I will continue to write ad infinitum—hopefully until someone or some group says enough is enough—about how politicians in this country continue to act arbitrarily with no care about the political consequences of their actions simply because their varied race-based constituencies will continue to put them back into power for that reason primarily, but also for the mutual benefits to be derived from the well-known “You scratch my back and I yours” syndrome.

And why, would I continue to dwell on this theme? Politicians acting arbitrarily is the root cause of many of the problems we must endure, because they are not critical thinkers who are concerned about the nuances of a certain course of action or the policies they make, how, even as a measure may seem necessary, there is need to balance that necessity with its impact upon the people, especially as it points to the negative.

Case in point is this present UTT scenario. People are on the breadline because there seems to be the need for some kind of rationalisation because of diminishing finances which is a reality that is often inescapable.

But are there any contingency measures in place to bring relief to those so affected? Again, what if this rationalisation is perceived to be unfair and discriminatory, as can be gauged from the comments in the media of those affected and has any consideration been given to the academic careers of those students who are victims of this ‘‘redundancy”?

Here, in the context of good governance, is a policy decision that seems revenue oriented with little or no thought about its impact upon the people. What if the policymakers had to fear the political fallout from such indifference? But alas not!

And yet again this callous indifference to the political fall-out arising from a certain course of action is seen in the tirade of a government official against criticism from seasoned professionals over the claim of a “turn around” in the economy. One would expect that in a democracy that healthy debate would arise from policy lines, but instead, what follows is ad hominem at its worst which, in this case, is also irony at its worst, because the official in question chastised his critics for not having the facts when he himself would counter in an emotional outburst about alliances of these professionals with the Opposition, far removed from the “factual evidence” he advocates, to counter his critics.

But here again is a case, considering the dismissive, almost arrogant reply to criticism, of absolutely no care about what the people would say and how they would vent their feelings at the polls.

This is our problem in this country, that there is no united voice to deal with politicians who act arbitrarily because they know that mindless tribal supporters will vote for them no matter what.

I see no hope to counter this evil of race-based voting because of an Opposition which has no moral authority to govern, being advocates of the same kind of politics and guilty of the same kind of mismanagement as the incumbent, of a COP whose leadership is hardly reflective of the populace, and of a socialist bent group who can see no wrong with the Maduro administration simply because it is also socialist, although the people are starving because of this failed ideology.

But is there no hope for the hopeless? In the absence of anything else and staying away from the useless platitudes we often engage in to escape the need for real solutions, I hinted in a previous letter at a possibility where there may be a ray of light in the darkness, the hope of a drowning man clinging to a straw, but such “advocacy” may have been frowned upon and the letter was never published.

So I won’t call a name but maybe there is a candle about to be lit to show us the way out of this darkness.

DR ERROL BENJAMIN

Ya know, it never seizes to amaze me how the Government cannot complete jobs within a reasonable time frame. I am at a loss as to where to begin, there’s just so much but let me try.

Being retired, we go up to Maracas during the week, ya know that nice little new parking lot by the Maracas Beach Hotel? The one with two locked gates that has a beat up car inside the lot by the guardhouse, man in the hut but the gates are locked! NEVER OPEN. So we park in front of two stinking blue garbage bins with flies.

We notice the new playground for children, the lock has been broken on the gate and children are playing inside, unsupervised.

Walking over the bridge with our chairs and coolers, we are accosted by men trying to rent us chairs...can you tell me why they have their chairs/umbrellas and tents stacked up at the front of the beach where people could be enjoying the sand and shade?

We have seen one bathroom being built for at least five months, does it really take that long? We have nowhere clean to go! Why are all the old huts still there while the new ones stay shut?

Who manages the lifeguards? There were a lot of people there on Friday. I saw one guard hut being manned—outside the shark/bake huts...with 3-4 guards liming.

A busload of people arrived, they rented a tent and chairs close to the unmanned guard hut, relatively quiet until we noticed two football nets and large teams congregating to play football on the beach. I thought ball games were not allowed on the beach. An SUV had driven up by the lifeguard booth—where were the lifeguards? This would never happen on Store Bay, Tobago! Someone in charge please get this place sorted out! Shame on you all for letting this go on so long.

DEBORAH CROOKS, Maraval

The Public Service Commission (PSC) notes with concern, the article entitled “President’s Key Role in Good Governance”, which was published in the opinion section of the Guardian newspaper on Monday, 14th May 2018, and which portrayed an inaccurate representation of the role, functions and powers of the commission.

For clarity, the PSC’s powers are specified in and circumscribed by section 121 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Its express powers are to make appointments, promotions, transfers, discipline and remove public officers and, subject to consultation with the Prime Minister, to make regulations and policies for its operations. Its powers do not repose responsibility for the operations and management of ministries.

Section 85 of the Constitution vests in ministers the power to exercise general direction and control of departments (Ministries) and, subject to such direction, the departments are under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary.

In addition, the courts both in Trinidad and Tobago and the Privy Council of England and Wales have repeatedly and authoritatively held that the powers of the PSC are prescribed and limited by the Constitution and that the PSC is not, and should not arrogate unto itself the powers of, the employer of public officers. Its power to make appointments, promotion, transfers and discipline must be exercised within the terms and conditions set by the employer, which is the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) acting under the authority and direction of the Government.

