Dale Seecharan, the man charged with the murder of 20-year-old Shannon Banfield is expected to reappear in court on January 17, after charges were laid this morning.

Seecharan was taken to court around midday and stood silently as charges were read in front of Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.

None of Seecharan’s or Banfield’s family members were present.

The charge was read that on an unknown date between December 4 and December 9, Seecharan murdered Banfield on the premises of IAM and Company.

Seecharan’s attorney, Larry Williams asked for disclosure of police evidence and for the complete CCTV footage obtained from IAM.

Williams did not request any special privileges for his client.

Often, in high profile murder cases specifically where the victim is female or a child, attorneys ask for clients to be separated from the general prison population to keep them from being harmed.

T&T’s World Cup qualifier in June against the United States has been moved up slightly because of Mexico’s participation in the Confederations Cup.

The US Soccer Federation said yesterday that the Americans’ home game against T&T will be played June 8, a day earlier than first scheduled.

The Americans’ match at Mexico will be played June 11, two days ahead of the original date.

Mexico plays its Confederations Cup opener against Portugal on June 18 in Kazan, Russia.

After T&T lost its opening two matches, 2-0 at home to Costa Rica followed by a 3-1 reverse against Honduras in the Hex, coach Stephen Hart was fired and replaced by Tom Saintfiet.

Similarly, after the US lost its opening two games in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, coach Jurgen Klinsmann was fired and replaced by Bruce Arena, the US coach from 1998-2006.

The Soca Warriors sit fifth of six teams in the Hex, ahead of the United States by virtue of a slightly better goal difference.

T&T resume qualifying at home to Panama on March 24 while the Americans will be at home to Honduras, then play four days later at Panama.

The Soca Warriors will host Mexico.

The executive of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) will meet with the technical management team of the T&T Red Force to find out what has gone wrong this season in the Digicel WICB Professional

After a winning start against the Windward Islands Hurricanes at home, the team has played badly and are now lodged at the bottom of the six-team standings going into the Christmas break. Gus Logie’s men find themselves on 35.6 points after five matches - 32 points behind leaders Jamaica Scorpions.

President of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath is a very disappointed man and indicated that the TTCB executive will meet with the management of the team soon.

He said, "The coach got everything that he asked for in terms of preparations for this series and at this moment we at the TTCB are very very disappointed.

“The executive will meet with management team as soon as they come back. I think they will be coming back home today, so we will seek to meet with them just after the holidays, to see what can be done to improve the performance.”

Bassarath pointed to mental preparations as one possible factor in the team’s poor showing.

The former South East chairman said, "Mental preparation is important and I am of the view that they were not mentally prepared before the tournament. We have to understand that the players are very young and with all the stars missing, they are new to the scene and would have needed that mental preparation going into a regional battle. Also we have Yannick Ottley leading the team for the first time and we are not sure if the burden of leadership has affected his batting.

“I am sure the coach and manager can have answers to these questions when we meet with them and they can then make the required recommendations.”

The young cricketer embroiled in the sexual abuse case against an official of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), has dismissed the claim.

This according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TTCB, Suruj Ragoonath, at a press conference at the TTCB’s headquarters in Balmain, Couva, yesterday.

Ragoonath, in his address to the media said that the executive of the TTCB, received the report of the two-man committee appointed to investigate the matter and in it, the player gave a statement that there was no case of sexual abuse.

Ragoonath said: “It is our intention to clarify the matter that was misrepresented and prematurely and recklessly placed in the public domain by some with personal interests but having total disregard for the reputation of the parties involved as well as their respective families.”

The former West Indies player went on to give the facts saying: “On the return of the national Under-19 team in late August from the WICB U-19 tournament which was held in St Vincent, Mr Kerwin John the manager of the national U-19 team tendered a letter of complaint to the TTCB which was submitted to him by a member of the national U-19 team alleging ‘improper conduct’ against a team official.

“On receiving the letter of complaint, the TTCB executive took a decision to immediately remove the team official from all duties and assignments in keeping with good governance and good administration but more importantly, in the interest of the sport and all stakeholders.

“The executive decision to remove the individual was communicated to him in keeping with natural justice and to allow due process to take its course.

“The TTCB executive also appointed a two-member committee comprising the TTCB president Azim Bassarath and second vice-president Lalman Kowlessar to conduct the initial enquiry to verify and confirm that the letter of complaint was legitimate and to gather and illicit other pertinent information in order to determine the appropriate course of action.”

Ragoonath reported that the findings that came from the committee were as follows: “The player was interviewed in the presence of his mother and subsequently sent a letter to the committee verifying that the matter is not one of sexual abuse, as is being reported by the media and other factions within the cricketing fraternity.

“The team official was interviewed and he indicated that he needed to seek legal advice with respect to the matter and he subsequently communicated with the committee through his attorney denying the allegations.

“It came to the attention of the committee via the misrepresented publications and discussions that a complaint was made to the Children’s Authority. This was not so as the player is over 18 years old.”

Ragoonath also dismissed another item as false saying that based on the interview with the player no report was made to the Police.

He revealed that based on the initial enquiry by the committee, legal advice was sought and the board was instructed to immediately refer the matter with all the findings to the TTCB national disciplinary committee for further investigation in keeping with the provisions of the TTCB constitution, principles of natural justice and respect for due process.

This year’s racing season comes to a close on Monday, Boxing Day in T&T. A number of championship titles have already been decided while a few will go right down to the wire.

On the human front, Ronald “Tiger” Ali is almost certain to be crowned champion jockey unless his closest rival, Prayven Badrie, can go through the card on Monday. That is highly unlikely and so congratulations to Tiger on his Championship win.

Glenn Mendez will be crowned champion trainer in terms of wins recorded while John O’Brien will be named champion trainer by virtue of his prize money won.

The leading owner title will go down to the wire with perennial champion Shivam Maharaj holding a narrow 90k lead over perennial runner-up Harold Chadee but the latter will be firing some major shots in all of the feature races while Maharaj’s best chance in the feature events will come in the Gold Cup. A strong performance by Teniente Coronel in that event should be enough for Maharaj to hold on to his title.

The champion apprentice title could also go down to the wire with Ridge Balgobin currently holding a two-win lead over Jovika Boodramsingh. The fact that the former has more second place finishes than the latter seems irrelevant since the title appears only based on wins and two or more wins by the latter on Boxing Day could result in a tie or a victory for the latter. The champion groom will be Bobby Singh, who is attached to the stables of Harriram Gobin.

