A 47-year-old serial rapist and robber, who was arrested while attacking his latest victim last week Thursday, remained in police custody up to late yesterday.

The suspect, of Chase Village, Chaguanas, was expected to participate in identification parades with his three previous victims yesterday afternoon.

According to police reports, the suspect attacked his latest victim, a 21-year-old student, while they were passengers in the same maxi taxi traveling along the Priority Bus Route (PBR).

The man reportedly pointed what appeared to be a gun at her and robbed her of cash. He allegedly told her that if she alerted the other passengers or the driver, he would shoot her.

The victim waited until the maxi taxi was passing a police traffic check exercise at Cane Farm Junction before she pressed the bell for the driver to stop. She got out and reported the incident to the police, who immediately arrested the suspect.

The suspect was found to have a knife and not a gun in his possession.

Police later learned that the suspect matched the description of a man who committed three separate rapes in central Trinidad.

The attacks reportedly occurred after the suspect was released from prison in February after serving a 13-year sentence for rape and robbery.

Investigations are continuing.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal will soon be debated in Parliament —and a Parliament committee which will also probe the matter will be summoning foreign and local witnesses to speak about the company’s alleged work here.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley revealed this at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media conference.

Cambridge Analytica is currently under investigation in the UK for using massive amounts of data from 50 million Facebook users to formulate political advertising on the Donald Trump election campaign.

The company is accused of using for political purposes, personal information acquired from Facebook users.

Christopher Wylie, a former C.A. employee, recently testified before a UK House of Commons committee that C.A. worked for the T&T government in 2013. Wiley referenced a former national security minister and CA’s monitoring of internet browsing in T&T which Wylie admitted was illegal.

He pinpointed T&T as the site of a data and communication mining test project, alleging it formed the basis for C.A.’s subsequent activities in the UK and US.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi last week announced an audit of all state entities to probe any C.A. link.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has distanced herself from the C.A allegations, indicating the Congress of the People employed C.A.

Current COP leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan also distanced herself - including her former chairmanship of COP - from the matter.

Yesterday, Rowley said in the CA matter, T&T had been “used as a basis for extending apparent criminal conduct around the world.”

“There’s evidence being collected internationally that people in TT— in the political arena and possibly in Government— worked with foreigners and entities outside of T&T to access citizens’ information, private, personal and protected by law,” he added.

He said the situation meant invasion of their privacy and T&T had to pay attention whether any laws were broken, “who did what, where, when and how and to what extent taxpayers’ resources were used.”

He said parliamentary debate of the C.A issue will be “at the earliest opportunity.” The matter will also be probed by the Parliament’s National Security Committee headed by PNM MP Fitzgerald Hinds whose team will summon “local and foreign witnesses to speak about their involvement in this scandal.”

Opposition Whip David Lee, responding, said, “We’re already bringing a motion of privileges against the Attorney General for what he alleged about the Opposition on the (C.A.) matter in a recent sitting . In same vein, we welcome any debate which Government brings - but we feel it’s a diversion away from the many issues Government’s juggling.”

Arrangements are being made between the Child Protection Unit (CPU) and the Children’s Authority regarding the custody of a 13-year-old Venezuelan girl who was brought to T&T last week as a child bride.

The child was under protection at the Living Water Community in Port-of-Spain up to yesterday while investigators from the CPU and Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) were arranging with an interpreter to conduct another interview.

Meanwhile, the child’s 24-year-old husband, who was said to live in Moruga, has not been found.

ACP Irwin Hackshaw told the T&T Guardian yesterday that given the trade between T&T and Venezuela, police were going hard at those engaged in smuggling people into the country for whatever purpose.

On March 28, South Western Division Task Force and Penal CID led by Insp Seecharan and Sgt Ablacksingh were responding to a tip-off that a flock of macaws was being illegally held captive at a sawmill at Teeluck Trace along the Penal Rock Road.

While on the compound, they arrested a Jamaican man who was found in an apartment with a woman. As the officers continued to search the compound, they found the girl lying on a mattress in a room.

The CPU was called in but because she was smuggled into the country, the CTU got involved.

Investigators learned that the child lived in a Warao village along the Orinoco River bank that does trade with the locals who transport goods via pirogue.

The girl’s husband was among a group of traders who went across to Venezuela on March 26.

Because the tribe had no money or items to trade, the girl was used as barter.

She was wed to her husband in a ceremony there before coming to Trinidad. It was learned that girls get married as young as 10 years in the tribe.

Most require years, many require months, some who are gifted need only days.

T&T’s 22-year-old swimmer Dylan Carter will challenge from Lane 6 in the Men’s 50 metres Butterfly swim final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia at 5.37 am (TT time) this morning.

Mild mannered Carter stormed into the finals after he won his first round heat (with the second fastest time of 23.62) to again prove that Lane 4 was his favourite with a nerve tingling second place finish in the first semi-final yesterday in front of an appreciative crowd of 10,000 at the Commonwealth Aquatic Centre in Australia.

Carter told Guardian Media Sports,” I was not myself today, I felt it before the event, but the focus was just to fight and get into the final, and I did that. I have to regroup and get myself together for tomorrow night,”

Carter was initially scheduled to participate in the heats for the 200 metres freestyle in the morning, but he stated,” I will be at my hotel getting some rest to ensure all is in place for the final.”

With the Olympic Champion, Proud Benjamin out of the race, due to a disqualification, most commentators believe the race is open, Carter said, “I honestly want to always compete against the best, so I wish he was there, but this is sports and these things happen. There are other very good swimmers in the race, but I am concentrating on me.”

Earlier Carter produced a marvellous effort in the first round of the men’s 50 metres butterfly to win his heat from Lane 4 in the second best time of the semi finalists, finishing in 23.62, just ahead of Australian favourite Grant Irvine.

“My Time (23.90) was slower tonight than in the morning, so getting some rest, and getting my mind and body ready will be the aim as I seek to place in the top three in the final,” Carter said.

