Faizah Jamal
Singapore
“How do we plan to extend the liabilities to these companies or persons who own the accused entity or burnt land? Will there be specific clauses included to ensure clarity so that we can execute these?”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I have two supplementary questions. There has been a recent report just about last week, I believe, where there were fish deaths at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve where the river turned black and there was a horrible stench coming from it.”
“What is heartening from the MSF survey is the headline finding that more than eight in 10 parents with teenage children or younger were satisfied with their relationship with their children as well as with their family life. We still have much work to do in the area of family justice.”
“It is not the intention of NLB to exclude any group in society. But we cannot pretend that we can have every possible book in the universe in the Library. It does not happen anywhere in the world. Some curation is possible because we need to draw certain lines.”
“The Vietnamese government has also given its assurance that it will provide compensation and due assistance to the affected foreign companies, including Singaporean firms. We will continue to work with the Vietnamese government to ensure that the interests of Singaporean companies and investors in Vietnam are protected.”
“I planted it for my children and my children's children. It does not matter that I may never get to see it. That is how we walk lightly on earth." Walk lightly on earth.”
The complete record
Every one of 133 lines we hold for Faizah Jamal, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 3.
“At the end of that session, it is gratifying to know that participants found a new sense of empowerment with what they have learned – the desire to know more about the parliamentary process and how they can do more to engage with the people whom they voted into office. In line with my call questioning fundamentals, for transparency and for an empowered citizenry, I am now making a call that the Budget process itself be more transparent, more open. Mdm Speaker, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, a Singaporean who is an Under Secretary at the United Nations said, "Budgeting is no longer an exclusive Page: 15 exercise reserved only for ministries of finance but rather, a process that entails aligning national development plans and goals and human rights commitments with Budget policies in a transparent and coherent manner." Typically, MOF offers pre-Budget public consultations in November, which then last till January, through its website and the REACH portal. However, considering that in a typical Budget cycle, Cabinet approves the consolidated Budget in late January and announce to the public in late February, I would like to ask how meaningful and how substantial is the public feedback and how is it really reflected in the Budget? An international advocacy group called the International Budget Partnership that tracks 125 countries, ranks countries on budget transparency based on whether government provides the public with timely access to comprehensive information contained in 80 key documents. It turns out that Singapore is not included in the list of countries, and so we do not know what Singapore's international standing is.”
“Fifty years from now in this House, will our children and our grandchildren be able to say that they are as proud of us as we are of our Pioneer Generation? I quote the words of poet Drew Dellinger. He said, "It is 3.23 in the morning, Page: 14 and my great, great grandchildren will not let me sleep. My great, great grandchildren ask me in my dreams, ‘What did you do, once you knew?'" I, therefore, call for a future Budget that reflects the balance with the natural assets not just with our fiscal assets. After all, in the end, the only Budget that we need to balance is that with Mother Earth. Now, for the last "E" – of "empower". Mdm Speaker, when I was asked by the Nature Society to put my hat in the ring, and later I accepted the call to be nominated, amongst one of the things I committed to do is to call for a transparent, open and consultative form of governance to call for more public accountability on the part of the Government, where civil society is seen to be an asset, not a hindrance, in my belief that this will result in an educated, aware and empowered citizenry which will bode well for the country as a whole. Last Saturday, I was able to manifest my wish to share with my fellow environment advocates, the vital role that Parliament plays and how it is a powerful channel for environment advocacy. I believe that by understanding the parliamentary process, including the Budget debates, we get to be more aware and conscious citizens, empowered not only about our rights but also recognising our obligations and better able to engage with policy makers.”
“Yet, in the name of development, more of such places, which have been around longer than even the pioneers of our Pioneer Generation, have been taken away or, in the case of the Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin, in danger of being Page: 13 chipped away. Late last year, a commercial sports enterprise was allowed to encroach upon our nature reserves for a night time high-impact sports activity even though the custodian of our nature reserves knows that night times are downtimes for the animals in our forests, which for the most part are nocturnal and highly sensitive to human presence. We have allowed private housing to be built right at the edge of our nature reserves. And when the natural world in the form of long-tailed macaques come a-calling into these private spaces, we indignantly call this as an intrusion into our space, warranting a culling of 500 of these animals last year, as clarified by AVA in the PQ I filed just last month. Mdm Speaker, this percentage in effect makes up a hefty 25% of the entire macaque population. This is part of the natural world I am talking about – the natural capital that is not reflected in our Budget. How should we be account for the loss if future generations may no longer get to see these animals in the wild? Mdm Speaker, I call for a national nature conservation policy that emphasises the sanctity and inviolability of our nature reserves. We laud our Pioneer Generation for having been prudent in the stewardship of our national resources. Should we not, by the same token, be prudent in our stewardship of our natural resources? Fifty years from now, can we look at our grandchildren in the eye and explain to them why there are no more natural and wild spaces in Singapore?”
“In response to the Government's proposal to the land used plan to build an MRT line cutting through the nature reserves, enthusiastic young people calling themselves such diverse names as "Toddycats", "Naked Hermit Crabs", "Green Beans SOTA" have joined forces with veterans of the environment scene, like Nature Society, to offer walks in our forest for their friends, families and public in a bid to show Singaporeans just how much treasure there is in our natural world. Apart from giving rise to a whole generation of aware and conscious young people – eager to volunteer, share their passion, and proud of what their country can offer – I know many of these young people have also chosen studies and careers in the environment field so that what was once a hobby, is now a paid vocation. There is no better way to produce a more productive society than young people who, in the words of Joseph Campbell, "had followed their bliss". We can thank our wild spaces for that. Further, the fact that registrations for public walks filled up really quickly shows how Singaporeans feel about the need to reconnect with nature, and how much they value these places. Mdm Speaker, in my maiden speech, I had also asked that we do not focus overly on the built economy without, at the same, accounting for the loss of what is called "natural capital" defined as land, water, air, living organisms, and all that provide us with eco-system, goods and services imperative for our survival and well-being. Mdm Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman had used the word "transforming our economy, changing how we grow". I would argue that taking into account our natural capital would go a long way in changing how we grow in a fuller sense of that word.”
