This is in response to an article entitled Wind, solar power not feasible-T&TEC, published in the March 29 Trinidad Guardian.

You are probably thinking, if solar and wind were feasible in T&T, would they not have been installed already?

There is abundant sunshine and the prevailing northeast trade winds provide an excellent wind resource. From an electricity generation standpoint, these technologies can be absolutely feasible in Trinidad, and can contribute to T&T’s electricity mix. This article explores this paradox.

While solar and wind are electrically very attractive options for T&T to offset electricity generation from natural gas, it is important to distinguish between technical feasibility and economic feasibility.

Decisions should, as far as possible, be guided by sound economic principles.

For each unit of electricity delivered to our homes, it costs T&TEC about 67 cents. As residential customers, we pay about 36 cents per kilowatt-hour. That means that T&TEC makes a 45-50 per cent loss on every kWh of electricity it sells.

In other words, the Government is subsidising every unit of electricity sold. Against this background, T&TEC has all the responsibility to maintain the transmission and distribution lines that span our country, and also upgrade transformers and bottlenecks on the system as our electricity demand continues to grow.

In the present situation, taxpayers are supporting an increasingly unsustainable business model, where the more energy we use, the more that has to be taken out from the tax coffers to maintain electricity supply. This system was set up in a time to grow and develop our country, and this has created the standard of living that we enjoy today.

However, the economic environment has changed. The natural gas shortage and the foreign exchange rate are just two factors that influence the changing cost of providing reliable electricity. It is hard to see how Trinidad can achieve true economic prosperity moving forward, if this economic model does not adapt.

It is true that solar and wind require large upfront investments. The savings only come years later, once the capital investment is paid off. This payback period is dependent on the prevailing price of electricity in that particular market, in our case, a heavily subsidised one, which makes these investments unfavourable from the standpoint of private individuals and commercial entities.

In Trinidad, electricity is generated by independent power producers, who install, operate and maintain power plants, and sell the electricity to T&TEC who then sell to us.

The same concept can be applied to solar and wind investments, however, the cost of capital will likely be very high for such a power purchase agreement and the developer will fold the cost of risk of this investment into the price that T&TEC pays. Per unit of electricity, this is will likely be more expensive than the price of power at this time.

To add to this, there is also an excess of generating capacity, so investing in more generation, would only make the total cost of running the electricity system increase.

To sustain a system like this would imply an increased burden on the nation’s treasury and/or an electricity rate increase.

Renewable energy in other Caribbean islands have payback periods of three to seven years since their market mechanisms are priced effectively while T&T’s prices are based on a rate assessment done 25 years ago. T&T is blessed with natural gas resources, and understandably, as citizens we should benefit from this resource. One way is through subsidised energy costs.

We have enjoyed this perk for many years and it has allowed us to develop the standard of living that we enjoy today. While this policy started with good intentions, we are at a point where we, as a country, are now getting severely short-changed.

Natural gas is a highly valuable resource and most importantly, limited. While we burn our gas for electricity generation and consumption locally, there is the lost opportunity cost where this gas could instead be used for producing ammonia and methanol which brings much-needed US dollars into the country—and supports an entire downstream industry and the jobs that come with it.

Because of this large opportunity cost that we are currently not benefiting from, there are clever ways to prevent a rate shock while incorporating solar and wind, and freeing up the already constrained natural gas supply for revenue generating end uses.

It is first up to the Government to adjust its incentives and policy. Solar and wind can make good economic sense and be good for T&T ratepayers. With T&T’s large grid size, the scale of resources, and the mix, we still have the potential to have the cheapest electricity in the Caribbean, once done right.

I fully understand T&TEC’s current position of being strapped until the policy changes. Installing solar and wind into T&T’s grid right now, is nothing more than a band-aid solution, and does nothing to mitigate the underlying issue, which is essentially an outdated policy.

While initially intended to protect the people of T&T, these old policies are now doing a disservice to those it was intended to protect from unaffordable electricity.

The Government needs to take the first and fundamental step of updating this policy towards more efficient use of our valuable and limited natural gas resources. Only then, can the citizens of T&T benefit from a cleaner, more sustainable and robust energy system.

SIANA TEELUCKSINGH
Renewable energy enthusiast

Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, says the time has come to put a stop to harmful trawling activities which have damaged the marine environment as well as the capacity of fisher-folk to earn a livelihood.

He committed to treating with the issue “frontally or confrontationally” in the feature address at the Institute of Marine Affairs’ 40th Anniversary Commemoration and Long Service Awards on Wednesday at the Government Plaza in Port-of-Spain.

Also speaking at the event was the chairman of the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) Hayden Alexander and IMA director Dr Ahmad Khan.

Rambharat, in holding firm to his resolve to stop fiddling around the issue of regulating the trawling industry by trying to negotiate with people whose wishes will never be satisfied, said he has already “placed on record in the Parliament his intention to be the minister who finally took a decision—one way or the other—on the issue of trawling.”

In bringing to the forefront the results of climate change, the minister was keen to cite the effects of coastal erosion which he admitted was neither a simple nor a cheap matter.

He said: “In the last year, there has been significant changes in coastal activity taking place at an accelerated rate on the North-East coast and we have seen—even without major weather issues—irregular coastal action negatively impacting our fisheries facilities along the said coast.

