*** The OFFICIAL Government Achievements Thread*** (UNC/PP EDITION 2010-2015)

[de_dougla_smurf]

nice. well good luck with that.
make sure and tell ur circle to pay off debts too cus u know when the cartel wha back dey morney dey go kidnap even the fish in dey tank to get it back

That nuh happnin fari.

Is only ONE container they find inno. And remember if is a container of "seasoned" meat, nobody doh study it.

[rfari]

congrats to us. another milestone

T&T drops lower in 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index
Story Created: Feb 20, 2014 at 10:09 PM ECT
Story Updated: Feb 21, 2014 at 11:22 AM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago dropped even lower, to rank 83rd out of 177 countries in the 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Therefore strong and effective anti-corruption measures have to be implemented sooner rather than later, a press release from the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute said yesterday
Deryck Murray, chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute said, “There are serious concerns about the level of corruption in the country and much needs to be done to combat it immediately.”
It is against this background the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (Transparency) will host an International Anti-corruption Conference on The Anti-Corruption Package on March 14 from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre, St Ann’s, Port of Spain.
This one-day conference will bring together international, regional and local experts to identify the key weapons for the fight against corruption, and how to implement them now.
The presentations and discussions include:
• Legislating against corrupt practices with a focus
on procurement
• Political party funding and campaign financing
• Protection and policing
• The role of education, social development and
the community in fight against corruption
Speakers include Chief Justice Ivor Archie, Sir David Simmons - former chief justice of Barbados, Alejandro Sales - Transparency International Regional Director, Dr Nobert Masson - chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and Moira Mac Daid - Criminal Justice Adviser and former prosecutor UK Crown Prosecution Service.
Transparency is a member of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Transparency is an independent, nonpolitical, nonprofit civil society organisation whose mission is “to work towards a country and a region that are free of corruption.”
To register online go to
myvirtualofficett.com/transparencyinstitute
For further information email
info@myvirtualofficett.com or see the Facebook page for the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute International Anti-corruption Conference 2014 or call 354-7130.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TT- ... 51351.html

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I see sewage wrote an email in the express highlighting all the what the gov't achieved thus far.He boasting of the Valencia bypass.WDMC..you telling me them take 4 facking years to realise it was a big problem.

them figure people chupid or wa,election is next year so we go finish the bypass by end 2014...steupsee

[hustla_ambition101]

That bypass doomed to fail if it bussing out so high up on d stretch

[Rory Phoulorie]

That bypass doomed to fail if it bussing out so high up on d stretch

I have not seen the plans, but why? Isn't it by-passing the area that causes the congestion? And on the Valencia stretch, there aren't any roads of significance that people need to turn off into.

[hustla_ambition101]

That bypass doomed to fail if it bussing out so high up on d stretch

I have not seen the plans, but why? Isn't it by-passing the area that causes the congestion? And on the Valencia stretch, there aren't any roads of significance that people need to turn off into.

The new road should have been made to bypass the EMR to at least Turure, not be smack in the middle of the stretch


http://www.mowt.gov.tt/general/release. ... leaseID=36

[desifemlove]

I liked Surui's piece, but then even in he own party's areas roads and bridges and ting crumbling haha...

If PP retain dey seats in the E/W corridor, den I eating my hat (curried with buss up shut and aloo and channa) lol.. UNC needs these seats to hang on to their majority, even now UNC ALONE (not all PP seats) has 20, and dat ent enough to form a government.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

That bypass doomed to fail if it bussing out so high up on d stretch

I have not seen the plans, but why? Isn't it by-passing the area that causes the congestion? And on the Valencia stretch, there aren't any roads of significance that people need to turn off into.

I is nuh no expert,but if it buss on the stretch,won't it have traffic lights there,more traffic again..oh fack boy...failure is joke..just like how they put a traffic light by a junction which never had traffic,now is more traffic.

[UML]

Devant: Five quarters of agriculture growth


First time in 40 years...


By Ria Taitt Political Editor

Story Created: Feb 18, 2014 at 8:13 PM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 18, 2014 at 8:13 PM ECT

For the first time in 40 years, the agricultural sector has recorded five consecutive quarters of growth—spanning from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013.

This was announced by Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj in a statement to the Senate yesterday. He said the food price inflation rate moved from 24.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2012 to 3.7 per cent in October 2013.

There was also a reduction in the headline inflation rate from 11 per cent in the second quarter of 2012 to three per cent in October 2013.

Maharaj gave figures from the Central Bank on the quarterly gross domestic product to illustrate the movement of agriculture from a minus position to a positive position. It was minus 5.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2012; minus 4.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2012; 1.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 5.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2013.

“The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago’s Summary of Economic Indicators for September 2013 showed that growth for the first three quarters of 2013 remained positive and steady, with growth of two per cent for the second quarter of 2013 and 1.9 per cent for the third quarter of 2013,” Maharaj said.

He said one of the challenges the sector faced and which contributed to the decline of the sector was praedial larceny.

In 2013 the Praedial Larceny Unit was launched in the Ministry of Food Production.

He said to date there have been 348 mobile patrols, 12 food patrols, 501 visits to markets and to farmers, 20 reports were made, 12 reports were solved, eight reports are under investigation and one person has been arrested for praedial larceny.

