Responding to a question in the Senate on Tuesday, Baptiste- Primus said OAS submitted a notice for the termination of 879 employees due to reasons of redundancy, attributed to the cessation of work on the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension Project.

She said in its letter, OAS said severance benefits owed to each worker would be paid within 30 days of termination of service, on or before May 30. Baptiste-Primus said she met with OAS and the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) which is representing the workers on June 22.

The minister said at that meeting, the union rejected an offer from OAS to sell its vehicles and equipment to the union, “as compensation for severance and other outstanding monies.” She indicated that at a another meeting on July 1, the union again rejected this offer.

Baptiste-Primus said the matter is currently before the Industrial Court and outside of her ministry’s remit. However Baptiste-Primus said the ministry will continue to monitor this matter. Providing an update on stakeholder consultations on various pieces of legislation, Baptiste-Primus said amendments to the Retrenchment Severance Benefits Act and the Industrial Relations Act would be coming to Parliament next year.

Earlier in the sitting, Social Development Minister Cherrie- Ann Crichlow Cockburn indicated that national consultations on a draft revised policy for persons with disabilities will be held soon. She also said the ministry has spent $1 million to ensure that its offices are accessible to disabled persons.

The minister said the new Mayaro public library will have elevators which can be accessed by visually impaired persons. Crichlow Cockburn said while TT will not be able to meet all its targets regarding compliance with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it will be able to present a working plan to achieve those objectives.

Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Darryl Smith, together with Housing and Urban Development Minister and MP for San Fernando East, Randall Mitchell, vice president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT), Franz Huggins, PNM Candidate for Mon Repos/Navet, Patricia Victor Wilson, PNM Candidate for Cocoyea/Tarouba, Terresa Lynch and Ministry officials were present to launch this initiative to the Cocoyea community last Saturday.

Smith said it has been approximately 10 years since the pool has been in existence in the Cocoyea community and now the community can come and learn to swim on weekends. Minister Smith stressed that it is the little things that make big differences in our communities. He said that our greatest resource is our young people and we need to invest in them.

Minister Smith also encouraged clubs to use the pool which will enable talent identification.

Mitchell hopes the weekend opening hours would not only encourage weekend recreational swim but also foster socialisation within the community.

Mitchell also indicated that the pool is a part of a larger facility and he planned to commission the lights on the field so that the community can use it after 6 pm.

He also thanked the Minister of Sport for his part in the initiative and reiterated the benefits it will bring to the community.

Huggins, praised the venture and mentioned that it is a step in the right direction as talent can be identified and in future we can have more representation on the world stage in swimming.

PNM candidates Wilson and Lynch were very also excited and expressed that the community has long waited on this and will make maximum use of the pool.

The pool is located at St Andrews Park West, Cocoyea Village, San Fernando and provides learn to swim courses, with beginner, intermediate and advanced classes, lifesaving/recreational swimming and water aerobics.

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs maintains five other swimming pools, located in Diego Martin, Sangre Grande, La Horquetta, Couva and Siparia. The Diego Martin Pool was the first to be opened to the public four months ago, and plans are being put in place to open the other pools on weekends.

St Augustine brushed aside Valencia 4-1 in the latter game of a double-header while San Juan rallied from a goal down to eliminate Trinity East.

Rahim Gordon netted twice for St Augustine, with goals in the 28th and 81st minutes, while Kenton James (22nd) and Zion Holder (90th) contributed one apiece. Akil Romero was the goal-getter for Valencia, in the 47th.

Earlier in the afternoon, national youth team player Nickel Orr put Valencia ahead after 10 minutes but Renaldo Boyce levelled the scores for San Juan North in the 63rd. The game seemed destined to be decided by kicks from the penalty spot before a successfully-taken freekick from Brandon Semper, in the 88th, proved vital for San Juan North.

The East Zonal final is carded to take place at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Monday.