One senses that Carter is on a mission and someone will have to swim exceptionally good to deny him today.

It was a mixed opening day for T&T yesterday, as competition heated up the Games 2014 bronze medallist boxer Michael Alexander got off his 2018 campaign in a fight that had to be stopped after about 90 seconds of the first round against Kenya’s Nicholas Okoth in the 60kg class when both fighters inadvertently were cut after heads clashed.

Okoth came off the worst with a heavy gash over his left eye, while Alexander had a slight damage down the centre of his forehead.

“In the end, I am glad to progress,” Alexander said.

“If you check his history (Okoth) he has a tendency to duck into fighters and gets involved in these sort of head-butts, that is his history and we knew that as well. At first I did not feel any pain, but then it started to hurt and in the end I knew they would go to the scorecards,” Alexander explained.

Indeed, the five judges all had Alexander ahead 10-9 when the bout was stopped because 35-year old Okoth could not continue. Looking ahead Alexander said, “I am looking forward to my next fight we know the opponent is from India so we will go back to the drawing board and prepare. The cut will not affect me going forward, I got three stitches but I will be okay. This time around, I am aiming to go all the way and get a different colour medal,” stated Alexander

In the morning session, Joseph Fox in the Men’s artistic gymnastics performed creditably in the First division of three, finishing 14th in the Floor Exercise, 20th in the Pummel Horse, 16th on the rings, ninth on the Horizontal Bars and 17th in the Parallel Bars.

While in the Women’s Triathlon, Jenna Ross placed 21st out of 24 competitors, recording times of 12.43 in the swim, 34.66 on the bike and 21.37 in the Run for an overall time of 1.10.25.

In Table Tennis, T&T’s the men’s team lost its first match against India 3-0, after Dexter St Louis lost to Anthony Amalraj 5-11, 11-3, 2-11, 12-14; followed by Aaron Wilson going under 5-11, 5-11 4-11 to Gnanasekaran Sathiyan. Then in the doubles, the pair of Yuraaj Dookram and Aaron Wilson lost to Desai Harmeet and Saithan 9-11, 4-11 and 4-11
This means that T&T’s next match today is against Northern Ireland and its a must win game if the team is to advance into the next round.

In Squash’s men round of 64, Kale Wilson lost 3-0 to Malta’s Daniel Zammit-Lewis after a close first loss 11-13, Wilson then lost the next two sets by identical scores of 8-11 and 8-11. As well Mandela Patrick lost 3-0 against Malaysia’s Ivan Yuen

While among the women in the round of 32, Charlotte Knaggs lost to India’s Dipika Pallikal Karthik 3-0.

In cycling, the trio of Njisane Phillip, Nicholas Paul and Kwesi Browne finished in sixth position with a time of 45.386 seconds. After 250 metres T&T was in fourth place and even after 500 metres it dropped to fifth, but in the final 250 metres the team lost further ground and finished sixth.

Today, all three riders will be in action again from 5.02am (TT time) in the Men’s Keirin, Browne (Heat 1) , Paul ( Heat 3) and Phillip (Heat 4).

T&T’s ,Beach volleyball women will be in action for the first time from 6.38am as the pair of Rheeza Grant and Abby Blackman tackle England.

Prestige Holdings Ltd (PHL) is reporting $7.6 million in profit after tax for the three months of the new fiscal year, ending in February.

Total assets for the period are valued at $485 million. The company operates the following franchises KFC, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, Subway, Starbucks, chain of stores.

Chairman Christian Mouttet said PHL’s business plan has been feeling the effects of high foreign exchange conversion costs and higher food costs, “both of which are becoming increasingly difficult to control.”

He added that there have been operational challenges in some of its restaurants as well as the difficult economy have impacted “negatively” on his business. What is clear, he said, is that measures have been put in place to mitigate the challenges faced.

“We have already engaged in a number of initiatives to address these issues including managing our higher food costs, improving labour utilisation and introducing new value added and innovative food offerings.”

Mouttet said the board and management are not satisfied with the results and therefore, there is room for improvement even though the economy has slowed down.

He is confident that the company’s brand strength and brand loyalty, would result in growth and improvement in the company’s performance by the end of 2018.

Republic Bank Ltd workers protested yesterday after talks between the bank and the union, Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) for the bargaining period July 2017-May 2020, “stalled”.

The workers and the company are at loggerheads as the bank has tabled six per cent wage increase, while the union has tabled 19 per cent for the same period.

In the face of the protest action, the bank stated: “Independent reviews of compensation packages, within the banking and financial services industry in Trinidad and Tobago, all confirm that Republic Bank’s salaries and benefits are among the best in the country.”

BIGWU’s Labour Relations Officer Jason Brown said, in a telephone interview yesterday, there are several issues which have culminated over time that pertain to the current negotiations. For instance, he said “over 500 workers were affected last year when the bank took away the mall allowance, and the union had to fight to get it back. The bank, without any consultation with the union, changed the hours of work (of employees who work at the malls) and took away the allowance.”

He added that there are issues of job evaluation which are before the court, there are issues where the bank has not paid workers for three days and it is also before the court.

Brown said there was an occasion during the last negotiations where workers were ill and could not report for duty.

“There is an issue where the bank has adopted a performance appraisal system which is a bit oppressive to workers. That performance appraisal system is something that allows them to get a percentage increase in their salary.”

In response to the scheduled protest action, RBL yesterday defended its compensation package offered to employees saying that the packages are based on job roles, and the salaries are paid commensurate with the industry standard, taking into consideration the prevailing economic climate.

In a statement yesterday, the bank said, “independent reviews of compensation packages, within the banking and financial services industry in T&T, all confirm that RBL’s salaries and benefits are among the best in the country.”

The bank said it was currently in negotiations with the union for a new collective agreement related to its clerical staff.

