HaiT&T Foundation will host a fund-raising event—Christmas in de Cruz—on Saturday, December 2, at Green Meadows, Santa Cruz from 6 pm – 11 pm to continue with its fund-raising efforts toward reconstructing the La Madeline Orphanage in Port au Prince, Haiti. There will be music from two parang bands, Ataklan, Kees Dieffenthaller, who usually supports such worthy causes, and Kes the Band might surprise patrons with a guest performance. This goes with good food, drinks and great company. Tickets cost $600 each and coolers with drinks are welcome.

Dr Paula Henry, director and founder of HAIT&T Foundation said: “The organisation was founded in 2010 shortly after the devastating earthquake in Port au Prince, Haiti. We formed this foundation because we felt we had the ability to help the Haitian people, specifically the St Joseph Convent nuns to re-establish the broken down orphanage, which had been in existence for 100 years and was now in a demolished condition.

“We felt however when we were rebuilding, we wanted to give the ability for a larger space so there will be innovation in the structure to give the children a greater ability to perform and for the project to expand and add new things and not just for the orphans to live in.”

Henry said right after the earthquake she went as a medical doctor to Haiti to render assistance and rebuild a heath centre that had fallen down and made a commitment to rebuild the orphanage.

She said that this was the sole purpose of the foundation, rebuilding the La Madeleine orphanage and assisting some of the most vulnerable children from ages six to 16.

She said through partnership with the St Joseph Convent Cluny Sisters and other reputable international organisations, HaiT&T Foundation has already successfully completed construction of the school for 600 children and its adjoining structures of a library, IT room, dining room and laundry.

Henry added that the organisation had further extended this rebuilding project to include drilling for water and collection of rain water and electricity will be provided through solar panels.

She added a chicken farm, fish farm and an agricultural area have also now been included with the aims of providing sustainability and building capacity.

Henry said although this project was more expensive than the organisation had initially anticipated, the good news was that it is in the final stages of the building.

Henry said that in 2018 Phase II is the projection for sustainable development and that the children be also given school books and two meals every day. She said the December 2 fundraising effort would assist in the building of a care home to house 20 children.

She added that T&T’s support would greatly aid in the education of the children who would be the future of an enlightened Haiti working under their educators, the St Joseph Convent Cluny Sisters, whose mission is “Education for Service.”

For over 30 years, the name SuperBlue has been respected, revered by fellow calypso and soca artistes and even as the winds of change continue to blow, Super is still the man. His songs, Ethel, Barbara, Lara, Soca Baptist, Flag Party and countless other hit soca tracks have cemented Austin “SuperBlue” Lyons’ name in Soca’s Hall of Fame, if there ever was one. In 2018, he will be honoured in a very special way.

Randy Glasgow Productions will honour the Point Fortin icon on February 17, 2018 with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the culture of T&T.

“The award will be presented at the Calypso & Comedy Cool Down Concert we’re hosting at Napa in Port-of-Spain, next year,” said Glasgow. He said Super will also be a featured act at the annual Ladies Night Out Mega Concert set to be held on February 26, also in Port-of-Spain. This year, Glasgow and his hard working team delivered a tributary accolade to Dil-e-Nadan’s Raymond Ramnarine at the annual Chutney Brass Festival in South Trinidad. This year the award was presented by President Anthony Carmona, and Glasgow says the president has once again been invited to be a focal part of this auspicious event in 2018.

Fifteen years ago, Randy Glasgow Productions, one of T&T’s most renowned promotional entities, hosted its very first event. That event was Super Blue in Concert. In 2018, CEO of the company that has since delivered major events such as Ladies Night Out and the Chutney Brass Festival, Randy Glasgow, says Super will be honoured, as he should be.

“His music has stood the test of time,” said Glasgow this week. “His performances have told a story of this country’s vibrancy and more than that, every bit of SuperBlue’s exhilarating stage shows have been the blue print for much of what is seen when soca stars such as Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Super’s daughter, Fay Ann Lyons and many others, mount stages around the world today.”

The Carnival 2018 season fast approaching, all systems are in place for major surprises and top-notch events by Randy Glasgow Productions. Said Glasgow: “We want everyone to come out to our events and walk away completely satisfied. Honouring the greats is truly a necessary part of our shows.

“Without these legendary men and women who paved the way for the fresh, new faces and voices we’re enjoying today, where would we be? ” asked Glasgow.

