The Ministry of Public Utilities has released for public comment a Draft Water Resources Management Policy for T&T. The draft policy is being prepared by a Cabinet-appointed committee.

The draft policy proposes a system of licensing for the abstraction of all water including rainwater. In other words, a licence will be required for rainwater harvesting, or as we say in local parlance, “ketching rain.”

The idea is that abstraction fees will be collected to cover the cost of operating an Integrated Water Resources management Programme. This proposal to license the collection and use of rainwater is a backward step in any attempt to properly manage our nation’s water resources.

There are several benefits to rainwater harvesting. These include:
• The only treatment required for human consumption is filtering. (No costly treatment by WASA required);
• Reduction in water loss through run-off, especially in built-up areas;
• Flood mitigation.

Why seek to license rainwater harvesting when other jurisdictions are moving in the opposite direction of repealing existing rainwater harvesting laws (USA) or making rainwater harvesting compulsory (India)?

There are other proposals in the draft policy that are cause for concern including the linking of abstraction fees to administrative costs, however, the proposal for one to get a licence to “ketch rain” requires immediate attention.

What do you think?

Kamau Akili,
Mason Hall, Tobago

Emerging from every debate comes some good. The recent highlighting of roti has prompted and motivated me to do some research. When I am offshore on a Thursday and told, “AV, Roti,” I reply, “Say it again. This is not a drill.’’

My grandmother, surname Francis, made excellent roti. Roti originated from the Indian subcontinent. It is made from flour.

Roti is enjoyed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

I have had good roti in New York, Texas and Washington. My mother-in-law makes the best roti for me. Roti basically is a bread wrapped around a filling and eaten as a sandwich. The filling can be curried meat.

There are different types of roti. For instance, sada roti, paratha roti, dhalpuri, aloopuri, dosti, pepper and piper roti.

Roti can be eaten with curries and stews. Vegetarian options are also available. Roti can be served with chicken, duck, goat, beef, conch and shrimp.

Rotis are time specific: my dad makes a pepper roti on the morning of a wedding; puris are eaten in Guyana when a child is born.

All this talk about roti has made me hungry. Man cannot live by bread alone so I will buy roti. I am going by a roti shop.

‘’What, no pork roti?’’

Now that is discrimination.

Roti is not racial.

Roti is universal.

AV Rampersad,
Princes Town

Calypso Rose is a figure of historic dimensions in calypso. A series of firsts follows her name as a woman in calypso with a more than 50-year career that shows no sign of stopping. In 2016, she has gone beyond the normal confines of the glob-al calypso spread—inside the Americas, North and South—by being the recipient of the Womex 2016 Award, and a gold recording artiste in France.

The catalyst for the renewal of her global popularity and her exciting commercial entrée into music markets in Europe is her new album Far From Home, re-leased regionally by Maturity Mu-sic (Jean Michel Gibert/Trinidad) and Stonetree Music (Ivan Duran/Belize) and internationally by Be-cause Music out of France/UK.

The music on Rose's album harkens back to the melodies of early calypso with covers of songs by Roaring Lion, Lady Iere and Lord Pretender, and new songs that reflect and integrate the zeitgeist of the fabled golden era of calypso of the early to mid-20th century with the aural milieu of a modern era.

Producer Ivan Duran recruits Drew Gonsalves, chief architect of Toronto-based proto-calypso band Kobo Town, to shape the songs and sound of this record. calypso with a more than 50-year career that shows no sign of stopping. In 2016, she has gone beyond the normal confines of the glob-al calypso spread—inside the Americas, North and South—by being the recipient of the Womex 2016 Award, and a gold recording artiste in France.

The catalyst for the renewal of her global popularity and her exciting commercial entrée into music markets in Europe is her new album Far From Home, re-leased regionally by Maturity Mu-sic (Jean Michel Gibert/Trinidad) and Stonetree Music (Ivan Duran/Belize) and internationally by Be-cause Music out of France/UK.

The music on Rose's album harkens back to the melodies of early calypso with covers of songs by Roaring Lion, Lady Iere and Lord Pretender, and new songs that reflect and integrate the zeitgeist of the fabled golden era of calypso of the early to mid-20th century with the aural milieu of a modern era.

Producer Ivan Duran recruits Drew Gonsalves, chief architect of Toronto-based proto-calypso band Kobo Town, to shape the songs and sound of this record.

Fixed beats in the tempo and rhyming couplets in the lyrics make for pleasant listening, singing along and dancing.

The melodies on songs like  Abatina, Calypso Queen and popular single Leave Me Alone spring from the simple re-minor (pronounced “ray minor," which is D minor) harmonies evident in the calypso style of the earliest recordings, and hang on Rose's septuagenarian voice, a mix of power and fragility.

These calypsoes fit the singer without attempting to create any radically different framework for the Calypso Queen of the World.

This review, by its nature, is from the perspective of the island native accustomed to and knowledgeable about calypso and Rose's place within the genre.

An objective analysis of this album, however, would consider the merits that serve the function of any commercial recording: to sell copies more than to display the art of calypso.

The labels'“aesthetic formula was directly shaped by the commercial imperatives of achieving airplay by developing a crossover sound,” to quote professor of popular music, Mike Alleyne. One can't fault that.

A lynchpin for the outward vision of the production and marketing of this new album is the presence of French-Spanish anti-establishment agit-rocker and music rebel, Manu Chao.

He is global pop's most important star, a Bob Marley-like figure, and he stamps his “third world troubadour” persona on these songs, which all have his name on as co-writer, additional producer or arranger, the perquisite of a modern music business.

Chao's name lends a kind of hoped-for certainty that this music finds a listener base in markets out-side the norm for calypso, namely Europe and Latin America. We hear on some of Rose's compositions—

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, I Am African and Wah Fuh Dance!—the urge to break free and jam in that old soca way, but this is not soca.

This is World Music: exotic and hedonistic to the foreign ear.  The spirits of Ed Watson and Art DeCoteau are hemmed in sonically and emotionally. Authenticity gives way to commodity.

World Music, that label that bundles the “other” music into a category for sales and unique marketing, is both a godsend for and a mockery of calypso. It is said that the “World Music” genre has allowed artistes to gain international record sales, tour income, boosts to their self-esteem and local economies and often their very culture, in organised commercial international markets.

The commercial streamlining of the music which sanitises its “emotional dynamics” to render it homogeneous and formulaic is also noted.

Both self-styled “tropical gangster” Kid Creole & the Coconuts (Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy) and neo-swing band Squirrel Nut Zippers (Hell) were imitating Cab Calloway and bringing early calypso melodies into pop music in the 1980s and 1990s, and were selling plenty records.

Far From Home brings the sonic aura of those acts into the 21st century.

This music is the revival of the cult of nostalgia, not solely of the style of the calypso music, but of the veteran artist making new waves in the global music industry almost as an anecdote to a storied career.

Ageing "Third World" music stars are resurrected late in their careers, are scrubbed, repackaged and discovered by a new audience.

