Unfortunately, it appears that beyond the school gate, where the protective authority of the school ends, some of our children are most vulnerable, given the failure of the State to afford all of its citizens a safe and secure environment in which to live and move about freely.

Our children are increasingly becoming targets of criminal elements, with the State protective apparatus seemingly looking on as they kidnap, sexually assault or even murder them. Schools very often have to deal with the spectre of children who go missing for days.

The impoverished socio-economic circumstances of many of our children predispose them to sexual predators who willingly take advantage of their circumstances.

In extreme cases, this practice occurs with the knowledge and consent of parents. Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states, “States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any person who has the care of the child.” It goes on to state further, “Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide the necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate for judicial involvement.” Based on these guiding principles, schools try their best to ensure that children are afforded a safe and secure learning environment, but this is not always enough to ensure the welfare and well-being of many of our children.

Our State agencies, parents and communities must do more to protect children as they go about their daily lives.

Our criminal elements must know that crimes against children are scorned upon in the most forceful manner.

As teachers we must guide children on measures they must adopt to protect themselves, from speaking to a trusted adult about physical and sexual abuse, to walking in groups as they go to and from school, not getting into vehicles alone or screaming to alert others when they suspect they are in danger.

Parents must also be more meticulous in selecting people to entrust the care of their minors in their absence.

Schools, in collaboration with community organisations and police officers, can work with parents to educate them about smart ways of ensuring their children are safe when going to and from school.

While these are reactionary measures, there must be a more concerted effort to understand the process by which our society is producing such extreme criminal minds.

Just who are these young people who grow up to engage in such extreme forms of violence, without any regard for human life? How can we adjust socialisation processes to ensure that the tendency to criminal behaviour is not so powerful? These are questions teachers and the wider society must ponder upon as we seek to come to grips with extreme levels of crime against children.

A release from the Ministry quotes Education Minister, Anthony Garcia, as reiterating his concern that many parents and guardians opt to form queues outside schools from as early as 4 am in order to get a form that will allow their children to be considered for entry into primary schools.

Garcia said this has resulted in parents and guardians being stressed and frustrated.

This practice has developed because of the limited number of admission forms that are made available to parents by some school principals. Garcia says he has received numerous complaints from parents and guardians who have been subjected to this “indignity” causing unnecessary stress and frustration.

He insists that this situation should not be allowed to continue.

Garcia said the Ministry advises that where application forms are required to be completed by parents, those forms should be made available over an extended period, during February and March, during normal working hours, and are to be available to all parents seeking admission to school for their children.

The release revealed that the Ministry has issued a circular memorandum to principals of all primary schools on the issue.

This circular points out that admission lists must be posted at the school and parents must be notified by May 15 each year. Principals are also required to notify parents who are unsuccessful in securing a place for their children of the reason/s for non-acceptance.

According to the Ministry, residence in the catchment area (three kilometres) of the school is the first criterion for admission, and refusal to admit is permissible only on grounds of overcrowding.

The circular states further when the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, priority is to be given to applicants residing in the catchment area of the school and on the age of the child with older children receiving preference.

The circular stipulates that children shall be admitted to primary school not earlier than the first day of the term in which they attain their fifth birthday.

The Ministry has reminded parents that no registration fee or contribution is to be a condition for acceptance of a child into a public school.

The recent killing of Nicholas Simon, 18, an unemployed plumber of Johnson Street, Enterprise for crossing over onto the other side of the Enterprise community, an area controlled by a rival gang, has shot the depressed community back into the spotlight.

A 12 year-old SE A student was also wounded along with Simon when gunmen riding on two bicycles opened fire on him as he escorted the girl home into what is considered dangerous territory for persons living on the other side.

Simon had been warned not to cross the border line, relatives had told Newsday when a team visited.

The warring communities in which rival gangs “Rasta City” (Bhagaloo Street and environs) and “Unruly Isis” (Circular Drive and environs) operate are separated by the Southern Main Road. Because of the heavy influence of drugs and guns in the communities, the Ministry of National Security recently set up a joint army/police post in one of the HDC apartments at Lion’s Gate Crown Trace Enterprise.

