In a statement, the PSC said it held a meeting with KPMG TT representatives at its offices in Tunapuna on July 20 to discuss the implementation of the project

The PSC said the recruitment phase of the project is expected to take four months to complete

The firm will support the commission in designing and managing the advertising, application and assessment processes to ensure the Police Service, “has the leadership it requires to meet the needs of the organisation and to satisfy the requirements of safety and security for all of TT now and into the future.”

The national quality infrastructure relates to all aspects of metrology, standardisation, testing, quality management, certification and accreditation. It includes both public and private institutions and the regulatory framework within which they operate.

“The development of this policy will see greater consumer protection in terms of regulations that prevent false and misleading labelling and advertising; increased competitiveness; greater innovation and a higher degree of technology transfer, thereby enhancing the capability of our manufacturers to effectively trade nationally, regionally and internationally,” the ministry stated yesterday. In an effort to validate the findings of a series of engagements with stakeholders; with intent of finalising both the policy and an implementation plan, a stakeholder validation workshop was held on Thursday.

It was hosted by the Bureau of Standards; an agency of the ministry, in collaboration with the Mesopartner team of consultants, at Hilton Trinidad, Port-of-Spain.

The ministry’s acting permanent secretary, Frances Seignoret, assured stakeholders, “The national quality policy, which we anticipate will be completed by the end of this month, will impact all sectors of the economy including, but not limited to, the health and safety of consumers, environmental protection, social responsibility, sustainable development and national security. Moreover, the policy will provide exporters with a platform for penetrating markets regionally and globally with high quality, competitive products.” Seignoret acknowledged the gaps which exist in this country’s quality infrastructure and said the importance of the development and implementation of an effective national quality system.

Earlier in the proceedings, the executive director at the Bureau of Standards, Theodore Reddock, expressed appreciation for the continued support and participation thus far in the development of the policy.

Kevon Harry, 32, of Roberston Street, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Brambhanan Dubay in the San Fernando Magistrates Court.

The magistrate heard from prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan that at about 7 a.m on Thursday, PC Dhanraj Matloo of the San Fernando CID led other police to Harry’s home. They searched for illegal arms and ammunition.

Seedan said Harry was at home but he denied having anything illegal in the house when the police questioned him. Police searched and found the gun and the ammunition in the living room. Police also found on the kitchen table, eight packets of marijuana which, when weighed, amounted to 298 grammes.

Harry was arrested and taken to the Marabella Police Station.

Attorney Chantal Paul in mitigating on Harry’s behalf, told Dubay her client’s apartment was recently broken into and, as a father of three children, he had the gun and the ammunition for the protection of his family. Paul told the court while Harry had a conviction for trafficking in marijuana, he had no criminal record for any violent crimes.

Dubay, in passing sentence, said it did not seem Harry was an immediate threat to society.

He fined him $12,000 for possession of the firearm. In default of payment he would serve three years in prison with hard labour. Harry was ordered to pay $8,000 for possession of the ammunition, if he fails to do so, he would serve three years in jail. And for the marijuana possession, he was ordered to pay $6,000, failing which he would serve 16 months in prison with hard labour. He was granted 60 days to pay.

The magistrate commended Matloo saying he is one of those police officers who is always equipped with all the documents that are needed to prosecute people he charges. Harry’s arrest, Dubay said, meant one less firearm on the streets. He said he hopes his commendation would reach the relevant authorities and Matloo be given $500 as a reward for exceptional police work.

As far back as 1991, the Ministry of Education in London measured the distance from home to school when deciding which young people qualified for free bus passes. You walked if the Minister of Education said your school was too close to home or your parents got you a bus pass.

On public record is the fact that means testing for free university education was based strictly on earnings of parents. Students with exceptionally high marks got special scholarships. Between mandatory bank statements, the Social Work Department double checked which families genuinely needing assistance. Parents signed on the dotted line regarding the veracity of statement of earnings.

In order to off set “freeness” to local students, British universities charge foreign students and their governments higher tuition fees.

The means testing of families is as inescapable as breathing.

This is the 21st century. We live in a world where nothing is for free.

The present Minister of Education is merely doing what is done all over the world. He is not deliberately distressing anybody.

University aged students are old enough to know that there is no Santa Claus.

Let us all try to get real.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

At Morvant Recreation Grounds league leaders Real Dimension will play MIC-IT St Ann’s Rangers who will also be hoping to keep pace with the other teams in the top half of the table.

The last game today will be between QPCC and St Augustine at CIC grounds. Tomorrow in the First Division St Augustine Juniors will play Sweaters Women at Constantine Park while Defence Force will play Malvern at headquarters Grounds.

STANDINGSSUPER LEAGUE DIVISION: 1 Flow Sports Premier Real Dimension 21; 2 Trincity Nationals 15; 3 Petrotrin 12; 4 QPCC 11 ; 5 Mic-It Ann’s Rangers 11; 6Tobago Chicas 10; 7 St Augustine 8; 8 National U17 4; 9 Club Sando 3.

First Division: 1 St Augustine FC 11 ; 2 Sweaters Women 10; 3 Defense Force 7 ; 4 Jewels FC 6; 5 Malvern 3; 6 Mic-it St Ann’s Rangers 1.

The two-time Olympic medallist will be among 13 athletes participating in the final from 3.15 pm TT time. Walcott threw 86.01 metres in the qualification round to finish the qualification round third overall. Johannes Vetter of Germany has the top throw of 91.20m going into the final, while Petr Frydrych of Czech Republic finished second in the qualification round with a throw of 86.22m.

