Singer Danielle Williams’ upcoming concert, Seeing Sound, explores the fusion of digital art, music, film and dance in an interactive and immersive experience. The production will take place tomorrow and Sunday, at Grundlos Kollektiv, 11 Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain.

Williams said seeing sound, or cymatics, and hearing in colour, or chromesthesia, are two phenomena which she wishes to explore through this production. She explained: “Cymatics and chromesthesia have influenced everything from the song, projection and film selection, to lighting, sound design, and the art installations. What it would be like to see sound? And hear in colour? I don’t have chromesthesia but I do feel the mood of a piece of music in colour. For me it’s a question of energy. This program takes you on a journey through colour.”

Adding that the audience will be transported on a journey though light and sound, Williams said: “I hope that the audience will experience an intensely memorable, interesting and satisfying night out with friends or family.

“Seeing Sound is designed to allow the audience to explore, create, feel and be transported through a live show with breath-taking visuals and interactive art installations. The music spans many genres: pop, electronica, classical, popera and Caribbean sounds. We have integrated several art and science installations that allow the audience to create and explore seeing sound, so they are allowed to participate in the creation of the art and will in fact become part of the art itself. This will be an innovative one of a kind experience.”

She said she was inspired to create the exhibition after visiting the Wellcome Collection in Cental London. There she saw an exhibition on a mundane topic that left her awestruck. “What I saw was a work of genius,” said Williams. “An exhibit on Dirt!—of all things. They transformed such a banal subject into a transfixing discourse which used science, art, poetry, and philosophy to approximate to truth. I couldn’t ever look at anything ‘ordinary’ the same again.”

Williams said she wants to help create similar experiences here in Trinidad. She has been working towards the production for a year, but is only now ready to put it on following a catalysing event. Williams continued: “A visual artist that I was blessed enough to encounter passed away recently, and it really crystallised that tomorrow isn’t promised and that life is fragile. I may not be perfect, life certainly isn’t but we’re all here, alone together. I’d like to create and put out more art that’s congruent with who I am and can help inspire and encourage people. And the best time to do this is now.”

Williams said she chose to use underwater photography to advertise the event because of how closely it echoes the theme of the production. “When I think of the science of sound I think of waves, reflection and refraction. Working underwater allows us to capture some of that feeling. In fact, Swiss scientist Dr Hans Jenny coined the term Cymatics after the Greek κυματικά (kymatika) which means “matters pertaining to waves.

“In a metaphorical sense it also represents me ‘taking the plunge’ and launching my brand as a ‘singer scientist’ and my NGO the ‘ArtScience Foundation’.”

The event will feature the work of Clinical Media Group, Kats Imai, Kyle Richardson, Rodell Warner and Zayna McDonald.

The singer said she hopes the experience will inspire people to pause and reflect on their lives. “One of my favourite quotes is by Pablo Picasso which says, ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’.”

Tickets for Seeing Sound cost $200 and for more information, find Seeing Sound on Facebook, go to https://www.daniellekwilliams.com/tickets and call 785-9870, 685-8970, or 708-1849.

Members of this country’s Muslim faith have again been thrown on the back foot in the wake of the discovery of a stash of arms and ammunition at a mosque in Central Trinidad.

While the leadership of the mosque must be given credit for immediately contacting law enforcement on the shocking discovery, the incident again lends itself to the criticism of the faith, which started months ago when some of members of the community were linked to a plot to destabilise Carnival activities.

While the majority of Muslims in this country are law-abiding citizens, there will be some bad seeds—a situation which afflicts other religions as well. While Islam prides itself with being an all-inclusive religion, the time may be fast approaching when those who lead mosques must become more circumspect about those who frequent their places of worship.

Needless to say, the only way the leaders of the mosques may be able to win over the citizenry once again is to give up the lawless individuals within their membership, if indeed these persons exist. The activity of these few individuals must not be allowed to continue to tarnish all the good that Islam has contributed to the society.

PSC must be purged too

The Parliament’s rejection of the Police Service Commission’s nomination of DCP Deodat Dulalchan as the top choice for commissioner of police has naturally brought an avalanche of criticism.

There was, during the debate on the process, criticism from Government and Opposition about the process. And there is now even more criticism from other stakeholders, chief among them the public, about the fact that after years of undertaking several such processes we are yet to make a substantive appointment.

The PSC cannot be absolved of all of the blame in this matter. The body already has a new chair but this newspaper wonders whether the other members involved in the last process are still part of the hierarchy? If so, we ask that they do the honourable thing and tender their resignations.

Keep doing us proud

Congrats to sprinters Michelle-Lee Ahye and Jereem Richards on their bronze medals in the 100 and 200 metres events at the Oslo Bislett Games in the IAAF Diamond League on Thursday. They have continued their good starts to their Diamond League seasons and we wish them continued success.

After Wednesday’s Parliament drama on the ill-fated process to select a Police Commissioner, Thursday’s Senate sitting might have seemed tame if not for UNC Senator Wade Mark’s warning to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.

Discussing proposed amendments, Mark advised Al-Rawi, “We work hard—and we look forward to the match!”

