Controversy surrounds the kidnapping and release of the step-daughter of Krystiana Sankar, the step-daughter of Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young.

This after Young denied he or any other close family member made any ransom payment in the wake of a T&T Police Service statement that Sankar, 24, was released yesterday morning following a ransom payment, after she was snatched at a friend’s house in Diego Martin on Thursday.

Yesterday, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) tweeted: “The 24y/o was released at Morne Coco Road, Diego Martin, around 2 am on 13.04.18 after a $167,000 ransom was paid. She was kidnapped around 6.45 pm at Crystal Stream, Diego Martin, on 12.04.18.”

The T&T Guardian was told Sankar was at the home of a friend at Alfred Lane when two men—one armed with a gun and the other a cutlass—entered the house. Sankar was pointed out and taken at gunpoint into a waiting white panel van bearing a company logo.

Initial police reports suggested a ransom of $200,000 and five blocks of marijuana was demanded for her release. However, in a tweet the TTPS subsequently gave the monetary figure.

As the hours went by yesterday after Sankar’s release, however, no further information was forthcoming from the TTPS.

When the T&T Guardian visited the house where she was kidnapped at Alfred Lane, its gate was padlocked and no one came out when called out.

A resident in the area, who wished not to be identified, said she often saw “characters” frequenting the house.

“Some times loud music playing. It does have all kinds of young men in and out drinking and smoking. To me they look frightening, but we stay indoors because we do not want trouble to come our way. We see but we don’t see and hear nothing.”

Another resident, when questioned, walked off, placing his finger to his lips.

The T&T Guardian was also told that among police circles, information came to light that the 21-year-old son of Sea Lots community leader Cedric Burke was detained for questioning in connection with Sankar’s kidnapping. But a senior police officer, who wished not to be named, last evening said no one was arrested in connection with the kidnapping and investigations were continuing.

However, Burke, 43, who spoke to the T&T Guardian at Sea Lots yesterday, confirmed his son, Shaquille was “picked up” by the police early yesterday in Sea Lots.

He said whilst he did not receive any information it had anything to do with Sankar’s kidnapping, he was told by his attorney, who went to the station, his son was being questioned “into an inquiry over a firearm possession.”

Asked if there was any connection between his son and Sankar, or if they were friends, Burke said he did not know.

Burke said that his son had no criminal records and described him as a very educated individual with subject passes, having been schooled at Queen’s Royal College and the Southern Caribbean University.

Burke said he was told his son was approached by police some time after 4 am at Sea Lots and taken to Besson Street Police Station.

“I wasn’t around but usually my son would get up early to help his other brother with the fishing boats we have when it come in and that was why he was outside that hour in the morning. I heard that the police had him in a jeep.”

Meanwhile, in a release on Tuesday, the TTPS stated that reports of kidnappings went down by 21 per cent, with 39 of these crimes committed during the comparative period in 2017 as against 31 for 2018, thus far.

Investigations are continuing.

It was just not to be for Cleopatra Borel yesterday, as she missed out on a medal in the women’s shot put final at the Commonwealth Games here in Australia.

The field specialist fought gallantly to the end, which looked promising until the sixth and final round concluded as she was in bronze medal position. However, Canada’s Brittany Crew surpassed Borel on her last throw.

After five rounds and reduction from 12 to eight competitors in the medal event, Borel was in third spot after improving her throws gradually from 17.59 metres to be at 18.00 metres by the end of this round.

However, Crew’s final throw reached 18.32 metres to surpass Borel and although the local athlete gave her all again on her sixth attempt, improving to 18.05m, she had to settle for a tear-wrenching fourth

place.Borel opened with a 17.59m throw, the second measured 17.82m, her third reached 17.81m, before tossing the object 18.00m in her fourth try. She then got to 17.68m and 18.05m in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively.

Speaking to Guardian Media afterwards, Borel said, “The meet progressed in a good way. All of my throws were consistently getting better but on the sixth throw, the girl from Canada put one out there and that was it. Even though I improved on my last throw it wasn’t enough to regain the medal.

“But I am proud of what I did and I am proud of the meet I put together. We worked really hard to get here and the results were better than World Championships so we’re just going to keep working, keep plugging.”

The five-time “Sportswoman of the Year” admitted she was always wary of the dangerous Canadian.

“I was just preparing myself, don’t relax, get ready to respond. She is a spinner and spinners do stuff like that where they can make these throws. For instance I glide so I do the linear technique, which is just moving back, but she does a rotational technique and with this technique you can put a big score together out of nowhere and is what she did tonight (yesterday).

“She put it together on the last throw so I was cognizant of that and I said to myself do not relax, get ready, just focusing and get ready to respond and I did that, I responded. My response was not good enough but I did not crumble and for that I am proud of myself.”

The eventual winner was Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd (19.36), with two-time Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams of New Zealand second (18.70) and Crew third.

4x400m, Waithe join 4x100 women, men stumble out

Yesterday, the T&T men’s 4x400m team and javelin thrower Shakeil Waithe joined the women’s 4x100m relay team in the final of their respective events while the men’s sprint relay team failed to get the baton around in the track at the Carrara Stadium.

T&T women’s team will line up in the final from lane eight at 12.37 am (TT time) today as there were only eight teams entered for the event.

Waithe was first in action in the men’s javelin throw and after a nervous start, finished in fifth in the first group with a throw of 75.21m and then overall 10th to advance as part of the top 12 into today’s final, which scheduled for 12.35 am (TT time).

With former World champion Julius Yego, of Kenya, crashing out at the first stage and no Keshorn Walcott through injury, the javelin event was expected to be an open affair.

Next up was the men’s 4x100m relay semifinals, with T&T’s Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Nathan Farinha and Emmanuel Callender, running in that order, competing from lane three. But there was a mix up between the second and third handover between Burns and Farinha, which led to T&T failing to complete the event.

“I made my move too early. Australia was right next to me and I got mixed up with the mark and so I ran too early,” said Farinha, clearly despondent. “This hurts so, so much.”