The PSC is cognizant of the fact that the structure of the Human Resource Management (HRM) system in the public administration is multi-layered and that it is one among a few agencies that have clearly demarcated powers, functions and responsibilities. Other key actors in the public service HRM system are the executive and in particular the minister with responsibility for Public Administration, the CPO, permanent secretaries and heads of departments.

To state that “all power and authority for the operations of the Public Service are concentrated in the PSC but responsibility for implementation and accountability lies with the Permanent Secretaries” is misconceived and conveys a clear misrepresentation of the powers of the PSC.

The PSC further wishes to inform that limited delegation of the powers of the PSC to permanent secretaries, heads of departments and other senior officers commenced in 2006. It is intended that, once executive approval and resources are given for the implementation of the recently concluded institutional strengthening programme for the Service Commissions Department, the commission will focus primarily on the monitoring and oversight of staffing and discipline transactions delegated to permanent secretaries and heads of departments, together with the development and implementation of a policy framework to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, integrity and fairness.

In conclusion, the PSC also wishes to emphasise that it is interested in the reform and modernisation of an efficient and effective public service, to the extent that its authority permits.

It must be recognised that the core responsibility for the reform and modernization of the public service lies with other actors in the HRM system and that support of the PSC must be an active ingredient. To give the impression that the PSC is the core institution responsible for the reform of public administration is a commonly held misunderstanding, which the PSC is determined to correct.

Editor’s note: The letter the PSC is referring to was written by former Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith

As I recalled in one of my previous letters, the Government decided to implement a plan to build a facility to house the homeless population. This information came from the Minister of Social Development. Further, it was also stated that the plan was approved by a working committee and was supposed to be implemented in 2018. But as I continue to monitor, and advocate for accommodation for this population, to date I have not heard or seen any movement on this all-important project.

To the contrary, the Joint Select Committee of Parliament chairman recommended that the Social Development Ministry find lodging for the 400 homeless population that roams the street day and night. The Joint Select Committee chairman explained to the officers from the Social Development Ministry who were present at the hearings, that the socially displaced are fellow citizens who have special needs, one of which is adequate accommodation, and efforts must be made to ensure that they are properly accommodated. Kudos to the chairman for addressing this issue.

However, officers from the Social Development Ministry continue to inform the committee about the last count of the homeless which was done in November of 2017. As noted in one of my letters, it is very difficult to give a count of the homeless population, as they move from one location to another. You can an approximate, which can be accepted. In order to get a reasonable head count on this population, you have to house them in a facility and do your count.

You are always going to get an explanation from the various Government ministries involved in this projects that the Socially Displaced Persons Act of 2000 has not yet been proclaimed and it is being worked on. It may appear that the Social Development Ministry, Health Ministry, Local Government Ministry, National Security Ministry and to some, all regional corporations, are playing hide and seek with the homeless population and continue to evade the responsibilities of dealing with this population.

It is unhealthy, risky and unfair for young women with newborn babies, school children and pedestrians to inhale the smell of urine and faeces on the sidewalk, the abuse and the obscene gestures and language from the homeless population, where one must take the risk and walk in the streets, dodging oncoming motorists, and yet the Socially Displaced Persons Act of 2000 remains on someone’s desk like no one’s business.

What are they waiting for to proclaim this act?

On the other hand, the official from the Social Development Ministry indicated that the old Besson Street Police Station is an ideal location to house the homeless population and they are planning to approach Cabinet for approval for that location. Placing the homeless population at the old Besson Street Police Station is like placing them in Tamarind Square. The ideal placing for the homeless population at this time is the St. Michael’s School for Boys. That facility is currently vacant, is set up already and can accommodate 80 more people, that will be a good start. Approach the Cabinet for that facility, not the old Besson Street Police Station (Bad Vibes).

SELWYN BYER
St. James

“Intense competition with friendly rivalry” best describes the ongoing preliminaries of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition. This year, it is safe to say that the finals will be one for the record books. Regardless of the category, Dance, Tassa, Drumology, Folk Medley Songs, Poetry, Spoken Word or the Self-Expression and Talent of La Reine Rive competition, young people dominate this year’s competition and have performed their hearts out to the delight of the packed audiences at each event.

Over the last two weekends the competition went to St Madeleine Regional Complex, North Eastern College, Barataria South Secondary School and Egypt Village Government Primary School, Point Fortin.

Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, attended over the two weekends and marvelled at the talent, commenting, “how can people say Best Village is dying, look at the number of young people dominating the stage in every single category.

“Look at the audience and see how the communities come out to support each other in friendly rivalry; the Best Village competition is very much alive.”

For 2018, the Best Village preliminary competition forms part of Community Festivals celebrating All that is We—We Craft, We Food, We Drama, We Dance, We Music—and features all the elements of T&T’s culture inclusive of food, craft and farmers markets and other family friendly, fun-filled activities.

The competition moved to Preysal Secondary School last Saturday, with the last of the preliminaries of Folk Presentation going to the Mayaro Learning Resource Centre on May 26.

The finals of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition will take place in July/August at both the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain and the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando.

