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00:00:00Come on, come on, come on, give us a little more music.
00:00:18We're going to the chorus everybody, we're going to the chorus, go ahead.
00:00:29A very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world, I'm Marlon Hopkinson
00:00:32as always.
00:00:33Welcome to The Morning Edition, it's Monday 9th September and thank you very much for
00:00:37joining us this morning.
00:00:38Yeah, man, we're speeding to the end of the year and then you have Christmas, yeah.
00:00:43We have any big holidays coming up, we have Republic Day, what do we have again coming
00:00:46up?
00:00:47That's about it, yeah, so we do have Republic Day, we have Diwali boy, yes, we have Diwali
00:00:56coming up, yeah.
00:00:58And then we have Christmas, right, and then we go into the carnival season, you know,
00:01:04but thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:01:06I hope that we have a good week this week, better than last week, I don't have to tell
00:01:11you what transpired last week, but it was a stressful week, a traumatizing week and
00:01:16let's hope that we do have a very good week this week, yeah.
00:01:20That's my hope for me and for you all that we do have a peaceful week in Trinidad and
00:01:27Tobago, yeah.
00:01:28How was your weekend?
00:01:31Hot weekend?
00:01:32We got some showers but a very, very hot weekend, you know, and let's not forget too, because
00:01:38I think that sometimes we are feeling a bit lethargic and really don't understand like
00:01:43that it's the weather that has us feeling this way, so you need to consume your liquids
00:01:50and so on, but be very, very mindful of what the weather and the impact that it is having
00:01:56on you, all right?
00:01:57So we're glad that you're with us this morning, get your coffee very early and get something
00:02:02to eat and get your tea very, very early because we do have a very interesting program for
00:02:07you today.
00:02:08Let's check out to see what's happening on the Daily Express.
00:02:12Acting PM calls on PNM Women's League to mobilize for 2025 Brace for Battle.
00:02:20Acting Prime Minister Stuart Young has sounded the election battle call to the women of a
00:02:24people's national movement, urging them to mobilize from within their homes to ensure
00:02:29victory at the 2025 polls.
00:02:32So Young yesterday told the PNM Women's membership that they have always held the power in seeing
00:02:37the PNM elected to government and asked for the party's women again take on the role.
00:02:43And new grant man charged for murder of siblings, you would have seen very earlier or earlier
00:02:48in our news there that we did speak about this story, yeah.
00:02:52And Miss Lauren Rivet, right, of the Encore Dance Theatre celebrates after being crowned
00:02:59at the Prime Minister's Best Village Competition, Miss Lauren Rivet Legrand's Affair final at
00:03:05Napa on Saturday, all right?
00:03:08Her name is Rachel.
00:03:09Rachel, I'm not even going to attempt your surname, it's, yeah, I do want to butcher
00:03:15it this early Monday morning here.
00:03:18So Rachel, a very special good morning to you and congratulations to you, all right?
00:03:23Let's look at the back page now.
00:03:26Organizer of vigil for two murdered siblings, killer was a menace.
00:03:31At nightfall on Saturday, Najee Road, Hindustan Junction, new grant was alight with candles
00:03:36as the Hindustan community gathered to march in solidarity of slain siblings Kervon and
00:03:43Chanel Singh, donned in white, friends, family, and residents joined in chanting and prayer
00:03:49as they walked from Najee Junction to the scene of the crime where candles were laid
00:03:54before the house, all right?
00:03:56Let's move on to some sport now.
00:03:58Bois Galore, TTO Hockeymen's Ticket to Paraguay, Marcano hits them for six in 13-0 shutout.
00:04:10Our main objective is not only to win the tournament but to do so while playing good
00:04:13hockey and ensuring the young players gain valuable experience.
00:04:17Glenn Fido-Francis, one of two co-coaches for the tour, believes his guys are on target
00:04:24after they thrashed Paraguay 13-0 yesterday as the 2024 Pan American Challenge continued
00:04:31in Lima, Peru.
00:04:33Congratulations to the boys, yeah, and we hope for everything to work out well with
00:04:38them so that they can come home with the big prize, all right?
00:04:42Okay.
00:04:43So it's time to remind you about Trinbago You're Nice feature.
00:04:45Remember to participate.
00:04:46You can email your videos or images to, ah boy, I got it right, for the first time in
00:04:52months, I got it right this morning.
00:04:55This is going to be a good week, right?
00:04:56I got it right this morning, TrinbagoYou'reNice at TV6TNT.com.
00:05:00What do we have for our viewers this morning?
00:05:02Yes?
00:05:03A beautiful picture there, yeah?
00:05:06And thank you to all of our viewers who continue to send us these photographs and videos.
00:05:12Do we have a name?
00:05:13No name?
00:05:14Anjali?
00:05:15All right.
00:05:16Another beautiful picture from Anjali.
00:05:18Anjali continues to provide us with these beautiful photos, all right?
00:05:23Okay.
00:05:24So we are going to break, everybody.
00:05:26Please stay with us.
00:05:27Let's take us out to the break with some more music, yeah?
00:05:30We're coming back.
00:05:31I see you, okay.
00:06:00Do your dance.
00:06:01Do your thing.
00:06:02I see you.
00:06:03Okay, let me see you.
00:06:04Cherry Hill.
00:06:05Uh, yeah.
00:06:06Now take it back.
00:06:07Uh, let me see you.
00:06:08Rock off.
00:06:09Rock off.
00:06:10Uh, shake off.
00:06:11Shake off.
00:06:12Let me see you.
00:06:13Rock off.
00:06:14Rock off.
00:06:15Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:06:16Cherry Hill style.
00:06:17Kid SpongeBob.
00:06:18Sexy walk.
00:06:19Heel toes.
00:06:20Footwork.
00:06:21Crazy leg.
00:06:22Rock off.
00:06:23Let me see you.
00:06:24Kick right.
00:06:25Now kick left.
00:06:26Now step forward.
00:06:27Now step back.
00:06:28LucasAid.
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00:10:55However
00:10:56there is an issue with
00:10:58the farmer being able to access it
00:11:00In order to access an incentive
00:11:03you must have what everyone knows as
00:11:05a farmers badge
00:11:08The first criterion
00:11:09that
00:11:11there is a
00:11:13sorry sorry
00:11:15it's
00:11:16it's
00:11:17urgent
00:11:18urgency
00:11:19used for a farmer's badge would be land tenure.
00:11:24So your land tenure must be up to mark
00:11:27all your T's crossed and I's dotted.
00:11:32On the flip side of that,
00:11:34the data that we have for Trinidad and Tobago
00:11:38is that at least 65% of producing farmers,
00:11:45not farmers, producing farmers, we have been specific,
00:11:48do not have access to land tenure.
00:11:51So we are in the position where we have
00:11:55a very good incentive system
00:11:57and I believe the system was reviewed a few years ago.
00:12:02I can't remember exactly how long,
00:12:03but I know there was some sort of review to it.
00:12:06So we have the best system.
00:12:08However, it's the accessibility that we have the issue with.
00:12:12And this is what we are trying to create some change in.
00:12:16Yeah, but Mr. Rogers, if you permit me,
00:12:20because this is not a new issue.
00:12:22This is something that we have heard
00:12:24farmers speak about over the years ad nauseam.
00:12:28But what has been, has there been any attempt
00:12:32to regularize the state of producing farmers,
00:12:35as you put it, the status?
00:12:39So the ASTG would have prepared and sent forward a petition
00:12:45identifying the issues and identifying
00:12:49possible solutions for consideration.
00:12:53We know that this petition did go forward
00:12:56and we are at the stage of consultation right now.
00:13:01Yeah, I'm just-
00:13:02So yeah, it took a while,
00:13:05but it was only a few months ago
00:13:08that we were able to actually do a petition
00:13:11and send it forward and we are at the stage of consultation.
00:13:15So is it that there has been an assurance of consultation
00:13:19or is it that consultations have begun?
00:13:23What is the status of this?
00:13:27So what I can say is that the consultations have started.
00:13:31We will just have to see where they go
00:13:33and what sort of commitments we get from it.
00:13:35Yeah, but to me, and I'm sure to our viewers,
00:13:40you're speaking about 65% of producing farmers.
00:13:45So if you have a situation where the conditions
00:13:50are not improved for these farmers,
00:13:52how is this going to impact food security
00:13:56in Trinidad and Tobago?
00:13:59So it is no secret that our agricultural production levels
00:14:05have decreased over the past few years.
00:14:11At the same time, I will say that during COVID,
00:14:15it increased.
00:14:16So, and during COVID, you would have had
00:14:20the few initiatives being pushed by the government,
00:14:26one of which would be the food box
00:14:27and those sorts of things.
00:14:29You have other factors playing in there
00:14:31where global supply chains were disrupted
00:14:34and we had no choice but to actually buy local, right?
00:14:39Now it comes down to one of the topics
00:14:42that you want to talk about.
00:14:44We see and we have the evidence
00:14:48that our local sector can produce food for the nation
00:14:54because I think the one issue
00:14:55that we did not have during COVID,
00:14:57it was the accessibility of locally produced food.
