Lutine Charlie is fancied to create an historic first success today, in an ‘aged’ handicap over seven furlongs of Kempton polytrack, for ‘new’ trainer Emma Owen, former partner of the late, great, eleven-times champion jockey, Pat Eddery!

Emma has taken over his license and to date a few runners have whetted enthusiasm, Lutine Charlie was a creditable fourth in a similar race on Wolverhampton Tapeta last month; the more creditable because this evergreen eight-year-old raced from the worst draw.

Emma was buoyed, ‘Charlie’ is fit ‘n rarin’ to go and ex-champion jockey, Jamie Spencer, has been booked;

On my time-handicap Lutine Charlie is undoubtedly ‘best-in’ and rates a serious each-way chance.

This will mean so much for Emma who rode winners in Arab races sporting colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum; riding under the supervision of Eddery must have been an education in itself because Pat was one of the most natural horsemen I’ve seen during a nigh on fifty year(s) career in racing journalism.

We met 45 years ago; our friendship was purposely distant because one never wanted to interfere in a career which was sensational by any stretch of imagination; periodically one reminded him just how much pride his achievements meant to yours truly. 

He never rode me a winner but was second and he laughed when reminded, he often laughed did Pat Eddery! 

Best bet, on what is hopefully an historic occasion, is once-raced, Richard Hannon-trained Shaan, one of seven ‘decs’ for the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over seven furlongs.

Shaan could prove to be a ‘high division’ prospect judged on that head second to Zaakhir over a mile of this right-handed circuit six weeks ago; the price might be prohibitive but a short-priced winner is better than a long-priced loser!

Don’t forget not losing is just as productive as winning, in the long run!

Equity is about obtaining pay for work you perform or at least normalising the payment structure in line with general good practice. In this particular case, I am referring to cricket.

The West Indies team is not only experiencing pain on the field of play but also off the field. Perhaps this is where we can find a balance and attempt to address some of the evils that plague our sport .

No one would easily accept a cut in pay by over 60 percent. This is surely a disincentive. Yet, we have the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association ( WIPA)  taking this absurd decision.

It means the West Indies players are now earning around US $5,200 US per test match, since this is the agreement contrived between Wavell Hinds of WIPA and Dave Cameron of the WICB.

Let us examine the consequences of this cut on the careers of young cricketers, who are faced with super salaries in T20 cricket. Why would a youngster play cricket for five days and receive US $5,200 when he can play a T20 match for six hours and receive between US $2,000 US to $2,500?

Something must be done to address this because not only will we lose our best players to T20 cricket, which is now played all over the world but also the younger generation will naturally gravitate towards the format, that is both rewarding financially and also promotionally, because youngsters are about image and branding.

The WICB needs to be concern about these  developments.

As far as the regional four day tournament is concerned, there is a gaping hole in the standard because of the low quality of players on exhibition and the lack of experience. The best team is Guyana and that is in no small part due to the fact that they have experienced players, led by the ageless Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

We should not fool ourselves, but instead look in the mirror, and think about working life, and our expectations of a salary increase or bonus each year, despite the ups and downs of the country or the company or organization, that we belong too. It should not be any different for West Indies players. This is their job and this is their livelihood.

While everyone talks about the Australian and  English love of Test cricket, this is all a pack of nonsense. It is simply about economics. The Australian and England Cricket Boards understand that, and will ensure their players are well compensated so that they can continue to call the shots.

Currently, the leading Australian players are on retainer contracts of between US $800,000 to $1.5 Million at the top end, so of course, they will remain in Test cricket. It’s no different with the English players while we all know the Indian players are only allowed to play IPL cricket and no other T20 matches. In Australia at the lowest end, an entry level player receives US $350,000 so naturally these players are always generally available and mainly play the IPL and a few of their own Big Bash matches as well when  out of test cricket

This is where the WICB, if they were intelligent would use their only source of power, as has been revealed in the recent T20 rankings of being the number one to command attention. All over the world, it is the West Indian players that bring out the crowds and top the batting, bowling and fielding. So why is it that the WICB cannot attempt to  work with the leading West Indian players , such as Chris Gayle , Dwayne Bravo , Kieron Pollard , Andre Russell , Darren Sammy , Sunil Narine , Lendl Simmons , just to mention a few .

One idea is to establish a salary cap, similar to what obtains elsewhere in sports, which would assist the problems, because how can we realistically ask the West Indian players who are not only performing for their T20 franchises, but also promoting the game to other youngsters in these territories and also giving of their time and experience to other possible competitors in the future to contribute to the region, when the top retainer in the Caribbean is US $135,000.

So instead, I would recommend to the West Indies Cricket Board, the following, if they want our sport to grow:

a) A maximum retainer of US $450,000 with increments from $400,000 to $350,000 with $200,000 as lowest.

b) This will ensure that the best players will now only be allowed to play in the IPL and the Caribbean Premier league

This will call for money. But you do not need to be a brain scientist to realize that the West Indies are ranked 8 and 9 in Test and one day cricket, where the players make less money. However, where the best players appear for the West Indies T20 cricket, we are number one, and the players earn most of their best living in this format of the game. Indeed Money talks and everything else walks.

