MAHARAJ: NIRMALA 'Nimi' passed away peacefully at her home on 16th December, 2014. Wife of Vincent 'Nicky' Pereira. Loving mother of Kiran Pereira. Sister of Robin Maharaj and Geena Gordon. Daughter of the late Narine and Cynthia Dharrie Maharaj. Sister-in-law of Heather, Donna and Blair. Aunt, Cousin and Friend of many. Funeral service to be held on Saturday 20th December, 2014 at 9.30 a.m. at St. Anthony's R.C. Church, Petit Valley thence to the Waterloo Cremation Site. No flowers by request. For enquiries, call C&B 625-1170

The resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba after more than five decades not only erases one of the last remnants of the Cold War but should trigger a thaw in Washington’s frosty relations with many of Cuba’s allies in the region. It was a bold foreign policy move by Barack Obama who is nearing the end of his presidency and he will now be credited for ending more than 54 years of acrimony between the two countries.

However, while this is the biggest shift in US-Cuba relations since an economic embargo was imposed in 1960 and the two countries severed diplomatic relations in 1961, it is not the first step in that direction.

Wednesday’s historic development follows several small steps taken over the last six years, starting with the easing of restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba in 2009, as well as expansion of the list of items eligible for humanitarian export to Cuba, and new regulations for US telecommunications companies to expand the flow of information to Cuba. 

Then in 2011, the US made regulatory changes to allow religious, cultural, educational and people-to-people travel to Cuba and expanded the list of groups and individuals eligible to send and receive remittances from the Spanish-speaking island.

Wednesday’s simultaneous announcements by Presidents Obama and Raul Castro led to an easing of restrictions on travel to Cuba, so that family visits, official government business and educational travel can now take place, although a tourist travel ban remains. The opening of a US embassy in Havana and a review of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism are the other immediate benefits from the new accord.

The final hurdle that remains is the economic blockade. However, only the US Congress can revoke that measure and early indicators are that it will be strongly resisted by the Republicans who will form the majority on Capitol Hill from next month. Key members of that party have already expressed their opposition to the move, although it has been applauded by most of the rest of the world.

However, it will be difficult for Republicans to completely ignore the benefits of this improved US-Cuba relationship. For several years, major US corporations, particularly in the agribusiness and consumer-goods sectors, have been noting the market potential in Cuba. Very likely, these business interests will lobby the Republicans to back lifting of the embargo.

Unlike Washington, T&T and the rest of Caricom have long seen the benefits of full diplomatic relations with Cuba. Indeed many of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have supported the annual United Nations resolution calling for the lifting of the embargo. As recently as last week Monday, at the Fifth Caricom-Cuba Summit, members of the regional group made an official call for Cuba to be fully integrated into the hemispheric arrangements and the lifting of the embargo.

For allies of the two nations, particularly in the Americas, a door has been opened for transformed trade, political and social exchanges with benefits that will extend well beyond the borders of the US and Cuba. 

In a place where the prime minister before the current one believed in the literal truth of the Adam and Eve creation myth, and the current prime minister believes she can work miracles with Christmas hampers, it’s no surprise to find many public figures believe in Santa Claus. 

Today, I myself join the believers—in Santa, not Adam, Eve, Yahweh, Allah and Co—and it’s not just because a fat man in a flying sleigh pulled by wingless reindeer distributing presents globally in one night seems more credible than an omnipotent, merciful god who inflicts massive suffering on the creations he claims to love.

No, I find it easier to believe in Santa than God because Santa actually e-mailed me letters he received himself, and I’ve yet to see proof of God’s existence. (If God really did answer prayers, Michael Bolton, Samson and Fabio Lanzoni would all “jealous” me; and a Halle Berry/Madonna sex tape would have leaked.) 

Here, then, are letters to Santa from various folk. They are as authentic as West Indian politicians are honest.

Dear Santa:
Can you please give me an excuse for why the same government would pass one section (34) of an act giving a free paper to its financiers and get it proclaimed by the then-president in two days on a long holiday weekend, but the selfsame government has to wait six months for a presidential proclamation of legislation that would send corrupt people to jail? Send it fast, please, I need to open it before Christmas.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Handing Out Freeness,
Free Sheet

Dear Santa:
Please send us a bowler. Fast. Not necessarily a fast bowler, although that would be good, just any bowler, as fast as you can. Or please send South African captain Hashim Amla an airline ticket to Syria to lick down some infidels for ISIS instead of putting so much blows on us. We feeling to put on helmets before we start our run-ups.
JE Taylor, KAJ Roach, 
SS Cottrell & SJ Benn,
Dog Firetrucking Tired,
Centurion Cricket Ground

Dear Santa:
Please bring some restraint to the Pakistani Taliban. Please remind them that instructions are to shoot only one schoolchild in the head at a time.
The Afghan Taliban,
God’s Right Hand,
But Still Embarrassed by the Overkill

Dear Santa:
Please give a little bit of discernment to BC Pires. No matter how much harm he feels religion does to humanity, it’s too early for the kind of joke above. Let him wait until we capture a few hundred more underage girls and force them to conversion. People might be ready, then, to see how horrible blind faith really is.
Boko Haram,
Against Everything Western,
Except Automatic Weapons
 
Dear Santa:
All we want for Christmas is a US/Mexican border-style wall going 30 feet straight up in the air, so nobody could scale it. All along the Lady Young Road.
Residents of Cascade,
Under Bandit Manners,
In Jail in Their Own Homes

Dear Santa:
Please send us a complete monopoly on broadband, fixed landline telephones, mobile phone communications and cable television. 
Oh, wait! We have that already. Just some socks, then.
Cabled & Wire-tied Cash Flow,
Too Busy Counting Future Money 
to Think About Present Upgrades,
But Enough Time to Watch 
DirecTV Hungry

