Sadly, it can now be recorded as an historic fact that for the second consecutive general election in T&T, an attempt to host a leadership debate between the main political parties has failed. 

It is sad that the two Leaders’ Debates, which were scheduled for last Wednesday and August 27, had to be cancelled by the T&T Debates Commission (TTDC). 

Voters have been robbed of an opportunity to hear from the political leaders who want to take charge of this country’s affairs for the next five years and have been deprived of a very important measure by which they could have made informed decisions on the proposals put forward by the various contenders on the future development of T&T.

In truth, the death knell on this event was sounded a few weeks ago when attorney Larry Lalla, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s liaison with the TTDC, raised concerns about bias on the part of the debate organisers. That was even before Mr Lalla’s farcical explanation that the Prime Minister would be too busy in August, or the gentle Q&A at CNMG, an encounter that Mrs Persad Bissessar's own media handlers would probably interpret as unchallenging. 

The impasse that ensued could not be broken, even with appeals from various groups in the society who underscored the importance of such an event in the democratic process.

Sadly, it can now be recorded as an historic fact that for the second consecutive general election in T&T, an attempt to host a leadership debate between the main political parties has failed. 

In May 2010, the debate had to be called off because the TTDC could not get all the political parties to participate. 

This time around, while the ILP opted out early on, there had been initial agreement from the country’s two main political entities, the PP coalition and the PNM. However, things went awry during the course of negotiations to finalise arrangements.

After all is said and done, the biggest losers are the electorate. While there has been a flurry of campaign activities over the past several weeks, with an intensification since Nomination Day last Monday, most of these events have provided very little space for the burning questions prospective voters need to have answered. Public meetings and political rallies have become very tightly stage-managed affairs where the candidates and their teams control what is said and what information is released.

These events, in which droves of banner and flag-waving party supporters are bussed in to packed out venues are fun, but they’re not opportunities for the sober, careful assessment of political plans and ideologies that voters need to make. 

It is painfully clear that the most important issues of the 2015 campaign are not being addressed in the paid political advertisements with which readers and viewers are being bombarded throughout the day. 

The cancellation of the debate is, at the end of the day, a sad commentary on the immaturity of T&T’s democratic system. 

However, it must not be allowed to detract from the TTDC’s efforts over the past five years. Voters should not forget that this autonomous, not for profit body established by the T&T Chamber of Industry & Commerce was able to host successful political debates ahead of the last Tobago House of Assembly and local government elections. 

The fervent hope is that the interests of the electorate be given greater priority the next time there is an election in T&T, and that the leaders keep their promise to take part in a free and fair debate.

National Enterprises Limited (NEL) suffered a drop in profit for the quarter ended June 20, down by 28 per cent from $126.2 million in 2014 to $90.6 million.

Chairman Kenny Lue Chee Lip said the results reflected lower earnings due to the impact of low enery prices on investee companies and ongoing gas curtailment issues at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

“Tringen’s output and financial performance are also being affected by these issues,” he said.

“It is forecasted that the low energy prices from NGC LNG and NGC NGL may persist and therefore earnings may continue to be negatively affected. 

“In addition to gas curtailment affecting production and efficiency, Tringen’s earnings have also been impacted by low demand for fertiliser and ammonia due to a harsh winter season in North America. 

“It is expected that demand and prices will have some mild recovery in the second half of the year.”

Lue Chee Lip said NEL’s financial results were also affected by the lower profitability recorded by TSTT due to increased operating costs. 

However, National Flour Mills recorded “a substantially better performance of $9 million versus $1.9 million for the same quarter in 2014 due to significant management focus and operational improvements, with employee and union support.”

“Our new investments in Powergen and Panwest continue to generate good dividends to support in mitigating the effects of low energy prices. 

“We will continue to monitor and work with our investee companies during this challenging period of low energy prices,” he said.

Incorporated on August 27, 1999, NEL is an investment holding company operating on behalf of Government. 

It holds shares in selected state enterprises, including 51 per cent holding in TSTT, and 20 per cent of the shares in NGC NGL Company Limited. 

NEL also facilitates a public offering on the T&T Stock Exchange (TTSE).

NEL’s latest financial results were posted on the TTSE yesterday

Some members of the business community are not convinced there has been an ease in the labour shortage that has been affecting T&T for several months. The leader of one business group says there are still problems despite the measures which have been put in place.

On Wednesday, Tertiary Minister Fazal Karim said the shortage had eased substantially. However, Vivek Charran, president of the San Juan Business Association (SBA), is not convinced. “Labour and its availability to the private sector, in particular manufacturing, is still a hot issue. The fact is they are starved of a responsible, productive labour supply that wants to be permanently employed,” he told the T&T Guardian yesterday.

“The private sector has long felt that all incarnations of government have made the make-for-work programmes much too attractive and indeed, with terms of such work, the wage is comparable to that of any factory but the hours are less and the culture is very informal.”

