Led by shooting-guard Orlando Mapp and forward Kemrick Julien, Detour Shak Attack pulled off an amazing win in game two, to seal a spot in the final of the Premier Division in the bpTT Mayaro Basketball League. This at the Mayaro Indoor Sports Arena on Saturday evening.

Going into the tense affair, Shak Attack needed to win by 29 points and thankfully emerged with a 33-point 112-79 contentious victory over Caledonia Clippers in a best of two series. The match was ended prematurely after one of the two referees cl;aimed he was verbally abused with some 47.8 seconds remaining by players.

Clippers entered the match hoping to closeout the series, following its 111-83 triumph in the opener last weekend, with veteran forwards Ako Pascall and Nathan Lewis piloting the way with 22 and 15 points, respectively.

However, despite getting a team-high 21 from centre Shawn Lawrence and 20 off forward Collins Flemming, their best effort were not good enough as they failed to match their previous performance.

It was point guard Mapp and forward Julien dominating Shak Attacks’ offence with the former, matching Lawrence’s match-high of 21 and his teammate produced 19 in match winning effort.

Shak Attack moves on to meet Defence Force. The other finalist swept its series against Prisons, topping game two 83-73 led by forward Kyeon Joseph (18) and guard Kensley Sandy (13). The soldier/sailor combination unit won game one 85-64.

The opening match of the final is on Saturday and completing the following Saturday (Nov 26). The series is a best of two on aggregate as in the semifinals. 

In the Under-19 Division, Maloney Stories of Success (SoS) progressed to the final after downing Togetherness Basketball Academy 100-30.

Charles Williams and Mohammed Elias starred in the win for the Maloney team, with each netting 22. This win followed its quarterfinal victory over Mayaro Pacers, handing them a huge 111-23 defeat.

SoS will play Laventille Hawks in the knockout finale opening game in Saturday’s schedule of matches.

Hawks topped Grande Young Stars, 65-42 in their semifinal on Sunday.

WALTER ALIBEY 

Local coaches are calling on national coach Stephen Hart to introduce a plan ‘B’ in the wake of the team’s disappointing 1-3 loss to Honduras on Tuesday night in the Final Round of the World Cup Qualifiers in San Pedro Sula. 

Coaches Angus Eve and Ron La Forrest, both pointed to Hart’s achievements in guiding the ‘Soca Warriors’ to the final round, said yesterday that his style of play has become too predictable to opposing teams and he must now introduce another attacking strategy as soon as possible, if T&T is to have any chance of playing in a World Cup for a second time. 

Under Hart, the team has lost its opening two matches of the round, going down 2-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to Costa Rica last Friday, and Tuesday’s humiliating defeat to the Hondurans away from home, which has effectively placed T&T out of the automatic qualifying zone which is for the top three teams. T&T is ahead of United States which lies last on the six-team table without a point. 

Yesterday, Eve, who coach Club Sando and two-time Secondary Schools’ champion team Naparima College, in his assessment of the game, explained that Hart’s use of two strikers- Kenwyne Jones and Trevin Caesar, was evident of his desire to attack his opponents, when he should have opted to play a counter-attacking game. “When you’re in a tournament of this magnitude, you have to decide how you want to play at home and away. In my humble view, we should play more attacking football at home, which means using more attacking players because of the advantage, but use a counter-attacking strategy when we are on the road” Eve explained. 

In his comment, the former national midfield stand-out who is now being recognized for his achievement as a coach, pointed out that the team’s defeat on Tuesday night was due largely to the lack of marking and tracking by the players. 

Hart’s use of the same backline that consisted Sheldon Bateau and Carlyle Mitchell- both occupying the central positions and Daneil Cyrus and Aubrey David on the flanks, did meet Eve’s approval, but he said Cyrus looked particularly unaware of who to pick up when they are in defence mood. 

Eve pointed out that while he still believes Hart is the man to take the country to the World Cup, it is imperative that he introduces a plan ‘B’ to effectively get us there. “We have been doing the same thing over and over and teams have worked out now” Eve added. He is calling on the team’s technical committee to sit with Hart and guide him accordingly, saying he hopes his comments are taken as constructive criticism and nothing else. 

Meanwhile, La Forrest, a fan of Hart and his football, has also called for him to introduce a plan ‘B’ which will improve the team’s attacking power. He believes the team has been playing too defensive, particularly with the use of captain and striker Kenwyne Jones up front. 

The former national standout said: “We need to use the talent that we have available to us that is certain to produce goals — Joevin Jones and Levi Garcia need to be on the field at all times, as well as the proper use of strikers Willis Plaza and Trevin Caesar and midfielders Cordell Cato, Andre Boucaud and Ataullah Guerra. 

He noted that while he supports Hart to take the team to the World Cup, the T&T Football Association being headed by David John-Williams, should surround him with a number of knowledgeable coaches that will provide much needed assistance for the rest of the qualifiers and beyond. 

Omran and Holmeswood clash in a fourteen-runner 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of Newcastle tapeta this afternoon, damn it!

