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Camille McEachnie
Heads of Tobago’s hospitality industry say they support the rollback restrictions implemented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to address the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, noting it’s “unfortunate” everyone had not followed COVID protocols, leading to increased cases.
Chris James, Kaye Trotman, and Nicholas Hardwicke said the new restrictions may not have further weakened Tobago’s economy if the usual financial cushion from the Easter vacation had materialised.
They said occupancy rates fell below the expected over 90 per cent, and restrictions on restaurants’ sale of alcohol and seating capacity, prevented the food and beverage sector from accessing the increased visitors’ arrivals benefits.
At the MoH media briefing yesterday, Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh announced beaches would close again except for turtle conservationists, restaurants revert to curbside pickup, and public gatherings reduced from 10 to five, for the next three weeks.
Reacting to the the announcement, James, who is president of Tobago’s Bed and Breakfast, Self-Catering Association Unique Accommodation and Trotman, president of the Hotel and Tourism Association, said the Government must save citizens’ lives regardless of the economic consequences.
James said the occupancy rate for the four-day Easter weekend was 79.1 per cent.
Going forward, the figures show that we are looking at 18 per cent for the remainder of April. We do not have figures for further ahead than that,” James told Guardian Media.
Trotman said the bed and breakfast sector reported less than 60 per cent occupancy rate for Easter–some members had no guests while others were fully booked.
Restaurateur Hardwicke said he did well for the Easter season
“Under the limits of not being able to sell alcohol and with only 50 per cent seating capacity at the restaurant,” he said
Hardwicke, who owns Seahorse Inn Restaurant and Bar, said having to revert to curbside pickup is “an exercise in a slow death.”
He says he hoped the Government is using scientific data to reintroduce the rollback of the measures.
All the hospitality veterans say they look forward to this country’s vaccination rollout plan and residents doing their part to allow the economy to reopen.
According to Tobago’s Health Division, as of yesterday, there are 23 active COVID cases on the island– two new cases in the last 24 hours. Since last year when testing began in Tobago, there have been 185 positive cases and two persons have died.
https://newsday.co.tt/2021/04/14/attorney-for-cabinet-there-can-be-no-expectation-of-scholarships/SENIOR secondary school students who sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) cannot expect to receive scholarships “either at all or in any specific quantity or awarded on any specific criteria.”
This is the position of the Cabinet in its response to a pre-action protocol letter sent to attorneys representing the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, which has threatened to take the Cabinet to court over Government’s scholarship and bursary programme.
The new system reduced the number of national scholarships and introduced bursaries.
“There can only properly be a legitimately expectation that whatever policy is in place at the relevant time will be rationally undertaken and administered fairly with respect to eligible students.”
On Monday, attorney Zelica Haynes-Soo Hon, from the firm Al-Rawi, Haynes-Soo Hon and Co, which is representing the Cabinet, wrote to Rhea Khan, one of the Maha Sabha’s attorneys, telling them their pre-action letter did not set out any arguable claim.
Haynes-Soo Hon also said a number of applications for bursaries have already been received and any application filed by the Maha Sabha for an injunction “will only serve to adversely affect the many vulnerable and needy third parties who would stand to benefit from the bursary programme.”
She said it would be an “undesirable outcome” which would be contrary to the public interest and would strongly militate against the grant of any interim order sought by the Hindu body, and asked the Maha Sabha to reconsider its proposed threat of legal action.
On March 23, attorneys for the Maha Sabha wrote to Cabinet secretary Cheryl Hem-Lee complaining of the cut in the number of national scholarships and of the new bursary system.
They claimed there was no subjectivity in the process and the new system gave no guidance on how a student could qualify. They also complained of the “deliberate removal and complete absence" of academic performance as a criterion.
In previous correspondence, the Maha Sabha’s attorneys were told the March 11 policy, published by the Education Ministry, was final.
In her letter on Monday, Haynes-Soo Hon said the Cabinet was “unable to accept” the "legitimate expectation" claim of the Maha Sabha that the religious body expected that scholarships would continue to be awarded on the basis of merit and academic achievement “as opposed to other arbitrary and subjective criteria.”
She denied another of the Maha Sabha’s assertions. that there had always been a “consistent and unequivocal practice” that scholarships were only ever awarded on the basic of academic grades. She pointed to various categories of government scholarships and financial assistance based on financial need and/or extra-curricular assessment, including developmental scholarships similar to the new bursary system.
Haynes-Soo Hon said there was nothing improper in providing financial assistance “not exclusively limited to academic grades,” since reliance on extra-curricular activities and/or means testing for financial aid were well established internationally and demonstrated by consideration in international tertiary matriculation.
She said means-testing was not unprecedented and was a “perfectly rational and sensible tool” to be used where resources were limited.