Charran said Cepep has become a career choice and it is sad that rather than seeking employment in the private sector and working their way up the ladder while accessing benefits and increasing their skill sets, workers opt for a less hectic and disciplined option.

Charran, the managing director of Charran’s Bookstore, said any appearance of an ease in the shortage is due to the fact that it is the July/August period when secondary and tertiary level students find temporary jobs in the retail and entertainment sectors. When schools re-open, he said, that labour will no longer be available.

“The minister may also be referring to certain pilot projects that include Cepep labour and the manufacturing sector. They have no precise knowledge of the exact details of these pilot projects and if in fact they have been launched,” Charran said. Commenting on calls for restrictions to be lifted on the importation of labour from neighbouring Caricom countries, he said: “It is no secret that many find such labour more willing to work and more productive and most importantly more amenable and available for long-term employment in a company. 

“In fact, this would have to be part of any solution in addition to proposed pilot projects that seek to move labour from Cepep—and its incarnations over the years—to private sector employment.”

Charran said the labour shortage has to be managed properly, along with the impact of declining oil prices on the economy.

“When the time comes to choose between social programmes and any of the following—health, education, infrastructure—on the production possibility curve of our economy in the face of a budget diminished by global trends, the people who have long been dependent over decades may feel the pinch,” he said.

The manpower shortage has affected mainly the manufacturing, retail and services sectors.

Two years ago in Moscow, Jehue Gordon rescued T&T in the World Championships amidst a lot of disappointment, winning the 400m hurdles finals in dramatic style. 

Now, unlike the last time, he will be the country’s first athlete out of the starting blocks, setting off at 6.43 am this morning (T&T time) in the second of five heats.

The only problem for young Gordon is that due to a combination of injury and studies, he has not enjoyed one of his best seasons. 

As an elite athlete, he will already know that there are good days as well as indifferent ones.

As a proud son of the soil, he will not make excuses despite the injury and pain which have plagued him over the past four months. He is instead determined to put all that behind him and defend his world title in Beijing. 

It would be very easy to opt out of the championships and refocus on the Rio Olympics, but given his personality, that was never an option.

 So as he lines up this morning, hoping to produce his best for his country, we must all acknowledge what is ahead for athletes in this country, where talking and not delivering many times hinders the progress of our talented sons and daughters.

Gordon’s heat looks very competitive on paper, with the likes of American Michael Tinsey, who placed second to Gordon in 2013, South African LJ Van Zyl and Puerto Rican Javier Gulson all having posted faster times in 2015. 

But with the top four from each of the five heats advancing and the four fastest losers, Gordon will be seeking to book a place in Sunday’s semifinals.

These sort of contests are not just about time, but ensuring one maintains his energy through the rounds. This is something we all know Gordon has in abundance and with the wily skills of Dr Ian Hypolite and Edwin Skinner in his corner, we can always expect his best effort.

A man only needs to desire success to be successful, so on Saturday, as Gordon continues his rescue act on a disappointing season, he may yet find the time to climb the summit again. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

The Disciplinary Tribunal of the West Indies Cricket Board announced today that Trinidad & Tobago batsman Jason Mohammed has been penalised under the WICB’s Code of Conduct.

Mohammed has been banned for the first two matches of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament, stemming from a breach of the WICB Code of Conduct earlier this year.

In handing down the decision, the Tribunal said it did not consider that the ban would affect Mohammed’s eligibility for selection to the senior West Indies team.

Mohammed was charged with and pleaded guilty to dissent. Ordinarily, merely showing dissent is a Level 1 offence under the Code of Conduct.

The WICB took the view however, that as this offence occurred within a year of a previous offence of serious dissent, it should be automatically upgraded to a Level 3 offence.

When Mohammed pleaded guilty last year to a Level 2 offence of showing serious dissent at an umpiring decision, he was fined 75 per cent of his match fee by the match referee.

In its decision, the Tribunal held that the purpose of the rule was to deter dissent and in particular repetitive dissent.

Therefore, Mohammed’s punishment under the Code of Conduct was an automatic ban.

The Disciplinary Tribunal which comprises Justice Adrian Saunders (Chairman), Justice Desiree Bernard, Dr. Lloyd Barnett, OJ, and WICB Corporate Secretary Verlyn Faustin (ex officio) met on August 1 to conduct the disciplinary proceeding.

Former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Jeffrey Dujon, another member of the Tribunal, was excused early in the proceedings, and former West Indies captain Desmond Haynes, another member, was unavailable at the time.

Mohammed was ably represented by Simone Seedansingh of the West Indies Players’ Association.

Following a series of infractions in the recent past, national badminton player Nekeisha Blake was suspended by her club FMT for a period of five weeks, from July 18 -August 22.

