Murciélagos winger Shahdon Winchester will come in as a replacement for captain Kevin Molino for today’s key international friendly encounter with Guyana at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain Couva from 7:30pm this evening.

Molino, the scorer of one of two goals for the T&T Soca Warriors in a disappointing 2-2 tie with Grenada at the same venue on Saturday, picked up a knock that has led to coach Dennis Lawrence’s decision to let him sit out of today’s match, which will serve as part of the Warriors’ rebuilding process to conquer the Caribbean once again and prepare a strong team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Winchester joined the Warriors’ camp on Sunday as promised, following his team’s 4-0 triumph over Atlante in the Mexican Ascenso MX.

The former W Connection striker did not score in his team’s victory on Saturday but said he will attempt to continue scoring at the international level. The stocky forward last scored for T&T in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico on October 6 in a 3-1 defeat. His inclusion will strengthen an already depleted TT team that will now have to do without the services of defenders Kevon Villaroel and Mekeil Williams, due to injury.

Meanwhile the Guyanese, nicknamed ‘The Golden Jaguars’ arrived in T&T over a week ago for the encounter with a number of familiar faces to local players and coaches in the T&T Pro League, such as Kelsey Benjamin who scored recently for Morvant Caledonia United in the National FA, goalkeeper Akil Clarke (North-East), Andrew Durant (San Juan Jabloteh) and striker Sheldon Holder of Morvant/Caledonia.

In addition Gregory Richardson and Dwayne Jacob, two ex Morvant/Caledonia players, are also in coach Wayne Dover’s team, as well as Charles Pollard, an assistant coach for Naparima College in the SSFL.

Dover yesterday said his team is in the best shape of its life and looks forward to a very friendly, yet competitive match. He noted that having players currently in the T&T pro league and those who have played in the TT top flight domestic football league in the past, will help his team understand the conditions they will be playing under, as well as the players they will be up against.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 13, CMC – West Indies superstar Chris Gayle was stunningly overlooked in Sunday’s Pakistan Super League draft, as brothers Dwayne and Darren Bravo both landed contracts for the third edition of the tournament slated for the first quarter of next year.

The 38-year-old Jamaican, one of the most sought-after names on the international T20 circuit, was one of 308 overseas players up for grabs but found no takers from among the six franchises, in perhaps the biggest surprise of the auction.One franchise owner, who requested anonymity, told Wisden India that Gayle’s partial availability for the PSL coupled with his poor form in the last Indian Premier League, had made him an unattractive option.

“We were told that Gayle is partially available so that was one of the reasons, but even if he was available we would not have picked him because he is no more the Gayle force he once was,” the official said.

Gayle has had two unflattering seasons in the PSL, managing only 103 runs from five outings in the 2016 edition and 160 runs from nine innings last year.His poor run of form coincided with paltry returns for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, where he scored 227 runs in 10 matches, with just two half-centuries.

Gayle is the only batsman to have passed 10 000 runs in T20s and still boasts the records for the highest score – an unbeaten 175 – and for the most centuries with 18. His partial availability for the PSL is believed to be owing to his commitment to represent West Indies in their World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe next March.

That event is expected to clash with the PSL which has issued tentative dates to franchise owners of February 23 to March 24, 2018. All-rounder Dwayne Bravo had no such issues as he was quickly picked up by the Darren Sammy-led Peshawar Zalmi while his brother Darren, a stylish left-hander, was nabbed by the Multan Sultans.

Darren’s selection raised further speculation over his West Indies future, following his protracted fall-out with Cricket West Indies which subsequently led to his non-selection for the international team.Sultans also went for West Indies left-hander Nicholas Pooran while Quetta Gladiators moved once again to pick up West Indies T20 captain, Carlos Brathwaite.

At Sultans, Darren Bravo and Pooran will join fellow Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies teammate, Kieron Pollard who was retained by the franchise.

Attacking Windies limited overs opener, Evin Lewis, and Andre Fletcher, were claimed by Peshawar Zalmi as their supplementary players – those who can be called on in case other players become unavailable.

CMC

There is no all-weather flat racing today, jumping is a guessing game, due to inaccurate times in the trade paper, Racing Post, and a couple of races, Sunday, seriously compromised integrity of National Hunt sport; amazingly the ‘Post’ didn’t headline them!

Both involved seriously heavily- backed winners which were allowed to make the running without any challenges whatsoever and, not surprisingly, social media reacted with genuine punters disgusted on dedicated forums.

