The team has been at IMG for a one-week training camp prior to their opening fixture and have played one game so far, managing a 1-1 draw with Tampa Bay United’s Under-17 team last week. This is the team’s first official tournament since coming together under coach Russell Latapy in February. Their only previous overseas assignment was at the Cayman Airways International tournament in May which was won by Cuba.

Latapy expects the Costa Ricans to be handful but is not writing off a positive start from his young troops. “We know it’s going to be three tough matches starting with the first one against Costa Rica. We are looking forward to the tournament.

It is a learning process and we are really looking forward to this entire experience,” Latapy said.

“I am extremely happy for these matches because the faster these players can gain invaluable experience at this level, it will be better for them in the long run and better for Trinidad and Tobago football on a whole. It’s a difficult group but in saying that, what we can do is try to play the way we want to play which is with the football and work as hard as we can.

“As long as we play to our standard then I would be happy. It is a process. The players are starting to understand how we move the ball about, how we move the opponents about, the type of organisation we need in and out of possession and in dead ball situations. We are getting to a good point at this time,” Latapy added.

Left winger Jaiye Sheppard from Roxborough, said he was upbeat ahead of the tournament and not overawed by the opposition.

“We have prepared well and we will be aiming to show this by playing a good game of football and putting out our best effort on the day for our country. It’s all about representing the red. white and black,” Sheppard said.

“Coach Latapy has worked with us for months now and everyone understands their role and functions.

It is a big opportunity for us and I’d like to thank everyone for the support so far. We will take the game on its own and try to play to the plan and hopefully we can do well and come away with a positive performance and result,” Sheppard added

On August 4, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) Idi Stuart highlighted the students’ plight during a multi-trade union protest in Port of Spain. He said the nursing students were not being paid their $800 monthly stipend and he gave the Government a deadline of month-end to pay the outstanding monies.

Ogunsheye, 31, told Sunday Newsday in a telephone interview that $800 was the starting sum received by nursing students but as you progressed each year the amount would increase. She said in year two it was about $1,100, year three was about $1,300 and final year was supposed to be more than $1,500 though they have not received that sum.

Ogunsheye, who has a seven year-old daughter, said the stipend amount was “not enough to maintain anything but it’s still better than nothing. You still look forward to it at the end of the month.” She said it has been hard not receiving the stipend and she at times has to choose whether to give up going to a class or give up going to the hospital. She added that students have to complete a certain number of hours to satisfy the nursing council.

She said when they go on the ward they are “working down to bone” and they function like a normal registered nurse (RN).

“It has been extremely hard. But I’m still here. By the grace of God my parents insist that I complete my course.” Ogunsheye studied nursing at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) for two years but transferred to USC when she moved to South and had to start over.

“I’m doing it for six years now.

After giving all that amount of time doing this and you expecting a little change end of month and not getting it, is something to frustrate you.” She said there are people who believe no one should be “getting paid to go to school” but felt they need to understand that by student nurses being out on the field studying or learning they do everything that a RN does.

“We still need to survive. It should not be something we have to be dogging and begging for. We need to get it, we need to get our backpay.” She said there are students who have to borrow money to go to school and receiving the stipend “will full a hole.” “It only fair that we get what we deserved.” Ogunsheye had graduated with a bachelor’s of science in nursing but had not completed her exams with the nursing council, one practical and one written, which is required to become a RN. Sunday Newsday also spoke to two other nursing students but they asked that their real names be withheld.

Delia*, a fourth year student, said the lack of a stipend had been quite difficult. She said when she joined the programme students were informed that they would receive money to cover transportation.

Delia said there were times they received the money late but now they were not getting anything.

“I have commitments, I have children. The stipend that is gone used to see about my bills. I have to take money I have for my children and put to use for myself. I have outstanding debts that need to be cleared. It is very tedious and distressing to say the least.” Delia said it was very unfair to the students. She said last July students were told they have been paid in August with the outstanding money and then they were told December and then the end of February and then the end of May but “nothing happened.” Delia said her bank account was in negative which she had never experienced before.

