Courtesy of a partnership with Junior Sammy Contractors Limited, the initial ground work commenced at 6.30 am yesterday.

The first phase will consist of the installation of two natural grass training pitches equipped with floodlights to be followed by the construction of player accommodation hotel.

“(Yesterday) is really the start of the project with the commencement of Phase One. We are thankful to Junior Sammy for donating some tractors to the Association to get the work started. We started work on two of the training fields in terms of getting it down to final grade before starting the actual specialist work of planting the grass and laying the surfaces,” said David John-Williams, president of the TT FA.“It is really exciting times with the start of Phase One. The objective of the TTFA is to get these fields ready by the end of November 2017, all floodlit and available to facilitate the development of Trinidad and Tobago football, particularly all our national teams from Under-13s to (men’s) team which will now be able to train anytime during (the) day or night,” the TTFA president added.

Junior Sammy also spoke of his support to the Development Centre. “I have known David for several years and I was most happy and willing to offer assistance to this project after he explained what it was all about.

I think it’s an important development for football and I am all too happy to be able to support it.” Last month, the TTFA proudly announced that Cabinet approved lands in the vicinity of the Ato Boldon Stadium for lease to the TTFA for the Home of Football.

Along with the two training pitches and player accommodation hotel, the first phase will also comprise a beach soccer pitch. The second phase will include four additional pitches comprising of both artificial and natural grass surfaces and a futsal court.

Additionally, the TTFA has received approval from FIFA to restart the Income Generation Project which was stalled under the previous administration.

This project will now be of a different nature as proposed by the new TT FA administration and approved by FIFA and will take the form of an entertainment and sports bar and restaurant project at the Home of Football.

The reefs in Tobago, particularly the Buccoo and Speyside reefs, have undeniably been affected by coral bleaching since 2005, and maybe even before that. The vibrant colours of the reefs that once drew locals and foreigners alike, seem to be a thing of the past and in some areas, the characteristic white colour (or absence of colour) of the bleached coral is evident. Sanjiv Ramcharan, senior lecturer in the Natural and Life Sciences Department at College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago explained to Newsday, if not dealt with, coral bleaching can introduce serious ecological and economic issues to the nation. The reefs, which surround most of Tobago, protect the small island from such threats as storm surges, hurricanes and coastal erosion by dissipating the wave energy (Institute of Marine Affairs Coastal Conservation Project 2010). The absence of these reefs therefore means that Tobago will be more vulnerable to environmental degradation and natural disasters. It goes without saying that Tobago thrives on tourism. The reefs are a major tourist attraction and according to Ramcharan, also supply the island’s southwestern beaches with their white sand.

Although coral reefs occupy less than one per cent of the ocean, he said, “Coral reefs in general support the lives of approximately 25 per cent of all marine species either by acting as a shelter for some species and/or a nursery for others.

The reefs are also important to support Tobago’s fishery.” As a result, he sees monitoring and managing the reefs as “important for the maintenance of these ecological and economic functions.” According to the Institute of Marine Affairs’ Coastal Conservation Project 2010, if the reefs do not recover within a month or two, they could die. Death for the corals could therefore mean death for Tobago’s tourism and a large part of its marine ecosystem as well.

Ramcharan said that for reefs to recover, monitoring, educating and conservation are required.

He said corals are made up of polyps on a calcium carbonate or limestone substrate, and/or skeleton produced by the polyps and receive their nutrition in two ways. However, the method that accounts for 98 per cent of the corals’ nutritional needs is one in which a symbiotic relationship is formed with photosynthetic algae known as zooxanthellae.

In this mutually beneficial relationship, the algae is incorporated into the coral’s body tissue which protects the algae while they in turn produce food for the corals. The algae are what give corals their colour.

“Coral bleaching occurs when the corals undergo periods of stress which can be triggered by increased oceanic temperatures, freshwater dilution, invasive species and environmental contaminants,” said Ramcharan. He further clarified that after being under prolonged stress by any of these conditions, the corals respond by ejecting the algae from their bodies. Consequently, the corals’ white bodies (bleached bodies) are what is left. The absence of algae renders them colourless.

