Jones turned up yesterday morning, joining the rest of the 21-man squad. However, according to Lawrence there is no confirmation that the player will take part in tomorrow’s match. Jones took full part in the 90-minute session and said he was eager to be part of the preparation for the all-important World Cup qualifier against Honduras at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on September 1.

Also joining training on Tuesday was Finnish-based defender Aubrey David but Colorado Rapids defender Mekeil Williams will not be joining the squad for tomorrow’s match.

According to Defence Force defender Curtis Gonzales, “The spirit is very upbeat. We have had good preparations so far. We know how important it is to get it right for the Honduras game and the rivalry with Jamaica is massive.

“I have never played against Jamaica but I have heard lots of stories and I am feeling honoured to be part of the team that will take them on on Thursday. I expect the match to be a rough one.”

The child and the other occupants of the car were taken to the Sangre Grande hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the van and other survivors were interviewed.

UWI Star Gazers hosted a public viewing at the JFK Quadrangle and were surprised by how many people attended the event.

President of the club, Ariel Chitan said, “We never expected this many people so at the moment we don’t even have enough equipment for everyone.” She said the club provided four telescopes which resulted in long lines of patrons hoping to see the crescent shaped portion of the sun left uncovered by the moon.

They also ordered 100 solar eclipse glasses which were not enough for the crowd of over 300.

“I wish we could have provided more glasses, telescopes and even better facilities for everyone who came out today.” She called on citizens to appreciate the beauty of astronomy even when a big event such as the eclipse is not taking place.

“We all have an innate interest, persons just have to go outside and look at the sky.” Public relations officer Matthew Tung said, “While it is true that many only become interested when events like these take place, astronomy is much like art. To appreciate it you have to get the knowledge about it.” He said the aim of the viewing was to invite members of the public to learn and continue pursuing astronomy as a hobby.

“UWI Star Gazers is open to the public. We have monthly meetings after which we have star viewing with the telescope.” While awaiting their turn to view the eclipse through the telescope, patrons exchanged solar eclipse glasses and looked through handmade pinhole cameras.

Chitan said she was pleased to see members of the public taking the health of their eyes seriously as they heeded warnings and took the necessary precautions.

Piehmann struck 53 and Mikel Frederick contributed 19 to guide Talparo Youths to 94 runs for three wickets batting first against Gunners. Gunners made a valiant effort to get to the target scoring 86/8, but Talparo Youths prevailed by eight runs. Amit Jaggernath top scored with 36 and Nathan Ramlal contributed 14 for Gunners, while Frederick (2/12) and Dave Ragbir (2/20) both took two wickets for Talparo Youths.

In an Over-40 division contest, Boodansingh’s knock of 53 propelled Anthrax to 122/2. Reynold Ramsaran and Cyrus Balroop pitched in with 26 and 16 respectively.

In reply, Damian Peters grabbed 4/8 to limit H&G Xmen to 87/7 to hand Anthrax a 35- run win. Stephen Bhulawan (31), Trevor Rajkumar (19) and Kirk Alfred (13) were the top batsmen for Xmen.

Summarised Scores – D MANGO BOYS 50/7 (Raphick Mohammed 10; Dale Pran 2/8) vs MOO NDOGS 51/3 (Ramesh Narine 20). Moondogs won by seven wickets.

ACONO YOUTHS 109/8 (David Owen 34, Gregory Quevedo 30, Dillon Mahadeo 14; Raj Persad 2/17) vs RELOAD 101/6 (Sunil Boodansingh 36, Michael Harry 17). Acono Youths won by eight runs.

TALPARO YOUTHS 94/3 (Rishi Piehmann 53, Mikel Frederick 19) vs GUNNERS 86/8 (Amit Jaggernath 36, Nathan Ramlal 14; Dave Ragbir 2/20, M Frederick 2/12). Talparo Youths won by eight runs.

HARD HITT ERS 62/8 (Danny Seenath 12; Shannon Harrydass 3/11, Bobby Seecharan 2/10) vs LANCE’S BAR 62/8 (Rajin Maharaj 20, Franky Ragoonath 10).

Lance’s Bar won by super over.

YOUNG GUNS 60/7 (Ajay Ramsingh 12; Kishore Seeboo 11; Giovanni Sylvester 3/10) vs FOR AMEUZMENT ONLY 62/3 (Arie Khan 23). For Ameuzment Only won by seven wickets.

D BOSS TEAM 93/8 (Shane Sookdeo 27, Richard Ali 17, Anthony Aziz 12) vs YOUNG GUNS 61/8. D Boss Team won by 32 runs.

IDK 49/9 (Berthram Percival 14) vs FIVE RIVERS 51/6 (Teron Jadoo 19). Five Rivers won by four wickets.

CULTURE 101/3 (Keen Hernandez 25, Michael Morang 19, Ronald Gaitan 19) vs GABBA YOUTHS 54 (Abraham Thomas 22, Gerald Skeete 11). Culture won by 47 runs.

Over-40 Division – ANTHRAX 122/2 (Sunil Boodansingh 53, Reynold Ramsaran 26, Cyrus Balroop 16) vs H&G XMEN 87/7 (Stephen Bhulawan 31, Trevor Rajkumar 19, Kirk Alfred 13; Damian Peters 4/8). Anthrax won by 35 runs.

The woman was then gangraped by the intruders.

Police said the victims were at their home at about 10 pm when two men, one armed with a gun, entered the couple’s home and announced a hold-up.

The husband was then tied up and his wife was taken to a room where the men sexually assaulted her.

