The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of 10 men convicted of the murder of the brother of drug kingpin Dole Chadee, who were seeking to quash their convictions on the basis of fresh claims that the State's main witness admitted to fabricating the case against them.
Delivering a written decision at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, on Wednesday, Appellate Judges Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Rajendra Narine and Prakash Moosai refused to admit the fresh evidence provided by witness Junior Grandison, almost a decade after the group of men were convicted for murdering Thackoor Boodram in 1997.
As part of their decision, the judges upheld their convictions and the life sentences, which they have been serving. 
Boodram, a pig farmer, was kidnapped from his home at Spring Village, Valsayn on December 20, 1997.
A ransom was demanded by his abductors, but 10 days later his decapitated head was found in a whiskey box at the Caroni Cremation Site.
Michael “Rat” Maharaj, Samuel Maharaj, Damian "Tommy" Ramiah, Bobby Ramiah, Seenath "Farmer" Ramiah, Daniel "Fella" Gopaul, Richard Huggins, Leslie Huggins, Mark Jaikaran and Junior "Heads" Phillip were convicted in August 2001.
Their earlier appeals against their murder conviction to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council were rejected, but the latter commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment as there had been delays in hearing their cases.
In June 2011, Grandison, the State's main witness, gave the sworn statement in which he claimed to have been coerced by Boodram's brother Panalal "Don" Boodram into implicating the men, whom he knew.
The two allegedly met in prison, while Grandison was awaiting trial for the murders of Ian George and Walter Regis and the attempted murder of Courtney Reid.
Those charges were dropped in exchange for his testimony against the group.
Two of the men petitioned former president Anthony Carmona to review their case in light of the new evidence.
In January 2015, Carmona exercised his power to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
During hearings of the appeal, last year, Grandison repeatedly refused to attend court to testify before the appeal panel and could not be compelled to do so. In addition to the statement, the men were relying on recorded telephone conversations between Grandison and two of the accused men, in which he admitted to fabricating the case. 
State prosecutors relied on another signed statement from Grandison, which said that he was coerced by the men into recanting his evidence.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of 10 men convicted of the murder of the brother of drug kingpin Dole Chadee, who were seeking to quash their convictions on the basis of fresh claims that the State's main witness admitted to fabricating the case against them.

Delivering a written decision at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain, on Wednesday, Appellate Judges Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Rajendra Narine and Prakash Moosai refused to admit the fresh evidence provided by witness Junior Grandison, almost a decade after the group of men were convicted for murdering Thackoor Boodram in 1997.

As part of their decision, the judges upheld their convictions and the life sentences, which they have been serving. 

Boodram, a pig farmer, was kidnapped from his home at Spring Village, Valsayn on December 20, 1997.

A ransom was demanded by his abductors, but 10 days later his decapitated head was found in a whiskey box at the Caroni Cremation Site.

Michael “Rat” Maharaj, Samuel Maharaj, Damian "Tommy" Ramiah, Bobby Ramiah, Seenath "Farmer" Ramiah, Daniel "Fella" Gopaul, Richard Huggins, Leslie Huggins, Mark Jaikaran and Junior "Heads" Phillip were convicted in August 2001.

Their earlier appeals against their murder conviction to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council were rejected, but the latter commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment as there had been delays in hearing their cases.

In June 2011, Grandison, the State's main witness, gave the sworn statement in which he claimed to have been coerced by Boodram's brother Panalal "Don" Boodram into implicating the men, whom he knew.

The two allegedly met in prison, while Grandison was awaiting trial for the murders of Ian George and Walter Regis and the attempted murder of Courtney Reid.

Those charges were dropped in exchange for his testimony against the group.

Two of the men petitioned former president Anthony Carmona to review their case in light of the new evidence.

In January 2015, Carmona exercised his power to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

During hearings of the appeal, last year, Grandison repeatedly refused to attend court to testify before the appeal panel and could not be compelled to do so. In addition to the statement, the men were relying on recorded telephone conversations between Grandison and two of the accused men, in which he admitted to fabricating the case. 

​​​​​​​State prosecutors relied on another signed statement from Grandison, which said that he was coerced by the men into recanting his evidence.

A video of prisoners feasting, chanting, cavorting and recording their activities comfortably on banned cellular phones at the Maximum Security Prison is now the subject of an investigation.

The video begins with a bareback man sitting on a bed, eyes downcast with earphones on. The narrator identifies someone in a white teeshirt as "the Sabbath teacher" before showing off a layout of about 20 bowls of food with rice, fish, plantain and cucumbers.

In the video, the narrator seems proud of the feast saying, "All soldiers... after the Saturday sabbath, rice and fish to feed all (of) you. I am sharing . Hail Selassie, Rasta living. We take a bathe. Its Kings of Kings." 

Someone is then seen dishing out the food. The prisoners then begin a rhythmic chant to the beat of bongo drums and the rattle of chac chacs as they dance around. The video ends with one man taking a
Rastafarian rag and placing it on top of the head of another man. A depiction of Bob Marley emblazoned with the word Legend was seen in the video. Other prisoners were seen in other cells looking on. 

The video, shared more than 22,000 times on Facebook, drew praise and condemnation from the public.

Deli Cadogan wrote, " BWDMA!!!! I guess jail ain’t so bad like people portrayed it to be then."

Kevin Marcano wrote, "With the exception of having a phone I don't see an issue. The video hasn't promoted no badness of gangsterism. Most the time family brings food when they visit so they're having a meal. Actually is kinda a pleasant change to see fellas not behaving like goons."

Damien Kissoondath wrote, " The food they eating is a nun issue what's the big issues is the phone and internet service that is the real problem."

But Pauline Cruickshank added, "Steupzz everyone have something negative to say. So you know no one in jail? You didn't know they have phones and don't get me started with the food. Some people have family who cook and bring them stuff and as u can see they are sharing. Me eh saying it right they having phones but they done have it. So what you gonna do bout it. The whole of Trinidad corrupted. Them in jail already the extra crime they doing is having a phone u think they gonna care?? Really???"

