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TT participates in UN Habitat Conference in Ecuador

PS Thorne Mora chairs session
Simone Thorne-Mora, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (centre) chairs the Networking Session with representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS). To her right is Marie Hinds, Director (Ag.), Town and Country Planning Division. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development)

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Trinidad and Tobago experience unique challenges in defining and implementing policies to harness the benefits and respond to the new issues that deal with urbanisation.

It is for this reason that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago approved the participation of four public officers at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – UN Habitat III, taking place in Quito Ecuador.
Spanning five days (October 17-21), this Conference included a Networking Session titled “Adapting the New Urban Agenda to Small Island Developing States” which was hosted and chaired by Ms. Simone Thorne-Mora, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development with support from Ms. Marie Hinds, Director (Ag.), Town and Country Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development. This special session was attended by over thirty persons from ten countries inclusive of Caribbean and international organizations and featured presentations from representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Habitat for Humanity, UNECLAC and Caribbean Network of Urban Land Managers; all of whom recognize that while there are specific issues relative to each country, there are certain commonalities which we all experience and which will form the basis of an Urban Agenda strategy for Caribbean SIDS.
Permanent Secretary Thorne-Mora told attendees, “Caribbean SIDS can sometimes be voiceless in the international landscape. Given the magnitude of this UN Habitat III Conference – 45,000 participants at last count – our concern was that this unfortunate anomaly will continue at this event and we will have little or no contribution to the New Urban Agenda. However, we can change that; therefore, let’s take advantage of this opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue so that our resolutions and commitments will demand the attention of the international decision-makers. We can do it!”
This event therefore provided a forum to allow for the development of a common articulation from the Caribbean sub region on the New Urban Agenda as well as provide a platform for continuing the dialogue within the Caribbean. This dialogue will continue until a network is built among housing and land use practitioners, policy makers and civil society with the aim of creating sustainable communities and thereby creating opportunities for all.
This session was moderated by Dr. Robin Rajack, Lead Housing and Urban Development Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank and included presentation by Ms. Marie Hinds, Director (Ag.), Town and Country Planning Division.
Ms. Nina Antoine, Senior Economist, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Sasha Darbeau, Head, Legal and Manager, Tenure Regularisation, Land Settlement Agency (LSA) were the other members of the Trinidad and Tobago contingent at UN Habitat III. The Government absorbed the costs for one attendee with Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago covering the costs for the other three representatives from Trinidad and Tobago.

Legislation Passed to Facilitate International Financial and Business Services

IFBS

The recent passage of three key pieces of legislation in the House of Representatives should better position Jamaica as a place of choice to facilitate the administration of international financial and business services.

These include: the General Partnership Act 2016; the Partnership Limited Act 2016; and the International Corporate and Trust Service Providers Act.
The General Partnership Act will formalise the process for foreign partnerships pursuing business transactions in Jamaica and facilitate mergers and conversion of such arrangements.
The Limited Partnership Act aims to accommodate commercial activities not deemed suitable for other categories of business engagements in Jamaica.
The International Corporate and Trust Service Providers Act seeks to promote and maintain high standards of conduct, ethics and competence in the provision of international corporate and trust services.
Additionally, the latter is also intended to ensure that international service providers adhere to modern, internationally acceptable standards of best practices.
The Bills were piloted by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz.
The Bills were initially approved by the Lower House, but had not been passed in the Senate prior to the dissolution of Parliament for the February 25 General Elections.
In closing the debate on October 19, Mr. Vaz commended the Review Committee for its input in the Bills’ development, and thanked the Opposition for supporting them.
Opposition Spokesperson for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton, said the “far-reaching” pieces of legislation will enable the ushering in of a new financial services sector.
“They will revolutionise the business environment and cause a greater level of investment by sophisticated investors, both locally and abroad. They will also provide for those (interests) already in partnerships, to improve their situation so that the attendant risks and liabilities and protection for those partners are also part and parcel of these pieces of legislation,” he said.
Mr. Hylton further said the Bills would also greatly enhance the environment for doing business in Jamaica.
This, he explained, by creating the conditions for increased investment and “present a much more sophisticated environment for the sophisticated business men that Jamaica…wants to attract.”
Mr. Hylton suggested that a review mechanism be implemented within five years as part of engagements to improve the legislation.
Some of the Bills’ other significant features include: provisions for interests in existing partnerships to decide whether they wish to remain as they are or to convert; and provisions for partnerships to be formed and registered as entities with separate legal personalities and partners with options for the liability to be borne by general and limited partners and governance of the partnership.
Additionally, partnerships with separate legal personalities must register before they can lawfully operate.
The Registrar of Companies will be the Registrar of Partnerships and must maintain a Register of Partnerships.