Both finished second on debut and are on my ‘list to follow’ which means determining as to which is superior, and likely winner; my time-handicap leaves me in no doubt Omran is better, judged on his three-quarters of a length defeat by Victory Angel over six at Doncaster twelve days ago.

There again Holmeswood is bound to be a popular choice, beaten a a short-head by 1/7 shot Mazyoun last month, over course and distance!

On this occasion the principals are drawn side by side, in stalls one and two!

Since 1979 I’ve been ‘placing’ racehorses on a professional basis for Robert Armstrong, Tom Jones and up to 2012, Barry Hills; whenever a clash looked possible they made phone calls before declaration time of 10am!

Why haven’t respective trainers, Marco Botti and Michael Dods made contact, I ask myself; this situation smacks of being very ‘unprofessional because they can’t both win, unless there is a dead-heat!

2015 champion apprentice, Tom Marquand, takes over from Daniel Muscatt aboard Omran and Paul Mulrennan is Dods’ stable jockey; it promises to be an intriguing outcome but galling nonetheless.

Over the same course and distance half an hour later five go to post for a £20000 Conditions Stakes which looks well within the grasp of William Muir-trained Nuclear Power, clear ‘best-in’ and mount of Graham Lee.

All boxes are ticked and it promises to be a cracker, there is more!

A neighbour of Muir in Lambourn is trainer Charles Hills and, significantly, the latter has also journeyed Skara Mae ‘a million miles’ on an urgent mission, booking Mulrennan for the ten-runner ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs.

Skara Mae is a superbly-bred filly which needs to gain ‘winning brackets’ for stud purposes; this is an excellent opportunity to get off the mark at the fourth atempt, extra distance should be ideal which also wont be a problem for the only conceivable danger, David O’Mear-trained Sunglider.

Realistically Skara Mae represents an outstanding each-way ‘special’ with three places available; instructions will be ,’set a strong pace to sort out the wheat from the chaff!’

Selections 

Newcastle - 9.20 Omran (nap)

Newcastle - 9.50 Nuclear Power

Newcastle - 10.55 Skara Mae 

Ken Simmons, radio show host, MC and son of radio legend Phil “The Thrill” Simmons, is 6’3” and more than 200 pounds; a “big and tall” guy in the lexicon of clothing manufacturers. He had difficulty finding clothes that fit well. Shirt sleeves would often be too short. Pants would be too tight across the thighs. Then a chance encounter with a fashion designer changed his life. 

This is not an exaggeration. 

“It may sound strange to some who don’t understand,” said Simmons. “But when I have on the right clothes (and) they fit well, it alters the mood. It gives you a boost of confidence.”

Years ago, Simmons was a passing acquaintance with designer Ecliff Elie when the two came upon each other in a clothing store; Elie was accompanying someone and Simmons was looking for something to wear to an “MCing” gig. Elie spent some time giving Simmons wardrobe advice. 

“He took a good while to explain to me the do’s and the don’ts and he didn’t have to,” said Simmons. “And, as a result, he got a customer for life. 

“I recognised that he had a passion just to see men look good,” said Simmons, who gets clothes custom made from Elie.

Elie is one of only a handful of fashion designers in T&T who produce exclusively for men. He’s been a designer for almost three decades, but it was only within the last ten years that he put his focus on menswear. It’s with good reason.

This century is seeing a “global menaissance.” That’s the term used by marketing research firm Euromonitor to describe the renewed interest of men in style and fashion.

Men’s clothing sales are booming. Male athletes, hip hop stars and other celebrities unabashedly show their love for high fashion, and a generation of selfie takers and social media users are more conscious of their appearance. 

“Men’s fashion is in right now,” Elie said during a recent interview at his atelier/store in Woodbrook. 

His athletic frame was clad in what looked like his own designs: red and white checkered long-sleeved shirt and grey pants; both close-fitting. 

He was seated in a small, sparsely decorated office dominated by its desk: a custom-made creation with the company logo (two lower-case Es side by side, the left one reversed) large and in bronze under a sheet of glass. The desk’s bronze legs are repurposed from two old-time Singer sewing machine tables, the wide rectangular foot pedals still in place close to the floor. 

“Women have so many options, and I realised men was real lacking,” Elie said of his decision to focus on men’s fashion. “My background is tailoring, so it was very easy for me to do.”

Most men go out regularly and they want to look good when they do. And as it is with shoes, caps and cars, men value brand names.

“Men don’t like to wear imitation clothing. Men like to wear original thing,” said Elie. “I positioned my brand as a strong brand, so it’s respected and men really appreciate wearing my stuff.”

Elie and his team individually tailor suits for weddings, graduations and other special occasions. They also produce handkerchiefs and ties.

The store has six outlets. The one in Arima, Elie’s home town, was the first. From that grew one in St Vincent and two in St Lucia. The latest opened in September at the Normandie Hotel. The launch was marked, of course, by a show of Elie’s work.