The bank said it noted, with concern, “incorrect and misleading statements made in the media by representatives of the union over the last week.”

“Compensation packages are determined based on job roles and the salaries paid within the specific industry, and grouping for comparative jobs.

Consideration of the prevailing and projected economic climate is also relevant in determining wage proposals.

Republic Bank adopts this approach,” the bank said.

“Additionally, in recognition of the valuable contribution made by all employees of Republic Bank to its annual performance, its staff share in the profits generated each year by the Group, through its profit sharing plan.

The plan offers employees a combination of Republic Bank shares and cash, every year. As an investment, their Republic Bank shares generate annual dividends and capital appreciation, depending on the performance of the Bank. This is a benefit that is not offered to employees in the majority of other companies in Trinidad and Tobago.

Republic Bank also provides its employees with performance-based incentives that are above industry norms,” the statement said.

Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre hosted its annual Easter Sunday Brunch and Kids’ Easter Egg Hunt on April 1.

The event was held at the hotel’s Pool Terrace Restaurant.

The restaurant, which overlooks Hilton’s newly redesigned pool and deck, was filled with both local and foreign families.

A wide variety of tasty gourmet dishes, along with an assortment of pastries, were enjoyed by guests, many of whom make Hilton’s Easter Sunday Brunch part of their annual family tradition.

Children enjoying themselves with the Easter bunny and egg hunt brought an extra level of excitement as the activities even spilled out onto the pool deck.

The Visual Arts Unit of UWI’s Department of Creative and Festival Arts took the work of its degree students to the National Museum last Wednesday and new life found accommodating space amidst the fossils and ancient artefacts.

Up the steep, unfriendly staircase and through the doorway Sade O’Brien’s black, leaky plastic bags had at first missed their respective marks—coloured Kool-Aid in three glass cases. ‘Daddy’, is what she calls it. The dripping water, his strength and vibrancy leaving. The Kool-Aid and Tang, the fluids of his body fusing and overflowing and losing their character as the water drips.

This provocative piece relates the artist’s lingering remorse upon the death of her father as a result of “multiple health complications” on December 17, 2016.

Turn left on entering and there is also Sharon Vidale’s ‘Centibus Parasitica Inacessabilis Delecti’ plastic and ink on a standing mirror. Looks like dried mucous mounted with Scotch Tape on a bedroom mirror. The piece achieves the impact of discomfort and revulsion.

“This project,” says Vidale, “began with thoughts on what conditions cause human beings to exhibit characteristics of parasites—parasitica inacessabilis delicti.”

Then there’s Aimee Forbes’s ‘Resurrection’—not apparently themed for seasonal consumption, but as a reflection on conflicted faith and unmet expectation. The work comprises four wooden frames, fabric, twine and canvas that evolve from a splash of red on canvas to a virtually empty frame.

Forbes says her relationship with God “is the driving force behind my art.” Yet, there are more questions than resolved tensions. The frames disintegrate, rather than grow into something new. “I dismantled, tore and folded, but found it difficult to shape or re-gather into a presentable form.”

Alicia Greene wrestles with some of the same thoughts. ‘Release’ is created from twisted palm leaves, twine and canvas thread. “This sculpture,” she says, is my attempt to liberate myself from the trauma I experienced as a child.”

In the end, she concedes that interpretation of the piece ought to be left to the viewer. There are several layers though, and you would have to read her explanation to begin the process. Very interesting.

Then comes Anthony Jaboolal’s black and white photography which, he explains, grew out of an interest in quite different media—graphite, acrylic paints and ink. Then came an interest in henna and the use of the human body as a canvass, eventually captured through the lens of a camera.

Cass’Mosha Amoroso-Centeno’s Untitled piece done with red sand, wood glue, acrylic paint and wood is not easy to get straight away, such is the intentional inconsonance of shapes and symmetry. This, the artist suggests, carries a somewhat revolutionary social message that contests the rigidity and order of authority.

“There is a different response when the viewer confronts straight lines or geometric shapes as opposed to freeform shapes,” he says. “We tend to give more esteem to these structural forms and dis-credit the intent of organic forms.” Message received, young artist.

Cheryl Wight’s ‘Redemption’ (12x63 feet) fills a disproportionate space in the room in red fabric and thread. “It creates a search for an avenue to escape, yet to look up with outstretched arms,” she says.

Curtis Thomas’s ‘Undone’ also induces space as a medium on its own to unite seemingly disparate elements. Done in dark resin and lace, Thomas hopes the work is capable of creating “optical tension” while depicting a “reclining female figure, made entirely of lace and resin.”

“In creating the work, my goal is to shine a light on the issue of depression,” he explains.

Back downstairs, Xala Ramesar’s ‘Parallaxis’ seeks to “create spaces that use materials or technologies as lenses through which alternate, subjective realities can be viewed.” Her chosen media—nylon fabric, a projector and a virtual reality headset.

The colourful projected image seems like a solitary house on a hill. Splashes of bright colours against soft, moving light. Don the headset at your peril.

“The distortion of certain elements of space is used to disorient the viewer in a way that is parallel to the unsettling feeling or derealisation,” she explains.

It is art not meant for explanation. It is art meant to be experienced.

Other outstanding works came from Fine Art students Ariel Francis, Curtis Thomas, Kimoi Hamid, Onella Augustine, Robert Gooindo, Sade O’Brien and Sarah Josanne Katwaroo. There were also striking exhibits from Design students Brent Bristol, Colleen Kewley, Ishtika Bharat, Jessica Francis, Kadine Antoine, Rafeeyah Shah, Ruqayyah Mohammed, Safiyyah Shah and Tevin Charles.

The DCFA Visual Arts Unit has assembled some of the best emerging young artists of our time and space for this year’s exhibition which runs until April 13. Theirs is a quite revolutionary voice. A worthwhile experience for those with an interest in witnessing some inconvenient truths.

