Photo of a Toco beach by Stefan Vesti Brorsen

The Export Centres Company Limited, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development, will formally roll out its Strategic Plan 2012-2016 on Friday February 3, 2012 at the Ken Galt Hall, Centre of Excellence in Macoya from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The ECCL has prepared this draft document in the context of the Government in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’s (GORTT) new vision of sustainable growth that is supported by seven (7) pillars of development, and also in the context of a stagnating economy. In this context the desired future state of ECCL by 2016 is projected to be:

• A professionally managed & operated organization
• A company oriented to commercial operations
• Enhanced Economic and Life skill capacity of craft & fashion artisans
• Improved image and visibility at national, regional and international levels for the ECCL
• Highly motivated and optimally performing staff
• Promotion of craft and fashion programmes which are environmentally sensitive, and geared to sustainable development

The Retirees Adolescent Partnership Programme, (RAPP) of the Ministry of Community Development, will host motivational speaker Mr. Darryn Edwards at the La Horquetta Regional Complex, Marjorie Padmore Avenue, Phase II on Wednesday February 1, 2012 at 3:30 pm. Mr. Edwards, who once dropped out of school, is an ordained pastor and businessman.

The session is a project of the La Horquetta and Valencia RAPP Centres and its objective is to motivate adolescents to make something of themselves, despite the negative environment that often exists around them. To achieve this, the RAPP searches for successful people from various communities across the country, who can contribute in some way to the experience of the youth.

The Retirees Adolescent Partnership Programme is a community-oriented programme implemented by the Ministry of Community Development, which seeks to utilize the skills and experience of retired professionals to provide assistance and supervision to youths between 11 - 16 years.

Its vision is to create a nurturing and disciplined environment, where children can learn and develop in positive ways.



Caption: Members of staff attend a RAPP facilitators meeting at the Ministry’s Adult Education, Information, Training and Resource Centre at #1 La Fantasie Road, St Ann’s last month.

The Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business will start its second annual Distinguished Alumni Series "Strategy for Competitiveness" on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm, a statement from the School said today.

The following is the address delivered by Mrs Margaret Farray, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development at the launch of the Prime Minister's Best Village Trophy Competition's 'Traditions of Carnival 2012' at Constantine Park in Macoya on Saturday January 28, 2012.

All protocols observed.

Good morning and welcome Constantine Park to Macoya. The Ministry of Community Development is happy to join with you today for the 2012 edition of Traditions of Carnival. Every year we hear about the loss of authentic Trinbagonian culture in Carnival. Several cultural practitioners say that our Carnival which speaks to one aspect of our national identity, is being diluted by foreign influences and that our young people don’t know about the Carnival of yesterday.

However, over the past 8 years, under the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition, the Ministry of Community Development has carved and continues to create a niche to preserve traditional Carnival in our country.