The promoter says SuperBlue’s tribute is simply the second of many to come from his outfit.

Like the three Wise Men of the Nativity, Drs Charles Brunner, Helmer Hilwig and Richard Anthony Pierre produced an excellent event at Queen’s Hall this week. Christmas Joy—the Gift of the Drum, another of Brian MacFarlane’s breathtaking Christmas productions, premiered last Sunday and is currently continuing until Sunday evening.

Those who attended the premiere and its ensuing shows were treated to performances by Alethea Beharry, Wendell Constantine, Marlon de Bique, Anne Fridal, Lennox Gray, Kelwyn Hutcheon, Christian Mendez, Stephanie Nahous, Rosezanna Winchester, Raquel Winchester, Wendy Sheppard, Marvin Smith, Ancil Valley, a children’s choir, members of the Cascade Festival Ballet and Twin Inc.

Part proceeds of the opening night went to the Children’s Ark’s project to relocate and reconstruct the Surgical Ward, including the operating theatre and dental suite, of the Princess Elizabeth Home for Handicapped Children which will cost approximately $1.6 million.

It’s never happened before to West Indies batsman Sunil Ambris, and his coach Stuart Law is confident his “freak dismissal” will never happen again.

On Test debut, the 24-year-old from St Vincent made history for all the wrong reasons when he was out hit wicket first ball against New Zealand’s Neil Wagner yesterday, the first day of the opening Test match in Wellington.

He was sixth batsman in test cricket to be dismissed first ball, hit wicket, but the first on debut after he was forced back to play a Wagner short delivery and trod on his stumps, on day one of the first test in Wellington.

“He showed no emotion, he walked back in the dressing room and shrugged his shoulders. Bad luck. There’s a few guys who’ve got out first ball on test debut and they’ve gone on to be pretty good,” Law said.

“Sunil’s a class player, he was picked on form and he got 150 the other day against a pretty good [New Zealand A] attack. He’s disappointed, it’s a freak dismissal and I’m hoping he doesn’t step on them again.”

Law was confident Ambris had never been dismissed that way in his 38 first-class matches on much slower Caribbean pitches than the bouncy Basin Reserve.

The coach was unimpressed with his batsmen after they were skittled for 134 in 45.4 overs. Wagner was the chief destroyer, snaring a career-best 7-39 with six of his seven victims falling to the short ball.

“We’ve been crying out for wickets that provide entertainment, a bit of a challenge for both bat and ball. The batsmen are all bitterly disappointed with their effort. I know we’re a lot better than how we performed today,” Law said.

“Wagner’s a funny character. He’s not very tall and not super quick but his bumper skids, it doesn’t really bounce and that can be off-putting. Some can go over your head and some skid at your throat. Fair play to him, he bowled well and bowled aggressively and we helped him out with a few freebies.”

Law’s West Indies side have fought back strongly in the past, beating England at Headingley this year after going 1-0 down. They’re fresh from a hard-fought 1-0 win over Zimbabwe on slow, dreary pitches and Law backed them to recover in this two-test series.

At stumps on day one New Zealand were 85-2, a deficit of just 49, after captain Jason Holder led the way with the ball.

“[A deficit] of 50 would be great,” Law quipped. “I believe in our players and we’re good enough to bowl New Zealand out as cheap as we possibly can. Whether that’s 350 depends on this partnership and you’ve got some dangerous players towards the bottom.

“Ross Taylor is the big wicket and if we can get him early anything’s possible. A lead of 100-150 sounds a lot but I believe in our players and if they put their minds to it that’s a pretty good batting wicket.”

Champion trainer Glenn Mendez can strike today with his double sprint champion Control Unit in today’s feature Grade Three Stewards Cup over 1,200 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park in Arima.

Mendez can write his name into the annal of local racing history by winning the Sprint Championship title with Control Unit for a third successive occasion. The SIR Stables owned five-year-old has been campaigned with this race in mind and his shrewd handler can land another massive training feat.

The Baskaran Bassawh owned champion Bigman In Town will take on the two-time sprint champion Control Unit in the feature and the thrice “Horse of The Year” Bigman In Town will have the experienced Nobel Abrego in the saddle after a ten-week break from racing. The last time that the duo met, Bigman In Town was impressive in victory when beating Control Unit by 1 3/4 lengths in the time of 1:11.2.