Composer Carl Orff’s masterwork, Carmina Burana is one of the world’s most popular choral and orchestral works. The Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DFCA), UWI, St Augustine, will perform the work tomorrow, April 8, at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa), Port-of-Spain.

DCFA Head and Senior Lecturer Jessel Murray, who will conduct the work, said the performance is dedicated to the memory of Dr Anne Osborne, the seminal lecturer and coordinator of the Music Unit of the DCFA.

“She was one of the earliest lecturers in Creative and Festival Arts,” said Murray, “when it was just started and the founding lecturer and long time Head of the music unit. I would hazard a guess that 80 to 90 per cent of the music teachers within Trinidad and Tobago have passed through her hands, she’s been tremendously influential.”

Four entities will come together to perform this masterwork—WI Arts Chorale, UWI Arts Percussion, UWI Arts Steel and UWI Arts Dance Ensemble — along with vocal soloists Krisson Joseph, Kyle Richardson, Marlon de Bique and Natalia Dopwell. The UWI Arts Percussion will also perform separate percussion pieces, conducted by Dr Jeannine Remy, while the UWI Arts Steel will be led by Khion De Las.

Murray said the production was chosen because of its widespread appeal to audiences, as well as due to the level of challenge it would present to the students who are participating. He said: “I believe our Chorale and Steel should be doing the best of literature that is available for tertiary level ensembles and you don’t get much better than the Carmina Burana. The older audiences will get the sophistication of the work in terms of its text, orchestration, quality and the type and array of singing. Young audiences will like it because the music is instantly accessible with a rhythmic drive to it, and the opening chords are one of the world’s most popular sets of music, you hear it in all sorts of things.”

The text of the work, a mixture of Latin, German and a tiny bit of French, is a series of 24 poems which celebrates life and love and provides a satirical and sometimes bawdy look at the follies of humankind.

The original setting of the work is for chorus, soloists and traditional orchestra but the composer himself authorised a reduced setting for two pianos plus percussion. This version features the entire work with the addition of steel ensemble adapted by Dr Remy.

Murray added that Orff designed Carmina Burana as a scenic cantata, and it is sometimes performed as a ballet. He said: “We decided we’re going to choreograph at least six or seven of the movements, which will be done by Dr Sally Crawford-Shepherd, Lecturer in Dance at the DCFA.

Because the work is so rich in imagery, we thought it would be lovely to enhance what we were doing with the choreography. Of course we have a quite well emerging dance unit at the department and I thought this was a splendid opportunity to marry the music and the dance.”

More info 

Tickets are $150 and are available at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at Cheesman Avenue, members of participating ensembles and at the NAPA box office.
For more information, call 272-DCFA (3232), email uwi.arts.chorale@gmail.com or uwi.arts.steel@gmail.com and find the Carmina Burana event page on Facebook.

Deron Attzs is a trusted name in the local fashion industry. So it’s not strange that his annual San Fernando Fashion Week has grown over the last 14 years since the designer put the vision to work.

This year he brings together once again the creative minds of fashion, music and art at the Kaiso Blues Café, Wooford Street, and Port-of-Spain.

The event themed ‘The Power of Black Evolve is carded for tomorrow, April 8, and will welcome designers like Mek Designs, The Cloth and of course Deron Attzs Design Label (DADL).

But Attzs tells the T&T Guardian, San Fernando Fashion Week is not just about fashion, but the message sent through the fashion. He says this year the runway hopes to appeal to patrons, the need for social consciousness in T&T.

The designer and founder of the San Fernando Fashion Week shared with the T&T Guardian his plans for and about fashion on the local circuit and more on San Fernando Fashion Week.

Share with us the genesis of San Fernando Fashion Week. How and why it was started?

On a trip to New York many years ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of the New York Fashion Week. The memory of what it felt like to witness a festivity for fashion completely blew me away. It was amazing, the importance they placed on this fashion event. Seeing firsthand the business community gelling with the creative community and the wave of support by the patrons coming into New York was a different kind of experience and really inspired me. When I returned home, I was simply driven to begin something in the city of San Fernando and by extension Trinidad and Tobago.

What’s the story of this year’s theme?

I chose this theme coming out of my observations of the denigration of our society and the need for our young people to be positively influenced and guided. The job of the songwriters is to write positive songs about change and empowerment. Our medium is fashion and we are using it to empower and signal to a positive direction.

This year we chose to help change the way society looks at black and tends to associate it with darkness and death and destruction. There is a power to black and our theme is in celebration of that. We want to see black evolved so we are speaking to its historical aspects and the powerful aspects of our culture. The evolution is in recognising the collection of ethnicities and races and finding the positive messages that that conversation has to offer a forward thinking people seeking positive change.

Can you say if the creative sector and the wider public are fully understanding of the intention of San Fernando Fashion Week?

After 14 years and through our consistency, we have been able to develop an anticipation, an expectation and an understanding of the equitable brand that is San Fernando Fashion Week. We have continued to expose, to inspire and to present designers and other creatives into a creative consumer market so that they can further develop. San Fernando Fashion Week is an alternative platform for showcasing products to the consumers. We provide a sensory opportunity for our audience to see themselves represented in the selection of our models and to engage with the products in a manner that makes them ready to buy.

Our audience is always full of anticipation for the main reason that we have been very particular over the years to exhibit fashion that is accessible, in colours and designs that are as appealing as they are functional and at a price they can afford.

How is the event funded?
For the past four years or so we have made the effort to steer away from external, especially government funding and gradually shift toward having our designers take financial stake in the event since they are the direct benefactors of products sales and marketing thrusts. We want to move away from the culture of dependence on government assistance and strengthen the bonds of our value chain. We have gotten better at managing our expenditure and practicing a more minimalist approach as opposed to the typical fluff usually found in fashion exhibitions. We have reconceptualised the show into a clean and clear cut presentation of content. The parallel benefit to our audience is a more focused and engaging brand experience.

What’s in store for the event’s programme this time around?

