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00:00:00What's going on? What's going on? What's going on? What's going on?
00:00:05Hey! What! Ooh! Hey! What's going on? What's going on? What's going on?
00:00:12And a very special good morning Trinidad to be with the rest of the world. I'm Marlon Hopkinson as always.
00:00:17Welcome to The Morning Edition. It's Wednesday, July 24th and thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:00:23How did you spend your night? We got some showers overnight.
00:00:26It's chilly in Port of Spain today so if you're coming down to Port of Spain,
00:00:31work with the jackets and for the ladies, work with the cardigans and parasols and so on.
00:00:36It's going to be a cold day in Port of Spain. I was thinking this morning,
00:00:40do people still stay away from work in Trinidad and Tobago because of the rain?
00:00:44Yeah? I still think they do that, you know.
00:00:48But when they go abroad, good morning to our Trinidad and Tobago citizens abroad.
00:00:54Yeah? When you go to work abroad, you can't do that though.
00:00:58You can't call and say, here's the boss. It's raining today, you know.
00:01:02I can't come nowhere, you know. The boss could say, well, don't come back.
00:01:07Right? Don't come back. That sounds like a President Obama accent there.
00:01:14All right? So a very special good morning to all of you.
00:01:16Thank you very much for your viewership this morning.
00:01:19All right. Let's check out to see what's happening on the Daily Express.
00:01:22Clear our names. Six fired employees want SSA to absolve them of alleged coup plot.
00:01:28Let me see if I can touch on that story before we move on.
00:01:31All right. So a union leader calls on director to absolve six of a plot.
00:01:35Five SSA workers want names cleared.
00:01:37Six fired workers of the Strategic Services Agency are calling on the agency's director,
00:01:42Anthony Phillips Spencer, to clear their names and any alleged involvement of a plot
00:01:46to overthrow the political leadership of this country.
00:01:50And call for peace with shouts for her son, Kerwin McLeod, echoing through the night.
00:01:55Grief-stricken Ja McLeod, or I believe it's Ja McLeod. I'm seeing J-E-A-N.
00:02:01I believe it's Ja. McLeod sent her calls for peace and love in the community
00:02:06as she walks along Duke Street in Port of Spain during a candlelight vigil
00:02:10hosted by the Trinidad All-Stars Steel Orchestra.
00:02:13She headed the procession for her son and Ja Mark Fonrose,
00:02:17both pan players who were killed in Mangaroos in East Port of Spain.
00:02:22All right. Dengue cases rise.
00:02:25Ministry 58 more dengue cases.
00:02:27Ministry of Health says there are now 450 laboratory confirmed cases of dengue fever in the country.
00:02:34Confirmed deaths remain at four, the ministry said in a media release yesterday.
00:02:38On July 20th, the ministry had confirmed 392 cases of dengue.
00:02:45And Arima Mayor cancels Borro Day juve because of the crime situation.
00:02:50So the mayor doesn't want that problem and he wants to protect his burgesses.
00:02:55So no juve for Borro Day.
00:02:59All right. So juve has been canceled for this year's Arima Borro Day.
00:03:03On Saturday, August 10, says Mayor Ballyram Maraj.
00:03:07All right. Let's check out some sport now.
00:03:10Davis bags five for winner's row.
00:03:12TNT Under-19s whip Leewards to open Super 50 campaign.
00:03:16Joshua Davis grabbed five wickets for 20 runs from 6.4 overs to help Trinidad and Tobago
00:03:21complete an impressive 31 run victory over the Leeward Islands
00:03:25in their opening match of the CWI Rising Stars Men's Under-19 Super 50 Championship
00:03:31at Cyan Hill in St. Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday.
00:03:35You know, I was reminded yesterday the opening of the Olympics.
00:03:39Very, very near. Not so. Yeah.
00:03:42On Friday, you have the Olympics.
00:03:45So I know that our team, that they're already there.
00:03:49And we're hoping for great success from our team.
00:03:53All right. So it's time to remind you about Trinbago United's future.
00:03:56Remember to participate. Email your videos and images to that address there.
00:04:00Yeah. Let me point at it. Yeah.
00:04:03That's the that's the address you need to send.
00:04:06Ah, look at this beautiful video this morning. Yeah.
00:04:11This is a really nice video. It's from Anjali Parasram.
00:04:15Anjali, we made you work.
00:04:17Look at this beautiful video that Anjali has has sent to us.
00:04:22Anjali, thank you very much. Thank you.
00:04:24We do appreciate it. And it's good to see video sometimes.
00:04:27That's that's a beautiful video.
00:04:30Mm hmm. All right.
00:04:32So you have your coffee, your tea, get something to eat and get a cover this morning.
00:04:37Sit down and make yourself comfortable because we do have a lot for you on the program.
00:04:42All right. We're coming back.
00:05:03Good morning.
00:05:07Good morning.
00:05:11Good morning.
00:05:31Risky's World. Let's explore it.
00:05:34Wow. It's made with real seven.
00:05:36Look what I found. Party mix.
00:05:38Cat snacks. There's the delicious taste of the tuna we love.
00:05:42Definitely coming back tomorrow.
00:05:44Frisky's. Always more to explore.
00:05:52It's about to break for you.
00:05:54I was in Gethsemane. He dragged that.
00:05:57I call salvation for man.
00:06:02Lift my eyes up to the hills.
00:06:05You only have one place to go for help.
00:06:07Hallelujah.
00:06:09So I celebrate in Jesus.
00:06:22Walk into your new season.
00:06:26Morning.
00:06:27Morning.
00:06:28Listen, I just noticed something.
00:06:31What?
00:06:32There are new people in the barbuda.
00:06:33What is that?
00:06:34The man is passing up and down in front of here with a set of women.
00:06:38I really noticed some women living there.
00:06:41And they can't even say as much as good morning.
00:06:43Listen, I wonder if it's human trafficking.
00:06:46You think it's that?
00:06:48So, how can you spot and identify perpetrators and victims of trafficking?
00:06:52Many victims are found living and working together in the same place and sleep in shared and inappropriate spaces.
00:06:59Victims work excessively long hours.
00:07:02They often sleep in the daytime and work long nights.
00:07:05They are often escorted everywhere they go and may appear to be malnourished.
00:07:10They may show signs of physical abuse, drug and alcohol use and may also appear withdrawn, fearful or intimidated.
00:07:17Victims who are migrants are often not in possession of their identity or immigration documents and have irregular immigration status.
00:07:26Perpetrators can be male or female and may appear to be managing or controlling the victims.
00:07:31And they may even at times appear to be the victim's best friend, boyfriend or employer.
00:07:38We are the counter trafficking unit of the Ministry of National Security Trinidad and Tobago, safeguarding human life.
00:07:55All right.
00:08:12Welcome back, everyone.
00:08:13So, first on the agenda this morning, the state of the nation's prisons.
00:08:17This follows recent statements by the Minister of National Security of successful raids and the seizure of contraband items, including phones and cigarettes at prisons.
00:08:26With us this morning is President of the Prison Officers Association, Gerard Gordon.
00:08:31Mr. Gordon, thank you very much for coming and thank you for braving the rains this morning, Mr. Gordon.
00:08:36Morning, morning, morning, morning, morning, Trinidad and Tobago.
00:08:38Yeah.
00:08:39Yep.
00:08:40So, I'm here.
00:08:41Yeah.
00:08:42And we do appreciate it, right?
00:08:43Yes.
00:08:44So, the Minister of National Security, he had a number of things to say earlier this week.
00:08:51He spoke about searches of the nation's prisons.
00:08:54In those searches, 1,549 grams of marijuana, 43 improvised weapons, 94 cell phones and cigarettes,
00:09:02which the minister described as a very important prison economy item that is sold for as much as $1,000 each with a pack costing $2,000 were seized.
00:09:11So, according to the minister, constant work is being done to limit contact between criminal elements within the prison system and their cohorts in the public.
00:09:20Yes.
00:09:21So, good morning again.
00:09:23Searching, of course, is part and parcel of the prison construct, part of our duties.
00:09:33It is something that most notably in the minister's comments, I saw somewhere where he spoke that from, I think, from around June 6th, those searches would have commenced.
00:09:48And it is so important to recognize, notwithstanding the usual sentiments that are shared, where people say, well, who is bringing it in?
00:10:00You know, we go through that time and time again.
00:10:04You know, I want to note publicly again that the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service and the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Officers Association take a very dim view of trafficking and illegal activities, not only of officers, but of our charges.
00:10:23It is so important that we continue to engage the environment, notwithstanding the challenges that we face, notwithstanding the issues surrounding simple resourcing of the prison service,
00:10:37that we continue, like many other agencies of like responsibility around the world, to continue to try and sanitize our environment.
00:10:48It is very important, not only for the safety of officers and inmates, but certainly it impacts the safety of the public of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:10:57And we fully support these searches.
00:11:01It's not, for us it's not special, but it is important that we continue this activity.
00:11:11And I must note, I also want to commend the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for the support that we are seeing that they are lending to us in our efforts to do our job in a particular way after June 6th.
00:11:27Yeah. I think it is safe to say, Mr. Gordon, that when it comes to the different arms of law enforcement and the role that prison officers play, I think that it is safe to say that they have been most hard hit by the crime situation over the years because of how many prison officers have been killed.
00:11:54Right.
00:11:55Have things improved for prison officers? Have things improved when it comes to the facilities and the environment that prison officers operate in?
00:12:08That, no. Certain things have changed, but as it relates to real factual improvements, things that you could feel, no, that has not been the experience.
00:12:27Officers still face a number of threats, a number of attacks on officers. The thing about it is this, the resourcing of the prison goes beyond simply how do we warehouse and keep our charges.
00:12:48Uniforms continue to be an issue. I know the current commissioner is attempting to have that addressed.
00:12:56So is there a shortage of uniforms?
00:12:58There are no uniforms for the staff. What we have is that we have what we call a tailor shop. We have civilians who come in and really need, there is only so much volume they can produce.
00:13:15So there are some work orders that are being done to supply one or two officers with uniforms, but generally across the length and breadth. The last time we would have received any uniforms in any sort of number was in 2018.
00:13:30So each prison officer is assigned how many uniforms?
00:13:35Is entitled to four shirts, pants, two boots, I think four pairs of socks. That is the basic accoutrement. Of course one belt, there are things that we call condemn and replace. So your first issue, your belt, your buttons, those sort of things. Your cap, those things are condemn and replace, so it's on a need.
00:13:55But generally every year there is an entitlement and that has not been met for a number of years.
00:14:02But what is the reason for that?
00:14:04Many people say a lot of things, but from where we sit at the association, it is simply a continuation of what we have always seen, where there is not really an interest with those, where at all.
00:14:24To have those resources released to us, to really give us what we need. We have seen like other divisions and ministries in Trinidad and Tobago, we have seen a lot of cutbacks.
00:14:37I saw something recently where they were talking about, I think some union or whatnot was talking about the fact that the workers were using their own money to purchase paper and fix printers.
