know, we do hear is because we hear it in the news, we hear it in the media.
00:44:43Some of it we see online and some of it we hear, you know, word of mouth.
00:44:47But the reality is that there is a lot of crimes that will go unreported.
00:44:51A lot of incidents that will go unreported.
00:44:53And all of these would possibly be collected by the police.
00:44:55So if you're on the inside, you have the ability to say, you know, I can be part of this thing.
00:45:00But if you're on the outside like the rest of us, it's best to leave it to the experts, Marlon.
00:45:05And the truth is, you know, the other day there was a football match I went to with my son.
00:45:10Schools were playing and our school was losing.
00:45:14And I watched from the sidelines parents shouting to their kids.
00:45:20I need more. I need more. I need more.
00:45:22And they lost the match.
00:45:24And I feel that this is a sense, there's a sense that we're losing the match.
00:45:28That we're losing the fight.
00:45:30Particularly after what happened last weekend.
00:45:32So it's not wrong for us or it's not anti-government for us to tell the people in charge.
00:45:37We need more. Right?
00:45:40I need more. We need more.
00:45:43We need more to bring some sort of change and to give us the level of security that we need.
00:45:50Just a few things.
00:45:51Following the events of last weekend, the police service would have had a news conference.
00:45:57At that time, the police commissioner said that the police service had not lost a handle on the crime situation.
00:46:05That's one.
00:46:07They also promised more type of in-your-face type policing.
00:46:13Then the prime minister, there was a meeting convened earlier this week of the National Security Council.
00:46:21He met with heads and so on.
00:46:23And it was agreed that there's going to be a more sustained effort as it relates to crime and the patrol of communities and so on.
00:46:32After you have heard all of that, do you feel a little safer?
00:46:36Do you, members of the business community, feel a little more assured that things are being done to protect this country?
00:46:46The right things are being done.
00:46:49The right things are being done.
00:46:51The prime minister has come out.
00:46:52He's said the right things.
00:46:53He's convened meetings and so on.
00:46:55And that is what he should do as a leader.
00:46:58The reality is, however, that I believe the right things have always been trying to be done, if I can use that word.
00:47:08They've always been trying to deal with this crime situation.
00:47:11But it's not static, Mark.
00:47:13And because it's not static, there's a sense that if the TDPS makes one step forward, the criminals are making three steps forward.
00:47:21And that, I suppose, is something that we're also dealing with.
00:47:24But there are short-term measures and there are long-term measures.
00:47:29So, when we look at the fact that the TTPS should be on a war footing, as they say, with the criminal gangs in order to dismantle the gangs.
00:47:37And, in fact, they are the police, the real police, let's say, not the ones giving out $1,000 tickets on the side of the road.
00:47:44But the ones that went bulletproof vests and some say even expired bulletproof vests that are walking around with legal firearms and have to respond to very serious incidents and will be shot at and possibly put their life at risk.
00:47:58And they're the ones going out there and dealing directly with the criminals.
00:48:01But, you know, there's an aspect of this that we don't often talk about.
00:48:05And the aspect is many young men, Marlon, are getting killed.
00:48:10Many, many young men are getting killed.
00:48:11And they end up dead on the road, dead in the dirty road.
00:48:15And many of them are very young men, Marlon.
00:48:17And the fact is it's easy for us on the outside to say, you know, these are bad guys and they deserve what they get.
00:48:25Or that is another one of mommy's good kids and so on is something that I often heard being said.
00:48:32But the reality is they haven't always started that way.
00:48:36And when you look at the ages of some of these young men that have been dying, then perhaps that is where we can intervene.
00:48:43That is where the private sector or individuals can intervene.
00:48:47And why I'm saying that is you have a situation, you know, look, if you want to look at it from a religious perspective, a situation of light and darkness, good and evil, where you find young men being corrupted from the outside in.
00:49:01And when they're corrupted from the outside in, what is put in them festers and, you know, a year later or sometime later, they end up dead in the road, you know, a result of fighting between gangs and so on.
00:49:13Or you can look at it from a different perspective and say we continue to see the radicalization of young men in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:49:21Similar to the radicalization that was taking place with terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS and so on, where young men were radicalized into fighting a war abroad.
00:49:33And then when they ended up dead in the battlefield fighting a war that was not their own or those that survived that war, they ended up being ostracized from society and unable to really, you know, integrate back into society.
00:49:46And we see a lot of that happening with gangs as well, too. Young men are radicalized to fight this war. Many of them end up dead as a result of it.
00:49:55And the truth is the key players, the key players, the big fish, as it were, in these, you know, in the gangs are people that stay very remote or very far away from the actual fighting.
00:50:08So they stay far from the fighting, these much older heads, and they have young people constantly coming in and doing the fighting and getting themselves killed. And there's a sense of something sinister and even abusive about a type of relationship like that.
00:50:22So if we understand that our education system, Marlon, we have two years of preschool, six years of primary school, six years of possibly six years of high school. And that's a really good thing.
00:50:35But there are young men and women that are not finishing school and they're dropping out of school. And that's just a reality. And we're not going to blame the teachers, we're not going to blame the education system, we're just going to say it's not a fit for all.
00:50:51So what happens, Marlon, when you're 14 years old, which was the sweet spot for dropouts, there was a Ministry of Energy study some time ago and the sweet spot for the dropout rate was, I think, between 14 and 16 or something.
00:51:12The minimum age for working in Trinidad is 16 years now. If kids are dropping out or young men are dropping out at 14, that means from 14 until they attain the age of 16, what are they allowed to do?
00:51:27Last year, in my own capacity as a business owner, we put out, we're hiring students and so on. We had over a thousand applications for a very small, medium business. And the majority of them we had to turn away.
00:51:41But what was interesting is that many parents showed up, many single mothers, many parents showed up with their kids, young kids, 15 and so on, and pleading and saying, you know, could my child work?