His declaration startled PNM Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon, who appealed, “(UNC Senator Gerald) Ramdeen! Talk to your leader!”

Bills apart, Mark’s comment might also have echoed Opposition sentiment on the July 16 Belmont East and Barataria by-elections announced by Government Wednesday.

UNC’s short-listed candidates will be ready next week, party chairman David Lee said.

Despite that the polls aren’t in UNC’s traditional turf, they’ll test its political skill and standing, gauging the impact of UNC’s Parliamentary interrogation and public push concerning Government.

The last being UNC MP Ganga Singh’s rerouting of Wednesday’s debate on the Police Commissioner selection matter, from process to personality, boxing Government into accusations of bias and race after nominee DCP Deodat Dulalchan was rejected.

The polls are also the ruling PNM’s first political test since its 2015 general election win and the austerity mode Government subsequently slapped on T&T following economic challenges.

Government has been morphing since April, however, attempting shift from negative profile to one that’s managed T&T towards economic uptick, gotten the energy sector under control and swung potential foreign investments.

PNM profile-polishing was particularly obvious recently.

At Wednesday’s Police Commissioner selection debate, Government said it acted early in the term to confront the matter as its manifesto promised. Al-Rawi said Tuesday’s amendments to land title law involved keeping a campaign promise. Agriculture’s Clarence Rambharat on Thursday assured squatters “have nothing to fear under the PNM.”

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley presided over south highway developments.

Thursday’s PNM Barataria campaign launch featured full-on election mode: good news promotion, promises, defence against detractors accentuated with verve, vehemence and venom.

Another election-prep change was Thursday’s appointment of PNM’s Stuart Young as Communication Minister. At mid-term, Young, who’s also the PNM’s PRO, finally has his own ministry after being a Minister in the AG’s Ministry and the PM’s office, portfolios he retains.

If Young now has the longest title of all ministers, straddling the most significant portfolios—corruption buster and communication—PNM’s Marlene McDonald’s been the subject of the most changes in Government.

After being hired and fired twice (September 2015-March 2016 and June-July 2017), her third posting in March to the Ministry of Public Administration and Communication (PA/C) was halved within three months with Rowley’s move to place Young in Communication.

McDonald re-entered Government in March as minister in PA/C under the ill Maxie Cuffie. She was elevated to Minister a month later, with Cuffie bumped to minister in PA/C.

But the Office of the Prime Minister’s announcement on Ministers Young and McDonald and the separate Communication and Public Administration ministries didn’t mention either Ministry having a second minister (like Cuffie) or what now becomes of his recent position as minister in PA/C.

Texts to the new Communication Minister on what might be Cuffie’s position and if he’d remain in Communication or Public Administration received no reply.

What job—if any—Cuffie might hold remains ahead. PNM officials said Cuffie, as of Thursday, was expecting word from doctors by June 20 on return-home possibilities.

That a full-fledged Communication Ministry is necessary at mid-term prepping for polls, is an admission of Government’s weakness with communication.

Young’s been a standing feature of post-Cabinet media briefings, where he’s defended Government (sometimes recitation like) and also working international corridors with his boss.

As Government’s voice (and face) PNM may be targeting a wider national base.

As for how he fares with traditional PNM support, while Belmont East is in his PoS North constituency, Young’s performance as PNM PRO was criticised by a committee chairman at PNM’s 2017 annual convention.

Now left to be seen: how Young’s Communication performance will impact perceptions on the crisis-level crime rate, job cuts and economic situation which Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Thursday admitted “isn’t out of the woods yet”.

BASSANIO: If it please you to dine with us.
SHYLOCK …I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with.

(The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 3)

Such was the state of Mr Dulalchan’s plea on Wednesday, with an appetite for public service, asking to steer the rudderless police service and perhaps into battle against the criminal scourge plaguing this nation.

The Government’s response: (no less Shylockian) “it is not about the individual it is about process,” ostensibly accepting Mr Dulalchan the individual but using its Parliamentary majority to subvert the legally effectual nomination of the Police Service Commission, to ensure that he remains extraneous to the inner sanctums of power and high office.

The citizenry will no doubt adjudicate on the hate that took place in Parliament, upon its convening to debate the report of a Special Select Committee into the Police Service Commission’s selection of Mr Dulalchan as the top cop! The Government speakers fumbled, meandered and exuded contempt at the prospect of Mr Dulalchan attaining the rank of Commissioner of Police.

I expected no less from a Government that has yet to find an equal place within its Cabinet to incorporate different experiences and views in the process of national decision making. Its first notable use of power was to remove Mr Jwala Rambaran as Governor of the Central Bank.

Maybe, I am somehow skewed in my vision and see patterns where none exists. If the Government were even-handed in its approach and was solely concerned with the preservation, integrity of processes and stature of public offices, it would no doubt use its power to scrutinise all public offices which have faced serious allegations and calls for investigations.