It is understood that Blake emailed the secretary of the T&T Badminton Association (TTBA), stating the national senior coach did not want to train with her.

Blake stated that she would deal with the officials of the Association. Through emails to players and clubs, she has publicly made a number of false accusations against the officials and brought the association into disrepute. With no satisfaction in sight, she took to social media and continued her tirade to make an example of the Badminton Association.

The Board of the T&T Badminton Association has been advising her through her club representatives of the consequences of breaching the provisions of the Constitution with respect to bringing the Association into disrepute.

She then sought to bring the TTBA into further disrepute by misrepresenting the facts and maligning the Association on local television.

The Badminton Association having reviewed its options under its constitution referred the matter to its Disciplinary Committee. Two meetings were convened at which Blake failed to present herself to be heard and answer the charges laid against her. An additional meeting was held with the president of Blake’s club to seek a resolution on her behalf but this attempt also bore no fruit.

As such, the Disciplinary Committee after deliberate and careful consideration pertaining to all the evidence, concluded with a decision that Blake be banned indefinitely from participating in any future badminton related activities effective from August 20.

Blake claims she is being victimised and there are a lot of governance issues that need to be addressed where the T&T Badminton Association is concerned.

Steady Pace smacks of a solid each-way bet for the nine-runner, group two, Gimcrack Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to soft’ York on the fourth and final day of what has been another dramatic ‘Ebor’ meeting; bookmakers have probably made fortunes!

On Wednesday we witnessed Golden Horn losing an unbeaten record in the ‘Juddmonte’ and apart from Tasleet in the ‘Sales’ race little has gone right for punters unless, of course, they tuned into www.dailyearner.co.uk which gave Mayfair Lady, a resounding 12/1 winning nap!

Readers are well in profit due to our policy of specialisation with two-year-olds; the secret of winning is achieving consistency and this age group is definitely second to none when backing thoroughbreds with serious intent. Steady Pace is a typical example.

This Godolphin-owned Dark Angel colt won ‘first-up’ at Ascot in May, storming clear to beat subsequent winners Beaverbrook and King of Rooks comfortably; Steady Pace looked way above average but hasn’t won since from four attempts at the highest level.

When James Doyle rode him into third place against Washington DC in the ‘Windsor Castle’ over the minimum trip Steady Pace achieved his best time-handicap mark, which he nigh on replicated over an extra distance in the group two July Stakes at Newmarket; subsequently, at Goodwood, he disappointed but there again stall one draw might just have been a ‘coffin box!’

Listen it doesn’t pay to follow horses sentiment-wise and that’s not the case; ‘the boys in blue’ know that Steady Pace is up to beating King Of Rooks again and recently-defeated Buratino, as for the ‘Yankee’ raider Finnegan I’ll take my chance; on ‘process of elimination’ Steady Pace just has to occupy one of three placings, at good odds.

Ornate will be a strong favourite for the listed Roses Stakes over five furlongs but will need to improve if thrice-raced Kurland replicates her fourth in the ‘Queen Mary.’

Martyn Meade’s charge gets a 5lbs fillies’ allowance, is ideally suited to this trip (didn’t stay six at Newmarket!), and  appears to have several pounds in hand; don’t oppose, this trainer is much under-rated!

Far from the madding crowd Richard Hannon-trained Danehill Kodiac looks a snip for the 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over a mile of Chelmsford polytrack; hopefully you can supplement gains, or get back losses; he’ll win!

A leading member of the executive of the local cricket board has chided Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron, president of the regional West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for their apparent slight in bypassing Trinidad and Tobago in their recent series of town hall meetings. 

Patrick Rampersad, third vice-president of the T&TCB also wondered aloud whether the discourtesy was a result of their support of Barbadian Joel “Big Bird” Garner for the presidency of the WICB earlier this year in opposition to the Jamaican incumbent.

In that contest, Cameron, widely criticised for his lack of leadership of the regional game, defeated the former outstanding Test fast bowler, head of the Barbados Cricket Association, who ran on a ticket which included T&T’s executive member Baldath Mahabir, who was up for the post of vice-president. 

In a tense election, Cameron and Emmanuel Nanton of the Leeward Islands received the support of Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Guyana and the Windwards, while Garner and Mahabir were backed by T&T and Barbados.

Rampersad also made reference to a media release issued by the WICB on August 4 which erroneously reported that T&T had hosted one of the of town-hall meetings leading up to the Jamaica talkfest.   

The WICB release stated: “So far, the top brass of the WICB has had dialogue with the fans of the game from Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana.”

This was refuted by Rampersad, president of champion Premier Division cricket team Merryboys of Diego Martin, who said that the event was planned for T&T, about which the local cricket board raised an issue, but it was not addressed by the WICB.

“In any event the town hall meeting was not held in T&T and to suggest otherwise is misleading at best, and cynical at worst. It was disrespectful and dismissive of the local cricket community. Is it that the views of the local board and the fans and stake-holders are not important?” asked Rampersad.

