IICA, UWI sign agriculture MOU
…prepares agri-graduates for the world-of-work
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) remains committed to supporting the development of human knowledge and skills for agricultural development. Under the IICA Director General’s Single Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Caribbean, a longstanding internship arrangement with UWI Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA) was formalised and expanded to students across the region, in response to an overwhelming call for more robust internship opportunities that provide an effective transition between the academic environment and the world-of-work readiness as graduates.
During an open introductory conversation on June 26, Dr. Ronald Roopnarine, UWI-FFA Senior Lecturer in Agri-Environmental Disaster Risk Management, Acting Head of Department of the Department of Food Production and coordinator of the internship, stated that “if you really want to promote agriculture, you must ensure that there are sufficient employment opportunities for young people who would have just graduated,”
Noting that with this formal arrangement, IICA sets an example for other development organisations, Roopnarine said this arrangement is also seen as a positive for UWI-FFA to boost enrolment, as students will have the opportunity to be streamed into agricultural development organisations upon graduation for world-of-work experience.
There has been an overall declining trend in the UWI St. Augustine campus enrolment over the past three years. As published in an article “Examining The UWI’s declining enrolment” on March 13, Pro Vice-Chancellor and principal of the St Augustine campus Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, indicated that the 21% decline in enrolment in the FFA should be a concern both to the country and the region.
Declining enrolment, coupled with graduates who have limited options for the world-of-work experience in agriculture, means that the sector will not have enough of “skilled and knowledgeable people” to drive agriculture development initiatives and to develop a competitive advantage in the global economy for agrifood products.
The agriculture sector is also at risk of losing such skills, as graduates are forced to switch to other sectors due to lack of opportunities to gain experience, find employment and/or start entrepreneurship opportunities within agriculture. This has implications for the Caricom Heads of Government 25% by 2025 strategy to reduce dependence on food imports from extra-regional sources, not just as a 2025 goal, but for building the human capital needed to sustain any progress made.
Despite this, three months later, the announcement from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), to remove Agriculture Science, among three other subject areas, as CSEC and CAPE exams prompted swift regional backlash, leading to a similarly swift reversal.
At the secondary school level, these subjects are designed to provide the basic grounding in the fundamentals to steer and better prepare students to enroll and follow the programmes offered by the UWI-FFA, the only faculty in UWIverse that specializes in higher level agricultural education.
For some time now, there has been a concern that young persons are not attracted to the agri-industry, whether it’s on the production or the service side and now, to pursue higher agri-education. To counteract this, youth-in-agriculture engagement and training programmes are being facilitated to generate interest and enable their involvement.
Examples include an eight-week intensive summer Youth Farm training programme initiated by IICA Barbados in 2012, in partnership with the Ministries of Agriculture and Education and the private sector, and the more recent Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) Youth Agriculture Homestead Programme (YAHP), the Youth Aquaculture and Youth Shade House programmes.
In contribution to the development of human capital for agriculture development in CARICOM, IICA, as a specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, providing technical cooperation for agricultural development and rural well-being, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UWI-FFA.
At the centre of this cooperation agreement is an expanded world-of-work internship programme, beyond the UWI’s regular 8-10-week summer programme. This 3-to-10 months IICA internship is not an extension to their degree programme, or a summer placeholder. It offers opportunities for recent graduates and/or final year FFA students to apply their learning to real world agricultural development issues. In some instances, it also serves as an introduction to a topic that they may have heard about but not necessarily have learned about during the course of their studies.
IICA-TT is hosting two UWI-FFA interns to the end of November this year. One from the Department of Geography and the other from the Department of Food Production. IICA’s Soil and Water Specialist in the Americas, Dr. Chaney St. Martin, assured the interns that they will get the opportunity to interface with peers across the Americas through IICA’s several technical programmes, and to build professional networks within and across the IICA networks.
The IICA-TT Representative, Diana Francis added that through the internship, they will receive a fully immersive experience to hone their technical knowledge, engage with stakeholders, and importantly develop the softer skills for the world-of-work, which is the right attitude to fit into the culture and teams of an organisation or business.
In delivering all aspects of its mandate, formal agreements with entities who share institutional values and goals for the development of sustainable agriculture and rural communities in the Americas are important to IICA. It was instructive to hear from Dr. Roopnarine, that of the several MOUs signed by UWI-FFA, with a number of partners, this one with IICA was perhaps the one that actually yielded immediate tangible benefits, specifically focused on supporting graduates.