Dear Santa:
We know “Mamacita,” “Pañol,” “Margarita,” “Venezuela,” “Feliz Navidad” and “Vamos-vamos-vamos.” But please send us two or three more Spanish words. We want to write another parang song, so there would be at least two in the entire genre. 
It don’t matter what the words mean, nobody does ever study that. But, apparently, “Real Madrid” is not really a Spanish word, somehow; neither “Christiano Ronaldo,” even though the both of them end in “o”.
All of Trinidad’s 
Parang Songwriters,
Beber Cervezas Burritos
Dear Santa:
A little sense, please, to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, so we can open and good little Catholic girl children can finally get a proper education and learn birth control, premarital sex are all wrong, so they can grow up to be good, obedient wives.
The Arbor School,
Opus Dei In Limbo,
Not as Far from the Taliban 
as the Tilt of Our Noses Might Suggest

Dear Santa:
A new stingy brim hat, please. Mankind sweat so much in this one outside Aria after the gig that the hatband gone through. But at least the bandits didn’t make me lie on the ground at gunpoint, like they did the fans.
Kees Dieffenthaller
Robbery with VIP Section
Cipriani Blvd

Dear Santa:
Please send a little out-of-season ill will to Presidents Obama and Castro, please, please, please! Or tell the Pope to tell Raul that Barack called him a cabron. The moment Cuban tourism is reopened to the US, we’re all firetrucked.
Every Caribbean Island Selling White Sand Beaches and Brown Skinned Girls,
And Lacking the Sense 
to Legalise Ganja

Cash in any form is the lifeblood of a business; without it there is essentially no commerce. The sight of cash being handed over in exchange for goods and services makes every owner and manager smile, as this is the infusion necessary for paying employees and paying for the supplies that keep the business running. 

As attractive and necessary as cash is to owners and managers, unfortunately it is also attractive to robbers. Every day, somewhere, people are plotting how to relieve businesses of their cash. 

The constant worry about the possibility of being robbed can daunt some business owners and make them wonder why they opened a business. To some it may seem that they are powerless to stop the scourge of crime, yet there are measures that can be implemented to minimise the risk of robbery. Many of these measures are simple procedural approaches that do not cost the business owner any significant sum to implement.

Do not expose the cash
The easy visibility of large amounts of cash makes that business an attractive target to robbers. A cashier should never have their cash drawer open. A cashier should only open their cash drawer when a customer has paid for a purchase. 

Counting and storing cash
Towards the end of every business day every cashier is required to count and balance their cash. Cashiers should never count cash in the view of the public but should do so in a secure room behind a locked office door. Also, a cash register should never be used for overnight storage of cash as it is not designed to withstand a burglary attempt. Any cash being stored in a business should be kept in a safe and this safe should be anchored to the floor. 

Owners and managers should set drawer limits for cashiers that dictate how much cash the cashier is authorised to keep in their drawer. Once the cash reaches the limit during the day, the excess cash should be moved from the cash register and placed in the safe. The safe should be kept in a separate area to the cash register, so that there is a delay in the bandits getting to the cash. 

In acquiring a safe, the business owner should opt for models that have two locks to enable dual custody and a key and combination locking mechanism should be preferred. 

Area layout
The layout of a business place can also contribute to reducing the risk of robbery. The premises should be kept clean and well-lit, so that there is good visibility. By enhancing visibility it makes it difficult to commit a robbery without others noticing. There should be no posters or signs that block the area around the register from view.

Training for staff
It is important that staff are trained in the company’s policies that are designed to secure its cash operations. Staff should be taught to give a friendly greeting to everyone who enters the store; they should not only act friendly but briefly look directly into the person’s eyes and ask the customer if they would like any help. These actions signal to the person entering that I have seen you and robbers do not like to be seen because they can be identified afterwards. 

Staff should also be taught to be aware of cars parked across the street or off to one side of the parking lot. They should know to look for anyone who may be watching the store or loitering in or around it. They should also know that if they are concerned about a person or vehicle, they should not hesitate to contact their supervisor or the appropriate authorities. All staff should know the location of phones or available help outside the premises and emergency numbers should be kept near to the phones. 

Go cashless
As a final point on securing the cash side of the business, owners should encourage cashless purchases in the form of credit and debit cards. These forms of payment eliminate the amount of cash on the premises and so eliminate risk.

The Caribbean Institute for Security and Public Safety offers a wide variety of training and professional development courses for organisations and individuals at its scheduled classes as well as customised in-house training. Contact us at: 223-6999, info@caribbeansecurityinstitute.com or www.caribbeansecurityinstitute.com

Brian Ramsey
Chairman, CISPS

Growing disagreeableness and unease in the country may likely worsen as the economy weakens and the election nears. Despite marked political differences, there is remarkable consensus about the state of the nation: stark inequalities permeate society. 

Far too many are marginalised, lacking access to comparable resources enjoyed by the few; denied opportunities to be productive members of society; deprived of reliable education, health and other services. Inevitably hopelessness ensues, degenerating into citizen frustration over the inability to influence decision-making and hold government accountable.

The large proportion of socially-excluded individuals and communities, facing multiple deprivations and high levels of poverty, is potentially destabilising. Equity is the issue. The media articulate widely-felt rage over the obscene excesses of the privileged while ordinary folk experience unrelenting hardship.

We need genuine equity where everyone has equal life chances, and is rewarded on the basis of merit. Equity matters because people share a common human dignity, deserving of being treated with equal care and respect. From a policy perspective, citizens can hold the state responsible for ensuring equality of treatment and fairness in distribution of public goods and services.

Successive governments have achieved some success in reducing extreme poverty. However, unacceptably high levels of poverty and rising vulnerability in the population persist, confounding policymakers. Fair, just development demands broad-based social change, entailing extensive co-ordination across and within sectors. 