00:15:02After COVID, that changed
00:15:04because obviously global supply chains would have eased
00:15:06and it would have afforded for a lot more imported food.
00:15:11So when we look at that and food security,
00:15:15the conversation has to now center
00:15:18around looking at an adjustment
00:15:22in how we eat and what we eat.
00:15:26So, and sometimes, you know, it can be very simple.
00:15:29It is not about somebody telling you
00:15:31well, you have to eat three things
00:15:33in your plate instead of five.
00:15:35You have the five food groups.
00:15:36I'm not going to attempt to say what to populate that with.
00:15:40I'm no nutritionist,
00:15:42but at least three to four groups out of the five,
00:15:47we can find that in our local production.
00:15:51So why not look at that?
00:15:53In many times and in many circumstances,
00:15:57our local food is on par as it relates to price
00:16:03to that of the imported.
00:16:05And more so it's sometimes cheaper
00:16:08because when we talk about price,
00:16:10we have many areas and many options
00:16:14that could influence how expensive our food is.
00:16:18We have from the farmers markets
00:16:22that from my experience,
00:16:25every Saturday morning,
00:16:26I would pass by the ministry's farms market
00:16:28there in Endeavor.
00:16:30And by 10 to 11 o'clock, the tents coming down.
00:16:33And that is because they sell out very fast.
00:16:37That says something.
00:16:38If it was expensive and cost prohibitive,
00:16:41you would not have all local farmers selling out
00:16:44by 10 o'clock and by 10 to two,
00:16:45you're seeing a 10 down, right?
00:16:48So there is the evidence that says
00:16:52the locally produced food would be the viable option
00:16:56in terms of quality and in terms of price
00:17:00where we can create our own alleviation
00:17:04to the high prices of imported food.
00:17:06Yeah.
00:17:07And let's talk and continue our discussion
00:17:09on the food import bill,
00:17:11because this is another issue
00:17:12that we have been speaking about for years.
00:17:15But do you think that farmers are equipped,
00:17:19their businesses are developed enough
00:17:25so that they can produce a product on a similar scale
00:17:31as to what we import into Trinidad and Tobago?
00:17:34And that it could be a product
00:17:36that is of high standard too?
00:17:39You think that they are prepared?
00:17:40The sector is prepared for that?
00:17:44We are more than capable of producing
00:17:49very high quality food at a sustainable level
00:17:53for our country.
00:17:55We did it for two years during the pandemic.
00:17:58We have numerous technical bodies
00:18:02such as Curiri, Namdevco and so forth
00:18:07that can assist farmers to take their food production
00:18:12up to a level where it can be considered as sustainable
00:18:16and where the quality can be kept in check.
00:18:20For instance, I know Namdevco has the GAP certification,
00:18:25which is good agricultural practice.
00:18:28And Curiri, once we're looking at putting our food
00:18:32on the supermarket shelves, we're looking at testing.
00:18:36If even if it's not Curiri,
00:18:38there's a lab at the Montauk Hospital
00:18:41that people could use.
00:18:44I use that lab as well for my business.
00:18:47And there is no reason why we cannot,
00:18:53once we get to the level where our productive yields
00:18:57increase, where we can be sustainable.
00:19:00And furthermore, where we can provide a healthy alternative
00:19:06being price competitive to that of the imports.
00:19:11Let's speak a little bit about livestock now,
00:19:14because I know that's where you have a special interest.
00:19:18Let's look at that sector now.
00:19:21Yes.
00:19:23So livestock, again, it fell under the category
00:19:30of agricultural produce that has been declining.
00:19:35Unfortunately, well, so I'm a dairy farmer.
00:19:38Milk production locally is just but probably about 7%
00:19:45from where we were a number of years ago.
00:19:49Livestock, the biggest thing to livestock
00:19:53that farmers have faced locally
00:19:55over the past two years was predulosity.
00:19:58I myself walked into my farm one morning
00:20:02and realized six or seven animals were missing, right?
00:20:07So the issue of predulosity was something that ravaged
00:20:11not just food production, but the livestock sector.
00:20:16However, we have seen that recently,
00:20:19the ministry would have put out some resources
00:20:23into the predulosity unit by means of officers
00:20:27being trained, a few vehicles being put out.
00:20:31And I know the Carson field office has been refurbished.
00:20:35So we are seeing some action.
00:20:37We are waiting at the end of the year
00:20:40to look at it comparatively,
00:20:42to see what has come about from this action
00:20:46and how effective this approach has been.
00:20:50I will say that we have seen alleviations
00:20:53because we are not seeing as much reported crime
00:20:59for predulosity related to the process.
00:21:02So we are seeing that change just even ad hoc, right?
00:21:08From being on the ground, being in the sector,
00:21:11listening to the news.
00:21:13So we are seeing some changes.
00:21:16Our hope is that those changes continue to increase
00:21:21and they are spread across the board,
00:21:23where ultimately we are at the stage
00:21:25because of food import bill,
00:21:27with it being, it was reported in the last budget
00:21:31as being 7.3 billion.
00:21:33We are at the stage where we need to increase
00:21:38our agricultural inputs so that we could create the drop
00:21:42in our food import bill.
00:21:44You know, sometimes, you know,
00:21:46I listen to a lot of conversations
00:21:49and we all talk about the agricultural sector
00:21:52being a forex owner.
00:21:54And yes, we can be a forex owner,
00:21:56but the immediate benefit to the agricultural sector,
00:22:00that I have not heard anyone really get into,
00:22:05is it is a low hanging fruit
00:22:08that the agricultural sector can be a forex saver, right?
00:22:14We can take our food import bill down in the first instance
00:22:18in probably five years to about $5 billion.
00:22:22That's a savings of $7 billion, right?
00:22:27So there is a definite potential
00:22:29that aside from being a forex owner,
00:22:32the agricultural sector locally can be a saver
00:22:35of the valuable foreign exchange.
00:22:37But you know, Mr. Rogers,
00:22:39one of the criticisms of farmers in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:22:44it's really the price that the consumer,
00:22:47the customer has to pay for their products.
00:22:50What are some of the contributing factors you think
00:22:56to these sometimes high prices
00:23:00that the farmer has to charge to the consumer or customer?
00:23:06Okay, so this is something that we really need
00:23:08to clear the air on.
00:23:12In Trinidad and Tobago, farmers do not dictate the prices.
00:23:17And I say that without contradiction.
00:23:20When we study the logistics and the supply chain
00:23:25and the economics of agriculture,
00:23:28farmers do not influence the price.
00:23:34That price is influenced by two things,
00:23:36supply and demand, as well as the wholesalers.
00:23:42Now we have, now when you're a farmer,
00:23:46your first priority would be to tend to your fields.
00:23:50It is very difficult for a farmer to tend to their fields
00:23:55and be in a wholesale market all day or all night,
00:23:59or most of the day or for five hours during the day
00:24:02or for six hours at night.
00:24:04Because you know, sometimes,
00:24:05especially in McCoy in Port of Spain,
00:24:08you see vehicles lined up
00:24:10from one, two o'clock in the morning.
00:24:12Those would be farmers just delivering their goods
00:24:15to the wholesalers or the retailers
00:24:17and they're gone again, right?
00:24:20So the farmers do not dictate the wholesale
00:24:22or the retail prices.
00:24:24So people need to stop trying to kill farmers for that.
00:24:27These prices are dictated by the market forces.
00:24:32You know, that's what it is.
00:24:35And this is why we have seen successes
00:24:38in the farmer's market that are in various areas.
00:24:43You know, that are in various areas.
00:24:47Added to that, this is where the ASTG,
00:24:51we have recently formed an alliance
00:24:55with, in the first instance,
00:24:56the Mayaro-Rio Claro Regional Corporation,
00:25:01where we are going out to try to create that change.
00:25:05And working with the corporations,
00:25:07we are going to work in regards to
00:25:13empowering the farmers,
00:25:14to actually teaching farmers the business of agriculture.
00:25:21And on the flip side,
00:25:23creating smaller farmers market regionally,
00:25:27where consumers could now come
00:25:30and buy directly from a farmer, right?
00:25:32And we think that that is a very sustainable model
00:25:36that could follow through
00:25:38with the rest of the regional corporations
00:25:42and borrows and so forth.
00:25:44But the litmus test is going to be
00:25:46at the Mayaro-Rio Claro Corporation,
00:25:52solely because that was the corporation
00:25:54that reached out to us first.
00:25:56So in that regard,
00:25:57we have to congratulate them as being progressive.
00:26:00And they would have the cohort of all the farmers
00:26:05in the beach, in Plummeta, in Fullerton,
00:26:09and those kinds of things.
00:26:11They would have all those farmers there
00:26:13that we traditionally know to be
00:26:15one of the largest breadbaskets of the country.
00:26:18You know, and the conversation,
00:26:22and as we move into another budget here, Mr. Rogers,
00:26:25I'm sure we are going to hear about the agricultural sector.
00:26:29And I think that, and even on our program here,
00:26:33we have had persons from the ministry
00:26:36speaking about some of the initiatives
00:26:38that they do have in agriculture.
00:26:41And they are trying to attract more and more young people
00:26:44to agriculture.