Bigman In Town has been picking back up at gallops but is now seven years old and could be vulnerable in this event if not back to his best.

Control Unit has been aimed at this event and never seems to run a bad race in the Stewards Cup.

The Sprint King will have Wilmer Galviz in the plate and could prove very difficult to peg back.

Stablemate Whisper Light has shown great form over further and coming down in distance could hand the initiative to the ‘Speedball’ Control Unit.

Last year’s “Horse of the Year”, Thisonesforron, has been galloping superbly in preparation for his Stewards Cup/Gold Cup double which he missed out on last season.

He has been prepared with this in mind and Kerron Khelawan will ensure that anyone who wins knows that they are in a race.

In the co-feature SFA National Stakes over 1,800m, looks set for the Mendez trained Dark Treasure. This Dhanpaul Sookoo trained six-year-old horse is classy when on sound and could be difficult to peg back with Galviz in the plate. He could have most to fear from Lord Silver and stablemates Saragon and Hurricane Harry.

Post time is 12.45 pm.

President of State-owned Petrotrin Fitzroy Harewood has resigned. His resignation takes effect on February 28, 2018 and comes weeks after a report found that the so-called “fake oil scandal” was real.

In a circular to employees yesterday, Petrotrin chairman Wilfred Espinet said Harewood had submitted his resignation on Thursday and it was accepted by the board of directors.

The circular read, “The board of directors has accepted the resignation of Petrotrin President, Mr Fitzroy Harewood. Mr Harewood submitted his resignation on November 30th and it will take effect on 2018, February 28th to allow for a smooth transition.”

The sudden announcement is said to have taken employees by surprise.

In was on August 17 that a Petrotrin internal report had raised concerns about the amount of oil that was received by the refinery from A&V Oil and Gas compared to what the company claimed it had produced and sent to the refinery.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar then raised the issue on August 17, alleging there was corruption at the state-owned company, calling it fake oil scandal and seeking to link Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his Government to the issue.

Two external audits have also since confirmed the internal audit that there was a discrepancy between reported oil production in the exploration and production operations in the Catshill Field operated by A&V Oil and Gas and the actual production receipts at Pointe-a-Pierre discovered by Petrotrin’s Internal Audit Department in the period January to June 2017.

The findings of the internal audit report as confirmed in a forensic audit report submitted by Kroll Consulting, of Canada, and also in a report commissioned from global gas consultants Gaffney Cline, which found that the Catshill reservoir was “not capable of producing the volumes in question.”

Figures provided in the internal audit report for the period July 1-12, signed by Petrotrin’s chief audit executive Rajkumar Bissessar, showed a daily average of 3,589 barrels per day had dropped significantly in the period July 13-31 and August 1-10, when production declined to 1,369 barrels and 1,396 barrels of oil. The shortage reported for July, according to the report, was 36,302 barrels, down from 111, 006 barrels in June.

The internal audit team estimated production for the month of June would have been “over-stated by about 90,000 barrels, which works out to an overpayment of US$2.97 million.” For the six-month period January to June, it was estimated that “Catshill over stated its production by at least 350,000 barrels and Petrotrin would have overpaid US$11.5 million (TT$80 million).” As a result, Petrotrin was said to have paid royalties of approximately US$1.86 million to the Government for crude oil “not received during the period 2017 January to June.”

Harewood was appointed in November 2015 by the then board led by Andrew Jupiter. At time of his appointment, the Opposition had raised concerns about whether he was the best man for the job. In addition, the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) has been calling for his removal.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Alleged fraudster Vicky Boodram’s plan to escape prison seems to have been well orchestrated, as she was being helped by a former prison-mate among many others.

However, Jennifer Atwater, the mother of the 32-year-old woman at whose Penal home Boodram took refuge, said yesterday her daughter was not harbouring a fugitive. In fact, Atwater said her daughter probably did not know the woman staying in her house was, since she was doing a favour for her elder sister.

She said Boodram and her elder daughter became friends while both were inmates at the Women’s Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca. Atwater said Boodram only came into their community on Thursday to spend the night, as someone was expected to pick her up.

Sources said Boodram was expected to be taken to an illegal point of exit in Cedros where she would have been smuggled to South America.

Atwater said her younger daughter worked at a nearby bar as a lotto booth vendor. Contrary to a police report, she said her younger daughter was returning home when she was snatched by police.