What then is the citizenry to make of the Government’s approach to our embattled Chief Justice? It seems convenient for the Government to invoke its supervisory jurisdiction to commission a report into the process of the PSC and wield its power to cut down Mr Dulalchan’s nomination! But amidst the spectrum of incessant and erudite calls for the Government to invoke its constitutional power to set up a tribunal to investigate the Chief Justice, nothing but silence.

Hope is not lost. In the same way that the Equal Opportunity Commission promptly published its press release inviting Ms Nakhid to lodge a complaint against the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha for her perceived discrimination, one can reasonably trust and expect that Mr Dulalchan would receive an invitation from the EOC and benefit from an equal dispensation of consideration and courtesy.

Where do we go from here? With calculated timing, the former National Security Minister Gary Griffith has seen it fit to issue a pre-action protocol letter to the new chairman of the PSC arguing that he should be appointed to the position of Commissioner of Police.

The timing of the Government’s actions and its continuing habit of blatantly riding roughshod over top public servants will result in only one thing. Persons deserving of top positions will be left behind. High offices will never be staffed with the most suitable candidates.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Dr Rowley advised the President that by-elections for the electoral districts of Barataria in the San Juan Laventille Regional Corporation and Belmont East in the Port-of-Spain City Corporation will be held on July 16, 2018. Why did Dr Rowley take such a long time before announcing the by-elections? Certainly, he knows that the failure to hold elections in a timely manner can easily be viewed as a creeping dictatorship.

Notwithstanding threats by the Leader of the Opposition to initiate legal proceedings against Dr Rowley as Prime Minister, he did not care to act expeditiously. Maybe he has been preoccupied with foreign trips in recent times that petty domestic matters such as by-elections could have waited.

Having gone past the halfway mark, it appears that the Rowley-led PNM Government has warmed the leadership seat, becoming idle and complacent with its duties. Worst of all, it has become completely oblivious to the crime splurge plaguing our beloved nation. Maybe I can cut to the chase and simply say that they don’t care. Only time will tell.

The sitting Opposition continues to play own goals. Should they lose the elections of 2020 they are going to say somebody tief them. Imagine walking out in a huff because the gentleman farmer Dulalchan could not get his wish to be Commissioner of Police? Not good enough. Not good for them and definitely not good for the country. This early foray into pussyfooting behaviour with problems makes them look ineffective and foolish.

It seems obvious that the short-term remedy to policing is to let all senior officers in each division take sole charge of their areas and report regularly to the Minister of National Security. This idea needs toughing out but can be feasible.

I distinctly remember when former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said that an acting Commissioner of Police would suffice in the short term. If he only had a glass ball then.

Because this is T&T and we live on a diet of reminiscing the good, the bad and the ugly events in the country, Dulalchan would have to be remembered for the bacchanal surrounding his land purchase.

This is T&T where, in many things but above all in politics, image, is everything.

LYNETTE JOSEPH
Diego Martin

It seems only in Trinidad and Tobago are controversial multi-national corporations such as Shell and Huawei embraced and, to some extent, even courted.

In April this year, the Prime Minister met with top executives of Royal Dutch Shell – a company currently embroiled in a billion-dollar corruption scandal in Nigeria which has implicated top company executives and the country’s former President Goodluck Jonathan. News reports reprinted the press release from the Office of the Prime Minister almost word for word with no indication of what fruit those talks produced, what promises were made and which plans were to be undertaken, assuming of course that these discussions were more than talk shops.

This week, the Ministry of National Security, via ambiguous notices on their Facebook page, has indicated that Chinese telecoms giant Huawei would “do an assessment of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Fusion Centre” and that “it is envisaged that National Security would increase its utilisation of technology in the fight against crime.”

Not only have the media failed to unravel this ministry-sanctioned gobbledygook to explain what precisely this “assessment” will involve, but they have also neglected to treat this event with the scepticism which responsible journalism demands.

Huawei has been in the international news recently in connection with its access to Facebook’s user-data, including information on users, their friends, work and education history, relationship status and likes. It has been widely reported that the company has been flagged by American intelligence officials as a national security threat, as heads of the major US intelligence agencies such as the CIA, FBI and National Security Agency have voiced “deep concerns” over what they regard as potential security risks from companies “beholden to foreign governments.”

While this collaboration between the ministry and Huawei may be innocuous official dialogue, citizens must know what precisely is the nature of this partnership and how will it impact on crime fighting and the lives of citizens? These are basic questions which any agent working on behalf of public interest should ask. However, citizens continue to be fed a diet of recycled press releases disguised as journalism.

ABBIGAIL AJIM,
via email

I feel compelled to express my concern over a news feature, aired on CNC3, over five months ago to be exact, on December 31st, 2017. It was during the 2017 “Year in Review” feature when mention was made of the passing of former Petrotrin chairman Mr Malcolm Jones and the fact he was awarded a $3 million settlement by the courts of Trinidad and Tobago. What was not mentioned, however, was that although he was indeed awarded the sum of $3 million, he never actually received a dime of that money or any other monies for that matter. The entire sum went to the lawyers who represented him. The court of public opinion is not aware of this fact.

I remain puzzled, however, that those who are aware of this, have not seen it fit to rectify it after all this time. This inaction simply allows this inaccurate public perception to remain. The disrespect shown towards this goodly gentleman continues even after his demise.