00:14:54That is what is happening in the prison service as we speak. You see people raising funds, simple things, sometimes to fix gates, the infrastructure of the prison.
00:15:05And on a take away from that, I'm sure you would have seen where I would have spoken about the closure of Port of Spain prison, how necessary that is on a number of levels.
00:15:18And it is not solely only because we want a new facility. The fact of the matter is that operating in a facility that is over 200 years old, in the capital city, there are studies that have been done that will show that crime and criminality in and around a prison, in a city, is heightened.
00:15:40For whatever reason, and reasons of course that we could all think about. So it is important. I just want to encourage the powers that be. I ain't sharing no licks this morning.
00:15:53But just to encourage them to have another look. The thing about it is that the better equipped we are, it is going to have resounding positive knock on effects for the public of Trinidad and Tobago, whom we truly serve.
00:16:09Let's talk a little bit about the security of prison officers. As I said earlier, we know the facts. A number of prison officers have been killed over the years. I know that the Prison Officers Association over the years also has been calling for a beefing up, as in security as it were, for prison officers and for prison officers to be provided with certain equipment so that they can feel safe.
00:16:37The thing about it is that we have a matter in the court. We have taken the state to court because of what we see as their lackluster response and approach to these attacks and murders against prison officers.
00:16:57On that note, not to sojourn too far, but of course our prayers are with the police officer, P.C. Charles, I think it is, who was shot. The thing about it is that it is sad that this matter has been going on in the court for the last just about 10 years.
00:17:18It speaks particularly to those issues surrounding safety of officers. We are anxiously awaiting completion of that matter. Of course I can't get into any of the details, but the thing about it is that it speaks to a bigger issue, which is that those murders of prison officers are murders of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:17:45Yes, we would, because we are prison officers as a group, so we will take them out, but it does not diminish at all the fact that on a national scale there is an issue with protecting the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:18:00And that for us is certainly the true concern in that here we have a group of people, because of their contact daily with the criminal elements, of course they are exposed to a certain level of exposure.
00:18:24Then you have the public of Trinidad and Tobago every day. We had some days, we had eight, we see where we have multiple shootings, and the thing about it is that we fully believe that, and it's something we used to say, when you have the criminal element feeling so comfortable or emboldened to attack agents of the state like prison officers,
00:18:51it's not too far off to think that we could reach the point that we are now, and I'm talking about we said these things more than 10 years ago.
00:19:01So the thing about it is that once again I would like to encourage. I know that the security agencies, including prisons, are actively involved really and truly in attempting to do what they must, and it is so important, because we also spoke about the rogue officers and the rogue element, and that rogue element exists everywhere.
00:19:26And it is very important for us as a society to support, and as an organization, to support all and every attempt to remove from these departments and divisions, including the prison, these rogue elements and officers, so-called officers, who would find themselves doing things that certainly undermine our efforts.
00:19:49But has there been an improvement in that respect? The rogue officers, and according to the Minister of National Security, he says they are equally persistent and fighting because you clear the jail today of phones, and by tomorrow, if you are careful, more phones there again to make more calls to carry on the big business and criminality.
00:20:11He also sought to remind the public that within the last few years, several prison officers who are like mules have been arrested and charged for carrying contraband into the prison. So has there been an improvement at all?
00:20:24We would have, when I say we, the Toronto and Tobago Prison Service would have implemented a number of teams. So we have officers searching at the gate, officers searching officers. That exercise is one that we fully endorse.
00:20:45The other issue is that when dealing with these, it is so sickening, really and truly, because it undermines the good work that people are doing. But you have officers, I remember sometime they held an officer with, I think it was cigarette or marijuana in pie, or doubles.
00:21:05So it is a constant engagement. So if there has been improvement, what I could say is that the prison administration has been attempting to push back against what is happening, but certainly we need to be better resourced, better assets to utilize in that fight.
00:21:25Because one would understand that if somebody is bringing cigarettes and they place it in their waistband or wherever it may be, what we are saying is that we want the involvement of the Toronto and Tobago Police Service so that we can arrest these people immediately on spot.
00:21:47What about the allegation? Because sometimes when you have these attacks on prison officers, there is the allegation or people try to create a link between these attacks and rogue prison officers. Is there any evidence to prove that, that there is a link there between these attacks and the rogue officers?
00:22:15Let me answer that with making two statements. The individuals who have been murdered, the link is this, and I could talk to a number of instances.
00:22:29So on one side you have officers who are doing the job as it's supposed to be done. When we talk rogue, sometimes we want to isolate only the officer who is attempting to bring something in. It could be rogue that he's attempting to take something out.
00:22:47It could be rogue in that he's not doing what he ought to do on a day-to-day basis. So what happens is that we have a situation where we had officers who were murdered for doing their job. We had officers who were murdered because they would have searched the prison and they would have taken the items that the inmate may have gotten from a rogue officer.
00:23:12So the thing about it is that it is truly a multi-tiered issue and challenge that we are facing. And certainly, you know, I go back to saying that through our own efforts, we would have sat with the government and had an amendment to the Prison Service Act, Act 25 of 2019, which spoke to increased fines and penalties for people found doing a number of things,
00:23:41including in that is trafficking, of course, including in that is threats against officers. And we have indicated to the police commissioner in a meeting that we would have had that we want to see a more active role in having that act enacted and utilized in charging individuals who are found trafficking.
00:24:07And also when threats are made against officers and their families, that we utilize the act.
00:24:13But let me touch on a point that you raise there that I think or I find to be troubling.
00:24:19Yes.
00:24:20Because if you are saying that some prison officers in the past would have been murdered because they were doing their job, because that they were carrying out their duties within the nation's prisons.
00:24:35Yes.
00:24:50And that this officer was involved in the in the operation, that officer was involved in the in the in the operation. So there is an issue of confidentiality.
00:25:01Well, strange you mention that. We have to remember Trinidad is a very small place.
00:25:06Yes.
00:25:07And it's something that we I cannot hide. Let's put it that way. If I go to when I go to work, there are over probably 500 possible people who will see me. They know me.
00:25:20If I put on a mask and I go to carry out an operation, they will know it's me. That is what is happening.
00:25:27And because of how small our society is, it's not so much confidentiality, which is also a challenge, but it is as much as a challenge because prison officers live in the same communities.
00:25:43We operate, I got a call from, we have officers in Belmont, in Lava, until Edinburgh 500, Enterprise. We have officers all through the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:25:54So it's not so much that as much as how do we push back the intent or the feelings of the criminal element that this is a way to go, because certainly you cannot hide.
00:26:13We can't. It's impossible. You cannot remember everybody out of 500 people.
00:26:18Somebody may not even speak to you, but they know you. So you're doing your job, you're doing your search and you may take something.
00:26:25We had an officer who spent 13 years in a safe house for taking a cell phone.
00:26:32Who brought it? Fine to say that. But the fact of the matter is there is something in our society, I don't know when it happened, but it is a murderous intent for sometimes the most fickle of issues.
00:26:53And we see it going on every day. So it would be disingenuous of me to attempt to try to zero it down more and not recognize that it is a societal challenge that we face.
00:27:09But how do prison officers stay positive in an environment such as this?
00:27:13I don't know.
00:27:15How do you keep up the morale?
00:27:18Honestly, I do not know. I could tell you that morale is low. I could tell you that you see people, you're hearing it and people tell you, boy, I'm fed up, I'm ready to go.
00:27:30We could go and ask permission to retire early at 50 and we see more and more officers utilizing that option.
00:27:39Because when you look at it, a lot of prison officers, including myself, would have engaged that, gotten into the prison service very young.
00:27:50We would have given away our youth in service to the state.
00:27:55And there are so many things that are wrong, but one of the things that I see for me is that as long as I am here, as long as I continue to work and function within the organization,
00:28:09then I have no other option but to ensure that every day we attempt to do something positive to bring it back.
00:28:18I don't think it's totally lost, but I think that a certain level of focus needs to be paid to the prison service, to the officers,
00:28:31to how it is we do what we do and move us into the 21st century as it relates to corrections and how we do our jobs.
00:28:44And I think it would result to the benefit of everyone.
00:28:47One of the last conversations we had had right here, I remember you coming and speaking about a situation because I believe that there was a fracker.
00:28:57I can't remember which one of the prisons it happened at, but the fracker was over the use of phones at the prisons.
00:29:08And there was a suggestion at that time, well, here's what, let's, I believe the suggestion came from your association,
00:29:16that let's assign a place at the prison so that prisoners can use the phone and speak to their relatives and so on.
00:29:25Has there been any improvement in that respect?
00:29:28Well, what you're talking about is the wall phones.
00:29:30Yes.
00:29:31There has been no movement where that is concerned.
00:29:35You know, my attempts to find out what happened with the project, most I knew it was like a pilot project.
00:29:45The inmates, some inmates still ask about the wall phone option.
00:29:51And once again, I'm saying these initiatives should not be a hit and miss.
00:29:58And I am lost to understand why we are not moving aggressively ahead in having that system implemented.
00:30:09And it was working.
00:30:10It was working.
00:30:11Inmates were using it.
00:30:12Their families could have topped up credits, and they have their code, and they go on the wall phone, and they make their calls.
00:30:20They talk to their children, their parents, their loved ones.
00:30:24So once again, it goes back to where is our focus?
00:30:31And is it that the authorities believe that it is insurmountable, the challenges?
00:30:37And if so, maybe they need to have people who could have a fresh look at what is happening.
00:30:46But what I would say is that as part of the criminal justice system of Trinidad and Tobago, the prison officers play a very vital, important role.
00:30:55And the support we need is not only for us, but for the public of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:31:03We need to be in a position where we could truly serve with excellence and meet our mandate and our performance targets.
00:31:12You know, Mr. Gordon, I personally have been, like some of my colleagues in the media, we have been covering the association.
00:31:24We have been covering the state of the nation's prisons for a number of years.
00:31:30Yes.
00:31:31And we always knew that it was a challenging environment.
00:31:38And we have seen the deaths of prison officers.
00:31:42We have seen concert attacks and so on.
00:31:45And as I listened to you this morning, I'm just thinking, why hasn't more been done over the years?
00:31:57And I'm speaking maybe over 20 years.
00:31:59A long time.
00:32:00A very long time.
00:32:01Why hasn't more been done to better this environment?
00:32:06And what has this delay been about?
00:32:10Why hasn't the message really been clear enough for people to act?
00:32:17One of the things that prison still remains generally a kind of closed society.
00:32:24It's a kind of place you're not too sure.
00:32:28So you get information.
00:32:30It may not be real.
00:32:32And so you find yourself in a position where the people who have to make the decisions to assist, to implement, to move Porter's Bay in prison,
00:32:41to build a new facility, to adopt modern correctional philosophies as it relates to prison construction and how we roll out programs,
00:32:54what is programs and how does that impact recidivism rate and all these sort of things,
00:33:00the sort of support we need is not forthcoming as we want.
00:33:05And we fully believe that because there is a level of, I don't know,
00:33:13it's like almost as if because we are prison officers and we treat them with the criminals, it's like we are criminals.