Burns added, “He showed me the marker he ran off from and I had to tell him that was the Australian mark not mine and therefore that is why he moved so fast. This happens, he is inexperienced and we all make mistakes in life. The challenge will be to recover from it and learn quickly. It was a case of jitters.”

Bledman meanwhile said, “I did not see what happen. I just came out and ran my race. The focus in these races is not about speed, it is about getting the stick around but things like these happen and he now needs to learn from this and move on.”

Callender sympathised with young Farinha.

“I feel his pain but we are in this together. We probably need to have more training sessions and a relay camp to iron out some of these things. We need to support him because I know he is hurting.”

Last up in the morning session was T&T’s World Championships gold-medal winning 4x400m squad of Renny Quow, Deon Lendore, Lalonde Gordon and Machel Cedenio in the second semifinal. T&T finished in fifth in a time of 3.05.84 and was promoted to fourth after Australia was disqualified.

The local quartet is expected to welcome back new 200m champion Jereem Richards, who collected his gold medal yesterday, for today’s final, carded for at 3.07 am (TT time). They will race from lane one.

T&T Under-16 netball team improved on its showing at the Caribbean netball Association (CNA) Jean Pierre Junior Championships which ended on Wednesday evening at the Vigie Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Castries, St Lucia.

The local team, coach by Velma Hazelwood and Lystra Solomon-Simmons (assistant coach), returned on Thursday after placing fourth in the seven-team competition. In the previous competition, two years ago, T&T placed seventh.

Led by captain Esther James with support from vice-captain Tamiah Hernandez, the junior “Calypso Girls” ended with three wins and four losses.

The national netballers fell to Barbados, 27-21 in their opening match on Saturday, bounced back on Sunday to beat Grenada, 30-25 before falling to St Lucia (32-19) in their third affair. They next meet St Vincent and the Grenadines and prevailed 29-19 on Tuesday. On the final day, T&T played Jamaica and lost 38-7 but rebounded later in its final match to beat Dominica (27-21).

The “Reggae Girls” of Jamaica played unbeaten to earn the junior title, second was St Lucia and third was Barbados.

T&T junior team did pick up a bulk of awards including best team on parade and best dressed team and shooter Kelelicia George and Kalliyah Stephen were named to the top 16 of the tournament.

On Monday, T&T shooters Kelelicia George, Kayshanna Duncan and Kelaiah Stewart dominated the shooting competition, sealing the crown after combining to net 100 goals.

Jamaica was second with 93 and Barbados was third with 92.

Imran Khan started off his career as a batsman but today when he turns and bundles his long hair into a bun, he is about to unleash another deadly delivery that has left many batsmen dumbfounded.

Khan, the smiling assassin from Charlieville, has turned the current T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Premiership into his own show and has been sending batsmen back to the pavilion faster than a “Whatsapp” message.

The right-arm leg-spinner who is currently the most prolific bowler in the national set up for the Red Force, has taken 48 wickets in five ,rounds of matches for Alescon Comets cricket club.

On the weekend he demoralised PowerGen by taking 13 wickets in the match to give Comets victory and keep them at the top of the heap in the Premiership I standings.

In addition to his superb bowling he has also found form with the bat and got 76 two weeks ago as well.

Khan has played for Alescon Comets for his entire career and has stayed loyal to the club, even in bad times.

Now he will more than likely lead them to a Premiership title based on current form.

Prior to the domestic tournament, “Sharkie” as he is affectionately called was Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin’s go to man.

He grabbed 48 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 25.54 and a best haul of 6/59.

He was second only to Guyanese left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who collected 50 wickets in tournament.

The 33-year-old Khan has taken a whopping 368 wickets in 92 First Class matches at an average of 23.32.

The best innings bowling figures he has returned is 7/71 and his best match performance to date is 11/122.

Khan first played for T&T in First Class cricket way back in 2005 and has also played for the West Indies ‘A’ team, his first call coming in 2010.

He has also found favour with the Barbados Tridents in popular Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 (T20) tournament and will be looking to continue his great performances with them this year.

In the meantime, he continues to baffle local batsmen week-afterweek in the TTCB Premiership.

His performances cannot be underestimated as going into this year’s tournament, Comets were not in the national discussion as to who will win the title.

However, Khan together with fellow national players Rayad Emrit and Roshan Primus has really worked wonders at the club and they are now the team to beat.

Khan has also been talked about in regional circles as a man who can make a contribution at the highest level.

In the meantime, he continues to do only what he can and that is to address the selectors with brilliant bowling performances.

Anibale Fly represents the best time-handicap bet I’ve known this 21st century in the Grand National Handicap Chase over four and a half miles of ‘soft’ Aintree ground today; a replication of his third to Native River, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup over three and a quarter miles on similar ground at Cheltenham last month, would more than suffice.

On Thursday runner-up Might Bite confirmed that actual time-figure when winning the group one ‘Bowl’ by five lengths; only reservation is the intimidation factor of negotiating thirty fences and avoiding ‘in running’ problems but Anibale Fly, mount of Barry Geraghty, carrying colours of John P McManus, will doubtless ‘travel’ superbly, such is his class, among run-of-themillm handicappers. None would be within twenty lengths of Native River at level weights.

Prior to his latest effort Anibale Fly comfortably landed a gamble when winning a twenty-eight-runner handicap in Ireland.

A welter burden isn’t at issue, according to shrewd Irish trainer, Tony Martin, ‘he’s a big, strong horse’ obviously capable of carrying weights.

Space isn’t at a premium but there is little more to write, given such superiority, based on recent ‘classic’ form with every conceivable box ticked.

Incidentally my first article as a racing tipster/correspondent was back in 1970 when the personally computed time-handicap pinpointed Gay Trip, winner under the late, great, Pat ‘Arkle’ Taafe, at 20/1.

Several years went by before the same ‘feel’ recurred and Gold Cup winner, Garrison Savannah, was sensationally beaten by lowweighted Seagram; subsequently this column nominated Rough Quest as nigh on a ‘cert’ and afterwards jockey Mick Fitzgerald couldn’t hide his emotions and said winning was ‘better than sex!’

Mick’s wife divorced him!

