BASDEO: CAMAL PERSAD of Lot # 24 Krystal Gardens, Sinas-wee Street, Bank Village, Carapi-chaima died on 10th April, 2018. Husband of Angela Rooplal-Bas-deo. Brother of Batalal (Mooni), Kaloutie (Golin), Roopatie (Ann), Anandee (Rani), Nandanie (Usha) and the late Diawantee (Chunka), Gangaram (Baata) and Anand (Ashram) Brother in Law of Basdeo, Ramesh (Chee), Azim, Reynold, Raymond, Savi, Chan-dra, Betty, Candice and the late Chubby and Dolly. Uncle of 19. Great Uncle of 13. Funeral service for the late Camal Persad Basdeo takes place on Friday 13th April, 2018 at 9:00am from the House of Mourning lot# 24 Krystal Gar-dens, Sinaswee Street, Bank Vil-lage, Carapichaima thence to the Caroni Cremation site for Crema-tion according to Hindu Rites.

To get my pores and the hair on my arms raised when you sing, and evoking an impulsive urge to stand and applaud whenever you sing, means you can really sing and I compare your voice with some of the best I have ever heard. This is the involuntary emotion LeAndra Head stirs in me every time I hear her sing.

It was no different last Saturday night when Head premiered the 2018 series of Women in Jazz, at Fiesta Plaza, MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain.

To avoid any obvious reaction, I obscurely sat at the back of the venue and was again blown away by the purity and richness of this young woman’s vocal ability.

It was the largest turnout at the Plaza to witness one of these annual, free concerts and not an available seat could be found, not even 45 minutes before the show’s scheduled 8.30 pm beginning.

One of the things that amazes me about Head is that she reminds me of a sculptor, the manner in which she shapes notes, smoothly transitions into descending or ascending octaves and how she creates a mood by simply massaging or sustaining a note.

Head opened her set with Sade’s Sweetest Taboo followed by the time-worn Etta James standard At Last, the selection she sang 14 years ago, at the age of ten, when beat several adult rivals at the WeBeat St James Song Contest.

As her set seemed to hasten by, Head sang Simply Red’s Holding Back the Years, Michael Jackson’s Human Nature, Chris Brown’s Don’t Wake Me Up, Burt Bacharach’s Say a Little Prayer and Patsy Cline’s immortal Crazy.

Head is one of the vocalists with J9, an aggregation led by composer/ keyboardist Jeanine Ruiz and the one backing the very talented vocalist on Saturday night. For a finale, Head rendered Chronnix’s I Can and tried to exit the stage at 9.22 pm. But the audience, now on its feet with a standing ovation, enticed Head to return for a lagnaippe with Voice’s Far From Finished, beautifully arranged by Ruiz.

I totally agree with late television Twelve and Under host Hazel Ward-Redman when she said, on hearing Head sing on her programme many years ago, “Her voice is a gift from God.”

A NEW TALENT CONCEPT IS UNCOVERED

Uncovered Live is happening at Kaiso Blues Cafe, Newtown, courtesy A Millien Concepts, from tomorrow evening. For 2018, the Uncovered series has a live component added to its movement. The event series features up and coming singing talent who specialise in genres like R&B, Pop, Indie, Reggae and Gospel.

Producer A Millien Concepts is a company that designs, produces and supports events and projects in the creative sphere is the entity responsible for hosting the series of six live performance shows to be held at Kaiso Blues Cafe on the followingdates:

Show 1: Saturday, April 14
Show 2: Friday, April 27
Show 3: Friday, May 25
Show 4: Saturday, June 2
Show 5: Sunday, June 24
Show 6: Sunday, July 1

Each of these events will showcase two artistes performing a range of musical selections to compliment their incredible voices.

Tickets are available at $100 per artiste showcase. For more information, contact 462 7931 / 620 1331.

For updates on The Uncovered Series, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at Uncovered TT.

THE UNCOVERED SERIES

Show 1: Saturday, April 14: Takeisha “The VoiceQueen” Huddlin / Aisha Noel

Show 2: Friday, April 27: Daniel Griffith / Janika “Jay Renee” Perez

Show 3: Friday, May 25: Stacey “Kalika B” Baldeen / Keron “KHRSTVN” Ramsey

Show 4: Saturday, June 2: Gregory “Greg B” Burris / Sherville Clarke-Lewis

Show 5: Sunday, June 24: Heather Dickson / Safia Mitchell

Show 6: Sunday, July 1: Sherma “Aisha” Bass / Yasha “Yasha H”

NON STOP LAUGHTER

If you want to laugh till yuh belly buss, or yuh false teeth fallout, then visit the cartoon exhibition put on by Keith “Keithos” Anderson and Nalis before it ends this evening.

Billed as Keithos Returns to Town, the exhibition features comical interpretations of events in Trinbago from 1956-2018.

The exhibition was launched last week Tuesday, and was well attended. Calypsonians Contender (Mark John) and Will B (William Ballantyne), editorial cartoonists in song, brought their A-game with songs Ah Love Meh Country and Love Party respectively.

John Antoine as MC kept a tight programme with addresses by Nalis Executive Director the affable Catherine Romain, and Tony Fraser, journalist and political commentator.

