Ramcharan Ramlokan, 49, of Ramkalliah Trace, Kanhai Road South, Barrackpore told Newsday the prosthetic leg he was using is broken and worn out and was causing him great discomfort in his leg and spine. “The crack in the false leg cut my foot and it got infected,” he said. “The doctor put me on antibiotics.” Ramlokan was born with spina bifida occulta.

According to the National Health Services in the United Kingdom, spina bifida is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. Spina bifida occulta is the most common and mildest type of spina bifida.

Symptoms may include weakness or total paralysis of the legs, bowel incontinence and urinary incontinence. He was born with a severe form of club foot and required a right below the knee amputation.

Club foot is a condition where the affected foot and calf are often smaller than usual and the skin and soft tissues are short and underdeveloped.

The cost of the right prosthetic limb is $21,000 and one left short leg calliper boots is $6,000. Ramlokan has to wear a certain type of boots as he develops ulcers in his left from regular shoes. Further to these complications his bladder was removed in 1999 and he has one kidney. He uses urostomy bags (external bags for urine) which cost $1000 per month.

He said tearfully, “I cannot do anything as I want. It gets to me sometimes. This is a hard life.” He has been seeking assistance since 2014 through the Ministry of Social Development.

Ramlokan said, “I get a run around from the Ministry of Social Development.

Every time I go they keep telling me they waiting on approval.” He said since 2015 the funding he has received from the State to pay for his urostomy bags has been cut. Ramlokhan lives alone and has no children. He receives public assistance and a disability grant which totals approximately $2210 a month. Ramlokhan has a bicycle which uses to move around.

He said he has a kitchen garden to help him cut down on his food bill. When asked if he has planned any way to raise funds he said, “I have donation sheets and I am planning on doing a curry que.” He is hoping people would support the venture. Ramlokhan is pleading with citizens to give whatever assistance they can. He has a message to those who are in some sort of difficulty. “Do not give up in life because you have a problem.

Always try to motivate yourself and move forward. Don’t let a problem keep you down.” He can be contacted at 292- 1809 or 784-9495.

“I have seen on Facebook lovely letters from him,” she said. “On the UTT library’s behalf, I am asking you to share them and to put them into the permanent collection.” Manning spoke with the media on Thursday at the viewing of the collection, “The Life and Times of Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning” mounted by the University of Trinidad and Tobago at the Adult Library of the National Library in Port of Spain.

Manning, her son David, other relatives and friends viewed the collection of some 3,000 exhibits on the occasion of the late prime minister’s 71st birth anniversary.

The pieces date back to 1971 when Manning first entered Parliament as MP for San Fernando East.

Among the exhibits was a video documentary of Manning’s life. It was viewed against the background music of Frank Sinatra’s My Way, a favourite of Patrick Manning.

Asked how she felt viewing the exhibits on the occasion of his birthday, Mrs Manning said, “I feel sad, very sad. Lots of memories.” Earlier she was explaining stories behind the pictures. “A lot of the stories are not known.

We will have to sit with them and go through as much as we know.” On the exhibits in the collection, she said, “The exhibition gives the essence of Patrick, who he was, how hard he worked.” Asked what stood out, she said, the document, Vision 20/20, “It was his dream and his vision that we could do much more because we have the resources. We have the talent.” She said he believed citizens “could do so much more. He believed that the natural resources would be depleted at some point in time and that human resources would have to take over for the sustainable development of the country.

Based on that he was very much active in getting Vision 20/20 to do that.” Meanwhile, she said, the commemorative committee established to honour her husband’s memory and which she heads, is putting together a programme that includes the publication of a book about his legacy and good governance.

The book will look at the system of good and sustainable governance, integrity, and the potential which could be realised.

“So that at the end of the day, we could do very, very well and be an example to the world, as small as we are.

That was his dream.

That was his thinking,” she said.

The committee also held a church service to mark Patrick Manning’s death anniversary. It is working on a lecture series.

Asked how one could pay homage to Manning in the absence of a site to him, Mrs Manning said, “Just go to church.

Go to church and say a prayer for him.” Of the exhibition, the Mannings’ son David said, “I am forced to compare Patrick Manning, the man, to the vision he had for his country. The country needs to remember what he did, who he was, and the plans he had for the country.” UTT chief librarian Martha Preddie said UTT was proud to be selected to house the collection.

When Manning demitted office, she said, he handed over his collection which included photographs, plaques, some personal artefacts and books that showed not only his political work and international visits but the personal side to him.

The collection is to be housed at the UTT Signature Campus at Tamana which is nearing completion. Plans are also in train to have a roving exhibition periodically before it becomes a standing collection.

In a release, Dr Virginia Asin-Oostburg, director, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control urged people to take the necessary precautions to prevent and reduce the spread of this illness. CARPHA said conjunctivitis referred to inflammation of the membrane covering the whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. The congestion of blood vessels in this membrane gives rise to a reddened appearance and explains the more common names “red eye or pink eye.” The most common causes of conjunctivitis are viruses, bacteria, and allergens. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious and can spread easily from person to person.