Six years ago ‘it’ happened again but Sunnyhillboy, a monster eachway punt, was beaten a shorthead, in the last stride.

At one time the ‘Worlds greatest horserace’ was solved by process of elimination but daunting fences have been modified and speed is now firmly at issue; Anibale Fly should win and I’ll be surprised if ‘JP’ doesn’t shorten him in betting exchanges.

Promising in a Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight!

Six attempts have yielded five placings for this consistent Invincible Spirit filly, latest was a fortnight ago when Promising failed narrowly on her seasonal debut, beaten half a length by heavily-backed George Of Hearts over seven furlongs of Chelmsford polytrack.

This wont be easy, in fact with Roger Varian and John Gosden represented by Hermosita and Tivoli respectively, not to mention others with scope, Promising might need to hit something like the mark achieved when 3rd (of 11) in the group three ‘Fred Darling’ at Newbury last April. Richard Hannon’s charge was reckoned a genuine prospect for the 1000 Guineas.

If she doesn’t win...!

The Glenn Mendez trained Caesar’s Country makes his belated appearance today in the feature event for imported threeyear- old and over maidens and horses rated 75-50 going over a distance of 1,750 metres.

This event sees two trainers Glenn Mendez and Harriram Gobin saddling two entrants in the main event at Santa Rosa Park in Arima.

Mendez will have Caesar Country and Hurricane Harry to fly the stable flag with Ricky Jadoo opting for Caesar Country.

This horse was highly regarded at a juvenile and finished second in the Guineas before disappointing later in his career.

He makes his return to racing for a very shrewd trainer and could return to winning ways.

Stablemate Hurricane Harry is expected to run a bold race and could upset the applecart if his more vaunted stablemate does not fire.

Glenn Mohammed saddles two runners in Hello and Peace N Glory and both must be respected on their best form.

Hello is attractively weighted on his Derby form and must go close with a penny-stamp for the in-form Ri Hernandez.

Stablemate Peace and Glory cannot be ruled out with three kilos Omar Mohammed taking over the reins.

The Harold Chadee trained Wots To Report must have outstanding chance if improving from the last race.

Post time is 12.45 pm.

San Fernando East Zone was crowned champions of the Ministry of Education Victoria Education District Sports Association (VEDSA); bmobile Track & Field Championships which sprinted off at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella recently.

After over 30 action-packed events, San Fernando East concluded their competitive campaign with a golden tally of 422 points. They clinched a narrow six-point victory over two-time defending champions, San Fernando North (416) while Williamsville (323) held on to third place overall.

Rounding off the District were Claxton Bay/Tortuga (320), Gasparillo (297), La Romaine/Debe (214) and Lengua/Barrackpore (152) respectively. The triumphant zone will now represent the Victoria District at the National Primary School Championships on May 23.

“This is bmobile’s eighth year of sponsorship and we are once again pleased to be a major part of the Victoria District Games,” said TSTT vice president of Corporate Communications, Marsha Caballero.

“It is one of the cornerstones on which TSTT invests in young boys and girls who will make up the nation’s future sportsmen and women. We believe that sport should be considered a vital aspect of youth development and our organisation is committed to supporting our youth. Congratulations to every school represented at the 2018 Games and good luck at the upcoming National Championships.”

In his short address, Chairman of VEDSA and Games Co-ordinator, Azard Mohammed, paid a special tribute to departing Cunjal Government Primary School principal, Dayanan Ramsaran, for his stalwart contribution to education. He also recognised all participating schools for their heightened focus on physical education and external development outside of the classroom.

“Each athlete has trained and worked hard to represent their school at the meet,” he said. “They are competing at a very high level. This is the stage which serves as a stepping stone for kids who intend to further their prowess in athletics and sport as a whole. It would not have been possible however, without the sponsorship from bmobile and for this we thank them.”

One such student-athlete, Sierra Joseph of Vistabella Presbyterian Primary School (San Fernando North), showed class on the track by copping gold in the Girls Under-13 100 metres, 200m and 400m. She also played a crucial role in carrying her zone to victory in the 4x100m with fellow sprinters Destiny Douglas, Kaira Baird and Tyler Howe.

Having represented T&T at the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) Games in 2014, Joseph has been using competitions such as the VEDSA Championships for additional training towards achieving her goal of becoming a professional athlete.

“To prepare for today’s events, I did a lot of jumping jacks, drills and other exercises. I am working towards representing my country at other tournaments. But, I must listen to my coach and continue to train hard. I love track and there’s a lot of work I have to put in to become successful,” stated the Simplex Athletics athlete.