“I would argue, therefore, that beyond exercise, diet and discouraging smoking, our Healthy Lifestyle campaign should provide these lifeskills because real healthcare is about dealing with the underlying causes, and not just the symptoms through the provision of pharmaceutical and hospital services. I, therefore, call for the kind of healthcare that places as much, if not more, emphasis on the lifeskills that support Singaporeans manage their emotional challenges beyond the physical rewards and the extra sick beds. Now, onto the second "E" of "engage". Mdm Speaker, in my maiden speech in 2012, I had given anecdotal evidence of how my 19-year old students felt a sense of awe and wonder when they discovered that in the nature reserves of this tiny red dot we called home, is also home to a whole range of wildlife some of which cannot be found elsewhere in the world. For some of my students, this was a defining moment in their lives – what I call a "National Geographic" moment. For many of them, this experience led to a feeling of a sense of place, identity and pride in their country. For others, it gave them a sense of repose, peace and calm. Could this exposure to our national spaces be one way in which we restore and regenerate the sense of pride in ourselves and our country, leading to more interest, care and concern to look after ourselves and our public spaces – both Page: 12 built and natural? Could the common effects of our nature spaces lead people to want to do better at work and with their families?”
“Could all these pent-up emotions be one reason why we are not productive at work and at home, not motivated and have such low self-esteem, as mentioned by some Members in the House? Mdm Speaker, for a very long time, it has been widely known that a physical ailment is really a result of an emotional imbalance, as a result of suppressed emotions. Science is only beginning to recognise that in fact there is a mind-body connection between how we think, what we feel, and our physical thesis. It is interesting to me that on Monday's The Straits Times, there was a report on the increasing popularity on what is termed "mindfulness techniques" in the private sector as people turn away from pills and pharmaceuticals Page: 11 towards a non-chemical based way of dealing with stress. It is also interesting to me that in a school in North Thailand, students are taught relaxation techniques, resulting in a more composed outlook towards life. It is clear today that an emotionally-centred society is a healthier society, and I would venture to add, a more productive one. At this point, I declare my interest as a facilitator of self empowerment workshops, supporting people as they navigate their way through emotional challenges. It is when people are given the space and skills to express and release their emotions, and channel them constructively that real personal transformation happens. Often, for such people, they no longer see themselves as victims, but rather as empowered people able to make life-affirming choices.”
“Page: 10 There have also been several calls to make medical cost affordable through the various schemes. In the Pioneer Generation Package itself, there is substantial financial support for our senior citizens for their medical needs. With due respect, Mdm Speaker, this is not healthcare. This is sick care. Mdm Speaker, in my Budget speech last year, I had made reference to a report in The Straits Times of the increasing suicide rates among older people. Late last year, I filed a Parliamentary Question (PQ) on the rise of suicide rates among the youths. Very recently, I have been very disturbed by the rise in the number of animal abusers which has prompted the Minister for Law to promise more severe punishment for the guilty. Many of us are also familiar with videos taken by ordinary citizens of road rage and road bullies, as well as fights in our trains in full public view. It would seem as if we are a society wrought with pent-up emotions. Have we not questioned enough the underlying reasons on such pent-up emotions? When we increase the severity of punishments for animal abusers, do we also recognise that underlying those disruptive acts are unresolved emotional issues that make it easy for someone to take it out on others deemed weaker than they, whether be it an animal, a child, a spouse or the elderly? When the elderly are driven to suicide, could the loss of familiar places, spaces and faces, and the bewildering change around them have something to do with it? Have we considered that all these may well be symptomatic of a society that has emotional issues which are not given the chance to react in a safe non-judgemental way?”
“Mdm Speaker, in the two years that I have been in the House and now, participating in my third and last Budget debate, raising issues specifically on what has been and still are considered non-mainstream issues – that of the environment – and sometimes, feeling like that strange character in the book by Dr Seuss called The Lorax, speaking for the trees and those that have no tongue, it has always been my inclination to question fundamentals and the philosophy behind policies by asking these three questions: does it educate; does it engage; does it empower? So, it is in this spirit of educate, engage and empower that I speak on the Budget. Much has been said about how prudent fiscal policies and productivity are the keys for Singapore to continue to thrive in this globalised world. Much is also made of how and why our record of productivity has not been a sterling one in the last few years. As I listen to the concerns raised by some of my colleagues in this House that Singaporeans are said to have low self-esteem, lack motivation and pride in their work, reluctant to go beyond the call of duty, not taking ownership for the cleanliness of their living spaces and leaving it instead to the legions of foreign cleaners, I pause to ask why. And I would like to offer some views to overcome these attitudes and how that productivity can be enhanced in a way that is empowering and sustainable for the highest good of all concerned. Along with the first "E" of educate are my concerns on healthcare. Mdm Speaker, among the many issues relating to healthcare, recently some Members of this House had raised the bed crunch issue in our hospitals and were given the assurance by MOH that such needs will be adequately met.”
“Mdm Speaker, it has been said that a mature society desires a lot more than to save itself physically and economically. A mature society, in the words of Thomas Berry, "experiences the world, not as a useful collection of objects, but as the sacred communion of subjects". In the two years that I have been a Member of this House, I have called for policies that think with the heart and not the head. I believe that this year's Budget had sought to do just that. Mdm Speaker, I join my colleagues in this House in supporting the Budget and applauding Deputy Prime Minister Tharman and the Government for acknowledging, honouring and rewarding our esteemed Pioneer Generation for their contributions in building this country though the special feature in this year's Budget, the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP). Page: 9 I also welcome the fact that Budget 2014 took pains to focus on building a fair and equitable society. It underscores that while we all have different gifts and talent, and have different starting points in life, social mobility is what we aim for. I am also heartened by the move away from cheap-sourcing, which has the consequence of demeaning the work of certain groups of people, stripping them of their dignity and making the relationship a purely transactional one. Madam, there is just one concern that I have with the Pioneer Generation Package, which is that it may unwittingly give the impression that we reward our Pioneer Generation when they are sick and not so much on what I consider the preferred basis – that we take care of our elderly regardless.”
“Two points of clarification if I may. I thank the Minister for saying that it is a voluntary procedure. That being the case, would there be any consequences if a victim was actually asked and then not want to do so, even though I understand that it was meant to be voluntary? Secondly, considering the fact that there has been international scientific scepticism about the effectiveness of the polygraph procedure, are there plans to review the use of such a method, in other words, not to have it at all?”
