Local coaches are not surprised by the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) to sever ties with senior men’s national coach Stephen Hart. Coaches Ron La Forest and Angust Eve explained that all coaches operate in a results-oriented world, but they have also expressed concerns on who the next coach will be.

Hart’s dismissal, among other things, has left concerns over who the T&T Football Association will employ as his replacement and whether they are financially stable to do so. It is expected that his successor could also come from abroad as the Trinidad Guardian has learnt that the TTFA office has been bombarded by calls from coaches from Mexico, England and Germany among other countries enquiring about the top position.

Hart commanded a salary of US$20,000 monthly and is due to collect a handsome departing package of close to TT$3 million, but TTFA is likely to fork out much more if it decides to recruit an international coach, said coaches Ron La Forrest and Angus Eve yesterday.

According to La Forrest, he believes the TTFA has the financial capability to hire an international coach as they receive subventions from the FIFA. “But if the TTFA appoints a local coach, I hope they will surround him with a team of technically strong local coaches such as Everald ‘Gally’ Cummings, Angus Eve, Anton Corneal amd me, to provide much needed assistance” La Forrest said.

Hart was fired for a poor start to the Final Round of the World Cup Qualifiers in which the team was beaten in its opening two matches by Costa Rica 2-0 and Honduras 3-1 which has left them second from bottom on the standings.

La Forrest said while he feels sad for Hart, he believes the TTFA decision was influenced by the USA’s move to sack its coach German Jurgen Klinsman for poor results in their first two matches also and while his overall record is very good, the World Cup qualifiers are most important.

“It is sad, yes, but the job is result-oriented, meaning if you do not get the results necessary, then you will lose your job. That is just how it is,” La Forrest said.

He noted the team’s losing results was a consequence of Hart’s defensive style which prevented the Soca Warriors from capitalising on their home games. Hart’s persistent use of lanky striker Kenwyne Jones was particularly singled out as a major blunder. He pointed out that Hart failed to utilise a more attacking approach and implement a plan ‘B’, adding that while the team was not outclassed by its opponents, it lacked the firepower up front to get goals.

La Forrest, considered one of the country’s most effective strikers, also believes Hart gave his job away by not maintaining the discipline and respect which he commanded when he took over the team.

Meanwhile, Eve, a former national captain, said Hart was a victim of a predictable style of football that became easy for opposing teams to get results from. He pointed out that while the coach did an excellent job in stabilising our game over the years, his career path is one that demands results.

He said, “Hart was not the TTFA’s guy from the start, which has been added to the fact that he has not won a Caribbean Cup in a while, not reached the quarter-final round of the Concacaf Gold Cup and beyond, he has lost two matches in the final round of the World Cup Qualifiers and the USA’s coach was just fired” Eve said.

Since his inception as T&T coach, Hart has led the country to positive results in 28 out of 43 matches, which comprise a second place finish at the Caribbean Cup and the quarter final rounds of the Concacaf Gold Cup. He also did well to take the Soca Warriors to the current Final Round of the qualifiers.

It will be determined today who will run the National Association for Athletic Administrations (NAAA) for the next four years.

Incumbent president Ephraim Serrette and fourth Vice President Paul Voisin will face off this afternoon for the top post at the elections which is the highlight of the annual general meeting (AGM) in the San Fernando Room of the Radisson Hotel on Wrightson Road in Port-of-Spain from 2 pm.

Both former national athletes have worked together for a number of years, but they have different views on how to move the sport forward.

Serrette accomplished most recently, one of his major goals since taking over the association eight years ago, and that was getting constitutional reform.

He said, "During the past ten 10 years we have secured increased sponsorship for track and field events and have also overseen improvements in the running of the various meets organised by the Association.

We have also been able to convince the fraternity that the way forward for our Association is to become incorporated as a non profit organisation.

"This was achieved through constitutional reform and we are now restructuring as a company registered under the Companies Act of T&T. The idea here is to function as a company with a board of directors and persons with specific skill sets to manage the day to day operations of the Association."

Meanwhile, Voisin, a former middle and long distance national runner, feels though that his opponent lacked in his leadership role and targeted transparency and accountability as a key factor as to why there is a need for change in the sport of track and field.

If his team which include for first vice president, Brent Elder, for second vice president, Kelvin Sorillo, for treasurer Aaisha Martin; and for the director positions, Jimkins Clarke, Shayne Cooper, Ronnell Barclay and Sherwin Joseph, is elected into office he is firm in his belief that under the new leadership, the general council will be treated with respect.

"The general council of the NAAA will be provided with all relevant information inclusive of minutes of the executive committee meetings on a timely and regular basis as provided for in the constitution," said Voisin, the 1990 T&T Marathon champion.

