The boxing fraternity was plunged into sadness on hearing the news that local boxer Nigel ‘Cow’ Edwards will no longer enter a boxing ring again. 

The 36-year old ‘Cow’ as he is affectionately called was due to be involved in a light heavyweight Commonwealth Eliminator contest in England yesterday, but doctors discovered a lesion on his head as well as fresh scars on his brain. He has since been recommended never to fight again. 

Yesterday chairman of the T&T Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC) Annabelle Davis said she was saddened on hearing the news but it has prompted her to ensure that local boxers are subjected to comprehensive medical tests as was done on Edwards recently, before fights.

“Maybe they may not be able to do these tests before every fight but certainly boxers should be subjected to these tests every six months,” Davis said. 

Edwards who last fought two months ago against countryman Kirt Sinnette at Skinner Park, San Fernando and won by technical knockout (TKO), was considered a bright prospect for T&T but lacked in-the-ring action. He was forced to accept a last minute contest in England this week and travelled with his match-maker Boxu Potts where he got the dreaded news. 

Davis said while the TTBBC administers tests on boxers before and after bouts, they are not as comprehensive as those done in first world countries. 

Yesterday Sinnette, who is now a boxing board member explained that while he is saddened to have heard about the latest development to Edwards, it was an act of God that he didn’t get a fight in T&T where no one would have known of his medical condition. It is understood that the fresh scars may have occurred when he fought Sinnette. 

Sinnette, who has called an end to his career with a record of three loses and no draws in 25 bouts, said that it was divine intervention that his shoulder went out of place early in his last bout with Edwards at Skinner Park. 

Former West Indies opening batsman Philo Wallace is saying that the recent decisions by the West Indies selectors is a bit puzzling. The selectors have removed three captains from T&T on different West Indies teams. The first to feel the hurt was One Day International (ODI) captain Dwayne Bravo, who was removed as captain prior to the World Cup and after the aborted tour of India last October. The WICB said it was not a case of Bravo being victimised after the aborted series that has left them with a bill of US$41.97M. 

Next was Denesh Ramdin who was replaced by Barbadian Jason Holder as Test captain. Holder was also chosen to replace Bravo as ODI captain.

Also falling by the wayside was women’s captain Merrisa Aguilleira who was sacked as leader although she led her team to the series win against Sri Lanka not too long ago.

Wallace speaking on the weekly talk show CRICKET360 on WinTv said: “The actions of the selectors in recommending the removal of the captains is a bit puzzling to me. I could understand why the people in Trinidad would want to get some answers from the president of the WICB, when they host their town hall meeting last this month.”

Holder, 23, was named as Ramdin’s successor for the two-Test series that gets underway in Galle on October 14 after displaying impressive leadership credentials at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. 

The West Indies under Holder battled back from an early defeat against Ireland to reach the quarterfinals, where they eventually lost to the finalists, New Zealand. 

However, Wallace thinks it might be too soon to burden Holder with leading the Test side. 

“Jason has shown good leadership qualities so far but I think to put him as Test captain at the age of 23 is just not right. He has not led Barbados in the PCL and to give him captaincy in the longer format without the experience is too much at this stage in my opinion.

“Jason has a tremendous amount to offer West Indies cricket but we must be careful that we don’t push him too soon, which I think is what is happening here. When you look at the Barbados set up, Kraigg Brathwaite is the captain of the team in the PCL. Kraigg who was put as understudy to Ramdin remains the vice-captain and this is also puzzling to me. He is the captain of the Barbados team in the longer format, Jason plays under him and now he will play under Jason in the Test team.

“This puts the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) in a very interesting position and they will now have to decide whether they continue with Brathwaite as captain or remove him and put Holder.

“I thought that Ramdin suffered as a result of not being T&T’s captain in the PCL. You see I am always one to believe that even captaincy needs practicing and Ramdin should have been left as captain of the T&T team and this would have sharpened his skills for the bigger matches with the West Indies.”

Wallace also said that the West Indies is not totally out of it in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, as consistent intelligent cricket can take them over the hosts. 

“The West Indies is not totally out of the upcoming contest. The key is to keep it simple and the end result would hinge on how well they play left arm spinner (Rangana) Herath. This man bowls out team by himself and we all know that our players have shown great difficulty with good quality slow bowling in the past.”

Former president of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) Dinanath Ramnarine has been described as hypocritical for his criticism of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) of which he is an ordinary board member.

In a strongly worded press release issued by the TTCB yesterday, officials of the board led by president Azim Bassarath and executive member Manohar Ramsaran took the former WIPA president to task.

In the release, Ramnarine has been advised by Manohar Ramsaran, an executive TTCB member to do the honourable thing and resign his position from the sport’s national body before going public with his baseless comments.

This after Ramnarine, who was replaced last year as WIPA president by Jamaican Wavell Hinds, told a local daily newspaper that he was confused by the TTCB’s stance on the recent removal of wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin as captain of the West Indies Test team ahead of their tour of Sri Lanka later this year. 

Ramsaran said while Ramnarine is casting aspersions on the governance of the TTCB, he is displaying the same undesirable qualities he seeks to condemn.

“It is unethical and highly irresponsible to be a member of an organisation and run to the media and air your views when there are processes within the organisation to have your complaints and concerns properly addressed,” said Ramsaran.

However, the president of the Monroe Road Cricket Club said it is not surprising that the ex-leg spinner would choose to go the route of sensationalism since he depends mainly on “bluster and bluff more than substance to press his case and provoke reaction for imaginary and non-existent issues”.

Ramsaran, the caretaker chairman of the Central Zone of the TTCB, said that Ramnarine’s desire to get into the media spotlight is overshadowed by his poor performance as WIPA president when regional cricket was torn with industrial strife and was held up ridicule all over the world.

“It was under his watch that regional cricket was made a laughing stock and while he advocated a militant approach to resolving players’ issues, the fortunes of the team hit rock bottom and is yet to recover,” said Ramsaran.

Also coming out in defence of the TTCB was its president Azim Bassarath, who easily defeated Ramnarine in a leadership battle for the top position last year and was the target of ex-cricketer’s tirade in the local media.

He said that while Ramnarine admitted to being confused by the TTCB’s position on Ramdin’s removal as regional captain, most of T&T are similarly left collectively scratching their heads at the lack of transparency and accountability at WIPA during the period 2003 and 2013.

“Ramnarine must tell the national community if there has been audited financial reports during the decade when he was WIPA president as the answer will indicate the type of governance he presided over, and general view held that he shows blatant disregard for the established principles of good governance,” said Bassarath.

He said Ramnarine should be the last person to question the governance of the TTCB and referred him to the constitution of the Comets Cricket Club, which he now heads, saying that charity should begin at home in Pierre Road, Charlieville.

“The constitution of Comets states that to be eligible to stand for the office of president, you must be a member for ten years and serve two consecutive terms on the executive which must surely qualify as the most prohibitive and exclusive club structure in the history of T&T sport if not the entire world,” said Bassarath.

LONDON – Former batting star Brian Lara managed just 16 but the Rest of the World XI went down to Help for Heroes XI by four wickets in the Cricket for Heroes Twenty20 charity match at the Oval, Thursday.

Set 158 for victory, Help for Heroes chased down their target with three balls remaining, with former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni top-scoring with an unbeaten 38 and striking the winning runs.

Former England captain Andrew Strauss, now the Director of Cricket, stroked 26 off 17 balls – an innings that gathered 4 000 pounds sterling after a supporter donated 1 000 pounds for every boundary the left-hander hit.

Strauss also produced a stroke of brilliance when he pulled off an excellent catch to dismiss the 46-year-old Lara who had looked set for a big score.

However, it was former Sri Lanka stroke-maker Mahela Jayawardene who staged the fireworks for Rest of the World, top-scoring with a typically elegant 48.

