Aaron Wilson completes WASA ping pong hat-trick at the WASA Sports & Cultural Club, St Joseph on Thursday night.

In the title match, Wilson just back from a training stint in Spain dispatched of former top locally based player, Curtis Humphreys of the tournament host 11-3, 11-8, 11-4.

Earlier when the tournament served, off, Wilson, a two-time Caribbean Junior Singles champion and men’s bronze medal winner, eased past Faiz Mohammed and Ancil Russell in his three-player round-robin group.

Wilson then had a bye in the round-of-16 before he outplayed Gladiators’ Andrew Edwards 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 in their quarterfinals followed by an 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 defeat of top ranked local Yuvraaj Dookram of WASA in the semifinals.

Humphreys also won his round-robin series and received a last-16 bye ahead of wins over Class Three winner, Kwame Rodriguez of Carenage Blasters, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 and club mate Kenneth Parmanad 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 in the last-four

Dookram reached the last four courtesy knockout stage defeats of University of T&T’s Kyle Borneo, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 and Blasters’ top junior Joshua Maxwell 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 14-12 while Parmanand ousted Blasters’ national junior standout and recent Caribbean silver medal winner Luc O’Young 12-14, 11-5, 14-12, 11-6; and UTT’s Alaric Humphrey’s 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8

In the round-of-16, Edwards dumped Anson Lowkie of Powergen 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, Rodriguez overcame Ancil Russell of WASA, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5, Maxwell battled past WASA’s Kirk Mohammed13-11, 4-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8 and Alaric Humphreys stopped WASA’s Frankly Seechan 11-9, 11-6, 11-6.

Meanwhile, fresh off his win in the WASA Table Tennis Monthly Challenge Class One on Thursday night, Aaron Wilson will be fancied to take top honours when the T&T Table Tennis Association stages the Silver Bowl Tournament from tomorrow at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua from 9.30 am.

The men A-1 Division which serves off from 1.30 pm will feature all the top local players led by 2015 winner Wilson of Carenage Blaster, Curtis Humphreys, reigning champion Yuvraaj Dookram, Arun Roopnarine and Alaric Humphreys who have all been placed in the Fourth Tier which comprises 15 round-robin groups from which the top two will advance to the main draw knockout stage

In the women’s A Division which will see four groups of round-robin action, 2015 champion Linda Partap-Boodhan, Brittany Joseph, Catherine Spicer and 12-time national and tournament defending champion Aleena Edwards head the list of entries which also includes promising youngsters Shreya Maharaj, Chelsea Fong, Rayanna Boodhan and veteran pair, Merle Baggoo and Shirley John, at the end of which the top two qualifies to the quarterfinals.

The A-2 Open Third Tier features 11 groups from which two players will also qualify to the main draw with the likes of Shaquille Mitchell, Kamal Hunte, Finn Boss, Rawle Parsons, Laureston Special, Benoni Daniel, Jesse Dookie, Derron Douglas, Riad Abasali, Matthew Mootra, Ancil Rusell and Sherdon Pierre all listed to compete.

In the B-2 Pool, Neville Cabie and N’Kosi Rouse are the favourites while in C, the field is a wide open one. Tomorrow, all other categories will conclude with the crowning of champions, except for the A-1 men and women Open, which will play up the last-16 and semifinals ahead of Wednesday’s final day of competition at the same venue from 6.30pm.

After two days of the 22nd annual Tobago International Billfish Tournament in Charlotteville, Surf N Turf is a cut above the rest.

Captained by Barry Singh George, the crew of Surf N Turf reeled in and released six blue marlins on the opening day on Wednesday for a total of 3,100 points. Although their returns on Day 2 of the tournament paled in comparison with just one blue marlin caught, the crew moved up to 3,750 points which keeps them in the lead in the international category, being contested by twelve boats.

The women anglers shone on the second day as Allison Devaux of Pair-a-Dice, landed her second straight wahoo of the tournament in the international division, following up Wednesday’s catch with a 36.10 pound catch on Thursday.

Tachelle Mohammed of Men of Steel brought a 23.60 pound wahoo to the scales for her boat which is competing in the local division while Remember Me Now’s Tricia Lynch was on target for the second straight day for her Barbadian crew when she caught and released a blue marlin. She also hooked a blue marlin the previous day.

The anglers are on a rest day on Friday and will continue action on Saturday, the final day of the tournament. Seventy-seven (77) anglers aboard 20 vessels are competing for top honours with entries from Tobago, Trinidad, Grenada and Barbados.

(sportscoretobago)

Lancaster Bomber is set to resume hostilities on the famous Rowley Mile course, Newmarket, this afternoon; a heavy landing is expected to save bookmakers a massive pay-out on appropriately-named stable-companion, Churchill!