“At this point,” Ramcharan said, “the coral isn’t dead and it could, after time, reincorporate the microscopic algae into its body tissues. However, if the stressors remain, for example increased oceanic temperatures, the coral can die over time. Death usually occurs as a result of the coral bodies being overgrown by much larger, external macro algae.” The length of time that coral bleaching has been impacting reefs globally is unknown, but the first documented major global coral bleaching occurrence was in 1998 due to a massive underwater heatwave.

In Tobago, there were events of bleaching in 2008 and 2010, but the reefs have been under monitor since its first documented mass bleaching in 2005 where the Buccoo reef was especially susceptible. Ramcharan said that some of the reefs that had been affected in the 2010 global bleaching event were the Speyside Reef, Buccoo Reef and reefs in Bon Accord and Culloden. He added, “The only established reef in Trinidad is off the coast of Salybia and there was no great bleaching found there.” When asked about the main causes for coral bleaching in Trinidad and Tobago, Ramcharan said, referring to the Institute of Marine Affairs’ Coastal Conservation Project Nov/Dec 2010, “The data suggests increased oceanic temperatures as well as the expansion in developmental activities in the associated catchments (for reefs in Tobago) mainly for resorts and houses.”

“Monitoring the reefs for direct and indirect threats, damage and bleaching events. Educating the population on threats to the reefs as well as their role in contributing to the protection of the reef. Conservation methods by both public and private sector participants,” he said, are some of the ways in which bleaching can be controlled. He also shared that the reefs in Tobago are already being monitored for further events of bleaching and oceanic temperatures are also being recorded. He pointed out that the Institute of Marine Affairs has projects for the monitoring and conservation of the health of the coral reefs and by large the country’s coastal ecosystem.

“It is with no doubt that land activities also affect the health of the coastal waters of Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore, it is my opinion that the protection of our coastal waters has to be a holistic approach and ensures that all stakeholders both private and public, terrestrial and marine; are part of the protection and conservation efforts. Not only to our coral reefs but also for our wetlands (such as mangroves), seagrass beds and coast lines.”

Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago can also assist with combating the issue. Ramcharan believes that sensitising the public to the threats faced by coral reefs as well as their contribution to those threats is important. It’s crucial to recognise that there are other factors that cause coral bleaching and that we can help alleviate the impact of coral bleaching by reducing those activities. Ramcharan explained, “We as citizens can help by reducing pollution, decrease deforestation thereby reducing the amount of sediments being washed into oceans, do not damage the reefs when we visit them etc. This not only applies to all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago but to those who visit as well.” Earlier this year, scientists declared that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (the largest coral reef in the world) could not be saved anymore. Due to the rise in oceanic temperatures, the reef was severely damaged and a reported 95 per cent of the reef was bleached. In order to save Tobago’s reefs from having a similar fate, authorities and locals need to be proactive in taking measures to protect their gems.

Newsday got confirmation of the news from recently appointed ANSA McAL CEO, Andrew Sabga, and from the workers’ representative union – the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU).

In a brief interview late yesterday afternoon, Sabga said “GML will be (issuing) an official statement very shortly. Mr Lucio Mesquita; the Managing Director of GML, will be issuing that statement.” BIGWU is scheduled to hold a meeting at its Barataria head office this Saturday at 2 pm to discuss the latest developments at GML.

BIGWU denied reports that retrenchment letters had been issued yesterday. “They’re supposed to serve the notices tomorrow (today).

They sent a letter to us around lunch time today (yesterday), acknowledging our letter (in which) we invited the company to continue discussions. Notwithstanding our invitation, they went ahead and said that they will be serving notices to workers tomorrow (today).” BIGWU told Newsday that “the departments are content, news and operations. The total figure is 31 (workers). They have been invited to come to the HR department in Chaguanas for 9 am tomorrow (today).” However, the union official; who asked that his name not be used, said GML had questions to answer about its decision to serve retrenchment notices when it is supposedly still in discussions with BIGWU.

