In his new volume of poetry, A Mural by the Sea, Dawad Philip’s poetic genius is reflected not only in word choice and visualisation, but also in the precise rendering of experience at once unabashedly parochial and infinitely complex. His unravelling stemming from where he recognises himself most viscerally, which appears to be his native island country of T&T and New York City, the poet is unerring.

The collection opens with the title poem, the first stanza foretelling a musicality throughout:

“The last train of the old calypso rots in the round by the convent.

Band passing:
the woman with fogged glasses is fanning
the woman with the crooked wig is fanning
the woman in grey kicked off her shoes
the woman in white kicked off her shoes
the woman in brown kicked off her shoes.”

The opening stanza is remarkable, a tribute to women and to Carnival, rendered in deceptively mundane language and signaling matters which are in fact both exceedingly complex and inexhaustible.

Thus begins a book length odyssey, the recitation by a contemporary bard with the keenest sight imaginable. Philip writes about what he deems significant, intuited through a sophistication and a worldliness kept in tow. His mastery is apparent throughout:

“We meet at the steel margin of the soul between hill and sea, at the edge of memory, on an old map of the world...”

Philip’s language is descriptive, but not Whitmanesque. Rather, it reveals a kinetic topography and a variegated material culture, a complexity spawned by cultural admixture and, to a lesser extent, genetic diversity.

The poet is on an intimate basis with all of his actors and is able to “recite these full biographies.” His diligent observation of the life particulars of the tribe, coupled with a narcotic annotation of island topography achieves the sublime and is well beyond the parameters of what is generally attempted in geographic description in the Post-Modern Period of poetry in English.

Reading this volume, one notes a stubbornness, an unyielding insistence on accuracy, on minutiae, on the aberrant and the sorrowful juxtaposed with the familial, he tribal, the ceremonial, the aesthetic, ritualistic, the magical, the spiritual, the traditional. Life’s transience resurfaces throughout, demonstrating a remarkable capacity to relate unrelated phenomena. This is perhaps partially due to the fluidity of islanders commuting regularly between the Caribbean and settlements in the United States, notably in Brooklyn, New York, where Philip raised his children.

Tonight is a heart-stopping poem, subtitled: On a theme from Pete Hamill. Philip reiterates a discussion by the renowned NYC journalist thusly:

“The youth who will die
tonight woke like anyone else
this morning drank tea ate doubles
laughed to hide the truth,
watched the rain and clouds
cloak the sky with the long
darkness of the season.

Philip’s depth of humanity, is on stark display here, his profound linguistic sense depicting a rare insight.”

• Ruth-Miriam Garnett is a poet and novelist based in St Louis, Missouri

BOOK INFO
A Mural By The Sea
Dawad Philip
Anaphora Press
76 pgs 2017

A REVIEW BY RUTH MIRIAM GARNETT

Green Screen, the Environmental Film Festival, is set to open on Thursday with Death by a Thousand Cuts, a gripping documentary thriller surrounding a murder on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

With stunning cinematography and poignant intimacy, Death By A Thousand Cuts examines the unsolved 2012 murder of a Dominican ranger, amidst the battle to save DR’s protected forests from being depleted by Haitian nationals who scour the hills for fuel.

The story is told from several viewpoints, examining the perspectives of people on all sides of the controversy.

In doing so it takes on issues of xenophobia, human rights, deforestation, and poverty, and shows the catastrophic consequences that can occur as a result.

Director Jake Kheel will be present for the screening, a release said.

Each year, Green Screen’s opening films set the tone for the festival, with inspiring, eye-opening and relevant movies that foster discussion and action. The Opening Night screening is its major annual fund-raiser, allowing other scheduled films to be screened for free to the public. The film will be followed by a reception where film fans, activists, policy makers, business people and members of the public can chat and network.

The festival runs from November 2 – 10, with free film screenings, panel discussions, guest filmmakers and special events. This year, the festival’s theme is In Deep, signifying the urgency of the need to take action, in the face of climate disasters in our region, for a more sustainable future.

Green Screen’s Opening Night screening of Death by a Thousand Cuts takes place at 6 pm at Digicel IMAX.

Admission costs $200.

For full info on films, trailers, panels and events, visit greenscreentt.com.

“More than ever, theatre arts is needed in T&T. Telling stories through the avenue of drama and playmaking can be used as a vehicle to process fear, anger, shame and neglect, and begin the transformation of frustration and suffering into creative action and the blossoming of organic problem-solving intelligence.”

The words of New Play Festival Committee chairman Michael Cherrie as he addressed an audience at the media launch of the New Play Festival 2017. The Festival which begins today, will again be producing in workshop format three plays which have never before been staged, following a four-month-long process of script development and play building. The plays to be staged this year are Tony Hall’s One From Ten

Leaves Nought, Aryana Mohammed’s Sunrise Love to Sunset Hate and Toni Lima’s Bedbugs.