But a source at Prison said the Prison authorities were aware of the video and were doing investigations. Efforts to contact Prisons Commissioner Gerard Wilson and president of the Prisons Officers Association
Ceron Richards proved futile as Richards did not answer his cellular phone. Wilson's secretary said he was engaged in a meeting and could not be disturbed.
 

Over the last few months, the Government has been making efforts to have open and frank discussions regarding T&T’s extractive sector through initiatives such the Natural Gas Master Plan and Spotlight on Energy Forum.

Minister of Energy, Franklin Khan, at the launch of the Extractive Industries Initiative (TTEITI) steering committee’s fifth T&T EITI Report for fiscal year 2016, reiterated the Government’s support of the EITI’s focus on transparency and accountability in the country’s extractive sector.

Minister Khan, during his feature address at the launch gave an overview of the current state of country’s extractive sector and shared some of the Government’s plans to combat some of the issues currently impacting the sector.

Below is an excerpt of the address given by the Energy Minister at the launch ceremony of the T&T EITI Report 2016, on Friday, May 11, 2018:

The EITI’s key words are “extractive” and “transparency” as the name suggests focuses on transparency and accountability in how a country manages its oil, gas or mineral resources. As a government, we subscribe to the principles of transparency and accountability and therefore the EITI has our full support.

Recent events in the form of the Gas Master Plan and the Spotlight on Energy are testimony to our commitment to transparency and accountable. We also laid the Gas Master Plan in Parliament and for the first time citizens had access to that level of detail into our energy sector policy.

Through the Spotlight on Energy Conference, we highlighted the country’s energy sector challenges and gave a lucid overview of how this Government plans to deal with these setbacks decisively. It is the first time in the history of T&T that such a fundamental issue for the sector was discussed with the people. The energy sector has been a sector always in secrecy.

The EITI process is relatively straightforward, but its importance cannot be understated. For a particular year, companies submit data on their tax payments.

The Government submits information on its tax receipts, while an independent auditor verifies the information, reconciles the differences and explains the reason for the differences between the figures submitted by both government and companies. Companies, government agencies and ministries must provide supporting data to the independent auditor to support their claims as well, whether actual receipts or audited financial statements.

Over seven years of EITI implementation, the difference between government and companies’ revenue have been reconciled and the independent administrator/auditor has confirmed that all revenue has been accounted for.

This independent verification is very important, as it provides an impartial account of the payments made by companies and revenue received by the Government.

The records will show that there has been full reconciliation of the payments made by companies with Government’s receipts from the extractive industries from the inception of this report.

FINDINGS

This latest EITI Report confirms the decline in government revenue from the energy sector, a downward trend that has impacted us all. For 2016, the report shows that we received total receipts of $8.8Bn, compare this to the $28.6Bn for 2014. This is a 70 per cent decline. This is not only due to lower prices and lower production but also very generous tax concessions.

In 2014, the then government agreed to the grant of accelerated allowances which entitled companies to write off development costs against revenue in three years: 50 per cent in year 1; 30 per cent in year 2, and 20 per cent in year 3, as compared to a period of five years.

Companies were also allowed to write off 100 per cent of exploration costs in the year incurred. The combination of these allowances and the loss relief of 100 per cent of losses, contributed to the substantial reduction in government’s take from the sector.

As a consequence, the government is in discussions with two of the major gas producers—bpTT and Shell to ensure a more equitable sharing of revenue earned from the monetisation of our hydrocarbon resources is attained.

The State has a sovereign right to an equitable share of the economic rents derived from its wasting resources. This Government intends to ensure that this right is respected and honoured.

For 2016, these totals were reconciled against the payments disclosed by 43 reporting companies.

There were minor differences amounting to $26 million, which were due to foreign exchange differences; timing differences and insurance premium tax payments on foreign policies paid by insurance brokers.

For the third year running, the NGC is the largest taxpayer contributing $5.7 billion to government revenue, followed by EOG Resources with payments of $1.3 billion and bpTT with payments of $480 million.

This statistic is most revealing.

The obvious question is how can EOG with a production of 400 to 450 Mmcf/d contribute $1.3 billion in taxes and other receipts to government whereas bpTT with five times the production in the amount of 2.2 Bcf per day contributed a mere $480 million or one-third of EOG’s contribution.

In the extractive industry, there cannot be taxation based on profits only. This wide disparity in revenue has indicated, among other matters, a lack of consistency in royalty regime and is the justification for the introduction of 12.5 per cent royalty rate across the board for gas.

The positive impact on revenue has already been realised as royalty receipts from gas for first quarter calendar 2018 amounted to $534 million, which was substantially higher than quarterly payments in the previous year.

This gives credence to the conclusion drawn by Poten and Partners in the Gas Master Plan Report that T&T was systematically being denied of its revenue entitlements.

They estimated that the country lost up to US$6 billion annually from transfer pricing practices for the period 2010 to 2014 and continues to lose US$1.5 billion annually. They deduced that the revenue leakage was sustained primarily through the LNG business.

In the Spotlight of Energy Conference held by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) in March 2018, the revenue challenges faced by the Government and the findings of Poten and Partners were brought to the attention of citizens of T&T.

In the face of such disclosure, it was disappointing that agencies charged with overseeing the public’s interest such as EITI did not see it fit to interrogate the matter and to assume a position on Poten’s assertions. It is my expectation that as the EITI develops it would take a more active position on such matters.

The current criticisms of this government as it seeks to emerge from the recession due to our economic model and the drop in petroleum prices and their local production, centre on government’s focus on rejuvenating the energy sector with no discernible parallel activity in diversifying the economy. Indeed, government is accused of being handcuffed to the energy sector.

In another space I indicated that in the short term all any government could do was to weather the storm of adverse energy sector prices/production while using its fiscal control, renegotiation of contracts, resources and reserves to make life on-shore tolerable as the storm continues to batter our economy.

Energy prices and production appear now to have lifted somewhat and our government gleefully proclaims that the economy has turned around, even the dependent on-shore economy.