The game raised 300 000 pounds sterling for the Help for Heroes charity, which gives support to military personnel injured in the line of duty.

Help for Heroes XI also comprised the likes of South African Herchelle Gibbs, Graeme Swann and Virender Sehwag while the Rest of the World XI also featured stars like New Zealander Brendon McCullum, South African Graeme Smith and Australian Matthew Hayden. CMC

Test cricket is already in survival mode and now the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is faced with the challenge of keeping its players interested in the longer format, with less money on offer.

Under the latest arrangements signed off by the West Indies Players Association (Wipa) and WICB, the players are now being paid US$5,750 for a Test match. No longer are players paid on seniority the only difference in payment comes to the captain, as he receives US$6,750 per Test match. 

The fees for the limited overs matches and Twenty20s (T20s) are much better when compared to the fact that it is a much shorter period of work. Each player receives US$2,300 per ODI match and US$1,700 for a T20 match.

The West Indies will be touring Sri Lanka next month for a series which takes in two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20 matches. A player other than the captain playing two Test matches will get US$11,500. Taking into consideration the period of work, it is for a maximum 10 days. 

A player taking part in the three ODIs gets US$6,900 for three days work, while a player being picked for the two T20s will get US$3,400 for seven hours work.

Information reaching Guardian Media is that the lure of Test cricket is no longer because of financial stability but more of tradition and those players showing interest are those that would not normally travel the world playing in the lucrative T20 leagues that are popping up in all continents.

Recently, West Indies coach Phil Simmons met with senior players who were part of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). One of the major concerns they had was the salary being offered for Test match play. The players are getting huge payouts for T20 cricket and going back into whites is just not appetising anymore.

Added to the players’ concerns is the fact that all image rights revenue is now given to assist the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL). This was the centre of the dispute which resulted in the players boycotting the tour of India last October. The only other funds given to players is a per diem while on tour for incidentals. 

The WICB has given the commitment to the different franchises in the PCL, to fund the league for the first four years of its existence. They are into the second year of the league and the WICB has asked the franchises to find ways of getting investors to come on board, so that they are become self-sufficient after the fourth year. If the franchises fail in their bid to become self-sufficient, then the PCL which is critical to rebuilding West Indies cricket will fall by the wayside.

Sheldon Phillips, the general secretary of the T&T Football Association has confirmed being in receipt of a written response from former Minister of Sports Brent Sancho and his advisor Kevin Harrison over allegations levied at them over contract dealings and improper requests made while being part of Central FC managerial staff.

On September 10, the T&TFA in separate letters to both Sancho and Harrison, said as a member of Concacaf and in keeping with its regulatory obligations and responsibilities it was requesting written statements from both individuals or their appointed representative to addressing a number of allegations for the purpose of providing a forum to clarify and inform the local football federation in determining whether further action is warranted.

Contacted on Thursday, the eve of the deadline given, Harrison said, both himself and Brent Sancho would  not be making any response on their own as the matter was in the hands of their lawyer, attorney-at-law Robert Vincent Charles.”

Harrison added: “I would imagine that with tomorrow (today) being the deadline he will provide the T&TFA with our response, because there have been a lot written so far and a lot of times when someone makes a response via the media they are misquoted, so we are taking the safe and right method in going through our lawyers.” However, this is complete u-turn from what Harrison told the Guardian ten day ago. When contacted yesterday for comment, Phillips said, "I can confirm that just after noon on Friday, we did received a written response from lawyers representing both Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison. Asked if the T&TFA has reviewed the letter as yet, Phillips, the son of former national goalkeeper, Lincoln "Tiger" Phillip said, "We have the correspondent along with the statements and our legal representatives will now go through it before we present it to our Executive Committee, which is headed by our president, Raymond Tim Kee.

As for the next move, Phillip said that will totally be up to the Executive Committee on how they move forward after that.

Among the requests made were the clarification on allegations of a request for personal payments made in conjunction with the transfer of T&T international Rundell Winchester to Belgium lower league club, CS Visé be clarified, specifically the email transmission dated August 27, 2014 which was sent to Steve Davies that made a request for personal payment and that he (Harrison) please describe the purpose for the “personal payment” as stated in the aforementioned email.

Another topic the Raymond Tim Kee led T&TFA requested information on was the allegations of non-payment of player bonuses at Central FC, which won a record seven titles locally last year, including its first ever Pro League title. The T&TFF issued letter noted that complaints have been fielded by the TTFA from Central FC players surrounding alleged withholding of promised bonus earnings connected to the 2014/15 Pro League season and Concacaf Champions League Tournament. In addition, Harrison and Sancho were asked to explain why Concacaf funds meant for T&T Pro League club Central FC was deposited into a personal account after Concacaf in an official statement rebuffed claims of administrative error on its part regarding a deposit of $40,000 in an account by Brent Sancho that was allegedly directed by Kevin Harrison.

The T&TFF went to the add: “Would you please explain whether you were aware the Concacaf funds were deposited to your personal account and the reason(s)  for directing the funds to your personal account?”

And finally, with regards to the acquisition of teenager Levi Garcia, the T&TFA noted that Central FC acquired his rights through the execution of a player agreement at a time when Garcia was below the age of consent and this must also be explained. A former standout at Shiva Boys Hindu College, Garcia was signed by Dutch club AZ Alkmaar last earlier this year, but questions are being raised with regards to the signing of the deal and whether the T&T youth player was properly represented.

In closing the T&TFA said it expected a response to their requests by no later than Friday September 18, 2015.

Naparima College and Shiva Boys Hindu College moved into a two-way lead the top of the BGTT/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League Premier Division League after picking up their fourth win from as many matches yesterday.

Down at Lewis Street, San Fernando, Naparima came up against its biggest test so far this season in St Mary's College and took a narrow 1-0 lead into the break through Justin Sadoo's 43rd minute strike. However, the "Saints" responded in the 75th via Bryant Van Low to even the contest at 1-1 and with the seconds ticking away, the red-hot Jarred Dass grabbed a 90th minute winner.

It was the fourth goal in as many matches for Dass to share the lead with San Juan North's Brent Sam and Isaiah Marshall of Trinity College of Moka, Maraval. The win for Naparima also maintained its 100 per cent winning record after four matches, the same as fellow southerners, Shiva Boys, but ahead on goal-difference, while St Mary's slipped to third with nine points., level with Presentation College of San Fernando. At Carapichiama, Tyrel Baptiste got both goals for Shiva Boys, in the 19th and 71st minutes to push his team to maximum 12 points from four matches, as well In the East, Presentation College of San Fernando got a goal each from Nate Brooks, Kyle Moodie and Neon Lamy to cancel out Kenton James double for host St Augustine in a 3-2 triumph. In other matches, Fyzabad outgunned Speyside 5-3, Presentation College of San Fernando edged St Augustine 3-2, St Anthony's College came from behind three times to draw 3-3 thanks to an Andrew Rullow hat trick, the first of the season, and  San Juan North pipped Trinity East 2-1 thanks to a Brent Sam double while QRC and Fatima drew 1-1. 

