Morning Edition: 19th August 2024

CCNTV6

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Transcript

00:00:00Good morning, I am Cindy Raghubar Tika Singh with your morning news update.

00:00:11Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Sunday afternoon announced at the conclusion of a PNM special

00:00:17convention at Napa discussing constitutional reform that a change will be made soon to

00:00:24the National Coat of Arms.

00:00:54Now that as soon as the legislative adjustment is made and that amendment, that adjustment

00:01:03should be made before the 24th of September, we then over a six month period will replace

00:01:11Columbus three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina with the steel pan.

00:01:20Now for a look at the weather.

00:01:22You can expect mostly hot, sunny and hazy conditions despite brief isolated showers

00:01:29and a low chance of the isolated heavy shower or thunderstorm.

00:01:34While tonight, mostly fair and hazy conditions despite isolated showers are expected.

00:01:41Temperatures are forecast to get up to 34 degrees in Trinidad and 32 degrees in Tobago.

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00:03:19Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.

00:03:31Inspiration through dance is fueled by the spirit.

00:03:44Inspiration is found in the diversity of nature.

00:03:50The inspired word of God directs our path.

00:03:52Join us every Monday morning at 8.30 a.m. right here on TV6 for our many moments of

00:03:58inspiration.

00:04:43Come on studio, give us a little more.

00:04:45Let's start it off in a good way this Monday with a lot of energy, right?

00:04:56It's good to be happy and have a lot of energy on Monday morning, you know.

00:05:01Listen to this.

00:05:02Yeah.

00:05:03The action is here.

00:05:04A very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago.

00:05:06I'm Marlon Hopkinson and welcome to The Morning Edition.

00:05:09It's Monday 19th August and thank you very much for joining us this morning.

00:05:13I hope that you had a very good weekend and that you're safe and sound with us this morning

00:05:18because we do have a very interesting two hours for you today as always.

00:05:24Right?

00:05:25So here now boy.

00:05:26So I decide, you see this weekend, I had some business to do up in Paramin.

00:05:33So I went up to La Vigie.

00:05:35Yeah.

00:05:36Good morning to the people of Paramin.

00:05:38How many of you all out there have been to La Vigie?

00:05:42Take the trip.

00:05:43But what I will tell you is don't take the old road to get up there

00:05:47because I've heard about these hills.

00:05:52Yeah.

00:05:53Or the hill or the long hill.

00:05:56Yeah.

00:05:57In Paramin.

00:05:58It is not for the faint hearted.

00:06:00Yeah.

00:06:01So again, good morning to the people of Paramin.

00:06:04I know that you all are doing that every day and you all have become accustomed to it.

00:06:10Yeah.

00:06:11But I think one trip up to Paramin was enough for me using the old road.

00:06:18Yeah.

00:06:19I mean those bends are amazing.

00:06:22Yeah.

00:06:23You start to question things.

00:06:25You start to think about God.

00:06:27You start to think about how you're coming back down.

00:06:30All sorts of things.

00:06:32But if you, I mean we do have a few days still before the beginning of the new school term.

00:06:38Right?

00:06:39Take the children to La Vigie.

00:06:41Use the new road.

00:06:42The concrete road, use that road.

00:06:46It's a beautiful sight up at La Vigie.

00:06:50Yeah.

00:06:51You get to look into the distance.

00:06:52And when you look, you're seeing the mountains.

00:06:55Well, you're in the mountains.

00:06:56Right?

00:06:57And you're seeing the sea and it's a beautiful sight.

00:07:00So take the children up there.

00:07:02Yeah.

00:07:03Huh?

00:07:04Pictures?

00:07:05Pictures?

00:07:07You're right.

00:07:08Right?

00:07:09So, as I said, we do have a lot for you on the program today.

00:07:12Let's check out to see what's happening on the Daily Express on the front page today.

00:07:16PNM internal consultation on constitutional reform rejects change.

00:07:21No fixed election dates.

00:07:24And the Prime Minister also said steel pan to replace ships in coat of arms.

00:07:30Together in song, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is joined by Energy Minister,

00:07:35Stuart Young, left, and Youth Development Minister, Foster Cummings, right,

00:07:39as they raise their hands and voices yesterday during Colonel Roberts' rendition

00:07:44of his father Kitchener's election song, PNM March.

00:07:49And to the left, suspected dengue girl, eight dies.

00:07:53And let me tell you, this situation with dengue, it has to be of concern to everyone.

00:08:00Do what you have to do.

00:08:02Check out your surroundings.

00:08:04Remove these thousand plants that you all have gathering water.

00:08:08Yeah?

00:08:09Do a bit of cleaning up because it is, as we're seeing here, very, very dangerous.

00:08:14All right?

00:08:15So, some of the things that the Prime Minister would have spoken about yesterday,

00:08:19no fixed election date, no two proportional representation for general elections.

00:08:26And we will speak a lot more about this this morning.

00:08:31It's a good topic for debate, so we will do that.

00:08:34All right?

00:08:35Let's check out some sport now.

00:08:37But before we check out the sport, let's look at this.

00:08:40Sad farewell, dengue suspected.

00:08:42Nelisha, eight, laid to rest.

00:08:44Eight-year-old Nelisha Sophia Narine was a healthy child who loved the outdoors

00:08:48and adored her family.

00:08:50She had big dreams and participated in all activities at the North Trace Government

00:08:54Primary School, where she was a Standard One pupil.

00:08:57Standard One pupil.

00:08:59Class teacher Zinifa John-Bissoon said.

00:09:02But Nelisha's life ended last week, Wednesday.

00:09:05Yeah?

00:09:06A lot of claims are being made about the circumstances surrounding Nelisha's

00:09:15demise and what would have contributed to that.

00:09:19So let's hope we do remove in the next few days all of these questions

00:09:25surrounding what would have contributed to her death.

00:09:28All right?

00:09:29What do you have for us again, studio?

00:09:31All right.

00:09:32We have some sport.

00:09:33Alec included in squad.

00:09:34But Holder Russell to be rested for T20 series versus South Africa.

00:09:38Veteran all-rounders Jason Holder and Andrew Russell have both been rested

00:09:42for the West Indies upcoming T20 series against South Africa,

00:09:46which bowls off on Friday.

00:09:48So some sport.

00:09:49And we are going to be discussing WCPL later on this morning.

00:09:53All right?

00:09:54All right.

00:09:55So it's time to remind you about Trinbago Unice feature.

00:09:57Remember to participate.

00:09:59You can send your videos and pictures to that address,

00:10:04trinbagounice.tv6tnt.com.

00:10:08And just to tell you, we appreciate all of your pictures, all of your videos.

00:10:13Yeah?

00:10:14This is a beautiful site.

00:10:17Yes, it is.

00:10:18All right?

00:10:19It looks to me like this was taken from Karen.

00:10:23It was.

00:10:24You see, I know the place.

00:10:26That's the Northern Range there.

00:10:29Yes.

00:10:30Nice picture.

00:10:32Yeah?

00:10:33Yeah, now.

00:10:34I'm excited for next week already, you know, because next week,

00:10:37I mean, it's Independence Week.

00:10:40And, you know, I'm thinking of a few things to share with you next week.

00:10:44So look out for that, too.

00:10:45All right?

00:10:46All right.

00:10:47So have your coffee, your tea, get something to eat.

00:10:49We're coming back, everybody.

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00:12:01The choice is clear.

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00:12:44Uh-uh.

00:12:51Let's take a selfie.

00:12:55It looking good, boy. I'm posting it online.

00:13:01Hey.

00:13:02I thought you said you went to the beach with your parents.

00:13:05Who's you?

00:13:06It's me.

00:13:07Larry.

00:13:09From online.

00:13:10Larry.

00:13:11From online.

00:13:27And beware of legal parasites,

00:13:30because all your rights they will swipe.

00:13:33The constitution will never respect you,

00:13:36because word for word it is just a farce.

00:13:41That is why I don't care what they do.

00:13:44People just feel the law is on us.

00:13:47Us citizens have the right

00:13:50to plead their causes in court.

00:13:53Trini could say that, eh? I don't think I could say that out here, right?

00:13:57It's a very special good morning to all of you.

00:13:59Thank you very much for joining us again.

00:14:01So this morning we are examining the politics of today.

00:14:04You know that yesterday the PNM had its special party convention,

00:14:07and a number of revelations were made.

00:14:09Now, two reports were discussed,

00:14:10the National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform,

00:14:13and another report of the PNM's Internal Constitution Review Committee,

00:14:17chaired by Keith Scotland,

00:14:19which looked at the recommendations made in the first report.

00:14:22Now, following an internal consultation on constitutional reform by the PNM,

00:14:26it was agreed that there be, among other things,

00:14:28no fixed election date,

00:14:30no two-proportional representation for general elections,

00:14:34and a parliamentary oversight of the DPP's office.

00:14:38Well, joining us to discuss these and other issues and the politics

00:14:43in a holistic way this morning,

00:14:45we are joined by political analyst Dr. Winsford James.

00:14:48Dr. James, as always, thank you very much for joining us

00:14:51on this early morning shift this morning.

00:14:54We do appreciate it.

00:14:56My pleasure. I accept it to come on here.

00:15:00Dr. James, well, anything jumps out to you,

00:15:03judging from what the Prime Minister would have said

00:15:06and some of the revelations made by the PNM's special convention yesterday?

00:15:12I wasn't able to listen to the convention.

00:15:15I actually thought it was going to be held in Tobago.

00:15:18Yes.

00:15:19Where Oman and I,

00:15:22nobody knew about whether it was going to be in Tobago or not.

00:15:25So apparently it was held in Trinidad yesterday, Marlon.

00:15:28Is that a fact?

00:15:29Yes. Yes, sir.

00:15:31So according to the, well, we heard yesterday,

00:15:33and it is being reported in the, it was reported in the news last evening.

00:15:37It is being reported in the newspaper this morning.

00:15:40So, as you know, there were two reports on constitution reform

00:15:44and there was a PNM internal consultation.

00:15:48And it has, its suggestion and recommendation

00:15:52is that there be no fixed election dates,

00:15:57that also no to proportional representation

00:16:00for general election.

00:16:03Also, there should be some level of oversight over the DPP's office.

00:16:09The Prime Minister also spoke about a change to the coat of arms

00:16:13that the pan is going to be in and the ship's going to be out.

00:16:17Judging from what the Prime Minister would have said yesterday,

00:16:21what's your analysis this morning of all that?

00:16:25I don't know if a reporter would carry picking,

00:16:28but the matters that you have just identified are small potatoes

00:16:32so far as I am concerned.