In the 1990s, Cesaria Evora, The Jolly Boys, and Buena Vista Social Club enjoyed late career international acclaim and performance opportunities outside their home-lands. (Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, ironically, don't get bundled into this category.)

In 2016, Calypso Rose has an opportunity to join this illustrious company of global stars whose light has never diminished despite being unseen by the world for decades.

A secret no more, an adoring public awaits as she steps on the world stage far from home.

REPACKAGING CALYPSO

The image of Rose on the album cover is a cartoonised version of an original Richard Holder photo-graph obscuring the true image of the artist.

Vintage calypso records imagined calypso music as un-peopled where the singer was in the back-ground and the idea of hedonism, the hint of sexuality, the thrill of the exotic, and the caricature of the tropics were given prominence.

Sinewy dancers, puff-sleeved natives in straw hats and come-hither women graced album covers, in the main.

Miles Davis and James Brown have had their faces removed from album covers and replaced with white models to sell their product in the US.

Rose was removed from a cover of her 1968 album Queen of the World, not to be replaced by an inanimate object, but reimagined as a dougla siren.

We hear on some of Rose's compositions— Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, I Am African and Wah Fuh Dance!—the urge to break free and jam in that old soca way, but this is not soca.

This is World Music: exotic and hedonistic to the foreign ear.  The spirits of Ed Watson and Art DeCoteau are hemmed in sonically and emotionally. Authenticity gives way to commodity.

World Music, that label that bundles the “other” music into a category for sales and unique marketing, is both a godsend for and a mockery of calypso.

Selene Smart was at her best on Sunday afternoon, netting a hat-trick to send St Augustine Secondary into the national final of the Shell/First Citizen Secondary Schoolgirls Football League, sealing an impressive 7-0 victory over Bishop's Anstey, Port-of-Spain. This was at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.

The win cemented a spot in the final, which is carded for next Tuesday at a venue still to be announced.

Adanya Phillip started the onslaught with the opening goal in the 20th minute. She returned nine minutes later to complete her double and give her team a 2-0 lead.

Bishop's tried unsuccessfully to make a comeback and sunk to 0-3 after Anais Furguson put another in the net for St Augustine, just before the half-way mark.

On the resumption, it was then all about Smart as pushed her team further ahead with a goal in the 52nd. Sensing Smart's mobility to get through the Bishop's defence, she was set up again and completed in the 56th, to give the "Green Machine" a 5-0 lead.

Smart wasn't done yet and two minutes later connected her third item in the one-sided affair. That was before her team-mate Leah Dos Santos joined in the scoring and netted St Augustine's final item.

Three teams have the possibility of meeting the "Gustine" girls in the title match. The other semifinalist, defending champion Fyzabad Secondary, await the winner of the quarterfinal match between Signal Hill and Carapichaima East, which will do battle tomorrow at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, from 1.30 pm.

The semifinal is carded for Friday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella at 1.30 pm.

Sunday's Results

St Augustine 7 (Selene Smart 52nd, 56th, 58th, Adanya Phillip 20th, 29th, Anais Furguson 40th, Leah Dos Sontos 66th) vs Bishop's Anstey 0.

Tomorrow's Matches

National quarterfinal

Signal Hill vs Carapichima East, Dwight Yorke Stadium, 1.30 pm

Former national youth player Linsee Sherwood scored a pair of goals as Pele Pele crushed Serial Strikers 4-0 for its second straight win in the Southern Football Association Petrotrin Super League "Big Six" competition on Saturday.

Coming off a 3-1 win over Santa Flora United on Thursday, Pele Pele also got goals from Ackeem Andrew and Ronaldo La Borde to improve to maximum six points, two more than Pitchmen FC.

This after Pitchment FC, 3-2 winners over Erin FC on Thursday, was held to a 2-2 draw by Santa Flora.

Richard Joseph and Tequan Rodrigue were the players on target for Pitchment, while Chris Moore and Isaiah Taylor replied for Santa Flora.

In Saturday’s other match, Akel Sanhez netted twice in a 3-1 win over San Fernando Giants.

Al Sinclair got the other goal for Erin FC to cancel out Sean Leoungtat item for Giants.

On Thursday, Pitchment FC got a double from Dennis Burgess and one from Seon Shipley to hold off Erin FC 3-2. Dannel Henry and Akel Sanchez were the players on target for Erin FC.

Over at Santa Flora, visitors Pele Pele used items from Andrews, Kareem John and Akil Wilson to defeat Santa Flora United 3-1. Kyle Sylvester got the lone reply for the host.

And in the other match played at Latchoos Road, Serial Strikers and San Fernando Giants battled to a 2-2 draw.

Devon John and an own goal from Oseil Sylvester accounted for Strikers' tally, while Jeremy Primus and Jamal Du Barry were on target for Giants.

The third round of matches will take place on Tuesday from 7 pm while the other rounds of matches are carded for Thursday, December 1 and Saturday, December 3, at the end of which a champion will be crowned and with it the SFA's representative in the T&T Football Association "Champion of Champions" to determine the qualifiers for the National Super League.

Saturday's Results

Pele Pele 4 (Linsee Sherwood 2, Ackeem Andrew, Ronaldo La Borde) vs Serial Strikers 0

Pitchment FC 2 (Richard Joseph, Tequan Rodriguez) vs Santa Flora 2 (Chris Moore, Isaiah Taylor)

Erin FC 2 (Akel Sanchez, Al Sinclair) vs San Fernando Giants 1 (Sean Leoungtat)

Thursday

Serial Strikers 2 (Oseil Sylvester o.g, Devon John) vs San Fernando Giants 2 (Jeremy Primus, Jamal Du Barry)

Pitchment FC 3 (Dennis Burgess 2, Seon Shipley) vs Erin FC 2 (Dannel Henry, Akel Sanchez)

Pele Pele 3 (Akeem Andrews, Kareem John, Akil Wilson) vs Santa Flora Utd 1 (Kyle Sylvester)

Latest SFA Big Six standings Teams P W D L F A Pts

1. Pele Pele 2 2 0 0 7 1 6

2. Pitchment FC 2 1 1 0 5 4 4

3. Erin FC 2 1 0 1 5 4 3

4. San F’do Giants 2 0 1 1 3 5 1

5. Santa Flora 2 0 1 1 3 5 1

6. Serial Strikers 2 0 1 1 2 6 1

Today's Matches

San Fernando Giants vs Pele Pele, Latchoos Road, 7 pm

Pitchment FC vs Serial Strikers, La Brea, 7 pm

Erin FC vs Santa Flora United, Erin 7 pm

Defence Force and Ma Pau Stars will face off in the 2016 edition of the Digicel T&T Pro League First Citizens Cup final after contrasting semifinal wins at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Sunday.