00:51:53Now, obviously, you know, it's against the law to do so, so that didn't happen. But it shows that there's this, you know, there is the sense that parents want safe places for their kids to be.
00:52:06And the reality is that if you're 14 and 15 years, Marlon, and you're out of school, or even if you're in school and you're not going to school that much, and you don't feel like that's the fit for you, and you're frustrating your parents and so on, or your care providers or your relatives, whoever you're staying with.
00:52:22And then suddenly you stop going to school. They fed up with you. You are disconnected from them. You have no way of earning money, Marlon. You have no way of legally earning money because you can't get a job anywhere.
00:52:34What do you do? Do you stay home and starve? Because everybody say, I'm minding you and we have bills to pay in the house. What are you going to do?
00:52:39I have two minutes, but I want to ask, how do members of the business community stay positive in such an environment?
00:52:53I believe we can stay positive. It's difficult to stay positive in such an environment, Marlon. All we can do is continue to do what we have been doing, which is ask any powers that be or the people that are in charge for more.
00:53:08What we can try to do is we can say, why don't we lower the minimum age for work into 15? Why don't we try to find a place for young men and young women where they can be remunerated, where they can be paid a wage, where they can earn money, so that they don't have to accept money from other people or find alternative ways of getting money, or people handing them money and then leveraging in other ways upon them that brings them into the criminal system.
00:53:34Because if 15 young men die last weekend, Marlon, 15 young men will replace them. So let the police fight the war on one end. Perhaps we can help on the other end by saying, how do we address the entry point into crime?
00:53:49And if we address the entry point into crime, which is often at a relatively very young age, by finding a place for them where they can find self worth, where they can find a way they can earn money for themselves and have a certain level of independence, they wouldn't have to go looking elsewhere for trouble, as it were, or be vulnerable and be victims of manipulation.
00:54:12Yeah, Mr. Chiron, it's always a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you very much for taking your time this morning. We do appreciate it.
00:54:20Thanks, Marlon.
00:54:21All right, bye for now. So we do have a quick break for you, but we also have this for you, an image. We're coming back, everybody.
00:54:50For further information, check us out on Facebook at YFC Trinbago.
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00:55:10The Cura Pentecostal Empowerment Ministries International of 27 McDonnell Street, Cura Trinidad, West Philly presents Empowerment Through the Word. Come with us as we affect humanity with the life transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We invite you to stay tuned and be blessed.
00:55:31Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.
00:55:40Inspiration through dance is fueled by inspiration.
00:55:50Inspiration is found in the diversity of nature.
00:56:01Join us every Monday morning at 8.30am right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.
00:56:19Good morning. I am Anselm Gibbs with a news update.
00:56:23Cleanup operations are underway in parts of South Trinidad after heavy rains left hundreds of people affected by flooding.
00:56:33As you see we are going on. Last night the rainfall was very heavy. And now this water is still rising too. It is rising. Very heavy because we have water from number 3, number 4, number 5, number 6, number 7 and also from Edward Bridge coming down on the same river.
00:56:47First big rain we get and we get flood. But we are getting little showers and not much as this one. But this is the first one I can imagine for the rest coming because they say we are getting some heavy rains.
00:57:02Nearly four months after a delivery van driver was killed in a collision along the Solomon Hojo Highway, police are finally set to charge a soldier in connection with the incident.
00:57:13A dash cam video appears to show a Kiss Baking Company van being hit from behind by a car and the van crashed off the roadway. The driver of the van, Neil Balai, died.
00:57:26According to the Express Newspaper, a soldier who was allegedly driving the car could be charged with causing death by dangerous driving and other charges.
00:57:37And in the weather forecast, expect partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with occasional showers this morning. Tonight will be fair with showers in some areas.
00:57:52There may be gusty winds and street or flash flooding with heavy showers or thunderstorms. High temperatures are forecast at 32 degrees Celsius in Trinidad and 31 in Tobago. Seas will be slight to moderate with waves between 1 and 2 meters in open waters and below 1 meter but choppy near showers in sheltered areas.
00:58:15The TV6 Daily Health Tip is brought to you by OmegaXL.
00:58:45Adrenal glands release cortisol to help regulate glucose metabolism. However, chronic stress can lead to overproduction of cortisol, exacerbating insulin resistance and contributing to persistently high blood sugar levels.
00:58:58This chronic stress response and high cortisol levels often lead to inflammation, creating a feedback loop that worsens metabolic dysfunction. This is why managing adrenal gland health is vital.
00:59:09To improve adrenal gland circulation, several strategies can be highly effective. First, acupuncture can stimulate specific points on the body to promote blood flow and energy balance, supporting adrenal function.
00:59:21Nutritional strategies, such as incorporating foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like leafy greens, citrus fruits, and nuts also enhance blood circulation.
00:59:32Herbal remedies, including adaptogenic herbs like licorice root, ashwagandha, and rhodiola rosea, can support adrenal function and improve blood circulation.
00:59:43Regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling improves overall blood circulation and supports adrenal health. Practices like yoga and tai chi not only promote relaxation but also enhance circulation.
00:59:57Week by week, these practices can lead to significant health benefits. In the first week, you may feel a boost in energy as cortisol and adrenaline production increases.
01:00:07By the second week, blood pressure regulation improves, leading to more stable blood pressure levels.
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01:00:21Finally, by the fourth week, immune function strengthens, reducing the frequency of illnesses, and improving overall well-being.
01:00:29These improvements highlight the importance of maintaining optimal adrenal gland function.
01:00:33Optimal adrenal health leads to increased energy levels, improved stress resilience, enhanced immune function, better metabolic health, and greater mental clarity.
01:00:43Your adrenal glands are the silent champions working tirelessly to keep your body in balance.
01:00:48By understanding their vital role and supporting their health, you can optimize your well-being and thrive.
01:00:54Thank you for joining me. Stay informed and proactive about your health.
01:00:58Your journey to a healthier, more vibrant life starts with caring for your adrenal glands.