On Tuesday, the managing director of EPOS, Dr Cheryl Austin, presented match balls to four NFA clubs – Morvant Elements, Laventille United, Cosmos Eagles and RSSR . The company also presented corner flags to be used in matches played by these clubs and 10 size four footballs for use in the upcoming NFA youth development projects.

In making the presentation to the clubs, Dr Austin spoke of her company’s unequivocal commitment to sport as a vehicle for development within these communities. EPOS has also been involved in the setting up of recent home games within the community of Morvant for Caledonia AIA.

Clyde Denoon, who represented Morvant Elements at Tuesday’s handover, thanked EPOS for their understanding of the challenges facing small clubs. He also praised the NFA for its outreach programme in helping its member clubs.

The NFA will host the first ever night football match at the Queen’s Park Savannah, when the knockout final is played on November 25. Two of the clubs which received footballs, RSSR and Laventille United have advanced to the quarterfinals of the knockout competition.

For more information call Rayshawn Mars at 378-8795.

Super-50 groups: Group A: Kent Spitfires, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, West Indies U19s, Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Group B: Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, CCC Marooners, Jamaica Scorpions, ICC Americas.

Bravo, who was part of the West Indies 50- over team currently in Zimbabwe, was removed from the team after a controversial statement he made about West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron.

Bravo, responding to WICB’s president Dave Cameron’s assertion that he was given a ‘C’ retainer contract because he was not performing while previously on an ‘A’, expressed his displeasure on Twitter, saying that Cameron has not been performing well as president of the board for the past four years and should resign.

Bravo tweeted, “you have been failing 4 d last 4yrs. Y don’t u resign and FYI I’ve neva been given an A contract.

Big Idiot.” The TT CB, which has written to the WICB requesting dialogue between all parties, also contacted Bravo earlier this week to try and help the lefthander with his problem.

Chief Executive Officer of the TT CB Suruj Ragoonath said yesterday that Bravo responded to the TT CB’s request for a meeting.

However, Bravo does not seem interested in a meeting right now as Ragoonath stated, “He indicated that the matter is in the hands of his legal team and he will be guided accordingly.” Bravo was offered a C contract by the WICB – the lowest grade available – but declined the offer.

Cameron, speaking on Sportsmax TV, said the board can’t continue giving Bravo an ‘A’ contract because he would not have any motivation to improve.

The WICB boss added that Bravo’s performance has been in decline but failed to explain how despite that, he was named WICB Player of the Year for 2015/2016.

Nepaul top scored with 75 to guide Furniture Boys to a massive 117 for five batting first. Sheldon Birbal pitched in with 11 for Furniture Boys while Rodney Stowe (3/20) and Winslow Glasgow (2/12) were among the wickets for Alliance.

Stowe fought hard with the bat, scoring 25 but Alliance could only muster 62/7 in their allotted overs, while Bertram Percival contributed 18. Roger Bhola snatched 2/8 to help limit the Alliance batsmen.

SUMMARISED SCOR ES: Spartans 67/6 (Brandon Ramjit 21, Darian Maraj 20, Rene Bedasie 2/5) vs Legends 23 (Bedasie 12, Brian Gangoo 3/1, Yaasir Mohammed 2/7) Spartans won by 44 runs.

Over 40 Division Furniture Boys 117/5 (Sean Nepaul 75, Sheldon Birbal 11, Rodney Stowe 3/20, Winslow Glasgow 2/12) vs Alliance 62/7 (Rodney Stowe 25, Bertram Percival 18, Roger Bhola 2/8) Furniture Boys won by 55 runs.

Lackville 40/4 (Steve Jaggernath 15, Mukesh Partap 11, Andy Ruiz 2/1) vs Drifters 41/5 (Hospedales Singh 10, Ravi Sookwah 3/6) Drifters won by five wickets.