For two-time winners, Defence Force, former T&T striker Devorn Jorsling was a one-man wrecking show as he netted his second hat-trick of the season to inspire Defence Force to a 3-0 defeat of Morvant Caledonia United

And in the other semifinal, former national Under-20 World Cup goalkeeper and former Defence Force recruit Glenroy Samuel continued his impressive performances between the upright by saving two penalty-kicks to help Ma Pau Stars past Police 3-2 on the shoot-out after an entertaining 3-3 deadlock.

For Defence Force, though, the semifinal stage seemed simpler with a herculean Jorsling performance against the Morvant hometown club he once represented.

The 32-year-old all-time leading Pro League goalscorer broke the deadlock with a superb free-kick that entered the top corner, beating goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, who was at full stretch on the stroke of half-time.

The burly Jorsling, who scored a beaver-trick in his team’s 4-2 quarterfinal win over St Ann’s Rangers a week ago, made it 2-0 less than a minute into the second- half by rolling a shot past Phillip after holding off defender Taje Commissiong inside the 18-yard area.

Jorsling, who was denied a third by Phillip just before the hour mark, completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after a handball was ruled against Morvant Caledonia defender Seon Thomas.

Moments later Morvant Caledonia’s vocal assistant coach Abdallah Phillips was ejected from his team’s technical area by referee Gyasi Mc Donald for protesting a crunching tackle on forward his player, Kordell Samuel by Justin Garcia in midfield.

But by then there was little coach Rajesh Latchoo could have done in his side’s schooling as the final result could have been worse for the 2011 and 2012 tournament champions.

In the first match which was an 11-goal thriller, Ma Pau Stars windfall was not an easy one as for the third straight match in the competition they needed Glenroy Samuel’s heroics in the penalty shoot-out to secure victory.

This followed penalty-kicks wins over San Juan Jabloteh and last season’s champions and seven-time winner, W Connection, in the playoff and quarterfinals stages, respectively.

In the penalty-kicks shoot-out, the 26-year-old Samuel went one better than current Soca Warriors’ third choice ‘keeper Adrian Foncette by denying Police kickers Christon Thomas and Elijah Belgrave on the second and final kicks, respectively, all after proving too big for Todd Ryan who struck the crossbar on the Lawmen’s first kick.

Hayden Tinto was denied by Foncette and Neil Gerard Mitchell struck over, with the third and fourth Ma Pau kicks, respectively, but Kerry Baptiste, Carlos Edwards and Keryn Navarro, in that order, were clinical from the spot for coach Ross Russell’s side.

Defenders Ryan O’Neil and goalscorer Jibri Mc David were solid from the spot for Police who had first taken the lead in open play.

Defence Force 3 (Devorn Jorsling 45th, 46th, 68th pen) vs Morvant Caledonia United 0

Police FC 3 (Jibri Mc David 34th, Elijah Belgrave 45th, 85th) vs Ma Pau Stars 3 (Nequan Caruth 37th o.g , Jason Scotland 52nd, 79th) – Ma Pau won 3-2 on penalty-kicks

St Ann’s Rangers vs Central FC, at Larry Gomes Stadium, 3.30 pm.

Nostalgie bears close inspection for the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over seven furlongs of Newcastle tapeta this afternoon; there is no reason why this progressive, Rae Guest-trained, Archipenko juvenile shouldn’t complete her career sequence of 432 with victory under Pat Cosgrave.

Nineteen days ago we napped Vanderbilt for a similar race on Chelmsford polytrack; he wasn’t able to cope with all-the-way winner, Volatile, and in the closing stages lost the runner-up spot when Nostalgie stormed through to be beaten less than two lengths, a length ahead of our strong fancy.

It was very much a ‘next time’ notebook entry!

Under no circumstances can Nostalgie be described a ‘good thing’ with likely favourites, Shenanigans and Harvest Moon sure to be ‘on the premises’ along with once-raced, strongly-fancied, La Guapita expected to improve, but the BHA handicapping system has allotted our choice a rating of 74.

That puts Nostalgie into a ‘useful’ category and according to my time-handicap definitely one to follow if indeed she goes one better and gets ‘job done!’

Cosgrave also partners strongly-fancied, 77-rated Rapid Rise for the following Maiden Stakes over six furlongs but this Fast Company colt is somewhat over-rated and indeed an absence of 178 days is disconcerting, despite three prominent placings in all races to date.

Preference is for Six Strings and Dealer’s Choice, better than David Brown’s charge on our TH!

Apparently Six Strings was reckoned in ‘our first division’ by trainer Richard Fahey back in March and following a promising debut contested the valuable Newbury ‘’Sales’ races race won by Mrs Danvers.

Ninth of 23 reads well given the quality and the fast time achieved by the winner, which is still unbeaten; Six Strings hasn’t raced since, 136 days ago, but we’re assured he’s in ‘top form’ and looks an each-way ‘special’ to be played from Nostalgie.

L’Inganno Felice made significant improvement when runner-up over course and distance earlier this month and is a logical choiuce for division one of the ‘aged’ handicap over ten furlongs; not one to oppose without good reason!

If you enjoy the stirring, high-energy music and cheerful dance moves of bhangra, then you can look forward to The Asian Punjabi Folk Dance Club who are now in Trinidad on a visit. They will be performing this Wednesday in Debe, this Thursday in Sangre Grande, this Friday at UWI in St Augustine, and this Saturday at the Divali Nagar site.

Led by the fit, enthusiastic dance teacher and choreographer Shri Ashwani Kumar Sharma, the Asian Punjabi Folk Dance Club does several kinds of dance, including folk, bhangra, jhumar, jindua, giddha, malwai giddha, and the Indian harvest dance called “Kirti Di Kuli”.

The 12-member troupe participates in cultural and social festivals in India as well as internationally, and their visit here is sponsored by the Government of India. The T&T concerts are a collaboration between the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-Operation (which is the cultural arm of the Indian High Commission) and the T&T Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts.

A release from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute explains that bhangra, originating from the Punjab in northern India, dates back many centuries. Villagers always danced and sang as part of their way of life in this area which historically was a strong farming area. It has been said that bhangra and its music originated from the farmers who sang while tending their fields, sowing the seeds and cutting the crops at harvest time to take to the markets.

After 1947, millions of people were relocated between the new nations of India. The Sikh and Hindu people moved to Punjab,  where the free form of traditional bhangra developed in the 1950s. Free form traditional bhangra developed during stage performances which incorporated traditional bhangra moves and also included sequences from other Punjabi dances.

The Maharaja of Patiala requested a staged performance of bhangra in 1953. The first significant developers of this style were a dance troupe led by brothers from the Deepak family of Sunam (Manohar, Avtar and Gurbachan) and the dhol player Bhana Ram Sunami. 

Traditional bhangra was performed on the national stage for the first time in 1954 on India’s Republic Day celebrations. Bhangra grew in popularity during the 1950s and attained a standardized form by the 1970s. Thereafter, traditional bhangra was exported to other countries by Punjabi emigrants.