RESULTS

Yesterday BGTT/First Citizens SSFL Premier Division results: St Anthony’s 3 (Andrew Rullow 3)  vs Trinity Moka  3 (Isaiah Marshall, Isaiah Pryce, Josiah Joseph)

Shiva Boys 2 (Tyrel Baptiste 19th, 71st) vs Carapichaima East 0    

Pres San F’do 3 (Nate Brooks, Kyle Moodie, Neon Lamy) vs St Augustine (Kenton James 2)

San Juan North 2 (Brent Sam 21st, 31st) vs Trinity East 1 (Keshorn Hackshaw 64th)

Naparima 2 (Justin Sadoo 43rd, Jarred Dass 90th) vs St Mary’s 1 (Bryant Van Low 75th)

Fyzabad 5 vs Speyside High 3

Fatima 1 (Yohance Sealy) vs QRC 1 (Jean-Paul Rochford)

Current standings

Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts

Naparima    4    4    0    0    9    2    12

Shiva Boys    4    4    0    0    7    1    12

St Mary's    4    3    0    1    10    3    9

Pres San F'do    4    3    0    1    9    7    9

Fyzabad    3    2    0    1    6    5    6

San Juan North    4    2    0    2    6    5    6

St Benedict's    3    2    0    1    5    6    6

QRC    4    1    2    1    4    4    5

Trinity Moka    3    1    2    0    9    9    4

St Augustine    4    1    1    2    5    6    4

St Anthony's    4    1    1    2    5    9    4

Speyside    3    0    1    2    6    9    1

Carapichaima 

East    4    0    1    3    2    7    1

Fatima    4    0    1    3    6    9    1

Trinity East     4    0    0    4    4    11    0

FIXTURES

Wednesday Sept 23 fixtures:

Speyside vs Shiva Boys, Speyside

St Mary's vs St Augustine, St Mary's Ground, Serpentine Road

QRC vs Carapichaima East, QRC Ground, St Clair

Naparima vs Trinity Moka, Lewis Street San F'do

Trinity East vs St Benedict's, Trincity

San Juan North vs Fatima, Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan

Fyzabad vs Presentation San F'do

Former PNM government minister and the party's deputy political leader Errol Mahabir died on Saturday.The announcement was made by Mahabir's son Colin.

We are heartbroken to share the news that Errol Edward Mahabir passed away on September 19, 2015 following a brief illness.

Errol was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Errol Mahabir, who rose from very humble beginnings to national recognition, never forgot his origins. Errol was known for his 20-year tenure as a Minister of Government and the mayorship of his hometown of San Fernando.  During his years of public service, he served his Nation proudly, but he never sought praise or accolades.  Rather he was comfortable just knowing that he was doing the best that he could for his country.

After demitting office Errol became active in the business sector, assisting his family with the management of the Damus Group, and serving on numerous Boards of Directors in both the Public and Private Sectors.

As much as Errol cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people from all walks of life across the country and abroad. The Mahabir Family wishes to thank these people for their continued outpouring of love. Errol will be dearly missed.
 

T&T recently celebrated 53 years of Independence on August 31. We now turn our attention to celebrating our attainment of the status as a Republic 39 years ago on August 1, 1976, an occasion that is celebrated on September 24, because that is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution.

Being a Republic nation means the supreme power rests in all the citizens who are entitled to vote (the electorate) and that power is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them and who are responsible to them. Instead of allegiance to the monarchy/queen, the country is now represented by a President, its Head of State.

There have been many heroes, pioneers and role models in our nation’s history in the various spheres of endeavour. When calypsonian David Rudder lamented some years ago that many had been asking him whose voice was at the beginning of the calypso Three Colours (2008/9—you can listen to it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMRcBc9WhdY), it hit home how little we know of our past! In this case it was the distinct voice of Dr Eric Williams, our country’s first chief minister from 1956-1959, first premier from 1959-1962, and first prime minister from 1962 to 1981.

Many people have made outstanding contributions to the development of our twin-island Republic in the various spheres. Those include our leaders, from our colonial governors to our national leaders; those in agriculture; business; community, social work and volunteerism; culture and the arts; economics; education; environment; fashion and beauty; law; medicine; oil; politics; public service; radio and television; religion; science, engineering and architecture; sports; trade unionism; writing and journalism.

It is important that our young people in particular learn about, appreciate and be inspired by their contributions. 

Profiles of those listed below by area of endeavour can be obtained from the free e-book download at http://www.safaripublications.com/firstcitizenstt/heroesprofilestt/.  

Emphasis is placed on those who have spent at least part of their lives in T&T contributing to our country’s development and enrichment as a nation.

THE EARLY DAYS: PHILIPPE-ROSE ROUME DE ST LAURENT (1743-1805); GROS JEAN (Around mid to late 1700s); JONAS MOHAMMED BATH (1783-1838); JOHN JACOB THOMAS (1841-1889); EMMANUEL MZUMBO LAZARE (1864-1929) 

COLONIAL GOVERNORS: ANTONIO DE BERRIO (1520-1597); JOSE MARIA CHACON (1749-1833); RALPH JAMES WOODFORD (1784-1828); LORD HARRIS (GEORGE F R HARRIS) (1810-1872); ARTHUR H GORDON (1829-1912); WILLIAM ROBINSON (1836-1912); EDWARD BEETHAM (1905-1979) 

OUR NATION’S MODERN LEADERS: SOLOMON HOCHOY (1905-1983); ERIC E WILLIAMS (1911-1981); ELLIS I I CLARKE (1917-2010); GEORGE M CHAMBERS (1928-1997); ARTHUR N R ROBINSON (1926-2014 ); BASDEO PANDAY (1933- ); NOOR HASSANALI (1918-2006); PATRICK MANNING (1946- ); GEORGE MAXWELL RICHARDS (1931- ); KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR (1952- ); KEITH C ROWLEY (1949- )

AGRICULTURE: NAZEER AHAMAD (1932- ); STEPHEN BENNETT (1922-2011); FRANCIS COPE (1913 -2004; JULIAN DUNCAN (1933- ); WILLIAM FREEMAN (1909-1988); FREDRICK HARDY (1889-1977); GEORGE MOONSAMMY (1922- 1986); JOHN SPENCE (1929-2013); LAWRENCE A WILSON (1934-2013) 

BUSINESS: GEORGE ALSTON (1854-1918); ETHELBERT “MEG” BATTOO (1904-1980); JOSE MARIA BERMUDEZ; KARL BOOS; ERNEST CANNING; JOSEPH CHARLES (1910-1965); MARCUS and REGINALD DAVIS; SARAN TEELUCKSINGH (1889-1952); GOKOOL MEAH (1848-1940); TIMOTHY ROODAL (1884-1952); YLDEFONSO DE LIMA (1861-1927); CYRIL DUPREY (1897-1988); WILLIAM GORDON (1848-1923) and GEORGE GRANT GEDDES GRANT (1866-1934); CHANG HONG WING (About 1870-1929); GEORGE F HUGGINS (1870-1941); SHEIK MOHAMMED (S M) JALEEL (1895-1977); IBRAHIM KHAN; ISHMAEL M. KHAN (1907-1980); KEWAL K MAHARAJ (1920-2009); CHARLES MASSY (1897-1968) and HENRY NEAL (1875-1963); CHARLES McENEARNEY; RAHAMUT (1866-1941); B H ROSE (BERNARD HAYWARD) (1881-1953); ABDOU YUSSUF SABGA (1898-1985); EDUARDO SA GOMES (1893-1955); NORMAN SAMAROO (1920-2011); W H SCOTT (WILLIAM HENRY) (1885-1972); CARLOS, LUIS and ALFREDO SIEGERT; CONRAD STOLLMEYER (1813-1904); ASGARALLI SYNE; LOUIS JAY (L J) WILLIAMS (1897-1968); LOWELL YEREX 

COMMUNITY, SOCIAL WORK, & VOLUNTEERISM: JAMES A ALVES (1883-1969); JAMES A A BIGGART (1877-1932); LADY THELMA E HOCHOY (1910-2010); AUDREY JEFFERS (1896-1968); CHRISTINA LEWIS (1919-1974); RHONDA MAINGOT (1946- ); DOON PANDIT (1900-1958); CLIVE PANTIN (1933- ); FR GERARD (GERRY) PANTIN (1928-2014); BELVIDIARA E MARESSE-PAUL (1838-1900) 