Back in the second World War it was Sir Winston Churchill’s government which commissioned use of Lancaster bombers in the six-year fight against Germany. More than SEVEN THOUSAND Lancaster’s were built and night bombing raids paved the way for eventual success; it was an incredible aircraft and now, SEVENTY-FIVE years after its first sortie, this Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is already to do battle in the £500000, ten-runner, group one, 2000 Guineas.

Final reminder; this very same Rowley Mile was taken over by the War Office days before Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlin, announced war against ‘Jerry’ after Adolf Hitler failed to keep his word about a cease fire.

‘They knew’ and we know that Lancaster Bomber is massively-fancied by O’Brien whose supposed main fancy is hot-favourite, Churchill!

Back in October you may recall Ryan Moore-ridden Churchill beating Lancaster Bomber by just over a length in the group one ‘Dewhurst’ over seven furlongs, which has long been the definitive juvenile ‘classic trial’ and the barometer for pricing up and analyis this time round.

Of course we’re not totally convinced Lancaster Bomber will reverse placings, the winner looked and raced magnificently but he hasn’t been out since and my each-way selection raced genuinely when fourth in Dubai a few weeks ago.

On the time-handicap both have an edge over the English contingent, Barney Roy, winner of the ‘Greenham’ and Eminent, course and distance winner last month of the Craven Stakes, which has long been a pointer.

They are TH ‘beauts’ on what, hopefully, will prove a glorious reminder of what to expect when involved in a Battle of Britain!

Fran Berry’s blog on Guineas weekend

Top jockey Fran Berry looks ahead to a Classic weekend at Newmarket and a good book of rides at Goodwood today.

It was disappointing on the day to be beaten on Intern in the Classic Trial at Sandown but in hindsight he ran a tremendous race.

He only went down by a head to Cunco and it was a lovely first run for the stable and of the season. He’s a nice horse to have in the yard and hopefully he can develop into a contender for the King Edward VII Stakes.

He is still in the Derby and the Lingfield trial could be an option but I would think that Royal Ascot is more likely.

I rode against Ajman Princess at Royal Ascot last year and also in some of her maidens so I know her quite well. She’s a nice ride to pick up for Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and her experience will stand her in good stead in the Betfred TV EBF Stallions Daisy Warwick Stakes at Goodwood.

She finished a fine second to Even Song in the Ribblesdale and had a good break after flopping in the Irish Oaks. She was entitled to win her maiden but it’s still a plus that she’s got a run under her belt this season.

Le Diner en Blanc is back! The much anticipated all-white event is taking place today at a secret location.

Last year’s inaugural edition saw more than 600 guests converge on Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, for this mysterious pop-up picnic.

Dean Ackin of Ultimate Events told the T&T Guardian, “the event was very well received last year, so that created a lot of interest for this year and we’ve seen an increase in patronage.”

Ackin called Diner en Blanc,“a niche event with wide appeal.”

He said: “The range of people who are coming to the event are from different backgrounds and ages. Many of them prefer a laid back atmosphere where they can enjoy great food, drink and company.

“Most of the people who came last year enjoyed the atmosphere and really got into making their tables special. A lot of new friends were probably formed then as well.”

Launched nearly 30 years ago in Paris, Diner en Blanc promotes friendship, elegance, and a sense of community. It is now held in over 70 cities in more than 25 countries around the world. In the Caribbean, Diner en Blanc has been held in Jamaica and Haiti.

Junior Achievement T&T (JATT) hosted the biggest trade fair in its history with 46 companies, comprising more than 1,000 students, offering a wide range of products for sale at the organisation’s annual signature event at Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain, on Friday, April 21.

Minister of Labour and Small and Micro-Enterprise Development, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus visited several of the booths. She underscored her ministry’s support of the JA youth enterprise development initiative: “We reaffirm the major role that co-operatives play in the economic and social life of the people of T&T. It is heartening to see young people engaging in different forms of business activity. They represent the future of our country’s business and enterprise. This is a positive reflection on what our youths can achieve.”

The Labour Minister said discussions were being held with the Minister of Education, Anthony Garcia, with the purpose of creation of a space in every school to advance the concept of the co-operative enterprise module.

Joel Primus, Community Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations Advisor, representing platinum sponsor bpTT, said the energy company was honoured to continue its enduring partnership with Junior Achievement, dating back to the 1970s.

He said: “We at bpTT believe that initiatives such as the JA Trade Fair are aligned with our aspiration that calls on us to be involved in the development of everyone in T&T. The work that our partners such as Junior Achievement and others do helps us to achieve this goal. It is imperative to highlight the achievements of young people and the work of organisations like JA at a time when there are so many negative stories.”