By the 1990s, modern bhangra was being staged in the Punjabi diaspora, often characterized by a fusion with Western dance styles and the use of pre-recorded audio mixes. Since the 1990s, universities and other organizations have held annual modern bhangra dance competitions in many places, including the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. At these competitions, young Punjabis, other South Asians, and people with no South Asian background at all, compete for money and trophies.

When Maia Labastide entered Bishop Anstey High School (BAHS) in Form 1 over five years ago, her new classmates had never heard about Holistic Primary School. As time went by, they questioned not only the location of the school but the Holistic curriculum. When her peers queried the source of her knowledge, Maia responded with one word, “Holistic!”

At present, Maia is a lower Sixth Form student at BAHS studying English Literature, Sociology, Visual Art and Communication Studies. She sings in the internationally acclaimed BAHS Choir and still maintains her relationship with Holistic as electric bass player in the award winning Holistic Music School Band. She is a Holistic student who knows her strengths.

Maia and other Holistic students continue to benefit from the power of Holistic education from 2002 to present. Holistic Music School, Preschool and Primary School, headed by Dr Pat Dardaine, continue to offer a variety of programmes for families who are seeking an alternative education for their children. Parents are particularly interested in the small student to staff ratios.

The power of Holistic education to date has included over 90 per cent SEA placement in seven-year schools, top 200 SEA students, multiple awards in music, swimming, Triathlon and Visual Art in addition to several national open and additional scholarship winners from the Holistic Music School Band. More importantly, Holistic develops growth and skills that will last a lifetime.

The pre-school curriculum follows a combination of the Early Years Foundation Stage UK programme supported by Numicon Mathematics and Read, Write Inc. The primary school curriculum includes Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Visual & Performing Arts (Instrumental & Vocal Music, Drama, Dance), Physical Education, Values, Character & Citizenship Education, Agricultural Science and Spanish—Ministry of Education, Primary Curriculum Revision 2014. Additional optional co-curricular areas include swimming, yoga, cricket, football, chess, craft, Carnival arts, choir and instrumental ensembles —string, brass, steelpan, African and snare drums.

A major component of Holistic education is a nutritious vegan lunch and fruit or whole grain snacks, sustaining healthy bodies and healthy minds. From 2005 to 2016, meals were prepared by the Holistic kitchen staff under the guidance of Chef Valarey Boulan. During this current academic year Boulan is establishing a food and nutrition programme at Holistic. Vegan lunches are now catered daily by L’agniappe Bakery and Café.

The Holistic After-school Music Programme includes instruction on piano, recorder, guitar, drums, steelpan, violin, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and voice. Theme-based vacation workshops—Atelier—are also offered in July and December. This Christmas vacation, students will continue to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM).

In September, 18 Holistic primary school students entered secondary school. Like 2011 graduate Maia Labastide they are 18 holistic individuals who continue to develop the power of Holistic education within.

Parents interested in learning more about Holistic education and attending the Holistic Open House next month can call 621-1659 or 621-0428.

It’s that time of the year when most of the music you hear is the music of Christmas, with our own parang and parang soca leading the way on the airwaves and at all seasonal events.

Maintaining its tradition of showcasing the music of the season is De Nu Pub, formerly The Mas Camp. Last Thursday, the popular Woodbrook showplace featured Alicia Jaggassar & Los Alumnos de San Juan and cuatrista Robert Munro as the star acts on its Parang Parang Parang series. The series continues next Wednesday at 8.30 pm and its headline acts will be Baron, Crazy, Kenny J, Myron B and Ninja.

Not to be left out, PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Steel Orchestra is hosting its 26th annual edition of Parang & Steel at its panyard, located at 56 Tragarete Road, Newtown. The 2016 edition premieres on December 3 and will feature Voces Jovenes, Kenny J, Debbie Nahous, DJ Kern Crosby and the host band.

Parang & Steel continues on December 10 and will feature La Divina Pastora and Ancil Valley. The star acts for the December 17 finale are Fuego Caribeno and Rikki Jai.

With the National Parang Association of T&T (Npatt) paying special attention to the nation’s youth by successfully staging its junior parang festival, the young ones are grasping at the opportunity to shine. The association highlighted the essence of parang music last weekend when schools from across the nation participated in the festival, held over two days, at the Bishop Anstey Trinity College East facility in Trincity.

In the wake of a magnificent production staged by Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra last Saturday at Queen’s Hall, next Sunday is The Lydians’ turn to shine when this renowned outfit performs at Lydians on the Mount in A Season of Hope, at The Abbey, Mount St Benedict, St Augustine, at 6 pm.

On December 4, Lions Club of Diego Martin West will host its annual fund-raising Sunday Brunch at Lions Civic Centre, Port-of-Spain, from 11 am. Also on that day, Paragon Sports & Cultural Club will hold its Parang & Soca Luncheon at its club house, located next to Massy Stores, West Mall, WMR, Cocorite. Los Cantantes Festivos, Kenny J and DJ Cardo are the main attractions.

In April, I began testing Huawei’s P9, a revolutionary revision of photography wrapped in a smartphone device. Two weeks ago, the device was finally launched in T&T with immediate availability from bMobile.

Two contenders for the attention of photographers now compete with the device, Samsung’s S7, which sports a fast f1.7 lens and the iPhone 7+, which follows Huawei’s lead with a pair of rear facing lenses for photography.

Why two cameras? To explain that, I’ll need to introduce two terms you may not have heard before, even if you’re serious about photography: plenoptic cameras and lightfield imaging.

Over the last five years, a quiet revolution has been brewing in the field of photography, or more accurately, computational photography, which is now trickling down to smartphone users.

The first company to field a consumer device was Lytro which offered a small rectangular device that looked like an optical finder, not a full camera. This was the world’s first commercially available plenoptic camera, but it came with challenges for even the most ardent tech buff and ultimately did not do well in the market.

Traditional cameras have operated on a straightforward principle of physics ever since artists began cheating on drawing from life with the camera obscura. A lens focuses light onto a small square, which is then translated into a captured image. Once that was done with light sensitive emulsions; now it’s accomplished with electronic sensors.

The way that worked was fairly easy to understand, even without a degree in physics, but now that light is being immediately translated into data, all of the scientific voodoo that powers light-gathering technology like star telescopes becomes possible, particularly when your capture device is also a handheld computer.

Most popular computational photography techniques are applied after the processing of data captured by a camera’s sensor. The beauty mode and the HDR function are all possible because your smartphone is a powerful computing device which can do nifty things immediately with the light information that it captures.

What is a plenoptic camera?

A plenoptic camera, also known as a lightfield camera, captures information differently, gathering light both in front of and behind the subject you’re photographing using a multiple microlens system.

That multiplicity of views builds a rich view of the intended photo that’s closer to the way your eye works than any traditional camera.

Huawei’s P9 uses two matched lenses to build that view and uses it to create depth of field effects that are the result of processed data, not optics.

The iPhone 7+ can do something similar, but principally uses its two lenses, one longer than the other, to create a computed zoom effect.