“Can you imagine my distress?” Nisha*, a 23-year-old student who is also in final year, said the stipend was mainly used for transportation but also for school supplies, books and paying school fees. She said not everyone has financial support and some may have had it but lost it for some reason. She said for her she has to depend more on her parents.

“People have to borrow from people.

And pay back small loans. Some students who are mothers. The little money used to go a long way for a lot of them.” On people questioning why they should be paid a stipend at all Nisha said students do not just do theory or sit in a classroom but when they are on the ward they are working like nurses but under supervision.

Stacey Mahabal, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Nursing Students, the student arm of the TTRNA, and president of Nursing Assistant Trainees, told Sunday Newsday they were instrumental in getting students out to march during the August 4 protest. She said she had been taking information from students and liaising with Stuart who had been advocating on their behalf.

Mahabal said as part of the programme students have to spend time working at a hospital/health institution and the stipend was for this work. She said the mix of days of going to the hospital and going to class depended on which year of the four year programme the student was in. When they do not have classes they would go Monday to Friday, 7 am to 3 pm, with an option to make up lost time on a Sunday.

Asked who was responsible for the payment of the stipend Mahabal said at first there was an arrangement between COSTAATT and USC where COSTAATT would pay them. She said COSTAATT indicated via letters that it would not be able to pay because of the high intake of students to USC.

She said students were on the wards training and work under supervision as a RN. She also said they have overhead costs for labs, transportation and registration of $1,500.

“Sometimes the little stipend just goes in bills.” Mahabal said she did not know if it was illegal for the stipend not to be paid but their argument was that they are going to work and should be paid a stipend.

“We just want a little thing to cross over. This is an essential service.

We not asking for a salary but just asking for a little cash.” She said on the ward sometimes they help to fill the gap as at times the people paid to work did not come out.

Mahabal also said they learned that they were not under the Health Ministry but the Education Ministry and reached out to them.

Asked the response from the ministry, Mahabal said officials keep telling them they are “investigating.” She said students are discouraged by the lack of a stipend but it has not affected their care.

“We steadily going out and giving it our all still. Nursing is something we love. (We there) every day, whole day with the same amount of passion.” She said that if by August 31 they do not receive the monies they are prepared to protest in front of Parliament.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia, in a telephone interview, said Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis had met with the students and they are trying to work out arrangements. He said there was a change sometime last year when the nurses were moved from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Education.

“There are some challenges we need to unravel and as soon as we are able to do that will be sorted out.”

Attorney Cedric Neptune will have a herculean task ahead. He must be given the resources he needs to fulfill his new mandate .

Furthermore, there must be no repeat of the appalling one-year delay that elapsed since the expiry of the term of the last inspector, Daniel Khan .

The functions of the inspector are of utmost importance. As noted last week by president of the Law Association Douglas Mendes SC, the inspector’s role includes ensuring prison rules are complied with by those charged with guarding prisoners. The inspector must act as a watchdog, seeing after the health and welfare of people detained in jail .

“Although a person who has been convicted of a crime or who is detained pending trial is constitutionally deprived of his or her right to liberty, the other protections which the Constitution affords are not suspended in the meantime,” Mendes noted. “The inspector plays a crucial role in ensuring the State lives up to these obligations and expectations.” The criminal justice system is designed to fulfill several social aims .

One is to serve justice. Another is to protect society. And a third is to rehabilitate. None of these objectives can be fulfilled if prisoners are maltreated .

The inspector’s role is to help safeguard the integrity of the system by providing transparency and allowing for accountability. He must ensure that even those who are behind bars are not forgotten by society .

But there are also tangible matters of national security at stake .

Unjust treatment behind bars not only places prisoners at risk, it endangers society as a whole. We risk radicalising prisoners by subjecting them to degrading treatment .

When they eventually emerge from the system they will potentially return to society with an unstable mindset or a desire to enact vengeance .

Neptune’s training as an attorney is a good indicator of his ability to remain impartial in all the circumstances .

That is a quality that will be important to his performance of his legal duties. His experience as a former police officer from 1988- 2007, and as legal adviser to the Homicide Bureau of Investigation South from 2003 to 2007 gives him a unique vantage point from which to approach his duties .