He called for more active MOUs with entities to ensure that when students graduate from UWI-FFA, they are moving into an internship programme to get some experience and be ready for the world-of-work in agriculture, which as he also emphasised, should not be viewed separate and apart from the environment and natural resource management. To date, the IICA UWI-FFA internship arrangement has confirmed opportunities for seven graduates, linked to IICA offices in Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Cinderella Agriculture, foundation of UWI
With a meagre budget of TTD1.442 billion, eighth lowest out of nine, agriculture continues to be the underfed underdog, dominated by descendants of British Indian farmers, the most patriotic citizens whom the partisan regime cynically denied land as compensation after closure of the sugar industry. Plagued by praedial larceny, homicide, robbery and fraud, courageous families continue to feed the country, supporting the UWI, founded on the world-class Faculty of Agriculture, formerly the pioneering Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. As food imports escalate, the poor hunger and thirst in the backwoods of the petrostate. Compared to failing ministries of security and utilities, enjoying the benefits of generous budgets, agriculture continues to fulfil the mandate to produce food for citizens.
Minister of Agriculture, Land, and Fisheries (MALF) Kazim Hosein’s spirit remained bright as he welcomed guests to the second Agro Expo on August 16. Hosein expressed his hope for future events, saying, “God willing, the next expo should be in a different part of the country.”
Describing himself as the “first servant” of MALF, Hosein said this year’s theme, From Farm to Table, which focuses on revitalising the local food-supply chain, highlights the efforts of hundreds of stakeholders across the agricultural industry.
“Last year, we had over 300 exhibitors; this year, we have over 400. Next venue, we aim to make it bigger.”
Agriculture as a fundamental pillar of society that is often unrecognised yet plays a vital role.
“Agriculture is not merely a profession, it is the foundation of civilisation, the very source of our nutrition, and a key driver of our economy.” He urged those attending to recognise the crucial role of agriculture and food production.
“Every meal we eat is a testimony to the hard work of farmers and workers who labour tirelessly, often under challenging conditions.” Hosein stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture in a world where millions still suffer from hunger.
“By investing in agriculture, we invest in our future – a future where every individual has access to the nutrition they need.”
Agricultural contributions extend beyond feeding the country and play a significant role in the economy.
“The agricultural sector provides thousands of jobs, from farm workers to food scientists, distribution centres and retailers.”
Fostering innovation and supporting sustainable practices can build a resilient agricultural system capable of withstanding the pressures of climate change and global markets.
Hosein noted the “deep connection” between community, culture and agriculture. “By supporting local agriculture, we preserve traditions and strengthen community bonds. Innovations in agriculture, technology and practices are essential in adapting to new realities, ensuring food security and mitigating environmental impacts.”
He acknowledged the support of Caricom countries during the expo’s launch in 2022 and lamented the absence of some member states due to Hurricane Beryl.
As rain poured down, Hosein praised the Prime Minister for his “astute leadership” and his belief in “growing what you eat and eating what you grow.”
Rowley, the keynote speaker and a former agriculture minister, underscored the critical importance of revitalising the agricultural sector.
He said the government is “committed to increasing agricultural output as part of a broader Caricom initiative aimed at enhancing food security.”
Agriculture is a longstanding asset to the economy but decline and failure of the sector was due to various challenges such as the loss of export markets and pests. He referred to the historical importance of sugar, peas, cocoa and coconuts and lamented their diminished presence due to market forces and environmental factors. In response to these challenges, the government has undertaken a detailed study of the food import bill, revealing areas where immediate action can reduce dependence on imports. The focus is on increasing local production of high-quality fresh produce and livestock. He stressed the role of the Agro Expo in showcasing local agricultural achievements and innovations.
He praised the involvement of young entrepreneurs and outlined programmes to train and support farmers, such as the introduction of modern farming techniques, the shade house programme, and collaborations with institutions like UWI, which play a key role in the strategy to modernise agriculture and engage a new generation of farmers.
With a call to action, Rowley urged support for agricultural enterprises and contributions to national food security. He acknowledged efforts of Cabinet members, advisers and experts in agriculture, who are instrumental in supporting young farmers and fostering agricultural business development. The expo, which convenes agricultural producers and innovators, aims to demonstrate the potential of local agriculture and inspire greater public- and private-sector involvement in supporting the industry.
Hurricane Ernesto makes landfall on Bermuda as a category 1 storm
August 17, 2024
Hurricane Ernesto made landfall on the British Atlantic territory of Bermuda as residents hunkered down. The wide category 1 storm was directly over the territory with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of strong winds, a dangerous storm surge and significant coastal flooding.
It said some 6 to 9 inches (150-225 millimetres) of rain was expected to fall on Bermuda. “This rainfall will likely result in considerable life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas on the island.”