01:01:03Remember, every small step you take towards better adrenal health contributes to your overall well-being.
01:01:09Celebrate your progress and continue to prioritize your health for a more vibrant life.
01:01:13The TV6 Daily Health Tip was brought to you by OmegaXL.
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01:01:57Universal Church presents Programs of Faith, 5.30am, the hour of miracles.
01:02:085pm, it's possible.
01:02:14Now, on TV6.
01:02:18So you have big plans for the year, eh?
01:02:21A trip in July, birthday in November, and fet after fet this carnival.
01:02:27But you know what'll stop plans?
01:02:30A $22,500 fine.
01:02:34You know what else could really stop your plans?
01:02:38Five years imprisonment and suspension on your license for three years.
01:02:43Don't drink and drive.
01:02:52I grew up in a country.
01:02:55Small little town called Bougmanatras on Santa Cruz.
01:02:59Very special place to grow up in.
01:03:02And now as an adult, I think of those children in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:03:07Who do not have a safe place.
01:03:09Who are maybe not even lying in their own beds or a bed.
01:03:14And there's no roof to shade them from the sun.
01:03:18Nor to protect them from the rain.
01:03:21When I started looking at Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago.
01:03:26They answered a call I have deep inside of me.
01:03:29What they were saying to me was that we can make a difference.
01:03:34I'd like to ask you to consider coming on board.
01:03:37Consider helping Habitat for Humanity in whatever way you can.
01:04:05Habitat for Humanity
01:04:10Welcome back everyone.
01:04:12Heavy rains have left many communities in South Trinidad underwater.
01:04:16With the ODPM reporting some areas impassable up to late yesterday evening.
01:04:21This morning, newly elected councillor for Queen Anne, Mon Diablo.
01:04:25Sarah Sukhdeo joins us to give us an update on the situation.
01:04:28Councillor Sukhdeo, good morning.
01:04:31Hi, good morning.
01:04:33Yes, and councillor Sukhdeo.
01:04:35Let me also say congratulations on your recent victory at the polls.
01:04:39And thank you very much for joining us this morning.
01:04:43It's a pleasure to be on.
01:04:45Alright councillor.
01:04:46Councillor, so tell us how yesterday's floods have impacted your district and residents.
01:04:54Basically after three hours of flooding.
01:04:57We experienced widespread flooding across the district.
01:05:02Some roads became nearly impossible to lower vehicles and cars.
01:05:10It affected homes, livestock.
01:05:17Councillor, what's the situation this morning?
01:05:19Have the floodwaters subsided?
01:05:23Thankfully the floodwaters have subsided in most areas.
01:05:27How many residents do you estimate have been affected?
01:05:33I would estimate over 500 households.
01:05:36Over 500 households.
01:05:38So councillor, what do these residents need almost immediately?
01:05:44Well, basically clean up efforts.
01:05:48I'm calling on the agency to release water.
01:05:54We have been three weeks out of supply.
01:05:57So I'm hoping that we receive some water today to aid in those clean up efforts.
01:06:04How is the regional corporation that is responsible for your area?
01:06:08Has the corporation been giving assistance to residents?
01:06:14Definitely.
01:06:15We were out on the roads almost all day yesterday to give aid.
01:06:20Previously we have been seeing on social media where garbage is a major contributing factor.
01:06:29But on our end, thankfully, the PDRC has been together with the chairman.
01:06:35We are in a very strong educational and sanitation drive.
01:06:40Where we are using the few little ones that have been assigned to the corporation.
01:06:45Eight to be exact.
01:06:46Ten regions.
01:06:47So this has helped and assisted in the flooding in our area.
01:06:53So we have been doing those drives.
01:06:58But councillor, what do the residents need immediately?
01:07:01Do they need food?
01:07:03Do they need water?
01:07:05Do they need cleaning supplies?
01:07:08We need water and cleaning supplies at the moment.
01:07:12So I suspect too, councillor, that businesses have also been affected in your area.
01:07:20Yes, quite a few businesses have been forced to shut their doors.
01:07:25Because along the main road of Pinal Rock Road, it's highly business oriented.
01:07:34So most of the businesses along that stretch were forced to close their doors.
01:07:40So what has contributed to all of this flooding?
01:07:43Is it something that happens yearly? Annually?
01:07:47What has contributed to this sort of flooding this time around?
01:07:52We have been experiencing quite a bit of flooding.
01:07:59I would say on the PDRC side, with the little resources that we have had,
01:08:06we have been having an aggressive drain cleaning program.
01:08:09But we require so much more.
01:08:16Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works,
01:08:19I'm asking that the engineering departments come forward and assist us in cleaning and clearing the choke points.
01:08:30We are also asking that finances are released to continue with the development projects
01:08:40that we need to be done in the area to curb these floodwaters when they do occur.
01:08:50So, councillor, if we do visit your community this morning, what are we going to see?
01:08:59Well, basically it's much of the debris that needs to be cleaned.
01:09:05You would see the waterlogged situations in the houses of the residents that are most affected.
01:09:13You will see pockets of water that are still in and around their homes.
01:09:19Do you feel that if, let's say, some weeks ago, some days ago, if, well, let me put it this way,
01:09:30when it comes to the state of water courses and drains and so on in your community,
01:09:41over the past few weeks or let's say months,
01:09:44has the corporation or let's say local government or, I don't know,
01:09:49maybe teams from the Ministry of Works and Transport,
01:09:56did they do any sort of works in the area to clear clogged drains and to cut down high bushes and so on?
01:10:06Well, in terms of the PDRC side, we have been having an aggressive drain cleaning scheme
01:10:11where all the drains and minor water courses that are under our purview have been cleared.
01:10:19However, we didn't really see much of the same on the ministry side.
01:10:25While some work was done, we still require so much more to be done to clear the drains
01:10:34and the chokeholds that are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works.
01:10:40As I'm not sure if you're aware, when it rains, the entire stretch from Gilmohamed Trace
01:10:49and the David D. R. Road Junction, Switzerland area to Scott Road along Pinal Rock Road,
01:10:55Mont Diablo Junction, it's nearly impossible.