However, the economy has remained exactly the same in structure, though its local comparative advantage may have been reduced as the petroleum asset depletes. The economy has not turned around; the economic storm may have lifted a bit as the wider global happenings in politics and financial investments continue out with our control.

What one may say with some truth is that the boom-bust-boom cycle is continuing its merry way with the additional constraint that we are down due in part to old petroleum resources that are expensive to lift and those in deep waters expensive to recover.

This model of our economy, the plantation, is all that we have known throughout our history and since independence we also know that we have to change it, to reconstruct it, to diversify it.

Yet some 50 years later the refrain continues with little progress to show—an abject failure of the governance of the country, the failure of the triad of successive governments, the private sector and the knowledge based institutions to create a sustainable economy.

Prof John Foster of the University of Queensland, Australia, tells us that normally the stakeholders in a complex adaptive economic system can adapt and change their activity as required. However, the history could be such that adaptation, change, becomes virtually impossible due to certain rigidities developed. Is this true of T&T?

As a small open economy we cannot produce locally all that we need to live a comfortable life. Hence, we must import, must export to earn the foreign exchange to fund these imports; the bulk of the foreign exchange comes from the energy sector.

We had a spectacular example of how such foreign exchange could be earned by some local entrepreneurs. They were able to use local low-risk capital via the energy sector’s earnings to acquire a diversified economic cluster of companies spread throughout 35 countries and activities ranging from the manufacture of alcohol beverages, petrochemical, financial services to real estate.

Such an enterprise should have been able weather an economic storm in any one of its investment areas/ markets given the diversified portfolio of the conglomerate.

Unfortunately, given the high global prices of oil compounded with the global sub-prime mortgage fiasco, all of the markets in the world economy collapsed together causing a failure of this local entity.

These entrepreneurs approached our government for help, as others in similar positions went to their respective governments in, say, the US and the UK.

In these foreign countries governments provided a safe harbour, advanced the funds to weather the storm. When the storm abated most of these companies resumed their global businesses, repaid their debts over time and the owners/entrepreneurs survived.

We all know what took place locally with CL Financial. The endpoint today is that some of the cluster companies have weathered the storm with government help, some have been sold.

The remaining discrete assets retained by government are to be put into an investment fund which will sell shares to the public; the monies so earned by the fund is to be used to repay the government for its advances to the original entrepreneurs and to eventually repay the local low risk EFPA investors.

Ownership and entrepreneurship will pass out of the hands of those who had built something we have been crying out for, for decades: they had built a financially integrated and diversified cluster that earned foreign exchange.

The justification by the government for its destruction of the cluster appears to be that those who had built the companies were indeed the cause of their own failure during the economic storm and hence gave up any right to owning and using the surviving companies to repay debts.

The objective was that government, by selling the companies, was preserving also the investments of and returning them to the public that had initially invested in these companies.

Surely, it is more than rigidity that was engendered by history. It was more ignorance of the idiosyncrasies of global trade, global financing, risk and lack of entrepreneurship by the governments involved as they claim that they are retrieving tax payers’ money that was lent to these companies.

MARY K KING
St Augustine

“It’s an opportunity for us to respect the contribution of an individual and to recognise that without their being in the space, the space would not be in the place that it is in and we have to give thanks for that.”

3Canal’s Wendell Manwarren made the statement as he spoke about the Gala Concert, A Noble Cause, being organised to assist iconic dancer, choreographer and teacher Noble Douglas to offset expenses associated with recent back surgeries.

Aunty Noble, as she’s fondly called, had been part of the theatre landscape of T&T for over four decades.

She founded the Lilliput Children’s Theater Company 45 years ago, and it remains the only fully operation children’s theatre in T&T.

Other long-running institutions Douglas founded include theLilliput Children’s Carnival Band (35 years); the Noble Douglas Dance Company for infants and young adults (30 years); and a Creative Camp for children and youth (25 years). She has also choreographed for Peter Minshall’s Carnival productions, is the creator and director of the Noble Douglas Foundation for the Support of Young Dancers, amd has taught dance in rural schools and special classes for elders.

Manwarren said the Gala Concert is not only a means of raising funds to assist, but also to pay tribute to her while she is around to appreciate it. “One of the things we tend to do is to wait until somebody passes on to say ‘oh you did this or you did that,” said Manwarren. “So we decided while she’s here with us and she’s in the audience, let’s take a moment and invite certain people who’ve been instrumental in her creative life to share stories and make it an evening of celebration of 50 years of artistic excellence.

“The event is being staged by the Noble Douglas/Lilliput Foundation for the Arts, which is a whole new entity which was created recently to help ensure that all the work that Aunty Noble has done on her own is able to live on beyond her, so there’s a lot involved here and it’s Noble Douglas — takes a bow for a job well done. signalling a big moment in institution building as far as I’m concerned.”

The concert will feature 3Canal, The Marionettes Chorale, Lord Relator, David Happy Williams, Ron Reid, the Lilliput Children’s Theatre and others. Manwarren added: “I’ve been working with Noble for close to 30 years and I could not have imagined that I would have been working this long and still be this invested. I think that’s such a testament to Noble’s commitment over time that had just rubbed off on the other people that are now a part of the institutions like Lilliput, NDDCI, the Marionettes.

“Her association with Relator is an old deep friendship. You know every Boxing Night she’d have a lime at her house and Relator would pull out his guitar and start to jam and you don’t get sweeter than that.

So we thought that the Friday night in Queen’s Hall should feel like that and since we’ve put the word out, other people have volunteered to come on board.”

Manwarren said Douglas has influenced the lives of many of the people who she’s worked with and has been a mentor to a multitude of people who’ve passed through her school. He continued: “They haven’t necessarily gone on to a career in the performing arts, they’ve gone on to succeed in whatever field, whether it’s as a doctor or a lawyer or actuary, and they would all credit their experience of working with Lilliput, working in the theatre, the push that Noble gave them, as being fundamental to why they were able to do what they do and function on the level that they function.”

