It was always a great pleasure for me to appear before these two judges in my early days of practice. They wore lightly their cloak of judiciary, yet enjoyed the respect of all.

They both recognised that their entitlement to be addressed as “Milud” did not confer on them near divinity, as in their interactions with subordinates they acknowledged a shared humanity. Both loved to chat, and though this annoyed some practitioners, I thought it made bearable the rigours of practice.

Maharaj was as passionate about family law as I am. He often took the opportunity to ask my opinion on some family law point or refer me to some judgment in family law that I should review.

His judgments were thorough.

His fatherly pride in his three sons in law was no secret.

He was always very polite, pleasant and exceedingly patient.

He truly made the practice of law a joy.

Who can forget Narine’s sense of humour? One day I walked into the Appeal Chamber Court and he informed me that he was not pleased with me. I was genuinely puzzled, as I knew all my documents were in order. As he saw my confusion he proceeded to ask me how I could get married and not invite him.

On another occasion, I was vigorously arguing a point when he said to me that he thought I would have cooled down after my marriage. I remember once when I was awaiting a judgment from him and we met socially.

As I approached him, anticipating I might ask him about it, he immediately placed an index finger on his lips. He certainly knew how to take the wind out of my sails.

I recall when applying for leave for a writ of habeas corpus involving a child. He engaged our client, a Nicaraguan of Chinese descent, resident in San Francisco, about her lineage.

I did not see any point in his questions, but in retrospect realised that it served to calm our client, who had been extremely anxious about her matter.

His interests were wide -ranging, making him an excellent conversationalist. He could see humour in any situation, and fielded expertly, comments on his physical resemblance to a younger judge, which was compounded by their common passion for cricket.

I pray the ultimate judge would judge these good men gently and welcome them into His hallowed hall of justice.

HAZEL THOMPSON-AHYE attorney

Andrew Trace topped the league standings with 19 points recently, winning six of their seven matches and drawing one. Former champions Goodwood Eagles settled for the runners- up position, with Green Hill/Bagatelle placing third. Nine teams competed in the division, with two not finishing the competition.

St James Youth Football Club ran away with the Under-18 girls title, winning all five of their matches. Diego Central placed second in the Under-18 girls division, with St Lucien Strikers ending in third position. Six teams participated in this division.

In the Under-15 boys division, Quarry Street Football Club emerged victorious in the league by a single point, winning three of their five matches, drawing one and losing one. St Joseph FC were runners-up with Big Valley placing third among the six teams.

The main objective of the RBC West Penn Community Youth Football League is to engage the youths of the western peninsula in positive activities.

Playing at the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga, Club Sando Moruga edged the league leaders by a 1-0 margin, with Jesse Edwards finding the back of the net in the 42nd minute.

Guaya remain atop the standings with 29 points, with FC Santa Rosa next on 25.

Santa Rosa registered a 2-0 win over Cunupia FC at the Arima Velodrome, with new signing Ryan Stewart opening the scoring with a 54th minute freekick while Rashad Griffith converted a penalty five minutes later.

Defence Force moved up one spot to third on the standings despite a 2-2 draw against Siparia Spurs at the Petrotrin Sports Club Ground, Fyzabad.

Chris Collins put Siparia ahead in the 25th minute before Defence Force responded with items from Dwayne Calliste (40th) and Jabari Andall (59th). However, Marcus Kelly ensured that the hosts will get a share of the points when he got Siparia’s second, in the 64th.

Queen’s Park got a double from Devon Modeste as they defeated cellar-placed Bethel United 3-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field, Mucurapo.

Modeste scored in the 41st and 90th minutes, after Jabari Raphael broke the deadlock for the Parkites, in the 28th. Kleon Melville got Bethel’s consolation, four minutes into added-on time in the second half.

1976 Phoenix FC earned a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Police at the Police Barracks, St Joseph. Colin Williams found the back of the net for the lawmen in the 14th but Phoenix replied through veteran Lejandro Williams (22nd) and Kaleb Douglas (62nd).

Another team who rallied from a goal down to prevail 2-1 were WASA, in their home encounter against the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ).

The home fans at the WASA Ground in St Joseph were silenced when Ishmael Daniel put UTT in front after 53 minutes but Dillon Peterson evened the scores in the 77th. And, in stoppage time, Phillip Nelson got his name on the scoresheet to guarantee full points for the hosts.