CULTURE & THE ARTS: AUBREY C ADAMS (1919-2007); JOHN AGITATION (1927- ); M P ALLADIN (1919-1980); RAYMOND “ATILLA THE HUN” QUEVEDO (1892-1962); WINNIFRED ATWELL (1914-1983); EDWIN “CRAZY” AYOUNG (1944- ); SHEIK MOHAMMED (S M) AZIZ (1905-1963); GEORGE BAILEY (1935-1970); LIONEL “LANKY” BELASCO (Around 1880-1955); WAYNE BERKELY (1940-2011); PAT BISHOP (1941-2011); JOSE and IGNACIO BODU; HUGH BORDE (1933- ); LORD BRYNER (KADE SIMON) (1937-1980); PATRICK S CASTAGNE (1916-2000); PAUL CASTILLO; MICHEL JEAN CAZABON (1813 –1888); CARLISLE CHANG (1921- 2001); RUDOLPH CHARLES (1938-1985); PATRICK ‘PAT’ W. CHU FOON (1932-1998); ALFREDO CODALLO (1913-1970); EDRIC CONNOR (1913-1968); ALVIN DANIELL (1943- ); CHAMPA DEVI/FATIMA RAHIM (1923-2001); WINSFORD ‘JOKER’ DEVINE (1943- ); WALTER DOUGLAS (1895-1977); THORA DUMBELL (1924- ); SEL DUNCAN (1924-1983); FELIX EDINBOROUGH (1943- ); JULIA EDWARDS (1933- ); JACOB D ELDER (1913-2003); DENZIL “DIMES” FERNANDEZ (1944- ); ROSALIND GABRIEL (1948- ); PHILIP “LORD EXECUTOR” GARCIA (Around 1880-1952); GEORGE ‘ SONNY’ GODDARD (1924-1988); EDMUND HART (1923- ) and LIL HART (1930-1991); OU EDWIN HING WAN (1932-1976); BOSCOE HOLDER (1921-2007); FREDERICK “HOUDINI” WILMOTH (1885-1973); RUPERT “LORD INVADER” W GRANT (1914-1961); JOYCE KIRTON; FREDDIE KISSOON (1933- ); ALDWYN ROBERTS (LORD KITCHENER) (1922-2000); HARBANCE KUMAR; THELMA LANE; NORMAN LE BLANC; ELLIOT “ELLIE” MANNETTE (1927- ); BERTRAM ‘BERTIE’ MARSHALL (1936- ); BERYL MCBURNIE (1914-2000); IRVIN “MAC” MCWILLIAMS (1920-2007); PETER MINSHALL (1941- ); KEN MORRIS (1924-1992); NOEL P NORTON (1927-2012); MARJORIE PADMORE (1928-1981); SUNDAR POPO (1943-2000); NORMAN “KING RADIO” SPAN; DRUPATEE RAMGOONAI (1959- ); CALYPSO ROSE (MCARTHA LINDA SANDY-LEWIS) (1940- ); HAROLD “SALLY” SALDENHA (1925-1985); RANJIT "JIT” S SAMAROO (1950- ); BERNADETTE T (LAUGHLIN) SCOTT (1946- ); LENNOX (LEN) “BOOGSIE” SHARPE (1953- ); RAS SHORTY I (GARFIELD BLACKMAN) (1941-2000); WINSTON ‘SPREE’ SIMON (1930-1976); THE MIGHTY SPARROW (SLINGER FRANCISCO) (1935- ); WILFRED STRASSER; CITO VELASQUEZ (1928-2006); DAISY VOISIN (1924-1991); OLIVE WALKE (1911-1969); ANTHONY WILLIAMS (1931- ); DUNSTAN “DEW” E WILLIAMS (1935-2004); JOHN ‘BUDDY’ WILLIAMS (1911-1995); STEPHEN (1921- ) and ELSIE LEE HEUNG (1925-2006) 

ECONOMICS: LLOYD BEST (1934-2007); WILLIAM G DEMAS (1929-1998); ARTHUR LEWIS (1915-1991) 

EDUCATION: CLARENCE C ABIDH (1884-1952); BISHOP ARTHUR H ANSTEY (1872-1955); BRIDGET BRERETON (1946- ); KNOLLY A BUTLER (1931- ); JOSEPH O CUTTERIDGE (1887-1952); SHAMSHU DEEN (1947- ); RAPHAEL DOUGLASS (1927-2012); FR LEONARD J GRAF (1884-1970); ROBERT J L GUPPY (1836-1916); PATRICK KEENAN; ARTHUR LAI FOOK (1919-2013) PAULA LUCIE-SMITH (1960- ); MAX MURPHY (1902-1973); ARCHBISHOP FINBAR RYAN (1881-1975); CHARLES SOODEEN (1849-1926); FREDERICK STREETLY (1893-1952); HAROLD F SWANN (1890-1982) 

ENVIRONMENT: PETER BACON (1938-2003); JOHN A. BULBROOK (1881-1967); THOMAS C CAMBRIDGE (1906-1967); MOLLY GASKIN; WILLIAM INGRAM (1847-1924); JULIAN KENNY (1930- 2011) 

FASHION & BEAUTY: JANELLE PENNY COMMISSIONG (1953- ); WENDY FITZWILLIAM (1972- ); GISELLE JEANNE-MARIE LARONDE-WEST (1963-); MEILING ESAU (1946) 

LAW: FRANCIS EVELYN MOHAMMED (F E M) HOSEIN (1882-1936); JEAN PERMANAND; LENNOX A P O’REILLY (1880-1949); CHARLES WILLIAMS WARNER (1807-1887); HUGH O B WOODING (1904-1974) 

MEDICINE: BERT ACHONG (1928-1996); COURTENAY BARTHOLOMEW (1931- ); MICHAEL BEAUBRUN (1924-2002); ANDRE CIPRIANI (1908-1956); LOUIS A A DE VERTEUIL (1807-1900); SAMUEL EBENEZER ELLIOT (1901-1969); SAMUEL F GHOURALAL (1925-1991); BARBARA HULL (1939- ); WINSTON INCE (1930- ); ANTOINE LEOTAUD (1814-1867); ARTHUR MCSHINE (1876-1948); HALSEY MCSHINE (1912-2006); J LENNOX PAWAN (1887-1957); HENRY PIERRE (1904-1984); THEODOSIUS POON-KING (1928- ); ELIZABETH QUAMINA (1929 – 1997); LALL SAWH (1951- ); LESLIE SPENCE (1922- ); ELISHA TIKASINGH (1927- )

OIL: ARTHUR BEEBY-THOMPSON; WALTER DARWENT (1821-1868); GEORGE R GILKES (1863-1914); HANS G KUGLER (1893-1986); JOHN LEE LUM (1842-1921); RANDOLPH T H RUST (1854-1930) 

POLITICS: RUDRANATH CAPILDEO (1920-1970); MAKANDAL DAAGA (1935- ); ALBERT GOMES (1911-1978); ALPHONSO P T JAMES (1901-1962); BHADASE SAGAN MARAJ (1920-1971); MURIEL DONAWA McDAVIDSON (1929-2001); KAMALUDDIN MOHAMMED (1927- ); MICHAEL MAXWELL PHILIP (1829-1888); KARL T HUDSON-PHILLIPS (1933- ); LIONEL F SEUKERAN (1908-1992); ISABEL TESHEA (1911-1981) 

PUBLIC SERVICE: JOHN BRIERLY (Around 1835-1915); RANDOLPH BURROUGHS (1930-1996); EDWIN W CARRINGTON (1939- ); WILLIAM DE BOISSIÈRE (1872-1947); KAYE DOWLAND; JEAN (GENE) MILES (1930-1972); JESSICA PHILLIPS (1925-1986); ENOS SEWLAL; JOYCE WONG SANG 

