Gordon stayed close to the leader, American turbo Fred Kerley, who is reported to have run the seventh fastest ever individual 400m in the history of this event.

With 50 metres to go, and Gordon second, the Tobago-born athlete literally opened his belly and spilled his guts to pass a dying Kerley and bring home gold to Trinidad and Tobago.

As a four-month-old baby, his mother, Cynthia Cupid reminded me that her son suffered acutely from some undiagnosed stomach ailment.

He spent almost a year in hospital, as the doctors eventually operated. She agonised over his survival.

Today, Lalonde Gordon, 28, is a world champion to add to his double bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics.

Congrats to Team Solomon, Richards, Cedenio and Gordon.

The words of the legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) resonate in my mind: “The darkest moments of our lives are not to be buried and forgotten, rather they are a memory to be called upon for inspiration to remind us of the unrelenting human spirit and the capacity to overcome.”

REZA ABASALI El Socorro

In a statement yesterday, Persad- Bissessar said she was unimpressed with his apology over the Ocean Flower 2 ferry which failed to arrive in this country.

“Rowley’s apology was too little, too late and did nothing to comfort the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar alleged the sea-bridge woes began under Rowley’s tenure and, over several months, he issued several apologies but failed to find a resolution in the interest of citizens.

“Rowley keeps apologising to the nation for the ferry problems and instructing his Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan to fix it not realising that his minister is the problem.

Rowley’s latest apology was a pathetic attempt at distracting from his incompetence in handling this situation.” She said Rowley failed to act on reports of possible corruption in the deal for the Ocean Flower 2 and showed contempt for citizens with his summons to stakeholders to a meeting next week Monday, shortly before proceeding on yet another vacation.

Persad-Bissessar said Rowley must deal with Sinanan and the Board of the Port Authority and take responsibility.

“It is clear that Rowley does not care about the crisis created by his Government, not only on the Tobago ferry, but in every aspect of governance.

“As a result of his incompetence and lack of a plan to take the country forward, citizens are suffering.”

We deserve better than that for the type of US$ that we must fork out on a daily basis to cover the cost of this vessel. The company that owns the vessel is claiming that the cancellation of the contract is invalid – I hope that is not so. My suggestion is “count your lost and move on” for in the long run it will cost us much more judging for those problems this vessel is already having.

I conclude by asking the question before these purchases are made, do we employ experts to totally check out the items? I do hope so, now let the Ocean Flower 2 begin its home journey. We can do better than that and with a little more patience for value for your dollar is the way to go. I do sympathise with the inconvenience caused for many but hang in there.

Arnold Gopeesingh San Juan

Our decision to use the social media carries with it the power to be a publisher, something that many users fail to understand or appreciate. Along with this new found publishing power we must also bear a responsibility for the propagation of the truth. We must not only restrict our own posts to the truth, but also not repost untruths posted by others.

The ease with which persons can express their views to large numbers of people in an instant is a power most of us are all too eager to embrace. Unfortunately, many of us do not see the harm and hurt we sometime inflict when we publish false and malicious statements.

Not seeing it does not mean the hurt/harm is not there. If we can avoid doing violence to the minds of unseen persons others may learn to do the same.

As teachers we are faced with the challenge of mastering this rapidly evolving technology, while at the same time having to teach our charges its responsible use. Given the propensity for us to share our personal views with others, we would be well advised to exercise restraint in terms of the postings we place on social media, mindful of the social and legal implications.

In our schools we have become accustomed to students taking to social media to deliberately hurt others via their posts. Cyber bullying is real. Children regularly take to the internet to engage in a form of verbal violence, the scale of which we have never seen before.

Hateful and vitriolic statements dominate social media posts of many teenagers, compounded with threats of physical violence.

Teachers are then required to intervene in these internet-based and initiated conflicts, the resolution of which can be arduous and time consuming. These situations transcend the boundaries of school type, becoming the new norm. The obsession people have to see images of themselves on screens leads many to post pictures on social media. In many instances these images seem to be pushing the boundaries of ethics and moral decency. This new social standard has been adopted by young people, with ‘selfies’ being their favourite pastime.

Our children are all too eager to befriend strangers on social media, blissfully unaware of the dangers of so doing. They proceed to share very personal information and images with these strangers, not realising that once that information or image is out there it cannot be retracted.