All events are free and the full schedule of event dates, times and locations is available on the ministry’s Facebook page, the CultureTT app and at www.cdca.gov.tt

Ian Isidore Smart’s Emancipation 101 can be read—with breaks for fresh air and the real world—in a single morning (or evening) session. That, more than one speaker suggested at the launch of the book, is among its more positive qualities as a starter text. This however also points to several important weaknesses.

If, as Howard University Spanish professor Smart says, an academic course on the freeing of African slaves in the Caribbean were to be introduced, it would most likely be called Emancipation 101. And the basic text, he surmises could fittingly be given the same name.

To make the case for an introductory, highly accessible but authoritative text is however not the same as suggesting that important historical nuances can be compressed into bite-sized portions for convenient, uncritical consumption.

Smart pursues the latter without confronting the former.

The problem with this publication in fact resides in this sense of convenience. “It is convenient,” he himself suggests in his introductory statement, “to divide the eight billion of us who inhabit the planet into three ‘races’: Africans, Asiatics and Europeans.”

Though it might be true that many anthropologists still subscribe to this ethnographic division, there has arisen cause for further elaboration over the many years, in addition to a more recent focus on the question of “ethnicity”—a subject not addressed in any serious way in this publication.

Smart skips such a challenge even though in the first few pages of the book he references a monolithic “European ethnocentrism”—without explaining how he got there. Something of the sort however, appears at the end when he says “white supremacy” proclaims the cultural unity of Europe.

This kind of shortcoming has the potential to reduce many contentions to dogma and broad instruction to narrow polemic and sloganeering. Consider this statement, for example: “Since the poison of white supremacy has not hurt Asians and Africans in exactly the same way, the best Asian response to the evil of white supremacy will come from the Asian humanist; and, correspondingly, the best African response to the evil of mental slavery will come from an African humanist.”

None of this is to suggest a lack of value, however. Emancipation 101 is an enjoyable read, but an absence of rigour in too many instances helps offer up far more questions than the text purports to answer.

For example, drawing heavily from Senegalese scientist/historian Cheikh Anta Diop’s Civilisation or Barbarism: An Authentic Anthropology there is the (admittedly highly supportable) claim that the social and cultural achievements of ancient Egyptians—descendants of black Africans—greatly influenced Greek and Roman development.

Yet, there is no mention of Egyptian archaeologist Gamal Mokhtar’s well-informed and controversial rebuttal of Diop’s claims, especially as it disputes the supposed homogeneity of “black” ancient Egyptian society.

It might be that Diop offered a hypothesis widely accepted by independent, otherwise sceptical minds, but should not a pedagogical approach to the subject not be stimulated by informed, contending ideas?

A chapter on Carnival offers some insights into Smart’s general drift. There is the suggestion that Europeans of French extract and East Indians “have added to the festival and helped make it what it is today” but that “more than any ‘race’, Africans have been associated with Carnival.”

In any event, he later on says “even though civilisation was invented in Africa, it clearly belongs to all human beings.”

“The same thing,” Smart argues, “can be said of Carnival to some extent.” This chapter however goes on to provide some interesting background on Carnivals in Latin America where, he says, Africans have become increasingly marginalised from the festivities.

Chapter Three spends time on Smart’s academic forte as a linguist with a look at language. This section could have been a valuable standalone tutorial on language versus dialect and the difference between creole and pidgin language.

This is no preparation for Chapter Four which focuses on the Orisha Roots of Trinbagonian Culture and rather curiously begins with an admonition to people of mixed heritage but who “to all appearances (are) Black.”

“I am mixed,” they declare. “I have French, Spanish, Portuguese, Scottish, some Chinese and some Indian and African in me.” As far as Smart is concerned such a declaration provides proof that “white supremacy wants to have it both ways, wants to eat its cake and have it.”

To establish such divides, he argues are “fabricated by white supremacy— separating so-called ‘sub-Saharan’ Africa from North Africa.”

This closing chapter of the book is the toughest read of all. In his postscript though, Smart denies ownership of immovable doctrine—“It would seem that those who are in a rush to assume that the knowledge they have acquired is the truth have not even stopped to ask the fundamental question, what is truth?”

“I did not write this book to bring the ‘Truth’ to the world,” he concludes. “That is not my calling.”

That’s comforting to know.

Residents of Beetham Gardens are now enjoying the benefits of a one-of-a-kind play park featuring exercise equipment, tables for board and card games, recreation benches, picnic areas, attractive lighting fixtures and a spectacular 300-foot mural painted by the youths of the community.

“This is really a new beginning for the community. We are seeing the Beetham develop from nothing into something wonderful right before our eyes. It doesn’t feel like Beetham anymore,” said a beaming Elijah Charles, who functions as the community photographer. Construction of the park, he admitted, was a heartwarming development with the residents taking great pride in the project.

Officially commissioned on Monday, May 14, the Beetham Gardens Lilda Brown Recreation Park, named after one of the community’s most venerable residents, forms a major plank in the Beyond Borders social intervention initiative spearheaded by energy company bpTT and facilitated by The Rose Foundation. The park is located at Phase IV, Beetham Gardens.

Parliamentary representatives Fitzgerald Hinds (Laventille West), Minister in the Office of the Attorney General; and Adrian Leonce (Laventille East/Morvant); as well as Councillor Adanna Griffith-Gordon (Success/Trou Macaque), thanked BPTT for its social responsibility in partnering with Beetham Gardens to uplift the quality of life of its residents. They appealed to the residents to make full use of the facility, while taking ownership of it.