Law abiding residents breathed a sigh of relief until January 16 when Simon was killed. Mc Intyre however admitted that the area where Simon was gunned down was not in the area where the post was set up. The murder came as a surprise to many residents who had hoped that the increased presence of police and soldiers in the area would put a dent in criminal activity.

However Mc Intyre told Newsday: “My intention now is to get additional resources and we will expand the cordon to the other side as it has some activity taking place there. The cordon will now go to Africa Ground”.

According to reports, the young girl who is a friend of one of Simon’s sisters had visited their home and complained about someone firing gunshots at her earlier in the day.

Relatives said because she was scared to go home alone, Simon opted to escort her home. His bullet riddled body was found a short while later near African Grounds.” The primary school girl was shot four times in her hand and was taken for medical treatment. Relatives told Newsday that Simon was not a gang member or a bad boy but was focused on being employed. He was just doing the girl a favour when he met his death.

He had in the past received threats, they said, because a member of the “Rasta City” gang believed he was involved in a relationship with a girl from their territory. They denied any such relationship as he had a girlfriend.

Grieving relatives told Newsday that a similar post needed to be set up in African Grounds.

“A lot takes place there,” said one resident.

McIntyre said he is fighting the scourge on several fronts among them tackling head on the social aspects in the community. Already social workers are on the ground in Enterprise and he is already seeing a difference, he said.

“The social workers are in there talking to the people in an effort to reduce the levels of crime in the community,” the senior officer told Newsday.

“It is critical that we have ambassadors in countries around the world. This is a very tumultuous world right now. So much is going on in this region, and a lot is going on in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

In an interview with Newsday last Wednesday prior to his departure, Estrada said, “It is critical we do not have such a long gap like happened to me prior to getting here.” His confirmation took a while, he said, because “our politics were a little contentious at the time, and many of us were held up for quite some time.

I was the least controversial candidate in the pool.” Some senators disagreed with President Barrack Obama’s policies, he said, “and they decided to exact their pound of flesh from his nominees.” Asked if his tenmonth tenure was sufficient to achieve the objectives he had set himself, Estrada said, “It was extremely productive, fast paced, because I came here extremely focused.” He was leaving feeling accomplished. “It takes some missions probably two, three, four years to accomplish as much,” he said.

His achievements included security agreements with the TT government that involved information and intelligence sharing, and building law enforcement capacity.

Partnering with the Dr Keith Rowley-led Government, he said, “I could not have worked with a better Government at this time.” He intends to continue to contribute to strengthening the relationship between TT and the US. The US sees TT, he said, as a strong sovereign nation, and as a leader in the Caribbean.

He commended Government for pushing ahead with increasing the age of marriage to 18, he said, “This is not only a Trini issue.

It a United States issue.

Trinidad and Tobago could set the example for many countries – to protect our children, and get rid of child marriages.” He said, he would have liked to see more advancement in the areas of equal rights for the LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) community. “I think that everyone, no matter who they are, disabled, different sexual orientation, everyone deserves to be treated equally with same basic rights,” he said.

Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Rodney Smart was speaking on Sunday at the TTDF’s Interfaith Service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.

Smart said that while 2017 has already brought its own challenges, the country also has to contend with the unresolved challenges from 2016 in terms of the spiralling crime rate.

“You therefore understand that the defence and security landscape in 2017 has the potential to be even more challenging than it was in 2016. I therefore cannot promise you, the members of the Defence Force and your families, an easy 2017, but rather one that is filled with excitement and opportunities as we defend our nation.

Therefore our force, like our country must be constantly ready for strategic, operational and for tactical manoeuvring and change.” He also reminded officers that while they come from varying religious, racial and family backgrounds, they are all part of the family of the TTDF.

The CBTT also plans to save money by changing the metal composition of the 5, 10 and 25 cent coins. No specific date was given for these changes but the bank did say “more details” would be provided “in the next few months”.