We have restructured our San Fernando Fashion Week programme and it is now split into two highlight events, the first of which is our show on Sunday, April 8, at the Kaiso Blues Cafe in Woodbrook and the second will take place later in the year. The launch will feature pieces suited for Easter, jazz, graduation and summer events; whereas our later showcase will feature designs for the Christmas into carnival seasons.

What have been the achievements over the years?

Over the years we have been consistently sustainable. We have always been able to create a production that would generate business for our designers and opportunities for local, regional and foreign designers to engage each other in collaborations and product exchanges.

We now have the San Fernando Fashion Week store which provides access to designs off the runway within two weeks, once pre-ordered.

Our store facilitates designers with good products, a space for their completed work to be displayed and purchased. We are aiming to expand to other locations. We are gradually developing into a hub for creatively constructed, locally produced garments not only for individuals but retail boutiques and wholesalers who are more frequently coming to us for supplies.

Our brand is now visible internationally on the tourism catalogues and on itineraries. We have had local fashion icons such as Meiling, Peter Elias, Heather Jones as well as regional designers from Guadeloupe, Antigua and international designers from as far as Paris grace our stages.

Our cultural exchanges even extends to our models who get to travel and gain work.

Has the event been affected at all by the current economy?

In the past, we would have had the event spanning a few days. The state of the economy being what it is forced us to focus on the main attraction to San Fernando Fashion Week and we had to make the decision to cut away everything that was an accessory to that core focus. Our duty is presenting on our platform products the audience would be inspired by, appreciate, want to wear and be ready and able to purchase.

Long plan?

After 16 years, 14 of those as a production, the vision remains the same.

We plan to remain a platform for emerging and established designers to showcase their products and grow into a source for entrepreneurs and business investors to find a consistent supply of quality local design. We intend to keep expanding the store within the region and even franchising our model to the other islands where there may be young producers with the same desires and interests to network around our Caribbean culture and creativity to attract international markets.

What are your thoughts on the local fashion industry?

I believe what we have is a fashion sector and not a fashion industry. I have observed that we have a degree of division that keeps us from understanding that we are all together in the business of inspiring a consumer to purchase. The fashion sector is a fluid exchange market and consumers should not and do not belong to any particular group of us exclusively. We need to realise that now more than ever and find more mediums to come together and put out good products, quality products. We need to create spaces that people see the mixing of the brands outside of when they do it themselves. Why not have spaces where you can find a Heather Jones pants paired with a Meiling top as opposed to having to visit two stores?

Why Kaiso Blues Café for the showcase?

At first there was a toss-up between two venues. The deciding factor came down to the historical significance of Kaiso Blues Cafe as a home of calypso and storytelling and how it continues to situate our Trinidad and Tobago culture with emerging talent.

The feeling of the space, the atmosphere and rustic environment lends to the vision we have for the event evening. What better venue for The Power of Black Evolve collection than one already established as a space known for the coming together of creatives to express, expose, share, connect, integrate! Kaiso Blues Cafe celebrates creativity and talent in an intimate setting. With their collective understanding and passion, Carl and Carol Jacobs evoke our culture even through this space.

Swimmer Dylan Carter yesterday restored pride and joy to T&T.

Under bright lights and with the world watching, Carter wrote his name in the record books, becoming the first swimmer from this country to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

He copped the silver in the Men’s 50 metres Butterfly in 23.67 seconds at the Optus Aquatic Centre in Gold Coast, Australia.

“That is huge, given that this country has had so many talented swimmers such as George (Bovell), I am just so proud of that,” said the 22-year-old, who was pleasantly surprised by the news.

It was quite clear the mood of the opposition: “Get Carter, before Carter gets you”. Only one swimmer could and that was four-time world champion South African Chad Le Clos, who won gold in a time of 23.37.

His countryman Ryan Coetzee bagged bronze in 23.79.

Carter was in lane six and was off to a better start than in his semi-final on Thursday, which augured well but then found him involved in a four-way battle for more than 30 metres with Le Clos in lane four, Australia’s Grant Irvine (lane five) and Coetzee (lane three).

In the last 20 metres, it was clear, that the winner would be either Le Clos or Carter, with the 25-year-old South African, a four-time Olympic medallist, edging out the young T&T swimmer at the end of a jaw-wrenching race.

“Last night (Thursday), I was off, but as soon as I got in and hit that dive, I knew that I was going into to be in the mix, as soon as I hit that wall, I knew I would be in the top three, but second was great,” said Carter.

If you know the Carter family, father Everard and mother Tracy, one can understand what strong family support means.

“I love them to death for all of their support, no matter what, in fact they were probably more nervous than me and I just hope that dad retrieves the TV from the pool after this,” a sincere Carter told Guardian Media.

But Carter was most of all happy for everyone in T&T.

“After so much support coming from everyone after the preliminaries and the semi-finals, I am very happy and wish to thank all of those who supported me and continue to support the team in Australia. My mum put up a message on Facebook and it got so many likes,” he said.

Carter was to dive back into action in the Men’s 100m freestyle last night and once he makes it out of that round, he will race the semi-finals from 7 am (TT time) this morning.

“I have one medal but I want to keep going, to get into another race, take things one at a time. I am coming back for the preliminaries 100m tomorrow and then my focus is to get to the next race, the semi-final, then to the final and then I will think about a medal so the strategy is one swim at a time,” declared a buoyant Carter.

“The good news is that I can sleep tonight, the pressure is off and also it is great for us to get a medal so early, normally it is the last session and especially in swimming because normally it is track.”

Carter, ever the thinker, reflected: “I felt I had a 23.3 coming into the games, coming into this final, the time is right there, just off my personal best, that kind of sticks you, but in these events it is about top three and who gets their hands on the wall.”

A philosophical Carter confessed he has a dream but unlike others, it is a dream with purpose and reasoning.

