TRINIDAD: April 28, 2016: The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, in its continued efforts to take social services to the vulnerable and destitute in our society, collaborated with two groups on Saturday April 23, 2016 for outreach interventions at the community level. One event took place in north Trinidad as the Petit Valley Community Council hosted a Community Expo, Wellness and Family Day at the Valley Harps Pan Yard, in Petit Valley.
Residents of Petit Valley and environs were provided with information on how to access a wide range of services, namely healthcare services, social services-including grants and counselling; agricultural advice and job recruitment. Member of Parliament for Diego Martin Central, the Honourable Darryl Smith, in his welcoming remarks said that “In times of a recession, efforts to improve family life and community life should increase and more focus should be placed on sporting and recreational activities for an overall balance.”
The other event – “A Community Knowledge and Health Fair”, was hosted by South AIDS Support Group, in collaboration with Trinity Power Limited, took place at the Dow Village Government School in Couva. The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services’ HIV Coordinating Unit took the forefront as information brochures, advice and counselling on HIV/AIDS were provided to participants to sensitize them and increase overall awareness of new developments related to the virus. Information on how to access the other social services provided by the Ministry was also provided.
Residents of Dow Village, California, Couva and environs expressed their gratitude to the organizers for the opportunity to access financial advice and money management tips, as well as eye and dental screening, blood pressure and blood glucose testing and PAP Smears, which were available from the Ministry of Health’s Mobile Unit. The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services was pleased to be part of both initiatives and looks forward to participating in similar outreach activities to take social services to our communities.
Social Development Ministry continues collaborative efforts to take social services to communities
CANTO Executives pay courtesy call on Minister Cuffie
TRINIDAD: April 28, 2016: On Wednesday April 27, the Chairman of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO), Mr. Julian Wilkins and Teresa Wankin, Secretary-General (Ag.) paid a Courtesy Call on the Honourable Maxie Cuffie, Minister of Public Administration and Communications at his NALIS Building, Port of Spain office.
Apart from the main topic of telecommunications and information and communications technology, the disposal of e-waste, the upcoming Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition (CANTO 2016) and the Ministry’s commemoration of the annual Girls in ICT Day 2016, were discussed.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Communications has responsibility for telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology inclusive of National ICT Planning, Policy, Strategy and Management.
TTASL: Gymnastics, the Law and Dispute Resolution
TRINIDAD: April 28, 2016: The Trinidad and Tobago Association for Sport and Law (“TTASL”) is an independent body which aims among other things, to promote the effective administration of local sports governing bodies through legal education.
In light of the pending legal proceedings in the current impasse with the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation, we deliberately refrain from advocating for either party as justice must be delivered without outside and undue interference.
The events of recent weeks however, have highlighted even more the need for effective Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) mechanisms within the sporting fraternity. We believe that the ongoing gymnastics saga offers an opportunity for our administrators and decision-makers to promote
appropriate dispute resolution suitable for the sports sector.
The TTASL echoes the statements made by Justice Vasheist Kokaram in delivering his Judgment, following an application for injunctive relief by the TTCB in CV 2011 of 1276 The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board v The West Indies Cricket Board, that “there is a dire need to quickly formalize mechanics internally within the Respondent’s organization which can deal with these matters quickly, effectively and finally.
The formation of an ADR body which will aid in resolving disputes not just between athletes and National Governing Bodies but those matters involving commercial contracts, intellectual property, matters of ethical conduct, sporting integrity and good governance. The alternative to this for an aggrieved party who chooses recourse to the ordinary courts of law will be costly and lengthy litigation before the nation’s courts. The likely outcome may very well be a sense of frustration, exhaustion and even vindictiveness, with no real winner, while bringing the respective sport into disrepute in the process.
The proposed sports dispute resolution entity will be based on the ideals of the Court of Arbitration for Sport that exists in Lausanne, Switzerland, populated by a panel of personalities with expertise in sport and/or law offering balance and promoting the principles of equity and fair play, in the interest of the sport.
The words of Lord Denning in Enderby Town Football Club v The Football Association [1971] Ch 591 resonate truthfully, that ‘justice can often be done better by a good layman than a bad lawyer’. The TTASL calls on the relevant authorities to join us in advancing this conversation and implementing systems for the effective, timely and equitable resolution of sporting disputes
Payment of outstanding backpay to members of the protective services
TRINIDAD: April 28, 2016: The Hon. Minister of Finance has taken note of reports in the media on the outcome of a meeting held with members of the Associations representing officers of the protective services.
On Tuesday April 26, 2016, the Minister of Finance held a cordial meeting with representatives of the Police, Fire and Prison Services Associations to discuss outstanding backpay t o officers.