00:26:46But is it that you think that the young people
00:26:51are embracing agriculture and coming to it?
00:26:55And if not, what could be done to make agriculture,
00:26:59that sector more attractive to the younger person,
00:27:02to the young person?
00:27:05Right, so the largest number of young people
00:27:10and young persons who would be recorded
00:27:14engaging in agricultural training,
00:27:17can't say practice because they are still in training.
00:27:19One cohort just graduated,
00:27:23would be the Youth in Agriculture Project, right?
00:27:26Other than that, there are very little incentives
00:27:32for a young person to get into actual production
00:27:37on their own.
00:27:39And this is because where we are at right now,
00:27:43we spoke about pre-daily arsony
00:27:45being one of the major issues.
00:27:48Then we have, okay, so one of the reasons
00:27:50why land tenure would be an issue
00:27:53is you have thousands of acres
00:27:58that would be those kind of limited two acres
00:28:00that the former employees would have received.
00:28:03And these would generally be older people.
00:28:07So a young guy coming to you,
00:28:09let's look at it from a grassroots,
00:28:11a regular point of view, right?
00:28:14A young person going to an old man and saying,
00:28:16pops, you know, I want to rent your land,
00:28:20but I need you to sign something.
00:28:23Therein lies the problem, you know?
00:28:26And that is one of the major reasons
00:28:29why land tenure is an issue.
00:28:31Because you would hardly find anyone or older person
00:28:36willing to be trusting or willing to be open,
00:28:42if I could use a better term,
00:28:44to be open to someone saying,
00:28:46okay, sign this for renting me a land, you know?
00:28:50So when we have issues like that,
00:28:52that is why these would carry through
00:28:54and it will carry forward to the issue
00:28:56of accessing the incentive
00:28:59and becoming a registered farmer, you know?
00:29:02We have, and these issues are well known to everyone.
00:29:07It's just that we need to approach this now.
00:29:11We need to take off the kid gloves
00:29:13and we need to aggressively approach these issues
00:29:16if we are serious about creating change.
00:29:19Yeah.
00:29:19Mr. Rogers, is there anything else
00:29:21you'd like to tell us this morning
00:29:23that maybe we did not touch on during our conversation
00:29:26as we wrap up this morning?
00:29:29Well, just simply,
00:29:31the Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago
00:29:34has been taking a very progressive step
00:29:38towards the development of the sector locally.
00:29:41You will see training programs coming out
00:29:44specifically for farmers.
00:29:47And we are going in farming districts.
00:29:49So we're not telling them,
00:29:50well, come to Portisby, you know,
00:29:51come to head office and those kinds of things.
00:29:53We are going into the areas where farmers operate,
00:29:56finding a location and creating that change,
00:29:59trying to create that change
00:30:01through intervention and training,
00:30:04training in best practice,
00:30:05training in the handling of pesticides and chemicals,
00:30:10training in good agricultural practice.
00:30:13So we are trying to create
00:30:16that sustainable change through engagement
00:30:18and also through the engagement of the regional corporations
00:30:22whose counselors will be more on the ground,
00:30:24who have a wider base of people on the ground.
00:30:27So we leverage on those values
00:30:31so that we in turn could create national value.
00:30:34So to the public,
00:30:36any assistance you need in creating value for yourself,
00:30:40even as simple as the creation of a home garden
00:30:43or kitchen garden or community garden,
00:30:46feel free to reach out to the Agricultural Society.
00:30:49We have numerous persons
00:30:53who have the technical competencies
00:30:56to help you get established
00:30:58and who will be more than willing
00:31:00to help you on that journey.
00:31:01Yeah.
00:31:02Is it that you all have a social media presence
00:31:04or is it that you all have a phone number
00:31:07that they can call?
00:31:10Yes.
00:31:11So we are on Facebook
00:31:13and I think that's the fastest way to get to anybody now.
00:31:18So I will tell you all,
00:31:19look at, find the Facebook page, message us.
00:31:23You will see, you know,
00:31:25we are developing into more social media avenues.
00:31:27Yes.
00:31:28Right now, all our work is focused
00:31:30on trying to get the training out there.
00:31:33So we've been sort of looking down one barrel
00:31:37because, you know, we need to create that change,
00:31:40but you will see more social media handles coming out
00:31:42and stuff like that.
00:31:44But for the time being,
00:31:45feel free to just reach out to us via Facebook.
00:31:50You will see who the directors are.
00:31:52Many people and most of the farmers in the country
00:31:55would know us and would know our president,
00:31:58Daryl Rampersad,
00:31:59and would know the various representatives that we have.
00:32:03So for instance, around the board of the ASTT
00:32:06and as well as affiliate to the ASTT,
00:32:09we will have the various heads of farming associations.
00:32:14So it's very easy for any farmer to reach out to us.
00:32:17Go to your regional representative
00:32:20or your president or your head
00:32:23and you will get to us immediately
00:32:24and we'll try our best to see what we could do
00:32:27to create an alleviation for you.
00:32:29Mr. Rogers, it was a pleasure speaking with you this morning.
00:32:32Thank you very much for having this conversation.
00:32:34And I'm sure that people who are interested
00:32:39in this sector would be making contact with you sometime,
00:32:43but we do appreciate this conversation this morning.
00:32:46Yeah.
00:32:47Thank you very much again, sir.
00:32:48Thank you for having me.
00:32:49All right.
00:32:50Have a good day.
00:32:51We are going to have a very short break, everybody.
00:32:53So you're calling us on 623-1711.
00:32:54The extension is 1995.
00:32:56After the break, we are taking your calls.
00:32:58We're leaving you as we go to the break
00:33:01with this beautiful picture this morning,
00:33:03again, from Anjali.
00:33:05Yeah, we're coming back, everybody.
00:33:07♪ Rock back, make money, look for a walk ♪
00:33:10♪ You do that, me good ♪
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00:33:16♪ Fire go burn they ♪
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00:34:39Inspiration is found in the diversity of nature.
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00:34:49Join us every Monday morning at 8.30 a.m.
00:34:52right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.
00:35:13Let's take a selfie.
00:35:17It looking good, boy.
00:35:19I'm posting it online.
00:35:23Hey, I thought you say you went to the beach
00:35:25with your parents?
00:35:27Who's you?
00:35:28It's me, Larry, from online.
00:35:44♪ Hello, hello, hello, yeah
00:35:47♪ So girl, I love how the way you blow my mind
00:35:50♪ Hold me tight and bring that wine
00:35:52♪ Hello, hello, hello, hello
00:35:55♪ Yeah, hey
00:35:57♪ Are you ready?
00:35:59♪ Are you ready for it?
00:36:02♪ Are you ready?
00:36:04All right, everybody.
00:36:05So welcome back.
00:36:05We do have a lot more for you on the program this morning,
00:36:08but we are going to take some of your calls right now.
00:36:10You're calling us on 602.
00:36:12your calls right now. You're calling us on 623-1711. The extension, it's 1995. Hear now.
00:36:18Listen to this story. Despair as Venezuelan opposition candidate departs. Gonzales flees
00:36:24to Spain. Former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzales arrived in Spain yesterday
00:36:31after fleeing into exile as part of a negotiated deal with Nicolas Maduro's government that
00:36:39dealt a major blow to millions who placed their hopes in his opposition campaign. The
00:36:45surprise departure of the man considered by Venezuela's opposition and several foreign
00:36:50governments to be the legitimate winner of July 28th presidential election was announced
00:36:56late on Saturday by Venezuelan officials who just a few days ago ordered his arrest. Gonzales
00:37:04landed on Sunday at a military airport near Madrid accompanied by his wife and Spanish
00:37:09officials Spain's foreign ministry has said. The opposition, he's gone, you know, he's
00:37:16boy. You're calling us on 623-1711. The extension, it's 1995. Another, and let me touch on these
00:37:26two stories, two things happening in the region here. So one, the government of Guyana has
00:37:31announced plans to have a national funeral of honor in tribute to the life and legacy
00:37:36of Sir Sridath Ramphal. In making the announcement on Saturday, President Irfan Ali said the
00:37:42funeral will be held in Guyana on September 14. Now, Sir Sridath, a revered son of Guyana
00:37:49and former Commonwealth Secretary General, is widely recognized as a towering figure
00:37:54in global diplomacy. He will be celebrated for his lifelong service to Guyana, the Caribbean,
00:38:01the Commonwealth, and the international community, Ali said. And another story, Jamaica Prime
00:38:06Minister defends SOEs to fight crime. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has defended his administration's
00:38:12continued use of states of emergency as a crime-fighting tool, following criticism from
00:38:19the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. So last week, the IACHR called on the Holness
00:38:25administration to ensure that measures used to fight and prevent crime are implemented
00:38:31in accordance with international human rights standards. A comment was made in the aftermath
00:38:36of the imposition of a state of emergency in the Southern Parish of Clarendon last month
00:38:41in response to a gun attack, during which eight people were killed and nine others wounded.
