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00:00:00 and a very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago. I'm Marlon Hopkinson and as always,
00:00:17 welcome to the Morning Edition. It's January 9th, 2024 and thank you very much for joining
00:00:22 us. Well, it would seem that we did have a very peaceful night, a quiet night. Yeah,
00:00:30 it would seem so. So, we're always thankful for that. Just incidentally, today, the body
00:00:38 of the late former Prime Minister, Basdor Pandey, he will be laid to rest today and
00:00:43 we'll give you information as we go along this morning concerning how the exercise is
00:00:53 going to play out and pan out at Sapa this morning. Alright, so I'll try to give you
00:00:59 as much information as possible. Alright, so it's good to have you here with us this
00:01:03 morning. I hope that you had a good night, that you're safe and sound this morning. You
00:01:07 have your coffee and tea and something to eat. It's going to be a very interesting morning.
00:01:11 We will have some entertainment this morning and you know, a chance for us to maybe lighten
00:01:17 up the mood a little bit. Alright, so let's check out to see what's happening in the Daily
00:01:20 Express for today. On the front page, Labor salute, Oil Fields, Workers Trade Union President,
00:01:28 General Ansel Roger II from right and other executive members of the union raise clench
00:01:33 fists as they pay their respects yesterday to former Prime Minister Basdor Pandey at
00:01:38 the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts in San Fernando where Pandey's body lay in
00:01:42 state. The raised left hand with fist clenched represents a union gesture of power to the
00:01:49 people. Before he became a politician, Pandey was a trade unionist and political speakers
00:01:56 out. Daughter, Michaela, to deliver eulogy at funeral service today. Brother, Subhas,
00:02:03 daughter, son-in-law and President Kangaloo, they all will give tributes and also in the
00:02:10 Daily Express today, the untold story of Basdor Pandey. Let's check out some sport now. Cause
00:02:17 for concern, Jamaica's reluctance, USA's rise could threaten future of Caribbean cricket.
00:02:24 Jamaica's reluctance to make a bid to commit to hosting matches in the upcoming T20 World
00:02:29 Cup should be a cause for concern for cricket West Indies, especially with the emergence
00:02:34 of the USA, which is establishing itself as a viable destination for games in the future.
00:02:42 Yeah, watch out for that, you know. Yeah. All right. Go ahead. It's time to remind you
00:02:49 about Trinbago, your nice feature. Remember to participate, WhatsApp your videos or images
00:02:53 to 737-3778. We do have this for you. Immortal blooms as a gray lined hawk flies away, I
00:03:08 suspect from the blooms. All right. Another beautiful picture there from Sham. Sham, Sham
00:03:14 has been working overtime for us. And Sham, a special good morning to you. And we do appreciate
00:03:19 your photographs. All right. So we are going to very short break. We are coming back.
00:03:26 It is ways alive. Kids gummies are multivitamin gummies meant to support the development of
00:03:50 children's bodies like their bones, muscles, joints, brain, heart and also their immune
00:03:55 health. Choose alive kids gummies by nature's way because they deserve it.
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00:05:21 Slavery, a terrible time in our history.
00:05:27 The kidnapping, buying and selling of people for profit,
00:05:31 the exploitation of another human being.
00:05:34 It still exists today.
00:05:36 It has a new name, human trafficking.
00:05:39 Anyone can be a victim.
00:05:41 There is forced labor,
00:05:44 sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.
00:05:48 Human trafficking is a worldwide problem
00:05:52 and an emerging concern for us here in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:05:56 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity,
00:06:00 call the counter trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.
00:06:07 Human trafficking is a crime.
00:06:09 Identify it, report it, stop it.
00:06:13 A message from the counter trafficking unit
00:06:15 of the Ministry of National Security.
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00:06:34 All right, so welcome back everyone.
00:06:37 Again, it's always a pleasure to have you join us on the morning edition.
00:06:41 Just to tell you, as I told you earlier about the funeral today
00:06:45 of the former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Basile Pande.
00:06:48 Well, the funeral service takes place at nine o'clock this morning
00:06:52 at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts, Sapa.
00:06:56 All right, you remember yesterday I was telling you
00:06:58 that there are parking arrangements and so on.
00:07:00 Well, you have to go down there very, very early.
00:07:03 All right, so some of the plans
00:07:06 for the funeral of the late Prime Minister for today.
00:07:09 All right, so we do have this morning in studio
00:07:12 the new president of the Fire Officers Association of Trinidad and Tobago,
00:07:20 Mr. Kion Guy.
00:07:22 Mr. Guy, thank you very much for coming this morning.
00:07:24 Thank you, Marlon. Thank you for having me.
00:07:26 And good morning to your viewers as well.
00:07:28 Yeah, and let me tell you, Mr. Guy is very, very new in this position.
00:07:33 So the election took place on December 11th last year.
00:07:36 11th and 12th.
00:07:38 So we have two days of elections, and that's to ensure that we can
00:07:41 capture all the fire officers that work on the various shifts as well.
00:07:44 Right. And what sort, well, of course,
00:07:47 is it that your slate won the election, your entire slate?
00:07:51 No, unfortunately.
00:07:53 Well, fortunately, I should say we have a makeup
00:07:56 that comes from persons from different slates as well as independent candidates.
00:07:59 So that I believe that the diversity, you know,
00:08:03 will act as a strength to us, you know,
00:08:05 we'll have competent views and persons with,
00:08:08 we'll have better ideas, I believe, in the end.
00:08:11 Yeah, but I suspect you can give your membership the assurance
00:08:15 that although some people may have come from,
00:08:19 or the executive is made up of various slates, members of various slates,
00:08:23 but all are committed to the upliftment and the welfare of fire officers.
00:08:30 Yes, certainly. We believe that the,
00:08:32 what will bring us together is our desire to serve fire officers,
00:08:35 our desire to ensure that fire officers' lives are improved,
00:08:38 that they work in the conditions, the challenges that we have,
00:08:42 you know, that at least they'll be ameliorated,
00:08:44 and we'll see a better improvement in the overall life
00:08:47 and the performance of the fire service in general.
00:08:50 Yeah. Now, I know one of the main issues for fire officers
00:08:56 is the situation concerning back pay.
00:09:00 What can you tell us this morning?
00:09:02 Right. As you would remember, the Prime Minister,
00:09:05 in his post-Cabinet press briefing on October, I believe it was the 26th,
00:09:09 indicated that they intended to pay protective service officers
00:09:13 as well as officers attached to the teaching service
00:09:16 the retroactive payments for salaries,
00:09:18 for the salary negotiation period of 2014 to 2019.
00:09:22 So I can say that on account of the hard work of the members
00:09:28 of the accounting department at the fire service headquarters,
00:09:31 in conjunction with their counterparts at the Ministry of National Security,
00:09:35 as well as the Defence Force, they have been able to pay
00:09:38 approximately 90% of the officers in the regular arm of the fire service,
00:09:42 and about one-third of the officers attached to the auxiliary fire service.
00:09:47 Our hope, though, is that for this salary coming up here in January,
00:09:52 that the remaining officers, which works out to approximately
00:09:56 289 officers in the regular arm, and an additional 200 auxiliary fire officers,
00:10:03 will receive their retroactive payments with this coming salary in January.
00:10:09 Yeah. But I'm sure that this must have come as a concern
00:10:14 to the officers who have not received their back payers yet.
00:10:17 What do you tell them?
00:10:19 Of course, I would say to them that we are continuing to investigate the matter
00:10:23 to ensure that it is resolved in a timely manner.
00:10:26 I mean, this is money that has been owed to these officers
00:10:28 for going on almost a decade now.
00:10:30 As I said, the salary negotiation period was for the year 2014 to 2019.
00:10:36 So these officers have been waiting on these funds,
00:10:38 and there's an opportunity cost that is missed every day, every month,
00:10:42 every year, that these officers go without their increases.
00:10:45 So we are continuing to investigate the issue,
00:10:48 and our hope is that definitely the accounting department
00:10:50 would be able to meet good on their promise
00:10:53 and pay the remaining officers with their January salaries.
00:10:56 Yeah. Is this, you think, an issue that is getting the interest also
00:11:04 of the administration of the fire service?
00:11:07 Yes. I've had discussions with the permanent secretary, Ms. Barrow.
00:11:11 I've had discussions with the chief officer
00:11:13 and the head of the accounting department on the matter,
00:11:15 and I would report to fire officers that they are indeed attempting
00:11:20 to ensure that the payments are made.
00:11:22 I mean, if you go down to the fire service headquarters,
00:11:24 you will see all through the Christmas season
00:11:26 the accounting department is working way into the middle of the night.
00:11:30 And this was to ensure that they kept the mandate put to them
00:11:33 by the prime minister, and as I said, they fell just a little short,
00:11:37 but the hope is that by January they will have all those retroactive payments made.
00:11:42 All right. Mr. Guy, let's speak a little bit about the challenges
00:11:48 that your officers are facing because up to last year,
00:11:53 there was a major concern about the safety of fire officers.
00:12:01 That's one. There was concern about the equipment that you all have
00:12:07 or the equipment that you all do not have.
00:12:11 We heard from the association last year that certain fire stations
00:12:17 just do not have fire tenders.
00:12:20 So your executive has come in at a very challenging time,
00:12:28 and have there been any improvements concerning these matters?
00:12:35 These matters are longstanding ones, and you remember my predecessor,
00:12:38 Mr. Ramkissu, several times on this program as well as others,
00:12:42 spoke to the issues affecting fire officers.
00:12:45 As it pertains to the health and safety concerns at stations,
00:12:48 this remains a priority for this incarnation of the executive committee.
00:12:54 We want to ensure that fire officers have safe working conditions at the stations,
00:12:59 that the vehicles that they are transported into the emergencies
00:13:02 are also free of defects, and that at the emergency scenes
00:13:06 there are enough administrative controls as well as the provision of the equipment
00:13:11 and PPE as you see that we are lacking solely.
00:13:15 It is a concern to us and it will always be.
00:13:17 We will continue to advocate for it, advocate for increased allocations
00:13:20 to the fire service and for better use of those funds when they are there.
00:13:26 The only improvement we have seen in the medium term, I should say,
00:13:30 well, short term in fact, is that some stations that have been
00:13:34 without appliances for an extended period, we begin to see those appliances returning.
00:13:40 So we see now an appliance in the Mover Fire Station.
00:13:42 It's not of the capacity that we would like, but we are seeing some improvement there.
00:13:47 We still have stations like Woodbrook Fire Station that remains without an appliance up to today.
00:13:53 We have stations in Pinal. We have stations in Separia.
00:13:56 And these things are very concerning to us.
00:13:59 We would hope that moving forward, that in collaboration with our counterparts
00:14:05 or stakeholders in the Ministry of National Security and along with the Chief Officer,
00:14:09 that we are able to make some purchases on the necessary equipment
00:14:12 and provide the fire officers with the resources so that they can better perform their duties moving ahead.
00:14:17 But don't you think that this is a dire situation?
00:14:22 I'm sure speaking about an area such as Woodbrook without a fire tender,
00:14:30 and I'm speaking about Woodbrook in the context it is a very busy area,
00:14:36 a number of buildings, a buzz with business activity.