Would it be too much to ask that Malcolm Jones be left to rest in the peace that he so richly deserves? I should think not.

CLAIRE CLIFFORD,
La Romaine

It was recently reported that Justice Frank Seepersad said that citizens must provide law enforcement with crime information if they have such.

Oh no, Mr Justice, you have got this all wrong! There are many instances whereby such information from civic-minded persons reached rogue police officers and they are “silenced” in more ways than one. And, these are not limited to state witnesses.

To add salt to injury, there is also a poor and inefficient witness protection programme that is rendered meaningless to many persons.

Do you know the daily fear that state witnesses and other providers of information to the police live with every day, Mr Justice?

We have to get rid of the rogue police and fix the witness protection programme as priorities before we, the innocent citizens, risk our lives and those of our families before we pass on crime information to the police.

We risk being killed, Mr Justice. It will be much better if you make suggestions that will ensure citizen safety from these rogue officers before asking us to sign our own death warrant.

We expect better from you as a learned judge but you are speaking from your position where you may be benefiting from the security of Special Branch police, etc.

Who now is standing up for the innocent citizens who make reports to the police and don’t know where it will end up?

You should be making recommendations that include the use of technology that will reduce the risk of persons being killed.

KEVIN RAM
via email

T&T’s Nigel Lewis, who won the 1996 Road March, is a headline act for tomorrow’s benefit concert for three hospitals in Jamaica. Lewis, Minister Keesa Peart, Patricia Levy (Sister Patt), Renowned Gospel Singers, and Michael Richards will perform at the High Point High School, 3601 Powder Mill Road in Beltsville, Maryland. This eagerly awaited gospel concert will be an evening of praise, worship, and inspiring gospel music.

Organisers of the concert pledge that all the net proceeds of the concert will go directly to benefit three major hospitals in Jamaica. This is one of the organisation’s efforts to help to alleviate the suffering of many poor and needy residents of the island.

Lewis exploded onto the soca music scene with Movin’ to the Left in 1996 and had everyone moving to the left and moving to the right. Winning that year’s Road March title, he became a household name worldwide. His success blossomed and he was on the road to superstardom.

Lewis’ dynamic style was influenced by many great performers from his island home. At the height of his soca career in 2000, he made a change and rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. Nigel’s transformation of his prolific style of secular soca lyrics and pulsating soca rhythms to more religious messages and reverence to God has been awesome.

His development into a noteworthy singer/songwriter/musician is expressed in songs that address poverty, world peace, and voting rights. He composes exalting messages and words of thanks to God which inspire listeners of his music.

“My music is about the people, not me,” Lewis says. His up-tempo style is inspired by his relationship with God. His dynamic performance of Follow the Leader is emblematic of his spirit.

Nigel’s excellent performances with songs such as Godman Style, Walk Away, Second Chance, Follow the Leader, When Jesus Say Yes, The Greatest Day, Jesus, Crazy Praise, and Blessed Today continue to grow his fan base and obtain more accolades.

In 2011, Lewis received the International Reggae & World Music Award (IRAWMA) for Best Gospel Song. In 2014, he received regional recognition with ten Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Award nominations for his album, Unlock the Block, and took home the Marlin for Adapted Reggae Recording of the Year for his hit single God Over Everything.

Lewis now has seven Marlin Award nominations, including Album of the Year (N.O.W.—No Other Way), Producer of the Year, Reggae Recording of the Year (My God feat Papa San), Calypso Recording of the Year & Song of the Year for hit single, My God, featuring award-winning Bahamian choir ensemble Shaback.

Lewis says, “My goal is to light up the darkness. I do music because it’s the gift that was given to me by the Father. I use it to spread His message.”

Keesa Peart, a Jamaican native living in the Cayman Islands in 2004, won the Cayman Islands Gospel Festival competition for best song with her original composition, Come Let Me Show You. With that achievement, she decided to take her singing career to another level.

Her debut album in 2005, Touch Jesus, was tremendously successful and she released her second album, Your Life Is In God’s Hands, in 2008 with her hit single, Hold On.

Since the release of her albums, Peart has ministered throughout North America, Bahamas, Canada, Colombia, Aruba, Montserrat, and Jamaica where she presently resides.

Minister Keesa Peart has shared the stage with both local and international gospel singers.

In 2009, Peart decided to embrace full-time ministry and she and her husband returned to Jamaica where they felt God’s calling for ministry.

In 2012, she graduated from the Glad Tidings Institute having received her Master’s degree in evangelism.

During 2012, Peart released the international hit single I’ve got somebody with me, which earned an award for international song of the year 2014. She was awarded international female gospel artiste of the year for 2015.

In 2016, she released her third album entitled Without You Lord, which includes Di Devil Nah Get Mi Soul, I Know I’ll Make It and I’ve Got Somebody With Me.

To learn more about tomorrow’s benefit concert, call 301-440- 6132 or 240-505-7743.