Hinds said the park would deliver both physical and mental well-being to the residents of Beetham Gardens and thanked all stakeholders for providing the community with a first-class facility. “I disagree with anyone who contends that Beetham Gardens is at the bottom of the heap. We are blessed with the same resources as anyone else and equal to any place in our country,” he asserted.

Leonce called on the residents to “continue working for the further transformation of the community and the country.”

Joel Primus, bpTT community sustainability and stakeholder relations adviser, told the residents that the company’s corporate responsibility programmes, of which Beetham Gardens and the wider Beyond Borders is a major component, were closely aligned to its business strategy.

“We believe we have a role to play in community and national development. Spaces such as these play an important role in the development of a community and go hand-in-hand with other factors such as job creation and entrepreneurship. They also provide a space for exercise and for simple interaction and having fun. To the residents of Beetham Gardens, I would like to offer congratulations on your efforts to develop your community. Thank you for allowing bpTT to play a role in that development,” Primus said.

Built at a cost of $600,000, the Beetham Gardens Lilda Brown Recreation Park utilised the services of a contractor and labour from the community. It was conceptualised by the community itself and driven by Councillor Griffith-Gordon and the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) of the T&T Police Service also plays a major role in the Beetham Gardens community interventions through its Hearts & Minds programme.

The play park project is an extension of the Beetham Gardens Beautification initiative which was mounted to generate self-employment through planting of food crops and to beautify the area. Both initiatives are part of bpTT’s Beyond Borders programme which facilitates development of at-risk communities.

Bodington :otto of Boding-ton’s Optical of 94 Cascade Road of died on 15th May 2018. Son of Benito and Anita Bodington ( both deceased). Brother of Raphael (deceased), Anthony (Mackie), Juliet, Robelto, Arthur (Vago) and Peter. Uncle of 19. Brother-in-law of Sannas, Janet, Zorida, Joan and Alzira . Rela-tive of the Reverend’s and the Mc Ivor’s . Friend of Roger. Funeral service takes place on Tuesday 22nd May 2018 at 9am from St .Ann’s R.C. Church thence to the Lapeyrouse Cemetery

Attempts are being made to convince midfielder Maylee Attin Johnson and Akheela Mollon to return to the T&T Women’s team currently competing for the top spot in Group C of the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

National coach Jamaal Shabazz said they have had to do this because of the lack of commitment from the country’s under-20 players which competed unsuccessfully at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship at the same venue a few months ago.

At the post-match press conference after the Soca Princesses hammered USVI 10-0, Shabazz said parents of the Under-20 players are more concerned with them receiving scholarships and focusing on their studies than representing their country at football.

This lack of commitment has led to the overuse of veteran midfielder Tasha St Louis in the team. According to Shabazz, “When I came into this set up in August last year, I never expected that Tasha would be playing such a big role. We know that she is captain and I thought she would have been used sparingly. We did not get the commitment from the Under-20s and the pool isn’t too big, so she still has a lot of minutes to play.”

The T&T women are expected to finish at the top of the group to have any chance of progressing to the Concacaf qualifiers. But Shabazz is taking no team for granted as he believes more is needed if T&T is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in France. Saturday’s win came from a beaver-trick from influential midfielder Mariah Shade and a double from Karyn Forbes. Shabazz said he was pleased to have received maximum points but he will have to move players around due to the number of matches they have to play, and the time to play the matches in. Competition for places in the team has also lifted the intensity of his team’s play.

In their opening matches, the T&T women were dominant, and the scoreline reflected it, despite attempts by USVI to contain them early in the match.

Izler Browne, the USVI coach who was a former national player and coach, said her team’s challenge was over and they can now focus on the coming matches.

Matches 

n TODAY:
US Virgin Islands
v Grenada, 4pm
Dominica v T&T, 6.30pm

WALTER ALIBEY
 

T&T’s men’s Under-20 team went down 2-1 to Martinique in its second outing in as many days at the Guadeloupe six-nation Tournament on Sunday evening at Capesterre-Belle-Eau.

Following the team’s 2-0 loss to Costa Rica the previous evening, T&T, captained by Judah Garcia on the day went into the match hoping to come out with a favourable result. Head Coach Russell Latapy made a few changes to his starting team from Saturday’s encounter in an attempt to get fresh legs on the park as well as use the opportunity to present playing time to more members of his squad. T&T played its second encounter in as many days with Martinique playing Costa Rica in the previous match on Friday, losing 3-0 to the Central Americans.

Martinique took a 20th-minute lead and grabbed a second from a dubious penalty in the 50th minute for a 2-0 lead. Halftime substitute John Paul Rochford would pull a goal back for T&T in the 68th minute when Kishon Hackshaw got around his man on the left corner before crossing into the area for Rochford to hit home the first time.

Head Coach Russell Latapy later spoke about the match.

“It was a tough, scrappy and physical game. We gave up two goals on two defensive mistakes which are not acceptable at this level, but then again we’ve come here to get the playing time and these things are not unexpected from us at this stage considering we haven’t had much international experience,” Latapy told TTFA Media.