01:11:00And we need some immediate attention in terms of engineering and in terms of clearing those drains.
01:11:11The grass to the side of the road has become so thick that sometimes it's difficult for the water to run off.
01:11:24So is it then that you all are going to make contact with the Ministry of Local Government
01:11:31and maybe the Ministry of Works and Transport today to get further equipment, assistance from them?
01:11:41Definitely. It's unheard of, but it will continue to be done to get the assistance to have those drains cleared
01:11:48and become ready because we are now in the brink of the system and we are expecting so much more rainfall.
01:11:55So we really need these drains to be cleared and become ready.
01:12:04We need to have some sort of preparedness for what is still to come.
01:12:11Alright. Councillor, is there anything else you'd like to add before you leave us this morning?
01:12:16So I am pleading with the government to release the funding that we are urgently in need of
01:12:26for the development projects within the area, which caters the larger projects like the bridges
01:12:32and where we will be able to clear the choke points.
01:12:38I mean, this is 10 months. We all know due to procurement procedures, etc., this may take a little while.
01:12:49So if the funding are released, we can get some more work done to help us become more prepared for what is to come in the upcoming season.
01:13:01Have you all been experiencing any problems at all, re-dengue, in your community?
01:13:08We have had quite a few cases, but we have been on a massive dino-fogging drive under the PDRC,
01:13:20as well as we are trying to engage insect sector control.
01:13:26And we are also calling for some more releases for short-term employment to help in this drive
01:13:35because there are lots of severe cases in the area.
01:13:42If persons are listening to us right now, Councillor, who may want to donate, whether it's cleaning supplies and water and so on, how can they do that?
01:13:53They can contact the PDRC, and also they can contact me via the phone number 289.
01:14:18Councillor, we only got 289.
01:14:23289-3856.
01:14:26Yes. Councillor for Queen Anne-Mont-Diablo, Sarah Sugde, it was a pleasure speaking with you this morning. Thank you very much again.
01:14:35Definitely, and it is the commitment of the PDRC, the Chairman, and all members of Council that we will work together to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of all budgeters.
01:14:46All right. Bye for now, Councillor. We are going to a very short break. We're coming back, everybody.
01:15:17Try OMEGA Xcel. The only thing you have to lose is the pain.
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01:15:32Make the right choice in iRig CV Optical.
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01:15:49Slavery. A terrible time in our history.
01:15:53The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit.
01:15:57The exploitation of another human being.
01:16:00It still exists today.
01:16:02It has a new name.
01:16:04Human trafficking.
01:16:06Anyone can be a victim.
01:16:08There is forced labour.
01:16:10Sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.
01:16:16Human trafficking is a worldwide problem and an emerging concern for us here in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:16:23If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity, call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.
01:16:33Human trafficking is a crime.
01:16:35Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
01:16:39A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
01:16:44Have you ever tried talking to your child and there is a total and complete misunderstanding?
01:16:49And it turns out to be a shouting match?
01:16:52Be mindful of what you say and more importantly, how you say what you say.
01:16:59Today I want to share with you just a few thoughts on communication.
01:17:03To build healthy parent-child relations, communication is not an option.
01:17:08Effective communication is the lifeblood of good relationship between parents and children.
01:17:14Please listen attentively to your child.
01:17:17Everyone hears but not everybody listens.
01:17:20Listen actively.
01:17:22Use language they can understand.
01:17:24Use language that is appropriate for their age.
01:17:27And make sure that when you're speaking, be very clear and be very, very specific.
01:17:33So what does behave good mean?
01:17:35What does stop behaving badly mean?
01:17:37Be very clear and be very specific.
01:17:40Please do not use any derogatory words to them at all, at all, at all.
01:17:44Use kind language because that helps to set a positive tone in the house.
01:17:49Express your feelings and your satisfaction to the situation.
01:17:53And of course, please encourage your children to do so as well.
01:17:57Remember, the conversation should be,
01:18:00Children, we love you. We love you and we respect you.
01:18:05Do the best you can. It's all that you can do.
01:18:07Be mindful of what you say and how you say it.
01:18:10If you found this useful, please share and like and follow our profile for more parenting tips.
01:18:16The letter for today is C for communication.
01:18:22Thank you.
01:18:52Thank you.
01:18:53Thank you.
01:18:54Thank you.
01:18:55Thank you.
01:19:17Maybe you could afford to pay up to $22,500 in fines and lose your license permanently.
01:19:25No? Then don't drink and drive.
01:19:29A message from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
01:19:55All right. So welcome back, everyone.
01:20:04So we do have a lot more for you on the program this morning.
01:20:07But here's what. Listen to this very interesting story.
01:20:11A maxi taxi driver who allegedly failed to aid police officers in arresting a suspect has been detained by police.
01:20:21Now, the maxi driver was detained yesterday at City Gate in Port of Spain.
01:20:26So listen to this.
01:20:28So on Tuesday, officers from the Port of Spain division were attempting to make an arrest.
01:20:33However, the maxi taxi driver said no.
01:20:37He told his colleagues later that he felt unsafe and unwilling to do so because of the state of crime in the country.
01:20:44And he did not want to be targeted by retaliatory actions.
01:20:51Yesterday, officers went to City Gate and detained the driver.
01:20:55He was told he was being held under the Police Service Act.
01:21:00Now, this thing in law, everybody.
01:21:02So, according to Section 60 of the Police Service Act, Chapter 1501,
01:21:10if a person is called upon by a police officer who is in the process of making an arrest or being assaulted and fails to do so,
01:21:19they can be arrested, charged and face either a fine or jail time upon summary conviction.
01:21:26So the Act says, if a person is called upon to assist a police officer who is, while in the execution of his duty,
01:21:35assaulted or resisted or in danger of being assaulted or resisted,
01:21:39and such person refuses or neglects to assist accordingly without reasonable cause,
01:21:45he is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10,000 and to imprisonment for one year.