00:33:21I don't know.
00:33:22We lump everybody together and nobody wants.
00:33:24So when we talk about building a new facility, it's like we're building nothing new.
00:33:28What happened?
00:33:29Then prisoners and them, what it is they want?
00:33:31They want to live in Hilton.
00:33:32No, it's not that.
00:33:33The fact of the matter is that to be effective, for the prison service to be effective, we cannot continue to operate.
00:33:42Everybody is attempting to move forward.
00:33:44We see the police moving forward by leaps and bounds.
00:33:48And it's not that the prison service have not been requesting things and needing things.
00:33:54It's not that.
00:33:55We have ideas.
00:33:56We have whole documents which speak to how the prison service can look.
00:34:00We have the new rules that are not being passed.
00:34:03There is a whole suit of things.
00:34:06But it seems that the government and not this government, I want to make that clear, not this government,
00:34:15but the government of Trinidad and Tobago, over whether it be PNM, UNC, whoever you want to think,
00:34:21it seems that they are not understanding that the criminal justice system is your body.
00:34:29And I never see, well, we just have the people who just go in the gym and they only work the arms and chest.
00:34:35Skinny legs.
00:34:36Yeah, skinny legs.
00:34:39For us, that is how we see the criminal.
00:34:42So we are the legs, and here we are.
00:34:45The judiciary is doing fantastic things.
00:34:48You have all kind of legislation passing, and then the police doing their stuff and that thing.
00:34:53We have all these other agencies, whatever.
00:34:56We now are charged with the responsibility of holding, when the police become efficient, holding these people.
00:35:03But holding them where?
00:35:05Doing what with that?
00:35:06And we see in the court talking about, I think it was just yesterday, that four-year confidential report.
00:35:13Some inmates would have taken the state to court as it relates to that.
00:35:18And there was an indictment against the prison.
00:35:21The judgment went against the prison.
00:35:23Then you have it.
00:35:24So the thing about it is that we're asking to build with legs.
00:35:31Build the prison.
00:35:33Understand that the money spent there is being spent on citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:35:40All of us.
00:35:41You, Marlon, the cameraman, those people in production, Ms. Romani, the guy on the street.
00:35:49Once we have a better functioning prison service, correctional department,
00:35:59then we are going to not be hearing, when we're having these discussions,
00:36:03you're hearing about the recidivism rate.
00:36:05You're hearing about the crime, the rise in crime.
00:36:10Ultimately, we have all these people.
00:36:14It is an indictment on us that we continue along the line that we have.
00:36:20And I'm saying to the state, have a second look.
00:36:24Have a second look.
00:36:26Let's get some amino acids and whatnot for the prison service.
00:36:31Give us some muscles.
00:36:34Place us in the gym, too.
00:36:36All right.
00:36:37Mr. Gordon, as always, thank you very much for coming.
00:36:40We do appreciate it.
00:36:41And as I said, Mr. Gordon braved the rains to come here this morning.
00:36:45So we appreciate that.
00:36:47And we look forward to speaking with you sometime in the future again.
00:36:51Thanks, Marlon.
00:36:52All right.
00:36:53So it's time for a quick break, everybody.
00:36:54But first we have this for you.
00:36:55It's from Anjali.
00:36:56Anjali is on the ball this morning with another beautiful picture there.
00:37:00We're coming back, everybody.
00:37:02The Ministry of Sport and Community Development says,
00:37:26how is your kitchen garden looking?
00:37:28It's almost time to share your progress.
00:37:30Of the Grow It Yourself Kitchen Garden Challenge by uploading your videos.
00:37:35Important dates to remember.
00:37:37You must upload your second video, July 26th to the 31st, 2024.
00:37:43Third video, August 14th to the 19th, 2024.
00:37:48And your fourth video, September 6th to the 9th, 2024.
00:37:53Remember, each video must be no longer than two minutes.
00:37:57For upload guidelines, visit mscd.gov.tt
00:38:02or the Ministry's Facebook or Instagram.
00:38:05Courtesy, the Ministry of Sport and Community Development
00:38:08in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.
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00:39:29¡Hasta luego!
00:39:52She wants time.
00:39:54She wants planning.
00:39:58All right, so welcome back everyone.
00:39:59It's time now for our Express Business Segment
00:40:02with Multimedia Business Editor, Joel Julian.
00:40:05Joel, as always, thank you very much for coming.
00:40:07Thank you for having me, Marlon.
00:40:08Appreciate it.
00:40:09What's on the agenda this morning?
00:40:10All right, so this morning, our cover story is about Invaders Bay.
00:40:14You know, Invaders Bay, for anybody who doesn't know,
00:40:16is where Movietown basically is.
00:40:18That area, Movietown, Marriott is in the back there.
00:40:22So there's reclaimed land, about 24 hectares of reclaimed land,
00:40:26in the back of what we know as that Movietown area.
00:40:30And for some time, you know, there have been discussions
00:40:33about introducing a project there.
00:40:35And that project is going to be like a marina, luxury housing,
00:40:40a nature reserve.
00:40:42So basically, this project, in 2012,
00:40:46the Cabinet of the People's Partnership,
00:40:48Dr. Motiwari was in the Cabinet at the time.
00:40:51They announced that they were going to start having conversations
00:40:55with Derek Chin, who we know from Movietown,
00:40:58the CEO of Dachin, and just to have that discussion
00:41:02about what sort of investment could be taking place there.
00:41:06Now, that was 2012.
00:41:08During that time, there were some legal issues
00:41:11that the joint consultative would have introduced,
00:41:16Afro-Raymond, that we know.
00:41:18There were some issues with respect to...
00:41:21They felt that there was not enough transparency
00:41:25in terms of the project.
00:41:27After those illegal issues, fast forward to 2022.
00:41:31This is post-pandemic.
00:41:34Unicort would have done some work in the back there, you know,
00:41:37because there's this reclaimed land.
00:41:39They would have needed to introduce some sort of infrastructure.
00:41:42Infrastructural work would have been done.
00:41:44Now we've reached the point where Unicort has done
00:41:48an expression of a proposal, basically, right?
00:41:52Where they're saying that investors know,
00:41:54we have reached the point, we have done the groundwork,
00:41:57we have laid the foundation, this reclaimed land is there,
00:42:00we have ideas what we want to do for the land,
00:42:02so we're now introducing investors to come and tell us what they can do.
00:42:06And that conversation, there was supposed to be a site visit
00:42:09last week Friday.
00:42:11You know, last week Friday is one of those days
00:42:13where we had the Microsoft crash.
00:42:16So globally and locally, people's head was hot.
00:42:20So they decided to postpone the site visit.
00:42:23We have not gotten the new date for the site visit,
00:42:25but we just wanted to look at this Invaders Bay project
00:42:29that has been a project, level of controversy in it.
00:42:33Of course.
00:42:34But, you know, it's over 10 years now,
00:42:37because it's like a 12-year period.
00:42:40My colleague, Vishanna Pago, she would have spoken to Mr. Chin.
00:42:43Mr. Chin said he would have submitted two proposals so far.
00:42:46This is back in the day.
00:42:47He said he'd go and dust off those proposals
00:42:49and send it back in to see if he could get his foot in
00:42:52in terms of what can be done.
00:42:54So our cover story really looks at the Invaders Bay project.
00:42:57We speak to Mr. Raymond, who I said would have been a part
00:43:01of some of the legal discussions.
00:43:04And also we would have spoken to Mr. Gary Abud
00:43:06from Fisherman and Friends of the Sea,
00:43:08just to speak to the environmental aspect of it.
00:43:11Because even with the construction of Movietown,
00:43:15there was some environmental concerns.
00:43:17In the back there, they say there was mangrove.
00:43:21Manatee was supposed to be in the back there itself.
00:43:24Manatee.
00:43:25You know, so it's just one of those discussions,
00:43:29just looking at this project that has been on the back burner
00:43:32for some time.
00:43:33We've seen it back on the front burner,
00:43:36looking at it and seeing where this project can go.
00:43:39Mr. Chin would have introduced something called
00:43:43Streets of the World.
00:43:44You know, he saw it as a kind of Epcot center,
00:43:48that kind of entertainment.
00:43:50So we're just looking at that and seeing, okay,
00:43:52Invaders Bay, there's a lot of talk about it.
00:43:56And this also goes hand in hand with the discussion about the
00:43:59revitalization of Port of Spain and environment.
00:44:03We're seeing different discussions going on about Port of Spain.
00:44:08Last week, we would have seen that they wanted to do some high-rise
00:44:12luxury apartments in the Memorial Park area.
00:44:16Right.
00:44:17Area there.
00:44:18So just that whole overall discussion of Port of Spain,
00:44:22we know what the city is now.
00:44:25We know what the city has.
00:44:26We don't have to tell you.
00:44:27We don't have to tell you.
00:44:28You know.
00:44:30We know what the city is now,
00:44:31and we're just looking at some of the things that the government,
00:44:34the state is trying to do,
00:44:35and even the private investors are trying to do in terms of bringing
00:44:40Port of Spain to the place it should be.
00:44:42So our cover story is Invaders Bay project,
00:44:45and as you say, Invaders Bay revival.
00:44:48Yeah.
00:44:49An interesting story, Joel.
00:44:52And as you said, this has been on the books for a number of years now.
00:44:56You would remember even at the time that they were speaking about
00:45:00construction at Movietown.
00:45:02Of course, there wasn't a Movietown at that time,
00:45:04but there was massive protests every day.
00:45:07Yeah.
00:45:08Yeah.
00:45:09In the vicinity, just across the road from the national stadium there.
00:45:12So we look to see with interest what is going to happen here.
00:45:16Yeah.
00:45:17One of those things by development, you know,
00:45:19development is always interesting, you know,
00:45:22because you always have concerns about environmental concerns,
00:45:25obviously, you know, and different concerns.
00:45:28So, yeah, we'll keep our eyes on the Invaders Bay project
00:45:30and see how it progresses as we go forward.
00:45:35Right?
00:45:36Apart from that, one of the major stories that we have today
00:45:38is also on Eastern Credit Union.
00:45:40Now, Eastern Credit Union, for persons who may not know,
00:45:43is either the largest credit union
00:45:46or one of the largest credit unions in the country.
00:45:49If you're from the East and in the St. Joseph area,
00:45:52you'll know La Jolla, which falls under Eastern Credit Union,
00:45:55and they have other branches within, throughout the country.
00:45:59Right in Port of Spain, on that Park Street corner there,
00:46:03Eastern has their buildings also.
00:46:06Now, Eastern Credit Union would have held their annual general meeting
00:46:11last year, I think it was about last year at this time.
00:46:14And there were some concerns with the annual general meeting, you know,
00:46:17because the Commissioner of Cooperatives at that time
00:46:20was saying that they, legally, they could not have had the AGM
00:46:24because they didn't have the documentation in order.
00:46:27Right?
00:46:29Fast forward to now, where Eastern has finally published
00:46:32their annual report for 2022.
00:46:35So we still, not last year, but the previous year.