At the launch were many personalities including First Citizens Bank chairman Anthony Smart, guitarist Theron “Terrific” Shaw, oldest female pan pioneer Daisy James Mc Clean, Harold Thompson of Radio 97.1FM, calypso poet Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillip), his lovely wife, former national netballer Peggy Castanada, boxer Michael Paul, rapso artiste Brother Book and Pan Trinbago’s Angela Fox. A great time was had by all in attendance.

STEEL IN MOTION IN SIPARIA

It’s that time of year again when Siparia explodes with the sweet sounds of the National instrument. Diatonic Pan Institute will be staging its Eighth Annual Steel in Motion on Saturday, April 21, beginning at 6 pm.

Steel in Motion is held in collaboration with Siparia Regional Corporation and this year will feature 12 bands. The event is held on the occasion of Siparia fete which is a religious festival held in honour of the patron saint La Divina. In addition, a calypsonian who has contributed significantly to the art form is honoured every year at the festival and veteran Johnny King will be the 2018 honoree. As such, bands are required to perform a religious song and a Johnny King piece.

The route will begin at Diatonic Pan Institute on Mary Street and proceed onto Coora Road and High Street, Siparia. The bands will be judged on their repertoire presentation along the route. The route culminates at Harry’s Furniture Store, where adjudication will take place for the Religious, Johnny King and Dianne Dupre Flag Waving Competition. The Siparia Rhythm Section will close the day’s proceedings after the parade.

Over the years, Steel in Motion has paid tribute to Baron, Crazy, Iwer George, Lord Nelson, Calypso Rose (before her recent national and international recognition), Ronnie Mc Intosh and Black Stalin.

This event continues to attract national and international interest.

STEEL IN MOTION STEELBANDS AND THEIR JOHNNY KING SELECTIONS

1. Arima All Stars Steel Orchestra — Wet Mih Down
2. Blanca 47 — Darling
3. Curepe Pholphonics Steel Orchestra — Wet Mih Down
4. Gonzales Sheikers — Wet Mih Down
5. Harlem Syncopators — Nature;s Plan
6. New Pioneers — Doh Rub Meh
7. San Juan All Stars — Appreciation
8. Scrunters Pan Groove — Ah want it all the time
9. T&T Fire Services — Ah want it all the time
10. Trinidad East Side — Nature;s Plan
11. Uni Stars — Darling

San Fernando based vocalist and thespian, Kevin Humphrey will be hosting his first full-length solo concert, titled Fr3sh, tomorrow at the Government Campus Plaza Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. The show will be produced by theatre production company Chandelier Productions, run by Tiana Chandler.

Humphrey said he wasn’t originally confident he would be able to fill an auditorium because he doesn’t perform the typical types of music which is attractive to large audiences, but he was challenged by Chandler to put on the production. “I enjoy the stage,” said Humphrey. “The stage gives an energy, a joy, a feeling that one cannot get anywhere else. I can get lost in my music and the only thing I will be judged on is my performance. I can sing almost any genre and I gravitate towards feel good music that touches something inside of you, that makes you want to sing, to dance, to cry and to laugh.”

Humphrey has been singing for years and is active in local musical theatre. He has participated in both southern and national Junior Calypso Monarch competitions and graduated as the most outstanding student from the Chris Vocal Academy class of 2000. Humphrey has had major roles in several local theatre productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, Cinderella, A T&T Musical, and most recently, Khona the Musical.

He said some of the high points of his career so far have been becoming the voice tutor at the Patrons of Queen’s Hall Theatre Camp, working at Wilubbeats Studios, working with Glenda Collens and being remembered by name by the international casting director for Disney’s The Lion King.

In the future, Humphrey will be furthering his studies in voice. He also wants to be able to host a recurring show where he can introduce new and upcoming artists and one day do a duet with Beyoncé.

Chandler said she is the producer and lighting designer for the concert through Chandelier Productions. “Chandelier Productions was started with a mission to provide opportunities for young and up-and-coming performers to showcase their talents and provide quality entertainment for the community,” said Chandler.

“In keeping with that mission, I approached Kevin, after seeing him perform several times, to give him the opportunity to do his first solo concert.”

The concert will also feature spoken word, dance and other vocalists. These include Jillia “Jillia” Cato, Kadija “Ms Dija” Jeremiah, and Gregory Burris, with Ifayomi “Ifa” Aluko performing spoken word. The dance performances will be presented by Jélae Stroude-Mitchell and Zhané George.

“They will all be backed by some very talented background vocalists and an amazing live band consisting of Aaron Lowchewtong (guitar) Adan Hagley and Atiba Williams (keyboards); Makesi Joseph (drums); and, Miguel Charles on bass,” Chandler said.

Tickets for Fr3sh are priced at $150. For more info find Fr3sh | k3v!n on Facebook, call 710-9436 and email chandelierproductions1@gmail.com

At its panyard, located at 138 Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, last Sunday, National Panorama winner bptt Renegades Steel Orchestra, reflected on its 2018 Carnival season.

It was a text message from the board and management team to band members, during the week-ending March 24, that invited ‘all’ members to the yard for 1 pm to hold related discussions.

With board members present, shy of two, and a trickle of mixed membership, at 1.50 pm, chairman Michael Marcano pulled the sparse volume of attendants together, and commenced proceedings.