“It is most important that we keep the waterways safe so that there will not be any incidents that will affect marine life. I would like to assure the Member that we have the Port Operation Control Centre (POCC) which advises vessels on how they can safely navigate in our waters. For all the instances that we have, the POCC has been able to provide advice to the vessels involved. Even for the three recent collisions that we had last month and early this month, we were able to provide advance traffic information to the vessels. I would like to assure the Member that while investigations are on-going, we have taken interim measures. First, we have conducted briefings to the shipping community to reinforce the importance of safety of navigation in Singapore waters. We had the first briefing on 13 February. We are also promulgating the Port Marine and Shipping Circulars to the shipping and hovercraft communities, emphasising the importance of navigational safety and maintaining vigilance while navigating. The POCC also broadcasts messages to these vessels at any point in time, when necessary, to remind them of safety aspects while navigating. At the same time, we are working with a few organisations and countries to develop a safe passage guide for all mariners navigating in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. These efforts will make our waters safer for navigation and we will keep on bringing home the message Page: 18 that safety is key. As soon as our investigation findings are ready, we will share it with the shipping community.”
“I have three supplementary questions. I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for saying that the reports will be given to the shipping community. What about them being made public as well so that there will be better cooperation between, say, MPA and the volunteer nature activists who have been down on the ground looking at what is happening? Secondly, does MPA have rapid environment monitoring response teams to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) on the marine habitats? The press releases seem to show that whilst the ships have been contained and Page: 17 there seems to be no harm to the public, there is no response or no indication of what it does to the marine coastal environment. Lastly, the fact that three collisions happened in a span of about a couple of weeks: does it mean that our waterways are stretched beyond their sustainable capacity, and so would MPA consider using other methods beyond dispersants? As I understand it, a study showed that this method where oil and dispersants are mixed together is actually 52 times more toxic when combined. Is MPA doing any other studies to overcome this kind of problems? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I thank the Member for the questions. Firstly, I would like to share with the Member that every incident is reported to the IMO, so members of the public can keep track of the developments through the IMO. Secondly, we work very closely not only with IMO, but with other organisations and countries that also promote marine life and looking at the environment. So, I want to assure the Member that we certainly would take that into account. We want to not only keep our waters safe, but also keep our waters clean.”
“Mdm Speaker, I have three supplementary questions. Given the fact that the recent incident actually happened near Upper Pierce Reservoir, which is a nature reserve, whereas the actual reason for culling is meant for residential areas, does it mean then that the permit lacks clarity as to what they can and cannot do? Perhaps, they are to be given proper oral instructions from AVA? If I could get some clarification as to how much does AVA's each trapper cull and if there is any indication that I can get on how many monkeys have been culled over the last year. Finally, what is the long-term strategy that AVA is planning instead of culling? Particularly, in this case, where if you think about it, rubbish bins are actually a lot more cruel than cages, which at least have some kind of ventilation, and which provides some safety for the animal as well as for the public at large, who happened to be passing by these public areas.”
“I believe we are made of sterner stuff, better stuff. I believe in this moment what we need is enlightened and inspired actions. I believe in this moment, we should let the COI take its course, and that we do not need to take this step and pass the Bill right now. As it stands, at this moment, I am finding it difficult to find any good reason why I should support this Bill. 4.59 pm”
“However, unless we have the courage to go beyond the tried and tested methods that we have been so used to, beyond the fastest and most efficient way towards the answer that we seek, that we be willing to learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable and hard questions that need to be asked and the slow though necessary process that this will take, the problem will bubble under the surface and will appear elsewhere and maybe with even more severe consequences. Mdm Speaker, I started with a grateful acknowledgement for the work that the authorities have done in making our streets safe. I end with this. I am not convinced that this Bill, with is wide discretionary powers, with its quick dismissal of other possible factors that may have given rise to the riot, will help me sleep even better at night, when any fellow citizen, any tourist, any foreign worker who has been responsible, literally, for building our country, or indeed any person who happens to be in the vicinity of Little India, is open and vulnerable to the potential humiliating actions of representatives of my Government under this Bill. Mdm Speaker, we as parliamentarians having a seat in the highest law-making body of the land are a privileged lot. We also bear a huge responsibility to understand that we can be violent in many ways. The incident in Race Course Road is only one form of violence. When we make laws that are not in keeping with established principles of administrative law, when we allow our citizens and all who work for us and with us and who live with us in fear of such wide and discretionary powers without recourse, when we dismiss out of hand the Page: 77 valid concerns of many credible people in civil society, that too, I submit, is a form of violence.”
“It denies, or at least, does not create space to explore the possibility that human dimension and stories behind the incident are multi-faceted, multi-layered, one that requires time, one that requires hard questions to be asked before deciding on a conclusion, and one that requires the participation of all stakeholders, no matter how contrary their views may be. To deny this process its due in a desperate need to find an answer and come up with a solution in the form of this Bill as quickly as possible, I submit, does not augur well for not only policy and law making; it does not augur well for community and nation-building and healing either. And the consequences of such unwillingness and denial to explore the levels of dimensions and cues, and not just the cues as the Government sees it, may be disastrous for the future of our country as a whole, way beyond what happened on Race Course Road Page: 76 that fateful night. Denial, Mdm Speaker, as a wise person once said, is not a river in Egypt. Mdm Speaker, this Bill also springs from the paradigm that a strongly worded law is what it takes to deal with the issue. No law, no matter how tightly woven, will do the trick. No law based on powers of a few over the many will be sufficient. Instead, we need to come from a space of solution-invested, community-oriented paradigm, the kind of good solutions that Wendell Berry, a noted American community activist said, "solves more than one problem and does not create new problems". And the wise words of another Berry, that of Thomas Berry, who said, "We need to resist the impulse to command, to control, to force, to oppress and to begin quite humbly to follow the guidance of the larger community on which all life depends." I believe the Bill is well meaning.”