“My dream is to fulfil my potential, whether it be a Commonwealth medal, an Olympic medal, but to continue to strive to improve, and to just at the end when I look back on my career, know that I achieved all I could,” he said.The former Fatima College student is pleased that he has been able over the years, learn from all his experiences at the youth level in international events.

His message on the night was clear.

“My favourite event is the 50m Butterfly, it is a fun one, and I enjoyed tonight (yesterday) and I have to also thank all my friends, all the boys who give me support back home, Joshua, Mark, Blain and so much others I cannot call out all their names.

“We will have a good lime when I come back home, ‘buss’ up some doubles and maybe go Barbados for some holidays,” said Carter, as he left all of T&T smiling yet again from sports.

T&T men bow out of table tennis competition
In table tennis, T&T’s Men’s team bowed out of the competition when it lost its second match in a row, suffering at the hands of Northern Ireland, 3-1.

Veteran Dexter St Louis was the only one to win a match, defeating Ashley Robinson 5-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6.

However, Paul McCrery defeated Yuvraaj Dookram in the singles, Owen Cathcart and Mc Creery won their doubles contest against Aaron Wilson and Dookram in the doubles, before Cathcart returned to defeat St Louis.

This means that T&T was eliminated from the team competition, after two straight losses also, following a 3-0 defeat on Thursday to India.

In squash, both Mandela Patrick (1-3) and Charlotte Knaggs (0-3) failed to win in their Individual Plate’s matches while Kale Wilson progressed via a walkover over Peter Creed.

In cycling, Kwesi Brown was third in heat one, Nicholas Paul was fifth in heat three, Njisane Phillip was sixth in heat four in the Men’s Keirin event. The local trio were eliminated and got a chance to try again to reach the final in the Repecharges. Each one of the three were respectively second in their repecharges, so they did not advance to the last 12 as only the winner moved on.

Next up for the cyclists will be today in the Match Sprint, with a lot expected of Phillip.

In Women’s beach volleyball, T&T pair of Abby Blackman and Rheeza Grant fought bravely but lost 2-0 (21-16, 21-12) to England.

Today, T&T Men’s beach volleyball team of Daynte Stewart and Daneil Williams will get their turn as they battle St Kitts and Nevis.

MUMBAI, INDIA—Kolkata Knight Riders believe beleaguered West Indies spin wizard, Sunil Narine, will be ready for the start of their campaign in the Indian Premier League, after returning home recently to undertake remedial work on his action.

The 29-year-old T&T player was reported for an illegal action during the recent Pakistan Super League, putting in doubt his stint in the lucrarive Twenty20 showpiece which bowls off today.

However, KKR assistant coach Simon Katich said Narine had worked hard on correcting the necessary flaws in order to ensure his availability.

“Obviously there were some issues recently in the PSL where he was playing for Lahore [Qalandars], but he’s since gone back to T&T and spent a lot of time with Carl Crowe, working on his action,” Katich told a media conference

“Carl’s his coach, last few years he’s been working with him since he first got reported. He’s done a lot of hard work there. We’re pretty confident with where he’s at with the action at the moment, so hopefully we’ll see him back out there on Sunday.”

Off-spinner Narine’s career has been plagued by question marks over his action and he was slapped with a banned 2-1/2 years ago after being reported following a One-Day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

He was cleared by the International Cricket Council to resume bowling just prior to the start of the 2016 edition of the IPL.

Narine has been a key member of KKR’s attack in his six seasons at the franchise, grabbing 95 wickets at an average of 21 and an economy rate of six.

However, after taking 67 wickets in the first three seasons, Narine’s returns have waned in the last three with just a yield of 28 wickets.

His value as an all-rounder has risen in the last two seasons, gathering over 200 runs in each of the last two seasons at the top of the order.

Katich said Narine’s importance in the batting line-up was still key even though it had not yet been decided exactly what role he would play.

“Last year, initially, he didn’t open – we had Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn that opened, but then after game two, when Chris Lynn hurt his shoulder, we had to rejig the team balance-wise,” Katich explained.

“We felt that Sunny (Narine) opening was going to give us an advantage with the balance of our team and also free him up to play a role at the top of the order, which he did a very, very good job of.

“He’s primarily one of our main spinners, if not our number one spinner, but given the balance of our team, you never know where he’s going to bat, so it all depends on what we feel the best combination is.”

KKR open their campaign on Sunday against Royal Challengers Bangalore. (CMC)

There is no end of stories revolving around the ferry services between T&T. Every day there is a new development regarding this critical communication link between the two halves of our nation. The Cabo Star’s schedule has been erratic and the return of the T&T Spirit has been shifted again and again, while the fire on board the Trini Flash has damaged the reputation of this facility.

Add to that the uncertainty surrounding the arrival of the Galleons Passage and its deployment.

Prime Minister Rowley sought to put things in perspective when he declared that it was not true to say that Tobago’s shelves were running low on supplies. In fact, he confirmed that the situation was more one of stories being peddled by the media and the Opposition. These ferry woes beg the question whether we are serious about ensuring reliable links between the two islands.

We have examples of well-run ferry services right next door. Residents and visitors enjoy a very reliable connect around St Vincent and its many Grenadine islands. Reports are that there are regular services operated by the private sectors and that they have not had the kinds of troubles that we have been experiencing.

It may be time to look to the “small islands” for lessons and guidance in how to operate such a critical link and repair the damage that has been done. We can only hope that the arrival of the Galleons Passage will be the start of a more positive phase in the movement of passengers and goods between the two islands.

Small island pride

In the years of the West Indies Federation, the Caribbean demonstrated that it could stand together as one nation. Unfortunately, that grouping collapsed and several of the countries, except for Montserrat, would gain full independence.

The legacy of the Federation remains with us in the grouping of these same states under the Caribbean Community and Common Market that was birthed right here at Chaguaramas. The grouping has had its ups and downs but on reflection achieved more cohesion in a shorter space of time than did the states now known as the European Union. The reference to Dominica and other Eastern Caribbean states as “small islands” is disparaging, to say the least, since in that country’s case it has a larger landmass than Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts Nevis.