“However, despite government’s programme of implementing very extensive work to preserve the integrity of our coasts, it is going to be an uphill task to reverse what is happening in the environment.”

Rambharat lauded both the IMA’s longevity and its excellent work in producing the State of the Marine Environment (SOME) Report 2016 and, in so doing, signalled to management, that the time had come for the organisation to expand the boundaries of its current scope as it journeyed beyond.

“The IMA in its 40 years has worked the range: from project conception straight through to implementation; from advocacy to playing a role in policy development; from advisory to facilitating the implementation of research but perhaps, now that you are 40 and armed with the skills, expertise and experience of such a tenure, you can now focus on a far more important task and that is, shaping our country’s future,” he said.

The IMA—in honouring the service of staff from 15 to as much as 39 years—launched its new website and unveiled two commemorative publications.

The Satya Anand Ashram, temple of Truth and Bliss at Dookhan Drive, Johnny King Road, Aranguez, is only two years old, but many of its members and devotees have been quietly involved in charity and social work in the community and beyond without any unwanted publicity long before the construction of the temple.

Satyanand Maharaj, fondly called Pundit Sat, has been a pundit since the age of 16. Even from that young age when he did not have an ashram, he was donating items to the poor and destitute.

At 48, he has returned to his home village of Aranguez after working in Tunapuna for more than 20 years to serve the people in the community.

Speaking to the Sunday Guardian at the temple, Pundit Sat said “Our primary purpose is to propagate holistic living through spirituality.

This is achieved by following the Hindu way of life, calendar of events, and practising the tenets of Hinduism.

“We observe all the Hindu rites, fasts and festivals, we’re are also a point for the dissemination of religious material.

“In addition to that, we also do social work which constitutes helping the less fortunate and distributing food packages to those in need.”

He said the organisation did not advertise their philanthropic work, instead members went out into the community very quietly and looked for people that needed assistance the most.

Pundit Sat said there were working poor in this country who may not be able to even buy food with the money they worked for, and many of them they aided treasured their privacy and anonymity.

He said he spent most of his 32 years as a pundit serving in various bodies organising Ramleela, Holika and other celebrations, and his experience will be utilised in the village temple.

Pundit Sat said the members were letting their work grow organically, looking at the needs of the community.

He said they did not want to duplicate what was already being done in the community by other religious groups, such as Phagwa.

Pundit Sat said members had in mind to do a Ramleela, walk for peace, and a soon to be implemented yoga class.

Picking up slack in school feeding programme Pundit Sat said they were monitoring closely what was happening with the school feeding programme in relation to cutbacks and were going to pick up some of the slack with schools in the district.

He said they were looking for ways in which they can help and channel the resources of the community to such an end.

He said they had support from the business community, and quite a number of their members were ready and willing to help.

Pundit Sat said such people wanted to give but were not looking for publicity or recognition, “they know they gave, God knows they gave, the people they helped knew, and that was enough for members.”

The retired teacher said no one was exempt, their charity was extended to people of different religions, race, and gender.

He said members believed that the hands that served were greater than the hands that prayed.

He said while members meet once a week for formal prayer sessions, they worked in the community almost every day via a network.

Pundit Sat said they met on Thursdays to identify people’s needs and how best to help— whether they needed clothes, school books, shoes, and also by networking to help people get jobs.

Temple’s panchayat like King Arthur’s round table He said humanity superseded religion, it was an indescribable feeling when serving that money cannot bring; it was right dharma or action and they wanted others to live, share and experience.

He said his wife, Vandana, was chairman of the group and was responsible for the organization, coordination, and management of events at the temple.

Pundit Sat said members had a panchayat, or village council where everyone sat at a round table patterned after King Arthur’s where everyone had an equal say and voice.

Pundit Sat said besides spiritual counselling, religious activities such as the reading of the Ramayana, Hanuman Chalisa, Shaligram, Tulsi and Surya puja at the temple, weddings can be held there for people who cannot afford lavish celebrations, the temple and services of the pundit were free, but there was a caveat; no meat or alcohol at the reception.

• If you would like to volunteer or make donations, call 727-5712 or email: punditsatji@gmail. com for more information.

Naparima Girls’ High School came away winners of the UWI Faculty of Law Secondary Schools Human Rights moot court competition against Hillview College while Speyside High School won in a human rights-themed visual arts competition, last Saturday.

The competitions were hosted by the Law Faculty on the St Augustine campus and was part of a European Development Fund (EDF) project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

It was the culmination of weeks of coaching and preparation focused on training aspiring young advocates to use the law to support the rights of marginalised groups, and inspiring young artists to depict human rights-related themes. There was specific emphasis on the rights of the child.

In the moot, Form Four student Nirvana Maharaj, 16, and 14-year-old Form Three student Vrishni Maharaj successfully argued the case for the fictitious State of Socaland in response to a human rights case brought by the NGO, Speak Up, represented by lead counsel, Dylan Kowlessar —a 15-year-old Form Five student—and first former Satesh Singh, 13.

The applicants had argued that the State had been in breach of human rights law and international conventions in denying a 12-year-old blind student, who also lived in poverty and under violent conditions, the right to a place in regular school. He was also placed on a long waiting list for the school for the blind which was far away from his home.