00:46:38And in that annual report,
00:46:41Eastern Credit Union is reporting a loss.
00:46:43Now, Eastern Credit Union has been in business for about 50 years, right?
00:46:47This is the first time they have recorded a loss.
00:46:50And, you know, that obviously will be a measure of concern
00:46:54with respect to that.
00:46:56Now, this loss, they made a loss of $12.3 million.
00:46:59The year before that, 2021, they would have made a profit of $27.8 million.
00:47:04Now, you might be asking yourself, well, how do you move from $27.8 million
00:47:08in the black to $12.3 million in the red?
00:47:12And what happened is increased expenditure, decreasing income.
00:47:18So the income would have fallen by $25 million,
00:47:22and the expenditure over the year would have increased by $19 million.
00:47:25So you see that disparity.
00:47:27And one of the things that would have increased,
00:47:30caused that increase in expenditure,
00:47:32is you would have seen rising costs in terms of, like,
00:47:35some of the board and committee payments that they had to make.
00:47:39So there was an 807% increase in terms of miscellaneous expenses
00:47:43for the board and committee.
00:47:45So in 2021, the cost was $122,000.
00:47:49That increased a million, one point something million dollars.
00:47:53So we're just looking at the financials of Eastern Credit Union
00:47:59that they publish.
00:48:00This is their publish coming out of their annual report.
00:48:03So we just wanted to highlight some of the issues.
00:48:05Now, for those who may be following Eastern Credit Union,
00:48:09there have been some issues for the past few years.
00:48:12You know, there was some change in terms of the leadership.
00:48:15So some of the Richard Norrie, who would have been the chairman,
00:48:19or they call it the president,
00:48:21the president of Eastern Credit Union before the last AGM
00:48:25would have resigned as president
00:48:26and has now assumed the role of chief executive officer.
00:48:30Apart from that, you know, we would have seen some issues
00:48:33where they would have had some legal issues also.
00:48:38But all that being said is that Eastern Credit Union,
00:48:41they have finally published the financial results of 2022.
00:48:44They have reported a loss for that period.
00:48:48They now have the AGM coming up next week, Friday.
00:48:52So that AGM is going to be held in San Fernando at Chivers.
00:48:58I believe Chivers is the name of the place.
00:49:01So they are having the AGM.
00:49:03So the persons who are shareholders,
00:49:07members of Eastern Credit Union,
00:49:09you get the opportunity to have your voice be heard.
00:49:12So we just wanted to highlight the financials of Eastern Credit Union
00:49:15because they only published it last week.
00:49:18So that is why we would have highlighted it
00:49:21and looked at the runnings of Eastern Credit Union
00:49:24at this point in time.
00:49:25All right.
00:49:26Joel, we just have a few minutes again.
00:49:28All right.
00:49:29So one of the things that happened last week
00:49:30is the central bank would have decreased.
00:49:34So there is something called the reserve rates
00:49:37that the commercial banks have with the central bank.
00:49:39And what that reserve rate basically is,
00:49:41is to cover deposits and some of the lending that the bank does.
00:49:46You know, so because the way the bank operates
00:49:49is they take deposits from persons
00:49:51and they lend it out in order to make money.
00:49:54And to ensure that they are doing this,
00:49:56that people's deposits are covered,
00:49:58the central bank says,
00:49:59hey, you have to deposit some money with us.
00:50:01That is the reserve.
00:50:03And they would have decreased the reserve from 14% to 10%.
00:50:06So one of the stories that we have focusing today
00:50:09is economist Mariano Brong,
00:50:11who people would have known as the former minister,
00:50:13the minister of finance.
00:50:16He is just talking about what he believes some of the concerns
00:50:20or one of the issues may be with that change
00:50:23with the central bank.
00:50:24And he's saying that he believes that this is intended
00:50:27to increase economic activity.
00:50:30And one of the concerns he has, however,
00:50:32is with that increase in economic activity,
00:50:34it may also affect our foreign exchange demand.
00:50:38You know, foreign exchange has always been an issue.
00:50:41For the past few years, we see increased demand
00:50:44and we see the supply may not necessarily be where it's supposed to be.
00:50:49So apart from that in our magazine,
00:50:51we also introduce Dr. Phyllis Moreau,
00:50:54who is one of our new columnists.
00:50:58She has a column there.
00:50:59She's an HR consultant.
00:51:01And so we introduce Dr. Moreau for this week.
00:51:05We also have Mary King as a guest columnist.
00:51:08And we also look, one of the things that we try to do is,
00:51:11you know, keep the finger on the pulse of what's going on
00:51:13in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:51:14Caribbean Airlines would have had an event called
00:51:18Flora and Fauna, I think it is.
00:51:20Flavor and Fauna.
00:51:21Yeah.
00:51:22Flavor, yeah.
00:51:23One of them, one of them.
00:51:24SMF.
00:51:25So Caribbean Airlines, you know,
00:51:27we just look at our business social pages,
00:51:30which you just, you know, our photographers,
00:51:32our photographic department,
00:51:34one of the amazing departments that we have within the organization.
00:51:36They go to these events and take pictures of some of the people
00:51:39that some familiar faces, some faces you may not know,
00:51:42some names you may be able to put faces to, that kind of thing.
00:51:45Joel, I'm not seeing you here, you know.
00:51:47I'm not seeing you.
00:51:49All right.
00:51:50So basically, yeah.
00:51:51So basically that's a rundown of our,
00:51:54our Express Business Magazine for this week.
00:51:56We always are grateful for the opportunity.
00:51:58So let's showcase and highlight some of the things that we have.
00:52:02As I always say, the Express,
00:52:04Express Business Desk is just a part,
00:52:07a small part of a larger team,
00:52:09which is the Express editorial team.
00:52:11We are led by Omoti Lider.
00:52:13And, you know,
00:52:14we try to constantly keep our fingers on,
00:52:16on business and news itself, you know,
00:52:18on the daily pages, page 10 and 11,
00:52:20you'll find us on the business pages of the Express.
00:52:22And every Wednesday,
00:52:23our flagship production is the Express Business Magazine.
00:52:26And we are always grateful for the opportunity.
00:52:28Of course.
00:52:29And I suspect, Joel,
00:52:31that you all are going to have some very interesting weeks as it
00:52:37relates to the upcoming budget.
00:52:40And that is going to,
00:52:42I know that you all are going to be focusing quite heavily on that in
00:52:46the, in the next few weeks.
00:52:49What,
00:52:51in addition to some of the,
00:52:56of the stories that we are seeing in the Express business today,
00:53:02what are some of the major concerns that maybe you're hearing from the,
00:53:07the business sector,
00:53:09or what are some of the major business stories happening locally,
00:53:14internationally, regionally,
00:53:16as we talk about,
00:53:18about everything business today?
00:53:20All right.
00:53:21So first of all,
00:53:22one of the major things that is impacting not only business,
00:53:25but the country is crime.
00:53:26Right.
00:53:27And so we see that increased costs in terms of security that some of these
00:53:31businesses have to go through.
00:53:32Crime impacts us on a,
00:53:34on a individual level,
00:53:35but you know,
00:53:36on a business level,
00:53:37you know,
00:53:38costs and so on.
00:53:39Apart from that,
00:53:40one of the things that we kind of touched on earlier is the foreign exchange
00:53:43issue,
00:53:44because the reality is that some of these businesses need to purchase things
00:53:47that are not local,
00:53:49you know,
00:53:50some of the,
00:53:51you have to get things from overseas and no disrespect to Trinidad and Tobago
00:53:54currency,
00:53:55but Trinidad and Tobago currency only good in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:53:57you know,
00:53:58so you need foreign exchange in order to be able to purchase things from
00:54:01overseas.
00:54:02So that is also one of the major concerns that we see taking place.
00:54:06The president of the Trinidad and Tobago manufacturers association would have
00:54:11touched on it a bit saying,
00:54:12you know,
00:54:13that he,
00:54:14he would like the manufacturing sector to look at increasing exports so that
00:54:21when you sell,
00:54:22when you sell overseas,
00:54:23you're able to get income and currency coming in.
00:54:26And also on the other,
00:54:28the flip side of that is not to depend too much on purchasing product from
00:54:33outside.
00:54:34So if it is,
00:54:35you can get some something locally,
00:54:37spend TT currency to get it,
00:54:39then it will not impact us in terms of foreign exchange.
00:54:43Interestingly,
00:54:44one of the things that we see taking place on the landscape is Ramsaran,
00:54:47you know,
00:54:48the Ramsaran products,
00:54:49they are taking legal action about this forex issue because they're saying
00:54:56while they and other companies,
00:54:58smaller companies are being impacted by foreign exchange.
00:55:02They didn't try to access foreign exchange.
00:55:04Some larger companies,
00:55:06again,
00:55:07not getting those problems,
00:55:08you know,
00:55:09so he's saying that he,
00:55:10he believes that there's that disparity and,
00:55:12and there's concern.
00:55:13So he's taking it apart from the speaking about it,
00:55:16you know,
00:55:17they're taking legal action.
00:55:18No.
00:55:19And even on the foreign exchange front,
00:55:22we would have seen Royal Bank.
00:55:24So last year,
00:55:25there's a pushback a little bit last year,
00:55:27Republic Bank would have cut their credit card holders.
00:55:31You can only get access.
00:55:32They cut it by half.
00:55:33Now what Royal Bank has done is they have no starting from September.
00:55:38They will also be decreasing how much forex you can get.
00:55:41So originally the maximum limit was like 51,000 TT.
00:55:46Yes.
00:55:47Foreign,
00:55:48foreign exchange equivalent.
00:55:49They recruit,
00:55:50they reduce that by $10,000.
00:55:51So it's now $41,000.
00:55:53When you have your credit card,
00:55:55you can only get this amount in terms of foreign exchange.
00:55:58But when it is not supposed to impact local transactions,
00:56:03so you're going to a local store,
00:56:05you want to buy something,
00:56:06it should not affect your credit card purchase,
00:56:08but overseas,
00:56:09the foreign exchange and the ability to access foreign exchange,
00:56:13you know,
00:56:14so,
00:56:15so those are some of the issues that are,
00:56:17that are on the front for the business,
00:56:19business side,
00:56:20but you know,
00:56:21we always try to keep our fingers on the pulse of what's taking place locally,
00:56:24globally.
00:56:25All right,
00:56:26Joel,
00:56:27we are going to a very short break.
00:56:28Everybody,
00:56:29we're coming back.
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00:58:23Okay.
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00:58:49It's possible.
00:58:53Now on TV six,
00:59:02the TV six daily health tip is brought to you by Omega XL.
00:59:08Did you know chronic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes?
00:59:13That's right.
00:59:14Chronic inflammation,
00:59:16a longterm physiological response to harmful stimuli is not just a minor
00:59:21annoyance.
00:59:22It's a potential precursor to a host of serious health issues,
00:59:26including insulin resistance,
00:59:28type two diabetes and pancreas related problems.
00:59:32Chronic inflammation,
00:59:34as the name suggests,
00:59:35is not an acute short-term response to injury or infection.
