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Hanif Benjamin in an interview at the Centre for Human Development, Tunapuna. – File photo/Angelo Marcelle

There are basic signs that people can look out for when dealing with mental illnesses, clinical traumatologist and clinical therapist Hanif Benjamin said on Saturday, adding access to mental health is still limited in this country.

“Sometimes people look for big signs. But we are not paying attention to the simplicity of issues and signs. For example, the change in how people dress or if they are no longer taking care of themselves.”

Benjamin was responding to the death of seven-year-old Mckenzie Hope Rechier who was found strangled in a shack in Palo Seco. A female relative, 25, is in custody.

He said other signs could be people are no longer interested in things they once loved or no longer want to go out or be involved in anything, whether at work, at home, or in their personal lives. Benjamin, founder of The Centre for Human Development, said when people are not their “normal selves,” chances are something may be going on and require some level of interrogation.

“Sometimes it might be changes to their sleeping and eating patterns. Some sleep too much or too little or have a restless sleep. Some people eat too much or too little. They might eat feel-good food like ice cream, cake or whatever they consider comfort food and not understanding that that is a response to something that is going on within them that they are not paying attention to.”

The former head of the Children’s Authority said people are often not aware when their mental state changes.

Benjamin said, “Chances are there would be a physiological change. Unfortunately, the physiological change is the end result. We need to teach people to pay attention to when the change in emotion has changed — when people move from happy to sad.”

“I am not saying that people must always be happy because that is also a problem. When a person is in a period of prolonged sadness where doing basic, natural things have become a chore, we need to pay attention to that.”

He said society must normalise mental health and mental health treatment. He added that many people with mental health issues do not get help.

He said people view them as problems instead of dealing with the illness.

“We validate a physical illness but do not validate mental health because we do not see it. We associate mental health with lazy people, people who just have to get up and walk. Once we move away from those stigmas, we realise that more and more people are going to get help.

“Most times, people have access only when they are in a crisis. But there are limited public options for a person who is genuinely having a challenge and wants to work through things.”

Benjamin referred to statistics from the World Health Organization saying four in five people would live with depression at some point in their lives.

“In the Caribbean, we are battling mental health stigma. So a lot of people do not come forward and say they are living with this or feeling this way for fear of being ridiculed, segregated and separated.

“We need to make it so that people feel comfortable enough to say that there has been a change in our mental state, a change in our emotion. The workplace must be comfortable enough that staff can bring a sick that says depression, anxiety, stress, etc.”

He again called for a full mental health clinic at every health centre in TT to help remove stigmas.

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Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley operates a coffee grinder on display the the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Friday. – SUREASH CHOLAI

VISHANNA PHAGOO

Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales and technocrats from Caricom countries underscored the importance of agriculture, and what they expect of people in the region to in its efforts to achieve food security.

Gonzales said his ministry was essential to Trinidad and Tobago’s economic development as it provides water and electricity. He was speaking at the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Friday, where the expo takes place until 10 pm on Sunday.

“So what we are seeing here…, the vast display, the great innovation and thrust of development in our agricultural sector cannot be done if the Ministry of Public Utilities doesn’t have the policy of the government where public utilities are concerned. It cannot happen because we have to ensure we have sufficient water to irrigate our crops, we have to ensure that power is put on our farms.”

He said there are many farmers in TT, and possibly the entire region, who operate outside the electricity grid. Gonzales said the ministry plans to place solar panels at farms so they have access to power.

“Even though they are not integrated into the electricity world, they can now have access to solar power to power their farms.”

In addition to solar panels, Gonzales said the ministry will use its modular water treatment plants to boost the water supply.

Ariaponics manager Alex Jones shows the lettuce grown using his hydroponics system at the Agri-Invesment Forum and Expo, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Friday. – VISHANNA PHAGOO

“There are many ground and surface water that we have not harvested, and a number of rural communities do not have access to water, and with the use of modular water treatment plants we are going to bring to TT, we are going to target the rural communities because they have access to rivers and water wells. So, we are going to get the water treated by those plants because they can be easily and strategically placed around the communities.”

He said this will provide water in homes and farms that will result in more locally-sourced foods.

He said those interested in getting power supply can apply to the ministry’s electrification and solar electrification programmes. The cost is between $50,000 and $60,000 to provide power to their homes or farms.

Meanwhile, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Caricom technocrats discussed the need to promote healthy eating, the benefits of incorporating technology into agriculture, financing for small and medium farms and how to boost trade and investments in the region.

Shaun Baugh, programme manager of agricultural and agro-industrial development of Guyana, said there are many ongoing projects, some of which include de-risking of the regional agriculture sector, regional insurance, looking at alternative sources of financing and the removal of tariff barriers.

Also speaking at the food and nutrition panel, co-founder and director of Empower Nutrition Ltd Mweia Elias said nutrition is overlooked when it comes to discussing food security.

“There is no conversation about food security without nutrition security,” she said.

Elias said covid19 discussions have overshadowed that of chronic illnesses, and said at least 60 per cent of TT’s population suffers from over-nutrition. She said many patients express a love-hate relationship with flour and said there must be more options that are easily accessible.

Manager of Ariaponics Alex Jones said all of their produce is grown using hydroponics and a solar power system. – VISHANNA PHAGOO

During the agriculture, finance and marketing panel, Karen Yip Chuck, general manger, commercial and retail banking of Republic Bank Ltd (RBL), said the bank has committed GYD$2 billion (TT$64.9 million) to help micro-projects blossom to large scale in the country.