When he eventually began a Braille programme at a nearby community centre he behaved badly in class and physically attacked another student. This led to his detention for two weeks in a jail cell which he shared with five adult prisoners on serious criminal charges.

In the end, a panel of judges including actual High Court Justices Ronnie Boodoosingh and Ricky Rahim, together with Family Court Judge, Betsy-Ann Lambert Peterson ruled for the State and lauded the efforts of all four advocates.

Special tribute was paid to volunteer attorneys, faculty and law students who coached and briefed the students ahead of Friday’s preliminaries which featured ten schools from around the country.

Mataffie Pascall of Speyside Secondary School came away with top honours in the Visual Arts component of the competition with Raeesah Ali of Naparima Girls’ High School placing second and Ayeesha Jaffrally, also of Naparima Girls’ High School, placing third.

Faculty Dean, Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine described the simulated case argued by the young advocates as “more than just a moot” and was part of an effort to sow the seeds for more intense efforts to promote the upholding of human rights.

Belle-Antoine said she looked at the young “to be the change agents that we need to turn things around.”

Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts was at hand to witness the proceedings and to assist in the distribution of awards.

On the heels of a disappointing showing last Tuesday by the Soca Warriors squad against Panama, former Minister of Sport Brent Sancho has lashed out over the current state of T&T football.

“During my time as a national player up until now, a fundamental theme for success in local football has been government interest, support and buy-in.

“Unfortunately, the current administration has offered none of these things, to the detriment of local football at the youth, semi-pro and professional levels. Government’s support for youth and community football leagues across the country is at an all-time low, at a time where crime is at an all-time high.

“Coincidence? I think not. With no initiatives to stimulate sport and youth activity in troubled communities, what do you expect?”

Sancho, a former national defender who played in he 2006 World Cup finals, echoed the concern of national coach, Dennis Lawrence, that the uncertainty over the future of the Pro League may have troubling repercussions for national teams.

He said, “The Pro League is literally on the verge of collapse with millions worth of prize money and promised subventions still being owed to clubs by the government. We have been given no assurances of whether these obligations will be paid. All the while the Ministry is rife with sexual scandals and abuse of power while local football is on life support.”

Although a lack of funds has been cited by the Ministry as the reason for the decrease in financial support, Sancho, a former Minister of Sports rubbished this claim, saying: “It’s not that funds are scarce, they are just being misappropriated. Could you imagine that the Pro League is on the verge of financial collapse, yet the Ministry is building a $150 million stadium in Diego Martin. For whom? If there is no league then what is the point?”

Sancho, the owner of Central FC, a three-time championship winning club of the T&T Pro League, pointed out that professional football as an industry that employs over 300 people directly and hundreds more indirectly. No government should stand by and watch hundreds of people, most of which come from troubled communities, lose their livelihood. We have seen our national coach frustrated by having to select players who haven’t played a competitive game for over four months and are not even training full time. If the Pro League collapses we can basically kiss our chances of future World Cup qualification goodbye.”

WALTER ALIBEY
 

Early Saturday, fake news would have occupied the thoughts of Denesh Ramdin but later in the night it was time to take revenge with the bat, as he smacked a century to take Preysal into the semifinals of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Championship Division Twenty20 (T20) tournament.

A story had circulated on social media that Ramdin was arrested in New York for possession of narcotics. While all this was happening he was with his family in Trinidad. The true fighter that he is, he came out with willow in hand later in the night to beat the Moosai Sports’ bowling and take his team forward in the competition.

Ramdin scored his unbeaten century (100) off just 61 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.

After his masterclass Preysal reached 196/3 off their 20 overs. Also among the runs were Rachad Forde 38 not out.

Best bowling performance for Moosai came from Kyle Borneo who grabbed two wickets for 25 runs from his four overs.

In reply, Moosai were dismantled by Ryan Austin whose four wickets for 14 runs was mainly responsible for their demise, humbling the Easterners for just 81 all out in 18.1 overs.

Austin got good support from Videsh Sooklal and Antonio Aziz who both captured two wickets apiece.

In the other Championship Division quarter-final, Rousillac were also made to regret inserting their opponents as MYO made 149 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, batting first.

Top-scorer was Emmanuel Lett who made a patient 43 with two boundaries, while David Renne contributed 38 with one boundary and two maximums. The pair also shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 52 valuable runs to ensure their team got a defendable total.

But MYO were pegged back by some steady bowling from Shaun Seebaran, who snapped up four wickets for 23 runs, and Kamesh Yadram (two for 28).

The pair also featured in a partnership of 31 when Rousilack batted but it was not enough as their side was restricted to 105 for eight in their 20 overs.

“Man-of-the-Match” Gabriel Blackwell was the star for MYO, taking a sensational haul of six wickets for 13 runs in his four overs despite a Rousillac second- wicket fightback by Renne Goodard (28) and Satyam Tam (24) for the second wicket.

Naparima College will meet Hillview College in the final of the PowerGen Intercol competition on May 4 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

Naps will have revenge on their mind as they lost in the final to Hillview last year at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva.