He said, “While we agreed on the last in, first out (LIFO) criteria, we never agreed that there would be job cuts. We were able to move them down from 73 to 40. July 12, 2017, was the last time we sat down with the company.

“Then, without any further discussion and after (some staff) accepted offers of early retirement, they came up with a final list of 33, which means that you’ve closed the door to discussions. It’s almost tantamount to negotiating in bad faith. The list of 33 was reduced to 31 after the company re-deployed two workers elsewhere within the company.” The union said it would attempt to re-engage the company in duscusssions but would seek the intervention of the Minister of Labour if those discussions were to fail.

Sherma Mitchell and Belinda Charles of the Ministry of Tourism accompanied the media.

Mitchell, manager of Corporate Communications said: “The staycation initiative is not something new, it happens with every tourism destination and it is a way also of enhancing national pride for people to actually appreciate what we have here.” On our way to Chacachacare, boat captain, Elton Pouchet, pointed out a number of smaller islands and also identified the first and second bocas. However, most interesting was how close we were to the coast of Venezuela – just seven miles away from Chacachacare, but ten miles from the center of Port of Spain. It was a sight to behold.

Chacachacare is actually one of the Bocas Islands, which lie in the Bocas del Dragón (Dragons’ Mouth) between Trinidad and Venezuela, with Chacachacare being the westernmost of the Bocas Islands and belonging to Trinidad and Tobago, while Patos Island, which lies further west, was ceded to Venezuela in 1942.

Our first stop was at the infamous Salt Pond, located on the south west of the island.

Stumbling on the rocks and pebbles below waters waist high, the group walked to Bande du Sud beach and immediately headed to the pond, as a swarm of mosquitoes greeted us.

But little did we know that the pond too, was also riddled with the pests.

The tour guide explained that the water evaporates in the pond, leaving behind layers of salt. Also, due to the high salt levels, the water is usually very hot.

From the pond, and back onto the boat, Pouchet took us on a guided tour of various buildings and landmarks, including one that was once inhabited by nuns who created hospitals and care centers to take care of persons infected with leprosy from the 1920s to the 1950s. Three buildings, which still stand at the top of the mountain, were known as the Marine Bay Convent and included an administrative building and a chapel used specifically by the nuns.

At the back of the convent is a small cemetery where 12 nuns, from Portugal, France and one from Trinidad, Sr. Stephanie Arneaud, were buried.

Pouchet said in 1921, when the lepers were brought to the island, the men and women were separated. The men were placed in Cocos Bay and the women in Sanders bay, a bay that was home to the main generator of the island as well as a customs house, used to keep all the records of the patients and the nuns alike.

Pouchet said a 150 feet inland, a pundit site where a Hindu pundit used to pray with some of the patients for healing still stands.

Following a tour of the ruins, we cruised for a bit before Pouchet anchored the boat in what he said is known as the Trinidad nylon pool.

The bay is known as Perruquier and was one of four whaling stations when whaling was vital to gather blubber for light lamps and cosmetic uses. There we had a picnic lunch, with some people opting for a swim in the warm water.

Towards the end of the tour, Pouchet pointed out some popular bays of Monos Island, lined with a number of elaborate vacation homes of the more affluent members of our society

David, who has been a regular in the TT rosters for the World Cup qualifying campaign is likely to feature in the forthcoming slate of matches for TT with the all-important World Cup qualifier against Honduras set for the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on September 1.

While coach Dennis Lawrence will have more home-based players at his disposal for the friendly, he is hoping to maximise the outing with there being several players based in the TT Pro League who have seen action in the qualifiers.

Regardless, David is expecting TT to be gunning for their Caribbean rivals.

“It’s always a keen rivalry when Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica meets and there is always that feeling that there is a score to settle for both teams. They have reached two Gold Cup finals and we have always been knocking on the door and threatening to reach just as far but fortunately for Jamaica they have done it,” David said.

“I think the Caribbean Cup record still shows us as winning more titles than they have and of course we are still in with a chance of reaching Russia 2018.