This would include, as stated by the CBTT, the “issue date of the new 5, 10 and 25 cent coins, details of coin redemption and donation drives, and publication of the cash price rounding rules.” The decision to stop minting one cents is likely to be met with mixed reaction, as some ‘Trinis’ have long regarded the one cent as almost useless while others expect to receive proper change when their bill says they are owed $0.01.

In a notice published in Sunday’s papers, the CBTT said “a single 1 cent coin currently costs 21 cents to mint and each year, the Bank mints on average 45 million 1 cent coin pieces.” Regarding changes to the metal composition of the three other coins in TT’s currency, the CBTT said they will have “a 90 percent steel core and less than ten percent nickel and copper overlay.” It assured that “the new coins will look and feel the same as the current coins” but said that this change, combined with the elimination of the 1 cent coin are expected to save it “about TT $15 million in minting costs.” Asked for his opinion on the matter, president of the Supermarkets Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT), Dr Yunus Ibrahim, said “without the one cent in the system, the pricing structure of all retail prices nationwide will be affected.” “Prices are going to have to be rounded up or rounded down, based on where the actual price falls. However the consumer is not going to take kindly to this because (they) are going to be asked to pay, maybe one to three cents more per product, just because we don’t have the one cent anymore,” Ibrahim told Newsday.

He pointed out that while some restaurants in TT already round customers’ bills to the nearest dollar “for the purpose of ease of business, (many) consumers don’t like that.” Citing the “logistic challenges” which elimination of the one cent would pose to retailers, especially when they have “funny prices” that must be multiplied by 12.5 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT), Ibrahim said the CBTT “needs to have a fantastic media campaign to ensure people understand why this is happening.” Newsday then asked if Ibrahim thought consumers would cut back further on what they spend, once the one cent is eliminated.

The SATT president said he didn’t think this would happen because over the long-term, “the effect of this is going to be neutralised because as much as you could round up, you could round down.” “So faith is going to have to be placed in the system but not having cents to give back people is a problem. That is to be discussed in the months to come, when the CBTT has their rollout plan,” Ibrahim said.

Meanwhile Gabriel Faria said “in principle, I’m not against the concept” but needs more information before commenting in detail on the matter as CEO of the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

“I know that this has been done in other markets, (including) Canada, to reduce cost and to make things more efficient.

I understand the rationale behind it, so I’m not against it (but) I’d like to get some more details about how they (CBTT) intend to redeem the currency (one cent) that’s in the market before commenting in detail,” Faria told Newsday.

The inclement weather failed to dampen the spirit of the invited guests and members of the zone’s Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams which swept the 2016 TTCB sponsored Inter Zone competitions.

The East Zone narrowly missed out on a clean sweep of the four Inter Zone titles, a feat they accomplished in 2015, when they finished runners- up to Central Zone in the Under- 13 final.

Delivering the feature address at the event was president of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath, and among the dignitaries present was Member of Parliament for St Augustine Prakash Ramadhar, Paul Leacock, chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation, Kurt Connell, representing Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde, and Parasram Singh, president of the TT Umpires and Scorers’ Association.

Also, taking pride of place on Saturday was Leonardo Francis of Agents Sports Club who was adjudged Senior League “Cricketer of the Year.” His impressive statistics included an aggregate of 298 runs, with a highest score of 165 not out for an average of 59.60. Francis also claimed 27 wickets for the season.

He was chosen among the “Five Senior League Cricketers of the Year” which also included Clevon Frederick of Curepe Sports, Andy Goseyn of Brazil Progressive, Marlon Bharath of Curepe Sports, and Anil Ragoonath of Squadron Sports.

Sharing the East Zone spotlight was Yousuf Ramlogan of Curepe Sports who was crowned “Senior Limited Overs Cricketer of the Year” with outstanding performances in the 40-Overs, and Twenty20 competitions.