Naps booked their place in the finals with a 18-run victory over Fatima College in the first game of a double-header on Saturday at the Lara Stadium. Hillviewplaying in the nightcap game easily overcame Presentation College, Chaguanas.

Naps batting first against Fatima compiled 127/4 off their 20 overs after a good start. Skipper Cephas Cooper who had an unbeaten 70 in the quarterfinals made 58 off 51 balls, while Justyn Gangoo made 27 and all rounder Avinash Mahabirsingh 23. Pacer Wendell George took 2/12 for Fatima.

When Fatima took to the crease it began slowly but given the fact that the target was not a big one, they were always in the game. Naps spinners came on and strangled them as they ended on 109/9 in 20 overs.

George was the best of the batsmen and batted deep in getting 47 but his efforts were not good enough to take his team home.

Gangoo was the difference between Naps and Fatima as he took 3/12 off his four overs, while left arm unorthodox spinner Ryan Bandoo took 2/19.

In the other semifinals, Presentation batted first and made 123/7 with Mathew Pattrick topscoring with 30. Hillview then made light work of the target with the classy West Indies Under-19 batsmen Keagan Simmons scoring 60 not out and Kirstan Kallicharan 36.

POWERGEN INTERCOL SCORES

At Lara Academy: Naparima 127/4 (20) (Cephas Cooper 58, Justyn Gangoo 27, Avinash Mahabirsingh 23, Wendell George 2/12) vs Fatima 109/9 (20) (Wendell George 47, Justyn Gangoo 3/12, Ryan Bandoo 2/19) Naparima won by 18 runs.

At Lara Academy: Presentation 123/7 (20) (Mathew Patrick 30, Rickash Boodram 2/13) vs Hillview 124/2 (Keagan Simmons 60no, Kirstan Kallicharan 36, Navin Bedaisee 22) - Hillview won by 8 wkts.

Former national cricket captain Daren Ganga is condemning the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), being led by Azim Bassarath, for its failure to implement the recommendations of an Independent Review Committee (IRC) which was set up for the sole purpose of considering the constitutional arrangements of the Board.

In a strongly worded letter yesterday, Ganga who has openly criticised the way the sport has been managed over the years, said, “The public would be aware there has been numerous complaints throughout the cricketing fraternity as it pertains to governance structure of the TTCB and in particular the process by which the executive of this important national institution is elected.

Ganga wrote: “It is the view of many learned persons that the current provisions of the TTCB constitution are undemocratic, unfair and result in the preservation of a self-serving clique and/or cabal continuously re-electing themselves to control the administration of cricket in T&T.”

He pointed out that an agreement between the cricket board and National League Representatives (NLR), led by Ganga and former national and West Indies spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, for an independent committee comprising Justice Kokeram, Dr Sheila Rampersad and former TTCB president Ellis Lewis, led to recommendations that favour the NLR’s call.

However, the player who opened the country’s batting for more than a decade, is questioning why the recommendations have not implemented to date.

“It is a matter of fact that this committee has concurred with my view and the views of many right-thinking members of the cricket fraternity that the current rules are completely undemocratic and should be changed for the more transparent, effective and participatory administration of cricket,” Ganga wrote in his letter.

The letter continued: “Unfortunately, rather than act responsibly for the benefit of Cricket, the executive of the TTCB led by Azim Bassarath, continues to suppress and delay consideration of this report and refuse to take the necessary steps to have these modern and progressive recommendations implemented. At the last TTCB meeting the Board sought to defend its inaction by offering another legal opinion while keeping its source anonymous, Ganga explained. He described this as unacceptable, and noted: “The concealment of the source and content of this opinion lends to the inference that no opinion was in fact obtained.”

Ganga insists the love of cricket resides in the DNA of every West Indian and in particular every Trinidadian and lashed out at the TTCB members for actions perceived to preserve their own parasitic arrangements.

“It cannot be right that an independent committee, comprising a leading and progressive jurist in our country, tells the executive of the TTCB that its rules are undemocratic and not in the interest of cricket and the executive is allowed to simply ignore that report, for fear that if the recommendations are implemented it may lead to members being deposed from office,” Ganga said.

“That in my respectful view is not the act of an executive interested in cricket but rather the act of a dictatorship desperately clinging to office.”

Parasram Singh, head of the T&T Cricket Umpires and Scorers Council (TTCUSC) who spoke on behalf of the TTCB, said the committee exceeded its mandate by attempting to change the cricket board’s constitution.

“It is attempting to put all powers of the sport into the hands of the clubs by excluding inputs from T&T Women cricketers, schools cricket and the umpires, among others, and has been moving away from West Indies cricket,” Singh said. “The committee was expected to deal solely with the 12 out-going votes being held by executives at present but it went beyond its scope.”

Some of the recommendations included the change in name of the TTCB to Cricket T&T; change in the name of the annual general meeting (AGM) to annual cricket conference and change in the name of TTCUSC to Zonal Cricket Umpires.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

Three Saints Bay, only previous winner in a field of ten, looks gilt-edged for division one of the Novice Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Pontefract today when running in tandem will be another turf-flat fixture at Windsor, where ground conditions are forecast similar; I’ll believe that after computing race-times tomorrow.