Cherrie said the plan is for the Festival to have a long life as it serves the purpose of bringing the stories of the people of T&T and by extension the Caribbean to life. “Because of the nature of our work, it’s not the story that Nigel R Khan sells on their shelves, it’s the story that comes to life in the same way we look at life, how we see stories unfold in front of our faces every day. That’s our task, bringing our stories to life.”

Cherrie extended thanks to the community which had helped the Festival come to life, including sponsors Republic Bank Limited, production partners Trinidad Theatre Workshop, the T&T Performing Arts Network and the National Drama Association of T&T; St George’s College, Barataria, St Francois Girls’ College, Belmont, San Juan North Secondary; Edwin Erminy, Raymer Diaz and the students at The Scene Shop of the Academy for the Performing Arts, UTT and the Princess Elizabeth Centre.

Founder of Festival producers Playwrights Workshop Trinbago, famed thespian Tony Hall, reminded the audience that the event is a continuation of work begun by pioneering theatre practitioners Beryl McBurnie, Errol Hill, Errol John and Eric Roach in the 1950’s. “We’re very bad at carrying out these legacies. If you want to do something, it’s so easy to just read the history and pick up a baton and keep it going.” He made special mention of Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, as he said it was their hiring of him to create a Playwrights Workshop in Hartford that inspired him to also create on in T&T.

Hall called on the young theatre practitioners participating in the Festival to pursue projects for themselves rather than working for someone. “Enjoy the work, it must be fun! It is called play for a purpose, playing for a purpose, we are playwrights for a purpose, we create plays, forget work, we want to play!”

INFO

Tickets for the event cost $50 per play and are now available. The New Play Festival 2017 runs from November 2 – 5 and 10 – 12 at the Big Black Box, Murray Street, Port-of-Spain. For more information, find Annual New Play Festival 2017 on Facebook and email newplayfestivaltt@hotmail.com.

SCHEDULE

Date: November 2
Opening Reception
Time: 7 pm
One from Ten Leaves Nought
Time: 8 pm
Date: November 3
One From Ten Leaves Nought
Time: 8 pm
Date: November 4
Sunrise Love To Sunset Hate & Panel discussion
Time: 6.30 pm
One From Ten Leaves Nought
Time: 9.15 pm & Panel Discussion
Date: November 5
Bedbugs & Panel Discussion
Time: 6.30 pm
One From Ten Leaves Nought & Panel Discussion
Time: 8:45 pm
Date: November 10
Bedbugs
Time: 7.30 pm
Sunrise Love to Sunset Hate
Time: 9.15 pm
Date: November 11
Bedbugs &Panel Discussion
Time: 7 pm
Sunrise Love to Sunset Hate & Panel Discussion
Time: 9.15 pm
Date: November 12
Bedbugs & Panel Discussion
Time: 6.30 pm
Sunrise Love To Sunset Hate &Panel Discussion
Time: 8.45 pm
ONE FROM TEN LEAVES NOUGHT by Tony Hall
Director - Marcus Waldron
Dramaturge - Rawle Gibbons
SUNRISE LOVE TO SUNSET HATE by Aryana Mohammed
Director - Che Rodriguez
Dramaturge - Ronald Amoroso
BEDBUGS by Toni Lima
Director - Michailean Taylor
Dramaturge - Dr Helmer Hilwig

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) Adam Montserin admits to being “extremely shocked, concerned and saddened,” by his dismissal from the SporTT.

Speaking to the Guardian Media Sports yesterday after a news release from SporTT that announced that five employees have been dismissed, Montserin said, “I contributed a significant amount to the achievement of the organisation in the seven months I was there, including international competitions that were successfully executed without any problems.”

Other workers who spoke with Guardian Media Sports admitted that they were also trying to “wrap their minds around the dismissals,” and admitted to being shocked.

The Guardian Media Sports was told that emails were sent to the eight workers who were on administrative leave since July, at around 9:30 pm on Tuesday evening, inviting them to a meeting yesterday morning.

At the meeting they were given letters of dismissal.

Four of them Jeewan Kowlessar, Naveen Maraj, Anthony Blake and Montserin were told that the company had lost confidence in them, while the lone woman employee Mellie Price was given no reason for her dismissal.

Three others Darryl Stewart, Raj Ramtahal and Travis Watson were told their contracts would run their course, to December and January, and they would be paid, but their contracts would not be renewed.

According to the release, “The Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago has been advised that the PWC forensic audit is substantially complete and a draft reports had been submitted to the Ministry of the Attorney General. As you are aware, the audit falls under the auspices of the Ministry of the Attorney General.”