“However, in a situation as serious as this, and where the issues may not be as clear-cut as we would like to believe, and given the kind of solution that the Government agencies came up with in the form of this Bill, surely this would have been a completely acceptable time for efficiency to take a back seat, make way for a deeper reflection and a more measured response in the law-making process especially with the COI already in place. I have said that the issues may not be as clear-cut as we would like them to be. In an article called "Why People Riot" by Ken Eisold, PhD, it is clear that riots are not simply criminal acts. There are always deeper and many-layered issues of unexpressed frustrations and an absence of channels for constructive articulation of such emotions, whether real or perceived. Mdm Speaker, life is not so neat and linear. It is not black and white but shades of grey, and sometimes very murky shades of grey. I submit that in a situation such as these underlying issues of race, language, culture, class, the heavy hand of authority perceived or real, discomfort and suspicion of each other are only some of the murky issues which, whether we like it or not, need to be given an honest airing first in the spirit of healing all communities affected by the incident. I submit that the speed with which this Bill is tabled springs from a linear, defensive, problem-centred, fear and worry based paradigm.”
“Even more serious is the immunity given to the Government that as long as it has "acted in good faith and with reasonable care", there can be no recourse by aggrieved parties to question the actions. These words are extremely subjective, open to interpretation and abuse, and with the immunity, no one may ever know, on one may seek redress. If indeed this Bill is passed, I therefore call for an open and transparent process to any inquiry that might ensue as a result of any possible transgressions by a public officer, and that this process be with the full public participation and disclosure of all the relevant facts. Otherwise, Mdm Speaker, the Bill runs counter to all principles of administrative law and justice. Mdm Speaker, far beyond all that I have raised on the clauses in the Bill is a more fundamental concern. It is the paradigm under which this Bill is based upon. In an interview for the magazine "Challenge" of 14 February 2014, a magazine of PS21, a Public Service Division of the Prime Minister's Office, Mr Roy Quek, Deputy Secretary (Operations and Development) of MHA, when asked for the "behind-the-scenes" work of this Bill, said that it took relevant Government agencies "a few weeks" to discuss the issue, and the Attorney-General's Chambers "a week" to draft the Bill. He also stated that this is to ensure that the Bill was in time for the First Reading at the next Parliamentary Page: 75 sitting, slated for 20 January. In short, this Bill was put together with great speed and efficiency. Mdm Speaker, efficiency is a laudable thing and in fact, that is what we as a country is respected for.”
“Even more seriously, Mdm Speaker, is how the focus in the Bill seems to be on alcohol, to the point where it seems to have been a given, a causal link, even though as I understand it, alcohol was no more than a contributory factor. Mdm Speaker, we have been cautioned by several Ministers not to speculate as to the causes of the incident. Surely, by practically determining the link between alcohol and the incident as the Bill has done, is the Government itself not indulging in "speculation" ahead of the COI investigations? Further, given that there are many other existing pieces of legislation that can be amended to deal with this issue, for example, the Intoxicating Page: 74 Substances Act or the Miscellaneous Offences Act to name just two, why can these laws not be used instead? Mdm Speaker, this Bill considers Little India as a "security risk" requiring special powers. It is a term that I find troubling as I do not have see any evidence to show that it is indeed the case to warrant the Bill, nor are we given a comparative study with places such as Boat Quay or Clarke Quay, where incidents, albeit less serious than the one in Race Course Road, have taken place as a result of alcohol, sometimes resulting in serious bodily injuries too. One other vague term is the phrase "public space". The definition is unclear, leaving any person open to the actions of Police and auxiliary officers, in the exercise of their wide and discretionary powers of search and seizure. Mdm Speaker, another extremely serious provision is how wide and discretionary the powers of not just the Police but the auxiliary Police as well. I seek justification for why this is so.”
“Living not very far from Race Course Road, I can only imagine how I could easily have been personally affected, bringing back memories of 1964 when even now, I still remember even though I was a very young child then, sensing that my adult relatives, who had been gathered in my house to celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday, were filled with fear and apprehension as they anxiously looked through the windows of our house as they were forced to stay overnight for their own safety, away from the angry mob that was running through the streets not far from where we were. It is not the kind of memory that I wish my teenage daughter to experience. With the seriousness of what had happened on Race Course Road, I am thankful for the restraint shown by the authorities and the speed with which they quelled the incident. I am, however, less thrilled and not at all enamoured by what is before us today and wished that the same level of restraint had been shown before tabling this Bill in the House. Mdm Speaker, it is puzzling to me that this Bill is tabled even before the Committee of Inquiry, which was set up immediately after the incident, had barely even begun its work, and with its deadline to complete investigations only a few months from now. Why indeed could Parliament not wait for the COI to complete its investigations, and for reasonable time to be given for the relevant Government agencies and this House to examine and study the recommendations? As it is, how would the public be assured that the COI is still able to remain neutral in their investigations and recommendations?”
“Mdm Speaker, at the very time of the incident in Race Course Road, I was in the vicinity from about 9.45 pm to about 11.30 pm with my daughter as we had something that we urgently needed to buy and the only place open at that time was the 24-hour shopping centre, after which we had adjourned to a nearby coffee shop. Perhaps, it was because we were at the other end of Little India, but hard as it may to believe, there was no indication at all throughout the entire time that we were there, including whilst we were having supper, that anything was amiss. In fact, the service staff, as well as the customers at the coffee shop were laughing, talking, eating. It felt like a normal Sunday evening. I later learnt that the first public statement was made only at 11.30 pm. When walking home after that, just by taking the route that we normally do from Little India back home, I had commented to my daughter how blessed we are in Singapore to be able to walk at that time of the night, safely and without encumbrance. So, it is with a huge sense of irony that I discovered only when I got home, that something had gone terribly wrong at the place where we had been just hours before. Mdm Speaker, I do not take lightly the work and the effort that the authorities have taken to ensure the safety and security for people like myself and my teenage daughter. I will also categorically state that I acknowledge and appreciate the fact that on the night of this very serious incident, not a single Page: 73 shot was fired in what was an extremely tense situation and that the incident did not spread further than the site where it occurred.”
“A supplementary question, Mdm Speaker. Would AVA then consider revoking the licences of those farmers that have not been up-to-date or have not been keeping to the promises that they made to AVA?”