Watching the Moon landing in 1969 on TV with her family in South Trinidad sparked Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University graduate student Karen Brun’s interest in the NASA space programme. A worldwide graduate student, she spent 45 days in an analog spaceship and completed a NASA internship.

Through a 32-year career in the US Air Force, where Brun specialised in aviation and air mobility operations serving as a C-5 Galaxy Flight Engineer, she never lost sight of her interest in space.

As Brun prepared for civilian life, she acquired FAA licenses and ratings including Instrument Rated Private Pilot; Remote Pilot; Aircraft Dispatcher; Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic; and Flight Engineer (Turbojet). She stayed committed to aviation safety and human factors by participating in flying simulations as part of an ongoing FAA-sponsored study researching possible causes of weather-related general aviation accidents.

The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Campus student finished 45 days in a simulated space habitat this past fall as part of NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) at Johnson Space Center in Houston. HERA is a unique three-story structure designed to serve as an analog for isolation, confinement, and remote conditions in extraterrestrial exploration scenarios.

Following HERA, she recently completed an internship this spring with NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Brun’s road to NASA has been paved with people she met along the way at Embry-Riddle and programmes that gave her the needed skills from coursework to assistance from Career Services and her graduate Worldwide Campus academic advisor.

In 2015, Brun, who has three associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology from Thomas Edison State University, shared her future goals with Dr Brent Terwilliger, assistant professor of Aeronautics and programme chair for the Embry-Riddle Worldwide Campus’s new online Master of Science in Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Engineering degree programme.

His advice led her to enrol in the master’s Unmanned Systems programme with a specialisation in Space Systems.

During her time at Embry- Riddle, she has also participated in the Project PoSSUM Citizen- Scientist Astronaut Programme, an intense astronaut-like training programme where students receive instruction in how to use a spacesuit, high-altitude and hypoxia awareness and aerospace physiology.

While participating with Project PoSSUM, Brun learned about NASA’s HERA programme and was selected as a mission specialist for the HERA XV mission after a rigorous application process, including physical, psychological and technical skills testing.

“That is why Embry-Riddle is so important,” Brun, who was born and raised in Marabella, said.

“If I wasn’t associated with Embry-Riddle, I would not have been able to do all these things.”

HERA missions, which began in 2014, are one of several ground-based analogs used by NASA’s Human Research Programme (HRP) to study ways to help astronauts move from lower-Earth orbit to deep space exploration.

The programme works to improve astronauts’ ability to collect data, solve problems, respond to emergencies and remain healthy during and after extended space travel. With the goal of travelling to Mars and beyond, the programme is using ground research facilities, the International Space Station (ISS) and analog environments to develop these procedures and to further research areas that are unique to Mars.

The HERA XV mission, which ended in December, looked at behavioural health and performance assessments, communication and autonomy studies, human factors evaluations and medical capabilities assessments.

Brun and her three co-mission specialists lived in the small, cylindrical 636-square-feet habitat for 45 days. The total mission also included 14 days of pre- and seven days postconfinement.

Inside the habitat, she worked on projects to help with future missions to Mars, including testing various hardware prototypes and applications used on the ISS. Her team used various simulations in growing food and plants, and they ate similar packaged food that astronauts consume on the ISS, from scrambled eggs and pancakes, to steak and ribs.

Experiments with sleep and circadian rhythms (a 24- hour internal clock that cycles between sleep and being awake) tested their alertness. Virtual reality spacewalks (extravehicular activity) simulated travelling to an asteroid and collecting samples.

“This is why HERA is so important. A lot of what we did involved current technology and testing it in simulated conditions,” Brun said.

“My commitment is not only to the space programme, but to humanity and where we go as a species into deep space.”

Brun’s future plans include applying to the Human Factors doctoral programme at Embry- Riddle after finishing her master’s degree.

“Human Factors (the study of how people interact with technology, tools, environments and systems) is what will get us to Mars,” Brun said.

“Can we as humans sustain the seven and a half months, one-way trip to Mars? We have the technology, but can we get there? I want to be part of the NASA space programme working toward getting people ready to go into space.”

Roth Britton, Brun’s graduate academic advisor at Embry- Riddle’s Worldwide Campus Department of Online Education, said since his first “welcome” call to Brun, she has been motivated and excited for opportunities ahead.

“She has been looking for ways to grow and pursue the things she is passionate about every step along the way,” Britton said.

“I am very proud of her and expect big things as she moves forward on her journey.”

Anyone interested in finding out what it takes to participate in a HERA mission, can go to nasa.gov/analogs/hera/want-toparticipate for more information.

Deborah Circelli is a communications specialist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Deborah.Circelli@erau.edu

DEBORAH A CIRCELLI
 

Windies had another good day of cricket yesterday as they bowled out Sri Lanka cheaply to enjoy a handsome lead going into the fourth day of the opening Test at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

After amassing a competitive 414/8 declared in their first innings, the Windies fast bowlers came to the park to hustle out Sri Lanka for 185 to secure a lead of 229 runs on first innings. The host did not enforced the follow-on and commenced their second innings and closed the day on 131/4, which swelled its lead to 360 runs with six wickets still standing.