Welcoming all and signalling the “floor open,” a melting pot of concerns began to bubble over as outlined by parents of pan players of the junior band, nailing the board to supply explanations or clarification.

Among the many were: the true purpose of the junior band; the music institute; recognition of junior players; expectations from the sponsor; powers of respective committees; the junior band’s position within the confines of the over-arching Renegades architecture; boundaries and scope; finance; players on the road for Carnival; the transition age to enter the senior band; fund-raisers; orientation within the senior band; establishing a parents’ committee; scholarships; the role and responsibility of the bands’ security detail; the personal and professional image of junior members.

Classed as a bumper Panorama season for Renegades, the gathering learned that all major aspects of preparatory works for the season, were accomplished courtesy Renegades as they waited-out and are still waiting-out the outcome of adjustments within their sponsor’s fold.

With the 21-year-old junior band on a high— capturing its historic beaver-trick at the National Panorama this year—confirmation came that the resignation of their musical director of these five latter years was accepted, seeing new and apt arrangers being currently sought to ensure the band continues on an upward musical trend.

Continuing to take jabs, the Board saw a wider cross-section of attendants agreeing that transparency, professionalism, accountability, respect, fairness, and proper organisational, marketing, and communication skills, should be integral to all operations of the bands.

Drawing to an end, plugged-in was word of a School Enhancement Project on April 14-15, as undertaken by the junior band at the Boissiere Primary School, Maraval. This, apprised of by senior tenor player Marvis Mohammed, while, in-keeping with the organisation’s 70th anniversary (this year), announcement of an Anniversary Service at the Rosary RC Church, Port-of-Spain on May 27 was made, with details to be provided.

In response to a parent’s question of a follow-up of this meeting, chairman Marcano assured that one will be supplied in the nearest possible time.

At 4:10 pm, Marcano raised to his feet and thanked those who attended; the players of the two bands for their achievements during this Panorama competition; parents in particular; and others who made the season a positively memorable one.

To contact bpTT Renegades call
627.1543

Amadi Productions will be holding its annual concert titled Here’s My Heart in two parts: Saturday, April 14 at 8 pm (over 21) and Sunday, April 15, at 5 pm (under 21), at Daaga Auditorium, UWI, St Augustine.

Amadi Productions, a non-profit organisation, started staging concerts in 2005 on an annual basis and has produced 15 to date. The group’s objective is to promote and present educational, social and cultural events with integrity and efficiency, for the purpose of exposing the talents and skills of youths in the performing arts, to aid in their development and consequently, bring about positive social change in our community.

Amadi director Rhona Mohon has observed that there is little opportunity or stage availability for students and graduates from our educational institutions in the performing arts to express themselves. In times past, Trinidad has had the popular Aunty Kay Children’s Radio Hour and there had been more radio and television opportunities, like the late Hazel Ward-Redman’s Twelve and Under series on TTT, where gifted youths would begin their journey to becoming professional artistes in relevant areas of the arts, but these seem to be diminishing. In an effort to build a more creative society and minimise social ills, Amadi Productions’ resolve is to assist in so doing.

Part I of this year’s Here’s My Heart concert will feature five talented voices of Jacqueline Johnson (Contralto); Joanne Pyle (Soprano); Kory Mendez (Tenor); and, Baritones Arnold Phillip and Stephan Furlonge.

Part II will feature our younger artistes including the Drummology Club of St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain; Presentation College Chaguanas Music Makers; Alliyah Boland (Most Outstanding Voice at this year’s Music Festival); young musician Jovanni Carnavon Gibson; powerful vocalist Alyssa Joseph; dancer Anaya George-Chiddick and poet Daniela Bremnor.

Accompaniment will be by Sheldon Morales and the band Earl Carnavon & Friends, including Marva Newton, Junior Wallace and Terrance Sealey. Hosts of the show are Carla Roach and Roger Prince.

INFO

Tickets are available at Cleve’s One Stop Shop, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.

T&T’s eighth annual literary festival—NGC Bocas Lit Fest—is a twin festival, with a full children’s festival running alongside the adult festival from April 25-29 at the National Library in Port-of-Spain.

“It is a stimulating, exciting programme of events for young readers and writers, who are people too,” says Danielle Delon, director of the children’s festival, which remains a core offering of the Caribbean’s premiere annual literary festival of words, stories and ideas, attracting over 1,000 children each year.

Delon added: “It starts with the Children’s Storytelling Caravan for five to 13-year-olds that every April travels around T&T, allowing children to share their wonderful stories, and there is still time to book a place.

This tour culminates in the five-day Children’s Festival at the Children’s Library (Nalis) that ends with a birthday party on Sunday, April 29 for Dragonzilla, the children’s festival mascot.”

During the Caravan, storytellers guide children through the craft of storytelling, encouraging observation of the environment, personal, social and community relationships, and unleashing and leading the children’s creativity, inspiring them to value self-expression through the written word. Each year the stories the children create are illustrated and published in a colouring book.

A festival highlight is the Imagine New Worlds event at City Hall, hosted by Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez and the Port-of-Spain City Corporation on Wednesday, April 25. Over 300 children from schools nationwide will come together to experience the work of authors, artists and performers from T&T and abroad.