"There will also be timely preparation and dissemination of monthly financial reports to the executive committee and quarterly statements to the council and full disclosure of all contracts and agreements signed by the NAAA."

Serrette refuted that his executives over his past two terms in charge, have not been doing their jobs and pointed out that the association has been recognised for its effective operations.

"Over the last five years under our stewardship, the NAAA has repeatedly received the award for 'Top Association for Administration' bestowed by the First Citizens Sports Foundation so we must be doing something right."

The incumbent president has surrounded himself with a familiar group of personnel that has worked alongside him for the past few years including George Commissiong, who is challenging the first vice president post, Allan Baboolal seeks the second vice president position and Dexter Voisin, brother of Serrette's challenger will go for the secretary spot.

Looking to fill the assistant secretary post is Andre Leung Woo Gabriel and for treasurer, Carlene Haynes. Up for the directors are Dawn Washington, Ian Carter, Robin Brereton, Durly Lucas and Lucretica Burns.

"It is our plan to continue mapping the road to sustainability. A central pillar of this process will be how

NAAATT engage with stakeholders, especially the communities in which we are represented. We strongly believe that a focus on investment and sustainable growth is fundamental to achieving greater equity in the development process of the sporting fraternity," said Serrette.

Voisin though is confident that his slate, which is challenging eight of the 11 positions, are up for the challenge.

"This new leadership is articulate, experienced, and dedicated; and stands ready to contribute to the sustainable development of track and field in T&T," said Voisin.

"We aim to make track and field, a pinnacle sport in T&T."

NAAA 2016 AGM Election Slates

Executive Officers President: Ephraim Serrette First Vice President: George Comissiong 2nd Vice President: Allan Baboolal

Secretary: Dexter Voisin

Assistant Secretary: Andre Leung Woo Gabriel Treasurer: Carlene Haynes

Directors

Dawn Washington

Ian Carter, Robin Brereton

Durly Lucas, Lucretica Burns

New leadership

Executive Officers

President: Paul Voisin First vice president: Brent Elder

Second vice president: Kelvin Sorillo

Treasurer: Aaisha Martin

Directors

Jimkins Clarke, Shayne Cooper

Ronnell Barclay, Sherwin Joseph

Goalkeeper Deshorn Bowen made three saves in the penalty-kicks shoot-out as Trinity College Moka created the biggest upset of the season with a 6-5 sudden-death penalty kicks win over last year’s winner St Anthony’s College in the Secondary Schools Football League North Zone Coca-Cola Inter-Col at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.

This after both teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of 90-minutes of regulation-time with the “Westmooring Tigers” of St Anthony’s needing a late goal to salvage a 1-1 draw in regulation-time.

The win for Trinity was their first zonal Inter-Col triumph since 1980 and comes on the heels of its 5-4 sudden-death kicks semifinal win over St Mary’s College in the semifinal round at the same venue ten days ago.

Trinity College also booked a spot in the National Inter-Col semifinal against East Zone champions, San Juan North Secondary at the same Mucurapo on Wednesday from 4.15pm.

Remaining SSFL Coca-Cola Inter-Col final matches:

National playoffs Venue:

Signal Hill Sec vs Carapichaima East Sec

Semifinals (November 30) Venue:

Trinity College Moka vs San Juan North Sec,

Friday, December 2

Stadium, Marabella, 3.30 pm

Presentation College (San F’do) vs Signal Hill/Carapichaima

winner, 3.30 pm

Final

Tuesday, December 6

DUBAI—Their bid to become one of the four automatic qualifiers had been left in tatters following a humbling 3-0 whitewash to India Women earlier this month, which left them fourth in the ICC Women’s Championship after their full complement of 21 games.

The top four in the Championship gain automatic qualification.

However, they were in danger of being overtaken by India Women who were fifth on 19 points with three games remaining, and needing to win just two of their remaining games to clinch the fourth automatic World Cup berth.

These remaining games were expected to be played against bitter political rivals Pakistan Women by October 31 but the games were never scheduled.

The International Cricket Council subsequently ruled this week that India Women had “forfeited each of the three matches it was due to play against Pakistan in Round 6 of the ICC Women’s Championship, and that the associated points should be awarded to Pakistan.”

“In accordance with the ICC Women’s Championship playing conditions, India shall be considered to have scored 0 runs in each of the 50 overs in each of the three matches and that its net run rate shall be adjusted accordingly,” the ICC said.

“The Technical Committee was sensitive to the current state of relations between the nations of India and Pakistan, but concluded that the BCCI (India Cricket Board) had not been able to establish ‘acceptable reasons’ for not participating in this series.”

Australia Women won the Women’s Championship with 36 points with England Women second on 29 and New Zealand Women third on 26.

West Indies Women clinched fourth place with 22 points, avoiding the tricky 10-team playoff in Sri Lanka next February which will determine the final four spots at the World Cup.