One of the more interesting titles that is still up for grabs is the champion horse of T&T, the “Horse of the Year”. The two most outstanding horses of the year have been the Merlin Samlalsingh pair of The Gatsby and Academy Award. In other years, Academy Award, the Derby winner, would have been a shoe in but he has not raced since the Derby and was well beaten in his only start outside of the three year old company, albeit after a lengthy absence.

In that time and throughout the year, the imported Thisonesforron has been a model of consistency and shown tremendous variety by winning on the turf or sand and also performing well over a variety of distances. He is not a brilliant racehorse but a very good one and no one would begrudge him a Championship title. He currently leads in terms of prize money by just under 9k from the Derby winner but both are expected to compete in the Gold Cup which could be the decider between them.

On the other hand, perennial champion Bigman In Town will be making his second start of the year in the Gold Cup. There is also the intriguing newcomer Teniente Coronel who came to Trinidad with a sky-high reputation after solid performances in the US, including a third place finish behind Breeders Cup winner, Arrogate.

Stewards Cup winner, the SIR stables owned champion sprinter Control Unit could steal it from all of them if there was a major upset in the Gold Cup since that colt can claim the Sian’s Gold Sprint among his three wins from five starts this year, with his only disappointing run coming on turf over an extended distance.

The two other feature events on the Boxing Day card present contrasting offerings to the betting public. The St Ann’s Stakes presents a virtual match race between the Chadee’s locally bred Set Sail, who has won her two starts by a combined distance of over 20 lengths and two Jamaican bred fillies, the highly regarded one-time winner Rocket Wheels, who won in a very good time and Golden Choice, who has won her two starts by a combined distance of almost 20 lengths.

On the other hand, the St James’ Stakes seems wide open following some surprising performances by the two year old colts and geldings. The pecking order in the John Leotaud stable was blown wide open, when supposed good thing Steve Austin was outpointed by the outsider of his stable’s trio – Battle Cry when both made their debut on December 10. In that same race, the stables other St James’ entry Juneau failed to show any of the fire that he had shown at the gallops so it is difficult to say if anything was amiss.

The three colts will re-oppose on Boxing Day and the result could be very different. Standing in their way are a host of colts who have shown reasonable but not outstanding form so far this season. Hello and Nabawi have both won their maidens with the former showing a nice acceleration in the closing stages to pick off Johnnygotlucky when that one was having his debut while Hello was racing for the second time after being well held on his debut by Rocket Wheels. This race should prove extremely competitive. This is a race best watched.

As we move into 2017, there is no doubt that the racing industry in T&T is on the ropes and receiving many blows, each of which could be potentially a knock out. It will be interesting to see how those charged with the responsibility for looking after the fortunes of all of the others who depend on this industry for the livelihood or entertainment, rise to the occasion. All the best for the season and New Year to all readers!

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has decided to share the funds they are to receive from various T20 leagues around the world with its regional Boards and clubs that the players represent.

Recently there was an uproar in certain quarters after the WICB decided that they would require 20 percent of the players’ salary when they are to play in T20 leagues across the world, or they would not grant No Objection Certificates (NOC).

The situation arose when T&T player Keiron Pollard was refused one after Cricket South Africa decided against paying the WICB 20 percent of his salary to play in their domestic Ram slam tournament.

However, WICB director Conde Riley told Guardian Media limited yesterday that this approach by the board is fair and a number of boards across the world have agreed to comply.

He said: “This 20 percent that we are asking for is fair in my opinion.

“We at the WICB recognise the work done and investment by club, country and region in producing a player and one just cannot come in and require to use the talent of our players for their benefit and the region loses.

“One very important point here is that this money that the WICB is asking for, does not come out of the pockets of the players. If they have agreed to go and play for a certain amount of money it is theirs.

“The league will then approach the club and they will have to pay the WICB 20 percent of what was agreed to by the player.”

He further explain, “The WICB will then take a third of this share, send a third to the territory which the player came from and another third will go to the domestic club that the player is aligned with.

“This in our opinion is a fair process and I cannot understand how any one can have a problem with this. In this way we are ensuring that the club gets something tangible to assist them in producing the next player.

“A number of the boards across the world, like the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have agreed to this and we are confident that those who are not in line with this at the moment will soon agree.”

The international cricket boards who have agreed thus far are the BCCI, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket New Zealand. (VM)

Led by Ahkeel Boyd, Stories of Success (SOS) Basketball Academy’s Respect team, claimed the title in a rain-affected final in the inaugural J’s Precision Hoops Christmas Classic played at Shaw Park Basketball Court in Tobago, on the weekend.

Following recent triumphs in the bpTT Mayaro Basketball League Under-19 division and Detour Shak Attack Basketball Academy 3x3 Basketball Tournament U-15 category, the SOS Academy journeyed to the sister-isle with two teams, SOS Love and SOS Respect, to participate in the two-day U-19 competition.

Unbeaten on day one, SOS Respect got victories over Bishops High School 42-14 and Pentecostal Light & Life Foundation 33-27, to top Group A on Saturday.

Day two saw more of the same, with SOS Respect bettering fellow Academy team SOS Love 47-22 in the semifinal round, to secure a spot in the final.

Pentecostal Light & Life Foundation made its way to the Championship match, setting up a rematch between the two Group A teams, however, there was to be no retribution on the day for the Tobagonian outfit.

SOS Respect signaled their intention from the tip-off, rushing to a nine-point (20-11) lead within six minutes, before a heavy shower of rain interrupted proceedings with nine minutes left to go till the halftime break.

The downpour ceased after just about five minutes, however tournament officials deemed the surface unfit to continue, with the highly saturated court forcing the abandonment of the encounter.

With SOS Respect ahead at the stoppage in play, they were adjudged the winner and was crowned the Hoops Christmas Classic champion.

With a series of eye-catching performances throughout the competition Boyd, captured the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Two records a piece were established by for Zarek Wilson of Blue Dolphins Swim Club and Zoe Anthony of Marlins as the ASATT Invitational Swim Meet came to a close on Sunday at the National Aquatic Centre, in Couva.

Wilson lead the record charge by first smashing the 1997 boys 9-10 age-group 200m Individual Medley mark of Nicholas Bovell of 2:38.34, to win gold in a 11-12 CARIFTA (CQT) qualifying time of 2:36.40. The multiple record holder then went on to decimate his own 50m freestyle record of 28.77 to establish a new time of 27.69. Wilson together with silver medallist Nikoli Blackman of Marlins (28.72), achieved a CCCAN qualifying time (CCAQT) and a CQT.