We should put an end to such references and recognise that it is not about size but an ability to be a nation-state. So let’s continue to rally around Dominica and other member states of our Caribbean community and do so with genuine empathy for the challenges that they face from time to time

Homage to our champions

National pride is one of the greatest values we can have as a country. When it appears in the form of world-class performances by our sportsmen and women it is an opportunity for all barriers to fall down in our homage to these champions. Let’s give them the support at the early stages of their development so that we can enjoy longer rides of pride.

Winnie Mandela’s death on Easter Sunday—unreasonably but powerfully felt like a personal betrayal perhaps because the news came while I was looking at the Cybercrime Bill 2017. Her death felt like a death knell for journalism itself.

In smoke-filled rooms and pubs, in newsrooms and typewriters in London, my International Journalism colleagues and I cut our teeth on the butt end of the anti-apartheid movement, cold war, genocide in Rwanda, the struggle in Northern Ireland, the intifada, the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, the Rodney King verdict and LA riots, a live Gulf war and the internet deluge.

Winnie and Nelson Mandela, above all, were synonymous with many journalistic beginnings. They were emblematic of what would be our ideals—power of a complex, matriarch like Winnie as reviled as she was revered; causes bigger than the journalist; struggles for humanity, watchdogs for the oppressed and vulnerable; holding governments to account, a voice for the voiceless.

In T&T despite low pay, high price to health and personal lives, long hours, deadlines, high stress, veiled threats, journalists continue to provide a mirror to this nation in the public interest, as watchdogs and fall guys. Journalists across media have broken story after story, of misuse of billions of dollars of public funds, and outright corruption, way back from Johnny O’Halloran to the Airport scandal, from Udecott, to SportTT, and everything in between.

We are jaded from being accused of partisan reporting by successive governments. We take our role as the fifth estate and a pillar of democracy seriously, a the country saw during the 1990 coup attempt when a radio station kept us going. Our voice is needed with greater urgency than ever before as we slide into anarchy as among the most murderous countries worldwide without oil to cover the rot.

In the clamour of voices on the Internet we need a Cybercrime Bill. The Internet has made journalists’ out of everyone, randomly, often irresponsibly. For example, teenage boys have committed suicide after being outed as being gay, libel and slander laws broken with impunity.

Enter the Cybercrime Bill 2017. The ostensible intent of the bill is laudable—to protect us all from Internet, and/or computers, and cell phones including child pornography, revenge porn, hate speech, incitement to violence, blackmailing, protection of national secrets, company classified information, cyber bullying, computer related forgery, identity theft, sending viruses, and spam.

Terrifyingly, the bill criminalizes not just whistle-blowers and journalists but you, me, everyone.

It is draconian, vague, and wide in scope, similar to legislation passed in repressive regimes. Think Turkey, China, Thailand, Egypt, Russia.

Example 1. The teenager on Facebook

Take your average teenager who ‘frapes’ his friend by pretending to be him as a joke and posts an journalismembarrassing photograph.

That breaks the law five times over.
a) Illegal access to a computer system b) Illegal data interference. Sending unauthorized data.
c) Identity theft related offence. d) Violation of privacy. e) ‘serious emotional distress’ in clause 18 is so vague that almost anyone can come under its net, so a religious person can feel ‘emotional distress’ over semi-nudity and your teen can be charged and be subject to ten years in jail and a million dollars in fines.

Example 2. The politician.

If a politician claims ‘serious emotional distress’ over a meme that you receive and share ridiculing him, you could be liable and charged $300,000 or face three years imprisonment.

Example 3. The journalist. (Related to the politician).

Clause 8 could be death of investigative journalism. Now that everything is stored on computers, say goodbye to all transparency in governance. Once that data is deemed private by government or public servants, or statutory authority, a journalist, simply by receiving a leaked document by a ‘whistle blower’ is as guilty as the person sending it. Both are subject to a two-year jail sentence and a 100,000-dollar fine.

The burden of proof throughout lies on the accused. That has an unconstitutional feel about it. The fines are fixed.

In this form it makes criminals of all of us, muzzling perhaps the only institution of our democracy that actually works.

As the foreign policy conundrum involving this country’s vote at the OAS on the request by Dominica to seek a waiver of its annual fees to the organisation for the years 2018 and 2019 continues to simmer, there appears to be some hope that a resolution of the matter will come.

The Prime Minister has decided to place an interpretation of the facts into the hands of former ambassador Christopher Thomas who will try to make sense of what appears to be a very complex situation based on the report the Prime Minister has read.

That means that both Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and T&T Ambassador to the OAS, Anthony Phillips-Spencer, have been given a temporary reprieve pending the determination to be made by Thomas for the consideration of the Prime Minister.

The issue of the constitutional doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility must play a part in any analysis of this situation.

This doctrine is supported by three main rules, namely (i) the advice rule, (ii) the culpability rule, and, (iii) the propriety rule.

In breaking this down, it is critical to understand that ministers are entitled to departmental advice in the discharge of their duties before making any policy decisions.

Also, ministers are to be held culpable for policy error, and finally, ministers are required to maintain good standards of personal propriety.

The statement that was issued by the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs clearly points to policy error on the face of the record.

An excerpt from that statement as reported in the Guardian on March 30 says:

“In an unqualified way, the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs regrets the misrepresentation of the position of T&T offered by a public official of T&T during a meeting of the OAS’ Permanent Council (held March 23) relative to a request from Dominica for a waiver of its financial contribution to that Organization for 2018 to 2019.

Currently, an investigation into the briefing arrangements of the public official and the circumstances involved in the discussion at the OAS is underway.”

For the ministry to state that it is investigating the “briefing arrangements” is ominous because it will eventually put the minister front and centre where this controversy is concerned.