JATT celebrated its 47th Annual Trade Fair as Woodford Square was turned into a virtual bazaar. Student entrepreneurs peddled a wide variety of handcrafted products such as printed T-shirts, wrist and hand-bands, earrings, bracelets, souvenir buttons, designer mugs and bakery items.

Karyl Williams, Commissioner for Co-operative Development, Ministry of Labour, said the ministry would start measures to get more credit unions involved in the programme. Some 14 companies were supported by the Division of Co-operative Development through various credit unions.

Ashley Davies, President of Ellipsiis, one of 10 bpTT-sponsored companies, said the programme, while challenging at times, was a wonderful experience as her colleagues received valuable insights into planning and forming the company.

“To do all this from scratch and to come to Port-of-Spain to sell our products is extremely satisfying. We intend to sell all our items today,” said a confident Davies, a student of St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando. Ellipsiis sold items such as mason jars and personal trinkets such as handbands, hair pieces, necklaces and caps.

Earlier, JA executive director, J Errol Lewis, said at the formal opening of the trade fair: “When you look at the news, you would think that young people are only involved in negative things. Yet you have hundreds of young men and women coming together in Woodford Square today to bring value to T&T.” Lewis praised bpTT and the Ministry of Labour’s Division of Co-operative Development for their significant support of the youth enterprise programme.

From developing your own signature sauce business to processing candied fruits and pickled vegetables, 60 young people from the Mayaro community learned some valuable skills in developing their own small agro-businesses at a recently concluded training programme.

The Youth Entrepreneurship in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) was held at the bpTT Mayaro Resource Centre. The YEAP is a collaborative effort between the Agriculture Ministry, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri) and energy company bpTT. It focuses on creating avenues for entrepreneurship, innovation and employment in agro-industry for residents of Mayaro and environs.

Spilt into three day-long workshops, the programme was conceived by Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat almost a year ago.

The minister was present at the final training session, at which the young entrepreneurs made mixed pickles and hot chow chow. The minister interacted with the participants and praised the programme, saying: “YEAP was very comprehensive and delivered in-depth information about every aspect of being a businessperson, from technology to techniques and the inherent need for professionalism. The benefits don’t end today, because some of the participants will be selected for the Business Incubator Programme. I’m proud of everyone who took part and I look forward to purchasing your products in the very near future.”

Joel Primus, Community Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations Advisor, bpTT, underscored the company’s partnership in the programme. “Fostering entrepreneurship is one of the pillars of bpTT’s corporate philosophy and this programme was able to achieve that with a high level of excellence. It provided a different perspective on agriculture and also inculcated valuable skills that included good manufacturing practices, sanitation and packaging. The impact of this programme has national and even international potential because all it takes is one brilliant idea to change the world. The response from the participants was great encouragement in our drive to invest in the development of people.”

Also on hand to lend support was Cariri’s Chief Executive Officer, Liaquat Ali Shah, who encouraged the participants to believe in themselves. He said: “You are now well equipped for a new and exciting world of opportunity and just as you have improved yourselves, you need to take Mayaro and our nation forward as well.”

For 25-year-old Afeisha Rodney of New Lands Village, Guayaguayare, the project was a transformative experience. She said: “I work at a popular catering establishment and I will take back what I learnt to share with my co-workers and increase the capacity of the business. I have a degree in Biochemistry and I appreciated how scientific methodology was incorporated into the training. We owe a dept of gratitude to the Ministry, Cariri and bpTT because, at the end of the day, there are now 60 young people in Mayaro with a renewed vision and new skills who are ready to make a difference.”

The Dyslexia Association will be running three courses this year to better train 60 teachers to help students with dyslexia, according to a recent release from the Massy Foundation, which is providing funding.

The new courses will include teacher assessments and multi-sensory teaching skills to be applied to reading, handwriting, spelling, the perception of sounds in words, sequencing, listening, language skills, story writing, essay planning, comprehension and lesson planning.

Dyslexia, the learning disability which impacts a person’s ability to read, write, spell, and in some cases, comprehend, does not equate to low intelligence, the release explained. Research has shown that dyslexics simply learn differently and can blossom once they are exposed to the right teaching methods. With this in mind, the Dyslexia Association focuses on training teachers in specialised skills for educating dyslexics.

The Massy Foundation provides an annual subvention to the Dyslexia Association for the multi-sensory phonics teaching programme. This funding helps reduce the cost of participation for individual teachers at the three-week training course which traditionally begins in July each year.

The Association has so far trained over 900 teachers throughout T&T. It has also put dyslexic students and adults in touch with teachers within their area for screening and specialist tutoring.

Okay I am a sceptic, I am guilty, I always put local produce first. So when kale first started to appear on our grocery shelves, it was imported kale—dark, curly, tough leaves, with even tougher stems. “Oh no”, I thought, “that’s not for me.” I kept on enjoying fresh local watercress, local lettuce, chorai bhaji, pak choi and callaloo bhaji. A year or so later, because our farmers are brilliant, local kale started to appear in our groceries and at the market, but at a very high price.