It continued, “In relation to the eight employees who were sent on administrative leave, a total of five employees have been dismissed. These employees were dismissed for various reasons but some were dismissed for conduct during the audit as well as certain findings made during the audit.”

The Guardian Media Sports was told that the employees have all sought legal advice and that the company acted against the employees although the forensic audit is not yet completed.

Thousands descended on the Queen’s Park Savannah last Saturday to re-ignite the flickering embers of the spirit of the West Indies Federation and Caribbean unity when the Caribbean Strong hurricane relief benefit was held. Reminiscent of Woodstock back in the sixties and the more recent Machel Monday and Fantastic Friday events, locals joined regional patrons to turn on their heart lights for the beleaguered peoples of Barbuda and Dominica.The Caribbean Strong Hurricane Relief Concert & Telethon featured some of the biggest artistes of the region including Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, Destra, Olatunji, Kees Dieffenthaller, SuperBlue, Rikki Jai and Ravi B. The 12-hour production was hosted by Nikki Crosby, Tommy Joseph and Philomena, and amongst its other acts were recent young awards-recipient Aaron Duncan, Nialah Blackman, 3 Canal, Olatunji, Dwayne Bravo, Shal Marshall, Iwer George, KV Charles, Imij & Co’s Malaika Valentine, Karma, Nisha B, Sunny Bling and Hypa Hoppa.

One of the programme’s poignant moments came at its end when Montano introduced Dominican artiste Tasha P who was featured in a heart-rending video about the plight of her compatriots. She also sang a duet with Montano, a song originally intended for the soca superstar and Destra.

Destra displayed her big heart by performing with her leg in an orthopedic strap, now part of her wardrobe after sustaining injuries during a performance in Bermuda in August.

Syri, daughter of Bunji and Fay Ann, shared the stage with her parents during their performance and towards the show’s finale Bunji also joined Montano on stage to perform their hit single Buss Head.

In an earlier intervew, Caribbean Strong official Tony Chow Lin On stated that Saturday’s event will not be a one-off production. There was a Caribbean Strong concert in Antigua the next day, and the team and has plans to stage similar events in the future.

Thousands were also in attendance for two nights for the 2017 edition of Oktoberfest staged at Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook. Apart from the numerous booths adorning the park, the main stage also featured performances from a number of artistes including Orlando Octave, Ravi B and Kees.

Extempore warfare tomorrow

Six Extempore monarchs, a reigning Humour Calypso Monarch and a past National Calypso Monarch are billed to perform at the SWWTU Hall on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, tomorrow night when Tuco (North Zone) and The Extempore Committee stages Extemporama 2017.This is the 12th presentation of Extemporama, the brainchild of Mark John (calypsonian Contender), chairman of the Tuco North Zone.

John has partnered with the North Zone Executive in producing this event which has evolved into a staple on the Calypso History Month calendar.

Tomorrow’s event is being held in tribute to late cultural icon Mervyn Telfer, a past former committee member, MC and calypso aficionado, and the programme is a virtual face-off between extempore exponents representing Tuco’s North, South and East regions.

Representing the North will be Black Sage, Contender, Brother B and Cutty Ranks as well as Lady Africa, Lingo, Myron B and Dion Diaz (East); and, Gypsy, Brian London, Short Pants and Abebele (South).

Showtime is promptly at 8 pm and tickets are available at Cleve’s, Crosby’s and all Tuco offices.

Scouting for talent in south

Talent Expression 2017 is off and running. The 16th edition of this premiere South talent competition, hosted by the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation, kicked off with the preliminary stage of the competition held on October 22 at the Southern Marines Pan Palais, Southern Main Road, Marabella. Seventeen semi-finalists will face the judges on Sunday, at the same venue at 7 pm.

The young ladies of the Kumasu Cultural Performers dance troupe of Marabella are leading the way into the semi-finals, closely followed by veteran vocalist Deryck Hinds, and two outstanding young pan musicians in Tyeesha Alexander and Akeem Cyrus.

But the frontrunners have to keep a close eye on veteran vocalist Lystra Nurse, the exciting young dance troupe from Debe, Neeshana Dance Academy, and Caleb Hinds recently crowned winner National Action Cultural Committee Emancipation Calypso Competition 2017.

Any contestant in a talent competition of this nature has to be also wary of vocalist Bernard Brereton and the Maco Media Comedy crew and other contestants who may be seen by some as dark horses in the race but who are preparing to upset the front runners as they battle to secure one of the ten spots in the Grand Final to be held on November 19.

Tickets for the Grand Final are available at the Pan Palais, from members of the committee and members of the Southern Marines Steel Orchestra.