Savannah Boys 72/5 (Billy Seerattan 30, Robert Brathwaite 30, Leon Barran 3/7) vs Culture 45 (Michael Morang 10, Mervyn Owen 2/7, Marvin Wellington 2/15) Savannah Boys won by 27 runs.

X Men 95/5 (Clint Williams 27, Chris Narine 21, Kirk Alfred 11) vs Anthrax 54/8 (David Balkaran 20, Chris Sebro 10, Desmond Patrick 4/18) X Men won by 41 runs.

X Men 113/5 (Clint Williams 62, Curt Smart 33, Ray Badall 2/13) vs Culture 75/4 (Newlin Paul 43, Badall 11, Rene Medina 10, Ken Cupidore 2/8) X Men won by 38 runs.

Anthrax 75/7 (Alex Frederick 36, Ganase Ramharrack 15, Michael Brown 2/7) vs Club House 68/6 (Brown 27, Frederick 2/11) Anthrax won by 7 runs.

Knockout Best of the Rest Jus Average 58/6 (Imran Hosein 26, Rajin Kanhai 3/14, David Balkaran 2/12) vs Rampage 52/8 (Balkaran 18, Dennis Daniel 3/16, Keeran Manohar 2/6) Jus Average won by six runs.

On Tuesday, TT were beaten 3-1 away to Honduras at San Pedro Sula while, last Friday, they were defeated 2-0 by Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

However, both Sancho and Look Loy, in respective telephone interviews yesterday, noted that TT coach Stephen Hart was not entirely to blame for the team’s struggles, as the players also have to take stock for the team’s display. Focusing on the Honduras match, Sancho described the result as “disappointing”.

The current Central FC chief executive officer noted, “I think, when you look at the way the Honduras team started, they never gave us a chance to settle, which is expected when you’re playing these types of teams, especially (away), they would play at a very high tempo.

“We didn’t start well,” continued the former national defender. “We had a better second half.

Although we got a goal (courtesy Carlyle Mitchell) from a better start in the second half, (we) could not sustain that throughout the period.

All and all, I’m quite sure that Hart would have been a bit disappointed with the way we played in total. We played in spurts. There is a lot of work to be done between now and March.” Trinidad and Tobago will host Panama on March 24 and Mexico four days later, when World Cup qualification resumes.

Despite the poor start, Sancho believes TT can still qualify as he reminsiced on the 2006 camapign where TT reached Germany after registering just one point from their first three games.

“I think there is where Hart’s work will start, being able now to modify and change things around, which I’m sure he’s spoken about, as it relates to the (forthcoming) games that we have still around the corner,” he added.

Look Loy, the current FC Santa Rosa president and coach, admitted that the Honduras result “puts us in a deep hole already, after two games, even if there are eight left.

“When you look at the performance of our team, you don’t know, on average, where the five wins we need to get, are coming from.” The outspoken Look Loy was quick to point out several problems in the etam.

“Fitness is one, the players looked very tired at the end of both matches. The team selection is another, I think the public is fairly well-convinced now that (captain and centre forward) Kenwyne Jones does not have a place on the starting team.

That’s my view. As we saw (on Tuesday) and against Costa Rica, (Trevin) Caesar and (Willis) Plaza present a better option; they’re more mobile, better on the ball and they offer more to the team.” He added, “we have the question of team tactics and tactical indiscipline.

The worst culprit in that regard was (rightback) Daneil Cyrus, who was giving away goals every match. Honduras had studied our games and they came after him from the first whistle.”

The North Zonal Final is carded to take place on November 25 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

In yesterday’s pair of North Zonal Semi-Finals, St Anthony’s eased past East Mucurapo 3-1 while Trinity Moka eliminated St Mary’s 5-4, courtesy kicks from the penalty spot, after the scores were locked at 0-0 at the end of regulation time.

St Anthony’s, also known as the “Westmoorings Tigers”, took the lead in the third minute through Haile Beckles, who left East Mucurapo defender Sherlon Roberts for dead on the left before angling his right-footed shot past goalkeeper Terral Cambridge.