Trinidad-born, New York-based editor and educator Tracey Baptiste; US-based Daniel O’Brien; prize-winning Guyanese writer Imam Baksh; Natacha Jones, Jeunanne Alkins, Danielle Boodoo-Fortune, Everard McBain, Derron Sandy and Kes the Illusionist are all part of the mix.

Readings from children’s books by their authors, illustration and graphic-novel based workshops as well as a song-writing workshop, led by the band Freetown Collective, are some of the highlights of the festival on Saturday but there are many creative activities each day.

On Sunday, April 29, children and family films will be shown as part of the festival’s annual CineLit programme.

All events are free and open to the public but pre-registration is required via www.bocaslitfest.com or call 71-BOCAS.

The National Gas Company (NGC) is the title sponsor of the 2018 Children’s Bocas Lit Fest.

NGC BOCAS LIT FEST 2018 CARAVAN
Saturday, April 14:
Tobago Scarborough Library – 10 am
Couva Public Library – 10 am
Chaguanas Public Library – 2 pm
Saturday, April 21:
Toco Secondary School – 10 am
San Fernando Public Library – 10 am
Debe Public Library – 2 pm
Saturday, April 28
Port-of-Spain Children’s Library, National Library – 1 pm

Controversy surrounds the kidnapping and release of the step-daughter of Krystiana Sankar, the step-daughter of Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young.

This after Young denied he or any other close family member made any ransom payment in the wake of a T&T Police Service statement that Sankar, 24, was released yesterday morning following a ransom payment, after she was snatched at a friend’s house in Diego Martin on Thursday. (See other story)

Yesterday, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) tweeted: “The 24y/o was released at Morne Coco Road, Diego Martin, around 2 am on 13.04.18 after a $167,000 ransom was paid. She was kidnapped around 6.45 pm at Crystal Stream, Diego Martin, on 12.04.18.”The T&T Guardian was told Sankar was at the home of a friend at Alfred Lane when two men - one armed with a gun and the other a cutlass - entered the house. Sankar was pointed out and taken at gunpoint into a waiting white panel van bearing a company logo. Initial police reports suggested a ransom of $200,000 and five blocks of marijuana was demanded for her release. However, in a tweet the TTPS subsequently gave the monetary figure. As the hours went by yesterday after Sankar’s release, however, no further information was forthcoming from the TTPS.When the T&T Guardian visited the house where she was kidnapped at Alfred Lane, its gate was padlocked and no one came out when called out.

A resident in the area, who wished not to be identified, said she often sees “characters” frequenting the house.

“Some times loud music playing. It does have all kinds of young men in and out drinking and smoking. To me they look frightening, but we stay indoors because we do not want trouble to come our way. We see but we don’t see and hear nothing.”Another resident, when questioned, walked off, placing his finger to his lips.T&T Guardian was also told that among police circles, information came to light that the 21-year-old son of Sea Lots community leader Cedric Burke was detained for questioning in connection with Sankar’s kidnapping. But a senior police officer, who wished not to be named, last evening said no one was arrested in connection with the kidnapping and investigations were continuing.However, Burke, 43, who spoke to the T&T Guardian at Sea Lots yesterday, confirmed his son, Shaquille was “picked up” by the police early yesterday in Sea Lots.He said whilst he did not receive any information it had anything to do with Sankar’s kidnapping, he was told by his attorney, who went to the station, his son was being questioned “into an inquiry over a firearm possession.” Asked if there was any connection between his son and Sankar, or if they were friends, Burke said he did not know.

Burke said that his son had no criminal records and described him as a very educated individual with subject passes having been schooled at Queen’s Royal College and the Southern Caribbean University.Burke said he was told his son was approached by police some time after 4 am at Sea Lots and taken to Besson Street Police Station.

“I wasn’t around but usually my son would get up early to help his other brother with the fishing boats we have when it come in and that was why he was outside that hour in the morning. I heard that the police had him in a jeep.”Meanwhile, in a release on Tuesday, the TTPS stated that reports of kidnappings went down by 21 per cent, with 39 of these crimes committed during the comparative period in 2017 as against 31 for 2018, thus far.Investigations are continuing.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Heermatie Sankar longs to hear the voices of her husband Awardnath Hajarie, son Nicholas Hajarie and friend Shammi Seepersad, who were released from a Venezuelan jail in Tucupita three days ago but still have not returned home. However, as each day passes the heaviness in her heart grows and so do the rumours of their whereabouts.

Unable to continue staring out at the sea waiting for their boat, Sankar spent most of yesterday crying, sleeping and praying the men would return home safely.

Sankar’s sister-in-law Sunita Hajare said yesterday they heard Awardnath had fallen ill after being released from jail and this may have caused their delay. Awardnath suffers from diabetes and hypertension.

“We heard that he was in a Venezuelan hospital getting drips and medication. We don’t know if that is true. People say Venezuela does not have medicine and food. We do not know what to think,” Sunita said.

She also explained that Fullerton Village fishermen have not been going out to sea since the three fishermen were chased and apprehended by the Guardia Nacional a week ago. The arrests were recorded by a Trinmar worker who uploaded a video on Facebook showing the arrests occurring in territorial waters.