00:16:34The question of whether you should have proportional representation.

00:16:39That idea has been around for a long time

00:16:42and I haven't heard anybody specify from the government side

00:16:47what shape it would take.

00:16:49But I'm hearing from you this morning

00:16:52that the government says we need more representation.

00:16:57And then the question of the other two things that you mentioned there.

00:17:02No to fixed election dates.

00:17:05No fixed election dates.

00:17:07Hardly anybody has been calling for that.

00:17:10People have called for it in the past,

00:17:12but in recent times there hasn't been any discussion,

00:17:16you know, from the opposition, for example,

00:17:19and from commentators with respect to the utility of that

00:17:23and the fact that that is needful in the society.

00:17:27We haven't had any focus on that of late.

00:17:30So the PNM focused on matters that have gone out of the focus of the community

00:17:39in terms of election reform.

00:17:42Is that one of the things we want?

00:17:45Are we talking about putting the DPP's office under parliamentary oversight?

00:17:51Is that one of the things that we have been asking for?

00:17:54Well, most important for me, Marlon,

00:17:56is that the PNM did not bring back the report of the Constitution Reform Committee

00:18:04to the public.

00:18:07So you went around and you gathered the information

00:18:10and you produced a report

00:18:13and I'm not aware that the PNM, PM in particular, the minister in particular,

00:18:21has gone back around and said,

00:18:23look, this is the report we have come up with

00:18:26and these are the items that we have decided to adopt.

00:18:33That report is out, by the way, Marlon.

00:18:36I plan to read it today.

00:18:39I don't have any feedback on the report itself now at this point.

00:18:45You will have to call me back at a later date when I have read the report.

00:18:49Right?

00:18:50But the point is that you would think that the prime minister would say,

00:18:56okay, thanks for your contribution to the reform exercise.

00:19:03We have looked at it.

00:19:06Except the meeting was the way the prime minister was going to acknowledge

00:19:12what the report says

00:19:15and then he would pick what he would like.

00:19:20Because remember, the way the report is written,

00:19:23the report on the report is written.

00:19:26It is the prime minister who determines what to pick and what to reject.

00:19:33Yes?

00:19:34It hasn't even gone to the parliament just yet.

00:19:39So, no, we don't have enough from the report

00:19:45on what is said more in the papers today.

00:19:48We haven't had enough to engage our intellect

00:19:53with respect to what this country needs for reform.

00:19:57I do say that the three things or so that you have identified and focused

00:20:03are not the kinds of reforms that I hear people across the country calling.

00:20:13And the question is, is it there but was not reported upon?

00:20:17Yes.

00:20:18Well, just to tell you, now, in his address,

00:20:21chairman of the PNM's Internal Constitutional Review Committee

00:20:23on Constitutional Reform,

00:20:25Keith Scotland noted that the committee, which was established in January 2024,

00:20:29focused on 16 specific areas of reform for consideration,

00:20:3413 of which found a sibling in the PNM's 2030 policy document.

00:20:41All right?

00:20:42So, I just want to put that on the table, Dr. James.

00:20:48First of all, that doesn't mean that they have accepted it.

00:20:50You know that, right?

00:20:52They are focused on 13 out of what, 16?

00:20:55The question is, are they ready to tell the public what they have decided to do?

00:21:02And are they going to do it outside of the parliament or inside of the parliament?

00:21:08Is there something?

00:21:09Because, you know, election reform, constitutional reform,

00:21:12requires a special majority in the House,

00:21:19which means the UNC has to be involved in this process.

00:21:26This might be the reporter's fault.

00:21:28The way the reporter is reporting and what I'm saying is that here is a report

00:21:35that has been apparently discussed outside of the parliamentary walls, right?

00:21:42And the report will have to come to the parliament in due course.

00:21:48So, what are the 13 points of acceptance?

00:21:54Is it acceptance or just focus?

00:21:56And, you know, what are the arguments the PNM has adduced for whatever number they decide to push?

00:22:07But, you know, we're not looking for things like the oversight of the DPP's office.

00:22:14We're not looking for, maybe some of us are looking for proportional representation.

00:22:22But what does that mean?

00:22:24Because there are different kinds of proportional representation, you know?

00:22:29So the Prime Minister also would have spoken about and he said that he was disappointed

00:22:34that the opposition did not take part.

00:22:36He has expressed disappointment that the UNC did not participate in the national consultation

00:22:42on constitutional reform.

00:22:45So he was critical of the UNC.

00:22:47He believed that they should have contributed.

00:22:50A rehash of his position before.

00:22:54From the outset, he was not particularly impressed by the UNC's position

00:23:04on the formation of the commission.

00:23:09And the fact that it's not the first time that the PNM is doing something like that.

00:23:17In fact, in recent days, the leader of the opposition has been decrying this latest effort as gimmickry.

00:23:25Right?

00:23:26But my better point is that these things have to be taken to the parliament and discussed there.

00:23:34Because the government chose to create a committee without the PNM, the UNC being a part of it.

00:23:43And then it turns around and says, well, look, I am not impressed with the level of participation of the UNC.

00:23:51They should have come out and given their views just like anybody else.

00:23:57But for crying out loud, we are talking about the official opposition of the country.

00:24:02And when the PM struck that committee, there was no UNC person on it.

00:24:11Yeah.

00:24:12So then, Dr. James, what does the PNM do?

00:24:16Does the PNM scrap the entire exercise or proceed as it did?

00:24:22No, they are the ones who decided about the composition of the committee.

00:24:26Yes.

00:24:27The UNC could not put itself there.

00:24:29Of course not.

00:24:30So the government decided to strike a committee and did so.

00:24:36And that committee is now reporting.

00:24:40Now, what will happen to the report eventually?

00:24:45If it's going to involve constitution reform, the UNC has to be involved.

00:24:51Now, if you didn't involve them up front in the first place, are you going to involve them now?

00:24:56Because you are the government, so you apparently can do that.

00:25:01Clearly, they did what they think they could do.

00:25:04Yes.

00:25:05My point is the UNC was not involved up front.

00:25:09Now, they may have refused if they will approach.

00:25:13I do not know.

00:25:14What I am saying to you is that you need the UNC to get the majority that you need to reshape the constitution.

00:25:27That is something that we have to look to.

00:25:30What seems to have happened yesterday is the PNM and the PM behaving as if it's up to them as a party to make certain decisions,

00:25:42decide on what should be included and what should not be included.

00:25:47Yes?

00:25:48And one does not, at least in the reports that you are referencing, Marlon, one has not seen the argumentation that is used for whatever point you decide to push.

00:26:03Right?

00:26:04Maybe such argumentation appears in the papers today.

00:26:08I have not been able to read that.

00:26:11Dr. James, we must go to a very short break.

00:26:13We are coming back.

00:26:15Dr. James, hold the line for a little while for us.

00:26:17We are coming back.

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00:28:12Slavery.

00:28:14A terrible time in our history.

00:28:16The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit.

00:28:20The exploitation of another human being.

00:28:23It still exists today.

00:28:25It has a new name.

00:28:26Human trafficking.

00:28:28Anyone can be a victim.

00:28:30There is forced labor.

00:28:33Sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.

00:28:39Human trafficking is a worldwide problem and an emerging concern for us here in Trinidad and Tobago.

00:28:46If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity, call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.

00:28:56Human trafficking is a crime.

00:28:58Identify it.

00:29:00Report it.

00:29:01Stop it.

00:29:02A message from the counter-trafficking unit of the Ministry of National Security.

00:29:16All right, so welcome back.

00:29:17So we are continuing our discussion with political analyst Dr. Winford James.

00:29:21Dr. James, thank you very much for staying with us.

00:29:24But Dr. James, judging from what you are saying this morning, I get the feeling, it is just my impression, Dr. James, that you have some concerns as to the way this entire exercise was done.

00:29:39Of course, we did have the consultations.

00:29:41The committee at that time asked people to participate.

00:29:45Am I right in my assessment as to what you are saying?

00:29:49Do you have concerns about the entire process, the way that this was carried out?

00:29:56No, what I'm saying is that it's not the first time we are having constitution consultation on the different parties, by the way.

00:30:03Yes.

00:30:04This is a continuation.

00:30:05And this, of course, comes on the heels of suggestions that have been made by forces who have a voice in Tobago.

00:30:18I know we have a voice in the whole country with respect to Tobago.

00:30:22Where does Tobago fall, for example, in the constitutional reform exercise?

00:30:27I'm saying the question of constitutional reform has been around for a little while.

00:30:33And one can trace the history if one gets the time to do the research, right?

00:30:39So now you have a constitutional reform commission struck by the government, and that commission has presented its report.

00:30:50The government is looking at its report or was looking at its report yesterday.

00:30:56And the question is, where is the UNC in all of this?

00:31:02You referenced the lack of interest of the UNC on this matter because you are echoing Dr. Rowley's statement.

00:31:13Yes.

00:31:14That we gave opportunity.

00:31:16We gave the UNC an opportunity to comment and come with proposals.

00:31:21The committee rejected that.

00:31:24And the prime minister pointed at that rejection.

00:31:29Yes.

00:31:30I'm saying in the face of that, in the face of that, the matter will have to eventually come to the parliament.

00:31:37And it's going to come to the parliament for several reasons.

00:31:42But one of the reasons, one of the most important perhaps, is the support, that the government needs the support of the UNC for change to the constitution.

00:31:54Right?

00:31:55So that debate is to come.

00:31:58But the government probably is not right to be thinking that whatever they come up with before and after are the only points of view that the country should be considering.

00:32:10I also made the point that there are suggestions there that have not been given any focus by the population.

00:32:19And there are other matters that have been given focus that have not been highlighted in the report on the report.

00:32:26Those are the kinds of things.

00:32:27You will have to bring me back, Marlon, because I'm sure that there is not enough time.

00:32:32Of course.

00:32:33To focus on.

00:32:34So then, is there need for more consultation, Dr. James?

00:32:41What do you mean? In the whole country or in the parliament?

00:32:45Well, I mean.

00:32:47You can't leave the opposition out, you know.

00:32:51I know.

00:32:53For example, one of the ideas that has been about the place is the oversight of the executive.

00:33:02Is that there in the report, for example?

00:33:05Well, I don't know.

00:33:06I have not read it.

00:33:09But you do need a situation where, if you want good governance, where the executive is overseen by, you know, some unit in the constitution.

00:33:24The parliament cannot be talking to itself as if it's only a simple majority you need, you know.

00:33:31That doesn't bring the best framework to the fore.