SELECTED TRACK RESULTS

3k: 1 Liam Carrington (San Fernando TML); 2 Hakeem Chinapoo (Ste. Madeline Government); 3 Joshua Braithwaithe (Marabella Government)
60m Girls U-9: 1 Alissa Jeremiah (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 2 Kimora Duncan (Gasparillo); 3 Tasyah George (San Fernando North)
60m Boys U-9: 1 Josiah Huggins (San Fernando North); 2 Jeduthun Emptage (San Fernando East); 3 Donelle Ramnarine (Williamsville)
100m Girls U-11: 1 Jael Archibald (San Fernando North); 2 Akira Malavar (San Fernando East); 3 Azelia Mills (Williamsville)
100m Boys U-11: 1 Kadeem Chinapoo (San Fernando East); 2 Timothy Hamilton (San Fernando North); 3 Kiel Marshall (Gasparillo)
100m Girls U-13: 1 Sierra Joseph (San Fernando North); 2 Aniela Packette (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 3 Annelyn Lewis (Williamsville)
100m Boys U-13: 1 Hakeem Chinapoo (San Fernando East); 2 Emmanuel James (La Romain/Debe); 3 Chaz Forde (San Fernando North)
300m Girls U-11: 1 Missy Rudder (La Romain/Debe); 2 Mieka Balfour (Gasparillo); 3 Yohel Ramnarine (San Fernando North)
300m Boys U-11: 1 Moses Boatswain (Gasparillo); 2 Akiel George (San Fernando East); 3 Kyron Baptiste (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
400m Girls U-13: 1 Sierra Joseph (San Fernando North); 2 Brianna Rampersad (San Fernando East); 3 Kaadijah Arnold (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
400m Boys U-13: 1 Hakeem Chinapoo (San Fernando East); 2 Emmanuel James (La Romain/Debe); 3 Christian Weekes (San Fernando North)
1500m Walk Girls Open: 1 Onika Mike (Williamsville); 2 Markaylia Hamilton (Gasparillo); 3 Ashia Chinapoo (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
1500m Walk Boys Open: 1 Jahmal Castang (San Fernando North); 2 Salem Thompson (Gasparillo); 3 Zackariah John (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
Selected Field Events
Shot Putt Girls 13-15: 1 Jenessa Doughty (San Fernando East); 2 Amaya Hills (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 3 Haile Cox (Gasparillo)
Long Jump Girls U-11: 1 Jahzarah Zamore (Gasparillo); 2 Rayanna Gilbert (Lengua/Barrackpore); 3 Azelia Mills (Williamsville)
Long Jump Boys U-11: 1 Moses Boatswain (Gasparillo); 2 Ganesh Gobin (Lengua/Barrackpore); 3 Luke Blackie (Williamsville)
Discus Boys 13-15: 1 Ronaldo Patterson (La Romain/Debe; 2 Jabari Charles (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 3 Kyal Marcano (San Fernando North)
Javelin Girls 13-15: 1 Shakira Wright (San Fernando East); 2 Isabel Basdai (Williamsville); 3 Haile Cox (Gasparillo)
Javelin Boys 13-15: 1 Jabari Charles (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 2 Nicholas Maharaj (San Fernando North); 3 De Shaun Wong Shing (La Romain/Debe)
Relay Results
4x100m Girls U-9: 1 San Fernando North; 2 Gasparillo; 3 Claxton Bay/Tortuga
4x100m Boys U-9: 1 San Fernando East; 2 Williamsville; 3 Claxton Bay/Tortuga
4x100m Girls U-11: 1 San Fernando North; 2 San Fernando East; 3 Williamsville
4x100m Boys u-11: 1 San Fernando East; 2 Gasparillo; 3 San Fernando North
4x100m Girls U-13: 1 San Fernando North; 2 Claxton Bay/Tortuga; 3 San Fernando East
4x100m Boys U-13: 1 San Fernando East; 2 San Fernando North; 3 Williamsville

T&T Pro League (PL) interim Chief Executive Officer, Julia Baptiste, stands confident a three-day UEFA ASSIST-Trinidad workshop hosted at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva, a week ago could see T&T football reap enormous benefits.

Baptiste however cautioned that this can only be possible if recommendations from UEFA are implemented by clubs and the PL’s administration.

“In this (UEFA ASSIST) scenario, board members were able to come together, and someone was able to say to them listen this is what you need to do, and with us in T&T it’s always where the information comes from that is important,” Baptiste said.

The UEFA ASSIST workshop, which ran from April 4-6 and was attended by club owners and administrators, was made possible through CONCACAF following a request by T&T Football Association (TTFA) president David-John Williams for assistance to the beleaguered T&T Pro League.

Eva Pasquier, head of international relations at UEFA, headed a team of UEFA ASSIST officials that included Kenny MacLeod, who specialises in commercial, media, digital marketing and match day knowledge, and Efraim Barak, a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Arbitrator and practicing lawyer in Sport Law for almost three decades, while CONCACAF was represented by Howard McIntosh.

“UEFA ASSIST was asked by CONCACAF to come here to discuss the Pro League particularly” said MacLeod.

“But what is very important to us is that we don’t just concentrate on the Pro League and that we look at football as a whole in T&T.

“And we have met with a number of stakeholders—clubs, boards and the media—to really get a full understanding of the situation of the football in the country.”

The UEFA ASSIST team recommended that clubs formalise youth development, engage key stakeholders such as the fans, media and government and that the PL updates its strategic plan. Clubs were also reminded of the importance and benefits of fulfilling compliance regulations of CONCACAF and the TTFA following discussions that included club licensing, good governance in the federation, the league and the clubs as well as marketing and communications.

Baptiste said the UEFA-ASSIST workshop helped cement a lot that was continuously said over the 16 years of the PL’s existence.

“Now there is a cohesion, people understand. And we hope that in the understanding we could now move forward as a league and see how we can [grow] the brand and take it to another level.

“There is now an understanding that football is not only about the game, it’s a business and how do we make the business of football work for us. That is what the board will now sit down and plan to see how we can go forward.”

MacLeod highlighted that T&T’s situation was not unique in the challenges faced financially and otherwise. And that the League and clubs should find innovative ways in realising their potential.

He said T&T is seen as aspirational within the region and “we (UEFA ASSIST) want to keep you in that place”.

MacLeod said, “What we have learned is that football is well-established here—the fact that there is already a professional league in place—and you have a number of situations where players aspired and gone on to play at the top leagues [around] the world.

“The base is here but what we are trying to understand is how to professionalise it and how to take it to the next level.

“We looked at both positives and the challenges just to make a point that there is a long way to go. We are trying to benchmark here.

“And we are not trying to say we are benchmarking against the best league in Europe, but through our experience we understand where football in T&T should be.”

MacLeod said over the three days focus was placed on planning and structures “but more than anything else”, putting the fans and the players at the centre of the strategy.

“(What) we really wanted to get across was that if the fans and players can be part of the future and build in the future then I think that would be much better for football (in T&T).”

Pasquier meanwhile called for all stakeholders involved in T&T football including the lower level leagues and schools leagues to sit together and discuss “clear responsibilities, clear roles, clear system of competitions and who is responsible for what”.

Pasquier echoed MacLeod’s sentiments that the PL and its clubs must focus on growing professionally and also told club owners and officials to put more importance on youth development through academies.

T&T’s LaTeisha Joseph and Suraya Chase will go into their final Pool C match versus unbeaten USA’s Brittany Howard and Kelly Reeves in a must-win situation, if they are to have any chance of reaching the quarterfinals of the opening leg of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Circuit in Aguascalientes, La Isla de San Maercos, Mexico today.