The Minister confirmed the Government’s proposals for the payment of these arrears, namely:
– 50% be paid in cash by June 30, 2016
– the remaining 50% be paid in either two tranches in Fiscal 2017 or through
Government Bonds to be issued by September 30, 2016
In response, the Associations indicated that the issuance of bonds was not contemplated previously, and as such, they needed more information to take back to their members, such as the rate of interest; the maturity of the Bonds, the denomination of such Bonds; whether the Bonds would be tax free and whether the Bonds will cover the entire second tranche. The Minister assured that the Bonds would be competitive.
The Association then put forward the following to the Minister for consideration:
– Arrears in the sum of $50,000.00 or less should be paid in cash;
– Allowances such as travel and upkeep should be paid in cash and not form part of a Bond Scheme;
– Pensioners should be paid all their outstanding monies in cash;
– Benefits in kind, such as housing and/or land;
– Shares in Public companies.
Based on the proposals from the Associations, they were asked to furnish the Minister with the following:
– A list of the number of persons falling below the $50,000.00 threshold; and
– The potential number of officers requesting housing or land.
They agreed to provide this information to the Minister in one week.
The Minister committed to reviewing their proposals, but stressed that the final decision rests with the Cabinet. He told the Associations that by May 31, 2016 he would communicate with them on the final decisions with respect to all of the matters raised.
The Minister also committed to providing full details on the proposed bonds by that time.
The Government is mindful of the challenging work environment the offices of the protective services are required to work within. It is therefore the aim of the Government to work with this group and all other public sector employees to arrive at the best solution given the current economic environment, yet ensuring officers are paid their arrears in the shortest possible time frame.
The Minister is therefore committed to maintaining a collaborative approach to the finalisation of the payment of arrears to the officers.
Minister Garcia launches “Leading for Literacy Now!"
TRINIDAD: April 28, 2016: The Honourable Anthony Garcia said the “Leading for Literacy Now III” is imparting critical reading skills to students at the primary school level which will benefit them for the rest of their lives. The media launch of the third phase of the literacy programme occurred at the Ministry of Education’s Head Office, St. Clair on Tuesday 26th April, 2016. The project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, the Trinidad and Tobago National Commission for UNESCO, NALIS and Republic Bank Ltd.
Minister Garcia said his Ministry fully supports the continued implementation of the programme as it is proving to be a success in helping teachers to help their students learn how to read. He noted that teachers are lamenting the fact that there are still students who have difficulties reading when they enter secondary school. Addressing principals, teachers, sponsors and senior Ministry officials at the media launch, he said, “I want to share the views of the Curriculum Department of the Ministry of Education, in that they have endorsed, fully this programme, and it is the view of the Director of Curriculum, that this programme has assisted in the delivery of literacy in our schools.”
According to Minister Garcia, “Far too often in our school system, we hear complaints from our teachers of the paucity of the reading skills of our students and many of our secondary school principals and teachers have contended that after a child spends seven years at the level of the primary school, when he graduates into the secondary school, he should be well equipped to deal with all reading materials. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Too often, many of our secondary students cannot ready properly.”
He said the programme which focuses on teaching foundation literacy skills to Infants, One and Two students, ensures that when those students move up to Standards One, Two, Three, Four and Five, they will be well equipped with the skills to be competent readers. Minister Garcia said the “Leading for Literacy Now!” also stresses stakeholder involvement, particularly parental involvement, as a critical factor that influences the development of literacy skills in students. He urged parents to make available books and other reading materials in the home which he believes will help children develop a love for reading.
The Ministry of Education ‘Unlocks the True Potential’ of its Administrative Professionals
TRINIDAD: April 28, 2016: More than 300 administrative professionals from the Ministry of Education convened at the Teaching and Learning Complex on Wednesday 27th April, 2016 at The University of the West Indies to celebrate Administrative Professionals Week. The symposium entitled “Unlocking Your True Professional Potential” was hosted by the MIC – Institute of Technology and the Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago (AFETT). The Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education opened the symposium by congratulating the organisers for fostering collaboration between public and private sector organisations, which he said will redound to the benefit of citizens and subsequently the sustainability of the nation.
Minister Garcia described the administrative professionals as unsung heroes and said he recognised them as partners in the success of an organisation. He said, “Be proud of the impact that you make in every organisation in which you find yourself. Do not limit yourself, pursue your aspirations as you continue on your path to unlocking your full potential.”