RADIO & TELEVISION: IAN ALI (1937-2007); SALISHA ALI (1951-1987); HOLLY BETAUDIER (1925- ); HANSLEY “HANS” HANOOMANSINGH (1942- ); ALLYSON BRENDA HENNESSY (1948-2011); RALPH “RAPHIE” KNOWLES (1915-1975); SURUJPAT “PAT” MATHURA (1923-2007); SHAM MOHAMMED (1936-1994); HAZEL WARD (1933- ); KATHLEEN “AUNTY KAY” WARNER (1904-1996)

RELIGION: AMEER ALI (1898-1973); SYED ABDUL AZIZ (1862-1927); PUNDIT CAPILDEO (1871-1926); THOMAS DE BARCELONA; KENNETH GRANT (1839-1931); ELTON G GRIFFITH (1913-1992); MOHAMMED IBRAHIM (1890-1956); CHARLES D. LALLA (1880-1958); HENRY MACLEOD; RUKNUDEEN MEAH (1865-1963); BHADASE SAGAN MARAJ (1920-1971); JOHN MORTON (1839-1912); SARAH MORTON (1843-1929); JOHN G MULHAUSER (1810-1844); ARCHBISHOP ANTHONY PANTIN (1929-2000); CHARLES B RAGBIR (1865-1951); RICHARD RAWLE (1812-1889)     

• Continues on page B35

She skips, flips and jumps all the time. Even in her sleep, it is said, her small body jerks as if in constant motion.

Little Sydelle Hinds looks me over with huge, beautiful brown eyes, her long Dougla tresses cascading down her shoulders. We are at the Quarry Road, Siparia, home of her mother, Corine Hinds, and Sydelle, eight, appears about as ready to be interviewed as any person twice her age.

“Is she always this composed?” I asked her mother.

With a proud smile and shrug of her petite shoulder, Hinds said “Yes, even when she has a competition. There is not much that can really rattle Sydell, she is just that brave.”

It is that bravery that has seen Sydelle recently fly the flag of this country high, at the 2015 Panama Classics. 

The little gymnast, a pupil of Crystal Stream Government Primary, Petite Valley, brought home three gold medals—first place in vault, bars and floor in her category. She also got an All Rounder trophy and placed fifth on the beams.

To date, Sydelle has so many trophies and medals from local meets that her godmother, Adina Robertson, has placed them all in a box for safekeeping. 

Robertson and Hinds’ love for Sydelle is certainly inspiring.

They both share responsibility for her upbringing.

Robertson, who lives at Belmont, has eight biological children, but has taken care of Sydelle since she was a baby since her mother has been facing financial challenges. The bond between the two women has grown by leaps and bounds, as they speak to each other every day. Sydell spends all holidays at her mummy’s home.

“Sydelle is so loved...that’s what has her so confident, you know. She’s an excellent child, does well in school, always places in the first five, she’s loving. She’s a product of her mom,” she said.

Robertson recalled how it all started.

Sydelle, she said, was just three when at her pre-school, which offered extra-curricular activities, gymnastic coach Dale Ali noticed she had a natural knack for the discipline.

He asked her teacher to set up a meeting with Sydelle’s parents and quickly took her under his wings, where she blossomed in his club Olympia Gymnastics.

The club has brought home numerous medals and trophies for this country, with Sydelle adding to the stack over the last four years.

“When we saw how she progressed easily, Corine and I just automatically knew this was for her. She took to it like a duck to water. Not long after, she was competing locally,” recalled Robertson.

A trip to Barbados two years ago saw Sydelle happy to compete and smiling all the way back home, even though she did not do as well as her recent competition at Panama.

Robertson has taken on the commitment of travelling with Sydelle, anywhere her talent and training takes her.

“I just want to see her excel to the max. That’s what both her mother and I want for her. It’s easy because of her natural potential and her ability to pick up really quickly. She is such a fast learner, she forgets nothing. She has so much to offer this country, that it is easy to see her at Olympics,” she added.

Hinds shares their joy over the phone, through photos and Sydelle’s animated recollection of her stay at hotels which offer “plenty food to take for yourself.” The proud mother of six said she has never even been to Tobago, so hearing Sydelle’s tales of rooms with breathtaking views and being treated like VIP fills her heart.

For Hinds,  her daughter’s accomplishments could not have happened but for the love, support and commitment that the child’s godmother has shown throughout the years. She admits, though, that it is sometimes hard for both Sydelle and herself when they have to part at the end of school vacations.

“Anything that sees her on top, doing what she loves, being who she wants to be and with the love of my friend backing her, is enough for me as a mother. She’s luckier than most, you know. She is a gymnast with two mummies,” she joked.

And with that kind of support system in place, T&T can certainly expect to see and hear more about little Sydelle Hinds’ success in the future.

VALDEEN SHEARS

Aleem Marcus Valentine is used to being seen. He is tall, with the face and physique of a model. He is a model, part-time, when he isn’t working at his chosen career as a chef. The modelling goes back to his teenage years, when his mother sent him for lessons in the hope he would be cured of his “gangster walk.”

“I still have that kind of crawl, it’s a rugged, kind of rough walk I have,” says the 25-year-old, recalling the events that brought him into the cast of The Resort, a short film screening at the T&T Film Festival this month.

The walk has become his calling card for his modelling work. And in general. He is used to hearing he has been spotted around town: “You can’t miss that walk,” his friends say.

In early 2014, director Shadae Lamar Smith was in Tobago casting for a movie project, his thesis project for his master’s in film directing and production from UCLA (University of California).

He had help: local producers Dave Elliott and Ryan Khan; the Tobago House of Assembly supported the project, even sponsoring a casting call on the radio.

“Blessed” is Smith’s description of the THA’s assistance; “perfect partnering,” says producer Marjuan Canady, who hopes The Resort will also serve as a positive example for other filmmakers thinking of working in T&T.

“We cast most everyone from that call,” says Smith of the THA casting call. But there was no male lead until the day he and producer Elliott were driving through Scarborough. Smith spotted someone on the street—just a pedestrian, just someone walking. Just Aleem Marcus Valentine.

“I’m looking at Marcus—he looks like he could be the lead in my film,” recalls Smith, who backed his experience as a director to help even a novice deliver the performance required for the film.

Elliott called out to Valentine from road: “Hey, you need a ride?”

The men knew each other. Elliott had previously tried to persuade Valentine to join a movie project, but Valentine declined. He was building his career in the culinary arts. What other time he had was spent at the gym, the occasional modelling gig, or with his PlayStation. He had no time for movies. Still, this was not another movie role, this was just a lift. He hopped into Elliott’s car.

“Ever done a film?” asked Smith as soon as Valentine was settled.

The Resort addresses a subject not often discussed in polite society: sex tourism, and in particular, women travelling to the Caribbean to seek the romantic attention of local men.

Rent-a-dread, rastatutes, beach boys: what discussion of the matter there is often takes place under frivolous or diminishing labels. Nonetheless, it is a not insignificant part of the informal side of the Caribbean’s economy. The 2006 documentary Rent a Rasta estimated 80,000 visitors to Jamaica become witting or unwitting clients of the island’s sex tourism trade every year.

There are several strands to the discussion of the Caribbean’s beach boy phenomenon: public health; the question of whether visitors, locals, or both are being exploited; even the question of whether a short-term relationship forged on the beach is prostitution at all.

The typical arrangement is usually described as a young, local man connecting with an older, foreign woman. There is not necessarily any formal transaction, but the one party (the tourist) invariably bears the cost of the relationship—meals, drinks, perhaps clothes, sometimes even rent or a stipend. Is that prostitution or dating?

It is not a question The Resort seeks to answer. “I am not interested in judging or drawing conclusions,” says Smith. His interest in the subject was piqued by a more personal experience. No, not that type of experience.

