Jameel Perry copped the Wendy's Player of the Month for January, but the talented forward believes his side has underachieved and wants to end the season with the Digicel Pro Bowl title.

Perry said had it not been for a number of injuries-notably last season's top scorer Makesi Lewis (broken leg)-to his team, Police, which started the season 2016/17 with a 5-1 Digicel Pro League win over Ma Pau Stars, could have done a lot better, especially in the league.

Last week, the Lawmen also showcased their prowess with a 9-0 mauling of Point Fortin Civic to qualify for the season-ending Digicel Pro Bowl knockout tournament.

Now the boys in blue are one step further in their final title chase of the season after a 3-2 penalty win over W Connection following a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night. It was the first win over the Savonetta Boys for Police since coach Richard Hood took over in 2012.

"We prepared for this (win over Connection)," said Perry, as he tried to calm himself during a party-like atmosphere after the win. "And, we are going forward with everything for this tournament, this trophy."

Perry's seven goals in five appearances during January didn't go unnoticed as he picked up the Wendy's Player of the Month award. However, it wasn't enough to help his side avoid a bottom-half finish in the just concluded Digicel Pro League.

Perry, who was side-lined through injury for half the season finished with nine league goals, three goals behind 2016-17 league leading scorer Akeem Roach (12) of Club Sando, but the Lawmen's forward's strike rate stood above the rest.

"The most important thing was to give the coach (Hood) my best effort because he really worked hard with us despite the challenges," Perry explained.

"We had to keep rotating and filling different positions because of injuries. It was hard a lot of times for the team to settle into the way we can really play. It also affected the fitness of our team.

"(Our finish in the bottom half in the league) is really bad because we could have done better had it not been for so many injuries (throughout) the season."

Hood, who echoed Perry's views, said: "We recognise that we have not done as well as we should have this season, and we want to win this (Pro Bowl). This would make up for the disappointment in the league, so we want this Cup. We are going after it.

"Connection, of course, was the biggest hurdle mentally because we haven't beaten them before. It was a tremendous effort from our guys (against Connection). We knew the strengths of Connection, and we also know their weaknesses and how we could hurt them. I think you would have seen me running on the field celebrating (when we equalised late) because I thought we had our chances all along and finally it did happen."

Hood admitted it was nerve-racking during the penalty kicks.

"It was good to finally get over that hurdle," he said. "I hate penalties-we do very well on the practice field but when it's on the pressures of the occasion, we tend to choke."

bmobile Endorsee West Indies all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo, has a message to deliver; it's that we should not be blind to the challenges faced by those members of society who may be differently abled.

In partnership with bmobile, Bravo donated part proceeds from his annual birthday party -'47'-to the National Blind Cricket Team, which is the current Regional T20 and 40-over champions.

No stranger to philanthropy, Bravo also earlier contributed towards the bmobile Foundation's Book Buddies initiative which sees employees from the company fulfilling the booklists of hundreds of underprivileged students in T&T.

The Red Steel skipper decided to go one step further though.

To show that he genuinely supported their cause, Bravo visited the team during one of their practice sessions at the Edinburgh Ground in Chaguanas, where he got to experience what it was like to play cricket without the ability of sight.

It's no simple task as he discovered, but the visit was a fulfilling one, that brought greater appreciation for the team.

"First of all, it's great for me to be here along with my partner bmobile to do something special for the team," said Bravo.

"For me, putting on the black out glasses which blocks your vision, took a while for me to adjust, I faced about 14 deliveries and was only able to hit about 3 or 4, so it's very challenging," he said on the experience of batting blind.

"I have read about them (the team) and seen some clippings in the newspaper or on TV but I have never really experienced them play first hand like I did this morning, so hats off to them and the coaching staff, the people who sacrifice their time and talent to be with them."

The bmobile Foundation has also supported the team for over five years by assisting them with their annual training requirements.

TSTT's VP Marketing, Camille Campbell, emphasised the company's commitment to supporting Bravo on such initiatives.

"Dwayne has always shown a keen and genuine interest in giving back to those less privileged in our society and we are here to support him on that fully," said Campbell.

"The goal of the bmobile Foundation is to help empower the citizens of T&T through youth, sport, education and health and we see such partnerships and initiatives as key to achieving that goal.

"We sincerely appreciate his desire to give back and willingness to partner with us as we also work towards achieving the Foundation's goals."

The players clearly enjoyed the visit, sizing Bravo up, giving him a few 'talks', making requests for other players and of course, finishing up the encounter by singing Bravo's famous hit song, 'Champion', even showing off their dance moves.

Bravo assured the team that he would be back with a few more friends, having thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and encouraged the players to support each other.

"I assure you I will come some other time, just to play and just to have fun. I enjoyed it. It was very challenging and sometimes people take certain things for granted.

"But it's the simple things in life that matter the most. So I just want to encourage you to keep supporting each other as a unit. Unity is key," said Bravo. Also appreciative of Bravo's presence was team coach, Harilal Kissoon.

Kissoon thanked Bravo and bmobile for their presence. He also noted that it has been bmobile's support, which has been forthcoming for over five years now, that has ensured the team's dominance at the regional level.

"The assistance we receive is very inspiring. We appreciate when companies like bmobile and persons such as Bravo recognise the hard work we are doing, and their contribution and visits provide us with much needed moral support, it's a great initiative," said Kissoon.

"Bmobile has been supporting us for quite a few years.

"It has impacted us positively because right now we are the T20 and 40 over champions in the Caribbean and we have been defending that since 2013."

MADRI-

Substitute Joaquin Correa scored an 80th-minute winner at Gran Canaria Stadium for Jorge Sampaoli's team, which was coming off defeat at Espanyol and a draw against Villarreal.

Sevilla is third with 46 points, two behind Barcelona and three behind Madrid, which has two games in hand. Madrid won 3-1 at last-placed Osasuna on Saturday with one of the goals scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barcelona routed Alaves 6-0 in the Basque Country with Neymar and Lionel Messi scoring a goal each and Luis Suarez adding a brace.