I was hesitant and so ignored this local kale.

Fast forward to last Sunday, whilst trolling the Namdevco farmers market in Debe, I spotted a large stall, loaded with green bunches of unidentifiable produce.

Upon approaching I realised that his stall was crammed full of a variety of locally grown kale. What a beauty it was: there was curly kale, Chinese kale, dinosaur kale and purple kale, along with forest bhagee, mustard greens and morai greens.

The price was $5 per bunch, and I took one of each. Each night for dinner this week, I’ve eaten a different variety of kale. Easy to eat, easy to cook and quite delicious too! I cooked them all the same way: chopped the leaves and the stalks if they seemed tender, sautéed them in coconut oil and garlic and sprinkled with a touch of sea salt.

The purple kale has slacker leaves with pretty lavender like stalks, gentle flavour and not so tough leaves. The Chinese kale was the most tender of all and quite juicy. I added a touch of Smoked shoyu in place of the salt. The regular curly kale was tougher in texture but still flavourful, as greens go in the flavour zone. And the dinosaur kale, aptly named, as the leaves resemble the roughness of the dinosaur skin, was a bit more bitter than the rest. However what is my take on these local varieties? They are more tender and more flavourful than our imported competition.

Kale can be enjoyed sautéed, in stir-fries, in quiche and in pies. So go ahead and have a kale moment—or moments—as I did this week. It does not pale in comparison to our other greens, but rather adds a bit of diversity for us to enjoy.

KALE IN OYSTER SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp oyster sauce

1/2 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tbsp coconut oil

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 small onion, sliced

2 bunches kale, washed and cut into one-inch pieces, stalks removed if tough

Sea salt to taste

METHOD:

Combine oyster sauce with corn starch and sesame oil. Set aside.

Heat oil in a wok, add garlic, ginger and onion, and sauté until it is fragrant.

Add kale and sprinkle with salt. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently for a few minutes only. Once it has lost its volume, add the oyster sauce mixture, and cook until liquid is thick, a few minutes. Do not overcook. Remove.

Serves four.

PEPPERY KALE CUSTARD PIE

INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

1 pimento pepper, seeded and chopped

1/2 hot pepper, seeded and chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

4 bunches Chinese kale, leaves and stalks washed and sliced into one half-inch pieces

4 eggs

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Heat sauté pan. Add oil, garlic, onion, and peppers. Sauté until fragrant—about four minutes.

Add kale and cook just until wilted and bright green. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat eggs, add nutmeg, salt and pepper, milk and cheese.

Stir in kale.

Pour mixture into a greased pie plate about ten inches in diameter.

Bake for 30 minutes until firm to the touch.

Serves six to eight

School teacher Leah Fouchong is the founder of Coexistence Expeditions (CE), an environmental enterprise aimed at promoting environmental awareness, education and empowerment through environmental advocacy. Her group is now aligned to the Cariri Business Hatchery programme which is assisting Fouchong in developing and streamlining the business of CE.

Speaking a bit about CE, Fouchong said: “I am currently employed as a geography teacher which has constantly maintained my love and passion for environment. Environmental advocacy is achieved by providing guided, safe, educational and fun eco friendly tours to outdoor enthusiasts.”

Fouchong’s passion about environmental issues, propelled her desire to pursue higher education. “In 2012, I was awarded a Caribbean Pacific Scholarship (CARPIMS) to pursue a Masters in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development for the Caribbean,” she revealed. “This programme is offered by the Life Sciences Department, University of the West Indies, in partnership with three other universities – University of Belize, University of Guyana and the University of Suriname. This scholarship afforded me the opportunity to pursue the blended programme at any of the aforementioned universities.”

Continuing Fouchong added: “The University of Belize was chosen because the field practicum for this Masters programme was focused on the marine environment. Through experiencing life and studying in Belize I found a greater love and appreciation for this field of study. While there I attained my certification as a rescue scuba diver and as a result of this amazing experience, my interests were broadened as I had the opportunity to explore new and different aspects of the environment.”

The University’s field station and the Turneffe Atoll, part of the Belize Barrier Reef, became Fouchong’s home for three months as she collected data for her final thesis. “During that time,” she said, “I felt like I was home and didn’t miss being away from people for even one minute. After, completing the programme, I gained a greater sense of appreciation and passion for environmental issues as the people of Belize were very environmentally conscious and this quickly became a part of my life.”

Upon returning to Trinidad in February 2014, Fouchong found herself desiring to do more for our environment. She said: “This new found passion became my drive to make a change which began with volunteering with many environmental organisations such as the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network and Eco Divers. While volunteering with these organisations, my life was profoundly impacted and I wanted to do more to protect and conserve our dynamic environment.