Shadae Lamar Smith is Jamaican, and he is American. Born and raised in Florida, his Caribbean heritage does not necessarily reveal itself unless Smith chooses to make it known.

“I find when I tell people I am Jamaican, something sexy pops into their heads,” he says.

“It seems like people react to me differently than if I said I was from Jacksonville or South Africa.”

Smith is interested in the idea that Caribbean identity has been sexualised and exoticised by decades of aggressive sun-and-fun marketing. This has created a pervasive image of the Caribbean and its cultures in the minds of those being encouraged to visit: “All of a sudden, people talk about sex for some reason.”

Those observations directed Smith to the academic discussion of Caribbean identity, and subsequently toward the literature on the region’s sex tourism trade. On beaches in Jamaica and Tobago, with new awareness he watched relationships form. The Resort examines those relationships from the perspective of the man selling himself to a foreign visitor. And it juxtaposes the experience with other tourism-dependent occupations: housekeeping and the sale of watersports or tour packages on the beach.

Perhaps the varied narrative (the story is told in three vignettes) explains why, at first reading, Valentine thought of his role as “a saltfish. I’m a saltfish man: everybody likes me.” On set, in front of the cameras, tasked with bringing the words of the script to life, he realised the most memorable aspect of his character might not be his general conviviality: “I thought: Woah, this is a man willing to sell love.”

More info:

The Resort’s international premiere takes place September 24, at 9 pm, at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain, and the film screens again on the following dates:

• Sept 25, 8 pm, MovieTowne, Tobago

• Sept 28, 3 pm, MovieTowne, Tobago

• Sept 29, 6 pm, MovieTowne, POS

The annual T&T Film Festival (TTFF) 2015 kicked off last week at the primary locations MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain, Hyatt Regency Hotel, and the Film Building, University of the West Indies. The media was afforded a brief preview of some of the T&T-made films last weekend. JANINE CHARLES-FARRAY reviews four of them.

FADE TO BLACK 

(Nominated for best local short film—fiction)

One of the most anticipated films of the festival does not fall within the feature film category, but among the fictional short narratives. Clocking in at only 11 minutes, Fade to Black breaks new ground in indigenous cinematography through the eyes of director of photography Oliver Milne and director/ animator Christopher Guinness.

Synopsis: Off the coast of northern Trinidad, sometime in the near future, Thomas, an elderly man, struggles to hold on to his memories in his last days. Meanwhile his caregiver, Angelo, engages in an online relationship with the nefarious Dark Eyes, which proves to have costly repercussions.

The public would be familiar with Guinness’ work in the emotive and upbeat fictional short films, POTHOUND and Captain TnT, which have been both critically acclaimed and gone viral several times over in the past four years. Fade to Black, shot in Guinness' signature short clip editing style with animation and VFX-styled infusions, is decidedly darker in tone and context.

In every project, Guinness seems to draw heavily from his own life and personal inspiration. Fade to Black is no different. Describing the past year as a "tough time," Guinness was severely impacted by the loss of his father and other personal life changes. Fade to Black, perhaps unintentionally, questions the significance of holding on to the past with a poignant sense of longing for things that are gone and it closely examines the importance of memories.

Fade to Black is not a superficial film. It delves deeply and without hesitation into cerebral and spiritual concepts.

It was an absolute pleasure to see veteran and acclaimed actor Albert Laveau (as the oldest version of lead character, Thomas) in what could be one of his most memorable and signature performances on film.

There was an exciting juxtaposition of the choice of Laveau as the older version of Thomas set within this futuristic and cutting-edge narrative. It felt momentous, almost like the meeting of two forces, traditional stage theatre and the new creative medium, film. Laveau brought a gravitas and legitimacy to a futuristic portrayal of T&T.

It is a science-fiction short film with deep messages about love, loss and longing. Fade to Black solidifies Guinness' signature aesthetic and is perhaps one of the best and most cutting edge film productions from a T&T filmmaker to date.

DOWN AND OUT

Down and Out is a short documentary from students of the BA in film at the University of the West Indies. It was produced by current Year Three students David Villafanna, Michaela Spenser and Shanice Martin.

Synopsis: The film explores what may be one of the overlooked ills of society, the occurrence of homelessness and the efforts currently being made to assist those displaced and on the streets.

The students consulted with the St Vincent De Paul centre as well as the Centre for Socially Displaced Persons.

First-hand accounts of persons currently dealing with homelessness were the main narrative of the film. The message drew the viewer along from horror story to horror story where the interview subjects told of their experiences with street life.

Some of the circumstances leading to homelessness included exposure to drugs and drug abuse, HIV and Aids, robbery of assets, physical violence, deportation back to Trinidad and forced placement in a mental institution.

These heart-wrenching accounts were in some cases difficult to watch and revealed just how easily one could fall into a situation which robs one of the security of a place to call home, its lasting effects and the difficulty of recovering from such a state.

The Centre for Socially Displaced Persons was the setting for the documentary. Manager of the facility Roger Watson discussed the continuous struggle the centre has faced to deliver care and services to those most in need.

TRAFFICKED 

(Nominated for best local feature)

Trafficked is a 72-minute feature film written and directed by Sean Hodgkinson, and was co-produced by the late media personality, radio and TV producer/host Marcia Henville and Garth St Clair of the Eye on Dependency radio programme. The film stars Kia Rollock, Gyerlini Clarke, Aaron N Charles with Brett Bengochea, Abdi Waithe, Brendon O’Brien and Thalia Baptiste.

Synopsis: While on vacation, three adventurous friends are seduced by stranger’s wealth and charm. George, Penny and Nadia soon discover they are pawns in a deadly game.

In general, the film looks good, with good use of scenic establishing shots, coupled with attractive cinematography with a warm colour palette, which retained its Caribbean aesthetic while still giving an international feel.

From the opening dinner scene, every frame fully captured the subtle layers of communication and nuanced body language among the characters brilliantly directed by Hodgkinson. Like any typical dinner among friends, the scene began with light-hearted conversation and effusive gratitude to a generous host, with a dash of well-timed comedy from the jovial and effervescent Penny, played by Kia Rollock.

However, there is a darker layer to this seemingly pristine double-date vacation. Among the characters there were many red flag social cues textured in the interaction. This set a parallel tone—warning the audience that beneath the veil of civility the scene is set for a well-paced unravelling of a tragedy.

In the post screening interview, Hodgkinson confirmed that Trafficked is but one of a planned series of stories to be produced from reports collected by the Eye on Dependency of Caribbean nationals who have fallen prey to both drugs and human trafficking. St Clair shared frightening stories of T&T citizens currently incarcerated in the UK and other territories abroad as well as nationals from other Caribbean states imprisoned locally.

CITY ON THE HILL

Watching this documentary will change your perception of Laventille, Belmont and East Port-of-Spain for the better—permanently.

The film, directed by Michael Mooleedhar and Prof Patricia Mohammed, does an excellent job of unearthing a mountain of evidence from which any citizen of T&T can draw only one conclusion: Laventille is the birthplace and deep belly of cultural ingenuity, foundation of creative innovation, the source of rich indigenous resources, religious plurality and the potential incubator for our creative diversification.

Synopsis: City on the Hill is a look at the history of the communities erected on the hillside slopes of Laventille. The film examines the evolution of the chequered relationship between the landscape and its inhabitants, as well as selected aspects of Laventille's architecture.

More than that, the film speaks to the indomitable will of its inhabitants, the strength of perseverance to claim their community as one loved and treasured, in spite of its sometimes over-amplified and publicised negative elements.

Narrated by Wendell Manwarren in a vibrant griot cadence, the documentary uses excerpts from the writings of giants like poet laureate Derek Walcott and prolific writer CLR James, who reflect on the beauty and potential of Laventille.

