The squad is currently training up to four days per week under coach Jamaal Shabazz.

TT will face US Virgin Islands in their opening Group A match on August 23, then take on Curacao on August 25 and close off the group phase against Grenada on August 27.

All TT matches will kick off at 7.30 pm.

Other teams involved are Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Anguilla and Bahamas in Group B; Guyana, Barbados and Cuba in Group D; St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis and Jamaica in Group E.

“It’s been a very interesting three weeks with these youngsters since I took over the preparations,” Shabazz said.

“From dealing with men’s team at the beginning of the year to now working with the Under-17 girls is a most humbling and rewarding lesson in my career as a coach. ” Shabazz commented on the shape of the team at the moment, saying they were in a good state ahead of the forthcoming matches.

“I am happy with the way that the players and staff responded to my entry into the programme.

We were slaughtered a year ago at CONCACAF U-15 as then they were a bunch of beginners entering the world of football for the first time. One year later we shall approach this CFU Qualifiers with courage and confidence,” he added.

Shabazz said it was evident that the preparations undergone by the team over the past few months prior to his appointment, has had a positive effect on its outlook and he was anticipating that the current preparations will aid in pushing them past the forthcoming preliminary stage.

TT are vying for one of eight places at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship which will be the sixth edition of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, the biennial international youth football championship organised by CONCACAF for the women’s under-17 national teams of the confederation.

The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay as the CONCACAF representatives

The TT squad, bottom of Group B without a point, face Canada (three points) tomorrow I their final Group B game at IMG’s campus in Bradenton, Florida.

Gianluca Busio and A Chavez each scored twice for the United States for the comfortable 6-0 win to put the hosts in command of the group with maximum six points.

G Reyna opened the scoring from the penalty spot before assisting in a quick double from Chavez — all within the first eight minutes — for a 3-0 lead at the break.

Busio, who scored on either side of the break on Sunday for a 2-0 US win over Canada, arrived off the bench in the second half to score twice, separated by a C Garica goal, against Trinidad and Tobago.

The United States will complete group play against Costa Rica (three points) tomorrow.

(ttproleague.com)

Charles made this point when he addressed the opening ceremony of the 18th Biennial Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, at the Magdalena Grand Hotel in Tobago.

A former THA presiding officer, Charles said, “For accountability to be done effectively, we must ensure that those tasked with the function of scrutiny are provided with the resources that they need to perform their function effectively.

He said people performing these functions must be held to the highest standards of accountability and integrity.

“In this regard, Charles said the work of parliamentary oversight committees “must never go unnoticed.” He said this was particularly important in the case of small island states like TT where the limited size of the legislatures results in these committees facing “crippling limitations in terms of members as well as time available to serve in the face of mounting concerns about accountability.

“We must therefore seize all opportunities to question the effectiveness of our mechanisms for ensuring accountability.” He also said “effective partnerships” with traditional media (newspaper, radio, television) and with social media, “would undoubtedly help to maintain public trust in the legislature.”

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 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.”

It was Dr Eric Williams who wittily said at the Hasley Crawford welcome home victory celebration years ago, “America can put an astronaut on the moon, but Trinidad has a man no astronaut can catch”. The Fantastic Four is a true representation of the best Trinidad and Tobago has to offer.

These young men captured gold and emerged as the fastest men in the world in a 4 x 400m race. This is a Hasley Crawford/ Keshorn Walcott moment of somewhat precedented glory for Trinidad and Tobago. This time we celebrate the power of teamwork and the explosive power we have as a people when we work together.

Our citizens prove to be truly patriotic at every glance when we summon our national interest.

We celebrated as proud citizens in our usual manner with hugs, kisses, smiles, postings, chants, music, dancing and beverages. However, the celebrations have only just begun for our real life Trinidad heroes, the Fantastic Four.

World class athletes deserve world class rewards and we look forward to celebrating with our heroes when they return home.

We love and celebrate all our national athletes who take our dot on the world map and fly our flag for the world to see but something about gold has a special resonance for our citizens.