Talent Expression 2017 semi-finalists

Kumasu Cultural Performers
Deryck Hinds
Tyeesha Alexander
Akeem Cyrus
Lystra Nurse
Neeshana Dance Academy
Caleb Hinds
Bernard Brereton
Keisha Cobham
Joshua Hinds
Ronald Harrington
Joanne Quamina Julien
Maco Media Comedy
Kerry Ann Alexis
Gwendolyn Blackburn
Patrice Alves
Mark Francis

Come Saturday, Yogo Events is hosting a jazz music fund-raising concert at St Anthony’s College, Westmoorings. Billed as VB Under the Stars, the event is headlined by Vaughnette Bigford, R’kardo St Von, QED (Quite Exquisitely Done) the talented tenor trio of Raymond Edwards, Nigel Floyd and Edward Cumberbatch, retro kaiso exponent David Bereaux, Music Connection vocalist Stacey Sobers and the St Anthony’s College Band.

Patrons are promised an evening of soothing jazz, fusion and music by these extremely talented artistes and musicians. It will offer avid music and jazz fans the opportunity to experience and enjoy a variety of music and jazz stylistics by their favourite local musicians and artistes.

Bigford is renowned for performances that simply explode with character. This La Brea diva has an energy she spins, weaves and intertwines that mesmerise audiences through her soulful and magical aura.

Jazz buffs are still speaking of Bigford’s performances at North Coast Jazz in Blanchisseuse and the Jazz Artistes on the Greens earlier this year.

New York-based St Von, a powerful baritone will be performing his own unique, eclectic style of jazz fusion.

Possessing three of this country’s most magnificent male voices, QED will treat patrons to snippets of their recently concluded show down memory lane. Saturday’s show can be seen as a teaser to QED’s One Night in December production, scheduled for December 16 in Santa Cruz.

Since making an impression as a teen on Party Time, Sobers has etched her name in the soca world with the timeless classic Lemme Know When Yuh Coming in 2001, and music lovers look forward to each of her performances. Her career has been punctuated by her becoming a front line singer for the band Island Vibe and an uninterrupted member of the Divas Calypso Cabaret for the last decade, initially as a performer and more recently as a manager also.

Outside of carnival Sobers is a student pursuing an Associate Degree Fine and Performing Arts at Costaatt and is a regular act at Kaiso Blues Cafe in Newtown with the band Music Connection. She performs music from a variety of genres as this three-piece live band constantly reinvents its offering. Sobers has also had the pleasure of performing from time to time with Chantal Esdelle and Moyenne.

This week Yogo Events director Dawn Cameron told Trinidad Guardian: “This event is not only about the entertainment and our talented vocalists and musicians but we also aim to raise funds to assist breast cancer survivors and a mentorship initiative for our young women and girls who are in need for this kind of support. It added that the effort can be defined as ‘a night of jazz for a cause’.”

Cameron added: “Through proceeds we will support the After Cancer Patient Care Initiative for Breast Cancer Survivors conducted by Ms Brafit, run by Nicole Joseph-Chin, and the Reach Mentorship Programme, an initiative facilitated by Afett (Association of Female Executives in T&T).”

She continued: “The second initiative, the Reach Mentorship Programme, also done through Afett, mentors our young girls between the ages of 13-18 in communities and organisations throughout T&T. With this support and training mentorship assists our young women in understanding life challenges, what they need to do or changes that they need to make to achieved and reach their goals. The mentors who give of their personal time and expertise (free of charge) continue to motivate our young women, not only helping them to chart that course to attaining their individual goals, but also helping them to build self-esteem and to garner self-worth.”

Showtime for VB Under the Stars is 5 pm.

Tuco south-based calypso tent Kaiso Showkase rocked last weekend for Calypso History Month when it staged A Trip Down Memory Lane at San Fernando City Hall.

Few artistes have the distinction of receiving a standing ovation before their performance but few artistes can stand in the shoes of veteran bard Bro Valentino (Emrold Phillips) and have this accolade.

Performing before an excited audience of calypso lovers, an emotional Bro Valentino was greeted by a spontaneous outpouring of appreciation and love as he got ready to deliver his all-time, great classic Life is a Stage.

The entire production show was a dazzling display of artistic and production excellence as Kaiso Showkase continued its observance of Calypso History Month with a classic vintage kaiso event. The near-filled auditorium was treated to classic after classic from some of our past luminaries in calypso performed by some of the present greats.

Opening act De Masso (Terry Marcelle), once a regular in the now defunct Police Calypso Monarch competition, immediately opened a steam of unending encores with a powerful interpretation of Pretender’s Never Ever Worry, and so it went for the entire evening. It was almost as if the calypsonians had saved their best for this unique kaiso showcase.