Due to the large size of the storm and its slow movement, hurricane-strength winds are expected to continue until Saturday afternoon, with tropical storm-strength winds continuing well into Sunday, the Bermuda government said. Ernesto is moving toward the north-northeast at around 9 mph (15 kph).
The NHC reported life-threatening surf and rip currents on the east coast of the United States and said they would reach Canada during the day. Ernesto is forecast to be near or east of Newfoundland by Monday night.
Bermuda power utility BELCO said that as of Saturday morning, more than three-quarters of its customers were without power. It was in “an active state of crisis. Our crews are no longer out in the field working as it is no longer safe for them. They will now rest until it is deemed safe for them to begin restoration efforts.”
In preparation for the storm, officials in the wealthy h territory had suspended public transportation and closed the airport on Friday night.
“Hurricane Ernesto seriously threatens our community,” National Security Minister Michael Weeks said. “This is not a storm to be taken lightly.“
Bermuda is an archipelago of 181 islands whose total land mass is roughly the size of Manhattan. It is uncommon for the eye of a hurricane to make landfall in Bermuda. Since 1850 only 11 of 130 tropical storms that came within 100 miles (160 kilometres) of Bermuda had made landfall.
The island is a renowned offshore financial centre with sturdy construction, and given its elevation, storm surge is not as problematic as it is with low-lying islands. Ernesto previously battered the northeast Caribbean, where it left hundreds of thousands of people without power or water in Puerto Rico after swiping past the U.S. territory as a tropical storm.
Over 180,000 out of nearly 1.5 million clients were still without power more than two days after the storm. Another 170,000 were without water as the National Weather Service issued yet another severe heat advisory, warning of “dangerously hot and humid conditions.”
“It’s not easy,” said Andrés Cabrera, 60, in the north coastal city of Carolina with no water or power. Like many, he could not afford a generator or solar panels. He was relying for relief only “on the wind that comes in from the street.“
Nearly 1.5 million customers in Puerto Rico by Sunday but have not said when they expect power to be fully restored. Of 152 locations of critical infrastructure without electricity that are being prioritized, 36 now have power, said Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy, a private company that operates the transmission and distribution of power on the island.
In the neighbouring U.S. Virgin Islands, crews also were working to restore power, with 80% of customers back online. Ernesto is the fifth named storm and the third hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record warm ocean temperatures. It forecast 17 to 25 named storms, with four to seven major hurricanes.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)
Caricom to “forcefully” confront Commonwealth
Aug 2, 2024
On his return from the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Grenada, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the Caribbean Community decided to speak to the Commonwealth on reparations in October.
On African Emancipation Day, he said that The University of the West Indies vice-chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles is leading the “intellectual arguments” on behalf of Caricom with respect to reparations and Dr Martin Luther King Jr had said the arc to freedom bends towards justice.
“We here gathered are on that arc; we genuinely believe that it will bend to a point in a day when justice would be recognised by all and it will be handed to those who deserve it.
When we meet in Samoa, Caribbean leaders took a decision this week to forcefully speak to the Commonwealth as one voice, and there is one particular country with a new King (the UK’s King Charles III) and a Labour government with an outstanding mandate, and we look forward to the reaction in October. Because I believe that until respect becomes acknowledged by those who hold authority, African people will continue to be viewed as second and third-class, and we will continue to have to fight for freedom and respect.”
He emphasised the need for focus on respect, starting from respecting ancestors who were there when the hardships were meted out and survived it for the future of their progeny.
“Today, we need to respect their effort as we respect ourselves because out of that respect would come a desire to be the best that we can be against advice that we are worth nothing, or that we are limited in what we can achieve or that we are less in what we anticipate. Let us take pride in our ancestry, let us not be afraid to proclaim our Africanness, especially in today’s world where Africa is rising and rising to meet us, let us not be found wanting.“
Executive chair of the Emancipation Support Committee Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada said the celebration of African emancipation in T&T was a national celebration because the freedom of Africans from enslavement was a gain for all humanity.
“None of us would have wanted to live in a world where a major ethnic group would have been enslaved.”
Trinidad and Tobago has to become the mecca for the celebration worldwide, as the first independent state to declare African Emancipation Day a holiday. Attending were Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne, Youth Development Minister Foster Cummings, Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell, Energy Minister Stuart Young and Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne.
In July 2013, Caribbean leaders at the 34th Caricom Summit agreed to pursue reparations from Britain, based on representation made by Beckles. Two months later, at its first reparations summit in September 2013, Caricom identified Sir Hilary to lead its Caricom Reparations Commission (CRC) as chairman. Under his leadership, the CRC took the reparations discourse to the UK House of Lords, the US Congress and to universities in Europe, North America and Africa.