The Argentine midfielder netted Sevilla's winner three minutes after coming off the bench, entering the area free from markers and easily finding the net.

Las Palmas hadn't lost at home in the league since a game against Madrid in March last year. It had lost at its stadium in a Copa del Rey match against Atletico Madrid earlier this year. Real Madrid is the only team still to lose at home this season in the league.

Sitting 11th in the standings, Las Palmas had plenty of chances throughout Sunday's match but couldn't capitalize on them, with a great performance by Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico.

VILLARREAL 1,

Villarreal's struggles in the Spanish league continued with a 1-1 home draw against Malaga, a result that left it further behind in the fight for a Champions League spot next season.

Villarreal remained sixth as the gap to fourth-placed Real Sociedad increased to five points after 22 matches. It is 10 points behind third-placed Sevilla.

The top three teams automatically advance to the group stage of Europe's top club competition. The fourth-placed club has to go through a playoff.

Villarreal has won only one of its last six league matches.

Striker Charles opened the scoring for Malaga in the 14th minute, and midfielder Bruno Soriano equalized for the hosts by converting a 62nd-minute penalty kick.

Malaga had unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty of its own in the 54th, when Charles was pulled down inside the area while going for a header.

Villarreal played a man down from the 71st after midfielder Roberto Soriano was sent off with a straight red card for a foul away from the ball.

The result extended Malaga's winless streak to nine league matches. It remains 14th with 23 points.

LEGANES 0,

Sporting Gijon scored twice in the second half to defeat Leganes 2-0 and snap its seven-game winless streak.

It hadn't won in the league since a 3-1 victory over last-placed Osasuna in December.

The result left Sporting two points behind Leganes, the first team outside the relegation zone.

Leganes' winless streak is now at 10 games.

Sporting reserve goalkeeper Diego Marino was sent off while on the bench for protesting in the 70th minute.

Leicester is 7/4 for relegation after becoming the first English champions since 1956 to lose five consecutive league games after yesterday's play.

The Foxes were cut again for the drop after yesterday's 2-0 defeat at Swansea - their sixth straight league game in which they've failed to score.

That result leaves them just one place and one point above the relegation zone and 7/4 with our betting partners Sky Bet.

The good news for Leicester fans is that the market says there are still four teams more likely to go down to the Championship.

The current bottom three of Sunderland (1/4), Crystal Palace (4/6) and Hull (4/5) are all odds-on for the drop after all losing on Saturday.

Middlesbrough, who held Everton to a goalless draw on the same day, are 6/5 shots, despite being a point better off than the champions.

Leicester were as big as 40/1 for the drop with the Leeds-based firm in June before being backed into 14/1 in pre-season. They were still on offer at 25/1 less than a month ago.

Were they to be relegated they would become only the second English champions to go down the season after winning the title. Manchester City were the first in 1937/38.

Sky Bet's Sandro Di Michele said: "Leicester cost us a fortune last year and could hurt us again if they go down.

"However, despite how poor the Foxes have been of late, we're still confident of avoiding that with Sunderland, Palace and Hull all odds-on for relegation."

Swansea were moved out to 100/30 in the same market as a result of their win.

They have now won four of their seven games since the appointment of Paul Clement.

If he did not have the credit of last season in the bank, Claudio Ranieri may well have already been replaced as Leicester boss.

He remains in position, although he's even money in the Premier League 'sack race' market following Sunday's game.

At the other end of the table, leaders Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley but still increased the gap at the top to 10 points over Spurs and Arsenal.

Antonio Conte's men were tipped up by our very own Matt Brocklebank in pre-season at 13/2.

(SOURCE: SPORTING LIFE)

Penal mechanic Deodath Ramjag escaped death yesterday when a truck transporting an oil rig ripped down high tension wires and a caused a concrete electricity pole to crash on top his car during a routine drive to a poultry depot.

The impact sunk the hood of the Nissan B-13 and broke the windscreen on the front passenger side.

The 53-year-old father of three was on his way to buy chicken for his wife Sandra to cook their Sunday lunch around 8 am, when the incident occured.

In an interview, Ramjag, of Sunrees Road, said he was driving along Ramjohn Trace when upon reaching near the Dayanand Memorial APS. (Vedic) School, he pulled over to allow the truck to pass.

"When I thought it was safe to go because the back was clear, I pulled off. Then suddenly there was fire and sparks and a loud bradang. Then the hood came down on top of me," Ramjag said.

Shaken from the ordeal, Ramjag was taken to the Siparia Health facility where he was given medication to calm down. He suffered injuries to his head, hand and left side.

After being discharged from the facility Ramjag said, he took his pills and slept for several hours.

His wife, who usually went with him to buy chicken on a Sundays, did not accompany him yesterday.

"She told me she was not felling well and that was how I went alone, else if she was with me, she would be dead," Ramjag said.

He called on the authorities to ensure that companies adhered to road rules, noting there was no police escort for the rig.

"Normally, they should not have a vehicle of that size passing on Ramjohn Trace. It should be on the main road," Ramjag said.

He said that the rig became entangled in the high tension lines which caused the concrete electricity pole to tumble.

"I am happy that I survived this. I have to give thanks," Ramjag said.

His son, Dion, said he could also have been dead if he had gone with his father to run errands yesterday.

"We are Hindus. We have to plan a prayers because we are really fortunate that my father survived this," Dion said.

The incident caused a blackout for several hours as T&TEC crews repaired the fallen lines.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy has launched an investigation to determine on whose authority the truck and the rig were allowed to travel on Ramjohn Trace.

He said usually a health and safety officer was present, along with police escort, depending on the size of the rig.

"I will ask Insp Lalla to do an investigation because Ramjohn Trace is a minor road and heavy vehicles are not allowed in there," Sammy said.

Former chairman Premchand Sookoo also confirmed that no vehicle over five tonnes was allowed on minor roads.