Mr Mack’s interpretation of the great exponent of humour Mighty Cypher had patrons singing along and when he finished it was time for Hezekiah Joseph to put down a very close interpretation of Sparrow’s Saltfish. Hamidullah’s performance of Lord Brynner’s Happy Independence evoked maximum crowd participation. There was no respite as artistes delivered the classics. Rounding off an excellent first half was youngest ever National Calypso Queen Abbi Blackman performing the international classic Watch Out My Children by Ras Shorty I, her father, to the absolute delight of an audience which by that time was in full voice.

After a short intermission, the second half took off in fine style with a medley of Zandolie’s gems performed by Mistah Shak (Selvon Noel). It was really a welcome revelation to many who are accustomed to Mistah Shak’s serious, riveting style.

Up next was Queen Victoria (Victoria Cooper) who responded to Zandolie’s machismo with a classy and powerful delivery of Singing Sandra’s Die With My Dignity. Rando’s performance of Lord Blakie’s Hold de Pussy, Duane O’Connor performing Duke’s What is Calypso and an emotional performance by Gary Cordner of Rootsman’s Rock Me, were the prelude for the evergreen Cardinal, who made the City Hall his playground. Cardinal was rambunctious with his rib-tickling performance of Lord Kitchener’s Miss Tourist.

“The People’s Calypsonian” Bro Valentino followed Cardinal, and it was clear the audience got more than their money’s worth. There was even more as Crazy ventured on stage to perform a pore-raising version of King Austin’s Progress.

San Fernando favourite Ras Kommanda held the audience with Shadow’s classic Dingolay. The entire City Hall auditorium by then was transformed into a calypso party as patrons abandoned their seats to dance the evening away. Always an orator, Crazy appropriately summarised the evening when he prefaced his performance by commenting on the deep love for calypso by the people of South Trinidad.

Commendable performances also came from Hya J, Joseph Adams, Nikko, Lystra Nurse and Kaiso Nobbie. Satisfied patrons commended the organisers for a punctual start at and a well organised production.

The night’s host Mr T of Wack Radio proved to be a very competent emcee and T&T could well be in for some musical thrills from the Kaiso Showkase tent and its emerging professional outfit next year. The tent has red-circled November 26 for its Carnival 2018 auditions.

(Reporting by Peter Ray Blood)

RS/RR Productions, the producers of the play Man Callaloo, closes its theatre season for 2017 with what they are calling “the wisecracking, broadly comic and sneakily sentimental and at times scandalous comedy” What My Best Friend Did To Me?!

What My Best Friend Did To Me?! premiered at Cipriani College last Sunday to an appreciative audience that some said “topped Man Callaloo as the best play of 2017”.This weekend, What My Best Friend Did To

Me?! heads to Sapa, San Fernando for a one night run on November 4 at 8.30 pm.

What My Best Friend Did to Me is set in the present and centers on a 30-year-old friendship among four women. One of the four committed a robbery and they are afraid that the police will tun up and arrest them all. The arrival of the police heralds a great deal of comedy. According to the producers, there is also a “slightly intense and neurotic daughter and revelations that will leave the audience astounded.”

“I love this play and this cast. The comic timing, genuine emotions and honest reactions played out by the cast are essentials to making this great story entertaining,” said director Richard Ragoobarsingh. “It’s going to be a wild ride that will have everyone who attends, exit pleased and laughing,” he said.

What My Best Did to Me?! features Debra Boucaud Mason, Penelope Spencer, Zo-Mari Tanker, Ria Ali and David Serrette as Bobby.

Info 

What My Best Did to Me?! runs for one night at Sapa, San Fernado on November 4 from 8.30 pm.
Tickets are now available at the Sapa Box Office and other advertised outlets.
For information, call 657-4380 - ext 6007, 338 6024 and 744 7581.

Radio journalist and poet Sterling Henderson will perform selected works at a live taping on Sunday at Trevor’s Edge, St John’s Road, St Augustine.

The recording will take place ahead of Songshine Open Mic Series, a monthly forum for up-and-coming artists.

Reggae band Nex Chapta will be the special guest performers at the show. Poets Ty Richardson and Krys Darcelle Dumas will also be featured. Songhsine is hosted by singer-songwriter Gillian Moor.

Henderson has previously performed at Kaiso Blues Cafe and True Talk No Lie. He is currently embarking on an EP collection of recorded readings to be produced by Future Crab Studios.

More info 

Admission to the taping is free. Admission to Songshine costs $40
after 8 pm. UWI/tertiary students: $20.

It is as nail-biting as it can get in the final round of matches in the Premier Division of the Shell/First Citizen Secondary Schools Football League.