Eye symptoms can include, redness, irritation, itchiness, production of excessive tears, clear or yellow discharge that may make the eyelids stick together, especially on mornings, and swelling of the eye lids.

CARPHA advised members of the public to practice good hygiene. They advised people to avoid close contact with those with conjunctival symptoms, keep unwashed hands away from face and eyes. Also avoid sharing personal items such as pillows, wash cloths, towels, eye drops, eye makeup, face makeup, makeup brushes, contact lenses and, contact lens containers, or eyeglasses and disinfect frequently- touched surfaces in common areas, (for example doorknobs, counter-tops in shared spaces).

When contacted Dr Kaiawa Clarke, medical doctor in the ophthalmology department at the Port of Spain General Hospital, said he was aware of the release from CARPHA and indicated that he had not seen an increase of people at the hospital with conjunctivitis.

“I cannot really say I have seen an increase in conjunctivitis patients coming in Port-of-Spain at least right now. Usually when it is in season three or four people will come in per day and I can’t remember when last I saw a conjunctivitis patient.” Clarke said with conjunctivitis, the main thing to reduce the spread of it, is hygiene because it is very infectious.

He said there was a need to do a lot of hand washing, and washing of pillows to really reduce the risk, “Once you get it you just have to run its course, and there is no real treatment to stop it.” He continued, “Some people can have conjunctivitis for a week, or three weeks and if it is a complicated viral conjunctivitis, you can actually have problems for a couple of months afterwards.

But the main thing is hygiene, it is the take home message if you want to stop the spread of conjunctivitis.”

The biennial event is one of the largest multi-sport events with 14 compulsory sports.

The TT delegation includes Darren Alfred (400 metres, 4×100 metres relay), Daniel Telesford (200m, 4x100m relay), Moriba Morain (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay) Micah Ballantyne (100m, 4x100m relay), Portius Warren (shot put) in athletics; swimmers Aleem Mohammed (10km open water, 1500m freestyle), Amira Pilgrim (50m butterfly, 50m breastroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle) and Brittany Joseph, Catherine Spicer and Arun Roopnarine in table tennis.

The head of delegation is also the president of the Tertiary Sport Association of Trinidad and Tobago (TS ATT ), Ian Pritchard, while the manager is the TS ATT ’s vice-president Le-Roy Pierre. The coaches are Ian Carter (athletics) and Aleena Edwards (table-tennis), while the massage therapist is Shurlan Bonas.

Pritchard is very optimistic of the performance of the contingent.

He said, “The delegate, coaches and managers have the strongest confidence in the team because we have selected the best possible team possible team to represent the ‘red, white and black’ with distinction.”

While I applaud the people who embrace fat people and make life easy for them, there are those who get kicks off them and engage in mental terrorism.

They don’t understand the hurt fat people go through on a daily basis, as they are bullied, verbally abused, called names and humiliated through bad jokes, in the home, on the streets, in offices, while using public transport and at gatherings.

It is high time people stop this nonsense.

Not everyone could withstand the onslaught. Some who can’t end up being depressed with the attendant mental problems and suffer silently. There are those who fight back using creative language.

Some of the names fat people are called are “fatso,” “bobolups,” “fat pig,” “big belly,” “big guts,” “roly poly” and “plus size.” On getting into a taxi they are sometimes asked, “Yuh paying for two seats?” How about “Doh buss meh shocks, eh.” Then there is “Go in the back seat, yuh go squeeze meh.” Or “Yuh should go in the trunk.” As fat people go about their daily lives, there are those who offer advice like, “Yuh eating too much,” “Yuh living in the kitchen,” “How yuh fat so? Yuh need to join ah gym or run round the Queen’s Park Savannah,” “Yuh belly go buss,” “Yuh shirt cyar button.” Or they may be asked, “Yuh making twins?” Lord, when will it end? It is high time influential people speak out.

KEITH ANDERSON via emai

Fans will have the option of purchasing a ticket to be in either of the three party sections that will be created with a closer vantage point to the playing pitch with entertainment and drinks inclusive options.

The three party groups the TT FA have teamed up with are Fantasy and Entice, Warrior Posse by Winerboy Entertainment and the Illusions Family.

Fans can purchase tickets for the respective groups immediately.

Warrior Posse tickets will be available at All Out Restaurant, Queen’s Park Oval and Cellmates (opposite Medford Gas Station, Chaguanas) while for Fantasy and Entice, interested persons can call 221-4966 or any Fantasy/Entice committee member and Illusions Family can be reached at 708-5183 and 320 7024.

Patrons purchasing their tickets from these sections will also access the TT versus Jamaica Friendly at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on August 24 for free, using the same ticket. The TT FA will also create a Fan Zone just inside the main entrance to the venue in collaboration with Teqball Trinidad and Tobago.

Teqball which is already globally popular, is a new and revolutionary sports equipment that took over two years’ testing and research to eventually develop its final innovative and sophisticated shape.

Teqball’s rules and guidelines makes it fun and mentally challenging as it also improves player’s skill level, first touch, stamina and confidence.