Icantsay was allowed to lead handicappers* over two and three quarter miles of ‘soft to heavy’ Naas and throughout a race-course cameraman was unable to get any kind of field shot; it was impossible, the second favourite was ‘miles’ in front.

Even as the leader approached the final two obstacles the commentator mentioned Icantsay ‘a furlong’ clear!

Anyone with any sense whatsoever knows that a front-runner can’t be caught unless it weakens on desperate surfaces, as I’ve mentioned so often, but none of nine pursuing jockeys appeared to make the slightest significant effort to peg back a 107-rated seven- year-old.

All jockeys were called in, explanations were noted, punters had to accept loss as just one those things; pitfalls far outweigh pleasures when backing horses, after all, but just over an hour later the ‘second leg’ of this remarkable double was completed when odds-on favourite Irish Prophecy was given several lengths start in a two miles hurdle at Sandown.

When the starter waved his flag all stood still as Leighton Aspell, reluctantly, sent the favourite into a clear lead; again, at no stage was there any attempt by jockeys to reduced the leeway, apart from a token effort by 20/1 shot, Trust The Man, three out which quickly fused.

Winning distances, nine and six lengths!

Irish Prophecy was jumping hurdles in public for the first time but hundreds of thousands were wagered on betting exchange Betfair, the true barometer!

Selections 

Huntingdon, 1.10 Cause Toujours;
Lingfield, 1.20 Jubilani (nap-e.w);
Worcester, 2.00 Pulp Fiction (e.w).

Two new champions were crowned in the Tobago Open Table Tennis Championship at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua on Saturday, as veterans Aleena Edwards and Yuvraj Dookram proved that age was just a number.

Edwards a multiple-times national champion winner was made to dig deep to prevail over Linda Partap-Boodhan in the final 9-11, 7-11, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 and 11-8 for the title while Dookram, the tournament’s number#1 seed, got the better of another veteran tennis ace Reeza Burke 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 13-15, 12-10 and 11-7 for his piece of silverware.

Afterwards Edwards said “It was more of a mental and tactical game for me. I was down early in the game but I never lost my confidence. I knew I had to work hard and I did. I had to make several changes to counter her game and in the end it paid off” Edwards said.

Her victory in the final came after an equally testing semi-final encounter that she almost lost to an in-form Brittany Joseph.

Edwards said she know that match was going to be tough for her as Joseph is at the top of her game. She is now hopeful her victory will be used as a confidence booster by many young tennis talent to show that you do not give up if you are down. Edwards won the match 9-11, 13-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 6-11 and 7-11.

In the other semi-final contest Boodhan triumphed over Shreya Maharaj 8-11, 7-11, 17-15, 11-7, 11-6 and 11-6.

Among the men Dookram cruised to the final with a convincing 11-5, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8 and 11-5 victory over Arun Roopnarine while Burke rebounded from a 11-13 lost in the fist set to win the game 11-8, 11-9 and 11-7 for a final berth.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

I have tried in the last week to find appropriate words to describe Mrs Dianne Marshall Holdip, the former assistant Registrar at High Wooding Law School, cultural advocate of the calypso, steelband and mas fraternity, devoted mother, wife and best friend, a nation builder and role model.

Along life’s journey we share time, energy and space with different people for different reasons. At times the reason is best known by the divine and infinite spirit and intelligence. My experience with Mrs Dianne Marshall Holdip was her unwavering and unconditional support for TeamTTO and in particular, the youth and young people wearing the red, white and black.

She always had a quiet word of advice, guidance, encouragement and support when she deemed it appropriate. Her kindness and words of wisdom often came at a time of turbulence when all else seemed part of a maelstrom of anger and spiteful and hurtful vitriol. Her message would shine like a lighthouse in a storm.

Never intrusive. Never overbearing. Sometimes brief, other times very brief as needed. Always timely. Always bringing much needed energy and positive vibes and perspective. Never afraid to contradict when deemed necessary. Always with an intent to foster betterment.

It’s said that you see the true measure of a man or woman when they are faced with adversity. That her outreach didn’t wane in the face of her battle and reckoning is probably her most profound statement.

I recall her expressing how proud she was of the young men on the 4x400m World Championship winning relay team and her message to remind them to sing their national anthem lustily. Anyone who had the privilege and honour to be blessed by her light will have their own memories and thoughts.

Her friendship and messages will be missed. Her unwavering support for TeamTTO, #10golds24 and #futureisfemale will no longer be given tangible expression.

But her passion and loyalty, her deep compassion and caring would never be forgotten.

On behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and Team Trinidad and Tobago I extend heartfelt and deepest condolences to Justice Malcolm Holdip, their children, family, friends and colleagues and all who loved and looked up to Mrs Dianne Marshall Holdip.

From a personal perspective no words can adequately express my profound sadness.

Dear Mrs Holdip, rest in peace. It was an honour and privilege knowing and learning from your wisdom and experience, integrity and dignity, dedication and indomitable character and courage.

Samsung’s new Note 8 is a love song for its fans. Everything about the device has a gentle crooning sweetness about it.

I put my test device up against a Note 4, and the older phone felt distinctly dated. Perceptibly wider and shorter, it seemed like a device from another era, which is a pretty accurate description of the situation in digital years.

The metallic bumpers on the older device looked like Etruscan armor next to the aquiline glass curves of the Note 8’s Infinity screen. Colour reproduction on the screens isn’t just better across that development divide, it’s startling.

Compared with the recently released S8 Plus, the gulf is considerably narrowed (S8 Plus reviewed here -http://ow.ly/1yDZ30gsale).

Seen side by side, the two phones seem almost identical and have many features in common. The Note 8 is just a bit taller, a difference you can readily see when the two phones are stacked, but it isn’t something you would notice, or even miss in daily use.

Both phones are enormous when diagonal measurement of their screens are compared. The iPhone X hits the tape at 5.8 inches, the iPhone 8 Plus at 5.5 inches. The S8 Plus sports a 6.2 inch screen and the Note 8 runs to 6.3 inches.

If you want an ergonomically attractive, large screen device from Samsung with all the currently available bells and whistles, there’s little to argue between the S8 Plus and Note 8.

The slim, widescreen design ensures that the phones are pocketable, but just barely and only if you’re of average height or better.

The picture-making game gets raised on the new Note with the addition of a second rear facing lens.

Samsung has approached the twin lens opportunity from pretty much the same angle that Apple has taken with the iPhone 8 Plus.

Huawei’s Mate and P series used matched optics to pull off their plenoptic wizardry. Samsung and Apple have opted to use one wide lens, typical of the optics that have been in smartphones for more than a decade, and pair it with one longer lens, at twice the focal length.

The second lens typically has a much smaller aperture, the result of packing more optics into a small space to achieve the focal length.

Apple’s iPhone 8 Plus offers a 28mm, f/1.8 and 56mm, f/2.8 lens package. The iPhone X improves slightly on that package with a f/2.4 aperture on the “telephoto” lens - the focal length is actually just a bit longer than normal, the field of view of the average human eye.

The Note 8 introduces dual lens optics to the Samsung line with an 26mm, f/1.7 and 52mm, f/2.4 lens package.

After working with smartphones doing plenoptic focus tricks for a couple of years now, I have to admit it’s a bit of a gimmick compared to the impact of a good fast lens built into the device.

Photographically speaking, being able to get closer by a factor of two without having to crop half the picture out is a good idea, particularly since the sensors in these devices are so tiny.

But Huawei (http://ow.ly/lWlL30gvL0w) does have one feature that keeps them competitive in the twin-lens race, a dedicated grayscale sensor for one of its matched lenses that delivers film quality black and white photos.

But size and a second camera aren’t the only reason why people would consider a Note. It remains the only smartphone I’m aware of that ships with a stylus built neatly into its case.

The thin plastic stick pops its head out of the case with a gentle push and the machining of the eject mechanism is solid and authoritative. Samsung has added the ability to make notes directly on the screen when the device is dozing, allowing users to write quickly on the phone without having to wait for it to wake up.

The Pen-Up application now features a collection of adult colouring pages that are nifty if that sort of thing calms you while waiting for another useless meeting to begin.

The stylus has always been the killer feature of the Note series and Samsung continues to improve the tool and its interaction with the device.

If you aren’t a Note user and the stylus isn’t a deal breaker, the S8 Plus is essentially the same phone, shrunk by an imperceptible fraction.

If you are a Note fan though, this is definitely the phone you’ve been pining for.

Caribbean Colour Splash hosted its 2017 Secondary Schools Anti-Bullying Conference at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) in San Fernando recently.

Altogether, 700 students and 50 teachers from 30 schools within the south and central region came out in support of this growing movement which aims to educate and empower young people on the importance of taking proactive steps for intercepting bullying. These students were joined by distinguished lecturers —Dr Sean Annisette and Dr Gerard Hutchinson—and key stakeholders, including bmobile, who all share the same vision.