Three teams can seal the title today including leader St Anthony’s College, second-place Naparima College and Presentation College, which is in third place on the 15-team standings.

All three teams are active this afternoon from 3.40 pm with St Anthony’s looking to hold off hosts St Mary’s College at CIC grounds, Naparima will be challenged by Trinity College Moka down at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin and “Pres” travels to battle Fatima.

A ruling last week moved St Anthony’s College to the top of the standing on goal difference over Naparima College. The Tigers, with 30 points and a superior goal difference of 22, will travel to CIC Grounds in St Clair, needing a victory to maintain this position which would earn them the silverware.

Naparima, also on 30 points with a goal difference of 17, can change this outcome with a victory by a sizeable margin when it hosts second-to-last Trinity College Moka at Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin while a draw or loss will favour the Presentation boys, who will definitely need a win to ruffle the placings of the top two teams.

Also this afternoon under fire defending champion Shiva Boys Hindu College, who has been hardest hit by a number of lost battles in the SSFL boardroom, will face off against St Benedict’s in Barrackpore.

There are speculations circulating that Shiva Boys Hindu College may face further sanctions from the Shell/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL).

The Premier Division defending champion is awaiting a decision by that the SSFL’s Disciplinary and Appeals Committees that may be docked points for failing to properly register two players, central midfielder Kierron Mason and left-back Matthew Beal.

Beal was supposedly never registered properly up to this date, so if Shiva may have to forfeit all the matches he played in, that will calculate to a 17-point deduction. This means that the Penal-based school may face relegation from fourth to last with just six points on the 15-team table which could see them demoted to the Championship Division for the next season from its fourth place on the 15-team standings, to last with six points.

Shiva Boys principal Dexter Sakal in an interview with Guardian Media Sports yesterday said it was an oversight rather than a deliberate attempt to violate the rule but is still awaiting the final word from the committee.

“We didn’t pay attention to that rule,” said Sakal. “We don’t think we infringed it, so it depends if the disciplinary committee says we infringed that rule, the final result is still pending because I hasn’t received any word on it.”

If the SSFL Appeals Committee rules in favour of QRC and Fatima College after the Port of Spain school challenged a decision by the SSFL’s disciplinary committee to give Shiva Boys a warning for the illegal use of Mason. The talented midfielder who played for T&T Super League outfit Marabella Family Crisis Centre was required to submit a transfer certificate from his club to register in the SSFL.

“I believe we have legit case not to get penalised,” said Sakal.

Manager Sheldon Maharaj, who also handles the team’s administrative duties, with Sakal said his school provided the SSFL with imperial evidence that Beal did not play for the Angels though he was listed to play on September 2.

“It was said that Beal also played for the Angels on September which was the same date he played for the school against Trinity College Moka. We provided the SSFL with documented evidence from the game but they still don’t want to believe us, so I don’t know what else to say more than they just want us out their league,” Maharaj said.

On Thursday, Sakal suggested that legal proceedings would follow the decision to award QRC and Fatima points and goals from their appeal on Thursday last.

However, yesterday he had a change of mind saying: “I have already made up my mind that I wouldn’t go that way after all, I said we committed an infringement in certain ways. We were not fairly treated but in the end we compromised ourselves.

“Right now we are focused on the Intercol and coming out with something.”

The school has already appealed a recent decision to award St Anthony’s College the win, in spite of the fact that their protest was done outside the 72-hour time frame.

Efforts to contact SSFL president William Wallace and general secretary Azaad Mohammed-Khan proved futile.

A standings has been circulating on the coaches Whatsapp group with Presentation College as the leader and Shiva in last place.

Team

P W D L GF GA Pts
Presentation 13 10 2 1 37 11 32
St Anthony’s 13 9 3 1 42 20 30
Naparima 13 9 3 1 30 13 30
San Juan N 14 7 5 2 38 16 26
Fatima 13 8 1 4 21 14 25
St Augustine 14 6 1 7 26 28 19
Trinity East 14 5 3 6 22 20 18
Carapichaima E 14 5 3 6 23 21 18
QRC 14 5 3 6 25 25 18
St Mary’s 13 4 4 5 26 27 16
Trinity Moka 13 4 2 7 18 30 14
St Benedict’s 13 3 4 6 19 27 13
Speyside High 14 3 1 10 11 44 10
Signal Hill 14 2 3 9 13 28 9
Shiva Boys HC 13 2 0 11 6 34 6

T&T Red Force was up against it at the end of the second day of their Digicel PCL clash against the Jamaica Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy yesterday.

After running leather for a day and half, as Scorpions made 431 all out, the Red Force Franchise closed the day on 133 for four — still 298 runs in arrears.