00:59:39Instead,
00:59:40it's a slow insidious process that can persist for months,
00:59:44even years.
00:59:45This ongoing inflammation can wreak havoc on your body's systems,
00:59:49including the intricate mechanisms that regulate blood sugar.
00:59:53Now let's shed some light on how chronic inflammation can lead to insulin
00:59:57resistance under normal circumstances.
01:00:00Insulin,
01:00:01a hormone produced by your pancreas helps transport glucose into your cells,
01:00:06providing them with the energy they need.
01:00:09However,
01:00:10chronic inflammation can interfere with this process.
01:00:13It can make your cells more resistant to insulin,
01:00:16making it harder for glucose to enter your cells.
01:00:19As a result,
01:00:20blood sugar levels in your bloodstream can rise,
01:00:23setting the stage for diabetes.
01:00:25But that's not all.
01:00:26Chronic inflammation can also directly impact your pancreas,
01:00:30the organ responsible for producing insulin.
01:00:33Prolonged inflammation in the pancreas can damage the insulin producing beta
01:00:37cells.
01:00:38This damage can reduce insulin production,
01:00:40exacerbating the problem of high blood sugar and worsening the state of
01:00:45diabetes.
01:00:46Moreover,
01:00:47chronic inflammation can contribute to what's known as pancreatic beta cell
01:00:51exhaustion.
01:00:52This condition leads to impaired insulin secretion and further disrupts glucose
01:00:57regulation,
01:00:58pushing the body further down the path towards diabetes.
01:01:01Chronic inflammation can also increase the risk of pancreatitis,
01:01:05an inflammation of the pancreas.
01:01:08This condition can damage pancreatic tissue,
01:01:11disrupt insulin production,
01:01:13and further compound the problems associated with diabetes.
01:01:17Understanding the connection between chronic inflammation and diabetes
01:01:21underscores the importance of managing inflammation.
01:01:24Lifestyle changes such as adopting a balanced diet,
01:01:28engaging in regular exercise,
01:01:30and managing stress can all play a crucial role in reducing chronic
01:01:34inflammation.
01:01:35And in some cases,
01:01:37medication may be necessary.
01:01:39Of course,
01:01:40if you have any concerns about chronic inflammation,
01:01:43insulin resistance,
01:01:44or diabetes,
01:01:45it's important to consult a healthcare professional.
01:01:48They can provide personalized guidance and help you take steps to protect your
01:01:53health.
01:01:54In conclusion,
01:01:55chronic inflammation is more than just a persistent annoyance.
01:01:59It's a potential catalyst for insulin resistance,
01:02:02diabetes,
01:02:03and a host of pancreas related issues.
01:02:07By understanding this connection and taking steps to manage inflammation,
01:02:11you can help safeguard your health against these serious conditions.
01:02:15The TV6 Daily Health Tip was brought to you by OmegaXL.
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01:04:34Vaya, muchas gracias.
01:04:36Me alegro de que hay algún lugar al que pueda acudir en busca de ayuda.
01:05:05I think that's a fitting song for our next guest, you know.
01:05:08You want to know where the man with the hammer is?
01:05:10Well, look, I have him on set.
01:05:12He's no stranger to discussing crime and more so trying to do something about it.
01:05:16So joining us this morning is Pastor Clive Dotting.
01:05:19He's also the Director of the Public Affairs of the Caribbean Union Conference.
01:05:23He's also a former member of the Police Service Commission.
01:05:27Yeah, he's a gentleman who wears many hats, you know.
01:05:30Yes, yes, I tell you.
01:05:31Yeah, what's the message this morning, Pastor?
01:05:33Well, two Saturdays ago, we had a massive Caribbean march
01:05:40because we had a program for youth called Youthcar.
01:05:43And it was held at a university.
01:05:46We had 1,200 campers.
01:05:49And we put 2,000 on the road for that march.
01:05:53Now, that represents the launch of youthcar.
01:05:58Now, that represents the launch of a Caribbean initiative, all right,
01:06:04sponsored by the church in 25 countries in the region.
01:06:08Some very small, like Burgeon going up in the north, the Burgeon Islands,
01:06:12and coming down to Guyana and Suriname.
01:06:14So that we understand, and we had a serious discussion last Friday,
01:06:21engaging the 1,000-plus delegates.
01:06:24And we looked at the issue of CARS.
01:06:27Now, I don't believe that expression has ever been used.
01:06:31But CARS, the meaning of CARS is Caribbean Alliance Recruitment Strategy.
01:06:39So that you would hear from some of the guys in St. Lucia.
01:06:42For example, as part of the penetration of the Mafiata culture
01:06:47into the Eastern Caribbean.
01:06:49Now, St. Lucia is a special place because, you know,
01:06:52in earlier times, they have matched us per capita.
01:06:55Only the population is about one-tenth of what we have in Trinidad,
01:06:59of 1.4 million.
01:07:01So in 2018, I was down there.
01:07:02I was in the south, view forward.
01:07:05And I spent five weeks there.
01:07:07It's amazing.
01:07:08When I visited the area in the night, it looked just like Lavant Hill.
01:07:11And eventually, the prime minister, all right,
01:07:13had to call in the Caribbean Regional Task Force to help him stabilize,
01:07:17especially that part of St. Lucia.
01:07:19The point is, we have an Anaya Martin, George, I think it is,
01:07:24and the prime minister, but homegrown terrorism in Tobago.
01:07:28All right?
01:07:29That's part of the story because you have people from Trinidad
01:07:32that have nurtured, and other parts of the Caribbean,
01:07:35nurtured killers in what was called paradise at one time.
01:07:42So, for example, we know of Trinidad gang leaders
01:07:46recruiting in places like St. Lucia.
01:07:49In 2004, I intervened in a case where four fellows were drowned.
01:07:53They were from Dominica, Barbados, and St. Vincent,
01:07:56which are St. Lucia, Guadalupe, Martini Connection.
01:08:00So they were kind of interfacing.
01:08:02Like Newmats there, they were kind of interfacing.
01:08:05So what happened is that there are numbered gangs,
01:08:09for example, in the east border state area,
01:08:12who are traversing the Caribbean islands and recruiting.
01:08:15So some of them come here.
01:08:18Some of them stay at home and do their stuff.
01:08:21But it is not, it shouldn't too surprise us that four prime ministers
01:08:25have spoken to the issue of the penetration.
01:08:28Mia Motley made a stirring appeal to young people this week.
01:08:32And then you have Deacon Mitchell,
01:08:34and his problem is how young blacks are killing young blacks in his country.
01:08:39And then you have St. Vincent, Ralph Gonzales, who is a liberal himself.
01:08:44And you have Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley,
01:08:46who has spoken very significantly along the Minister of National Security
01:08:52on the issue of recent trends.
01:08:54I was telling you off camera about MOLI.
01:08:57MOLI is sweeping across the Caribbean.
01:08:59And when we engaged the Caribbean youth last Friday at university,
01:09:02they were sure about that.
01:09:04And to add to what the Minister of National Security said,
01:09:07MOLI is both a psychedelic drug and a stimulant drug.
01:09:11So you're getting the best of both worlds, so to speak.
01:09:14And it is also called ecstasy.
01:09:19That's the famous name.
01:09:21Now, ecstasy, apart from the damage to the liver and the heart and the brain,
01:09:25there's another situation with ecstasy in terms of,
01:09:28he hinted, Minister Hines hinted, the sexual explosion,
01:09:32that kind of earthquaking sexual urge you get when you take the drug.
01:09:37But what is not known generally is that a lot of young people have committed suicide
01:09:42when they take ecstasy.
01:09:44And they have had planned group suicide, cluster suicides.
01:09:47So there's nothing to play with.
01:09:49And it must be of concern to the inspectors in the education department,
01:09:53to the Minister of Education in the department,
01:09:55to the whole country where we are going.
01:09:58So we're adding MOLI to the marijuana that is flowing through communities.
01:10:03And that is something we have to watch.
01:10:05Now, Marlon, a lot of people talk about family, family, family.
01:10:08Well, the drug traders, their families, some of them three generations.
01:10:14So they have cemented the links for generations to come.
01:10:18And what is happening now is that the gang,
01:10:21and I listened to the delegates from St. Vincent, St. Martin,
01:10:25I listened to them from Antigua, and what they are actually saying,
01:10:30and this is something we have to watch out,
01:10:32is the recruitment of the drug dealers from Form 4 and 5.
01:10:37So they are appointing young people, 15 and 16,
01:10:41to be their associates in the school.
01:10:44And what is happening in Trinidad along the east-west corridor,
01:10:47the guys are recruiting from beyond their school to other schools.
01:10:51So principals, there are some principals in this country,
01:10:53scared about what is taking place.
01:10:55They look at a future with great concern,
01:10:58with a sense of awareness of what is taking place
01:11:00because the drug dealers are making sure for three generations to come,
01:11:03you will have leaders who will run the trade.
01:11:06But the information that you're giving us this morning, Pastor,
01:11:09are the authorities aware of this situation?
01:11:13Is the TTPS aware of the situation?
01:11:16Because, you know, the argument will always be,
01:11:19well, we didn't know because no one didn't tell us.
01:11:22Well, certainly, if four or five prime ministers talk in two weeks
01:11:27about what is taking place in their community
01:11:30and you have the proliferation of the AR-15 weapon
01:11:34in the hands of secondary school students,
01:11:36there's no more powerful gun than the AR-15, you know.
01:11:39You know, there's a self-loading automatic rifle there, no more,
01:11:42and the kind of ammunition being seized, et cetera, et cetera.
01:11:44So I believe they're aware.
01:11:46What I think I would like to address, Carrie, come this morning,
01:11:50because somebody may be listening,
01:11:52the Caribbean Alliance recruitment strategy that is practiced
01:11:56by the gangland culture must be of concern
01:12:00because, you see, you have CARS versus CARICOM,
01:12:03and CARICOM, in terms of the fight against crime,
01:12:07generally has been a low-performing institution,
01:12:11nothing to deal with recruitment of young people.
01:12:14I went to Barbados, and the school in Barbados had, you know,
01:12:19the two gangs at a time.
01:12:21And I saw a young man.
01:12:23I understand he was from one of our churches,
01:12:25at St. Benedict's Church, and he stood by the principal,
01:12:28and I just applauded that because she recruited him
01:12:31to fight the gangs within the school system,
01:12:35and that is the kind of innovative, proactive strategy you need
01:12:38to conquer what's going on because these fellows, I mean,
01:12:41there's a professional strategic approach.
01:12:43It's no longer, well, you see a fellow by the corner there,
01:12:46and he ain't doing nothing, so we go recruit him.
01:12:48No, they want to get the best.
01:12:50And I have said, if we get about 50 to 75 people
01:12:53to go into the schools, you know, unite,
01:12:56not operate in a silo, and unite,
01:12:58then we're going to make that kind of impact.
01:13:01I'm talking about, you know, honest business folks,
01:13:03honest politicians, pastors and pundits and imams.
01:13:07If we have that, you know, I watched something
01:13:09when we were in Carson Field for the prayer vigil.