He also said once a heavy vehicle was on the road, there must be written permission from the Transport Commissioner as well as police escort. Police investigators said they are unclear who owned the rig.

Senior Supt of the South Western Division Inraj Balram could not say whether the police was contacted to provide escort to the truck.

He said an enquiry was underway to determine who was the owner of the rig.

Tobago police have released the persons of interest who were held for questioning in relation to the murder of teenager Abiela Adams.

In a telephone interview yesterday, head of the Tobago Division Senior Supt Joanne Archie confirmed that detectives had interviewed several people after Adams' body was found on Saturday and that they had since been released pending further investigations.

"Investigations are continuing and we do not have any more updates at this time," Archie said.

According to reports, Adams, 15, of Mary's Hill, a student of the Signal Hill Secondary School left home around 7.30 pm on Friday night.

She allegedly went to meet a 19-year-old friend, who told her parents and later the police, that he dropped her off near her home around 8 pm.

Adams, a member of the T&T National Under-15 Football team, was found in a pile of rubble at Solenn Lane, Courland, on Saturday. Her throat had been slit.

Meanwhile, homicide detectives are expected to charge the 24-year-old suspect in the murder of restaurant worker Jamilia DeRevenaux early this week.

Investigators are expected to consult with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions later today.

Last Sunday, DeRevenaux, an employee of Mandieros Grill, MovieTowne, Invaders Bay, was working when she went outside to speak to a man.

She was later found with her throat slit in the basement car park.

The 24-year-old suspect, from Morvant, surrendered to police near Crew's Inn in Chaguaramas on Friday.

Pan lovers were at the mercy of scalpers at the Queen's Park Savannah yesterday after there was a temporary shortage of tickets at the venue.

In addition to tickets not being available, the semi-final judging of the Panorama steel band competitions which was scheduled to start at 9 am, kicked off 35 minutes late, because a police officer refused to allow the judges to enter the event.

Chairman of the National Carnival Commission Kenny De Silva said yesterday that there were no tickets available at the savannah's booths before the show started due to "a bit of misunderstanding among all parties."

This led to a group of scalpers selling tickets at black market prices.

Grand Stand tickets which the NCC sold for $200 were sold by scalpers for $300, while North Stand which was priced at $350 went for $400.

Last week, Pan Trinbago took the NCC to court over its decision to collect gate receipts for the competition.

On Thursday, Pan Trinbago and the NCC agreed to a compromise for collection of revenue from ticket sales in this year's Panorama competition.

This decision was during a hearing of Pan Trinbago's judicial review lawsuit challenging Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly's to allow NCC to collect the gate receipts from the competition.

In turn, NCC agreed to continue to collect revenues through its ticketing agent and to place all proceeds in escrow until the substantive lawsuit is determined.

Yesterday, De Silva admitted NCC was faced with a temporary ticket problem while he condemned the scalpers' illegal operations.

"We will leave the protective services to deal with those scalpers. We can't legislate the law. It has to be the relevant agencies," De Silva said.

Although the scalpers have been making a killing on jacked up ticket prices for years, De Silva said they can't seem to get rid of them.

"They are becoming more and more difficult," De Silva said.

By 5 pm, De Silva said North Stand was 90 per cent filled, which translated to 7,000 patrons.

The Grand Stand, he said, was "sparse" which was not unusual.

De Silva said NCC was expected to collect "a couple millions dollars" from the event.

"This is one of the biggest crowds I have been seen in years. As the night progresses it would get bigger as people are waiting for the large band category. We have done very well. It is a good Panorama semi-finals," De Silva said.

Yesterday, acting president of Pan Trinbago Richard Forteau refused to comment on the unavailability of tickets, saying that their organisation had neither printed nor controlled the sale of tickets.

"That is NCC's role. I don't know what went wrong. That is a question you should ask the NCC. That is out of our hands,"

Questioned about the 35-minute delay, Forteau complained that this was caused by a police officer who did not want to move a barrier inside the savannah to allow the adjudicators in.

"So this kept the competition back for a half an hour or so," he said.

While the judges were debarred from gaining entry, Fascinators Pan Symphony the first small band to play waited patiently on stage in the blistering sun until the matter was sorted out.

"Even though we got off to a late start we will make up for it. We will ensure that the 58 small, medium and large bands flow smoothly today. We don't anticipate any issues going forward."

Forteau said he expected the competition to conclude by 1.30 this morning, while many felt that this time would not be achieved since it took four small bands one hour to cross the stage.

At 3 pm only 20 bands had played for the judges. The medium bands were took the stage shortly after 5 pm.

At 6.30 pm the North Stand was filled to capacity and patrons were advised to move to the Grand Stand to ensure the safety of all.

The North Stand at the Queen's Park Savannah was packed to capacity with pan enthusiasts and tourists by 6 pm yesterday and patrons were being advised to head over to the Grand Stand.

Thousands came out came hear the melodic sounds of 58 small, medium and large steel bands competing in the Panorama semifinals.

There was no pan party on the Greens this year.

Toting a cooler of alcoholic drinks on his shoulder, American national Jeff Baldwin, who is no stranger to our shores, said what drew him to Trinidad was Panorama.

"I came here in 2007 after hearing about your greatest show on earth. I played mas that year, but what attracted my attention was your pan...your national instrument. It has an infectious beat," Baldwin said, while listening to small band Laventille Serenaders on stage.

Since then, Baldwin has been a regular visitor to the North Stand, which he described as a big party with rhythm sections competing against one another and people having a good time.

"I just love the vibes. You can't get this no where else in the world," Baldwin said with conviction, while guzzling a Carib beer to quench his thirst.

Baldwin comes to T&T for the semifinals and finals of the pan competition. He was able to inveigle one of his friends Bob Gobart, a German, to join him this year.

"He's (Gobart) is a newcomer, but he is already smitten by what he is hearing on stage. I have no doubt he will come back next year," Baldwin said.