The showpiece bowls off from June 26 to July 23 next year. (CMC)

This advice started when I was growing up. My parents kept reminding me to avoid snap decisions and study the details before making a judgment.

When I heard the news of the dismissal of Stephen Hart, the coach of the Soca Warriors senior men’s team on Thursday night, despite the numerous bits of unofficial rumours coming from the mouths of insiders, the decision was not surprising.

Now that it has occurred, we must ask ourselves questions regarding the next productive move from the head office.

Today, our national team has no coach, which means that all training sessions are placed upon the players, who are all residing in various parts of the world and are immediately wondering if they are still in line for selection or not.

Since we lost to Honduras, it has been 10 days that we could have restarted some type of plans for the March encounter against Panama and Honduras.

I suppose the search for a replacement is on the front burner, a decision which should take serious discussion in order to find someone who knows the current players at home and abroad, their playing styles, their behavioural patterns and their commitment to represent the country, which are features that often appear to be apprehensive to the naked eye.

Do we have any qualified coaches residing in this country to satisfy the greed for success needed by the “Technical committee”.

Our desire to seek foreign employees has been used in the past, most times without utilizing due process which is requested by our immigration and labour departments and laws.

Of course, the rules were moved aside and Beenhakker, Otto Pfister and a few foreigners who crept in silently, probably started their duties without work permits. This was a practice used even for foreign coaches to be employed by local clubs.

In this regard, I must hope that applications from anyone local or foreign, be requested and interviewed before making what will then be the right choice, based upon their qualifications.

Hart strengthened his desire with his experience which he earned abroad and gave his best effort to build a team with the bricks, metal and a confused mindset of human service, that was spread around the world and brought to him days before kick off.

Forgive me for having little confidence in the selection of the coach based on their knowledge of the limited ingredients needed for choosing coaches.

My next question is, who will be chosen and for what length of time? Remember, Hart was fired for losing two consecutive matches against two of the strong teams in the hex.

What if the TTFA seek the expertise of the Jose Mourinho, Pep Guadiola, or some lesser mortal like Rene Simoes or and others and they lost the first two matches in March, what will be our next step, taking into consideration, the astronomical salary which they will ask?

This means the amount of three to four million dollars for six months work and we still have to find money to honour the commitment for the next six matches.

At this point, I will dream of another plan forward after knowing the person who will take our football towards “ a methodical and beneficial route to the future”.

Editor’s Note: Part 2 of this colums will be publish in tomorrow’s edition.

The proposal to construct a ferry port at Toco may seem like a very good idea at first. However, bearing in mind the tremendous cost in the construction of new roads to and from the proposed terminal, the distance one would have to travel to get to Port-of-Spain, which is the main area of our commercial and business community, and the sparsely populated area and other industrial complexes which are situated miles away from Toco, a much closer site should be considered before contracts are finalised.

The government wants to be very careful that this project does not end up as another white elephant. Also, the business sector of Port-of-Spain could suffer if the project proves successful, as the long-established prospering business people there could be the main losers.

It reminds me of an idea from one of our well-known politicians of building a tunnel through the hills of Maracas, which never came to fruition. It could, in the end, be just another dream or wishful thinking. All in all, it seems a rather strange admiration especially in a time of economic uncertainty.

G A Marques

Via email

AKUM LUM: LESLIE enteredinto eternal rest on the after-noon of November 21st, 2016.Son of Malcolm and BerylAkum Lum. Father of Dr. JinaiAkum Lum and ChristianAkum Lum (deceased).Grandfather of David, Zoeand Theo Akum Lum Santo. Father-in-law of Dr. Kirk-patrick Santo. Former hus-band of Theresa.

Brother-in-law of Stephen Afoon andGilbert Inkim, Jack Williams,Sonny Aming, Peter ChanTack, Eddie Serrao (all de-ceased). Brother of Laura Ser-rao, Leticia Aming, Lola Inkim(deceased), Linda Williams,Margaret Chan Tack, NestaWalcott (deceased). KennethLum (deceased), Kam Feng,Ruby, Carlton, Michael, Ter-rence and Mona.

Uncle of Je-sus, Maria, Judith, Richard(Aming), Peter (deceased),Martin, Karl, Christina (Ser-rao), Kirk (deceased)Williams, Charmaine, Louis,Marcia (Inkim), Mayleen, To-nia, Karyl, Simon, Reza (ChanTack). He was a sports fan,loved playing football hockeyand cricket. Nurturing petlover. Land surveyor of morethan 50 years. He had a verykind generous heart andsharp wit. He will be missed by all who loved him.

