Port-of-Spain – There is a shortage of nurses and other professionals in the health industry. And South-West Regional Health Authority Director of Health Dr Albert Persaud is planning a crusade to inform parents of the many career opportunities available in the sector.
Persaud said the main challenge in the local health sector was the shortage of semi-professionals and professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists and radiographers, among others. Persaud said the long wait at public health institutions was also impacted by the shortage of staff.
Said Persaud: “Let me start with nursing. We really are having a difficult time recruiting nurses both at basic level and general level and specialist nurses. Medicine has improved so much over the years that we need nurses just like you need specialist doctors and while we are in training it is not enough. Many of you probably have children in their teenage years. I am here to give you an idea of career opportunities people can look at. In Trinidad we see only certain carers and maybe in the southwest we can go on a crusade to tell parents and go in schools to give them some career guidance that there are a lot of opportunities in the health industry.”
Persaud added more effort needs to be placed on primary healthcare services, and so, to some extent, building more hospitals was a failure of a country's primary care services.
“So, therefore, what we have to do is make sure primary care services is so good that we don't need the hospitals as much as we think. When we look at our services we realise that there are many people who come there almost every four or five months to be admitted. That is not their fault it is our responsibility,” he said.
Persaud said in 2017 the SWRHA treated 36,000 people - with 17,000 coming from the Pleasantville Health Centre.
“It is not easy to cater for that number of people with the number of professional people that we have in Trinidad and Tobago. We accept that yes at times we fall. We have made a remarkable number of strides over the years,” he said.
SWRHA is responsible for the San Fernando General Hospital, Point Fortin Area Hospital, 33 health centres and three 'half' hospitals – Couva, Siparia, and Princes Town, he said.
Minister Randall Mitchell urged constituents to look at their lifestyle choices and their consequences. “Because as we get older our lifestyle choices are indeed becoming more and more important. What we eat, what we consume, our choices in that regard. Physical activity, do we engage in physical activity or do we just sit in front of the TV. The choices we make now become more and more important,” he said.
Mitchell said lifestyle diseases were becoming more prevalent in Trinidad and Tobago. He said this would result in an economic burden on the health sector.
“It touches us at a personal level as well because I am sure we know family members and friends who are being afflicted by these lifestyle diseases,” he said.
He said the health fair signals the constituency's intention to take steps towards a better lifestyle.

Port-of-Spain – Parents of children attending the Biche RC Primary School have been keeping children away from classes since staff members walked off the compound last week Monday. Health and safety concerns have been cited for the move.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association Lyndsay Doodhai said he was in support of the move by teachers to boycott the school until the Ministry of Education intervenes due to bat droppings on the compound.
Doodhai said teachers have been enduring deplorable work conditions and risking their health and safety for over a year with few attempts by the ministry to rectify the situation.
“TTUTA supports the recent decision by the teachers of Biche RC to remove themselves from the school building due to the severe prevalence of bat droppings. For far too long these teachers have had to work under deplorable conditions that are injurious to their health. They must be commended for subjecting themselves to these conditions for so long in the interest of their students. Many attempts have been made in the past to get the MOE to act in a decisive manner to resolve the issue to no avail. TTUTA hopes the MOE will act swiftly to deal with the problem so that school can resume in the shortest possible timeframe,” he said.
Doodhai said parents made a decision after a meeting to keep their children home. They are demanding the ministry replace the roof and ceiling and have the roof cleaned at regular intervals given the consistent return of the bats to the school.
He said classes for standard five pupils will continue at the Biche RC Church until examinations are over. The school has made several requests for the institution to be cleaned and repaired.
The Ministry of Agriculture's Anti-Rabies Unit intervened and conducted an assessment at the school on March 2, where the ceilings, vents and other access points for the bats were identified as entry points.
The recommendation was to remove the sheetings from the ceiling, spray with disinfectants to repel the bats, and sanitise and seal vents.
An official from the Education Ministry said last week the ministry made contact with the Education Facilities Company Ltd to identify a contractor for works to be conducted at the school. There was no word on how long the process will take.