First-time visitor Gail Ford, of Barbados, who was liming near Pan Posse 2017 sponsored by Carib Brewery said she was not expecting so much noise from the pan.

"I got a rude awakening when I came here. I know I will get a headache with the noise and drinks...but I going to continue jamming still," Ford said.

Trinidadian Devon Butler who was surrounded by friends near the NLCB Posse said despite the downturn in the economy he was amazed at the crowd turn out.

"I thought less people would have been here today but this shows that Trinis love their Carnival. Nothing could stop them. Trinis just love to fete. You can't stop that. It in their blood," Butler said.

Butler's friend Dave Seepersad, of Marabella, shook his head in agreement, saying that he came to free up himself.

"I don't usually go to the all inclusive fetes for Carnival. This is where I does spend my money. If I can't get a North Stand ticket I not going Grand Stand."

Jennifer Patter, of San Juan, who described herself as pan lover said even though the Government had urged citizens to tighten the belts, it was evident that no one was taking heed of that advice.

"Recession or not people going Panorama. I already put aside my money to buy my ticket for the finals," Patter said. 

There’s lots of environmental good news from the Caribbean. Nevis seems serious about harnessing the power of the earth to produce geothermal energy. Antigua is on the way to 20 per cent electricity from renewable sources.

If Nevis’ geothermal ambitions pan out, it may even provide Antigua with energy via a subsea cable. Barbados just gave permission for the establishment of a solar panel factory and a 10MW solar power farm that will be tied into the grid.

St Vincent and the Grenadines still practises the killing of cetaceans such as orcas, pilot whales and dolphins, collectively sold as blackfish, but turtle is no longer on the menu as turtle hunting was banned at the start of this year.

At least the blackfish will soon be served in environmentally friendlier containers as St Vincent and the Grenadines joins the growing list of countries where Styrofoam is no longer allowed, when it bans the importation of Styrofoam on May 1, 2017.

To ease matters for food sellers, VAT on biodegradable packaging and containers will be zero-rated.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, the day of love, so let’s write about some of the good things that are going on in our archipelago.

Next Monday we can return to impending climate change-induced doom, collapsing fisheries, species extinction and what have we not.

Nevis is a beautiful little island with a unique shape. It is literally a conical shaped volcano that rises from the sea.

Give a child a piece of paper and ask him or her to draw an imaginary volcanic island in the sea, and the child will draw Nevis. Nevis doesn’t have much in the way of natural resources but it may soon be energy-rich due to its geothermal potential.

The island has a long history of failed attempts to harness the earth’s heat but in October 2016 drilling rigs arrived to drill wells for a geothermal energy project that is planned to produce 9MW worth of electricity.

A turbine has already been selected from Turboden, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The project is owned by Nevis Renewable Energy InternationaI, which is an affiliate of Texas-based Thermal Energy Partners LLC.

The plant is expected to be fully operational by 2017 providing Nevis with 100 per cent renewable energy, making it one of the greenest places on earth.

There is even talk of Nevis supplying geothermal generated energy to Antigua via a subsea cable. Let’s hope it is more successful than the once dreamt about subsea natural gas line that was to supply the small islands with gas from Trinidad.

On to Barbados now.

Canadian energy firm Deltro Group Limited has received permission to proceed with a US$40 million solar panel manufacturing plant and a 10 MW solar energy farm.

The solar panel factory, which will be operational 24 hours per day, will create 120 new energy based jobs and a new export product.

Deltro’s solar farm will be built on a 70-acre site. Deltro claims it will produce electricity at a much cheaper rate than Barbadians pay to Barbados Light & Power.

St Vincent and the Grenadines opens its international airport tomorrow.

This is a game-changer for the island chain. Tourists will now enjoy direct flights from metropolitan markets, slashing travel costs and travel time.

The last thing any tourist wants to see in paradise is trash. The government’s announced a ban on the importation of Styrofoam is a great move.

Tourists love swimming with turtles, and the last thing any parent wants their holidaying child to see is the turtle from Nemo, slaughtered on the beach.

The turtle hunting ban is in line with the theory that turtles are worth more alive than dead.

Divers will pay dive shops handsomely to see turtles on the reef, over and over again.

Very few visitors will pay anything for a bloody turtle steak in the market.

In fact, I suspect that visitors will want to boycott destinations that eat endangered, charismatic species. It remains to be seen how SVG’s new international airport can coexist with whale and dolphin hunting.

These are among the most loved animals on the planet and tourists will not react well to seeing them butchered.

When SVG was a quaint, hard to reach backwater, whale and dolphin hunting was able to remain undetected by the masses.

However, opening up SVG to international tourism also means opening up the island to international norms and values.

I predict this marriage between tradition and tourism will not end well.

Hopefully by Valentine’s Day 2018 SVG will be able to announce to the world that it protects cetaceans in the same way that it now protects turtles.

In the meantime, the Caribbean has a lot of recent and future progress to celebrate.

Much love for the environment on Valentine’s Day 2017.

State-controlled CL Financial (CLF) has scored a minor victory in its legal battle over the US$47 million sale of its subsidiary Clico Energy shortly after Government’s takeover of the conglomerate.

CL Financial, whose board has a majority of government-appointed directors, yesterday won a procedural appeal against Proman Holdings and Consolidated Energy Ltd. Those companies, which held 49 per cent of Clico Energy before February 2009, purchased CL Financial’s 51 per cent stake in Clico Energy in February 2009, three days after Government’s bailout. The shares were subsequently valued at approximately US$130 million, according to an attorney in yesterday’s hearing.

Delivering an oral ruling at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday afternoon, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Appellate Judges Peter Jamadar and Prakash Moosai ruled that the trial judge hearing the case widened its scope by ordering that CL Financial disclose documents related to the sale of its assets since 2009.