This after Joseph and Chase endured a tough first day yesterday, first losing to Mexico’s Claudia Rios and Cinthya Cruz 8-21, 5-21 followed by defeat to Nicaraguans Swan Mendoza and Lolette Rodriguez 15-21, 17-21.

In yesterday’s other Pool C matches, Reeves and Howard overcame Mendoza and Lolette 21-13, 21-12 and also defeated Rios and Cruz in a late contest.

Top ranked local women’s beach volleyball duo, Malika Davidson and Phylecia Armstrong, were also expected to compete in the opening leg of the tour as well.

However, T&T women missed their Copa America flight out of Trinidad on Thursday morning and will now look towards the second-leg which serve off in La Paz, Mexico from April 19-23.

The third-leg is carded for Varadero, Cuba, April 26–3 and T&T is is expected to be represented as well. Davidson and Armstrong had earned the right to represent T&T as the points leaders after three stages of the National Beach Volleyball Circuit at Saith Park in Chaguanas, last month.

The duo led the table with 22 points, two ahead of Rheeza Grant and Abby Blackman, who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia last week.

Both Davidson and Armstrong, and pair Grant and Blackman were level on 14 points each after the first two stages of the National Beach Volleyball Circuit after winning one leg each. However, in the final of the Third-Leg, Davidson and Armstrong battled their way to a come-from-behind 25-27, 21-14, 15-13 to earn the right to fly the national in Mexico while Joseph and Chase were third on the table with 12 points and earned T&T’s second pair of tickets to Mexico in their absence.

Both Armstrong and Chase are coming off helping Glamorgan to a fourth straight lien on the Flow National Indoor Women’s Premier League title at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo on Sunday last and have never competed on the NORCECA Tour before.

Locally, the National Beach Volleyball Circuit which has been on a break since March 12 and is set to resume on May 5 at Chaguanas.

T&T’s LaTeisha Joseph and Suraya Chase ended in joint 13th place in the 14-team competition when the opening leg of the 2018 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Circuit continued in Aguascalientes, La Isla de San Maercos, Mexico yesterday.

This follows a 17-21, 9-21 lost to US Virgins Islands duo, Melanie Valenciana and Katherine Wanket in the Losers draw quarterfinal to end with a winless record, the same as Guatemalans, Paola Alvaro and Maria Juarez.

When the T&T duo resumed play yesterday morning in a must-win match versus USA’s Brittany Howard and Kelly Reeves it was the latter who prevailed 6-21, 9-21 to top Pool C with a 3-0 record while the T&T women ended 0-3.

On Friday’s opening day, Joseph and Chase endured a tough start , first losing to Mexico’s Claudia Rios and Cinthya Cruz 8-21, 5-21 followed by defeat to Nicaraguans Swan Mendoza and Lolette Rodriguez 15-21, 17-21.

Top ranked local women’s beach volleyball duo, Malika Davidson and Phylecia Armstrong were also expected to compete in the opening leg of the tour as well.

However, T&T women missed their Copa America flight out of Trinidad on Thursday morning and will now look towards the second-leg which serve off in La Paz, Mexico from April 19-23.

The third-leg is carded for Varadero, Cuba, April 26–3 and T&T is is expected to be represented as well.

Davidson and Armstrong had earned the right to represent T&T as the points leaders after three stages of the National Beach Volleyball Circuit at Saith Park, Chaguanas last month.

The duo led the table with 22 points, two ahead of Rheeza Grant and Abby Blackman, who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia last week.

Locally, the National Beach Volleyball Circuit which has been on a break since the March 12 , is set to resume on May 5 at Chaguanas.

Belgian based Nicholas Dillon has been named in the 24-man squad announced by headcoach Dennis Lawrence yesterday for the April 17 friendly international versus Panama at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Dillon joined the national team in training on Wednesday and was a welcome edition.

“The team is shaping up nicely and with the addition of Dillon it gives us another huge option in the attack,” Lawrence told TTFA Media. “We did not expect many foreign based players to be available for this match as it fall outside the FIFA window, so when we got information on his availability it was an easy decision to have him join the training squad,” the coach added.

Dillon will have some familiar faces around him with several of his teammates from his days with the National U20 team also making it to the senior ranks. Justin Sadoo, Taryk Sampson and Kathon St. Hillaire all campaigned with Dillon at the 2017 Concacaf Championship in Costa Rica.

The biggest boost to the team will arguably be the additions of Daneil Cyrus and Cordell Cato who also indicated their availability for the match and will be arriving to join the squad today. Cyrus with 71 caps will be the most experienced player in the line-up just ahead of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip with 65. The versatile defender who plays for Juticalpa F.C. of Honduras will be aiming to play his part in maintaining T&T’s international “clean sheet streak” which now stands at four matches. Cato at the other end of the pitch will be eagerly seeking to add to his international goal count while giving the team some pace and trickery in the midfield.

With such an enticing line-up of youth and experience it will interesting to see the starting XI on match day but the aim of Lawrence is clear. He said, “A good team performance, will bring the result. That’s what I am looking for, a good all-round team performance. We have individuals with a lot of talent, even young Judah Garcia has been impressive in training but against an organised opponent like Panama, team is key.”

T&T will face Panama on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from 7:30pm. Gates open at 5:30pm and tickets will be sold at the venue at a cost of $40.00 for Adults and Children Under 16 $20.00.

PowerGen Cricket Club facing demotion in the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Premiership Division I League competition, lost first innings points over another relegation threatened team QPCC II at Syne Village in Penal, yesterday as matches in the final round got underway.

PowerGen made a paltry 130 for nine batting first with Aaron Jones 29 and Teshwan Castro 27 among the runs. The two put on 55 for the first wicket before N Seupaul with five wickets triggered a spectacular collapse that saw PowerGen losing nine wickets for 75 runs.

PowerGen fought back well to dismiss Queen’s Park II for 184 with Jonathan Augustus scoring a fine 73 and Sherwin Peters 33. Left-arm orthodox spinner Kavesh Kantasingh took five for 47 for PowerGen, while West Indies player Samuel Badree nabbed two for 57 and Ancil Bhaggan three for 49. Batting a second time PowerGen closed on five runs for one wicket.