00:38:48Speaking at the retirement function of a senior member of the police force, Holness agreed
00:38:53that everything must be done to protect the rights of all citizens and is certain that
00:38:58this has been reinforced to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. All right, so
00:39:04you're calling us on 623-1711, the extension, it's 1995, it's Monday morning, everybody,
00:39:09it's time to get up, you know. Yeah, this is, you can't stick on Monday morning, you
00:39:14have to come out there with some energy, right? So let's see some other news, very interesting
00:39:21in the newspaper today. So Heritage records $1.48 billion profit. Heritage Petroleum
00:39:28has reported a profit of $1.48 billion for the year, ended September 30th, 2023, marking
00:39:35a 33% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This increase in profit was achieved
00:39:42despite a $1.06 billion drop in revenue from contracts with customers. All right, so things
00:39:50seem to be looking good for Heritage, right? You're calling us on 623-1711, the extension,
00:39:56it's 1995. We just have a few minutes again to take your call. So as we were discussing
00:40:04earlier, so there's an agricultural expert on food security, too much lip service for
00:40:09sector for countries to address food security concerns. There needs to be less lip service
00:40:16and more leadership, says the University of the West Indies-trained agronomist, Marcus
00:40:21Maiku. As the founding manager of Micro's Agriculture Field Advisory Services and the
00:40:28Marvista Institute for Agriculture Training and Development, Maiku said, or he sat down
00:40:33with the Express at his office in Freeport on Friday and had a discussion about Trinidad
00:40:37and Tobago's high food import bill that has been averaging above $5 billion per year for
00:40:44some time. But let me tell you something, our taste has to change, too. Our taste has
00:40:51become very sophisticated over the years. You want to see certain brands and you want
00:40:56to taste certain things, and I'm good with that. Yeah, but we have to keep an eye on
00:41:01this high food import bill, because let me tell you, sometimes you want some U.S. to
00:41:06do some things and you can't get it. And when you go to the grocery, you're seeing all kind
00:41:11of strange things that all they like that, you know, I think we could do without, but
00:41:16you have freedom of choice, all right? They're calling us on 623-1711. The extension, it's
00:41:211995, so you can please call us now. Yeah, apparently it's Monday morning, people tired,
00:41:27they had a hard weekend, so nobody wants to speak this morning. And you know, last week,
00:41:34you know, we were having a conversation and, you know, there's a feeling among people in
00:41:41Trinidad and Tobago that they're fed up, you know, they're fed up speaking about things.
00:41:47It's like they feel, and this is according to them, they feel like, yes, they speak,
00:41:52they speak, they speak, they speak, but they feel that action after is very, very slow.
00:41:59People are fed up, yeah? And some people who we like speaking to, you may not see them
00:42:05because they're just fed up that, you know, it's like a revolving door. And as we say in Trinidad
00:42:12and Tobago, it's spinning top in mud, yeah? So call us and speak to us now. You're calling us
00:42:19on 623-1711. The extension, it's 1995. And here's what, we are going to have to place some more
00:42:25emphasis on these Paralympic Games, yeah? So there's $150,000 for Akeem Affleck rewarded for
00:42:34Paralympics silver, right? Of course, Akeem was our lone representative at the Paralympic Games,
00:42:42right? So Paralympic athlete, Akeem Stewart, who recently won a silver medal at the Paris
00:42:49Paralympics Games 2024, will be receiving a $150,000 grant from the Ministry of Sport
00:42:56and Community Development. We do have Port of Spain on the line. Port of Spain,
00:43:01good morning. Port of Spain wants to speak with us. We appreciate it.
00:43:05Go ahead, Port of Spain. Yeah, what I want to show, I'm hearing an echo in the back door.
00:43:11All right, we're hearing your echo. Go ahead, go ahead, Port of Spain. All right, okay, so here's
00:43:19what I want to throw out. You have, on the right hand, two organizations, Customs and Inland Revenue.
00:43:29The persons there, at the top, would have applied years ago through Service Commission,
00:43:35while everybody there would have applied through Service Commission.
00:43:39And then, over the years, was promoted by seniority, years of experience, qualification,
00:43:45to reach the top. And these two organizations are collecting all the revenues and all the duties
00:43:54and sending it to the government. Now, on the left hand, you have the TTRE. Right. The top people
00:44:03were hand-selected by the government. Then they selected the next top senior position.
00:44:13Tell me, they are the ones who are going to be doing all the hiring and firing
00:44:18and collecting all the duties and taxes. Of these two organizations, which one do you see the door
00:44:26is open for nepotism, government interference, corruption, thiefing, or both?
00:44:37Which one? I think it's clear. So, how can people say TTRE will be an improvement?
00:44:45That's what I'm throwing out. All right, thank you very much. Well, of course, you have the Public
00:44:49Services Association, and they have been speaking a lot about the TTRE. They have expressed concern.
00:44:56Of course, the matter went to court, and there was a recent development and judgment concerning
00:45:00that matter. But I guess in the setting up of the TTRE, all of this that you have put on the table
00:45:06this morning, that can be a topic for the consultations and a discussion between the
00:45:11PSA and the government. Let's take another call. Good morning, caller. Yes, good morning.
00:45:19I'm just trying to clarify one or two things. Caller, you need to speak up a little bit.
00:45:26Up until 2017, while we were at Petrochem, a laborer's hourly rate would have been $65 an hour.
00:45:39At present, we are using steeper brokers to do the grass cutting.
00:45:50And the grass cutting steeper brokers are $20, $20, $20.50 per hour.
00:46:00Now, let's look a little bit deeper.
00:46:01Like, is Heritage paying this company for what we were getting $65 for in 2017?
00:46:14So, when you look at it, when you use this statement about profit,
00:46:18you have to go ahead and find out how profit has been derived.
00:46:24All right. Thank you very much, sir. All right. So, you're calling us on 623-1711. The extension
00:46:31is 1995. We just have about five minutes again. YouTuber Christmas List, boy. He fights deportation.
00:46:37Canadian YouTuber Christopher Christmas List. Hughes remained in custody at the Immigration
00:46:43Detention Center. Eastern Maine ruled a repo up to last night after he was presented with a
00:46:50deportation order dated September 7. However, his attorneys, who are expected to visit the
00:46:56High Court today, said they will be filing for an application for judicial review challenging
00:47:02the decision for the deportation order against Hughes. Now, Hughes was detained at a house in
00:47:08Diego Martin on Saturday, and his interests are currently being represented by attorneys Gerald
00:47:13Ramdeen, Jagdev Singh, and Vashishth Sipasad since his detention and release last week, Thursday.
00:47:21Now, Sipasad told The Express yesterday afternoon they were granted a mandatory interim injunction,
00:47:27which was granted by a High Court judge directing the chief immigration officer to allow them
00:47:32unrestricted and uninhibited access to their client to receive instructions. He said that is, he said
00:47:39that is was after speaking to him that afternoon, they were officially informed of the deportation
00:47:46order against him. Yeah. South Trinidad is in the house. Good morning, South Trinidad. Good morning.
00:47:54Yeah, morning, morning. Morning, sir. Morning, sir. Yeah, I'm very concerned.
00:47:59I want to tell you, we are not hearing you. I don't know if it is the positioning that you have here or there, but we're not hearing you at all. You're disappearing.
00:48:27You are hearing me now? Go ahead. Yeah, what I am saying as a member of the general council of the PSA,
00:48:39we have not seen Leroy but since about a year, and we wanted to talk to him.
00:48:47He's been placed by the PSA on the job. All right, so with the greatest of respect,
00:48:55we're not hearing you, and I don't know that we're doing, I think that we're doing a disservice to you
00:48:59if people can't hear you. Yeah, and you can't speak clearly for viewers to hear, but I think
00:49:07that you do have some concerns about the PSA's general council. Yeah, I think that I get that
00:49:14from you. All right, so we do have maybe about four minutes again. You're calling us on 623-1711,
00:49:19the extension. It's 1995, so you can please call us now. UNC calls for probe amid national security
00:49:27concerns. United National Congress shadow minister of national security, Dr. Rudan Munilal, has called
00:49:33for an investigation into how some of the assets of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard have fallen
00:49:39into a state of disrepair. Now, this after it was disclosed at a national security news conference
00:49:45last Friday by Coast Guard chief of defense staff, Air Vice Marshal Darrell Daniel, that two
00:49:53hostile Cape Class patrol vessels and six Damanstan patrol vessels are currently not in operation.
00:50:03Yeah, I was a bit startled by some of the pronouncements made at the news conference
00:50:10last week, because I feel that if you are coming to speak to members of the public and that you are
00:50:17giving assurances that we are dealing with this crime situation in a serious way, that you need
00:50:27to have all of your equipment working. Not so. You can't come and say, and while we appreciate
00:50:33the chief of defense staff being so truthful, but you know, it's damning
00:50:40information that we received, I think. Let's take another call. Good morning, caller.