Port-of-Spain – Trinidad and Tobago is getting UK funding to assist in dealing with security matters. It is among countries benefiting from £15 million in UK funding designed to help Commonwealth states strengthen cyber security capabilities plus tackle criminal groups and “hostile state actors” who pose a threat including in the UK and wider Commonwealth.
The announcement was made by the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday as Prime Minister Keith Rowley participated at the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in London.
The £15 million fund was recently announced by UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, the OPM stated.
The UK and Trinidad and Tobago are also strengthening security co-operation specifically in the areas of cybercrime and human trafficking. Trinidad and Tobago will benefit from the £15 million allocation in this regard.
Rowley also attended a leaders’ retreat at Windsor Castle for a private meeting on discussions of matters of mutual interest to the Commonwealth. It was chaired by UK PM May and Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness of Asthal (QC), Patricia Scotland.
Back in Port-of-Spain, UNC MP Rodney Charles accused Rowley of “snubbing” May by disregarding an invitation from her for a recent meeting of Caricom leaders in favour of “preparing for meetings” with energy companies.
Charles noted the government’s explanation that Rowley didn’t attend the Caricom meeting because he had scheduled prior appointments.
“Imagine you’re a guest in another country, the PM of that country invites you to an important, well-publicised meeting where she’s about to make an apology to you, and by extension all Caribbean citizens, for an embarrassing historic injustice of global dimensions.... and you send your Foreign Minister. That in any language is a diplomatic snub,” added Charles.

Port-of-Spain – The State's order to demolish the Shri Nav Durga Kali Ashram located at Road Reserve, St Mary's Village in South Oropouche has been stayed while temple management and the authorities discuss how it can be saved.
Spiritual head for the temple Pundit Larry Hasmatally last week confirmed talks with officials from the Ministry of Planning were underway. Officials were expected to visit the temple this week to continue investigations.
In a letter dated April 3 and signed by Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, the spiritual head of the temple was told of an enforcement notice, since the temple was not constructed according to the Town and Country Planning codes. The pundit was given 28 days to demolish the building.
Hasmatally said the temple, which has been in operation for the past 16 years, not only functions as a place of worship, but a refuge for the displaced and for charitable activities.
“From the meeting with the ministry, officials are saying we broke the law and they have agreed to do a thorough investigation. We will have to formally apply for the demolition to be put on hold. (The officials) agreed for a site visit [this week], but they are working with us. We want to get through this and we will cooperate with them,” he said.
Additionally, “This is not just a place for worshippers but we do a lot of charitable works and community development projects. This place has value for everyone and demolition of it will not be the right way. We see so many children going along the wrong path and what we can do here is encourage them in finding the right way.”
Hasmatally said he left a promising career as a veterinarian to become a full-time pundit, and this was his calling in life.
In a later release on April 13, the ministry stated there were “egregious breaches carried out on the site” where the current structural addition of the temple did not exist 50 years ago.

The ministry stated construction of a structural addition (a three-storey building) continued unabated despite the issuance of a letter of advice and a letter of refusal of planning permission on April 13, 2016, and that the structural addition was the subject of enforcement and not the temple.
The Town and Country Planning Division received a complaint from a member of the public concerning development being undertaken on the site on January 16, 2014 and investigations were conducted in September 2016.
Said the ministry: “The building is a public building which subjects the property to a number of specific requirements, including 40 percent coverage, building line setback distances, however there is no approval for the structural details of all of the buildings constructed.”
It added: “In this case, however, the enforcement notice is against the three-storey structure which has not been in existence for 40 years, as being claimed by the developers. There is no grant of planning permission for construction of the following: a sub-basement, basement and ground floor at road level.”
However, Hasmatally said there is only one structure, not four, as the ministry is claiming.
“We have one building. There are no separate buildings, so I don't understand why they are saying there are four. We have a prayer area, kitchen and so on, but it is all in one building,” he said.
On April 13, during the Urgent Questions segment to the government in Parliament, Fyzabad Member of Parliament Dr Lackram Bodoe questioned the motive behind the demolition of the temple.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh spoke on behalf of Robinson-Regis, who was absent, and reiterated the ministry's investigative report on the matter.
Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal also posed a question to Deyalsingh, asking whether it was proper for the government to be involved in the demolition of buildings, temples, churches and mosques for religious purposes.
This question was ruled out of order by the House Speaker.
Local government councillor for the area Doodnath Mayhroo questioned the Planning Minister's intervention in signing the document when he claimed it should have had the signature of another technocrat from the ministry.
A petition to save the ashram is also circulating on social media, with the call for it to not be demolished.
Members of the public gathered in protest earlier this month calling the intended demolition action by government an injustice.