Ramlogan accumulated 294 runs in the 40-Overs competition for an average of 58.8 with a highest score of 125 runs, and took nine wickets for 121 runs for an average of 13.44.

In the Twenty20, he got 150 runs for an average of 37.50 and a top score of 71.

But the night undoubtedly belonged to the future generation of East Zone cricketers who emerged triple crowned champions in the TTCB Inter Zone competitions which brought “Youth Cricketers of the Year’’ honours to Sion Hackett, Sameer Ali, Leonardo Julien and Kirstan Kallicharan.

Several of the age group stars also were honoured for being selected on national and regional teams, headed by batting prodigy Kalicharran who was on the West Indies under-19 team which won the ICC U19 Championship for the first time last year; and Sameer Ali who was picked for the regional U-16s.

The East Zone, whose new chairman is David Hunte, also rewarded for their contribution during the 2016 season: Carlyle Lewis, voted “Umpire of the Year,’’ and coaches/ managers Kazim Mohammed, Aslim Mandol, Rajesh Persad, Rajendra Ramadhin, Kelvin Arneaud, and Tarandath Sammy.

Sunday League (40 Overs): 1.Squadron Sports Club; 2. Burnley Sports Club; (Losing Semi-finalists) Agents Sports, Brazil Progressive Sports

Senior Division (Three-Day): 1.Curepe Sports Club; 2. Agents Sports Club; 3. Spartan Sports Club Division I League (Three-Day): 1.Burnley Sports Club; 2. Prisons Sports Club

Senior Division Reserve League (Two-Day): 1. Spartan Sports Club

Twenty20 (20 Overs): 1. Curepe Sports Club; 2. Dinsley Cricket Club; (Losing Semi-finalist) Brazil Progressive Sports Club

Five Senior Cricketers of the Year: Clevon Frederick; Andy Gosyne; Leonardo Francis; Anil Ragoonath; Marlon Bharath

Senior Limited Overs Player of the Year: Yousuf Ramlogan

Senior Division Cricketer of the Year: Leonardo Francis

Umpire of the Year: Carlyle Lewis

Four Youth Cricketers of the Year: Sion Hackett; Sameer Ali; Leonardo Julien; Kirsten Kallicharan

Coaches/Managers of the Year: Kazim Mohammed; Aslim Mandol; Rajesh Persad; Rajendra Ramadhin; Kelvin Arneaud; Tarandath Sammy

Representatives on National Teams: Under-15: Sameer Ali, Rivaldo Ramlogan, Aryan Sammy

Under-17: Kirsten Kallicharan, Sameer Ali, Te-Shawn Alleyne, Leonardo Julien

Under-19: Keagan Simmons, Kirsten Kallicharan, Nathaniel McDavid

West Indies Under-19: Kirsten Kallicharan

West Indies Under-16: Sameer Ali

Primary Schools Player of the Year: Rondell Ramlogan, Aleena Ramharack

Secondary Schools Player of the Year: Te-Shawn Alleyne, Ann-Marie Perreira.

National youth coach Russell Latapy and the TTFA have mandated a search be conducted for the best young players for possible national selection.

The NFA, in an effort to give all young players resident in the North Zone an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, have set up screening this week as follows: The NFA will have coaches conducting screening for boys born January 1, 2002 and after at each of the venues.

A group of 40 will undergo a final screening session on Sunday at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, with 25 final players going forward to be seen by the national coach.

All schools, clubs, coaching schools and community sports leaders are encouraged to send your players to the nearest venue for screening.

For more information call Ruthvin Charles, NFA’s Youth Committee Chairman, at 761- 3891; Rayshawn Mars, NFA Secretary, at 378-8795; or Camal basdeo at 628-3760.

Screening days Wednesday 25th January – President’s Ground- St Anns and Haig St Carenage – 5pm.

Thursday 26th January – Coconut Drive Morvant and Brian lara recreation ground Santa Cruz – 5pm.

Friday 27th January – Nelson Mandela Park – 5pm.