For most folks buying a smartphone, it probably won’t make much difference which of these market leading phones you choose to take some photos with, but if you’re a photographer, the P9 is an utterly fascinating device.

Huawei is committed to the dual lens concept, and has built it into its new Mate 9 as well, but hasn’t done much with the idea since it was introduced.

Photographers will find that the dual sensors don’t give more leeway in low-light exposures, and that’s largely a limitation of the tiny sensors that are used in smartphones. Anything above ISO 800 isn’t going to be terribly pleasing, though ISO 400 is quite workable.

The lightfield powered aperture control (the lenses are fixed optically at f2.2) gives variable results and you’ll need to work with the device for a bit to figure out where it offers best results, but it can make for killer photographs when the subject and technology align.

The key selling points of the P9 for a photographer looking for more control over their imagemaking on a smartphone are these.

Excellent software. Huawei’s development partner Leica put their stamp on the controller software for the dual lens system and accessing manual mode is just a slide of a virtual tab, which reveals all the controls available (ISO, shutterspeed, exposure value, focus matrix, autofocus mode and white balance).

It’s a very photographer focused layout of available options and while it’s different from the traditional Android camera control layout, it sets a new standard for accessibility of pro functions.

Black and white mode. All digital cameras capture luminance data, which is to say they capture

a grayscale image along with information about the red and green colours in the scene, then calculate a colour photo out of the combined data stream.

What happens when the sensor is designed to only capture luminance data? All of the considerable horsepower of each photosite captures the precise position on a grayscale of 256 discrete tones.

The result is so amazing that for hardcore black and white digital photographers, there are a few insanely expensive cameras which only capture that information.

One of the two sensors in the P9 is dedicated to capturing only grayscale information and the quality is breathtaking.

High-end grayscale digital cameras capture 65,536 shades of gray in high-bit mode, but the P9 knocks that down in-camera to an 8-bit image. While I’d love to access the RAW data dump from that grayscale sensor, I have to admit that captures in monochrome mode have the smooth, silky tones of Tri-X pull-processed to ISO 200 and slow developed.

That’s definitely a pro photographer reference, but anyone who has seen a rich toned print from a negative processed that way will absolutely understand what I mean.

There is simply no comparison with a colour image pulled down to grayscale.

It’s the future, now. Huawei has been quietly adding features and building on existing ones to the camera app since the P9 was introduced in April, but the hardware can offer more when programmers begin to explore its potential.

The P9 doesn’t mark the end of traditional photography approaches, but it is the beginning of something new in image creation that’s been a part of photography’s development since the first crude plenoptic device was put together in 1908.

In 2004, a Stanford University experiment put a 90,000 microlens array into a 16MP camera to produce a 90 kilopixel image that could be refocused after capture.

Of course you can take happy party snaps with a P9, but in this snazzy little metal box are the seeds of photography’s future.

Related Links

Huawei launches P9 - http://ow.ly/tRte306ymbb

Huawei's Deng introduces P9 - http://ow.ly/cc98306ymjh

iPhone hits and misses - http://ow.ly/NMm4306ylYU

Huawei P9: First Look - http://ow.ly/6Qq8306ym7v

Huawei launches new Mate 9 - http://ow.ly/Zt4z306ym4x

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Anya Akili of Bishops' High School Tobago showed her all-round ability after she finished second in this year's CXC's examinations in the Physical Education and Sport discipline.

Akili obtained a grade one with A's in Paper One and Two to finish joint second with Jamie Colquhoun of Spot Valley High of Jamaica. Sidney John of Portmouth Secondary of Dominica was the top performer. Akili was the lone T&T student to finish in the top 10 in the subject.

The Mason Hall resident was successful in all eight subjects at this year's CXC exams. She obtained grade ones in Physical Education and Sport, Biology, English Language, Mathematics, English Literature, Spanish and a Grade Two in Geography and Grade Three in Chemistry and is currently a sixth form student pursuing studies in Biology, Chemistry and Physical Education.

Akili was the top female athlete (Victrix Ludorium) at this year's T&T Secondary Schools' Track and Field Association (TTSSTFA) Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships in April. She won gold in the girls Under-18 100 metres hurdles, 400m hurdles, high jump and long jump. At last year's championships she won three gold medals.

The 17 year old also captured bronze in the girls' open heptathlon at the Carifta Games in Grenada in March. In addition, she won gold in the Girls U-18 heptathlon at the Pan American Combined Cup in Toronto, Canada in June in national junior record score. A days before leaving for Canada she secured four gold medals at the National Junior Championships.

"It is challenging but you have to know your priorities. Some days you focus on your school work more and other days track and field. You have to know when to stop and when to rest," said Akili on how she has been able to balance academics and track and field.

"I cut back on my training, not a lot to impact but I know that exams are really important. Even with a good track and field career I would still need my subjects."

Despite focussing on preparing for exams Akili is rating this year as her most successful year in the sport.

"This is my best year. I won a Carifta medal (competing at her third Carifta Games). I was able compete in the Pan American Combined Cup, won gold and set a new national U-18 heptathlon record."

She credits her background in sports and the support of her parents Nalini and Kamau, sister Aliyah, friends and coach Arlon Morrison for her success.

"Because of the backbone (of support), it makes everything easier," said the young star, who also participated in netball, cricket, football, basketball and ball-room dancing.

Looking ahead to next year, she is seeking to establish new records in the girls U-20 100m hurdles and heptathlon events.

Akili's younger sister Aliyah plays football for Bishops' High. Akili, who first represented T&T at the 2013 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Age-Group Championships in Curacao, helps her sister with balancing sports and studies.

They’d reached the two-game final of the Copa Sudamericana, the continent’s No 2 club tournament; as near the top the world’s soccer pyramid as most of the itinerate players—and its coach—were likely to reach.

The dream ended late Monday night when a charter flight carrying the club sliced into a Colombian hillside, killing 75 and scattering six survivors among the snarled remains of wings and fuselage.

The flight was bound for Medellin, Colombia, and a first-leg match against Colombia’s Atletico Nacional, which was to be followed a week later by the second and decisive game in Brazil— the biggest the southern city of Chapeco and its 200,000 residents would ever see.

“This morning I said goodbye to them and they told me they were going after the dream, turning that dream into reality,” Chapecoense board member Plino de Nes told TV Globo.

“The dream was over early this morning.”

The team from an out-of-the-way industrial city near the Argentina border was in the middle of a fantastic season.

The club—which was playing in the fourth division in 2009—won promotion to Brazil’s top league in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s.

Last week, it advanced to the Copa Sudamericana finals—the equivalent of the UEFA Europa League tournament—after defeating two of Argentina’s fiercest squads, San Lorenzo and Independiente, as well as Colombian club Junior.

On Sunday, Chapecoense nearly defeated famed Sao Paulo club Palmeiras, which won 1-0 in a nationally-televised match to claim its first Brazilian league title in decades.

Chapecoense had won admirers for its stout play against Palmeiras, and everything was set for the showdown in Colombia.