“This led me to explore T&T through different eyes and my recreation quickly grew into an environmental enterprise. In November 2014, I created a Facebook page to disseminate environmental education, showcase the beauty of our environment and promote the protection and preservation of the environment. This was just the beginning of Coexistence Expeditions and my weekends became filled with road trips, exploring our unique environment with friends. I would post pictures of the places we visited to my Facebook page and this peaked further interest in my explorations from my followers.”

CE was officially registered in 2015 as a small business and began offering tours to the public. Fouchong then enrolled in the Cariri Business Hatchery programme which assisted her in developing and streamlining the business of CE. She said: “Although, focusing on the business side of things, my greatest desire was for Coexistence Expeditions to stand out from similar businesses by maintaining its advocacy on behalf of the environment.

“Our mission therefore, is to empower citizens to become environmentally conscious in an effort to protect and conserve our environment while enjoying eco-friendly tours, hence our aims include promoting awareness on how citizens can live in harmony with the environment; utilising the environmental resources sustainably; and, maintaining, enjoying and protecting the environment for future generations.”

Contact Coexistence Expeditions

CE continues to offer a wide range of expeditions and tours under the following categories: Eco Tourism tours, outdoor expeditions, culture and heritage tours, adventure activities, road trips and beaches.

It can be found on all major social media forums:

Blog : http://coexistenceexpeditions.wordpress.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/environmentalcoexistence

Instagram: Coexistence_Expeditions

Twitter : coexistence_1

Email: coexistenceexpeditions@gmail.com

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says there is now a heightened need for an inquiry into the recent purchase of Massy Communications by TSTT for $255 million.

Persad-Bissessar made the call during a press conference during yesterday’s tea break in the Parliament, in the wake of two new pieces of information she said her party received.

She said TSTT had taken out a $1.9 billion deed of debenture from Republic Bank and the purchase price for Massy Communications was $30 million in excess of the board-approved limit.

The former prime minister said: “This definitely demands that an enquiry be done with respect to the entire (Massy/TSTT) deal and now this $1.9 billion dollar loan.”

Chaguanas West MP Ganga Singh then read a document which he claimed was the board minutes of TSTT meeting dated March 15, 2017.

Among those who attended that meeting were chairman Emile Elias and directors Wendell Berkeley, Vishnu Dhanpaul, Annalean Inniss, Ingrid Lashley and Judith Sobion. He said Director Gerry Brooks was excused from that meeting.

Singh said the minutes stated that “it was further agreed that the negotiating team, which will include the chairman, the chief executive officer and the corporate secretary should negotiate a price up to a limit of $225 million.”

He said the minutes further sated: “Should there be a need to exceed that limit, the approval of members of the board will be required.”

Singh said based on what was said by Elias and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, the agreement price for the acquisition of Massy Communications was $255 million.

Singh said there was $30 million to be accounted for as $255m was in excess of the approved maximum limit by the TSTT board.

Singh said: “There was no such agreement by the (TSTT) board (and) at the board meeting yesterday Mr Elias indicated that he sent an email and that was sufficient for him.”

According to Singh, the board members “were adamant that they had not agreed to the price of $255 million.”

Singh said with respect to the issue of due diligence and the issue of a valuation, “how did Mr Elias and the (TSTT) negotiating team agree to that sum of an additional $30 million?”

Persad-Bissessar then said Cabinet members were “washing their hands of this matter.” She said while the Prime Minister has said the matter was discussed in the Cabinet, other ministers have said they were unaware of it.

She noted that there were discrepancies from what was agreed at the board level. She said it now appears that the TSTT board “had not given final approval for this acquisition” and called for an enquiry.

She said the purchase was at a time when citizens were experiencing severe economic hardship. She said TSTT borrowed $1.9 billion from Republic Bank and then “you buy out a company where you have interlocking directorates.”

Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal added that this latest matter was the third involving the Prime Minister and a contractor. He said the population would like to know “where the money gone.”

Elias could not be reached for comment yesterday as calls to his cellphone went unanswered.

Unable to get food to feed his three children as his country remains in turmoil, a Venezualan man sneaked into the country on a boat to buy food, but was caught and charged for entering the country illegally.

After Luis Benitez, 34,  explained his situation yesterday, San Fernando Fourth Court Magistrate Indira Missir-Gosine gave him a chance and reprimanded and discharged him.  This means that no conviction will be recorded against him. 

The charge laid by Cpl Howard alleged that on Friday April 21 he illegally entered T&T.