Maharaj said the growth experienced in the agriculture sector occurred because of the efforts of the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led People’s Partnership government. “All the indicators I have seen point to a continued projected growth in 2013 due to the continued positive impact of the National Food Production Action Plan 2012-15; the expansion of the commercial large farm initiative through the regional arrangement with Guyana and local implementation efforts; the launch of the Caroni Green Initiative; the review and implementation of a more structured approach on the Agricultural Incentive Programme with special incentives for the larger farms; the re-launch of a strengthened Praedial Larceny Unit and continued efforts to distribute leases to farmers.

Maharaj said prior to 2010, the former administration overlooked the issues of rising food prices, declining production levels due to climate change and rising demand for food to the detriment of the agriculture sector. He said when the People’s Partnership government assumed office in May 2010, the food inflation rate was in the high thirties and growth in the sector was in the double digits and rural communities were falling apart.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business ... 66531.html

Highest award for Sparrow
The Mighty Sparrow, Slinger Francisco, is to receive the highest national award, the Order of T&T, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday. Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at the annual Siparia Women’s Association’s Kiddies Carnival celebrations at Bhupsingh Park, Penal. The State will also cover the medical expenses Sparrow incurred during his recent illness in the United States, she said. Last September Sparrow suffered a stroke and spent three months in a New York hospital.

Persad-Bissessar also presented veteran masman Peter Minshall with the deed for the government house in Federation Park where he has resided for many years. Both men were on hand as the PM unveiled Government’s plan to reward them for their contribution to culture in T&T. She hailed them as two of the greatest icons in T&T and paid tribute to them for their contribution in their respective spheres.

Saying she could not leave the country today without paying tribute to both men, Persad-Bissessar said their work had been recognised nationally and internationally. “As Prime Minister of our land, I am very pleased to announce today in your very distinguished presence that I have advised his Excellency the President, Mr Justice Anthony Carmona, to confer on you, Dr Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, the prestigious Order of T&T, the highest recognition and honour which can be awarded to any citizen,”she told Sparrow.

Announcing the Government had agreed to pay his medical expenses, Persad-Bissessar said by the grace of God he had successfully recovered from his ailment. “In the immortal words of your calypsoes and the unique style of your showmanship, you have entertained our senses and challenged our sensibilities.

“Your words have inspired, reflected, caused serious introspection and at times have just provided sheer musical and lyrical delight,” Persad-Bissessar said, adding: “Sir, you are literally one of a kind, emulated but never imitated.” In true Sparrow style, the Birdie said it was with great pride and pleasure that he accepted the honour. “I want to thank the people for their love and kindness and I only hope I will be around to give you more and more,” he said.

Asked afterwards the cost of Sparrow’s medical expenses, Persad-Bissessar said she did not have a final figure but once the bills were presented the State would pay them. Hailing Minshall as one of the greatest masmen of all time, she said the deed presented to him was in keeping with grants given to other noteworthy citizens. In accepting the grant, Minshall thanked the people of T&T for “putting a roof over my head.”

Persad-Bissessar, who is expected to leave for China today on state business, said she was hoping to be back in time for Carnival. In a-capella style, Francisco then had the audience grooving to popular hits. such as Congo Man, Education and Dan is the Man. Speaking about the honour afterwards, Sparrow said: “I feel very good about the Prime Minister’s gestures. I think I could only show my appreciation by composing and singing a nice song about national awards.

Something like this enables the public to see that if government gives more jobs to people it helps citizens to help themselves.” He said he had also received several calls from promoters seeking to book him for performances. Canboulay Productions organised a five-part lecture series to raise funds to help offset Sparrow’s medical costs before yesterday’s announcement by the PM.

Guardian Media Ltd has partnered with the organisation in the drive, which was hoping to raise $100,000, and produced a collector’s magazine, titled a Tribute to the Mighty Sparrow, to honour the calypsonian for his contribution to calypso. The final lecture in the series is scheduled for February 26 at the Daaga Auditorium, UWI, St Augustine, from 7 pm.
http://guardian.co.tt/carnival/2014-02- ... rd-sparrow

only under the UNC/PP government calypsonians, carnival and our culture are recognized!!

New CT scans at Sando hospital

Story Created: Feb 18, 2014 at 8:29 PM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 18, 2014 at 8:29 PM ECT

San Fernando General Hospital will soon have a new computed tomography (CT) scan machine worth almost $4 million.

The “16-slice” machine will be replacing one of the machines which is ten years old and in constant need of repair.

Chief executive officer of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), Anil Gosine, said by the next three months, the new machine will be ready for use. He said it will be placed in the Emergency Department.

“We have to change the room to accommodate the 16-slice and that will take some time,” he said on Monday.

For ten years, the old machine, a “single slice” CT scanner, was the only machine at the hospital. That was until two months ago when a 64-slice CT scan machine came into operation, Gosine said.

“The one slice machine is being decommissioned. We are in the process of having it replaced. It is very old and has been breaking down all the time. It had a high usage. That model is not being manufactured any more and it is difficult to get parts for it. It is not cost-effective to continue repairing it.”

Gosine said because of the machine’s wear and tear, nobody will want to purchase it since it was not good enough to be used elsewhere.

A second machine has been placed in a prefabricated building at the hospital’s main entrance near the blood bank, Gosine said, and the building has been labelled the Imaging Centre.

The new scanners are expected to increase image quality at a faster rate.

To get a CT scan done privately, a patient pays an average of $3,000 and the cost can go up to $5,000 depending on the type of test being performed, Gosine said.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/New ... 68591.html

T&T students for NASA
Published:
Monday, March 3, 2014
Prakash Persad

Text Size:

Last week, NIHERST launched the T&T component of the NASA International Internship Programme. This programme allows non–US students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, to work at a NASA facility with their US counterparts.