Manwarren is calling on those who’ve been influenced by Douglas and her work over the years to come out and support the cause. “This is a woman who has influenced generations and you can’t discount the value of that.”

A very busy Etienne Charles is headed to Trinidad for a concert this coming Saturday at one of his favourite haunts, Phase II Pan Groove pan amphitheatre. The school year is over at Michigan State and he is excited as always to return home and will be working on various projects with the start of a busy summer of travel (“That’s what I do!”) and an ever-growing number of projects.

He will be appearing at Phase II Panyard on Saturday, May 19 (7 pm to 1 am) for the Pan Brass Soca Jam Down with Etienne and Friends the hot band of locals that he burned up the streets with his Monday afternoon Carnival band. He is already committed to next year’s Carnival band, making it bigger and better and has other projects in the works but doesn’t want to talk about them yet until he has things locked down.

Looking back on the school year, he is amazed that he just completed his ninth year teaching in the Jazz programme at Michigan State University where he is an associate professor. He has trumpet students, leads the jazz orchestra, teaches jazz arranging, and regularly performs with a faculty group just called the Professors of Jazz. He wrote several pieces for their double CD, Better Than Alright. One of the strengths of the Jazz programme at MSU is their Jazz Artists in residence and Etienne has been honoured to work with great artists this school year like bassist Ron Carter, saxophonist Steve Wilson. “It was a great year. I was very busy. Three trumpet students graduating, working with lots of guest artistes.”

Besides teaching, Charles is busy performing regularly doing the school year writing and working on numerous projects. Earlier this spring he shared in an NAACP Image award for the outstanding jazz album of the year for Somi’s Petite Afrique album. After working on a horn arrangement on her first album, this time he co-produced, co-composed, arranged and performed on both trumpet and percussion on several songs. For this Guggenheim recipient, the honours just keep coming.

After his stay in Trinidad, he will be off to London in a few weeks for a concert at the Tabernacle on June 3. This will include the premiere of a new suite of music for a multi-media work on the Windrush celebrating the 70th anniversary of the MV Empire Windrush that came over from Jamaica to UK with Lord Beginner and Lord Kitchener on the boat and considering the effort of colonials from their defence of Britain in World War Two to the shocking treatment that have recently come to light of Caribbean immigrants who came decades ago and are now facing deportation.

Later in the summer, besides his concert schedule as well as teaching with the Carnegie Hall program for the National Youth Orchestra’s summer jazz programme for secondary school children. At the end of the summer, he will be featured in a residence at one of New York City’s premiere jazz club, Jazz Standard on August 23 to 26, with two nights of a small group and two nights of a big band. Then he is taking his Carnival suite for its North American premiere in Toronto on November 16.

If that wasn’t enough, just a few weeks ago, Etienne Charles got the call to join one of the most prestigious groups in the jazz world, the SFJazz Collective a legendary super group of eight jazz musicians who tour and record with each year having a focus on the music of a particular jazz composer and adding commissioned works by the members. The focus composer for this season is the great Brazilian composer Tom Jobim. They then tour the world—in this case, they have a European tour in October and November 2018 and will participate in the famous Jazz Cruise from January 19 to 26, 2019 through the Caribbean.

It is all very new so Etienne is still just trying to wrap his head around this new project and what it will entail but it is very excited and honoured. “It was pretty crazy to get called up to be in that group. It was mind blowing because two of the biggest influences on my composing when I was growing up were David Sanchez and Miguel Zenon who are both members of that group.” He noted the strong Caribbean presence for the group with its current lineup with “David and Miguel from Puerto Rico, Edward Simon from Venezuela, Obed Calvaire from Haiti and me from Trinidad.”

For Trinidadians, this Saturday is best chance to celebrate the ongoing success of Trinidad’s great as part of a hot evening with Boogsie Sharpe, Phase II and 3Canal as Etienne Charles keeps becoming an ever better known international jazz star.

PART I
In celebration of our 25th anniversary, Alta hosted an afternoon of Readings Under the Trees at the Royal Botanical Gardens, in late March. Alta tutor Rosemarie Olliverre was the master of ceremony for the Alta Tree—the tree under which most Alta students read stories, poems and reflections of their time at Alta. Rosemarie has written a reflection on the event which Alta will share over the next two weeks.

It was a glorious afternoon in the Royal Botanic Gardens. The sun was brilliant, with a cool, gentle, tropical breeze. We gathered under the shade of some magnificent royal palm trees to celebrate Alta’s 25th anniversary. There was a spirit of love, friendship and camaraderie present. This, combined with the large number of students and tutors who volunteered to participate, made this event a success even before it began and reflected the great work of Alta.

The event kicked off promptly at 2:30 pm, the first item being a welcome poem composed and performed eloquently by Jilean Beharry. There were some words which resonated with us all, “For those who volunteer and come to learn alike…..Alta makes a dim world bright.”

This was followed by resounding applause which warmly welcomed Alta’s founder and CEO Paula Lucie Smith who gave some of her own insights on Alta—what it is and what is not. I think she was divinely inspired to begin this social movement which is a beacon of hope to so many people who were deprived of the opportunity to master the skills of reading and writing. Lucie Smith referred to the myriad of fruitful relationships spawned by participation in Alta.

Bonds between tutors, bonds between students and, most significantly, that between student and tutor. She also spoke of the importance of the volunteers without whom the organisation would cease to exist.

Many students who benefit from Alta classes were very happy for the opportunity to meet Lucie Smith in person and to thank her for her unstinting commitment and dedication.

Alta student Shurwayne Scantlebury was brilliant! Shurwyane belongs to the Alta Reading Circle and the Writers Union. He read his own essay entitled International Men’s Day. It was a very insightful piece and brought to light the plight of males. While the challenges of females seem well highlighted, Shurwayne was very convincing about the difficulties men face. They are always expected to appear strong even when they felt vulnerable. Men need to cry too, and it is not a sign of weakness, he reminded us.

Students from the International School of Port-of-Spain/St Anthony’s College group did a joint reading of Portrait of Trinidad with some witty additional verses. The cohesiveness of the group was evident as students and tutors stood side by side supporting each other. Although it took a lot of courage the group was very excited to render the piece and very proud of their performance.