Defending champion QPCC I playing against Victoria at the Queen’s Park Oval made 214 batting first. The host got 71 from Yannic Carriah, 53 from Darren Bravo and 56 from Nicholas Pooran. Andrae Bryce opening the bowling for Victoria took 5/33.

Challengers for title Alescon Comets seemed as if they can run away with it as they were 160 for five, at the close of a rain affected day against Merryboys. Play started 20 minutes after tea and the Charlieville Boys batted well. Guyanese Chris Barnwell made 52 to lead to the way for Comets.

Central Sports will be hoping they can bowl out Clarke Road cheaply when play resumes this morning, so it can bat a second time and score some quick runs and the look to bowl the opposition out as they look to go past Comets. Going into the round they were 14 points behind. Yesterday, they scored 256 all out batting first against Clarke Road with Kamil Pooran scoring 53, Kjorn Ottley 50 and Al Small 45, Akheel Mollon four for 61 and Yannick Ottley four for 61 kept them honest. Clarke Road responded with 86 for three when stumps were drawn for the day.

SCORES

At Syne Village: PowerGen 130/9 dec (Aaron Jones 29, Teshawn Castro 27, N Seupaul 5/49, Dominic Drakes 2/20, Darren Deonarine 2/40) & 5/1 vs QPCC II 184 all out (Jonathan Augustus 73, Sherwin Peters 33, Kavesh Kantasingh 5/47, Samuel Badree 2/57, Ancil Bhaggan 3/49)

At the Oval: QPCC I 214 all out (Yannic Carriah 71, Nicolas Pooran 56, Darren Bravo 53, Andrae Bryce 5/33, Viokash Rampersad 2/31, Garey Mathurin 2/57) vs Victoria 72/3.

At Felicity: 256 (Kamil Pooran 53, Kjorn Ottley 50, Al Small 45, Akheel Mollon 4/61, Yannick Ottley 4/61) vs Clarke Road 86/3 (Yannick Ottley 52, Nicholas Sookdeosingh 24no).

At Diego Martin: Alescon Comets 160/5 (Chris Barnwell 52, Vikash Mohan 29, Andy Gobin 23, Imran Khan 20no) Merryboys.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Amidst accusations from constituents that he was not spending enough time in his constituency, newly-appointed Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell yesterday vowed to make a better effort to address the needs of constituents, despite his new portfolio.

Speaking to reporters at the San Fernando East Health Fair at the Pleasantville Community Complex, Mitchell acknowledged that his duties as a minister, member of parliament and for other stakeholders posed a challenge as occurs with most MPs. (See page A10)

“That is one challenge you face. We have to satisfy stakeholders, Parliamentary duties and constituency duties. The constituents come first at all times. I will make the effort to spend more time in the constituency and to ensure that constituents receive all services that they deserve,” Mitchell said.

He added, “When you are in Government, you have many different challenges. You have to ensure that your Ministry is run and serves all of T&T. The constituents will always want to see you more and more. I will always make myself available to them.”

Mitchell also said his first task as Tourism Minister would be to meet with all tourism stakeholders.

“I took notice they’re calling for a meeting and that is a priority. The new entity Tourism Trinidad Limited has been formed and the board is operational. The organisation has to be populated with top management and with other members of staff,” he said.

He noted that Government was embarking on a new strategic shift in the marketing of tourism and rather than marketing T&T as one entity, the destinations would now be marketed separately.

“In the past, T&T has been marketed as one destination and that has not worked in our favour. Tobago is a separate product—they market leisure, sun, sea and sand. Trinidad is more work/play. We have a good market for exhibitions, conferences, Carnival, parties, fetes, which represent the energy of our people. That is what we are focusing on.

“Trinidad Tourism Limited will oversee the marketing of Trinidad tourism. It’s a new strategic direction, branding Trinidad and Tobago as separate and distinct,” Mitchell said.

He noted that low energy prices of 2015 and 2016 made it imperative for T&T to diversify its economy with tourism as a priority.

After two weeks of suffering in Venezuela, Cedros fishermen Awardnath Hajaree, Nicholas Hajaree and Shammi Seepersad will finally be escorted back home today by the T&T’s Coast Guard and Venezuela’s Guardia Nacional.

T&T Coast Guard public relations officer, Lt Sherron Manswell, yesterday confirmed that the trio were contacted via the Venezuelan authorities and arrangements were made for them to come home today.

“The T&T Coast Guard will receive the fishermen at Soldado Rock at 11 am, following which they will be returned to their families,” Manswell told the Sunday Guardian. He added that based on information received all three fishermen were alive, contrary to reports which were circulating that at least one of them had died.

Awardnath’s wife Heermatie Sankar praised God yesterday, saying she was finally convinced they were on their way home. Sankar has been expecting them to return since last Tuesday after they were released from a Venezuelan jail, but they never did despite the payment of fines for their safe release.

Hajaire, 52, son Nicholas, 26, and Seepersad, 36, went fishing aboard a pirogue off Cedros on April 5, when they were arrested by the Guardia Nacional.

A Trinmar worker captured footage of the Guardia chasing the pirogue in T&T waters where the fishermen were arrested. Since the arrests, the Government has come under attack for not assisting the Cedros fishermen on a timely basis. (RD)

T&T does not have a national sexual harassment policy.

Although sexual harassment in the workplace has remained a largely taboo subject which continues to be dismissed, ignored, covered up and simply swept under the carpet—it has fallen to employers both in the public and private sectors to implement measures aimed at protecting their employees.

However, efforts are now being made to fast-track legislation following the scandal involving former Sports Minister Darryl Smith and former ministry employee Carrie-Ann Moreau.

Moreau was reportedly paid off and transferred out of the ministry after allegations of sexual misconduct and impropriety surfaced.

In its Revised Edition of the Guidelines on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace released earlier this month, the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) assured it was currently the best avenue to address complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Equal Opportunity Act Chap 22:03 empowers the EOC to receive, investigate and conciliate these complaints free of charge. Officials said if a dispute cannot be resolved at conciliation, the matter can be referred to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal, presided over by its chairman, who has the status and powers of a high court judge.