00:14:42 If something happens, then what do you do?
00:14:46 Something has happened.
00:14:48 I believe you would remember, I believe it was about a year and a half ago,
00:14:52 there was the unfortunate fire right next to the RBC in Maraval.
00:14:56 Yes.
00:14:57 Where we have the, I believe it was four kids that lost their lives.
00:15:00 So things have been happening, and persons and members of the public have been losing their lives and their property.
00:15:05 And that's why we are saying that it's our hope that the state definitely pays some special attention to the fire service
00:15:12 and ensures that stations, all the fire stations, I mean what is a fire station without a fire tender?
00:15:18 Right?
00:15:19 It's not a situation where fire officers can go on foot patrols like the police officers and make reports of fires.
00:15:24 We need equipment. We need the resources.
00:15:26 We need the appliances that will be able to carry the right amount of medium to extinguish and interrupt that fire
00:15:32 before it costs more lives and property.
00:15:36 So it's concerning, as you mentioned, Woodbrooke has a very active nightlife,
00:15:42 and it is concerning to all of us that it has gone so long without an appliance there at that station.
00:15:48 Yeah.
00:15:49 There was also a concern about equipment not up to standard, if I can put it that way.
00:15:58 And there was also a concern that fire officers who, in most cases, are rushing to the scenes of fires,
00:16:09 that they are operating vehicles that may not be up to standard.
00:16:18 See, fire officers are put in a very, very difficult position, right?
00:16:22 Because here it is that we took our oath of office where we took on that responsibility to ensure that the civil defense of the state,
00:16:30 as it pertains to fire and life safety, is offered.
00:16:34 And even when we are faced with challenges like defective vehicles, there's this dilemma.
00:16:40 Should I drive or operate a defective vehicle when I measure against the chances that somebody may lose their lives?
00:16:47 So fire officers have been taking some of these risks, unfortunately, and our hope, again, as I said, is that these issues will be rectified.
00:16:55 But what needs to happen is that the state needs to pay some special attention to the organization,
00:17:00 and that has not been occurring for the longest period of time.
00:17:04 So we are hoping that when we are able to meet with the Minister of National Security and with the Chief Officer on these issues,
00:17:10 some special attention can definitely be treated or put towards these issues to help them have them rectified.
00:17:16 And has your executive, because I know that there were calls by the other executive last year for a meeting with the Minister of National Security,
00:17:27 so has your executive put pen to paper to make this meeting happen?
00:17:34 What we have done so far since coming into office is that we have notified the stakeholders of the change in leadership,
00:17:41 and our intention is to reach out for meetings.
00:17:45 We have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with the Chief Officer and subsequently that with the Chief Personnel Officer on Thursday.
00:17:52 And we are hoping that we could have one arranged with the Minister of National Security, as well as the other stakeholders,
00:17:57 in short order to see that these issues, or at least the items that have been of great concern,
00:18:04 again, this administration as well as the past one, will be put in place on the agenda and hopefully resolved.
00:18:10 It's been too long that the fire service has gone without having that special care and attention,
00:18:16 and I say this because we are competing against national security, or crime I should say, which is a concern to all citizens.
00:18:23 But it should not be lost on us that fire is just as dangerous, and that the fire officers, in order to perform their duties,
00:18:32 require that resources, they require better allocations, and the supply of equipment and appliances as well.
00:18:39 You know, Mr. Guy, as a citizen, and this is just my personal view, I'm just thinking, in 2023,
00:18:49 how could you still have a situation where fire officers are saying to the administration, to those in authority,
00:18:59 "Look, we need oxygen masks." And the response is, "Well, we have about some. We have some. We have 20-something."
00:19:11 That, to me, is an untenable situation.
00:19:16 It is very much untenable, and I'll use my own example. Just on Republic Day this year, I was burnt across my face.
00:19:23 As you can see, there are still some marks remaining, and that was as a result of not having the critical component of a personal protective equipment,
00:19:31 which was the SCBA sets. I believe the challenge of the fire service is that I'm not certain that the administrators at national security
00:19:41 truly understand the importance of the various types of equipment that we speak to,
00:19:46 and maybe that's on us to do a better job of making clear as to what we require these resources for,
00:19:52 because imagine you're a public servant, and it comes across your desk that the fire service is requiring X equipment or whatever.
00:20:00 You are normally trained to look at the procurement process, go through it, you're trained to look at costs and these various things,
00:20:06 but in the fire service's case, because we are part of the Ministry of National Security, and this is a lapse in the National Security of the country,
00:20:14 make no mistake about that, if we are unable to have those critical components of PPE, it not only jeopardizes the lives of fire officers,
00:20:24 but what it means is that we effectively cannot effect a rescue.
00:20:28 So even if the officer that would work had an appliance and responded to the fire where the children lost their lives,
00:20:35 the challenge there then is how can we then enter to effect a rescue, to conduct a search and get those persons out.
00:20:44 We know that in a fire situation, most times it's the smoke that results in the death of a person that is trapped, as opposed to the flames themselves.
00:20:54 So we don't have any special type of lungs. We require these sets in order to conduct our job.
00:21:00 And I know that with the proclamation of the OPR, and when it came on stream of the OPR, I should say,
00:21:09 it posed some additional challenges for the Ministry and for the Chief Officer in securing some of those components, but it's been too long.
00:21:19 We are going to know in almost five years that the fire service is without its proper complement of breathing apparatus sets,
00:21:25 and we hope that that could be rectified in short order.
00:21:30 Judging from what you have told us, because you said that there has been some improvement at the MoVA station.
00:21:37 But even when you were speaking about that, I think you intimated that even the equipment that they have now may not be adequate,
00:21:50 fit for that, for the, let's say, the occurrences that may occur in that facility.
00:21:58 And it gives the impression that there is some disconnect there when vehicles are being procured.
00:22:07 There's some disconnect and some misunderstanding as to what you all really need, what the end users really need.
00:22:16 Well, the appliance that is at MoVA now is one that was refurbished, right?
00:22:20 So it's been in the organization for maybe almost a decade now, I would want to say.
00:22:25 And we refer to them as the ice cream trucks because they are very small.
00:22:29 And the average appliance carries approximately 4,000 liters of water.
00:22:33 This particular truck carries 1,000 liters.
00:22:36 And if you understand how MoVA is built up, is that MoVA has a lot of residential areas.
00:22:41 There are a number of secondary, primary, and early child care schools.
00:22:46 There are some industrial estates.
00:22:48 There's a Massey location there.
00:22:50 And opposite to that, there's some manufacturing going on there, right?
00:22:54 There's a Fernandez compound not too far.
00:22:55 So the station ground itself, as we call it, that geographical area that the MoVA fire station is responsible for, is quite a high-risk area.
00:23:04 Yet for some reason, it's been lost on our decision-makers as to the importance of having an adequate appliance there.
00:23:10 That 1,000 liters can't properly extinguish a bushfire, much less a structural fire, right?
00:23:19 They will have challenges even extinguishing a car fire, right?
00:23:24 But what we have seen is a lack of continuity, right, a lack of the creation of a strategic plan for the fire service that would see that regardless of whether a chief harvester continues or moves on into his retirement, that the plan continues.
00:23:38 And that's part of the reason that we are seeing the procurement of some of these items that are not really fit for purpose.
00:23:44 Yeah.
00:23:45 And, you know, Mr. Guy, as I hear you speak, I'm hearing Usher saying, "Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn."
00:23:52 And that may have to be the position that fire officers, they would be forced to take.
00:23:58 Because if you don't have, in some cases, tenders, you don't have oxygen masks, you don't have other equipment, then what do you do?
00:24:06 We are at that state, Marlon.
00:24:08 Unfortunately, we are at that state where officers are responding to emergency events and they are not, they don't have the requisite equipment to properly extinguish or intervene in the fire.
00:24:20 So it's spreading and it's resulting in millions and millions of dollars of losses, right?
00:24:24 We continue, that is lost on us.
00:24:27 We are seeing the murders, which is, I mean, when somebody loses their lives, especially in the speed or the rate that we're seeing right now, that is quite concerning.
00:24:36 But it must not be lost on us that the destruction that a fire can cause to the disruption of life, to the disruption of business, commerce, to the disruption of even the quality of life.
00:24:50 Because we report death by fires, but we don't report those injuries oftentimes.
00:24:54 And we have persons oftentimes don't really recover after going through a fire incident.
00:24:58 And I was fortunate enough to be burned and seek almost 95 percent recovery.
00:25:04 But there are other victims that are not so fortunate.
00:25:07 And if it continues, that the fire service remains without these critical components and equipment, in fact, Osher Song will be playing in the background.
00:25:16 Let's speak about tankers.
00:25:21 Do you all have enough tankers? And let's speak about other smaller pieces of equipment.
00:25:26 It may be an axe. It may be a chop saw, you know, pieces of equipment like that.
00:25:32 The most important equipment and all are important, right?
00:25:35 But the bigger ticket items that we would like to see more of in the fire service are what are known as the jaws of life.
00:25:41 Yes. Right. We call them the they are really hydraulic rescue tools.
00:25:44 But members know it as the jaws of life. Those are important for effecting rescues or extrications at road traffic accidents.
00:25:52 So we have a number of stations. Imagine the Arima fire station that is responsible for a large portion of one of the major arteries of this country and also protects one of the most built up areas.
00:26:03 They are without such a set at this very moment, along with a number of other stations. Right.
00:26:08 And that is a concern. We also require a lot more portable water pumps.
00:26:14 So there was recently a fire in Arima as well, where I believe it was the the mayor's or his family's one of his relatives lost a home.
00:26:22 And they spoke to the fact that they pointed out to the officers and seen that there was a pool nearby that they could access water.
00:26:30 And I understand because I work in the field, I'm attached to an operational station.
00:26:34 The challenges with that in order for us to remove that water and put it to use, we require those portable pumps.
00:26:41 So if the Arima fire station had a portable pump, they may have been able to make use of that as well.
00:26:47 So we have challenges both in large equipment and smaller ones.
00:26:51 For instance, structural firefighting gloves is one.
00:26:57 So we have fire officers that passed out in the organization for the past four years ago and they've never been issued these gloves.
00:27:04 So, in fact, they are unable to really operate in the manner in which they should.
00:27:08 So these are some of the items that we like to see purchased in this in this fiscal, actually.
00:27:14 Right. We need to ensure that it happens. It's gone way too long without these necessary equipment.
00:27:20 And I hope again when we are able to meet with the minister of national security, with the PS, the chief officer, that we will see some amelioration of these issues.
00:27:29 Yeah. And I'm just thinking what is responsible for the delay?
00:27:34 The past executive spoke extensively about some of these challenges.
00:27:41 And I'm just wondering, have the authorities not heard you all?
00:27:47 Is is there a problem as it relates to the procurement process?
00:27:51 What is taking so long for the fire service to be outfitted with this very important or important items?
00:27:59 We have many challenges, some which are internal to the fire service itself, where we have to ensure that our staff are properly trained and understand probably how to access the various funding.
00:28:13 I don't think we've been doing an excellent job at it. And that has resulted in the delay in the procurement of some of these items.
00:28:21 But also, I believe that we have not been doing an excellent job in communicating to the ministry official, to those professionals, so that they will understand the purpose behind some of these items.