Bmobile has taken a firm stance against bullying in all forms, and saw it fit to play an integral part throughout the informative initiative. TSTT vice president of Marketing Camille Campbell said, “Our involvement with the Anti-Bullying Conference gives us a chance to connect with the younger minds of T&T. It is important that we elaborate on prevention methods, causes and effects of bullying. Technology must be used responsibly and bmobile has thrown all its support behind this ideology.”

In his feature address, Dr Annisette—an educator with over 25 years experience and current principal of Tranquillity Government Secondary School —enlightened the youthful audience on the fastest growing form of aggressive intimidation, cyberbullying.

“Most of the problems which occur in school violence, both locally and internationally, have their genesis in cyberbullying due to the easy availability of information and communications technology (ICT). My advice is to lessen the use of social media outlets. As hard as it may seem, removing yourself or your trace from these platforms, temporarily at least, will assist in preventing bullying, especially among peers,” he said.

Annisette also called on those present to stand together with victims of bullying by setting up support groups in schools.

Throughout the programme, pupils from Holy Faith Convent (Penal) and Fyzabad Anglican Secondary interjected with inspirational skits on the highly sensitive topic. Following Annisette’s address, he held a short discussion segment with students, who were eager to give advice or have some of their questions answered.

Chatting with Holy Faith Convent (Couva) fourth former Ahkeiffah Bartlette, said she was pleased to be a part of Caribbean Colour Splash’s Anti-Bullying seminar.

“I gathered a lot of information that I never knew here,” she declared. “I’m very grateful that this knowledge was also passed on to my classmates and other schools throughout Trinidad. We need endeavours like this to help with our school violence problem. Kudos to the organisers for making such an informative event possible.”

Caribbean Colour Splash project manager Albert Marshall reiterated in his closing remarks, “This conference was designed to inspire you to return to your community and make it a better one. All of you here today are anti-bullying ambassadors. You were selected to be a part of this because you are the ones that were given the responsibility to go back to school and create the positive change.”

T&T is still in the process of passing laws that deal with cyberbullying. And according to a World Values Survey undertaken during the period 2010-2014, more than 25 per cent of T&T citizens believe someone would take advantage of them at some point. Both Dr Annisete and Dr Hutchinson openly offered their services to assist in any cause regarding the cementing of laws to deal with and form of bullying

Believe, the Christmas concert takes place at Central Bank Auditorium on November 26.

In a release, the producers said the concert was designed to be an inspirational evening featuring classics and Christmas music, from the more traditional settings to some of today’s modern arrangements including beloved carols and Yuletide favourites.”

Believe will feature over 100 onstage voices from The Eastern Chorale, The Eastern Junior Chorale and the St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain Choir. There will also be a number of guest singers who will perform songs from a variety of genres like classical, jazz, gospel, R&B and soul.

Some of the guest artistes include Denyse Plummer, operatic tenor John Thomas, soprano Danielle Williams, violinist David Frank, Golda Lee Bruce, Marie-Angelique Cartar, Debbie Nahous, Nakita Gatsby, parang singer Alicia Jaggasar, actress Cecilia Salazar, pianist Johanna Chuckaree, Nicole Wong Chong, James Debroy, Neval Chatelal, Kevon Carter, Michelle Xavier, Tricia Lee Kelshall and Kyle Richardson.

• For information about tickets, call 685-4504 or 357-5103

In a small village in south Trinidad today, there is a 16-year-old student who has only now returned to school since Divali last month. The jury is still out on whether her hearing will ever fully return and she is on a regime of medication to ease the constant pain.

Around this time last year, this young lady would have read about Sally-Ann Cuffie of Talparo who suffered serious, permanent injuries to her hand. I can also imagine the Chaguanas teacher who had to be hospitalised last week following detonation of a “scratch-bomb” in her class, reading about Ms Cuffie’s misfortune and perhaps even discussing it with her students a year ago.

Do the police and other agencies of the state realise how seriously meaningless the mantra of “zero tolerance” has now become?

You see, less than a year ago, within the pages of this very newspaper, it was Snr Supt Floris Hodge-Griffith declaring a “zero tolerance” approach to illegal“fireworks” including “scratchbombs.”

Public Administration and Communications minister, Maxie Cuffie, chimed in with very strong language himself. I had imagined at that time the vigorous nods of approval around the Cabinet table when he declared his position on the matter.

Are police officers, local government representatives, parliamentarians, clergy and other people who claim to be in charge ever present when these developmentally challenged people reach for their stash of explosives—about which there is explicit mention in both the Summary Offences and Explosives Acts?

I will continue to be like a stuck record on this—for those who remember that other use for vinyl—until I recognise even a modicum of seriousness by law enforcement and community and national leadership on this issue.