It is understood that the WICB had written to the T&TCB in a letter dated July 2 which stated: “It is with the deepest of regret that I write to advise that due to a critical change in my schedule, I will no longer be able to attend to the Town Hall meeting in Trinidad on July 24, 2015. Pressing obligations require that the meeting be postponed.”

However it was pointed out that during that period, Cameron was indeed in Trinidad to look at the final stages of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament when it was suggested, the town meeting could have been staged.

Rampersad said Cameron’s claim of his commitment to the meetings, and his assurance that Trinidad and Tobago is integral to West Indies cricket ring hollow. He said the local board is still left waiting for a new date which the WICB promised to name “as soon as possible” close to two months ago, but is yet to be communicated. 

The latest town hall meeting was held on August 7, at the Kingston Cricket Club at which Cameron and Nanton ”took into consideration all the views to see how the Board of Directors and management team can facilitate change for a positive outcome for the game in the region” according to the WICB media release.

“The region’s cricket requires all of its affiliates and stakeholders to make the product develop and grow, and we look forward to hearing how we can continue to make a positive impact on the sport,” he said.

Rampersad lamented the fact that T&T fans were deprived of their chance to ask questions and make comments about the sport and how the region can merge its efforts to make the cricket industry more viable than it has been.

The topics covered at the town-hall meetings held so far in St Lucia (July 17) at the Castries City Hall, the Guyana session on July 22, and Jamaica (August 7) have been wide-ranging, according to the WICB, and included WI team selection issues, the operation of the WICB Professional Cricket League, player relations, and development, pitch preparation and governance matters.

Rampersad also expressed concern about pronouncements made by Cameron that he is considering withholding a monthly allocation of US $54,000 to regional franchises in the Professional Cricket League (PCL) run by the WICB and which is used for cricket development. He said that Cameron’s claim that stakeholder involvement and the role each Caribbean citizen can play in the revival of regional cricket are both important is diminished with the exclusion of T&T in the series of consultations recent undertaken.

West Indies and T&T pacer Ravi Rampaul wants to play Test cricket again for the West Indies and has made himself available for all forms of the game.

The 30-year-old has one of the better records amongst the fast bowlers playing for the West Indies currently but has been overlooked by the selectors since the West Indies aborted tour of India last year.

Good enough to have been chosen to play all formats of the game for the regional side, Rampaul has nabbed 49 Test wickets from 18 games at an average of 34.79. He has also taken 115 wickets from 90 ODIs at an average of 29.22 and an econ rate of 5.08. He also slammed an unbeaten 82 against the Indians couple season ago. In the T20 format he has 26 wickets from 22 matches at an average of 26.34 and played a part in the West Indies winning the World T20 title in 2012.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian, the right armer said: “I am still very much interested in playing for the West Indies team in Test cricket and this is why I have made myself available to the T&T Cricket team for the Professional Cricket League (PCL) which gets underway in November.”

The West Indies next international assignment is against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka where they will play two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20 matches from October 1 to November 13. Rampaul would love to be part of that and is eager to begin training with the T&T set up. “We have a fitness test very soon for the PCL preparations and I and looking forward to passing that and playing cricket.

“I am still young and still has a lot of cricket left in me, so I hope that my bowling will continue to address the selectors, so that I can get in once again. I am working hard right now in the off season, so hopefully with a couple of good games I can get back into the West Indies team.

“I am disappointed at not being on the West Indies team right now and I guess I will have to let my bowling do the talking for me. I am fit at the moment, I have done a lot of work with Ronald Rogers, so hopefully I will be back in Test cricket again.” (VM)

SAN JOSE—Three different players scored to help lift Costa Rican champions Deportivo Saprissa to a 4-0 win over visiting DirecTV W Connection in their 2015/16 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Group A encounter at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa on Thursday night.

Deyver Vega, David Guzman and David Ramirez struck for the host, which is now level on points and goal difference atop the Group A table with Santos Laguna (1W-0D-0L, 3 points), which also defeated W Connection, 4-0, in the group opener on August 4.

The final goal was an own goal by W Connection defender Maurice Ford in second-half stoppage time.

Vega was a threat throughout the first half and was rewarded for his efforts in the 35th minute. After touching a low cross in stride into the right side of the box, the Costa Rica international maneuvered to the outside of W Connection’s Kurt Frederick, before putting a shot inside the left post past a frozen Julani Archibald.

Five minutes ahead of halftime, the Monstruo Morado doubled its lead. An initial Nestor Monge shot was blocked by a defender at the edge of the six-yard box, but Guzman pounced on the rebound and bounced it past a helpless Archibald from ten yards out.

In the 70th minute, Archibald extended fully to get a piece of Mynor Escoe’s shot toward the left post, but was only able to get one hand on the ball. 