This requires breaking down institutional silos in government and integrating committed actions of government, business, civil society and the public around a common agenda to create collective impact. Substantially greater progress can be made in alleviating many of our most serious, complex social problems by more effective cross-sector co-ordination of stakeholders’ activities than by isolated interventions of individual organisations. 

For decades, the extent and complexity of social reforms have defied our best efforts. For instance, the initiatives of innumerable education and health care professionals, administrators and other actors together with billions spent, undoubtedly generated important improvements in specific areas of education and health. But system-wide progress seems unattainable.

It is pointless to focus on fixing one point on the education or health development pathway without simultaneously improving all parts; and this no single organisation, however innovative or powerful, could accomplish. In education, for example, the ambition must be to co-ordinate improvements at every stage of a young person’s life, from “cradle to career.” This calls for formally incorporating inclusive partnerships in our approach to development.

The “collective impact initiative” is a platform designed to align government, business, civil society and the public in formal arrangement to produce agreed results in social sector development. Conditions for sustaining such partnerships include a centralised infrastructure; dedicated staff, and a structured process leading to a common agenda, shared measurement, continuous communication, and mutually reinforcing activities among all participants. It requires long-term commitment. 

Government must be persuaded to change policies, structures and mindsets and institute the reforms to institutionalise partnerships and create the conditions for achieving collective impact. Then we may finally begin to make progress on these very critical, difficult, persistent issues facing the country. 

Winston R Rudder
Petit Valley

On Sunday, December 7, at approximately 9.45 am, I was driving out of Westmoorings at the KFC intersection heading in an easterly direction when two regiment trucks travelling from the west, broke the red light. One of them hit my car. I pulled aside thinking that the driver would stop and to my dismay he just continued on his way with the second regiment truck behind him. 

The only response I got from them was that they both blew their horns (after hitting me). I am disgusted and appalled. Do the regiment personnel feel they are above the law? A report was made at the police station but that and nothing might be the same thing.

R Knaggs
Westmoorings

That “Christmas feeling” is hard to come by because lurking in the shadows of my mind is the nagging question: what will it be like in January? 2014 will be remembered as the year of giveaway and freeness. Come 2015, the pensioners will have spent their extra $5,000 Christmas gift; the prices of staples would have crept up beyond their pre-Christmas-gift level; the price of oil and gas would be even lower and the “Kamla promotional giveaways” would be laying around the house. 

In the world of marketing, branded promotional giveaways are sometimes called consumables. The Communication gurus behind the UNC’s political campaign have invested their entire spend in the notion that good brand visibility signifies the ability of your products/services to attract the attention of your target audience and therefore stimulate re-sale.  

In this case, the more you see of the Prime Minister and the UNC, the more likely you are to vote for them at the appointed hour. The literature also suggests that there is a saturation point—that point at which the audience becomes numb to the message. There is no formula to prescribe that point. The decision is informed by data and a good dose of common sense. All that is happening in this Yuletide season can be summed up as “voter inducement” and the society is paying a significant price.

After the dust settles on the 2015 general elections, some leader will be responsible for changing the way we do business in T&T and that culture change is probably the single biggest headache that will be experienced for years to come.

How will we move away from an attitude of entitlement? How will we recalibrate the society into remembering that work precedes success? How will we get our leaders to live the value that people do what you do and not what you say? How will we inspire our people to give a fair days work for their pay?

These are complicated questions with no silver bullet answers. Our single assurance is that these questions must be answered and provision made to ensure that they are answered in a way that will benefit our society.

Dennise Demming
Diego Martin

I heard a radio interview this week on the latest topic, the deportation of a few Africans. In general the views expressed were that the Government was discriminating against Africans. The point was emphasised by singling out the Chinese. It was also expressed just how easy it was to identify the Chinese simply by their build and the question was asked how come the authorities could not catch these illegals.

This week also, a daily newspaper carried a front page photo of a bloodied Chinese woman who was robbed on her way to the bank. Is this a coincidence? Or are the politicians, in their desperation to “play politics,” losing sight of the bigger picture are they prepared to destroy T&T in their desperation to win cheap points.

Why the Chinese? I am a fifth generation Chinese and I nor any of my ancestors have ever been before a court to defend ourselves in a dishonest or violent matter. Why the Chinese? These people come here to make a new life, they work hard, they create jobs. They provide a needed service. 

They don’t come here to commit crime and terror. When is the last time you have heard of a Chinese in court to defend against a wrong doing? These people are the most hard working and caring and T&T can learn from them. They don’t know how to hate. They have been turning the other cheek before the bible was written. So yes, politicians want power but they must be concerned about country before self.

Hakwai
Via e-mail

On behalf of my father and my siblings, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the members of the public who lent a helping hand, the officers of SWAT and the staff at Accident and Emergency at the Arima Hospital who all assisted our father in his time of need. Our 83-year-old father, who was taking a walk in Arima, slipped on the sidewalk near to the Dial and fell headlong into a handrail which sliced open the top of his head leaving a gaping six-inch wound. 

As blood spurted out, Tenille, a young lady from Sangre Grande, and a gentleman, whose name we did not get, rushed to his assistance. We understand someone bought some towels to try to stop the bleeding. When my brother arrived on the scene, the officers of SWAT, who were nearby, observed what was happening and went into action. They stopped the traffic to allow my brother with the help of others to put my father in his car and they then escorted them to the Arima hospital.

At the Arima hospital, he was taken into the trauma room and immediately attended to by the doctors and nurses on duty. They were efficient and extremely kind. My father is alive today because of all of these people, all strangers to him and to each other but persons united and defined by their humanity. These are the kind of people who are the backbone of our society.

We are all extremely grateful to these people for all of their assistance when our father needed it most. May God bless you all.

Miriam Samaru
St James

Christmas is upon us once again, an opportunity to eat all our delightful traditional foods. But not everyone enjoys the traditional roasted, stuffed turkey on Christmas day. 