Much like the problem of casino gambling, we have sat by and watched this thing grow out of control—encouraged it even.

But the associated behaviours are things we will not be able to tax away or legislate into extinction.

You see, official inaction at these lower levels has a way of feeding into broader, more lethal impunity.

The pervasiveness of crime appears to be as much a function of the likelihood of getting away with it as it is about incompetence and corruption among the ranks of law enforcement, and both respected and ordinary people in our communities who prefer to look the other way.

Based on our record in these things, there is little we can be hopeful about. Not one administration led by any of these essentially moribund political organisations has ever sought to address them.

A single squatter’s shack on the hill becomes a village in weeks.

Hillsides are scalped, watercourses diverted and everything the development planners ought to be telling us not to do is done.

There is an appliance store along the Eastern Main Road in St Augustine that often displays its washing machines on the roadway itself. A Day of Total Policing is followed by a Day of Zero Immigrationing.

Who, but I and a few others, sticks to the speed limit on the highway?

We all know this. We witness it every day. This is clearly not about the rules and regulations only. It is about a lost and lawless tribe adrift at a time when we need to be hunkering down for even more difficult challenges.

When I was told about the 16 year old over the weekend, I put aside plans to talk about the dangerous degradation of the last of the formal institutions that distinguish us as a democratic society.

We are playing with fire when it comes to that. But I chose instead the flash of the “scratch-bomb” that tells us even more about where we have truly reached. The outlook is by no means rosy.

Just as it is understood that all living things will die someday, by relating biology to organisations, one can prepare for the eventual end of an organisation. That preparation, however, can include revolutionising systems and processes to breathe new life into the organisation.

Additionally, just as biology operates on the theory of evolution, so too can management and human resources work with the evolving environment and make the changes necessary to help the organisation evolve to a higher state of relevance.

The state-owned Caroni (1975) Limited was evolving when the Government chose to close it down in 2003. Its main product, sugar, was found to contribute to adverse health conditions and as the demand declined, so too did the global price and revenue.

Using what we now know as bio economics (Mayumi, 2001 cited by Forbes, 2008) several divisions of the organisation were dedicated to production of other types of agricultural produce to avoid a rising food import bill.

A breeding stock of buffalypsoes, which are hybrid animals with superior meat and milk production capacity, was developed by the organisation. Upon closure, the animals were sold off to Costa Rica (Bagoo, 2013).

A rum division was developed to make use of the sugar because while sugar prices were low, it was the raw material for rum, which commands a consistently high price. The Caroni Rum Division was sold off to Angostura Holdings.

Large acreages which were dedicated to commercial production of citrus production now lie abandoned but we import orange juice from Belize and Florida. Rice and prawn production (FAO, 1992) was not yet in sufficient quantities to be commercialised. Today the infrastructure lies in waste, but we import rice and shrimp in large quantities.

Sugar is produced by a handful of small cane farmers in the Barrackpore area of South Trinidad but additives to prevent degradation of their product are not available on the local market. We import large quantities of sugar from neighbouring Guyana.

Each of the different divisions either provided inputs for another or made use of the waste matter from each other and from cane processing.

The then Government in 2003 stopped the organisation’s plans to adapt to the evolving environment by divesting from sugar production into the other areas which could have allowed Caroni (1975) Limited to move to another life stage. The only vestige that remained was Caroni Green, but that too, was recently shut down.

Is the current Government repeating the same mistake with the closure of Caroni Green, TDC, and soon the BIR and Customs? Renaming an entity cannot make it more viable, so what is the real long-term plan?

SHALIMA MOHAMMED

I would like to ask the management of National Flour Mills to review the situation with regard to their delivery entrance which is just before the St Christopher’s Gas Station on Wrightson Road in Port-of-Spain.
Earlier this year, I was involved in what I can only call a standstill accident.

The short version is that one of the contractors’ trucks was in the entrance of the gas station apparently attempting to do a wide turn into the contractors’ entrance and came into contact with my vehicle which was on the left of the truck. Suffice it to say, it was not a happy experience, but that’s a story for another day.

As I generally visit this gas station at least twice per week, as such I have been able to see what transpires when these large trucks enter the gas station:

1. there is no signage to indicate that large trucks are turning there;

2. the sign that says it is the contractors’ entrance faces west so no one on Wrightson Road heading west would see it before they turn into the gas station;

3. there is no safety signage on the ground, eg yellow and black stripes to indicate that one should proceed with caution;

4. the trucks reverse out the gas station almost onto the road to turn into the Flour Mills entrance;

5. some of them park on the pavement in front of the gas station so vehicles attempting to exit the gas station back onto Wrightson Road cannot see oncoming traffic.