00:28:34 You know, I mean, firefighting in itself is a specialty field.
00:28:38 So it is difficult for persons, whether they are trained in law or any other field, to truly understand all aspects of our job.
00:28:46 Right. It is it's not only that we fight fires, we respond to water rescues, respond to road traffic accidents.
00:28:53 When persons and hikers are lost or persons get trapped or die, whether it be in the forest, we go out in search of them as well.
00:29:02 And that is true of the use of our rescue team. If there are fires at well, if there are maritime incidents and fires out at sea, fire officers, I myself have boarded several Coast Guard vehicles and gone out to sea in the Gulf and had to fight those fires out there.
00:29:17 So because of those reasons, they may be here in fire officers asking for equipment and various types of equipment.
00:29:22 And it's easy to say, well, we give them equipment before. So why are they asking for more equipment now?
00:29:27 Or that we give them vehicles, why are they asking for a different type of vehicle now? It's because there's different.
00:29:32 We have a lot of specialty areas that require these requires these special tools.
00:29:37 Right. And I think we probably need to do a better job of making it clear as to the uses and the purposes and communicating one message between ourselves and the chief officer to ensure that the decision makers at the ministry are able to allocate the necessary resources to us.
00:29:56 Yeah. Mr. Guy, anything else you'd like to tell us this morning?
00:30:00 I think that you have laid bare a lot of issues. Food for thought on our table this morning.
00:30:07 It has been a buffet of challenges that you have laid out for us. Anything else you'd like to tell us?
00:30:14 What I would like to take the opportunity to do, however, and I probably should have done at the start, is to thank my predecessor, Mr. Ramke Soon, for his almost decade long leadership in the Fire Services Association.
00:30:28 I believe all fire officers will agree with me when I say that he has left an indelible mark on our organization.
00:30:34 We thank him for his leadership. We thank him for the time that he has put in into this organization.
00:30:39 And we wish him all the best in his future endeavors as well.
00:30:42 For those few years, Leo get horse, you know, the amount of issues he would have spoken about.
00:30:48 But, yeah, he has had a good knock in the weekend.
00:30:51 Yes, he has.
00:30:52 So, good morning to Mr. Ramke Soon and Mr. Guy. It was a pleasure speaking with you this morning. Thank you very much for coming.
00:30:57 Thank you for having me, Malang.
00:30:58 Of course. All right. We are going to a very short break. We are coming back, everyone. Stay right there.
00:31:02 [Music]
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00:32:31 [Speaking Spanish]
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00:32:38 Shut up! I've had enough of all of you. You ungrateful...
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00:32:50 [Speaking Spanish]
00:32:57 [Music]
00:33:01 Just allow us to leave, please. Give us our passports and allow us to leave.
00:33:07 You can find out things are free to leave.
00:33:10 If you step one foot out of here, I will see to it that immigration sends you back to whatever hell you came from.
00:33:22 If you know of or suspect human trafficking activity, call the counter-trafficking hotline at 800-4CTU or 800-4288.
00:33:32 Human trafficking is a crime. Identify it. Report it. Stop it.
00:33:37 A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
00:33:42 [Music]
00:33:57 Yeah, so welcome back everyone. So we do have another president in studio this morning with us and he is president of the Prison Officers Association, Mr. Gerard Gordon.
00:34:08 Good morning, good morning. Good morning, Marla. Good morning to you.
00:34:12 That's a joke from warfare. We can't tell you about that.
00:34:14 Mr. Gordon, it's good to have you here this morning.
00:34:17 Yes, yes.
00:34:18 Yeah?
00:34:19 Yes.
00:34:20 So last year we had at least two discussions as to some of the challenges in or affecting prison officers.
00:34:27 Let's speak a little bit now about some of the, hopefully, successes and we can speak about the challenges that you all would have had last year and into this year.
00:34:39 Well, let me start off by greeting the viewers as I will be discussing all this after Lewa, but happy new year.
00:34:49 Yes.
00:34:50 To you and the crew.
00:34:53 Yes.
00:34:54 So as we move forward into 2024, you know, we would have seen at the end of the year last year that whole issue with the back pay, which is not a gift.
00:35:06 It's what was owed to officers. I must commend our accounts department, those officers who work there.
00:35:15 They did a very good job. I would also like to commend the auditors at the Ministry of National Security because what many people may not know, it's one group of auditors for the entire ministry.
00:35:30 And they would have done yeoman service to ensure that most of the officers would have received their back pay.
00:35:38 Those people who did not receive their back pay would have been because of some issues surrounding leave classification and whatnot.
00:35:47 They are being treated with as we speak. And in speaking with some of the officers at accounts yesterday into last night,
00:35:56 we are expecting to see those payments roll out within February, month and going on into March for those more difficult cases.
00:36:06 But by that point in time, we should have had all officers receiving their back pay, including the retirees, is where we would have addressed that shortfall.
00:36:18 But going into this year, we would have seen to at the end of last year, some security implements being brought into play.
00:36:28 We would have had an upgrade of those jammers at various prisons.
00:36:34 What we did see, however, even within recent days is we would have seen a proliferation of even drones.
00:36:41 Now, that was an issue that we were addressing. And it seems that it has spread even to facilities where traditionally drones were not an issue.
00:36:55 All right. So those things continue to be things that are of much concern simply because we don't know what the drone will bring.
00:37:05 Yeah. Let's let's expand a little bit on that, because we have seen videos on social media,
00:37:12 at least one video where we saw a drone at a facility. Yes. Apparently dropping off something.
00:37:20 Yes. And you said earlier that this situation, it has it has worsened, I think, because if you're saying there is a proliferation.
00:37:29 Yes. Then how much incidents are we speaking about and for what purpose are these drones being used?
00:37:38 Well, from what we have been able to capture thus far, I wouldn't call the facilities, but two facilities.
00:37:46 Recently, we would have had issues with drones when we capture what they were attempting to drop off.
00:37:53 We have cell phones, marijuana, cigarettes, light, that sort of thing.
00:37:59 Now, the drones seem to be very expensive drones. It's not those cheap ones you would probably purchase at a toy store.
00:38:10 So it is a concerning issue. I know that together with the Ministry of National Security,
00:38:16 there are things that they are attempting to do to stymie that issue.
00:38:21 But it's an ongoing process and one that we continue to look at.
00:38:26 Surely one would also realize that it impacts the safety and security of not only the institution,
00:38:34 but for the officers and the inmates within that particular institution, it poses a risk.
00:38:40 Because as long as we have unauthorized articles and items being allowed to come into the prison,
00:38:46 then it poses a certain level of risk to the people involved in that particular area.
00:38:53 But it also tells of a situation of communication between the person that the items are being dropped off for and someone outside of the facility.
00:39:08 Yes. And the thing about it is this.
00:39:11 If anyone does any research as it relates to cell phones and the proliferation of unauthorized communication devices in any prison environment,
00:39:20 talk to any prison anywhere, it is a challenge.
00:39:23 Even in first world countries where they seem to have an infinite amount of resources, it is a challenge that they are facing.
00:39:32 I think what is important and what we have seen is that the prison service,
00:39:37 along with the support that we get from the ministry, is constantly attempting to address that issue and treat with that issue.
00:39:46 It is not going to stop, but we also cannot stop in trying to stymie that whole issue surrounding drones and cell phones within the prison.
00:39:59 What is your message to some prison officers?
00:40:04 Because, Mr. Gordon, we have seen incidents involving some prison officers where they have been arrested,
00:40:15 they have been charged, they have been held at certain facilities trying to bring in contraband items into the nation's prisons.
00:40:27 And I think that there has been this argument that what we are seeing,
00:40:35 some of the criminal activities of the nation's prisons, that some officers have contributed to it.
00:40:42 Has there been an improvement in that situation?
00:40:46 And what has been your message to some prison officers?
00:40:51 The message has always been constant.
00:40:53 We have a zero tolerance approach when it comes to trafficking behind the walls of the prison.
00:41:00 The fact of the matter is in any industry, you have people who don't do what they are supposed to do.
00:41:07 For me, the focus is not so much that as much as what do we do to address those issues.
00:41:14 So we continue to search. We continue to share information with some of the intelligence agencies to try and address and deal with those issues.
00:41:24 If you would look back, you would see that we, the number of officers, it may not be a hundred,
00:41:32 but from time to time you see people being caught and certainly that speaks to the dedication of the other officers
00:41:41 and the prison administration in attempting to address and deal with that particular issue.
00:41:46 But we continue to have a zero tolerance approach to that.
00:41:49 The Prison Officers Association does not in any way support that sort of behavior,
00:41:55 especially seeing that it often times and not leads to people's lives being compromised
00:42:00 and the safety of everyone being placed at risk.
00:42:04 Let's speak now about an issue that has plagued you all from time immemorial
00:42:11 and that's the issue of safety and security of officers.
00:42:17 Even last year, there were these concerns, of course, an attack on the life of the Deputy Prisons Commissioner.
00:42:28 And there continues to be this concern about safety and security as it relates to the lives of all prison officers.
00:42:39 What has there been, how do I say, do you all feel, what's the morale of prison officers right now concerning that?
00:42:48 And have there been attempts to provide you all with certain basic equipment that you may need to protect yourselves?
00:42:58 I would say no. I would say the morale is extremely low.
00:43:02 It continues to be one that is sometimes steeped in a sense of hopelessness
00:43:09 because one would understand and the media will be our witness the number of years that we have been speaking about this.
00:43:17 And you know, there are individuals who will speak and they talk about giving officers guns.
00:43:22 And we also share the view and we understand that guns is not the only answer.
00:43:29 But the fact of the matter is that we continue to operate in an environment
00:43:33 where there seems to be no real passion surrounding the safety and security of officers
00:43:40 from all levels of management and even the ministry and the government
00:43:46 when you look at what is happening.
00:43:48 Even some of our managers feel hopeless when you look at some of the situation that is happening.
00:43:53 We would have seen the amendment to the Firearms Act to allow the Commissioner of Prisons to arm officers who he deems to be under threat.
00:44:06 I have been adamant that that caveat that was placed within that amendment is one that seems to give and take at the same time.
00:44:20 Because when we look at the history and when we look at the murders of officers,
00:44:23 how many officers were under direct threat who were murdered?
00:44:27 Some of these people we didn't even know were under any sort of threat.
00:44:31 And so when you look at that, what is the state really doing?
00:44:36 And I will have to say they are not doing anything, at least anything that we could see
00:44:42 or that is proven to us to give us that sense that all that could be done is being done
00:44:49 in relation to our safety and security of prison officers of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:44:55 I know that there are issues concerning sick leave and you have some challenges also concerning retired officers.
00:45:05 Yeah, well those issues, let me touch with the sick leave.
00:45:09 Recently, just last year we would have written to OSHA and one would want to see what OSHA has to do with sick leave.
00:45:17 One would know that it's not any secret the work environment in the prison service is not stellar.
00:45:24 It is not of the best. It's not of any standard that anybody could feel proud about.
00:45:30 When you talk about ventilation, you talk about the air quality, you talk about water quality,
00:45:36 the availability simply to use a washroom, where these things are located, you realize that we are sorely lacking.