The rebound spilled out and moments after stepping onto the field as a substitute, Ramirez made it 3-0, sliding it home from close range.

Twenty minutes later, Canadian referee Drew Fischer pointed to the spot after Alvin Jones was ruled to have tripped up Dylan Flores on a challenge. Ariel Rodriguez, who scored five goals in last year’s SCCL, took the kick only for Archibald parry it with a dive to his left.

Flores was influential shortly afterwards, when he played a dangerous ball in front that Ford inadvertently kicked into his own net in an attempt to clear.

Saprissa, now 7W-1D-1L in its last nine home matches in the SCCL, hosts Santos Laguna on August 25.

W Connection will next host Saprissa on September 16 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo before wrapping up their group fixtures on September 22 at the same venue against Santos.

Meanwhile, T&T Pro League champions and CCL debutants Central FC, who were defeated 5-1 at LA Galaxy on August 6, will return to Group D action on August 27 when they travel to Guatemala to face powerhouse CSD Comunicaciones. Central FC will host the Guatemalans on September 17 in the return-leg in Trinidad before welcoming LA Galaxy on September 23, both at Mucurapo.

When he took up the position as Minister of Sport on February 3, many thought that former football star Brent Sancho was a mad man.

With just six months to go before the general elections, it was as if he was playing a football match and brought in by his coach (in this case Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar) in the 90th minute with his side down.

What he was able to achieve in the short time was to save his team with a solid performance that he hopes will take them to victory in the penalty shootout come September 7.

When Sancho came in as Minister of Sport, I remember interviewing him and he told me the first key directive was to bring a level of stability to the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT). 

He took a hands-on approach at the Ministry, working hard with the administrators and technocrats to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Ministry and its systems, as well as doing a complete review of all the statutory bodies under the Ministry’s purview. 

Within a little time he was able to get a board appointed to the SporTT in April, after the company had been without a board for nearly nine months. 

Checks with SporTT showed that he also ensured that monies that were outstanding to various contractors who were working on various multi-million dollar projects were duly paid following all the necessary procedures and protocols, thereby ensuring that the projects were not delayed or ran over budget. 

Under his stewardship the SporTT also competed its 2014 audited financials, which are due to be published within the next few weeks. 

What was pleasing was the fact that the Minister took over and assured the timely completion of major projects. Yolande Pompey recreation ground will be handed back to the Princes Town Regional Corporation on Monday. The upgraded Irwin Park sporting complex is nearing completion and could be handed over to the regional corporation and the people of Penal and Siparia as early as next week.

Sancho has also taken a very keen interest in the completion of the three mega projects that are expected to be the biggest legacy of the PP administration in the field of sport. 

The three sporting facilities are nearing completion and will be fully operational within the next few weeks. (Cycling Velodrome, Aquatic Centre, Tennis Centre) 

Additionally, the people of Toco/ Sangre Grande will soon have a state of the art indoor sporting arena, the contractors are doing the final finishings on this multi-million dollar facility that will accommodate many sporting disciplines. The Minister is expected to take community and sporting groups in the region on a walk through within the next fortnight, I am told. 

Tobago was also was his radar and as almost two years of being non-functional, the Minister, after meeting with the THA and representatives of OSHA, mandated his teams to bring the Dwight York stadium up to code in time for the Legends soccer tournament which was held in June. 

The team under the supervision of the Minister got the job done in time and also opened up the stadium and its practice facilities for the various athletes on the island to train and prepare for various regional and international competitions and tournaments. 

In what was easily his most ambitious project of his very short stint as Sports Minister, Sancho created the first ever professional women’s football league in the region. Attracting a wide range of talent from the Caribbean, North, Central, South America and Europe, the league was a critical and financial success. The games attracted even more crowds that the men’s professional league as the Minister took the games to communities throughout the country rather than having them played in the various stadia. 

The result was a tournament that saw great football, massive crowds, excellent sponsorship and tangible proof that women in sport can be commercially successful and popular. 

After an absence of three years, Sancho reintroduced the very popular vacation youth sport camps staged by the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Currently, thousands of the nation’s youth are participating in the two-week camp which is being staged at venues across the country with an option of over ten sporting disciplines. 

Participants receive introductory or developmental training from certified coaches and assistant coaches. Lunch, water and equipment are all provided and at the end of the camp, the unearthed talent is further developed through community sporting programmes done by the Ministry, SporTT or the sport’s National Governing Body.

Jarryon Paul fired in two goals as Queen’s Park II crushed Petrotrin 5-1 in  clash of unbeaten teams to make it four wins from as many matches in the inaugural Queen’s Park Cricket Club Hockey Festival on Thursday night.

In addition to Paul, Mark Ayen, Jordan Reynos and Marcus Pascal added a goal each for QPCC II while Shaquille Daniel got Petrotrin’s lone reply at the Queen’s Park Oval, Tragarete Road.