In a release, the Ministry of National Security said the Venezuelan authorities stated that the fishermen were caught fishing in Venezuelan waters on April 5 and the Guardia Nacional chased them and arrested them. The fishermen paid fines to authorities in Venezuela and were released last Tuesday but never returned home.

Since the incident, Cedros fishermen have been calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the matter, saying Trinidadian fishermen were being held captive by Venezuelans in exchange for food and US dollar ransoms.

Cedros Councillor Shankar Teelucksingh said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must locate the Trini fishermen.

“They have not given any confirmed reports as to whether they contacted our embassy in Venezuela to find out what is taking place in Venezuela. Our citizens are at risk and our Coast Guard must find out what is happening to them,” Teelucksingh said.

Tobago stakeholders are keeping their fingers crossed that the seabridge will be back in service, following confirmation from the Port Authority yesterday that the T&T Spirit will return to service on Monday.

Tobago Chamber of Commerce chairman Claude Benoit said yesterday it’s “very good news” and hopes the vessel, which has been out of service for the past ten months, will work like “a brand new vessel” and there will be no issues.

“I just hope that the maintenance stays intact so that there would be no breakdown or anything like that, but that’s very good news,” Benoit told the T&T Guardian.

He said the Tobago business community has been tabulating their losses over the past year because of numerous issues which impacted the seabridge.

“These are ongoing things, we have members who are continuously feeling the pinch every day, it’s an ongoing pain that we feeling on the island.”

But he said with an end to the seabridge problems in sight he hoped things would get better. He thanked Caribbean Airlines for the work it did in the period when the seabridge collapsed.

“CAL was the only link that was there because the Cabo Star not really taking passengers, so if we had to go to Trinidad or Tobago we had to go by air. I know CAL would have done their best to put on all the extra flights and seats to ensure those who want to travel between the islands in the circumstances were able to do that and we really have to commend them for doing their best,” Benoit said.

The return of the Spirit brings to an end the arrangement PATT had with CAL. PATT communications manager Vilma Lewis-Cockburn also yesterday thanked the travelling public for their “patience and understanding,” as the port sought to ensure a “safe and reliable service to and from Tobago.”

Over the past months, the passenger vessels have encountered a number of challenges and the two vessels were withdrawn from operations.

The T&T Spirit was taken out of service on June 6, 2017 for maintenance works. It was hoped the vessel would have returned to the seabridge before the other ferry on the seabridge, the T&T Express, was taken into dry dock. But one month ago, on March 13, the seabridge collapsed when the T&T Express was taken out of service and the T&T Spirit failed to return because its maintenance work was incomplete. After several sea trials the vessel finally got the required certification on Thursday.

The collapse of the seabridge caused not just inconvenience to passengers, but resulted in cancellations of hotel bookings in Tobago for the usual busy Easter season. In the past year, businesses say they had lost more than $700 million because of continuing problems on the seabridge.

Yesterday, Lewis-Cockburn said while the situation may have caused serious inconveniences to customers, this decision “was necessary primarily to ensure the safety of passengers and crew during the crossings, and also to enhance and upgrade the service.” She said it is expected that “with the necessary works carried out the overall performance of the vessels will be improved.”

The first sailing of the T&T Spirit is scheduled from Scarborough to Port-of-Spain on Monday at 6.30am with the return trip to Scarborough at 4 pm. A similar sailing schedule is planned for Tuesday and on Wednesday the vessel will sail at 6.30am from Scarborough and midday from Port-of-Spain.

Lewis-Cockburn said with the resumption of sailings the arrangement with CAL comes to an end tomorrow.

The Ministry of Education has reversed its position on barring an 11-year-old student from Guyana, who lived in T&T for most of his life, from sitting next month’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam.

The decision was communicated on Thursday afternoon in a letter sent to lawyer Stefan Ramkissoon, who is representing the child’s guardians.

It came less than 24 hours after Ramkissoon issued a pre-action protocol letter threatening legal action over the decision.

While the ministry said the child and other foreign nationals like him, who did not have valid student permits from the Immigration Division, would be allowed to sit the examination, it warned they might encounter further problems, as a valid permit was also required for registration at a secondary school.

The names of the child, his guardians and the primary school he s currently attending were withheld by this newspaper on the request of the guardians’ attorneys. The exam is scheduled for May 3.

According to the pre-action letter, the child and his two older siblings have been living with their guardians, who are Trinidadian nationals, for almost ten years.

While the child’s siblings were allowed to sit the exam in 2014 and last year, the ministry informed the guardians that he would not be allowed this year.

Ramkissoon had claimed his client had a legitimate expectation that he would be allowed to sit the exam as he was never asked to provide a permit during his almost seven years in the local school system.

“If there is in fact a purported policy now being implemented by the Ministry of Education, that a non-national student cannot continue with his education, such a policy clearly does not serve any valid educational purpose and is in breach of the statutory authority/mandate provided for under the Education Act,” he said.

Responding to questions from reporters at a press conference at the ministry’s Port-of-Spain office yesterday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia and Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan defended the ministry’s initial position. They claimed the ministry was merely enforcing immigration protocol.

“We worked out the requirement and it has always been there. It is still a requirement and we took a decision,” Seecharan said.

However, he admitted the ministry changed its decision as it “was in the best interest of the child.”