Zoe Anthony of Marlins who broke her first ever record on Saturday, added two more in the 9-10 50m and 100m breaststroke. Anthony, who missed the 50m breast record by 0.1 seconds in her silver medal finish behind St. Lucian Naima Hazell, swam 38.36 seconds in a time trial on Sunday. She erased the 1998 record of Ayeisha Collymore of 38.64, a swim which earned her a 11-12 CQT and CCAQT.

Anthony then joined the 11-12s in the 100m breaststroke as an exhibition swimmer. Not only did she emerge with the second fastest time among all participants (1:24.96), but erased the 9-10 2012 record of 1:26.87. She also achieved CCAQT and CQT. This event was won by Naomi Patterson of Tidal Wave in 1:23.68 and silver medallist was Arielle Dickson in a CCAQT of 1:27.66. Anthony also won gold in the 200IM in 2:44.31 to qualify for CARIFTA 2017.

The venue was not only a haven for National Records, but several athletes achieved qualifying times for CARIFTA and CCCAN 2017. This meet serves as the first qualifier for long course national teams next to chase qualifying standards for next years event in the Bahamas and T&T which will host the CCACAN meeting.

Jada Chatoor of Marlins won the 13-14 400 free in 4:39.84 (CQT & CCAQT), with Jahmia Harley of Tidal Wave in second in 4:57.77 (CQT). Chatoor also went on to win the 200IM 13-14 in 2:39.93 (CCAQT). Harley registered a CQT and CCAQT in her gold medal performance in the 13-14 100 back (1:10.08). Jada Chai of Atlantis was 2nd in a 15-17 CCAQT of 1:12.00.

Marlins’ Jonathan Andre won gold in the 11-12 400 Free in a CQT of 4:58.74 while teammate Graham Chatoor won the 15-17 edition in 4:21.60 (CQT). Riquelio Joseph of Sea Hawks added to his QTs with a 2:31.51 gold medal win in the 200IM (CQT and CCAQT) and a bronze in the 11-12 50 free in a CQT of 28.58. Riquelio Joseph of Sea Hawks (1:19.81) and Kyle West of Marlins (1:21.50) emerged the gold and silver medallist in the 11-12 100m breast, both achieving CQT and CCAQT.

Aqeel Joseph also of Sea Hawks won gold in the 100m back in 1:06.24 (CQT & CCAQT), earned 13-14 QTs in his silver medal finish in the 13-14 200IM (2:24.52). Delroy Tyrell of Tidal Wave joined Joseph (A) as a CCCAN qualifier in his bronze medal win in the 100 back (1:07.74).

YMCA Tobago’s Ornella Walker added two more 15-17 QTs with a gold medal finish in the 200 IM in a CQT of 2:36.58, and placed second in the 15 & over 100 back in a 15-17 CQT and CCAQT of 1:10.42. The 100 back event was won by Kristin Julien of Areios Aquatechs in an 18 and Over CCAQT of 1:06.59. Julien also achieved a QT in her 2nd place finish in the 50 free (27.48). In the 100 back Ariel Cape of Blue Dolphins was 3rd in an 18 & Over CCAQT of 1:11.62.

Both Christian Awah of Blue Dolphins (1:01.72), and Bradley Thomas of YMCA Tobago (1:01.98) achieved 18 & O CCAQT in their gold and silver finish in the 15 & Over 100 back. Kael Yorke of Tidal Wave won bronze in 1:03.57 (15-17 CCAQT and CQT). Danielle Williams of Flying Fish (27.56) and Deshor Edwards of Atlantis (27.61) showed their readiness for the 15-17 category next year by achieving that age group’s qualifying times in their 1st and 2nd place finish in the 13-14 50 free. They would have to contest next year with veteran Amira Pilgrim of UTT who won the 15 & over race in 26.81, a QT for both regional meets.

Vrisnelit Faure of Areios doubled up in QTs with a single swim to win the 100m breast 13-14 in 1:22.13. Luke Gillette of Marlins followed up his 13-14 male 200IM win (2:21.97), with a 15-17 CQT in this gold medal performance in the 13-14 male 100m breast (1:11.52) and a win in the 50 free. Jeron Thompson doubled up with gold in the 100 breast (1:08.08) and 50 free (24.02), achieving 15-17 CCAQT and CQT in both events. Thompson was followed by Kegan Ford of Flying Fish in the free (24.72) and Dario Omiss (1:10.76) in the 100 breast. Both second place finishers achieved 15-17 CCAQT and CQT. Thompson also won gold in the 200IM.

Jenabi Benoit of Grenfins won gold in the 11-12 50 free and 100 back, while unattached Regan Allen won the 11-12 female 400 free and 100 back. Madara Edwards of Sea Hawks and Zachary Anthony of Marlins won the 50 free and 200IM in the 8 & under girls and boys respectively. Other winners on Sunday were Gabriel Bynoe of Tidal Wave (13-14 male 400 free), Soraya Simmons of Dorado (15 & over 400 free) and Makaili Charlemagne of Shark St. Lucia (11-12 200 IM).

The day’s races ended with the 200 free relays, where Tidal Wave won gold in five, Flying Fish won two, and Blue Dolphins, Tsunami and Marlins won one a piece.

Double World Indoor bronze medallist Deon Lendore and Olympic semifinalist Janeil Bellille were named the top athletes at this year’s Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club annual awards ceremony at the Arima West Government Primary School on December 10.

Lendore sped to bronze in the men’s 400m at the World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Portland, Oregon, USA in March in a time of 46.17 seconds. He then anchored T&T’s men’s 4x400m to bronze in national indoor record of 3:05.51. Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Ade Alleyne-Forte, (Machel Cedenio and Rondel Sorillo) were the other team members.

The 24 year old Queen’s Royal College graduate competed at the heats of men’s 400m and 4x400m events at the Rio Olympics. In the men’s 400m heats, he missed out on qualifying for the semifinals while in the 4x400m relay he and his team-mates (Solomon, Gordon and Cedenio) were disqualified for a lane violation. Lendore ended the season as fourth quickest 400m runner (45.56) on the IAAF World Indoor list and and is 49th best (45.31) on the World Outdoor performance list.

Bellille was a semifinalist at the Rio Olympics in the women’s 400m hurdles where she clocked a season’s best of 56.06. She is currently the 53rd quickest hurdler in the world. The 2008 World Junior silver medallist also helped the T&T’s women’s 4x400m team to a new national record of 3:30.37.