He also commended the efforts of the administrative professionals who he said worked tirelessly to ensure the success of their organisations, “Administrative assistants are not secretaries or personal assistants, but partners in making a business successful and I am sure you feel accountable for every aspect of your department and the organization’s success. Your presence here shows your commitment to both your personal and professional advancement and we commend and congratulate all of you for attending. This is yet another reason for the MIC to stand strong, knowing that all of you will contribute to our nation’s development and leave your indelible mark in some way or another. As I close, I leave you with this thought – that each one of you is on the right path to become a builder of tomorrow’s world, so do not ever limit yourself.”
The symposium saw a convergence of administrative professionals from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company Limited, Pro Comm Services, Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago (AFETT), Ministry of Education and the YMCA of Trinidad and Tobago who were treated to breakfast and gift bags.
Also in attendance at the symposium were the Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Tourism; Dr. the Honourable Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education; His Worship the Mayor of Port of Spain Councillor Keron Valentine; Permanent Secretary Gillian Macintyre, Ministry of Education, Permanent Secretary Natasha Barrow, Ms. Cavelle Joseph, President of AFETT and Jennifer Jones-Morales, Authentic Leadership and Gender Specialist.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ CARRICOM youth ambassadors celebrate girls in ICT Day 2016
ST. KITTS: Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 28, 2016 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis’ CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYA) join other member states in the region to celebrate International Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day 2016, today, Thursday 28.
The day which is held every fourth Thursday in April each year is celebrated under the theme “Tech girls, for a tech world. Girls and women in ICT; beneficial for every country!”
Dennis McCall Jr., Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Corps, and a St. Kitts and Nevis CYA, briefly explained the importance of ICT Day.
“This day is celebrated because we realize that majority of the careers and jobs in ICT is held by males so there are not a lot of women in ICT,” said McCall Jr. “So what this day is basically about is to empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICT.”
Across the CARICOM region the CYAs will engage in a number of initiatives to advocate for girls in ICT. Here in St. Kitts and Nevis, the CYAs embarked on three initiatives.
“This morning (April 28), we had a presentation with the girls at the Charles E. Mills Secondary School about what the ICT Day is all about and all of the different jobs that they can find in ICT,” he said, while adding that it was heartening to discover that a number of the young ladies showed great interests in wanting to acquire a job in ICT.
The local CYAs also started a social media campaign that will run for two days from Thursday, 28 to Friday29, April. The campaign is done in the form of a poster that allows young ladies to bring out their photography skills. McCall Jr. noted that both men and women would be involved in this initiative because it is imperative for men to help advocate for women in ICT.
Later today, the local CYAs will do a presentation with members of the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association on the importance of girls in ICT, similar to that of others carried out in other member states.
“For example, I know in Guyana there is going to be a workshop for girls in ICT that is focused on a lot of young people,” said the Dean, while noting that Belize would have similar sessions to encourage girls to get interested in the technological scope of things
According to information from http://www.itu.int/, International Girls in ICT Day was first celebrated five years ago and is an initiative from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in ICTs.
St Kitts and Nevis and Senegal bolster bilateral ties by establishing diplomatic relations
ST. KITTS: Dakar, Sénégal (29th April, 2016) – A momentous occasion in the relationship between the Federation and Senegal was shared in Dakar where the Foreign Ministers of both countries inked a joint communiqué, formalising ties between the two countries.
Minister Brantley, after months of concerted engagement at various levels across the respective governments, was particularly pleased to concretise the Federation`s commitment to intensified engagement with the West African country.
In a brief but powerful signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dakar, Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye signaled Senegal`s and his personal enthusiasm and willingness to bridge the African-Caribbean divide. He used the opportunity to trumpet the cultural unity between both regions and also expressed hope for increased commerical and political linkages. The Honourable Minister gave assurances of his commitment to the multilateral process and referenced the on-going working relationship with the Caribbean in the context of the United Nations. The Senegalese chief diplomat thanked St. Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean countries for their overwhelming support in Senegal`s bid to join the UN Security Council for the 2016-2017 term. He pledged to use Senegal`s Security Council position to promote broader security issues of relevance to St Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean, such as climate change, water management and environmental conservation. Minister Brantley welcomed and applauded this positive step by Senegal and underlined his own inclination to pursue a positive agenda around issues of mutual advantage.
It is important to note that the two Foreign Ministers both spoke of the need for closer regional dialogue between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and discussed the possibility of meeting regularly at such summits to foster a sustainable partnership.