00:33:37All right.

00:33:38So, let me put it this way, Dr. James.

00:33:40So, I'm quoting a statement in the newspaper here.

00:33:44All right.

00:33:45So, last Friday, opposition leader Kamala Faisal Bissetta said that the government's move to focus on constitutional reform is another election gimmick.

00:33:53So, if that is the position of the opposition leader, how does constitutional reform, because, as you are saying, it needs the support of the opposition.

00:34:05So, is it that constitutional reform, if this remains the opposition's position, it is going to be dead in the water?

00:34:16One does not know.

00:34:17The question is whether, in fact, that's the way the government has behaved there is the only way.

00:34:23That's one of the questions you must ask.

00:34:25But you cannot change things fundamentally simply by presenting your viewpoint and often without argumentation.

00:34:34You can't just change it like that.

00:34:36The constitution as it currently exists requires that the UNC, the opposition, have a point of view.

00:34:47They do have a point of view.

00:34:49And that point of view must be squared off against the point of view of the government.

00:34:56And there has to be horse trading, I imagine.

00:34:59The constitution is not set up in such a way that the prime minister or the PNM or the people on the government side should just dictate how things should be.

00:35:11If you are looking for constitutional reform, that is.

00:35:15I want to emphasize the UNC has a voice.

00:35:19The constitution as it currently exists says that their vote is critical.

00:35:24Now, if their vote is critical, then they have to have their ideas discussed with the PNM government.

00:35:33And if that is the case, it means that there has to be horse trading and the views of the UNC have to be considered.

00:35:41And the PNM has to come to compromise on a number of fronts.

00:35:46So I would not say, okay, well, the government is there to govern and they have come up with something.

00:35:53Not for the first time.

00:35:55And the UNC has had a bad attitude from the beginning.

00:35:59And they continue to have a bad attitude.

00:36:02That is not how the constitution is currently set up.

00:36:07UNC has to have a voice whether the government likes it or not.

00:36:12And there has to be negotiation with respect to what can be accepted and what cannot be accepted.

00:36:18If in the end UNC rejects everything, well, that is how it has turned out to be.

00:36:24And that's the system we have in place.

00:36:26So it may not be a smooth road to constitutional reform.

00:36:30No, no, no.

00:36:32It's not going to be smooth.

00:36:33And I don't see why it has to be smooth.

00:36:36Democracy is a very noisy thing, Marlon.

00:36:39Yes?

00:36:40And there are different sets of views about the place.

00:36:43And if the government can concede on some of those views that it has,

00:36:50then maybe we could have some movement towards acceptance of certain of the propositions

00:36:57that have been advanced by the committee in which the government has accepted.

00:37:01Yeah.

00:37:02Dr. James, we just have a few minutes again.

00:37:05But when I raised some of the issues and reported some of the issues that was raised,

00:37:13were raised at the convention yesterday,

00:37:16you didn't see some of these issues as real serious issues.

00:37:23When we do speak about constitutional reform, Dr. James,

00:37:27and you have looked at the politics of this country for a number of years now,

00:37:32what do you still think are some of the main issues,

00:37:36reconstitutional reform that should be of interest to the population?

00:37:45Well, one of the most important things is how government can be improved,

00:37:53can be less totalitarian.

00:37:55Right now, the cabinet is totalitarian by design.

00:38:03The cabinet controls the parliament.

00:38:06The question that arises, one of the questions that arises is,

00:38:10do we want a situation where the cabinet controls the parliament?

00:38:16That's one of the first questions.

00:38:18We are talking about oversight of what the cabinet does,

00:38:26and that is important because of the himself-to-himself syndrome.

00:38:32Yes?

00:38:34So that's one of them, and probably the most important.

00:38:42Another point I'll give you is the role of communities

00:38:47in the governance of the country.

00:38:51Now, this country, the constitution has focused on persons having rights,

00:39:00persons having rights, not on communities.

00:39:03I'm not talking about village council, parliament.

00:39:06The village councils, they don't have the governance structure

00:39:11to bring proper governance to the communities that they represent.

00:39:17Yes.

00:39:18You know how the government runs.

00:39:20Local government is subordinate to the cabinet,

00:39:25and I'm talking about bringing communities into the governance system

00:39:32in a way that we can specify in some of the programs.

00:39:35Yes.

00:39:36So that's two I've given you there.

00:39:39Dr. James, it's always a pleasure speaking with you.

00:39:42We have run out of time, but I can promise you we will speak again

00:39:45very soon in the future, Dr. James.

00:39:47Bye for now, and have a good day.

00:39:49There are other people I'm sure you can call upon, Mr. Marlon.

00:39:52Yes, yes, yes, Dr. James.

00:39:54Bye for now.

00:39:56I'll have to do that.

00:39:58All right. Bye-bye, Dr. James.

00:40:00All right, so we are going to a very short break, everybody.

00:40:02We're coming back.

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00:43:07All right, so welcome back, everyone.

00:43:09So, as you know, over the past few days, really,

00:43:12we have been looking at some of these stories

00:43:15and incidents that have happened in Trinidad and Tobago,

00:43:19re-crime, involving young people,

00:43:22in some cases, young women.

00:43:25Well, you know, sometimes we are trying to understand

00:43:28why so many young people are gravitating towards crime,

00:43:34also the impact it is having on society, all right?

00:43:39So we do have a very good friend.

00:43:41He has made it up to Port of Spain this morning,

00:43:44and we do appreciate it when he comes into studio.

00:43:47Forensic and clinical traumatologist

00:43:50of the Center for Human Development,

00:43:52Hanif Benjamin.

00:43:53Hanif, it's always a pleasure having you here.

00:43:55Always a pleasure, Marlon.

00:43:57I hope that, you know, we can have more different conversation.

00:44:00It just seems as if every time I'm here,

00:44:03the conversation is so difficult.

00:44:05Yeah.

00:44:06And, of course, this is no different.

00:44:09And you said in the recent months,

00:44:11but this has been going on for some time.

00:44:13For a while.

00:44:14In the last 10 to 15 years,

00:44:16we have seen a major shift

00:44:18in the young people being incarcerated.

00:44:21We have seen a major shift

00:44:22in terms of young people being recruited into gangs.

00:44:25We have seen a major shift in terms of juvenile delinquency.

00:44:29And we are seeing more and more our young people

00:44:35under the gun, for want of a better term.

00:44:38And I would have remembered, I think it was last year,

00:44:40I can't remember,

00:44:41the symposium or the conference on crime

00:44:43as a public health challenge

00:44:46as declared by the government.

00:44:49And I remember a minister saying

00:44:51or giving statistics in relation to inter alia

00:44:55that 25 and under was the new number

00:44:58or age in terms of crime and criminality.

00:45:01And we are seeing, you know, just last week again,

00:45:04where the six persons who lost their lives

00:45:08and made their soul rest in peace,

00:45:10all were under the age of 25.

00:45:12What does this story tell us?

00:45:14What is this saying to us?

00:45:16When we look at the number of children

00:45:18being incarcerated in our juvenile system,

00:45:20when we look at the number of cases

00:45:22in terms of going before a children's court

00:45:24and even a criminal court,

00:45:26we must ask ourselves the question, Marlon,

00:45:29what are we doing?

00:45:30What are we not doing enough of?

00:45:32And what must we do differently?

00:45:34Because it cannot be that we are seeing

00:45:37our 25 and under children,

00:45:39because as you know, adolescent ends

00:45:41at age 25 in the mean.

00:45:44And so it means that our adolescent children

00:45:47are being snuffed from us.

00:45:49And it's no longer just boys.

00:45:51It is now boys and girls.

00:45:53So we as practitioners, as scholars, as leaders,

00:45:58must begin to ask the question,

00:46:00what are we not doing well enough?

00:46:03I think we're in a country where

00:46:05we spend a lot of time emulating

00:46:07and talking about what we are doing,

00:46:09and we're doing this, and we're doing that.

00:46:11But we must come to a point where we must ask the question,

00:46:13what more must be done?

00:46:16Yeah.

00:46:17You know, a very simple question,

00:46:19Hanif, that people are going to ask,

00:46:21it's what more do they need?

00:46:24Because according to who you speak to in society,

00:46:27we are going to say, well, you're getting free education.

00:46:31The parents are going to tell you,

00:46:33what are you complaining about?

00:46:34You have a roof over your head.

00:46:36You're getting three square meals a day.

00:46:38You're going to a good school.

00:46:39You have shoes on your foot.

00:46:41So the society will tell our young people that,

00:46:45but it doesn't change the fact

00:46:47that they are gravitating towards crime.

00:46:50I'm shocked.

00:46:51I don't know about you, because as you know,

00:46:54so long we have been speaking about crime

00:46:56and the involvement of young people in crime.

00:46:58But I was shocked still by seeing a young lady

00:47:03who lost her life recently, and she is on social media.

00:47:08It's a video of, I don't know how long ago,

00:47:11where she is loading a gun, removing the ammunition,

00:47:15and so proud to do it on social media.

00:47:18And if you listen to the music in the background too,

00:47:21you know, not positive messages at all.

00:47:24So why are they gravitating towards these bad messages?

00:47:28You see, Marlon, let's deconstruct for a moment,

00:47:32because you made some valid point,

00:47:34and those points resonate throughout our society,

00:47:38the free education and the this and the that.

00:47:41But is it really free?

00:47:43And is it accessible to all?

00:47:45When you speak like that, or when people speak like that,

00:47:48they speak with the belief

00:47:50that everyone is on a level playing field.

00:47:53You see, there is a difference between equality and equity, right?

00:47:57And equity speaks to how we divide what we divide.

00:48:02Equality is everybody have a free education.

00:48:05But, Marlon, let me use me as an example.

00:48:08I missed two years of primary school while education was free

00:48:12because we just could not afford to go to a free institution.

00:48:18Let's start there, right?

00:48:20And also, let us now begin to deconstruct poverty,

00:48:25because I keep saying poverty is the greatest trauma.

00:48:29Let us also begin to deconstruct accessibility.

00:48:33And so when we look at those social factors,

00:48:36because there is a misnomer.

00:48:39I believe that this crime is only about guns and violence,

00:48:44but there is a social factor that we just simply miss.

00:48:50We have just gone over the head,

00:48:52not understanding that what we see in the main

00:48:56has more to do with a social situation

00:49:00as opposed to a criminal situation.

00:49:03And so when you marry criminology and psychology,

00:49:07social work, the ologies,

00:49:09you realize that we keep focusing on one part,

00:49:13which are the criminogenic factors

00:49:15and the crime and the gun and the looting.