Police said at 6.40 pm on Thursday, officers of the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit and the South Western Division went to the woman’s workplace and told her they had information she was harbouring a prisoner. The woman then led the officers to her Sunset Drive, Latchoos Road home where Boodram was found seated on a chair in an upstairs apartment.

Yesterday, Atwater said her younger daughter was innocent and if she had known it was Boodram staying in her home she would have called the police earlier. She said her younger daughter does not engage in criminal activities.

“It was just that my (elder) daughter asked for her (Boodram) to just stick around until this person came for her. She (younger daughter) never saw her (Boodram) before you know,” Atwater said.

“I don’t know if my daughter knew it was Vicky. Maybe she did not even know it was Vicky. The other one knows her good.”

Boodram was being questioned at the Barataria Police Station last evening, while Atwater’s daughter was at the Belmont Police Station.

Boodram, 35, is the former owner of Boodram Travel Tours and Ship Ahoy Cruises Ltd at Dumfries Road, La Romaine, which she operated along with her estranged husband Ravi Arjoonsingh. Between 2012 and 2016, Boodram and Arjoonsingh were charged with 175 and 109 counts of fraud respectively. It was alleged they took $1.5 million from people through fraudulent means and transferred the money to accounts belonging to Boodram, Arjoonsingh and the business. Some offences were in relation to accepting bookings for a cruise that never happened. Boodram has been on remand since 2016.

Around 5.15 pm Monday, she was taken from the prison by two police officers attached to the Tunapuna Police Station. The officers, a male and a female, presented documents that were purported to be a court order. They left in a marked police vehicle.

The male officer returned to the station where he dropped off his colleague and left with Boodram. The female officer was questioned by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau. On the next day, the male officer was arrested at his Arima home. He had reportedly told his colleagues he had no idea he was assisting Boodram to escape, but under interrogation confessed to brainstorming the plan to allow Boodram to escape because he was in love with her.

Police were also still seeking a third suspect believed to have been involved in the escape plot.

It was reported that Boodram was seen eating at a restaurant along the SS Erin Road, Penal, on Thursday evening. However, when the T&T Guardian visited the restaurant yesterday, staff said they were unaware as they were not on duty when Boodram was alleged to have been there.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Instead of spending the last night of his trip liming with friends, Canadian citizen Vishnu Narine was shot dead and dumped at the side of the Usine, Ste Madeleine Pond.

Weeping relatives declined to speak to the media yesterday, but police believed Narine, 57, was robbed of the $10,000 he had when he left the family home at St John’s Village, San Fernando.

Relatives told police they last saw Narine alive around 7 pm Thursday when he left to go to the Starlite Recreation Club in Palmyra Village, San Fernando. Around 7.15 am yesterday, however, two men working on a site earmarked for the construction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries’ South Regional Office found Narine’s body in a gravel road leading into the pond. They contacted police, who responded and found Narine with a gunshot wound to his face.

Lodrick Headley, who was working nearby, believes the body was dumped there overnight.

“My next co-worker, he was the one who saw the body after he came and parked up here. He called the police and remained here while I was out there. When I came across, I realised there was something on the ground... Every morning we pass here so it had to be something that happened overnight. This is a dead-end right here so perhaps someone dropped the body here,” Headley said.

The body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, for an autopsy.

Homicide detectives are also investigating the death of a Chaguanas shopkeeper who was shot by bandits yesterday.

A report stated that Ashram Ramnath, 32, was asleep when two bandits broke into his Chandanagore Old Road, Chaguanas, property around 3 am. Ramnath wrestled the bandits but was shot in the chest.

Samantha Wallace’s power in attack for the University of T&T (UTT) and the sturdiness of her teammate Shaquanda Greene on defence, proved too much for the University of the West Indies (UWI) in the final round of matches in the Tertiary Sport Association of T&T (TSATT) Inter-University Netball competition.

UTT emerged with a 23-9 victory to close out action in the league on Tuesday at University of West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre (UWISPEC) in St Augustine.

Both teams had won all their previous matches and it was only fitting that the title was decided at the meeting of these powerhouses.

UWI coached by former national player Sherry-Ann Blackburn came out determined to dethrone UTT, which was the winner of the coveted title held in 2015.

The UTT netballers, however under the guidance of coach Bridget Adams, a former national player and coach, were passionate about retaining their title and bringing more glory to their institution.