“Putting on a suit is a real statement for a man,” comedian Kerron “Sunny Bling” Sealy, who wears and helps promote Elie’s clothes, told the audience. He was well turned out himself in a light blue jacket and black shirt.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of job you’re doing,” he continued. “Once you see someone present themselves well in a suit, it tells you this is someone that’s about business.” 

Elie is launching his latest collection on November 22 at the Normandie Hotel. It’s called Timba, influenced by the music of Cuba, which Elie was exposed to online.

“It has African, French and Spanish influence,” he explained, “which I find ties in perfectly with our culture as well.”.

The collection features bright colours, ornate prints, long shirts that fit close around the midsection, and body-hugging long and short pants. 

“I always think about the customer when I’m designing any collection,” said Elie. 

“People have this conception of fashion being outrageous and so on. I’m very practical. I like practical clothing and practical designs.”

Elie has shown his clothing in multiple countries and draws customers from around the world. His designs have been worn by soca stars Kees Dieffenthaller, Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and Shurwayne Winchester.

Elie said new customers are pleased to discover they can get quality, original stuff locally instead of having to order online. They praise his attention to detail. He’s given what’s become the ultimate compliment in this country.

“They ask me over and over if it’s manufactured in Trinidad,” he said.

Earlier this year, Ken Simmons posted a photo on Facebook of himself in a pink and white striped shirt tucked into long navy blue pants cinched by a brown leather belt. The picture drew 143 likes and effusive comments mainly from women.

“Styled by the best,” Simmons wrote, tagging Elie in the message. It was one of several posts drawing his followers’ attention to the designer.

Simmons was MC at the Normandie store opening and the opening late last year of the Woodbrook location. He wants to help other men discover what he has. 

“I feel empowered. I feel comfortable. I feel confident. Something about a well-tailored suit for a man, you can’t help but command respect,” said Simmons. 

“That’s the reaction that I get every time I put on something that is designed by Ecliff Elie.”

More info: ecliffelie.com or call 624-2773.

T&T Association of Midwives (TTAM) is calling on all midwives to join the fight for improved maternal healthcare in T&T. 

This call came at the TTAM’s annual conference, that was recently held at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain. The theme of this year’s conference was Midwives, A Voice For Families.

The key speaker at this year’s conference was president of the Netherlands-based International Confederation of Midwives, Frances Day-Stirk. In her address, she demonstrated why it is imperative that midwives should be regarded as an integral part of maternal healthcare.

She urged midwives to present themselves as a necessity, by taking their own profession seriously in order to gain respect.

Day-Stirk, who was visiting T&T for the first time, said it was embarrassing how poorly the Caribbean was represented in the global consultation on providing quality midwifery care. The report, published in October, showed there was only one participant from T&T.

“What does that tell you? We as midwives have to get serious about our profession,” she said. “No one will hear our voices if we ourselves don’t have a voice.” 

Day-Stirk added, “Midwives, we are the voices for families. And we must listen to them. 

And our decision-makers must listen to our voices if they really want to improve quality healthcare.”

One issue the leader of the world’s 400,00 midwives from 116 nations spoke out against is the rough treatment many mothers receive from healthcare professionals at public health institutions. Day-Stirk pointed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) statement on the prevention and elimination of disrespect and abuse during facility–based childbirth and said every woman has the right to dignified and respectful care. 

“I was trying to take a picture of a poster I saw along the highway, I think it is from your equal opportunities commission, which talked about nobody should feel intimidated or be humiliated…did you see that poster? I think I am going to have to get it before I leave….it is a very good one,” she said. 

The Jamaica-born senior midwife spoke about the importance of two key UN strategies, the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health 2016-2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). 

Under the Global Strategy, the UN has set a target of reducing the global maternal mortality rate to 70 per 100,000 live births. Day-Stirk said T&T’s medical statistics indicate that the maternal mortality rate in Trinidad has gone up.

“The target is 12 per thousand live births. Your current stats show a figure of 13.2, but your Minister wants it to be a lot lower,” Day-Stirk said.

Health minister Terrance Deyalsingh, who also spoke at the event, said his office had plans to appoint a director of women’s health at the Ministry.

Quoting from the 2014 State of the World Midwifery Report, Day-Stirk reminded the midwives of some of the key elements of good maternal care. 

They include quality service; accessibility for all women of reproductive age; government’s role in healthcare; data collection; ending gender discrimination; and, the importance of all healthcare providers working together.

“We as midwives need to raise our voices for families to highlight the terrible unnecessary interventions that are taking place,” Day-Stirk reiterated.

She said midwives have the solutions to change the experience of maternal care, to put an end to the socio-cultural barriers, economic barriers and professional barriers. However she warned if midwives don’t have a voice these solutions will sit with them and go nowhere.

“Please recognise the importance of your voice.”

The first “Super Moon” in 69 years was due to move into place on Sunday. However, at around the same time, one of the country’s outstanding musical stars was sparkling on stage at the Big Black Box in Woodbrook.