“But I expect both teams to be fired up and this is exactly what we need right now because we want a proper test before the Honduras and Panama games. I know for sure Jamaica will not want to come here and give up a result following their performance at the Gold Cup,” David added.

“Personally, I think the game will help us as it gives coach Lawrence a good chance to see a few more of the local players before he calls his final squad for Honduras. The important thing is we as players buy into his ideas and try to execute as best as possible both on the training pitch and in the game itself.” In related news, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has offered Theodore Whitmore a new contract as coach of their men’s team, after his contract ended at the conclusion of the Gold Cup last month. Whitmore was given an interim role by the late former JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, last year.

Now, interim JFF president Bruce Gaynor has decided to continue with the former national captain and star midfielder. Whitmore guided Jamaica to a second-place finish in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament last month, where hosts United States edged Jamaica 2-1 in the final.

“We (the JFF) have offered him (Whitmore) a new contract which is not yet finalised. We will sit with Whitmore for discussions. He has agreed to coach the team in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in that country on August 24,” Gaynor told reporters in Jamaica.

Whitmore named a 18-man squad for the friendly with a training camp starting last Wednesday and includes a handful of players from their squad that finished runners up at the Gold Cup.

SQUAD: Amal Knight, Shaven Paul, Jamie Robinson, Ladale Richie, Javain Brown, Rosario Harriott, Alex Marshall, Kaheem Parris, Shawn Genius, Marvin Morgan, Vishinul Harris, Fabian Reid, Leonardo Rankine, Shamar Nicholas, Michael Binns, Ewan Grandison, Ricardo Morris, Rondee Smith.

Their only Hexagonal result came on March 24 when they edged Panama 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, with goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams registering a clean sheet. Despite their difficulties, the 32-yearold shot-stopper remains positive about the team’s chances of qualifying for Russia 2018.

“It’s been challenging, to say the least,” Williams told FIFA.

com. “We struggled a bit to get some form of stability because we changed coaches, and it’s obviously tough when you change coaches at a crucial stage, like this one. In saying that, we’ve had some good performances under the new coach, Dennis Lawrence. It’s for us now to buckle down and get some points because we really need some points to stay alive in this World Cup qualifying campaign.”

The Lawrence factor Trinidad and Tobago’s recent struggles were not helped by a period of instability in the team’s coaching position. Stephen Hart’s reign on the bench ended after opening Hexagonal defeats to Costa Rica and Honduras last November. The well-travelled Belgian Tom Saintfiet succeeded Hart, but stayed a little over a month in the role before resigning after the team’s failure to qualify for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

It prompted the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association to turn to Lawrence to steady the ship. A member of the Soca Warriors side that qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Lawrence’s knowledge of trying to qualify from CONCACAF has been invaluable to Williams and his team-mates.

“Throughout all the troubles that we had in such a short period of time, I think Dennis’ experience of having played in the Hexagonal and helping the national team qualify for the World Cup, plus his experience of coaching in England, has allowed him to come in with all the right experience,” Williams said.

“He has all the right people around him as well – the likes of Sol Campbell, Stern John, Stuart Charles-Fevrier – these guys have really put their heads together and they are really able to pass across the relevant information that we need to be able to really transform us quickly and as smoothly as possible.”

Crucial September As they look ahead to their next set of qualifiers, the scenario for Trinidad and Tobago is a clear one.

They effectively need maximum points from their home clash with Honduras on September 1 and their visit to Panama four days later to have any realistic chance of earning automatic qualification for Russia 2018. Williams believes his side have the ability to deliver when needed.

“The mood around the camp and the team is one of great optimism,” he said. “I think culturally as a society in Trinidad and Tobago, we tend to produce our best when our backs are against the wall. These games against Honduras and Panama are very important for us, but knowing we can compete and can actually ruffle the feathers of the best in CONCACAF, I think it’s now for us to transfer this into winning performances and get three points in each of the next two encounters.”

Trincity Nationals, who dominated proceedings in the first half, came close on numerous occasions.

The breakthrough came in the 24th minute, as striker Dennelia Prince expertly finishing home from a wonderful assist by midfielder Shanelle Warrick, which split the Club Sando’s defence.