The disastrous reparations campaign emerged from the quagmire of pathetic grievance politics, ahistorical gestures, irresponsible iconoclasm and other false claims of hardline ideologies, bending to the rabble, stalking the Commonwealth, dependent on aid for its activities. A minority demanding priority for characteristics over ability is undermining morality and society.
Caricom ratifies National Security, Law Enforcement Council
1 August
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Amery Browne submitted the country’s agreement to a new Caricom security protocol, during the 47th regular meeting of Caricom Heads of Government, in St George’s, Grenada, on July 30. The protocol ratification sees Caricom incorporate a Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE).
In 2005, Caricom recognised the increasing threats to regional security and added “security” as its fourth pillar. CONSLE was established in 2006 to address these concerns. The Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Impacs) was created to enact CONSLE’s policies, with headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2016, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was updated to include CONSLE as an official part of Caricom and TT signed the protocol. TT played its part in bringing this protocol into force by submitting the instrument of ratification. As Caricom’s lead nation for security, TT is crucial in guiding regional security policies through CONSLE and ensuring implementation through Impacs.
Caricom assistant secretary-general for foreign and community relations, Elizabeth Solomon and Lisa Shoman, general counsel of the Caricom secretariat.
Rising Gun Crimes : Urgent Action required
Aug 25, 2024 By Sir Ronald Sanders
There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger people and gangs. This plague has spread into Antigua and Barbuda which recently suffered a spike in gun crimes. Throughout my lived experience, Antigua has traditionally enjoyed a low rate of homicides.
Sadly, this treasured tradition has been shattered by a surge in broad daylight robberies, particularly of small supermarkets and even more tragically, by an increase in killings. Antigua’s current wave of violence, while deeply troubling, mirrors a broader trend that has been prevalent in other Caribbean countries for much longer.
Haiti bears the notorious distinction of being the most affected, with armed gangs controlling large areas despite the presence of a Kenyan military force, invited by the government and approved by the UN Security Council.
In Antigua, Lennox Weston recently published a sobering account of the murder rates in CARICOM countries in 2022 per 100,000 persons, as compiled by the World Population Review: Jamaica (53.4), St Vincent and the Grenadines (40.41), Trinidad and Tobago (39.52), St Lucia (36.7), Bahamas (31.22), Belize (27.88), Haiti (18.02), Barbados (15.27), and Antigua and Barbuda (10.67). Based on anecdotal evidence and media reports of killings, these figures have likely increased over the last two years, underscoring the gravity of the problem across the region.
The continued illegal trafficking of guns fuels this violence. The origin of most of these weapons is the United States. Despite undertakings by the current U.S. administration, the flow of illegal arms has not slowed. This is tied to the ease with which Americans can purchase weapons, inadequate record-keeping, and the internal politics of the U.S., where the gun lobby, along with many citizens, fiercely advocates the right to bear and purchase arms. As long as gun purchases remain a domestic political issue in the U.S., the provision of critical information regarding the shipment of guns to the region will remain sporadic, limited to occasions when U.S. customs officials manage to intercept illegal shipments at ports. This reality necessitates that CARICOM countries adopt cooperative measures to police their territorial seas collectively, with overlapping jurisdiction to interdict ships carrying illegal weapons. The problem is as regional as it is national, and while countries like Antigua and Barbuda are enhancing their maritime capacity, regional collaboration is essential. This includes the right to pursue suspected vessels in each other’s territorial waters.
Historically, the Caribbean’s geographic position has made it vulnerable to illicit trafficking routes and this challenge has evolved as modern criminals exploit regional integration efforts to expand their networks. Organized criminals are taking advantage of economic integration to grow a lucrative network of crime, particularly for gun and drug trafficking, establishing local “branches” across the region. In truth, these criminals are better organized regionally than are the law enforcement agencies of CARICOM, despite the efforts of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the Regional Security System (RSS), which lack comprehensive region-wide enforcement mechanisms.
It should be noted that IMPACS itself has drawn attention to the facts that “regional gangs are increasingly integrating with international criminal networks” and “gangs are increasingly diversifying into a broader spectrum of criminal activities”. IMPACS also reported that in 2023, firearms accounted for 80% of all homicides in CARICOM countries.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, alarmed by the presence of “474 repeat offenders roaming our streets with impunity,” announced that while Antigua has pursued a liberal immigration policy, there will be ” no tolerance for any immigrant involved in criminal activities.” Such individuals will be deported immediately upon conviction and completion of their prison sentences. This stance is directed at persons of all nationalities, not only CARICOM nationals. It is also not “anti-regionalism”; regionalism was intended for the law-abiding, not for the lawless.