Funeral Mass for the late Leslie AkumLum takes place at 10:30 a.m.on Tuesday 29th November,2016. at St. Finbar's R.C.Church, Morne Coco Road,Diego Martin. Interment atWestern Cemetery, St.James. For enquiries call R.M. de Souza Memorial ChapelLimited at 223-2007/ 637-2009.
 

CLYNE, JESSIE (née Macfar-lane), aged 87 years, of 10Golda Meir Gardens, DiegoMartin died in Miami on Octo-ber 24th, 2016. Beloved wifeof John Clyne. Mother of Di-ana, Reggie and Robert.Mother-in-law of Ruth andGary. Grandmother of 4.Great-grandmother of 6.

Sister of Margaret De Souza; Douglas, John, Gerald, Indra, Theodore & Romano Macfar-lane; Miriam Noel; JeanShepherd; Maria Williams;and Irma De Lima, CynthiaSeegobin and DoloresThompson (deceased). God-mother of Theresa Thomp-son-Beard and Professor GaryGarcia. Aunt of the De Limas,De Souzas, Garcias, Macfar-lanes, Seegobins, Shepherdsand Thompsons. Relative ofthe Attales, Clynes, Leibas,Newallos, Rousseaus, Sosas,Stewarts.

A 40- day Memorial Mass will be held on SaturdayDecember 3rd, 2016 at St. An-thony's R.C. Church, MorneCoco Road, Petit Valley at9.00 A.M

CHIN ALEONG: MAURICE for-merly of Freeport Village Road, Freeport Departed this life on Wednesday 23rdNovember, 2016. He was the son of Phillipa and David (de-ceased) Chin Aleong. The loving Husband of Cindy (neeRampersadsingh). Father of Colin, Marcus & Marlon. Devoted Uncle of Mia, RossRamkissoon and others. Son-in-law of Pearly & Sonny (de-ceased) Rampersadsingh.

Brother-in-law of Sherry-Ann,Hanceraj (Doy) and others.Brother of Margo, Phyllis, Bernadette (Cleo), Atalanta, Glen, Wycliff, Baxter, Mervyn(deceased) and Kelvin (de-ceased). Special Friend of Lloyd Pujadas, Zijah Hasnain(deceased), George Gowrie(deceased),Chaitlal ,Gloria,Wayne, Adele, Sandra, Earl,Selwyn, Chong, Elmo, andothers. Relative of the Chin Aleong, Dookie, Camacho,Lopez, Rampersadsingh andGanness families.

The funeralservice for the late MauriceChin Aleong takes place at10.00am. On Monday 28th November ,2016 at Our LadyOf Mt. Carmel RomanCatholic Church, St Marys Junction, Carapichaima. Fol-low by a 2.00pm Cremation at Belgroves Crematorium, #10Orange Grove Road, Trincity Enquiries can be made at Bel-groves Funeral Home at 223-2178 Ext 542 or 672-2178, tooffer condolences to the family, please go to www.bel-groves.com

OLIVER: JUNE died on22/11/2016 at age 75. Wife ofGeorge Oliver. Mother ofBridgit, Tony & Susan. Sisterof Norma, Angela, Sybil, Moy,Fred & Errol. Grandmother ofFrancis, Meagan, Matthew,Crissy & Ray. Great-grand-mother of 3.

Funeral Serviceat 10:00 a.m. on Monday 28th November 2016, from Holy Rosary R.C. Church, Henry &Park Streets, P.O.S., thence tothe Lapeyrouse Cemetery. For further enquiries pleasecontact C&B 625-1170. Tosend condolences, please vis-it http://www.clarkandbattoo.com/.

ROGERS: PATTI of 17, Second Street, Malick, Barataria, diedon 21st November, 2016 at Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Shewas the mother of Toya-Mac McIntosh, daughter of LornaRogers-Corbie and step-daugh-ter of Gilbert Corbie (deceased), sister of Sharon (deceased), Denyse, Johann and Wandra.

Sister-in-Law of Wayne Penny, Lawrence Placide (deceased) and Nadia Corbie. Belovedgrandmother of J'Kobe Gordon,aunt of Jason, Damien, Em-manuel, Quaise and Zakie.Niece of Mona "Bunny" God-dard and Roger Rogers. Cousin of David, Hayden, Gerard andRichard Goddard. A friend tomany.

Funeral at 8 am on Mon-day 28th November, 2016 at St.Theresa's RC Church, 6th Av-enue, Malick, Barataria thenceto the Cinerary, Long CircularRoad, St. James for 11 am. Forenquiries please call C&B 625-1170. For enquiries: Call C&B:(868) 625-1170. To send condolences please visit our Web site:www.clarkandbattoo.com

MAHADEO SOOKDIAL aka Phantom former employee ofPetrotrin, passed away peacefullyon Saturday Nov. 26th, 2016.Husband of Seerattie (Chilo). Father of Vijay Sookdial. Father inlaw of Malini. Grandfather of Ash-ton, Mia and Aria. Brother of Cha-randaye. Brother in law ofGovindra Roopnarine, Krishna,Rohan, Jagdeo, Samdaye, Joam,Rautie, Kello, Betty and Bissoon-daye (deceased). Uncle of LallanRoopnarine, Johnny and others.