“I have a few supplementary questions. These questions were actually filed before the recent incident of fish deaths. So, I think the questions are even more important at this stage for us to consider. My first supplementary question is this: there has been mention that the owners have to dispose of the fish trash correctly. However, immediately after the Parliamentary Question (PQ) response that I received in November, I checked at Changi Creek and I found there were no skids there at all. Up until only when the fish deaths happened that a skid was actually provided. And even then, it disappeared yesterday – it is no longer there. So, my question is: how Page: 22 was the fish trash disposed of previously from the eastern shores and what happened to the disposal now with the fish deaths? That is the first question. And secondly, with the fish deaths happening at the moment, what is AVA going to do about the monitoring of the water quality? Given the fact that the reason given for the fish deaths was a plankton bloom, does it mean that AVA had not been monitoring water quality and given feedback? And if so, what is going to be the solution going forward? Next question: is AVA going to be studying what the health impact is on us as a result of a possibly bad water quality as a result of this incident? And lastly, would AVA now consider going forward again and helping fish farms to use more technologically advanced and environmentally friendly methods of fish farming in the future?”
“One last supplementary question, please. I think in the National Breastfeeding Survey 2011, only 0.9% of mothers were still exclusively breastfeeding when the baby was six months, which is really, really low. In fact, the experience of other countries shows that if you have trained peer breastfeeding counsellors, it really, really helps the rate to go up. So, my last question is: what has MOH done or want to do to ensure that there are trained peer breastfeeding counsellors, whether within the community or somebody from the agencies?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the answer. I have three supplementary questions. The experience of other countries has shown that what is important is community support after the mother is discharged from hospital because that is critical in ensuring that the breastfeeding practice continues. So, my question is what has MOH done or will want to do to build upon such peer support to increase breastfeeding awareness amongst mothers in the community, and have there been any funding and, if so, what has been the impact of such activities. Page: 22 Secondly, with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) being implemented, how does the Government plan to monitor the effectiveness of such a scheme, especially in increasing breastfeeding rates in Singapore? And what kind of a feedback system is in place? Lastly, with regards to the Sale of Infant Foods Ethics Committee Singapore (SIFECS)'s Code of Ethics, does MOH intend to do more in terms of introducing penalties for companies which do not comply?”
“And lastly, moving forward, in terms of future plans, will the Ministry consider engaging not just stakeholders like nature groups and other environmental groups but also people who are living there at the moment as Page: 56 stakeholders to get them and their ideas as to how we can encourage Pulau Ubin to stay as rustic as possible for the longest time possible?”
“Madam, I have three questions to clarify. Firstly, I know some of these people personally, having gone to Pulau Ubin in the last 30 years, both for leisure as well as in my role as an environment educator and nature guide. Some of these residents have told me that not only do they not understand English but they are not literate. Some of them have never gone to school. And they came back only to find this letter in English and, naturally, they were concerned. So, my first question is: moving forward, could the Ministry give some assurance to these residents that, in future, any sort of clarifications be made in a language and dialect that they can understand, and also to speak to them personally perhaps if need be? Secondly, I am heartened to know that Pulau Ubin will be kept in its rustic state as far as possible. One resident who has been living there for the fourth generation is Kamariah Abdullah. She has done great work in her house which is a really beautiful Malay house in its natural state and has encouraged people to come and stay and enjoy what we call the "kampung" spirit. So, what I would like to ask the Ministry is whether the Ministry has any plans to encourage people like Kamariah Abdullah to stay and rejuvenate this whole life, the "kampung" spirit and encourage people to go. And in addition, to support her financially or in some other ways to continue this kind of existence for the betterment, not just of Singaporeans and future generations, but also tourists who come to the island.”
“Mdm Speaker, my supplementary question is this: the Acting Minister mentioned that there were other sites that were considered. Would the Acting Minister enlighten us as to what these sites were, before deciding on the Singapore Botanic Gardens?”
“Madam, from my work with young adults, I have seen the power of nature as a values-based educator where even at age 19 or 20, students are able to shape their attitudes towards a more life-enhancing form. If this can happen at this age, then it can be even more powerful at an even younger age. For this to happen, we need self-aware sensitive adults, who themselves would have first experienced the natural world and who are trained in good facilitation in outdoor and environment education. So, I am advocating that such exposure and skills should include, to name just two, not only properly guided trips but also properly facilitated – and I emphasise "properly facilitated" trips – to different habitats like the Bukit Timah forest and Sungei Buloh mangroves for an intimate understanding of the inter-connectedness of systems and how this, in turn, connects to us, human beings, as well as trips to waste management plants to highlight the impact of our consumer lifestyle that we have on our island. In such ways will these preschool teachers be better equipped to create exciting environment programmes for their young charges. Page: 117 Junior College Education”
“Madam, I declare my interest as an environment educator and have, on a few occasions, been invited as guest facilitator in early childhood training. I am interested to know what emphasis MOE will place on enhancing outdoor and environment education in the present Page: 116 module of environment awareness or "Discover Your World" in the preschool education. From my observations as guest facilitator, I feel there is much more that can be done. Madam, our young people are more connected to the cyber world than the natural world, even as young as age four. We are already at risk of what Richard Louv, in his groundbreaking book called "Last Child in the Woods", termed "nature-deficit disorder". It is not a medical term. He defines it as "the human costs of alienation from nature", among which are diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties and the higher rates of physical and emotional illness. Reports in our local press bear this out, as we read about in the rise in obesity cases and of our kids being stressed out and needing psychiatric help at a very early age. Louv advocates for outdoor play. He is clear, however, that he does not mean sports or other structured programmes but, rather, unstructured play in natural spaces with proper adult guidance. This nurtures children's innate ability for curiosity, creativity and wonder. Kids learn the inter-connectedness of life and how they have an impact on something bigger than themselves, both positively and negatively. When kids learn to name, touch, taste, smell and feel things in nature, they are more likely to protect them. They learn empathy and compassion, values that will take them to adulthood.”