The news that the  tour of the Caribbean by India will coincide with the Caribbean Premier League, has to be a slap in the face for West Indies cricket and in particular for the WICB, as it appears the Indian Cricket Board have directly decided to try to affect the growing popularity of the CPL, by doing this, which will rule out several of the young West Indians. How can we ask youngsters who would normally earn US $70,000 to $100,000 to give this up for just around $15,000 for a three test series? That is hypocrisy from the WICB?

And if I was involved in the sponsorship and promotional deal with the WICB from the Caribbean Premier League, I would certainly ask my LEGAL team to review the contract, where it is stated the best players must make themselves available, given that it is because of the WICB, that these young players may not be available.

All of this begs two questions.

1) Was this intentional on the part of India to affect the Caribbean Premier League?

2) And will the sponsors of the Caribbean Premier League accept this?

It promises to be quite an interesting time ahead for West Indies cricket, particularly off the field. The WICB, might soon be calling on CARICOM for assistance after all.

Sandra Camps, daughter of former T&T Football Association president Oliver Camps, will be seeking help for her father when she visits sports minister Darryl Smith at his Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, office today.

 Camps said yesterday she felt hopeless and helpless, since despite pleas in the bid to save her father’s home, she has received no word.

She will be visiting Smith at his office today and if she is not satisfied, will be seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister. “I do not want to give up, but it looks hopeless at this point,” she said.

 Properties belonging to the senior Camps have been targeted for seizure by the court after the  football federation, which Camps registered in his own name as the sole proprietor, could not honour a contract to pay salaries to Dutch coach Wilhemus ‘Wim’ Rijsbergen back in 2006/2007. The coach was part of a staff led by Leo Beenhakker, who took the Soca Warriors to the World Cup in Germany in 2006. He took legal action against the federation after failing to obtain his salary. 

In eight days, the court is expected to act on its judgement, as salaries amounting to approximately $3.9 milliion is due to the Dutchman.

Camps’ daughter said the next step is a visit to Smith’s office to attempt to persuade him to change his mind, from not giving assistance. She also intends to try and get an audience with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for help this week. 

Smith revealed in a newspaper report that while he was sympathetic to Camps’ situation, his ministry will not be providing assistance. Ironically, the same Smith has agreed to pay salaries owing to former national standout and assistant coach, Russell Latapy.

 To date only Jack Warner, a former special adviser to the TTFF has given a commitment to assist his friend and ex colleague. Warner told the Guardian that he could not say how much money he will be giving as his resources are not what they used to be. Warner appealed to ex national players whom he said,  benefitted from Camps’ management to come to his assistance. 

 “I am just holding on and praying every day,” Camps said. 

She said her father did not benefit financially from football and felt betrayed that he should have to pay a debt. 

“If he had benefitted financially, I would not be raising this issue. But I regard him as an honest man who made some mistakes,” Camps explained. 

WALTER ALIBEY

T&T Red Force will resume its bid to retain the Nagico Super50 title when action in Zone A continues today.

Red Force will be at Shaw Park, Tobago, to battle Jamaica Scorpions in a second round top-of-the-table clash.

The Scorpions, head into the match two points behind the Red Force (12 points), after coming off a nervy two-wicket win against Barbados Pride on Monday.

 Red Force had to settle for a no result in their match against the ICC Americas after umpires ruled that conditions were not conducive to play despite bright sunshine in Tobago. An early morning shower left water on the covers but groundsmen failed to prevent the water from damaging the run up, making it dangerous for the players.

The Red Force will be hoping to continue their solid allround performance after registering comfortable wins against the Scorpions in their opening fixture by 84 runs and then crushing Barbados Pride by nine wickets in the second match on Saturday.

They will again be looking to their top order batsmen to put a good score on the board with Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley and Kyle Hope all registering confident half centuries so far. The bowling too, has been on target with Marlon Richards, Rayad Emrit and Russ Jaggessar leading the way.

The Scorpions scraped home against Barbados, making a mountain of chasing 138. 

 Scorpions captain John Campbell says his team must resolve its batting woes if it is to leapfrog  Red Force.

Tail ender Sheldon Cottrell hit two sixes in an unbeaten 16 to push Scorpions to its winning target of 139 after they slumped to 118 for eight at the start of the 33rd over.

“At one stage we were one something for two. We batted well until then,” said Campbell.

“I just think we have a problem losing clusters of wickets. One of the set batsmen has to look to bat as deep as possible for the team.”

After three rounds of matches in the tournament, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are topping the table in zone A with 12 points from three matches, two wins and no defeat.

Scorpions are running second with 10 points from three matches, two wins and one loss. In the other match scheduled for the Queen’s Park Oval, Barbados Pride will be up against the ICC Americas.