He also noted the ministry was involved in meetings with the division last year, as it (the division) reported that there is a large number of children, who are here illegally with their parents, being enrolled in the education system.

The child and his guardians are also being represented by Jagdeo Singh, Dinesh Rambally and Kiel Taklalsingh.

Tempers flared in Parliament yesterday when the Opposition United National Congress pressed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on issues concerning the Sports Ministry’s $150,000 settlement to a former employee.

And UNC MP Rudy Indarsingh—a casualty of the fray—ended up being put out of the Parliament chamber for the sitting.

The Opposition peppered Rowley with queries on the ministry issue, which—along with the removal of former Sports Minister Darryl Smith—brought his administration into sharp focus recently.

Rowley said the first he’d heard of any settlement was when it was raised as a Parliamentary question recently.

Indarsingh asked if any advice was offered to him through the Attorney General’s Office. Rowley said the AG’s office wasn’t involved in the matter as far as he was concerned and “no advice, contact or communication” was made to him by the AG or anyone in this matter.

Rowley said when the matter came to his attention in Parliament, he immediately asked a Cabinet member to communicate with the Permanent Secretary (Sport) to determine what the Government was involved in and what it’s liabilities were. He said then Sports Minister Smith, who was overseas, returned to T&T and he spoke to him soon after.

On whether steps will be taken to retrieve the $150,000 spent on the settlement, Rowley replied: “This matter is no more urgent than the allegations which were made when you (UNC) were in Government.” UNC MPs protested loudly. But Rowley retorted: “Don’t play no holier-than-thou for me.”

When Indarsingh particularly protested several times, he was asked by House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George to withdraw his comments—which he did.

Rowley then continued. He said when the matter arose in Parliament the Attorney General made it clear the settlement concerned wrongful dismissal by way of process.

“That was the issue the Government was dealing with at the Industrial Court...sexual harassment in public office didn’t start with this Government so don’t come and play holier-than-thou here for me!” Rowley repeated.

UNC MPs—particularly Barry Padarath—again protested and he was asked to apologise. Padarath did so, but maintained his protests against Government were “true.”

When Indarsingh again interjected, Annisette-George advised him to “take a walk and control your emotions and you can return...”

Indarsingh didn’t do so. Opposition Whip David Lee protested there was no Standing Order (instruction) to instruct an MP to “take a walk.”

Indarsingh said he was willing to abide by the Speaker’s ruling if she could guide him on what Standing Order she based her request on.

Annisette-George said it was either Indarsingh abide with it or she’d invoke her “other powers.” Indarsingh, however, insisted on finding out what Standing Order she was using.

Annisette-George then told him, “Having called upon you at least three times to apologise—and take a walk, return and control yourself—I now deem your conduct to amount to gross disorder and I’m asking you to immediately withdraw from the chamber for the rest of the sitting.”

Indarsingh was escorted out by two police officers.

Continuing with his replies on the Sport matter, Rowley said as far as he was aware there was no policy to spend public funds to settle industrial relations matters in the public service using non-disclosure agreements. He said he woud put a competent team on it to probe the circumstances and “when that information is available, it will be addressed accordingly.”

Rowley said he referred the matter to the team rather than Public Service Commission, as he thought it would require clarity in the event it had to be referred to the PSC. On whether the Sport Ministry’s Permanent Secretary would be questioned in the probe, he advised MPs to await the outcome.

Rowley also told UNC’s Roodal Moonilal—who asked about the “new information” which led to Smith’s removal—that ministerial appointments were a matter for him (PM) and he wasn not under any obligation to say why he came to that conclusion.

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said yesterday no ransom was paid for the release of his step-daughter Krystiana Sankar following her abduction on Thursday night.

Sankar was abducted from a friend’s home at Alfred Drive, Crystal Stream, Diego Martin.

The 24-year-old woman was said to be at the home of an ex-boyfriend with several other people just after 7 pm, when two men armed with a gun and cutlass, singled her out before bundling her into a vehicle and speeding off. She was found early yesterday morning.

A tweet from the T&T Police Service yesterday revealed she was freed in Diego Martin around 2 am after a $167,000 ransom was paid.

Yesterday, however, Young told reporters at Parliament that he’d only heard of the development on Thursday night when one of Sankar’s friends called him.

He added: “I’d like to thank the T&T Police Service and all other members of law enforcement who worked around the clock on Thursday night to ensure the safe return of Ms Krystiana Sankar, a 24-year-old adult and step-daughter; someone who I had a relationship with and who I was very concerned about.

“So I was happy when she was returned safely home sometime early this morning. I’ve seen reports of payment of a ransom. (But) absolutely no ransom was paid either by myself or her immediate family.”

He added: “We just want to put this ordeal behind us now and allow a young woman to continue with her life. As far as I’m aware, there’s an ongoing police investigation.”

On whether the abductors were known to Sankar - in view of allegations an ex-boyfriend was involved - Young said, “I don’t know the answer to that - no.

“There’s an ongoing police investigation. I leave it in the police’s hands to pursue all leads and complete their investigation and await the outcome.”

On whether he believed the quick action was due to his position in Government, Young said, “I don’t want to speculate. My interaction with police is that they normally react in a responsible manner.