00:49:17But let us back up for a minute.

00:49:19Before this young lady was loading a gun

00:49:22on social media allegedly and all these things,

00:49:25let us reel back.

00:49:28Let us take the six persons who died recently

00:49:31and let us look from 15, the youngest was 15, to 25.

00:49:36Let us look at the last 10 years of their lives.

00:49:39And that will tell us why they are where they are.

00:49:43We don't do research to understand the backdrop

00:49:46as to why people do the things that they do.

00:49:49And a lot of people this morning are going to say,

00:49:51but they're distressing people and they're killing.

00:49:53They will continue to distress and kill people

00:49:56if we do not take a step and begin to deconstruct

00:50:00what we are seeing in our society.

00:50:02What we are looking at is a failed school system.

00:50:06Our school system has failed.

00:50:08It continues to fail.

00:50:10It continues to fail all the way up to university

00:50:14because I have every single day resumes from people

00:50:18who graduated five, six, four, three years

00:50:21and cannot find a job in their field.

00:50:24We have not managed tertiary education in a way

00:50:28that will fill the void in some of the areas in our country.

00:50:32So we're just graduating thousands of people

00:50:35in one field or two fields or three fields

00:50:37and it's saturated.

00:50:39And so we're not managing that.

00:50:41We have a primary school, a secondary school system

00:50:44that is also failing.

00:50:46And so if we really want to look at this, Marlon,

00:50:49where did the gang life begin?

00:50:52At what age did it begin?

00:50:54Did it begin in our primary school system?

00:50:56Did it begin in our secondary school system?

00:50:58What are the mitigating factors and all the protective factors

00:51:02we are putting in our primary school?

00:51:05Because more and more, and I keep making a point with you here,

00:51:09our leaders in the underground world, they don't sleep.

00:51:13They recruit 24-hour, 365, but we lock off at 4.

00:51:17We put a program here and a program there

00:51:19and we get excited because we launch in this program

00:51:22and we launch in...

00:51:23But I keep making the point, Marlon,

00:51:25having a program doesn't mean it is accessible to people.

00:51:28But you know, Hanif, some of the things

00:51:30that you're telling us this morning,

00:51:32those are old arguments, you know,

00:51:35and people can look at you

00:51:37because you said that you missed two years of school.

00:51:40So you are a good example

00:51:43as to environment, conditions, circumstances,

00:51:48and you have risen out of that.

00:51:50Which is powerful.

00:51:51So what prevents other people

00:51:53from rising out of circumstances such as that?

00:51:56I always talk about Uri Bronfenbrenner, 1979,

00:51:59and the ecological model as a lecturer.

00:52:01I always, as a clinician as well, I always speak about it

00:52:05because the environment is quite powerful.

00:52:07We don't understand the environment

00:52:09and our leaders should take stock

00:52:11in understanding the environment

00:52:13in which people are brought up.

00:52:15And while I did miss two years of school,

00:52:17I still had a mom who was very much involved

00:52:22in terms of making sure you do what you needed to do.

00:52:25I still had a church

00:52:27who was very much involved in helping and guiding.

00:52:30There were people in our church system

00:52:33who ensured that we were able to move through life

00:52:37in a particular way.

00:52:39Marlon, those are the criticalities that is missing today.

00:52:42Family life, seriously eroded.

00:52:45Religious life, seriously eroded.

00:52:47As a matter of fact, talk to the leaders

00:52:49of some of these major religions.

00:52:51They will tell you that the average young person

00:52:53has dwindled to now a grandmother bringing a grandchild

00:52:56and as soon as that child is seven or eight,

00:52:58they moved away from the church.

00:53:00And so the church life is lacking.

00:53:02The community life is also lacking.

00:53:05And so when you are suffering here,

00:53:08you could have gone here, you could have gone there.

00:53:10So when you look at those foundational scenarios,

00:53:14they are lacking.

00:53:16Now you have to ask yourself the question,

00:53:18why are they lacking?

00:53:20Why is it our school system is lacking?

00:53:22Why is it our church, our mandir, our mosque,

00:53:25why is it our society is lacking?

00:53:28Because everyone has retreated into their own selves

00:53:31and their own protection and their own movements

00:53:35and their focus on themselves.

00:53:37And so with the crime the way it is,

00:53:40with people afraid and with people trying to...

00:53:43I mean, Animal Farm spoke about it best, you know.

00:53:46We should all go read Animal Farm.

00:53:48It spoke about it best.

00:53:50This is what we are living today, right?

00:53:52The people who have continues to hold

00:53:54and make sure that they continue to have

00:53:56and there are people who are just struggling

00:53:59and it seems as if they continue to struggle.

00:54:02And so, Marlon, what we need to begin to look at

00:54:05is how do we remedy the circumstances?

00:54:08How do we begin to fix what we have?

00:54:11Now if we keep fixing or trying to fix one part of this puzzle,

00:54:16we'll always fail.

00:54:18Because while we focus on the 15-year-old,

00:54:20the 16- to 17-year-old now,

00:54:22what about our 4, 5, and 6?

00:54:25What about our 25 to 35?

00:54:28So we need to fix this on a continuum, right?

00:54:32By putting protective factors within our school system,

00:54:36strengthening our families,

00:54:38looking at the social ills that our families are living with.

00:54:42And then we need to work with those

00:54:44who are already in the criminal justice system

00:54:47from a restorative, rehabilitative perspective.

00:54:51And then we need to look at those who have gone before

00:54:54how we can help them to now become mentors

00:54:57in a changed frame.

00:54:59And so you have to look at it from a holistic perspective.

00:55:02And I know many of us don't like the term holistic

00:55:04because it's lofty.

00:55:06But when you break it down into understanding our young people,

00:55:09for example, Marlon,

00:55:11I didn't have time to do foolishness

00:55:13because after school I was involved

00:55:15in cricket, football, drama, dance, pun, right?

00:55:19Where are our activities after school?

00:55:21I keep making the point that after school

00:55:23should become an entire company

00:55:27in and of itself within our school system.

00:55:29Our young people have nothing to do in the evening.

00:55:33Save and accept that you could pay to do these things.

00:55:37If you can't pay, you're out in the streets.

00:55:40Why?

00:55:41Because our parents have to work longer hours.

00:55:43Or they don't have to work long hours,

00:55:45they're just on the road longer.

00:55:47So when I talk about these movements, Marlon,

00:55:50you're talking about an entire society that has shifted, right?

00:55:54We're not spending enough time to build a family

00:55:57because we have to spend an inordinate amount of time on the roads, right?

00:56:01We have to spend time on the job.

00:56:03And so our children after 2.30 is left to their own devices.

00:56:08And so in their adolescent mind,

00:56:11because you cannot understand the adolescent mind,

00:56:14where it's risk-taking.

00:56:16The part of the brain that is designed for responsibility

00:56:19and good behavior, that develops last.

00:56:22The part of the brain that is developed for excitement and risk-taking,

00:56:26it is developed first.

00:56:28And so adolescence in and of itself is about risk-taking.

00:56:32So if we don't understand that,

00:56:34and we fuel positive risk for our children,

00:56:38they will end up in negative risk.

00:56:40And so if we begin to treat with that generation,

00:56:44that primary school coming into secondary school,

00:56:47then we can save.

00:56:49Marlon, you know how hard it is to save a 15-year-old

00:56:53who is making more money than you and I on a daily basis?

00:56:56How do you convince that person to put down a gun

00:57:00because you have better shoes than I do, and I like nice shoes.

00:57:04You have better clothes than I do, and I like nice clothes.

00:57:07You have a better living.

00:57:08You drive a nice car with big gold chain.

00:57:10And those are the instant gratification

00:57:13that the adolescent mind negatively see.

00:57:16And so if that child is going down that road,

00:57:19what can we say to that young person

00:57:22to move them away from this life?

00:57:25It means that a different kind of conversation has to be had.

00:57:29How do you prevent the young people from seeing that kind of life

00:57:34and wanting to gravitate towards that type of life?

00:57:37It means that we have to train and mold those children differently.

00:57:42And for those who are living the life,

00:57:44how do we reverse what we're seeing?

00:57:47And that is where a bigger conversation must be had.

00:57:51Yeah, and if I just have about a minute again,

00:57:55to me sometimes, you know, it's like we're spinning top in mud, yeah,

00:58:00because we as a country continue to discuss the same things over and over

00:58:06and solutions, but sometimes there's a problem in actioning these solutions.

00:58:13And when we are spinning top in mud, as I have said to you on numerous occasions,

00:58:16I think the time has really come

00:58:18because the country is at a place where we just can't take no more.

00:58:21And it's no longer about a political will or religious will.

00:58:26It's about the better Trinidad and Tobago.

00:58:30And so we have to stop the foolishness.

00:58:32We have to stop the fight and come together around the table

00:58:36and utilize the expertise of the people on the ground of our universities

00:58:41and come up with strong measures to change mind

00:58:45because the fight is not with guns and baton.

00:58:48The fight is the mind.

00:58:50And if we don't change those young people mind,

00:58:52we will have carnage on our street for years to come.

00:58:56And so let us begin to have that type of conversation constantly.

00:59:01And if that's a good point to end our conversation on this morning,

00:59:05we do appreciate you and we do appreciate that you came here this morning

00:59:08to share these profound statements with us.

00:59:11We do appreciate it.

00:59:12Pleasure as always.

00:59:13All right. So we are going to a very short break, everybody.

00:59:15We're coming back.

00:59:16♪♪♪

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00:59:45♪♪♪

01:00:16They said that vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes.

01:00:20They said it has no health risks.

01:00:22They even said that it's just like water.

01:00:26They lied.

01:00:28Research suggests that vaping is harmful to both your heart and your lungs.

01:00:33And e-cigarettes are just as addictive as traditional ones.

01:00:37Consider the consequences. Don't vape.

01:00:41♪♪♪

01:00:46So you have big plans for the year, eh?

01:00:49A trip in July, birthday in November, and fete after fete this carnival.

01:00:55But you know what will stop plans?

01:00:58A $22,500 fine.

01:01:02You know what else could really stop your plans?

01:01:06Five years imprisonment and suspension on your license for three years.

01:01:11Don't drink and drive.

01:01:21♪♪♪

01:01:25Good morning. I am Sindhi Raghubar Tika Singh with your morning news update.

01:01:31Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on Sunday afternoon

01:01:35announced at the conclusion of a PNM special convention at Napa

01:01:39discussing constitutional reform

01:01:42that a change will be made soon to the National Coat of Arms.