This represented a recovery, as they slipped to 38 for four early in their reply, before the solid Yannic Carriah and the free-flowing Tion Webster, staged a recovery that has so far added 95 runs for the fifth wicket.

When play resumes on the third day today, Carriah will re-start on 52 not out and Webster on 49. Carriah has so far faced 107 deliveries in the 162 minutes he has batted, striking eight fours.

Webster in the 112 minutes he has been at the crease, has negotiated 88 deliveries, eight of which he has sent to the fence. Opening bowler Durval Green putting the ball on the right spot, has so far taken 3/36.

Earlier, a record fifth wicket stand between centurion Fabien Allen and Brandon King, took Jamaica to their impressive score. Both batsmen got together at 85 for four and added 195 runs - which surpassed the previous best for the fifth wicket by Jamaica against T&T, which stood at 166. This was achieved by Brandan Nash and Wavell Hinds in 2011 at UWI St. Augustine.

King fell early yesterday adding just seven to his overnight 91, when Marlon Richards trapped him leg before wicket. However, before he left he saw Allen bring up the first ever First Class century at the Brian Lara Academy, as the right hander was fluent in his early stroke play.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE VS SCORPIONS

Scorpions Inns
T Griffith c Solozano b Charles.......................................21
G Garvey c Jangoo b Primus.............................................1
A Fudadin lbw Webster....................................................18
B King lbw Richards..........................................................98
P Palmer lbw Primus.........................................................21
F Allen not out..................................................................169
D Green c Jangoo b Khan................................................29
D Bulli run out....................................................................28
R Morris c Khan b Charles................................................12
J Dawes c Jangoo b Khan..................................................2
P Harrison c Primus b Charles.........................................13
Extras 14b, 3lb, 2w, 1nb.................................................20
Total all out.................................................432
Fall of wkts: 2, 40, 44, 85, 280, 331, 385, 401, 406, 432.
Bowling: M Richards 14-1-45-1, R Primus 20.4-4-69-2, B Charles 25.3-4-65-3, T Webster 10-0-34-1, I Khan 40-7-127-2, K Pierre 31-5-75-0.
T&T Red Force Inns
J Solozano c Allen b Green................................................1
A Jangoo c Allen b Dawes...............................................13
Y Carriah not out................................................................52
E Nicholson c Morris b Green............................................2
D Ramdin c Palmer b Green............................................12
T Webster not out..............................................................49
Extras 1lb, 3nb......................................................................4
Total for 4 wkrs.............................................133
Fall of wkts: 1, 19, 22, 38.
Bowling: J Dawes 10-1-36-1, D Green 12-2-36-3, G Garvey 1-0-11-0, P Harrison 8-1-18-0, D Bulli 6-0-24-0, F Allen 2-0-7-0.
At Darren Sammy National Stadium: Windwards Volcanoes 154 all out & 54/1 vs Guyana Jaguars 357 all out (Vishaul Singh 119, Anthony Bramble 90, Shefane Rutherford 51, Chanderpaul Hemraj 50.).

LONDON—Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has moved into the top 20 of the ICC World bowling rankings, following his strong performance in the drawn second Test against Zimbabwe which ended Thursday. The right-armer jumped five spots to a career-best 18th to become the only West Indies player in the top 20 and the highest ranked from the region.

Gabriel bowled with impressive pace to snare four wickets on an unresponsive Queens Sports Club pitch, as West Indies were frustrated by Zimbabwe in their attempts to pull off a clean sweep of the two-Test series.

He finished the series with five wickets after picking up just one in the first Test which West Indies won by 117 runs at the same venue.

Gabriel, who climbed to 18th earlier this year, has emerged as the spearhead of the Windies attack of late and now has 76 wickets from 30 Tests.

New ball partner, Kemar Roach, also enjoyed movement up the rankings, rising four places to 23rd after claiming five wickets in the match. He ended with eight wickets in the series and has now taken 19 wickets in five matches since his return to the Test arena last August, following a near two-year absence.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo slipped one place to 22nd after getting four wickets in the second Test. The top ten in the bowling rankings, headed by England’s Jimmy Anderson, remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, West Indies wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich jumped 17 places following his 103 in the earlier this week which represented his maiden Test hundred. The innings helped the 26-year-old Barbadian rise to 83rd in the batting rankings.

Captain Jason Holder, with whom Dowrich shared a West Indies record eighth wicket stand of 212 in the second Test, rose five places to 57th following his 110 – his second Test hundred.

Opener Kieran Powell, who struck 90 in the game, is now 63rd after climbing five spots but fellow opener Kraigg Brathwaite, previously the only West Indies batsman in the top 20, fell three places to 21 after scoring just 32 in the Caribbean side’s only innings. Australian Steve Smith leads an unchanged top 10.