International Business Barbados’ Best- Kept Secret

IBFS

This country’s International Business Minister, Donville Inniss, has described the International Business and Financial Services (IBFS) Sector as one of Barbados’
best-kept secrets.

The Minister, who was speaking recently at the opening ceremony of the
International Business Conference, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, made this
comment as he recounted that although the sector makes such an “important
contribution” to the “lifeblood of the economy”, not many people truly understood its
role and function.
He stated that too often, many of our citizens had the belief that international
business was far removed from the average Barbadian, and a sector in which only
the affluent were directly involved.
The Minister told attendees: “Let me take this opportunity to underscore, that
despite the various challenges it may face, Barbados’ IBFS sector continues to play
a significant role in the economic and social development of our country.”
Adding that it was the second largest contributor to the country’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and second only to tourism, Mr. Inniss pointed out that
apart from contributing almost 10 per cent to this country’s GDP, the sector had also
generated thousands of local jobs across the nearly 4,000 active international
business entities.
He said: “Each year, these entities pay corporation and other taxes, licence
fees, as well as salaries, rents, utilities, entertainment and other local expenses and
this revenue helps to drive our economy.”

Electoral Observation Mission to the United States

US Election 2016

Electoral Observation Mission to the United States begins Visit to Georgia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Monday, October 24th, the Chief of the Organization of American States Electoral Observation Mission (OAS/EOM) to the United States, former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, will begin a preliminary visit to the United States during which she will hold meetings with key authorities and stakeholders of the electoral process in the states of Georgia and Pennsylvania, as well as the District of Columbia.
The OAS Mission will be comprised of 40 international experts who will observe specific aspects of the electoral process, including electoral organization and technology, campaign finance, and political participation, among others.
In accordance with international electoral observation principles, the functions of the observers are different from those of monitors and poll watchers. In this sense , the OAS/EOM will observe, collect information for an ex-post report, highlight best practices and offer recommendations for improvements.
On Election Day, OAS observers will be deployed to the states of California, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.
The OAS was invited to deploy this Electoral Observation Mission at the request of the US State Department on a letter dated June 30th, 2016 and the invitation was accepted by Secretary General Almagro on July 11th.

Annual spelling bee launched in St. Lucia

Spelling Bee

The spelling bee competition helps students master skills which lead to increased literacy and fluency.

The Pierrot Combined School recently hosted the launch of the 2016 National Dental Spelling Bee.
The spelling bee is hosted every year in October, in recognition of Dental Health Month, and is targeted at Grade 3 students throughout the island.
The competition, now into its sixth year, has been sponsored entirely by Colgate with the aim to sensitize children about dental care and hygiene.
Dr. Sherry Ephraim-Le Compte, Senior Dental Surgeon in the Ministry of Health, said the activity is designed to encourage self development and self discipline among students.
“It is not just a matter of spelling. This initiative is to raise an awareness of everything in the field of dentistry, the careers in dentistry, the words that are used, it helps with the diction, it helps with phonics and it also helps with the research skills of the students because they see a word and they don’t just dismiss it, but they do their research; and this carries into the other subject areas for the students.”
Isla Sammy, acting District Education Officer for District 6, said the competition helps students master skills which lead to increased literacy and fluency.
“Spelling competitions help students improve their spelling, broaden their vocabulary, learn new concepts and develop correct English usage. It also forces them to pay attention to pronunciation, and the definition of words. When all of these skills are mastered it leads to an increased ability to read fluently, which is what we are all striving for.”
Colgate Brand Manager, Keneene Betty-Forde said the brand is pleased with the outcome of the competition, and will continue to invest in the education and health of the students.
Last year’s winner, eight year-old Rohan Charles had a few words of advice for the participants in this year’s competition.
“I did not become a winner when I won this competition but rather, I became a winner in the hours, days, weeks and months I spent preparing for this competition. You are all capable winners, if you just try.”
Principal of the Pierrot Combined School, Eugenie Paul-Moonie, said the school is the place where champion spellers are born.
The competition is open to all primary schools. Prizes include tablets and a $1000 cash prize.
The first round of the spelling bee will commence in early November.