I hope that someone in authority can review this dangerous situation.

ANNIE DOWNIE

Recently I changed my car tyres and was charged $10 to dispose of each tyre. To which I really had no problem as I recognised that there is a serious problem with the irresponsible disposal of used tyres.

However, on reflection, with the introduction of the new tax of $20 by the Minister of Finance in the last budget the position now is that the consumer, besides paying this new tax of $20 when purchasing the new tyres, is also paying a further fee to dispose of the old tyres. My question is where is this new tax going?

Surely a portion of this tax should go to the person or organisation disposing of the old tyres which will encourages responsible disposal.

If this tax is lost in the Consolidated Fund then the problems experienced by the indiscriminate dumping of used tyres by unscrupulous individuals is not being addressed and the consumers are taxed unfairly.

Just my 2 cents.

RICHARD TRESTRAIL

In 2009 I wrote an article indicating that given our political history, a revenue authority with contract officers appointed by the political party in service is an extremely dangerous endeavour. I repeat my concerns today. The Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA) must be opposed by every patriot of T&T.

Are citizens concerned about the transfer from the Board of Inland Revenue and the Customs to the T&T Revenue Authority? It can be considered irresponsible, almost dangerous, for any Government to assign a corporation to be responsible for over 90 per cent of the country’s revenue. The implications may be scary. How can any responsible citizenry allow its government to transfer the responsibility of managing the nation’s purse to a board of political appointees without the oversight of the public service? Already there are threats to seize citizen’s property, audit the businesses of specific individuals and refuse approval for imports.

Consider the possibilities: a board appointed to manage the affairs of the TTRA can feel obliged to the political directorate since their job is dependent on those appointing them. Public Servants are not obligated to any political body as they are appointed by the Public Service Commission and are obligated to the State not the ruling party.

How can any responsible citizen allow the wealth of our nation to escape the scrutiny of the Ministry of Finance? A board, not public servants, will be responsible for the operation of a corporation which will be responsible for managing the income of a nation.

How can citizens ensure accountability? What about Customs? At present there is the perception that regardless of one’s political persuasion, one will be treated according to the law when importing or exporting goods. Under a politically appointed board, Customs Officers whose jobs will be managed by a corporation chosen by political appointees, can feel obliged to treat members of the ruling party differently from other citizens.

The present government may scoff at the suggestions of impropriety since they may feel that their administration is staffed with incorruptible individuals seeking the national interest. One can argue that since an administration must get a mandate from the electorate every five years, there is the possibility that a new government of not-so-good individuals can be appointed to manage the TTRA and access the nation’s wealth without public service oversight.

Such an unscrupulous regime can prevent Customs Officers from intercepting drugs entering our country; they can allow friends and acquaintances to import goods, arms and ammunitions without the scrutiny that is required under the present system.

The possibilities of impropriety, nepotism, money laundering, irresponsible spending, lack of accountability, loyalty to political party rather than country, international black-market trade, currency manipulation and other poor border supervision exist more so under a corporation appointed by a political party in power than a public service whose loyalty is tied to the State. These are not issues that should be allowed to escape the scrutiny of our citizens.

God Bless Our Nation.

STEVE ALVAREZ

T&T Carnival has spawned, influenced and nurtured Carnivals globally. Today, soca and mas lovers can go to Berlin, Miami, Rotterdam and New York for Carnival celebrations.

One of the world’s most famous Caribbean Carnivals is the Notting Hill Carnival which takes place every August in London. The UK capital has embraced the street festival which is acknowledged as Europe’s largest. Every year, two million people make their way to west London for the Carnival which contributes around £93 million to the UK economy.

The festival is not without its detractors, and in recent years, the residents of Notting Hill, as well as some business owners, have been lobbying strenuously for some major changes to the Carnival like taking the parade off the street to a park like Hyde Park, banning “dirty mas” like the J’Ouvertstyled chocolate and abir mas bands. The Metropolitan Police has also spoken about the difficulty and the expense of policing the Carnival (approximately £6 million), and point to 313 arrests in 2017 for a range of offences (usually unconnected to the actual mas band parade).