“This (speedy resolution) reminded me of the abduction of the Chinese Ambassador’s driver (last year in Woodbrook). It shows the security forces’ apparatus is working. I encourage them and thank them - I don’t think it had anything to do with ‘influence’.”

It was just not to be for Cleopatra Borel yesterday, as she missed out on a medal in the women’s shot put final at the Commonwealth Games here in Australia.

The field specialist fought gallantly to the end, which looked promising until the sixth and final round concluded as she was in bronze medal position. However, Canada’s Brittany Crew surpassed Borel on her last throw.

After five rounds and reduction from 12 to eight competitors in the medal event, Borel was in third spot after improving her throws gradually from 17.59 metres to be at 18.00 metres by the end of this round.

However, Crew’s final throw reached 18.32 metres to surpass Borel and although the local athlete gave her all again on her sixth attempt, improving to 18.05m, she had to settle for a tear-wrenching fourth

place.Borel opened with a 17.59m throw, the second measured 17.82m, her third reached 17.81m, before tossing the object 18.00m in her fourth try. She then got to 17.68m and 18.05m in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively.

Speaking to Guardian Media afterwards, Borel said, “The meet progressed in a good way. All of my throws were consistently getting better but on the sixth throw, the girl from Canada put one out there and that was it. Even though I improved on my last throw it wasn’t enough to regain the medal.

“But I am proud of what I did and I am proud of the meet I put together. We worked really hard to get here and the results were better than World Championships so we’re just going to keep working, keep plugging.”

The five-time “Sportswoman of the Year” admitted she was always wary of the dangerous Canadian.

“I was just preparing myself, don’t relax, get ready to respond. She is a spinner and spinners do stuff like that where they can make these throws. For instance I glide so I do the linear technique, which is just moving back, but she does a rotational technique and with this technique you can put a big score together out of nowhere and is what she did tonight (yesterday).

“She put it together on the last throw so I was cognizant of that and I said to myself do not relax, get ready, just focusing and get ready to respond and I did that, I responded. My response was not good enough but I did not crumble and for that I am proud of myself.”

The eventual winner was Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd (19.36), with two-time Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams of New Zealand second (18.70) and Crew third.

4x400m, Waithe join 4x100 women, men stumble out

Yesterday, the T&T men’s 4x400m team and javelin thrower Shakeil Waithe joined the women’s 4x100m relay team in the final of their respective events while the men’s sprint relay team failed to get the baton around in the track at the Carrara Stadium.

T&T women’s team will line up in the final from lane eight at 12.37 am (TT time) today as there were only eight teams entered for the event.

Waithe was first in action in the men’s javelin throw and after a nervous start, finished in fifth in the first group with a throw of 75.21m and then overall 10th to advance as part of the top 12 into today’s final, which scheduled for 12.35 am (TT time).

With former World champion Julius Yego, of Kenya, crashing out at the first stage and no Keshorn Walcott through injury, the javelin event was expected to be an open affair.

Next up was the men’s 4x100m relay semifinals, with T&T’s Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Nathan Farinha and Emmanuel Callender, running in that order, competing from lane three. But there was a mix up between the second and third handover between Burns and Farinha, which led to T&T failing to complete the event.

“I made my move too early. Australia was right next to me and I got mixed up with the mark and so I ran too early,” said Farinha, clearly despondent. “This hurts so, so much.”

Burns added, “He showed me the marker he ran off from and I had to tell him that was the Australian mark not mine and therefore that is why he moved so fast. This happens, he is inexperienced and we all make mistakes in life. The challenge will be to recover from it and learn quickly. It was a case of jitters.”

Bledman meanwhile said, “I did not see what happen. I just came out and ran my race. The focus in these races is not about speed, it is about getting the stick around but things like these happen and he now needs to learn from this and move on.”

Callender sympathised with young Farinha.

“I feel his pain but we are in this together. We probably need to have more training sessions and a relay camp to iron out some of these things. We need to support him because I know he is hurting.”

Last up in the morning session was T&T’s World Championships gold-medal winning 4x400m squad of Renny Quow, Deon Lendore, Lalonde Gordon and Machel Cedenio in the second semifinal. T&T finished in fifth in a time of 3.05.84 and was promoted to fourth after Australia was disqualified.

The local quartet is expected to welcome back new 200m champion Jereem Richards, who collected his gold medal yesterday, for today’s final, carded for at 3.07 am (TT time). They will race from lane one.

T&T Under-16 netball team improved on its showing at the Caribbean netball Association (CNA) Jean Pierre Junior Championships which ended on Wednesday evening at the Vigie Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Castries, St Lucia.

The local team, coach by Velma Hazelwood and Lystra Solomon-Simmons (assistant coach), returned on Thursday after placing fourth in the seven-team competition. In the previous competition, two years ago, T&T placed seventh.

Led by captain Esther James with support from vice-captain Tamiah Hernandez, the junior “Calypso Girls” ended with three wins and four losses.

The national netballers fell to Barbados, 27-21 in their opening match on Saturday, bounced back on Sunday to beat Grenada, 30-25 before falling to St Lucia (32-19) in their third affair. They next meet St Vincent and the Grenadines and prevailed 29-19 on Tuesday. On the final day, T&T played Jamaica and lost 38-7 but rebounded later in its final match to beat Dominica (27-21).