OPM condemns acts of sexual harassment

Ayanna Webster-Roy
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy

The Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) is aware of the disturbing video being circulated on Social Media which shows a young female stating that she is being sexually harassed by three young men while walking in Port of Spain after she was finished exercising.

The Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) strongly condemns these acts of harassment and is reminding the public that every woman and girl should be allowed to walk the streets freely without the fear of being abused by others. No part of our culture and laws adheres to women being abused. Our laws provide redress as follows:

  • Harassment is unlawful under the Offences Against the Person Act, Chap. 11:08. Under Section 30A of the Act, “harassment” of a person includes alarming the person or causing the person distress by engaging in a course of conduct in the circumstances outlined at Section 30A. This conduct includes, for example, making contact with the person, whether by gesture, directly, verbally by telephone, computer, post or in any other way, or giving offensive material to the person. In order for the conduct to constitute harassment, it must be carried out on at least two occasions. The penalty for this offence is a fine of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) and six months imprisonment upon summary conviction. If the conduct causes the victim to fear that violence will be used, then the penalties are higher.
  • Sexual harassment may, in certain circumstances, also be considered indecent assault which is an offence under the Sexual Offences Act, Chap. 11:28. Section 15 of that Act defines “indecent assault” as an assault accompanied by words or circumstances indicating an indecent intention. A person who indecently assaults another is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for five years for a first offence and to imprisonment for ten years for a subsequent offence.
  • Although not expressly stated, sexual harassment may also be considered a form of sex discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act, Chap. 22:03.

The Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) encourages the public to recognize that women and girls should be treated with dignity and respect. To all women and girls who may feel threatened or who are being sexually harassed, or any bystander who may notice someone experiencing difficulty regarding this conduct, please contact the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service by dialing toll free – 999.
Some tips to deal with sexual harassment:

  • Keep your cell phone handy. Call the police or someone trustworthy.
  • If someone in a car stops to ask a question, stay far enough away that you can escape.
  • Realize that using headphones can lessen your awareness.
  • It is sometimes safer to use the “buddy system”; ask a friend or two to accompany you to take a walk or go to the mall.

$700k to upgrade three primary schools

Pette Saint Jean

The Honourable Minister for Education, Petter Saint Jean, has revealed that three schools have recently been upgraded with the assistance of donor agents.

Honourable Saint Jean made the pronouncement at Wednesday’s sitting of Parliament.
The Honourable Minister for Education declared that over $345k was injected into the Colihaut Primary School and come January 2017, students will return to an improved institution of learning.
The Education Minister used the opportunity to thank the people of the Colihaut Constituency for their understanding and patience following the havoc caused by Tropical Storm Erika on the school.
“We have dialogue with the school community and they understand the situation. The school is completely renovated. At this moment work is being done on the toilet block. While the school building is necessary, a school without appropriate toilet facilities is of non-effect,” Hon Saint Jean noted.
The Honourable Minister gave details of renovations done at the school.
“We have the done the fencing and we have expanded the land surface area to ensure that we create a safe environment for students and staff.”
Meanwhile Honourable Saint Jean stated that in excess of $365k has been injected into the Delices Primary School.
He reassured the people of Delices that he has been given every assurance from the Honourable Minister for Finance and Cabinet that their needs will be addressed.
Renovation at the school is 99% complete.
“All that is missing is just a few windows that have been ordered. When they are delivered they will be mounted.”
Students of the Coulibistrie Primary School are already enjoying the upgrades at their school after returning in September 2016.
Over $20k was invested to execute renovations at the school.
The Hon Minister also expressed gratitude to the Barbados Cares, the President’s Charities Foundation and others for their contributions.
Hon Saint Jean Emphasized, “We believe that we have a responsibility as Government to the people of Dominica.  This is why following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, the Government recognize that every child ought to be given an opportunity at quality education.”