Presenting submissions on behalf of CL Financial, its attorney Deborah Peake, SC, said the records of subsequent sales were irrelevant as the lawsuit is centred around the deal which was struck by former CLF chairman Lawrence Duprey before he lost control of the company. She argued that all other deals since 2009 were not done by Duprey. She described the sale as a “clandestine deal” which was unique.

“They are on a fishing expedition for something that may help with their case, but this will clutter the court with unnecessary documents,” Peake said.

Jonathan Walker, who led Proman’s legal team, admitted that the scope allowed by the trial judge was too wide but maintained that the documents were necessary to demonstrate that his client’s deal was legitimate as compared to others that followed it.

“They have sold seven assets so far but all we know is what is reported in the newspapers,” Walker said.

After hearing their submission, the appeal panel decided to allow the appeal and instructed Walker that he may reapply for the disclosure before the judge, but in more specific terms.

The next hearing of the case before the trial judge to hear Proman’s fresh application and to set dates for a trial will take place later this year.

The Appeal Court ordered Proman to pay two thirds of CL Financial’s legal costs for bringing the appeal.

CL Financial’s attorneys are claiming that the deal should be held to be illegal, null and void based on several acts by Duprey, which they contend were done contrary to the company’s best interest.

They are contending that Duprey acted without board approval and in direct contravention of the company’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government, which precluded it from disposing of its assets following the bailout. The are also alleging that it was done without an independent valuation.

Proman is claiming that the deal was legitimate and that it is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Clico Energy owned Industrial Plant Services Ltd (IPSL), a company which operates five methanol plants, two ammonia plants and a seven-plant complex which produces urea, melamine and UAN solution in Point Lisas, according to its website.

CLF owned a 56.53 per cent stake in MHTL which it was eventually forced to sell to Proman for US$1.175 billion (TT$ 7.485 billion), following a ruling of the International Court of Arbitration in 2014. As a result of the deals, Proman, through its Barbados-based subsidiary Consolidated Energy Ltd (CEL), now wholly owns both MHTL and Clico Energy.

CLF was also represented by Fyard Hosein, SC.

Overall market activity resulted from trading in nine securities of which six advanced, one declined and two traded firm.

Trading activity on the first tier market registered a volume of 41,128 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $800,553.46. First Citizens Bank was the volume leader with 16,577 shares changing hands for a value of $538,752.50, followed by NCB Jamaica with a volume of 5,500 shares being traded for $22,000. Guardian Holdings Ltd contributed 5,210 shares with a value of $78,671.00, while Sagicor Financial Corporation added 5,069 shares valued at $47,141.70.

NCB Jamaica enjoyed the day’s largest gain, increasing $0.40 to end the day at $4.00. Conversely, One Caribbean Media suffered the day’s sole decline, falling $0.01 to end the day at $19.49.

The mutual fund market did not record any activity.

The Second Tier Market did not witness any activity.

The state’s investment holding company, National Enterprises Ltd (NEL), yesterday declared after-tax profit of $203.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, which was $58.9 million or 22.4 per cent less than the comparative period last year.

NEL holds the State’s investment in TSTT, National Flour Mills, Tringen, as well as shares in Phoenix Park Gas Processors, Atlantic LNG Train I and in PowerGen.

In her chair’s statement, newly appointed Ingrid Lashley said: “These results were dampened by the impact of a decrease of $59.4 million or 26.9 per cent in the company’s share of profit of investee companies indicative of lower hydrocarbon-related prices and production and slower level of economic activity.”

Lashley added that the companies in the NEL portfolio have identified the core issues that will impact their profitability in the short to medium term and have been developing strategies and realigning resources to take advantage of potential opportunities.

A few months ago, in a strongly worded public statement, the Industrial Court warned that any attempts to “impugn its impartiality or diminish the importance of its role and function will not be countenanced.” It also cautioned critics against blurring the boundaries between “criticism and seeking to influence outcomes.”

Although completely unrelated to the contempt of court proceedings filed last December against CEO of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Gabriel Faria, businessman Frank Mouttet, and attorney Derek Ali, the statement weighs heavily on that case.

The contempt of court action is unprecedented in the 51-year history of the Industrial Court and even before the substantive matter can get going, questions have already been asked about whether the court can embark on a contempt inquiry at all. In fact, some legal luminaries are contending that it could be a case of the court being prosecutor and judge in the same matter.

Considering all the questions and uncertainties surrounding this matter, it is worrying that hearing of legal arguments over the ability of the Industrial Court to preside in the contempt court has been delayed. There is a surprising new development, as the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) now wants to join the case as an interested party.

Industrial Court president Debra Thomas-Felix, who heads the panel presiding over the matter, has given the umbrella trade union body until February 24, which happens to be Carnival Friday, to file and serve submissions on their applications. However, a date was not set for the next hearing of the case.

Understandably, lawyers for the defendants have expressed concern about the delay. Contempt is a very serious allegation and for the three men involved—two prominent members of the business community and an attorney—there are major consequences. If found guilty, they could either purge the contempt by throwing themselves at the mercy of the Court or be sent to prison.

Of greater concern, however, are the many questions this matter raises about the role of the Industrial Court, particularly given the current volatile labour climate in the country in the midst of an economic downturn.

The court’s principal role is to settle unresolved disputes and other matters which arise between employers and trade unions. As a superior court of record, it has jurisdiction to hear and determine trade disputes, industrial relations offences and related matters.

However, the court now finds itself taking action against employers because of comments made during a panel discussion hosted by the T&T Chamber on November 30. At that session, which generated a great deal of controversy, Mouttet blamed the Industrial Court for low productivity and described it as harsh and oppressive in its judgments, favouring workers and unions against employers. Ali, in his contribution to the discussion, called for a lobby for pro-business judges on the Industrial Court bench.

JTUM, which now seeks to be a party to the matter, was among the first to publicly criticise Mouttet and the Chamber, taking out full-page advertisements where it condemned the statements as a “brutal, frontal and disrespectful attack on the Industrial Court, a democratic and independent institution of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The labour body also expressed the view, in that advertisement, that the comments made during the panel discussion were “a very serious contempt of court.”