With the win, Queen’s Park II improved to maximum 12 points from four matches, three ahead of the Oilmen and Queen’s Park I, which spanked Courts Malvern, 4-1 led by a double from Dominic Young.

Jerazano Bell and Nicholas Camacho also found the target for QPCC I, to cancel out Teague Marcano’s consolation strike for Malvern.

In the other men’s match, Fatima led by a hat trick from Jordan Vieira blasted Paragon 6-3.

However, in the women’s Open, Paragon continued its 100 per cent winning record, blanking Magtastic 2-0 with Gabrielle Thompson and Alanna Lewis the scorers, for a third straight win, and certain of a place in today’s semifinal ahead of last night’s final round of preliminary matches.

Pink also cemented a semifinal spot with a similar 2-0 defeat of Guyana’s Hikers for their third win as well thanks to goals from Mika Ella Tang and Brittney Hingh.

In the mixed division, Petrotrin edged Paragon 2-1 to end its three-match Pool A series with six points the same as Drinks United, but with an inferior goal difference of plus-two to its rivals, plus-three and must hope that Malvern which has three points and a failed to beat winless Paragon, by a big margin to edge into the semis.

And in Pool B, Hikers also won 2-1, over Coal Pot to lead with six points, two more than its opponent with a match left against Don’t Trust Us (one point) for each team.

And in the veterans, Shiraz Ali scored three goals to lead Fatima to a 5-0  drubbing of Carib and a semifinal meeting with Queen’s Park.

On Wednesday, Nicholas Wren with two goals and Nicole Aming combined to lead Courts Malvern to a 3-1 defeat of Carib for a third straight win (nine points) to enter today’s semifinals as the top seeds.

Queen’s Park ended second with six points followed by Fatima (three) and Carib, which failed to pick up a point. The tournament concludes today.

Thursday’s QPCC Carnival Hockey Festival

Men’s Open Division:

QPCC II  5 (Jarryon Paul 2, Mark Ayen, Jordan Reynos, Marcus Pascal) vs Petrotrin 1 (Shaquille Daniel)

QPCC I  4 (Dominic Young 2, Jerazano Bell, Nicholas Camacho) vs Malvern 1 (Teague Marcano)

Fatima 6 (Jordan Vieira 3, Che Modeste 2, Andrew Vieira) vs Paragon 3 (Kiel Murray 3)

Women’s Open Division:

Pink 2 (Mika Ella-Tang , Brittney Hingh) vs Hikers 0       

Paragon 2 (Gabrielle Thompson, Alanna Lewis) vs Magtastic  0

Mixed Division:  

Hikers 2 (Devin Munroe 2) vs Coal Pot 1 (Che Modeste )

Petrotrin 2 (Patrice Padmore, Kwylan Jaggasar) vs Paragon 1 (Kiel Murray)

Veterans Division:  

Fatima 5 (Shiraz Ali - 3, Roger Daniel, Lawrence Mc Master ) vs Carib 0

PETERS -GREAVES: PATRICIA LYDIA, also known as “Pat”, age 51 of 37B Sheriff Street, Tunapuna died on Wednesday 19th August, 2015. Daughter of Evans (deceased) and Ivy Peters Wife of Kervyn (K.G) Mother of Kimberly (Siobhan), Kieran and Kristian Sister of Gloria, Ronald, Lynette (deceased), Matthew, Michael, Jerry (deceased), Godfrey (deceased), Marceline and Norma Mother in law of Leon Sister in law of Clive, Sherril, Nedra, Algernon, Victor, Curtis (deceased), Ann Marie, Sharmaine and Charlene Aunt of many Relative of the Peters, Greaves, Perouza and Le Gendre families Friend of Janella, Marion, Durgha and many others including the staff at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences ComplexFuneral service for the late PATRICIA LYDIA PETERSGREAVES takes place at 11:00am on Tuesday 25th August, 2015 at the Church On The Way, Tunapuna Road, Tunapuna followed by cremation at 2:00pm at the Tacarigua Crematorium, Orange Grove Road, Tacarigua. No flowers by request. Enquiries, Lee’s Funeral Directors, 663-1010. 

Montserrat Hills in central Trinidad will become the cocoa centre of the world says Dr Bhoe Tewarie, minister of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Speaking at a political meeting in Caparo on Thursday night, as he makes a bid to become the next MP for Caroni Central, Tewarie said: “The Montserrat Hills is noted worldwide as producing the best quality of cocoa, and under my representation as MP for Caroni Central, which falls in the constituency, I would spare no effort in establishing such a facility.”

He said new jobs, both in the service and manufacturing sectors, would be available to the young people in Caroni Central. “T&T have prospered under this Government, and that further prosperity would be in the forthcoming years.”