In welcoming the Senegalese Minister`s appreciation and aspirations for deepened ties, Foreign Minister Mark Brantley noted that St. Kitts and Nevis, and indeed the entire Caribbean, shares an unbreakable bond with countries on the African continent. Minster Brantley also championed the idea of closer collaboration and cooperation in the cultural realm which would serve to heighten awareness of each other`s peoples, priorities, policies and potential. To give life to the joint communique, Minister Brantley extended a warm invitation to his counterpart to visit the Federation in the near future.
As a first step in deepening the new diplomatic relationship, both sides anticipate taking the necessary steps to conclude a reciprocal visa waiver regime in the months ahead.
Minister Brantley was pleased to be joined by his cabinet colleague, Honourable Lindsay Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade et al, to celebrate the historic occasion for the Federation. Minister Grant is also in Dakar attending the ACP-EU Council of Ministers meeting hosted by H.E Macky Sall, President of Senegal.
(Press release courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Heart Foundation launches website to enable citizens and visitors to invest in sustainability projects
Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 28, 2016 (SKNIS): The Heart of St. Kitts Foundation recently launched its website to continue its efforts in giving citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis along with visitors the opportunity to invest in sustainability projects that preserve and benefit the environment, culture, heritage, and livelihoods of the island’s residents.
This initiative is a part of the St. Kitts Tourism Sector Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2019 which addresses sustainable tourism. Within it, it states that “The sustainability of the [tourism] sector can only be achieved through investment in the human resources of the country, stakeholder and community participation, environmental preservation and through the creation of wealth for the average citizen.”
In keeping with this and according to the Ministry of Tourism, the foundation was launched in January “to build awareness of sustainability priorities in St. Kitts and provide funding for local projects that make St. Kitts a better and more sustainable place to live in and experience. The Foundation will engage tourists, local tourism enterprises and international organizations, and source the resources needed to translate this awareness into action.”
The Ministry is encouraging businesses, residents, and visitors to visit www.heartofstkitts.org
The sustainability projects include conservation of marine and coastal habitats, improvement of waste management, preservation of local culture and heritage sites and support for new community-driven tourism products.
Land for Debt Swap: A Tangled Web
ST. KITTS: Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 28, 2016 (SKNIS): The controversial Land-for-Debt-Swap that passed through the National Assembly in lightning speed under the former Douglas-led Administration has entangled many institutions in its web, prompting the Government of National Unity to seek advice in terms of its revocation.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas presented and piloted the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (Vesting of Certain Lands) Bill 2012 (otherwise known as the Land-for-Debt- Swap) which provides for the vesting of 1200 acres of government land to the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank to settle public debt to the bank. The Bill was passed on 21st September, 2012.
The people were never given a chance to be a part of the decision-making process with respect to their patrimony and a fallout ensued over the passing of the Bill. Opposition parliamentarians and two senior ministers of the former Douglas-led Administration, the current Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, and H.E.Sam Condor, who is presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, strongly registered their displeasure with the Bill.
In response to a reporter at his monthly press conference (April 20) about the repeal of the Land-for-Debt Swap, Prime Minister Harris placed the issue in context by saying that “it is an economic fact that too high a debt would strangle growth in the economy” and gave an example of that happening: “We see what had happened in the period when we went to the IMF. It was negative growth, year after year. It was too much and the Government was too deeply involved.”
However, Prime Minister Harris added that although St. Kitts and Nevis was now one of the best economic performers in the region “the reality of the debt is such that one, it is here, and two, it has entangled a lot of institutions such as the National Bank, such as Social Security and such as all of us.”
“Therefore, faced with that reality, this government is receiving advice on how best we will be able to deal with the Land-for-Debt Swap without creating difficult realities for other institutions that have become involved in it,” the prime minister added.
He further added: “If you look at the National Bank performers with the smart arithmetic and accounting that played out to get a success story with the Land-for-Debt Swap…the government was paying the bank some 18 million dollars still. They said the debt was gone. They had something they called a dividend and instead of National Bank paying the government the dividend, it was the government paying National Bank what it called and purported to be a dividend, costing this country every year 18 million plus dollars to sustain that Land-for-Debt Swap, and part of it was that it was going to be so disruptive for the Bank to take the haircut which the barber Douglas was imposing upon it that they had to come back in a back hand way because as a result of the haircut the bank was losing the fundamental source of its revenue, interest on loans.”
Prime Minister Harris went on to describe the Land-for-Debt Swap as a sham, a manipulation of the books, a maze, fine art of trickery, fine art in misinformation and fine art in deception.
He said that the former government “formed a number of entities to carry the debt and yet the debt still lived because the government is featured in all of these entities so anything that goes sour with these entities, goes sour with the government.”
“We have a vested interest in preserving the fiscal health of the bank with over a billion dollars of deposits,” Prime Minister Harris said.