Nationals came close again in the 30th, with Warrick showcasing some silky skills in the midfield, beating two Club Sando’s defenders before seeing her shot hit the uprights.

Three minutes into the second half, Prince confidently dispatched another item after a goalkeeping blunder.

Club Sando had a few chances coming from the wings but they were not enough to halt the determined opposition as they threatened again with arguably the most impressive player on the field in Warrick.

The final goal of the game came in the 90th minute through second half substitute Lee Ann Kirby who used her strength to bulldoze her way through the defence before beating the keeper with the in-step of her right foot.

In other games on Saturday, Real Dimension continued their undefeated journey at Morvant Recration Ground when they nudged a 2-1 victory over Mic-It St Ann’s Rangers to stay afloat on top the standings.

St Augustine FC also continued their winning ways after a slim 1-0 victory over Queen’s Park at the St Mary’s College Ground, St Clair.

On Sunday, in First Division action, St Augustine Juniors defeated Sweaters Women 2-0 at Constantine Park, Macoya while Malvern were victorious over Defence Force.

Yesterday, the Venture Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited, in collaboration with CUNA Caribbean Insurance, launched the 18th edition at the Radisson Hotel in Port of Spain, with this year’s theme being “We Care, We Share”.

The main sponsor, Venture Credit Union, handed over to its 5K committee a cheque valued at $270,000 towards the staging of this year’s event. The Union also received a cheque worth$25,000 from CUNA Caribbean Insurance as they extended their longstanding partnership with the Co-operative.

The event starts at 7 am in front of the Cash and Carry Supermarket.

Rotich, the back-to-back champion of the Half Marathon, expressed his desire to return to the event. However, he detailed that the cost to get to Trinidad would be a huge deterring factor for him as he is currently in Kenya.

The company made the decision to finalise the logistics in securing his participation in yet another event, which will cost approximately $26,000 (including accommodation).

According to the Chairman of the 5K Committee, Lionel Sookoo, “We always try to maintain a very highly competitive event and, to do that, we thought it is important to bring some foreign athletes and, since Rotich is the defending champion, we saw it necessary to obtain his presence as it will increase the international standard of the event.” The event will also feature regional athletes from Guyana, St Vincent/ Grenadines and Grenada. Athletes from the United States were also invited to participate. There will be seven age groups including Under- 15, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and the Over-60 category. To acquire instantaneous results across all the age groups, the ‘chip’ system which involves the implementation of microchips into the runners’ number, will be utilised.

Technical Director of the 5K event, Allan Baboolal, confirmed there were 1,900 participants in last year’s edition and he is expecting over 2,000 individuals to be part of this year’s event.

Baboolal detailed, “The reason we have decided to go with ‘the chip’, even though it is an expensive system, is because it became very difficult to manage results since we were only granted half of the roadway to use for both the 5K Run and Walk.” He revealed there was a $34,000 cost attached for the utilisation of the new system.

Prizes for the event include $3,000 for the respective male and female winners, in the 5K, while the runners-up will receive $2,000.

Third place will receive $1,500 while fourth and fifth-placed finishers will be entitled to $1,200 and $1,000 respectively.

Individual prizes for the various age group winners include $200 for first, $150 for second and $100 for the third. A special $200 prize will be given to the winner of the differently- abled category.

Trophies will also be awarded to the largest teams based on their number of participants crossing the finish-line. Such team categories include financial institutions, corporations, schools and gyms.

The fee to register for children (primary and secondary) cost $20 and adults cost $40. Registration for the event can now be done online, as compared to the previous years, on the company’s website and will also be available at the Credit Union’s branches.

Forms can also be collected at Ramsingh’s Sport World, Ramlogan and Sons, Royal Bank, First Citizens and Republic Bank branches in Couva. Other sponsors for the event include Blue Waters, Plipdeco, Eastern Credit Union, Trinidad and Tobago Police Credit Union, Central Missouri Community Credit Union, Agricola Credit Union, Caribbean Nitrogen Company and S Ramlogan and Sons Sports Centre.