My motto is: if you’re the cook, cook what you like. There are options for those who prefer not have turkey, a simple roasted and stuffed chicken is a great option as is lamb or even fish. 

Try some different sides to spice things up a little and don’t forget to add some creative salads to complete your menu. Happy Christmas to all!

ROASTED STUFFED CHICKEN

1 31/2 to 4 lb chicken
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp minced fresh chives
6 tbsp fresh French thyme
2 tbsp wine vinegar
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

METHOD
Combine all ingredients and rub onto chicken, refrigerate until ready for use.

Stuffing
Giblets from chicken about 1/3 cup minced liver and gizzards, washed with lime juice.
2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1 large onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped chives
2 pimento peppers, seeded and chopped
1 hot pepper, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup fresh thyme
2 cups, fresh bread crumbs, un-toasted
2 tbsp raisins
1/4 cup grated cheese (optional)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

METHOD
Preheat oven to 350F
Mince two cloves garlic and combine with black pepper and salt, add to minced giblets.    

Prepare stuffing:
Heat oil in a large sauté pan; add garlic and onion, sauté until fragrant.
Add giblets and sauté until brown in colour. Add chives, pimento and hot pepper, and thyme. Stir and fry for four minutes until all the herbs become fragrant. 
Add the breadcrumbs and raisins, stir to combine, gradually add a small amount of chicken stock at a time. Stir until stuffing comes together. 
Add cheese and parsley, stir. 
Taste and adjust seasonings. Cool.

Preheat oven to 375F
Stuff bird with stuffing, close cavity with toothpicks or string.
Rub bird with butter, bake for one hour basting with pan drippings occasionally.
Remove bird from oven when juices from meat runs clear when checked with a metal or wooden skewer. Remove stuffing immediately.

• Serves 4 to 6 

MIXED PROVISION SALAD

4 lbs provision (dasheen yams, sweet potatoes), peeled boiled and cut into cubes
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2/3 cup olive or vegetable oil
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup minced parsley
1/4 cup diced celery stalks
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup diced sweet red bell pepper
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

METHOD
Combine dasheen with pepper, celery, chives and parsley, oregano, paprika.
In a small bowl combine oil with vinegar, Dijon, garlic, salt and black pepper, blend to make a thick emulsion.
Combine with dasheen toss to coat evenly.
Garnish with parsley, refrigerate until ready for use.
• Serves 10

GARLICKY ROASTED LEG OF LAMB

4 lb leg of lamb, bone in
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
8 cloves garlic minced
4 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp coarsely cracked black pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary or one tbsp. dried
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp salt

METHOD
In a food processor combine garlic, vinegar, mustard, pepper, rosemary and olive oil, process until combined
Rub marinade over lamb, cover and refrigerate overnight.
Before roasting remove lamb from refrigerator, bring to room temperature, rub salt over lamb,
Preheat oven to 375F and roast lamb for 1 to 11/2 hours or until done.
Lamb is usually at its best when a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 140F
Allow roast to rest for 15 mins before carving.

• Serves 8 to 10

Dietitian Nicole Alexander of the T&T Association of Nutritionists and Dietitians (TTANDi) paid a courtesy call on THA Chief Secretary Orville London on December 12 at the Calder Hall Administrative Complex, Scarborough. 

During the meeting Alexander gave the Chief Secretary a copy of TTANDi’s cookbook, Delicious and Healthy—Cooking with Caribbean Food. The 326 page cookbook was published in 2012. 

The cookbook has 200 recipes that present alternatives to traditional Caribbean cooking. Recipes also encourage the use of locally produced foods while maintaining delicious flavours. In addition, there are healthy diet plans to control common lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. 

The TTANDi is a professional organisation of Nutritionist and Dietitians and has been a registered body since 1990.

CENTURION, South Africa—Embattled West Indies were staring at yet another defeat inside five days, after their chronically weak batting imploded again yesterday, to leave South Africa in complete command of the first Test.

Replying to the hosts’ imposing 552 for five declared, West Indies collapsed for 201 all out in their first innings on the third day of the contest at SuperSport Park, and were forced to follow on 351 runs behind.

At the close, they were fighting on 76 for two, still requiring a further 275 to avoid an innings defeat.

There was perhaps no sign of what would unfold with West Indies cruising at 72 without loss and then 162 for three, 45 minutes before tea.

However, seamer Vernon Philander sliced through the innings to finish with four for 29 and fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel claimed three for 55, as the Caribbean side lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs.

Injured fast bowler Kemar Roach was unable to bat.

West Indies’ batsmen were guilty of getting starts but then failing to carry on. Opener Devon Smith, a late replacement for the injured talisman Chris Gayle, top-scored with 35, his partner Kraigg Brathwaite scored 34, while Marlon Samuels chipped in with 33 and Leon Johnson, 31.

Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul managed only 21.

Smith and Brathwaite gave West Indies a positive start to the day, playing confidently against South Africa’s new ball attack.

The left-handed Smith was tentative early on but grew in confidence, welcoming the introduction of rookie quick Kyle Abbott with two successive fours on either side of the wicket, in the 11th over of the morning.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, capitalised on his opportunities. He gathered the first boundary of the morning when he punched fast bowler Dale Steyn through cover off the back foot and followed up with a whip to the square boundary off Philander five overs later.

With West Indies becoming entrenched, Philander struck twice in successive overs to remove both openers. In the fourth over after the first drinks break, Smith was given out caught behind on review, after the decision initially went in his favour.

He appeared to miss a pull at Philander and though replays were inconclusive, the decision was surprising overturned. He faced 74 balls and struck six fours in 98 minutes at the crease.

In Philander’s next over with one run added, Brathwaite followed Smith, caught at first slip by Hashim Amla, after hitting five fours off 61 balls, leaving the Windies to rebuild.