01:21:57I'm laughing because studio, there's an opera in studio right now.
01:22:02All right. So it was amended in 2019.
01:22:07All right. In which the penalties were increased to $10,000 and three years of imprisonment.
01:22:16So the situation is when the police call on you to assist them.
01:22:22I don't know that you have any discretion in that.
01:22:26You're going to have to assist the police officers or you could be fined.
01:22:31$10,000 and to imprisonment for one year.
01:22:37Now, there's there's an interesting part in this where they're not want to be targeted.
01:22:46But don't you think that the gentleman has a case?
01:22:49I suspect the gentleman has a case because if the gentleman is saying, well, if I feel if I intervene,
01:22:55judging of what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago, that I don't I don't want anything to deal with this.
01:23:04The gentleman may have a case.
01:23:08Now, I'm not saying that if you are in a position to assist the police officer, not to assist the police officer.
01:23:14But, you know, when taking all things into consideration, what would I do?
01:23:22What would I do? You really want to know?
01:23:27I'm telling you what I'm telling people.
01:23:29If it is that you are in a position to help the police, well, then go ahead and do so.
01:23:36But I suspect if you feel that you you that there could be consequences to your action.
01:23:46Well, then you must also understand the consequences of your inaction.
01:23:52Right. And I guess that's that's my position.
01:23:56I don't think that all situations are the same.
01:23:59I really don't think so.
01:24:01So I suspect that this may be heading for the courts.
01:24:04Right. And we'll see what happens with that.
01:24:07But a very interesting story there.
01:24:10I'm sure that you all some of you all are your your eyebrow raising like that this morning.
01:24:17Right. Yeah.
01:24:20All right. So let's talk a little bit about the about the floods that Councilor Sukhdeo would have spoken about in her area.
01:24:28What I'm seeing in the newspaper this morning, the residents of Barrepoix third time this year, people living in low lying areas in lower Barrepoix
01:24:37woke up yesterday morning to pounding rainfall and a frustrating sight outside flooded roadways and front yards yards.
01:24:46An excavator parked on a river bank at Monkey Town was submerged and many roads were impossible to light vehicles.
01:24:54Now, I don't know about you, but it must be a very traumatic thing, especially for people who are living in flood prone areas, low lying areas.
01:25:07It must be very, very traumatic that every time it rains, you feel that something is going to happen.
01:25:14I mean, in the area that I live, it is not known to be a flood prone area.
01:25:20But sometimes when they you look outside and you see the drain, it's it's it's filled.
01:25:28It results in some anxiety.
01:25:31So I'm just thinking about the people this morning that are living in these flood prone areas.
01:25:35And every time you see the skies begin to turn dark, you get a bit excited, not excited in a good way.
01:25:45But there is some level of anxiety and every year and sometimes a few times every year.
01:25:54You know, so again, I think that Councillor put it quite clearly this morning, some of the things that the residents in her community that they need.
01:26:07If you can assist, please assist, because I don't know that it is an easy thing that you'll get up in the morning and you jump out in a puddle of water.
01:26:17And when you look, the water is right up to your to your sink or to your your bathroom and so on.
01:26:24All right. So if you can assist, please assist.
01:26:27All right. So we do have a lot more for you on the program.
01:26:31I have about two more interviews for you.
01:26:35So 21 year old Babash Warrant for all of you who like to live, to drink Babash.
01:26:41Studio, I'm not hearing anything from you all.
01:26:44Anybody in there likes to drink Babash? Not again.
01:26:50In February this year, a 21 year old warrant was executed on a man accused of making Babash.
01:26:59And the case was dismissed before the court on Monday.
01:27:03A 21 year old warrant was executed on a man accused of making Babash.
01:27:12Nimchan Sinanan was charged under the Spirits and Spirit Compound Act, according to which in October 2003, he had spirits under his control suspected to have been unlawfully made.
01:27:23The Babash, also called Bushram, was allegedly found at his home in Conupia at the time.
01:27:31The warrant was executed on Sinanan back in February of this year, and he faced Bishop Gwonus court.
01:27:38At the first hearing, Sinanan 49 of Enterprise Gwonus pleaded not guilty.
01:27:43Let me see. Sinanan was placed on $20,000 bail.
01:27:48The case was adjourned to March at this court appearance.
01:27:50The magistrate gave directions in the matter.
01:27:53On Monday, however, there was no information from the prosecution about the alleged illegal rum, including its location, and the charging officer was not present.
01:28:03All right, but you know what's the big story from that, right?
01:28:07That the warrant was executed 21 years later.
01:28:14You know, sometimes you have a ticket to pay, and you know, the years go by, and one morning, on Christmas morning, the police show up, and they have this warrant for you.
01:28:27Yeah, so if you have these warrants, and you have this sort of business that you need to attend to, please do, because they are never gone.
01:28:36They're always there.
01:28:38All right, so we can move on now.
01:28:40So, the Eastern Regional Corporation is, that should be the Eastern Regional Health Authority, right, is about to have its men's health initiative.
01:28:51With us are Dr. Christopher Bristow, Primary Care Physician II, Nareva Mayaro, and Mr. Eliel Briggs, District Nurse at the St. Andrews, or of St. Andrews, and St. David.
01:29:03All right, so good morning.
01:29:05Good morning.
01:29:09All right, so Dr. Christopher Bristow, can we begin with you, doctor?
01:29:16So, thanks for having us.
01:29:19So, we are launching off, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, our men's health initiative.
01:29:26The theme for it is, it's all about men, right, which is the health initiative for men.
01:29:31So, we will be having our health fair on Saturday, this coming Saturday, which is July 20th.
01:29:38And it will be at the Sandy Grande and Hansel Center, which is a bunch of planned activities, starting off with some fun, and then getting into the detail, the medical side of things, as it relates to men's health.
01:29:52Yeah, all right.
01:29:54Do we have Mr. Briggs?