To say that Gerelle Forbes “owned” the BBB stage for The Black in White programme would constitute an understatement to describe one of the better performances fans of Gerelle and The Gentlemen would have witnessed, with selections that included some old and new original material.

Forbes’ This is Love is nothing new, but her delivery on the evening was as fresh as the rain that threatened following a late start. It also helps if the sound guys get it right the very first time but the songstress, a professional broadcaster herself, is by now an old hand at troublesome microphones and handled the challenge with a smile.

Thereafter, there was no turning back. Pan player Mikhail Salcedo, was there to render solid support on Back to the Beginning – a joint composition that brings together this outstanding vocalist with one of the country’s most accomplished pan players/composers.

Back to the Beginning carried a narrative, delivered by Forbes, that flowed throughout the programme sequencing the joys of fresh love, heartbreak, sadness then hope and eventual victory—I am a Queen!, the singer declares at the end. The “storytelling” aspect of the evening achieved much by way of filling lyrical gaps between songs. So effective was this that not too deep into the programme, (female) members of the audience were already finishing her sentences.

Through Forbes’ strength as a competent musician and lyricist she appears to also dare herself into excellence with rather elaborate vocal arrangements. For instance, following a well-paced performance of Lay Here, came one of the highlights of the evening with keyboardist Mark Brewster’s instrumental prelude to Better You which led into a challenging melody carried with much emotion by Forbes. This 2015 release ought to have reached much further than it has and with each performance has come added value.

Forbes credited Brewster for the musical interpretation of the inspired, melodious ballad which asserts the composer’s coming of age in confidence and achievement. This is one of Forbes’ more accomplished works as it betrays a sound knowledge of balladic composition, arrangement and delivery. Brewster’s keyboard rendition criss-crossed classical, blues and jazz genres and provided a fitting intro to an excellent vocal performance by the singer/composer.

“You thought Trinis only know how to sing calypso and soca eh” —or words to that effect—somewhere along the way even as Forbes eventually closed the first half of the show with Worth it All and, calypso-style, with The Spell A and B featuring solos by Brewster and lead guitarist, Aaron Low Chew Tung.

The second session opened with a solo by vocalist Aaron Ifill with his own composition In the Middle of Life followed by Forbes on I Regret; a melancholic refrain which brought the sombre tone back to the show.

Then came Forbes’ rendition of the Joe Jageer/Ray Holman collaboration on One Chance, written in support of the country’s HIV/Aids campaign more than ten years ago. This was followed by Forbes’ delivery of the late Dennis “Merchant” Franklyn’s patriotic song, O’ Trinidad, as arranged for pan by Holman.

Jessie “JWVE” McBarrow was invited on stage during the next number to render a few bars from Winner, a song of hope (“I must be a winner”) as the Forbes’ narrative took a decided upward swing in tone and tempo.

When the show ended with Forbes’ song Queen, it was clear that the story of personal stumbles, defeat and victory had not yet ended. This was one for the more pleasant memories of 2016. Forbes’ “gentlemen” included Salcedo, Lowchetung, Brewster, Joshua Williams on the drums, Keron “Trak” Robinson and Anton Ricardo on the bass. 

Keishon Jack and Ifill provided background vocals.

The Myth of the Rational Voter

Bryan Caplan

Princeton University Press, 2008.

ISBN-10: 9780691138732; 296 pages.

Review by Kevin Baldeosingh

“Rule by demagogues is not an aberration,” writes economist Bryan Caplan in this seminal work on voting behaviour. 

“It is the natural condition of democracy. Demagoguery is the winning strategy as long as the electorate is prejudiced and credulous. Indeed, while demagogue normally connotes insincerity, this is hardly necessary. Religious voters encourage politicians to change their behaviour by feigning devotion to popular prejudices, but also prompt entry by the honestly prejudiced into the political arena.”

It is likely that sales of this key work of political science have surged over the past week. Although written eight years before Donald Trump’s political rise to the most powerful office in the world, Caplan’s arguments provide fundamental explanations for that outcome. 

The book has eight chapters, starting with The Paradox of Democracy and ending with In Praise of the Study of Folly. Caplan’s prose, while not turgid or obscure, is fairly dense and requires some understanding of basic economics if the reader is to avoid getting bogged down. The term “rational”, for example, as used by economists means that the individual acts in her own interest, making tradeoffs for maximum returns on minimal investment. Caplan’s three main points are that empirical evidence shows that voters do not vote rationally; economic theory predicts voter irrationality; and such irrationality is the key to understanding democracy.

Although this book is considered one of the leading texts on political theory, Caplan is not a political scientist. It is this approach that he brings to bear on analysing voting in the United States and other developed democracies. 

“Economists have long argued that voter ignorance is a predictable response to the fact that one votes doesn’t matter,” he writes. “Why study the issues if you can’t change the outcome? Why control your knee-jerk emotional and ideological reactions if you can’t change the outcome?”