“The decision to provide financial assistance of any sort is necessarily and obviously a function of economic and social policy on a macro-scale and is informed by dynamic national development objectives, community needs and circumstances, as well as the allocation of limited national resources.
“These concerns have only become heightened in the present economic milieu,” Haynes-Soo Hon said, adding that the new system focused on the most vulnerable groups, talented students and targeted areas for national development.
Haynes-Soo Hon further told Khan, “There being no expectation that could be engendered that any person would receive financial assistance upon completion of their exams, there can be no complaint of any diminution in the scholarships or in the provision of a new system of bursaries for which applications may be made.”
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
With the $178 million rehabilitation of the Moruga Road two years overdue, angry residents yesterday set fire to tyres along the roadway demanding the Government use some of that money to repair dangerous landslips on the Lengua and Mandingo Roads in Princes Town.
The protest came hours after the Government reimplemented COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings more than five. There were more than a dozen incensed residents in the action who claimed that the Government was not prioritising work. Showing an excavator at a landslip along the Moruga Road, they said the Ministry of Works and Transport was starting repairs to a slippage that does not threaten homes.
Meanwhile, houses are crumbling in Lengua and Mandingo.
As unusual dry season rains continued, the landslip, which has already demolished one family’s home, has begun to take another. When Guardian Media visited the community on Tuesday, another part of Shamina Mohamed’s front wall had collapsed into the moving soil. Even the ruins of the Ali family’s home, which crumbled down the hill last August, had broken up even more. Last month, Sinanan said the ministry would do a temporary shoring up of the roadway to get at least one lane passable.
At yesterday’s protest, Robin Singh said since February 2018, the Government had promised to fix their road but did nothing. Last year, he said the ministry did soil testing and surveys but no work started. He said he was not asking for his home to be fixed, only the road repaired and the landslip stabilised.
“It is very unfair. The road has totally collapsed. Our houses are caving and slipping away, the rainy season is upon us right now, and we need to have this project rerouted to Lengua Road and Mandingo Road,” Singh said.
For Indian Walk resident Bronson Charlo, the rehabilitation of the Moruga Road is long overdue. Although the portion of the road he protested on was paved in the past few years, potholes are everywhere and the land movements damage vehicles.
“We are begging to get the road fixed and nobody is doing anything. Here, inside Mandingo, inside Lengua, the whole road is bad. This morning when I was coming up here, I got a flat tyre on this same spot,” Charlo said.
He asked people to compare the roads in Moruga to Port-of-Spain, Arima and Diego Martin.
“Here is the bush, so they do not care about us down here.”
Moruga/Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin said while some work on the Moruga Road Rehabilitation Programme had started, most of the road surface remains uneven. Benjamin said in Cachipe, Champion Hill, where works began, the contractor stopped, complaining that there was no funding.
“The prioritisation of projects is not being done, so we are in this problem here today; $178 million and our roads do not reflect that,” Benjamin said.
She said the repairs to a retaining wall in Indian Walk could withstand the rainy season. However, the villagers said that the landslips in Lengua, Mandingo and Cachipe cannot. She asked that the Government show some compassion and reallocate money to fund urgent repairs.
Sinanan: We are working on the wider issue
On Tuesday, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan noted numerous landslips and stabilisation works in Mandingo Road and surrounding areas. Sinanan told Guardian Media that his ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI). He said MEEI geologists are carrying out tests in the area to determine the underlying issue of landslips. He said based on the findings, the ministry could revisit how it carries out stabilisation works in the communities. Sinanan provided an excerpt from a report which showed 78 landslips in the area, of which 10, including the Mandingo Road landslip, are receiving attention. The report showed that five factors contributing to the occurrence of landslips in Trinidad were roads built on ridges, construction type, soil type, sloping ground and water (rainfall).
Other extended factors include leaks from the Water and Sewerage Authority pipelines and poor water drainage from privately owned properties.
“The repair strategy for landslips, especially in expansive clay, is complex and requires completion of geo-technical investigations to understand the failure, the soil properties and identify the slip plane. Once complete, they can develop a suitable strategy for repairs,” he said.
The report states that the Mandingo Road landslip falls into this category and to date, the technical staff has completed the preliminary geo-technical investigation and designs for a suitable, cost-effective repair solution. Subject to confirmation of funds, the work on the landslip should begin in three weeks. The project should restore connectivity and stabilise the slip from further movements.
bluefete wrote:NEVER, EVER, EVER FORGET!
Well no one Complains and if you protess I think the police will be instructed to use full force for order. They are really playing the public.bluefete wrote:NEVER, EVER, EVER FORGET!
bluefete wrote:NEVER, EVER, EVER FORGET!
Kickstart wrote:Well no one Complains and if you protess I think the police will be instructed to use full force for order. They are really playing the public.bluefete wrote:NEVER, EVER, EVER FORGET!