01:29:56Mr. Briggs is here with us this morning.
01:29:59Good morning.
01:30:01All right, Mr. Briggs, what more can you tell us?
01:30:03Go ahead.
01:30:05Yes, so this initiative includes 5K that starts at 6 a.m., and our health fair that holds up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
01:30:19And as Doc said, it's going to be happening at the Sandy Grande and Hansel Center.
01:30:24We have lots of activities planned.
01:30:28Of course, we'll be doing screening, knowing numbers, blood pressure, the blood glucose, the BMI, cholesterol testing, prostate examination, because we know we are focusing on the men today.
01:30:41HIV testing, even vision testing.
01:30:44We'll have some booths.
01:30:46Oncology team will be there.
01:30:48We'll have the dental.
01:30:50We'll have alcohol anonymous.
01:30:52Health and sexual education, medical, social work, baby-friendly initiatives, sensitization as well happening on that day.
01:31:02Yeah, and we're going to be even lectures.
01:31:06We're going to have lectures as part of the program on nutrition, on prostate, prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, erectile dysfunction, on mental health, on Caribbean men.
01:31:19So this is going to be specific to Caribbean men, even smoking cessation and intimate partner violence.
01:31:28And of course, we plan to also pamper the men with pedicures.
01:31:34Barbers will be coming in.
01:31:36You can come and get your hair cut.
01:31:38I'm looking to see you there getting your hair cut.
01:31:41And massages, yeah.
01:31:44So it's really going to be a grand event.
01:31:48And it's all about the men.
01:31:51All about the men.
01:31:53Is there still an opportunity for people to register for the 5K?
01:31:57Certainly, yes.
01:31:59So we are welcoming people to still register.
01:32:02You can register online via our social media platforms like Facebook and the ERHA website, as well as there are some telephone contacts which you can call to register directly.
01:32:15So that would be 226-9844 or 481-5162.
01:32:22And you can call those numbers and get on board and prepare for the race.
01:32:26It starts at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning from the Enhance Health Center in San Diego.
01:32:32Yeah. And Dr. Bristow, as you all would have said, you all are focusing on the men.
01:32:38Doctor, what sort of challenges, health challenges, that you as a medical practitioner, that you continue to see among men in Trinidad and Tobago?
01:32:51One of the main things is that men generally take longer to see a doctor when something is wrong, right?
01:33:01So men tend to mind their illnesses and mind problems, not speak about it until it's really too late or until something bad happens, you know?
01:33:11So we encourage men to really seek help, you know, seek out their own health and wellness.
01:33:16And these are great opportunities for you to, you know, come and have a conversation with a doctor or allied healthcare professional.
01:33:24Not always a doctor is necessary, you know?
01:33:27You might need to talk to a social worker who can guide you along a proper pathway to access different services that might be beneficial to you as a man.
01:33:35Or even seek out some psychiatric or mental health type, you know, support, right?
01:33:40So it's not only focusing on the physician, really, on the physician-patient relationship, but multiple disciplines as part of the healthcare team are available to patients, especially men, you know, and getting them to seek help earlier.
01:33:55But what are some of the illnesses you're seeing the most? Is it diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, kidney problems?
01:34:02Correct. Yeah, correct. All non-communicable diseases is our greatest burden right now, right?
01:34:08And that spreads across several different conditions. So things like diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, prostate disease.
01:34:17In men, prostate cancer is the most common, right?
01:34:21So, and we have to focus on getting men in for the diagnosis to happen.
01:34:27You know, it's a two-part investigation for prostate cancer.
01:34:31One is a blood test, yes, but the other is a clinical examination that requires the digital rectal exam.
01:34:38And men shy away from it because it seems taboo, right? But it's not.
01:34:43It literally takes five seconds, probably less, in the hands of an experienced physician.
01:34:49And it does adopt a lot of information to add to that blood test.
01:34:53You know, so I would encourage men, you know, once you cross 50, this is something that you should get done.
01:35:00You know, in cases where you are a person or a man who has a family history of prostate disease, you even have to check earlier.
01:35:08So you can go as low as 40 years old if you have family relatives who have prostate cancer, get in and get checked, you know?
01:35:15It's really important. Yeah.
01:35:17But at this phase, we're not only focusing on the prostate, right? We're focusing on the entire man.
01:35:23So from head to toe, you can get yourself checked at this health phase.
01:35:28Yeah. And Mr. Briggs, all of this is for free, right?
01:35:31You look at some statistics and you see the World Health Organization has said that 60% of women, no, sorry, women are 60% more likely to get non-communicable diseases.
01:35:53However, in 2010, the statistics show that in Trinidad and Tobago, men are the ones that are dying mostly from non-communicable diseases.
01:36:05It means that even though we have a lower incidence in terms of male and female, we are the ones not taking care of ourselves.
01:36:14We need to do a lot more in terms of managing these illnesses.
01:36:17So we really need to see the men come out in numbers.
01:36:22We have catered to you in every single way.
01:36:25And this is specifically for you.
01:36:28Come and take care of your health.
01:36:31Yeah. So Dr. Bristow, one of the main problems that we as men have, we feel we're too macho, right?
01:36:39Yeah, man. I mean, it's not even about being macho anymore.
01:36:43These kinds of medical problems basically don't respect anyone.
01:36:48They will come and knock on anybody's door.
01:36:50So it's something that you just have to take stock of.
01:36:54Take stock of your own self.
01:36:56You know your own lifestyle.
01:36:58Take stock of your family history, your risk factors for disease and make an informed decision.
01:37:04You are going to seek help as an individual.
01:37:09Yeah. Mr. Briggs, is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
01:37:12About the initiative before you leave us this morning?
01:37:19Well, I just know that it's going to be grand.
01:37:22As we say again, it's Saturday, July 20th.
01:37:27And it's going to be phenomenal for men.
01:37:31If you come out and you figure out what's happening with you, you could get early treatment.