The presentation, Angels Without Wings by Alta tutor Raphael Sookram, struck us all deeply as the author reminisced on all the ordinary folks in society who do good deeds everyday to improve the lives of others. Alta volunteers were included of course!

n Be sure to catch Part Two of Rosemarie’s piece next week.
Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 621-5708 or email altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with ALTA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: ALTA

On Sunday evening, the Caribbean Steelpan Connextion Ensemble (CSC) hosted its Mother’s Day concert entitled For The Women In Steel at PanDemonium Panyard, Norfolk Street, Belmont.

The show commenced with an energetic invocation performance by Positive, backed by CSC, singing some of his hits such as Never Let Go, Two Man Army and Mama You’re Beautiful where he took a moment to reflect and remember his passed mother on this special day.

Other artists performing were VP Recording artist Kendell “K Prince” Prince with Leggo De Gun, Shaquille Vincent singing his composition Beautifull, accompanied by his band Suave Steel.

Trevor “Trevor B” Barrow did beautiful smooth renditions of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On among other hits in the genre and the seductive Sophia Alleyne kept the temperature high with her performance of Anita Baker’s Make Me A Woman and Betty Wright’s Sweet Love, aptly setting the mood for what turned out to be a wonderful Sunday evening concert.

Honoured at the concert was Vanessa Headley of Golden Hands Steel Orchestra. She was awarded a token by Codrington Pan Family founder Cary Codrington for her accomplishment of achieving gold in the 2018 National Panorama (Small) competition, as well as for her continued positive influence in youth development and spirit of entrepreneurship in steelpan.

Notable guests in attendence were Hasley Crawford, former Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Lincoln Douglas, living legendary steelband icon Anthony “Tony” Williams and composer/Desperadoes arranger Carlton “Zanda” Alexander.

(Dion Roach)

Christine Johnston’s, The Calypso Girls, encored over the Mother’s Day weekend billed as a Bagasse Company comedic farce with a “mature” touch. Instead, audiences met an experienced cast, fresh as daisies, with a script that enlivened a pretty predictable storyline.

On show was not only young Brendon O’Brien’s youthful direction, but Johnston’s wit and skill as producer-turned-writer, with accompanying skills on stage to match.

A granny, three ageing, horny women and a smartman/womaniser offering love. What can possibly go wrong?

Though Penelope Spencer’s comedic timing faltered at times, her portrayal of the stoic, matriarchal Clementina (no doubt a friend of Sparrow’s Jean, Dinah and Rosita) kept dizzying pace with Johnston’s demanding narrative.

Fellow veteran, Susan Hannays-Abraham, had played the part during the first run in April.

The prolific Cecilia Salazar, playing Ethel (as in Superblue’s 1981 Road March), was her usual comfortable onstage self and who does not want to hear Patti-Anne Ali (Explainer’s Lorraine) sing “Fire, fire, in she wire, wire” all night long in her uppity accent before eventually dying of laughter?

Marie Chan-Durity, last notably seen in Holmes and Spence’s Carnival Medea and the film Bazodee, was gullible, faith-filled (Calypso?) Rose in the story. She was amazing.

Errol Fabien wonders in his notes as a member of the cast how Johnston could have sought him out as “an old man in the play.” But he also has little difficulty portraying smartman (King?) Austin who preys on the vulnerabilities of three lonely “mature” women.

The storyline has few unexpected twists and turns, save for the very end, but clever storytelling always has a way of wringing new life from the mundane. Here is where the writer’s craft, together with enterprising directing can make important differences.

There was thus little need for much physical humour, and the resort to open slapstick was few and far between—though Fabien’s emergence from the kitchen with a silver rice bowl over his head and a priest’s gown around his waist is hard to match and melongenes/eggplants will never be the same again.

Staged at the Central Bank Auditorium, the facility’s two-level setup provided stage manager, Regina Seabrun, with options the main set (yet another living-room) could not offer.

Award-winning Johnston explains in her producer-writer’s note that the play began “as an idea germinated by a conversation with Cecilia (Salazar) who lamented the fact that as actors get older, parts get harder to come by.”

“This seems so unfair, since as actors age, their skill is honed and their experience is invaluable.”

The credentials of the cast combined with a bright script and skilful directing to make The Calypso Girls an enjoyable and memorable theatre experience. At no time did age appear to be an obstacle to all of this.

Indeed, not much can go wrong with Salazar, Spencer, Ali, Durity and Fabien on stage. Add the Johnston pen and O’Brien direction and the recipe for a grand time is set. Bravo, Bagasse!

A decision to spend Mothers Day with her children turned out badly for Barrackpore mother Kunti Deopersad after a male relative allegedly beat her with a piece of wood.

Deopersad, 39, who moved out of her marital home at Oropouche South Trace, Barrackpore, after she admitted to faking her own kidnapping last March, returned on Mother's Day at her children's request.

She told police that her children begged her to spend the night so she spread a mattress on the ground and went to sleep.

Deopersad reported that around 8 pm, a male relative told her to get up from the floor and sleep on the bed but she refused.

An argument ensued following which the man allegedly grabbed a piece of wood and struck her twice.

Her hands were swollen after the attack. Deopersad then left the house and sought medical treatment at the Princes Town District health facility but it was only on Wednesday evening that she went to the Princes Town police to lodge a report.

The incident was recorded. Police said her hands had lacerations. The report was then forwarded to the Barrackpore police for further investigations.

Police said they plan to interview Deopersad's family and neighbours. They are also awaiting a medical report from the Princes Town Health facility.

Deopersad shot into the spotlight on March 20 after her husband Tilkee Gopaul, 60, reported her missing.

She came home a week later and gave a story of how she managed to escape from her captors using a hairpin to unlock the door.

Deopersad's account of the unusual kindness from her abductors, while she was locked in a room with another woman for a week, left investigators confused and a week later she confessed she had fabricated the story and was staying with another man.

She later apologised to her six daughters, her son and to the public.