Other Results – League One (Saturday) At Frederick Settlement Recreation Ground, Caroni: CENTRAL 500 SP ART ANS (3) – Deon Flatts 35th; Donovan Derrick 37th; Josiah Grazette 78th vs HARLEM STR IKERS (1) – Akil London 48th.

At Diego Martin North Secondary School: PETIT VALLEY/DIEGO MART IN UNITED (4) – Eric Charles 10th; Kerwin Bonnette 21st; Karamo Samuel 59th; Ishaq Abdullah 89th vs MARABELLA FCC (1) – Keron Mason 80th.

At Youth Training Centre Ground, Arouca: PERSEVERANCE BALL RUNNERS (2) – Glenwell John; Kiedel Glasgow vs PR ISONS FC (1) – Ricardo Alleyne 23rd.

Yesterday, La Romaine contractor ( Ian Jahoorie) was placed on $500, 000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Alicia Chankar in the San Fernando First court on six fraud charges.

He was not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably.

Four of the charges related to uttering fraudulent documents namely fraudulent Central Bank cheques to the value of $600,000, another for attempting to obtain money from the Arima Borough Corporation and the last for obtaining $280,000 from Republic Bank, San Fernando which was drawn from the account of the Arima Borough Corporation .

Police say the offences were committed between June and August.

The businessman was arrested at the bank last week Thursday when he went to make a withdrawal. He is to re-appear in court on September 25.

Investigations were conducted by ASP Ghisiyawan, Sgt Bachew and Cpl Badree of th Fraud Squad.

Charges were laid by PC Lutchman.

In a release yesterday, the RIC said as part of its remit, it is responsible for prescribing and publishing standards for services of the utility.

A quality of service standards (QSS) scheme was first proposed in 2003 to ensure the authority provides and maintains an acceptable level of service to its customers. The commission said the standards were finalised after an extensive consultative process.

However they were never published in the TT Gazette and the RIC is now engaging in a second round of consultation.

The QSS covers broad areas of concern to customers.

These include the minimum water supply to be provided to customers; the time in which complaints are to be resolved; time in which a request for connection should be completed; and time to restore supply after an unplanned interruption.

The RIC said it uses a consultative approach in which stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft standards before they are finalised and published.

Members of the public are invited to the peruse the draft revised standards and provide comments and feedback to the Commission.

All comments must reach the RIC by October 23. The full draft standards document, as well as a summary of the standards, can be downloaded from the RIC’s website at: http:// www.ric.org.tt/consultations.

A printed copy can also be obtained from the RIC’s office at the Furness Building in Port of Spain.

The Prime Minister must explain what has happened to our tourism and agricultural sectors.

He must tell us his real plans to maximise revenue streams outside of the energy sector. Finally, if the country’s revenue streams are going to be down for the medium term, why doesn’t he have the courage to institute the necessary cuts to expenditure that will bring some sense of stability to our macroeconomic fundamentals? Four years ago, the President of Suriname, after facing similarly declining revenues, had the intestinal fortitude to cut his annual budget in half, in one year.

It inflicted a lot of harsh economic pain on his citizens but at least it stopped them from living in Alice in financial Wonderland, where the citizens of TT are firmly entrenched under the PM’s delusional leadership.

GREGORY WIGHT Maraval

The price was the same, the number of chicken pieces still three, but they were half the size.

The only response the poor cashier could provide was that it was a new supplier. I felt cheated.

Now, my normal reaction would be to return the items and demand my money, but my children were hungry and the movie about to start, so I allowed my eyes to be dug out while open wide. But never again I tell you.

In developed nations, competitiveness is defined as firms offering the same products/services as their competitors at cheaper prices or offering differentiated products/services for more money justified by the added value.

It is always based on a “more for less” concept as this alone represents the efficient allocation of resources. The consumer always reigns supreme.

But not so in sweet TT . Here, businesses adopt a “less for same” or “less for more” approach. Consumers get the short end of the stick.

I won’t even get into the overpriced imported avocados, spoiled even before ripe, eating up our scare foreign exchange.

We are a population held to ransom by an uncompetitive business landscape. Where monopolies/ oligopolies prosper, the consumer is always disadvantaged.

It is only by growing the business ecosystem through expanded investors towards open competition will there be sufficient incentives for businesses to move towards a “more for less” or “more for more” business model leading to greater efficiency and competitiveness.