Applied to economic behaviour, the opposite happens, because there is a cost to, say, a business owner if he allows his prejudices to determine how he runs his store. Given this, Caplan argues that “weakening democracy in favour of markets could be a good thing. No matter what you believe about how well markets work in absolute terms, if democracy starts to look worse, markets start to look better by comparison.”

All through the book Caplan argues that educating citizens in economics would help improve politics. 

“If voters base their policy preferences on deeply mistaken models of the economy, government is likely to perform its bread-and-butter function poorly,” he writes. In this context, he also argues that the media are not the protectors of democracy they are perceive to be, precisely because “the media are also consumer driven” and “like politicians, the media show viewers what they want to see and tell them what they want to hear.”

Many of Caplan’s ideas are irrelevant to voting behaviour in T&T, especially since there is no assumption here that people vote rationally. Even so, Caplan’s arguments can be adapted to show how voting by race is rational for the individual even if irrational in terms of the needs of the nation.

In any case, the myth does help explain why Trump is now in the Oval Office.

For the next three weeks we will be sharing our annual report which we presented to members of Alta at our annual general meeting earlier this month. 

This year was one of steady progress for Alta. As always, our focus is on people and this year we had a special focus on creating links, both within Alta and externally.

STUDENTS

As at mid-October 1,179 students were registered in our literacy classes. This is not final as we’re still processing late admission to classes and regularising attendance listings. The figure already surpasses that of 2015. Additionally, for another year, we have seen the growth of student interest in the Alta Spelling Programme. 

The Spelling Programme provides spelling practice, and incorporates and expands on the spelling strategies and rules taught in Alta’s literacy programme. Our highly skilled Level 3 tutors are now making their mark as part of the Spelling Programme team. We had noted the trend and planned for this by training Level 3 and Spelling Programme tutors together in a joint session, instead of separately as before. The training was very well received and ensured that the tutors’ move from Level 3 to the Spelling Programme was seamless. Alta students can now move from Spelling Programme to Level 3, so this new joint training proved an effective way to foster tutors’ mutual understanding of Level 3/Spelling similarities and differences to find the best match for each student.

TUTORS

For Alta to serve our students well, we need to serve our volunteer tutors well. In March 2016 we switched from paper to our very first e-newsletter. This means tutors can feel good about conserving paper and saving Alta both time and money. It also means we can link up with past tutors and friends of Alta and constantly update Alta’s website-based blog. The e-newsletter has received a lot of positive feedback. It is reaching more people and providing them with better links to what’s happening at Alta. 

Additionally, over the last year, tutors in three Alta classes had to handle students with mental health issues. Alta offers sincere appreciation to the co-ordinators, regional coordinators and tutors who went beyond the call of duty, to achieve a good outcome in each instance for both students and tutors. These troubled students made Alta aware of the need for mental health guidelines. In March of this year, clinical psychologist Dr Peter Weller and Nisha Naira conducted a workshop for 41 coordinators, staff members and the tutors directly involved. Alta co-ordinators now have strategies to identify troubled students and to manage them, so we go forward much better equipped to handle these difficult situations. The now-established link to Dr Weller and to Childline, the Shelter and other agencies means that Alta is better able to serve both students and tutors.

Indeed, we are happy to report that more tutors are advancing their skills and we look forward to training new tutors and developing the skills of returning tutors in 2017.

MORE INFO

• Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 624-2582 or email altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with Alta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: Alta TT

Bishop’s High School, Tobago, emerged victorious in the 2016 Courts Bocas Spoken Word Intercol on November 11, at City Hall, San Fernando. 

In a hotly contested final between five victorious secondary schools in the Tobago, East, West, Central, and South regions, the Bishop’s quartet of Camryn Bruno; Oshun Trim; Cindy Andrews, and Soyini Greig impressed the judging panel, headed by multiple Cacique Award-winning thespian, Penelope Spencer. Bruno is no stranger to the spoken word winner’s row, having placed second in the 2015-2016 singles competitors Intercol, held in March, a release said.

The competition has undergone historic shifts, and for the first time in the four years of the annual high-stakes contest, school teams, not individual competitors, took to the stage. 

The champions took home a winner’s purse of $7,500 from Courts, second place winners St George’s College received a prize of $5,000, and Bishop Anstey High School & Trinity College East, in third place, won $2,500. Presentation College Chaguanas and San Fernando Central Secondary earned fourth and fifth places respectively. 

Giving judges’ remarks during the prize announcement, Spencer remarked that the standard of competition was extraordinarily high, praising all the participating schools. Unicomer PRO Nicole Loney-Mills, expressed Courts’ dedication to intercollegiate spoken word excellence, saying that the contest has grown from strength to strength. NGC Bocas Lit Fest founder Marina Salandy-Brown, echoed Loney-Mills sentiments, lauding the bravery of secondary school students’ poetic expressions across T&T.

The Courts Bocas Spoken Word Intercol is a landmark Bocas Lit Fest project that works with the youth group 2Cents Movement in over 50 schools each year to expose secondary school students to a creative form that allows them to express their thoughts and engage with matters of personal, social and political interest. 