Parents would do well to truly educate and guide their children from a tender age in the ethical and responsible use of social media as well as its dangers. In fact, they must only allow children to engage social media only when they are mature enough to understand the responsibility that accompanies its use. Children should not be allowed to engage social media until they are socially, emotionally and intellectually ready.

As a society we must all take responsibility for what we communicate with others for it has consequences. We must be aware that if we are to engage the power of publishers we must be prepared to adopt their ethical standards.

Before we post anything we must ensure that it adheres to certain levels of journalistic integrity.

Social media has and continues to be a double-edged sword and if we are not careful we can become a society where untruths become the order of the day.

In such a place, self-destruction becomes an inevitable outcome.

Randy Ramkissoon died on the spot after he was stabbed in the chest, back and abdominal area by his attacker.

According to a police report, at about 11.30 pm, Ramkissoon was in the living room of the family home watching television when he heard a knocking at the front door and someone calling his name.

When Ramkissoon opened the door a man with a knife ambushed him and began stabbing him investigators said. Speaking to Newsday at the family’s home yesterday, Ramkissoon’s fatherin- law Anthony Alleyne, who lives a short distance away, said he was awakened by the screams of Ramkissoon’s wife Crystal who called out to him saying her husband was killed.

“I did not hear anything until Crystal called out to us,” an emotional Alleyne said.

“I rushed to the house to see Randy covered in blood. He was already dead.” He said Crystal was crying hysterically.

“She was also asleep with the children and awoke after hearing noises from the living room. But by that time the killer was gone.

He killed a father knowing that his children were sleeping in another room. That hurts the most.” He said they did not want the children to see the image of their father covered in blood so they only allowed them to leave the bedroom after the body was removed. “We did not want them to remember their father in that way, it would be too much for them.” Ramkissoon was a self employed mechanic. Alleyne said he was not aware of any threats made on his son-in-law’s life. “This is very strange. But, from what I gather, he may have known his killer. But I am thankful that the children and their mother’s lives were spared.

But what is really sad is that these children will now grow up without a father. We have lost it as a people. There is no more value on human life.” Ramkissoon was described as a family man who was hardworking. “His dream was to purchase land for his children. He loved his children so much. They are still very young to understand what happened, but we explained to them that their daddy is gone,” Alleyne said.

Funeral arrangements are still being made. Members of the Homicide Region Three are investigating.

When board Chairman Alison Lewis arrived at the PATT’s head office on Dock Road, Port of Spain at about noon, she ignored reporters questions when asked what the meeting was about.

As the media camped outside the port authority throughout the afternoon into the evening some members of the public gave the thumbs up signal or just made encouraging remarks to the media while the police stayed in close proximity monitoring.

There were speculations about the meeting’s agenda and whether or not it included a discussion on the Bridgeman’s Services Group’s proposal to allow the use of the passenger vessel Ocean Flower 2 for a two-weeks trial run on the Trinidad and Tobago sea bridge, free of cost to Government.

When asked last evening if any outcomes of yesterday’s meeting was conveyed to him and whether he knew if any consideration was being given to Bridgeman’s proposal, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan told Newsday the board had to make that decision, and he was not aware of the board’s meeting agenda at the time. The board does not have to report to him on every thing, he said, adding they will inform him when it is necessary.

The PATT cancelled the contract with Bridgeman’s for the lease of the Ocean Flower 2 because it was not delivered on time, but has retained the contract for the cargo vessel, Cabo Star.

There are already complaints that the Cabo Star is not performing up to expectations.

Sinanan and Lewis have said that it is a priority to the board to begin the process of procuring a vessel to ply the sea bridge as the T&T Express is due to go on dry dock for repairs by October.

After seven hours of waiting, in spite of text messages and phone calls made to the Lewis and deputy chairman Adrian Beharry about the meeting’s agenda, as the day progressed, neither replied though it was evident that they had read the messages, and no one came out to speak with the media.

There were also speculations that some members were considering resignations in the wake of calls for the resignation of the entire for what is being called the sea bridge fiasco. Two members of the seven-member board left the meeting, one did so about 2.00 pm while the second one left at about 4.00 pm. They did not stop their vehicles when approached.

In a release issued yesterday, the ministry said on August 3, part payment of the monies owed to the PTSC maxi-taxi drivers was disbursed.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia said he is committed to providing payment before the new school term begins.

The PTSC provides a subsidised service to the children of Trinidad and Tobago as a part of the Government’s promise of accessible and quality education for all.

The collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the PTSC was established to assist lesser privileged students in getting to and from school with ease.

The Ministry said it will continue to make every effort to ensure that all money owed to the PTSC maxi-drivers are paid, and that students have access to this essential service once school re-opens.

The Ministry also said it will embark on a comprehensive review of the system in which the maxi-taxi drivers operate.

“This will ensure that the investment being made produces value for money as spending is of national concern in these challenging economic times,” the ministry said.

Merritt raised the issue at a hearing before High Court Judge Justice Joan Charles two days after granting a writ of habeas corpus instructing the Defence Force to release the soldiers. Merrit said while he understood the need for military investigators to establish a board of inquiry and interview witnesses, it did not negate the fact that his clients were also entitled rights under the Constitution.

“Keeping someone 18 days without any actual charge was unreasonable,” he said.

“They are saying their investigation process, because they have 26 witnesses to take statements from, is what kept them from doing anything further.

“They said they were awaiting the chance to convene a board of inquiry but our position is that the board of inquiry does not negate the process of letting the men have their liberty.” Merritt said the men were not allowed to communicate with their attorneys during the period of their detainment and this amounted to a violation of his clients’ Constitutional rights.

“They also said they had warrants to execute at banks but I don’t understand how keeping my clients inside would affect that.” Ravi Rajkumar, attorney for the Defence Force, said the matter was one for internal investigations and felt the court should not interfere in the proceedings.

However Charles told Rajkumar while the soldiers may be subject to military law, they were still citizens of this country and are granted certain rights under the Constitution.

Hearing of the matter continues today.

We well know that in Trinidad and Tobago it is far easier to gripe without having effective medication for the verbal diarrhoea.

While on staycation, the UNC-led Partnership government has griped and groused only about the needs of their own particular constituents.

It is as if the rest of TT does not exist.

What I need to know, urgently, is where the money is going to come from to continue to fool the public that a UNC administration can keep all their pet projects at the expense of the rest of the country.

Lay out how the UNC will be able to quickly counteract the upsurge in criminal activity brought on by the disbandment of SAUTT and the porous borders for drugs and human trafficking.

Tell us how we can continue to build schools and provide thousands of free laptops. Which other small third World country can do this? Why should applicants over age 50 and wealthy students sit in the university for free? They refuse to acknowledge the destruction of ForEx because of unworkable interference.

The constant fake news is being put out that TT is becoming a failed state.

If we are a failing state why is everybody running to reside in TT ? Ms Haynes needs to tell a discerning public where the money is going to come from to stroke the disappointed egos of an Opposition that was voted out because of allegations of rampant nepotism.

What has changed?

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

In a statement, BPTT reported Juniper has started production on schedule and within budget.

BPTT is a subsidiary of energy multinational company (British Petroleum-BP). Juniper is BP’s first sub-sea field development in Trinidad and is located 80 km off the south-east coast in water approximately 110 metres deep.

The platform produces gas from the Corallita and Lantana fields.

In a subsequent statement, Energy Minister Franklin Khan said the project represents an investment of approximately US$ 2 billion by BPTT.

He said Juniper will have a gas production capacity of 590 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfd). Khan said Juniper’s gas production will augment BPTTs gas production and the company’s gas production was boosted in April with the start of the Trinidad Onshore Compression Project (TROC).

The TROC has provided incremental gas volumes of approximately 100 mscfd.

Khan said the Juniper and TROC projects are examples of BPTT’s commitment to improving the domestic gas production. He said both projects will assist in alleviating the current gas shortfall.

He said the ministry is also working closely with BPTT with respect to the timely development of the Angelin gas field. This field is estimated to come on stream in late 2019 with an estimated gas production capacity of 600 million standard cubic feet per day.

Khan also said there are ongoing discussions with the company on development plans for recently announced gas discoveries in BPTT’s offshore, Macadamia and Savannah field. The gas reserves are estimated at two trillion cubic feet. Khan said to monetise these and other resources, BPTT will invest approximately US$5 billion over the next five years. Khan was confident BPTT would build on the Juniper success and about similar successful developments in the near future. BP’s chief executive (upstream business) Bernard Looney said Juniper is a major milestone in BP’s over 50 years of investment in TT.BPTT’s regional president Norman Christie said Juniper, “further demonstrates our commitment to helping improve production capacity for TT.” Juniper was BPTT’s 14th offshore platform in Trinidad and its sixth to be constructed at the fabrication yard in La Brea.