Both teams boasted experienced senior national players as well as young nationals. UTT, which was captained by senior national netballer Shaquanda Green, while UWI had the experienced Malika Peters, also a senior national player. UTT’s roster also included senior national goal-shooter Wallace and national Under-21 player Shantel Seemungal.

UTT jumped out from the blast of the umpires first whistle taking an early 3-0 lead; a lead it never relinquished. Wallace dazzled in the shooting circle while defender Greene was inpenetrable on the other end.

Peters worked tirelessly in defense and made quite a few interceptions but UWI’s shooters were having a very bad night and were not converting their chances.

At the end of each quarter UTT was in front and at the final whistle UTT prevailed with the 14-goal victory.

Walking away with the third place prize was the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) with the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of T&T (COSTAATT) placing fourth.

Dr Kenneth Butcher, member of the technical committee of the T&T Netball Association (TTNA) as well as Dr Karen Ince, Senior Lecturer at The Academy of Sport at UTT helped with the distribution of prizes.

Dr Butcher was praised for his foresight into the creation of TSATT which now continues to promote Tertiary Sports at all Tertiary Institutions in T&T.

TSATT has promised to work hand-in-hand with TTNA and the Secondary Schools Netball Association in an effort to build the sport back to the glory days it once experienced.

TSATT is also working assiduously to having a National University netball team represent T&T at The World University Netball Championships to be held in Uganda, September.

Two weeks after he ran away from the psychiatric ward of the San Fernando General Hospital, a Marabella man stabbed his childhood friend to death yesterday.

Anderson Babwah, 24, and the suspect grew up like brothers, his mother Angela Regis said yesterday.

Babwah was stabbed several times and died while undergoing emergency treatment at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Babwah was one of five people killed in a span of less than 24 hours between Thursday night and yesterday evening, taking the toll for the year to 452.

Recalling the last moments she spent with her son, Regis, a mother of six, said around 6.30 am she called her son on the phone to wake him up.

She said Babwah, who ran a mini mart opposite their home at New Haven Avenue, had a job interview yesterday morning.

When he came across to the mini mart, she said they had a normal conversation.

“We were talking. We say God bless this day, today is a good day it will be successful and nice because he had an interview. We hug up, normal thing.”

She said after a few minutes the suspect called him and he went to meet him.

“He was going to start the car to take it out the yard. A little while after I heard bawling,” said Regis, who recalled hearing Babwah’s girlfriend shouting, “’No, no, stop that.’”

Regis said when she came out she saw her son bleeding on the ground. She heard the suspect say, “’Who next from around here.’”

Regis, his girlfriend and sister then rushed Babwah to the hospital in a car. She was told his lungs

got punctured.

Describing her son as a loving and helpful child, Regis said he had a great future ahead of him. She said the suspect, who lived on the same street, only recently started tripping off.

“I done forgive he for that already,” said Regis.

The suspect has been arrested. Investigations are continuing.

Known jeweller Roshan Lutchman yesterday became Tobago’s 12th murder victim for 2017.

He was found at his Cove Estate, Canoe Bay home around 2.30 pm. His body was found in a badly decomposed state in a ground floor bathroom.

Police officials said his hands were tied and his head was bashed in, evidenced by a mark left on the wall where the body was found. Sources said they believe he was tortured to death. Residents told police Lutchman was last seen alive on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters at the scene yesterday, Senior Supt Joanne Archie said the island recording its 12th murder was not a good feeling and was quite unusual compared to other years

“I certainly can’t feel good about this, because this is quite unusual for Tobago and we just recorded the last two in the last month and what we are saying is that we continue to call on the residents, when you see something, say something,” she said.

While police are yet to ascertain a motive, Archie said officers were told there have been disputes at the location before.

“We are not sure what would have happened here, but I am told the person there is a jeweller and we received certain information that persons visit from time to time and there’s always some dispute, maybe about transactions being conducted,” she said.

Residents in the area also revealed there had been an ongoing feud between Lutchman and his neighbours, and police had to be called in on several occasions to mediate

No one has been held in connection with the crime.

District Medical Officer Dr. Maxwell Adeyemi ordered the body removed to the Scarborough General Hospital mortuary. An autopsy is expected to be conducted soon.

Tobago Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.

A Morvant man was shot dead at his home just after noon yesterday, leaving police confused as to a motive for his death.