The Intercol final got the 2016 NGC Bocas Lit Fest South underway.

The free weekend festival, November 12-13, on San Fernando Hill, attracted a large and varied audience for readings, debate, spoken word, drama, extempo and more.

Works Minister Rohan Sinanan has assured that local contractors will get work on the billion-dollar extension of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway to Manzanilla.

Local contractors had complained to the T&T Guardian that following a tender process, the lone local contractor, NAMALCO, and four other companies, including the US-based GLF Construction Company, had been eliminated and only China Railway, which is owned by the Chinese Government, had passed the first evaluation technical proposal tender stage in order to move on to the second evaluation.

Contractors expressed concern that Nidco would have accepted the bid from China Railway without “any comparison and competition.”

The project, according to the published invitation to bid from Nidco, was for 14 kilometres of highway from Cumuto to Toco.

Yesterday, Sinanan said the first phase was actually from Wallerfield to Manzanilla and the second phase was from Valencia to Toco.

But he said the “project is far from being started” as the issue of land acquisition needed to be addressed, “because no project under my watch will end up like the Point Fortin Highway where a contract was awarded without the land being acquired.”

He added: “What went on there (Point Fortin project) was a disaster, The contractor had to stop and start work because land was being acquired in a piecemeal fashion.

“I am definitely on the side of local contractors. We have to find a way to get all local contractors on the job. They employ locals. We have to get their equipment back out. There is enough equipment in this country. We don’t need to bring in anything.”

Local contractors have assured they have the capacity once the project is divided into smaller packages.

They added: “The engagement of local firms will stimulate a sector which has been dormant for more than a year and by extension stimulate the economy, help deal with the unemployment problem and the highway may even be completed within the stipulated 30 months, given that all sections of the highway will be worked on simultaneously using 15-20 local firms.”

They are also concerned that if a foreign contractor got the project, “foreigners will get the work and scarce US dollars will be repatriated.”

Sinanan said he fully understood what they were saying and assured, “all their concerns are valid and I will look at their concerns before anything is done.”

However, he would gave no time frame for the start of the project, saying the key acquisition issue needed to be addressed first.

The T&T Guardian understands that of the six bids for the project, only one local company, NAMALCO, submitted a bid. The other firms to tender were US-based GLF Construction and four Chinese companies, including China Railway and Harbour Sinohydro.

Of the four companies, only China Railway’s technical proposal passed the first evaluation to move on to the second evaluation stage.

Embattled left handed batsman Darren Bravo will not be lost to West Indies cricket, according to an official of local cricket club Queen’s Park of which he’s a member.

The left hander has found himself in hot water after an ill-advised tweet against president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron on November 11. Since then he has been sent back home from Zimbabwe and had his contract offer withdrawn.

Yesterday, the son of santa Cruz met with president of Queen’s Park CC↔Deryck Murray, a former West Indies legend and the club’s ‘Cricket Captain’ Colin Murray, also former national cricketer, among other top officials to discuss the matter. The Trinidad Guardian understands that the meeting was very fruitful and everyone left with the attitude that he will not be lost to West Indies cricket.

The Trinidad Guardian understands that the WICB is willing to work alongside Queen’s Park in bringing the matter to an amicable close, in order that the talented Bravo, who said his focus is on Test cricket, can continue his career for the West Indies.

A source close to the situation said: “A mature approach will be taken to deal with this issue in order to make sure that the young man continues to be a part of the system. He has many good years ahead of him to give to West Indies cricket and all will be done to make sure this difficult period that he’s experiencing is passed over.

On Wednesday, former T&T opening batsman Suruj Ragoonath, chief executive officer of the T&TCB said that they have written the WICB on the matter and would dislogue between both parties.

However, Ragoonath pointed out that Barvo does not seem interested in such a meeting as he indicated that he will be guided by his legal team.

Bravo, 27, refered to Cameron as ‘big idiot’ in his tweet, while explaining that he was never offered an ‘A’ Contract by the WICB as was referenced by the WICB president during an interview on Sports Max, a few days earlier. Bravo reacted angrily on twitter after being offered a ‘C’ Contract by the WICB for the next year. He refused to take the contract valued at US$100,000, being the premier batsman on the team.

After his tweet he was called before the on tour management committee of manager Joel Garner and coaches Roddy Estwick and Henderson Springer. His match/tour contract was suspended and he was sent home from Zimbabwe, where the West Indies is currently taking part in a tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka. He was also given a deadline of 4pm last Saturday to take down the tweet and apologise for his actions but he did not accede to the demand and now faces further sanctions by the WICB.

Despite the downturn in economy and rise in unemployment, promoters are still expecting Carnival 2017 to be a success.

With the recent increase in taxes and the price of alcohol and cigarettes, promoters said there had not been any major changes in attendance.

Promoter Randy Glasgow said there were several upcoming events and they were already advertising next year’s.

“Since the budget there was no drop-off. We got a bigger crowd than we expected at the Coca Cola Comedy festival. I wouldn’t think that there is a large degree of patrons who smoke or consume alcohol,” he said.