After the bandits fled, the victims made a report to the Mayaro police and the crime scene was processed.

The woman was taken to a district medical officer where she was treated.

Chambers, an electrician who was staying in Kelly Village, Caroni, was last seen at his house at about 2.15 pm last Wednesday.

He was reported missing by a friend on Friday.

Chambers is of African descent, five feet, seven inches tall, with a slim build and a dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, a pair of three-quarter jeans and a pair of slippers.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts are advised to contact the police at 999, 555, 911 or any police station or call 800- TIPS.

Yarde made the comment on Monday at the National Consultation on the Caribbean Community Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Framework, held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Port-of- Spain.

“Broad-based consultation, involving key government sectors, the private sector and civil society are imperative as the policy will impact both economies and societies,” Yarde said.

“The framework will work towards strengthening this region’s response towards environmental issues especially those of sustainable development and our natural resources.” She said it is part of the Caricom strategic plan 2015 – 2019 initiative which aims to develop economic, social, environmental and technological resilience among the Caribbean Community.

“The development of the policy framework and the associated first action plan comes at a critical time as the region seeks to implement the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development. It will provide a regional blueprint to address, in particular, certain aspects of the UN’s agenda.” She urged all participants to make full use of the opportunity to engage in frank and meaningful discussions on issues that will impact the quality of life of the region’s citizens and their future.

Yarde said the varied perspectives of the public sector and private sector will aid in the success of the framework.

She praised the region’s involvement in the Paris Agreement negotiations as well as participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Yarde said the region is also involved in a preparatory process to develop a new instrument under the Law of the Sea, on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

She said the region has come a long way since 2008 when the ministers of environment first called for the policy framework to be developed.

Marie Hinds, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development extended congratulations to Caricom for its strong advocacy in the promotion of a regional approach to the sustainable management of the environmental and natural resources of the Community and its member states.

Hinds said the conservation of TT’s natural resources, which includes clean water, food, fresh air, shelter, and livelihoods are critical to the country’s future development.

“Trinidad and Tobago’s natural resource base has allowed for our rapid industrialisation and growing demand for goods and services over the years. Simultaneously, however, the nation also suffers from the attendant environmental problems associated with the production of commodities.” She continued, “As such, this Government is committed to making every effort to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago finds the right balance between economic development and environmental protection.” She said the Government recognises the critical role the country’s “rich” natural resources play in the socio-economic development of the nation.

Those calling for their removal, barring the politics of trying to further embarrass President Donald Trump for his stance on the recent violence, are doing so on the basis of their perception of the Confederate cause in the American Civil War as an endorsement of slavery.

Those objecting to the removal of statues, such as that of Robert E Lee, et al, are essentially racist, including the President. But does it necessarily imply sympathy for the Confederate cause which undoubtedly favoured the retention of slavery in the American south? It may be seen as such considering how sensitive the subject is, but can it also be a call to avoid destroying important mementos of total American history, whether good, bad or ugly? One recalls the horror of the destruction of the ancient statues of Buddha in Afghanistan by the Islamic State because of religious ideology.

The question to ask is whether a people’s history should not be retained in all its aspects, more so as the First Amendment of the American Constitution allows for freedom of speech, freedom of thought with the understanding that distasteful as such freedom of thought and expression may seem to others with opposing views, that tolerance is the expected reaction? Again, would the elimination of statues which bring back extremely unpleasant memories somehow eliminate those memories? It may help to mitigate the effects, but can that action eliminate the deep-rooted negative psychology of slavery as Frantz Fanon has described in Black Skin White Masks? Won’t it be more rational and productive, difficult as this may seem, just to try to come to terms with this horrendous experience, learn from it, and be the better for it? For if this precedent is set of removing the symbols which remind us of an atrocious past, where does that leave the case of the American Indian whose glorious culture and way of life would have been virtually decimated by pioneers who are recorded as heroes in the annals of American history? The American Indians continue to experience discrimination as is inevitable with subcultures in mainstream culture, but their approach is to try and assimilate as far as is possible, taking the good with the bad.

What of the “hero” Columbus who discovered the New World but paved the way for Pizarro and Cortez and their decimation of the First Peoples and the Incas and the Aztecs? Yet life goes on in Peru and Mexico, despite the horrors of conquest.

Tucker Carlson in Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News made a telling point recently that the history of the world is a history of conquest and enslavement, beginning with Genghis Khan in Asia and continuing with Sulieman and the Ottoman Empire, and further with the Roman Empire and Hitler’s Germany, the Spanish Empire in the New World, not forgetting the British Empire in the New World and in India.

But what Tucker suggests is that you can’t eliminate the march of history even with its atrocities.

There is no other choice but to accept its inevitability and grow from it.

DR ERROL BENJAMIN docbenj742@outlook.com

In response to a question put to him at a news conference at the Magdalena Grand Hotel in Tobago, Rowley said, “As a matter of fact, when I get up from this table, I am asking my staff to ask the labour movement to meet with me on Wednesday afternoon.” The venue for the meeting could be the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in St Clair, where labour representatives delivered a letter to Rowley last Friday, asking for a meeting.

The prime minister said, “I have been meeting with labour for the longest while. I have met with the labour movement on many occasions.” Rowley said he met with labour representatives two weeks ago.

“There is no problem with me meeting with

In a release, the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) said they received official correspondence from the OPM in which Rowley requested a meeting with them today.

JTUM, Natuc and FITUN representatives delivered a letter to the OPM last Friday, requesting a meeting with Rowley.