01:13:12We had Pundit Mongrew.
01:13:14We had the Molana, the imam.
01:13:17We had a Pentecostal pastor there.
01:13:20I was also there.
01:13:22And you had a number of people just pulling together
01:13:27to make a difference, and I told them,
01:13:29this has to be the start.
01:13:31It cannot be just have a prayer vigil, and you have a murder,
01:13:33and everybody consumed, and then, bam,
01:13:35you're going reverse gear after.
01:13:38It cannot be like that.
01:13:40And I am saying there's an element,
01:13:42there are two things lacking in our fight against crime.
01:13:44One is the consistency.
01:13:46I think that and the commitment, it is lacking.
01:13:51It's sporadic.
01:13:52You know, even when you have these police patrols
01:13:54and things like that, you have to have 15 murders
01:13:56on a weekend to really do a blanketing of the country.
01:14:00And we have to deal, you know, Mandela says,
01:14:04courage is not the absence of fear,
01:14:06but the management of fear.
01:14:08But what is your perspective, and this is a question
01:14:12that I've raised over the past few days,
01:14:14because even in light or in spite of these roadblocks
01:14:19that we're seeing across the country,
01:14:21you're still having murders in certain communities,
01:14:25and sometimes you're having murders
01:14:28in close proximity to police stations
01:14:31and these same exercises.
01:14:33What is this saying about the criminal interest?
01:14:36Lack of trust.
01:14:37There's a lack of trust by the community.
01:14:39You saw the people meet on your station.
01:14:4121% believe that would make a difference,
01:14:44and 79% say it would make no difference whatsoever,
01:14:47because in the first place, you have some officers
01:14:50who are crooked.
01:14:51So when you're, let us say 20% of your officers,
01:14:5420%, all right, they're not totally honest,
01:14:59and they have linkages with gangs.
01:15:01Let us each of them have three characters,
01:15:06punks, if you call them.
01:15:08You are actually coming up to the same number
01:15:12as the honest police officers, you know.
01:15:15So the crooked police officer, the crooked soldier,
01:15:18the crooked prison officer,
01:15:20when you add up all of them and their connections,
01:15:22they outnumber and sometimes outgun, all right,
01:15:26the honest people who want to make a difference
01:15:29in Trinidad and Tobago,
01:15:30and I just have to tell the crooked folks in security
01:15:33what the good book says,
01:15:34be sure your sins will find you out,
01:15:36because what is in the darkness will come into the light.
01:15:38You have to use the Bible to, you know,
01:15:39that's a powerful book, and you're a believer,
01:15:42and that cameraman is a strong believer.
01:15:44I tested him out today on the story of David Goliath,
01:15:47because he looked like Goliath,
01:15:48tall like that, we see a double weaver beam.
01:15:50You know what I'm saying?
01:15:51But we have to have the absolute faith in God
01:15:55to make a difference and to have the courage
01:15:57to face these well-armed folks
01:16:00who are using scientific strategies
01:16:02to recruit our youth.
01:16:03And if I make one point this morning,
01:16:05the recruitment of our youth by government,
01:16:08by the church, because in some instances,
01:16:10the church losing the battle too.
01:16:13Let me share with you,
01:16:14two of our young people fled this country.
01:16:16They fled this country because banking workers,
01:16:19workers in the bank sold their information
01:16:21to the criminal element.
01:16:22You always wonder sometimes, Marlon,
01:16:25if the criminal element not planting people
01:16:27in our financial institutions.
01:16:29Have you been looking at the situation
01:16:32concerning the SSA and the allegations
01:16:35and the information coming out of the SSA?
01:16:37Yes, yes.
01:16:38But what is interesting with the SSA,
01:16:40you have two sides of the coin.
01:16:41One group saying, well, the folks
01:16:43that have been suspended or dismissed
01:16:46are now being interviewed.
01:16:47So you wonder if the government
01:16:49or the security agencies are backpedaling.
01:16:52And then the Minister of National Security
01:16:54saying, no, that is not so.
01:16:56You know, Gigi doesn't know what he's talking about.
01:16:58But that is very interesting.
01:17:00Very, very interesting.
01:17:02And I hope Major Spencer and his team
01:17:05get to the bottom of it, all right?
01:17:07I'm not calling for targeting of people.
01:17:09I'm not calling for revenge,
01:17:10but I'm calling for justice.
01:17:12We need to have justice to that situation
01:17:14because you can't have a premier special
01:17:16intelligence gathering system
01:17:18that is penetrated, you know,
01:17:20by the negative parts of the culture
01:17:22who killing people left, right, front and center.
01:17:24So I hope, I hope, I hope
01:17:26I hope not only is there a report given to us,
01:17:29all right, but the guys who are saying
01:17:31they have been interviewed.
01:17:33So it could be, if that is so,
01:17:35it could be that, you know,
01:17:38there's a bit of a situation
01:17:40where you feel you're rushing to the thing
01:17:42and you were too quick with your action.
01:17:45You didn't think, all right, before you leaped.
01:17:48So that could be one part.
01:17:50The other part is,
01:17:51if what the government side is saying
01:17:54that they were planning a coup
01:17:56to overthrow the state,
01:17:57that's a serious thing that the prime minister said
01:18:00within the walls of parliament.
01:18:02You understand?
01:18:03And he was saying there was a plan to distribute guns
01:18:05and the plan to distribute guns
01:18:07was to arm that negative party element.
01:18:10I don't know what is true,
01:18:11but the country deserves.
01:18:13If the prime minister is right,
01:18:14then we have to take action.
01:18:16If the prime minister is not right,
01:18:18then he has to apologize to the nation
01:18:19because their lives involved,
01:18:20their families involved here.
01:18:22So that I look forward to the final report
01:18:25coming to the country.
01:18:26You can't make an accusation like that
01:18:28and then come to the country to find out the results.
01:18:30Pastor, I have one minute again.
01:18:32Well, I want to say to the country
01:18:33that there are a lot of young people I find
01:18:36who are coming to me and saying,
01:18:37we want to get involved.
01:18:39With that camp of 1,200,
01:18:40the youth congress camp under Director Marvin Smith,
01:18:43a lot of young people are saying,
01:18:44Pastor, we are forming a Caribbean alliance
01:18:47of young people and their leaders
01:18:50and their parents
01:18:51who want to make a difference in the community.
01:18:53And we're already beginning to see
01:18:55a kind of cross-fertilization of ideas.
01:18:57So we have to do that.
01:18:58And Trinidad and Tobago,
01:18:59we have to come together,
01:19:00different religions coming together,
01:19:02loving each other,
01:19:03to make a difference
01:19:04because right now,
01:19:05the gang leaders believe
01:19:07that they are winning the battle.
01:19:09And we must show them
01:19:10that they will in the future,
01:19:12they may win in the short term,
01:19:13but in the long term,
01:19:14they will lose.
01:19:15Pastor, it's always a pleasure speaking with you.
01:19:17Thank you very much.
01:19:18God bless.
01:19:19Thank you, as always, for the energy.
01:19:21Pastor comes with a level of energy.
01:19:23God bless.
01:19:24We're coming back, everybody.
01:19:43I have this pain here.
01:19:45I'm going up the step.
01:19:46It is awful.
01:19:47And since I've been taking the product,
01:19:49it has eased up.
01:19:50Helped her a lot with her joints and so on.
01:19:52Live long and stay strong.
01:19:54Really excel.
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01:20:29What's up, you guys?
01:20:30I'm Ren.
01:20:31And I'm Kim.
01:20:32Welcome to Conversations with Ren and Kim.
01:20:34On our show,
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01:20:59See you there.
01:21:17Family problems, you know?
01:21:22I like your glasses.
01:21:23After that, you feel a need.
01:21:25Some of them like nice things,
01:21:27like fancy phones, hairdos, clothes, food.
01:21:31You have ones who are only looking for somebody
01:21:33to care and listen to their problems.
01:21:35You feel me?
01:21:37What's important, though?
01:21:38You have to isolate them from the people.
01:21:41Let them believe it's all about you and them.
01:21:46Then you'll get through.
01:21:48Nice, nice.
01:21:50Where are you going?
01:21:51I'm going out.
01:22:20All right, so welcome back, everyone.
01:22:38So we're talking now about the Me2We Mentorship Program,
01:22:42which was launched in 2020
01:22:44and is a collaborative effort
01:22:46between the Volunteer Center of Trinidad and Tobago
01:22:48and the King's Trust International,
01:22:50formerly Prince's Trust International.
01:22:53So we do have in studio with us this morning
01:22:56Irma Bailey, Safeguarding Specialist,
01:22:58and Kelvin Poulsen, Mentor Ambassador.
01:23:01Thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:23:04All right, Mr. Poulsen, let's...
01:23:08All right, the mic?
01:23:11We need to...
01:23:13All right, hold on, hold on, hold on.
01:23:15So we just have some matters,
01:23:18house matters that we need to deal with, all right?
01:23:21So again, it's the Me2We Mentorship Program.
01:23:25Again, it was launched in 2020
01:23:27and is a collaborative effort
01:23:29with the King's Trust International,
01:23:31formerly the Prince's Trust International.
01:23:34Now, Me2We is a movement
01:23:36and a change in perspective
01:23:38from putting yourself first
01:23:40to exploring the principles
01:23:42that it takes a village to raise a child, all right?
01:23:46So the program's objectives
01:23:48are to reduce the critical psychosocial challenges
01:23:52of mentees,
01:23:54increase the civic consciousness
01:23:56of mentors and mentees,
01:23:58awaken and explore the mentees' gifts.
01:24:01Now, since the pilot cycle,
01:24:07there has been a level of success.
01:24:10Two cycles have been held, all right?
01:24:13So here's what.
01:24:15I believe that we can speak to our guests now.
01:24:17So, Mr. Poulsen and Miss Bailey,
01:24:21thank you very much for coming this morning again.
01:24:23All right, so, Mr. Poulsen,
01:24:25let's get right into the Me2We Mentorship Program.
01:24:29I just laid out some details here,
01:24:32but I'm sure that I missed out on a few things.
01:24:35So explain just what the program is all about.
01:24:41Sure, so it's an intervention program.
01:24:43And as I was telling you off-camera,
01:24:45it's funny that your previous guest was talking
01:24:47about crime and criminality
01:24:49and all the challenges we have in our communities
01:24:51across the region, really.
01:24:53This really is an intervention program
01:24:55that meets young persons, teenagers,
01:24:57in their school settings
01:24:59and offers an opportunity for persons
01:25:01who wish to give back to society, mentors,
01:25:03match them with young persons
01:25:05who are in high-needs schools
01:25:07and have been identified as high-needs
01:25:09and match them in a mentor-to-mentee kind of setting.
01:25:12Now, the mentorship program
01:25:14really operates on a many-to-one ratio.
01:25:17Insofar, it's a full package of training,
01:25:19it's a full package of debriefing,
01:25:21it's a full package of many mentors
01:25:24that kind of more or less match with this young person.
01:25:27And so it goes over a one-year period.