00:50:46Good morning. Yes, ma'am. So, Marlon, allow me to say this. We have a situation where there's
00:50:55increased crime, murders, extortion, home invasion. We have not heard from our national
00:51:03security professional. However, on the opportunity that they took to address the population last
00:51:12week Friday, we are given answers. Yes, we are given answers that make us believe something has
00:51:22to be wrong with us. I know we want to reform CXC and so on, but the vast majority of us
00:51:29understand when persons are dancing around an issue, refuse to give answers that equate to
00:51:37either yes or no. Do you agree or do you disagree? We don't need the philosophical,
00:51:46historical, we don't. Do you agree we have an issue? Yes or no? And based on what your answer
00:51:54is, what do you propose to make this issue be resolved? Thank you, Marlon. Thank you very much,
00:52:00ma'am. Well, I think that you all know my position. I have been speaking so long about
00:52:05crime in Trinidad and Tobago. We did it, Alexander and I did it for a number of years on the
00:52:12Beyond the Tape program. So I think that opposition, it's very, very clear. We just have
00:52:18to do more. And I think that what I do also understand, I understand the public of Trinidad
00:52:27and Tobago and more Trinidad. I understand them very, very well. And I understand when
00:52:33we feel that there are repercussions to our actions, then we fall back. I mean, we saw it
00:52:40when we tried to, when the government tried to enforce, you remember the speed limit,
00:52:46you remember that? And you actually saw when you were driving, you saw people slowing down and
00:52:54driving at the speed that they're supposed to. So if you don't enforce things, well,
00:53:01Trinidadians will run wild, you know. Let's take another call or last call. Good morning, caller.
00:53:05Good morning, ma'am. I just want to make a comment. Don't we have an airplane that can
00:53:21surveil the coastline and a radar system? Thank you. Bye-bye.
00:53:26Thank you very much. A good way to end our call-in segment. We are going to very short
00:53:31break, people. Thank you very much for your calls this morning. We also have some news for you.
00:53:34We'll be coming back.
00:54:35and get your progressive transitions with designer frames
00:54:38for $14.99 at Seaview Optical. Affordable eyewear for everyone.
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00:55:18Inspired by you.
00:55:35Thank you.
00:55:40Good morning. I am Sindhi Raghubar Tika Singh with your morning news update.
00:55:45A new grandman is expected to appear in court today charged with the double murder of Meyaro
00:55:51siblings Keston and Chanel Singh. According to police, instructions were given by the office
00:55:57of the DPP on Saturday to lay the murder charges on the man who has been in police custody.
00:56:03The 21-year-old security guard and his 16-year-old sister were chopped to death while
00:56:09liming at a man's house along Naji Avenue, Hindustan on Wednesday evening, not far from
00:56:15where Keston rented an apartment. On Saturday night, the community held a candlelight walk
00:56:21through the area in their memory. One resident called on citizens to pray for the youth,
00:56:26saying it seems many are raised without basic morals and values.
00:56:34In other news, Parliament is set to resume today when two sittings will take place.
00:56:39The Senate meets at 10 am and the House of Representatives will meet at 1.30 in the
00:56:45afternoon. The order papers released by the Parliament for both houses indicate,
00:56:50among papers to be laid in both houses, is the Auditor General's special report.
00:56:55This report is a follow-up to the 2023 report
00:56:59and is expected to address the over $2.6 billion understatement in the substantive document.
00:57:09Opposition MP Dr Rudal Munilal on Sunday condemned the government's handling of the nation's
00:57:15safety and security, specifically raising the issue of wide-open borders,
00:57:20as revealed by the Chief of Defence Staff at a news conference on Friday.
00:57:25The first time, you know, the head of our defence establishment, called Chief of Defence Staff,
00:57:31has indicated to all smugglers, all traffickers, all illegal movement of immigrants,
00:57:37I want to give all the news. We have nothing in the sea right now to look at you.
00:57:42So if you're coming, let us know. That is where we reach. Call first.
00:57:49Now for a look at the weather. The Met Office says you can expect mostly sunny conditions,
00:57:53interrupted by a few partly cloudy periods with showers. There is a medium chance of the isolated
00:58:00heavy shower or thunderstorm favouring western and hilly areas during the afternoon. Gusty winds
00:58:07and straight or flash flooding may occur near heavy showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures
00:58:12are expected to climb to 33 degrees Celsius in Trinidad and 32 degrees Celsius for Tobago.
00:58:42Approvals receive funds within 24 hours once approved and no penalty for early repayment.
00:58:48Located at 4 Gallon Street, Woodbrook. Remember, we like to lend.
00:58:53Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Panadol, the world's most trusted
00:58:58pain reliever, is the best option for managing the pain and fever associated with this disease.
00:59:03Panadol release starts here. The Trinidad Express Newspapers is making changes to enhance the reader
00:59:08experience. Our back page will now carry the second biggest story of the day, making the inside
00:59:14back just one turn away from the number two most viewed spot in the newspaper. With your message
00:59:20here, you get more visibility, more awareness, more impact and more results. So don't wait.
00:59:27Take advantage of our special introductory rate and get in the back of the Trinidad Express
00:59:31Newspapers. Get ready to experience the thrill of the CPL T20 Cricket Live on Taj 92.3 FM.
00:59:41The official radio rights holder for the CPL games in the Caribbean. The Republic Bank
00:59:46Men's Caribbean Premier League, August 29th to October 6th. CPL is online, two, three. It's
00:59:53cricket played louder on the station that sounds better. Taj 92.3 FM, the home of CPL.
01:00:01So we're talking man to man, but what is the measure of a man? Is it about strength and power
01:00:19and all that macho business? Or is it about honour, dignity, courage and the conviction
01:00:26to do what is right no matter the consequences and respect? Yes, respect in all its forms,
01:00:32including respect for women and not just the women we know and love and care for, but all women
01:00:40everywhere for they are our equals working hand in hand, stride for stride to build a better home,
01:00:49a better community, a better country, a better world. So let's end this culture
01:00:55of abuse and humiliation and senseless violence towards women and girls.
01:01:02Man to man, let's learn to become real men.
01:01:20All right, everybody, so welcome back. So the Ministry of Sport and Community Development
01:01:30will be recognising sport educators at the Community Sport Titans Teacher Edition Award
01:01:36Ceremony on September 17th. To tell us more about the upcoming award ceremony, we are now joined by
01:01:43Mr. Bidawi Gomez, Project Administrator, Shape in Communities Program, and Ms. Sian Leifook,
01:01:49Project Associate, Shape in Communities Program. Good morning, and thank you very much for joining
01:01:54us. Good morning, Marlon. Thank you very much for having us. All right, Bidawi, let's begin with you.
01:02:02Please tell us about these awards ceremony. Please tell us about it.
01:02:09Well, what we are doing is recognising the teacher titans that we have, that were selected by a
01:02:20select committee. And we want to highlight and promote and let everybody know, let the whole of
01:02:30Trinidad and Tobago know that there are these individuals that are doing great work in schools,
01:02:36helping kids to be active, physically moving, and involved in sports with their necessities,
01:02:46and just doing, you know, doing what they have to do and doing what they love. So we want to
01:02:51highlight these people because we think it's very important. Yeah, so Bidawi, are these
01:02:58sport educators, they are from the public school system, right?
01:03:06That is correct. Yeah, so we're speaking about PE teachers?
01:03:11PE teachers, correct. Yeah, and how many teachers are we speaking about to be a part of this
01:03:19award ceremony? It's going to be 10 teachers. Yeah, all right. Shan, let's bring in you here.
01:03:31Tell us about your participation concerning this event that we're speaking about.
01:03:40Okay, so what we did basically, we sent out for, in March of this year, we opened the nominations,
01:03:49and we asked schools and communities to nominate persons who they see as basically titans of the
01:03:58sporting community within their communities and within their schools as well. And we chose these
01:04:06nominees based on the impact that they would have had on community engagement,
01:04:14student, but just the lasting impact of what their project is to inspire others to choose
01:04:22sport as well. Yeah, you speak about a project. So is it that every teacher had a specific project?
01:04:31Well, what project they had in their school. So if they have, they were the ones to implement,
01:04:38okay, at lunchtime, we would go out and do different sports, after school, we are here,
01:04:44come on, let's learn to play football, let's learn to run, you know, whatever they did to impact the
01:04:50students in sport, and to make them enjoy sport and love sport, and to use sport as a way to make
01:04:57themselves healthy, basically. So the nominees would have been judged on the contributions that
01:05:08they would have made to the school population, to the student population at their respective
01:05:14schools. Yes, yes. All right. So, Bedawi, so is it at the end of the day, you're having this award
01:05:23ceremony, so is it that you are going to have, let's say, a top sport educator who, because of
01:05:32their project and their contribution, they would have, you say it's 10 nominees, 10 persons involved
01:05:39at this time, so is it that, is there going to be an award for the top sport educator?
01:05:46There actually is going to be awards for the top 10, but the first one to three,
01:05:53well, actually, let me also add, it's not only the titan, not only the top 10
01:06:02teacher titans, but also their schools, so there's going to be cash prizes for the
01:06:09top three, and then, well, cash prizes for all 10, actually, and their schools,
01:06:14different denominations. All right. So is it then that, is it done this way, that if it is,
01:06:22let's say, you have these top prizes here for the top three special educators, so if a special
01:06:30educator is from a particular school, is it that the top prize for the special educator
01:06:41gives also the top prize to the particular school that he or she is representing?