00:45:43 So OSHA has begun a round of inspections and they are going to inspect all of the prison facilities.
00:45:52 They have done four so far and we expect that they would do the balance possibly from now going into February
00:46:02 and then they will supply a report.
00:46:04 The thing about it is that anybody who is exposed to that environment for a protracted period of time is going to get ill.
00:46:11 And even last night we were talking about that heightened sense or hypervigilance that an officer has to experience.
00:46:20 Adrenaline is not designed to be in your bloodstream all the time.
00:46:24 It's there, if they talk about fright or flight, they talk about the ability to escape, but officers are constantly with that.
00:46:32 And when you look at the effects of having adrenaline within one's bloodstream all of the time,
00:46:37 so that's why we have people who are suffering with heart disease, diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension,
00:46:45 all of these things, we had a proliferation of heart attacks, strokes, all of these things are happening
00:46:51 and somehow they don't see the connect, but the connect is the job.
00:46:55 So if we are at a point now, unfortunately, that if the criminal element don't get you,
00:47:03 your health will, because you engage in this environment.
00:47:07 And I'm saying no, not only to the prison administration, because they are sort of limited in what they can do based on the releases they get,
00:47:16 but to the state that when we ask for these things, these things are not luxuries.
00:47:22 They are necessary not only to get the job done, because we are not robots,
00:47:27 but to ensure that we create a space, a working environment, and one that could add instead of taking away.
00:47:34 But what has the mental impact been?
00:47:38 On officers?
00:47:39 Yeah.
00:47:41 If I use me, for example, the only time I feel comfortable is when I'm not in Trinidad.
00:47:47 The mental impact, you see it in some of the behaviors being displayed.
00:47:55 There was an officer, he wrote about the stress and the impact on the prison officer in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:48:03 and it's a very deleterious fallout of constantly being in that environment,
00:48:12 constantly under stress, constantly not having what you need.
00:48:16 Look at simple thing as uniforms.
00:48:19 You have batches have never received uniform.
00:48:22 You have officers have no uniform.
00:48:25 There are no boots.
00:48:26 And the question, when you look at these things and you ask yourself, you know, what is the end game?
00:48:34 And when one understands how important a uniform is, not only to have everybody looking the same,
00:48:42 but also to facilitate the operating within a particular environment, we don't have uniforms.
00:48:49 So what are these officers coming to work dressed in?
00:48:52 In their own, officers purchase their own stuff.
00:48:56 They print T-shirts.
00:48:58 They print these button-ups, polos.
00:49:02 It's ridiculous.
00:49:03 They will go to certain vendors and they will purchase.
00:49:06 I, in all, purchased a khaki suit from a particular vendor some time ago.
00:49:11 And the thing about it is that you need to ask yourself, are we serious?
00:49:18 And I can't stress enough, this is not all these things that we ask for constantly,
00:49:25 wanting to be treated a particular way, wanting to engage our environment with the tools to do so.
00:49:30 When we ask for these things, after the equal sign is really the public of Trinidad and Tobago, you know.
00:49:37 Our ability to function and do our jobs and meet our mandate has a direct impact on the lives
00:49:45 and livelihood of our fellow countrymen.
00:49:48 And somehow there's that disconnect.
00:49:50 We are not a small country within a country.
00:49:54 And it's like you have big daddy saying, no, you can't have this.
00:49:58 Don't do this. Don't do that.
00:49:59 It's ridiculous.
00:50:00 You don't have vehicles.
00:50:02 You don't have uniform.
00:50:04 You don't have tools.
00:50:06 The infrastructure is one that I spoke on that before.
00:50:11 The last modern facility that we had was the maximum security prison.
00:50:19 That is now well over 30 years old.
00:50:22 And when you look at that and you look at moving forward into a modern correctional environment,
00:50:29 when you talk about that whole rehabilitative trust that they speak so highly of,
00:50:35 what actually exists and what they speak of, somehow they don't mesh.
00:50:42 You have a bursting population of remanded inmates who we are very limited in what we could do as it relates to rehabilitation.
00:50:55 You have a group of condemned and also people who are serving their sentences.
00:51:02 That is getting smaller.
00:51:05 So what are we doing?
00:51:07 And then you have a judiciary who seems to be a law unto themselves and not accountable to anyone who believes they are doing a good job.
00:51:15 And they are not.
00:51:16 And it's not a personal attack on anyone.
00:51:19 But the fact of the matter is that if we are part of this system called the criminal justice system,
00:51:24 and we are not communicating one with another, it's going to be like your body, your hand,
00:51:30 how they say your right hand don't know what your left hand is doing.
00:51:33 That disconnect only aids in what is happening as we see the crime and criminality in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:51:41 It seems unabated. Why?
00:51:42 Because there seems to be no consequence to these acts that people could feel they could just do as they please with little to no consequence.
00:51:52 If I get locked up, okay, I go into the remand.
00:51:55 I have my attorney.
00:51:56 We spin, spin, spin, spin, spin.
00:51:59 It's 14 years, 18 years, 16 years.
00:52:04 On which, in which part of the world is that acceptable?
00:52:09 Yeah. Mr. Gordon, let's have a few minutes again.
00:52:11 I know that there are issues concerning the retirees also, if you'd like to.
00:52:16 Yeah, but with the retirees, it seems like it goes back to this whole issue with this NIS and increasing the access.
00:52:29 Prison officers, and just to give an example, you would have an officer who did an excellent job.
00:52:35 He came to work every day for, let me say, 28 to 30 years.
00:52:39 He never got promoted because not everyone will get promoted.
00:52:44 He retires as a prison officer, one.
00:52:46 Do you know what his money looks like?
00:52:49 You're telling me that this man who would have given all of this, all of his life, most of his life to this service,
00:52:57 he's going home with just over $5,000 as a pension after his salary being somewhere around, probably take home,
00:53:05 if we just take off whatever statutory deduction, somewhere around $11,000.
00:53:09 Yes. So he loses $6,000 of actual money to utilize.
00:53:14 And then his gratuity is probably just, probably less than $250,000.
00:53:21 And then on the backdrop of that, we go at 55.
00:53:26 You have people who we have to wait now until 60.
00:53:30 They want us to wait an additional five years.
00:53:33 I'm saying it now to the public of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:53:36 I've said it before. If the state wants us to consider this, what we want is equity of treatment.
00:53:44 You see what our parliamentarians enjoy after five years.
00:53:48 We want that, which is we want our salary and our basic allowances, house and meals as our pension.
00:53:57 Give us that as our pension, and then we could consider waiting an additional five years for something that we would have paid,
00:54:04 in some cases, almost twice the required, because we can't stop at the $750,000.
00:54:09 So you have people here. You're taking this NIS, NIS, NIS.
00:54:13 So we are not minded to want to place our officers in a position to continue to suffer because of the mismanagement,
00:54:24 and I'm saying that, of the National Insurance Board and those funds vested in their interests.
00:54:31 Mr. Gordon, it's always a pleasure speaking with you.
00:54:34 And it's always good to hear what's the issues affecting our officers.
00:54:40 And we do appreciate you coming this morning and always being accessible to us.
00:54:45 And we do appreciate it. And I'm sure that we'll speak again sometime this year.
00:54:49 Until then, take care. Thank you. OK, so we are going to a very short break.
00:54:52 We're coming back, everybody.
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00:56:04 [Music]
00:56:11 If you're looking for sweetness to put inside a basket, I am the ho, the ho, the ho, blinking market.
00:56:20 And if you're looking for sexy to throw inside a basket, I am the ho, the ho, the ho, blinking market.
00:56:29 Sweet like a chewy mango and charm. Stickyness running down all the hand. It's a quarter sweet, so man, this way.
00:56:37 When I was a young boy growing up in Lavantry Road in February Village in Samoa, I really had no concept of ever becoming a manager or having an organization of my own, or even having my own house.
00:56:49 And a lot of people reached out and helped me along the way. People who helped me who I knew, some of them I didn't know.
00:56:55 And for that reason, I feel it's important now that I give back in any way that I can.
00:57:01 Our corporate social responsibility at the Esquerrez and SiteHub is Habitat for Humanity. So we are supporting the cause of alleviating poverty housing.
00:57:09 And really, you don't have to have a whole lot to be able to give. Because what you're giving of is your time, talent, and treasure.
00:57:17 So this is my appeal to you to get involved with Habitat. Get on board. And for those of you who have received a lot, to those who much is given, much is expected.
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00:58:46 Caravan is the best tent in the world, right? So we open at La Jolla on the 13th of this month at 8pm.
00:58:55 We have been away from the facility for a while, but we're back with a bang, with a star-studded cast.
00:59:03 That includes Johnny King, Cardinal, Dirty Kurti, Bali, myself, Natasha, known as Sexy Suzie, Blackie, the stinger.
00:59:15 We have some young, upcoming artists like my boy here, Slick, Dandy Man, a guy by the name of Papa Mel, Adana Dardane, Jerisha Rages-Duncan, just to name a few.
00:59:30 So the show is carded for, as I said, the 13th and it promises to be a spectacular show. So we'd like the audience to come out, the general public, and support this great venture.
00:59:45 Well Slick, let's bring you in to the discussion now. Slick, how long have you been dabbling in Kalypso, in Kaiso?
00:59:55 Well my first encounter with Kaiso is with the late, great Lord Kitchener. He had a performance in the Arima Village Room and I was about 5, 6 years old.
01:00:08 I left my mother and went to the front and she spent the rest of the day looking for me in front of the stage, watching Kitchener.
01:00:15 And my first competition was in a school competition, about the age of 11.
01:00:19 Yeah, well Slick, let's talk about the name Slick and let's talk a little bit about the type of Kalypso that you do.
01:00:32 Because as you know in Kalypso there are various types, political commentary, comedic types of Kalypso's and so on.
01:00:41 So tell us a little bit about you and the types of Kalypso's that you sing.
01:00:46 I mostly sing social commentary. And I like to put a comedic spin to it. I like to take serious issues, not make fun of it, but just highlight it.
01:00:58 Like my song this year, Trinidad is not a real place. That was come about by me driving along and seeing police stopping you and giving you a ticket and the road bad,
01:01:09 mashing up your car. So that's how I end up writing my song this year, Trinidad is not a real place. And it's out of badam bang.
01:01:16 So you write your own songs?
01:01:19 Yes.
01:01:20 Yeah?
01:01:21 Yes.
01:01:22 Okay. So, alright, so we spoke about the first time that you really developed this love for Kalypso. So how long have you been doing this professionally?
01:01:34 Professionally since I was about 19?
01:01:39 Yeah.
01:01:40 I was about 19 years. That is right after, well I get the okay from the late Mighty Bomber. I used to go by him to train. Because so be it, that number I told you about Kitchener,
01:01:49 my mom find Reno Rama and ask him if he could help me. And he was sick at those days so he didn't have the energy to do it. So he put me up to Mighty Bomber.
01:02:00 And I still got picked on love until every single day and train. God bless his soul.
01:02:05 Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about the Kiso Caravan, Kalypso tent, Toko E-Zone. What are they known for?
01:02:15 We are known for roving and taking Kalypso to rural areas all over Trinidad. You know, some people can't really come to Kalypso, so we take Kalypso to them.