She no longer lives in Barrackpore and some of her relatives have not been speaking to her since the incident.

With her grandchildren physically beaten and terrified of school, a Penal grandmother is now calling on the Ministry of Education to remove a teacher from a primary school in Penal for administering corporal punishment on pupils.

Mildred Farrell of Platanite Trace, Penal said her 9-year-old granddaughter was struck with a whip on her hands for leaving class without permission to use the toilet.

Her teacher was not in class at the time so there was no one to ask permission, Farrell said. 

When the student returned she was struck in front of the class. The incident happened about half an hour before school was dismissed and Farrell said when her granddaughter returned home, she was shaking and in tears. 

"She told me that she needed to use the toilet and sir was not there. He beat her and said she cannot use the toilet unless he says so. So he wanted her to pee in the classroom?" Farrell asked. 

She said two weeks before, her grandson was also whipped after his book fell off his hand. 

"The teacher accused him of littering.

These people have their own personal problems and they taking it out on the children," Farrell said.

Even though the children went to school yesterday, Farrel said they were traumatized. She said the teacher worked as a special reserved policeman and it appeared as if he was taking out his frustration on the children.

"I want the Ministry of Education to investigate this matter. It is not the first time he did this," Farrell alleged.

She said she went to the school yesterday but was told the principal was not in.

"I spoke to the principal on the phone and she cut me off. When I called back the vice principal said they will investigate and call me back," Farrell said.

She also said last year her granddaughter was told she had to stay back after school to do work and she missed her bus.

"I told them in no uncertain terms that it was unsafe for my granddaughter to walk home if she misses the bus. I don't care what school work she miss. When school is over let her get on the bus because I lived abroad and I know how children can go missing. It is unsafe for a child to walk home," Farrel said.

Contacted yesterday, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association Lynsley Doodhai said he was aware of the matter.

Saying corporal punishment was illegal, Doodhai said, "While we are not pronouncing on the innocence and guilt of anyone, we want the Ministry of Education to urgently conduct an investigation to determine the veracity of this incident. TTUTA will not condone the administering of corporal punishment to pupils."

Asked whether he had heard that the teacher was also an SRP, Doodhai said many teachers are members of the Police Service and would have applied for permission to engage in extra duty as an SRP.

He said the teacher will have to appear before a tribunal and if the allegations are true he could face disciplinary action.

A source at the Ministry said the matter will be investigated.

Marijuana has long been used to treat cancer cells and when Ms Patsy (not her real name) was diagnosed with inoperable cervical cancer she decided to take some advice and treat the cancer with marijuana.

After buying a few ounces of the herb, Patsy soaked the marijuana buds in alcohol and boiled it for 20 minutes in a rice cooker. Daily doses, she believes caused her cancer to go into remission.

In an interview yesterday a senior pharmacologist said because marijuana is still illegal, many people who use the herb for medicinal purposes successfully do so secretly without advertising it.

She said research has shown that marijuana extracts kills cancer cells. 

"It can also be used to treat a range of illnesses including Parkingson disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, chronic pain and Alzheimer's disease but there is a stigma to it," the source said, adding that a statement by Health Minister Dr Terrence Deyalsingh not to endorse medicinal marijuana was "close-minded."

"Marijuana could help so much people. Apart from stemming the growth of tumours, it can also fight pain-causing inflammation."

Pharmacist at Valini's Drugmart Sarah Balkaran said she supported a call by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to have a referendum on the legalization of medicinal marijuana.

"People who suffer with chronic ailments can use it. Lots of research has been done about it and it is something that we could explore," Balkaran said.

However, she said there was a risk of marijuana abuse if it is legalized.

"I am concerned that doctors will be able to prescribe it to anyone and people could easily misuse it for other reasons apart from medicinal purposes," Balkaran added.

Nazma Muller who has been petitioning for the legalization of marijuana through her group T&T advocacy group the Caribbean Collective for Justice (CCJ) said a referendum made no sense as the laws existed allowing the Minister to issue licenses for the sale and distribution of cannabis.

"The Minister says he is not endorsing it. Has he done his research? Just Google cannabis and you will find articles on the therapeutic benefits. The Cannabis regulates all kinds of disease. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam is the world's foremost cannabis researcher and he says there is a strain of cannabis that can cure any disease known to mankind. The World Health Organisation has looked to change the categorization of cannabis. Research is going on right now at the UWI about the health benefits of cannabis," Muller said.

She said that there was a reluctance to legalize marijuana because multinational corporations which rake in billions on man-made drugs will lose if medicinal marijuana was legalized.

Deyalsingh said under the Dangerous Drugs Act or Food and Drug Act, anybody can make any application to bring in any drug. It is then adjudicated upon by the Drug Advisory Committee, who then advises the Minister of Health.

What the law says

Under Section 4 of the Dangerous Drugs Act the Health Minister may, subject to regulations made under Section 57, "issue licenses for the  import, export, diversion, sale, manufacture, production or distribution, at a stated place, of any dangerous drug" or "issue licenses for the cultivation, gathering or production, at a stated place, of opium poppy, marijuana, or coca plant".

Under Section 57 (b) of the Act the Health Minister may make regulations “for the use, purchase, sale or possession of any dangerous drugs for medicinal or scientific purposes”.

More on marijuana

Marijuana has over 100 cannabinoids. Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of medical interest which are marijuana chemical cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient that makes people "high."

Spanish microbiologist Dr Christine Sanchez discovered the antitumor effects of marijuana. She wrote, "Cannabidiol, or CBD, which does not have a psychoactive effect, has long been known as a potent anti-cancer agent because of its ability to interfere with cellular communication in tumors as well as in its ability to instigate apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death).

Studies have also been conducted on the combined effect of CBD and THC on lung, prostate, colon, pancreatic, liver, bladder, cervical, blood-based, brain, and other forms of cancer. These studies lend increasing evidence to the fact that cannabinoids are not only antioxidant phytonutrients but powerful “herbal chemo” agents."