Prosecutor Sgt Krishna Bedassie said on May 2 he was arrested by the South Western Task Force officers and handed over to the Immigration Division Enforcement Unit. Bedassie said a check revealed he left Trinidad on June 8, 2016 and there was no record of him coming back here. With the assistance of spanish translator Rachel Gosine,  Benitez said he worked with the Venezuelan Social Security as an assistant administrator.  

Asked what he was doing here, Benitez said: “Because of the situation in my country where we don’t have food and it is very, very hard. Ninety per cent of Venezuelan’s eat only twice for the day sometimes. I came here to get food to take for my family.”

Benitez, who has a common law wife and three daughters ages 16, 15 and four, said he entered through Icacos via boat.

After the matter, Benitez said to the magistrate: “A thousand thanks to you for your understanding.”

Immigration officers took Benitez into custody and arrangements will be made for him to be deported.

A family dispute over land has been blamed for the shooting death of a Tunapuna man yesterday by his relative—a police officer on suspension.

Relatives of the dead man, 24-year-old Raj Singh, claimed that less than a month ago the shooter had threatened to kill Singh.

According to police, around 7 am, the officer and his wife were arguing with Singh and other relatives over summons to appear in court today for a charge of obscene language against the officer’s wife.

Police reports stated that there was an altercation at Picton Street Extension, in which the officer claimed he was attacked and used his personal firearm to defend himself.

During the attack, the officer said, he sustained a gash to the face and had to seek medical attention.

Relatives of the dead man disputed the police version of events.

The relatives, including 15-year-old, Brentley Barker, said there is an ongoing dispute between the family over a parcel of land.

At least five members of the extended family had ongoing court cases filed against them by the officer’s wife. Barker said that around 7 am, officers of the Tunapuna Police Station served summons to four members of the family, including himself and Singh to appear in court for using obscene language against the officer’s wife.

Barker said after the summons were handed to them and the officers left there was a “cuss out” between the two opposing families.

The argument ecalated and stones were thrown at each other, Barker said.

After the pelting ceased, the off-duty officer began firing at Singh and others, Barker said as he pointed to a bullet hole in a wall. Singh ran off and was shot to the back of the head, he said.

Relatives believed that they will not get justice as the off-duty officer had been “victimising” them repeatedly and reports to the Tunapuna Police Station were never acted on.

Barker’s father, Sean, said he had visited the Police Complaints Authority twice to file reports about the officer and to date nothing has been done.

The family is hoping for a proper investigation which will not include officers who graduated with the suspended police officer.

In an unrelated killing, police said 36-year-old Curt Dubarry, of Picton Road, Laventille was walking near the Inter-Agency Task Force base along Picton Road when he was ambushed and shot.

Police said the shooting was linked to the ongoing war between the opposing Muslim and Rasta City gangs.

The shooting, police said, took place around 8 am and police later arrested a man from the area in relation to the shooting.

Dubarry, police said, had recently returned to the area after fleeing for some time before.

Unable to get food to feed his three children as his country remains in turmoil, a Venezualan man sneaked into the country on a boat to buy food, but was caught and charged for entering the country illegally.

After Luis Benitez, 34,  explained his situation yesterday, San Fernando Fourth Court Magistrate Indira Missir-Gosine gave him a chance and reprimanded and discharged him.  This means that no conviction will be recorded against him.

The charge laid by Cpl Howard alleged that on Friday April 21 he illegally entered T&T.

Prosecutor Sgt Krishna Bedassie said on May 2 he was arrested by the South Western Task Force officers and handed over to the Immigration Division Enforcement Unit. Bedassie said a check revealed he left Trinidad on June 8, 2016 and there was no record of him coming back here. With the assistance of spanish translator Rachel Gosine,  Benitez said he worked with the Venezuelan Social Security as an assistant administrator. 

Asked what he was doing here, Benitez said: “Because of the situation in my country where we don’t have food and it is very, very hard. Ninety per cent of Venezuelan’s eat only twice for the day sometimes. I came here to get food to take for my family.”

Benitez, who has a common law wife and three daughters ages 16, 15 and four, said he entered through Icacos via boat.

After the matter, Benitez said to the magistrate: “A thousand thanks to you for your understanding.”

Immigration officers took Benitez into custody and arrangements will be made for him to be deported.

Sylvia Bonas, who spent last night in a prison cell for allegedly impersonating a police officer at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court yesterday, will reappear in the same court today.

The 22-year-old accountant was arrested yesterday after officers became suspicious after they saw Bonas wearing a black jersey with words police and the T&T Police Service logo and motto on it inside the courthouse.

It is alleged that she told PC Crawford she was a police officer, but when he asked her for her police identification card she could not produce it. She was charged after inquires revealed she was not a member of the TTPS.