Saturday 28th January- Four Roads Community Crentre Diego Martin 10 am/ Diamond Vale ground, Citrine Drive – 10am/ Blanchicheuse – 10 AM

Whiteman of Heatwave Cycling Club was the first to Toco, covering the 94.5 km distance from the Mucurapo Foreshore to the North-East village in two hours, 24 minutes and 23 seconds.

Whiteman, who is still a junior, finished ahead of fellow national junior cyclist Tyler Cole (Team DPS), while Barbadian Phillip Clarke (Knights FR) was third.

Campbell of PSL/RBC won the women’s title ahead of Cheyenne Awai (Unattached) and Tonya Sun Kow (The Braves).

The third road series event will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday a time trial will be held, followed by a road race on Sunday.

The road series, which comprises five series, is an official qualifier for the national team for the Elite Pan American Road Championships later this year.

RESULTS:
Open
1 Jabari Whiteman – Heatwave
2 Tyler Cole – Team DPS
3 Phillip Clarke – Knights FR
4 Lorenzo Orosco – Team DPS
5 Luis Diaz – The Braves
6 Gavyn Nero – Team DPS
7 Gevan Samuel – The Braves
8 Akil Campbell – PSL/ RBC
9 Bernardo Diaz – The Braves 10 Adam Alexander – Team Foundation

Women’s Open
1 Teniel Campbell – PSL/RBC
2 Cheyenne Awai – Unattached
3 Tonya Sun Kow – The Braves
4 Christiane Farah – Breakaway

Juniors
1 Jabari Whiteman – Heatwave
2 Tyler Cole – Team DPS
3 Lorenzo Orosco – Team DPS
4 Adam Francis – The Braves

Juveniles
1 Enrique de Comarmond – Heatwave
2 Joshua Rawlins – Southclaine
3 Rodell Woods – Team Woods
4 Leyton Fyfield – Team Woods

Masters 40-49
1 Mark Hosein – Breakaway
2 Raphael Figueria – Breakaway
3 Douglas D’abadie – Team SR
4 Stephen Rodney – Chain Lynxs

Masters 50-59
1 Michael Brown – Christian Wheelers
2 Sheldon Cockburn – Knights Fr
3 Dirk Tidd – Knights FR Ronald Crooks – Team Foundation

Masters 60-69
1 Cyril Fook – PSL/RBC
2 Dennis Ghent – Team SR
3 Robert Farrell – Southampton
4 Godfrey Clyne – Southclaine.

Lawrence and Edwards will square off in a light heavyweight WBC/Fecar title fight at Irwin Park, Siparia, on Saturday, from 8 pm.

Lawrence, who hails from Siparia, has had numerous bouts in Venezuela recently has a record of eight wins and one loss. Edwards, who hails from Cocorite, has registered eight wins and one draw in his career.

Edwards, speaking during his final sparring session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday, said Lawrence should be concerned.

The 37-year-old said, “He supposed to be worried because I am a champ, I am a champ of Cocorite with no losses. He has to prove himself to me that he could beat this pensioner.” During a press conference earlier this month, Lawrence and Edwards traded jibes with Lawrence declaring he will not let a “pensioner” defeat him. Lawrence is eight years younger than Edwards at 29-years-old.

Edwards continued, “I have no pressure on me because I am the champ, the pressure is on Sheldon because I have no losses, Sheldon has a defeat.” Patterson Hassan Matthews, the coach and manager of Edwards, noted that their preparation is almost complete with just some fine-tuning ahead of the title bout. Matthews added: “Right now we are peaking up our preparations, trying to do our final touches of it. After today’s (yesterday’s) sparring there is no more sparring just fine-tuning and that will be it.” Matthews continued: “He (Lawrence) should not be frightened, he should be scared, very much scared. He (Edwards) said he is coming to knock him out and show that a pensioner could do what (George) Foreman did, and what (Bernard) Hopkins did to their opponents because they were suggested to be pensioners too. Saturday night he will be all ready to take Sheldon Lawrence out.”