The structure of Teqball table, aligned with the rules, does not allow luck or chance to interfere with the game; players can only rely on their skills and abilities.

wFans will have the opportunity to win attractive giveaways at the Fan Zone. Match kick off time on September 1 is 8pm.

He said he will be asking the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime Irwin Hackshaw to update the media on the status of the matters so the public will be sensitised on how far some of them have reached. Williams was out of the country and was expected back last night.

In his absence, Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip was placed at the helm of the Police Service.

Well-placed sources said with respect to emailgate, the team assigned to investigate allegations levelled against former government ministers have already prepared the final report in which they found no evidence of criminal conduct. They said this report is now with Deputy DPP Joan Honore-Paul who is yet to give her final directions in the matter.

Sources revealed that with the marijuana find at Persad-Bissessar’s home, recommendations were made by the investigators for disciplinary action to be taken internally against some officers. It was also revealed that with respect to the Life Sport investigation, an auditing firm was hired and work is still being done.

Other high-profile investigations which include allegations against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan in the matter involving Director of the Police Complaints Authority, David West, are ongoing.

The odds will be highly stacked against them to pull off a victory against the high-flying Nationals. In another encounter at 5:30 pm at the Guaracas grounds, sixth placed St Augustine FC will face off against Petrotrin. Petrotrin have found their feet of late, crushing Club Sando on Tuesday 4-0 to find themselves sitting comfortable in third place and will be hoping to do the same against a St Augustine FC side coming off a 5-1 thumping on Tuesday by an aggressive Trincity Nationals outfit. In the first Division, third placed Defence Force will play second placed Jewels FC. With a win, Defence Force can leapfrog Jewels FC and put themselves only one point behind St Augustine Juniors at the top. This game kicks off at 4pm.

STANDINGS: Super League Division – 1.

Flow Sports Real Dimension 24 pts; 2. Trincity Nationals 18 pts; 3. Petrotrin 15 pts; 4. Mic-it- St Ann’s Rangers 11 pts; 5. QPCC 10 pts; 6. St Augustine FC 8 pts; 7. Tobago Chicas 7 pts; 8. Club Sando 6 pts.

First Division – 1. St Augustine FC 11 pts ; 2. Jewels FC 9 pts; 3. Defence Foce 7 pts; 4.

Sweaters Women 7 pts; 5. Malvern 3 pts.

A High Court judge in San Fernando yesterday agreed that the elections should be postponed.

This, after Justice Ricky Rahim began hearing an injunction filed by a COP member on Thursday against the holding of the elections, on the grounds that there was no national executive committee in the party due to the number of resignations that took place this week.

Interim political leader Dr Anirudh Mahabir, general secretary Clyde Weatherhead and deputy political leader Lorraine Pouchet all resigned on Tuesday.

The contenders for the political leader post in the elections are Nicole Dyer-Griffith, who was present in court, former PP government minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and the party’s former chairman, Sharon Gopaul- McNicols.

Already engaging the High Court is a lawsuit filed by the COP member Kirt Francis on August 7, against Dyer- Griffith’s being fit to contest the post due to her not being a member in good standing, having rejoined the party in February. The hearing of that lawsuit has not yet been assigned to a judge.

At yesterday’s hearing, Justice Rahim urged attorney Lester Chariah for Francis; attorney Christian Chandler representing Dyer-Griffith and attorneys David Mark Kidney and Wayne Beharry representing chairman Jamieson Bahadur to discuss the issue with a view to arriving at an amicable resolution.

The injunction was filed against Bahadur but Christian’s appearance with Dyer-Griffith yesterday, was for seeking the court’s permission to have her joined as an interested party to the proceedings.

This was granted.

The case was stood down for the attorneys to talk and all except for Chandler consented to postpone the elections.

Justice Rahim said the court must ask the objective question of whether the risk of injustice to Dyer-Griffith is greater than the claimant who, on affidavit, pleaded that he represented 42,000 COP members.

Rahim said that the issues raised in the substantive lawsuit was of greater interest to the general membership of the party than any individual claim to political office.

“The claim lies with ensuring the constitution of the party is fulfilled and that office holders are legitimately accepted,” Rahim said.

“The court considers the hardships of interested third party (Dyer- Griffith) and is not persuaded that these are greater than the injustice of the claimants.” He went on to state that all but one member of the election committee had resigned which rendered the managing of an election impossible.

Dyer-Griffith’s attorney did not sign the order which mandates that the election for political leader of the COP is hereby postponed.

The order further states that the national executive of the COP will meet on or before September 4 and that the national executive shall consider the applications for membership of the 35 members who resigned.

However he reminded reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, that discussions are still ongoing with Sandals. He also said he was aware that the CL Financial (CLF) shareholders have a hearing on October 20 for leave to appeal to the Privy Council on the Appeal Court’s decision to appoint provisional liquidators for CLF.

Earlier in the briefing, Social Development Minister Cherrie Ann Critchlow-Cockburn said Cabinet approved a national social mitigation plan, “to cushion the impact of the economic downturn” on the citizens.

She said the people targeted included the retrenched, unemployed, low income families, youths and people with disabilities.

She also said the recommendations in this plan will form part of the upcoming 2017/2018 Budget.