Beyond regional efforts, there is an urgent need for stronger international cooperation. The issue of gun trafficking from the U.S. is part of a broader, global problem of arms proliferation. The U.S. gun lobby’s influence extends beyond domestic politics, affecting neighbouring regions like the Caribbean. Greater collaboration is needed not just within CARICOM but with broader alliances, including nations and organizations like the Organization of American States (OAS), UN organizations and even European states with territories in the region that are affected by similar issues.
As President of the Permanent Council of OAS in December 2023, I introduced a resolution on “Guns, Gangs, and Violence,” which recognized the interconnectedness of transnational organized crime. The resolution called for a cross-border, collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to address the root causes and consequences of criminal gang violence, particularly gun-related violence. While this resolution was a step in the right direction, the wheels of establishing effective enforcement mechanisms move slowly. Unfortunately, addressing the issue of crime cannot afford to grind slowly. Lives and livelihoods are at stake, as is the right of people to live in freedom -freedom from fear of crime and the right to live in peace. Therefore, national action, such as Prime Minister Browne is taking, is imperative.
Economic implications of rising crime are also dire. Tourism, a critical sector for many Caribbean nations, could be severely impacted if the region continues to be perceived as unsafe. This would not only affect national economies but also the livelihoods of millions of citizens who depend on tourism. Moreover, the high unemployment rates, particularly among youth, contribute to the rise in gang-related activities. Economic policies that create jobs and opportunities are vital in steering young people away from crime.
Prime Minister Browne announced a series of measures designed to curb crime, stating, “The consequences of allowing these criminals to destabilize our country are too dire to contemplate. We cannot grow our economy or build a prosperous future for our people in an environment riddled with crime and violence. Defeating these criminals is not just a priority – it is an absolute necessity for the continued safety and prosperity of our nation”
Few in the Caribbean would disagree with him, particularly as crime is no longer random or occasional; it is now an organized enterprise. Dismantling it requires strong, consensual action by governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and all who wish to live in peaceful and law-abiding societies.
(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com)
“Violence in the Caribbean: a Public Health Crisis” was chosen as the theme for the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Annual Health Research Conference on 25-27 April 2024. Despite allocations among the highest in annual budgets, Trinidad & Tobago homicides approach 500 for 2024, behind Jamaica. Divestment of state bureaucracies can divert resources to protect citizens from criminals. This can be discussed at the Commonwealth Conference in October, instead of demanding reparations from King Charles and British taxpayers as Caricom criminals continue statue stunts, cancel culture and BLM sacrilege of British heritage, driven by racial envy of Europeans and Indians.
Lawrence Duprey 1935-2024
2024, 08/25
Flashback: Former CL Financial chairman Lawrence Duprey, met businessman Carlos John at the book launch “Political Encounters 1946-2016 by Ferdie Ferreira at the Seamen and Waterfront Workers” Trade Union Hall in Port-of-Spain.
Lawrence Duprey, the former chairman of CL Financial (CLF) and the Colonial Life Insurance Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Clico), has died at 89. In the last year, as his health deteriorated, he moved back to T&T from Miami with his wife, Sylvia. He died at a health facility in Port-of-Spain yesterday evening.
When he returned to Trinidad, former Clico agent and former mayor of San Fernando Ian Atherly hosted a welcome home party with former agents last June. Atherly described him as a “giant of a man” who had spent the last 15 years of his life fighting to regain some element of the billion-dollar empire he had built. “He died a lonely man,.”
It was bittersweet for Duprey that all the companies and ventures he had embarked on had turned around and were now profitable; the State adequately compensated for its liquidity injection, but CLF remained in liquidation, with the conglomerate now dismantled and sold off in pieces.
Duprey remains the largest shareholder of CLF, but with the company in liquidation, it would be the last to get anything from earnings. In January 2009, when Duprey approached the Government cap-in-hand, the Government immediately stepped in to curb any systemic risk to the country’s financial state. The interest rates had attracted over 25,000 people to invest billions, and Clico’s breadth had stretched from credit unions to prime state enterprises to owing millions to local banks.
Duprey had described his empire, of 65 companies in 32 countries, as being caught up in a perfect storm of economic collapse. The Government also had to inject sums to top up the starved Statutory Fund and meet the requirements of policyholders who had opted out of business with Clico.
In turn, the assets of CLF were used as security for the injection. The majority of the Government’s $30 billion bailout was spent on paying back policyholders of Clico and British American’s Executive Flexible Premium Annuity (EFPA), a facility created by Clico to raise money and bore an above-market, annual interest rate of ten per cent.
A Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into the collapse of Clico and related subsidiaries, as well as the Hindu Credit Union, was initiated by the State. The revelations were startling with million-dollar salaries paid to executives, companies created by executives and hiving off millions in contracts and blatant breaches in governance at the expense of policyholders.
Clico was an insurance company formed by Cyril Duprey in 1936. The reins were subsequently passed to his nephew Lawrence in 1988, who grew the company into the conglomerate CLF.
The tale of how Clico came to be and the inner workings of this private company was exposed in witness statements during the 18-month-long CoE. Former CIB chairman Mervyn Assam told the enquiry that Duprey was the opposite of his frugal uncle after he inherited the company.
“He is very entrepreneurial and not at all risk-averse. He has a reputation for being able to see an opportunity and go after it. He always saw things on a big scale and had the idea that was how companies in Europe, the United States, and Canada were able to develop from small to medium to large to become transnational companies,“
Duprey expanded Clico to the Clico Investment Bank and created the umbrella company, CL Financial. CIB funded investments into the energy and beverage business.
In his witness statement, former group financial director Michael Carballo described Duprey as a “very persuasive, very logical man” and the ultimate deal-maker.
“When it came to decisions, commercial decisions, who had the ultimate authority to approve or say no?” lead counsel for the enquiry, British Queen’s Counsel Peter Carter asked Carballo, who replied,
“He has that strength about him – very persuasive, able to persuade a board.“.
Carballo has said Duprey’s insistence on the acquisition of Lascelles de Mercado, a US$750 million Jamaican acquisition, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. By then, Clico and British American, aided by CLF, had long since expanded beyond the remit of any insurance company, with expensive real estate investments in Florida costing hundreds of millions. Its top players were politically aligned: Duprey’s adviser Carlos John became a Works Minister under the United National Congress Government, while his former financial group head Andre Monteil was the PNM’s party treasurer.
Duprey blamed the failure of Clico on the people he tasked with managing it. In 2017, Duprey said he felt he was duped into disposing the company’s assets in January 2009. The Government had managed the CLF conglomerate through a shareholder agreement originally signed in June 2009, but Duprey had said he was coerced into agreeing to the situation in the first place. He blamed politics for how he eventually lost control of it.
In his witness statement to the Commission of Enquiry in October 2012, he said, “The global collapse coinciding with an ever-impossible revamp of the regulatory framework and a refusal of Government-owned entities to back the group after all the years of benefit that they had received from the interest income that the group had generated led to the need for some ultimate government support. I would have preferred, as I deal with further on in this statement, that the intervention had not been so politically motivated and had been directed at protection, for I believe had that been the position we would have fared a great deal better.
Losing all the intellectual capital as a condition of intervention was a bad decision and was not one replicated in the USA or the UK. “It is of note in this regard that I was firm of the view in January 2009 that the run on CIB and the resultant liquidity or cash flow issues were much inspired by the decision of State-owned or run entities making decisions at or about the same time to withdraw rolling deposits that had been previously rolled from maturity to maturity without question. The decision to seek funds back came in reality out of the blue and caused severe problems.”
Tributes for a visionary
Former planning minister and former CLF director Dr Bhoe Tewarie:
“The loss of the Duprey Empire and Lawrence Duprey’s lonely end makes his passing very sad. He helped a lot of people in his lifetime and had a charitable heart.
“My condolences go out to Sylvia and his son, and to his genuine friends and family. He was a very complicated man with very big ideas, and he loved Trinidad and Tobago but understood its limitations, and he tried to find ways of circumventing them. He made business mistakes and miscalculations, and some took advantage of his trust. These inevitably took a toll. He also took big, calculated risks, which paid off and made a difference to this country. He was brave enough to create an international partnership that brought the first private-sector investment in methanol here. Angostura was a good acquisition.”
“After the war, initially, he listened to advice and made peace with the republic, which was a good decision for a good investment. But his appetite for high risk brought him down when forces converged beginning in 2008 to trigger a global financial crisis, a severe fall in energy prices, and a real estate crash simultaneously. He was too heavily invested in all three and he had leveraged too many assets and was too heavily in debt.
“Clico as a company had cornered itself because it was leveraged to finance everything. By doing so, it put people’s savings, insurance policies, and pensions at risk to finance a range of investments that were not contributing to revenue, cash flow, or profits.
“Lawrence Duprey acknowledged good advice and caution, but the culture of his executive team could be reckless and unbridled, and good advice was not sufficient to rein Lawrence Duprey in.
“Personalities were more powerful than institutions within the company. And oversight institutions in the country did not play their mandated roles on behalf of the State with the timely and effective vigilance and sense of responsibility that was required either.