The visitors’ fast bowlers bowled their hearts out in the afternoon and final sessions in a bid to bring their team back into the contest but as it stands now there are only two likely results, a Windies win or a drawn encounter.

Windies lost four wickets in their second innings, including the returning Devon Smith for 20, Kraigg Brathwaite for 16, Shai Hope one and Roston Chase 12.

Left-hander Keiran Powell has however played a brilliant hand in getting an unbeaten 64 at stumps with six fours and two sixes. He hardly put a foot wrong after coming in at the fall of Smith’s wicket. Smith was bowled off a no-ball and next ball he fell by the same route, playing on to the impressive Suranga Lakmal.

Sri Lanka resumed on the bedtime position of 31/3 and lost Roshen Silva 10 minutes into play. His dismissal could have been due to the statement made by the Windies bowlers on the second evening, as the righthander was very apprehensive and lost his leg stump to Kemar Roach with the score at 43 for four.

Skipper Chandimal who started the day on three was there and took charge of proceedings.

He took his time to move the score along and found the plucky Niroshan Dickwella a good ally. Chandimal timed the ball sweetly but at times flirted with danger and this led to his downfall after a partnership of 79. He favoured the cut shot against the pacy Caribbean men but failed to keep one down and was caught at backward point by Roston Chase for 44. He faced 121 deliveries and struck five fours.

Dickwella then left soon after run out for 31 after playing the  to mid-on and trotting down the pitch. Kraigg Brathwaite picked up and struck the stumps at the non-strikers end with the direct hit that found the wicketkeeper/batsman short. He faced 78 balls and struck three fours during his fighting knock. 

When Devendra Bishoo sent back the last of the recognised batsman in Dilruwan Perera for 20, the Windies were large and in charge in their own backyard.

Pacer Miguel Cummins than ran through the lower order to finish with three wickets for 39 runs.

SCOREBOARD

WINDIES VS SRI LANKA
Windies 1st inns 414/8 dec
Sri Lanka 1st inns
(overnight 31/3)
M Perera c Chase b Roach.................... 0
K Mendis c Holder b Gabriel................ 4
D Chandimal c Chase b Gabriel.........44
A Mathews c Chase b Holder.............11
R Silva b Roach........................................ 1
N Dickwella run out..............................31
D Perera c Hope b Bishoo...................20
R Herath c sub Hetmeyer...................... 5
S Lakmal c Bishoo b Cummins...........15
L Gamage not out................................... 0
L Kumara c Dowrich b Cummins......... 8
Extras 8b, 16lb, 6nb, 12w...................40
Total all out...............................185
Fall of wkts: 2, 16, 30, 43, 121, 140,
148, 156, 175, 185.
Bowling: K Roach 10-3-34-2, S Gabriel
13-0-48-2, M Cummins 12.4-4-39-3, J
Holder 7-1-15-1 D Bishoo 13-2-25-1.
Windies 2nd inns
K Brathwaite c Dickwella b Kumara.16
D Smith b Lakmal.................................20
K Powell not out....................................64
S Hope c Mendis b Kumara.................. 1
R Chase b Herath..................................12
S Dowrich not out.................................12
Extras 4b, 2lb, 1nb................................. 7
Total for 4 wkts..........................131
Fall of wkts: 36, 55, 75, 119.
Bowling: S Lakmal 8-1-25-1, L
Gamage 8-2-23-0, R Herath 11-1-21-1,
L Kumara 5-0-28-2, K Perera 8-0-27-0.

T&T captain, Ryan Stewart scored a match-high 16 points, but it was not enough as the three-time Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions went under to host Cuba 21-25, 13-25, 11-25 in the NORCECA Men’s Challengers Cup at the November 19 Pavilion in Pinar del Rio, Cuba on Thursday night.

With the win, the Cubans improved to a 2-0 record and ten points, five behind fellow unbeaten team Puerto Rico (3-0) while T&T dropped to a 1-2 record and five points in the five-team tournament which grants the champion the confederation’s lone ticket to the FIVB 2019 League of Nations qualifying World Final.

Coming off a straight-sets win over Costa Rica 24 hours earlier, T&T started strongly and were locked at 16-16 with the home side before the latter strengthened their attack to close out the set by winning nine of the next 14 points.

Over the next two sets, the Cubans, favourite to claim the championship were clearly superior in all aspects and did not give liberties to the T&T play which was hampered greatly when its only setter, Kameron Donald, picked up a left ankle injury, and was replaced by wing spiker Daynte Stewart, who made his senior team debut in the win over Costa Rica.

Overall, Cuba was much more clinical than T&T and held the advantage in all three key scoring aspects of the match, 37-27 on spikes, 8-1 on blocks and 4-2 on service aces, while committing fewer errors as well, 15 to 26.

For T&T, Stewart’s 16 points were highlighted by 14 kills and two aces, while the next best scorer Marlon Phillip with seven, and USA-based Mikheil Hoyte, four, all spikes.

Stewart is also the leading scoring in the competition with 36 points, seven ahead of Puerto Rico’s Eddie Rivera who played one matchless.