Port-of-Spain – Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has invited India to participate in a new model for Trinidad and Tobago healthcare training at the Couva Hospital, which could include the teaching of traditional Indian medicine.
This was among the latest initiatives taken during the Prime Minister recent trip to London.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office last week confirmed the plan, among meetings Rowley held with various Commonwealth leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting conference.
The OPM's statement confirmed Rowley and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral discussions in London.
The healthcare training which India was invited to participate in was described as "an exciting new model", and will be done at the Couva Hospital, formerly known as the Couva Children's Hospital built under the last People's Partnership administration. It remains closed, but the government last year projected opening it this year.
Traditional Indian medicine which the OPM's statement referred to on the healthcare training aspect is known as Ayurvedic medicine. It originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and its concepts promote the use of herbal compounds, special diets and other unique health practices.
Modi indicated during the meeting that his government was interested in partnering with Trinidad and Tobago in the areas of information communication technology, energy, and pharmaceuticals. He said India would be happy to contribute to Trinidad and Tobago’s development in keeping with its economic priorities.
The OPM said Rowley welcomed Modi's request for collaboration and identified additional areas where opportunities exist for both countries to work together. These areas include tourism, healthcare and agriculture. Rowley also requested aviation training for local helicopter pilots, to which Modi indicated India is able to provide. He also identified the need for direct air transport between the two nations to provide a mutually beneficial link and allow for the free flow of tourists.
Technical teams will be established to advance these initiatives. The leaders also invited each other to visit their respective countries.

Port-of-Spain – There has been a 17 percent reduction in reported serious crimes during the period January 1, to April 14, when compared to the same period in 2017, said police public information officer, acting ASP Michael Jackman.
Jackman said in 2017 the total number of serious crimes reported during the period stood at 3,773, as opposed to 3,125 in 2018.
“Reports of wounding and shootings decreased by 21 percent with 155 reports being recorded for the mentioned period in 2018, compared to 196 for the same period in 2017. Burglary and break-ins were also reduced, with a total of 645 reports being made in 2017 as compared to 473 reported cases in 2018. This change reflects a 27 percent decrease,” he said.
Additionally, “Reports of offences such as rape, incest and other offences of a sexual nature were reduced by 21 percent as 192 reports were reported for the period in 2017 when compared to 151 for the same period in 2018.”
Jackman said there was also a 51 percent drop in fraud offences with a total 199 reported cases in 2017 when compared to 98 reports for the same period of 2018.
He said reports for general larceny reduced by 15 percent with a total of 583 reported cases in 2017 when compared to 496 in 2018.
“The offence of larceny dwelling house saw a reduction of 56 percent as there was 82 reports made during the 2017 as compared to 36 in 2018. Reports of larceny motor vehicle were also reduced by 47 percent with a total of 252 for 2017 as compared with 133 in 2018,” he noted.
However, Jackman said there was an increase detection of narcotics offences with 150 seizures in 2018 when compared to 142 in 2017. He said the figure represented a six percent increase in the detection rate in the current year.
“Possession of firearms and ammunition detections also saw an increase of six per cent, with 278 detections being made in 2017, and 294 in 2018,” he noted.