MIRPUR—West Indies youth cricketer Michael Frew says he plans to use the forthcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh to showcase his talent while helping his team to secure the trophy.

Frew, a middle-order-batsman, is expected to play a key role for his side, when the World Cup begins at the end of this month.

“It is a chance for me to go out there, and show the world what I am capable of, and I am looking forward to it,” said Frew.

“I want to do my best for the team, and hope to come home with the trophy.”

The outgoing Jamaica Under-19 captain and his team mates will look for inspiration from Guyanese opener, and captain, Shimron Hetmyer, and promising Leewards fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph.

Hetmyer and Joseph, who recently represented their countries in the WICB First-Class Tournament, are the only persons in the squad with first-class experience.

West Indies Under-19s lost by eight wickets to Bangladesh Under-19s, in their opening one-day game of the three-match warm-up series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

But Frew says based on the make-up of the team he is backing young Windies to do well at the World Cup which runs from January 22 to February 14.

“I don’t think it will be an easy task, as this is close to the international level, and other teams have talent and are all-rounded as well,” Frew said.

“However, having said that, we have a good team.”

West Indies will open their campaign on January 28 against England before going on to play Zimbabwe and Fiji.

The top two teams from the group are slated to advance to the quarter-finals.

Leading entertainer Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez will partner with the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) to raise awareness about its 10 Golds by 2024 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund initiative.

Lyons-Alvarez will participate in Sunday’s T&T International Marathon (TTIM), competing in the relay segment of the event alongside fellow entertainers Peter C Lewis, Devon Matthews of Red 96.7FM, as well as Hans Romany of We Sports.

Through their participation, at which TTOC president Brian Lewis will also compete, the entertainers will donate their miles and pledged donations to the cause.

The plan was announced at a media conference held at the TTOC’s Olympic House on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday where Lyons-Alvarez pledged $5,000. Lewis (Peter) matched her contribution and raised it by $1,000.

When approached to be part of the project, she said she wanted more from it than just competing in a race and having the focus die at the finish line. As a consequence, a web site was built and launched where all fitness enthusiasts could pledge the miles covered in their daily exercise routine to sustain the awareness of the TTOC campaign. Donations would then be made to the TTOC’s Scotiabank account towards ensuring this country’s champion athletes were able to keep their training regimen on track for Rio 2016 Olympics and take the world stage with the singular aim of doing this country proud.    

Lyons-Alvarez lamented that far too often projects to better the lives of citizens were being undertaken, but the public had no clue as to its existence and significance. 

She made it clear that twining her brand to the TTOC athlete welfare fund was not solely from a sport perspective, but a health perspective, too.   

Diane Henderson, chair of the TTIM, who also serves as an official on the executive of the TTOC expressed delight that Lewis (Brian) was preparing to return to the race and that the need for supporting sport did not escape Lyons-Alvarez and her entertainment friends.

“It actually opens up the door for more charitable ideas to be connected to the marathon and for all the good it can do. The relay is a new idea this year. It is really about development for a younger age. The marathon is 42 kilometres. You can run seven kilometres each,” she said.

TTOC president Lewis praised Lyons-Alvarez’s decision to participate in the event for the expressed purpose to heighten awareness of the public’s need to support the country’s elite athletes and their aspirations.

“In many ways, how Fay-Ann lives her life is representative of Olympism in the sense of being independent thinking, be it in terms of discipline, in terms of bringing body, will and mind together. Music, culture, is a critical part of Olympism. Athletes use music for motivation. Regardless of which sport it is, athletes either have ear buds or speakers and what they are doing is using music to motivate them. So music goes hand in hand with excellence and achievement. Fay-Ann has achieved success and like all people who strive to be successful, do not always please everybody, but her passion for sport goes way back,” he declared. 

Lewis continued: “In the past, she has participated in half marathons aligned to women’s issues. This time she has decided to join with Peter (Lewis) and his team in making a contribution to the athletes and the aspirations of ten or more gold medals by the year 2024. 

“One thing that I am very clear about (is) Fay-Ann understands the struggles that one has to undergo in trying to be the best that you can be and represent the country at the same time. Our athletes, especially those at the elite and Olympic level, have struggled. They were struggling before it was US$33 a barrel for oil, because most people in the society pay lip service to supporting them. Demands placed on our athletes whether they are amateur or professional are enormous. 

“Further, representing a small-island state, like T&T, there is a greater burden of expectation. The cost of failure for them is enormous and that is not equated by the support that they receive,” he said.

Oil and gas giants, BP T&T has announced that it will be making major cost adjustments as a result of the current economic climate, but has stopped short of stating that it will be dimissing staff.

BPTT issued a statement today making the announcement. 