The rationale for the programme is the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, both in the USA and internationally. The USA, long a leader in exploiting science and technology for commercial and military purposes, is placing a lot of emphasis on STEM education to ensure it maintains its predominant position. The progress of students from the Far Eastern countries has been given this thrust a greater sense of urgency.



T&T, through NIHERST, was the first country to be allowed this facility. The only other country in the programme is Mexico, through its Agencia Espacial Mexicana. The NASA-NIHERST agreement was signed in 2012 and is about to take off. NIHERST will shortlist applicants but the final selection will be done by NASA. It expected that three students will be given internships.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/201 ... dents-nasa

OJT Sectoral takes flight in the Airline Industry
February 24, 2014:


Twenty-five young persons will commence training in yet another new sector for the On-the-Job Training programme's OJT Sectoral initiative. The programme, which currently employs 7,000 trainees within the public and private sectors across Trinidad and Tobago, will now expand its scope of training to the Airline Industry sector. Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Senator the Honourable Fazal Karim, made this announcement today, at the launch of OJT Airports at the National Airports Authority in Piarco. This initiative he said will "allow a lot of young people access to employment opportunities and improve their quality of life...as the programme has been strategically reviewed to ensure that graduates are exposed to training that is directly aligned to their academic development."

Trainees of OJT Airports can look forward to exposure in a number of disciplines within the Airline Industry, including Apron Control Officer, Duty Manager assistant, Technical Clerks, Electronic Supervisor Assistant, Audit Assistance and Customer Service, which he emphasized, will be of key focus in their training. Trainees will also be exposed to linguistics training, so that they can broaden their reach in treating with international customers. This would be a vital resource, he stated, in hectic seasons such as Carnival which has produced an influx of tourist at an estimated 40,000 passengers, for this period alone.

The minister also announced that trainees of the OJT Programme can look forward to receiving increased stipends, which will become effective in April, 2014. These stipends will increase from $2,000 to $2,500 for trainees entering with ordinary level qualification; from $3,000 to $3,600 for trainees with advanced level qualification, associate degrees and technical qualifications; from $5,000 to $6,250 for trainees with undergraduate degrees and; post-graduates will receive an increase from $6,000 to $7,200.

OJT sectoral is also a ‘click’ away from entering the technological and international sectors, with the forthcoming launch of OJT Digital. The Minister also indicated that the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training has confirmed an agreement to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice for taking the OJT programme to incarcerated youth. The Minister stated, "…we have just met with the Commissioner of Prisons, who has agreed to work with us to bring this programme under the YTC, to provide the OJT programme as part of their civil re-integration, transitioning them back into society as productive citizens."
http://www.news.gov.tt/content/ojt-sect ... yLtis6ubxU

OJT stipends to increase from April
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Jan 18, 2014 at 9:07 PM ECT

Story Updated: Jan 18, 2014 at 9:07 PM ECT

There will be an increase in the stipends for On the Job Trainees (OJT) from April, says Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim.

Karim said the OJT programme costs some $200 million to $300 million annually and a further $33 million was approved by Cabinet to increase the stipends.

He was speaking to the media Thursday following the launch of OJT Global at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s where Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar earlier announced the increase in the stipends during her feature address.

Karim said there were four levels of OJT trainees and post graduates will receive an increased $7,000-plus, undergraduates $6,000-plus, A level graduates $3,000-plus and CSEC/O Level graduates $2,500-plus.

He said Government understands there were challenges with respect to meeting costs for commuting and the cost of living.

He said in the past five years there have been no increases to the stipends of the OJT programme.

Karim stressed that the increased stipends will not be a burden to the private sector.

He said as it stands now, the private sector pays 100 per cent of the wages, but they recover 50 per cent from the State.

He said the increases to the stipend will be borne by Government.

“If, for example, the stipends previous to now was $2,000 and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago would have borne the cost of $1,000 and the private sector would have borne the cost of $1,000...where we increase now to $2,500, the private sector will continue to bear the cost of $1,000 and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will bear the cost of $1,500,” he said.

Karim added there was more emphasis on training and learning and the OJT programme was preparing the workforce of the future.

He added that for the first time training was being aligned with work opportunities in different areas such as OJT Medical, OJT Agricultural and OJT Digital.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/OJT ... 29161.html

also read that the YTC programme has made and agreement with the OJT programme...I think it was so that past inmates can get jobs and return into society.

Official Launch of Star.tt ICT Access Centre

On Tuesday 1st February, 2014 the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the first Star.tt ICT Access Centre. The objective of these centres is to close the digital gap that exists in remote parts of Trinidad and Tobago. The launch will take place at the Penal Central Community Centre at 11:00am. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar will deliver the feature address.

On Tuesday 1st February, 2014 the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the first Star.tt ICT Access Centre. The objective of these centres is to close the digital gap that exists in remote parts of Trinidad and Tobago. The launch will take place at the Penal Central Community Centre at 11:00am. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar will deliver the feature address.

The Star.tt ICT Access Centres initiative is a direct result of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s mandate; that is, to facilitate the uptake and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Trinidad and Tobago. The widespread usage of ICTs will contribute to the social, economic and cultural development of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Star.tt Access Centres are community-based and are designed to create user-friendly, technology-enabled environments. This will allow citizens and business entities that are located in remote areas of the country to quickly access information and e-government services. The ICT Access Centres will also act as a hub for knowledge sharing, entrepreneurial opportunities as well as the strengthening of community bonds.