01:02:25 Like we go to Toko, we go to Lupino, we go to a lot of rural areas. And this year we are going to Toko, we will be going to Sandy Grandy and a lot of other places.
01:02:36 So it's all about carrying Kalypso to people who cannot come to Kalypso.
01:02:40 Has it always been a roving tent?
01:02:41 Yeah, it has always been. We started in 1997 and ever since we've been roving.
01:02:47 Yeah. You all are kicking off at what venue?
01:02:51 We are kicking off at La Jolla on the 13th with a Saturday, 8pm. And it's going to be a beautiful show.
01:02:58 And then how many shows do you all expect to have during the season?
01:03:03 We have about eight or nine shows.
01:03:05 You have the venues at all?
01:03:06 Yes, we have it here. We have City Hall. We'll be at City Hall on the 18th of this month. Sandy Grandy, Majestic Gardens on the 20th.
01:03:18 And the 21st is Judges Night at Spots Bar in Malabar, Guarima. Just to name a few places.
01:03:24 And we have something called a touch-up class on the 26th at La Jolla Auditorium.
01:03:30 We could come in here a little vintage because we also have a vintage section.
01:03:34 We also have Lady Africa and Lingodwin Ex-Tempo. We have Asha Kamachi who does a nice chutney thing.
01:03:43 So we have a mix here of everything.
01:03:45 Yeah, a mixture of genres, right?
01:03:46 Yes, for everybody.
01:03:47 How has, you think, you think that, is there a great interest every year for Carnival when you take your show on the road?
01:04:05 Do you see this interest happening from a very young stage and moving into people who are in their teenage years and middle age and so on?
01:04:17 We don't really see it, but we are working desperately hard to enhance that because the Kaiser Caravan is committed to the young people.
01:04:27 We actually have certain programs during the August where we take Calypso to libraries and invite schools to send students so we can learn more about the art form of Calypso.
01:04:38 So we realize, in realizing that most people who support Calypso have died or are aging, we're trying to attract the youths through educating them about the art form of Calypso.
01:04:51 Is there a change in the format of the Calypso tent?
01:04:54 Meaning?
01:04:56 And presentation and how it is being done this year, your tent?
01:05:01 Yes, yes, we, well as I said, we focus on the youths.
01:05:04 So we'll have any youths, any tent, we think, like men like Slick, we'll bring a different spin to the whole thing.
01:05:10 Yeah, because, because, gentlemen, I know that over the years, you know, there was a time where you had several Calypso tents across Trinidad and Tobago.
01:05:25 And for some reason, we have seen in recent years, where to put it bluntly, we have seen some Calypso tents really struggling and some of them going out of business.
01:05:39 So I think that the challenge now is how do you revive these Calypso tents and make it viable?
01:05:47 Yeah, well, I think it's getting the youths involved because the youths gravitate to Soka and if we could have, right, actually educate them about Calypso and they realize that Calypso is the mother of Soka, I think they would gravitate to the Calypso art form.
01:06:03 Yeah. So Slick, you do, and I know that everyone we have here to speak about Calypso, they usually say that, you know, Calypso is in good hands.
01:06:19 But how do we get more and more of the young people involved in Calypso?
01:06:24 I think we need to adapt. The music itself, the creators, the writers, we need to invest in the art form.
01:06:32 If we believe in what you're doing, spend your money, do it properly.
01:06:38 The past guys, they did very good. They took the music, bring it a certain distance.
01:06:44 And I'd say change music, I'd say make the music adapt so it will appeal more to the younger generation.
01:06:53 Yeah. Gentlemen, anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:06:57 Well, we want to leave you with, come to the Calypso Caravan on the 13th, which is Saturday, and you promised a fantastic show, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, humor, social commentary, double-enters, everything for everyone.
01:07:13 So, long live Calypso.
01:07:15 Yeah. Can people, do you have a social media presence where people can get information?
01:07:19 Yes, you can get us on Calypso Caravan. We have a Facebook page, just type in Calypso Caravan and you're on it.
01:07:26 Yeah.
01:07:27 Easy like that. And the show at La Jolla, the cost is $200 for opening night. And we continue there on the 26th and the 27th, we're also at La Jolla Complex.
01:07:39 Yeah. Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:07:41 It's been a pleasure.
01:07:42 It's been a pleasure being here with you.
01:07:43 We want to see more of you, you know.
01:07:45 [Laughter]
01:07:47 Gentlemen, yeah, it was a pleasure. Bye for now.
01:07:50 Thank you.
01:07:51 All right, we are going to a very short break. We do have this image for you. Yeah, it's another sunset. We're coming back, everyone.
01:07:58 [Music]
01:08:18 [Music]
01:08:25 Twelfth Man, Twelfth Man, Twelfth Man.
01:08:28 Oh, gives you all. Saves you all the time. Gives you the best football in the world.
01:08:35 Passionate, impulsive, dedicated, decisive, loyal, sincere, all the Twelfth Man attributes.
01:08:44 Join Andre Aro-Batiste on TV6 for The Twelfth Man Season 4.
01:08:52 [Music]
01:08:55 Brought to you by Tiger Tanks and Coca-Cola.
01:08:58 [Music]
01:09:00 The world is in crisis. Distressing news are flowing from every quarter in the society.
01:09:07 And the hearts of many are failing them for fear.
01:09:11 However, in the midst of these alarming conditions come good news.
01:09:17 Jesus Christ saves, keeps, and satisfies.
01:09:22 This is the message of Daybreak.
01:09:25 [Music]
01:09:31 [Music]
01:09:44 [Music]
01:10:08 [Music]
01:10:15 Why do I have so many boyfriends? Because I'm young and I'm pretty and I want to have some fun.
01:10:22 They all think I'm beautiful and they love me.
01:10:26 Girls call me bad names behind my back. They are obviously jealous. They have to be.
01:10:33 But they don't know the real reason why I do this.
01:10:38 My dad used my body for his pleasure because I was his little girl, his property, and he could do whatever he wanted.
01:10:48 All my boyfriends use me and I'm okay with that. I guess I just want their love.
01:10:55 The only way I know how to show love is by using my body.
01:10:59 It's hard to unlearn what I've been taught by the first man in my life, my dad.
01:11:05 [Music]
01:11:18 Children have rights.
01:11:20 [Music]
01:11:40 [Music]
01:12:06 Maybe you could afford to pay up to $22,500 in fines and lose your license permanently.
01:12:14 No? Then don't drink and drive.
01:12:18 A message from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
01:12:22 [Music]
01:12:34 Alright, so welcome back everyone. So we do have in studio this morning Sergeant Ansel Ford, TTPS Media Ambassador.
01:12:41 Mr. Ford, as always, thank you very much for coming today.
01:12:44 Nice to be here. Pleasant morning, Marlon. Pleasant morning, Trinidad and Tobago.
01:12:48 But before we move on, Mr. Ford, we will give you the opportunity, if you'd like to call in, and you can pose some questions to Mr. Ford this morning.
01:12:55 Alright, so the numbers are 623-1711. The extension is $19.95.
01:13:01 So Mr. Ford is going to be here for maybe about 20 minutes, right?
01:13:05 So please call and he's here to answer your questions.
01:13:11 Alright, Mr. Ford, over to you.
01:13:13 Morning again, Marlon. Marlon, before we start, we have some supporters that they want to tell you Happy New Year.
01:13:21 Alright.
01:13:22 So these are persons attached to the St. James Medical Hospital, the Oncology Unit in particular.
01:13:28 So Happy New Year on behalf of.
01:13:30 Those are hard-working medical officers there.
01:13:32 Officers, good morning. Good morning.
01:13:34 Always good to have the support, to get the support. Thank you very much, officers.
01:13:38 Important.
01:13:39 Yes, Marlon. Marlon, so in keeping with our safety tips, right, the TTPS has launched its SMART campaign.
01:13:52 Yes, its SMART campaign. The acronym SMART speaks to safety measures aimed at reducing threats.
01:14:03 Okay.
01:14:04 So it's consistent with what we would have spoken about even last week.
01:14:08 But we're looking at the SMART parenting, SMART partying, SMART drinking, SMART driving, SMART parking, SMART FUL management.
01:14:29 So Marlon, understanding that in order for you to be SMART, you have to be cognizant of what are the threats.
01:14:40 It speaks to a personal level of awareness.
01:14:45 Alright.
01:14:46 So last week we dealt with the issue of parenting.
01:14:49 We dealt with the issue of ensuring that your children, wards, are safe in your absence.
01:14:55 And just to drive the point home, if it is that you, the parent, you do not comply with the law,
01:15:05 which is to put the necessary measures in place to ensure the safety of your child,
01:15:10 you will be exposed to the sanctions of the law, which involves imprisonment.
01:15:16 Yes, Marlon?
01:15:17 You lock up.
01:15:18 So you need to make an arrangement if it is you're going out to party,
01:15:25 that a child, a person under the age of 18 years, is not left home alone.
01:15:33 We understand that somebody would say a 16-year-old, 17-year-old is somewhat mature, right?
01:15:41 But yet still you are responsible as the parent or the guardian.
01:15:45 So when we are talking about partying, the issue of females in particular,
01:15:52 we are looking at alcohol consumption.
01:15:55 We are looking at the, let us say, the inviting male who may offer you a drink.
01:16:04 The female we are advising you to be very careful when to accept drinks from strangers.
01:16:11 You may buy your own drink and you are into the activity, the music is nice,
01:16:17 and you're dancing, you're moving around, and your drink rests on some table.
01:16:23 It gives the opportunity for someone who wants to have control over you, to overpower you,
01:16:29 to put some drug or something in your drink to, let us say, be able now to take advantage of you.
01:16:39 Our females, you need to be mindful of these things.
01:16:42 Officer, before you move on, how often do you have incidents such as these?
01:16:50 Because we have heard about incidents, but I just want to know how prevalent it is,
01:16:56 how widespread it is that people are deliberately going out there at the FETs and so on
01:17:05 to take advantage of our women folk by trying to drug them.
01:17:10 All right. Marlon, to give you statistics, I cannot do that at this point in time,
01:17:16 but understanding that the drug is available on the market, right,
01:17:22 and there would have been, I would say, numerous reports of women speaking about incidents that happened to them,
01:17:30 but they can't explain how they got to that point from being out liming, right?
01:17:38 So it begs the question whether it is you may have been drugged.
01:17:45 So whilst I cannot give you the stats, the reality is we know that the drug is out there,
01:17:50 and some persons seize that opportunity to take advantage of you.
01:17:58 So, again, for women folk, please understand that.
01:18:01 So you're partying, refusing some strangers, pay attention to your drink.
01:18:08 If you have to drink, walk with your own drink.
01:18:11 Buy your own drink.
01:18:13 Buy your own drink. Good advice.
01:18:15 Marlon, so we continue. That is smart partying.
01:18:20 Females, party in groups.
01:18:23 So you have your nice little group of friends, you have persons there that you can trust, right?
01:18:30 Be advised to party with your group of friends, all right?
01:18:34 And understanding that your friends as well, they are responsible, right?
01:18:39 So each person shares a level of responsibility for the other, all right?