The “Reggae Girls” of Jamaica played unbeaten to earn the junior title, second was St Lucia and third was Barbados.

T&T junior team did pick up a bulk of awards including best team on parade and best dressed team and shooter Kelelicia George and Kalliyah Stephen were named to the top 16 of the tournament.

On Monday, T&T shooters Kelelicia George, Kayshanna Duncan and Kelaiah Stewart dominated the shooting competition, sealing the crown after combining to net 100 goals.

Jamaica was second with 93 and Barbados was third with 92.

Imran Khan started off his career as a batsman but today when he turns and bundles his long hair into a bun, he is about to unleash another deadly delivery that has left many batsmen dumbfounded.

Khan, the smiling assassin from Charlieville, has turned the current T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Premiership into his own show and has been sending batsmen back to the pavilion faster than a “Whatsapp” message.

The right-arm leg-spinner who is currently the most prolific bowler in the national set up for the Red Force, has taken 48 wickets in five ,rounds of matches for Alescon Comets cricket club.

On the weekend he demoralised PowerGen by taking 13 wickets in the match to give Comets victory and keep them at the top of the heap in the Premiership I standings.

In addition to his superb bowling he has also found form with the bat and got 76 two weeks ago as well.

Khan has played for Alescon Comets for his entire career and has stayed loyal to the club, even in bad times.

Now he will more than likely lead them to a Premiership title based on current form.

Prior to the domestic tournament, “Sharkie” as he is affectionately called was Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin’s go to man.

He grabbed 48 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 25.54 and a best haul of 6/59.

He was second only to Guyanese left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who collected 50 wickets in tournament.

The 33-year-old Khan has taken a whopping 368 wickets in 92 First Class matches at an average of 23.32.

The best innings bowling figures he has returned is 7/71 and his best match performance to date is 11/122.

Khan first played for T&T in First Class cricket way back in 2005 and has also played for the West Indies ‘A’ team, his first call coming in 2010.

He has also found favour with the Barbados Tridents in popular Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 (T20) tournament and will be looking to continue his great performances with them this year.

In the meantime, he continues to baffle local batsmen week-afterweek in the TTCB Premiership.

His performances cannot be underestimated as going into this year’s tournament, Comets were not in the national discussion as to who will win the title.

However, Khan together with fellow national players Rayad Emrit and Roshan Primus has really worked wonders at the club and they are now the team to beat.

Khan has also been talked about in regional circles as a man who can make a contribution at the highest level.

In the meantime, he continues to do only what he can and that is to address the selectors with brilliant bowling performances.

Anibale Fly represents the best time-handicap bet I’ve known this 21st century in the Grand National Handicap Chase over four and a half miles of ‘soft’ Aintree ground today; a replication of his third to Native River, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup over three and a quarter miles on similar ground at Cheltenham last month, would more than suffice.

On Thursday runner-up Might Bite confirmed that actual time-figure when winning the group one ‘Bowl’ by five lengths; only reservation is the intimidation factor of negotiating thirty fences and avoiding ‘in running’ problems but Anibale Fly, mount of Barry Geraghty, carrying colours of John P McManus, will doubtless ‘travel’ superbly, such is his class, among run-of-themillm handicappers. None would be within twenty lengths of Native River at level weights.

Prior to his latest effort Anibale Fly comfortably landed a gamble when winning a twenty-eight-runner handicap in Ireland.

A welter burden isn’t at issue, according to shrewd Irish trainer, Tony Martin, ‘he’s a big, strong horse’ obviously capable of carrying weights.

Space isn’t at a premium but there is little more to write, given such superiority, based on recent ‘classic’ form with every conceivable box ticked.

Incidentally my first article as a racing tipster/correspondent was back in 1970 when the personally computed time-handicap pinpointed Gay Trip, winner under the late, great, Pat ‘Arkle’ Taafe, at 20/1.

Several years went by before the same ‘feel’ recurred and Gold Cup winner, Garrison Savannah, was sensationally beaten by lowweighted Seagram; subsequently this column nominated Rough Quest as nigh on a ‘cert’ and afterwards jockey Mick Fitzgerald couldn’t hide his emotions and said winning was ‘better than sex!’

Mick’s wife divorced him!

Six years ago ‘it’ happened again but Sunnyhillboy, a monster eachway punt, was beaten a shorthead, in the last stride.

At one time the ‘Worlds greatest horserace’ was solved by process of elimination but daunting fences have been modified and speed is now firmly at issue; Anibale Fly should win and I’ll be surprised if ‘JP’ doesn’t shorten him in betting exchanges.

Promising in a Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight!

Six attempts have yielded five placings for this consistent Invincible Spirit filly, latest was a fortnight ago when Promising failed narrowly on her seasonal debut, beaten half a length by heavily-backed George Of Hearts over seven furlongs of Chelmsford polytrack.

This wont be easy, in fact with Roger Varian and John Gosden represented by Hermosita and Tivoli respectively, not to mention others with scope, Promising might need to hit something like the mark achieved when 3rd (of 11) in the group three ‘Fred Darling’ at Newbury last April. Richard Hannon’s charge was reckoned a genuine prospect for the 1000 Guineas.

If she doesn’t win...!