The Cubans, with an offence shared between regulars and substitutes, were led by Miguel David Gutierrez’s nine points, followed by Miguel Ángel López and Javier Concepción each with seven points as 11 of their players scored at least a point.

Osnie Hernandez and Adrian Goide also chipped in with five points each, and Marlon Herrera, four in the 72 minutes contest.

Reflecting on the match a realistic Morrison said, “It was a very good match, my team was excellent in the first set, we even made five attacks that separated us from the opponents, but we needed to be more consistent and compared to the rival there is no doubt that there is a big gap.

He added, “We have to work more at this level to continue improving, and I love playing against Cuba because of its level and because I feel it as a family.”

Stewart highlighted the performance of the hosts and said that “It was a good game and an excellent performance by our team, we have a lot of work to do, what we have to do is keep improving and keep pushing and pushing to try to win the match”.

In Thursday’s other match, Puerto Rico beat Costa Rica in straight sets 25-17, 25-12, 25-12 to maintain its spotless record after three days.

T&T, CAZOVA winners in 2010, 2014 and 2017, return home tomorrow and will continue preparations for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia (July 20 - August 3); the 13th Pan American Cup in Veracruz, Mexico (August 12-20); and the defense of their CAZOVA Men’s Championship in Suriname (August 4 – 11).

LONDON—Attacking West Indies opener Evin Lewis has climbed into the top five of the ICC Twenty20 batting rankings but champion off-spinner Sunil Narine has lost ground.

In the latest rankings released yesterday, the left-handed Lewis jumped one place to fifth, on 753 ratings points.

West Indies left-hander Evin Lewis.

Lewis has emerged as one of the Windies most dependable players in the shortest format, following his debut two years ago. In his last three T20 International innings, he has lashed a hundred and two half-centuries.

The 26-year-old is the only Caribbean player in the top 20, with veteran right-hander Marlon Samuels the next highest ranked batsman at 24th.

In the bowling rankings, leg-spinner Samuel Badree has remained steady at number four, despite taking two wickets in his last four T20 Internationals.

The 37-year-old, once the top-rated T20 bowler, now sits behind number one Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, with another leg-spinner Shadab Khan of Pakistan in second spot.

There was no such good fortune for Narine, however, who slipped four places to 18th in the rankings.

The 30-year-old is one of the world’s finest spinners in the shortest format but has not played for West Indies since the one-off T20 International against England last September.

He and Badree are the only two Windies players in the top 20, with captain Carlos Brathwaite the next best positioned at 26th.

(CMC)

Carifta champions Tyriq Horsford, Talena Murray and Veayon Joseph will aim to reign in the javelin throws in the National Junior Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo over the weekend.

The Zenith trio will be aiming to shine at the annual track and field meet hosted by the National Association for Athletic Administrations (NAAA) starting this morning from 10am and continues tomorrow from the same time.

Horsford won gold in the Boys Under-20 javelin at the Carifta Games held earlier this year in the Bahamas while club-mates Murray took the Girls U-20 javelin and Joseph the Boys U-17 title. Kymoi Noray also from Zenith finished third behind Murray, who also broke the national Girls’ U-20 javelin record in January with 50.60 metres.

Joseph will be looking to rebound as after his success at Carifta, he was beaten at the Secondary Schools Championships.

Carifta standouts Ianna Roach of Memphis Pioneers and Konnel Jacobs (Tobago Jaguars) will be looking to do the same in their respective shot put events. Roach bagged bronze in the Girls U-20 shot put at Carifta and took the Hampton Games title.while

Jacobs won silver in the Boys U-20 shot put at Carifta. He also won shot put and discus at Sunset Development Meet and the Secondary Schools Championships.

Competition over on the track will be just as intense with the likes of Timothy Frederick (Simplex), Rae-Ann Serville (Memphis Pioneers) and Cougar’ Shaniqua Bascombe (Cougars) each looking to stride their way to the top of the podium.

Frederick has been setting personal bests(pb) all season. At Hampton Games held over the weekend of May 26-27, he had a pb in 100m (10.40) and 200m (20.81) in winning sprint double. His times were faster than the men in the 100m (10.54) and 200m (21.13). Kion Benjamin of Memphis (10.49) and Ako Hislop of Kaizen Panthers (10.55), who will also compete this weekend, ran pbs to finish second and third behind Frederick at the Hampton Games. Benjamin also ran pb of 21.13 and Hislop (21.32 pb) in finishing second and fourth in the 200m.

At the Abilene Track Classic on May 12, Frederick had another pb in the 200m (20.98) in again winning the sprint double.

The Simplex sprinter won men’s 100m at Southern Games and was fourth in 200m at the Carifta Games in 21.20 and won silver the Boys U-20 4x100m. At the Secondary Schools meet (Aril 19 & 20) he ran a pb in he 100m of 10.55 and at the MAP Invitational (April 28), a pb in the 100m final with 10.57 and 10.58 in the heats.

Frederick is ranked at 33rd on the IAAF World lists in the Boys U-20 100m and Benjamin is at 78th. At 16 years, Frederick is also an U-18 competitor and is at seventh in the World U-18 rankings in the 100m. In the 200m he is joint second in the U-18 rankings and 18th in the U-20 listing.