Jairam Seemungal, minister of Marine Resources and Lands, said that the constituency of La Horquetta/Talparo, which he has represented since 2010, has developed a great deal with improved water supplies, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure.

He promised to continue the work he has done to further develop the entire constituency.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment Vasant Bharath is denying claims by PNM chairman Franklin Khan that he used his office to waive $6 million in port rental fees for a 'favoured' used-car dealer.

Khan made the claim while addressing PNM supporters at Mayaro Junction on Friday night. 

Khan said a favoured friend who has a company in central Trinidad with an official quota of 100 vehicles imported 185 vehicles extra. “I know the company, name written down here but I cannot say it.” 

“So you have a licence for 100 vehicles and you bring in 285 vehicles. Obviously Customs will seize and impound them because you're importing without a licence. 

“Those cars were brought in on May and June of 2014; you know the port has a policy that after two weeks if you don't clear your goods you start to pay rent.” 

“Those 185 vehicles by December had racked up a port rent of $6 million and this is where the story gets nice!” 

He said on December 29, 2014, the particular used-car company through the Ministry of Trade and Industry applied for a licence for the 185 vehicles and the licence was granted one day after on December 30. Khan asked where in this country and in what ministry can someone get the approval for a licence in one day and on December 29 and 30, the day before Old Year's Night. 

He said to make it worse, the port was instructed to waive the $6 million in rental fees that were owed to the Port Authority of T&T and asked if that was not nepotism or corruption. 

Bharath said, “I didn’t use my office, so I deny completely and categorically what Mr Khan said.

“The Ministry of Trade would have asked for the consideration of the Port Authority to waive. There is precedence for that and it certainly has happened in the past on many occasions.

“It’s not something for the minister to be involved in. I deny it categorically. It is an outright fabrication on Mr Khan’s part and is the sort of thing to come from the PNM at this time of the year.” 

PNM HAS NO PLAN TO STOP IMPORTING FOREIGN-USED VEHICLES

Khan said contrary to what Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had said, the PNM had no intention and no plan to stop the importation of foreign-used vehicles, since the Government had a vested interest in the industry. He said in 2007 while the PNM was in government, 22,000 foreign-used vehicles were imported, and based on a quota system 500 vehicles were allotted to the bigger importers and as few as ten to smaller importers. 

Khan said there had been a continuous decrease based on a policy of about ten per cent per annum, so that by 2010 a total of 13,500 vehicles were imported, with high-end importers being allotted 350 and low-level importers ten.

By 2013, however, 200 dealers had gone out of business and their quota was not taken up in the system, Khan said. He said the Used-Car Dealers Association applied to Bharath to have the quota redistributed among the surviving dealers. 

He said in 2013, every person who was still in the used-car business received 35 extra vehicles to import. By 2014, Bharath wanted to implement a new system for opening up the market and bringing in new people, Khan said, most of whom would have been his friends and cohorts. He said the used-car dealers opposed this move, but Bharath did not budge and the matter went to court. Since then, no additional allocations have been made, Khan said. 

BHARATH ON AUTOMATIVE DEALERS

Bharath said as a result of the president of the T&T Automotive Dealers Association (TTADA) Visham Babwah’s taking him personally to court as minister, an injunction was filed by the association against the ministry that prevented it from issuing licences in 2014, but people had already brought in cars, including the dealer Khan was referring to.

He said the judge severely castigated Babwah saying he had used public office for private gain and was being very selfish in using his position as president to enrich himself. The judge threw out the matter. Bharath said that it was only then the ministry was able to grant licences to those people who already had vehicles on the port. 

He said since those vehicles would have been sitting on the port since May and June of 2014, a lot of rent would have accrued through no fault of the importer. 

Bharath said under those circumstances the Ministry of Trade had the discretion, for which there was precedent and which had been used before, in cases of an administrative issue or error, to grant a licence or in some other way to facilitate a consumer, by writing to the port authority and seeking an exemption from rent and other charges as it did in this particular case. He said the importer would not have had the port charges accrue if the ministry had not been under an injunction preventing it from issuing licences. Bharath said on that basis the permanent secretary, not he, wrote to the Port Authority asking for its consideration in waiving the rent that would have accrued on the vehicles. 

Deputy political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling on the trade union movement to say whether it supports the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) plan for the establishment of a Revenue Authority.

Speaking at the People’s Partnership’s introduction of south candidates at the Southern Academy for Performing Arts, San Fernando, on Friday night, Moonilal said PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley has proposed to reintroduce the authority. 

He said this would lead to the retrenchment of almost 5,200 public sector workers, and the PNM also had plans to scrap some ministries and send home employees.

“Today, I call on the trade union movement to tell us whether they support the Revenue Authority because Rowley has pledged to return and reintroduce the Revenue Authority. 

That will lead to unemployment in the public sector. 