Also, TT will have three relay teams in action today. The women’s 4x100m relay team will line up in heat two at 5.44 am, while the men’s 4x100m team will compete in heat one at 5.55 am. The TT men’s 4x400m team will line up in heat two at 7.01 am. In all the relay events, the top three teams in each of the two heats plus the next two fastest times will qualify for the final.

The women’s 4x100m final will take place at 4.30 pm today, followed by the men’s 4x100m final at 4.50 pm. The men’s 4x400m final will be held at 4.15 pm tomorrow.

Unfortunately, Deborah John of TT was injured in heat five of the women’s 100m hurdles, yesterday.

John stumbled after the fourth hurdle and fell head first into the fifth hurdle after her leg seem to buckle. John had to be stretchered off the track.

There will be three matches kicking off at 4 pm __ Defence Force versus Club Sando Moruga at the Defence Force Ground in Chaguaramas; Police against FC Santa Rosa at the St James Barracks and Queen’s Park against UTT at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field in Mucurapo. And, at 6 pm, Bethel United will oppose Cunupia FC at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground and Siparia Spurs will meet WASA at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground. Leaders in League Two Prisons FC will fancy their chances of full points against cellar-placed Marabella FCC at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) Ground, Arouca from 4 pm while, at 6 pm, Harlem Strikers will entertain Youth Stars at the Frederick Settlement Recreation Ground in Caroni and Perseverance Ball Runners will host Central 500 Spartans at the New Settlement Recreation Ground, Caroni

This was announced by Group Human Resource Director and Media Sector Head Teresa White, in response to Newsday’s questions about an on-going restructuring exercise at GML.

“There’s been an extensive consultation with the union; we cannot deal directly with the employees because of the industrial relations regulations.

The union has been informed of the names. We’ve agreed with the union (on) the process, the selection criteria.

We’re doing it strictly on a LIFO (last in, first out) basis; as is deemed best practice.” The question was posed during a press conference on ANSA McAl’s results for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The event was held on August 10 at the TATIL building, Maraval Road, Portof- Spain. Speaking about the media sector’s performance, ANSA McAl Chairman, A.

Norman Sabga, said while they were still “in the process of restructuring” GML, those in charge had been able to “reverse the loss in the first quarter (of 2017) to pre-tax profit in the second quarter (of TT $0.27 million) and we believe there are good things to come for the remainder of the year.” Adding to what White had said, Sabga told Newsday that while they have “introduced new technology which is going to automate certain aspects of the print side of the business, (GML’s) retrenchment is going to be less than that of the Express newspaper, significantly less, and we’re trying to preserve as many of the jobs as we can.”

TT was totally outclassed in this encounter as the goals leaked as early as the third minute when Martias Paredes gave the Argentines the 1-0 lead.

He scored two other goals in the next two minutes to record a hattrick in five minutes. Rounding off the scoring and the 5-0 lead in the first quarter were Ignacio Ortiz (eighth minute) and Gonzalo Peillat (10th minute). TT had an improved performance as they regrouped and settled to the pace of the defending champions and number one ranked team in the world. The South American team was only allowed to score three more goals with a double from Santiago Tarazona in the 27th and 47th minute, while Marc Ganly had one goal in the 41st minute.

In the 38th minute, TT `s captain Akim Toussaint scored the lone goal in the match and his second of the tournament. In the semi-final battle of North American teams, Canada defeated USA (4-3) on penalties after the game was tied 1-1 after regulation time.

Both goals were scored in the first period with Canada opening the scoring through Gordon Johnston in the eighth and Paul Singh for USA in the 14th. Today will be the final day of competition as Argentina will face Canada in the final for the fifth straight time at 5.45 pm, while TT will do battle against USA at 3.30pm for the bronze medal.

CAREBACO is currently taking place at the National Racquet Centre (NRC) in Tacarigua and the host nation is making the most of home court advantage.

Leading the way yet again was Nadav Singh in the Boys Singles Under 11 (BS U-11) category.

Singh emerged victorious over Jamaican Jelanie Nelson in their match after three sets, winning first set 21-14, losing out in the second 18-21 and responding strong in the third 21-11. Aditya Maharaj defeated countryman Hassan Khan 21-12, 21-8 strolling to the semi-finals where he will face Singh.

TT will also have another representative in the BS U-11 second semi-final as Andrew Babwah booked his spot, getting past Jorie McBean of Jamaica.

Babwah took three sets to overcome his rival, winning the first set 13-21, losing the second 21-14 and rallying to a 21-16 victory in the final set.

He will face Nathan Singh after the Bajan pulled off an upset over TT ’s Jace Smith 21-10, 21- 19 to block an all-local semifinal in the category.

A similar tale took place in the BS U-15 category where TT will have three athletes battling for a place in the final during the semis.

Reece Marcano defeated counterpart Je Marc Tagallie 21-10, 21-3 and will face Justin Samaroo, who got the better of Reval Jaggessar after three sets 21-10, 12-21, 21-17 in the quarter- final.

TT will be represented in the second semi-final of the category by Zion St. Rose after he overcame local athlete Donovan David in their quarter-final match up 21-10, 21-18. He will be battle Dominick Scanterberry of Barbados.

In the Girls Doubles U-13 category, TT girls will clash in the first semi-final. Janiah Boodoosingh and Sonja Cassie will battle Amara Joachim and Danae Mootoosingh in what is anticipated to be a thrilling contest.

The Mixed Doubles U-15 category features TT ’s pair of Zion St. Rose and Kyra James facing Surinamese rivals Kevin Karg and Erisa Blue in the semis.

Reece Marcano and his partner Cathline Ramroop will square off against Jason Chen and Chole Poeketie, also of Suriname, as the TT athletes will be vying for an all-local final in the Mix Doubles U-15. Action continues throughout the weekend at the NRC from 9 am till 6 pm daily.