The T&T Guardian spoke with three mas exponents of T&T heritage who are involved in the production of Notting Hill Carnival for a view on the future of the festival. In Part One, we feature an interview with Chris Boothman, a former director of Notting Hill Carnival Limited. Chris Boothman has been involved in Notting Hill Carnival since the early 70s; initially with sound systems, then later as a pan player and masquerader in various bands. He was also an advisor to the Carnival Board on policing issues in the early 1980’s, a member of the Mayor’s Review of Notting Hill Carnival 2000, and subsequently an Independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority. He was also involved in the running of London Notting Hill Carnival and it’s board as company secretary and director for about five years.

The Londonbased attorney contends there are many mitigating forces that can impact Notting Hill Carnival in the future despite many positives of the festival.

“It’s fair to say there is a widespread belief that the future of the event is seriously at risk because of management challenges which the current Carnival board appears to be incapable of addressing,” said Boothman.

“This is the case because if you objectively examine nearly every significant performance indicator the management of the event is failing.”

Sponsorship, funding, income generation and re-branding are but a few of the challenges facing the event said Boothman.

Others include public safety, communications and public relations, financial management, governance, credibility and standing, and regulation in terms of effective action being taken against individuals and bands that break the law.

Whether Notting Hill Carnival benefits the Caribbean community, Boothman said: “It’s become increasingly difficult to identify how the event benefits the Caribbean community at all.

A study conducted some years ago by the London Development Agency estimated that Notting Hill Carnival generated £93 million annually. However, while there is no doubt that a few individuals from the Caribbean community reap relatively small financial benefits from the event, the vast majority of the real benefit goes to businesses in the host community. This is because nearly all the financial benefits are spin-offs that go to businesses in and around London. Further very little if any of the income generated is put back into the event. Unlike some cities like Miami, Rotterdam, Berlin there is no local tax.

“Caribbean-styled Carnivals like Notting Hill Carnival have generated off-shoots and generally raised the profile and popularity of the art form throughout Europe and worldwide but this has not translated into income or other benefit to the event.”

Asked if there is any tangible synergy between T&T and Caribbean Carnivals and Notting Hill Carnival Boothman said: “Notting Hill Carnival has always had a synergy with Trinidad Carnival because many of the original pioneers of the event were Trinis involved in Carnival from back home. Further there have always been some personal links with organisations in Trinidad like PanTrinbago, Tuco and the Mas Association.

“However, the synergy has arguably never really been capitalised upon by Trinbago, the other Caribbean governments or the relevant carnivals. Although the Barbados Tourist Board in the UK should be given credit for persistently trying to use Notting Hill and other European carnivals to promote Cropover, Bajan soca artistes and rum.

“But, historically the synergy with NH Carnival has mainly benefitted individual UK-based promoters and artistes from Trinidad and Tobago.

“Because of the shrinking Caribbean community in London and the lack of active involvement by Caribbean governments, the Notting Hill Carnival is currently being put under pressure by agencies representing other communities (Africa, Brazil etc) seeking to take it over or exert increasing influence over it. Its cultural relevance is also being questioned in the struggle for scarce resources and competing interests.”

Notting Hill Carnival continues to be under increasingly harsh political and security restrictions, elements which do not redound to the benefit of the festival. “Today Notting Hill Carnival remains the most heavily policed event in Europe despite the fact that it has moved on from its troubled past,” said Boothman. “This is in part due to the politics around the event and fact that the police appear to use NH Carnival to test and develop new public order strategies and equipment.

“The current physical space allocated for Notting Hill Carnival by the authorities has shrunk considerably relative to the attendance figures and the space reserved by the policing operation. The resultant congestion and pressure from rich residents has lead to calls for the Carnival to be moved off the streets and into a park.

“The change options have limited public support and it would take a brave politician to openly force change because of the electoral implications. If there is any significant public safety incident at the event politically it will be difficult for the event to continue.”

Asked if the Notting Hill Carnival board is strong and progressive, and empowered to take the festival forward, Boothman said: “The current Carnival board is believed by nearly all the relevant stakeholders to be hopelessly weak and incapable of overcoming the challenges necessary to enable the event to safely survive and flourish.

“In my view this is mainly because the current governance model is flawed. The board is chaired and dominated by people who currently lead the existing Carnival associations and also individual bands within Carnival. For example the current chairman of the Carnival board, is also the chairman of the Steelband Association and runs the most successful steelband in the UK.

“The other observation I would make is that the board has consistently failed to attract people of the high calibre required to lead a large internationally recognised cultural festival ie talented people with a proven track record of success who are equipped to conduct tough negotiations with the police and government officials as well as with community leaders, carnivalists and residents.”

Claiming not have the support of the chairmen of the Carnival Arts associations or even appropriate backing from the local authorities and police to take our plans for change forward, Boothman resigned in 2011.