Times don’t lie but clerks of courses continually push truth to a premium far too often; recent ground conditions have been extremely demanding and punters are being led astray, Newbury was a disaster and the ‘clerk’ should be sacked.

On a day set out for classic trials punters, trainers, owners, went into battle buoyed by prospects of ‘good to soft’ but an official going stick projection of 5.9 should have raised alarm bells.

Low readings indicate very soft ground, why then did the ‘clerk’ submit his seriously innacurate forecast?

117-rated Expert Eye ran well to finish runner-up, beaten three-quarters of a length by James Garfield, in the group three ‘Greenham’ over seven furlongs; on a genuine ‘good to soft’ surface Sir Michael Stoute’s charge would probably have won.

Now this acclamation colt has only 13 days ‘recovery time’ for the 2000 Guineas over the Newmarket Rowley Mile and it simply wont be enough, I’ll bet on that!

Given top class colts raced at .70 per furlong off a genuine pace throughout you don’t need me to labour the aforementioned points I’ve already made.

Punters need guidance, they’ll get it in this column which puts an emphasis on ‘not losing’ more than winning when continually confronted with adverse ground conditions.

Let’s move on and pinpoint useful time-handicap turf efforts like the ones Three Saints Bay achieved twice last October; David O’Meara’s charge is napped in anticipation of a replication. trainer in form.

Ingenuity should go close in the second leg and don’t oppose James Doyle’s mount, Fajjaj, in the Novice Stakes over ten furlongs of the picturesque Berkshire course, close to Windsor Castle.

Josephine Gordon rode Fajjaj for Hugo Palmer when making a successful debut at Ascot last Septemb

Sparkle McKnight,Alena Brooks and Lalonde Gordon each had success at the second annual Grenada Invitational on Saturday night at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in St George’s.

Both McKnight and Brooks copped silver medals in their respective races. McKnight crossed in 56.59 to finish runner-up to Jamaica’s Yanique Haye-Smith in 56.38 in the International women’s 400 metres hurdles. Third was another Jamaican Kaliese Spencer in 56.99.

Jamaica made a clean sweep of the distance hurdles as Andre Clarke won the men’s event in 49.09. T&T’s Emanuel Mayers just missed out on a medal in the hurdles event, placing fourth in 52.09 with his teammate Jameel James just behind in fifth in a time of 55.48. Finishing second was USA’s Quincy Downing in 49.96 and third was Rilwan Alowonle of Nigeria in 50.60.

Brooks was second in the International women’s 800m, clocking 2:03.18 to follow American Carly Muscaro in 2:02.84. Sade Sealy of Barbados was third in 2:04.27.

Gordon, a two-time Olympicbronze medallist, raced to gold  in the men’s 200m B race in a time of 21.11 seconds comfortably beating to the line, Tahir Walsh of Antigua (21.34) and France’s Alan Alais (22.08), respectively.

Winning the International men’s 200m dash was former World and Olympic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt of the USA with a 20.57 clocking. His country man Trentavis Friday was second in 20.91 and the Dominican Republic’s Yancarlos Martinez (20.93).

T&T’s sprint champion Emmanual Callender also competed in the event and placed sixth in 21.37.

Callender also lined up in the men’s 100m B race and crossed fifth in 10.64. American Justin Walker won the dash in 10.38 with Walsh (10.46) and Friday (10.49) in second and third places, respectively.

In a meet dominated by foreign athletes, reigning World champion American Justin Gatlin opened his season with victory in the International men’s 100m, winning in 10.05 leading sweep by the Americans of the top three spots. His fellow countrymen Isiah Young (10.11) and Mike Rodgers (10.17) filled the other respective places.

Running out of lane three, he was unable to separate himself from the field over the first 50 metres but once he was into the drive phase, he eased ahead to beat fast-finishing Young to the line. USA’s Tori Bowie, the reigning World champion, was also in winning form as she raced to victory in the women’s 200m, crossing the line in 22.75, beating out Mariely Sanchez (Dominican Republic) in 23.60 and Bahamian Tynia Gaither (23.62).

Grenada’s own Bralon Taplin raced away to win the men’s 400m in 45.29, with Luguelin Santon of the Dominican Republic in second spot in 45.66 and Nery Brenes of Costa Rica in third in 45.73.

President of the La Brea Off-Season Football League, Gerald Debesette says the Young Stars football team that was involved in the violent beating of referee Michael London last Thursday has been kicked out of the competition.

In an interview yesterday, Debesette apologised to London and the Football Referee Association (TTFRA), describing the brawl as an unfortunate since the league’s purpose was to expose the talents hidden in the community. He said that when the players involved in the brawl are identified, they too will be penalised. He said the league’s committee will be meeting soon to discuss the length of the ban, not only for the team, but for the players who may want to return next season with another club.

On Thursday, London was officiating over a knockout match between two league newcomers, Gonzales United and Young Stars of La Brea at the Brighton Recreation Ground in Point D’or. During the second half, Gonzales United was leading 1-0 when London awarded them a penalty kick and issued a red card to a Young Stars player. Upset with the call, the Young Stars players surrounded the referee, which led to a scuffle.

Debesette said that because the league officials were on the other side of the field, they could not tell what was happening and by the time they reached and attempted to quell the incident, spectators had swarmed the pitch.