Police said Kevin Baptiste, 35, of Cipriani Avenue, Morvant, was at home with his brother when his two gunshots rang out around 12.15 pm. Baptiste’s brother later found him dead in a storage room of the house. Police said and residents reported that two men were seen fleeing the house following the shooting.

Baptiste, a Ministry of Works and Transport employee, is said to have had an altercation in the area, which may have led to the killing.

ACP Persad, Snr Supt Surrendra Sagramsingh, Inspector Maharaj and Sgt Beharry responded to the shooting and conducted preliminary investigations before handing it over to Homicide Bureau officers.

In an unrelated incident, Collin Henry, 24, who was shot along with his cousin Aaron Warner, 31, last Saturday night, died at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope. The two were ambushed at the NP gas station near the Maritime roundabout.

Police are also seeking assistance in identifying the body of a man found on Thursday night at the National Insurance Board building in Tunapuna.

Police said they were notified of a man’s body being seen around 9.15 pm and believe he fell off the building. However they are unable to say whether his death was malicious or accidental.

The man is said to be in his mid-20s or early 30s and was wearing a brown and white striped t-shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers. He also had a black book bag. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tunapuna Police Station.

The T&T trio of England-based duo Kwandwane Browne and Tariq Marcano, as well as Australia-based Akim Toussaint were named to the Pan American Hockey Federation 2017 Men’s Pan American Elite Teams.

Since 2007, Pan American Elite Teams have been named every two years to recognize the top players in Pan American competitions and for the first time this year, separate Indoor Elite teams will be named and will be announced in a few days as well.

By being named to the Elite Team, the 39-year-old Browne who has appeared for T&T in a record 315 international matches earned his fifth selection to the PAHF Elite Team a record he shared with team leader Canadian defender Scott Tupper and Argentinian Lucas Vila.

Browne was on the first PAHF Elite Team back in 2009 and only missed making the 2015 Elite squad due to injury while also being selected to the team in 2007 with fellow T&T international Wayne Legerton and Dwain Quan Chan; 2009 and 2011 as the lone T&T player, and 2013 with countrymen Mickell Pierre and Akim Toussaint.

Toussaint, 28, meanwhile was selected to his third Elite Team after being selected in 2015 as well while 21-year-old student-athlete Marcano, voted the “Top Youth Player” at this year’s event in Lancaster earned his first Elite Team selection along with Argentinian Olympic gold medallists Pedro Ibarra and Agustin Mazzilli.

Overall, Pan American Cup finalists Argentina and Canada have the strongest representation with five and four players respectively, including Canadian David Carter with the nod for the goal-keeping position for the third time, following selections in 2009 and 2015.

The achievements of the USA and T&T, semi-finalists in Lancaster, were rewarded with the nomination of two and three players respectively.

Altogether, the 2017 men’s Pan American Elite Team is made up of players from six different countries: Argentina (five), Canada (four), T&T (three), USA (two) and one each from Brazil and Chile, with an average age of 28.4 years old.

Former T&T women’s team standouts, Nicole Aming (formerly Dixon) and Stacey Siu Butt remained the two players from the English-speaking Caribbean to have ever made the women’s Elite Team, back in 2009 when T&t ended fourth after a 2-1 loss to Chile in the bronze medal match.

Leading the 2017 women’s Pan American Elite Team is young Chilean sensation Denise Krimerman, who was instrumental in leading her team to a Pan American Cup silver medal .

She is closely followed in the voting by Americans Kathleen Sharkey and Melissa Gonzalez and Argentina stalwarts Florencia Habif and Delfina Merino.

Chilean Camilla Caram is the only player appearing for the fourth time on the Elite roster, with impressive Canadian striker Brienne Stairs making her third Elite appearance and Chilean Claudia Schuler voted for the third time as goal-keeper (following 2009 and 2013).

Pan American Cup finalists Argentina and Chile dominated the voting, with four players selected each, while semi-finalists USA and Canada are recognized with the selection of three players each while Uruguay and Mexico has one apiece.

Agostini’s is reporting $125 million in profit after tax for the year ended September 30, 2017.

This represents a 29 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2016.

Agostini’s chairman Christian Mouttet in his remarks accompanying the audited summary results stated that, “the focus of the group continues to be sustainable long-term growth and financial strength.”