“We made some changes from the first game with it taking a lot out of us and this one also was a physically demanding on the players with very little recovery time after we played the day before. We lacked a bit more quality in the final third and we had some decisions which went against us. The young referees made some mistakes and it caused tempers to boil over which resulted in players from both teams clashing near the end. It’s the first time our boys were encountering something like this in an international match. These type of things among other aspects are what we’ll take away with us from the encounter. Also, it is learning to stay focused and sticking to the game plan instead of having our mental concentration throw off,” Latapy added.

T&T was scheduled to play French Guiana last afternoon in the play-off for fifth place while Costa Rica will take on Haiti in the Final. Haiti beat French Guiana 1-0 in the second outing on Sunday. T&T is preparing for CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup qualifying in November.

T&T LINE UP

20. Jabari Brice, 12. Darnell Hospedales, 2. Kerdel Sween, 4. Jabari Graham (5.Jessie Williams 63’), 3. Deron John, 8. Anthony Samuel (14.Darnell Charles 60’), 10. Judah Garcia (Capt), 16. Isa Bramble (11.Jordan Riley 46’) 17. Shake em Joseph (15. John Paul Rochford 46’), 6. Brandon Semper (9. Jayden Prowell 46’), 13. Kishon Hackshaw.
Subs not used – 1. Denzil Smith, 7.Shem Clauzel,
Head Coach – Russell Latap

Malika Davidson and Phylecia Armstrong were back in winners row when they captured the fifth and final leg of the 2018 T&T Volleyball Federation National Beach Volleyball Circuit qualifiers at Saith Park, Chaguanas on Saturday.

In a highly anticipated showdown with reigning national champions and fellow two-time winners so far this season, Abby Blackman and Rheeza Grant, Davidson and Armstrong were convincing winners, 21-14, 21-18.

In the semifinals, Davidson and Armstrong, coming off a disappointing third-place finish in the fourth leg of the qualifiers overcame La Teisha Joseph and Suraya Chase, three-time participants on the NORCECA Tour this season, 21-18, 19-21, 15-10 while Blackman and Rheeza Grant, who represented T&T at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, last month whipped Youth Olympic Games qualifiers duo
Tsyan Selvon and Brittney Choon 21-12, 21-8.

Joseph and Chase, surprise winners over Davidson and Armstrong in the semifinal stage of the fourth round took bronze by beating Selvon and Choon 21-12, 21-12.

When the tournament served off in the morning session, Blackman and Grant topped Pool A with a 2-0 record courtesy wins over Asma Charles and Ebony Williams 21-8, 21-8; and Joseph and Chase 24-22, 21-14. Second were Joseph and Chase, after beating Charles and Williams 21-4, 21-14

And in the lone Pool B encounter, Davidson and Armstrong scolded Selvon and Choon 21-11, 21-11.

With the win, Armstrong and Davidson joined Blackman and Grant with 17 points each atop the individual table standings, from which the national selection committee will determine the duo to represent this country at the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquillo, Colombia from July 20 to August 3.

The top two women’s team also contested a playoff match on Sunday, where Grant and Blackman got some redemption with an 18-21, 21-17, 15-11 victory to emerge as the overall top pairing.

Williams reign comes to an end

Daneil Williams, local streak of seven tournament wins on-the-trot came to a halt on Sunday after he and new playing partner, Ryan Stewart had to settle for the fourth spot.

Williams, who captured the national title with Daynte Stewart last year and then went on to win five more titles as a partners before adding another with Nathanael Noreiga earlier this month, combined with Stewart (R) but went down 12-21-, 14-21 to Youth Olympic Games qualifiers duo, Daynte Stewart and Marley Davidson.

It was the second win on the day from as many meetings for Stewart and Davidson over Williams and Ryan Stewart after a 19-21, 21-18, 21-15 outcome in their Pool B round-robin clash.

Earlier on, Christian Francois and Marlon Phillip, the latter, another former player partner of Williams at the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Championship last year defeated Daynte Stewart and Davidson 21-19, 21-9 in the semifinals while Joel Theodore and Abraham Eccles stopped Williams and Ryan Stewart 21-15, 19-21, 15-13 in the other.

Francois and Phillip then took top prize after they defeated Theodore and Eccles 21-12, 21-17 in a clash of national beach volleyballers.

Despite the loss, Williams is still in a joint share of the lead among the individual athletes on 17 points with Daynte Stewart, five more than Theodore and Eccles in the hunt for CAC Games team selection.

RESULTS

Women’s round-robin
Pool A:
• Abby Blackman/Rheeza Grant by Asthma Charles/Ebony Williams 21-8, 21-8
• Abby Blackman/Rhheza Grant bt La Teisha Joseph/Suraya Chase 24-22, 21-14
• La Teisha Joseph/Suraya Chase bt Asma Charles/Ebony Williams 21-4, 21-14
Pool B:
Malika Davidson/Phylecia Armstrong bt Tsyan Selvon/Brittney Choon 21-11, 21-11
Semifinals
• Abby Blackman/Rheeza Grant bt Tsyan Selvon/Brittney Choon 21-12, 21-8
• Malika Davidson/Phylecia Armstrong bt La Teisha Joseph/Suraya Chase 21-18, 19-21, 15-10
Third place
La Teisha Joseph/Suraya Chase bt Tsyan Selvon/Brittney Choon 21-12, 21-12
Final
Malika Davidson/Phylecia Armstrong bt Abby Blackman/Rheeza Grant 21-14, 21-18

Cherelle Thompson and Kael Yorke, two individual gold medal winners from last year’s successful T&T team, have been included in a 34-member swimming team ratified by the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T (ASATT) for the 31st Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Championship which is scheduled to take place in Aruba from June 29 – July 3.