Samuels then underpinned two solid partnerships as West Indies fought back. He added 44 for the third wicket with Johnson, helping to take West Indies to lunch at 110 for two, before putting on a further 45 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul.

The left-handed Johnson had batted an hour, faced 42 balls and struck four fours when he drove Abbott airily to cover in the third over after lunch, for substitute Robin Petersen to pouch the gift.

Samuels, who faced 66 deliveries in two hours at the crease and counted five fours, then combined with Chanderpaul to push the Windies up to 149 without further loss, at the first drinks break of the session.

Concentration seemed to wane again on resumption and West Indies lost Samuels, cramped for room on the back foot and playing onto Morkel at 169 for four.

Chanderpaul was gone 22 balls later with only seven runs added, squirting Philander to Alviro Petersen at second slip and Jermaine Blackwood hung around three-quarters of an hour over 12 before Petersen snared his second in the same position off the fired-up Philander.

Captain Denesh Ramdin failed to lead by example, producing a loose drive and tapping a tame catch to cover off left-arm spinner Dean Elgar to fall for 14, as West Indies slumped badly.

Asked to follow on, West Indies were in trouble early when Smith was caught in the cordon off five off Philander, with just eight runs on the board in the fourth over of the innings.

Johnson, unbeaten on the close on 33, then put on 44 with Brathwaite (20) to hold up South Africa’s quest for further breakthroughs.

And the pair seemed set to take the Windies to the close without further loss when Brathwaite pushed firmly at a full length delivery from Morkel and edged to second slip where Petersen held a brilliant catch on the second attempt. (CMC)

SCOREBOARD

South Africa vs West Indies – 3rd day, 1st Test​

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 
552-5 declared

WEST INDIES 1st Innings
K Brathwaite c Amla b Philander     34
D Smith c de Villiers b Philander     35
L Johnson c sub (R Peterson) b Abbott     31
M Samuels b Morkel     33
S Chanderpaul  c Petersen b Philander     21
J Blackwood c Petersen b Philander    12
D Ramdin c van Zyl b Elgar    14
J Taylor c & b Morkel    4
S Benn not out     6
S Cottrell b Morkel    2
K Roach absent hurt
Extras (lb6, w3) 9
TOTAL (all out; 60.2 overs) 201

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-73, 3-117, 4-162, 5-169, 6-184, 7-193, 8-193, 9-201.

Bowling: Steyn 14-3-53-0, Philander 15-6-29-4, Abbott 14-3-50-0, Morkel 15.2-4-55-3, Elgar 2-0-8-1.
WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (following on)
K Brathwaite c Petersen b Morkel    20
D Smith c sub (T Bavuma) b Philander    5
L Johnson not out    33
M Samuels not out    13
Extras (lb2, w3)    5
TOTAL (2 wkts, 27 overs)    76
To bat: S Chanderpaul, J Blackwood,     +D Ramdin, J Taylor, K Roach, S Cottrell, S Benn.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-52.

Bowling: Steyn 0.5-0-3-0, Morkel 7.1-1-26-1, Philander 3-3-0-1, Abbott 3-0-11-0, van Zyl 10-2-11-0, Elgar 3-0-12-0.

Position: West Indies trail by 275 runs with eight wickets standing.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Billy Bowden

Aston Gill, 18, and Jada Barker, 17, were named the Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year 2014 respectively at Cougars Track and Field Club annual Awards and Dinner on Wednesday evening, at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium, Mucurapo.

It was the third consecutive win for Gill, but a maiden victory for Barker.

He specialised in 800 and 1,500-metre events, while Barker was a sprinter competing in the 100 and 200-metre dashes.

Gill secured places on T&T Carifta and Central American and Caribbean 2014 teams, while Barker was selected for the former.

But they weren’t the only top medallists taking the spotlight on the night’s ritzy affair.

Citing that Cougars Athletics Club was so ripe with talent, the executive of the premier developmental outfit was forced to introduce two new awards: Junior Male Athlete of the Year and Junior Female Athlete of the Year.

Sprinters Ethan Forde, 12 and Caliyah Wallace, 12, were the proud recipients.

Interviewed, Barker said, “It’s a good accomplishment, but still, I know I have more work to do. I made it on the Carifta relay team. I ran (the) third leg. We placed fifth. It was a good experience. I didn’t expect to make it to the team because I had an injury and I doubted myself. But when I made it onto the team, it made me learn that working hard and not giving up helps you out a lot,” she said.

Barker said she was pleased with the level of excellence being displayed by female athletes in the sport.

“At a young age, I looked up to Michelle Lee Ayhe. I like the way she is performing now, proving that with hard work you could really reach where you want to go. I want to make it to the Olympics, but not just make it to the Olympics. I want to medal. I hope that hard work will pay off,” she said.

Barker predicts that there’s a degree in Exercise and Sports Science with First Class Honours with her name on it. That’s the area of studies she wished to pursue.

She firmly believed that sports and the academics formed a great mix. “Once you keep your focus, you can achieve anything you put your mind too,” she said.

Gill, meanwhile, said achieving the Senior Athlete of the Year Award was important to him, knowing that he worked hard throughout the year amid champions like himself.

“Achieving that is a big thing for me. My goals and having my coach there keeps me motivated. Knowing that he is there driving me towards my goals…that is what motivates me, along with my parents and of course Almighty God,” he said.

Gill, a student at East Mucurapo Secondary School, said despite his efforts on the international stage in donning the national colours, football remains the main sport of choice at his school, but his national popularity was turning heads.

“I’m also on television; always in the newspapers. And it’s like, he is a big runner, let’s lime with him. I am like in a leadership position at school, encouraging people to be the best at their game, so they could encourage others,” he said.

Responding to questions about running out of shelve space at home for his awards, Gill replied jokingly that space for his trophies was not an immediate concern, but when that time came, “I would build more shelves.”