Serville ran pbs in 400m (54.53) and 800m (2:19.38) in winning at the Hampton Games. She won the 400m at Sunset Development, MAP Invitational, Abilene Track Classic and Secondary Schools Championships and won the 100m hurdles at Hurdles and Field Events Festival on May 5. Serville was fifth in the 400m at the Carifta Games.

Bascombe ran 100m pb of 11.75 in winning the event at Hampton Games and won the 100m, 200m and 100m hurdles at Secondary Schools Championship. She sealed gold in the 100m (11.78) at Abilene Track Classic and topped n 200m at the Sunset Development Meet. Bascombe won silver in 200m at Carifta Games in a pb of 23.75 and was fourth in the 100m (11.77 pb).

Carifta boys U-17 400m champion Avindale Smith (Abilene Wildcats) was injured at Carifta and has not run since then while Concorde duo Akilah Lewis and Jenea Spinks will clash in the Girls U-20 100m. Lewis ran a pb of 11.51 to take bronze at the Carifta Games. Spinks clocked a pb of 11.69 to finish sixth behind Lewis. Spinks then ran a windy 11.50 to take the Secondary Schools title.

Other athletes to watch include Natasha Fox (Pt. Fortin New Jets), who is set to compete in the Girls U-15 200m, 400m and high jump at Secondary Schools. won the 400m at the Abilene Track Classic and at the Hampton Games. She was seventh in the Girls U-17 400m at the Carifta Games.

Jesaiah Greenidge (Concorde)-won the Boys U-15 100m/200m at Hampton Games and Abilene Invitational won the 100m at MAP Invitational; Octavia Cambridge (Cougars) won Girls U-15 800m/1,500m at Hampton Games, 800m at Abilene Track Classic.

Xea Bruce (Toco Titans) and Christie Marie Marahaj (Silver Bullets) will be Cambridge’s challengers in both the 800m and 1500m.

Former top-ranked men’s players and national champions Curtis Humphreys and Yuvraaj Dookram along with Kenneth Parmanand were all unbeaten in leading WASA ‘A’ past WASA ‘B’ in the A-1 Division of the East Zone Division Table Tennis Tournament at WASA Sports Club, St Joseph on Thursday night.

Humphreys had hard-fought wins over Ancil Russell 14-12, 12-10, 12-10 in his opening match and followed it up with victories over Franklin Seechan 11-9, 11-5, 11-7, and Michael Fong 11-7, 11-6, 11-3.

Dookram, who represented T&T at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia along with France-based Dexter St Louis, and new number one ranked Aaron Wilson was taken to five sets by Fong before he prevailed 7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4.

He then brushed aside Russell 11-4, 11-4, 11-6, and Seechan, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6.

Parmanand was equally as impressive with wins over Seechan, 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 16-14; Fong 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3, and Russell, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5.

The A-1 Division will resume on Monday, June 11 with Arima Hawks versus D’Abadie Youths while on Wednesday, June 13, WASA ‘B’ comes up against Arima Hawks; WASA ‘A’ tackles Arima Hawks on Thursday, June 14, and a day later (Friday, June 15), D’Abadie Youths entertains WASA ‘A’.

The A-2 Division is down to two final matches with Arima Table Tennis Club facing WASA ‘A” on Tuesday, June 12, followed by WASA ‘A’ and Arima Hawks ‘A’.

D’Abadie Youths currently leads the A-2 Division with seven points from three matches ahead of their final match last night against WASA ‘B’ last night.

Arima Table-Tennis Club also has seven points while WASA ‘A’ is next with six from a 2-0 record followed by Arima Hawks with a 1-2 record and five points, two ahead of WASA ‘B’.

The John O’Brien trained three-yearold Pauseforacoors made winning the feature event for Horses rated 90-70 over 1,100 metres on the main track look easy when she cruised home by one and three quarter lengths from Magical Victory and stablemate Desert Dancer.

The 3-5 on betting favourite which was ridden by the days leading rider Brian Boodramsing who rode four winners on the seven race card simply tracked the pace set by the pacemaker Trini Aviator before being unleashed with 300 metres to go.

Once Boodramsing gave the three-year-old filly by Creative Cause/Elusive Flower the office she simply sprinted past the tiring Trini Aviator but neither Magical Victory which was putting in good work at the end along with Desert Dancer had any chance of getting close to the very impressive winner.

Magical Victory was one and three quarter lengths back in second with Desert Dancer staying on for third.

Pauseforacoors registered the time of 1:05.28 for the trip.

Last weeks top jockey Brian Boodramsing, has signalled his intention to win the 2018 jockey’s championship with a beaver-trick of victories.

Boodramsing was aboard Je T’aime in the second, before guiding Santa Cruz Lady to her hattrick of victories in the third.

He then came back to land the feature with Pauseforacoors before romping home by 11 lengths in the final event on the Friday Evening Lime with Blind Date.

John O’Brien was the leading trainer saddling three winners on the Arima Race Club’s seven-race card.