01:06:46That is very correct. Accurate. All right. I'm on the ball this morning.
01:06:53So tell us how, let's speak a little bit about, of course, the award ceremony is on September 17th.
01:07:03Roll it out for us. What is going to happen on September 17th?
01:07:07So basically, a lot of invited persons, of course, the top 10 nominees are going to be invited. We
01:07:20have some from Tobago. We're going to bring them across and then award them. We're going to give
01:07:32them a plaque commemorating their success as a teacher titan and also the distribution of cash,
01:07:43well, check, actually, prizes. We also have some videos that were done highlighting each of the
01:07:55the top 10 titans and them expressing their gratitude and speaking about how much they enjoy
01:08:07doing what they do and whatnot. And yeah, a little bit of dinner and stuff like that,
01:08:14just to celebrate these persons that normally may not be rewarded and highlighted.
01:08:25Shan? We will also be live streaming the event
01:08:29on our Facebook page so that not only the persons who are in the room can celebrate these educators,
01:08:36but wherever you are, you just log into our Facebook page, Ministry of Sport and Community
01:08:41Development, and you can also celebrate these educators with us.
01:08:45Is this the first time that this ceremony is being held?
01:08:49Yes. Yes, it is.
01:08:52But Shan, let's speak a little bit about, because I'm sure that one of the main objectives
01:08:59of this award ceremony is also in some way to motivate these sport educators, right?
01:09:08Yes. We would like to highlight these educators who are instrumental in promoting
01:09:16the sports within their schools. We would also like to demonstrate the importance of education
01:09:25in sport and how it contributes to the holistic development of a student. And of course,
01:09:32we want to provide a platform to showcase all of these projects because you won't normally just go
01:09:38into a school and see what they are doing. So this is the opportunity now to showcase
01:09:43these things that they have been doing in their schools.
01:09:46Yeah. Is it that, of course, they are going to be given this monetary award or reward,
01:09:58and I'm sure they must be given, as Bedawi said, they're going to be given a plaque in some way.
01:10:05But is it that there is going to be something more when it comes to that teacher and the
01:10:15school population, something more from the ministry? And when I speak something more,
01:10:21maybe additional resources in the schools and for the teachers that would have done well?
01:10:29Is there something in train such as that? Or is it that that's the ceremony,
01:10:34that's the award ceremony, and that's going to be the end of it?
01:10:39The ministry, we are actually committed to providing resources, providing training,
01:10:46and even more support to them to help them build more robust programs within their schools. So not
01:10:54just the one that they are doing, but ones that they would also like to implement at some point.
01:10:59We are committed to helping them to do this.
01:11:01Yeah. Bedawi, is there anything else you'd like to add before you leave us this morning?
01:11:06Yeah, no, I just want to encourage everyone to, because we can't, the venue does not allow us to
01:11:13invite, you know, a lot of the population, but we still want to have them involved and to see and,
01:11:23you know, celebrate with those teacher titans. So we would really like everyone to,
01:11:28at least as much as possible, to log on to the BA Ministries Facebook page for the live stream and
01:11:36take it all in and celebrate these persons together.
01:11:40Yeah. Shan?
01:11:43Yes. Again, I'd just like to encourage everyone, these educators, they have been working really
01:11:48hard. They have inspired many students and we really, really want to celebrate them in this
01:11:53way. And we want you all to join us in celebrating them.
01:11:56Yeah. Shan Bedawi, it was a pleasure speaking with you all this morning. Thank you.
01:12:00Thank you very much.
01:12:01Thank you very much.
01:12:03All right. Bye for now. So it's time for a quick break, everybody. We are coming back.
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01:13:46It's man versus man versus machine in the TV6 VR Cricket Challenge.
01:13:52Face off against a virtual reality bowler to win the grand prize of a trip to St. Lucia
01:13:59or one of our exciting consolation prizes. To register is easy. Simply download the TV6 app
01:14:05and sign up by answering a simple question. There's no cost to enter and anyone can play.
01:14:29.
01:14:38Maybe you could afford to pay up to $22,500 in fines and lose your license permanently.
01:14:46No? Then don't drink and drive.
01:14:51A message from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
01:14:54Hello, I'm Peter, an Englishman living in Trinidad for many, many years.
01:14:59I've come to love this country because of the warm-hearted people, the diverse culture,
01:15:04the fantastic food, and of course, the great weather.
01:15:07A few years ago, I came across Habitat, and boy, oh boy, this is what the country needs.
01:15:11At Habitat, they work alongside families and give them a better life, providing more
01:15:15opportunities for families, especially the children.
01:15:18If each one of us does the same, then all our actions will add up to create major changes.
01:15:23I work with Habitat for Humanity to make small but significant actions
01:15:26which contribute to the life I have come to love in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:15:30Help build a home, and a home means an awful lot.
01:15:33A house is not a home. A home is a home. It's where the heart is.
01:15:37So come with me, and let's make it happen.
01:15:53All right, everybody, so welcome back. The Human Resource Management Association of
01:16:16Trinidad and Tobago, HERMAT, will host the latest in its signature series of
01:16:21C-Suite Conversations on September 11th, 2024, under the theme Artificial Intelligence
01:16:28versus Human Intelligence, AI versus HI, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
01:16:34So to tell us more about it this morning, we do have Cindy Wilson, Director of Advocacy at HERMAT,
01:16:40and Elizabeth Gowsat, member of HERMAT's PR Committee.
01:16:44Ladies, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:16:46Thank you for having us.
01:16:47Yeah, well, let's talk a little bit about the theme, AI versus HI. Cindy?
01:16:53Well, you know, HERMAT has been driving this conversation on artificial intelligence
01:16:59for a while now. We actually had a conference earlier this year, another C-Suite conversation
01:17:04on productivity, which I believe was kind of a lead up to this very important conversation,
01:17:10because you really can't talk about productivity without talking about
01:17:14technology and how it influences, right? So, you know, our view is that AI can be integrated into
01:17:23the workplace in a seamless fashion if we're proactive about it. That will not necessarily
01:17:29replace human beings in the workplace, as you know, there's a lot of talk going on around,
01:17:34but more so amplify human intelligence and allow us to be more creative, more innovative, etc.
01:17:41We believe that if we're able to do this effectively, you can actually benefit,
01:17:47this can benefit actually the individuals in the organization,
01:17:51organizations and the economy on its own as well.
01:17:54Yeah, but you know, Elizabeth, I think that some people will ask,
01:17:58why now? Why is this a good time to have this conversation now?
01:18:03Yeah, I think this is a good time to have it now because ever since COVID, we've been into
01:18:08technology and everything has been changing to that. So it's how we can make it better in terms
01:18:13of the future of work using AI. And that will be essential for those coming to visit us at C-suite.
01:18:19Yeah, but you know, Cindy, I think maybe for people such as you in this sector,
01:18:27AI may not have been a new term for you all. But I think maybe a year or two when it was first
01:18:35discussed, you know, AI, the discussion at that time was really presented to the world in a way
01:18:45that this is going to replace humans. You think that that conversation has changed and we're seeing
01:18:55that people are more embracing of AI, they're willing to give it a chance. And that narrative,
01:19:03that negative impression of it, it's disappearing, you think?
01:19:10I think we need to have more conversation about it and that we need to look at it more deeply.
01:19:17I think if we're honest with ourselves from the beginning of time, AI has, you know, or
01:19:21technology has been replacing human beings in the workplace. Every wave of technology, you know,
01:19:28there's talk in and around that. And I don't think that this is any different.
01:19:33What I do believe is that what we are seeing now is new types of jobs emerging, new skills,
01:19:41new ability to be creative and innovative, because really it's the persons who are able to gain the
01:19:46skills that allow them to leverage the technology will be replacing the persons who don't have those
01:19:52skills. So it's really human beings who have been able to harness AI will replace persons who are
01:19:58not able to do that. Yeah. All right, ladies, let's, Studio, if you can, again, just pull up
01:20:04that graphic that we showed a short while ago. And ladies, if we can get into some of these
01:20:12speakers here. Sure. So firstly, we have Leslie Leafhook. He is Director AI, Analytics and
01:20:20Automation at Inca Services Limited. We also have Mr. Ian John, who is CEO at Cyber Eye Limited.
01:20:29Sean Clarke. He is General Manager at Amplia Communications Limited. Dr. Navi Muradali.
01:20:37He is CEO at Patient Connect. And this is also one of Hermat's wellness provider.
01:20:43Ms. Zia Payton. She is Digital Services Leader at PWC Caribbean. Dr. Hyacinth Guy.