“Madam, the Land Use Plan envisages major infrastructure expansion of MRT services and lines. I refer, in particular, to the 50-kilometre Cross Island Line that begins in Changi, moves westwards through Loyang, and cuts through the Central Catchment Nature Page: 150 Reserve to Bukit Timah, and ends at the Jurong Industrial estate. Of major concern to me is the fact that it cuts through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve because in these areas are the oldest patches and some of the least affected forests, the green lungs of Singapore, where some species of flora and fauna are found nowhere else in the world. If this proposal pans out, what is of concern to me is that beyond the MRT line and with the plans for housing so close to the vicinity, the forest habitat in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve will deteriorate. Madam, with respect, I would like to seek clarity on how MOT made the decision to do so in a nature reserve which most people would consider inviolate. In particular, I would like to ask these questions: whether MOT had conducted any environment impact assessment (EIA), no matter how preliminary, to warrant the plan in the first place; if there had been an EIA, no matter how preliminary, whether these studies were made in conjunction with other agencies, and what were the terms of the commission and their preliminary conclusions; and lastly, may the public have access to these studies for the sake of clarity and transparency? Noise Barriers near MRT Tracks”
“This shows increasing scientific evidence of the link between nature and our well-being resulting in hope, resilience and courage to continue to deal with life's challenges constructively. So, what I would like to suggest is structured programmes where patients are taken on nature walks on a regular basis, not just to the manicured areas like parks and gardens but also to our nature reserves like Bukit Timah and Sungei Buloh wetlands. As NParks already has an established pool of experienced volunteer nature guides at our nature areas, this service can be tapped for the benefit of patients. In this way, patients get a holistic view that they deserve.”
“Madam, I am happy to hear from Dr Amy Khor's description of the facilities incorporating green spaces as it ties in really nicely with what I have to say. Madam, apart from intensifying good programmes for fitness, exercise and nutrition, I think it is about time we pay attention to the role that nature-based activities play in healthcare. I would like to suggest just two. The first is gardening. As long ago as the 1800s, American doctor, Benjamin Rush, a mental health pioneer found that "digging in the soil has curative effects on the mentally ill". It is now well documented scientifically that such activities help to counter depression and raise self-esteem. So, I would go so far as to suggest that MOH consider putting aside spaces in facilities for healthcare for what is called "edible gardens" where patients can take part in planting fruits and Page: 114 vegetables. Apart from the fun of growing food and the satisfaction of harvest, it also creates community and celebration, creating positive emotions that support patients to get well faster. My second suggestion is for the Minister to seriously consider including visits to nature spaces as a major component in providing physical, emotional and mental healthcare and step-up efforts for such activities as a preventive healthcare method for members of the public. Many years ago, the pioneering work of people like Ulrich showed that patients recovered faster from surgery in a room with a view of a natural scene than those without such a view. Now, the most recent work of environment psychologists, Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, showed that experiences in nature have what is called "restorative" ability, turning negative thoughts and emotions to that of positive self-image.”
“Even if everyone becomes responsible citizens and minimise waste right away, with the increase in population happening already and with more to come, will this not cause an even bigger strain on Semakau and would we, in fact, run out of space earlier than projected? How will this also impact on our capacity of the existing incineration plant as well? Lastly, energy consumption. Of the many issues I am concerned with under energy, I will focus on just one. With our residential buildings getting even higher to maximise space with some in the range of 40 storeys or more requiring high-speed elevators, will this require more energy to provide and maintain and how will this impact on our demand and cost of energy consumption? Page: 25 Energy Efficiency”
“Madam, the White Paper and the Land Use Plan envisage a very substantial increase in population size in the coming years. As both documents are silent on two areas of concern, I would, with respect, like to seek the Minister's clarification. Firstly, I note that most of the new developments will occur at Singapore's northern shores as well as Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. These areas lie at the mouth of the massive Johor River. Missing in the Land Use Plan, unfortunately, is any mention of planning for climate change and rising sea levels. I would like to ask if MEWR has plans to take into account the possibility of more rainfall and storms and how these may change water flows down the Johor River which in turn may adversely affect Singapore. Secondly, in the wake of the projected increase in population, there will be a strain on at least three major areas of concern: first, water needs and supply; second, waste management; and thirdly, energy conservation or energy consumption. Water. According to the MEWR website, water demand is expected to double over the next 50 years. Would the Minister clarify if this number has taken into account the projected increase in population as set out in the recent White Paper? If not, what would the new demand look like? Also, with the heavy dependence on large scale expensive technology in making water available for our future needs, would this translate into even higher costs to the consumer? Waste management. At the rate that we send 200,000 tonnes of solid waste and ash to the Semakau Landfill a year, there will be no more space left there in 40 years.”
“I will counter that by suggesting that like the nature guides scheme which is limited to specific nature areas, these specialised heritage guides are limited only to their sphere and place of residence. In this way, we can create not only a new quality industry but at the same time a more humane industry where we manifest the importance and pride we place on the inherent value of our people, our places and our relationships with each other. Page: 74 Productivity”
“Madam, the NHB and the NLB have been very active in documenting the history of old Singapore through interviews with people, especially our senior citizens in creating heritage trails as well as in using modern technology like apps to make these rich experiences available to the public. Just to name a few are the Memory Project and the recently established Kampong Glam Heritage Trail and the My Queenstown app. My concern with such self-guided trails and apps is that it precludes the rewarding experience of engaging face-to-face with the very people who provide these stories. So, in keeping with the theme of this year's Budget of "harnessing the value of older citizens" and to enhance the good work of NHB and NLB, would the Minister consider licensing such seniors who have the inclination and the standards expected as specialised heritage guides where they not only guide visitors onsite but also are paid for their time and contribution. My suggestion is also in view of the questions raised in this House some months ago concerning tour guides who are not only not licensed but who also gave inaccurate information. By tapping on the full potential of such senior citizens, we would be able to provide tours that are credible and authentic as these tours are based on rich personal experiences which in turn provide for a more exciting experience for visitors. Specialised guides are not new. In a scheme some years ago, STB tested and licensed qualified Singaporeans as specialised nature guides to provide a more educational and fulfilling experience for visitors of our nature reserves. I am mindful of the need to protect the work of licensed general tourist guides who might reasonably be concerned that my suggestion might tread on their territory.”
“Last, has there been any updates since my Parliamentary Question last May on the review by the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee on GM Page: 30 food, and when can the public expect all GM food to be labelled in Singapore?”
“Madam, Singapore obtains about 90% of its food needs from other countries. So, I am glad to note AVA's statement in the Forum Page of The Straits Times recently that Singapore aims to be self sufficient in fish, eggs and leafy vegetables. I also note that HDB intends to build more than a hundred multi-storey car parks with rooftop gardens where the new facilities will allow residents to plant their own vegetables. However, with the proposed increase in population, as envisaged by the White Paper, my questions to the Minister are as follows: First, what are the measures which will be taken to enhance the initiatives mentioned above? Second, is the Ministry looking at other countries besides the ones we have already been sourcing from for our future needs and, if so, what are these countries and for what sort of food supplies? The second part of my question relates to genetically-modified food. On 10 February this year, The Straits Times reported that genetically-modified salmon created by a Singaporean scientist, Prof Hew Choy Leong, would be made available for consumption as soon as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of USA approves the application. My question for the Minister is three-fold: First, bearing in mind that there is genuine scientific concern about the hazards that genetically-modified (GM) food poses on human health and the environment, would Singapore still take the lead from the FDA and similarly approve the sale of GM salmon in Singapore? Second, would the Minister consider compulsory labelling for this item so that consumers who may not be in favour have a choice when making their purchase?”