01:25:30Mentors are expected to meet
01:25:32at least once every two weeks,
01:25:34subject to the availability of the mentor and the mentee.
01:25:38And it really goes through an entire program
01:25:41to help to build the capacity of that young person
01:25:44and to treat with all the challenges,
01:25:46circumstances that our young persons are experiencing.
01:25:49The program started in 2020.
01:25:51This is the third cycle, as you indicated.
01:25:54Thus far, we've engaged 81 young persons
01:25:58in this new cycle in seven schools across Trinidad and Tobago.
01:26:01We hope to engage at least 70 young persons
01:26:04in this particular cycle.
01:26:06So in collaboration with the King's Trust International
01:26:10Volunteer Center of Trinidad and Tobago
01:26:12are the agencies that are really running this particular program,
01:26:16and we hope to have sustainable impact
01:26:19on not only the mentees,
01:26:21but the mentors as well as the program develops.
01:26:24Ms. Bailey, how do mentees get involved in the program?
01:26:28So we have a selection process with the schools.
01:26:32The schools are given a criteria
01:26:34for selecting students who will benefit from the program.
01:26:39And through the liaison from the school,
01:26:43we get a selection of students
01:26:46who will be satisfied with what the program has to offer.
01:26:50But is there a particular type of student that you're looking for?
01:26:54Most definitely.
01:26:55We want to support underserved students,
01:27:00underserved children who may not have that level of support,
01:27:04that wraparound service that is needed to really nurture a child.
01:27:08So we look for students who may have some psychosocial issues,
01:27:13limited communication skills, interpersonal skills.
01:27:18We look to also students who may not have persons who are around them
01:27:24to give them that level of mentorship and coaching.
01:27:27So the criteria is, while we would say it's robust,
01:27:32it's also flexible because we also look for students
01:27:34who just really are interested in volunteerism as well.
01:27:39So it's flexible in that regard.
01:27:42So I see that the program has been expanded
01:27:44to seven secondary schools across Trinidad and Tobago.
01:27:48Chagwana South Secondary, Moocorapa West Secondary,
01:27:50Toco Secondary, Cedra Secondary, Russell Latpe Secondary,
01:27:54San Juan North Secondary, Goodwood Secondary.
01:27:57But these are seven secondary schools.
01:27:59So there is a lot more work to be done.
01:28:02Yeah, absolutely. There's a lot more work to be done.
01:28:04Listen, in Trinidad and Tobago, we need all sectors.
01:28:08We need, whether it be governmental, whether it be private,
01:28:11whether it be the civil sector, as with us.
01:28:14And so we are trying to do our part.
01:28:16With the sample size now of seven schools,
01:28:19hopefully we could expand more, get more mentors,
01:28:22because we need persons with emails.
01:28:24We need persons of all different type of experiences and background
01:28:27who are outstanding persons in society
01:28:29who can meaningfully contribute to others.
01:28:32And we hope to expand this program even beyond the seven schools.
01:28:36You mentioned the seven schools.
01:28:37It's a wide geographic spread, including Tobago.
01:28:40There are a lot more high-risk or high-need schools.
01:28:43Yes.
01:28:44And there are a lot more high-need students.
01:28:46And there's a lot more need for persons to give back to these young persons
01:28:49and to help to, because it takes really a village to build a child,
01:28:52and we need to be that village.
01:28:54So the mentees include girls and boys.
01:28:57Yes, it's male, female.
01:28:59What we have done is, with the support of the CEO of the Ministry of Education,
01:29:05we have been able to get a good ratio of male and female students
01:29:10as a part of the program.
01:29:12So we really look forward to see what this cycle will bring.
01:29:15All right.
01:29:16So the next cycle is expected to begin when?
01:29:20In September.
01:29:22The process is that we would be looking for mentors at this time.
01:29:26So we're really excited to invite all of Trinidad and Tobago
01:29:30to become a part of this program, become mentors,
01:29:33and become that level of support for underserved children.
01:29:37How do mentors become involved?
01:29:39Sure.
01:29:40So persons can visit our website.
01:29:42It's me2, as in T-O, me2we.vctt.org,
01:29:47and they can download the application material and apply through that portal.
01:29:52One could also visit our social media, VCTT's social media,
01:29:56and you can get more information there and engage the application process.
01:30:00Now, the application process was actually extended from mid-July
01:30:03to we will close off applications for mentors on the 26th of July.
01:30:09So just a few more days remaining.
01:30:11Persons who are very interested and feel they could give back,
01:30:13certainly go through those mediums and make your application.
01:30:17When you are thinking about this cycle,
01:30:20is it that you have what you want the program, the cycle, to look like?
01:30:29So if we're speaking about Cycle 3, what are some of the components of Cycle 3?
01:30:34We do have a standard curriculum that we work with.
01:30:38As Skelton rightly said, we do a matching process with mentees and mentors.
01:30:44So through that process, part of it is the needs assessment of the mentee
01:30:50as well as the assessment of the mentor.
01:30:53So utilizing the curriculum,
01:30:55mentors are able to bring their own experiences,
01:30:59really interacting with the curriculum
01:31:02to ensure that the needs that were identified for those particular mentees are matched.
01:31:08So it's not a cookie-cutter approach.
01:31:11No, it's not.
01:31:12It's really the program is shaped to meet the demand of the mentee.
01:31:17Yeah, and part of that as well, Marlon,
01:31:19is that we actually have a whole multidisciplinary steering committee
01:31:23who are the persons, the engine, really, that drives this program throughout the year
01:31:27and even before that.
01:31:29And this multidisciplinary steering committee include persons
01:31:32who have experience in child protection, curriculum development,
01:31:35persons who have planned previous mentorship programs before,
01:31:39funding experience, et cetera.
01:31:41So all of those ideas come together,
01:31:43and it's a continuous monitoring of the program and evaluation and so on,
01:31:46and pivoting, really.
01:31:48As the program evolves and the needs evolve,
01:31:51not only over this cycle but over the previous cycle,
01:31:53that we continue to make sure that we're in tune with the needs of our clients.
01:31:58How long is this cycle going to be?
01:32:00This is going to be a year.
01:32:02A year.
01:32:03Yes.
01:32:04So it's an opportune time for the mentors as well as the mentees
01:32:09to engage in that relationship building
01:32:12so that we can see some reframing of thoughts for the mentees
01:32:16as well as the mentors being able to model positive behaviors for them
01:32:20and connect them with various agencies or stakeholders
01:32:24that can best support them at that time.
01:32:26But participation in this program, in this cycle,
01:32:30for the mentor and mentee, it has to be on a voluntary basis, right?
01:32:35It has to be.
01:32:37We get referrals from the Ministry of Education
01:32:40and the schools with respect to the mentees themselves,
01:32:44but no one is going to coerce a child, a student,
01:32:47into coming into a program because you don't really get the results if that is the case.
01:32:51Definitely on the part of the mentors, it's voluntary.
01:32:55And so we've actually had a very strong interest of persons thus far for this cycle,
01:32:59but, of course, we want to have a lot more
01:33:01because, of course, there's a screening, vetting, training program
01:33:04that goes on with the mentors.
01:33:06But, again, it's all voluntary.
01:33:08Even the persons on the steering committee is voluntary.
01:33:10Right.
01:33:13How many students or participants are you looking for this cycle?
01:33:21So this cycle, we're really targeting 70 students,
01:33:25and we are pleased to say that working along with the Ministry of Education
01:33:29as well as the Division of Education in Tobago,
01:33:32we have been able to secure those seven students,
01:33:36those mentees that will be working with us for an entire year.
01:33:40How many mentors are you looking for?
01:33:43At this point in time, we're not looking at a particular number.
01:33:46We're looking at quality.
01:33:48And so when persons come in, we have our vetting, screening, training process.
01:33:52We want to at least match every mentee with at least one mentor.
01:33:57That's our hope.
01:33:59So if we have 70 students, we're hoping for probably about 70 mentors.
01:34:02But it's really looking at quality at this particular point in time with our applicants.
01:34:06And adding to what Kelvin shared,
01:34:08because it's a many-to-one sort of dynamic for the program,
01:34:13we do hope to have more than the 70 so that the students, the mentees,
01:34:18will have a good cadre of mentors to support them.
01:34:22So the mentor is paired with this mentee.
01:34:27Yes.
01:34:29And there is a constant monitoring of the mentorship, if I could put it that way.
01:34:39Who is doing the monitoring?
01:34:42So the program has a committee beyond the steering committee,
01:34:46which is the safeguarding committee.
01:34:48And this committee is responsible for ensuring that there is no opportunity for abuse,
01:34:55neglect, or any form of maltreatment of the mentees.
01:35:00So through our subcommittee, which is the safeguarding committee,
01:35:07we are actually giving that level of monitoring support.
01:35:14Where does the mentorship take place?
01:35:16Is it at the school?
01:35:18Where does it take place?
01:35:19Good question, Marlon.
01:35:20So it's hybrid.
01:35:22We started this program in 2020, as was indicated.
01:35:24So we were in the height of COVID.
01:35:25Yes.
01:35:26And so it was essentially virtual.
01:35:29We've actually built out a particular platform that allows for some protection mechanisms within it.
01:35:37Right.
01:35:38So we use that virtual platform in order to engage in the sessions.
01:35:42However, there are also debriefing sessions, meet and greet sessions, training sessions,
01:35:49capacity building sessions that are done in persons,
01:35:52along with those face-to-face interactions via virtual platform that the mentor and the mentee engage in.
01:35:58Yeah.
01:35:59Ms. Bailey, I want you to speak about the transformation that you would have seen
01:36:06concerning individuals from the beginning of the program to the end of the program.
01:36:11We have a number of success stories, so I'm really happy to share on that.
01:36:16When we take a mentee through the process of their needs assessment, we look for some critical factors.
01:36:24Do they have a skill deficit as it relates to their psychosocial development?
01:36:30We look for whether or not they have, you know, understood or identified their giftedness,
01:36:36whether or not they have a desire for, you know, engaging in civic responsibility.
01:36:42Once we do identify where they are at at that stage, we try to get them from point A to point B.
01:36:49And over the last cycle, I saw, you know, many of our mentees really becoming so much interested in their own selves
01:37:01and also their family, the level of family engagement that we saw during the last cycle.
01:37:07We also saw persons who were so successful that they themselves are becoming mentors at this stage.
01:37:14Yeah, I think it is safe to say that the program has worked well.
01:37:19Yeah.
01:37:20We just have about a minute again.
01:37:23Any additional information you'd like to give us or read the mentor and even the mentee and the cycle, if you'd like?
01:37:31Well, for me, we're a small country, Trinidad and Tobago.
01:37:35We need to be each other's keeper.
01:37:37We need to pass on our skills and pass on our protective skills as in particular on to the next generation.
01:37:46And I would really want to encourage and appeal, plea to persons to become mentors and become involved in the program
01:37:53and even wider than that, become a volunteer, contribute to something that doesn't give you back that monetary return,
01:37:58but you could really make a change towards.
01:38:00Yeah, Miss Bailey.