Beckles doubled his account in the 38th, capitalising on a defensive mix-up, racing behind the defence and slotting the ball to the right of Cambridge.

National Under-17 midfielder Che Benny got his name on the scoresheet in the 59th, with a close-range rebound after Cambridge parried a cross from the right. Jesse Williams pulled one back for East Mucurapo in the 89th, heading past goalie Oba Augustine after a goalmouth scramble.

Earlier, penalties were required to determine the winner of the Trinity Moka-St Mary’s contest.

Trinity Moka were rewarded with successful spot-kicks from Desean Bowen, Saleem Henry, Isaiah Alexander, Zaki Skinner and Temesgen Tezera. Scoring for St Mary’s were Mattheaus Granger, Elijah Joseph, Nathan Harte and A Van Low. Carapichaima East and Gasparillo progressed to the Central Zonal Final after comfortable victories over Presentation Chaguanas and Chaguanas North in their respective semis.

In the latter fixture, Carapichaima got two goals from Mikel Alexander and one apiece from Theophilus Borde, Josiah King and Brandon St Clair, as they trounced Presentation Chaguanas 5-0. Earlier at Couva, Gasparillo brushed aside Chaguanas North 4-0.

The Central Zonal Final will be contested at the Ato Boldon Stadium next Tuesday.

Intercol action will resume tomorrow with the first Zonal Final on the agenda.

SSFL Premiership winners Shiva Boys will square off against Presentation San Fernando in the South Zonal Final, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, from 3.30 pm.

The team of scientists hope the information will help shift the focus away from the way trees look towards on the focus on biodiversity.

Over the next decade, the urban environment is expected to increase by nearly 30 percent.

Details have been published in the Landscape and Urban Planning journal.

“We wanted to place the focus on city and urban locations when choosing trees, but not on the aesthetic aspects,” said co-author Juliane Vogt from the Institute of Forest Growth and Forest Computer Science at Techische Universitat Dresden, Germany.

She told BBC News that the goal of the database was to “find the right tree for the right place”.

“City planner tend to like ten to 15 species of tree, and they like to plant them again and again – that’s not really biodiversity,” Vogt observed.

“This is why we put in 390 trees and shrubs into the database so there was a huge range of different species and varieties.

Boosting biodiversity Vogt added that she hoped that professionals, such as city planners and landscape architects, would use the database, adding “but we also think it will be of interest for homeowners if they have a garden and want to find out what sort of tree would be suitable”.

She said that there were numerous benefits associated with city trees, such as shading and reducing the urban heat island effect, which make towns and cities several degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas.

This is a particular problem during heatwaves.

“Trees also provide habitat for other animals that have made their home within cities,” she added. The long-term survival and evolutionary development of species populations are shaped by the surrounding habitat. For some species, urban life has presented an opportunity for a new beginning.

The BBC Natural History Unit’s Planet Earth II looks at the lure of the urban jungle for wildlife in its final episode of the series. The programme, set to be broadcast on December 11, looks at peregrine falcons in New York, which are booming, thanks to another urban success story – the pigeon, or rock dove.

Langurs, a species of monkey in India, are also thriving. Revered as a mortal connection with a god, the animals are fed.

Numbers are booming.

However, the growing biodiversity of urban life is not universally welcomed. Some species – racoons, rats, pigeons – are widely regarded as pests. Plants, such as the Japanese knotweed – once prized – are unwelcomed opportunists.

“Trees also interact with humans and the surrounding city, so one point of the database is to take account of some of the risks, such as having poisonous trees, or trees that have brittle wood that can break,” said Vogt.

“Some residents really dislike trees because, for example, they are too big.

“In the street near where I live, there are pear trees and now, in the autumn, the pears are falling and leaving a mess on the pavement below.

People are now calling for them to be cut down, even though they are healthy.”