Given its already stated strong anti-employer views in the matter, it would be interesting to see how JTUM will assist in bringing about an unbiased, objective outcome in a case that is already unprecedented in the history of industrial relations in T&T.

Many questions and concerns arise that warrant a speedy resolution of this case. The outcome could establish new benchmarks for the relationship between labour and business.

A few months ago, in a strongly worded public statement, the Industrial Court warned that any attempts to “impugn its impartiality or diminish the importance of its role and function will not be countenanced.” It also cautioned critics against blurring the boundaries between “criticism and seeking to influence outcomes.”

Although completely unrelated to the contempt of court proceedings filed last December against CEO of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Gabriel Faria, businessman Frank Mouttet, and attorney Derek Ali, the statement weighs heavily on that case.

The contempt of court action is unprecedented in the 51-year history of the Industrial Court and even before the substantive matter can get going, questions have already been asked about whether the court can embark on a contempt inquiry at all. In fact, some legal luminaries are contending that it could be a case of the court being prosecutor and judge in the same matter.

Considering all the questions and uncertainties surrounding this matter, it is worrying that hearing of legal arguments over the ability of the Industrial Court to preside in the contempt court has been delayed. There is a surprising new development, as the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) now wants to join the case as an interested party.

Industrial Court president Debra Thomas-Felix, who heads the panel presiding over the matter, has given the umbrella trade union body until February 24, which happens to be Carnival Friday, to file and serve submissions on their applications. However, a date was not set for the next hearing of the case.

Understandably, lawyers for the defendants have expressed concern about the delay. Contempt is a very serious allegation and for the three men involved—two prominent members of the business community and an attorney—there are major consequences. If found guilty, they could either purge the contempt by throwing themselves at the mercy of the Court or be sent to prison.

Of greater concern, however, are the many questions this matter raises about the role of the Industrial Court, particularly given the current volatile labour climate in the country in the midst of an economic downturn.

The court’s principal role is to settle unresolved disputes and other matters which arise between employers and trade unions. As a superior court of record, it has jurisdiction to hear and determine trade disputes, industrial relations offences and related matters.

However, the court now finds itself taking action against employers because of comments made during a panel discussion hosted by the T&T Chamber on November 30. At that session, which generated a great deal of controversy, Mouttet blamed the Industrial Court for low productivity and described it as harsh and oppressive in its judgments, favouring workers and unions against employers. Ali, in his contribution to the discussion, called for a lobby for pro-business judges on the Industrial Court bench.

JTUM, which now seeks to be a party to the matter, was among the first to publicly criticise Mouttet and the Chamber, taking out full-page advertisements where it condemned the statements as a “brutal, frontal and disrespectful attack on the Industrial Court, a democratic and independent institution of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The labour body also expressed the view, in that advertisement, that the comments made during the panel discussion were “a very serious contempt of court.”

Given its already stated strong anti-employer views in the matter, it would be interesting to see how JTUM will assist in bringing about an unbiased, objective outcome in a case that is already unprecedented in the history of industrial relations in T&T.

Many questions and concerns arise that warrant a speedy resolution of this case. The outcome could establish new benchmarks for the relationship between labour and business.

It’s been almost a year since I had cataract surgery and joined the “eye drops” lime; the “having to be driven home” embarrassment and the “sit down with bandaged eyes” posse.

Yes, having a cataract operation is a real coming of age hammer. One day you are happily driving around without realising you are seeing the world through your very own yellow-tinted lenses, the next day you understand why people wear shades. The process through which one comes to that can be quite demoralising and perhaps explains why so many refuse the surgery. It’s akin, I suppose to being told that your hearing is going and you need hearing aids.

I had no hesitation when my long-time optometrist told me, I think you need surgery. Driving home through Santa Cruz, Christmas Eve before last, I had difficulty seeing the edge of the road and ran up onto the grass on a curve. I had not been drinking so as soon as the Christmas celebrations ended I was in her office.

The ophthalmologist, a former student of mine, was equally certain. After the measurements and so on, with a great variety of instruments, by some very competent and understanding office staff, a date was set and one Friday I duly presented myself at the surgery in St Augustine at 7 am, and was home by 10.30.

Except for the indignity of having to put on one of those open-backed hospital gowns, obviously designed to make men feel inadequate, the actual operation lasted a painless 15 minutes. I was fully awake, saw a lot of flashing lights during the procedure, my ophthalmologist and the operating nurse talked to me calmly and reassuringly during the entire procedure and nursey said, as I was wheeled out of surgery, with a normal pulse and BP, if you feeling well, yuh cud go home now.

So I jumped off the stretcher, hurriedly dressed and walked outside into the glare, feeling that there should be a great trumpet sounding and people cheering. My wife said to me, already? And drove me home, eye bandaged for 24 hours and nobody came to see me. Steups!

Next day I started the great eye drops journey where you put a drop in the affected eye six times a day for the first week, then five times a day for the second week, then four times a day for the third week, by which time you are so confused you putting drops any time you remember, until the sixth week when, heaven—you put one drop a day and give your wife some time off by herself.

I did not have to stay in bed, stop walking around the Savannah, stop bending, lifting and was back in the office in 72 hours. There was very mild discomfort for a day or two and it needed no treatment.

Two weeks later, the second eye was done. The procedure was repeated, no problem, no pain, good vision, if limited and I said to myself, suckeye!

Who send me?

First of all you have to wait for the eyes to settle and for your brain to come to terms with the new visual processes. The new glasses have to wait until then and that time period varies, about six weeks or so. In the meantime I am driving around without glasses because far vision is great but I cannot see well up close so I can’t tell what speed I am going but I can see everybody’s license number and who they driving with. I buy several pairs of those cheap “readers” they sell in the pharmacy, since my close vision seemed to change, for the better, every other week. And the sky, which used to be a grey blue hue, is so blue! So clear and blue!