The following is the statement by BPTT:

"In line with the BP Group’s focus on improving efficiency and reducing costs, BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) announced plans to seek further cost efficiencies in our business in 2016. This plan will include a review of 3rd party costs, activity prioritisation, process simplification and organisational structure. As plans are still being reviewed the specific numbers have not yet been finalized. Throughout this exercise our first priority will remain the safety of our people and our operations."

As well, BHP Billiton has confirmed that it is sending home staff. The company issued a statement this afternoon confirming the cuts.

The following is the statement from BHP Billiton.

"Today’s petroleum industry is facing extremely challenging market conditions, even by historical standards.

CNC

BHP Billiton is examining our current and future business needs to optimize both staffing and costs and make appropriate adjustments in its global Petroleum business. We remain committed to our ongoing operations while maintaining a platform for future growth opportunities.

We will achieve this goal through our productivity program which is already yielding significant savings, and organizational adjustments to meet the needs of our business. As a result, we will have a smaller, more focused organization and this has resulted in some employee reductions.

The result of this work is that within the Trinidad and Tobago operation, as in company locations globally, some positions will be impacted. Within our operations in Trinidad and Tobago, contrary to rumours, up to's business  half a dozen positions will be eliminated – only two are offshore jobs. BHP Billiton will continue the process of reviewing its business to ensure optimal efficiency.

The company remains committed to safe and efficient operations."
 

Sixth Form student Jerlon Anderson, who spent most of her Tuesday night at her home studying and writing notes in preparation for her Cape examinations left home for school yesterday as usual only to receive tragic news that her house was on fire.

However, by the time Jerlon got there at Fort George Road, St James, her home was completely destroyed by the fire, along with her study notes, textbooks and uniforms.

Standing in tears, she watched fire officers from the Wrightson Road Fire Station battle with the blaze, as another relative, a mother of two who was at home when the fire broke out, was inconsolable. The incident occurred at about 11.30 am.

In an interview, head of the household Brian Anderson, 48, said nine of them including three children — Matthew Anderson, two, and his three-year-old brother Anthony and their seven-year-old cousin — are now homeless. The seven-year-old is a pupil of Mucurapo Boys’ Primary School while Matthew and his younger brother attend a nursery.

“I have to try now to get somewhere to stay the night as we have nowhere to go. Imagine the children are at school and would be thinking they are coming home when they are picked up, when this time they have no home to come to,” said a distraught Anderson.
Anderson said the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.

“We really don’t know what happened and what caused the fire. I was told by my relative that she smelt smoke. “She said she looked out of the window and saw smoke coming out from under the house. By the time she went outside to have a closer look she saw the fire under the house. 

“She tried to run back in to try to save clothes but could not make it in time as within seconds the entire house was on fire. Had she gone in there she may not have made it out alive.

“All our electrical wires are on our ceiling and the fire did not start from there so how it started is a mystery to us but thank God for life though. It is very hard to start all over again having lost everything,” Anderson added. Jerlon, 18, a student at Sixth Form student, said she would be sitting her CAPE exams in May/June.

“I am expected to write biology, pure mathematics, French and communication studies and all my notes and my books and textbooks burn up. Everything gone,” Jerlon said as she wiped away her tears.

Anderson made a desperate plea to members of the public who could assist them, to contact them at 796-2360, 322-4449, 374-3868 or 715-5369.

Every Carnival season, calypso aficionados snap up the tickets for Vintage Fuh So! For one night only, Vintage Fuh So! brings back the best-loved calypsoes of yesteryear. Performers range from grandmasters of the art to young artistes who put their own flair on well-loved kaiso songs. 

This year’s Pan, Sweet Pan concludes a special Vintage trilogy and takes place on January 22 at Queen’s Hall from 8 pm. It features winning Panorama hits from 1966–1988, performed by popular singers and musicians. 

Trini, Heather Macintosh, KV Charles and Nigel Rojas will belt out hits like Sparrow’s Obeah Wedding and Doh Back Back; Kitchener’s The Bull, Pan in A Minor, Miss Harriman; David Rudder’s Hammer and Panama; Trini’s Curry Tabanca, Sailing; Shadow’s Bassman; Scrunter’s Woman on the Bass. The Steve Neaves Band ZuzengGeng provides strong backing.

A release from the organisers said the KaiSoca project, featuring Chantal Esdelle and a pan ensemble, kicks the show off on a high note with a Sparrow and Kitch medley. Entertainer Peter Kelly, known for his spicy picong and storytelling, is the show’s MC.

As usual, pre-show action includes a parade of ole-time Carnival characters like the fire-breathing blue devils and nimble moko jumbies.

Free corn soup and aloo pies are dished up from booths, and sponsors will serve an enticing variety of food and drink. 

Staged by the Holy Name Past Pupils’ Association, proceeds go towards its scholarship fund. 

Tickets are available from Queen’s Hall Box Office or email hncpastpupils@gmail.com to book your tickets.

This year patrons have the option of auditorium seating or liming in the open-air courtyard and enjoying the show on a very big screen.

MORE INFO

For further details, contact hncpastpupils@gmail.com.