When London escaped and went to his vehicle, it was alleged that he was going to report the incident to the police. However, one of the Young Stars players pulled him out the vehicle. It was at that time London picked up a blade. The spectators rushed across, disarmed London and severely beat him.

Debesette said it was when a plain-clothed police officer saw the brawl and fired a shot in the air that the crowd dissipated. London was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was treated. By the time La Brea police arrived, the area was mostly clear. Up to yesterday, South Western Division police said they had not received a report from London. He said while there is no security for the matches, police patrol regularly.

The incident led to the TTFRA advising that the Football Association’s (TTFA) Referees Committee instruct match officials to immediately cease providing referee service to the La Brea league. It also advised that registered officials only service TTFA sanctioned competitions. Debesette said the league was not registered with the TTFA and employs referee services through one of its committee members.

“It is an unfortunate situation in that it was a knock out game of the La Brea Off-Season Football League which is in its fourth year. From what I have heard, the referee may take legal action against the players because he was able to identify five of them who attacked him. I apologised to referee association and the individual. It is unfortunate that after eight years of building a brand that one incident can set us back.”

The league continued over the weekend as it grinds down to the finals.

KEVON FELMINE

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Despite being treated and discharged after the violent attack by a La Brea mob last Thursday, national football referee Michael London returned to the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday to undergo a series of tests.

London's wife Elizabeth said that they were awaiting an examination by doctors to assess his recovery, adding that he was still in a lot of pain. London is expected to consult with a neurosurgeon at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) today to determine what corrective measures are needed during his recovery.

Following Thursday's brawl during the La Brea Off-Season Football League (LBOSFL), London, the brother of calypsonian Brian London, was left with a fractured jaw, swollen head, bruised ribs and shoulder.

"Right now I can't give an update on his condition because we are at the hospital. The doctors are doing some checks and we are just waiting for them to tell us what they have come up with. We've an appointment at Mount Hope for his fractured jaw and a CT scan has to be done so they can make a diagnosis," Elizabeth said.

On Thursday, London, a member of the National Football Referees' Association (TTRFA), was officiating a knock-out match between Gonzales United and Young Stars at the Brighton Recreation Ground at Point D'Or, La Brea. It was during the second half as Gonzales United was leading 1-0, London awarded them a penalty. He also issued a red card to a Young Stars player. The league reported that several Young Stars players surrounded London and this resulted in a scuffle. London managed to escape to his vehicle with the intention of reporting the incident to La Brea police. However, it was alleged that one of the Young Stars players pulled him from his vehicles and that was when it's alleged that London pulled out a cutlass. Immediately, players and supporters of Young Stars swarmed London, kicking, cuffing and beating him with bottles, coolers and stones. The battering only stopped when a plain-clothed police officer fired a gunshot in the air, causing the crowd to disperse.

London was taken to the San Fernando hospital where he was treated and transferred to the EWMSC because of head injuries. He was discharged on Friday. The TTRFA then made a call for the Football Association to ban national referees from participation in the LBOSFL. It also advised its members to participate only in TTFA sanctioned competitions. The LBOSFL subsequently banned Young Stars from the competition and apologised to London and the TTRFA.

However, Elizabeth said that they were yet to receive that apology and had only heard about it on the TV and radio On Sunday, London reported the beating to La Brea police. Elizabeth said she doesn't know whether London would return to refereeing because of the hurt he suffered.

She said for the past eight years, he refereed because he wanted to be involved in the development of sports and youths. She said the league was not paying a substantial fee, but London wanted to help out. Last Thursday, London could have disqualified Young Stars which had turned out for the game short of players. But in the interest of the game, she said London delayed the start so that the players could arrive and play.

"He put himself out there for these youth and they nearly killed him. If it wasn’t for the police officer who pulled the gun, my husband would have been dead," Elizabeth said.

League president Gerald Debesette reported the incident to La Brea police. Debesette said that from today, a member of the police service will address the teams and the spectators, informing them of what would be tolerated and what will not be condoned. He said the police will also increase police presence at the games to ensure better security.

Shane Legerton of Defence Force and Kristin Thompson of Paragon were the toast of their respective teams enroute to claiming the men and women Open titles in the three-day University of the West Indies Invitational Indoor Hockey Tournament at the UWI Sport and Physical Education Centre SPEC, St Augustine on Sunday night.

In the men’s final, Legerton scored a pair of goals in the fifth and 21st minutes, while Javon Woodward (17th), Mickel Pierre (34th) and Shaquille Daniel (40th) added one each to lead Defence Force past Fatima 5-3. Jordan Vieira, who ended the competition with the most goals (12) scored twice for Fatima as well in the seventh and 32nd, and Roshane Hamilton, the other in the 25th.

The women’s decider was all about Thompson as she netted a handful, in the third, eighth, 16th, 26th and 36th minutes while her older sibbling, Danielle Thompson got a double (18th and 34th) and Alanna Lewis, one, in the 24th in Paragon’s 8-4 defeat of Ventures.

Krizia Layne led Ventures with a hat-trick in the eighth, 21st and 24th to end with the most goals 15th, and Lidsay Williams, the other in the 23rd.