However, Neptune’s background as a police officer also potentially puts him at a disadvantage. Prisoners may perceive him as being aligned to the system against which they may wish to record grievances .

It is hoped Cabinet has weighed this when it came to its decision and has determined Neptune’s experience overall readies him to overcome any obstacles he may face .

We take this opportunity to wish Neptune well and to also hail the efforts of his predecessor Daniel Khan who was a vociferous advocate of prisoners’ rights who authored the first-ever report of the inspectorate .

It is essential, moving forward, that the State ensure there is no repeat of the year-long delay that elapsed between the end of Khan’s tenure and this announcement .

One year is far too long a time for such a vital post to remain vacant .

The news of the appointment comes amid developments in relation to another key vacancy. The Police Service Commission last week announced that it has now hired the firm of KPMG TT to assist in the recruitment and selection of a new Commissioner of Police .

Unfortunately, that process is expected to take at least four more months .

In contrast, Neptune will have little time to adjust to his new role .

He will have to dive straight in. We wish him best of luck .

Serving from the front for TT was Nadav Singh as he absorbed the crowd support and pressure, triumphing over fellow countryman, Aditya Maharaj, 21-13, 21- 15 to book his spot in the Boys Singles Under-11 final. Singh will face Nathan King, after the Bajan blocked the possibility of all-TT final, defeating Andrew Babwah 21-1, 21-7 in the semi-final.

However, in the Girls U-11 equivalent, there will be an all-local cast in the final as Amara Urquhart surpassed TT’s Nicha Fraser 23-21, 21-15. She will square off against T’Shelle Barnes after Barnes got past TT’s Kaylee Noel 21-7, 21-3 in their semi-final.

Travis Sinanan will be TT’s representative in the Boys Singles U-13 category as he got the better of Suriname’s Al Hassan Somedjo 21-19, 21-14. He will be facing another Surinamese rival in Rivano Bisphan when the final serves off later today.

Reece Marcano will take the mantle of representing the hosts in the finals of the Boys U-15 after he trounced local man Justin Samaroo 21-18, 21-6. Marcano faces Dominick Scanterberry in their final after the another Bajan prevented an all-Trini final by defeating Zion St Rose 21-14, 21-16.

In the Boys U-17 category, Leon Cassie got past his Bajan rival Shomari Smith 21-8, 21-11 in the semi-final, booking his spot against Daniel Acosta of the Dominican Republic.

The Girls U-17 saw TT athlete Sandhya Cassie losing out on a final berth as she succumbed to Imani Mangroe of Suriname 21- 17, 21-14.

In the Doubles, TT’s athletes will also have a dominating cast in the finals.

Nadav Singh and his partner Jamahl Mason will square off against Aditya Maharaj and Kiran Rampersad in an all-TT affair of the Boys U-11 category.

A similar situation takes place when Barnes and her partner Sanna Guria will face Fraser and Kaycee Noel in the girls equivalent.

In the Boys Doubles U-13, locals Sinanan and Seth Mollah battles against fellow countrymen James Babwah and his partner Nicholi Marcano, after both pairs defeated their Jamaican and Bajan rivals, respectively.

TT’s Amara Joachim and Danae Mootoosingh will take on Suriname’s Melody Sjauw Koen Fa and her partner Michelle Guzman of the Dominican Republic.

The Boys U-15 will see TT’s Reece Marcano and St Rose will battle against Surinamese Jason Chen and Kevin King in the category final.

The Mixed Doubles U-11 will feature an all-TT final after treble hunter, Nadav Sigh and his teammate Sanna Guria won their semi-final after three sets, booking a place against Kiran Rampersad and Amara Urquhart.

The action-packed CAREBACO finale gets going at 9 am today at the NRC and will run until at 6 pm.

Batting first at the Royal College Ground, the Australians rattled up 241 for eight off the allotted 35 overs. R Sim topscored with 78, while other good scores came from D Pius (50) and opener D Caroll (43). The best bowler for the West Indies was Guyanese lawyer, Charles Ransom, with five wickets for 34 runs.