01:38:01I agree with that wholeheartedly.
01:38:03As a country, we are seeing so many of our young persons lives being snuffed out.
01:38:09And the society that we cultivate for them is what is going to determine sustainability for us as citizens.
01:38:18Becoming a mentor gives you that opportunity to really give back.
01:38:21And so we encourage especially our males to come out because we do have a lot of males on the program.
01:38:28And that level of support is needed.
01:38:32Yeah. Thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:38:35I believe that programs such as these are really changing lives and saving lives.
01:38:40So thank you to you and your team's contribution that you will continue to make.
01:38:46Thank you again for coming this morning.
01:38:48Thank you for having us.
01:38:49So we are going to a very short break.
01:38:51We have this for our viewers, yeah?
01:38:53We're coming back, everybody.
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01:40:57Welcome, welcome, one and all to the land of death.
01:41:00Trini to the bone.
01:41:02Trini to the bone.
01:41:05When you come to Bacchanal, well, there can't be three.
01:41:08Trini to the bone.
01:41:10Trini to the bone.
01:41:13Go.
01:41:14Trini to the bone.
01:41:17When you come to Bacchanal, well, there can't be three.
01:41:20Trini to the bone.
01:41:22Trini to the bone.
01:41:25Go.
01:41:26Sweet woman, parade upon the plain.
01:41:28The brethren, they're full of energy.
01:41:30All right, so welcome back, everyone.
01:41:31So we're discussing AI and digital transformation now.
01:41:34With us this morning via Zoom, we do have Mr. Anthony Pair, Managing Director and Senior Director of Assurance
01:41:43at More TT, and we also have Antonio Ayala, CEO at Risco Consulting.
01:41:50Gentlemen, thank you very much for joining us this morning.
01:41:53Good morning.
01:41:54Thank you to you.
01:41:55Of course.
01:41:56Good morning, perhaps.
01:41:57Yes.
01:41:58Mr. Pair, before we move into this partnership and discuss it with your both companies,
01:42:04let's talk a little bit about More Trinidad and Tobago before we speak about the partnership.
01:42:09Mr. Pair.
01:42:11Good morning to all listeners this morning and all of your viewers.
01:42:14More Trinidad and Tobago is an independent member firm of the More Global Network.
01:42:19That's an accountancy network.
01:42:21We are the tenth largest accountancy network in the world, and More Trinidad and Tobago is the local branch of that network.
01:42:29We are in 116 countries, 35,000 professionals, offering services in traditional public accounting, auditing, accounting, taxation,
01:42:38corporate finance, you name it.
01:42:40Yeah.
01:42:41That's who we are.
01:42:42All right.
01:42:43And Mr. Ayala, Risco is a company based in Panama.
01:42:47Tell us a little bit about the company and your role as CEO.
01:42:52Thank you.
01:42:53Risco is a company based in Panama, and we deal with helping our customers to face the challenge in terms of global risk and compliance,
01:43:04information security, and IT risk management.
01:43:07We assist our customers, not just in Panama, but also in Central America and the Caribbean,
01:43:13to face the challenge and resolve the problem that they face in connection with the digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
01:43:23Yeah.
01:43:24And Mr. Pair, More TT is a financial services firm for all intents and purposes.
01:43:28Why go the route of AI and digital transformation?
01:43:33Okay.
01:43:34So AI and digital transformation is impacting on just about every area of our lives,
01:43:40and the accountancy profession of which we belong is no exception.
01:43:45So what we have found over the years is that more and more companies are turning to AI in particular as a way of transforming their organizations,
01:43:56ensuring that there's enhanced productivity, greater customer satisfaction, and other business incentives, as it were.
01:44:05So as a consultancy firm that offers services to businesses, obviously we are very much interested in the impact on businesses.
01:44:16And so AI and digital transformation is just another aspect of what we do.
01:44:21We also are very involved with risk management, and we find that in the area of risk management, in the area of compliance, in the area of governance,
01:44:30there are a number of ways in which artificial intelligence is making its way into the business world and into businesses around the world.
01:44:38Yeah.
01:44:39So, gentlemen, let's speak a little bit about Diligent One.
01:44:43Mr. Ayala, Diligent One and what it can bring to organizations in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
01:44:51Let's talk about the benefits of it.
01:44:54Excellent question.
01:44:56Diligent is the largest GRC and SHG software platform in the cloud around the globe.
01:45:05Diligent One platform is a software solution that assists organizations in the financial sector and, to be honest, in any other sector,
01:45:15to improve how they manage their risk, audit, compliance, and governance process within the organization in one single platform.
01:45:27One of the problems that most organizations, not just in CARICOM or Central America, but also around the globe,
01:45:35the challenge that they face is that they use different software platforms to deal with the risk and audit and compliance issues.
01:45:43With Diligent One platform, now, with a single platform, they can do that in a very easy way.
01:45:49All right.
01:45:50Mr. Pehr, you're going to have to help us and give us a little more additional information because for old people like me, yeah,
01:46:00I want you all to be very, very clear as to what we're speaking about.
01:46:06Mr. Pehr, rather, how will Mortitty integrate AI into its portfolio and how will organizations access the technology locally and regionally?
01:46:17All right.
01:46:19Great question, Marlon.
01:46:21As I said before, AI is all around us.
01:46:24And just as a step back a little bit for a while, when we speak of artificial intelligence,
01:46:30what we're speaking of basically is any problem, any business problem that can be reduced to, you know, systemic steps,
01:46:41can in fact be automated using artificial intelligence.
01:46:44And it's really a mathematical, it's really an application of mathematical algorithms and stuff like that that will result in the results or bring us the results that we're looking for.
01:46:55So with that having been said, the way we incorporate it into our portfolio is in terms of the work that we do for our clients,
01:47:02we use artificial intelligence as fast as possible, particularly in, for example, in areas of analytics,
01:47:08where we try to understand and become predictive rather than trying to deal with more of the historic data of how the business has performed.
01:47:20What we are moving to now is we're trying to build predictive models that will help us to sort of trend where the business is going,
01:47:27trend the threats, the opportunities that are before businesses.
01:47:32And by so doing, we are hoping that we are better positioned to advise our clients in terms of their business decisions in the boardroom and day-to-day operations.
01:47:41So we will apply it in that manner and the outcome, the benefits that we anticipate are quite tremendous for those organizations who will take the time to understand and apply artificial intelligence and digital transformation in whatever they are doing.
01:47:58Yeah. And Mr. Ayala, digital transformation is here to stay, right?
01:48:03What advice can you give to organizations who are still unsure about how best to integrate it into its operations?
01:48:11Good question. Digital transformation, as you mentioned, is here to stay.
01:48:18It's not a new concept around us. It has been, I would say, the last maybe 10 years around us.
01:48:26But some advice to those organizations that we can move forward on them is just to understand that without a formal assessment and plan before it starts, maybe that process is not going to work.
01:48:42We have seen many organizations that start a digital transformation process without a start with an internal assessment of which process we need to improve.
01:48:55What is the customer experience that we need to improve?
01:48:59What are the customer employees?
01:49:01What are the benefits that we want to obtain through the digital transformation?
01:49:05Our recommendation would be, first, define those steps, define your goals, and then start with a digital transformation process because you don't need to start the digital transformation process in the whole organization.
01:49:20You can start with some specific department, some specific area, some specific region.
01:49:27But the important thing is to start in the good way.
01:49:32Yeah. And Mr. Pair, you would remember that maybe last year or maybe the year before when we first started hearing about AI, there was this level of fear concerning AI.
01:49:45And it was said at that time, well, AI is going to take people's jobs and a lot of negatives concerning AI.
01:49:53You feel, Mr. Pair, that people are warming up to the concept of AI now?
01:49:58Well, in a survey done by Mo Global in 12 developed countries around the world, it has been found that only 22% of the business leaders interviewed or surveyed in that particular survey saw AI as a means of reducing payroll costs or even reducing headcount.
01:50:19So that as we warm up to it, to use your language, we are discovering that the benefits of AI far outweighs the possibility of job loss.
01:50:32So to sit here and say there will be no loss of jobs will not be a genuine answer.
01:50:38But I believe that what we will witness is a shift in the types of jobs that become available and that people will now have to retrain and retool so that they can make themselves useful within the organizations using the technology, using the tools that are available through AI, through digital transformation.
01:50:59So, for example, in my profession, the accountancy profession, there are a lot of things we do in the accountancy profession that is really very routine.
01:51:06And yes, I deal for AI and digital transformation.
01:51:11But at the back end of that, there has to be a human intervention to interpret the results put out by the digital transformation systems or the software systems, the AI systems, whatever it is.
01:51:24And that aspect of the work will never die and will never go away because at the end of the day, AI so far, we don't know where it's going to go in the future.
01:51:33But so far, AI can give us outcome based on figures presented to the systems and what have you.
01:51:40But at the end of the day, you still need that human intervention to interpret and to bring to life the results of the AI solutions that are being used around the world.
01:51:50So, to answer your question in short, yes, there will be some, I wouldn't say displacement.
01:51:57I think there'll be some adjustments required in the workplace so that people can become comfortable with technology, using technology, and it benefits far outweigh the cost of whatever we're looking at or whatever systems we're looking at introducing AI or digital transformation.
01:52:16Yeah. And Mr. Ayala, where do you see AI and digital transformation in, let's say, the next five or 10 years in the financial services space?
01:52:27Well, talk about artificial intelligence development in five or 10 years is too long.
01:52:34I would say that maybe in the next three years, because artificial intelligence is something that is changing so fast that, to be honest with all your audience, we are in the first stage of the artificial intelligence development.
01:52:51What we can expect for the next maybe three or five years is that in the financial sector and maybe also in the energy sector, organizations will be able to, using mathematical models, predict how some transaction is going to happen.
01:53:10Just think about in the financial sector, try to identify, using mathematical regression process, how a potential transaction could be a fraud or how a potential loan for a mortgage or buy a house is something that that person, probably using artificial intelligence, determined that is not going to pay.
01:53:34So all the benefits of artificial intelligence are by far, by far above of the negative issue that artificial intelligence today has.
01:53:44So as Anthony said, it's a tremendous opportunity for organization to improve customer experience and increase efficiency of what they have been doing for the past year.
01:53:56Yeah. Mr. Per, I just have about 30 seconds. Again, how do organizations get in touch with you all?
01:54:04Oh, you can reach us at info at more tt.com. Info at more tt.com. That's where we can be reached. And I guess Antonio can give you the Resco website.
01:54:21Antonio, you want to give us the Resco contact information there quickly?
01:54:27Sorry, I lost the communication a few seconds.
01:54:29Well, we do have it. We do have it up on the screen. All right. So gentlemen, we do have your contact information. Yeah. Gentlemen, it was good speaking with you all. Have a good day. Bye for now.
01:54:43Thank you very much.
01:54:45Coming back.
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01:56:06Well, come back and that's going to be the end of our program for today, everybody. See you right back here tomorrow morning. Have a good day. We leave you with this image.
01:56:36Look, everybody.
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