This amazing foursome is testimony that it is possible to be at your best even when circumstances are at not at its best. We as proud citizens can use this experience and apply it to our national context to drive our need to all do our best and give of our best as we rebuild our economy.

Let’s rally around our newly world renowned sporting heroes and send the message to our young people that anything they put their minds to they can achieve. The world is a global village and we continue to take our place at the top.

Hats off to the Fantastic Four!

Ronald Huggins St Joseph

The theme was “Youth Building Peace”.

The walk was punctuated by stops where individuals and representatives of various groups brought messages to the participants. In his address to the youths Bodoe said, “We recognise that the youth are the future and in effect it is about protecting the future of Trinidad and Tobago.” Bodoe also went to say, “The valiant effort of young Fyzabad resident David Sancaro, who lost his life trying to protect a woman from abuse, must not go unnoticed.” On July 16, Sancaro was run over by a vehicle after he intervened in a quarrel to stop a man from beating a woman in South Oropouche.

Bodoe called on participants in the peace walk to “engage, support and partner with young people within Fyzabad and Trinidad and Tobago and seek solutions to rampant crime, high unemployment, violence against and by young people and frustration caused by difficult economic circumstances.”

This strike was first reported by Newday on Saturday saying the staff, who largely work in the mission’s registry and reception, and as drivers, cleaners and gardeners, were upset at the lack of any pay-raise since 2011.

Charles said the strike shows the ineptitude of the Dr Keith Rowley-led Government that he alleged does not realise that it is now in charge and must govern effectively.

He accused the Government of “incompetence, ineptitude, abdicating responsibility and lack of foresight and planning” to deal with many burning issues plaguing our country including foreign affairs.

“Instead of taking yet another unearned vacation in Barbados, Dr Rowley should be dealing frontally with the plethora of issues facing our country including a strike by Indian nationals at our New Delhi High Commission.

“This will severely limit our mission in carrying out its function of promoting trade, investments, tourism and protecting our interests not only to India but all other nations served from New Delhi, like Japan and Singapore.” Charles said since last week Monday, 11 employees have refused to report for duty because of a dispute over wages.

“Do not wait for another strike to occur at our missions. These strikes, along with negative visitor advisories, continued reports of crime and terrorist activity in our country and frequent downgrades by ranking bodies, continue to wreak havoc on our image abroad.” Saying the former People’s Partnership (PP) regime was not to blame, Charles said, “The PP government was aware of salary concerns but had taken the position that salary negotiations with home based foreign service officers and IROs employed in our missions had to be concluded first. One could not prioritise foreign nationals over our citizens as far as wage negotiations were concerned.” He said Public Service negotiations were only settled in 2015 after which the next step should have been to settle negotiations with foreign staff.

“The PNM won the elections in 2015, dropped the ball and this strike action took place. Others are likely to follow.” Charles listed other items of alleged incompetence by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dennis Moses.

He said TT has not yet ratified the Climate Change agreement, causing the European Union (EU) to beg TT to finalise sustainability policies to become eligible for $18 million in EU grants.

Consul General positions in Miami, Toronto and New York are unfilled, with former minister Donna Cox in a lowly position at the New York consulate.

TT’s foreign policy on Venezuela is in shambles.

Charles alleged, “Under the leadership of Dennis Moses, the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs is failing to meet its mandate and this incompetence is doing irreparable damage to our international image.” Moses, when contacted by Newsday laughed, thanked Newsday for calling, declined to comment, wished Newsday a pleasant afternoon and said goodbye.

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.

Antar, the current General Manager for Corporate Operations and Process Improvement at Republic Bank Limited, will assume the role from Anthony Subero, who will retire from the bank after more than 35 years of sterling service.

In announcing the appointment, RFHL yesterday said Antar has “contributed immensely to myriad functions at the bank”, including Marketing, Branch Operations, Information Technology, Operational Risk and Corporate Security as well as Administration, Premises, Business Continuity Planning, Business Systems and Process Improvement, and Portfolio Management.

Antar is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS) and holds Chartered Institute of Bankers UK (ACIB) certification.

Republic Group yesterday congratulated Antar on his new appointment and wished him success in his career.