“This is a very, very sad day for football,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

“At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. FIFA would like to extend its most heartfelt condolences to the fans of Chapecoense, the football community and media organisations concerned in Brazil.”

Two goalkeepers, Danilo and Jackson Follmann, as well as a journalist traveling with the team and a Bolivian flight attendant, were found alive in the wreckage.

But Danilo was later reported as dead, and authorities said another defender, Helio Zampier—who goes by Neto—had survived amid the confusion of sometimes conflicting early reports.

Few of the players on the surging team had an international profile—no appearances with Brazil’s glitzy national team, nor time with top European clubs.

Most had played all over Brazil and Latin America.

A few like Cleber Santana had reached Europe, playing with Atletico Madrid from 2007-10.

Chape strikers Bruno Rangel and Kempes, both 34 years old, were among the top scorers in the Brazilian league, with ten and nine goals, respectively.

Part of the team’s recent rise was due to coach Caio Junior, who joined the club this year after coaching in the Middle East.

Born Luiz Carlos Saroli, he coached numerous Brazilian teams, including Palmeiras, Flamengo and Botafogo.

Though the coach was killed, his son Matheus Saroli said on Facebook that he’d missed the flight, which saved his life. “I didn’t board because I forgot my passport,” he said.

An Argentine player on the club, Alejandro Martinuccio, was also saved. He wasn’t on the flight because of an injury.

“I was saved because I got injured,” he told Argentina’s La Red radio. “I feel deep sadness. The only thing I can ask is prayers for the companions who were on the flight.”

Among the victims was Mario Sergio Pontes de Paiva, a former soccer player who worked as a commentator for Fox Sports.

Known as Mario Sergio, he played briefly for Brazil’s national team in the early 1980s and had a long career as a midfielder and coach with many Brazilian clubs. He last coached Brazilian club Internacional in 2009 and Ceara in 2010.

Colombian aviation authorities say 21 journalists were among the passengers.

Chapecoense plays its home matches at the 22,000-seat Arena Conda. But it was too small to host next weeks’ scheduled match, which was to be played a Couto Pereira Stadium, a 40,000-seat venue in Curitiba, a city 300 miles (480 kilometers) north of Chapeco.

There was even a move by some fans to move the match to Rio’s famous Maracana stadium, which would be a perfect end to the dream.

“Brazilian football is in mourning,” said Pele, Brazil’s most famous player. “It is such a tragic loss.”

Expressions of grief poured in from all over the soccer world. South America’s federation canceled all scheduled matches in a show of solidarity, Real Madrid’s squad interrupted its training for a minute of silence and Argentina legend Diego Maradona sent his condolences to the victims’ families over Facebook.

Earlier this month, the plane involved in the crash transported Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and the national team from Brazil to Colombia between World Cup qualifier matches. The airliner also appears to have transported the national squads of Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela over the last three months, according to a log of recent activity provided by Flightradar24.com.

The team, from the small agro-industrial city of Chapeco, was in the midst of a Cinderella season and won over fans across Brazil with its spectacular run to the finals, with some even taking up a campaign online to move the final match to Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium, where the 2014 World Cup finals were played.

The tragedy of so many young and talented players’ lives and dreams cut short brought an outpouring of support far beyond Brazil’s borders. Atletico Nacional said in a statement it was offering its title to the team, saying in a statement that the accident “leaves an indelible mark on the history of Latin American and world soccer.”

Closer to home, fans mourned the terrible loss.

“This is unbelievable. I am walking on the grass of the stadium and I feel like I am floating,” Andrei Copetti told The Associated Press in Capeco. “No one understands how a story that was so amazing could suffer such a devastating reversal. For many people here reality has still not struck.”

The month of December is always the most exciting month for the sport of horse racing in T&T. Starting with the Stewards Cup on the first racing day of the month which produces some of the more exciting classic prospects for the following year. The St Ann’s and St James Stakes runs off on December 26 along with the Gold Cup.

It all promises to be a month of excitement and it can only be hoped that the Arima Race Club (ARC) is able to maximise what is usually one of the most popular periods in local racing.

The Stewards Cup is the first of the big features and this year will see the return of last year’s champion, Control Unit, who goes up against stable companion and Diamond Stakes winner, Whisper Light. Although a nine-horse field is nominated, the main challenge to the Glenn Mendez pair should come from the John Leotaud trained Thisonesforron, who is much more renowned for his staying prowess and is also much better on the turf.

The only other horses with a squeak of a chance, unless all of the top horses under-perform, are Trini Navigator and Holy Man.

Trini Navigator, who is a son of Henry the Navigator, has also already shown that he is much better on the turf and has been very disappointing in his two main track outings. Holy Man has recently made a winning return to horse racing and was once rated as a top contender in the sprints but injury and form have affected this talented horse in the last few months.

The Mendez pair stand head and shoulders above their rivals and if they both turn up at the top of their form, it should be an extremely exciting race.

Neither horse has raced since September 24 due to the terrible race planning on the part of the ARC race framers. That will raise some concerns over their respective fitness levels with trainer Mendez being forced to train both of them for the last two months, not an ideal preparation.

Whisper Light has won his last four races but Control Unit is the defending champion and will be very difficult to overcome on a day on which both horses are expected to be at their best, but the more experienced sprinter Control Unit may have the edge at this time.

At the end of the month, we have both the St James and St Ann’s Stakes and the latter seems more likely at this stage to throw up the champion two year old. To date, we have seen three unbeaten fillies with claims to being the best two year old for the year.

Locally bred, Set Sail has won both the Nursery and Futurity Stakes and is undoubtedly the best locally bred two year old seen so far. This daughter of Gold Market will have her work cut out for her, however, against two Jamaican bred fillies who have appeared to be among the best seen to date. Golden Choice has won both her starts with consummate ease recording a 14-length victory against her two- year-old maiden before stepping up to compete against older horses in a 50 to 35 event and scoring another comfortable win over 1,200 metres.

Rocket Wheels is the second Jamaican bred two year old who dismissed her maiden rivals with contemptuous ease on her debut in a sparkling time, albeit hand timed. Both Rocket Wheels and Golden Choice could be anything and the St Ann’s is sure to be a fantastic race on Boxing Day. The St James’ seems less competitive at the moment with only locally bred Cactus Treasure and Nabawi displaying any winning form. It will be very surprising if the maiden events in the early part of December do not throw up one or two Jamaican colts who can be serious contenders for the big prize on December 26.

While we will review the Gold Cup on a later date, it is hoped that the ARC takes full advantage of the excitement expected to be generated by these races to get new sponsors and more turfites to turn up. A fabulous month lies ahead.

Luqyaa, clear ‘best in’ judged on a splendid debut effort when third at Newmarket last month, is drawn twelve for division one of the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over six furlongs of Kempton polytrack tonight.

That’s a downer but we’ll be hoping to beat the draw with John Gosden’s charge, which is by USA sire, Smart Strike, whose progeny smack of class sprinters.