All athletes received tokens from Pepsi Cola.

I have good Christmas memories despite the holiday struggles of which I have spoken in this space over the years. I’ve come to realise that what makes the holidays different is me – my attitude towards it, my mindset and my determination to be contented despite what it brings.

The freedom I am experiencing this year comes from contentment, from being certain of the things of substance. What matters is that I am alive and in relatively good health. I have been so keenly aware of my mortality in the past two years that every day I open my eyes my heart is lifted up in praise, with pure gratitude.

I remember being very young and very ill, I recall thinking and praying once that “It is better to for me to die than to live like this” so lost was I and so despairing. God overlooked my folly; I asked and he forgave me.

My upbringing, I’ve come to realise, was with much pride and little else. It was a tough one. We had clothes, food and (a leaky) roof of carat palm for the first decade of my life. We lived in abject poverty but I only recognised this later because my Mother shielded me from such ideas. I also could only say that retrospectively, out of my Mother’s earshot, too!

I’ve wanted so much more from this life. In part, I squandered some good opportunities, in other parts I realise that the bearing was not entirely the one I would steer if I had it all together. My better health interventions came in the last 15 years and I have since committed to being the best I can be, helping others like me also, to have a healthier experience.

Still, I seem always stymied by my health. This past semester at graduate school I employed privacy to deal with the depth of my trauma. Most people never recognised my deepest problems, but people are not sensitised to the issues of mental illnesses anyway – especially when one is high functioning as I am.

None could tell that I had for months only had about three to five lucid hours each day – and I used those for school and schoolwork. There were awkward exchanges for which I remain discomfited and apologetic. The power of forgiveness, especially self-forgiveness, is underrated. I however, live in its grace.

My good Christmas memories always include my Mother. But they unambiguously include my son Jovan, particularly in the years he became more excited about my Christmas birthday than I ever was.

The ritual was that I could not fall asleep on Christmas Eve because he was too anxious to sleep with the thought of giving me his gift. So every year, there would be a knock on my door at a nanosecond past midnight when he came bearing gifts.

I obsess privately about my son – I want to see some things that I wish for him come true. He’s had a difficult upbringing living with a mother who did not always pay particular attention to the effects of her illnesses on his life. Despite me, he is a brilliant mind, he has the family sense of humour, and is a decent fella blessed with many gifts. He is hardly devoid of flaws but I always say it is he who is “without”(not just sin, but outside a person’s situation) that always casts the first stone, anyway.

I’m now creating Christmas memories with his children. As I was making plans to spend my birthday with my two beautiful grandchildren, Jovan asked when I planned to do the food shopping and I steupsed. I hate the idea of driving out any time before Boxing Day and worse yet enduring a supermarket line this week. I started immediately counting what food I have and attempting to plan a meal from that. Alas, it won’t work!

Food shopping for Christmas always takes me to a memory from 13 years ago, one I dubbed a “Wild goose chase for a turkey”, involving my sibling, Debra. With the knowledge that I detest Christmas traffic and that I absolutely abhor the folly of the hustle, she in her usual calm manner asked me to drive her to buy a turkey.

I’ve told this story before. It never gets old. Not for me at least.

I suggested a supermarket in the East where I lived but she had a better idea about a then new multimarket experience to T&T, which was offering the bird at a “smart” price. Almost seven hours later, having not found a turkey feather at the store in the West and its branch in Chaguanas, and having been caught in a one-hour traffic jam in another supermarket carpark, we returned, like foolish virgins, to the East, the only place it seems we could get the bird she so desired. I will never forget the loathsome, ludicrous, yet comical experience.

Merry Christmas T&T. Be safe. Make great memories.

• Caroline C Ravello is a strategic communications and media practitioner with over 30 years of proficiency. She holds an MA in Mass Communications and is pursuing the MSc in Public Health (MPH) from The UWI. Write to: mindful.tt@gmail.com MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Christmas 2016 is right around the corner and the country is buzzing with excitement. At Alta our classes have finished for the term and our volunteer tutors are getting some well deserved rest. Christmas is a time for giving, remembering and sharing love.

As we take stock of our blessings and reminisce on the year, we know that as a NGO we have much to be thankful for. We would like to take this opportunity to send Christmas greetings to and thank all the individuals and companies who have supported Alta in the past year.

Firstly to our volunteer tutors – new and returning – the backbone of the Association, we wish you all a very merry Christmas and thank you for constantly going above and beyond for our Alta students. Alta tutors are very highly regarded by our students and staff because of their commitment and the dedication which they bring to the classroom and the entire program. We look forward to the new year which will be a big year for Alta and we are excited to welcome new tutors to Alta in 2017.

Secondly our sponsors, both individual sponsors and companies who continue to support Alta whether it is through class sponsorship, sponsorship of a student, our Reading Circle programme or general donations which help to keep our three offices open every year - we are eternally grateful. We wish to give a special thank you to our main sponsors; Republic Bank Limited, United Way Trinidad and Tobago, Bermudez Biscuit Company Limited, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Massy Foundation and Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited.

We also wish to take this opportunity to thank our staff and those who have supported and assisted Alta in 2016 with our student and tutor recruitment campaigns, development of programmes and other initiatives.

If you wish to donate to Alta this Christmas it is not too late. You can still Sponsor a Student or purchase a Gift of Reading for your friends or family. Our Sponsor a Student program enables you to make a donation of $600 which is the cost of an Alta student’s instruction for one academic year. By Sponsoring a Student you are helping Alta help someone improve their literacy. You will be given a yearly update on the progress of the student you are sponsoring. If you wish to purchase a Gift of Reading certificate give us a call today at 624-2582 to arrange to collect your gift which will cover the cost of an Alta student’s instruction for one academic term.

Wishing you and yours a safe and enjoyable Christmas 2016!

MORE INFO

Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 624-2582 or email Altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with Alta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: Alta TT

The swearing ceremony for the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Aldermen of the Tunapuna Piarco regional Corporation (TPRC) took place last Thursday before a packed audience at the Tunapuna Community Centre, Centenary Street, Tunapuna.

In attendance were Planning and Development minister Camille Robinson-Regis, Social Development and Family Services minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow Cockburn, Public Administration and Communications minister Maxie Cuffie, D’Abadie/O’Meara MP Ancil Antoine and Senator Wade Mark.

