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TTUTA president Antonia De Freitas. –

TRADE union leaders have denounced as “dictatorial” any move to refer wage negotiations to the Industrial Court’s special tribunal.

On Friday, three of the four unions referred to the tribunal said they were not told anything about the referral.

In a telephone interview on Friday, president of the Prison Officers Association (POA) Ceron Richards said the referral was undermining the entire wage negotiations process.

He said the first he heard of it was when it was announced by the Finance Minister Colm Imbert during the reading of the 2023 budget.

Imbert said four unions had negotiations with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) sent to the special tribunal as discussions could go no further. Imbert said the government’s four per cent offer for two negotiating periods remains on the table and at any time any one of the unions can accept the offer, ending the tribunal.

The four per cent offer covers the negotiating period from 2014 to 2019

The unions sent to the tribunal are the POA, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA, the Police Social and Welfare Association and the TT Fire Service Association.

“The first time we heard of this being sent to the tribunal was in the media. The union has not received any documentation from the CPO or the Industrial Court informing us that negotiations had broken down to the point that it needed to be sent to a tribunal.”

TTUTA’s president Antonia Tehka-DeFreitas said the union was also in the dark on the referral.

“TTUTA has not received any documents from the Industrial Court. Until then the pronouncement in the public domain does not qualify as an official notification.”

She said she could comment until TTUTA was given official notice.

Richards said the POA and the CPO met three times but they were yet to discuss the union’s requests.

“I am very concerned about the status of these negotiations. From the beginning of these negotiations, it was severely undermined. What is this special tribunal? There is no option of appealing their decisions.

“This is a strict political situation. I have never experienced this before. This is unique.”

Imbert said Amalgamated Workers Union and the Defence Force had accepted the four per cent offer.

However, Richards said the Defence Force signing was peculiar. He said the unit usually signs after other protective services.

Fire Service Association president Leo Ramkissoon also said the surprise referral to the tribunal was a “unilateral and draconian attempt to suppress and oppress salaries of the protective services.”

He said they too only had three in-person meetings with the CPO which he described as a “façade aimed at attempting to fool the public into believing that reasonable consideration was being given.”

“What we saw was an unprecedented and dictatorial approach that was woefully insufficient, contravening long standing negotiation practices.”

Vice-president of the Police Social Welfare Association, ASP Ishmael Pitt, said the referral to the tribunal was disheartening as the association believed the government understood the role police played, especially in the past two years.

“Right now, it is a matter of regrouping because this process is binding. We trust that the government, in its quiet moment, considers the last two years when police officers went above and beyond the call of duty.

“We know things are not what they used to be economically, but police officers deserve a decent standard of living.”

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PARAMARIBO — Bij afzonderlijke steek- en kappartijen tussen woensdag en zaterdag is één persoon overleden en moesten twee slachtoffers medisch

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Even as some communities are complaining about the irregular supply of pipe-borne water, the Antigua Public Utilities Authority appears not to care that gallons are being wasted, residents of Carlisle are saying.

They tell REAL News that a leak that began in front of a beauty salon has gradually worsened, and the water has been running across the recently repaved Sir George Walter Highway since Wednesday or Thursday.

Persons travelling to and from the V.C. Bird International Airport and the Coolidge community along that road have also made the observation.’’

A resident of Powells says the running water is a concern, not only for the integrity of the roadway, but because he is afraid of the leak affecting the airport compound, in the area where open trenches are running parallel to the highway.

That stretch of the road has long been treacherous for motorists, he adds, since water has traditionally pooled in the bend.  Many accidents have occurred there, with vehicles having ended up breaching the airport’s fence.

Accordingly, “with this smooth road and the speed at which some people drive, this water is creating dangerous conditions,” the senior man says.  “The water department needs to address this thing right now.”

A Carlisle resident is also chiding the Authority.  “I remember hearing one of the APUA Managers say that we, the citizens, are not reporting the leaks when we see them,” she tells our News Room.  “Now we are doing it, it still does not make a difference,” she says.

The woman claims the hotline worker who took her call assured her that the Authority had been notified already, and yet, she says, she has seen no work crew come to address it.

Another leak – this one on the main road outside the Paynter Paradise housing development – has been running for nearly two weeks now, according to an area resident.

“You mean to tell me – with water so scarce – it can take this long for them to fix it?  You mean that nobody tarl from APUA drive on this road and see the water getting away?” the angry woman asks.

Meanwhile, another person who has some knowledge of such operations says that “APUA needs a proper dispatch system to receive trouble calls; log them into the maintenance system immediately; and issue them out as Corrective Maintenance Work Orders – categorized as Emergency, Urgent and Routine.”

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(Trinidad Guardian) The Caribbean Premier League of Cricket (CPL) has completed its 10th year and its impact continues to be phenomenal both on and off the field. The ten consecutive years have been amazing. Not even COVID-19 was able to prevent the event, albeit with strict restrictions.

The CPL continues to provide regional cricketers with lucrative pay packages. Additionally, host countries have benefited from the positive effects of direct and indirect sport tourism and the economic activity related to hosting a mega sporting event. Promoted as the biggest party in sport, it brings colour and vibe to cricket. But even greater than that, it is the biggest regional event not only in sport but just the biggest regional event full stop! However, critics, and unbeknownst observers have intentionally or unintentionally at times failed to consider the positive impact of the CPL outside of cricket.

Countries are invited to bid for the right to host matches and assist the franchises. Therefore, the onus is on the respective countries to capitalise on their investments. It is for the countries to make the best of this investment. However, there are countries who have indicated that there is no commercial value from the CPL, as with their robust tourist industry, hosting the CPL has nothing to add.