Then on one of the follow up visits at the optometrist, I am told that I have developed some scar tissue which needs to be “zapped”. Full of hesitation I present myself to the ophthalmologist who says, no problem, sit down there, press your eye there, don’t move, the machine went “zizz”; “zizz”; “zizz”; “ six times, and he said, nice, yuh cud go now.

So everything seems to be going good until I realise that I am having trouble reading. When I try to focus on a word, it seems to vanish and I have to look around the side of the word to see it! My central vision was going. You have swelling in the centre of the retina, Doc, said the former medical student, yuh doh remember that from med school? Of course you, of all people, being a doctor, must get it!

Turns out the treatment for this complication is injections into the eye. Ugg! It sounded awful. In reality, it’s an office procedure performed under topical anesthesis (more drops!) in which medication is placed inside the eye by a very small needle. I was initially told I might need three injections into each eye. Apart from a slight initial sting, there was no pain and I needed the injection once.

These were minor stepbacks. I recommend the operation unreservedly. You don’t have to go away either. I still have some irritating problems. Glare, so I now know why people wear shades. Dry eyes, so eye drops to moisturise.

But the advantages! I went to the Oval the other day. Before the operation I could not follow the flight of the ball as it left the bowler’s hand nor its course if driven to the boundary. I missed catches and LBW’s were beyond me. I couldn’t understand how half-drunk people could see better than me. Last week I watched a fast bowler pitch up just outside the off stump, saw the ball curl slightly away, the batsman drive, edge and watched the ball as it proceeded straight into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. Lovely and worth everything!

Last Sunday morning I asked the guy behind the counter at Richard’s Bake and Shark to borrow his newspapers. He said “sure, but it’s all bad news.” I gathered that what was in those newspapers affected him. He was not alone but was simply reflecting the broad national sentiment.

He may have been ruminating on the murder of 15-year-old Abiela Adams who was found with her throat slit. The sight of yet another young woman murdered is unbearable, unacceptable and untenable. Her grandmother called for the death penalty to be implemented. Crime has the entire country on edge. Responsible parents (and there are many) now suffer from anxiety when they take their children to malls. You can’t take your eye off your children in the grocery. People have taken to Facebook to tell of encounters with suspicious individuals in public spaces. Every day on Whatsapp there are voice notes and videos circulating pertaining to criminal activity.

Where are we going as a country? Are we headed in the direction of Honduras (the most murderous nation on Earth)? In an attempt to do something, the Prime Minister had a national conversation. This backfired badly. His “Trumpian” remarks about him not being in women’s bedrooms incensed the women of T&T as never before and rightly so.

Where does the buck stop when it comes to crime? At the national conversation, the Attorney General managed to get an opportunity to update the country on efforts at implementing the death penalty. He lamented the under resourcing of the DPP’s office but assured it was being fixed.

The argument that we need to first catch people to implement the death penalty is misplaced. There are currently people on death row who have not yet made the five-year Pratt and Morgan limit. If there is an effective management of the time lines related to appeals, some of those can be executed. It was done in 1999 and with the correct focus and resourcing it can happen again. To those that don’t like the death penalty—it’s the law.

The death penalty was last implemented 18 years ago (1999). In that year ten persons were hanged including the entire Dole Chadee gang. That year we recorded 93 murders. Those of us who recall those days in mid-1999 will remember the eerie cloud of silence that descended over Port-of-Spain. In 1999, the State demonstrated that it was in control. In 2017, the criminals are in control. Sadly, at the current rate of murder, we will probably surpass the 1999 figure sometime in March 2017.

It is noteworthy too, that while in 1999 we recorded 93 murders, by 2008 that figure leaped to 550 murders. What caused the almost six-fold increase in murders? Any attempt in dealing with crime needs to answer that question. We need to get to the root of the problem. We have been treating the symptoms of a deeper malaise.

Crime is a product of an ecosystem. Twenty-one-year-old boys don’t wake up and suddenly become bandits. They are the product of an ecosystem that has social, economic and political dimensions. Theories abound–transnational narcotics trade, influx of guns, emergence of gangs, single-parent homes and failed education system etc. The list is long.

In an earlier column, I posited that it was interesting to note that in the same period we experienced the greatest economic expansion in our history (1999 to 2008), we also experienced an explosion in crime. There was in that period a quadrupling of GDP at current prices. So, in a nutshell, as we got richer, crime increased.

The sub-period 2002 to 2008 also saw a spate of kidnappings for ransom that traumatised the country and more so its businessmen. In many ways, the forces that shaped the six-fold increase in murders from 1999 to 2008 are still here.

What is the issue—is it a problem of resource deficit or resource allocation? Are we using technology as we should? Is it a lack of leadership? We don’t need any more laws. Laws are pieces of paper that have no effect unless they are enforced.

The Offences Against the Person Act says the penalty for murder is death. The law must be implemented. At the same time, hanging people should not be seen as a panacea for criminality. The Police Service, the administration of justice and the prison system need to be fixed. I suspect the courts, the police and the prisons are operating with the same resource bases that they had in the year 2000. In the last 17 years their capacities would have therefore been overwhelmed.

The Government cannot abdicate its responsibility to provide a safe environment for the people of this country. It cannot stand helplessly by with a laundry list of excuses. We are failing our children and it starts in the homes and in the schools.

The Government must sit with the NGO community, especially those that operate in high risk areas, and empower them. Dealing with crime is the biggest challenge we face. We must draw a line in the sand and deal with it lest the country slip into the abyss.

Kevin Ramnarine is a former Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago

Dear Dr Rowley,

I am writing to you to offer a suggestion in response to the deaths of Carla Collins and her children, Amani and Kamari Collins. Mr Keston Collins, the survivor of this accident, is my cousin who has been deeply affected by the loss of his family. He is another victim of the escalating number of road accidents due to careless driving, and such being inadequately curtailed by laws that are insufficient to deal with the problem. Furthermore, the number of homicidal deaths occurring in T&T on a daily basis has reached critical proportions to which the law again, has been unable to curb or cure.