“He was reckless in politics too, and that ultimately meant that he became politically vulnerable in a vindictive culture. He never was an insider in T&T’s business elite circles either. Such things turned out to be costly. In a way, even in his most successful days, he was a loner. He was a good entrepreneur, and he dreamt big. But organisations need more than successful entrepreneurs and big dreams to make them sustainable.
“He was a colourful, almost mythical figure in his best days. A lot of people will remember his goodwill and generosity. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Former finance minister Winston Dookeran, under whose tenure the Clico Investment Fund (CIF) was born, said:
“As we mourn the loss of Lawrence Duprey, we must be humbled, for he was indeed, perhaps the most visionary entrepreneur of our times. He was able to “idle” resources into national prosperity, for which he faced obstacles and for which the T&T economy continues to benefit – it was the pillar of our success in building a diversified structure.
“Indeed, a strategic thinker and a true patriot, Lawrence Duprey’s legacy will be hard to surpass. T&T owes him a huge debt of gratitude, and I hope he will be so honoured by our nation.”
Gabriel Faria, former chief executive of Angostura and former chief executive of the T&T Chamber, said:
“Lawrence Duprey was an extraordinary individual, whose journey was marked by remarkable achievements, resilience in the face of adversity, and an indomitable spirit that inspired us all. Lawrence was not just a business magnate; he was a visionary who saw possibilities where others saw obstacles. He built a business empire that transformed industries and our country and touched countless lives.
“His innovative ideas and fearless pursuit of excellence set new standards in the business world, earning him respect and admiration from peers and competitors alike. But Lawrence’s story was not without its challenges. He faced difficult times and experienced significant losses.
“Yet, even in the darkest moments, he remained steadfast and resilient. He taught us that true success is not measured by wealth alone but by the courage to rise after a fall and the wisdom to learn from every experience. He never lost sight of what truly mattered. He was a devoted family man and a loyal friend, and he created many millionaires, some may say even billionaires.
“Lawrence’s legacy is not just in the businesses he built but in the lives he touched and the inspiration he provided to aspiring entrepreneurs. He showed us that vision, perseverance, and integrity are the cornerstones of a meaningful life. I will remember him not only for his successes but also for his unwavering spirit and the love he shared with those around him. May his memory continue to inspire us to dream big, act boldly, and live with purpose.”
Former CL executive Carlos John said :
“Well, to me, he was an outstanding industrialist and a giant of a man. A true patriot. As well as a great philanthropist.”
Former CLF director Michael Carballo:
“He was a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur. Had a very good heart. Wanted the best for the country. A risk-taker of sorts but truly a good person and businessman.”
Education and nation-building
2024, 08/25
Celebrating the 62nd Independence Day and 48th Republic Day in Trinidad & Tobago after two generations have been responsible for building the foundation for the future, their offspring are now responsible for the country’s future.
The first generation had little practical experience in national building, and graduates were educated abroad without management experience in a local context and a different global environment.
Since independence, the task has been to build the mechanisms and institutions to educate the younger generations to take charge and to improve the inheritance and intergenerational transfer with massive investment in the education system from primary to the tertiary level.
Education is not desired simply for its own sake but to ensure a better future and a higher standard of living than the current generation, not for citizens to emigrate and contribute to foreign development.
This is the context in which the CSEC and CAPE results released by the Ministry of Education must be reviewed. These young adults are the future and their results signal the potential for development. While an examination result is not the end of one’s education process, overall results indicate whether the education system is achieving its objective. If not, the changes are necessary to improve the system. Even a cursory examination of the Education Ministry’s media release gives serious cause for concern.
CAPE results show the benefits of focusing on the subjects selected. In 2024, 95.47 per cent (30,739) of written CAPE subject entries achieved acceptable passes (Grades I-V) compared to 96.08 per cent (29, 242) in 2023.
CSEC results are less positive. 45.55 per cent of 14,035 pupils received a full certificate of five subjects or more, including Mathematics and English (6,393). The majority, 54.45 per cent did not meet the minimum required scholastic level of achievement.
This has severe implications since Maths and English are the basis for educational progression in further study or occupation. Mathematics is a prerequisite for attempting any science subject at CAPE level. Therefore, without Maths and English, these students will not qualify for CAPE. and for continuing to tertiary education or tertiary institutions and will need remedial education.
The key to developing industrial and economic capacity is a foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
CSEC results show that this is a multi-year weakness. 18,844 pupils wrote SEA in 2019 and in 2024, and five years later, 14,456 pupils attempted five subjects at CSEC. What happened to the other 4,388 who did the SEA in 2019?
This statistic is even more frightening, as it means that 76 per cent of the 2019 SEA cohort does not appear to have reached this level. This astonishing statistic raises serious doubts about the efficacy of the current education system and its implication for the stability of the social fabric. The disgraceful performance at the primary and secondary levels requires a systemic intervention.