Funeral takes place on Tuesday November 29th, 2016 at 10:00am at the house of mourning 162, Sunset Drive Plaisance Park,Pointe-a-Pierre and then to theShore of Peace/Mosquito Creekfor cremation according to Hindu Rites. Enquires can be Made at Dass Funeral Home 652 3277.

WILLIAMS: RITA, of 52 C Seav-iew Hill, Carenage, died peace-fully, at the age 84, on Tuesday 22nd November, 2016. She wasthe mother of Pamela, Dave, Dickie, Dwight, Colleen & Patsy. Grandmother of Sherwin, Corey, Kerrie, Desi, Sherika, Destine,Peaches, Petal, Kedel, Junior, Jarvis, Malike & the O’Garra Fam-ily.

The funeral of the late Rita Williams, takes place, at 2:00p.m.,on Tuesday 29th November, 2016 from St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Constabulary Street,Carenage, thence t the Carenage Cemetery for the interment. Enquires could be made to L. Arm-strong’s Funeral Home Ltd. Tel#623-8582/ 625-0715.

As our personal and work worlds become more and more reliant on connected devices, the risks to businesses and government agencies have grown in line with the size of their computer networks. Successful or attempted cyber attacks have become common place and Juniper Networks—a business specialised in secure networks operational in T&T—has just announced a breakthrough in their routers.

Juniper says it is on a mission to tackle the increasing scale and sophistication of software defined threats. The company can do this with their physical and virtual firewalls, open threat intelligence platforms, network switches and MX routers. The company partnered with Ansa McAl Trading to provide these solutions in T&T.

“Juniper Networks MX Routers are present in the world’s largest service providers and it is proven that these service providers have been able to decrease Total Cost of Ownership on average of over 49 per cent,” said Onil J Ledo, regional sales manager, Juniper Networks Caribbean.

In addition to the routers, the Juniper vSRX has been unveiled as the industry’s first virtual firewall in a containerized form factor.

It is a cost effective advanced security service with the ability to scale up to high multi-tenancy.

With its rich security capabilities, low footprint and micro services architecture, the vSRX is not only expected to lower the cost to customers, but also makes deployment throughout the network easier than ever before but without compromising performance.

Both the Juniper vSRX and MX Routers products are anticipated to enable the network to better detect and combat threats.

These products will also increase network routing performance, intelligence and a high density of services.

Juniper’s enhancements to its virtualized security portfolio will allow the network to stop threats faster.

Cunupia FC inched closer to lifting the T&T Football Association National Super League Championship Division title after earning hard fought 3-2 win over Central 500 Spartans at Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, Chaguanas, on Saturday night.

With the win, Cunupia FC ended its campaign with 29 points from 15 matches, six ahead of the University of T&T and Spartans while Saddle Hill Hotspur has 22 points.

However, UTT is the only team which can deny Cunupia FC the title and promotion to the Premier Division as it has two matches remaining and can match its rivals points tally and improve its goal-difference as well while Spartans has one match and Hotspur two, but the latter can only reach 28 points.

On Saturday, Michael Yaw Darko opened the scoring for Cunupia in the clash of Central Football Association clubs in the 23rd minute, but nine minutes later, Donavon Derrick equalized for Spartans.

Four minutes before the half-time whistle, former national youth team stand-out, Gorean Highley regained the lead for Cunupia FC to lead 2-1 at the break, and nine minutes into the second-half, Stevon Stoute extended the advantage to 3-1.

Spartans managed to climb back to within one goal in the 68th minute courtesy a strike from Keith Williams, but Cunupia FC managed to hold on for the valuable three points, to put one hand on the title.

Cunupia’s path to the title was made easier last week when it elevated to the top of the table following the decision by Carenage United to withdraw from the competition.

In a release from the NSL Tournament Committee it was stated that: Carenage UInited had officially withdrawn from the competition and as such in fairness to the other participating clubs the NSL made the decision to nullify the results of all Carenage’s games played or not played in Round Two.

The NSL also awarded T&T Prison Service FCthree points and three goals for a match against Youth Stars which was not played last week.

Also on Saturday, Youth Stars got a pair of goals from Hakeem Legall to carry his league leading tally to 15 in a 4-2 defeat of Barrackpore United SC.