01:37:36You could even get information that will help you not to reach to a place of sickness or illness.
01:37:44So it's not just for sick men, it's for all men.
01:37:48And we're really looking forward to seeing the men come out in a big way on Saturday, the 20th of July.
01:37:55Starting at 6 a.m. with the 5K, and then from 9 to 2, we're going to have that health fair.
01:38:01Yes. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure speaking with you all this morning.
01:38:04Thank you very much.
01:38:06Thank you. Thank you for having us.
01:38:09Of course. Bye for now.
01:38:11All right. So we are going to have a very short break, everybody. We're coming back.
01:38:34Ready. Set. Go.
01:39:05Many parents say, I get licks and I turn out fine. But did you really?
01:39:24Was that kind of discipline the most effective and helpful, or did it instill fear and intimidation instead?
01:39:30Discipline is important, but it must be used in a constructive way with your children for it to be effective.
01:39:38So instead of just punishing them, also take the time to teach them what is appropriate behavior,
01:39:44to help them learn what to do differently and to make better decisions.
01:39:49Try to be in control of your emotions before disciplining them.
01:39:54And discipline should be fair and consistent.
01:39:56And most importantly, it should be appropriate for your child's age.
01:40:01Remember, spare the rod. It won't spoil the child.
01:40:06At the end of the day, keep trying your best. You and your children deserve it.
01:40:11Share if you found this useful and like and follow our profile for more parenting tips.
01:40:17The letter of the day is D for discipline.
01:40:26It's not a thrill when your speed can't kill.
01:40:56No, son, no!
01:41:06No!
01:41:10Please, no!
01:41:26No!
01:41:56I have a right to free primary school education.
01:42:18I have a right to be protected.
01:42:21I have a right to a name.
01:42:23I have a right to know my rights.
01:42:26I have a right to privacy.
01:42:29I have the right to express myself.
01:42:32I have a right to access information.
01:42:46Children have rights.
01:42:54Rural children have rights.
01:43:00Rural children have rights.
01:43:03Rural children have rights.
01:43:06You need some.
01:43:08Unity is a powerful force that brings people together.
01:43:14Unity is a powerful force that brings people together.
01:43:18Alright, so reggae artists have joined forces for a medley about world unity and peace.
01:43:25The initiative is spearheaded by Jah Mason, who has teamed up with Norris Man along with
01:43:29local artists.
01:43:30So, to tell us more, our reggae artists, Mr. Royal, well, do we have Mr. Royal?
01:43:36Is Mr. Royal going to be here this morning?
01:43:37No.
01:43:38Alright, so we do have Daniel Bless, and we do expect to be joined a little later by maybe
01:43:44Jah Mason, alright?
01:43:45So, we're trying to make that happen.
01:43:47Daniel, thank you very much for coming this morning, we do appreciate it.
01:43:50Alright, so I know that the Real Unity Medley was launched over the past, is it a few days?
01:43:56Yeah, about a week now.
01:43:58Yeah?
01:43:59Why was there a reason to do that?
01:44:00Well, to be honest, it's really to bring about awareness, you know, based on what's happening
01:44:07within the country, not only Trinidad and Tobago, but, you know, worldwide.
01:44:11A lot of crime, you know, we live in trouble sometimes, so it's really to bring about awareness
01:44:17to promote peace, love, and unity, and really strengthening the reggae culture between Trinidad
01:44:23and Tobago, and Jamaica as well.
01:44:26Yeah.
01:44:27What sort of response has the song been getting?
01:44:32The song has been doing great, getting great response, the views on them has been up, I
01:44:38believe we were contacted by the Hunters Search and Rescue Team, they contacted Niki Promotion,
01:44:44and they are having a peace and unity rally this Sunday at Besant Street, and they are
01:44:49excited to have the Reggae Unity Soldiers on board, you know, and we are excited as
01:44:55well, so, you know, we look at that as a great step, a great opportunity to be, you know,
01:45:00dealing with the Hunters and Rescue Search Team, and as I say, we're excited as well,
01:45:06just as them.
01:45:07Yeah.
01:45:08What time does the rally begin, you know?
01:45:09The rally starts at 9am to 11am, they will be like trucks, you know, we will be, and
01:45:13artists will be on the trucks, music, singing, that kind of thing, you know, bringing about
01:45:18the awareness, so we're inviting the masses, the nation, you know, to come join us and
01:45:22help us to combat crime and violence, you know, with good music, you know.
01:45:27Yeah, I believe we do have Jah Mason on the line, Jah Mason, good morning.
01:45:36Do we have Jah?
01:45:37All right, all right, we're having some difficulty in getting him, but I suspect we'll put him
01:45:46up very, very soon, but Daniel, I mean, this is not the first time that songs like these
01:45:55have been made, right?
01:45:57True.
01:45:58As you say, it is launched at a time where there's a particular sort of environment in
01:46:06Trinidad and Tobago, but why do you think that your, this medley at this time is going
01:46:14to have an impact when compared to, as I say, songs that would have been done before?
01:46:22Is it the right time?
01:46:23Well, I believe with the continuous effort of the team, you know, it will take off and
01:46:30go far.
01:46:31Jah Mason right now in Jamaica, he is doing his work, trying to get the government on
01:46:37board.
01:46:38We in Trinidad here are pushing it hard as well, trying to get certain ministers involved,
01:46:43you know, in the campaign and we're planning to extend it by extension, Europe and Africa,
01:46:49you know, so the whole initiative, again, is to really bring about peace, love and unity
01:46:55and, you know, there's a saying that for evil to persist is for good people to stay silent
01:47:01and do nothing.
01:47:02So we've got to try, we've got to, you know, to bring that balance.
01:47:06The music has changed drastically, it's getting derogative, so it is our responsibility as
01:47:14reggae artists to bring forward that conscious message as a reggae artist.
01:47:18That is my duty, you know, as an ambassador, I can't stay silent.
01:47:21I have to keep trying, we have to keep, you know, doing our best, you know?