David Neptune netted with ten minutes left in the match as Barrackpore United FC edged Moruga FC 2-1 to lift the Southern Football Association League Cup final at Barrackpore Recreation Ground on Wednesday night.

Going into the contest, Moruga was after its second title of the season having won the Executive Cup last month, however, it was Barrackpore which took the lead into the half when Christopher Mohammed scored in the 39th.

Moruga clawed its way back into the contest in the 57th through a strike from Anderson Toussaint from the penalty spot to set up an interesting final 30 minutes.

And just when it seemed the match would go to penalties, Neptune notched the winner for his team to take home the title and $4,000 winners’ cheque while Moruga got $2,000.

In the two legged semifinal, Barrackpore had a much easier time as it routed Penal All Stars 7-1 on aggregate after 4-0 and 3-1 triumph.

In the first-leg, Keion La Rode, Stephen James and Chrislan Lane got a each while Andrew Samuel netted for All Stars, and in the second-leg, Rendell Brown netted a pair and Kiel Rebiero and Lane one apiece in the second-leg win.

On the other hand, Moruga advanced via a 4-3 penalty-kicks win over University of T&T after their second-leg semifinal ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw at the end of regulation-time for a 5-5 aggregated score.

Kyle Morgan netted twice for Moruga and Amin Julien the other while Jamal Creighton got all three goals for UTT in regulation-time.

When both teams met in first-leg semifinal play, Creighton and Isaiah Mejias netted for UTT, to cancel out Morgan’s brace. 

Today, (Saturday), the SFA Premier Division “Big-Six” competition will conclude with Marabella Family Crisis Centre only needing a point against Barrackpore to clinch the crown.

As it stands, Marabella leads the table by virtue of its superior goal-difference of plus-ten to Barrackpore’s plus-five, with both teams on ten points from four matches.

And Marabella will clinch the title with a draw when both teams meet on Saturday at Barrackpore, while the latter needs a win.

results

SFA League Cup

Wednesday

League Cup final

Barrackpore 2 (Christopher Mohammed 39th, David Neptune 80th) vs Moruga FC 1 (Anderson Toussaint 57th pen) 

Semifinals

First-Leg

Barrackpore Utd FC 3 (Keion La Rode, Stephen James, Chrislan Lane) vs Penal All Stars 1 (Andrew Samuel)

UTT 2 (Jamaal Creighton, Isaiah Mejias) vs Moruga FC 2 (Kyle Morgan 2)

Second-Leg

Barrackpore 4 (Rendell Brown 2, Kiel Rebiero, Chrislan Lane) vs Penal All Stars 0

Moruga FC 3 (Kyle Morgan 2, Amin Julien) vs UTT 3 (Jamal Creighton 3)

Moruga won 4-3 on penalty-kicks

Upcoming fixtures

Today

SFA Big Six Final Round

Pt Fortin Civic vs Moruga FC, Techeir Ground, Pt Fortin, 3 pm

Barrackpore United FC vs Marabella Family CC, Barrackpore, 3 pm

UTT vs Giants, Tarouba, 3 pm.

SFA Big-Six standings

Teams P W D L F A Pts

Marabella 4 3 1 0 14 4 10

Barrackpore 4 3 1 0 8 3 10

Moruga 4 2 1 1 11 7 7

Pt Fortin Civic 4 1 0 3 6 11 3

Giants 4 1 0 3 8 14 3

UTT 4 0 1 3 3 11 1

​

Neil Benjamin Jr and Hashim Arcia each scored twice as defending Digicel T&T Pro League champions DirecTV W Connection crushed Police 6-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva to trim Central FC lead at the top to one point. 

This after Central needed a stoppage-time goal to salvage a 1-1 draw against North East Stars as the league heads into the Christmas break.

Stars’ took a 1-0 lead four minutes before the half when a low curling free-kick by Tyrone Charles slipped through the wall and past goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams at the near post.

But just when the score-line seemed settled in favour of the Sangre Grande club, boasting one of the best defensive records this season, Central finally fired back in the first of three minutes stoppage-time when second half substitutes Jason Marcano and Ataullah Guerra combined.

It was from a Marcano right side cross into the area that Guerra, returning for the first time in weeks following a heel injury, sent a first-time half-volley into the back of goalkeeper Cleon John’s net for a 1-1 tie.

In the earlier contest, however, goals rained in favour of W Connection, which ended the match with ten-men following a red card sending off of forward Jerrel Britto for abusive language on the hour mark. 

The “Savonetta Boys” as W Connection is known, made light work of Police FC and took complete control of the game in the first-half and had half their tally to show for it.

T&T Under-20 striker Akeem Garcia gave the Stuart Charles-Fevrier coached “Savonetta Boys” a 1-0 lead as early as the second minute when his tame effort was spilled into the back of the net by goalkeeper Adrian Foncette.

W Connection then had to wait until the 27th minute for its second goal which came when Britto directed Benjamin’s squared pass into the back of Foncette’s goal.

Benjamin then got to his first goal in the 32nd minute after latching onto a neat Arcia through-ball before hitting past the Police goalie for a 3-0 score which Connection took into the dressing room at the break.

Benjamin and company returned in the second half without any signs of sympathy. Instead Connection were ringing the Christmas bells but not sharing the joy as out-of-sorts Police surrendered to three more goals in the second half.

Benjamin got to his double in the 54th minute when he latched onto a long ball forward by goalkeeper Julani Archibald, which the Police defence failed to cut off, and hit past a hapless Foncette for a 4-0 score.

And a minute later Arcia got to this first league goal this season, for a 5-0 score-line, with a wonderful curling strike from inside the area off Britto’s cross, swung in from the left.

Not long after, Britto was given his marching orders from referee Cecil Hinds, reducing Connection, already comfortably in front, to ten men.