The soundtrack also includes archival pan live performances from the 1940s and rapso legend Lancelot Layne's Ghetto, a thriving pulsing defiance from a community fed up with the external perspectives forced upon it and the circumstances of its hard existence.

"You think it soft, in the ghetto?" Lane challenges to drumming rythmns beneath scenic images of the winding streets and curving tracks from Piccadilly Street up to the Our Lady of Fatima RC Church at the tallest hill peak.

City on the Hill marries a romantic and poetic tone with the testimonials and stories of the community's diverse inhabitants. The religious complexity of Laventille is highlighted and surprising similarities are drawn between the iconography of the Gonzales community Hindu Mandir and the Orisha rites of the Rada Community. The film showed a similarity of pride in history, legacy and the honouring of ancestors.

City on the Hill is a love story to Laventille and joins a pantheon of documentaries that highlight the brilliance Behind the Bridge—a trend one hopes to see continued as the local film industry preserves and conserves the national legacy through the audio visual medium. City on the Hill makes a convincing case for a fascinating community often dismissed because of the perpetuation of only one side of its story.

More info & screening times:

ttfilmfestival.com

One of the greatly depressing symbols of our fall and decline as a nation is that to date we cannot repair the official home of the President of the Republic of T&T whose roof caved in and remains thus. 

In 1876, the cottage which served as an official residence was deemed inadequate for the needs of the Governor and a magnificent stone mansion commissioned in its place. The new structure truly deserved the name of mansion and was designed to resemble a palace of the Indian Raj. In 1887, Collens described it thus:

“The northern bend of the Queen’s Park brings you to the Governor’s residence (St Ann’s) and the Botanical Gardens. The house, a palatial edifice, designed by Mr Fergusson on the Indian model, and built of native limestone, was erected at a cost of £45,000 in 1875, during Governor Irving’s time. The Cottage where Kingsley wrote his At Last, while the guest of Sir Arthur Gordon, is now amongst the things of the past, having just been demolished. 

“The present gubernatorial mansion has a fine entrance with lofty hall and tessellated floor, from which the grand staircase leads to the private rooms. Directly above the staircase is a square tower. The massive doors are made from mahogany grown on the Government lands nearby. The reception-room and the drawing-room beyond are both of noble size, with neat and elegant embossed ceilings. The galleries are becoming delightfully screened by a luxuriant growth of stephanotis, jasmine, and other beautiful, fragrant climbers. 

“Altogether, this is a first-rate specimen of West Indian architecture; when the handsome gaseliers are lighted and the grounds ornamented with Chinese lanterns, as on the occasion of a State ball, the scene is one of fairyland, and transports one in imagination to those of the Arabian Nights. In January, 1880, during the short stay of Prince Albert Victor and Prince George of Wales in Trinidad, they, while ashore, were the guests of Sir Henry Irving, C M G, who was then Governor. It is not generally known that the bronze fountain in the Gardens was the gift of Sir Sanford Freeling in 1881; the other concrete one having been presented by Lord Harris more than thirty years ago.”

An invitation to a ball at the Governor’s residence was status indeed and did not hesitate to be divided along lines of colonial class and colour prejudice. One interesting account is that of Lady Mary Anne Broome whose husband, Sir Frederick Napier Broome, was Governor of Trinidad and (a newly annexed) Tobago from 1891-97:

“This ‘palace,’ however, is really a beautiful house, and stands in the large Botanical Gardens of Port-of-Spain. It has a charming view over the wide savannah in front, and is sheltered from the cold north winds by the low, beautifully wooded hills behind. Nothing can be much more beautiful than the first effect of the entrance hall to this Government House, and the long vista through the large saloon and ballroom beyond ends with a glimpse of that magnificent Saman tree. It was certainly an ideal house for entertaining. I always declared that the balls gave themselves, and there never was the slightest trouble in arranging any sort of party in the large rooms, which were always as cool as possible after sunset. The ballroom was lofty, open ‘to all the airts that blow,’ and possessed a perfect floor.”

Electricity was installed in 1895 replacing the old gaslights which had served since 1876. In 1958, it became the residence of the Governor General of the ill-starred West Indian Federation, Lord Hailes. When this body collapsed, the house was used as a museum and art gallery in 1962, with Independence being celebrated a few months later. 

In 1959, a small adjoining building called The Cottage (not the same building dating from 1867 and detailed in last week’s column) was renovated for use as living quarters while the main building was occupied by the museum. 

In 1965, Sir Solomon and Lady Hochoy moved back into the mansion from a home that later became the residence of the Prime Minister. Sir Ellis Clarke was the last Governor General to occupy the mansion and the first President to do so when the nation became a republic in 1976 and the Governor’s Mansion became President’s House. It seems unlikely, however, that it will ever be occupied again by a head of state since restoration works are yet to begin and the caved roof has never been repaired.

Three of this country's female music celebrities—Calypso Rose (McCartha Sandy-Lewis), Heather Mac Intosh and Anne Fridal—are joining forces this month to present a concert series titled The Queen, the Princess & the Duchess.

The three-night concert will be held at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, on Wednesday; Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain on Friday; and Mount Irvine Bay Hotel, Tobago, on September 27.

Calypso Rose, Calypso Queen of the World, has been thrilling audiences for more than 50 years. She has penned more than 800 songs and recorded more than 20 albums in her musical career. She won the Calypso Queen title from 1972-1976 and was also Road March champion in 1976 and 1977. Because of Rose’s dominance and musical prowess in the calypso world, the title of the annual calypso competition was changed from Calypso King to Calypso Monarch, a change that still holds today.

Known for her cutting calypso lyrics delivered with majestic flare and classic style, Princess Heather has been singing and winning from the age of five-and-a-half years. She has held the titles of National Junior Calypso Monarch, National Calypso Queen on two occasions, Social Commentary Monarch, Political Commentary Monarch, and has appeared in the National Calypso Monarch finals on nine occasions. Mac Intosh also has a musical alter ego that few have had the pleasure of experiencing. She also a competent jazz singer, and will showcase this talent at the upcoming concerts.

Completing the circle of excellence is the Grand Dame of Opera, the Duchess Anne Fridal. The renowned dramatic soprano has been amazing audiences around the world since 1966 with her sterling renditions of opera classics. Fridal has proudly flown the national flag wherever she has performed, proving to all that T&T has what it takes, not just to work in international opera as a support player, but to carry the lead with unique flair and style. Her love for the indigenous music of her homeland is well known, and in her own inimitable style will entertain audiences with a genre that she calls Calypsopera.

Caribbean Airlines Limited, the national airline, will fly the two foreign-based artistes home for the event, and along with the management of Trincity Mall, are partners in the production. Lending support will be a collaboration of pedigreed musicians, under the direction of rising musical star Natalia Dopwell.

The event is a Short Pants production—producer of the recent concert series We Three Strings.

As the West Indies players assemble this morning in Barbados for a pre-tour camp, former Test captain Denesh Ramdin says that he is not under any pressure.

Ramdin, the solid wicketkeeper/batsman said: “I am looking forward to the camp and getting in some work before the tough Sri Lankan series comes up. It is going to be a very tough tour because the conditions are tough and we have to do as much work going into the series, if we stand a chance of doing well.”

Ramdin was removed as West Indies Test captain after 14 matches and 15 months in charge and has been replaced by Jason Holder, who is also ODI captain. The West Indies will play two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20s on the tour which officially opens with the first Test match on October 14 at the Galle International Stadium.

Ramdin was told by the West Indies selectors that they wanted him to concentrate on his batting. Ramdin believes he can deliver with the willow in Sri Lanka. “I feel good at the moment, looking to hit some balls and get my game going. It will be important to spend time at the crease and forge partnerships with whoever is batting with me.”