About the future of Notting Hill Carnival, Boothman said: “A new group of individuals from the Caribbean community has recently come into being to try and hold the Carnival board accountable for the difficulties that have emerged.”

• CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

Great food, a little calypso singing and plenty liming, that’s why members and their families attended the Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s annual Cricketers Can Cook at the Oval on Saturday evening.

MC Colin Murray entertained the audience as members donned their chef hats to deliver a hearty dish.

The event also honoured some of QPCC’s long standing members and loud applause was heard as names like former T&T and West Indies cricketers Deryck Murray, Larry Gomes and Barbadian Sir Wes Hall were called.

Also honoured were Andy Aleong and Alvin Corneal who both excelled in cricket and football for T&T.

Former trade minister Vasant Bharath will no longer contest the post of political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) at the party's internal elections on November 26.

Bharath announced his decision to drop out of the race this morning, after describing the election as a farce.

In October,  Bharath told media he had the support of MPs and would contest the position, despite questions from other party members as to the legitimacy of the election.

Bharath lost a leadership fight to Persad-Bissessar in 2015. She obtained over 18,000 votes; UNC MP Roodal Moonilal got approximately 1,800 votes; and Bharath, 1,500.

TOBY, VERO #59 Mount Pleasant Rd, Spring vale Claxton Bay Departed this Life on(Date): 12.11.2017 At the age of: 92 She will lovingly be remembered as the: WIFE OF:Elton Toby (dec) MOTHER OF:Terrance, Genevia, Beverly, Blayne GRANDMOTHER OF:Tenille, Jozanne, Chantal, Simone, Shade SISTER OF:Arnold Quamina AUNT OF:Denise, Nola, pastor Cecil Quamina MOTHER IN LAW OF:Janice Clarence Quamina FRIEND OF: Marvis Maingot The Funeral Service for the late Vero Toby has been entrusted to David Guides Funeral Services and will take place on Friday 17th November 2017 At 3:00 pm at the Claxton Bay RC Church Followed by a Burial at Claxton Bay RC Churchyard Cemetery All Enquires can be made at David Guide Funeral Services Phone: (868) 636-2435/ Email: dgfuneralservices@gmail.com.

National coach Dennis Lawrence is now ready to move on to the next stage of his rebuilding programme, despite drawing with Grenada 2-2 on Saturday and Guyana 1-1 on Tuesday night, both at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva.

Following a dismal 2-2 tie with the Grenadians, whom the Soca Warriors have not beaten in over 10 years, Lawrence was hoping to turn things around against the Guyanese, but they were stunned when Sheldon Holder’s header flew past Marvin Phillip for a 1-0 lead for the visitors in the 19th minute.

The Warriors though, remained in control and got the equaliser in the 60th from substitute Shahdon Winchester, who entered the team as an adequate replacement for midfielder Kevin Molino.

The only concern for the T&T coach was the lack of concentration which led to the opening goal. This he made clear at the post match press conference, saying: “We need to ensure that we concentrate because we can’t be in a game for 90 minutes with all the possession and the first time the ball enters the box you go one-nil down and then you have to fight to come back again.”

He admitted that while there are areas that need work, the mental strength shown to continue playing and tie the match was a positive sign.

“We had the opportunity to use the entire squad which was the main thing for me. To be able to go into the game and give them the opportunity to play themselves in. Josiah Trimmingham did well tonight and Kathon St Hillaire had the opportunity on Saturday. I am happy to have a look at all the boys because these are the ones, we are going to move forward with.”

He described Tuesday’s performance as an improved one to last Saturday’s against Grenada, and dismissed concerns that the young players in his team had been struggling.

“I needed to get that feel, whether or not they were ready for this level and coming out of the two games, I have got a clear idea now of the ones that we can move forward with and the ones who have to go back to their clubs and continue to work,” Lawrence explained.

T&T captain Sheldon Bateau said he was impressed with the performance on the night, despite the result. However he believes the regional teams are catching up with them and called for more work to be done by T&T, by both the players and administration.

Guyana coach Dwayne Dover said they had to dig deep and stay disciplined to get a result from a very superior T&T team which had the players to punish them at any time on the night.

“From the game against Grenada, seeing how vulnerable they were when the transition took place, we know that if we got a free run at them, we can come away with a goal and probably win the game but unfortunately with a draw we feel content,” Dover said.

The Guyana coach, who took over from T&T’s Jamaal Shabazz, said they too are in a rebuilding stage as they look to focus on qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time.

WALTER ALIBEY