But W Connection wasn’t done yet as Benjamin completed his second assist and Arcia got to his second goal on the night in the 74th before Police finally got their consolation item in the 78th minute through attacker Kerry Fredericks, off an Elijah Belgrave rebound but it wasn’t an item worth celebrating.

With the win, W Connection improved to 13 points from six matches, one behind Central FC while Caledonia is third with 11 points from six matches as well, and two more points than Police going into the break for the Christmas season.

When the league resumes on January 9, 2015, Police will be on a bye while W Connection comes up against Caledonia AIA; Central FC tackles Pt Fortin Civic; Defence Force meets San Juan Jabloteh; and North East Stars faces St Ann’s Rangers.

results

Thursday’s Digicel Pro League results: 

W Connection 6 (Neil Benjamin Jr 32nd, 54th, Hashim Arcia 55th, 74th, Akeem Garcia 2nd, Jerrel Britto 27th) vs Police FC 1 (Kerry Fredericks 78th)

Central FC 1 (Ataullah Guerra 90th) 
vs North East Stars 1 (Tyrone Charles 41st)

standings

Digicel T&T Pro League standings:

Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Central FC    7    4    2    1    20    7    14
W Connection    6    4    1    1    16    4    13
Caledonia    6    3    2    1    12    8    11
Police    7    2    3    2    10    15    9
Jabloteh    6    2    2    2    5    10    8
N/East Stars    6    2    2    2    5    4    8
D/Force    6    2    1    3    9    10    7
Pt Fortin    6    1    2    3    9    12    5
Rangers    6    0    1    5    4    20    1​
 

Former world champions, the T&T “Calypso Netballers” will come up against the top two teams in the world, host Australia and New Zealand in Pool A round-robin play at next year’s 14th Netball World Cup in Sydney Australia, from August 7-16.

This will be the second time that the World Championships are being held in Sydney, and the third time in Australia. Sydney last hosted the event in 1991, when Australia won a closely contested final against New Zealand.

All matches will be played at the 21,000 seat Allphones Arena (formerly known as the Sydney SuperDome and Acer Arena), Sydney Olympic Park.

T&T who won the American Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) world title back in 1979 as joint winners with the Aussies and New Zealand will also go head-to-head with Caribbean rivals Barbados, who they have beaten in their last three meetings.

Pool B of the 2015 Championship features world third and fourth ranked teams, England and Jamaica as well as Scotland and Samoa while Malawi, South Africa, Singapore and Sri Lanka comprise Pool C, and the quartet of Fiji, Wales, Uganda and Zambia make up Pool D.

Australia qualified automatically as host along with the next five highest ranked teams from the 2011 Championship inclusive of New Zealand, England, Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa.

The other 11 teams qualified via their regional qualifying competitions, with T&T topping Barbados in the AFNA qualifiers which were held in Alberta, Canada, in August.

The Australians are the defending champions having won the title for a record tenth three years ago while second-ranked New Zealand have captured the top prize on four ocassions, the last being in 2002 while it has ended in second spot no fewer than seven times, including the last two editions.

Australia is also the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medal winners after beating major rival New Zealand in the final earlier this year, 58-40.

It will be the second straight time the Pepe Gomes coached T&T women will face New Zealand in the group stages, having gone under to the Kiwis, 23-75 in 2007 while beating Wales (51-48) and Fiji (58-40) at the Singapore National Stadium.

The “Calypso Netballers” were then upstaged by Jamaica 42-79 in the quarterfinals and also went under to Malawi, 38-61 in their fifth to eight place semifinal ahead of its 56-38 beating of Northern Ireland for seventh spot in the 16-team tournament. 

But despite the tough draw, T&T coach Wesley “Pepe” Gomes said he was quite happy with the opponents his team would face.

“My aim is for us to finish among the top six and if you want to be among the best you have to beat the best teams in the world.

“They have been the top teams in the world for a while now but we have been preparing as hard as we can.”

Currently, Gomes has a core of players in training and with the World Championships set for July he is hoping to get in some international matches and possibly two overseas tours.

“We know things are tough when it comes to financial support, but we are looking at some matches in Europe against Wales, Scotland and Ireland in early May and then some against the Jamaicans just before we head to Australia,” Gomes said.

“Our plans were to play some matches against Barbados but with us being drawn in the same pool and beating them on the last three to four times we have played each other, I don’t think they will agree to it this time around.”

Last night the T&T women continued training with another session at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo and depending on the availability of the venue will train again tomorrow morning or Monday afternoon from 6 pm to 8 pm to close out before the Christmas. 

Gomes added: “The girls have been really committed to training but we are still having some issues in getting the facilities to train as much as we would hope for.

“Since our return from the AFNA Championships in Alberta, Canada, where we won the title, the players had a little break and have been training since. They will get the break for the Christmas and then we resume or programme on January 2, 2015.”

The T&T coach also praised the younger players who have been in training for their efforts.

“There are a few young players training with us and even though they may not make the final team for the major tournaments, training with their senior peers will help them to prepare well for Under-21 tournaments and I hope they take as much knowledge from the senior players as possible. 

At the World Championship, the top two teams from each preliminary pool will qualify to the “first eight” second round series while the bottom two teams in each pool will play in the “second eight” competition.

And at the end of the end of the first eight second round two groups, the top two in each qualify to the semifinals, the ther bottom two battle for fifth to eight.

And the teams in the second eight groups will play round robin match, followed by crossover playoffs.

more info

Preliminary round groups:
Pool A: No 1 Australia, No 2 New Zealand, No 10 Barbados, No 9 T&T
Pool B: No 3 England, No 4 Jamaica, No 12 Scotland, No 14 Samoa
Pool C: No 5 Malawi, No 6 South Africa, No 19 Singapore, No 24 Sri Lanka
Pool D: No 7 Fiji, No 8 Wales, No 13 Uganda, No 18 Zambia

Qualification rounds:
First Eight:
Pool E: A-1, B-2, C-1, D-2
Pool F: A-2, B-1, C-2, D-1

NB: Top two teams from each pool qualify to the semifinals while the bottom two qualify to the fifth to eight playoffs.