01:20:51She is Principal Director at Hyacinth Guy Human Resource Company. And we also have
01:21:02Mr. Irwin Williams, which is Head of Software Development at iGovTT. And out of all these
01:21:09esteemed panelists that we have, we also have a featured speaker, which I'm happy to say is
01:21:15Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, the Honorable Senator, Mr. Randall Mitchell,
01:21:21who will be delivering his address, focusing on AI in the tourism industry. All right. But Cindy,
01:21:29I'm sure that, well, all of these persons that Elizabeth alluded to just now,
01:21:36they are professionals in their fields. What, and the theme is artificial intelligence versus
01:21:48human intelligence. But what is it, if we can go deeper into some of the topics coming out of this
01:21:57scene? Right. So what we expect is that our participants will gain a better understanding
01:22:02of how artificial intelligence can collaborate with human intelligence in the workplace,
01:22:08in schools, etc. We also expect that, you know, we'll have some real life case uses so that
01:22:17participants can see how this applies in the real world. And so that they can as well, you know,
01:22:22potentially go back to their organizations and implement some of these things. Definitely with
01:22:27use cases for AI increasing at an exponential rate as well, we're going to have to address some
01:22:33of the ethical considerations in relation to the use of AI and how we can responsibly
01:22:39integrate these within our workplaces. And of course, you know, once you come to C-suites,
01:22:47the opportunity to network with researchers and other professionals in the field is with the price
01:22:53of admission in itself. You know, this is something that we at Hermat really pride ourselves
01:22:59in, is the ability to connect persons to have these types of conversations so that we can
01:23:04forward our workplaces for employees and business leaders. All right, Elizabeth, let's go through
01:23:13the day that this is being held. So what time do people report for this conversation about AI?
01:23:24So it starts off at 7am, where people will have breakfast. And this is on Wednesday,
01:23:31the 12th of September. And I suspect the conversation begins right after?
01:23:38Yeah, it's right after around 8, 8, 8.15. Yeah. And they're in for exciting day ahead. It's until 12
01:23:45noon. And anyone can register. We're on all major social media platforms. We're on Facebook,
01:23:52LinkedIn, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter. We have our C-suite conversation posts
01:23:58on these platforms and with a registration link. So participants, those who want to attend can
01:24:04simply click on the link and register for C-suite conversations. Yeah. And there's still
01:24:10time and room to register. Yeah, there's still time. Yeah. Cindy, you think that we in Trinidad
01:24:18and Tobago, because I know how some of our business people operate, when they hear things,
01:24:24wondering, how is this going to impact the bottom line? You think more and more people,
01:24:29and when I say more and more people, business people are embracing the AI and seeing it as
01:24:35value, as a benefit to the organization? I do. And I think as we carry on these conversations,
01:24:42the understanding, once you gain a better understanding of what it can do for your
01:24:46organization in terms of creating more productivity, allowing your employees, for instance,
01:24:53you know, allow more mundane tasks to be done through artificial intelligence and allow
01:25:00persons to actually harness and focus their creativity within your organization, I think
01:25:05that it will pick up. I think we just need to actually just continue having these conversations,
01:25:11not bury our head in the sand, as you know, you may feel like you want to do, but actually face
01:25:16it head on, because if we don't get with the program, we're really going to be left behind.
01:25:21And, you know, that's not something that we need as a society. Yeah. What do you think that the
01:25:27biggest takeaways, if I can put it that way, will be from this conversation for the participants?
01:25:34I think coming out of the conversation is really a deepened understanding and enhanced
01:25:39understanding of AI and the potential of AI in amplifying the work that we do currently
01:25:48in our workplaces. And, you know, the ability to see how it could be applied in different sectors.
01:25:55So, for instance, Dr. Murad Ali, CEO of Patient Connect, using AI, artificial intelligence in
01:26:04the mental health space, in the medical space, and, you know, the potential that there is an
01:26:10untapped potential that it is for AI within our local environment as well. Yeah. Elizabeth,
01:26:17anything you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning? Anything additional? Yes, so I'll
01:26:22just like to let our viewers know that for this C-Suite conversation, anyone can attend this event.
01:26:28It's from executives to business leaders to industry experts to researchers, even brand
01:26:35managers and marketing managers. Anyone can attend this event. It will be beneficial for them
01:26:40learning more about AI. And also, our viewers can also visit our website at hermath.com.
01:26:49That's H-R-M-A-T-T dot com. There you can also find the registration link to participate in this
01:26:57fruitful discussion. Yeah, it's for everybody. I better calm down, boy. You should. Cindy. You should.
01:27:03Anything else you'd like to add, Cindy? No, I think that it's really important for us to
01:27:10to have this conversation and these types of conversations. And H-R-M-A-T-T has really been
01:27:14on the forefront of pushing the agenda, not only just for AI, but for conversations that,
01:27:22you know, our business leaders need to have to be able to push our economy forward. And, you know,
01:27:27we do believe that we're responsible for driving these agendas because of the space that we sit in
01:27:33within organizations. Yeah. Ladies, it was a pleasure speaking with you all and we wish you
01:27:37all the best for your event. Yeah. Thank you very much. All right. So we are going to a very
01:27:41short break, everybody. We're coming back. Stay right there.
01:27:44I see charity deployed. Equal rights totally ignored. Wisdom and legality working in accord.
01:28:09Simply to afford such inventions as nuclear warfare and environmental at cruising hotel
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01:30:56All right, everybody, so welcome back. So, Social Workers for Christ is a non-profit organization
01:31:14and they are having a concert entitled Gospel for Charity. The money raised at the concert
01:31:20will go towards the refurbishment of a live-in mental health facility in Point 14,
01:31:25which houses persons who are battling severe depression, anxiety, and stress.
01:31:30So, to tell us more about the concert this morning, we do have Mr. Lennox Smith,
01:31:34director of Social Workers for Christ, and Ms. Ivy Lord, secretary of Social Workers for Christ.
01:31:40Thank you very much for coming this morning. Good morning. Thank you for having us. It has
01:31:44been a long time. Yeah, it has been a long time. It's good to see you, Mr. Smith. They say two
01:31:49mountains don't meet, but two Christians do, I suppose we are. What? I like how you put that,
01:31:54Mr. Smith. So, tell us about this event to raise funds. Let's begin there and then I want to speak
01:32:03about why these funds are so important in the Point 14 community. Go ahead, Mr. Smith.
01:32:08All right. Well, of course, the organization itself is a ecumenical grouping of individuals.
01:32:15It is not based on denominational entities per se, but of course, it is a collection of
01:32:23all and sundry so that even if you are not spiritually inclined, you can also, of course,
01:32:29be part and parcel of what we're doing because it's about humanitarian efforts. It is about altruism
01:32:37and it is about, of course, treating with some of the social problems so that Trinidad and Tobago
01:32:42has been experiencing not only now, but from time immemorial and as, of course, you would know my
01:32:48forte in terms of making these kinds of interventions. So, when I was approached to,
01:32:54of course, join and to be part of it, the Social Workers for Christ initiative and organization,
01:33:04I thought it was a very, very good place to be. I being, of course, as you may know, the
01:33:11protocol officer for the Council of Elders, which was sheltered by Prince of Trinidad and Tobago,
01:33:16so I'm just emphasizing the ecumenical nature of the organization and, of course, we have been
01:33:23engaged in a number of activities since 2018 and among them would have been marathons, of course,
01:33:31with connotations for health as well as, of course, soup kitchen arrangement to treat with,
01:33:39of course, the destitute, but I think very, very new to me in essence is that it is rural-based
01:33:48and not urban-based because, as you know, I'm a little urban kind of person and I thought it was
01:33:54very interesting and I was surprised that there was so much more poverty than from where I came
01:34:03from when I thought that there was and I thought I should be participating, make an intervention
01:34:11in order and make my contribution in order, of course, to assist and, of course, the whole
01:34:16question of depression and mental health came up and the board decided, well, that is a project
01:34:23that we should focus on because of all of the pressures of modern living in general and the
01:34:30fact that there is such a wide range of demography that is associated with that, whether you are in
01:34:39school, whether you're in the church, whether you are in the police service, whether you are a teacher,
01:34:44etc., and we can go on and on in terms of lawyers, etc., and the stressful, should I say,
01:34:53engagements so that the people will be engaging from time to time, including, of course,
01:34:59professions and work and so on. So, as a consequence of that, we thought and we then, of
01:35:05course, went into action and we now have acquired two properties but in need, of course,
01:35:13renovation and improvement and furbishing as well, so furniture and so on will be part and
01:35:19parcel of it, merely, of course, to have it fit for purpose and, of course, we have put a cadre of
01:35:25individuals, we have been fortunate to have a cadre of professionals, whether it be psychiatrists,
01:35:30whether it be, of course, others, social workers, whether it be persons in the medical field
01:35:37across the board and I'm very, very grateful for not only to be part of this initiative but
01:35:44for those persons who have volunteered by and large to, of course, come on board. This concert
01:35:49is merely to assist in the financing of this particular, very, very important, in my view,
01:35:56exercise. Yeah, Miss Lord, what's your message here this morning?
01:36:01Mental health. We're all going through some sort of depression, some sort of something
01:36:08and, you know, having this program, having this home, is to be able to help. Some of us
01:36:15just need to stand up and help, do something for our community. Young ones are experiencing this
01:36:21depression going on right now and they're doing a lot of things, a lot of heinous crimes are taking
01:36:27place, a lot of abuse is taking place with this whole mental issue and, you know, being an individual
01:36:33in a community in Barataria, you know, you're seeing a lot of pain, a lot of anguish, so,
01:36:43you know, this organization, this, we started a long time ago, 2018, to be able to
01:36:51reach out to different young ones, different old ones and make a difference some sort of way.