Unfortunately, the zeitgeist of decolonisation, blackpower, cancel culture and bigoted ideology are key factors in poor performance. Demands for reparation from imperial rulers led by UWI VC and other atavistic activists and torchbearers of black supremacy and Caricom declaration of the West Indies as the 6th region of Africa are key drivers of descent into nihilism, gangsterism, racism, chauvinism, jingoism, fanaticism, hedonism, pessimism, skepticism, cronyism, extremism and rabid nationalism. Faith schools flourish with focus on knowledge, law, order and respect for universal values and traditions..
Mathematics monkey-wrench
August 21
Ever since apocryphal arithmetic applied a monkey-wrench to torpedo the WI Federation with 1 from 10 equals 0 , mathematics separated baleful rulers from the Indian minority, descendants of inventors of zero. Schools used to focus on teaching pupils to read, write and count but the conundrum continued after over 6 decades, in the 2020 Guyana election result which confirmed official innumeracy.
The Caribbean Examinations Council announced 64% failed maths in CSEC exams, across the region. Only six per cent of children passed five subjects or more at CSEC level and fewer than one in 20 pupils got five passes that included both English and Maths.
That leaves 94 percent of pupils without a full certificate that includes those two vital subjects among the compulsory five, unable to move onto advanced study and the road to professional success. Still more worrying, each year since 2018, 11,500 do not matriculate at all and are therefore unemployable, except as unskilled labour or in organised crime .
With that trend, the region is fated to remain tourist destinations and exporters of primary products for the rest of its endangered time on planet Earth, while world jobs markets change in line with shifting new, digital technologies and high-skilled industries. Those require educated workers who understand maths and can interpret data – from business to building. How can a region that is so vulnerable to world shocks fare when only about one in three of its people passes a maths exam at age 16?
TT had a 42 per cent maths pass rate and 45 per cent received full certificates but the petrostate is only as strong as its weakest link and performance needs much improvement. In Britain, with the most Nobel prizes, innumeracy has become a defining national characteristic, as poor performance in maths exams has become chronic. Among global maths scores, the USA trails the advanced Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries’ average and is well behind leader Singapore but they have large populations and advanced, dynamic economies.
Research shows that humans are naturally literate and numerate. If pupils do not suffer from dyscalculia – difficulty with processing numbers – then all are able to acquire proficiency levels as high as those of the fabled Asians.
The problem is partly maths teaching. Pupils with a passion for maths, a column of figures and mathematical concepts, often show poor school performance . A class can be traumatised by shaming or punishment and by teachers who move too quickly, fail to reinforce concepts or ensure all were following lessons. Maths is logical and progress requires essential building blocks to be in place. While most pupils understand fractions, decimals and percentages, many were short on formulas by the end of primary school.
Knowing “maths facts”, like tables and ability to effortlessly retrieve them, are critical for maths proficiency. It allows focus on the problem, avoiding calculating smaller elements and perhaps getting those wrong. Having immediate mental access to basic formulas and algorithms deepens understanding of maths, as patterns become clear. The task for teachers is to focus on meticulously working through a concept and its process or procedure until it sticks.
Teaching is also too technical and not experiential. Presenting maths as a practical, engaging and problem-solving tool would help the approach. The beauty of maths and its philosophical nature is not revealed until later, with algebra and geometry which require greater skills and tested ability to apply maths. Then the point of maths becomes clear, but few pupils study maths to age 18, when their maturing brains could be better at its concepts.
The conundrum is that if the region is bad at maths where will good teachers come from? If families are impoverished and decimated by emigration, natural disasters and crime, how can they support children, with many feral youths inclined to crime? The education problem has social and economic dimensions, so it cannot be business as usual. An intelligent regional plan can spur escape from this deep hole.
Mutilated in the media, calypso culture and speech , the world-class English Language is the immortal gift that binds the region. Paltry passes are a dreadful disgrace in the land of Nobel Laureate VS Naipaul, where renaming of heritage is rampant after nationalisation of imperial assets by anti-European and anti-American radicals driven by racists hungry and thirsty for power.
Divestment of loss-making, bureaucratic state assets can fund basic subjects for Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STREAM), instead of squandering taxes and aid on trivia, coarse culture of rap and colonial reparations.
AI has potential for improving aspects of teaching and future teacher training. It needs investment starting at the primary level, where teachers are generalists and may lack the deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. Without reinforcing the foundations, regional universities are doomed to be centres of identity politics, cancel culture, statue stunts and sacrilege of heritage, led by radical atavistic activists unable to count.