“With these objectives in mind, we continued to build strength and competency in our core Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Pharmaceutical and Retail operations through acquisitions and the development and expansion of distribution and retail assets.” Mouttet said

Cash and cash equivalents for the year ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $160 million.

Regarding his predictions for the future, Mouttet said the company expected that the economies in the Caribbean region, with the exception of Guyana, “will continue to be challenged in 2018.”

Specifically referencing the group’s T&T market, Mouttet said “foreign exchange availability is a significant obstacle to growth and expansion and availability has not improved in the first two months in 2018.”

He added that overall, management will have to continue to be resourceful and proactive so as to manage costs carefully in order to deliver improved results in 2018.

Mouttet did not rule out more acquisitions as he said, “the group continues to pursue strategic expansion opportunities through new capital investment and acquisitions some of which are expected to crystalise in 2018.”

While the T&T Police Service may be patting itself on the back over the relatively quick recapture of prison escapee Vicky Boodram, her jailbreak will go down in history as one of the most glaring demonstrations of the vulnerability, weakness and failure in some of our security services.

We are hopeful that the Professional Standards Bureau will act quickly in this matter, since it may be the only way the public will be able to maintain the little semblance of confidence it has in the service. The access to the resources which secured Boodram’s fake release played a key role in this matter. Checks and balances to ensure security also simply failed across the board. It appears the Prisons and Police Services are either ill-equipped or untrained. Digital platforms to verify court dates, bail and other documents are unavailable and the agencies so inextricably linked are simply out of sync. So even as she is returned to prison, the public has been given no guarantee that what happened with Boodram can’t and won’t happen again. Another recent escapee, Hamilton Small, remains at large. The circumstances surrounding his escape should be equally scrutinised. Boodram’s is not the first prison escape in recent years, hers is simply the most public, colourful and therefore the most embarrassing.

Standing against sexual harassment

At a time when companies in the United States are dismissing influential personalities accused of sexual harassment, a court battle is looming in this country over the termination of a woman who alleged sexual harassment against an executive of a world-famous local company. The local matter was reported in the media, investigated by the company and the executive was eventually cleared. While the evidence in each of these cases must be carefully examined, sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue in this country. Culture has blurred the line between local “sweet talk” and harassment and progressive work environments have been challenged in their attempts to make determinations on the issue. Definitions on paper have done little to change the situation. It’s time for a conversation on the issue, not just in parliament, but in workplaces across the country. Punishing the victim is as offensive as allegations against an innocent party. It’s time to take this conversation forward.

Keep kicking, Dwight

This newspaper would like to congratulate former T&T footballer Dwight Yorke for speaking out on the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs’ failure to address issues at the stadium in his name in Tobago. It is inconceivable that after spending billions on sporting facilities, those in authority put little importance on their upkeep—to the detriment of young aspiring athletes across the country. Maybe Yorke’s concern will light a fire in the right places.

Christmas red, resplendent among yesterday’s outfits of several PNM MPs, marked entry of the merry season to Parliament.

UNC MP Rudy Indarsingh was particularly taken with PNM MP Randall Mitchell’s red tie—and the need to guard against excesses which could land a Parliamentarian in forums as high as the Parliament.

“San Fernando East, you wearing red; like you ready for Christmas,” Indarsingh noted

“We go havta take a drink—but don’t do like (PNM Senator) Lester (Henry). All you keeping him or he going like (Arnold) Piggott? Poor Lester already have money for Jawala (Rambaran).”

Mitchell, spotting defeated UNC leadership contender Christine Newallo-Hosein—and potential PNM comeback—gamely ventured, “So when all you reshuffling UNC’s front row?”

Government’s “holy” trinity—Prime Minister, Attorney General and Chief Defence Stuart Young—however were the ones bearing the brunt of this week’s issues.

There was no outward sign of egg gracing Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s countenance after his November 12 promise of a Tobago ferry fell through following recent tender failure.

On Thursday, Young true to job spec, had—instead of Rowley—broken the news, deflecting fears of Tobago Christmas crisis.

The fact that normally loquacious Tobago Chamber Diane Hadad had one word for the development, voiced the depth of Tobagonians’ (yes—she was born there) reaction.

“Ludicrous!” Hadad declared.

The development crowned a year of spectacular seabridge failures. Failure of a sixth tender—even spanning two administrations and despite Government’s finger-pointing at Port management—is a negative for all.