Frustrated by not being accepted into the T&T Super League, a few clubs are now holding discussions to form a renegade Community Football League that is expected to rival the T&T Super League (TTSL).

Gordon Pierre of Petit Valley Diego Martin United, Gregory Mc Sween of Harlem Strikers and Steve Fredericks of Real Maracas are among those taking steps to ensure the League gets going and the communities are well served.

Fredericks, the Real Maracas assistant coach, said they are already in talks with a few interested sponsors.

The League he said, will not be about winning but rather bringing communities together and ensuring that young people are given something to do, instead of engaging in crime. Fredericks also believes their league will receive the support from the parent T&T Football Association as it will have a similar mandate to build a nation through football.

He is now hoping that government sees the League as a worthwhile venture and lend a helping hand. The League is tentatively set for kick-off in July and interested clubs are being asked to pay a registration fee of $15,000 which will go towards prizes, payment of referees and running the tournament. Pierre, whose Petit Valley Diego Martin United is into the 13-team super league this year, said the League will be run on a home and away format and each game will be treated as a major community-building exercise that will include entertainment from soca artists and other.

The biggest challenge for the clubs currently is getting someone to properly manage its affairs. Tony Harford, who previously managed then National Super League in the past, turned down the job due to a previous engagement, Pierre said.

Ten clubs, WASA, Real Maracas, Defence Force, Harlem Strikers, Perseverance United, 1976 Phoenix, Youth Stars, Marabella Family Crisis Centre, Edinburgh 500 Spartans and Siparia Spurs, which participated in the Super League last year, were dumped out of the competition for failing to pay the registration fee of $45, 000 on time.

Some of the clubs have already agreed to return to their Regional Associations, while others are throwing support toward the community league. It is unsure whether the League will continue beyond this season after the TTSL gave an assurance to omitted clubs that they will regain entry in 2019 once requirements are met.

Eastern Football Association (EFA) president Linus Sanchez said they have extended the deadline for registration to July to accommodate teams thrown out of the TTSL.

However, he made it clear the teams must meet the requirement of paying a $1,500 membership fee and $3,500 to register.

Clynt Taylor, the Central Football Association general secretary also admitted the CFA will accept teams dumped out of the TTSL, back for the 2018 season.

Terrence Boissiere, the Marabella FCC manager has said he will return to the Southern FA.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

T&T Pro League club, Central FC failed in its third and final attempt to qualify for 2018 Concacaf League after falling to Martiniquan Club Franciscain 2-1 in the team’s play-off encounter in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday night.

Central FC, Caribbean Football Union Club champions of 2015 and 2016, and fourth-placed finishers of 2017 which earned them a place at last season’s inaugural Concacaf League for Central American and Caribbean teams, took the lead for the second straight match in the 15th minute courtesy former T&T World Cup striker, Anthony Wolfe who beat goalkeeper Didier Sully from a tight angle on the left after Tyrone Charles towered in the French islanders’ box to head on a Duane Muckette free-kick to the veteran-attacker-turned-defender.

However, in the 26th minute, Djenhael Mainge latched onto captain Stephane Abaul’s diagonal feed into the box before hitting low past the T&T custodian Marvin Phillip to get two-time reigning Martinique champions level.

And on the stroke of half-time, a lapse in concentration by Wolfe allowed Johnny Marajo a free move in the Central box which the Franciscain midfielder made full use of by curling his effort past Phillip for a 2-1 lead after he had rocked the crossbar earlier in the contest.

It was the third loss from as many matches at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, in Jamaica for the former two-time Caribbean Football Union Club champions, Central FC which first went under to Jamaica’s Arnett Gardens 2-0 in their Concacaf League qualifying semifinals on Friday last and then 2-1 in their third-place play-off to another Jamaica outfit, Portmore United on Sunday with Duane Muckette scoring an early goal for the T&T club.

To their credit, the Stern John-coached Central FC was able to put up some spirited performances over the three matches even though the local Pro League season doesn’t kick off until June 1 while Arnett Gardens and Portmore United, both qualified to the second-tier of the Concacaf League as second and third placed finishers were both at the end of their 2017/2018 Jamaican domestic Premier League competitions.

However, Central FC was still expected to qualify to the Concacaf League with a victory against the Martiniquans, who qualified to the play-off as the winner of a second-tier qualifying competition, the Caribbean Cup Shield

Dominican Republic’s Atletico Pantoja defeated Arnett Gardens 6-5 on penalty-kicks in the Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship final after a goalless deadlock to claim the title and will compete in the top flight of the Concacaf League against the top teams from USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and the other major Central American nations.

For their win, Atletico Club Pantoja earned themselves U$50,000 while Arnett Gardens got $30,000 and Portmore and Central FC, both US$15,000.

In the second-tier final which was played on April 21, the Caribbean Cup Shield, Club Franciscain battled past Suriname’s Inter Moengotapoe 2-1.

This after the Martinquans defeated Real Rincon 2-0 and Moengotapoe hammered Nacional 4-0 in their respective semifinals on April 19. Real Rincon grabbed third with a 3-1 win over Nacional.

Central FC, owned by former T&T World Cup defender and Minister of Sports, Brent Sancho was awarded the Fair Play trophy at the end of the first stage of the competition on Sunday, while the Golden Glove Award went controversially to Pantoja’s goalkeeper Odalis Baez who conceded three goals in the semifinal compared to Damian Hyatt of Arnett Gardens who kept a clean sheet in both games.

The Golden Boot went to Luis Espinal of Pantoja, who scored twice against Portmore United in the semifinal.

Out-of-favour T&T midfielder Atualla Guerra was among the goals again as Charleston Battery defeated Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday in their Eastern Conference United Soccer League clash.

Guerra opened the scoring a minute before the half-time interval with his fifth item of the campaign and second in successive matches for a 1-0 lead.

His teammate Gordon Wild doubled the advantage in the 53rd before Derrick Jones scored from the penalty-spot in the 65th minute to give Steel hope at the MUSC Health Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina.

The 30-year-old Guerra was eventually replaced in the Ian Svantesson in the 75th minute while fellow T&T defender Neveal Hackshaw played the full 90 minutes on the left side of a three-man Battery defence which managed to hold out for the win.