Bonas, of Laventille Road, San Juan, was taken before Justice of the Peace Sandra Soogrim-Ramsaran at the court where the charge of impersonating a police officer was read to her. However, she was not asked to enter a plea and was remanded into custody to reappear before a magistrate today.

Government will be removing ineffective CDAP drugs - such as for diabetes and hypertension - since anecdotal complaints about such drugs have proven to be fact, says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.

He said the drugs come from India and some of the drugs which found itself in T&T’s supply chain aren’t authorised to be sold nationwide in India save for only one Indian state, he said.

“So we’re looking at the issue, I want to give the national community that commitment - from this cycle we’re going to change the procurement pattern,” he said.

Deyalsingh was speaking in Parliamentary debate on the report of the Standing Finance Committee yesterday. At issue was a $1.3b variation for the 2017 Budget.

Deyalsingh said taxpayers have been short -changed for years when they can’t get certain drugs. But he said certain changes will now be made in getting drugs.

He said he was sure his predecessors had received the sort of complaints that he had: that CDAP drugs for diabetes and high blood pressure weren’t working.

Since becoming Minister, he said he had been bombarded with anecdotal evidence about this. But he said a decision couldn’t be made without basis to move on.

He said Pan American Health Organisation has been engaged to do an analysis.

“And I’m satisfied the anecdotal evidence can now be supported by fact and we’ll be coming and taking off those drugs that have proven to be ineffective and from this cycle we’re going to change the procurement system as our patients on CDAP need to be assured that drugs they’re taking to treat their chronic conditions are safe and effective.”

He said drugs to prevent post-partum bleeding will be added to the list.

Five type of oncology drugs will also be added to the formulary including for brain cancers, leukaemia and other issues. He said there is a global shortage of many classes of drugs including oncology drugs.

Deyalsingh said chemotherapy drugs which were mixed at the St James Medical Complex were sent to the San Fernando General Hosptial yesterday.

UNC MP Dr Fuad Khan who spoke after, said he agreed with Deyalsingh’s statements.

On the CDAP drug issue, he said, he had also heard anecdotal information that the CDAP drugs weren’t working.

He said he was told the Food and Drug Division tested all drugs, so it was “news” to him that wasn’t occurring. He said he was glad the situation was being spotlighted so “we can see where the sheep and goats lie.”

Three cancer patients got chemotherapy at the San Fernando Oncology Centre yesterday, as the first batch of mixed drugs were sent down to the San Fernando Oncology Centre from the St James Medical Complex.

A source said the drugs arrived on Wednesday evening and three patients who were in desperate need of treatment were facilitated yesterday.

Another batch of chemotherapy drugs was expected to be sent down yesterday so that another 13 other patients can receive treatment today.

Several cancer patients who have been awaiting treatment since February said they were hopeful that the Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh will make good on his promise to hire two more pharmacists to work at the Centre.

Sawack Ramdath said he has been waiting since February to get two sessions of chemotherapy for colon cancer. “People are really suffering in this country and it is unfair because even though we pay taxes we cannot get basic cancer medicine,” Ramdath said.

Since Monday, scores of terminally ill patients have been turned away from the centre after the lone pharmacist called in sick. Services had been curtailed since February after another pharmacist resigned from her position to take up a post at Tobago Regional Health Authority.

Since then only 13 patients have been receiving chemotherapy three times for the week, instead of 26 patients five days a week. The curtailment triggered a backlog which was exacerbated this week when all chemotherapy services were cancelled after the lone pharmacist fell ill.

Deyalsingh announced on Monday that training for two new pharmacists have already started. Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority Anil Gosine in an earlier interview said chemotherapy will be mixed at the North West, North Central and Eastern Regional Health Authorities and sent down to San Fernando over the next two weeks.

Once the pharmacists are placed on duty, Gosine said full oncology services will resume from May 21.

As her killer raised a blade to deliver the vicious chop that ended her life, Gasparillo housewife Savitri Mohammed could not scream. She had been knocked unconscious by a blow to the head and her mouth and nose were plastered with duct tape.

The single blow that ultimately killed her severed her windpipe, throat and spinal cord, an autopsy done by forensic pathologist Dr Valerie Alexandrov at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, found yesterday.

Killed in her Bonne Aventure Road home on Wednesday morning, Mohammed’s life was snuffed out within minutes, Alexandrov told the T&T Guardian. He said Mohammed, 55, was punched once in the face, with the blow probably rendering her unconscious. Her killer then used duct tape to bind her ankles and wrists and covered her mouth and nose before chopping her neck so powerfully she was almost decapitated. He said the weapon was possibly heavy like a cutlass and the killer had to be very strong to execute such forceful, vicious blows.

“She sustained a severe, single chop wound to the left neck, almost decapitating her. So deep was the wound inflicted with a heavy weapon, that the amount of force that the person used, it severed her spine and she had a huge haemorrhage on her right face, covering her eye, so that person had to be really strong,” Alexandrov said.