A small middle class family of three to four people may spend between $3,000 to $4,000 or more a month on their food bill, depending on the age of their children, their eating preferences, their income, and where they source their food. While some families fear higher food costs when food items previously zero-rated face a 12.5 per cent Value Added Tax in February, others say families can find ways to economise or alter their food eating habits, and can also save money by sourcing local food or growing some of their own.

The Guardian asked four families (each of three or four people) about their food costs. They said they spent between $3,000 to $5,000 on food a month.

One San Fernando single mother of two teenagers said she spent $2,000 a month at the grocery, but also spent at the market for fresh chicken and vegetables, and at times bought fast food, so the actual funds spent on all food per month might be more than $3,000. She admitted her daughters had “developed foreign tastes” for some foods, like broccoli and sausages, which may soon be more expensive.

One retired family man from St Augustine estimated he currently spends about $4,000 a month on food and other necessities per month, for a family of three. But he emphasised: “The monthly food cost for an average small family would vary a lot—depending on the income of the family. The tastes and spending patterns of the lower and upper class people are very different. So that’s a hard question to answer for a ‘typical’ family.” 

Nyerere Haynes from Paramin who has two young children aged two and four years, estimates his family of four may spend anywhere between $3,000 to $4,000 on food and Pampers for the month—babies are often more expensive to care for than older children. At some times of the year, his market bill is much less, because he lives in Paramin, where friends and neighbours might often bring fresh provision, vegetables in season, or even fish to share. “When you live in an agricultural community, that can really offset your food bill,” he said.

“When you have young children, you must have milk,” said Haynes: “So for example my young four-year-old daughter, will drink three to four litres of milk a week; my son would have a large container of the KLIM growing formulae a week... And they both drink a case of juice a week...They get catered lunch in school, which I pay for and which I expect will soon cost more.”

Rice, sugar, flour, meats, and vegetables are among the essentials, says Haynes. “Actually most of the food is imported,” he reflects, except for the meats he buys. Although prices for some items will rise, Haynes says: “I am not really one to panic. I have always cooked my own meals and know how to make meals last to stretch a dollar. So for instance, I seldom buy lunches outside but always made my own.” He added he planned his meals for the week, recycled meals from Sunday or other large cooking, and mixed and matched to create different weekday meals.

Roberto Codallo, a photographer, estimates he spends about $3,000 a month in food for his family of four people. He says his family already doesn’t buy any “fancy foods,” just basic, regular staples—except for a few extras, such as Supligen milk for his daughter, who developed a taste for it and now will not drink any other milk. But apart from a few items like that, he says there’s not really much he could cut out or stop buying. He shops for food in grocery stores and big box warehouse stores like PriceSmart. So he’s cautious about the idea of rising food costs.

Dennis “Tayé” Allen, a designer who has two teenage sons, estimates he spends about $3,175 to feed his family of three per month. He estimates his food bill may increase by 10 to 20 per cent after this month. He anticipates that prices will also increase for fast food and packaged food, which he admits he does eat a lot: he says he’ll have to cut down on that. 

How does he see the possibility of increased food prices affecting him? 

“I can’t stop shopping for health. But what I am planning to do is start growing more of my own food. So—things like canned or processed peas, I’ll grow. I’m also planning to be raising some tilapia at home in tanks. I’m looking at doing fruit, vegetables and beans—pigeon peas, red beans, black eye peas—at home, all of these things that we usually eat.”

“Most of my food bill is foreign, because we buy a lotta stuff at PriceSmart, and although there seems to be much local food there, it’s in fact locally repackaged from food grown elsewhere—so you might see green peas, but it’s from Dominica,” observed Allen. 

“We’re not growing anything here for our own mass market consumption...except cabbage, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and pepper. And we need more than those things to survive. It’s possible to get real good quality food by growing it here. We have to stop thinking: ‘Oh, woe is me—we have to spend more money on food!’ We have to get smarter, and that is really the challenge,” said Allen.

“If I can help somebody, as I pass along …Then my living shall not be in vain”—A Bazel Androzzo

As 2016 commences I pause to reflect and sincerely express my deep felt thanks to the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA) for restoring relevance to my life and reviving my faith in humanity at a time when I desperately needed it.

Before accepting the ALTA invitation to give back through literacy education, I had known about this association for many years, but I always had some reason why I could not participate… until that day.

I remember it as if it were yesterday. As I was mentally pushing myself towards my workplace, I saw a notice on the door. I was about to remove the flyer to dump it, when I hesitated as I read, “The Adult Literacy Tutors Association is seeking volunteers to teach adults to read and write.”

I paused. This time I had absolutely no excuses. I quietly removed the flyer, retreated to my office and made the call. After being told that I was calling on the very last day for registration, I knew this was it. No more procrastinating. Time to engage in an extremely exciting and enriching adventure. 