The win lifted the Battery to second on the 16-team table with 17 points from nine matches, the same as leaders FC Cincinnati and one more than defending champions Louisville City FC and Pittsburg Riverhounds, which both have a match in hand.

Cato leads Independence to a big win

T&T winger Cordell Cato also was among the goals in Charlotte Independence’s 4-1 thrashing of FC Cincinnati at Matthews Sportsplex, Matthews, North Carolina.

Cato, formerly of US Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes netted in the 38th minute for his third of the season and first since a double on March 17 versus Ottawa Fury.

Yann Ekra made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time for the winners, now with 11 points from eight matches and tenth on the table.

Cincinnati which had England-born T&T defender Justin Hoyte in its line-up cut the lead in half in the 51st through Danni Koenig, but Kay Voser (57th) and Eamon Zayed (87th) netted second-half items to seal the win for Independence.

On Friday, Nathan Lewis and Carlyle Mitchell featured for fifth-placed Indy Eleven (14 points from eight matches) in a 0-0 draw at Pittsburg Riverhounds while Canada-born T&T goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh was beaten twice in defending champions, Louisville City FC 2-0 loss at Nashville SC on Sunday.

Garcia on the mark

In an international club friendly, Dutch-based winger Levi Garcia scored a 22nd minute item for his loan club, Excelsior which recorded a 9-0 blow-out of VV Hillergersberg on Wednesday at Sportapark Duivenpad, Rotterdam, Holland.

Garcia moved to Excelsior in the January winter transfer-window from AZ Alkmaar and helped the club to 11th spot with 40 points from 34 matches, while Alkmaar ended third on the 18-team table with 71 points, and a spot in next season’s Europa League competition along with fourth-placed Feyenoord.

The 20-year-old had struggled to get any playing time in the Eredivisie this season at Alkmaar and with Oussama Idrissi’s arrival from Groningen, AZ decided to send the winger on loan to Excelsior.

Two shots behind on the first day did not deter Omesh Dinnanath as he shot a level par 71 last Sunday, to outshine a stellar field of golfers and in the process he became the winner of the Championship Flight of the Millennium Lakes Open.

Sporting legends Brian Lara and Russell Latapy also competed as they were pitted in the premier division with national players Wayne Baptiste, Dave Rajkumar, Neil Lutchmansingh, Richard “Pecos” Camacho, Barbados national standout Iz Hustler, promising young players Ross Cabral and Chris Richards Jnr and Millennium Lakes club champion Felix Zamudio.

Latapy was the leader at the end of the first day with a score of one over par 72. Dinnanath, who was two shots behind after Saturday, came back with great determination on Sunday defying windy conditions to win by nine shots over Rajkumar, who climbed into second place with 76 and 78 over the two days. Wayne Baptiste copped the net prize with a total of 148.

The Professional division was won by Chris Richards with 77 and 73, with Jessel Mohammed second with 76/75 and Joshua Galt third with 84/80.

The juniors dominated the Ladies Division with Serena MacKenzie emerging champion with a two day total of 157 and Sarah Ramphal second with 162. Popular veteran Violet Roopchand was the net winner with a total of 150.

The action was also keen in the Super Seniors division as Kissoon Gannes staged a remarkable comeback after being six shots down to overcome former Canadian professional Sonny Mohammed by a single shot. Gannes shot 77/72 and Mohammed recorded 71/79. The net winner was Shabir Khan with a seven under par score of 135.

At the end of another professionally run tournament by the folks at Millenium Golf and Country Club, Golf Administrator Lauren Lara indicated that a total of 90 golfers were on show. They were able to gain ranking points in an effort to make the various national teams. She also thanked the sponsors of the event Rock Hard Cement and Amrals Tours & Travel the major sponsor, as well as Gold Kingdom Jewellery, Nestle, Premier Malls, Caribbean Bottlers, Scaffolding Manufacturers, Vayberri on the Greens, JZ Energy, SM Jaleel, Carib Brewery, Golden Key Real Estate, Better Graphics and Angostura as well as the staff at the golf club, the volunteers and players.

OTHER DIVISION WINNERS

• Flight–Champion–Rodney Phillip - 163
• Place–Steve Durgadeen–168 Net winner–Kumar Ramcharan–148
• Flight–Champion–Bill Ramrattan–164
• Place–Kumar Boodramr–170 Net winner–Ken Pollard–143
• Flight–Champion–Charles Sookhan–80 pts
• Place–John Chin Yuen Kee–73 pts
• Place–Pooran Singh–70 pts.

ASJA San Fernando Primary School was crowned 2018 champions in the Victoria District of the Atlantic National Primary Schools cricket tournament on Tuesday.

Skipper Riyaad Mohammed displayed a fine all-round performance which led his school to a comfortable victory over Picton Presbyterian. Batting first, San Fernando ASJA made 164 for the loss of eight wickets with Mohammed leading the way with a stylish 68. He then returned with the ball to grab five wickets for 14 runs, as Picton Presbyterian folded for just 58 runs losing by a whopping 106 runs.

Mohammed, who played for South in the Maq North South Under-15 Classic last week, showed that he was a cut above the rest, as he dominated from the word go. Immediately after taking strike he sent balls to the boundary with regularity as he took charge and his team-mates followed. Mohammed then grabbed the ball to dismantle the top order of Picton, and after that, victory was a mere formality, as he sent back five men for just 14 runs.

The left-handed batsman and right-arm medium pacer has already caught the eyes of the South Zone selectors and earlier this year he was chosen for the South Zone U-15 team in the Shell tournament. He is currently in training with the South Zone U-13 team as well, as they are preparing for the Shell Interzone.

ATLANTIC CRICKET SCORES
Victoria Boys finals
San Fernando ASJA 164 for 8 (Riyaad Mohammed 68) vs Picton Presbyterian 58 all out (Riyaad Mohammed 5/14). ASJA won the game by 106 runs with the man of the match being Riyaad Mohammed.