Last year, T&T as host claimed a historic first ever overall title at the National Aquatic Centre, in Balmain, Couva, holding off the challenge of Puerto Rico.

The win by T&T marked the first time an English-speaking country had ever topped the overall points table and it came via the all-around effort of the 64-member swimming team as well as the Open Water members, four water polo teams, the two divers and the synchronized swimmers.

Overall, T&T swimmers without the injured USA-based Dylan Carter, who missed the final two nights of competition, tallied 65 medals (21 gold, 26 silver and 18 bronze) for 938.5 swimming points and 1 2,595 combined from the five disciplines and top spot overall

Puerto Rico topped the swimming points table with 987 and also won the most medals in the swimming competition, 74 (32 gold, 19 silver and 23 bronze), but was second overall with 1, 217 points.

The teams were originally set to be confirmed last Tuesday after being proposed by the Swimming Committee. However, the council meeting which was to immediately follow the swimming committee meeting did not have a quorum.

Those council members present stated their agreement to the proposed swimming team, and the teams for the 3 Kilometres and 5 Kilometres Open Water swim, and the secretary was advised to initiate a round-robin to get the requisite numbers to ensure a quorum of votes was had to ratify the team.

With the council meeting being aborted, a new meeting was scheduled and held on Saturday at which the secretary announced the result of the round-robin where the aforementioned teams were ratified.

At this meeting, the council voted that the 10 Kilometres Open Water swim team be ratified as per the results of the Open Water trial held two weeks prior.

The swimming committee recommended that the team not be considered as there was a referee’s report that stated that the trial held for the meet was not 10k.

It was stated that the race buoys shifted due to currents and altered the distance of the course.

After vibrant discussion, it was agreed by the majority at the council that the CCCAN Open Water 10k should be ratified as the athletes were required to achieve a place and not a time, and the selected athletes completed the course and should not be faulted due to external factors.

The CCCAN Open Water Championships will also take place in Aruba, but from July 4 to July 6:

T&T CCCAN swimming team
11-12
Boys: Josiah Changar, Nikoli Blackman, Stachys Harley, Zarek Wilson
Girls: Caitlyn Look Fong, Gabrielle Vickles, Joy Blackett, Neishelah Caseman, Savannah Chee-Wah, Zoe Anthony

13-14
Boys: Kadon Williams, Malik Nelson
Girls: Adrianna Gooding, Brianna Bocage, De Nicha Lewis

15-17
Boys: Aqeel Joseph, Graham Chatoor, Jeron Thompson, Josiah Parag, Kael Yorke, Obadyah Ince
Girls: Danielle Williams, Deshor Edwards, Gabriela Donahue, Ileana Bocage, Jada Chatoor, Jahmia Harley, Racine Ross

18 & Over
Boys: Abraham Mc Leod, Christian Awah, David Mc Leod, Josiah Morales
Girls: Cherelle Thompson

Open water teams
3 Kilometres
12 – 13:
Girls: Zoe Anthony, Savannah Chee Wah, Gabrielle Vickles
Boys: Nikoli Blackman, Zackary Pichery, Lucius Harrison

5 Kilometres:
14 – 17:
Girls: Jada Chatoor, Chisara Santana, Dominique Nurse Allen
Boys: Kyle West, Gabriel Bynoe, Jared De Silva

18 & Over
Girls: Shania David
Boys: Graham Chatoor, Josiah Parag

10 Kilometres
14-17
Girls: Chisara Santana, Sabrina David
Boys: Gabriel Bynoe, William Reyes, Sebastian Marchand

18 & Over
Girls: Shania David

Technical staff: Neal Marcano (manager), Maurice Faria (coach), Chabeth Haynes (assistant coach), Dexter Browne (assistant coach), Derek Changar (chaperone).

Victoria District champions San Francique Presbyterian School made a winning start to the Atlantic National Primary Schools Cricket League Round 1 Girl’s competition with a 68-run victory over Marac Baptist at Evergreen ground in Woodland yesterday.

San Francique enjoying the home advantage batted first and scored 199 for three in 20 overs with Samantha Hosein continuing a magical season by scoring an unbeaten 80. Diamond Teeluckdharry was also in fine form and notched an unbeaten 28. Not to be outdone was Llainna Brepat who scored 20.

In response, Marac batted well but could not keep up with the required run rate. They ended on 132 for four off its allotted 20 overs with Moliste Lera top-scoring with an unbeaten 42, while Abbygale Ragoo continued her impressive form with the ball by taking two wickets for 22 runs.

With all the District competitions out of the way, the Nationals will continue over the next few days.

ATLANTIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS SCORES

At Evergreen:
San Francique Presbyterian 199/3 (20) (Samantha Hosein 80no, Diamond Teeluckdharry 28no, Llianna Brepat 20) vs Marac Baptiste 132/4 (20) (Moliste Lera 42no, Abbygale Ragoo 2/22) - San Francique won by 68 runs.