Asked whether he is feeling pressured by the presence of two other wicketkeeper/batsmen in the form of Shane Dowrich and Shai Hope in the squad, Ramdin responded: “I am not feeling any pressure at all. They might be under more pressure than me because they have less experience and they will be batting higher up the order.”

He added that he will extend his fullest support to Holder and looks forward to the challenge ahead. “Jason is a good guy, I advised him on many things during the World Cup and I intend to do my part in this series. He is a young captain and needs all the support he can get in order to make a difference.

“The senior men on the team have to make their experience count for him and people like Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kraigg Brathwaite and myself have to make sure we have good totals. Then the bowlers like Devendra Bishoo must lead the charge.

“Bishoo is a key man in those conditions for us and he has been bowling very well, so we need to back him up and look to take the fight to the home team. 

“I think we have the all round strength to beat this team and we are going to give it our best efforts.”

President of the T&T Cricket Board of Control (TTCB) Azim Bassarath and Jeffrey Guillen, team manager at Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) are in disagreement over the future development of the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.

Speaking to Andre Baptiste on iSport radio programme, Bassarath said his executive submitted a budget totaling $31 million to the ministry of sport for fiscal 2015-2016 for the construction of a mega facility.

He explained that $3 million was being requested for the erection of a sand based outfield and another $2 million for an electronic scoreboard. 

The TTCB already purchased and imported bleachers to accommodate 1,000 spectators from its existing budget.

But Guillen, in an immediate response, did not hold back his objection to this move which he believed would be a waste of tax-payers funds.

Bassarath said, “We would like to see a full-fledged facility developed. The Brian Lara Stadium (in Tarouba), we also want to see that complete, hoping that within the next five years it will be completed. I have made several calls for the completion of the Stadium, but not only to complete the Stadium. We would like the Stadium to be handed over to the TTCB to run the facility.”

In Guillen’s view, however, facilities at the National Cricket Centre should be upgraded to a world class development facility. 

“So, if that (Brian Lara Stadium) is being finished, why spend money developing Couva? I think I would like to see developed a first class training facility in terms of indoor cricket nets; in terms of outdoor cricket nets; in terms of audio visual (equipment); in terms of gym (equipment); in terms of the science aspect of the game. And, I am pretty sure the Brian Lara Stadium would be finished and we can spend $8 or $9 million on the Couva Centre, and get that into a first class training facility,” he said.

Guillen added, “Take the difference of that money and build an indoor cricket facility in the east, an indoor facility in south to increase the amount of people who can play the game later on in the afternoon and in the evening, with bowling machines and coaches and get more clubs involved with those facilities. And I agree the Lara Stadium should be handed over to the TTCB.” 

Yes. I know your head is still steaming, in the post-September 7 reboot.

Here is how you can cool down, love up and show your true republican stripes and remind yourself that country comes first.

This has nothing, mercifully, to do with politics, ethnicity, or religion and everything to do with what’s in your wallets and your lovely rosy hearts.

Want to change the world? Help a child. Sounds corny but you know it’s true. My favourite charitable organisation The Children’s Ark has a big one for you—an opportunity to do good and feel right, without lifting a straw.

On October 23, at the Hyatt, the non-profit organisation is hosting a fundraiser dinner for about 500 guests. I could tell you about the cocktail reception followed by a three-course menu which includes two glasses of wine, and the top-drawer entertainment (David Bereaux, 3 Canal and Natalia Dopwell). And that the President, who is the patron of the organisation, will be there. Or that there will be a door prize.

But the best part of the story is that the October event will raise money for a child trafficking awareness and education project to be launched next year. Oh yes, child trafficking is a reality; no head-in-the-sand escape for you, dear readers. So here is how you can be a good human being. The Ark is inviting corporate citizens (don’t you love that description?) to sponsor tables of 10 guests at the cost of $10,000 a table. Stop shrieking. It takes money to rescue the future. Individuals and civic organisations can also leap right in with their cheque books too.

Every penny goes where it is supposed to. The Ark has no secretary, office, or employees.  The president is Simone de la Bastide, whose husband former Chief Justice Michael de la Bastide is also on the board. The other directors include former First Lady Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards, attorney Vicki Assevero Mottley; businesswoman Dhisha Moorjani; and ob-gyn Dr K Achong-Low, who is the vice president. The projects they have successfully undertaken are really worthwhile causes—a new $600,000 30-seater bus for Goodwill Industries; books and educational tools for a pre-school in Beetham; equipment for  hippotherapy camps in Tobago and in Diego Martin; and a sports clinic at Hell Yard, Beetham, in conjunction with the Daren Ganga Foundation, with able support from the police and army.

Here’s a heartwarmer: at one Saturday sports session, a little boy named Akim peeped through a fence and asked what was taking place. Told it was a cricket and football clinic, he grew even more curious. His eyes sparkled. “That is Daren Ganga there?” he asked. Yes, indeed. “I in!” he cried, and through the fence he climbed, into the clinic and has been making good batting progress since.

We have to be our own heroes. Grown-ups have got things mucked up a bit but we can put the experience to work, and try to do better tomorrow. See you in October looking your philanthropic best.

PHILLIPS: CLAIRE passed away peacefully on 17th September, 2015. Daughter of Edmund (deceased) and Petronilla Phillips. Wife of Dave Clement. Mother of Azana and Aniya. Sister of Marjorie (Courtney deceased), Gabriel (Jemma deceased), George (deceased) (Mary), Harold (Charmaine), Michael (Avion), Anthony (Pamela) and Marcia.

Sister-inlaw of Wayne (Cheryl), Dianne and Wendel. Daughter-in-law of Yolande (Horace deceased). Aunt of 15. Niece and Cousin of the Rudolfo, Holder, Aubin, and Smith Families and many others. Special friend of Cheryl and Gemma. Adopted Mother of many.

​Funeral service for the late Claire Phillips takes place at 10:00am on Tuesday 22nd September, 2015 at St. John’s R.C. Church, Diego Martin and thence to the St James Crematorium. For enquiries, please contact R. M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited, 223- 2007/637-2009.

COLLEY: MERYL Thecla died on 15th September, 2015. Sister of Annette, Willard, Robert (deceased), James, Peter, Reuben (deceased), John (deceased) & Joel. Ex wife of Hector. Mother of Al, Aeneas, Annesha & Asia. Grandmother of Naila & Nyeem.

Aunt of Oral, Christopher, Debra, Mario, Akins, Naomi, Asha & many more. Sister in law of Carol, Ann, Jennifer & Sonia. Relative of the Timothy, Hinds, Hudson, Paul, Achilles, Campbell, Atherton and Roxborough families.

Funeral Service will be held at the Divine Destiny Worship Centre, Diego Martin Main Road, opposite Sadonyx Drive, Diego Martin on Tuesday 22nd September 2015 at 10:00am.

​Followed by a burial at Cameron Road Public Cemetery, Petit Valley. For enquiries; call Clark & Battoo: 625-1170. To send condolences please visit www.clarkandbattoo.com

MUNGO: VERNON Dennis formerly of Marabella departed this life peacefully, Sunday 13th September, 2015 at the age of 80 years. He will be lovingly remembered as the Relative of the Mungo, Quashie and Phillip families.

​The funeral service in celebration and Thanksgiving for the life of late Vernon Dennis Mungo will take place at10.00am on Monday 21st September, 2015 at St. Mark’s Angilcan Church, Techier Road,Point Fortin followed by a cremation at Belgroves Crematorium at 2:00pm.

In Leiu of Flowers a collection will be taken up to aid the music program at the Point Fortin Anglican School. Enquires can be made at Belgroves Funeral Home & Crematorium at 223- 2178. To extend condolences to the family of Vernon Dennis Mungo please logon to www.belgroves. com