Following Mohammed’s murder on Wednesday, her husband Sadiq, 43, told police he had left her at home around 10 am and gone to the bank. When he returned around noon, he said he found her lying dead on their bed with a wound to her neck. Police said there was no forced entry to the house, suggesting either the door was left open or Mohammed knew her killer.

Homicide detectives said a close male relative who gave them a statement on Wednesday was not considered a suspect. Up to late yesterday no suspects were identified, but police said they were hoping the autopsy results would assist their investigation.

Mohammed, a former cashier at Princess Cosmetics in San Fernando, was one of three women murdered in the last nine days. A funeral service is tentatively set for tomorrow.

Four girls who went missing from the St Dominic’s Children’s Home in Belmont may have been assisted by staff, police said yesterday.

The girls who were identified as Angel Farrel, 16, her sister Niana, 15, Parbatee Ragbir, 15 and Sumintra Jaikaran, 16, were last seen on the compound on Wednesday at about 11.30 am.

Police said they had information that the girls were headed to Sangre Grande.

The girls were reported missing to the Belmont Police Station by an employee of the home identified as Crystal Hospedales.

Angel is of mixed descent, five feet six inches tall and slim built, with a dark complexion, and her sister, Niana, is also of mixed descent with a brown complexion and slim built.

Ragbir is of East Indian descent, slim built, light brown in complexion and has short black hair. Police said she has a foreign accent.

Jaikaran is of East Indian descent, wears glasses, is five feet six inches tall, medium built, dark brown in complexion and has short black hair.

A police source told the T&T Guardian “We have cause to believe that these girls were assisted by an employee. We also received information that they had a vehicle waiting for them.”

Anyone with information on their whereabouts are asked to call 800-TIPS or contact the police at 555, 999, 911 or the nearest police station.

Efforts to get a comment from officials at the home proved futile as all calls and messages went answered.

The newest member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission said yesterday that it appeared the body “acted on the basis of oral exchanges rather than certifiable facts” when it appointed former Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar as a High Court judge.

In an interview yesterday, Senior Counsel Ernest H Koylass said he based this opinion purely from what he read in the newspapers.

He said he would not criticise either the Commission nor the persons involved because he did not know enough.

Koylass made it clear that the matter should not be dealt with in such a way as to attract a political flavour.

He said: “We should be careful that in seeking to review with a view to improving our processes we do not destroy the trust that the public should have in the Commission and the Judiciary in the Administration of Justice.”

Koylass said he was making no criticism of the Commission as it was then constituted because he understood the basis upon which it may have acted.

As to recent appointments to the bench, Koylass said: “I know that there is a lot of concern, which is now in the public domain, but I consider the occasion may be propitious for the Commission to look afresh at its processes.”

“I may add a credible and useful voice towards refining a process that will satisfy all concerned and most importantly the public interest,” he said.

He said accepted President Anthony Carmona’s request to sit on the JLSC, the body that appoints judges, magistrates and other legal officers of the State, because he wanted to make a difference.

“I feel as though I have a responsibility to discharge and I am hopeful that I am equal to the challenge in taking up the appointment at a time of public concern as to the operations of the JLSC,” he said.

Koylass said when he was approached two weeks ago it was not the first time he had been asked to serve on the Commission.

“I was offered this position before and on that occasion for particular reasons I was not minded to accede to the invitation,” he said.

So why accept now in the midst of a raging firestorm which has resulted in pre-action protocol letters and a public outcry from within and outside the legal fraternity over the actions of the Commission?

Koylass said: “It is because of all of that, that I am taking up the responsibility at this time. I consider that as attorneys we have a responsibility to the profession and the society at large to serve by giving of our time and expertise.”

Only recently, 11 senior counsel met to discuss the controversy which has erupted over the JLSC’s handling of the appointment and subsequent resignation of Ayers-Caesar as a Judge of the High Court over unfinished cases in the magistrates court.

The issue about the selection of judges was first brought into the public domain by attorney and UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen who questioned the so called “robust process” used by the JLSC.

The Commission said Ayers-Caesar misled them on the number of outstanding matters which were before her.

Those over 50 matters remain hanging with no indication as yet from the Chief Justice as to how they would be dealt with.

Lawyers have argued that Ayers-Caesar cannot resume her role to complete the matters as she had already demitted that office and the cases would have to start afresh.

The Law Association will meet in special session on June 1, to discuss a motion calling for the resignation of the Chief Justice Ivor Archie who also sits as chairman of the JLSC, and members of the JLSC—retired judges Roger Hamel-Smith, Humphrey Stollmeyer and Maureen Manchouck, chairperson of the Public Service Commission—over their handling of the issue.