The West Indies chased down the 242 to win in 25 overs for the loss of only two wickets. Antiguan lawyer Loy Weste topscored with 78, while Trinidadian attorney Martin Jadoonanan got 68.

Other scorers were Krishna Jaglal with 31 and Charles Ransom with 32.

West Indies captain Shashi Seecharan was delighted with the victory. “This was a good team effort and the batsmen stuck to their task and ensured that we got to the target. We got there faster than we anticipated. But that augurs well for the other matches in our group. It is truly a good feeling win the first match and setting things for the rest of the tournament.” The West Indies team comprises lawyers from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados and Antigua/Barbuda.

Richards, the bronze medallist in the men’s 200 metres, is part of the Trinidad and Tobago men’s 4×400-metre relay team who advanced to today’s final at 4.15 pm – the last event of the 10-day contest.

TT have been drawn in lane seven, along with France (lane two), Great Britain/Northern Ireland (lane three), United States (lane four), Poland (lane five), Spain (lane six), Cuba (lane eight) and Belgium (lane nine).

In yesterday’s second of two heats, the TT quartet of Renny Quow, Richards, Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon placed second in a season’s best time of two minutes 59.35 seconds.

The United States triumphed in a world-leading best of 2:59.23, with Belgium third in 2:59.47.

Rounding off the field were Great Britain/Northern Ireland (3:00.10), France (3:00.93), Brazil (3:04.02), Botswana (3:06.50) and Japan (3:07.29).

Advancing from the first heat were Spain (3:01.72), Poland (3:01.78) and Cuba (3:01.88).

The other relay teams (men’s and women’s 4x100m), as well as double Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott, all flattered to deceive yesterday.

The foursome of Keston Bledman, Kyle Greaux, Moriba Morain and Emmanuel Callender were fifth in the first heat of the preliminary round in the men’s 4x100m relay in a time of 38.61 seconds, trailing the United States (37.70), Great Britain/Northern Ireland (37.76), Japan (38.21) and Turkey (38.44).

And the women’s quartet of Semoy Hackett, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Khalifa St Fort and Kelly- Ann Baptiste placed sixth in yesterday’s final, clocking a season’s best time of 42.62. The United States copped gold in 41.82, followed by Great Britain/ Northern Ireland (42.12), Jamaica (42.19), Germany (42.36) and Switzerland (42.51).

Brazil (42.63) and Netherlands (43.07) took the bottom two spots.

Walcott finished seventh, out of 12 entrants, in the javelin final, with a best throw of 84.48 metres – on his first attempt.

Germany’s Johannes Vetter prevailed with a best of 89.89m (also on his first attempt), followed by the Czech Republic pair of Jakub Vadlejch (89.73) and Petr Frydrych (88.32).

A full house at the Oval witnessed a professional display by the Trinbago Knight Riders, which saw them maintain their position at the top of the standings with their third win of the tournament.

Khan snatched four wickets for 28 runs in four overs to help reduce Amazon Warriors to 156 for seven batting first, before Munro blazed an unbeaten 70 off 47 deliveries to guide Knight Riders to 162/3 with one over to spare.

Amazon Warriors silenced the capacity crowd with some excellent stroke play as they got to 40 without loss after three overs. South African pacer Robert Frylinck conceded 22 runs in his only over of the match forcing TKR captain Dwayne Bravo to bring leg-spinner Khan into the attack. He did not disappoint as he got the wicket of Amazon Warriors captain Martin Guptill for 24 caught by Khary Pierre at long on. The fall of Guptill did not slow down Chadwick Walton as he struck Khan for a six over cover in the same over.

It was 50/2 in the fifth over when Babar Azam was trapped leg before to off-spinner Sunil Narine for two. Medium pacer Kevon Cooper kept the run rate down at the other end, but left-arm spinner Pierre then felt the brunt of Walton who struck the spinner for two sixes in one over.

Dwayne Bravo also kept the run rate down as he tried to take the pace of the ball on a fast paced wicket. After containing Walton and Jason Mohammed for some time, Cooper got the breakthrough when Walton skied a delivery to Brendon McCullum at cover. It was 89/4 when Pierre, who was the Knight Riders best fielder on the night with three catches, held on to a catch inches inside the deep midwicket rope off Khan to dismiss Mohammed for 13.