01:18:46 Some persons, male and female, may want to go to a party so bad, Marlon,
01:18:53 that they will decide to carry a young person, be it a child or a cousin or somebody with them,
01:18:58 who probably they have responsibility for.
01:19:01 And we are advising against that, all right?
01:19:04 Make proper arrangements to keep that young person, right, away from the environment,
01:19:11 by some place where they are safe and cared for properly.
01:19:14 But before we move on, Mr. Ford, I want to go back to that group of people that you are partying with.
01:19:21 Because I don't believe, Mr. Ford, that if you are going with a group,
01:19:27 that everybody should be drinking and everybody should be drunk
01:19:31 and everybody should be so involved in the partying that they are almost incoherent
01:19:38 and are not aware as to the environment that all of this is taking place.
01:19:44 So therefore, Mr. Ford, my point is someone within the group must step up.
01:19:49 And, Marlon, you are correct.
01:19:52 You must have that person who has that level head within the group.
01:19:58 If everybody within the group goes about the approach with whatever, whatever, right, anything is anything,
01:20:06 then you are not really within a safe group, right?
01:20:09 There must be that person who is there and checks and balances and, you know, encourages the others,
01:20:16 "Hey, you had enough, right? Drink something soft."
01:20:20 You know, that's encouragement. You can't instruct, but you're showing that, "Hey, I care and I want everybody to be safe."
01:20:25 So there must be that person within the group, right?
01:20:28 And that would speak later on to when we deal with the self-designated driver and so on, right?
01:20:33 So, Marlon, within that group, there must be that person who is very conscious
01:20:37 and wants to ensure that everybody parties and have fun, right?
01:20:42 So that person rises very early where there might be some little conflict, right, with other partygoers
01:20:49 to extract, to withdraw persons from within their group and pull them aside and say,
01:20:53 "Hey, forget that, you know, cool it down. We're here to have fun."
01:20:57 That person is a responsible person and an important person within your group, Marlon.
01:21:01 I know.
01:21:03 But in your group, because if it is, you have nobody who, you know, deals with the situation like that
01:21:09 and everybody is equal in terms of the aggression, Marlon, then your party will turn out to be a--
01:21:15 Yeah, all hell will break loose.
01:21:17 All hell will break loose. It will turn out to be a fight. Every corner turns into a fight.
01:21:21 So we want to encourage ourselves to be a responsible party, and so we say, "Party responsibly."
01:21:26 We're looking at this smart drink, Marlon. You have to know your limit, right?
01:21:31 Knowing your limit, we also want to advise you, don't go about mixing drinks.
01:21:36 You're drinking scotch. You're drinking punch. You're drinking wine.
01:21:41 That is a concoction you create in there, and when it impacts on your system,
01:21:47 if you reach home safe, you're lucky, right?
01:21:49 So we want to encourage persons to don't mix drinks, right?
01:21:53 Don't talk about drinking from strangers. The issue of drinking and consuming, let us say, drugs,
01:22:01 be it narcotics, be it speed, and you're drinking.
01:22:07 Think about that combination, that chemical reaction, how it impacts on you, the individual.
01:22:12 It impairs almost everything about you, right?
01:22:15 Your ability to respond quickly, your ability to even explain what happened, right?
01:22:20 So we want to raise these concerns and encourage persons, let's party smart, right?
01:22:26 So, Marlon, eat a proper meal.
01:22:28 You know, sometimes you're going all day, you didn't really eat,
01:22:32 but you know you're supposed to meet your crew or your group at a certain time,
01:22:36 and you're supposed to get something down the road, and all day you're on an empty stomach,
01:22:40 and then you're going and you start to consume alcohol, right? Recipe for disaster.
01:22:43 What about these people who want to take their marijuana into the fets?
01:22:48 All right. Well, Marlon, the law permits you to have 30 grams on your person.
01:22:56 It does not permit you to smoke marijuana in a public place.
01:23:01 So if you decide to take your 30 grams with you in the party,
01:23:06 your intention, one would assume, is to smoke in a public place.
01:23:11 And if you do that, you're now committing an offense,
01:23:14 and you're partying, get cut short to being locked up and taken to the station.
01:23:21 So we want to sensitize members of the public under some of the law says,
01:23:27 and do not go about to break the law. Try to comply with the law.
01:23:32 So, Marlon, the issue of driving, we want to encourage smart driving, right?
01:23:37 So we are saying do not drink alcohol and drive.
01:23:43 Ideally, if you're going to a party and you know you're going to consume alcohol,
01:23:47 have a designated driver. If you're within a group, somebody must be that designated driver.
01:23:54 If you're a carpool, it makes it easier, all right?
01:23:57 Then that person has a responsibility to remain sober, to drive the vehicle,
01:24:02 and to drop everybody else home, and then to reach home safe as well, right?
01:24:06 Marlon, the issue of sleep deprivation, we want to encourage persons.
01:24:11 You know you're going out to take a little nap, try to get some rest before, right?
01:24:16 And if, Marlon, having party hearty, you're feeling a bit tipsy, you know you're tired,
01:24:24 we want to advise you to hear what? Cool off a bit before you go behind that steering wheel, all right?
01:24:31 If necessary, take a little five in your vehicle before you venture to drive,
01:24:37 because you may not reach to your destination safely. Right, Marlon?
01:24:43 So we'll just have about a minute again.
01:24:45 Yeah, sure, definitely.
01:24:47 The issue of parking, we want to discourage persons from parking indiscriminately.
01:24:53 You know you have a party in a particular area, and persons just park anywhere.
01:24:59 Ideally, look for the parking that is provided.
01:25:04 You want to ensure that there are some safety aspects about the parking in terms of lighting,
01:25:10 that it has security, that it is a sort of public place where it has lights, even cameras, right?
01:25:17 So that when you try to get to your vehicle or you're leaving your vehicle to get to the location,
01:25:22 that you can do so safely. Right?
01:25:25 So, Marlon, the last thing in relation to smart FUL management, we discussed it last week,
01:25:31 to FUL holders, our first advice is to secure your firearm at a police station.
01:25:41 Avoid going to the party with your firearm, right?
01:25:45 And if it is you cannot secure it at the station, and you have the means to secure it at home,
01:25:51 in your safe, secure it there. All right?
01:25:55 We know that you may feel that you're unprotected, but it is better because you know that you may be consuming alcohol,
01:26:05 and if you consume alcohol, you may not have that mental capacity or even physical capacity
01:26:13 to make wise decisions as a firearm holder.
01:26:17 So, Marlon, to the channel and to you, we at ETTPS, we encourage you all to be smart
01:26:24 in terms of how you do your business for this carnival season and pre-carnival.
01:26:29 All in all, have a wonderful day.
01:26:31 All right, Mr. Ford, as always, thank you very much.
01:26:33 Good tips, Mr. Ford, very, very good tips this morning.
01:26:35 You're most welcome.
01:26:36 We are going to a very short break. We'll be coming back.
01:26:38 [Music]
01:27:05 Green Dot continues to deliver Internet connectivity to a wide range of communities in Trinidad.
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01:27:15 Stream your favorite shows, enjoy online tuition, stay in touch with your work team,
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01:27:26 Call 224-GDOT or visit gd.tt today.
01:27:30 Green Dot, improving and simplifying lives.
01:27:33 Greetings, Saints. We are from Pillars of Truth Evangelistic Outreach Ministries,
01:27:38 and we warmly welcome you to our television program, Turning Point.
01:27:42 We are a church in the heart of the community with a heart for the community.
01:27:46 Our host pastors, Apostle Dr. Reverend Dale DeVeans and his wife, Reverend Dawn DeVeans,
01:27:53 warmly welcome you to join us every second and fourth Sunday, 6 a.m., right here on TV6.
01:28:01 Have you ever tried talking to your child and there's a total and complete misunderstanding,
01:28:06 and it turns out to be a shouting match?
01:28:09 Be mindful of what you say, and more importantly, how you say what you say.
01:28:14 Today I want to share with you just a few thoughts on communication.
01:28:20 To build healthy parent-child relations, communication is not an option.
01:28:25 Effective communication is the lifeblood of good relationship between parents and children.
01:28:31 Please listen attentively to your child.
01:28:34 Everyone hears, but not everybody listens.
01:28:37 Listen actively.
01:28:39 Use language they can understand.
01:28:42 Use language that is appropriate for their age.
01:28:44 And make sure that when you're speaking, be very clear and be very, very specific.
01:28:50 So what does "behave good" mean?
01:28:52 What does "stop behaving badly" mean?
01:28:54 Be very clear and be very specific.
01:28:57 Please do not use any derogatory words to them at all, at all, at all.
01:29:01 Use kind language because that helps to set a positive tone in the house.
01:29:06 Express your feelings and your satisfaction to the situation.
01:29:10 And, of course, please encourage your children to do so as well.
01:29:14 Remember, the conversation should be, "Children, we love you.
01:29:20 We love you and we respect you.
01:29:22 Do the best you can. It's all that you can do."
01:29:24 Be mindful of what you say and how you say it.
01:29:28 If you found this useful, please share and like and follow our profile for more parenting tips.
01:29:34 The letter for today is C for communication.
01:29:37 [Music]
01:30:00 All right, the beautiful music of Soka there.
01:30:04 And we do have in studio now College Boy Jesse and Kaylee.
01:30:08 And they're here to speak about Soka Love Story 3.
01:30:13 It's the third installment.
01:30:15 This is the third installment.
01:30:16 College Boy and Kaylee, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:30:19 Thanks for having us.
01:30:20 Well, College Boy, let's begin speaking about the Soka Love Story.
01:30:25 What's in store this time around?
01:30:29 As I said earlier, it's the third anniversary.
01:30:33 It's the third time that we decided to move the event to the party capital, Port of Spain.
01:30:38 The first year we were in San Fernando.
01:30:40 The second year we went back to my hometown of Chogonos.
01:30:43 And this year we decided as we were growing and we really want to make it special,
01:30:48 we came to Port of Spain and Song Forge is the venue.
01:30:51 Yeah.
01:30:52 Yeah.
01:30:53 When we speak about the Soka Love Story, what are we speaking about?
01:30:57 Because there has to be a reason why you're calling this Soka Love Story, yeah?
01:31:01 So the concept of the event is basically creating a platform that represents all aspects of Soka.
01:31:07 I mean, throughout the years, we know the art form has developed.
01:31:10 We have the groovy category.
01:31:12 We have the power category.
01:31:13 We have chutney Soka.
01:31:15 We have the mother, which is calypso.
01:31:18 And, of course, now there's a new song, and I call it "Steam."
01:31:22 They call it "Steam."
01:31:24 And it's an aspect of the youths that represent the culture in that way.
01:31:28 And we're also going to present that on the night.
01:31:31 Yeah.
01:31:32 Kaley?
01:31:33 Hey.
01:31:34 What's up, man?
01:31:35 How are you doing?
01:31:36 Yeah, I'm going to Soka Love Story, man.
01:31:37 Yeah?
01:31:38 You're going to be there?
01:31:39 Going to be there performing.
01:31:40 Well, Kaley, let's speak a little bit about you and your journey into Soka.
01:31:43 Just incidentally, Kaley is from Antigua, and he's going to be part of Soka Love Story 3.
01:31:49 Tell us about this journey into Soka.