Four Aldermen were sworn in at the ceremony, two from the UNC - Kevan Gibbs and Kazim Ishmael, and two from the PNM - Derek La Guerre, and Onika Myers Haynes, with the assistance of TPRC CEO Lynette Bailey-Clarke and the TPRC corporate secretary William Best.

The highlight of the evening was the nomination and voting for the positions of Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Corporation. While the UNC were at a numerical disadvantage, 12 PNM members as compared to their six members, the democratic process was exercised and in both instances as they made nominations for both positions. In the end it would be Paul Jason Leacock who emerged as Chairman and Onika Myers-Haynes and Vice-Chairman in the PNM dominated Corporation.

​Outgoing TPRC chairman Edwin Gooding gave a brief account of his tenure and made a plea for the continuation of some of the programmes established under his stewardship, especially the recycling programme.

In his maiden speech the new Chairman Leacock was expressed thanks to his family, the burgesses of The TPRC, his fellow Councillors past and present as well as the leadership of the PNM for having the confidence in him.

In addressing his responsibilities ahead, Leacock said “We are charged with leading the change process as we unfold Local Government Reform. This change will be met with scepticism, fear, and criticism. Only we can make this real.”

The Chairman noted “With only five or six members of Council over the age of 40 and most in their 20s, we are maybe one of the youngest Local Government Councils in Trinidad.

“This Council’s term will be marked by innovation, imagination, vision and policy driven strategy, prudent risk taking and a keen awareness of our responsibility to the burgesses”

In addressing the staff at the TPRC he committed to working with them saying, “we will lead by example, provide a clear vision, implement change and hold all of our workers accountable at all levels. Council and staff I ask that we recognise that we are customer service representatives who need to live by the golden rule, serve others as we would like to be served.”

Planning and Development minister Robinson-Regis delivered brief remarks noting that “democracy was alive and well in T&T” and wished the Chairman and councillors a fruitful tenure.

Earlier this year some Caribbean Alumni from St Francis College in Brooklyn, New York reconnected via the popular social media platforms of Facebook and WhatsApp.

Most of them attended the institution at a time when over 200 students from the Caribbean filled the classrooms and added flavour to the small liberal arts college.

Now the group has reassembled with a different purpose of generating solutions to contemporary problems and providing assistance and support to fellow alumni in their entrepreneurial ventures and worthy volunteer oriented initiatives.

With the majority of students emanating from T&T, it was only natural that the first project organised by the group would involve a local institution.

The Morvant Anglican SEA project was spearheaded by SFC alumnus Shaka La Pierre.

After speaking with his friend Damali Wiltshire, a Standard Four teacher at Morvant Anglican Primary School, La Pierre realised that there was a serious need for intervention in the preparation of the students for the SEA exam.

He coordinated with Wiltshire and pitched the initiative to his fellow SFC Alumni via Whatsapp.

The initial goal was to raise funds for the supply of SEA practice tests for all 77 students comprising the Standard five cohort at the school.

In just over one month through personal contributions from alumni in the USA, Canada and T&T, the target was exceeded.

This accomplishment hit home upon the realisation that three of the contributors are Morvant Anglican past pupils.

Assistant director Corporate Energy manager for New York City Hospitals Marcus Lewis, BHP Biliton Joint Venture analyst Saleem Rahman, and Syracuse University faculty member Dr Denzil Streete as well as Jamaican Calver Palmer contributed to the cause.

The offices of Development and Alumni Relations at St Francis College endorsed the effort by contributing stationary and memorabilia from the College as gifts to each student at the local primary school.

On December 5, a small ceremony was held at the school’s Cipriani Road Extension, Morvant compound.

After presentation of the $6,200 cheque, the children, their teachers and school principal Theron Joseph, were treated to motivational words from Morvant Anglican past pupils, Rahman and Dr Streete.

Fellow SFC Alum, the multi-talented Krisson Joseph, programme coordinator at UTT Academy for Performing Arts also motivated the students with a rendition of Our Future Today by Sheldon Blackman.

Not to be outdone, the visitors were treated with a drama presentation by the students depicting all the positive contributions made to national development by members of the East Port of Spain/Morvant communities.

Standard 5 student, Xielle Bertrand, gave thanks at the end to visitors and their organisation for investing in education SEA students at her school.

The alumni looks forward to undertaking many similar initiatives throughout the Caribbean in the coming years.

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St Francis College Alumni

Sheldon Andrews, Giselle Bartholomew, Alicia Browne, Jaime Browne, Trisha Campo, Darryl Celestine, Rudolph Charles, Rondyl Clement, Fiona Hamilton, Kaaz Hosein, Vanessa Howard, Nikita Huggins, Jason Ifill, Keisha Israel, Krisson Joseph, Jason Kangalee, Shaka La Pierre, Marcus Lewis, Kionna Licorish, Andre Martindale, Karen Mitchell, Keith Morren, Calver Palmer, Thaze Phillips, Dwayne Pierre, Saleem Rahman, Denzil Streete, Belinda Thomas, Anthony Valley, Rene Luces-Whiteman, Jason Whittaker, Michelle Williams, Hakim Williams

Some 400 young men from secondary schools across Trinidad received a rare, first-hand glimpse into the personal lives of several public figures when they attended the 2016 Annual Junior Achievement Student Conference.

Organised by Junior Achievement of T&T (JATT), the student conference, held at the auditorium of Queen’s Hall recently, took on an almost evangelical tone as the youths heard from former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, musician David Rudder, religious leader Pastor Clive Dottin, RBC Royal Bank MD Darryl White, and youth mentors Nikolai Edwards and Ashton Blandin.

The session, titled Maximising Manhood, Exploring Opportunity for Growth and Empowerment, was hosted in collaboration with RBC Royal Bank and underscored the bank’s commitment to youth development.

A release said the attendance by President Anthony Carmona, who stayed to the end of the session, demonstrated his interest in the welfare of the youth and his support of the JA/RBC initiative to guide and empower the nation’s young people.

“This initiative today is critical to the positive development of the young men of our country. We believe in you and are confident you will succeed in whatever you put your mind to. If anyone of you here needs help, or you just need to talk, my office is open to everyone,” the President assured the youths.

The ambience at Queen’s Hall provided the perfect setting for the compelling interactive exercise. The primary aim of the conference is to prepare young people to succeed in a global economy by providing them with knowledge, skills and meaningful exposure to inspirational mentors to reinforce their desire to be successful in life.