T&TFA NSL Results:

Youth Stars 4 (Hakeem Legall 40th, 77th, Keno Proctor 36th, Ackeel Sterling 90th ) vs Barrackpore United SC 2 (Mikheil Peters 57th, Renaldo Jack 90th)

Cunupia FC 3 (Michael Yaw Darko 23rd, Gorean Highley 41st, Stevon Stoute 54th) vs Central 500 Spartans 2 (Donavon Derrick 32nd, Keith Williams 68th)

Sunday November 20 Premier Division:

Petrotrin Palo Seco 2 (Angus John 79th, Tigana Sparks 90th) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 2 (Nigel Thomas 12th, Lejandro Williams 35th)

Guaya United 7 (Carlon Hughes 23rd, 25th, 47th, Shaquille Ferrier 22nd, Kevin Jagdeosingh 33rd, Kendes Garcia 49th, Jody Allsop 81st) vs Police FC 0

Club Sando Moruga 3 (Nigel John 11th, David Neptune 68th, Jesse Edwards 79th) vs Real Maracas 2 (Kheelon Mitchell 27th, Kevin Jeffery 90th)

Defence Force 4 (Ronald St Louis 23rd, Akil Morris 23rd, 40th, Keston Williams 44th) Bethel United 0 , Mt Gomery Rec. Grd, 6pm

FC Santa Rosa 3 (Durwin Ross 27th, Rashad Griffith 56th, Keron Clarke 67th) vs Siparia Spurs 0

WASA FC 2 (Dwight Crichlow 72nd, Glen Walker 90th) vs QPCC 0

Matura Re United 3 (Dorian Robinson 7th, Kitwana Abosi 19th, Brendon Figuera 82nd) vs Marabella Family CC 1 (Juma Clarence 60th)

With the win, Cunupia FC ended its campaign with 29 points from 15 matches, six ahead of the University of T&T and Spartans while Saddle Hill Hotspur has 22 points.

However, UTT is the only team which can deny Cunupia FC the title and promotion to the Premier Division as it has two matches remaining and can match its rivals points tally and improve its goal-difference as well while Spartans has one match and Hotspur two, but the latter can only reach 28 points.

On Saturday, Michael Yaw Darko opened the scoring for Cunupia in the clash of Central Football Association clubs in the 23rd minute, but nine minutes later, Donavon Derrick equalized for Spartans.

Four minutes before the half-time whistle, former national youth team stand-out, Gorean Highley regained the lead for Cunupia FC to lead 2-1 at the break, and nine minutes into the second-half, Stevon Stoute extended the advantage to 3-1.

Spartans managed to climb back to within one goal in the 68th minute courtesy a strike from Keith Williams, but Cunupia FC managed to hold on for the valuable three points, to put one hand on the title.

Cunupia’s path to the title was made easier last week when it elevated to the top of the table following the decision by Carenage United to withdraw from the competition.

In a release from the NSL Tournament Committee it was stated that: Carenage UInited had officially withdrawn from the competition and as such in fairness to the other participating clubs the NSL made the decision to nullify the results of all Carenage’s games played or not played in Round Two.

The NSL also awarded T&T Prison Service FCthree points and three goals for a match against Youth Stars which was not played last week.

Also on Saturday, Youth Stars got a pair of goals from Hakeem Legall to carry his league leading tally to 15 in a 4-2 defeat of Barrackpore United SC.

T&TFA NSL Results:

Youth Stars 4 (Hakeem Legall 40th, 77th, Keno Proctor 36th, Ackeel Sterling 90th ) vs Barrackpore United SC 2 (Mikheil Peters 57th, Renaldo Jack 90th)

Cunupia FC 3 (Michael Yaw Darko 23rd, Gorean Highley 41st, Stevon Stoute 54th) vs Central 500 Spartans 2 (Donavon Derrick 32nd, Keith Williams 68th)

Sunday November 20 Premier Division:

Petrotrin Palo Seco 2 (Angus John 79th, Tigana Sparks 90th) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 2 (Nigel Thomas 12th, Lejandro Williams 35th)

Guaya United 7 (Carlon Hughes 23rd, 25th, 47th, Shaquille Ferrier 22nd, Kevin Jagdeosingh 33rd, Kendes Garcia 49th, Jody Allsop 81st) vs Police FC 0

Club Sando Moruga 3 (Nigel John 11th, David Neptune 68th, Jesse Edwards 79th) vs Real Maracas 2 (Kheelon Mitchell 27th, Kevin Jeffery 90th)

Defence Force 4 (Ronald St Louis 23rd, Akil Morris 23rd, 40th, Keston Williams 44th) Bethel United 0 , Mt Gomery Rec. Grd, 6pm

FC Santa Rosa 3 (Durwin Ross 27th, Rashad Griffith 56th, Keron Clarke 67th) vs Siparia Spurs 0

WASA FC 2 (Dwight Crichlow 72nd, Glen Walker 90th) vs QPCC 0

Matura Re United 3 (Dorian Robinson 7th, Kitwana Abosi 19th, Brendon Figuera 82nd) vs Marabella Family CC 1 (Juma Clarence 60th)

This country's education system is in need of a properly operated preventive maintenance programme and it is time that the Ministry of Education, through its special purpose state enterprise, Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL), make that a major priority.