A total of forty-four (44) Community-based ICT Access Centres will be made available to the public over the period 2013- 2016. Phase 1 will feature the introduction of centres in the following areas:
Penal / Siparia / Debe
Toco / Cumana
Mayaro
Tobago East
Tabaquite / Talparo
http://igovtt.tt/content/official-launc ... ess-centre

JetBlue to launch second route in May
By Carla Bridglal carla.bridglal@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Feb 24, 2014 at 8:13 PM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 24, 2014 at 8:13 PM ECT

Four hundred and thirty four thousand visitors arrived in Trinidad and Tobago last year, Tourism Minister Chandresh Sharma said yesterday.

This falls some 66,000 short of the Ministry’s 500,000 target set for 2013.

Sharma gave the figure during a welcome ceremony celebrating low-cost airline JetBlue’s inaugural flight into Piarco International Airport yesterday.

Nevertheless, Transport Minister and Sharma’s predecessor at Tourism, Stephen Cadiz noted that over the last year and a half, three new airlines entered the local market (including Tobago), creating a 50 per cent growth in the market.

JetBlue’s first flight ever in the airline’s daily non-stop service between Port of Spain and JFK International in New York, USA, landed yesterday with a full load of 150 passengers, co-captained by Trinidadian-born pilot Capt Ron Woodruffe, who even though he wasn’t originally scheduled to fly the route, made sure he was part of the special day.

On May 1, JetBlue will begin a second non-stop daily service between Port of Spain and Hollywood International Airport, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA. When that happens, the airline will be effectively shuttling a maximum 600 passengers between its destinations.

JetBlue’s vice-president of government affairs Jeffrey Goodell said the Trinidad market was one in which the company had been very interested.

“We are not an airline that goes into a destination with a plan of ever leaving. We grow slowly to make sure it is sustainable. We plan to be here. We aim to be successful so we look to the (T&T) community as well as the diaspora community in New York to help ensure that’s true and we have every confidence that this will be a very successful route,” he said.

The airline is not afraid of competition, he said, its model is generally that if fares are increasing in a market, the company will try not to raise ticket prices, but rather, add more seats.

“Our experience has been that when Jet Blue enters a market we don’t need to steal market share; we are able to expand the pie to create demand and stimulate demand and we do that through low fares and great service. We are confident in our experience and product; when we come into a new market we feel very good, not only will we drive fares down but we will drive demand up,” he added.

Negotiations between JetBlue and the government started in April 2013.

In his national budget for fiscal 2013/2014, Finance Minister Larry Howai had announced the new service, stating it would begin in July 2014—so the service has arrived five months before schedule.

The average cost of round trip airfare on JetBlue starts from approximately $3,400, and only one piece of checked luggage is allowed.

The lowest fare from State-owned Caribbean Airlines for a round trip ticket to New York is $3,642, with two free pieces of checked luggage and free carry-on piece plus handbag or personal piece.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business ... 71471.html

Beetham Wastewater Treatment Plant - no more wastage of expensive potable water in pt lisas and providing it to the citizenry.

$170 million marijuana drug bust

Kamla opens TT Embassy in China

By SASHA HARRINANAN in Beijing, China Thursday, February 27 2014

THE establishment of Trinidad and Tobago’s very first Embassy in China has been hailed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as, “a very momentous occasion (because) it represents a very clear demonstration, on the part of both Governments, to not only consolidate but also to advance our already good relationships.”

Addressing a gathering of diplomats and citizens from both countries during the formal opening of the TT Embassy in Beijing yesterday, the PM expressed delight that what began as a topic of conversation between herself and China’s President Xi Jinping, during his official visit to TT last June, has culminated in what she described as this country’s “enlarged footprint in China.”

Noting that relations between both countries date back to 1806, when the first Chinese immigrants journeyed to TT, Persad-Bissessar said having an Embassy in the capital city, will allow for the advancement of key initiatives in trade, tourism, training and culture among other areas.

She also spoke of the significance of opening in 2014, “as this is the year we celebrate our 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, there can be no better time for renewed vigor in moving forward as friends.”

Describing China as a “reliable and trusted partner,” the PM declared the establishment of TT’s embassy in Beijing to be “symbolic of a shared determination to increase our bi-lateral relations.”

“We take great pride in taking our friendship to an even higher level of cooperation...For us in the west, we see you as a star rising in the east, and we are very happy to join hands with you in partnership, so that we too can rise as China rises,” Persad-Bissessar stated.

Later that same afternoon, the PM was awarded a professorship by officials

from China Agricultural University (CAU), Beijing.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,191276.html

UWI and China University MOU

Smooth flow at Socadrome
Published:
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Shaliza Hassanali

Revellers from Tribe’s cross the Socadrome stage at the Jean Pierre Complex ,Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain during Tuesday’s parade of bands with their 2014 protrayal of Tribe 10. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ

Despite threats from Woodbrook residents to protest against Socadrome, the venue for the country’s newest Carnival Parade of the Bands on Carnival Tuesday, there were no objections yesterday, as 15,000 plus masqueraders paraded in a kaleidoscope of colours. Except for a two-hour late start, a poor spectator turnout, bandleaders from non competing bands-Tribe, Bliss, Harts, Yuma and Passion all agreed that Socadrome was a big success.





Edmund Seow, bandleader of Yuma, the first to cross the stage at 10 a.m. with Machel Montano’s Ministry of Road, stated that masqueraders were pleased with the new route, which had no bottlenecks. Seow said he would use the route again for Carnival 2015, if approval is given. Manager of Bliss, Denny Attai said there were no hiccups for his band, which took less than 90 minutes from St Clair Avenue to the complex. He too said he was willing to use the route next year.