At the funeral, I listened as the pastor quoted scripture that says a land defiled will vomit up its inhabitants, and he is right. We are losing our citizens to a mindset that disregards the value of human life in favour of the freedom to commit any act that pleases, even at the risk of causing harm to others. This will explain why the law or change of government has not been effective. But how do you begin to change the collective mindset adopted by a nation?

As the pastor suggested and to which many agree, there needs to be divine intervention. There has to be a public acknowledgement that the nation’s children have been led away by unseen forces moving across the land, causing it to be corrupted.

If we do nothing, Mr Prime Minister, the country we know and love will continue to vomit up its inhabitants and you or the next Prime Minister or government will be powerless to stop it. The time to address this problem is now. The time to treat this virus is now. The time to act and call a nation together and lead them towards a mindset centred on repentance and turning back to God, must be now. To wait would be too costly.

We have already lost too many lives to unnecessary accidents and violent murders and our young people, the future leaders of this land, are being seduced by the powers of the evil one patrolling the nation seeking his next victim and subjecting the world to his ills.

I am also pleading for a ban on the publication of all graphic images via print or online, displaying the victims of homicides and road accidents in their last hour, out of respect for them and their grieving families.

It is with deep respect for you, Mr Prime Minister, and a need to see that my cousin’s great loss is not borne in vain, that I come to you in humility and desperation to call for a national day of prayer and fasting.

As is written of the people of Nineveh in the book of Jonah, who received God’s warning and turned away from their sin, resulting in forgiveness and God relenting his plan to destroy the city, I believe we too as a people must heed this warning and do the same.

I propose that on March 6, 2017, the National day of Repentance, at exactly the 12 o’clock hour every citizen will go into prayer. Religious groups may meet in their places of worship if they choose, but everyone must pray to ask God’s forgiveness and mercy, that He may heal our country and intervene. Every man, woman, child, and animal will fast from food and drink for 12 hours from 6 am to 6 pm. There will be no buying or selling on this day, all businesses will be closed including markets, fast food restaurants and street vending. Any business place or vendor caught in violation will be fined.

My cousin, Keston Collins, as the pastor stated, gave up his three innocent ones to God, to be a platform for immediate and progressive change in our country. I fear that to not heed this final warning will prove disastrous, and our beloved Trinidad and Tobago will be handed over to the evil that plagues our country. The decision to accept this call is yours and I pray that God may grant you the wisdom to choose rightly.

Respectfully,

Kester Collins

Citizen of Trinidad and Tobago

Pan Semis, in a nutshell.

We are proud pan lovers. Pan supporters and all round #Pannites. Every year, our tradition is to be at the North Stand gate for 6 am. We start the pelau at 3 am, we pack the vehicle, we’re ready to rock and roll by 5.30 am. We set up, we take a selfie, we eat breakfast, we take our first drink and welcome a great day of music, love, friendship, rekindled bonds, laughter, sweet pan.

What was different this year? Let’s start with our arrival. We reached the Savannah, North Stand gate, unpacked our coolers, placed them by the gate were greeted by the most pleasant security guard. He greeted us, welcomed us, told us about his training at the Hyatt. Other guards came to chat, banter started. We were happy to share and swap stories. He took the time to explain to us about their glass bottle rules, and that at 4 pm, if you exit the North Stand, you will be required to purchase a new ticket. Fresh picong started. In hindsight, we understood the reason for this.

Next up, 8.55 am, a smiling NCC official strolled to the gate, loud cheers by the Babash lime and a crew of Clay bartenders, as the gates were opened on time. They checked our coolers, scanned our Sun Tixx Caribbean/VIA tickets (massive props for Sun Tixx on working with NLCB to provide such a well-executed solution for purchasing of Carnival event tickets!), scanned our persons and we were on our way to our annual Panorama semi-finals with great expectations of a fantastic day!

On reaching the staircase, western end of the Stand, to our great surprise, there were no illegal, unsightly caution tapes cordoning off “crew” areas, Applause! Standing ovation, Pan Trinbago! We set up our coolers, took the mandatory selfies and dived in to breakfast “part two!” The time was approximately 9.10 am!

Start to finish. We left the North Stand after Desperadoes played their winning arrangement. During the day, customary “relief breaks” required a stroll to the facilities, the cleanest, air-conditioned exec facilities we have ever witnessed in Panorama. Clean grounds maintained by Cepep, free-flowing areas all around the North Stand, exemplary TTPS presence. We felt safe. We felt appreciated for the $350 we spent.

Fifty-eight bands. Imagine, $350 gets us in to an event, where we can be with our friends, family, enjoy the best pan music from our islands, live, in a revelry that is just part of our DNA! It is a tremendous feat to get these bands co-ordinated, on and off the stage and keep the entertainment flowing as witnessed on Sunday.

Kudos to the organisers and logistics teams. Now, if you want to watch this from your sofa, your eyes will hurt, you will get sleepy, maybe the TV ads will bore you. Perhaps the broadcasters should up their game with the broadcast, engage their audience better.

Provide entertainment of their own, make their advertisers’ spend worthwhile for the viewers. Who knows? However, watch this awesome spectacle live? Well, we find it difficult to complain.

At about 6 pm there was an announcement that the North Stand had reached its capacity and that ticket holders awaiting entry, would be redirected to the Grand Stand—by any standard an upgrade—but we do understand that the “party stand” is the place to be, especially if you are meeting friends here.

Be that as it may, if the North Stand is full, I 100 per cent agree that the facility should not be jeopardised, Fire, HSSE, TTPS, whoever else needs to make that decision, made the right one.

Sorry, but if the North Stand fall down, nobody Jammin Still. Talk your talk all you want.

Finally, kudos to the organisers. Babash had a great time. Desperadoes won. Semis was amazing. Until finals!

Sean,

#ProudPanIndependents

#AchingFeet