The issue of school repairs is often politicised but the truth is that successive governments have failed to properly address this problem.

The current wave of protests over dilapidated schools, with fingers being pointed and blame thrown in all directions, highlights the existence of major problems with school maintenance. However, practical, long-term solutions to this perennial problem seem to continually elude the decision-makers in the education sector.

It is hard to recall even a single school term in the past decade or two when there has not been closure of schools and disruption of classes because of major issues with buildings.

Creating and maintaining clean productive learning environments throughout the public education system is not a small or simple undertaking. The Ministry of Education is responsible for operating and maintaining approximately 481 primary schools and 133 secondary schools.

Some of these institutions are several decades old and now accommodate large student populations and facilities well beyond their original capacity.

Add to that the fact that all the aspirations of various political administrations to reform and modernise the education system have never adequately addressed physical infrastructure and the extent of the challenge is clear.

Problems regularly crop up with school buildings because of the absence of a reliable routine planned maintenance programme or a scheduled preventive maintenance plan.

T&T's education system is in dire need of a programme of continued repair work as assessment of conditions to achieve a significant reduction of overall costs, fewer disruptions of classes and more stable conditions for learning.

Preventive maintenance will make it easier to identify potential issues early, before they become expensive, time-consuming and hazardous to students and staff.

It is estimated that equipment life can be extended by 25 per cent and overall costs will be eight times less than is currently spent on unexpected emergency maintenance.

The benefits to students and teachers go well beyond more teaching time without disruption and displacement. School environments are healthier when they are kept clean and well maintained.

The unsanitary conditions seen in and around so many primary and secondary schools attract insects and vermin. Irritants and allergens found in dust and dirt can negatively affect student health and performance in schools.

Indoor air pollutants and allergens associated with poor cleaning practices contribute to increased respiratory and asthma symptoms among children and adults.

It goes without saying, therefore, that regular and thorough cleaning and building maintenance will prevent pest problems, minimize irritants and allergens and create healthier learning and working environments for children and staff

As well, there will be less equipment downtime, reduction in the number of major repairs, as well as better conservation of assets and increased life expectancy of assets, eliminating premature replacement of machinery and equipment.

Such a system should be part of the mandate of the EFCL which currently provides project management services for the School Construction Programme and District Education Offices of the Ministry of Education. School repairs and maintenance have been part of the agency's mandate since 2008 but it is clear that this is not being done as efficiently and effectively as it can be.

That much is obvious, given all the shortcomings with the current Vacation Repair Programme.

A restructuring of the EFCL and implementation of programmes that ensure all school buildings, regardless of their age or location, are kept in optimum condition, will eliminate many of the problems currently affecting the education sector.

Jamaican Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holmes has announced the installation of solar panels on the Office of the Prime Minister at Jamaica House. This is part of Jamaica’s promise to generate 30 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Holmes says “This project is symbolic of the renewable future we see for Jamaica and the Caribbean. Islands like Jamaica are becoming leaders for demonstrating the deployment of solar technology, and I aim to lead by example, by installing solar PV on the Office of the Prime Minister, Jamaica House.”

The installation costs Jamaica nothing. Funding is sourced through the not-for-profit Solar Heads of State organisation.

It would be good to see Dr Rowley do the same. Small Island Developing States are vulnerable to climate change. For the PM to install solar panels on his residence or office is an important symbol and T&T is in need of positive symbols. Symbols are reminders of who we are and who we want to be. The Prime Minister can reduce his personal carbon footprint and save taxpayers money. Sunlight is free.

Flipping the switch on solar-powered prime ministerial light bulbs will be a daily reminder that renewable energy is the future. T&T has a big task ahead if the PM intends to keep his promise of 10 per cent renewable energy by 2021.

Solar heads of state aim to offer every country a solar system for their executive residence. This will allow each country’s leader to experience renewable energy first-hand.

Hopefully this will result in renewable energy leadership that will inspire other leaders to follow suit by installing solar energy on their own executive residences and by adopting favourable renewable energy policies.

Jamaica follows in the footsteps of St Lucia, which agreed to have its Government House outfitted with solar panels last month. St Lucia has an ambitious plan to generate 35 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. The island is only responsible for 0.0015 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions but like other Caribbean islands its future is threatened by climate change and related sea level rise. By embracing renewable energy it can take a strong moral stance and show examples for other nations, like T&T, the world’s second highest per capita emitter, to follow.