The entire executive of TennisTT, being led by businessman Hayden Mitchell, was given another term in office following Saturday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Officers at the National Racquet Centre (NRC) in Tacarigua.

Mitchell, the president of the organization, assistant secretary Warren Steele and new public relation’s officer Carlista Mohammed, who is still actively involved in the sport, was elected unopposed, while secretary Jermille Danclar prevailed overwhelmingly in a contest with Anthony Jeremiah 33-13.

Dexter Mahase, the other piece of the puzzle in the hard-working Mitchell-led administration, also got the better of Caren Grazette 25-17.

Danclar told Guardian Media Sports that his team’s return was due mainly to the work it has done in moving the sport forward.

In addition to ensuring that the first ever professional women tournament called the ITF Women $15, 000 Tacarigua was held on local soil, Danclar said they also received favourable responses for bringing back the National Inter-Club Championship last year.

The executive also received support for its role in developing coaches, players and other officials through the Level One Course, conferences and other seminars.

The Mitchell-led tennistt is also set to roll out the first-ever Nation’s Cup tournament in collaboration with the COTECC region, Central America and the Caribbean Tennis Confederation. This tournament is aimed at bridging the gap for players moving from the junior division to senior.

According to Danclar, Mitchell who is on the Board of COTECC is attempting to develop the sport in the region by providing avenues for countries in COTECC that never competed at the Fed and Davis Cup tournaments, to do so.

Mitchell could not be contacted for comment as he was out the country on official tennis business.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

T&T’s senior women’s volleyballers missed out on a podium finish at the inaugural Norceca Women’s Challenge Cup after a 0-3 (18-25, 17-25, 13-25) loss to Cuba at the Edmonton Expo Centre Hall D, in Alberta Canada on Sunday night.

Playing without the services of the Turkish-based duo of middle-blocker Sinead Jack and Krystle Esdelle, the “Calypso Spikers”, led by Sweden-based Renele Forde, were faced with an uphill task against the Cubans who showed more poise and executed when they needed to.

In the end, the Cubans, led by the scoring of Regla Gracia Gonzalez with 13, Diaris Perez Ramos (12) and Sulian Linares (11), secured a well-earned victory in 66 minutes to take home the bronze medals.

Meanwhile, T&T got a match-high 16 points from Philippines-based Darlene Ramdin (Generika-Ayala Lifesavers) while Channon Thompson who played the first half of the year with Turkey’s Ankara Amune before joining Philippines’ Grand Prix Super League bronze winners Foton Tornadoes, chipped in with 11.

The team, coached by Francisco “Panchee” Cruz, was outscored 31-44 on spikes; 3-6 on blocks and 1-6 on service aces.

The T&T squad, which was competing together for the first time this season since earning an FIVB World Championship ticket on home soil last October, also committed 19 unforced errors as compared to the Cubans, 13.

Commenting after the loss, Cruz said he was not pleased with the performance of his team

He said: “It went very bad. The players weren’t doing what I was indicating. Maybe they had too much pressure on them today (Sunday). I cannot explain, I will need to analyse because there is not a relationship between this game and other games we have had”.

The T&T coach indicated that his players may have been intimidated by having to play Cuba, which was a force to be reckoned with in the past, but now going through a transitional stage.
“Other teams had a higher level and the Cubans don’t have that level, so maybe it was just the name. I am not happy with the result.”

Forde added,“The game definitely didn’t go our way today. We had a lot of issues in terms of our organisation on the court. Our defence didn’t come in today (Sunday), our blocking was inconsistent and we generally had hoped for a better result.”

The loss was the second in as many matches for T&T at the tournament which was originally expected to be comprised of six teams, but for the late withdrawal of Costa Rice due to travelling issues.

Puerto Rico took the gold medal with a thrilling 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-27, 15-8 defeat of Canada led by Daly Santana with a whopping 30 points and qualify to the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

The T&T women were expected to return home last night and will resume preparations for a go after an eighth CAZOVA overall title in Suriname from June 28 to July 5 to be closely followed by the 12-team 17th Women Pan American Cup in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic from July 6 to 15.

A few days later, the team will jet off to the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia from July 20 to August 3.

In the women’s CAC Games Indoor, T&T will compete at its fourth straight CAC Games and will battle with host Colombia, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica in Pool B while champions Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela will compete in Pool A.

T&T women will then make their debut at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Japan from September 29 to October 20 where they will face defending champions and world second-ranked USA, as well as fifth-ranked Russia among their five matches at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship First Round Pool C group of the 24-team tournament which will be contested across six cities.

T&T, which has a world ranking of 34, will also battle tenth-ranked South Korea, Thailand (#16), and Azerbaijan (#24) at the Kobe Green Arena.

Ramdin cops First Outside Hitter award

T&T’s Darlene Ramdin was named as the ‘First Outside Hitter’ awardee when the inaugural NORCECA Women’s Challenge Cup ended at the Edmonton Expo Centre Hall D, in Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Sunday night.

Ramdin’s award was the lone one won by a T&T player as the seven-time Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions ended fourth of five teams after a loss to Cuba in the bronze medal match.

Puerto Rican libero Shara Venegas who was named “Best Libero” and “Best Digger”, was selected as the “Most Valuable Player” of the competition.