01:01:47You see them three Columbus boats in the emblem?

01:01:52They will go.

01:01:54And since we have enough boats in the parliament to do it,

01:02:13I could announce now that as soon as the legislative adjustment is made

01:02:22and that amendment, that adjustment should be made before the 24th of September,

01:02:28we then over a six-month period will replace Columbus' three ships,

01:02:33the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina, with the steel pan.

01:02:36-♪♪♪

01:02:41Now for a look at the weather.

01:02:43You can expect mostly hot, sunny, and hazy conditions

01:02:47despite brief isolated showers

01:02:50and a low chance of the isolated heavy shower or thunderstorm.

01:02:54While tonight, mostly fair and hazy conditions

01:02:57despite isolated showers are expected.

01:03:01Temperatures are forecast to get up to 34 degrees in Trinidad

01:03:05and 32 degrees in Tobago.

01:03:08♪♪♪

01:03:15The TV6 Daily Health Tip is brought to you by Omega XL.

01:03:20Did you know that the prostate,

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01:03:34Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men,

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01:04:28Speaking of symptoms, they can vary but often include issues like

01:04:31difficulty urinating or the presence of blood in urine.

01:04:34If you're experiencing any such symptoms,

01:04:37it's vital to consult a health care professional immediately.

01:04:40If diagnosed, the treatment options depend on the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer.

01:04:45These can range from surgery and radiation therapy to hormone therapy and even chemotherapy.

01:04:50It's a journey, but one you won't have to walk alone.

01:04:53Living with prostate cancer isn't just about managing physical symptoms.

01:04:57Emotional support from family, friends, and support groups plays a critical part in the journey.

01:05:03And let's not forget prevention.

01:05:05A healthy lifestyle isn't just good for your heart.

01:05:07It can also reduce your risk of prostate cancer.

01:05:10Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking are all key components.

01:05:14Also, inflammation plays a significant role in prostate cancer.

01:05:19Chronic inflammation can damage DNA, creating an environment where cancer cells can thrive.

01:05:25This persistent inflammation not only damages tissues but also alters cellular behavior,

01:05:30leading to the uncontrolled growth characteristic of cancer.

01:05:34Understanding the link between inflammation and cancer

01:05:37helps us realize the importance of managing inflammation.

01:05:41Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and avoiding smoking

01:05:46can influence inflammation levels in the body.

01:05:49In conclusion, being informed and proactive about prostate cancer is crucial.

01:05:54With early detection and proper treatment, many men continue to lead fulfilling lives.

01:05:59If you or someone you know is over 50 or at high risk,

01:06:02encourage them to talk to their doctor about prostate cancer screening.

01:06:05It's a conversation that could save a life.

01:06:08Remember, you're not alone in this.

01:06:10Reach out, get screened, and take charge of your health today.

01:06:13Note, for more information, contact your local health care providers.

01:06:19The TV6 Daily Health Tip was brought to you by OmegaXL.

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01:08:13Well, it's actually not my real name.

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01:08:34What you don't see or know is that I don't get any part of the money you pay.

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01:09:30All right, so welcome back, everyone.

01:09:31So right now, we are going to be speaking about Scale Up TT,

01:09:35and it's a pleasure to welcome I see her as one of my media colleagues.

01:09:41Hema Ramkisoon, who is the head of marketing at the Unitrust Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago.

01:09:46Thank you very much for coming this morning.

01:09:48Thank you for having me, Marlon.

01:09:50I was gonna say thank you for having us

01:09:51because I knew I was supposed to have

01:09:52some of my colleagues here,

01:09:54but good morning, Trinidad and Tobago,

01:09:55and thank you for the opportunity to speak on Scale Up TT.

01:10:00There's so much that we can talk about this program,

01:10:02but just briefly for your audience,

01:10:04Scale Up TT, as the name suggests,

01:10:06is a business accelerator program

01:10:07geared to scaling up businesses in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:10:11UTC, the Unitrust Corporation,

01:10:13has been so intricately linked with the business community

01:10:17and the story of UTC and how UTC started

01:10:19with wanting to create investors

01:10:21out of everyday men and women.

01:10:24We can't do that without strengthening the ecosystem,

01:10:27the business ecosystem in Trinidad and Tobago,

01:10:29and to do that, we have to build capacity.

01:10:31And hence, in 2019, our then,

01:10:36still our executive director, Nigel Edwards,

01:10:37and his then-leadership team decided

01:10:39that this is something that they want to do,

01:10:41and Nigel continues to drive this with the leadership team

01:10:43to build and strengthen the ecosystem.

01:10:46So we're inviting businesses to come sign up,

01:10:51find out about it, and join.

01:10:52Yeah, tell us a little bit about the criteria.

01:10:54So, you know, when you talk about the criteria,

01:10:56and I don't want people to be alarmed by it,

01:10:59so we're looking at a business revenue of two million,

01:11:02and TT must also be of a certain size.

01:11:04So it's small, medium, particularly scaling up.

01:11:08But in addition to that, if you have the potential,

01:11:11there is a gray area where our selection criteria

01:11:14would look at it and think, you do have the possibility.

01:11:17We've had over 30-plus graduates of this program.

01:11:19We've touched over 1,200 employees,

01:11:21and the multiply effect has well gone over $40 million.

01:11:25And we continue to see the success.

01:11:27We are now currently recruiting for cohort four and five,

01:11:31and this is something driven by UTC.

01:11:34And we want to invite other business entities

01:11:36because the Ministry of Trade and Investment

01:11:38has come on board, and they are partnering with UTC

01:11:40to make this possible.

01:11:42But this is not just a UTC initiative.

01:11:45This is an initiative that we want the business community

01:11:46to take ownership of.

01:11:47How many people are you looking for this time around?

01:11:50So ideally, it's a very intensive program.

01:11:53So there is an interview process that takes place.

01:11:56We look for about 15 businesses per cohort.

01:12:01So we're currently recruiting for four,

01:12:02but we're also at the same time simultaneously

01:12:04building our pipeline to recruit for cohort five as well.

01:12:08We have about six businesses that have already made the cut

01:12:11and will be included as part of the program.

01:12:14It's a three-month intensive program,

01:12:16and I want to tell people, so often we look at the grants

01:12:20and we look at all of the incentives that are available,

01:12:22but what you get access to is the know-how.

01:12:25It's the knowledge.

01:12:26There is a huge teaching staff

01:12:29attached to the Harvard Business School.

01:12:30And if you have to access or to pay on your own

01:12:34to access that type of learning

01:12:36or the expertise associated with Dan and his team,

01:12:39and they're an international team,

01:12:41sometimes it's out of the reach for most people.

01:12:43But what UTC has done and the Ministry of Trade

01:12:45is that we've understood the need

01:12:47and the rationale for doing this.

01:12:49And hence, we are giving you the opportunity to do that.

01:12:52It is an intensive program for three months.

01:12:54It involves workshops, interviews,

01:12:56but it's a hand-holding exercise.

01:12:57And Marlon, I do want to make the distinction.

01:13:00It is not a loan, but this is really teaching you

01:13:03what you need to do to scale up.

01:13:05We've had phenomenal success stories,

01:13:06and I always cite the example of Bertie's Pepper Sauce.

01:13:10They did the program during the pandemic period.

01:13:14Iklif Eli is also a graduate of the program.

01:13:16And taking their business, taking their story,

01:13:18taking their successes beyond Trinidad and Tobago

01:13:20and beyond the Caribbean.

01:13:22We've also had many,

01:13:24we've had businesses from a wide range of industries,

01:13:26from construction to agriculture,

01:13:29to fashion, to food and manufacturing.

01:13:32So it's not limited.

01:13:33It really is just your grit, your ability,

01:13:35and your desire to really work hard

01:13:37to take your business to the next level.

01:13:39Yeah.

01:13:40If you can, let's look a little bit

01:13:42about the components of this three-month intense program.

01:13:47What are some of the components that you focus on?

01:13:49So we look at the leadership structure

01:13:51within the organization.

01:13:52And I can say that over 1,200 employees

01:13:54have been touched by the 30-plus directors

01:13:57and owners who have participated in this program.

01:13:59So within the three-month period, there are workshops,

01:14:03there are interviews, you do assessments

01:14:05as a deep dive into your business.

01:14:07So the team will come in,

01:14:09they open every element and operation of your business.

01:14:12They look at your financials,

01:14:14they look at cost savings,

01:14:16they look at your operational costs.

01:14:18And some of the things that you don't think about

01:14:20in terms of not just technology

01:14:23and how you can mechanize things,

01:14:25but also the ease of doing business.

01:14:27Because when you have expertise coming in

01:14:28from the Harvard Business School,

01:14:30sometimes things that you don't know, you don't know.

01:14:34And they teach you ways to revamp your organization.

01:14:37So it is a deep dive for workshops, interviews,

01:14:40hand-holding, and you do a full analysis

01:14:43of full cost-benefit analysis of your business.

01:14:46And some of the elements of the businesses

01:14:48that you think that you need sometimes can be even better

01:14:51or sometimes you do not need them.

01:14:53Yeah, but you know, sometimes, Hema,

01:14:55you do have successful companies, right?

01:14:59You have small companies,

01:15:00and I'm really speaking about the small companies

01:15:02and medium-sized companies.

01:15:04Some of them are family companies.

01:15:06And sometimes you do have a situation

01:15:08where there is not this rigid type of bookkeeping

01:15:12that you should have and records and so on.

01:15:15So a company like that, can they still approach you all?

01:15:19They can, and I also wanna say UTC has a slew of programs.

01:15:22So we're talking about Scala,

01:15:24but I'm sure I'll be back to talk about our Upreneur program

01:15:27on which some of these businesses will fall within.

01:15:29And the good thing about what we're doing as well

01:15:31is if you call and you say, I want to do this,

01:15:34we assess maybe this may not be the best fit for you,

01:15:37but at the Unitrust Corporation,

01:15:40we do have a number of programs

01:15:42that we can assist the business community.

01:15:44And it really is, I come back to the direction

01:15:46and the heart of the leadership team.

01:15:49Under Nigel's leadership,

01:15:50he has a real desire to build the business community

01:15:54and to build micro into small,

01:15:57small into medium and medium into large

01:15:59because every business started as a micro entity.

01:16:02Every business started as an idea.

01:16:04Yeah.

01:16:05So for business persons who are looking at us right now

01:16:09and they are interested,

01:16:11I wanna deal a little bit and focus a little bit

01:16:13on the transformation that you sometimes

01:16:17or all of the times I suspect,

01:16:19you see this transformation happening in the business

01:16:23and happening even as it relates

01:16:27to the participant in the program.