“RBL can provide the financing but it may not be accessible to the people who need it if they do not have business cases, they need to show performer financials – what their cash flow is.”

She said TT has the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), but other countries in the region may not hence RBL’s commitment to the cause.

ADB chairman Sekou Mark said 25 per cent of the 650 loans the ADB issues annually were to young entrepreneurs.

After the the forum, there was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Caricom Private Sector Organisations, Caribbean Supermarket Association, Manufacturers’ Association and Agri-Business Association, and the signing of the declaration by the Prime Minister and Caricom Private Sector.

At the expo, Dr Rowley and other delegates toured the booths. Each booth had representatives of from companies such as Ariaponics and Trintrac, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the Agricultural Society of TT. Representatives explained the benefits, challenges and solutions that come with farming.

At the Ariaponics booth, manager Alex Jones showed how large and crisp lettuce and chadon beni grew with the help of the nutrition being circulated into the hydroponic system, and said the entire process operates with solar power. He said the lettuce only takes a little over 30 days before they are ready for consumption.

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Lawmen assigned to the Narcotics Division have placed in custody a 37-year-old businessman of a St. Elizabeth address after he was caught transporting a large quantity of ganja valued at over $100 million on Thursday, August 18.

Reports are that at about 8:00 am during an operation, which was being conducted along with members of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, on the Portmore Toll Road, a 2013 Toyota Hiace bus, transporting a quantity of processed food intended for export was intercepted.

During a search, ganja weighing approximately 700 lbs with an estimated street value of approximately US $850,000.00 was found concealed in tins labeled as canned food.

The vehicle, along with the contraband, was seized and the driver was arrested on reasonable suspicion for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Formal charges are expected to be laid pending an interview which is to be conducted in the presence of his attorney.

The police are asking that a Taxi driver by the name of Anthony Murray, otherwise called ‘Sprang’, of Mike Town, Manchester, whom they believe can assist with their investigation to contact the Narcotics Division.

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Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, Akeem Blake, and Christopher Taylor won gold medals on day two of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, The Bahamas, on Saturday.

Oregon World Athletics Championships 100m silver medallist Jackson clocked 10.83 seconds to smash the championship record in The Bahamas and in the process secured her first international victory at the distance.

Celera Barnes of the USA clocked 11.10 seconds to beat Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison for the silver medal. Morrison clocked 11.11.

Blake clocked 9.98 seconds to also win his first international 100m gold medal. The 9.98 seconds also bettered the previous championship record of 10.03, set by fellow countryman Tyquendo Tracey in Toronto in 2018.

The 20-year-old Blake won ahead of the USA pair of Kyree King (10.08) and Brandon Carnes (10.12). Oshane Bailey of Jamaica finished seventh in 10.33.

Taylor, a 400m finalist at the Oregon World Athletics Championships, led home a Jamaica one-two finish in the half-lap event.

Taylor secured the gold medal in a new personal best of 44.63 to improve to 13th on the Jamaican all-time list while Nathon Allen clocked 45.04 for the silver medal.

Bryce Deadmon of the USA secured the bronze medal in 45.06.

Jamaica won 11 medals on the day, three gold, three silver, and five bronze medals, for a total of 12 following O’Dayne Richards’ bronze in the men’s shot put on Friday’s first day.

Megan Tapper and the mixed 4x400m relay team joined Nathon Allen as the silver medal winners.

Tapper won the silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles,

Tapper, the first-ever Jamaican athlete to win an Olympic medal in the 100m hurdles when she finished third in Tokyo last summer, clocked 12.68 seconds to secure the country’s third medal in The Bahamas.

Alaysha Johnson of the USA won the gold medal in 12.62 seconds while Devynne Charlton of the host nation The Bahamas secured bronze in 12.71.

Jamaica’s mixed 4x400m relay team of Demish Gaye, Junelle Bromfield, Karayme Bartley, and Andrenette Knight clocked 3:14.08 for its silver medal, well behind the USA, who took gold in 3:12.05. Cuba secured bronze in 3:20.35.

Adelle Tracey, Orlando Bennett, Stephenie Ann McPherson, and Chanice Porter joined Natasha Morrison as the bronze medal winners.

Former Great Britain athlete Tracey secured her bronze medal in the women’s 800m. She completed the course in 1:59.54 to win her first medal for Jamaica.

Ajee’ Wilson of the USA clocked 1:58.47 to beat compatriot Allie Wilson (1:58.48) for the gold.

Bennett ran a season’s best 13.18 second for third in the men’s 110m hurdles.

Freddie Crittenden of the USA clocked 13 seconds flat, a new personal best, to beat compatriot Jamal Britt (13.08) to gold. Britt’s time was also a new personal best.

Oregon World Athletics Championships finalist McPherson ran 50.36 seconds to win her bronze medal in the women’s 400m.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo ended her season at home by winning the gold medal and setting a new record.

Miller-Uibo won in a time of 49.40 – a new NACAC record – replacing the previous mark of 50.82 by American Courtney Okolo in 2015 in San Juan, Costa Rica.

Barbadian Sada Williams, the Oregon World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, finished second in 49.86.

Junelle Bromfield of Jamaica finished sixth in 51.51.

Porter secured her bronze in the women’s long jump with an effort of 6.43m, which she achieved in the final round.

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