The defence of Venegas was considered a key for the victory of Puerto Rico in the five-set contest against host Canada to define the champions of the tournament.

Daly Santana also of Puerto Rico was selected as the “Best Scorer” after landing 30 points in the gold medal match while team-mates Raymariely Santos and Shirley Ferrer were named “Best Setter” and “Best Opposite” respectively.

Canada’s two middle-blockers Alicia Ogoms and Jennifer Cross were included in the All-Star team as well as Cuba’s Emily Borrell who was recognized as “Best Receiver” and her compatriots Sulian Matienzo “Best Server” and Diaris Perez “Second Outside Hitter”.

As the Muslim community observes the holy month of Ramadan, Muslim cleric Imam Rasheed Karim, head of the Masjid Ul Farqaan, located in Felicity, on Greenidge Street, shares some insight into Laylat al Qadr, the holiest night of Ramadan; the night that the Holy Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed.

Karim said the blessed month of Ramadan is so abundant in the blessings that it is difficult, or impossible, to enumerate them. He said: “Among the many blessings in it is the night of power or glory, Laylat al Qadr. The night is the most important night of the year. “This night’s significance lies in the fact that, besides it being the night of glorious Qur’an’s revelation, it is the night when, according to traditions from infallibles (as), the destiny of human beings is determined for the whole year.

“It is the night when all matters for the year are determined. And furthermore, the worship and supplications on this glorious night are greater than that of a thousand months. It is the among the most special favours of Allah (swt) that this night of honour and glory is made available to His servants.”

Karim continues: “The blessed night is meant for supplication, seeking forgiveness for sins, giving charity, and good deeds.

There is a tradition from holy Prophet (s) which states: ‘Moses said: ‘O Allah! I desire your proximity’. Allah said: ‘My proximity is for the one who keeps awake on ‘the night of Qadr’. He said: ‘O Allah! I wish for your mercy’.

Allah said: ‘My mercy is for the one who shows mercy to the poor on `the night of Qadr’. He said: ‘O Allah! I want to cross the sirāt [the (right) path]’. That is for the one who gives out a sadaqah (charity) on ‘the night of Qadr. O Allah. I want of the trees and fruits of Paradise.

Allah said: ‘They are for the one who glorifies (Me) on ‘the night of Qadr.’ He said: ‘I want to be delivered’. Allah said: ‘From the Fire’? “Yes’, he said. Allah said: ‘It is for the one who asks forgiveness on ‘the night of Qadr’. He said: ‘O Allah! I ask for your pleasure’. Allah said: ‘I would be pleased with the one who performs two rak’ahs (bow) of salāt (prayer) on ‘the night of Qadr’.” Adds Karim: “In another tradition from holy Prophet (s), good tidings of great rewards for those who worship Allah on this blessed night are addressed: ‘On the night of power, the gates of heaven are opened. There is no servant who offers prayer in this night, but Allah (swt) for every prostration stores a tree in the Paradise—the tree whose branches and shade is so vast that if a rider travels for 100 years through its shade, he would not be able to cross it; for every ra’kat (bow) would build a home for him in paradise—the home decorated and built by pearls, topaz, and rubies; for every verse recited, a crown from the crowns of paradise; for every praise (tasbeeh), a bird from the birds of paradise; for every sitting, a rank from the ranks of paradise.

“For every witnessing (tashahud), a chamber from the chambers of paradise, and for every salutation, a robe from the robes of paradise would be bestowed upon him by Allah.

And at the breaking of the dawn, companions, youthful and sympathetic, hours of paradise—pure and decorated, obedient and well uniformed, horses—most obedient and swift, flowers, greenery, and good smells, running elegant fountain streams, and many other bounties which make the soul pleased and eyes to shine, would also be bestowed upon him by Allah.” This is the night when prayers are answered but with some conditions:

“It has been narrated that during this night the prayers of all are accepted, and the prayer of no one remains unanswered except the following:

The one who has displeased and angered his parent and was declared disinherited or rebellious by them.

The one who has cut off his relationship with his kith and kin.

The one who possesses animosity and vengeance of a believer in his heart.

The one who consumes alcoholic drinks.”

Karim explains: “This great night should be spent in awakened state, an awakening not of just eyes but of soul and heart as well. An awakening that makes us realise that we are guests of Allah in this month and this night is specially marked for gaining nearness to Allah and obtaining His mercy and favours.

“Blessed are those who obtain the purpose of this night and indeed wretched are the ones who are unmindful and unaware of its glory.

“When the divine mercy and forgiveness is raining upon us, let us make the most out of it. Let us strive the hardest we can. Let us beseech the meekest we should.

“Let us supplicate the most sincerely so that the divine mercy is invoked upon us and our sins are forgiven.

“Imam Baqir has been quoted as saying, ‘whoever remains in ‘the night of qadr’ awake, his sins will be forgiven, even if as many as the stars of the sky, and as heavy as the mountains or the weight of the seas’.”

Ended Karim: “May Allah the most Merciful and Beneficent Lord give us success in obtaining the purpose of this blessed month and the great night of power and let us attain nearness with Him.”

Laylat alQadr for the year 2018 will be observed at sundown on Sunday, June 10 ending at sundown on Monday, June 11.