01:31:52 My journey into Soka, well, first off, I always loved music.
01:31:56 I used to start singing R&B and so forth, and the closest connection with Soka,
01:32:01 there was Soka down there.
01:32:02 You listen to Burning Flames, if you know them.
01:32:04 Of course.
01:32:05 And so forth.
01:32:06 And then you start seeing everybody like T-Anne and Ricardo Drew,
01:32:09 and they're singing groovy.
01:32:10 So that was a channel for me, closer to R&B, to get into the Soka arena and so forth.
01:32:16 I used to dance for Ricardo Drew.
01:32:18 And, yeah, it's been a journey ever since, working with Shaker HD.
01:32:23 And look, I'm here now working with a talented artist,
01:32:27 all the way from Trinidad, College Boy Jesse, and we have a tune together.
01:32:31 Kaley's all the way from Trinidad, you know.
01:32:33 Yeah.
01:32:34 [laughter]
01:32:36 He came all the way.
01:32:39 I live in London now, so it's like, yeah, it's a bridge that got me.
01:32:43 So is it that how long have you been--
01:32:48 well, as you said, you were associated with Ricardo Drew in the past.
01:32:53 Yeah.
01:32:54 But when did the Soka bug, if I can say it that way, bite you?
01:33:00 And you said, "Here's what, I can do this."
01:33:03 When did that happen?
01:33:04 It happened in--actually, it happened in 2012.
01:33:07 Right.
01:33:08 Yeah, it was a funny story because--oh, God, I'm going to put you out there.
01:33:12 My girlfriend--well, I never used to go to the carnival and Lions
01:33:16 and nothing like that, and then I met up with my girlfriend at the time.
01:33:20 It's like, yeah, you have to experience this.
01:33:23 When I played the first year, playing Mask the first year, I cried.
01:33:28 I remember falling.
01:33:29 I was like, "Yo, I'm in heaven," because there's loads of people.
01:33:32 The amount of hugs I received, and people say, "Yeah, you should try that."
01:33:36 And I was in the studio with Berger and different names you might not know.
01:33:41 But yeah, and then you're like, "I love music. I love all type of music."
01:33:46 And how you see the energy with people, how they carry on
01:33:49 and just release their self around.
01:33:51 This time, a whole year they waited to just party and revel
01:33:55 and you guys say ding-a-ling and all that.
01:33:58 It was like, "I need to sing this. I need to be a part of this.
01:34:02 I need to feel that energy."
01:34:04 And Soka have a different energy, a different vibe.
01:34:08 You can be nice and smooth with R&B. I love that.
01:34:12 But I'm an energetic person, so I always like that.
01:34:16 Groovy.
01:34:17 This is Kay Lee's song.
01:34:20 This is my song.
01:34:21 This is called a Jessie song.
01:34:23 Let's hear a little bit of it.
01:34:36 A bit late.
01:34:38 This is the Mexican way of calling Jessie.
01:34:43 Prom, prom, prom.
01:34:44 Yeah?
01:34:45 Yeah, that's our lifestyle, man.
01:34:46 How many songs do you have this year?
01:34:48 To be quite honest, I can't last count.
01:34:51 You have a lot.
01:34:52 Yes, around six, seven songs.
01:34:54 We're always working in studios with different producers,
01:34:56 so the music, you just feed the music to us.
01:34:59 You have launched all of them?
01:35:00 All of them went out.
01:35:02 And how is the season going thus far?
01:35:04 It's been busy.
01:35:06 I mean, busy is good.
01:35:08 So now it's just for us to manage our rest time.
01:35:12 But yeah, we're just really excited for this period.
01:35:15 We work all year for these couple of weeks,
01:35:18 so we're excited.
01:35:20 Kay Lee, how many songs do you have for this season?
01:35:23 So far, I have four.
01:35:26 Kay Lee has four songs?
01:35:27 Four songs.
01:35:29 I'm thinking kind of a little bit late,
01:35:31 but working with these guys, I have to put up music way in advance.
01:35:35 Our stuff starts the first week in August, however.
01:35:40 But working with College Boy Jesse and also Shaker HD,
01:35:44 I have to put up music all the time, stay consistent.
01:35:46 So yeah.
01:35:47 Let's hear Kay Lee's, one of his songs.
01:35:50 The Greatest Place.
01:35:54 [music]
01:35:58 [singing]
01:36:02 [singing]
01:36:05 [singing]
01:36:15 [singing]
01:36:22 [singing]
01:36:29 [singing]
01:36:32 And you have three more songs, you said?
01:36:36 Yeah.
01:36:37 All high energy songs?
01:36:39 Well, no.
01:36:40 Some more nice and slow for the ladies and so forth.
01:36:44 And definitely I have to do a high energy one
01:36:47 to bring everybody together, power and so forth.
01:36:49 So yeah.
01:36:50 Yeah, but Kay Lee, you have the right recipe there.
01:36:52 Not so College Jesse, sing for the ladies.
01:36:54 So first you sing for the ladies.
01:36:56 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:36:58 So getting back to Soca Love Story,
01:37:02 tell us about who are some of the people
01:37:04 who are going to be performing.
01:37:06 Right, so...
01:37:07 I know it's a long list.
01:37:08 Kay Lee, of course, is going to be there.
01:37:10 Representing St. Vincent, we have Problem Child.
01:37:13 Representing Motow, representing St. Lucia, we have Motow.
01:37:16 We also have Nailah Blackman.
01:37:18 Of course, Michael Tejan, Viking Ding Dong.
01:37:21 We are all front line of the legendary All Stars band.
01:37:24 All artists will be backed by the All Stars band.
01:37:27 We have Iowa George, we have Super Blue,
01:37:29 representing Calypso.
01:37:30 We have Queen Terry Lyons.
01:37:32 We have King Chucky Gordon.
01:37:34 Also in Chutney, we have GI and Ricky Jai.
01:37:38 And in the new generation, as I mentioned before,
01:37:40 with this team, we have, of course, Young Brother.
01:37:43 We have Lady Lava.
01:37:44 We have DJ Hottie.
01:37:45 We have Pimpin'.
01:37:46 We have Pumper, that represents USVI.
01:37:50 Who I miss out?
01:37:51 Who I miss out?
01:37:52 Of course, well, as much as the artists that you guys
01:37:55 might be familiar with, I feel like it's my responsibility
01:37:57 to provide that platform for the upcoming,
01:38:00 that's going to be the stars of tomorrow.
01:38:02 And this year, we're featuring the likes of Sucre
01:38:06 and 47 Runze.
01:38:08 So, it's really going to be a special night at Songforge.
01:38:12 This Saturday, yeah, So Call Love Story.
01:38:15 This Saturday, yes.
01:38:16 At what time?
01:38:17 9, 9 p.m. sharp.
01:38:19 Show starts, straight down action.
01:38:22 Kaley is ready to rock.
01:38:23 Ready, I'm ready, man.
01:38:25 Tell us about the social media presence.
01:38:30 Where can people get tickets?
01:38:31 Tickets are available on Island E-Tickets.
01:38:34 Also, you can get physical tickets at 63 Longe Johnny Avenue.
01:38:38 Also, for those in East Trinidad,
01:38:40 could go to Fats International Arima,
01:38:43 Fats International Twin City Mall.
01:38:45 Also, we have a ticket hotline.
01:38:47 It's 394-7170.
01:38:51 394-7170.
01:38:54 Tickets are very affordable.
01:38:55 We have general tickets for 250, VIP 500.
01:38:58 We have a package, a couple package,
01:39:00 two on one for 450, three ladies on one for 700.
01:39:04 And yeah, that's it.
01:39:06 I'm sure you can also get tickets at the door if you--
01:39:09 At the door, yes, you can come at the door.
01:39:11 Just come down to Songforge.
01:39:12 Check out my socials at CollegeboyJesse.
01:39:15 All the information is there.
01:39:17 Yeah.
01:39:18 Kaleigh, how have your songs been going down in Trinidad?
01:39:20 Oh, yeah.
01:39:21 Have people been embracing them?
01:39:22 Yeah.
01:39:23 You're getting airplay?
01:39:24 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:39:25 We were at the radio station last night and all that,
01:39:27 so it's really good.
01:39:28 It's really good, yeah.
01:39:29 But is it first time that you're participating in Carnival
01:39:33 in the way that you are participating right now?
01:39:37 Well, first time in Trinidad,
01:39:38 but I was been like trying to go out,
01:39:41 see different islands and trying to be a part of everybody.
01:39:44 Carnival is like same but different,
01:39:46 so it's a lot to learn and pick up on.
01:39:48 But since I land off the plane here, it's been--
01:39:52 Kaleigh, Kaleigh, Trinidad Carnival is different.
01:39:55 Yeah, I know.
01:39:56 You'll realize that when we get to Monday and Tuesday.
01:39:59 You'll realize that.
01:40:00 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:40:01 Yeah?
01:40:02 Gentlemen, anything else you'd like to tell us
01:40:03 before you leave us this morning?
01:40:04 I mean, to Trinidad and Tobago, this is our time.
01:40:08 Go out there and be safe on the roads.
01:40:10 Have fun, be representation of our people and our culture.
01:40:13 Represent yourself and your family.
01:40:15 2024 is about sharing love.
01:40:17 You know what I mean?
01:40:18 Look out for your brother.
01:40:19 And yeah, continue to support the music,
01:40:23 support the artists that create the music.
01:40:25 We appreciate you, and yeah, man, safe Carnival.
01:40:28 Yeah, gentlemen.
01:40:29 Yes.
01:40:30 It was good speaking to you all this morning.
01:40:32 Thank you very much for the music,
01:40:33 and we wish you all a great season, a bumper season.
01:40:36 Yeah?
01:40:37 Yes, sir.
01:40:38 Thank you.
01:40:39 So it's time for another break.
01:40:40 We're coming back, everybody.
01:40:41 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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01:42:10 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:42:26 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:42:29 Children have rights.
01:42:39 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:42:42 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:42:45 Universal Church presents Programs of Faith,
01:43:05 5:30 AM, the Hour of Miracles.
01:43:11 5 PM, it's possible.
01:43:13 Now on TV6.
01:43:21 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:43:24 All right, so we're continuing our discussion
01:43:40 on Soka.
01:43:41 You're hearing Soka in the background there.
01:43:44 All right, so that's "Autobody," and it is from Risi X.
01:43:49 And we also have Agidan.
01:43:51 They're both in studio this morning.
01:43:52 Risi X, Agidan, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:43:55 Thank you.
01:43:55 Thank you.
01:43:56 Thanks for having us here.
01:43:57 Thanks for having us.
01:43:58 Well, Risi, for people who may not be too familiar with you,
01:44:04 tell us about this journey briefly here into Soka.
01:44:09 Well, for me, I started off with Calypso.
01:44:12 I was a part of the Sesame Flyers Calypso tent in New York.
01:44:15 I also take part in the last Soka Monarch they had, 2024.
01:44:19 I placed second.
01:44:21 Singing Sandra was actually my mentor.
01:44:23 She mentored me through the Calypso journey.
01:44:27 And from there, I transitioned into Soka due to Agidan.
01:44:31 He was just in my ears being persistent,
01:44:33 like, no, you have to do Soka.