This Junior Achievement/RBC collaboration represents one facet of the bank’s corporate youth development platform which is underpinned by its flagship project, the RBC Young Leaders Programme which helps young people develop leadership skills, apply teamwork in pursuit of common goals foster care for the community and the environment.

In his usual engaging style, former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday recounted his early years in St Julien’s Village, Princes Town, where he walked barefoot to and from school—four miles each way on a gravel road. He had a dream to be the best he could be and pursued it to become Prime Minister of T&T.

“You must dream what you want to be and you must have a plan to fulfil that dream. There will be obstacles along the way but you must approach these obstacles as instruments for what you want to achieve. If you keep dreaming and thinking positively, avenues will open up for you. Dream! Dream! Dream!” he exhorted the students.

RBC Royal Bank MD Darryl White, told the audience that RBC welcomed the opportunity to partner with Junior Achievement in its objective to empower young people. “The most critical investment that we can ever make is in people and that is exactly what we are doing here today. There is a clear recognition at RBC that any investment in our youth is an investment in nation-building,” he told the audience.

The RBC head advised the young men to follow three attributes in their lives—humility, hunger and to be smart. “We must have respect for inclusion and diversity and recognise that everyone needs their own personal space to develop. We must give others the opportunity to achieve and become the best they can be. We must be emotionally connected with persons we are trying to help. We must have a sense of social awareness and responsibility and recognise the need to give back to society,” White advised.

He urged the young men to be “intellectually curious” which, he noted, gives birth to inventions and innovations and “drives us to create things that are unique”.

Former National Calypso Monarch, David Rudder, gave a moving account of how he was diagnosed with polio just after his first birthday, but, as he asserted, “I never let it get me down.” After practising his craft for 22 years, he said he finally became “an overnight success” in 1986 when he swept all major national calypso competitions. “Everyone wants instant fame, instant glory. You have to work at what you want to achieve. It does not come overnight,” he cautioned.

In his down-to-earth manner, Pastor Dottin recalled the hardships he faced as a child, growing up in Cadiz Road, Belmont, with his mother as a single parent in a one-bedroom home. “We must have the courage and the value system to combat the drug trade and rescue our young people. With faith in God and commitment to excellence and truth, we will triumph and be victorious,” he told the teenagers.

Nikolai Edwards, vice chairperson, Policy, Advocacy and Projects, Commonwealth Youth Council, spoke about the personal challenges he faced when his father was shot in a failed escape attempt at the Royal Jail, Port-of-Spain. He said he had the fortitude to overcome that obstacle and urged the teenagers to do the same if they faced obstacles in their lives.

Rio Claro-bred Ashton Blandin, a young agriculturalist, said he was engaged in an altercation with someone at the age of 17 and was sent to the Youth Training Centre, and eventually to the Maximum Security Prison. “Prison is no bed of roses. I want you to wake up, contribute, pay attention, absorb and share what you learn here today,” he urged the youths.

In an interactive session with the panellists, several of the students gave touching personal stories of their current situation, some admitting to deviant behaviour. They said, however, that they were motivated and inspired by the wisdom and sincerity of the presenters and pledged to follow their advice.

“This exercise was mind-blowing. We had these successful people talking about the challenges that faced when they were young and how they had the strength to overcome them and go on to great things in life. If they can do it, we all can. This is an experience I will never ever forget,” said 17-year old Mayaro Secondary student, Kofi Chase.

Earlier, JA Executive Director J Errol Lewis, who opened the conference, told corporate T&T that “now is not the time to cut back on the development of our young people. Now is the time to invest in them” as he thanked RBC Royal Bank for investing in the future of the young men, and the management of Queen’s Hall for offering the venue free of charge.

When the full blast of the economic downturn lashed the T&T economy in 2016, it left a path of battered bottom lines, workers on the breadline and a rolled-out carpet of uncertainty, ensuring a grim reality faced by most businesses as the curtains come down on the hardest year for the economy in three decades.

Across the business landscape, this year was characterised by three main issues: the shutdown of the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Point. Lisas, the continuing oil and gas shortages and persistent foreign exchange shortages.

In a sense, these issues spilled over from 2015 into 2016 and, to a large extent, remain basically unresolved.

In March 2016, ArcelorMittal permanently closed its steel plant and dismissed 644 workers after losing a judgment at the Industrial Court that had been filed by employees against the company.

The judgment against the company required that it pay the full wages owed to workers who had been laid off in December 2015 by the end of April 2016. ArcelorMittal was also fined $24,000 for “its illegal industrial action” and its failure to treat with the union.

A day after the judgment was delivered, the company announced that it would engage in a “creditors’ voluntary wind-up” and seek to dispose of all its T&T assets. The company said that closing the company had become necessary in light of sustained losses dating back to 2009, proposed major increases in the local price of gas and electricity at a time of falling commodity prices, and proposed increases to port rental fees, announced property taxes and higher business levies.

According to ArcelorMittal, the company listed its liabilities at US$280 million and its assets at US$70 million.

To date, the assets of the company are still up for sale with the liquidator Christopher Kelshall stating that the process of is “ongoing.”

In the first seven months of 2016, about 690 workers were on the breadline according to the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprises retrenchment data. The CBTT stated: “Unemployment remains low and there are anecdotal reports of shortages in certain specialist skill areas as well as in some low-wage jobs in the distribution sector.”

Looking at the data the bank said: “The labour market data for the fourth quarter of 2015 shows that the rate of unemployment rose to 3.5 per cent from 3.3 per cent in the corresponding year, and of the estimated 22,300 individuals unemployed, 57 per cent were males.

“The number of persons without jobs rose by 400 but the effect on the unemployment rate was attenuated by a fall in the labour force.”

The year 2016 was a challenging one for companies for the energy sector.

As of December 20, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude has averaged just over US$43 a barrel for 2016 and global natural gas prices have been significantly lower than the 2010 to 2014 period.

In the case of T&T, the situation has been even grimmer because it has been combined with lower oil and gas production.

According to figures from the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, for 2016 crude production averaged 70, 071 compared to 2015 when the average production was 78,656. This represents a more than 10 percent decline in crude production. On the natural gas side, in 2016 natural gas production as of October has averaged 3.335 bcf/d this compares to 3.833 bcf/d or a 500 mmscf/d decline in production.

The combination of lower prices and reduced production impacted all operating companies in the local sector. There has been an increase in unemployment and cuts across the board as the companies have tried to adjust to the reality of a prolonged period of low prices and low production. Several companies in the petrochemical and industrial sector have been forced to operate below capacity as a result of the chronic gas shortages to their operations.