“And if the results show the consequences will be more severe than thought, would the original plans be duly altered? Third, may the public have access to these studies, for transparency and accountability? And, lastly, would MND consider my call made in my speech on the White Paper debate, for the legislation of compulsory EIAs for all major projects, such as these, to be made open to the public for accountability and transparency as well?”
“Madam, my question relates to the major changes to the physical and marine landscape of our island envisaged in the Population White Paper and the land use plan. On land, it is the proposal to extend the MRT services with a 50-kilometre cross-island line. The fact that this line will cut through the central catchment nature reserve is of great concern to me. This is because it is the last remaining least affected forest area left in Singapore, with some species of flora and fauna that are found not only nowhere else in Singapore but nowhere else in the Page: 19 world. Along our shores, the land use plan proposes massive reclamation works in areas, such as Pulau Tekong and Tuas, possible changes to Pulau Ubin, the coastlines of Kranji, Mandai, Pasir Ris, Changi, Tenah Merah, as well as the southern islands of Pulau Hantu and Pulau Semakau. Reclamation on such a massive scale will lead to serious environmental consequences to these areas and to the marine species. Just to take one example, the valuable areas of rich native bio-diversity like Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin, which many Singaporeans have grown to know and love, will potentially be lost. So, my questions to the Minister are: First, has MND conducted any sort of preliminary impact assessment before the decision to include these plans and, if so, which were the agencies involved, what were their terms of reference and what were the results? Just to highlight a few concerns, how will these affect our drinking systems, our rivers, our seas, and the potential flooding problems that might ensue? Second, are there plans to conduce more rigorous and comprehensive environment impact assessments on these areas in the near future?”
“Madam, Kampong Glam is an area of rich historical and heritage significance for all Singaporeans, particularly for Singaporean Muslims, especially with the presence of the Sultan Mosque as a focal point, dating way back more than a century as the place where people do business, live and play. In recent years, Kampong Glam has become an exciting place, especially for the younger generation. The presence of many F&B outlets, offering cuisines beyond the traditional local ones, has contributed to the buzz. Unfortunately, this has created some tension with some Muslim business owners there, as well as from the Muslim community at large, unhappy at the opening of karaoke joints and, particularly, the consumption of alcohol in some F&B outlets, especially along Bussorah Mall, directly behind the Sultan Mosque. I acknowledge and I agree that Kampong Glam should be open to free market forces. I am also mindful and I agree that we need to bear in mind the bigger context of Singapore as a whole in which heritage spaces exist. However, bearing in mind the strong Islamic history and tradition of Kampong Glam dating way back more than a hundred years, I would like to ask the Minister two questions. First, to what extent would MND regulate the types of businesses that unit owners rent their premises to; and second, in particular, would the Ministry regulate the consumption of alcohol so that it is at least restricted to inside the premises of the F&B unit; or if alcohol consumption is allowed outside the premises, at least to where the premises are not within direct sight of Sultan Mosque. Page: 18 Environment Impact Analysis and Assessment”
“It will be hugely ironic if the Budget and the policies thereafter negate this powerful visual by our inability to see how much value, both tangible and intangible, that Nature and the environment has for all aspects of our lives. Page: 143”
“I agree that the Government should pay more attention to preventive healthcare. Unlike the two gentlemen I mentioned, however, my suggestion is Page: 142 based on the old-fashioned, tried and tested, and now scientifically proven one, of Nature as healer. What I said in my speech on the White Paper debate that in nature places lies our balm for physical mental and emotional wellness bears repeating at this point. Many a scientific paper has now shown that nature has "restorative ability" capable of transforming negative emotions of lethargy, depression and low self esteem to positive ones of optimism, hope, resilience and the courage to continue dealing constructively with the stresses of modern day living. Like the Queen in "Alice", it is not impossible for me to imagine that the very existence of such places, even if all we do is to stare out of the window and look at the trees by giving us a heightened sense of physical mental and emotional well being, can even reduce our burden on the healthcare system. And in that way, reduce the need to use our reserves or our children's reserves to pay for our medical needs. It will even address the cases of the elderly suicides that I mentioned earlier. And to end, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is interesting to me that the cover for the Budget speech report had a photo of a girl holding a little flowering plant in her hand, with its soil still intact. This visual invites one to see it not only as a metaphorical statement of planting new ideas for a better future, but also the literal one of the importance of nature in our lives.”
“Sir, it is strange to me that we should pump in millions of dollars to bring plants from faraway places and create supertrees with technology that require large amounts of money to maintain, and to create unfamiliar eco-systems in places like River Safari when we have our own pride and joy right here. It is strange to me that we do not seem to be proud of what we have and have this huge need to bring in all things foreign even when we do not need to. What does this say about us as a society? In a world increasingly characterised by sameness and monoculture and cookie-cutter entertainment, it is all the more imperative that we take pride in our own uniqueness whenever and wherever we can. Is it not the STB tagline after all "Uniquely Singapore"? My last point is connected to the one above and it relates to healthcare. I am happy to note that the Government will take robust measures in this respect. However, what is lacking in the Budget is preventive healthcare. In fact, several experts from the industry have already raised this concern in the press. For example, in The Straits Times report dated 28 February, Assoc Prof Phua Kai Hong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy stated that "healthcare financing should promote prevention and public health rather than disease care". In another report in The Straits Times dated 2 March, Mr Jeremy Lim, a healthcare expert, said that "we have become a hospital-centric, doctor-heavy health care model". It seems to me that this works very well for the medical and pharmaceutical industries which can rake in the big bucks but does little for the man and woman in the street. Mr Jeremy Lim advocated for preventive healthcare and one way he suggested is through technology.”