UWI Invitational Indoor Hockey Tournament results:

Sunday:

Semifinals:

Women’s Open:

Ventures 5 (Yael Jagbir 2nd, Krizia Layne 17th, Rose-Anne Reyes 27th, Jade Piper 31st, 40th) vs UWI 0

Paragon 4 (Danielle Thompson 1st, Alanna Lewis 9th, Kristin Thompson 19th, 34th) vs Shandy Carib Magnolias 2 (Kaitlyn Olton 13th, 27th)

Men’s Open:

Defence Force 4 (Dillon Francis 2nd, Shane Legerton 7th, 30th, Mickel Pierre 17th) vs Paragon 3 (Akim Toussaint 1st, Jabari Perez 32nd, 40th)

Fatima 4 (Jordan Viera 4th, 25th, Jerazeno Bell 7th, Andrew Vieira 17th) vs UWI 3 (Daniel Byer 3rd, Kieron Emmanuel 10th, Kristien Emannuel 35th)

Third place playoffs:

Women’s Open:

Shandy Carib Magnolias 8 (Brittney Hingh 11th, 17th, 27th, 35th, Shaniah De Freitas 14th, 23rd, Jessica Lee 19th, Savannah De Freitas 26th) vs UWI 0

Men’s Open:

Paragon 6 (Akim Toussaint 4th, Isaiah Scott 9th, Tariq Singh 22nd, Terrence Baptiste 24th, 37th, Joel Daniel 40th) vs UWI 0

Finals:

Women’s Open:

Paragon 8 (Kristin Thompson 3rd, 8th, 16th, 26th, 36th, Danielle Thompson 18th, 34th, Alanna Lewis 24th) vs Ventures 4 (Krizia Layne 8th, 21st, 24th, Lindsay Williams 23rd)

Men’s Open:

Defence Force 6 (Shane Legerton 5th, 24th, Javon Woodward 17th, Mickel Pierre 34th, Shaquille Daniel 40th) vs Fatima 3 (Jordan Vieira 7th, 32nd, Roshane Hamilton 25th)

Ministry of Planning and Development officials have met with devotees of the Shri Nav Durga Kali Ashram Temple at South Oropouche in an attempt to rectify the issues surrounding breaches in construction being carried out on the site.

One of the main breaches is a three-storey building currently under construction. This is why Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis okayed enforcement action and the respective notices were served on April 3.

On April 12, however, temple devotees staged a protest over what they claimed was Government’s plan to demolish the temple, which they believed was earmarked for demolition.

Last Friday, however, following a request from Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) officials and Shri Nav Durga Kali Ashram representatives met to discuss the issue.

In the meeting, it was disclosed that it was the additional structure being erected without the benefit of Planning permission that was the subject of the enforcement and not the temple.

The Ashram’s representatives were told the extensions were “illegal and constituted an egregious breach of the Town and Country Planning regulations.”

During the discussion, it was agreed that another site visit would be made by Town and Country officials to reinforce the adjustments which need to be made to the structure to facilitate compliance with the law. A devotee confirmed to the T&T Guardian that the site visit is confirmed for this week and an investigation has been launched by the ministry.

The T&T Guardian was told the construction continued unabated despite the issuance of a letter of advice and the refusal of planning permission for the work being carried out between 2016 to the present.

The extensions on the compound started two years ago but the TCPD had received a complaint from a member of the public against new development being undertaken on the site since January 16, 2014.

A letter of advice dated January 14, 2016 was issued to Pundit Larry Hasmatally, one of the owners of the temple and the TCPD advised him to submit a plan.

But an application submitted by the temple owners to the TCPD on April 4, 2016, was denied planning permission on April 13, 2016.

In a release issued by the ministry over the weekend, the PS and officers reiterated that “there is no intention to hamper the religious well-being of the representatives nor the persons whom they assist.”

The temple representatives have also been advised to apply for an extension of the enforcement notice whilst discussions continue.

It was disclosed that the building in question is a public building which subjects the property to a number of specific requirements, including 40 per cent coverage, building line setback distances and no approval for the structural details of all of the buildings constructed.

The enforcement notice is against a three-storey structure which has not been in existence for 40 years, as being claimed by the developers, the ministry said.

It added that there is no grant of planning permission for construction of the following: a sub-basement; basement and ground floor at road level.

Additionally, it said there are no car-parking facilities to service the development existing on the site and part of the structure is constructed over a drain reserve.

The Ministry of National Security remains adamant that Saturday’s repatriation was done “voluntarily,” as none of the Venezuelan nationals expressed fear or objection.

The ministry defended its actions in a release yesterday, saying Government has a right to repatriate any foreign national found to be in breach of the laws of T&T and adding it will take the necessary steps to ensure such repatriation.

It said the Government and the government of Venezuela have been engaged in discussions “to reduce the length of detention for those Venezuelan nationals in breach of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and to repatriate them to their homeland as soon as practicable.”

These discussions followed claims by Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Ghandi-Andrews, at a Joint Select Committee of Parliament on April 6, that 89 Venezuelan nationals were detained for various offences at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC), the ministry said.

“Officials from the Venezuelan Embassy visited the nationals detained at the IDC on Friday April 13 to ascertain their well-being and identify their needs for repatriation. Subsequently, at the request of the Venezuelan Ambassador, a meeting was held between the Ministry of National Security and the Venezuelan Embassy on Tuesday April 17 to discuss the situation.”