After an intense and eye-opening training session, I embarked upon a fulfilling journey - a journey on which I met some really down-to-earth, loving, caring, intelligent and remarkable individuals who on recognising they needed help, shook off their fears and shame and boarded the Alta train.

This journey enlightened me to the factors that hinder literacy. Now wherever I go, I am on the lookout for the signs of low literacy and gently offer my help. Very early in the journey, I observed a significant phenomenon. A person’s self-esteem grows dramatically once the seeds of literacy education are planted. He or she becomes more confident and is no longer afraid to express ideas and feelings. It’s like watching a baby begin to walk.

Thanks to ALTA’s team-teaching philosophy and practice, I can boldly declare that adults from different walks of life can indeed work together as a team for the greater good. Thanks to ALTA, I was reminded and re-educated that the letters of the alphabet can be sounded out. I also learned that whenever I encounter a ‘big’ word which I cannot pronounce, I should not skip it over, but syllable divide the word and use phonics to decode it. Again thanks to ALTA, I was introduced to grammatical tips that were long forgotten or never learnt. So you see, in giving back, I was blessed! Finally, thank you Alta because through my weekly, two-day commitment I realised that there is more to life than our daily work. Working in your chosen career is good, but pausing to uplift another person is better! There is an inexplicable joy that an ALTA volunteer experiences when he/she witnesses the liberating power of literacy in the lives of men and women.

Grace Lawrence, 

ALTA Tutor

There I was macoing my own business, retreating from retreat in Grande Riviere. For two nights I’d lain listening to the erratic boombox of Atlantic breakers walloping the beach in front of my temporary boudoir. 

Blinking my way onto the gallery I resumed my vigil of the waves, ozone stirring coffee cravings. Baby Ben was still dreaming of his new-found friend for life, Stark the dog, who’d managed with four feet and one tail what no two footer has been able to accomplish—elicit his first word—Star. 

His sister was (thankfully) still sleeping off the after effects of guzzling down too much chocolate and hastily regurgitating it, mostly over yours truly. 

Amid such bliss a little sourness is bound to drop but when it did I felt as though I’d been tumbled under a rip tide, spinning uncontrollably, dragged out into the deep of no returns.

Cinnamon Girl looked up from her smart phone, in much the same way someone might have looked up from a broadsheet newspaper back in the daze (sic) pausing before imparting a snippet of salacious trivia. “Bowie’s dead,” she dropped it with no frills. “Iz wot?” I mumbled still more at sea than land. “Yup, the slim White Duke gone through—lung cancer.” 

My first reaction was to reach for a gorilla, as my dear old Dad might have put it—not a hairy one but a slim white Broadway. Then I double checked, because you can’t always believe the testimony of your ears and I really didn’t want the morning idyll to crash land so catastrophically. “You mean Ziggy Stardust, my boy Alladin inSane?” I translated the ensuing silence as affirmative and shook my head.

First Raf Robertson, then Jit Samaroo and now David Bowie; it’s starting to look like open season on musicians. 

Now I realise that the Man Who Fell to Earth while applying layers of face make up liberally sprinkled with stardust and playing hide and seek with his gender, may not be as big in T&T as Jit or Raf but for quite some while the boy born David Jones in Brixton sarf London, led the Rock world by its nose. 

Not a mean feat for someone who disliked performing and started out with the ambition of “writing for theatre.” Theatricality—if such a word exists—is probably what defined Bowie more than anything else and his chameleon changes of persona, his actor’s penchant for re-inventing himself, were more liberating for the post-hippy generation of the 1970s than Mao’s little red book or a sackful of Nepalese temple balls.

I don’t know if Bowie (self-rechristened after the Jim who invented the eponymous hunting knife which saw service in the Alamo) ever visited Trinidad. 

Other rock aristos like Mick Jagger have been glimpsed chipping the street fantastic or gracing the Members’ stand at the Queen’s Park Oval but if Ziggy Stardust had put in an appearance on a Carnival Tuesday, he might well have won an award for Best Individual Mas. In fact he could have played King of a band called the Tarantulas from Tompire. 

I can see it now, designed by Peter Minshall with Bowie singing on top a big truck. Maybe I can persuade my partner Yao to make a surrealistic retro tropico-gothic feature—The Return of Alladin Sane. 

Sic transit Gloria mundi…another one of those improbable heroes who defies and redefines norms has left us, but even in his passing he left a parting shot. 

His latest album Black Star is being hailed as a parting gift, and more specifically the video of the track Lazarus features him lying on a hospital bed: “Look at me I’m in heaven; I’ve got scars that can’t be seen…” The video for the title track begins with an image of a dead spaceman, prompting one grief-stricken critic to comment: “Even his death was a work of art.” 

Major Tom knew he was on his way; he’d been receiving treatment for lung cancer for the past 18 months and his 25th and final album Black Star was released on his January 8 birthday. 

Although he’d given up touring (because uncharacteristically for a rock n roller he got bored on the road) and kept himself out of the public eye, preferring the privacy of his Soho Village apartment in New York and the pleasures of family life (like dropping his daughter to school) the artist in him obviously wanted to make a final statement. 