Luqyaa was a creditable third on debut over seven furlongs on ‘good’ Newmarket ground; this obviously represents a drop in class and ‘Big John’ must hold this chap in high regard given he knows only too well what it takes to win one of those maidens at HQ.

On the time-handicap computation Luqyaa ticks all boxes and unless there is an above average newcomer, or one of those lightly-raced suddenly produce a ‘surprise effort, I’m confident about this Rav Havlin-ridden nap selection.

Incidentally the plus about being drawn widest, with an even number*, is that Luqyaa will go into stalls last, and probably be out first!

In division, at the famous ‘Rowley Mile’ Cambridgeshire course, Richard Hannnon-trained Ashraq posted a similar time-figure and will, hopefully, complete our each-way double in the second leg; mount of 2015 champion apprentice Tom Marquand, confirmed for the ‘number one’ spot in 2017. He’s a tremendous prospect, best since Pat Eddery, and similar, temperamentally!

Another drawn twelve is Wordsearch in the mile nursery, caught on the post over course and distance three weeks ago under Josephine Gordon having quickened well clear two furlongs out and, seemingly, a certain nap winner.

This is not a dilemma because a wide draw in handicaps is a good reason to dismiss any chance; don’t forget all runners are handicapped to dead-heat and our calculation indicates this particularly situation represents several pounds subtracted from the ‘built-up’ mark of Wordsearch. Half a pound for each stall above number one equates to about five lengths!

Obviously I’ll be interested to see how Wordsearch performs but vexed with his draw!

Antoine captured the girls’ title for the second straight year in a time of 19 minutes and 57 seconds (19:57) while Barker secured the boys’ version for the first time in 16:34, improving from his second place finish last year.

“I want to give God thanks and just want to say when you put hard work out you get results,” said the Sixth-form student, who missed the start of the season due to an injury.

“I was injured before school re-opened in September and could not train for a month but when I started back to train, I worked very hard to make up for the training I missed. The race was little hard as I have a knee injury and my calves are hurting.”

Antoine finished ahead of Camille Lewis of Sangre Grande Secondary (21:38) and 13 year old Cassandra Joseph also of Toco Secondary (21:54). Toco Secondary dominated the girls’ race taking seven of the top ten places. Ruth Henry was fourth in 24:04, Shaquanna Otton was fifth (24:53), Mkayla Ottley sixth (25:08), Cheziah Phillip eighth (25:31) and Xea Bruce was 10th in 25:37. Atiya Croal (25:22) of ASJA Girls-Tunapuna placed seventh and Iere High’s Karishma Boodoo crossed tenth in 25:56, preventing a Toco sweep.

Antoine, who added the 5K title to the cross-country trophy she won on October 16, also secured the top Over-18 prize. Ottley and Brittiney Hutson (Sangre Grande Secondary) were second and third.

The Monte Video-Toco resident is in her second year at sixth form and credits the example of her coach Anna-Lee Walcott-Stewart who was a student athlete.

“It is easy balancing (academics and sports) because our coach Miss Analee always tells us she did both and I think I could do the same,” said Antoine, who is pursuing studies in Environment Science, Geography and Sociology.

Lewis was the top Under-16 finisher with Shenell Alexander (Palo Seco Secondary) and Ternika Lara (Toco Secondary) following her home. Joseph was the best in the U-14 division ahead of Croal and Bruce. Toco’s Henry, Otton and Phillip swept the top three spots in the U-18 category.

In the boys’ race, Barker (16:34) finished half a minute ahead of St Joseph Secondary’s Ashmeed Jones (17:04) with Barker’s school-mate K’Manuel Madoo taking third (17:26). Richard Cova (Rio Claro West Secondary) was fourth (17:38), Kyle Young Lao (ASJA Boys-San Fernando) fifth (18:01), Matthew Pulchan (Point Fortin West Secondary), sixth in 18:14, Tarique Dann (Toco Secondary) was seventh (18:19), Adiel Gonzales (Sangre Grande Secondary) eighth (18:26), Osyen Roberts (Matelot Community College), ninth (18:32) and Dre Cooper (Open Bible High), tenth (18:43), were all in the top ten.

Barker, a fifth form student, said, “I am very proud. I did what I came here to do. I am more of a track runner but I came out to build my endurance. One day I am hoping to compete in the 800m in the Olympics.”

He ran away with the 0-18 top award in front of Young Lao and Dann. Jones was the best among the U-18 competitor with Madoo and Cova taking second and third.

Pulchan took home the fastest U-16 finisher award ahead of Michael Stanley (Toco Secondary School) and Ryan Joseph (Matelot Community College).

Toco Secondary retained the boys and girls team and the overall schools honours. Toco Girls finished well ahead of Palo Seco Secondary and ASJA Girls-San Fernando while the Toco Boys took the top prize from Sangre Grande Secondary and St Joseph Secondary.

Some 130 athletes competed, well below last year’s figures of 146. Students from schools the Port of Spain and Environs, St George East and Tobago educational districts did not participate.

President of the TTSSTFA Phillip Allard said there were less athletes than anticipated as several schools were participating in the zonal Intercol football finals across the country on the same afternoon.

Players and officials from one of Brazil’s leading football clubs were among the 75 people that died on Monday night after their chartered plane crashed in Colombia while on their way to the Copa Sudamericana final.

The jet carrying the Chapecoense team, along with club officials and journalists, came down late at night, officials from the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in Medellin announced.

There were 72 passengers and nine crew on board the charter plane, which was carrying the team to Medellin for their match against Atletico Nacional. The first leg of the final in the prestigious South American club competition had been due to be played this evening.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority—Aeronautica Civil—stated in a Twitter update: “Aerocivil confirms six survivors, two crew members, three players and one of the 22 journalists that were on board.”

A conflicting report from newspaper El Colombiano said local police in the Valle de Aburra region had confirmed 76 deaths from 81 on board.

Aeronautica Civil said in a statement that the plane had been carrying “22 footballers, 28 companions and technical staff, 22 journalists and nine crew members”.

The plane had taken off from Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia and declared an emergency due to power failure before losing contact with the control tower, the airport said in a separate statement.

Colombia has been hit by heavy storms which hampered rescue efforts.

“The site of the accident is only accessible by land due to climatic conditions and low visibility,” an early statement from the airport said. “The Colombian Air Force deployed a search and rescue helicopter which had to cancel the mission due to the adverse conditions.”

The crash site was eventually reached by land by emergency services, with pictures in the Colombian media showing the wreckage.

Chapecoense had reached the finals of the Copa Sudamericana by beating Argentina’s San Lorenzo over two legs in the semi-finals, which concluded last week.

Atletico Nacional said the club “deeply regret and sympathise” with Chapecoense.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said in a statement: “The CONMEBOL family greatly regrets what happened. All activities of the confederation are suspended until further notice. President Alejandro Dominguez is on his way to Medellin.”

A statement from Chapecoense said the club were waiting for full details of the accident.