One of Tribe’s designers Valmiki Maharaj also expressed similar sentiments. “Socadrome is it, if you ask me,” Maharaj said. Many of the masqueraders the T&T Guardian spoke to said they took less time getting to Socadrome, when compared to the congested traditional route to the Queen’s Park Savannah. Among them was Yuma masquerader Kavell Keir, who said, at no time she became frustrated because the parade flowed smoothly.



British national Patrick Nichols, an annual visitor for Carnival, gave the organisers of Socadrome a thumbs up. “It was fantastic even though some of the masqueraders did not wear their entire costumes.” Patron Roslyn Antoine said Socadrome was an excellent alternative venue for the parade, which the National Carnival Commission should consider next year.





Many of the residents on Hamilton Holder Street, where the bands turned into after exiting the stage could not been seen in their garages or patios, as their doors and windows were shut tight. However, one resident, Che Pegus was seen standing in his premises enjoying the revelry. Pegus said as promised, the music on the trucks were lowered.



“The Monday night and J’Ouvert bands made a lot more noise than these five bands. They did not create much disruption. However, some of the masqueraders were depositing litter in front of our gates.” Media liaison officer of Socadrome Danielle Jones-Hunte said they were happy with the way things had turned out. Hunte said they have no regrets despite spectator turn out was not the best. She said the bandleaders would have to decide if they want to make Socadrome an annual event.



“It is too early to tell.” Hunte said bandleader Roslyn Gabriel had promised to join the five bands “but that was still up in the air.”
http://guardian.co.tt/carnival/2014-03- ... -socadrome

Aviation Institute to be opened by year’s end
Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister Fazal Karim says the T&T’s first aviation institute will position this country as a regional leader in the aviation industry and provide much-needed personnel to fill thousands of vacancies worldwide. He said so on Monday as he turned the sod in Camden, Couva, for construction of the long-awaited institute, which has a start-up price tag of $20 million for its 20-acre layout.





T&T, Karim said, was poised to become an aviation training hub with the construction of the institute, the first of its kind in the region. Karim, speaking with reporters, said the institute “will be a centre of excellence in the entire Caribbean and Latin America” and would be open to all students here and within the region dreaming of a career in avionics. He said at the institute UTT would not “only be training locals for a local industry, but a global industry with homegrown professionals.”





Karim, together with University of T&T (UTT) officials, T&T Air Guard officials, Land and Marine Affairs Minister Jairam Seemungal, Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz and Caribbean Airlines officials, formally commissioned the start of construction, which is expected to be completed by September. He said he gave UTT a deadline of December 16 to formally commission the institute.



The minister also signed memoranda of understanding with Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, AgustaWestland (AW) and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, all of which will partner with the institute. He said it would utilise the airstrip at Camden.
“The vision is that this (airstrip) will become an active runway and the centre for aviation, nothing like you have ever seen before in this part of the world,” he said.



A total of 16 students graduated from UTT’s first avionics programme and T&T Air Guard Applied Engineering programme.





New job opportunities
Karim said between 2005 and 2015, 73 per cent of the American air traffic controller population woild be eligible for retirement and that provides an opportunity for local aviation graduates. He explained that more employment opportunities would be open to graduates of avionics in the not-too-distant future. “By 2030 twice as many people will travel worldwide, that is some 5.9 billion. Cargo could triple to nearly 150 million tonnes. This increased connectivity is expected to support 82 million jobs and US$6.9 trillion of global GDP.



“These projections made by the globally recognised International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2012 are based on traffic growth of about five per cent annually. “In the next 20 years, airlines will need to add 25,000 new aircraft to the current 17,000-strong commercial fleet,” he said. Additionally, Karim said, by 2026, 480,000 new technicians would be needed to maintain those aircraft and over 350,000 pilots would be needed to fly them.





Proud graduate
Among the graduates was Homwatie Ramlal, 30, of New Colonial Road Central, Barrackpore, the lone female graduate. Speaking with the T&T Guardian after receiving her certification in avionics (x-electrical and instrumentation), she said she was thrilled to be part of the programme.
http://m.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-03-12 ... 80%99s-end

me
New scrap metal policy for T&T
Published:
Thursday, March 13, 2014

Text Size:
The new policy will raise operational standards at local scrapyards.

T&T’s scrap metal industry is now regulated through the implementation of a scrap metal policy. To inform development of the policy, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment (MTII) hosted a series of consultations with public and private sector stakeholders, starting in September 2012, to identify critical issues affecting the industry. The stakeholders included relevant government ministries, public utilities and scrap metal dealers.



Allan Ferguson, president of the T&T Scrap Iron Dealers Association, has expressed support for the policy. “The Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association has read the Cabinet-approved policy and agrees on some of the recommendations that were presented, and we are willing and ready to collaborate with the Ministry and interested parties to rectify other issues,” he said.



The overall objective of the policy is to strengthen the existing regulatory framework, taking into account international best practices and unique national circumstances, to adequately address the problems plaguing the industry. Its key objectives are to:
• Provide contemporary guidelines and regulations to facilitate the operations of the scrap metal industry in T&T;
• Develop an effective licensing regime for scrap metal dealers; and
• Raise operational standards in the scrap metal industry.