Additionally, in October, Franklyn Khan was appointed the new minister of energy and energy industries, replacing Nicole Olivierre in a cabinet reshuffle.

By July 2016 T&T, along with other energy commodity exporters continued to experience “challenging” times as the gross domestic product (GDP) contracted for another time in the first quarter of 2016.

According to the provisional estimates from the CBTT’s Index of Real Quarterly: “GDP indicates that domestic economic activity declined by 5.2 per cent year-on-year, due to declines in both the energy (9.1 per cent) and non-energy sectors (2.8 per cent).”

The bank stated in that same report, that production in the energy sector was affected by planned maintenance and upgrade-related downtime at the major oil and gas producers, as well as lower output associated with maturing oil fields. The non-energy side of the economy, construction sector slowed in the context of “slower execution of government-related projects. On the other hand, some uptick in activity was observed in the finance sector.”

The hit that the energy sector took as a result of declining oil and natural gas prices in the international market resulted in lower revenues the CBTT reported. “Central government deficit rose to $6.2 billion (annualised 4.6 per cent of GDP) over the first nine months of the fiscal year (October 2015 to June 2016) compared to $2.2 billion in the corresponding year.”

One ray of hope for the local energy sector was the signing of a cross-border gas sharing agreement between T&T and Venezuela in early December. The deal involves T&T taking gas from the Dragon gas field in Venezuela. If all goes as planned, broad estimates suggests that first gas could arrive within 30 months from the signing of the bilateral agreement. The parties involved in the agreement were the NGC, Shell and PDVSA—the state-owned Venezuelan oil company.

The demand for foreign exchange showed no signs of abating in 2016, with local companies voicing their angst about the effect of their inability to acquire the desired amounts of “hard currency” on their respective businesses.

According to Central Bank data, from December 2015 to the end of November 2016 the currency depreciated by 5.44 per cent against the US dollar, moving from TT$6.43 to US$1, to TT$6.78 to US$1.

The country’s foreign reserves position also fell during the same period moving from US$9.78 billion in December 2015, to US$9.54 billion in November 2016. As at November 2016, the country’s import cover was roughly 10.6 months, down from 11.1 months in December 2015.

A number of listed entities on the local stock exchange noted the impact of the foreign exchange situation on their business.

In his half-yearly report for 2016, Massy Group chairman Robert Bermudez said his company had taken aggressive measures to satisfy the group’s demand for forex.

He said: “Given the current challenges in the T&T economy, the group has intensified its attention to managing foreign exchange and continues to find ways to fund its foreign currency requirements through multiple strategies including: greater attention to the balance between receive and send transactions in the money transfer business; daily monitoring of foreign exchange required, generated and requested; pursuit of foreign exchange generating investments, and finding ways to reduce import needs by buying and promoting more local goods.”

Christian Mouttet, chairman of Prestige Holdings Ltd, noted in their half-year results for 2016 that inspite of foreign exchange challenges, the group’s KFC and Pizza Hut brands had performed well.

Managing director of Agostini’s Ltd, Anthony Agostini, in an October 6 article in the Business Guardian, also commented on the persistent foreign exchange challenges in the local economy and his group’s response to the situation.

“Access to US dollars has certainly been a challenge, but we’re no different to many other companies in that regard. We have been able to keep our heads above water as it were and, with some manufacturing coming into the group by way of acquisitions, we expect to generate more foreign exchange through export of those products,” he said.

The Government used overdraft financing at the CBTT but also borrowed on the local and international markets as well as accessed the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund. The CBTT stated that, “during the first nine months of fiscal year 2015/2016, the Government borrowed a total of $4662.9 million in the domestic market.”

In May 2016, the Government had withdrawn US$375 million from the HSF which was the first drawdown since the establishment of the fund in 2007.

Specifically, in August 2016, the Government received the proceeds from a US$1 billion foreign bond, which was the first international issue since 2013. The tenor of the bond is 10 years at a coupon rate of 4.5 per cent. The bond issue brought external debt as a per cent of GDP to 13.6 per cent.”

Referring to monetary conditions, the CBTT said it remained stable for the first seven months of 2016.

“With inflation low and broadly comfortable interest rate differentials against US short-term securities the bank has been able to hold its Repo rate since January in the context of the slowing economy.”

The TT-dollar depreciated against the US-dollar by 4.9 per cent for 2016, with the selling rate moving from TT$6.45 in January 2016 to TT$6.77 on December 21, 2016. The CBTT’s interventions declined to US$906.6 million in the first seven months of 2016 compared with US$1.42 billion in the same period in 2015.

Stating that T&T’s economy is in an even more perilous state than the Government had envisaged, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said during presentation of the 2015/2016 budget statement that the facts about the statement were:

• The economy was far from being strong or on a growth path

• Real output in the energy sector declined again in 2015, making it the fourth annual decline in the last five years

• Activity in the non-energy sector has also weakened with a loss of momentum in construction, distribution and manufacturing

• Total energy exports are estimated at only US$7.5 billion in 2015, a significant decline when compared with an annual average of US$12.7 billion in the period 2010 and 2014

• The sharp decline in export receipts will mean that T&T’s trade balance will be reduced by more than half from US$4.6 million in 2014 to US$1.7 billion in 2015.

Reporting by Curtis Williams, Nadaleen Singh and Andre Worrell ArcelorMittalLabour Troubled energy sector Demand for forex Deficit financing Budget statements

Regional telecommunications provider Digicel says it “fundamentally disagrees with the conclusions of the report” done by CreditSights debt analyst Michael Chakardjian that the group’s debt of US$6.2 billion in debt is at “unsustainably high levels” as it is 6.2 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) at the company.

Several Irish newspaper last week reported on a presentation by Chakardjian in which he concluded that despite having 14 million customers across 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific, Digicel was facing a powerful cocktail of currency risks, economic threats and “cash burn” due to declining revenues from mobile calls and the ongoing need to pump cash into its fibre network, as the Irish Times reported on Saturday.

According to the newspaper:

“The analyst identified four separate threats facing the company, which O’Brien tried and failed to float on the stock market 14 months ago.

“Firstly, Chakardjian calculated there is ‘limited to no equity cushion’, with a debt more than six times its earnings.

“He is suggesting here there is currently little value over and above what it owes lenders. If Digicel were a house, it would effectively be on the verge of negative equity.

“Secondly, he is sceptical about the company’s plan, dubbed Project Swan, to hack back costs to boost margins.