This will not happen just so. It requires deliberate policies and strategies to get us there.

In the meanwhile, we the consuming public will continue to be at the mercy of unchecked greed in the guise of successful entrepreneurship.

This is one reason why competitiveness will continue to elude us.

INDERA SAGEWAN-ALLI sagewanalli@gmail.com

“The Government must consider an economic recovery and reconstruction plan to be incorporated into the upcoming budget which will provide support for businesses threatened by the current recessionary conditions.” He said with businesses unable to meet their loan and mortgage payments, Government could not be a silent spectator to their plight.

“The Government must intervene with support mechanisms to save small to medium size businesses in particular, as the failure of businesses at this level and their closing down can have serious social impacts in this society.

“The loss of businesses built up over several years and which would have contributed to economic activity, employment, revenue through taxes etcetera, must be avoided as it can also seriously impact upon entrepreneurial activity.” Rambachan urged the Government to help stem any further dwindling of the middle class who were important for economic recovery and growth.

He said, “The situation is not irretrievable but requires firm and quick decision-making and a formula for recovery which includes wealth-sharing strategies through encouraging competitiveness and higher productivity.

“A real cultural revolution is required nationally.”

It calls for the Public Procurement Act to be operationalised.

If there is evidence of wrongdoing to support the statements by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, the TTTI said, “Those involved must be held to account in accordance with the law.” TTTI said it was very much concerned about the inter-island ferry service matter and especially so, given Rowley’s recent reported statements on the issue.

Based on earlier reports, the TTTI said, it appeared that a process had been followed and the outcome “and perhaps quality of same, was the issue.” Rowley’s statements, as reported, the TTTI said, “have, however, opened up questions about the process and perhaps those involved.

The multiple investigations now underway will hopefully provide the answers to the issues that have arisen.” Noting “the issues, concerns, controversies regarding the procurement of the vessels that have arisen in the absence of functional modern procurement legislation,” the TTTI said, “the Public Procurement Act must be operationalised with urgency so as to rebuild public confidence in state expenditure and place accountability on those responsible for public funds.”

CHILDREN are very precious little beings who should be cherished, nurtured and protected even whilst they are still in their mother’s womb. But over the past two years or so, I have noticed a spiralling increase in incidents of child abuse globally.

Administering a couple doses of discipline to your children as they progress through their childhood is extremely important, particularly in the current environment where they can be easily influenced through technology and other elements in their external environment.

Abuse of any kind is not be practised neither tolerated particularly towards children.

Child abuse results from different points including physical, emotional or sexual.

Through documented research coupled with research conducted by the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN), environments within which there is a presence of abuse are clouded by elements of alcoholism/ substance abuse, anger, frustration and a number of other social ills likely to affect human comfort.

However, abusing children within those very environments, is totally unacceptable as the innocence and purity of children must never be taken advantage of.

Based on the various streams of work facilitated by the IWRN, the organisation is fully cognizant of the fact that parents, in particular single and unemployed mothers usually suffer tremendously due to their inability to access basic amenities which unfortunately does not allow for adequate family comfort.

Such discomfort we are told, often leads to increased mental frustration which are sometimes transferred on to young children in that environment either knowingly or unknowingly.

Constant levels of abuse towards children, contribute to the development of a troubled pathway to adulthood as the pain endured during the periods of abuse resonate in their heads for a lifetime in the absence of a sustained programme of counselling and healing which can sometimes be costly. All parents love their children dearly and would like them to have the best lives; however, during the nurturing phases, different things happen which create some dissonance in what is right.

Mistakes are made by everyone and whilst we understand that the birth of children may not always be a planned event, once they arrive in the world, they must be cared for and protected and not be abused.

Negative complaints relating to youths continuously emanate from many quarters forgetting that some of those negative behaviours are the outcomes of the many years of abuse and neglect which some were made to endure for a larger part of their life, and on becoming adults, they are yet to experience reconciliation.

Instead of blaming the youths, adults need to rethink and remember that they are role models for children and in so doing, our society would be reconfigured positively.

Registration for January/ March 2018 semester of The Educational Combo for eight-11-year-olds run until December 20.

Sandrine Rattan is a communications/branding consultant/author and president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN) Contact: thecorporatesuitett@gmail.

com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com or contact 283-0318.