The EOC said: “Managers and business owners in Trinidad and Tobago function in an environment that has not specifically legislated for sexual harassment.”

They urged employers to develop appropriate mechanisms for the prevention and management of complaints.

EOC chairman Lynette Seebaran-Suite wrote: “No amount of legislation and case law in the world will root out sexual harassment if employers do not ensure that there is zero tolerance for it in their workplaces.”

She added while sexual harassment prevention was more difficult than implementing grievance procedures, it is crucial to workplaces in which merit is rewarded, discrimination not tolerated and equality fostered.

Employers are being urged to be mindful that it is in their best interest to avoid the escalation of sexual harassment matters into full-blown conciliation and/or litigation outside the workplace, as such actions could prove costly and serve to tarnish the organisation’s reputation and generally negatively impact on the organisation’s end product.

Additionally, the EOC advised employers to develop complaints/grievance procedures to suit their particular workplace, which includes conferring with the organisation’s attorney to ensure the right steps are being taken to determine whether sexual harassment did in fact occur.

The guidelines read: “In offering various choices, it is vital that the manager possesses the relevant knowledge and receives the correct training to handle complaints of sexual harassment.

“Staff should also be made aware that the complaint could be forwarded to any other relevant agency external to the organisation.

“The employer should act in good faith and the employee should not be compelled to sign mandatory arbitration agreements which would strip them of their rights to sue and seek recourse to the courts.”

The EOC stressed: “The alleged victim is reminded that he/she may also lay a criminal complaint in the Magistrates’ Court against the alleged perpetrator, while a workplace investigation is being pursued. And the alleged victim is also reminded that he/she may also seek legal advice to determine whether there is merit in pursuing a civil lawsuit in the High Court.”

Box

The Australian Human Rights Commission states sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance, an unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated, where a reasonable person would anticipate that reaction in the circumstances.

Unwanted conduct is defined as any behaviour that is not requested or wanted by the victim and that is considered inappropriate.

Whether it was “reasonable” for the victim to believe that he/she was sexually harassed would depend on the context in which “it occurred,” for example the frequency of the occurrence, the seriousness and extent of the intimidation, the form of its manifestation and whether a hostile and offensive working environment was created for the victim.

FORMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual harassment is manifested in the following forms:

(i) Misuse of sexual behaviour and request for sexual favours - when it is made a condition of employment or promotion

(ii) Physical sexual harassment - sexual violence or unwelcome physical contact

(iii) Verbal sexual harassment - offensive and sexually suggestive jokes and comments

(iv) Non-verbal sexual harassment - suggestive gestures of a sexual nature and sexually suggestive body language

(v) Written or graphic sexual harassment - displays of sexually explicit photographs and pornographic materials

(vi) Psychological sexual harassment - repeated unwanted proposals and taunts of a sexual nature

WHAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Interaction which is based on mutual consent is not sexual harassment. Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments that are socially and culturally acceptable and appropriate.

CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SEXUAL HARASSMENT MAY OCCUR

Sexual harassment is not just unlawful during working hours or within the confines of the workplace itself, and also not only between co-workers. The behaviour is unlawful in any work-related context including conferences, work functions, office parties and business and/field trips and includes interactions with clients and customers.

TIPS FOR REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT

(i) Document incidents and unwanted behaviour as they occur by noting: -

(a) What happened

(b) Where and when it happened

(c) Who witnessed it (if anyone)

(d) How your physical condition has changed as a result of this behaviour (that is, sleeplessness, crying bouts, weight loss/gain, etc.), and

(e) What, if anything, you did about it at the time and thereafter.

(ii) Lodge complaints early and put all complaints in writing.

(iii) Secure, where possible the cooperation of other persons who have witnessed the harassment.

(iv) Seek extended support.

(v) Share with colleagues as it happens.

GUIDELINES ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

It is the employer’s responsibility to document:

(i) Conversations with the parties involved in the complaint

(ii) What actions were taken to resolve the harassment

(iii) What was witnessed

(iv) What was said, and

(v) Who witnessed any conversations/behaviour should the records need to be made available to investigators.

When Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley reshuffled and reassigned ministerial appointments on Monday, the demotion of Maxie Cuffie as Minister of Public Administration and Communications to Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications left many people concerned.

They are now wondering whether if he was already absent from Parliament since September 2017 due to illness, how he could be expected fulfil his new job functions. Aside from the Opposition, there have been calls from various circles for Cuffie to step down.

A post on We Are Trinis’ Facebook page went up on Thursday with the message: “Maxie Cuffie needs to be fired!

“Maxie Cuffie continues to receive his salary of $40,000 (plus perks) monthly, in addition to taxpayers’ footing his medical bills of over $2.5 million. What purpose is this man serving in this country? Is he working from his hospital bed?” the post read.

Nikoli Edwards, vice-chair of Policy, Advocacy and Projects at the Commonwealth Youth Council, said it was now important the PM also revoke the appointment of Cuffie as Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration, since he is clearly unable to carry out the functions of his office due to health complications. The precedent has already been set, however. Cuffie is not the first absentee MP in T&T.

He is number three. That dubious distinction belongs to Dr Rudranath Capildeo, leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), and MP for St Augustine in the first independent congress.

In 1963, Capildeo accepted a permanent position at the University of London, but did not resign his Parliamentary post and attempted to run the DLP and serve as Opposition Leader while based in London. He was able to retain his seat in Parliament through special dispensation from the Speaker of the House Arnold Thomasos.

People’s National Movement MP for Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West, Gordon Draper, became the second representative missing from Parliament from 1995 to 2000, by leave of Speaker Hector McClean, for personal business. Political scientist Dr Winford James said the closest thing to Cuffie’s situation, though from a different time, was San Fernando East MP Patrick Manning, who suffered a stroke and was absent for the House of Representatives for almost a year.

Manning, now deceased, was absent from 31 sittings of Parliament and Speaker Wade Mark had granted his requests for leave at three-month intervals. In 2013, councillor for Mon Repos Shaka Joseph said there was no need to replace Manning in the San Fernando East constituency, which he had served since 1971.