The ministry has already publicly confessed to a “misrepresentation” of the position of the Government of T&T in respect of the statement made by its ambassador who is being referred to as a “public official” which is a slap down to him.

He was not even afforded the courtesy of being publicly addressed as an “ambassador” which is what he is.

In the diplomatic world, the use of words must always be very carefully examined to get clues to the intention behind what is being said.

What comes through in that statement was the attempt to temporarily shield the minister by putting the blame on “briefing arrangements” as opposed to the minister’s policy.

Secondly, the “ambassador” has been downgraded to a “public official” and, thirdly, there is an open confession of policy error.

Ambassador Thomas will have a lot more to consider than the documents that have been leaked to date in this matter.

The one thing that the public has is the official statement of the ministry. Prime Minister Rowley did not hide the fact that he was shocked by the contents of the report that he received.

It is apparent that the T&T delegation to the OAS was in favour of giving Dominica the two-year waiver however, the ambassador sought guidance from the ministry itself (not the kind of thing that a rogue diplomat would do).

He apparently got his directive and he faithfully complied with it. Now we hear that that was a “misrepresentation.”

If the ambassador deviated from his brief, then he is at fault. For everything else, there is individual ministerial responsibility.

“I just threw up on international television; it feels so good,” was the reaction of the teenager when, she, like hundreds of thousands of her peers across the US, and a reported 800 protest sites spread worldwide, said they were sick of the senseless killing of teenagers and were against guns and violence.

The young lady, tingling with enthusiasm, but not overwhelmed, was satisfied that she had successfully taken on the establishment in a very unorthodox manner.

It was a confrontation not only against guns and violence but a movement against an unconscionable economic system represented by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its primary intention to manufacture and sell more guns notwithstanding the consequences.

Moreover, the estimated 800,000 who marched on Washington said to President Trump, whose major response to the crisis was to buy into a plan to arm teachers to allow the gun manufacturers to produce and sell even more guns, that “change” has to come.

The youth indicated their intention not to take “mamaguy” talk and be satisfied with platitudes.

Their ultimate plan is to promote registration for congressional elections later this year among their generation.

The stated intention of the young people is to demand a commitment to gun control policies of those who they would elect.

But while these millions of young Americans and further millions of people all over the world were screaming for freedom, participation, and the transformation of society and its values, Presidents Xi, Putin, and Donald Trump were pushing for total control of their countries.

In America, President Trump through policy, dogma, and texts is angling for the one per cent to take even greater and tighter control of America and the resources of the society.

The positions adopted by the big three—Xi, Putin, and Trump—and those in the comfortable economic and social classes with much to defend will severely test the stated commitment of the youth to achieve change.

I utilise the American situation to highlight our condition here in T&T, the Caribbean, and elsewhere, where the old politics of blind followship of leaders and their parties has not delivered.

Two weeks ago my column advocated that those supporters of the two major parties, sufficiently conscious of the reality that notwithstanding the trillion-plus dollars (a significant percentage in US dollars) collected and available to succeeding governments to transform the society and economy, the PNM and UNC have shown themselves incapable of the challenge.

The column noted too, that sitting on the margins is not an effective option for those of us not wanting to be smeared by party politics. Clinging to a party is not the only way to become involved in political change.

In T&T, the two major movements for change of the social, economic, and political status quo (1937 and 1970) began with a few with limited ambitions and even fewer resources.

A few dozen workers in oil and sugar (1937) determined to achieve change in their condition of squalor and dehumanisation.

In 1970, a disparate band of university students, unemployed and desperate urban youth, trade union leaders, a few radical academics came together with a notion of initiating change to the historical condition of the marginalized.

The kind of intervention being advocated, that of meaningful people participation in government, has a dynamic of its own.

We experienced “Kamlamania”, and the hope presented by political alignments among parties, labour, and social segments of the society; that turned into a fragmented disaster.

A return to the PNM after the 2010-2015 experience has proven half-way through the term to be leading to a dead end.

A significant section of the American population is investing in youth and Mueller to bring about widespread change, including that of race relations.

People participation and the emergence of quality leadership across the society have to be our Special Prosecutors.

Lawrence Bossidy, retired CEO of Allied Signal (later Honeywell), said something that I believe demonstrated the importance of people in a quote he made: “Nothing we do is more important than hiring people. At the end of the day, you bet (depend) on people not strategies.” I believe through his career at General Electric he learned the importance of people as he rose to an executive position coming through the ranks. It does not matter where you are in the social realm or organisational structure, you will have to cross paths with people in some way. Life is just tailored like this and you cannot evade or get around it.

Our Lord Jesus brought this truth to the forefront very early in His earthly ministry. In Mark 3: 14 we read, “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.” Even the powerful miracle-working Jesus needed people to fulfil his commission.

In rising to the top or achieving your goals, believe me, along the way you will have a human resource requirement in order to get there. While I totally agree with success coming through hard work let us not forget, learning comes through individuals who simply do not know everything. Also there are things that are not written always in the manual but come through experience. Those who have walked the part must now pass it on.

Who walked the part? People!

I agree that the need will vary according to what must be accomplished but it does not change the heart of the matter, “people will always need people.” None of us is an island unto ourselves and the sooner we accept this the better our lives will become. If you have received what I have said then it is important that you connect and stay connected to people. One of the most beautiful human connections that I have seen in the word of God was between David and Jonathan, 1 Samuel 18: 1, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knitted with the soul of David, and

Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” This coming together was for a purpose— Jonathan became a shield for David from the venom of his Father. David never forgot that and did reward his offspring when he ascended to the throne.

It is important that we relate to people properly for we do not know who may cross our path and what they may have that can complete our life puzzle. Technologist turned philanthropist Bill Gates said, “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we grow.” If it is only to get feedback, allow people to play their role in your life. You will be better because of this. May God richly bless you people person!

Elder Arnold Gopeesingh