He went down, or should that be up, singing. There are many of us who will join in his final chorus.

Kevin Baldeosingh

If you don’t know basic economics, you are not a truly educated person. This is so whether you have a Bachelor’s degree or even a PhD, since understanding economic fundamentals is so essential to understanding the modern world—which includes T&T.

Luckily, this understanding isn’t hard to obtain. There is a plethora of good books dealing with the basic principles of the so-called “dismal science”, ranging in length from a few hundred pages to less than 50, and these principles are readily comprehensible for anyone with a secondary school education. But I am reviewing a book that was first published 70 years ago because, save in matters of detail, Henry Hazlitt’s exposition has never been bettered. And, even if all his arguments were wrong, his clear prose is sheer pleasure in itself.

Yet Hazlitt (who died in 1993 at the age of 98) was not an economist—at least, not in terms of formal qualifications. He was a journalist who wrote on economics and business for the New York Times and Newsweek, but he had no PhD—indeed, no tertiary qualifications of any kind. Yet he was praised by luminaries in the field such as FA Hayek and Milton Friedman. And, even after 70 years, there are lessons in this book which policy-makers in T&T would do well to attend, and ordinary citizens more so in this recessionary time.

Hazlitt starts by noting that “Economics is haunted by more fallacies than any other study known to man.” He attributes this mainly to two factors: “the special pleading of selfish interests” and “the fallacy of overlooking secondary consequences.” 

So the fallacies are rooted in (1) seeing only the immediate effects of a given policy; (2) seeing its effects only on a special group; (3) not considering the long run-effects of that policy on all groups. “In this lies the whole difference between good economics and bad,” Hazlitt asserts. 

From this premise, there is a whole range of issues in this book which can readily be applied to T&T issues and entities. For example, Hazlitt writes: “If a particular union by coercion is able to enforce for its own members a wage substantially above the real market worth of their services, it will hurt all other workers as it hurts other members of the community.”

From this perspective, the Oilfield Workers Trade Union has been the greatest foe of the working class in T&T.

Or consider his take on the government creating employment: “The more inefficient the work—that is, the greater the volume of employment is requires in relation to the value of the product—the more highly thought of the investment is likely to be.” What better summary of the URP or Cepep could there be?

And, in respect to the latest scandal at the Housing Development Corporation, Hazlitt’s point is fundamental to all previous scandals: “All that happens is that money is taken away through taxes from families of higher income (and perhaps a little from families of even lower income) to force them to subsidise these selected families with low income and enable them to live in better housing for the same rent or lower rent than previously.”

Reading this book will help you know when politicians, policy-makers, and even professional economists are talking tata.

A 59-year-old man was shot dead at his Sangre Grande home last night. 

According to reports, around 10 pm Felix Ramsaroop was sitting under his home at Toco Road, Vega de Oropuche, when an gunman entered his property. 

After a short argument, the intruder drew a gun and shot Ramsaroop twice in his abdomen before running away. Ramsaroop managed to stumble to his car before he collapsed. He was pronounced 
dead on the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO). 

Acting Insp Ken Lutchman and PCs Gadar and Jennings from the Sangre Grande Police Station responded to the scene and launched an unsuccessful search for the gunman. 

Ramsaroop's body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy was due to be performed this morning. However, it had to be postponed to tomorrow as Ramsaroop's relatives failed to come to the centre to identify his body. 

Investigators are yet to establish a motive for the murder as they said that Ramsaroop was not known to police. His murder raised the murder toll for the year to 19. 

Cpl Thayne of the Region Two Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.

The T&T Fire Service has cancelled their annual Fire Fete.

An announcement from the organisers on their Facebook page Fire Fete 2016 - the Re-Ignition stated:

“Despite efforts to create a traditional option to carnival feting for thousands visiting T&T from abroad, by adjusting the date of the annual Fire Fete to February 3rd, the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services have been forced to cancel the event altogether.

Together with the organising committee charged with the responsibility of putting on the event, expressions of regret are being sent to loyal patrons and those who would have become enthused by the opportunity to attend Fire Fete on February 3rd. The decision by the TTFS to cancel the event has been made in light of failed efforts to attain necessary licenses to put on the fete.

“We truly regret the circumstances this year and we hope that Fire Fete will, in Carnival 2017 and beyond, be a strong option for real carnival fetters, when it comes to their fete choices,” said an organ
iser. He explained that the timeframe for acquiring licenses was simply too short following the change of date, this despite efforts to speed up the process.

Fire Fete will likely return in Carnival 2017 and in the interim, patrons of carnival, those at home in the Caribbean and visiting from international destinations, are wished a safe and enjoyable season.

Patrons, who have purchased tickets for Fire Fete 2016, are advised to return to the outlets where their tickets were purchased, to collect a full and immediate refund. The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service and the event’s organisers, apologizes for any inconvenience caused.”