“Already in the course of my interaction with young people, there are many who have shunned the traditional professions and routes to a career, and would rather channel their passion and awareness for the environment, for example, into income-generating work. In fact, in Republic Polytechnic where I am adjunct lecturer, the Environment Education course that we teach has already sparked interest in my students who are keen to pursue "green jobs" that involve the outdoors and nature. A recent talk organised by a non-profit group called Green Drinks on "green jobs" attracted a full house, mostly young adults. Eco-tourism is one way they can channel this interest. Like the Queen in "Alice", I can believe what may seem impossible now and imagine the many kinds of related industries that can sprout from this. I have mentioned that we already have licensed nature guides. Their work should be promoted and made more visible. Nature guiding should be seen as a professional and respectable career comparable to being an educator. Much like how arts management has taken on a life of its own and is now a credible career to be in, I can imagine the same thing happening for Environment and Nature Education or Management Page: 141 and related careers. Sir, I am mindful of the pitfalls of eco-tourism when not managed well, not least of which is the paradoxical situation of a nature area becoming too popular and being unduly stressed. By learning from the mistakes from other countries, we can counter this, so that we can have a sustainable and credible industry. In this way, there are more than sufficient reasons to keep our natural spaces from a more tangible perspective, for those of us who insist on speaking the language of numbers.”
“Very recently, a 15-minute video documentary called, in true Singlish style, "Singapore Got Nature Meh?" was made by David Tan, Joscelyn Sze and Eunice Soh. It was Singapore's first ever crowd-sourced nature documentary, bringing together the photos and video footage volunteered by nature enthusiasts from all over Singapore to tell the story of Singapore's surprisingly rich natural Page: 140 heritage. It is available on the YouTube channel and I highly recommend that Members of this House view it. You will be pleasantly surprised. So, what is the significance of this information, you may ask? It relates to my second point, which I feel has never been addressed in any economic policy that we have in this country thus far. In being in that enviable position of living alongside the treasures of non-human species, we are in a very unique position and are well-poised to take on a role in the yet untapped industry of eco-tourism. How is this different from our usual brand of tourism? Increasingly, people all over the world are no longer looking simply for an experience of being entertained. Discerning travellers are willing not only to travel and pay for the experience of the natural world but also to be part of conserving and preserving such nature spaces. In fact, countries like Sabah and the Maldives are encouraging their visitors to be part of their marine conservation efforts as well as efforts to preserve local heritage places and culture. In other words, these travellers look for holiday places that manifest the values that they themselves espouse – that of conscious and ethical choices, integrity and authenticity. By encouraging the sustainable development of eco-tourism, we can create opportunities for young people to take on new careers in these fields.”
“In my speech on the Population White Paper debate, I had mentioned the uniqueness of our natural habitats. This bears repeating here as it relates to the suggestion I have in mind. In this little island we called home are more than 10 native eco-systems, both terrestrial and marine. That means each of these eco-systems have characteristics distinct and different from the others. Just as an example, we have 364 bird species, 301 butterfly species, and some of these species are even more than in some of the bigger temperate countries. In our least affected forests in the Central Catchment area are some species of flora and fauna found not only anywhere else in Singapore, but nowhere else in the world. In our waters in our little red dot are dugongs, wild dolphins and even the endangered green turtles, as well as the bamboo sharks and the black tipped reef sharks. So, now we know, right? Our total intertidal anemone species is greater than the north-eastern Pacific coast from Victoria in British Columbia to Santa Barbara in California put together. At 255 species of hard coral inhabiting Singapore's waters out of 800 species in the world that makes it about 32% of the total hard coral species found worldwide that are found in our boundaries. In fact, in a recent initiative by NParks last year, a comprehensive survey of Singapore's marine fauna conducted between October and November last year on our northern shores by NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, as well as volunteers from all walks of life revealed more than 1,000 specimens, including new records and rediscoveries. If that is not something to be proud of, I do not know what is.”
“My second point relates to an interview I read in The Straits Times dated 19 February 2013 where visiting sociologist Saskia Sassen had this advice for global cities like ours. She said they "should not be caught up in the race to outdo competitors because all global cities have different strengths and specialities". Sir, all too often, we have been told that Singapore has to stay competitive, to stay afloat. We are dictated by the demands of external forces and the rules of a global economy of which we have grown to believe we have no choice but to be part of. As a result, sometimes we bend over backwards to appease these masters and at the cost of our own values. We have also grown up believing that Singapore has no natural resources and that there is not a whole lot that we can enjoy in terms of the natural world either. While it is true that we do not have the magnificence of the majestic mountains and the flowing rivers of the other countries, I would bust the tired refrain that there is nothing exciting here and contend, like the Queen in "Alice", that we need to believe in what may seem "impossible", to re-imagine the meaning of "natural resource" and be more creative in our approach of "transforming the economy". Page: 139 If economic paradigm, and by extension, Budget is a reflection of who we are as a society, then it seems to me that we do not think very much of our natural gifts that we have been bestowed with at all. Sir, it seems to me that policy-makers may either not be wholly aware or may not be completely appreciative of how profound it is that the treasures we have in our backyard and our natural habitats form part of the oldest tropical rainforest that has existed for millions of years.”
“Listening to my respected elders from the Kampong Glam heritage area that I have mentioned earlier as they recounted their stories, I was struck by how these respected seniors themselves were overcome with emotion at the memory of their family, their friends and the places they held dear, emotions which may well have been suppressed, at least in public, because of the fear that no one would have appreciated hearing old tales. It struck me then that it might well have been a cathartic and healing process. I cannot help but feel that by acknowledging and validating their experiences, giving them as many Page: 138 opportunities to share as well as to give them a chance to earn an income for their time and effort, must surely go a long way in easing their sense of displacement and discomfort at a world turning too fast. Sir, this suggestion also ties in with the theme raised in the Budget of providing for flexi-work. I would therefore go further with this idea and extend it to homemakers who had grown up or are still living in such areas that I have mentioned before, and who may potentially have an interest and an untapped gift for story-telling of their childhood experiences in their neighbourhoods, who wish to obtain an income and still maintain their ability to manage their time and their families. In this way, will we re-create the storytelling days of yore when parents and grandparents would sit in circles bonding and sharing their wisdom with the younger generation and with guests, albeit with a modern twist now. In this way, can we create a new industry which at the same time also manifests the importance and pride that we place on the inherent value of our people, our places and our relationships with each other.”