Port management has questions to answer on Government’s “influence” push claim. Government should detail this. And the evaluation team’s recommendations require disclosure.

Exclusion of Works Minister Rohan Sinanan from Government’s ferry-hunting ministerial team may (or may not) lie in the fact Nidco—which will handle ferry negotiations—falls under Works.

The ministerial team’s advent particularly telegraphed Government’s loss of confidence in Port management (and Board by extension.) How it plays out and who falls, is ahead.

In another corruption-clouded arena—crime and security, Vicky Boodram’s short lived escape loaned insight into myriad shortcomings. Prison escape frequency sharply testifying to specifics.

Boodram appeared to have slinked out in circumstances more in synch with alleged “line” of “work” which landed her “inside” on 100-plus fraud charges.

Where loopholes reside—within and without police/prisons authorities, jail, judicial domain or otherwise—remain to be revealed.

Negative image of security system collapses due to the “escape,” wasn’t fully countered by Government’s subsequent anti-gang announcements.

That was more to support Government’s denunciations of last week’s Beetham protest.

Government’s gang statistics—most detailed to date and showing increases—is a wake-up call on the actual gang threat to T&T. Broadest official recognition of the depth of organised crime and Rasta City and Muslim gangs.

That disclosure coupled with recently released Deosaran Police Service Manpower audit report—required reading for survival planning—and other events provides clear picture of the challenge to security.

Challenge such that even with 82 recommendations, the report projects five to ten years to reform the police service.

The older generation used the expression that the “empty can which rattles the most, makes unnecessary and unwanted noise.” In the lead-up to the recent COP internal elections, statements were made to the effect that the UNC/COP partnership had failed.

People are entitled to their views but exactly how did it fail? The other members of the coalition have not voiced such sentiments.

I have never heard former COP leader, Prakash Ramadhar, Member of Parliament for St Augustine saying such. In fact he has at times boasted of the performance of the PP Government.

Well, how has the People Partnership Coalition failed? Is it because the COP members did not get the number of seats it wanted? Is it that they did not get the number of senators in the Senate which they wanted? Is it that members did not get to fulfil their own personal aggrandisement?

Is it that they (COP) themselves were the biggest pain in the Partnership, always bickering without cause and posing to be a greater opposition to the PP Government than the PNM? What could it possibly be will be left up to the general population to decide.

I, along with other members of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, supported Mr Winston Dookeran and the Congress of the People (COP) at the outset, but with the passage of time became regretful having done so. Why? It is really very simple.

The COP hierarchy felt that they were the only intellectuals in the society capable of solving everything. There was no room for any young person to voice and run with their ideas though there was lip-service to a youth forum.

Why would all these intellectuals now have a following of only themselves? Certainly they ought to know how to command a following. Anyway, this article is not a personal attack on the COP or anyone within the organisation.

It is surprising that there was an internal election for both the COP and the UNC within the space of one week.

Both political parties formed the last Government. The weaker party (COP) has now clearly expressed that it is willing to speak to anyone including the PNM, but is adamant against a coalition with the UNC (See T&T Guardian article “Carolyn willing to talk to PNM”: 29/11/17).

I feel certain that newly elected leader of the UNC, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who polled 20,328 votes in her leadership contest, while Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan was only able to poll 416 in hers, will not subject herself and her party to a coalition that is a political waste.

The UNC base re-elected Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar as its political leader.

Why wouldn’t the COP want to talk to her? Is it that the leader of the COP does not want to work with the former Prime Minister and leader of the coalition? Could it be that, Ms Seepersad-Bachan does not see herself leading any coalition as long as Mrs Persad-Bissessar is present?

These are questions that are swirling around in the minds of the UNC and former COP supporters. How does one member of the coalition which has become almost extinct, suddenly wake up and decide that it is prepared to talk to its former political enemy but not want to talk to its ally?

Maybe I am overreacting and too many words and energy have already been spent on the COP which Basdeo Panday once labelled as “the corpse.” On the other hand, Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar has emerged victorious despite some internal wrangling in the UNC party. Her slogan during and after the campaign was that the real mission at hand was to get rid of the incompetent and corrupt PNM.

The fact that the new COP would rather have talks with the PNM must mean that they do not see the PNM as incompetent and corrupt. Time will tell as to who the population wants to lead the country.

Certainly, no reasonable person would want a prime minister who insists on speaking about issues which only arise in the locality in which he is standing.