01:16:29Talk about that transformation for me.

01:16:32It's interesting and I remember having a conversation,

01:16:34so I can talk about Ecliffe Eli's conversation.

01:16:38It's becoming comfortable with your story,

01:16:40becoming comfortable with your marketing material

01:16:42and becoming comfortable with pushing yourself.

01:16:44We also have, there is a particular company

01:16:48that has worked with us from the agriculture sector

01:16:50and they are now exporting frozen fruit

01:16:53from Trinidad and Tobago into the entire Caribbean region.

01:16:56And it was a different mindset.

01:16:57They started within the COVID period,

01:16:59obviously having to pivot their business operations,

01:17:03realizing that, and people thought it was a joke.

01:17:05I remember when I spoke to Renee, she said,

01:17:07people told me that no one is going to go online

01:17:10to buy market produce.

01:17:12And now they are the largest e-commerce providers

01:17:14and they are graduates of this program.

01:17:16The same thing with Bertie's Pepper Sauce.

01:17:18All of these stories are phenomenal businesses

01:17:21that the business owners realized

01:17:24we do have the potential,

01:17:26but sometimes we've reached the max

01:17:28of the capacity that we can reach and we need to know how.

01:17:31I think the partnership as well

01:17:32with the Ministry of Trade and Industry

01:17:34is a great partnership

01:17:35because within that ecosystem itself,

01:17:38you're allowed to leverage relationships

01:17:39and access some of the state agencies to move your products.

01:17:43And I come back to selling agricultural produce.

01:17:45Now that we have over 50,000 tons

01:17:48being moved out of Trinidad and Tobago.

01:17:50And we talk about,

01:17:51we just had the Agri Expo in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:17:53We look at the success stories

01:17:54and we want more stories like that.

01:17:57So it is safe to say, Hema,

01:17:58that it impacts the bottom line positively.

01:18:02Yes, it impacts the bottom line,

01:18:04but it is also, as I mentioned,

01:18:06this is UTC's desire to build.

01:18:08I think our executive director has said this on many times

01:18:11when he's spoken in public forums.

01:18:14His desire is really to see these businesses

01:18:16list on the stock exchange,

01:18:18to eventually see a robust stock exchange

01:18:21in Trinidad and Tobago

01:18:21where every single business can boast

01:18:24that we are now public,

01:18:26that we are big,

01:18:26that we are in the realm

01:18:27and we are creating and multiplying our wealth

01:18:30in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:18:31Yeah.

01:18:32Let me touch again on the program

01:18:34because I think that some,

01:18:36if people hear that it is a three month intensive program,

01:18:41sometimes they think about,

01:18:42well, it's only going to be about academics.

01:18:44And that is not the case.

01:18:45It's not.

01:18:46It's really a lot of practical experience.

01:18:48And also Mal, I probably failed to mention,

01:18:52you access the network.

01:18:53So this is cohort four

01:18:55and we're going into four and five,

01:18:56but it's a network of businesses,

01:18:58like-minded businesses who you can learn from,

01:19:01leverage from.

01:19:02So many business partnerships are made.

01:19:04So you may know someone in transport,

01:19:05you may need someone in distribution,

01:19:07you may need someone in marketing.

01:19:09It teaches you the things that you do not know,

01:19:12but it allows you to open your space up

01:19:14and access a network,

01:19:15which sometimes a lot of businesses are afraid of

01:19:18because we look at some of the established

01:19:20or conventional business organizations

01:19:23and the forums that are created.

01:19:25And many persons may think that's out of my reach.

01:19:28I am not the suit wearing.

01:19:29I'm not within that realm, but that's not true.

01:19:33So forums like ScaleUp

01:19:35and forums like our Upruner program,

01:19:37they create that viable business force

01:19:40of sharing and networking.

01:19:43And when we talk about the workshops

01:19:44and you talk about the actual academic,

01:19:48theoretical parts of it,

01:19:49it's practical as well.

01:19:50It's a lot of hand-holding.

01:19:52We go into your businesses.

01:19:54We look at what you're doing.

01:19:55We work with you, talk with you.

01:19:57We understand what resources you have

01:19:58and how we can better build what you have.

01:20:02But doesn't it also provide an opportunity for you to,

01:20:07when I say for you,

01:20:07the participants to rub shoulders

01:20:10with various stakeholders

01:20:12and so get experience

01:20:15or be touched by the experiences

01:20:19of all of the persons

01:20:22who are going to be a part of the initiative.

01:20:24And sharing those stories really,

01:20:26sometimes that is what inspires a lot of our businesses,

01:20:28but it also kind of sparks an idea within you

01:20:30that I can see myself there,

01:20:33but it also allows you a network of helpers.

01:20:36So in the graduating class,

01:20:37a lot of our businesses have created a sort of synergy

01:20:40and a relationship amongst each other.

01:20:42So I did mention you have marketing firms,

01:20:44you have distribution firms,

01:20:46you have firms that we're trying to get

01:20:48within every sector.

01:20:49And if you feel that your business,

01:20:50maybe sometimes you may not know

01:20:52or be a little afraid to enter.

01:20:54Not only do you have the ScaleUp alumni,

01:20:56but you also have the ScaleUp teaching staff,

01:20:58but you also have the access,

01:21:00the facilities at the Unitrust Corporation

01:21:02and also the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

01:21:04Ema, how do people apply?

01:21:06So I wanna encourage everyone in Trinidad and Tobago

01:21:09listening to me this morning

01:21:10and looking at me this morning,

01:21:12go to scaleuptt.com.

01:21:14Applications are open.

01:21:15You can also call the Unitrust Corporation.

01:21:17The information is there.

01:21:19We are on Facebook, Instagram, as well as LinkedIn.

01:21:22You can also find out about the stories as well,

01:21:25because if you go on the LinkedIn page,

01:21:26you will have access to all of the graduates you'd see.

01:21:30And you can kind of sometimes look at one of,

01:21:32two of those persons and think,

01:21:34oh, I know this person.

01:21:35I remember when they started

01:21:37and look where they are now.

01:21:39I can be there as well.

01:21:40Yeah.

01:21:41Ema, it was a pleasure seeing you

01:21:42and hearing you this morning.

01:21:45Please come again, right?

01:21:46Definitely.

01:21:47There's so much we can talk about

01:21:48that the Unitrust Corporation is doing,

01:21:49but I wanna once again remind Trinidad and Tobago,

01:21:53the business community in particular,

01:21:54every business started somewhere

01:21:56and every business started as an idea.

01:21:58Every small business or big business

01:22:00started as a micro enterprise.

01:22:02So please go online.

01:22:04You may be able to do this

01:22:06and you would be amazed at the results.

01:22:08Yeah.

01:22:09Ema, after that, I'm sure they're going to sign up.

01:22:12Thank you very much.

01:22:12Thank you very much again.

01:22:13Okay.

01:22:14So we are going to a very short break,

01:22:16but first to tell you

01:22:17that we are coming back with your calls.

01:22:18Of course, you're calling us on 623-1711,

01:22:20the extension, it's 1995.

01:22:23It's a beautiful Monday morning, everybody.

01:22:25Do we have an image for them?

01:22:26It's from Rosie in Maloney.

01:22:28What's that, a pumpkin?

01:22:30Yeah, Rosie's pumpkin.

01:22:32We're coming back, everybody.

01:22:46♪ Songs of the Caribbean we grew in ♪

01:22:50♪ To Calypso and Spielberg ♪

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01:22:56the stiffness in my hips.

01:22:57Because it's an oil extract,

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01:23:23♪ Do you feel it, I can feel it ♪

01:23:26♪ Come in the air, come in the air, come in the air now ♪

01:23:37♪ Do you remember, hold on, don't be mad now ♪

01:23:42♪ Do you remember, time to die in love again ♪

01:23:46♪ Do you remember, hold on, don't be mad now ♪

01:23:51♪ Do you remember, time to die in love again ♪

01:23:55♪ Do you remember, time to die in love again ♪

01:24:00♪ No long time, just come to me ♪

01:24:02♪ I'll give you that sweet type of love ♪

01:24:06♪ Sweet type of love, come give me that sweet type of love ♪

01:24:10♪ Sweet type of love, come give me that sweet type of love ♪

01:24:13All right, everybody.

01:24:14So you're calling us on those numbers, 623-1711.

01:24:17The extension, it's 1995.

01:24:19Let's get a few of your calls

01:24:20in this beautiful Monday morning in Trinidad and Tobago.

01:24:24You see how cheerful I am being about Monday, right?

01:24:27Yeah?

01:24:28All right, so coat of arms change, pan in, ships out.

01:24:32And that's according to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley

01:24:35announced last night that there are plans

01:24:37to remove the three ships of Christopher Columbus

01:24:39from Trinidad and Tobago's coat of arms

01:24:41and replace them with a national instrument, a steel pan.

01:24:46Of course, the Prime Minister was speaking

01:24:47at yesterday's convention.

01:24:49Let me see what he said,

01:24:50that the change is expected to be finalized

01:24:53before Republic Day, September 24th,

01:24:56with a six-month transition period

01:24:59to facilitate changes to stationary

01:25:01and other official materials.

01:25:04He says, as you would have seen in the clip

01:25:05that we showed you this morning,

01:25:07you see them three Columbus ships in the emblem?

01:25:10They will go since we have enough votes

01:25:12in Parliament to do it.

01:25:14Barataria is on the line.

01:25:15Good morning, Barataria.

01:25:17Good morning, Marlon.

01:25:18Morning.

01:25:19I'm calling about a concern I have.

01:25:21We have a dengue outbreak in the country, right?

01:25:24And I went to the hospital recently,

01:25:27to one of my clinics,

01:25:28and Marlon, if you see mosquitoes all over the hospital,

01:25:33you can't even sit and see mosquitoes

01:25:36everywhere you walk and you go.

01:25:38The minister needs to look into that,

01:25:40because at Port of Spain General in particular,

01:25:43there were a lot of mosquitoes.

01:25:45And you know, you go in there for something

01:25:47and you end up coming back out with dengue,

01:25:49and that doesn't sound too right at all.

01:25:52Yes.

01:25:53The minister really needs to look into that.

01:25:55Thank you.

01:25:55Thank you very much, ma'am.

01:25:56Thank you very much for your concern this morning,

01:25:58and hopefully the authorities have heard you all

01:26:01and are going to address a situation such as that.

01:26:04All right, so you're calling us on 623-1711.