The statement noted that different information was emerging through various sources, and said: “Chapecoense Football Club, through its vice-president Ivan Tozzo, reserves the right to wait for the official announcement from the Colombian air authority, in order to issue any official note about the accident.

“God be with our athletes, management, journalists and other guests who are with the delegation.”

In a further statement, Aeronautica Civil named survivors as footballers Alan Luciano Ruschel, Jackson Ragnar Follmann and Marcos Danilo Padilha, crew members Ximena Suarez and Erwin Timuri and journalist Rafael Hensel.

It said all were taken to hospital.

The crash reportedly occurred at around 10pm local time on Monday (3 am GMT Tuesday).

Brazil’s president Michel Temer declared three days of mourning, and said: “In this sad hour as tragedy falls on dozens of Brazilian families, I express my solidarity.

“We are doing all we can to help family and give all possible assistance.

“The government will do all it can to alleviate the pain of friends and family in sport and national journalism.”

Pictures of the team as they prepared for take-off showed players in high spirits, with staff wearing club colours of green and white ready for the flight.

Earlier this month, the plane involved in the crash transported Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and the national team from Brazil to Colombia between World Cup qualifier matches. The airliner also appears to have transported the national squads of Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela over the last three months, according to a log of recent activity provided by Flightradar24.com.

On the club’s Facebook page, a video was posted of buoyant players and officials at check-in.

Authorities in Medellin dispatched emergency teams to the scene of the crash.

A statement from the Medellin mayor’s office said: “The mayor of Medellin, Federico Gutierrez Zuluaga, regrets the tragedy that occurred on the night of Monday, November 28, when the aircraft from Bolivia of the company Lamia with registration LMI 2933 RJ 80 crashed in El Cerro El Gordo, near the municipality of La Union, Antioquia with 72 passengers and nine crew on board, members of the Chapecoense team in Brazil.

“Once the air accident was reported, emergency care protocols were activated and fire and ambulance units from the Medellin hospital network were sent to the scene to support the search and rescue efforts of the victims.

“What has happened tonight is a true tragedy. We are sorry for this great loss of human life and express our solidarity with the families, friends and fans of the Chapecoense team.”

Marking the darkest day in the club’s 43-year history, Chapecoense changed the colours of their green and white club badge to black and white on social media accounts.

Duo Ivan Williams and Kyeon Joseph had no intention of letting the Premier Division title slipped through their team’s grasp and did enough to guide Defence Force to a convincing 105-80 win over Detour Shak Attack in the bpTT Mayaro Basketball League.

Action in the deciding match of the best-in-two series final unfolded at the Mayaro Indoor Sports Arena on Saturday, along with two other title matches in the Community and Under-19 Divisions, earlier.

“The guys came together and did well,” said Defence Force coach Gerald Nate Toney, who was assisted by former player Kevin “Hutches” Robertson. “They listened and responded to what we told them to do, but we also gave them a little freedom to play to the skills level and it worked out well.”

Williams led with a match-high 16 points and Joseph assisted with 11 in an exciting encounter, which ensured that the army/coastguard combination unit swept the series, 2-0 in its debut in the south competition. Defence Force, which had the likes of star player for many seasons Steven “Lighter” Lewis and experienced centre in Kievan Bacquain, won the opener, 82-69, the previous weekend.

“It was basically a fresh team. Lighter and Bacquain were the most senior players on the squad and they combined well with the younger players,” said Toney. “Their confidence was high going into the final match and they did well to win.”

For the defending champion Shak Attack, centre Miguel Williams scored 12 and forward Kurt Christian was good for ten.

Toney also noted that Lewis is the only player to win back-to-back titles playing with two different teams. Last year, Lewis suited up with Shak Attack and helped them to victory.

The soldier/sailor unit will have an unusual celebration later on this week.

“We celebrated after the win but the guys have planned to go to the football team’s match on Friday to support them in the First Citizen Cup final,” said Toney. Defence Force plays Ma Pau Stars in the final.

Similarly in the Community Division, Isotech Rio Raptors team swept its series against RLRA Ambassadors, 2-0, after winning the decider 89-67, thanks to the offensive effort of Christopher Lares and Nathan Lewis.

The pair was key in Raptors opening victory of 110-70 and did not miss a beat in the second affair. Lares notched 26 points and Lewis was close behind with 24 in another lopsided match.

The Ambassadors unit did give a better account of itself and had applauding performances from Keon Powton and Jesse Hamilton for the second straight match with the former connecting a team-high 24 and his teammate supporting with 14 but it was in a losing effort.

The U-19 match-up also had the fans at the edge of their seats and in the end it was Maloney Stories of Success (SOS), emerging with a 76-61 victory and a 2-0 series triumph against Laventille Hawks. SOS won the opening match, 87-71.

Mohammed Elise topscored with 24 for the winner.

A number of West Indies T20 stars visited Fort Lauderdale, Miami, USA, on the weekend but all ended up on the losing side, as the USAll Stars took the 2016 USOpen T20 Cricket title with a narrow two-run victory over Al Masafi of Afghanistan at the Central Broward Regional Park.

World T20 stars Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin both lined up with the Indian Lions but they were defeated in the semifinals by the USAll Stars.

Samuel Badree played for the Houston Lions but they could not get past the Al Masafi in the other semis.

Other Caribbean players taking part in the tournament were Mervyn Dillon, Ricardo Powell, Navin Stewart, William Perkins and Ganganand Singh.

In the finals, the USAll Stars batted first scoring 181/3 of their 20 overs with Singh getting 15, Jashkaran Malothra 37, Hassan Raza the former Pakistani batting star 37 not out and Sri Lanka all rounder Dilhara Lokuhettige 54 not out. The right-hander scored his runs of 26 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Al Masafi, with nine of the Afghanistani national players on board, lost wickets at regular intervals in the chase but skipper Javed Ahmadi kept them in the hunt with a 31-ball 53.

He struck nine fours and a six. After his dismissal, the USAll Stars looked set for a comfortable win but Gul Badin Naib 23 and Najibullah Zadran 25 not out brought them right back into the contest. They took it down to the last over with 16 runs needed and USAll Stars bowler Herlando Johnson held his nerves to give his team the victory and US$50,000 first prize. Al Masafi reached 179/9.

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron was on hand for the tournament and said it showed just how well T20 cricket has caught on in America.

He said: “This was a wonderful tournament staged here and I was really impressed with the quality of cricket played. The organisation of the tournament was excellent and Cricket Council USA did a great job in showcasing cricket, which is on the way up in these parts.”

SCORES

USAll Stars 181/3 (Jashkaran Malothra 37, Hassan Raza 37 not out, Dilhara Lokuhettige 54 not out) vs Al Masafi 179/9 (20)(Javed Ahmadi 53, Hashmatullah Shaidi 30, Gul Badin Naib 23, Najibullah Zadran 25 not out, Herlando Johnson 3/35, Junaid Sidique 2/31)—USAll Stars won by 2 runs.