01:47:26Yeah.
01:47:27I believe we do have Jah Mason.
01:47:28Jah Mason, greetings.
01:47:29Good morning.
01:47:31Yes, I give thanks, brother.
01:47:34Yes, give thanks to you for joining us this morning.
01:47:39Let's talk a little bit about the medley, Jah Mason.
01:47:42Of course, you are, I can put it this way, one of the main persons behind this initiative
01:47:49here.
01:47:51What are you trying to achieve, Jah Mason, by this medley?
01:47:57Well, I'm trying to achieve principles and the way we go about doing things, you know
01:48:05what I'm saying?
01:48:06More togetherness, more, less violent, and, you know, we're trying to do our best, like,
01:48:13to gather the people, because we are one people.
01:48:16Jamaica, Trinidad, we are neighbors, you know what I'm saying?
01:48:19We see, we have the same thing affecting us in our, where I'm from, and I come to Trinidad
01:48:26and I'm actually seeing the same thing.
01:48:27So I'm like, what can we do to come together to, like, set an example so the world or the
01:48:37listeners or the people can follow and it can, like, you know what I'm saying, help
01:48:43to adjust the negative vibes or the negative system that we adopt, you know?
01:48:52Yeah.
01:48:53What has the response been like in Jamaica?
01:48:55Yeah, exactly, I'm saying Jamaica is not better than Trinidad when we compare, like, rhymes
01:49:05or, you know, bad things.
01:49:08We all make mistakes and we have to have somebody who, we have to have a voice.
01:49:13That's the main thing.
01:49:14We have to have a voice, you understand, because if we're trying to organize, we have to have
01:49:22somebody who we listen to, you know what I'm saying?
01:49:26So I mean, it's good when we can come together as Caribbean partners.
01:49:32It's called shared culture.
01:49:35Yes, but you know, gentlemen, I think that you all have to be commended for what you
01:49:44all are trying to do, because Jah and Daniel, as you know, as artists, I think that sometimes
01:49:51the easier way is to sing not the positive type of music, but to go in a particular direction,
01:50:01right, Jah?
01:50:03Yes, and the more positive stuff we feed the people with is the more positive energy we
01:50:11get back also, because now I'm actually, I'm not in Jamaica, I'm in Germany, I'm in Frankfurt.
01:50:19It was kind of difficult to connect because I have my tour start, so, but it takes nothing
01:50:25out of me to take some time out and to represent for, you know what I'm saying, the positive
01:50:30way of life and to make the youths of Trinidad and Jamaica see positive things happening
01:50:38and not looking towards the negative.
01:50:43So the more positive songs we do, the youths and the people, they gravitate to that positive
01:50:49energy because it will be a result at the end of the song.
01:50:56I mean, we have to do more positive, put more positivity into the thing and it works.
01:51:02We will see results, you know what I'm saying, because we already start seeing results by
01:51:07feeling the people energy, commenting and commending us coming together to do the things
01:51:13like, things like these, that we can do it on the ground and we do it together, you understand
01:51:20me?
01:51:21And we just have to keep doing this kind of vibe, keep the positive vibes building and
01:51:27we will get more good results, you know what I'm saying, because we're there, we're a part
01:51:34of the thing too, also, not only the government, we the people are a part of this thing.
01:51:40Yeah, but there has to be a buy-in by everyone, right Daniel, for this thing to work.
01:51:45That's what I'm saying, yeah, definitely that.
01:51:50Everybody has a duty, I would say, because it's our duty as human beings to ensure that,
01:51:55you know, the blind be led, the hungry be fed, the sick be nourished, naked be clothed,
01:51:59age protected, it's just natural as a human being.
01:52:02So, you know, as I say, charity begins at home and ends abroad, you know, so we need
01:52:07to be proper parents, we need to, you know, bring up our youths in ways that is acceptable
01:52:12to society, you know, we need to be better individuals, how we think about each other,
01:52:18how we treat each other, you know, when we think about it, it's a broad topic, you know,
01:52:25so there are many factors, you know, so this is what really this project is really about,
01:52:32really, you know, bring about awareness, substance, balance, consciousness, righteousness, spirituality
01:52:40change.
01:52:41Yeah.
01:52:42Jah, Daniel is preaching here this morning, yeah, and we do appreciate it, Daniel.
01:52:47Jah, we just have about 30 seconds, any final words?
01:52:52Yeah, man, it's the same, I mean, you know, let's stay focused and be positive, you know
01:53:01what I'm saying, and do the right things, you know what I'm saying, because we have
01:53:05our generation, we are preparing our next generation for the future, so we have to do
01:53:13the right preparation, you know what I'm saying, so just stay focused and you don't know the
01:53:18just stay positive and stay out of trouble and be safe, you know, we say the same thing
01:53:24every day.
01:53:25Daniel, as you said that we can hear the song and see you all perform it on at the rally.
01:53:30At the rally, that's this Sunday the 21st at Besson Street from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and
01:53:35the initiative even extends where they want to do more rallies throughout other communities
01:53:40that wouldn't be just at Besson alone, so people could stay in tune and be notified.
01:53:45And we can hear the tune, it's being played on the radio stations, YouTube and so on.
01:53:50Yes, it's pumping, we're getting people to go check it out, YouTube, you know, Facebook,
01:53:55all platforms.
01:53:56Yeah, gentlemen, it was a pleasure speaking with you all this morning, thank you very
01:53:59much.
01:54:00Thank you, I just want to say a blessed morning to the other artists as well, Mr. Royal, Chavelo,
01:54:05Jalano, well, big up Norris Man, you know, and Jamieson.
01:54:09Alright, thank you gentlemen, all the best.
01:54:11We are going to a very short break, everybody, we'll be coming back.
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01:55:27Alright, and that's going to be it for our program for today, but before we go, we leave
01:55:30you with this image.
01:55:31Have a good day, everybody.
01:55:32See you tomorrow.
01:55:34Bye for now.
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