01:26:07The extension, it's 1995.

01:26:10You know, they also spoke yesterday

01:26:13about the Privy Council.

01:26:14There was agreement that Trinidad and Tobago's

01:26:16final appellate court should be

01:26:18the Caribbean Court of Justice,

01:26:20which is headquartered in Trinidad.

01:26:23All right, so of course there's a committee

01:26:26that was set up to look at constitutional reform

01:26:29headed by Keith Scotland.

01:26:30I'll tell you a little more.

01:26:31San Fernando, good morning.

01:26:33Yes, good morning.

01:26:35Concerning the currency,

01:26:36that means that we have to change all the currency notes?

01:26:40Currency notes?

01:26:41No, it's on the coat of arms.

01:26:43Yes.

01:26:45Oh, you mean, oh, that is also on the,

01:26:49well, I don't know.

01:26:52I hear what you're saying.

01:26:54I hear what you're saying.

01:26:55Okay.

01:26:56Yeah.

01:26:57All right, then.

01:26:58Yeah, I know that consultation is going on right now,

01:27:02and I believe I saw in the newspaper recently

01:27:05about that they wanted people to give contributions

01:27:11as it relates to some of these statues

01:27:14that we have across Trinidad and Tobago

01:27:16from our colonial past,

01:27:18so there is a discussion happening on that right now.

01:27:21Yeah, but on everything that the coat of arms is on,

01:27:25there is going to have to be a change.

01:27:28Santa Cruz, good morning.

01:27:29Yes, good morning, Marlon.

01:27:30Good morning to the people of Santa Cruz.

01:27:33I want to really compliment the government

01:27:35for the decision they've taken to move all those free ships

01:27:37and put the steel pan as the coat of arms,

01:27:41but I also read in the new recommendation

01:27:44with the constitution reform,

01:27:46the whole question of arms, 17 members of cabinet.

01:27:49I believe that shouldn't be part of the constitution reform.

01:27:52I believe the whole question of cabinet

01:27:54should be determined by the prime minister.

01:27:56Thank you.

01:27:57All right, thank you very much.

01:27:59Remember, this is all a debater.

01:28:02Of course, you would have had your recommendations

01:28:04of the National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform.

01:28:09The PNM set up another committee headed by Keith Scotland,

01:28:13and these are some of the findings

01:28:15that were revealed yesterday.

01:28:17Of course, I'm sure it's a document

01:28:19that a lot of findings and recommendations

01:28:22and suggestions were made,

01:28:24but it's going to be interesting reading

01:28:28to dig deeper into that document.

01:28:32All right, so thank you to all of our callers.

01:28:34We are coming back with our WCPL piece.

01:28:38Stay tuned for that.

01:28:39♪ Only way you blow my mind ♪

01:28:41♪ Hold me tight and bring the wine ♪

01:28:43♪ Hello, hello, hello, hello, la, hey ♪

01:28:49♪ Are you ready, ready? ♪

01:28:51♪ Are you ready for it? ♪

01:28:53♪ Are you ready, ready? ♪

01:28:55♪ Are you ready for it? ♪

01:28:57Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.

01:29:01♪ Go out and tell the world of Jesus ♪

01:29:05♪ Tell of the wondrous things he has done ♪

01:29:08Inspirational dance is fueled by the spirit.

01:29:10♪ Go out and spread the gospel, people ♪

01:29:13Inspiration is found in the diversity of nations.

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01:29:18Inspired word of God, directs the past.

01:29:22Join us every Monday morning at 8.30 a.m.

01:29:26right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.

01:29:31What you can see from this image

01:29:33is a man lying in a pool of blood in his living room.

01:29:37He was shot dead a short while ago

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01:29:43What you can't hear is his wife crying inconsolably.

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01:30:08From investigation to counseling,

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01:31:02All right, everyone, welcome back.

01:31:05So we are talking now, WCPL,

01:31:08and we are joined today by Samara Ramnath.

01:31:12Now, she's just 16 years old

01:31:16and she has already played for the West Indies

01:31:18Under-19 Women's Team.

01:31:20She has also captained Trinidad and Tobago

01:31:22at Under-19 level

01:31:24and represented the country at the senior level.

01:31:27It's her second year playing in the WCPL

01:31:30and she will be playing for her home franchise,

01:31:33the Trinbago Knight Riders.

01:31:35Samara, good morning.

01:31:38Hi, good morning.

01:31:40You know, Samara, I was reading this script

01:31:44and I was saying, Samara, you're 16

01:31:46and have achieved so much

01:31:48and you're playing in the WCPL.

01:31:51This is mind-blowing.

01:31:54Yeah, I know, right?

01:31:55At the age of 16, I think it's a really good opportunity

01:31:58for me and a really good accomplishment.

01:32:02Samara, where did this journey begin for you?

01:32:07It all started at the age of six.

01:32:09My brother and I played backyard cricket.

01:32:12From there, we eventually trained

01:32:14at the K-Ramp at Cricket Academy.

01:32:16And from there, I found a passion for sports

01:32:18and I just continued.

01:32:20Yeah.

01:32:21So is it that playing, as you're saying, backyard cricket

01:32:26and there was something at that time

01:32:29which maybe said to you,

01:32:30look, I think maybe I like this, you know,

01:32:33or maybe I'm good at this,

01:32:35or maybe I could become good at this.

01:32:38So is it at that time, at a very young age,

01:32:41did you realize, look, I think I can do this?

01:32:45Yes, at a young age.

01:32:47Seeing my brother and my cousins play in the backyard,

01:32:50you know, that really encouraged me

01:32:51to go out there and play the sport as well.

01:32:53So I think that really leads to me playing

01:32:56and starting my career.

01:32:57Yeah.

01:32:58So Samara, is this something that you think

01:33:01that you want to do as your number one priority

01:33:06and your career?

01:33:08Most definitely.

01:33:09My passion for the sport,

01:33:10I think I really want to continue this, and yeah.

01:33:13Yeah.

01:33:14So Samara, what do you enjoy the most in cricket?

01:33:22Is it batting?

01:33:23Is it bowling?

01:33:24Is it catching?

01:33:26What is it that you enjoy most about the sport?

01:33:29Is it everything?

01:33:32Well, for me, mostly, just being on the field,

01:33:35enjoying the environment,

01:33:36and you feel enjoying the environment

01:33:38and the support from my players,

01:33:40I think that's what really most enjoyable, right?

01:33:44But I think bowling is really my strength,

01:33:47and I think I really enjoy that.

01:33:49Yeah.

01:33:51So let's speak about that experience on the field,

01:33:55because you're a young person.

01:33:59How is it playing before thousands of people?

01:34:05Is that daunting to you?

01:34:06Is that intimidating for you?

01:34:08How do you cope with that pressure?

01:34:13At the age of 16, I think it's a bit nerve-wracking,

01:34:17just because at the age of 16,

01:34:18seeing so many people in front of me is a bit nerve-wracking,

01:34:21but I think with the support from the players on the field,

01:34:25I think that's really kind of comfort me in a way.

01:34:28So I think that's really, yeah.

01:34:30Yeah.

01:34:31What can we expect from you, you think,

01:34:35when the WCPL begins?

01:34:38What do you hope to bring to the fans

01:34:41and to the world at large when we look at the WCPL,

01:34:46and more so to the Trinbago Knight Riders?

01:34:52Once given the opportunity,

01:34:54I will try to take advantage of it

01:34:55and try to take Hayley Matthews' wickets, you know,

01:34:59and try for my team to achieve the title this year, TKR.

01:35:04Yeah.

01:35:06What is it like playing for Trinbago Knight Riders?

01:35:11Because I'm sure you do have the home crowd behind you.

01:35:16You have that level of support.

01:35:18And what I can tell you, Samara,

01:35:21you are going to be one of the big stars.

01:35:27I can predict that when they see Samara take the field,

01:35:31there's going to be thunderous applause, you know.

01:35:34You're the home girl, right?

01:35:35Or one of the home girls.

01:35:39Yeah, most definitely.

01:35:40I'm really excited to play in front of the home crowd.

01:35:42I think the support from the supporters

01:35:44and the fans is really tremendous.

01:35:46So I am really, really excited to play in front of them.

01:35:49Yeah.

01:35:49What about the support of your community

01:35:53and the country at large as you prepare for this tournament?

01:35:58You're getting that level of support?

01:36:02Yes, most definitely.

01:36:04Social media is a big thing and the support on social media

01:36:07and from the country is really, really great.

01:36:09And it really boosts my confidence

01:36:12going into this moment, CPL.

01:36:14Yeah.

01:36:15Let's look now, and it's a topic that I have raised

01:36:19over the past few days

01:36:21while we have been speaking about the WCPL.

01:36:26Let's look a little bit about the fan base.

01:36:30And let's look a little bit at the crowds

01:36:34that are now coming out to look at the WCPL.

01:36:38Is this something that you see

01:36:39that has grown over a period of time?

01:36:43Most definitely.

01:36:45Yeah, most definitely.

01:36:46You know, women's CPL are growing now.

01:36:48And from last year to this year,

01:36:51I think that the crowd is growing.

01:36:53So from there, I think the support

01:36:55should be really good from the crowd.

01:36:57So once the crowd grew,

01:37:00I think it'll be really good.

01:37:01Yeah.

01:37:02Let's also speak about the excitement

01:37:09because you know, when we speak about CPL and WCPL,

01:37:14we always speak about this party atmosphere

01:37:19mixed with the cricket, mixed with culture.

01:37:24Let's talk a little bit about the excitement

01:37:27because I think that there may be some people,

01:37:30you know, thinking, I wonder if the girls out there

01:37:35are going to have that level of passion and excitement

01:37:39and love for the game that we are seeing from the men.

01:37:45Yes, yes, yes.

01:37:46I think that the women really have a lot of passion

01:37:49for the game and excitement for the game.

01:37:50And we are really looking forward

01:37:52for this women's CPL tournament coming up.

01:37:54Yeah.

01:37:55Have you all started preparations?

01:37:58Have you all met us yet?

01:38:00Do you expect, let's say in the next, well,

01:38:03we're just a few days away, right?

01:38:04From the beginning of the tournament.

01:38:06Have you all met us yet?

01:38:07And how is that gelling process been going for you?

01:38:14Well, we now got it in Hilton, Trinidad.

01:38:18So today's our first training session.

01:38:19So this would be our opportunity to gel

01:38:22and bond with each other.

01:38:23Yeah.

01:38:25And I'm sure that is going to be,

01:38:26are you the youngest on the team?

01:38:29Yeah, I am actually.