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe—Head coach Stuart Law has praised West Indies’ determination on Thursday’s final day of the second Test, despite watching the Caribbean side’s quest for a series sweep end in frustration.

The Windies began the day with high hopes of victory but Zimbabwe batted all day at Queens Sports Club to ensure a stalemate and thwart the visitors’ dreams of a 2-0 series result.

However, Law said though the day proved a frustrating one, West Indies never let their heads drop and continued to give a 100 per cent effort.

“I think you saw right at the death there were a few guys diving in the outfield stopping boundaries – you can’t fault our commitment,” said the Australian.

“We were out there trying to win a Test match. I believe there was just one team out there trying to win it and we weren’t quite able to do that.

“As I said, I can’t fault the commitment of our players, can’t fault the preparation, the work from the support staff – everybody has worked really hard to get this one-nil victory and we are going to celebrate a series win.”

West Indies produced a great effort to lead Zimbabwe by 122 runs, after recovering from 230 for seven in their first innings to pile up 448 all out – with captain Jason Holder (110) and wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich (103) both getting hundreds.

The hosts then fought back from eight for two at lunch on the fourth day and then 46 for four before tea, to end the day on 140 for four, but only 18 runs ahead. Sikandar Raza, with 89, and wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva, 71 not out, carried the fight for Zimbabwe on the final day as the hosts surrendered just three wickets en route to 301 for seven in their second innings.

Though Zimbabwe lie bottom of the Test rankings and have never beaten West Indies in a Test, Law said they had proven formidable opponents, especially in the second Test.

“Zimbabwe are full of quality cricketers. To come here and beat them in their own patch is a tremendous effort,” he pointed out.

“Our boys in the first Test, we went about our business and won it in four days. This one was a closer contest … our boys we toiled hard. We got into a position of strength and [yesterday] we just weren’t able to get those breakthroughs.

“It’s tough enough taking 20 wickets in a Test match and when a pitch offers you nothing on the last day [it’s even more difficult]. Credit to Zimbabwe they played brilliantly and fought really hard but I’m super proud of Jason (Holder) and the way he’s led this team and the way our boys have played.”

Dowrich entered the series on a poor run of form and his accomplished hundred under pressure managed to ease the speculation over his place in the side, while leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who struggled on the recent tour of England, finished the series with 13 wickets to be voted Man-of-the-Series.

Law said he was proud of the way both players had rebounded, after going through difficult periods.

Trinidad and Tobago- born Rajesh Latchoo, the head coach of the Dominica Men’s national team, is today still coming to terms with the horrifying experience of Hurricane Maria which followed Hurricane Irma that saw the island ravaged by the most powerful storm in its history with many buildings were completely destroyed and virtually none were left.

Latchoo, a former T&T Women’s Under 15 head coach and senior women’s team assistant coach, took up his role in Dominica in March of this year.

“If you did not know God was in charge before, you would have certainly known then. My wife and son were with me during the hurricane. We prayed throughout the hurricane.

We were frightened especially my son because at any time you felt that something could happen and you can die but for some reason there was always this feeling inside that God was protecting us and we would be okay,” Latchoo said as he recalled the life-changing experience.

“With one hand each from my wife and I on our mattress barrier, we battled it to keep Maria away from our trembling 4 year old son who was cradled in our next arm. As Maria pushed on the spring mattress, we pushed back. For God was our coach that night and he never let us down.

For all we could have done was pray. The most humbling experience for me was to know that when the day broke the morning after the storm, God was trying to show us that there was no difference between us...no rich man or poor man, black man or white man, just humans.

And if we don’t put our differences aside and work together to better ourselves and help each other then God may not be so kind the next time,” added the ex-Caledonia AIA coach. Latchoo returned to Trinidad last week to gather supplies to take back to Dominica and was also grateful to the T&T Defence Force for their efforts in Dominica since the hurricane. Latchoo explained that the main venue in Dominica, Windsor Cricket stadium, had been severely damaged.

“While in Trinidad this week I have embarked on a personal mission to gather school supplies for the kids on the Dominica national youth teams as I know things like school supplies and food items would have been lost in the hurricane.

I have been ably assisted by my alma-mater - St Stephen’s College and my boyhood club Princes Town Youths. Some schools reopen next week and I hope to fill at least one drop in the bucket when I return” Latchoo added. The Dominican Football Association, according to Latchoo, is making efforts to get its programmes up and running despite many of its staff and players suffering major losses.

“ The people have showed my family and I nothing but total love and respect. They are a very kind and resilient people.

I am confident over time that they will become better and stronger that they were before,” Latchoo concluded.