The Caribbean needs strong climate action. Global warming is already at 1.2C above baseline, perilously close to the “1.5C to stay alive” that scientists tell us we should not breach.

Scary things are already happening to the climate. The North Pole receives no sunlight at this time of year. This should be its coldest season but temperatures there were a balmy 1.2C last week. Together with seawater too warm to freeze, the result is that the Arctic is missing a chunk of ice the size of Texas and Alaska combined. To put this in island terms, that is more than 1,100 times the size of T&T. At the same time, parts of Siberia experienced temperatures of -40C, too cold for life, forcing people to stay indoors.

The Governor of the State of Florida, who has no solar panels on his residence, is a climate change denier. This does not stop Miami Beach from flooding, caused by rising sea levels. A bizarre sighting was an octopus that took up residence in a flooded garage.

University of Miami associate biology professor Kathleen Sullivan Sealy says that Miami Beach residents should get used to seeing marine creatures making appearances as rising sea levels push ocean waters deeper onto land.

It can get a lot worse, much faster. Conservative predictions mention sea level rise up to three feet by the end of the century. The thing with climate science is that there are so many unknowns. Scientists are only now starting to study an enormous glacier, named Thwaites, in West Antarctica.

Thwaites is huge, the size of Pennsylvania. When it melts, it will raise sea levels by two feet. Thwaites acts as a lynchpin to keep the remainder of the West Antarctic ice sheet in place. This ice sheet is more than 2,400 meters thick. If Thwaites melts the entire West Antarctic ice sheet could slide in to the ocean and raise sea levels by up to 10 feet.

Until we learn more about Thwaites, which has already retreated more than eight miles, we cannot know what people will have to face within their lifetimes.

T&T prides itself on being the energy leader of the Caribbean. We now need our Prime Minister to be a climate leader and a leader of the new energy revolution.

Dear Dr Rowley, please place solar panels on your roof and lead from in front.

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has made a claim against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for unlawful dismissal from the team that was in Zimbabwe taking part in the tri-series.

Bravo was sent home by the on- tour management committee after he allegedly sent out an offensive Tweet against the president of the WICB, Dave Cameron, has sent a pre-action protocol letter to the WICB last week.

T&T Guardian understands that Bravo’s lawyer has made a claim that the WICB sent him home unlawfully from Zimbabwe and as such they have decided to take the matter to court. Bravo’s lawyer’s letter was received by the Board last week and it will meet on the way to treat with it.

The left-handed Bravo is alleged to have made the tweet in frustration after he was given a grade “C” retainer contract by the WICB for the next financial year. Bravo who is the team’s premier batsman was not in agreement with this and hence he did not accept the retainer.

The WICB explained the reason behind it saying that there was a formula which governed which grade of retainer the players get and hence Bravo only qualified for a “C” grade. Many former players and officials have remarked that the Board should also have taken into account the player’s value to the team as a senior batsman and not only a statistical formula.

In the tweet, Bravo was alleged to have referred to the WICB President as a “a big idiot.”

The player was later summoned by the tour committee which included manager Joel Garner and coaches Roddy Estwick and Henderson Springer. He was immediately sent home from the tour and further to that asked by cricket operations manager Richard Pybus to apologise and take down the Tweet.

No apology was forthcoming and the tweet remained. Since then Bravo has been meeting with his lawyer and his domestic club, Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

The time has come for yet another complaint re the illegal renovations of homes, turning them into businesses, along the north side of Long Circular Road and into the tiny side streets in Maraval.

These people do not have permission to do what they’re doing! I just don’t know where to start.

For over ten years the residents have been fighting, through the “proper” Government offices, ie Town and Country Planning, to put an end to this madness.

No one, no one with decision-making power is doing his job or considering the residents who have been very vocal about these issues for a long time.

Up to today, these new businesses are advertising for commercial tenants with no permission for this change of use.

Renters beware: ask to see the actual Permission of Use documentation; do not trust the owner’s word because we are fighting all illegal businesses in the area.

The Government has changed, promises were made, meetings with officials and a litany of letter-writing to Town and Country Planning.

Yet no one has the backbone to make the law-abiding decisions nor use their power to enforce the policies for residential areas which already exist!

And before you say “This is Trinidad, this is normal etc,” just think if a business, school or gym opened up directly across or right beside your lovely comfortable, quiet home right now, how would you like it? The noise at all hours, the liming, the lack of parking for your home... Just seriously think about it before you judge us, because this too can happen to you—unless we/you stop it now.

Where does it all end? Do we the residents have to file an injunction citing the minister and the Division for dereliction of duties?

This is not happening to just Maraval, this is happening all over our country. We the people have voted you into your positions, do your jobs, start showing your worth. And we wonder why people like Donald Trump become President?

People, stand up for your communities!

Deborah Crooks