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley may be required to attend court twice within a three month period as two defamation cases brought by former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan are set to go to trial in July and November. 

Attorneys representing the political foes on Wednesday agreed to defer one of the trials which was scheduled to take place over three days next week to between November 15 and 17. 

In that case, Ramlogan is alleging that Rowley made slanderous statements about him in a speech at the Port-of-Spain City Hall, on November 1, 2011.

 In the speech, related to the AG’s office hiring of attorneys in private practice for state briefs. 

Presiding Judge Andre Des Vignes also set a case management conference for July 4, when the attorneys will inform the court if they were able to reach a settlement, which would negate the need for the trial.

Trial dates of July 19 and 20 have already been set for another libel case, in which Ramlogan claims Rowley defamed him by accusing him of using his position to obtain records from the Financial Intelligence Unit. That case will be heard before Justice Joan Charles. 

Usually litigants are required to attended the trial of their lawsuits. However, Rowley may be allowed to be represented through his lawyers in the event that Ramlogan’s legal team choses to not cross-examine him in both trials. 

In the case before Des Vignes, Ramlogan is alleging that Rowley uttered certain defamatory words against him and sought to disparage him in his personal capacity and the Office of the Attorney General by alleging that he exploited his position and corruptly manipulated the expenditure of $200 million to unjustifiably pay a clique of lawyers for State briefs.

Ramlogan also is alleging Rowley’s comments meant that Ramlogan handpicked the lawyers because of his personal relationships with them and ignored the criteria of competence, merit and ability. Ramlogan said he also was accused of hiring lawyers from his former law firm to handle cases for the State so as to receive a reward or pecuniary benefit from them. He has denied any wrongdoing. 

Since being filed, Rowley has been ordered by Des Vignes to pay Ramlogan a total $42,000 in legal costs after his attorney failed to meet deadlines for filing of documents on two occasions, once in 2013 and again in February, last year. 

Ramlogan also has two other lawsuits, which is yet to go on trial, related to Rowley’s comments relating to the Emailgate allegations and over his (Ramlogan) handling of the extradition lawsuit of businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.

Ramlogan is being represented by Avory Sinanan, SC, Gerald Ramdeen and Richard Jagai. Douglas Mendes, SC, Michael Quamina and Kavir Singh are representing Rowley. 

Although Labour and Small Enterprise Development Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus says her Government will listen to the views and concerns of the Credit Union Co-operative Society on reviewing legislation put forward by the previous government, she says the sector will have to compromise to some extent.

Baptiste-Primus was speaking at the start of a two-day national stakeholder consultation on the local co-operative sector towards the development of a draft national policy on Co-operatives and a revised Co-operative Societies Act at the National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) in Couva on Wednesday.

The People’s partnership government had brought two pieces of legislation into Parliament in 2014 for debate but those pieces have since lapsed. 

Baptiste-Primus said if the pieces had not lapsed, she would have shelved them as soon as she assumed office in 2015.

“We as a government should not dictate to the credit union movement. 

“However, as a government we have a responsibility to ensure that the credit union sector operates by good governance principles and there are high levels of accountability,” said Baptiste-Primus. 

“So that I think at the end of the day, we will have to compromise on certain issues but I am very pleased with what I see here today.”

She commended those in the sector for bringing ‘data-based’ responses to the legislation brought by the previous administration.

“I commend them for not bringing an emotional response as I said in my address, but a data-driven response. They have brought consultants, who have done clinical analysis of those two pieces of legislation and how they would impact negatively on the credit union sector.”

Acknowledging the concerns of the sector, Baptiste-Primus said the credit union sector cannot be governed by two masters.

“One of the concerns they had is that it is a hydra-headed animal and the credit union sector cannot be governed by two masters and there is validity in such a concern. 

“At the end of it as the Government representative, we are here to listen to the needs of the sector, we are not here to dictate to the sector but receive what their needs are and then formulate legislation that would further enable their growth and development.”

Describing herself as an “old credit unionist,” Baptiste-Primus said she understood why the previous legislation could not be accepted by the sector.

“What was proposed was to treat the credit unions like a bank, the whole philosophy of the credit union is not that. 

“I am an old credit unionist, I was nurtured in the credit union and I understand it well.

“I have served at the level Public Service Credit Union, so that I understand the sector I understand the role it has played, how it has empowered people throughout the years and they are further roles that they could play.”

A 15-year-old boy was being questioned by the police this morning in connection with nine robberies in Arouca.

Police said the teenager from Maloney, and his accomplice, robbed their victims in Trincity.

 Information led officers of the Arouca CID and Northern Division Task Force to Boodoo Street where they intercepted a white Mazda Familia wagon.

There was an exchange of gunfire and one of the suspects fled.

Detectives said the suspect was known to the police.

Ten cell phones, jewelry and a quantity of cash were recovered from the vehicle.

Investigations are ongoing.