01:38:31Yeah.

01:38:32So how do you think that that is,

01:38:36how that experience is going to be for you?

01:38:39Because I'm sure that there are some players

01:38:43on the team that you admire, right?

01:38:46And you gain inspiration from.

01:38:49How is that experience going to be for you?

01:38:53And how are you going to deal with that?

01:38:57I think this experience will be really great,

01:38:59especially being a young player.

01:39:01I'm taking everything as a learning experience.

01:39:03And from the overseas players

01:39:05and the senior players on my side, right?

01:39:08There are lots of experience and talent.

01:39:10So it's just for me to go there

01:39:12and take this as a learning experience to better my game.

01:39:15Yeah.

01:39:17Yeah.

01:39:18Let's, Samara, before we continue our discussion,

01:39:21here's what.

01:39:23Let's go to a very short break.

01:39:24Samara, stay with us.

01:39:25We are coming back.

01:39:52Now I love my beautiful Trinbego, I think we all do, but you see this thing called crime?

01:40:15Crime is becoming a norm, it's as though criminals are using our country as their own

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01:40:24morning and killers walking free in the streets of TNT and still nobody talking.

01:40:28So when you see crime don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call 800-TIPS or go online

01:40:32at crimestopperstt.com, it's an international system, it works and it's anonymous.

01:40:38So decide to pick a side, cause when everyone is watching, they can't hide.

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01:42:38Welcome back everyone.

01:43:07So we're speaking about and continuing our discussion on the CPL and staying with us

01:43:13and still with us this morning, we do have Samara Ramnath, international cricketer.

01:43:18Samara, a little birdie tells me that you and your father have been working on your batting.

01:43:23Is that so?

01:43:26Yes, most definitely.

01:43:28My dad and I have been working tremendously and a lot on my batting.

01:43:32Cause I think that there's a lot of improvements to be done with my batting.

01:43:36So my dad has been there for me and supporting me throughout my batting.

01:43:40Yeah. What have been some of the challenges rebatting?

01:43:44What have been some of the challenges rebatting?

01:43:49With my batting, I thought that probably start selection with my batting, you know,

01:43:54and I think there's a bit of moves when it comes to my batting, right?

01:43:58So I think my dad is just there. He's trying to help me get better.

01:44:02And I know as a batter, not me, but watching other batsmen and batswomen,

01:44:08I feel that sometimes you have to be much more discerning also.

01:44:13And you have to be patient too, right?

01:44:17You can't go out there and whoop, you know, Samara, right?

01:44:20I know that. I'm not a good batsman, but I know from looking at the game, right?

01:44:25It takes a lot of patience and you have to be very, very discerning in what you go after

01:44:31and what you leave to fly past you, right?

01:44:35Yes, yes.

01:44:37And then there's a lot of pressure from the crowd and your teammates to perform too.

01:44:45Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think it's, yeah.

01:44:47Especially when to perform to your best, it takes a lot to be honest.

01:44:52So I think it's just to go out there and just have confidence in yourself and back your ability.

01:44:57Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about the bowling that you like so much.

01:45:01Let's talk about that because I know that you spend a lot of time in, how do I say,

01:45:12in different types of techniques, if I can say, to bowl.

01:45:19And it is all a part of your attempts really to have the batsman, the batswoman in your case,

01:45:28confused as to what you're coming with, right?

01:45:31Talk a little bit about that.

01:45:33Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:45:35Well, for me, my bowling is my strength.

01:45:38So it's all about being consistent.

01:45:42My thought process while bowling is being consistent.

01:45:45I'm just trying to keep that consistent line and length to try to puzzle the batter.

01:45:51So it's really all about that.

01:45:54Yeah. And I'm going to ask you, because of what I've seen and heard,

01:46:01re-West Indies cricket and some of the strategies that some of our bowlers would have used in the past,

01:46:08such as Courtney Walsh and some of the big names.

01:46:13And sometimes they would speak a lot and they would try to intimidate the batsman, in your case, the batswoman.

01:46:21Do you speak a lot or you're just a quiet bowler?

01:46:25To be honest, I'm a really shy person.

01:46:29I'm a really quiet person on the field, right?

01:46:32So I don't really talk that much.

01:46:34But if my team need me, I'll be there.

01:46:37Yeah. Samara, try talking to the batswomen.

01:46:42I'm sure it will work.

01:46:46Let's look now, Samara, because, again, you're a very young cricketer.

01:46:55And I'm sure that there may be some young girls this morning looking at you and may be interested.

01:47:08Give us some, if you can, some some tips as to how they should go about this career into cricket.

01:47:19It's all about hard work and determination, you know, consistency is key.

01:47:23And once you keep training hard and putting in the work, I think you would be really successful in this cricketing career.

01:47:31Yeah. And let's dig a little deeper into that hard work,

01:47:36because, as I said, over the past few weeks, we have been interviewing various WCPL players.

01:47:46And what was consistent about the conversation was always about hard work.

01:47:55And I I would say to them, but where is your entertainment time?

01:48:00Where do you rest? Speak about that hard work for me.

01:48:07Hard work being my dad and I, I have to stress on my dad because he's my biggest supporter when it comes to cricket.

01:48:14So my dad and I would practice every day, like we would go to the nets every day.

01:48:20I would practice. And I think he would speak to me and tell me that once you train every day,

01:48:29it's going to pay off in the end. So, you know, this consistent training and hard work, as you say, would pay off at the end.

01:48:35Yeah. And what about the schoolwork? How does that factor in?

01:48:42Well, I'm currently always in CXE Results. So, you know, I'm kind of on a break right now.

01:48:47So, but in the evening after cricket, you know, I would prioritise my time for my studying.

01:48:55So, yeah. Let's talk a little bit now about.

01:49:04So what's next? I know that you have also acted as captain.

01:49:11What is that experience like? Are you captain for in some cases for, let's say,

01:49:19players who may be a little older than you or are they younger than you to act as captain?

01:49:25That's a lot of responsibility. Right. But I suspect you were put in into that position because of your experience.

01:49:32So what is that experience like speaking and really giving instructions to your players?

01:49:42Well, this year was my first day ever being captain from Trinidad, going into the West Indies team.

01:49:48I think it's really it's really a new thing to me. Right. And I am taking it as a learning experience, too.

01:49:53So I think the experience to be the captain of West Indies was a really good, was a really good experience.

01:49:59But I think there's a lot to learn. Yeah. So is then the ultimate goal for you to play for the West Indies team,

01:50:08the women's West Indies team? That's the ultimate goal? Yeah, most definitely.

01:50:14That's one of my big goals and my big dreams is to represent West Indies women's senior team in the future.

01:50:19Yeah. And I know that there has to be a difference because I have heard it from other players.

01:50:26There's a difference playing for the West Indies team and a difference being involved in club football.

01:50:36There's there is a difference there. Yeah, most definitely. I mean, representing West Indies is really a big dream.

01:50:45So I think once I am selected or will be selected, I think it's a dream.

01:50:50It would be a dream come true for me as a young player, especially.

01:50:53Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about the opportunities, because as you know, Samara, we in Trinidad and Tobago,

01:51:01we like to focus a lot, you know, on the academics. And yes, the academics are very, very important.

01:51:08But I think that sometimes when young people come to their parents and say, well, in your case, well, I want to be a cricketer.

01:51:15Well, your family likes cricket. They are involved in cricket. They would have molded you in this respect.

01:51:23But when you come when when some children come to their parents and say, well, I want to be a footballer.

01:51:29I want to be a cricketer. Let's talk about about that and the opportunities that are available.

01:51:39And how do you see this as you being an international cricket cricketer?

01:51:43Let's talk about the viability of the business. I think the opportunities are there.

01:51:53So I think it's just for the opportunities that there. So it's just for the children to just make full use of it.

01:52:01Yes. Yeah. All right. Samara, please stay with us. We are going to a very short break.

01:52:06We are coming back.

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01:56:14All right, everybody. So we are continuing our discussion just for a few more minutes again.

01:56:19We are discussing WCPL and staying with us this morning.

01:56:23We do have Samara Ramnath, international cricketer.

01:56:26So, Samara, tell me something. So when do you play your first game?

01:56:32Our first game is on Thursday against Barbados Royals.

01:56:35Yeah. So, Samara, tell me something.

01:56:39Yeah. You all are going to bring home the title this time around.

01:56:44Yes, most definitely. TKR is coming. TKR is going to be there.

01:56:51In these final minutes, Samara, what can we and when I say we, what can the fans expect when they come to the WCPL?

01:57:03What do you think?

01:57:06I think they should expect a lot of great talent because, I mean, with this WCPL team, we have a lot of great talent.

01:57:12So the fans should just come out there and support and expect great, great talent from these players.

01:57:18Yeah. And that's a good point that you're making, that in a lot of cases, these women, these athletes, if I can put it that way,

01:57:29that they are just as talented as the men and it's going to be similar talent and excitement at these WCPL games, right?

01:57:40Yeah, most definitely. Most definitely.

01:57:42Yeah. So after the WCPL, Samara, what's next for you?

01:57:49Well, I am actually training for the World Cup, Under-19 World Cup.

01:57:54So I'm hoping to get selected for the camps that they are having. Right.

01:57:58So represent West Indies women under-19. So that's for me.

01:58:02Yeah. So I think it is safe to say, Samara, that as you would have told us earlier, that this is something that you are going to do.

01:58:13Samara, 16, you have a lot of years of cricket still, right?

01:58:19Yes.

01:58:20That you are going to be on the scene, right? Is there, and we just have about a minute or so,

01:58:26anything you see at the end of your career that when you look back, you would have wanted to achieve?

01:58:35What are some of the things that you would want to achieve?

01:58:37Yes, most definitely.

01:58:38Go ahead, Samara.

01:58:39Can you repeat?

01:58:41Yeah. What are some of the things that you would want to achieve in your cricketing career?

01:58:46Oh, most, I would like to achieve probably be one of the best bowlers in the women's tournaments.

01:58:58Right. Probably with my bowling, I would like to achieve the most amount of wickets in a game, you know,

01:59:03in one of those West Indies games, right, in the senior team.

01:59:07So that's something I would want to achieve.

01:59:09Yeah. Samara, that's what we're talking about.

01:59:12Samara, we wish you all the best during this tournament and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

01:59:18Bye for now.

01:59:21Thank you so much.

01:59:22All right. So that's going to do it for our program for today.

01:59:25See you tomorrow morning, everybody. Bye for now.

01:59:42This segment was brought to you by Republic Bank, title sponsor and official bank of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

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