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Kelvon Morris

THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris has described as “arrogant, bold-faced and disrespectful” Infrastructure Secretary Trevor James’ response to the Environmental Management Authority’s (EMA’s) concerns about a stage being built in the sea for next week’s Tobago carnival.

Earlier this week, the EMA said the stage was one of several infrastructural projects the THA was undertaking without the requisite certificates of environmental clearance (CEC).

The stage is being built at Rockly Bay, Milford Road, Scarborough,

James told the media on Monday, “What we are trying to do is host a carnival in a few weeks…we at the assembly are trying to execute these works in short order and sometimes as a state agency, we believe it might be challenging to go through every single step that is required. If that has to be done, then we won’t be able to accomplish all that we set out to do.”

He said, however, that his staff at the division had contacted the EMA and the Division of Environment and discussions were taking place.

James said he was not aware a CEC was required to construct the stage.

At a news conference on Thursday at his office in Scarborough, Morris said having served on the board of Evolving Technologies and Enterprise Development Co Ltd (eTecK), he has had some experience in addressing coastal projects.

He recalled eTecK had to hire an international firm to help deal with coastal erosion at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands.

The firm, he said, spent between six months and a year evaluating current flows to create a design that ensured no undue harm would be caused by the measures.

“So sometimes it may look as simple as just putting down boulders, and we may feel that it is no big deal. But when you affect the natural coastal flow in one area, it then causes a lot of destruction and environmental harm in other areas.”

He said the coastal erosion currently taking place in Lambeau might have been because of action taken previously in dealing with the Scarborough port.

Referring specifically to the stage in the sea, Morris said, “We are now seeing a secretary so arrogant, so boldfaced, so disrespectful that even in the face of the lawful authority saying to you, ‘At least there is a process, let us go through the process, let us give you the clearance,’ and you are saying, ‘No, I don’t care. We have a carnival to treat with and by hook or crook we putting down the stage. So I don’t care about the law’….This is the same division dealing with issues of breach of process.”

Morris said Tobago must not be destroyed for a carnival.

“The carnival would come and go, but whatever we do here, we will have to live with. Is a carnival worth the destruction of Tobago?”

He said while Tobagonians would like to have a good carnival, “If we don’t have the stage out in the sea, would that stop the carnival?”

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Liz Truss

NTA leader Gary Griffith has called on the Prime Minister to follow the lead of the former British prime minister and step down.

He sent a statement to Newsday on Thursday, minutes after Liz Truss publicly announced her resignation after 45 days in office as successor to Boris Johnson.

The Conservative Party mass membership had elected her over former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak, but her efforts to enact her promises of low taxation led her to crash the British economy.

Griffith said since “We purport to pattern our system of democracy after the Westminster model,” he would trust: “Our leaders can take example from former prime minister Truss’ resignation and follow suit.”

He cited current controversies in Trinidad and Tobago.

“In the face of controversy after controversy, from the merit-list fiasco to the current Nelson imbroglio, from runaway crime to consistent economic hardship, perhaps the time has come for us to pattern ourselves firmly utilising that Westminster model and encourage Prime Minister Rowley to step down.”

Alternatively, he said the Government should seek to refresh its mandate and call a general election sooner rather than later.

“This demonstrates clearly, citizens do not have to wait to adjust the Constitution to effect change.

“It is about demanding accountability, and that happens now.”

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Tobago

Kelvon Morris. File photo/Jeff K Mayers

THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris is calling on Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development Trevor James to say how a contract for a road project in Tobago was awarded to a Trinidad company within 24 hours of the proposal.

Last month, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke accused the Farley Augustine-led THA of favouring Trinidad contractors over their Tobago counterparts for certain projects.

Augustine’s attorneys have since sent Duke a pre-action protocol letter accusing him of defamation.

Speaking at a Diego Martin West constituency conference last Wednesday, the Prime Minister also accused the THA of discriminating against Tobago contractors.

At a news conference at his office in Scarborough on Thursday, Morris referred to a contract the Division of Infrastructure awarded to the Charlieville-based California Stucco Company Ltd to build a road from Mt Marie to Dutch Fort Crossing Canal.

He said the award of the contract presented more questions than answers.

“This matter is one that speaks to transparency, accountability and is connected to the ongoing discussions of Tobago contractors being sidelined.”

Morris told reporters it wsa tied to the discussions on people outside Tobago being sole selected and hand-picked, “”and it speaks to a level of nefarious behaviour, a level of malfeasance and a level of collusion.”

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Chess was introduced at the Bordelais Correctional Facility by the St. Lucia ChessFederation on 19th April, 2022.

The 2 nd Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners took place on the 13th and 14th October, 2022.

The Bordelais Correctional Facility participated for the first time, registering one team. The first round of competition took place on the 13th October, 2022. Bordelais’ team competed against inmates from Argentina,Ecuador, El Salvador, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago.

Team Bordelais placed 3rd in Group 7 of the Intercontinental Online Prison Chess Championship. However, they did not advance to the semi-finals.

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The goal of the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is to popularize chess as an efficient tool for reintegration of inmates. The governing body of the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Apiculture is thriving at the BCF

Seven female inmates completed a Bee-keeping workshop at the Bordelais Correctional Facility. The workshop and apiculture project is funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through the Government of St.Lucia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Export St. Lucia.

The workshop was facilitated by the President of Iyanola Apiculture Collective (St. Lucia) incollaboration with the Association of Caribbean Beekeepers Organization.

The intent of the workshop was to build the capacity of inmates and to introduce apiculture to the facility as a potential rehabilitation project.

The workshop was held under the theme, “Empowering Women in Food Systems and Strengthening their Local Capacity and Resilience of Small Island Developing States in Agri-Food Sector”.

The course ended with the presentation of certificates of participation to all the inmates. Bee-keeping kits were also presented to the Assistant Director for Rehabilitation, Mrs. Alberta Joseph Felicien.

Two queen hives were installed at the farm prior to completion of the course. Inmates are escorted to the hives every ten days as mandated by the training and the results of their findings are recorded and conveyed to Mr. Richard Matthias (facilitator), Craig Anderson – Coordinator, and Glenfild Gilbert, who are both representatives from Export Saint Lucia.

Overall, it is hoped that this intervention will result in not only increased capacity for inmates in honey production, but also to set the stage for exploring the possibilities of entering the regional apiculture industry.

Inter – Unit Football Competition

As part of our rehabilitation efforts at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, an inter-unit football tournament is being organized for the inmates. The various residential units will be divided in two zones, Zone 1 and Zone 2. Teams in Zone 1 will be playing teams in Zone 2.

The much anticipated football extravaganza by the inmates is expected to commence month end October or early November 2022.

The Bordelais Correctional Facility is in the process of securing sponsorship for this activity. Corporate partners are encouraged to support this initiative, and to contact the Assistant Director with responsibility for Rehabilitation Mrs. Alberta Joseph – Felicien at 4687110 or 7165665 for more information.

SOURCE: Department of Home Affairs

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