Glasgow is the promoter of Ladies Night Out, Chutney Brass, Breakfast in South and the Alternative Comedy Festival.

“We are positive. We know we have to work harder because the dollars are scarce and we have to package and position our events to make sure they are selected by the patrons in their listing of events to attend,”he added.

He said crime was a concern to everyone and statistics showed perpetrators also enjoyed the festivities.

“We work closely with the police and security companies to make sure their properties are protected and their personal safety. We do our best,” he said.

Frank Martineau said promoters were wary of the pricing for the events.

Martineau is the promoter of Battle of the Sexes, Carnival Comedy Spectacular and Calypso Spectacular through the years.

“All promoters will have to be wary of their pricing of tickets for their events for next year Carnival and bear in mind that people have smaller disposal income,” he said.

Martineau said the price of rum and cigarettes increased.

“The money is just not around as before so people will be spending less. As far as Carnival, there is hardly anything out at this point in time,”he said.

He said crime had an impact but patrons normally come out in Carnival in spite of all.

“I expect a good Carnival for promoters. Some of the music has begun to peep out and that is encouraging, he said.

Admitting to a past life of crime, Youth Training Centre (YTC) inmate Andre Boodoo says he wants to continue to repent for his behaviour by helping those in need.

It was the reason why Boodoo, 18, and six of his peers willingly participated in Tuesday’s community outreach programme by the T&T Prison Service, where they showed off their barbering skills for the elderly folks at the Point Fortin Senior Citizens’ Home.

The outreach included 30 inmates of the YTC, Golden Grove Prison, Women’s Prison and Maximum Security Prison, who did hairdressing, house painting and landscaping, in hope that the elderly will spend a brighter Christmas.

Boodoo, who has been at the YTC since he was 15 years old after being convicted of larceny, found joy in being put to good use.

“I’ve found that this is helpful to the people because it shows that the prisons are actually doing something, not just having us inside sitting and doing nothing. We the boys came out to trim and with the others, we came out to help the elders.

“I feel like I am doing something for the communities because I did a lot wrong things to people. I feel like this is a way I can payback for my wrongs. I am willing to go out there and help other people and show them that even though I am in prison, I should not be classed as a criminal. I can do things, I can help people,” Boodoo said.

There were many smiles among the elderly who had conversations with the inmates. Sporting his best haircut in a long time, resident Oswald Edwards said it was a really nice initiative that has left him happy.

Assistant Commissioner of Prisons Faizool Haniff said the community outreach was the prison service’s way of showing the public that prisoners can be reformed to outstanding citizens. He said that when people hear the word inmate, their thoughts are often negative. The Point Fortin Senior Citizen’s Home is actually a five-acre community of houses that was established in 1987. It houses people over 60 years old who pay a monthly rental cost of $500.

CHONG, Merle, age 85,passed away on FridayNovember 11th, 2016. BornJune 14th 1931, she was thedaughter of Millicent and Clif-ford Shurland (both de-ceased) and wife of HollisterChong (deceased). Merle wasthe mother of Donna Chong,Sue-Anne Chong-Commis-siong and Kurtis Chong.

Shewas the grandmother ofPaulina and Amber Commis-siong, and Jonathan, Kimber-ley and Bryan Chong; mother-in-law ofRaytel Commissiongand Betty Tam-Chong. Shewas an English language andliterature teacher at Tranquil-lity Secondary School for 29years.

Funeral service for thelate Merle Chong takes placeat 10am on November 21,2016 at the Chapel, Clark andBattoo, 11 Tragarete Road. Adonation will be taken up forthe Alzheimer's Associationof Trinidad and Tobago. Cre-mation at 12 noon at theCinerary, Long Circular Road,St. James. For enquiries; callC&B: (868) 625-1170. To sendcondolences please visit ourwebsite www.clarkandbat-too.com
 

HARPER WINSTON aka Tall-man and Panman of Pole 12-2 Gobinsingh Trace Via Tuna-puna Rd Tunapuna died onMonday 14th Nov 16. Husbandof: Cheryl Harper. Father of:Petra, Allison and Nigel.Brother of: Kelvin, Monica +Lucille. Relative of: The Den-zines, The Browns, Worrell'sCollingwood, Moore and Mar-tin's. Friend of: Crapo,Clarence, Curvan, RohanSinanan, Curtin, Shanti andMany others.

Funeral takesplace on Friday 18th Nov fromBannister Baptist Tabernacle@11:00am thence to the Tu-napuna Cemetery. The Bodyleaves Janel Funeral Chapel,Sunshine Ave, San Juan@10:30am for the church. Forenquires contact Janel's@674-9885/ 742-3933CHONG

GOMES: Stanford Michael-formerly of San Fernando de-parted this life peacefully onTuesday 15th November,2016 at the age of 44. He willbe lovingly remembered asthe: Husband of: AliciaGomes. Father of: Emily andAliyah. Son of: The late Stan-ford Bertie Gomes and EileenLa Rode.