This, however, is a short-sighted perspective, as the recently concluded CPL showed the attributes of play around sport. It was not just to 12,000 people who filled the Queen’s Park Oval, or the 18,000 who filled the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, or even the 14,000 who filled the National Stadium of Guyana that provided revenue. The full stadia, in fact, provided atmosphere, fervour, and excellent photo opportunities for politicians and those seeking public exposure. The major beneficiaries were those involved in activities around the cricket.

To start with, vendors both in and outside of the stadium, taxi drivers taking people to games or to attractions, restauranteurs, and hoteliers, all had a field day from St Kitts to St Lucia, Trinidad to Guyana. And this was not just from the over 200 persons directly involved in the CPL: teams and officials, organisers and marketing staff of the CPL, television production crews and commentators, etc., but from the hordes of people who travelled for the cricket.

There were not just local patrons but people from Europe, North America and other Caribbean countries who flocked to these venues. Included were franchise owners, some of whom are wealthy businesspeople, Bollywood stars and persons with interest not only in investing in regional cricket, but in the region in general. This was the forum for them to enjoy cricket and enjoy local hospitality while exploring their next business venture or investment.

Guyana grabbed the opportunity to organise a spectacular festive event around its leg of the CPL matches, inclusive of the knockout and final stages. Guyana is a country where optimism abounds amongst its citizens, palpable when talking to persons in all spheres of life. The idea and execution of the cricket festival was sheer brilliance. Not only did they invest in hosting two weeks of cricket, but there was also a grand gala dinner commemorating the 10th year of the CPL, and separate concerts featuring the likes of Beres Hammond, Spice, Machel Montano and chutney soca artists. The nightly food fairs, night markets and commercial activity exceeded the norm.

In fact, for the month of September, there was a 91% increase in visitor arrivals, with over 23,000 persons entering the country. The vast majority were visiting for the cricket and activities around cricket. Not only were all hotel rooms filled, but an organised system whereby persons could stay in local homes was successful. Not only did Georgetown benefit, but excursions into the interior of Guyana provided income to those who transported and those who hosted the hordes of visitors who paid handsomely for these excursions.

The energetic President, Mohammed Irfaan Ali, was the mastermind behind Guyana hosting the final leg of the CPL and the cricket carnival. He attended all of the evening matches and sat among the crowd in the stands as opposed to occupying the comfort of the Presidential Suite. He socialised at venues in Georgetown, ensuring that all his citizens and visitors had personal access to him. The way Guyana conducted itself during the two weeks of cricket begs the question now as to what was and is going through the minds of those who shun investment in the CPL.

The four countries that hosted CPL matches this year would have experienced financial benefits from increased arrivals and their related economic activity. With side shows and other events put on privately (even by cricketers), the benefits would have exceeded the norm. Guyana pivoted strategically to capitalise on all the possible benefits of hosting a sporting event. The West Indies missed this opportunity in 2007 when it hosted the ICC World Cup. However, the approach taken by Guyana can serve as a model for all future host countries.

The benefits of such investment are both tangible and intangible. Having spoken to the tangible, nationalism, patriotism, and even feelings of self-importance and self-worth are best brought out by war and sport. We are in a region where we do not believe in the former but have not fully exploited the latter. Which politician would not want to be in the middle of a full stadium where everyone is cheering and having a good time? Not only is there a good vibe, but there is enormous goodwill amongst all involved. There is national exposure for those watching on television or witnessing events on the ground. The influx of a mix of people with diverse backgrounds can only enhance the hosting country. For those players and visitors from overseas, it sells the idea of returning for a prolonged holiday. For those involved in business, it provides an opportunity to introduce them to opportunities on the ground. Whereas only some of the intangible benefits are mentioned, many more remain unidentified.

The opportunities around sport must be seized. The 10th edition of the CPL has provided a template for effective and efficient organisation for future host countries. One hopes that all countries acknowledge the benefits that can be gained. It is not just about money made in sport, but money made around sport.

Dr Akshai Mansingh is Dean, Faculty of Sport, The UWI. He can be reached at [email protected]

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Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne. – JEFF K MAYERS

MINISTER of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne says the latest travel advisory issued by the US earlier this week does not mean the country’s standing has worsened

Answering questions posed by Naparima MP Rodney Charles at the Standing Finance Committee on a budget item for publicity, promotions and printing, Browne said the $200,000 allocated was not to combat negative perception of the country.

On October 5, the Ministry issued its advisory saying the country was ranked at Level II (exercise increased caution), while Port of Spain ranked at Level IV. The advisory warned Americans not to travel into Port of Spain due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.

It explicitly warned Americans not to travel to: Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of the Queen’s Park Savannah because of crime.

Responding to Charles on Friday, Browne said: “Madam chair I know what the member is trying to do but this is really not the best line item to achieve that. The country is associated with a Level II advisory. Particular areas in Port of Spain are associated with a Level IV. This is exactly the same two tiers that existed last year.”

Browne asked that Charles not mislead the country into thinking that TT fell by two tiers as a country regarding the safety advisory of the country.

Moving on from that, Browne said the pandemic hindered the formation of the National Reparations Committee. He added that the formation of the committee remains an area of commitment for the government as well as the appointed of a chairperson for the committee.

“As you are aware the Prime Minister and the country has been weighing in on this issue, globally as well. At the micro level, here in TT, we have some work to do in terms of the National Reparations Committee.”

Browne said his ministry will be working on formulating a diaspora policy and there is a draft policy already in place. He added that within six months of the 2022/2023 fiscal year, he expects the policy to be completed.

Browne also hopes to fill several vacancies in his ministry within this fiscal year. He said of the 270 permanent posts, there are 63 still vacant and 33 contract posts to be filled.

Browne’s ministry’s allocation of $257,475,000 was approved by the Standing Finance Committee with no major concerns.

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