01:36:58This charity for, Gospel for Charity, we have to keep faith, we have to keep the source in it because
01:37:07we lose the sole point of why it is we survive, which is the source, which is God. So, social
01:37:14workers for Christ, you know, reach into different communities and be able to touch, help clean
01:37:20a little neighbor's house, help to talk, just to counsel, you know, in some sort of, we can make
01:37:26some sort of change. So, this is what this charity, Gospel, is for, to be able to raise funds because,
01:37:34you know, we're housing people as well, you know, to be able to, some sort of help, I can't explain
01:37:40just one part because it's a great, you know, a lot of things. It's all-encompassing. All-encompassing.
01:37:48Let's, let's get back to this live-in mental health facility in Point Fort in there and you
01:37:53spoke about two properties that, yes, we recently acquired. Yeah, tell us about, because I suspect
01:38:01everything needs, needs money, eh? Yes. So, we're speaking about that. That's, that's what we're
01:38:07speaking about. But what's the state of these facilities right now? Well, it is not totally
01:38:15habitable. Yes. Right. So, that's the best description I can give of, of it and therefore,
01:38:22of course, there's a need even further to provide what is considered the technocrats will
01:38:31talk about fit for purpose because you have to have diagnostic, you know, offices and you have
01:38:36to have administrative offices. You have to have, of course, the modern equipment in terms of
01:38:41computers and so on to generate the database that is required, you know. So, those are some of the
01:38:49areas that we felt is critically in, we are in need of now and, of course, we have these
01:38:56professionals who would have come from a certain standard of delivery and and you don't want,
01:39:04of course, to lower your standard when they come, of course, to offer their voluntary
01:39:09expertise and it is in that context. So, we thought we should raise the physical plant
01:39:16to the standard that, of course, will make everybody including the clients because remember
01:39:22clients will come from the various upper echelons of the profession. So, so to speak, as well as,
01:39:30of course, those, you know, below but at, at, at any rate, once you raise the standard to a point,
01:39:36all will, of course, benefit and be satisfied that they're getting the kind of service
01:39:41that we have, we, we, we are obligated to provide. Yeah. Ivy, let's talk a little bit
01:39:48about some of the persons performing at this concert. Oh yes, we have a nice crowd. Ministers,
01:39:57third minister unto the people. Right. We have blessed messenger, minister Fahrenheit, minister
01:40:04Sean Daniel, Samantha Johnson, Isaac, Mark Isaac, sorry, and well, the emcees, pastor Terrence Bailey.
01:40:13We have a solo panelist, Daryl Reed, and we have the dances from Pillars Covenant dance group.
01:40:20Different, you know, a lot more activities to take place. We have different sales on
01:40:25food items and well, you know, different artifacts and information more about,
01:40:29about the social worker for Christ. Yeah, where can people get the tickets? Tickets are at Duncan,
01:40:35Dr. Levi Duncan Convention Center, 100 Old Southern Main Road, Ennabook Village, Chagonas,
01:40:44and well, you can contact 303-1650-793-3578-335-8049 for tickets. Mr. Smith. Yeah,
01:40:59well, we have chosen the Dr. Levi Duncan Convention Center because it is centrally located
01:41:08one in, in, in our view, in Chagonas, of course, and at the same time, it accommodates about a
01:41:13thousand persons. So, at a, at a ticket, either a hundred dollars in advance or at the door,
01:41:21I think it is, it is, it is value for money, so to speak. We invite, of course, all of the
01:41:30various denominational, spiritual, non-spiritual, because this is about a humanitarian effort
01:41:38designed to treat with much neglected and clearly stigmatized category of
01:41:47citizen in this, in this country, because, of course, of course, we are totally local,
01:41:51and, and what we, what we are hoping is that we will get the numbers that are required. As I said,
01:41:59the whole can accommodate that, and of course, the, the performance, and the performance, I think,
01:42:05is one that is worthy of the cost, comparatively speaking, and at the, at the end of the day,
01:42:12of course, what we want is to really get the center going in all, in quick time, in order,
01:42:18of course, to deliver the service that we have committed ourselves to. Yeah. So, is the center
01:42:25still providing service? Yes, it is. It is. We have not, we are not housing anyone at this time.
01:42:32Okay. What we do, we go to different communities and still do the social work within the community,
01:42:37in the community, sorry. Visit houses, visit the families to counsel with them, you know, and try
01:42:43to get different help for them, whoever require, if it's a wheelchair, if it's, you know, medical
01:42:50help, or whether it be cleaning help. Yeah. What's your response been when you visit these communities?
01:42:56Oh, my goodness. I mean, well, that's why we are here, because you would want to think that
01:43:03you are living in a cocoon, and that these things really doesn't happen, or doesn't exist. But
01:43:11many of them, as I said, concern psychologically with the stigmatization of this kind of illness.
01:43:19And, as I said, we are fortunate to have the diagnostic team to, of course, do the professional
01:43:28evaluation. We ourselves are not in that, in those fields. But certainly, what we have,
01:43:33what we have, what we are bringing to the table is access, cordiality, interaction,
01:43:40social, social and economic assistance as well. Directing people to where they can get assistance,
01:43:49if that becomes necessary, social welfare, NGOs, you know, and other agencies that may be providing
01:43:57the service that, at the time, and in contact with the individual who may need the service,
01:44:02or who have asked us to, of course, make some intervention on their behalf, we are able so,
01:44:07so to do so. All right. It's a very comprehensive one. Mr. Smith, Ms. Lord,
01:44:10stay with me for a few more minutes, all right? We must go to a very short break. We're coming back,
01:44:14everybody.
01:44:44My ex-wife is back.
01:44:46They love Mr. Juice.
01:44:48She's a soul sucker.
01:44:51You can say that again.
01:44:53I want you out of my life.
01:44:56This is where the afterlife is so random.
01:44:58Guilty as charged.
01:44:59Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
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01:47:50For you. Three hours in Gethsemane, he dragged that tire called salvation for man.
01:47:59Lift my eyes unto the hills. We only have one place to go for help. Hallelujah. So I celebrate in Jesus.
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01:49:19Everywhere I look is blessing. They were all over me. All because I put my Jesus in front of me.
01:49:27All right, so welcome back everyone. So we are speaking about this fundraiser
01:49:32to raise funds for the live-in mental health facility in Point 14. And with us this morning,
01:49:43we do have Mr. Lennox Smith and Ms. Ivy Lord, director of, well Ms. Smith, not Ms. Smith,
01:49:50Mr. Smith is the director of the Social Workers for Christ and Ms. Lord is the secretary social
01:49:56workers for Christ. As you go out into the community, what are you all seeing out there?
01:50:02Depression. Yeah. They are walking around like zombies.
01:50:07As they say, fully done. And they not, we are not getting that unity, that love, that communication,
01:50:17that drive to live. So, you know, our young people right now just needs to, but they're dying.
01:50:26Yeah. They're killing each other out. So we might not have a next generation
01:50:31if it, with all this crime that is taking place, we would not have that. And depression is causing
01:50:36this and we have to go home in order to deal with this. And you know, Mr. Smith, I'm asking
01:50:42this question because I want people to understand how serious the situation is and how important it
01:50:48is to raise funds for a center such as this because of what is happening in the community.
01:50:53Yes. You see etched on their faces, the pain, the agony, the anxiety, the pensiveness,
01:51:04the uncertainty, the ambivalence, and you wonder why it is, if you speak, if you go outside there,
01:51:15no, when you speak to a typical young boy in school, in school clothes, I call the term,
01:51:20they grunt at you. They grunt. You can't have a conversation. Everybody vexed, you know.
01:51:26Everybody's upset. And you wonder where all of that has come from, because there must be a
01:51:34genesis. There must be a source. And clearly, I have identified the institutions of social control,
01:51:43the family, the school, the church, the prison, the legal and judicial system.
01:51:54I spoke prison already. And of course, the plethora of NGOs, non-governmental entities,
01:52:04specializing in various aspects to respond to various issues that the society would have. And
01:52:15it appears, including of course the politicians, and it appears that there has been a breakdown
01:52:23in every facet and in every aspect. And how do you mend that? Well, there is a need for collective,
01:52:30conscientious focus and action from these very institutions, because they can do better.
01:52:39Yes. Yeah. Studio, if you can put up a poster again. Yeah. So, we are going to put it up.
01:52:47Lady, gentlemen, we have reached the end of our discussion for this morning. So,
01:52:52we have this up for you. Give thanks to different contributions from the different churches,
01:52:57pillars of truth, the different ministerial positions, different thank you to each and
01:53:03every person that contributed. Yes. And still will be there to contribute as well to the cause.
01:53:08Yeah. And we believe that every church, every religious grouping, every spiritual person
01:53:13should attend this, because it will be. Yeah. Thank you very much, Mr. Smith. It's good to see
01:53:18you. Miss Lord, thank you very much. We wish you all the best for your event coming up. Yeah,
01:53:22that's going to do it for our program for today, everybody. See you right back here tomorrow morning
01:53:26at six o'clock. Bye for now.
01:53:56Bye.
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