Brother of: Esther,Carvar, Kelvin, Bernadette,Sharon, Anslim, Kurt, Larry,Randy, Kenneth, Lisa &Bertie. Uncle of: Stacy,Deryel, Tieshel, K-Li, Elijah,Marvin, Marlon, Marissa &many more. Nephew of:Patrick, Beaulah, Matthew,Frederick, Ivan, Dolories (dec),Lenora (dec), Elaine (dec),Norma and Yvonne (Toy).

Son in Law of: Janet Marjads-ingh & Reynold Marjadsingh.Brother in law of: Rhonda, Rit-son, Burton, Allison(dec.),Elizabeth & seven (7) others.Relative of: The Gomes,Fletcher, La Rode, Mitchell,Cox & Marjadsingh Families.Friend of: Keith Cyrus & manymore.

The funeral service forthe late Stanford MichaelGomes will take place at12.30pm on Saturday 19th November, 2016 at BelgrovesPrayer Room followed by aCremation at 2.00pm at Bel-groves Crematorium. Enquires can be made at Bel-groves Funeral Home & Cre-matorium at 223-2178. To ex-tend condolences to the fami-ly of Stanford Michael Gomesplease logon to www.belgroves.com

SELLIER; JOHN passed awaypeacefully on 15th November,2016. Husband of Halcyonnee Barcant (deceased). Fa-ther of Deirdre Edwards, Bri-an and Nicholas Sellier andSuzy Rostant. Father-in-lawof Mark, Penny and Allan.Grandfather of Caroline,John-Mark, Jeremy,Jonathan, Peter, Christina andAndrew. Great Grandfather of Eladia, Joseph, Asher andHalcy.

Funeral at 1.00p.m. onFriday 18th November, 2016at Church of the Assumption,Maraval. Private interment.In lieu of flowers, a collectionwill be taken up for charity.For enquiries, call C&B 625-1170 or visit clarkandbattoo.com

Since my children were born, the most common comment I’ve gotten from parents with older children is some variation of “Enjoy them now, they grow up so fast.”

My daughter Jinaki is now three-and-a-half years and my son Kyle is one-and-a-half. And, so far, time hasn’t flown, in either Latin or English—if anything, it drags more now. I used to think that the people telling me this had a different parenthood experience but, since virtually everyone says it, I decided it had to be true. When I broached the subject with my sister, who has a 10-year-old daughter, she told me the pace does seem to pick up once they turn five or six. But I still didn’t understand why this should be so, until I read The Carpenter and the Gardener by research psychologist Alison Gopnick.

“A three-year-old’s relationship with her parents is the white-hot centre of her emotional life,” Gopnick writes. “...The Oedipal dramas that come from passionate attachments between children and mothers and fathers are still a starting point of every preschooler’s life...Yet somehow, in a few short years, human children must transform their intense family attachments into the very different relationships they have with their peers.”

This, I think, is what parents really mean when they say that time flies so fast with children—not that you look back when your child is 12 or 18 or 25 and wonder where time went, but that you look back and wonder where the child went. More specifically, parents wonder where their initial relationship with their children went. This, to a large extent, is a matter of ego. The complete dependence of our small children can be irksome and often burdensome. Yet it is compensated for by the absolute love we as parents have for them and they for us. When our children are small, we are like gods to them. But, if we are good parents, that illusion lasts only a few years at most.

“In the early part of a child’s life we have more control over the details of their lives than they do themselves,” Gopnick writes. “Most of what happens to a baby happens through a parent or a caregiver. But if I’ve been a good parent, I’ll have no control at all over my child’s adult life.”

That process begins around the age of six, when a child’s playmates start becoming friends. This is also the age—although it happens in pre-school, too—where another adult assumes as much or even more authoritativeness for the child as the parents. Every parent has had the experience of telling their child something and being flatly contradicted because “Miss says...” But it is around 13 or 14 years when the real separation begins, as hormones surge and romantic urges start. For the first time, children experience a powerful love that, until then, she or he has known only for their parents.

From that moment, they more and more become their own person. Which is how it should be. And, although I have already begun encouraging my children to be independent in small ways, I am sure I will feel deep loss when I see that Daddy is no longer the centre of their world, but instead mainly an ATM, chauffeur and, perhaps, embarrassment.

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How can our citizens be safe when the very people appointed to protect and serve the national community commits crime? Who can citizens turn to when their families and they themselves become victims of crime.

Our elderly are being disrespected and ill treated; women and children are no longer protected because we see abuse in one form or another. No respect for authority in the schools as students are law unto themselves.

I am overwhelmed with the reports daily that people have been murdered, robberies committed, kidnappings and the list goes on. I am making a call for the army to once again work alongside the police to keep crime as low as possible. We feel safe when the army is out and about. Disperse them throughout the country and have all areas covered.

Our country is not fighting a war externally, but internally, and the resources that are available need to be utilised. The army is one of them.

A Singh

St James