The new policy is intended to provide stringent rules and regulations with accompanying penalties for non-compliance. This policy, supported by the pending amendment of the Old Metal and Marine Stores Act (1904), is considered to be the catalyst necessary to successfully advance the growth and development of the scrap metal industry in T&T.



Randall Karim, director, Policy and Strategy MTII, underscored the importance of the policy implementation: “In keeping with the Government’s thrust to diversify the economy and to assist in building on non-traditional sectors, the Ministry and its stakeholders have seen the urgent need for a policy to be developed to regulate the scrap metal industry which has evolved well beyond the framework of the Old Metal and Marine Stores Act of 1904 that governs the trade of scrap metal in Trinidad and Tobago.”



Some of the issues revealed at the consultation were unfair competition; proliferation of illegal scrap yards; an outdated Old Metal and Marine Stores Act of 1904; scrap metal theft; money laundering; concealment of illegal firearms and lack of enforcement of health and environmental standards; insufficient criteria for granting licenses; lack of inspection and certification; inadequate monitoring system; and health hazards.



An e-copy version of the Scrap Metal Policy for T&T can obtained at: https://www.ttbizlink.gov.tt/trade/tnt/ ... y_2013.pdf or on the Ministry’s web site at www.tradeind.gov.tt. Additionally, a hard copy of the policy can be obtained at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment Head Office, Level 14, Nicholas Towers, Port-of-Spain.
http://guardian.co.tt/business/2014-03- ... -policy-tt

Bus Stop Sheds and Garbage Bins throughout the country

e
Female Assistant Commissioner of Police named Deputy Commissioner of Police in a ‘first’
Published:
Saturday, May 4, 2013
DENYSE RENNE

Text Size:

History has been created in the ranks of the T&T Police Service with the elevation of Assistant Commissioner of Police Ann Marie Alleyne. Alleyne, who heads the Special Branch, is the Police Service Commission’s choice for Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). Her appointment will take effect from Tuesday. Sources say Alleyne, who received her letter of appointment yesterday from the PSC, will replace DCP Raymond Craig, whose pre-retirement leave starts on May 7.





The PSC, which is headed by Prof Ramesh Deosaran and includes Kenneth Parker, Jacqueline Cheeseman, Martin George and Addison Khan, met on Thursday afternoon and considered the names of seven senior officers. At the end of the meeting, which lasted several hours, Alleyne was the candidate chosen. Alleyne will now join DCPs Simon Alexis and Mervyn Richardson. Alexis, sources say, will go on leave in August, and Richardson’s stint will come to an end later this year.



During her career, Alleyne has been described by many of her colleagues as a force to be reckoned with. She has been instrumental in overseeing several investigations which saw some of her colleagues facing the judicial system. Alleyne also prepared a report on an alleged plot to kill Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other government ministers.



Contacted yesterday by the T&T Guardian, in a brief interview Alleyne said her appointment is an accomplishment for women in the police service. “We have had women who came before me and they have paved the way,” she said.



Referring to ACP Kathleen Weekes, who once held the reins at the Organised Crime Narcotics Bureau (OCNB), under whose stewardship millions of dollars in drugs were seized, Janet Bailey, Ruby Lewis and Doreen Lumpress-Noel, Alleyne said she joined the service at 18, believing she could make a difference in the lives of young people.



“I visited schools and befriended the children. When I began at the Carenage Police Station, I knew the families in my district, the brothers, sisters and parents and this continued when I left Carenage and went to St James.” Alleyne said this will continue and she plans on working with the youths in communities.



Pointing out that the challenges faced now are different from years ago, Alleyne said such intervention is needed and she will draw upon her many years of experience, abilities and capabilities in dealing with the crime epidemic.





Congrats from colleagues

President of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association ag Insp Anand Ramesar said Alleyne’s appointment is “exciting and groundbreaking.” “It is a moment for the police service to rejoice and celebrate,” Ramesar said. The association head said such an appointment recognised the impact policewomen had on the service. “It also brings a new dimension to management at the executive level,” he said. Ramesar said far too often, “We have had men who sat in position of DCP and failed to deliver”.



He said given Alleyne’s track record, his association expected great things from her. He also congratulated the PSC for placing its confidence in her, saying the association felt the move would bear fruit.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-05-04/f ... t%E2%80%99

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ministry-of-Communications/344313978991047

[UML]

ANOTHER $75 million dollar marijuana bust Friday

the $170 million drug bust mentioned earlier was the biggest marijuana bust ever.

[Ted_v2]

And just now they decriminalizing it. pp must win next year

[UML]

promoting our agricultural industry and reducing our high food import bill.





Also available at the Sugar Cane Feed Centre

Healthier alternative considering pollution and toxins in the ocean

[PapaC]

Fully support the local farms/ agricultural head we pushing. But leave the praises for when it isn't subsidized and making enough to manage itself nah.

[hustla_ambition101]

promoting our agricultural industry and reducing our high food import bill.





Also available at the Sugar Cane Feed Centre

Healthier alternative considering pollution and toxins in the ocean

Too bad farmers can't even recoup the money they put out due to the cheap, disgusting tasteless imported tilapia from China, worse yet don't expect to see an increase in the import duties to promote local production because China essentially buying us little by little

[de_dougla_smurf]

UML, what is your commission like?

I'm interested in becoming part of the cyber PR team.

[cornfused]

That Valencia bypass hummm. Taking the traffic away form the EMR and rejoining after the Valencia intersection . This may help but a better solution would have been :

1. Extend the CRH to the Valencia Stretch .

[UML]

UML, what is your commission like?