He spoke during a commemorative exhibition at the Alma Jordan Library, University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine campus.

Crawford, who witnessed the events live in London, said, “Before I left Trinidad, someone asked me ‘what medals?’ I told them we have four great chances. One of them is Jereem, I said it, Richards (in the men’s 200 metres); the (women’s 4x100m relay), Keshorn (Walcott in javelin), and the 4×4 (4x400m relay). I said, but they’ll have to earn it.” Richards was part of the victorious 4x400m relay team, while he copped bronze in the men’s 200m. The women’s 4x100m relay team placed sixth in the final while Walcott finished seventh in his final.

Crawford continued, “If you look at those guys (Jarrin Solomon, Richards, Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon), the way they run in the 4×4, they went for it.

“You have to go for it, and as I said, you have to earn it. And they earned it.” Crawford said that if it wasn’t for Richards’ bad start in the 200m final, he would have won gold. And he had great praise for the athletes and the effort required to run the races and excel.

“You can’t just run like that. You have to be prepared to take your body beyond.

You have to learn to manage pressure. You have to learn to manage speed and you’ll get success.” The exhibition, titled “Hasely Crawford – National Hero”, is part of the annual National Heroes Project launched by the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) on July 21 this year. The initiative aims to recognise TT nationals who have excelled in their respective fields and whose legacy of service, contribution or inspiration has impacted the country.

This year’s focus is Crawford who, at UWI yesterday, took the time to converse with guests and sign autographs.

NGC chairman Gerry Brooks and NGC president Mark Loquan, were among the officials present.

The exhibition detailed his historic run at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, with video footage of his historic race, as well as excerpts of past articles of races where he excelled.

Also on display were boards showing Crawford’s role as Head of Community Relations of 1996 and his role in the implementation of the Right on Track Programme and his continuous role of community engagement throughout the years.

The exhibition is one in a history of initiatives by the NGC to support local sport, which includes the recent Youth Elite Programme, and runs from July 25 to August 18 at UWI. It will then move on throughout various schools and NALIS libraries across the country.

With the nation gearing up towards hosing the highly anticipated Elite Pan American Track Championships in two weeks time, the recent results and athletes’ form can only mean positive things moving forward.

In a recent interview with Newsday, Racing Director at TT CF, Gary Acosta, stated, “The competition ran smoothly and the level of competition was outstanding as the athletes’ times showed they are really ready for the upcoming Elite Pan Ams.” According to the TT CF, the official national team of cyclist which will represent the twin-island republic at the Pan Ams, will be selected by Monday.

Since there were not enough teams registered for last Monday evening’s Madison race. The tall female PSL cyclist, Teniel Campbell, once again dominated the Women’s proceedings on the final day of the National Elite Championships, which concluded on Sunday evening.

Campbell started the last day of activities by setting a new National 3-kilometre Individual Pursuit record with a time of three minutes 55.44 seconds, eclipsing her 2015 record of 3:56.86, which she established at the high altitude track in Chile.

Her closest competitor was newly switched track cyclist, Alexandra Bovell (Unattached), who is also sister of famed TT swimmer George Bovell III, in a time of 4:00.84 with Christiane Farah (Breakaway) in third with a solid 4:11.07 pursuit. Campbell did not stop there though and saved the best for last when she came up against Kollyn St George of Breakaway Cycling Club in the 500-metre Time Trial. With a half lap remaining, St George was comfortably 0.3 seconds ahead.

However, when the clocks stopped on both ends, Campbell was adjudged the winner by 0.001 seconds in a time of 36.507 seconds.

Jovian Gomez (PSL) snatched the 4km Individual Pursuit event in a time of 4:52.90, just ahead of teammate Akil Campbell’s (PSL) time of 4:53.422. Quincy Alexander shrugged off the pain from his hard fall on Saturday morning in the Sprint Qualifications to set a solid time of 1:05.31. In the process, he captured the 1km Time Trial title with Akil Campbell also placing second in that race and Ako Kellar (Team Foundation) finishing third.