“The third stick with which he beats Digicel is its prospects for revenue growth. Voice calls account for more than half its income but, like the rest of the industry, are falling fast. Data, fibre and cable are currently not growing fast enough to plug the gap.

“Finally, it is suggested that some of Digicel’s fate is outside of its control. Beyond normal competitive threats that come with operating in risky market, Digicel faces enormous currency headwind.”

The Irish Times explained that Digicel’s debts are in US dollars, but it is trying to pay them off in weakening currencies from Haiti, Papua New Guinea, and Jamaica, which are among its largest markets.

Responding to the debt analysis, the telecommunications company said: “Digicel fundamentally disagrees with the conclusions of the report.

“Digicel’s outlook remains positive with robust plans to delever by monetising our network investment and through realistic cost management initiatives. We will not be commenting on the specific details of our transformation.”

Delevering refers to reducing debt levels.

The Irish Times reported at the end of November that Digicel executives had pitched a plan to investors and analysts earlier that month to cut its debt ratio from 6.2 to 4.5 times ebitda by March 2019 as it sees profits finally rebounding in its next financial year after investing US$2.3 billion in its network over half a decade.

Like some businesses in T&T that are feeling the brunt of the economic downturn, the speciality spirits, wine and gourmet shop Naughty Grape has introduced a strategy to stimulate demand for its one of its top whiskey brands, Johnnie Walker. It is offering free engraving of Christmas greetings on its bottles as well as gift wrapping at its Naughty Grape, Mucurapo Road, St James shop. This comes as it has introduced another blend to the local market called Karman.

Brand ambassador Arturo Savage, who was in T&T to promote the new blend, spoke to Business Guardian last week at the San Juan office of Brydens, the privately held local company that owns Naughty Grape.

Convinced that the Johnnie Walker brand has global strength in all of the markets it is currently in, Savage said: “Our brand is about quality, heritage and it’s about the content of the product.”

A true global brand, Johnnie Walker is sold in 200 countries. It is produced by Diageo, the United Kingdom-based spirits giant.

Asked how many cases are sold per annum, Savage did not immediately have the data but said on a global basis, every two seconds three bottles of Johnnie Walker are opened around the world.

Not daunted by competition in any of its markets, he said:

“We do have competitors but we are still number one. What is fascinating about whiskey is there is no such thing as bad whiskey.”

He said in Scotland alone there are ten distilleries producing whiskey. Explaining further about the Karman brand, Savage said it’s a special edition of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label blend of whiskey. The new blend costs $2,068 and the Blue Label brand costs $1,875.

Speaking about the company’s external environment, in the last few days of 2016, Nicholas Hospedales, director of premium beverages at Brydens, said the company has been in T&T since 1923 mainly offering imported brands to its customer base.

He said the supply of US currency continues to be a “challenge” for his company.

Referring specifically to operations on the port of Port-of-Spain, he said it is “less than perfect but it is better than previous years with regard to port congestion.”

The seven per cent online tax which was introduced in October 2016, does not affect Brydens as its stocks are shipped here and do not come into this market using the services provided by a courier.

Overall, he said the economic downturn has been challenging for Brydens but his company is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

“We are marginally down, not as badly as we had anticipated but we (our sales) are not as good as last year. What we are facing is a shift in how and where they (the consumer) consumes.”

This means, he said, consumers may instead, opt out of going out on a night on the town, and instead purchase the alcohol at supermarket and have drinks at home with friends and family.

Hospedales said consumers are now seeing a decline in their buying power and Brydens—through Naughty Grape—has to find ways to creatively give them more and show them increased value.

Savage has been ambassador for 20 years travelling to the US and Europe and most parts of the world.

“I have met a lot of people and being ambassador of this brand, you have to know the product and what it stands for. I have travelled all throughout America, I have been to South Africa. I know many cultures, many people.

“My advice to young people is to travel and find out what the world has to offer.”

On a global basis, every two seconds three bottles of Johnnie Walker are opened around the world.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s clarification earlier this week of what had until then been labelled a sexual abuse case involving an official and a youth cricketer, has still left a certain level of unease across the country.

Of biggest concern was TTCB CEO Suruj Ragoonath’s refusal to answer any questions on the topic, which had been a burning one since the story of the alleged act during a regional under-19 tournament in St Vincent broke months ago.

It was of interest because of two main issues, the alleged sexual abuse of an athlete left in the care of adults and of the TTCB’s apparent malaise in dealing with this particular issue, as it was said to have been reported by the cricketer since August.

When Mr Ragoonath announced in Tuesday’s press conference that the player, in company with his mother, had since indicated it was not a sexual assault complaint, what transpired thereafter was unacceptable.

Mr Ragoonath notified journalists present that the ‘new’ matter was now before the board’s disciplinary committee, but refused to clarify what those new circumstances were, although berating the local and regional media for getting the report of sexual abuse wrong in the first place.

In effect therefore, the public now has more questions than answers based on information previously in the public domain.

Herein lies the complicated mess in which the TTCB now finds itself. In what little Mr Ragoonath did explain, he said the player did make a complaint but it was not over sexual misconduct by the official; that the matter was not reported to the Children’s Authority because the player was 18, nor was it reported to the police and that the official who was accused sought advice from a lawyer and spoke through the lawyer in denying the sex abuse claim. The TTCB also stands accused of being forced to act by the media’s reportage of it, having not done anything before those reports broke, having claimed they only caught sight of the complaint letter in October, although it was written immediately upon the player’s return from a tournament in July.

Needless to say, Mr Ragoonath has left more questions than answers on a very sensitive matter.

Abuse of children left in the care of adults of any kind is indefensible. When it is done by people in the sporting fraternity it is even worse.

This is because many such adults—among them coaches, managers, physiotherapists and trainers—wield a lot of influence and share many close moments with young and old athletes alike in the course of their exploits, because of the gamut of emotions which sport take those athletes through.

Only recently we have had the accounts of former professional footballers in England, who finally came out to tell their stories of sexual abuse by coaches while in their youth. We would have read of the trauma they experienced and of how it deeply has affected their emotional lives to this day.

We are also familiar with similar scandals which rocked the US sport fraternity. Importantly here though, is how the authorities, including the police, quickly moved to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.

This is why we hope the TTCB is being forthright in how it is dealing with this matter and not closing ranks to protect the official, since only they and the parties involved, who remain unnamed, are aware of the truth in the matter. The trust of young athletes now lies in the balance based on this current case.