For the rest of the innings the Knight Riders bowlers kept Amazon Warriors at bay with Roshon Primus (23) and Keemo Paul (14 not out) getting the visitors past 150. Narine was also among the wickets finishing with figures of 4-0-16-2.

Knight Riders was off to a terrible start as McCullum drove the first ball of the innings to Gajanand Singh at cover off left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir.

Munro and Narine then put Knight Riders in control with a 79-run second wicket partnership dominated by Munro. Narine played sensibly, giving Munro the strike as he clobbered the Amazon Warriors bowlers. Off-spin bowler Steven Jacobs and pacer Rayad Emrit conceded a lot of runs as TKR raced to 63/1 after five overs.

Narine rode his luck as he was dropped twice in the seventh over.

Paul dropped a difficult chance running to his right fielding at long off, before Primus dropped an easy caught and bowled opportunity.

Paul made amends when he caught Narine at deep mid-wicket for 23 off Jacobs.

Munro continued his steady innings and brought up his 50 after being joined by Darren Bravo.

Darren was tested by spinner Rashid Khan as the Knight Riders onslaught was halted.

Darren broke the shackles with a straight six off pacer Primus, but the next ball he was caught by wicketkeeper Walton trying to glance a delivery to third man. The score now read 106/3 after 13.2 overs.

Denesh Ramdin joined the party and together with Munro they comfortably took TKR over the line. Ramdin ended the match with two sixes in the 19th over to end unbeaten on 42 off 23 balls with three fours and three sixes. Munro’s knock of 70 included five fours and five sixes.

After the win Munro said, “I think in the power play especially on this surface you got to take the game to the opposition. Myself and Sunil had to take responsibility in the power play and we did that.

We got off to a good start and it was just consolidating through the middle and trying to build partnerships.” TKR played Barbados Tridents at the Queen’s Park Oval last night, and will face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots tomorrow at 8 pm at the same venue.

The contract will see the former national cyclist installed at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva, with responsibility for the management, administration and programming for the sport, as well as the lead on coaching development and High Performance. Hartnell’s appointment is expected to take the national cycling programme through the quadrennial period to the 2020 Olympic Games.

On the appointment, Hartwell was upbeat and excited. “I’m happy to be back in Trinidad and Tobago.

There is a wealth of talent here that must be honed, on and off the track. The Velodrome is a positive addition to the cycling architecture in this country and will certainly be the backdrop of everything we do from now until the 2020 Olympics.” President of the TTCF Robert Farrier was also pleased at the appointment.

“This is an important step for cycling in Trinidad and Tobago.

We now have the platform upon which to develop a rigorous and structured national programme from tinymite to elite, and including coach development which is critical to the sport’s sustainability and growth. Erin’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable and we appreciate his commitment to the sport in this country.” Hartnell is scheduled to arrive in September but will be taking a keen interest in the country’s top athletes in action against the best in the hemisphere during the Elite Pan Am Cycling Championships to be held at the aforementioned Couva venue later this month.

She was speaking with the media following the graduation ceremony for participants in the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies’ Empowering Communities through Education – The Laventille Project at the Laventille Community Centre .

At a joint union protest two weeks ago Joint Trade Union Movement president Ancel Roget called for a boycott of businesses owned by the so-called “one per cent” elite .

Yesterday Baptiste-Primus, who once led the Public Services Association, said she understands the role and function of a trade union and their basic responsibility is to look after the interest of the members whom they serve .

“I do not think that the result of such an action would be in the best interest of the workers. Because we have to remember that no matter how aggrieved someone may feel, or the trade union movement may feel, one has to pay attention to the implications of such a call. And one of the implications is the very workers who are at the lower end of the wage spectrum, they are likely to be affected. So I don’t think that such a position will give labour its decided result. To the contrary it would be the opposite.” She said the contribution of the trade union movement to the growth and development of the country is well known “but in life we do make mistakes and I think upon reflection the end result of such a call, the impact on the very workers upon which the trade union movement raison d’etre (most important purpose for existing) hinges, I don’t think that is something that any of the trade union leaders would want to see happen as a result of such a call – hundreds of workers being placed on the breadline. I don’t think any of the trade union leaders would want that.” She was also asked about the break down in the tripartite process and the exit of union representatives from the National Tripartite Advisory Council which included members of the private sector, labour movement, Government and the Tobago House of Assembly and was formed in March 2016 .