It said Venezuelan Ambassador Coromondo Godoy subsequently revealed her fellow nationals expressed a desire to return to Venezuela and assured them the Venezuela government would do everything possible to assist them in returning home. The release added that Dillon in turn assured they would work with the Embassy to facilitate the repatriation.

As a result on this agreement, Dillon said on Friday, at the request of the Venezuelan Embassy, the Immigration Division gave all Venezuelan nationals in detention an opportunity to go to their embassy to obtain travel documents to return to Venezuela. It said 102 persons were transported to the embassy. However, of this group, 19 could not be repatriated as warrants had been issued for them to serve varying terms of imprisonment in T&T after being convicted for various offences.

It said a diplomatic note was sent to the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs seeking permission to land a Venezuelan aircraft to specifically repatriate its citizens detained at the IDC and on Saturday, 82 Venezuelan nationals (53 men and 29 women) voluntarily left the IDC to be repatriated to their homeland.

The ministry said at the Piarco International Airport each person was asked if they had any fear or objection to returning to their homeland.

“All stated that they wanted to leave. Each signed the necessary documents for their departure before being handed their travel document by Immigration Officers and having their personal property checked by Customs officials.

“Prior to boarding the aircraft, each individual was again asked by a different set of officials if they had any fear of returning to their homeland; each again responded in the negative and willingly boarded a bus with their belongings to be taken to the aircraft. No one was forced or coerced to leave the IDC, board the bus or the aircraft. The entire exercise was recorded by the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard.”

It also said the Immigration Division had received reports that foreign nationals have been entering the country and are being required to pay a fee to facilitate a claim for asylum, although they are not entering the country as refugees. It said an investigation has been launched into this matter.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is concerned that many foreigners have entered the country illegally or have overstayed the landing permission granted to them by the Immigration Division and, as a result, may become susceptible to exploitation because of their irregular immigration status. These breaches of national security will not be tolerated by this Government and every effort will be taken to prevent exploitation of foreign nationals, while at the same time, we continue to protect this country’s borders,” the release said.

Amnesty International’s Americas director Erika Guevara Rosas has written to the Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley criticising the way in which 82 Venezuelan nationals were repatriated to their home country on Saturday.

Rosas’ letter came one day after a non-governmental organisation in Venezuela said it was going to lodge an official report on behalf of the 82 Venezuelans who were repatriated and as international outcry over the act intensified.

In the letter, Rosas requested information about the procedures followed by the T&T Government in carrying out the deportation. She indicated that they have received information suggesting those returned did not do so voluntarily, contrary to National Security Minister Edmund Dillon’s claims. In fact, she said they received information the deportees were presented with papers to sign “in a language they do not understand, stating that they would return voluntarily.”

“As part of the Convention relating to the Status of the Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention) and its Protocol (1967), Trinidad and Tobago is obliged to fully protect the rights of those in need of international protection,” Rosas said in her letter.

“To do otherwise implies a breach of international law and it is regrettable that your Government has chosen to ignore its obligations in a way incompatible with international human rights standards.”

Among other things, she said the deportees were “forcibly returned without an individualised assessment or having the opportunity to challenge or appeal their deportation orders, without having their legal options explained to them in a language they understand and without access to their lawyers or UNHCR, the actions of your Government have undermined due process, your Government’s own policy on asylum, and your country’s international human rights obligations. This cannot be repeated.”

Rosas explained that mass deportations are prohibited under international law, as is the violation of the principles of non-refoulement, confidentiality, non-penalisation and the right to due process and judicial protection.

She disclosed that based on the information Amnesty International received, it appeared the T&T Government chose to ignore each one of these key protection principles.

“Questions remain as to why a government that should protect refugees and asylum seekers as part of its international obligations offered confidential information to the Venezuelan authorities, and deported asylum seekers with open refugee claims back to their country where they may face torture or other grave human rights violations,” Rosas told Rowley.

“Trinidad and Tobago must guarantee the rights of the growing number of asylum seekers and refugees from Venezuela in need of international protection, whose hope for survival are increasingly in countries such as yours. To fail to do so is to ignore your country’s commitment and international obligations to protecting human rights.”

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Türk yesterday also expressed deep regret over the deportations. He described sending back those who applied for refugee status as a “breach of international refugee law.” He also said some of them were deported from T&T despite the UNHCR’s request for access to them concerned and written interventions.

“The forced return of this group is of great concern,” Türk said.

“UNHCR calls on Trinidad and Tobago to continue to abide by its international obligations as signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention and other applicable international instruments that are incorporated into its official Refugee Policy, in particular the principle of non-return, known as non-refoulement, and Article 31 of the Convention which requests signatories “not to impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence” to people who are in need of international protection.”

UN Resident Co-ordinator Richard Blewitt meanwhile called on Government to speed up work on the asylum/refugee policy he said has been at the Attorney General’s (AG) office for the past 12 months.

“The Government has worked on the policy quite diligently and in the last 12 months. It is now at the AG’s office and the final draft is almost ready to go to Parliament and I will urge the Government to take this moment to put this legislation in place. The Opposition must support it,” Blewitt said.