Those are the words " they haven't rioted yet"
It appears that people have very short memories and just goes about a care free life. Take abuse for 4 years and the last year get treated very nice with whatever rewards, then goes back normal.elec2020 wrote:Kickstart wrote:Well no one Complains and if you protess I think the police will be instructed to use full force for order. They are really playing the public.bluefete wrote:NEVER, EVER, EVER FORGET!
Those are the words " they haven't rioted yet"
isn't it common knowledge that if u protest there will be ramifications for it? how much times have we seen that? and that is protests against policing/weed... small things... u wanna protest about the government. good luck buddy. tell me how unemployment feels. the only thing the average citizen can do to show there disdain against the government is vote them out. and they woulda get vote out in 2020 if there was a viable opposition. thats the only thing keeping pnm in power. the lack of a viable opposition.
Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
I disagree, I use to live St Mary's and it was only when UNC came in to power they did a massive amount of work to repair landslips that has plagued the Moruga main road. When the present government came back in it was back to how it was with no maintenance or repair As for road taxes the Moruga road is a MAIN road and it should not depend on local government for repairs . Secondary roads I can understand that those should fall under local government . Again why are we paying house taxes if our Secondary roads are not repaired. I just don't understand how much more taxes we should bare to be wasted. The government does not account for the tax money they spend. It is off little of no services and repairs. Why must be wait to see roads repairs a month or two before elections. Why must we keep comparing to what the other carribean counties pay in taxes? Those countries are not fully developed. If anything we should be comparing ourselves to Singapore and not corrupted carribean counties.Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
Kickstart wrote:I disagree, I use to live St Mary's and it was only when UNC came in to power they did a massive amount of work to repair landslips that has plagued the Moruga main road. When the present government came back in it was back to how it was with no maintenance or repair As for road taxes the Moruga road is a MAIN road and it should not depend on local government for repairs . Secondary roads I can understand that those should fall under local government . Again why are we paying house taxes if our Secondary roads are not repaired. I just don't understand how much more taxes we should bare to be wasted. The government does not account for the tax money they spend. It is off little of no services and repairs. Why must be wait to see roads repairs a month or two before elections. Why must we keep comparing to what the other carribean counties pay in taxes? Those countries are not fully developed. If anything we should be comparing ourselves to Singapore and not corrupted carribean counties.Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
elec2020 wrote:Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
i think the issue is that we have outgrown pnm and unc and we need a new forward thinking government that is not afraid to do what needs to be done to get us back on track. even if that risks them losing the next GE. that is what we need. but will not get till its way toooo late
Win to do what? Fix all the PNM mess being created right now?SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
wtf wrote:Win to do what? Fix all the PNM mess being created right now?SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
This country in sh!t right now. Saw two stores moving out from a mall in sando today because they can't make the rent.
Habit7 wrote:elec2020 wrote:Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
i think the issue is that we have outgrown pnm and unc and we need a new forward thinking government that is not afraid to do what needs to be done to get us back on track. even if that risks them losing the next GE. that is what we need. but will not get till its way toooo late
We did that in 1986. Gave PNM the worst licks ever. NAR had a cadre of technocrats and professionals. But what they didn't have a loyal base that would trust them to implement the changes that needed to be done. So it was easy for their ardent supporters to go against them when they implemented VAT and cancelled COLA.
Our democracy is not much different from others around the globe. We are a two-party system with smaller parties. It makes no sense waiting for somebody else to come along. They will either be some kinda rebranded UNC because, for all the faults of PNM, they are stable and least likely to fall apart.
SuperiorMan wrote:wtf wrote:Win to do what? Fix all the PNM mess being created right now?SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
This country in sh!t right now. Saw two stores moving out from a mall in sando today because they can't make the rent.
wtf, do you think things would get better if UNC wins?
which mall? gulf city?
Habit7 wrote:SuperiorMan wrote:wtf wrote:Win to do what? Fix all the PNM mess being created right now?SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
This country in sh!t right now. Saw two stores moving out from a mall in sando today because they can't make the rent.
wtf, do you think things would get better if UNC wins?
which mall? gulf city?
Malls were suffering before covid. has nothing to do with PNM or UNC. It is an international trend as retail goes more online and less brick and mortar stores.
But if that is too complicated for you, just say blame Rowley.
But you stated that malls are filled as with price mart. Why change your story now?Habit7 wrote:SuperiorMan wrote:wtf wrote:Win to do what? Fix all the PNM mess being created right now?SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
This country in sh!t right now. Saw two stores moving out from a mall in sando today because they can't make the rent.
wtf, do you think things would get better if UNC wins?
which mall? gulf city?
Malls were suffering before covid. has nothing to do with PNM or UNC. It is an international trend as retail goes more online and less brick and mortar stores.
But if that is too complicated for you, just say blame Rowley.