I'm interested in becoming part of the cyber PR team.

getting comments like this is enough satisfaction for me

[rfari]

Uml, unc have the next election lock. 21-20. Why.u overworking urself so for dan?

Anyho, to add to the achievement list:
Tighten of the gate programme

[UML]

Govt at work developing all of T&T

Story Updated: Feb 19, 2014

The recent suggestion of Dr Keith Rowley that the highway to Point Fortin will stop at Penal is another of his hallucinations, but not without loaded intent. By suggesting as he does that the highway will stop in Penal, he continues to try to perpetuate the idea of a Government that is biased towards its own support base when, in reality, the visible evidence contradicts him.

This statement of his is a continuation of the subtle attempt to introduce race in the politics as was done in Tobago with the “Cal­cut­ta ship” and, most recently, with the “too black to lead” musings of Fitzgerald Hinds, for which Hinds has not been sanctioned by the PNM (People’s Na­tional Move­ment). This leads to the obvious conclusion that these statements are sanctioned by Bali­sier House.

I am afraid Dr Rowley is slowly but surely disqualifying himself by a failure to denounce such covert attempts to create divisions in the society. That a person aspi­ring for leadership has to depend on this kind of campaign speaks volumes about not just the means which one may use to attain power but also how power may be used when it is achieved.

What is the evidence that the Kam­la Persad-Bissessar administration is not engaged in any kind of discrimination? Let me enumerate:

1. The Diego Martin Highway expansion

2. The Valencia by-pass road to Sangre Grande

3. The widening of the Trincity bridge near Trincity Mall

4. The building of the Oropune Village overpass

5. The development of the

Cha­gua­ramas facilities as has never before been done by the PNM

6. The completion of the Uriah Butler Interchange

7. The soon-to-be-awarded and

to-start Curepe Interchange

8. The repairs to the St Joseph River bridge now in progress

9. Lighting up of several recreation grounds in the East-West Corridor

10. The completion of several new pavilions by both the Sports Company and Local Govern­ment

11. Announcement by the Govern­ment that the Port of Spain General Hos­pital will be redeveloped, in conjunction with the UK

12. The current construction of the Oncology Centre at Mt Hope

13. Expansion of the roadway into three lanes between the Lighthouse on the Beetham and the Port of Spain Market.

14. Lest it be forgotten, the response of the Government to the two blackouts which occurred in Port of Spain over the last few months and the quick manner in which the Beetham landfill fire was attended to which has gained the admiration of the national population.

15. The replacement of the transmission mains along the East-West Corridor as seen by nightly work on the bus route by WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority).

16. The construction of the Dun­can Street Police Outpost

17. The construction of the Arima Police Station

These are but a few examples of attention to the East-West Corridor and I have not included community centres and schools. The Govern­ment has also established the Nur­sing School in El Dorado, which is also on the East-West Corridor. To berate the Hon­ourable PM for building a campus in Debe and, further, to suggest it is only for law stu­dies is to grossly mislead the mind of the nation.

On the matter of the highway to Point Fortin, work is proceeding both from Debe to Penal and, also, from Dumfries Road In La Romaine to Mon Desir. As well, work has started from the Dunlop rounda­bout in Point Fortin to the No 8 Road near La Brea. Work on the new section of the highway along the Mosquito Creek is visible to all, including the piling for the new Godineau Bridge and the bridge near Paria Suites. The clearing and grubbing of lands between Delhi Road and Grant Trace is ongoing.

To suggest the highway is going to stop at Penal is very misleading and utterly mischievous. I will go so far as to say it is intended to paint this Gov­ern­ment as a south-of-the-Caroni Government. Given the traditional geographic settlement of our people and the traditional support bases of the parties, the intention of such statements is easily discernible. At the final count, it will become obvious that the dollars spent in infrastructural development north of the Caroni exceeds that spent south of the Caroni.

So what if the people of south Trinidad, especially the south-west peninsula, are given access to a UWI (University of the West Indies) campus in Debe or a state-of-the-art Teaching Hospital in San Fernando, or a hospital in Penal with specialisation in non-communicable diseases? Good governance is also about equitable distribution of resources and a respect for rural communities. Under the PNM, rural development was neglected at the expense of urban development. This needed to be corrected, whether in Toco, Penal, Point Fortin, La Brea or Matelot.

The evidence disputes Row­ley’s veiled suggestion of discrimination in the developmental thrust of the Persad-Bissessar

administration.

Suruj Rambachan

Minister of Works and Infrastructure,

Deputy political leader

United National Congress (UNC)
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/ ... &smobile=y

Kamla gets top marks for unity: Poll
A new opinion poll suggests that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the most popular leader in the country when it comes to uniting Trinidad and Tobago.

The poll by NACTA - the North American Teachers Association asked: Which leader do you think can unite the whole of T&T?

Forty five per cent of respondents chose Persad-Bissessar. Opposition Leader Keith Rowley was second with 28 per cent and only 16 per cent chose Pennelope Beckles-Robinson .

The finding is part of a comprehensive poll on national leaders. NACTA said it interviewed more than 1,000 people representing the demographics of Trinidad and Tobago.

The poll also asked if each of the three leaders could get much needed cross-cultural support to win a general election. NACTA said respondents gave the PM and Beckles-Robinson more than 50 per cent and Rowley got only 39 per cent.
http://jyoticommunication.blogspot.com/ ... -poll.html

Tamana Intech Park building to be ready this month
By By Joel Julien

Story Created: Mar 15, 2014 at 9:33 PM ECT

Story Updated: Mar 15, 2014 at 9:33 PM ECT

THE flagship building at the Tamana Intech Park (TIP) is scheduled to be handed over at the end of this month and all “substantiated claims” by contractors have been settled, president of Evolving TeKnologies and Enterprise Development Company (e TecK) Kelvin Mahabir said Friday.