Speaking to the Sunday Guardian on Thursday, James said: “In our democracy, for Manning to no longer be the MP for San Fernando East, he had to resign or his constituency had to bring pressure upon him to resign. That was different from a prime minister asking the President to appoint somebody who was medically ill and cannot perform his functions.

“The reason why Cuffie was moved from being full minister to a minister in a ministry is because of his incapacitation and he cannot fulfil his responsibilities.”

He said in Cuffie’s capacity as MP for La Horquetta/Talparo MP, his constituency office can make an arrangement for the people to be properly represented while he is ill and away.

James said this was straightforward, but the question to answer was if Cuffie cannot be full minister because of his illness, how can he be a minister in a ministry and was still ill?

A close family relative of Cuffie said on Wednesday that he was in good spirits and was awaiting the doctors’ call for the most appropriate time to perform an operation to implant a metal implement (brain stent) in his head.

The relative said as soon as the procedure has been worked out, Cuffie will do the procedure but will still need rehabilitation, adding he should be back home in about three weeks time after the operation on the call of the surgeons.

Cuffie is now walking on his own, talking animatedly with family and medical personnel and was making great progress.

The T&T Police Service (TTPS) is seeking the public assistance in locating 38-year-old Keifer Powell.

He was last seen on April 12, when his wife Keisha went to work at 7 am and left him with their three children at their Chaguanas home.

When she returned from work around 4.45 pm Powell wasn’t home. Thomas asked her sister, who lives in the neighbouring yard, to call him so she could go down the road to get food for the children. She said her sister got in contact with Powell around 6 pm and he told her he was in Curepe and was coming home after he wrapped up some business. Thomas said since then she has heard nothing from him and all calls to his cellphone have gone straight to voice messaging as it seems to be switched off.

She said she went to the Chaguanas Police Station the following day and made a missing person’s report.

Thomas said she just wants him to come home safe and sound wherever he is as their children are worried about him also.

Powell is 5’5”, of African descent, medium brown complexion and medium frame. If you have any information on his whereabouts please call 555, 999, 800-TIPS or the Chaguanas Police Station at 665-5271 or 665-0200.

In Baracoa, on the eastern tip of Cuba, is the ‘Cruz de la Parra’—a cross made from parts of a Crucifix planted by Christopher Columbus. The relic is now swathed in silver to protect it from visitors who break off bits as souvenirs. Celebrated for having failed to discover new trade routes to China that could circumvent the treachery of the Old Silk Roads, Columbus inadvertently fashioned a new convoy system—the ‘Spanish Silver Fleet’ linking Andalucía to ‘El Dorado’. These silver galleons transported lumber, gold, gems, pearls, spices, feathers for fashion, tobacco, and other exotic commodities to and from ports in Portobello, Havana, Cartagena, Veracruz, and Seville.

Xi Jinping’s One Belt One Road will now connect the Old Silk Roads to El Callao, Manta, and Taltal. Manufactured goods from China Inc, once displaced the Atlantic as the Mare Nostrum of international trade with Pacific Coast ports in Seattle, Tacoma, Oakland, and Long Beach stifling East Coast ports like New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), Baltimore, Savanah, and Charleston.

An expanded Panama Canal has reversed this imbalance. Ships now cross the isthmus and head for Norfolk and Miami. The Bayonne Bridge was raised to 215 feet to allow the Port of New York and New Jersey to welcome larger, more efficient vessels. By 2020, ten per cent of container traffic will shift to the East Coast Ports serving huge consumer hubs like Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, and Memphis. The Port Authority of NY & NJ makes New York blossom into one of the most opulent cities in the world. Businesses clamour to locate there, hoping to reap the windfall of profits that being close to this port can bring.

In doing so, these enterprises support 400,000 jobs amounting to nearly $25.7 billion in annual wages. Many of these jobs are apportioned to a variety of skilled trades. Meanwhile the port generates close to $8.5 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.

San Antonio port in Chile has allocated $40M for dredging and a further $400M for storage. The Posorja Port in Ecuador invested $530M to accommodate postpanamax vessels. Buenaventura Port in Colombia is dredging its canal, improving wharves, installing postpanamax gantry cranes and RDT yard cranes, all to the tune of $80M. Cartagena invested $800M to make its port neopanamax ready.

Caucedo in the Dominican Republic is investing $30M to take advantage of the Las Américas International Airport and the Caucedo Logistics Park and to increase its share of inter-American container cargo transport, redirecting cargo from Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.

Freeport Container Port (FCP) in the Bahamas has dredged its port. Upon completion of the $250M Phase V Development, FCP will have a total quay length of 1,536 metres, a yard area of 63 hectares, a depth alongside of 15.5 metres, nine post-Panamax cranes and one super-post-Panamax quay crane. The Jamaican, Kingston Freeport Terminal can now accommodate extra-large container ships with the completion of upgrades on section one of the Kingston Container Terminal.

Stage two of the upgrade on the south terminal is to be completed by this year at a cost of $150M. These upgrades along with new gantry cranes and cargo handling equipment will position Jamaica to benefit from increased transshipment business.

The Fukushima nuclear disaster has accelerated changes in Japan’s energy matrix. Production of gas from shale formations in the Gulf of Mexico has seen growth in top-off transfers of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) from larger vessels outside the Canal to those that can pass through the waterway transporting LPG to Japan.

Today, top-off operations are reduced as LPG transport ships with a capacity in excess of 6M cubic feet of gas and VLGC-type tanker vessels traverse the new ‘Green Route’ taking the least polluting fossil fuel through the Canal.

ExxonMobil, Hess, China National Offshore Oil Corporation-Nexen operating offshore Guyana at the Pacora-1 well discovered an oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. Pacora will boost Guyana’s production to more than 500,000 b/d of oil once it and Payara come online. Pacora-1, Payara and Liza will be developed using a floating, production, storage, and offloading vessel. Undoubtedly, since the Spanish West Indies, the unravelling of port economics and global supply chains remains a rich passage to competitiveness and prosperity.

Dr Fazal Ali