Baptiste-Primus said in March this year the unions walked away from the tripartite process pending Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe meeting with the Communication Workers Union over the decision to dissolve the Tourism Development Company. “I think a lot of water has passed under that bridge.” She said from the mass union protest two Fridays ago there was a call for a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley .

“And as I indicated am I sure that the honourable Prime Minister is giving consideration for such a request and we are awaiting that word from the Prime Minister. And we have to wait. It’s his call. It’s not my call. It’s not anybody else’s call. Labour wants to meet with the Prime Minister and I have no doubt the Prime Minister will signal when he is available to meet with labour.”

A statement issued on Saturday from the Office of the Prime Minister, said the meeting will be held on August 21 at the ballroom of the Magdalena Grand Hotel, Lowlands, from 2 pm.

According to the statement, the meeting will include representatives from the Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Tobago Hoteliers and Tourism Association, Tobago Truckers Association, Tobago Unique Bread and Breakfast and Self-Catering Association.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan and Tobago MPs Shamfa Cudjoe and Ayanna Webster- Roy also are expected to attend the meeting.

The prime minister’s decision to meet with the key stakeholders on the island came just one day after he apologised for the Ocean Flower 11 fiasco which has been a major talking point within recent days.

Sinanan announced early last week that the contract for the vessel had been terminated.

The situation has posed a serious inconvenience to Tobago business owners and average travellers, who have long complained about the inefficiencies on the sea bridge.

Rowley, commenting on the cancellation of the Ocean Flower 11 contract on Friday, said, “The unsuccessful attempt to find a replacement passenger ferry is a matter of great disappointment to me and I am sure the majority of Tobagonians who rely on this service for their comfort and livelihood.” However, he assured that, “the Government is not unmindful of your plight and is currently engaged in making all reasonable efforts to remedy the situation in the short term.” Rowley also had made an appeal to all the people who are addressing the issues affecting TT’s “very vital inter island service, “to redouble the efforts, without compromising principles and within all contractual safeguards to ensure that an acceptable service is restored at the earliest opportunity.” Rowley, who is from Mason Hall, apologised to all affected citizens and “particularly the people of Tobago, for whom the service is more of a life line.” President of the Tobago Division of the TT Chamber of Commerce Demi John Cruickshank said the organisation welcomed the meeting.

“With the prime minister as the head of the government of Trinidad and Tobago, I think is about time he took control of this crisis that has been affecting the economy and the travelling public between Trinidad and Tobago” he told Sunday Newsday.

Cruickshank said he hoped the Ocean Flower controversy and the longstanding woes on the sea bridge would not be the only items on the agenda “because the air bridge is of similar concern to us in Tobago.” “So, yes, we look forward to the meeting and we hope that within a very short space of time we can solve this situation that has occurred in Tobago and is now causing havoc with the travelling public between the two islands,” he added.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and Tobago East MP Ayanna Webster-Roy also welcomed the meeting.

Webster-Roy said she and her constituents also have been affected by the situation sand were hoping for a “reasonably timely solution to the problems on the sea bridge as well as the air bridge.” In April, the owners of the Super Fast Galicia withdrew its services on the seabridge which it had operated since 2014. The subsequent lease of the MV Transporter barge and the MV Provider to transport goods and provide passenger services was shortlived, due to the high cost and slow pace of the vessels.

In July, the Port Authority announced the lease of the Cabo Star, which is in service, and the Ocean Flower II from Canada’s Bridgemans Service Group which faltered in delivering the Ocean Flower II by an extended August 1 deadline. However, on Friday, the Opposition disclosed a letter from an engineer which cited technical problems with the Ocean Flower II after sea trial in Panama, deeming it unfit for sailing.