I don't mind paying higher taxes if I get the services for it. I pay taxes and I don't see where the money goes. We are not getting value for our taxes paid. Nothing is accountable for our taxes, all we told is to pay more and we haven't protested yet as MP Imbert said. I think his statement is a great disrespect for tax payers and playing games.Habit7 wrote:Kickstart wrote:I disagree, I use to live St Mary's and it was only when UNC came in to power they did a massive amount of work to repair landslips that has plagued the Moruga main road. When the present government came back in it was back to how it was with no maintenance or repair As for road taxes the Moruga road is a MAIN road and it should not depend on local government for repairs . Secondary roads I can understand that those should fall under local government . Again why are we paying house taxes if our Secondary roads are not repaired. I just don't understand how much more taxes we should bare to be wasted. The government does not account for the tax money they spend. It is off little of no services and repairs. Why must be wait to see roads repairs a month or two before elections. Why must we keep comparing to what the other carribean counties pay in taxes? Those countries are not fully developed. If anything we should be comparing ourselves to Singapore and not corrupted carribean counties.Habit7 wrote:The issue is not which political party in power because it seems that ppl have "short memories" to realise that the same Moruga road had potholes and landslides under past govts.
Firstly, the soil type south of the central range is prone to landslides so you could pave until the cows come home and there will still be landslides
Secondly, in other countries, they have a tax regime to finance the fixing of roads. In TT we mostly depend on taxes from O&G to do everything. Despite popular opinion, TT taxes are very low, one of the lowest in the region. As O&G revenues are becoming less dependable, we need to have a new method of financing road maintenance among other things. But we are in a culture where ppl don't want to pay more taxes and they still want to receive high subsidies.
Until a govt can develop a way of financing efficient road maintenance, we are in the same monkey pants, PNM or UNC.
There has been maintenance, even the UNC MP admitted it in the article, it just was not completed.
We have not paid "house tax" since 2009
There are several Caribbean countries with similar development to TT, you need to actually visit them for yourself. And by region, I meant Latin America too.
If you want Singapore, then pay 2-3x the price of car compared to TT, then you will have smooth roads like them because that is what their taxes require.
Kickstart wrote:But you stated that malls are filled as with price mart. Why change your story now?
Kickstart wrote:I don't mind paying higher taxes if I get the services for it. I pay taxes and I don't see where the money goes. We are not getting value for our taxes paid. Nothing is accountable for our taxes, all we told is to pay more and we haven't protested yet as MP Imbert said. I think his statement is a great disrespect for tax payers and playing games.
Epic back pedalHabit7 wrote:Kickstart wrote:But you stated that malls are filled as with price mart. Why change your story now?
Context.
I was responding to someone who was saying that South Trinidad economy was destroyed by the closure of the refinery. And coming out of Christmas I said the groceries and the malls were filled in South. But retail is one of the several things you can do in malls, that is declining. PNM or UNC can't change that.Kickstart wrote:I don't mind paying higher taxes if I get the services for it. I pay taxes and I don't see where the money goes. We are not getting value for our taxes paid. Nothing is accountable for our taxes, all we told is to pay more and we haven't protested yet as MP Imbert said. I think his statement is a great disrespect for tax payers and playing games.
Your little taxes are going into your subsidised utilities (water, electricity), your garbage collection, ferry transport, free healthcare, free education, free highways and many other things. If you don't see where it is going that is subjective. MoF publishes expenditure reports and the Auditor General points out the wastes and inconsistencies.
Nevertheless, you still pay one of the lowest taxes in Latin American and the Caribbean, don't expect Canada level service.
SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
The_Honourable wrote:SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
It's normal in democracies for governments to change so to answer your question, yes they will.
In it's current form? No. UNC was on a loosing streak with Panday since 2002 and once he was removed, UNC won (in a partnership). Kamla is in the same position now as Panday in the 2000s... loss after loss and not leaving while the supporters are not seeing anybody else beyond the current leader.
PNM doing chit and most of the population don't respect Rowley but UNC still have the stains of their 2010-2015 governance whether it was real for example SIS or fake, like emailgate.
Kickstart wrote:Epic back pedal
SuperiorMan wrote:The_Honourable wrote:SuperiorMan wrote:Tuner Friends,
When do you all think UNC will win again?
It's normal in democracies for governments to change so to answer your question, yes they will.
In it's current form? No. UNC was on a loosing streak with Panday since 2002 and once he was removed, UNC won (in a partnership). Kamla is in the same position now as Panday in the 2000s... loss after loss and not leaving while the supporters are not seeing anybody else beyond the current leader.
PNM doing chit and most of the population don't respect Rowley but UNC still have the stains of their 2010-2015 governance whether it was real for example SIS or fake, like emailgate.
Thanks for your response The_Honourable.
I was asking when you think they will win again....do you think the next election once they get rid of Kamla?
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