Ministry seeking to improve relations with farmers.

UNDEF

The Division of Economic Affairs has advised that civil society organisations will soon be able to apply to the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) for
funding for projects which advance and support democracy.

The annual proposal window will be open from Tuesday, November 15, to
Thursday, December 15, at www.un.org/democracyfund. Only on-line proposals, in
either English or French, will be accepted during this period.
UNDEF projects are for two years and applicants may request a grant of a
minimum of US$100,000 or a maximum of US$300,000. UNDEF supports projects
that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the
participation of all groups in democratic processes.
Projects fall under one or more of seven main areas: Community Activism;
Rule of Law and Human Rights; Tools for Knowledge; Women’s Empowerment;
Youth Engagement; Media and Freedom of Information; and Strengthening
Interaction with Government.
The majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organisations – both in
the transition and consolidation phases of democratisation. Proposals are subject to
a highly rigorous and competitive selection process, with fewer than two per cent
chosen for funding.
To obtain more information, members of civil society organisations should visit
http://www.un.org/democracyfund/application-materials. (SA/BGIS)

OECS Regional strategy for the development of Statistics (RSDS)

OECS RSDS
Key OECS RSDS Stakeholders convene in Barbados from the 17th and 18th of October 2016

OECS Member States approve the new draft OECS Regional strategy for the development of Statistics (RSDS ).

OECS Member States have approved the new draft OECS Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS) at a regional meeting of stakeholders in Barbados on the 17th and 18th October 2016.

The OECS RSDS is a 14-year master plan to support the production and dissemination of economic, business, social, demographic, environment and energy statistics for use in national development planning and to monitor both progress toward full integration of the OECS Economic Union and measure attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The RSDS fulfils the need for both the availability and access to comparable statistics as stated in theRevised Treaty of Basseterre.
The RSDS accommodates national development plans, OECS sector strategies such as the Education Strategy, Tourism Policy and aligns with the CARICIOM Action Plan for Statistics, the CARICOM Regional Statistics Work Programme; and global initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities for Action (SAMOA) Pathway and several other thematic areas such as youth, persons with disabilities, child protection, and women.
The OECS RSDS 2017 to 2030 is expected to be endorsed by OECS Economic Affairs Council later this year.
Participants at the meeting included Member States’ national statistics offices and policy units; institutional partners ECCB and UWI, and development partners such as ILO, UNWOMEN, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, FAO, UNFPA and PARIS21.
The development of the OECS RSDS was funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).  Project management responsibility is assigned to The World Bank with implementation support provided by the UNDP and The World Bank.

RSDS-Backdrop

Mafeking Government Primary School to reopen next week

Anthony Garcia
Caption: Minister of Education, the Honourable Anthony Garcia. (File Photo)

The Ministry of Education has appointed a contractor to address all electrical and infrastructural issues at the Mafeking Government Primary School in order to have the school reopened by mid next week.

This was announced on Thursday 20th October, 2016 during a meeting with the staff and parents, following a visit to the school by the Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education, Dr. the Honourable, Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and other senior ministry officials. The Honourable Rushton Paray, Member of Parliament for Mayaro also attended the meeting.

Minister Garcia in his address to parents said, “Whatever needs to be done to bring relief to our children we will do it, certain things must be done and must be done expeditiously starting from today and we have given that deadline.”  Mr. Garcia also acknowledged the right for parents to protest, however, he asked parents to desist from placing padlocks on school gates and locking out students. He said, “Whenever a child is locked out of a school, that child is deprived of his right to an education. We will not condone that action because it affects the child negatively.”

The contractor commenced works on Thursday night to upgrade the electrical system, replace main distribution panels, change switches and electrical wires and lights. The entire plumbing system was also repaired and all the wash basins and toiled bowls in the sanitary blocks were replaced. Major repairs will be done to address leaks and other problems to the roof.

The parents of students from Mafeking Government Primary School have been keeping their children away from classes since Monday 17th October, 2016 after expressing health and safety concerns due the fluctuation of the electricity supply and infrastructural and sewer problems on the compound.

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