I call on (Ancel) Roget, (Michael) Annisette, Watson Duke to tell us if you support the Revenue Authority. 

Rowley has promised to return with that.”

Delving deeper into the PNM’s manifesto, he said they proposed to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on food items, which would cost the country $5.5 billion in revenue over five years.

With the general election a mere 14 days away, the People’s Partnership (PP) is leading in five key marginal seats, while the People’s National Movement (PNM) is leading in two.

Yesterday, the ongoing opinion tracking survey being conducted by New York-based pollster Dr Vishnu Bisram of the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (Nacta) revealed that the ruling PP is leading in Pointe-A-Pierre, Mayaro, Moruga/Tableland, San Juan/Barataria, and St Joseph. The Opposition PNM, Nacta said, was leading in San Fernando West and Tunapuna, since the final list of candidates was announced last weekend.

However, Nacta said, “In none of these seven seats has any party (candidate) crossed the 50 per cent magic mark to secure it, suggesting all the seats are still in contention and are likely to go down to the wire. An average of 18 per cent of the voters are still undecided and they may well determine the fate of the candidates (or parties.)”

Nacta pointed out that in the seven marginals listed, “the candidates of other parties and independents are trailing in these seats” and were set to lose their deposits.

The poll, which has a four per cent margin of error, interviewed an average of 120 likely voters in each constituency to reflect the demographic composition of the population. 

The findings indicate that the PP/UNC is ahead in Pointe-A-Pierre by nine per cent, San Juan/Barataria by seven per cent, St Joseph by six per cent, Moruga by five per cent, and Mayaro by five per cent. 

The PNM, Nacta said, was ahead in Tunapuna by five per cent and San Fernando West by seven per cent.

According to the release, in the UNC-held seat of Pointe-A-Pierre and Mayaro voters view newcomers Dr David Lee and Rushton Paray positively and are willing to give them a chance.

An earlier poll had showed that the seats were under threat of falling into the PNM’s hands a month ago, as a result of neglect by the incumbents.

Nacta said in St Joseph, Vasanth Bharath was widely respected. The poll also said voters on both sides of the political divide were attracted to Bharath, who was on course to recapture the seat from Terrence Deyalsingh.

Voters said Clifton De Coteau had been servicing his constituency and they intended to re-elect him. 

While voters claimed they did not regularly see incumbent MP Dr Fuad Khan, they said their “constituency has been serviced and that he has been a very good minister in one of the most challenging ministries.”

In San Fernando West, voters were impressed with PNM challenger Faris Al-Rawi’s “charm and intelligence.” The poll said, “Razia Ahmed is putting up a challenge, but time is not on her side.”

The PNM’s Esmond Ford is viewed as a “roots guy” in Tunapuna, while the UNC’s Wayne Munroe is working hard to play catch up.

The release said that marginals Chaguanas East and La Horquetta/Talparo were still being polled and those findings would be released in a follow-up report. Voter preference for prime minister and national support for the parties are also being polled.

PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley’s call for former community development minister Winston “Gypsy” Peters to join his party is a sign of desperation, according to Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.

Peters, the former MP for Mayaro in the last PP Government, was rejected by the UNC’s screening committee a week ago and replaced with Roger Morales. Morales was then replaced two days later by Rushton Paray. Speaking at a public meeting at the Mayaro car park on Friday night, Rowley said, “You have been with the rest, now come join the best.” He added, “He did some things there. We thank him very much for his service.” 

PNM chairman Franklin Khan was a bit coarse about Peter’s rejection by the UNC, saying, “The UNC used you and spit you out like a plum seed. They drop you like a hot potato. That is the gratitude the UNC has shown a son of Mayaro.”

However, speaking after the Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) distribution of keys to 100 fire officers at the Southern Division headquarters, San Fernando, yesterday, Moonilal said Peters would continue to work with the People’s Partnership.

“Dr Rowley is scraping the barrel now and extremely desperate since his manifesto has collapsed on him. He has had two major tragedies for the week: Two foreigners at Woodford Square and his manifesto collapsed on him because he did not present it nor defend it.

“I think he is just grasping at straws. Mr Peters is a treasured colleague, he has worked with us for several years and will continue to work with us. When you reach the stage when you have to go to a political meeting and beg someone from another party to join you, I think you reach, really, the lowest in the campaign,” 

100 homes of 100 fire officers

Speaking earlier, Moonilal said whereas other members of the protective services were allocated houses on a weekly basis, fire officers were not. He said 113 prisons officers, 415 police officers, and 115 defence force officers were allocated public housing within the past two years, but only 33 fire officers were chosen. He said this was not intentional, adding that with yesterday’s distribution, the figure now stood at 133 fire officers who were selected to purchase public housing. He also said it was the 25th distribution in their 100-homes-per-week campaign and over 7,600 families had received units in the last three years.