01:44:34 I mean, other artists, they told me the same thing.
01:44:36 So I just decided in 2017, OK, let's do it.
01:44:39 And then we came up with a collab called Afro Wine.
01:44:42 And that's how it started there for me.
01:44:44 Yeah.
01:44:44 Aggie, come in.
01:44:46 Tell us about your journey into Soka, too.
01:44:49 Well, I've been doing music from a very young age,
01:44:54 as far as chanting.
01:44:55 Right.
01:44:56 Right.
01:44:56 From in my community.
01:44:57 And on 2012, from 2012, that is when
01:45:02 I decided to take the music seriously,
01:45:05 which I was in the United States of America
01:45:08 working with a couple of people.
01:45:12 And I take it serious from there till now.
01:45:14 So my journey-- to be honest, I just
01:45:18 had a love for this music.
01:45:21 And the love that I have for it is incredible.
01:45:25 I mean, I have a lot still to go.
01:45:28 But so far, I think I'm doing OK.
01:45:31 Yeah.
01:45:32 So you all reside in the US.
01:45:34 In the US, yes.
01:45:34 So you have just come into Carnival for the Carnival
01:45:38 season, right?
01:45:39 So we were listening to "Autobody."
01:45:42 Yeah?
01:45:42 Who wrote that?
01:45:43 That was written by Jason Sharf.
01:45:45 Yeah.
01:45:45 Yeah.
01:45:46 OK.
01:45:46 Let's hear a little bit about "Autobody."
01:45:48 [MUSIC - JASON SHARF, "AUTOBODY"]
01:45:49,
01:46:08 If they wish to--
01:46:09 if they wish to stay quiet.
01:46:11 They want to stay quiet.
01:46:13 Let's hear the voices.
01:46:14 [MUSIC - JASON SHARF, "AUTOBODY"]
01:46:16 Tell me how you want it.
01:46:19 Yes, I am wanting like that.
01:46:21 Yes, I am stepping on the dance.
01:46:22 If I get it, papa, tell me how you want it.
01:46:26 Yes, I am wanting like that.
01:46:28 Yes, I am stepping on the dance.
01:46:29 If I get it, papa, tell me how you want it.
01:46:33 All right.
01:46:33 [LAUGHTER]
01:46:36 All right.
01:46:37 Eggy, so you're doing a chant in this, right?
01:46:40 Oh, me?
01:46:40 Yeah.
01:46:41 No?
01:46:41 No.
01:46:42 No, you're not in this song.
01:46:43 No.
01:46:43 So you have your--
01:46:44 I have my own song.
01:46:45 Yeah?
01:46:46 Yeah.
01:46:46 Do we have Eggy's song?
01:46:47 "Frolic."
01:46:49 Yeah, I was looking for Eggy to run in there.
01:46:51 [LAUGHTER]
01:46:54 So how has this song received?
01:46:57 You have launched it in Trinidad?
01:46:58 Yes, I launched it in Trinidad.
01:47:00 I actually launched it in October.
01:47:02 I came down here in October.
01:47:03 Right.
01:47:04 And I did a few interviews on different radio stations,
01:47:06 also went to Tobago, took part in "The Pavement," "Lime,"
01:47:11 Channel 5, "News."
01:47:12 Yeah.
01:47:13 Yeah.
01:47:13 So it has been getting good exposure and support.
01:47:17 Yes, yes.
01:47:17 Down here.
01:47:18 The love is receiving it, really.
01:47:19 Let's hear Eggy's song.
01:47:21 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:25 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:28 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:32 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:35 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:39 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:42 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:46 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:49 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:53 [MUSIC - EGGY, "FROLIC"]
01:47:56 Good energy, Eggy.
01:47:58 Good energy.
01:47:58 Yeah.
01:47:58 Yeah.
01:47:59 Uh-huh.
01:48:00 Good energy for Juvie and I'm sure for Carnival.
01:48:04 So if there are competitions this year,
01:48:07 because I don't know for sure if the Soka Monarch thing coming
01:48:11 back, is that something that you all may be looking at?
01:48:14 Yes, definitely.
01:48:15 Yes, definitely.
01:48:16 Definitely.
01:48:16 Mm-hmm.
01:48:17 Yes.
01:48:17 How is the music being received out there, Eggy and Rissy?
01:48:22 Well, we just released it before we came to Trinidad.
01:48:26 So we still have some work to do when we go back to New York.
01:48:29 But as far as pushing it--
01:48:30 Yeah, the space in between of us coming back and then
01:48:33 preparing to come to Trinidad.
01:48:35 And right now, radio stations in New York
01:48:37 is limited because since COVID, a lot of the stations
01:48:40 closed down.
01:48:41 OK.
01:48:41 So it's really hard to get a booking for a radio station.
01:48:44 For interview and stuff.
01:48:46 And most of them doing it at home.
01:48:48 Yeah.
01:48:49 Yeah.
01:48:49 But there's a level of love for the Soka out there.
01:48:52 Yeah.
01:48:52 Of course.
01:48:53 Yes.
01:48:53 Yes.
01:48:54 Definitely.
01:48:54 Yes.
01:48:55 Yeah.
01:48:56 Have you all-- if people need to get in contact with both of you,
01:49:01 what's your social media presence like?
01:49:04 So for me, they can reach Rissy on Instagram @rissy_music.
01:49:09 Facebook, Musically Gifted Rissy.
01:49:11 And also on TikTok is WeProductions.
01:49:13 OK, boy, Eggy Dan, you can meet me on Instagram,
01:49:16 EggyDan_Music.
01:49:18 TikTok, EggyDan_Music.
01:49:21 Yeah.
01:49:22 Rissy, is this your only song for the carnival season?
01:49:25 Yes, right now, yes.
01:49:26 Yeah?
01:49:27 Any bookings yet?
01:49:28 We have a few gigs that's in the process right now.
01:49:31 We have some gigs this weekend.
01:49:32 Right now, it's a groundwork.
01:49:33 Yes, a lot of groundwork.
01:49:34 First season.
01:49:36 So it's from the bottom up.
01:49:39 Yeah.
01:49:40 So it's groundwork right now.
01:49:42 Eggy, when you run out there with that song,
01:49:44 that's real energy.
01:49:45 No, but I come to bring the energy.
01:49:48 Frolick with Frolick, here we go.
01:49:50 20, 24.
01:49:51 I like another version.
01:49:52 Frolick!
01:49:53 Eggy, if you have a few gigs per day,
01:49:56 I know you're in the mood with that one.
01:49:58 You're going to drink some punch and things.
01:50:00 Yeah, yeah.
01:50:01 Yeah?
01:50:01 Yeah, I'm ready.
01:50:02 Anything else you'd like to tell us
01:50:03 before you leave us this morning?
01:50:05 Just want to say thanks to everyone
01:50:06 who has been supporting us throughout the journey.
01:50:08 We appreciate you guys very much.
01:50:10 Thanks to Nikki and Miss J, our agents.
01:50:13 And thanks to Trinidad and Tobago for accepting us.
01:50:16 Eggy?
01:50:17 Same way here, thanks for everybody.
01:50:20 Everybody know themselves for being on the groundwork
01:50:23 with us from day one till now.
01:50:25 What I want to really say, let me stop the foolishness
01:50:29 that's going on in Trinidad.
01:50:31 It's not right.
01:50:32 And only-- we didn't come here for that,
01:50:34 but thanks everybody for being here.
01:50:37 We get what you're saying, Eggy.
01:50:39 We get what you're saying.
01:50:40 And I'm sure that a lot of people feel that way.
01:50:44 That we do have a lot of potential,
01:50:46 we do have a lot of talent here, and sometimes we're wasting it.
01:50:49 Yes, yes.
01:50:50 So Eggy, respect, receive.
01:50:53 Thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:50:54 We wish you all the best for the carnival season and beyond.
01:50:57 And hope to see you on a stage very, very soon.
01:51:00 Yes, thank you.
01:51:00 And thanks for having us here also.
01:51:02 All right.
01:51:03 OK, so it's time for another break.
01:51:05 We are coming back.
01:51:06 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:51:17 Cruise into pleasure.
01:51:19 Room service, may I help you?
01:51:22 Cruise into flavor.
01:51:24 Cruise into celebration.
01:51:30 Cruise into business.
01:51:32 And in this fiscal year--
01:51:34 Cruise into the sunset.
01:51:36 Cruise in hotel and yachting center.
01:51:42 Cruise in to a whole new world.
01:51:47 Thank you, members of the media.
01:51:50 This concludes our weekly press briefing.
01:51:54 As the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
01:51:56 continues to protect--
01:51:58 And serve with pride, we are calling
01:52:00 on all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago--
01:52:03 To get on board with us.
01:52:05 To ensure that everyone is able to live--
01:52:08 In a crime-free society.
01:52:12 Are you on board?
01:52:16 This is my country, and I am on board.
01:52:20 I am on board with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
01:52:23 Let us save the youth of the nation.
01:52:25 Get on board.
01:52:26 Crime affects all of us--
01:52:28 Children, communities, and the country as a whole.
01:52:32 Supporting crime victims and working with the police
01:52:34 service, I am on board.
01:52:37 This is my country, and I'm on board.
01:52:42 My name is Nikolai Blackmon, and I'm on board with the TTPS.
01:52:45 Vision on Mission is proud to partner with the TTPS,
01:52:50 because crime prevention is everybody's business.
01:52:53 We are the National Congress of Incorporated Spiritual Baptist
01:52:57 Organizations of Trinidad and Tobago,
01:52:59 and we are on board with the TTPS
01:53:01 in its fight against crime.
01:53:03 I'm a farmer.
01:53:04 This is my country, and I'm on board.
01:53:07 I'm Charles Jason Gordon, the Roman Catholic Archbishop
01:53:11 of Port-au-Prince.
01:53:12 I am on board in the TTPS fight against crime.
01:53:16 We are all on board.
01:53:17 Some of us like to test limits, but there won't always
01:53:28 be second chances.
01:53:31 Obey the speed limits.
01:53:33 Maybe you don't value your life, but others value theirs.
01:53:39 [tires screeching]
01:53:42 A message from the TTPS.
01:53:44 [music playing]
01:53:47 All right, so welcome back, everyone.
01:54:07 Again, as I told you earlier, well,
01:54:08 this is the final appearance, as it
01:54:12 were, for the former Prime Minister Basile Pande.
01:54:16 The funeral service takes place today
01:54:19 at 9 AM at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts.
01:54:23 That is supper, and then the body
01:54:26 is going to be taken to the shore of peace
01:54:30 for its final rites.
01:54:32 All right, so I know that many of you wanted to attend.
01:54:35 There's still time.
01:54:36 OK?
01:54:37 So that's going to do it for our program for today.
01:54:39 Remember that Emmy Prime comes up this evening.
01:54:41 In the meantime, we leave you with this image.
01:54:44 It's of a rising full moon.
01:54:47 Bye-bye, everybody.
01:54:48 See you tomorrow.
01:54:49 [music playing]
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01:55:01 [music playing]
01:55:04 [music playing]
01:55:07 ♪ That's a deal ♪
01:55:09 ♪ Go get it, you think you're talkin' ♪