Second Eight:
Pool G: A-3, B-4, C-3, D-4
Pool H: A-4, B-3, C-4, D-3

NB: 
At the end of the second eight matches, the teams will then face off in the playoff matches for positions ninth to 16th.
Winner’s row:
Year    Host    Placing 
1963    England    4th
1967    Australia    5th
1971    Jamaica    4th
1975    New Zealand    4th
1979    T&T    Joint 1st with Aus/NZ
1983    Singapore    3rd
1987    Scotland    Joint 2nd
1991    Australia    DNP
1995    England    6th
1999    New Zealand    8th
2003    Jamaica    10th
2007    New Zealand    11
2011    Singapore    7th

​

Toulon could take legal action against the Leicester fans whose testimony led to the 12-week suspension of Trinidad-born England outside centre rugby player Delon Armitage.

The 31-year-old San Fernando-born Armitage, was punished for using offensive language towards spectators after a European Rugby Champions Cup match at Welford Road on December 7.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal told newspaper La Provence that there was “no formal proof” against Armitage.

“We aren’t discounting the eventuality of going after these two supporters in court for false testimonies,” he said.

He added that the ruling against Armitage was “incomprehensible.”

“This is an extraordinary decision which rests only on the allegations of two opposition supporters, whose objectivity we can legitimately put in doubt,” said Boudjellal.

“But there is no formal proof, no official document, not even television pictures to attest to the veracity of these testimonies.”

English full-back Armitage will be suspended until March 8. It was his second post-match misconduct case in the last four years. 

On Wednesday he pleaded not guilty at a misconduct hearing on Wednesday, but a disciplinary committee ruled he had “conducted himself in an unsportsmanlike manner,” despite accepting he was “provoked.”

The incident occurred just before team-mate Martin Castrogiovanni launched into a post-match rant to journalists about Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill.

Castrogiovanni was fined €10,000 (£8,000) fine and given a suspended four-game ban.

The committee said Armitage “may have brought into disrepute” the sport by “making a number of comments to, or within earshot of, spectators using foul and abusive language.”

However, it cleared him of one comment allegedly made during the game at Welford Road on­ December 7 because “inconsistencies in the evidence were too great.”

Armitage’s ban was increased from a starting point of eight weeks to 12 because it was his second post-match misconduct case in four years.

He pushed an anti-doping officer during a drugs test after playing for London Irish against Bath on 1 January 2011.

His brother, 29-year-old Steffon Armitage who was also born in San Fernando, Trinidad) is a rugby union player for RC Toulon in the Top 14 and has represented England five times since making his debut in 2009.

Before moving to Toulon in 2011, Steffon, a flanker, previously played at Saracens (2004-2006) and London Irish (2006-20011) while he represented Richmond and Racing Rugby Club de Nice, just as his older sibling.

Armitage’s stepfather John played rugby for Hatfield and encouraged his sons to such an extent that four of them are now professional players. Guy plays at Irish. Steffon is also a member of the Saxons squad and Toulon. Bevon left RFU Championship club Doncaster Knights in 2010 for his brothers' youth club Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur Université-Racing. 

He is back a Doncaster from the 2013-14 season and is the first native West Indian to play rugby union for England. 

Blue Tequilla scored with such ease on her debut in the first event for juvenile this season that all and sundry at Santa Rosa Park in Arima, thought they saw a filly with immense potential. 

To make matters worst she set a track record for two-year-olds when she recorded the time of 59 seconds for the 1,000 metres journey.

The Tasram Maharaj owned Jamaican bred filly won by ten lengths with rider Dillon Khelawan doing precious little. 

Since that event trainer Gary Subratie has given her time to mature and the St Ann’s Stakes on Boxing Day will be her next assignment. 

In the past two weeks, Blue Tequilla has sparkled at the gallops and it will take a very good horse to stop her from taking the $90,00 first prize cheque.

She now moves from maiden to Stakes in next week’s 1,350-metre Republic Online St Ann’s Stakes at Santa Rosa Park, in the $150,000 Grade One fillies’ event. 

Champion trainer John O’Brien introduced another classy filly in Serengeti on November 29 at Santa Rosa Park. 

This filly, owned by the The Ladies Stable, was nothing short of impressive. The Ruthven Smith bred filly won over 1,100 metres by 9 1/2 lengths in the very good time of 1:05.4, setting a great clash between Blue Tequilla and herself. 

This event is worth going miles to see as the two unbeaten fillies will take each other on in what looks like the best event of the day. But, there will only be one winner and one of the top juvenile fillies will lose their unbeaten tag.

The eight-horse race has another juvenile which has not yet shown her true potential based on her gallops form and that is the Anthony Nunes trained Fairyinthewind. This filly was beaten by the best two-year-old in the O‘Brien stable on his debut. 

Criminal Intent the favourite for the St James Stakes beat Fairyinthewind by 4 3/4 lengths and the time of the event was 1:01.3. 

However, Fairyinthewind returned to action on December 6 seeking to turn in her maiden certificate but came up a neck short when Royal Pioneer which is trained by Derick Mosca prevailed in the time of 1:15.1.

The other horse which must a great chance is Star Sapphire from the O’Brien stable. 

The Roma Sagan Maraj owned filly by Liquidity/Rosegate was impressive in victory and has improved in the interim. She posted a time of 1:01 2 and must have a big chance in the $150,000 purse event. Emile Ramsammy has the ride on this filly.

This is probably the most competitive classic event for the year but Blue Tequilla and Serengeti look the two to fight out the finish.