Mahabir made the statement as e TecK officials appeared before the Joint Select Committee (Group 2) at the J Hamilton Maurice Room of the Parliament at the Port of Spain International Waterfront Centre.

“We have completed what we call Phase One and we are about to finish....we are just cleaning up the snag list for the flagship building and we expect to have that building handed over at the end of the month,” Mahabir said.

According to e TecK’s website “it is the first LEED Certified and SMART, Green Building in Trinidad and Tobago”.

The building will be leased to tenants.

Mahabir said the “tenanting process” has started.

“We now have approximately 15 per cent of the land space in Tamana phase one taken up. We have a first visit and a second visit taking place in April of a tenant to take 50 per cent of the flagship building so we are hoping that that one goes through,” Mahabir said.

“We are now moving to go to site selection people, to real estate people to bring people to occupy the rest of the Flagship Building and our target this year is that we will tenant 40 per cent of phase one with the intent that phase one will be fully tenanted by the end of 2016,” he said.

Mahabir said in 2011 several contracts were terminated.

“We took the decision that rather than leave these contracts in abeyance which would have incurred a potential $6 million a month in penalties and interest that we would bring them to a close pay people for whatever work they would have,” he said.

Mahabir said 14 contracts were terminated.

“We have 14 contracts that were terminated but because of the fact that we did not have the funding to continue these contracts...because remember an undertaking to complete the entire park was a large undertaking the total project cost at that point in time would have had to been fully funded by government and because of the financial crisis and everything else that occurred with it the amount of funding was reduced and contractors stopped working,” Mahabir said.

“So we had two options either we bring it to and end or we continue to incur penalties and interest over a period of time at a rate of $6 million a month,” he said.

Mahabir said the e TecK board decided to bring the contracts to an end and pay off the outstanding debts.

Anand Ragbir, chairman of e TecK was absent from the JSC meeting.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Tam ... 86201.html

[shake d livin wake d dead]

ANOTHER $75 million dollar marijuana bust Friday

the $170 million drug bust mentioned earlier was the biggest marijuana bust ever.

why d fack allyuh so chupid,where in Trinidad have ah 170 mil worth ah weed...geez...dan idk wa u go do when UNC loss next yr nuh...

[UML]

ANOTHER $75 million dollar marijuana bust Friday

the $170 million drug bust mentioned earlier was the biggest marijuana bust ever.

why d fack allyuh so chupid,where in Trinidad have ah 170 mil worth ah weed...geez...dan idk wa u go do when UNC loss next yr nuh...

if it can have $75 million...why not $170 million? could be a typographical error though when I read it because I seeing $107 million in another article. Fact remains it is an achievement and it bothering u

BIGGEST BUST EVER’: An officer from the Eastern Division Task Force walks through a marijuana field yesterday before it was destroyed during an eradication exercise carried out in the Toco and Grande Riviere Forest from Friday night to yesterday afternoon. The exercise, under the supervision of Corporal Nicholas Vialva together with officers of the OCNFB and Air Support Unit, destroyed a total of seven plantations comprising 75,000 fully-grown marijuana trees with a street value of $75,000,000.

but then again the article above saying the $75 million is the biggest ever

[de_dougla_smurf]

UML, what is your commission like?

I'm interested in becoming part of the cyber PR team.

getting comments like this is enough satisfaction for me

I was serious you know but I dont want to do it for free.

[desifemlove]

UNC 21? which seats? Cyah see dem regaining St. Joseph, Barataria/San Juan or Pointe a Pierre.

[j.o.e]

St Joseph...home! San Juan Barataria
..home! Pointe a Pierre

..home!!!!!

[bluesteel29]

if it can have $75 million...why not $170 million? could be a typographical error though when I read it because I seeing $107 million in another article. Fact remains it is an achievement and it bothering u

u hadda be r special kind of dohtish...the millions that r made on cannabis isn't from local farmers...smugglers import much more than we produce n @10times the price locals can get for their bush weed...its easier to raid a field n make up figures than to step on toes tryin to find the real druglords

[shake d livin wake d dead]

UNC loss toco/grande cuz rupert griffith is ah modda kant...all he know to do is give contract to he people to get ah cut

[eliteauto]

if it can have $75 million...why not $170 million? could be a typographical error though when I read it because I seeing $107 million in another article. Fact remains it is an achievement and it bothering u

u hadda be r special kind of dohtish...the millions that r made on cannabis isn't from local farmers...smugglers import much more than we produce n @10times the price locals can get for their bush weed...its easier to raid a field n make up figures than to step on toes tryin to find the real druglords

esp when the importers are party financiers, lulz @ value of local field

[UML]

Another Diesel bunkering ring bust in central

One million drug bust central and tobago

[shogun]

Lol @ ched.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

opee pp paying you for this ched or wa

y u doh report the big land racket taking place in Grande where the Chairman of the PP constituency office claiming lands that is not even his and threatening to break people homes and taking exorbitant amounts of money from them..it was on cnc3 last week..people living they all kinda 20 odd years and he saying he own it,mind you he in his late twenties..wat d actual fack..

great is the partnersheit ent???

y yuh doh report that sheit instead..tell kamla investigate that instead nuh.