N Touch

We must protect our children’s innocence

THE EDITOR: It must be that there are many parents and teachers who are not aware of the issues or of the negative impact surrounding sex education in the classroom (including co-ed schools) or there would be a lot more caution on the side of the Ministry of Education and all stakeholders.

To begin with, it is agreed that children and teenagers need to be educated on this issue but the responsibility lies with parents in the sanctuary of their homes. Granted some children do not enjoy a home environment within which this can take place but this should not deter the fact that it is where it belongs. Let’s teach the care givers, let’s talk to the PTAs. Each of us is made up differently with different environmental influences on our lives and our lifestyles. Our sexuality is something very fragile within these varying frameworks and how we are guided in living it out can determine a great part of our future successes.

It is documented by psycho analysts that sex education cripples and stunts the natural development of the developing sexuality of children and teenagers. “In humans, unlike animals, when affectionate needs are not met and physical sex is all that remains, sex becomes meaningless and life becomes empty. This psychoanalytical maxim is readily apparent in the suicides of sexually educated, sexually active youths” — Dr Melvin Anchell, a fellow in American Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians. There is actually something called childhood innocence (putting it simply) that we as adults must protect and preserve in our children, in order to give them the opportunity to develop as well balanced adults. It is at this time of their sexual innocence that they should develop their self esteem, character, creativity, talents, spirituality, all that make up the foundation for a strong balanced adult.

I have been introduced to the programmes developed by Int’l Planned Parenthood Federation (sponsors of ASPIRE, the poor-choice group advocating to legalise abortion in our nation) and their sponsored programmes which begin in the kindergarten stage and are widely used in the USA and Europe. The content from the very early stages includes very explicit language and visuals of the most intimate acts and situations. The focus is to promote the pleasures derived, no discrimination against homosexual activity, and also not to be caught up in an unwanted pregnancy or a STD. Once it feels good do it. It’s your choice. I have also seen a book that has been drawn up locally for introduction into our primary schools in which the diagrams are little short of pornographic sketches.

In having the understanding of Planned Parenthood’s objective, it is with as much conviction to not having abortion legalised, that I have, in not having IPPF’s programmes or similar ones, in our schools. One conviction is protecting the unborn from a murderous death and the other, protecting our born children from a living death (meaningless life). Robbing our children of their sexual innocence is likened to the child abuser and incestuous relative for whom society has little tolerance.

JACQUELINE ALLAMANI
Petit Valley

Some facts about price of bread

THE EDITOR: I would like to address the public of Trinidad and Tobago and especially the “Honourable” Minister of Consumer Affairs Camille Robinson-Regis regarding her statement on the price of bread. I am an independent bakery operator and I am stunned by your wish to see the prices of bread reduced.

In your capacity as minister who obviously has a voice when the prices of bread go up, you must be aware of the changes in the prices of flour, but for the general public let me enlighten you. From February 2002 to date the following are prices bakers had to pay for white flour $102 / $106 / $109 / $133.44 and finally $119 per 45kg bag and for whole wheat flour for the same period $121.75 / $126. / $132 / $161.26 and finally $134 that is a total of five changes in price over that period. This shows firstly that no one in government or the NFM has any idea about flour futures and secondly that you are only concerned about the price you have to pay and not what it costs the baker to produce.

Bread is a staple commodity, especially for the poor. Yet when I import ingredients for my products I have to pay duty and VAT on those items resulting in an increase in the cost by $1.45 per pound. Why is there duty and VAT on these items? Next, you base your statement on the fact that the price of one ingredient of bread has been partially reduced. What about the other items? Sugar, salt, shortening, conditioners and preservatives, milk, cheese and butter, raisins, currants and coconuts. The prices of all these items have increased over a period of time. What about salaries and rents? I have an outlet in a government building and I was just hit with a rental increase of 20 percent. I remember the first thing you ministers did after getting elected was to accept a hefty salary hike. Don’t you believe that bakery workers should be entitled to salary increases as well? Yet you take aim at the one honest industry, the one that still charges cents per item and pick on it.

I was abroad for a period of time and when I returned I went into a car dealership and enquired about a car similar to the last one I had abroad and was told the price was $272,000. Abroad that same vehicle costs $29,000 Canadian or approximately $131,800TT. Why so much of a difference and who gets that difference? I have not heard you asking for the prices of cars to be reduced. I have not heard you asking for the prices of shoes and other clothing articles to be reduced. So why bread? What about soft drinks (completely automated industry). One major producer just hiked its prices? What about bottled water, their prices range from $2 to $4.50 and up for the same amount of water. Why such a range of prices? Does this government have something against agriculture and food?

I ask the question this way because of the government’s recent move on the farmers of St Joseph and now your attack on the bakers. If you are genuinely interested in lowering the prices of bread, then do something about it and not just offer lip service so as to impress the people who do not know any better. However, I would prefer that you work on reducing the prices of all the high priced items so that all the bakers can ask a fair price for their wares and maybe get a little of the monies people will be saving on reduced cars and clothing to share among their underpaid workers.

RICHARD DEANE
Diego Martin

Lara hits TT practice pitches for six

WEST INDIES skipper Brian Lara criticised his home club’s practice facilities and pitches ahead of this weekend’s One-Day Internationals against Australia.

The Queen’s Park Cricket Club, home of the Oval ground, pitches are substandard and lack an adequate run-up for the faster bowlers, partly due to construction work on a stand. “The practice facilities in Trinidad and Tobago are easily among the worst in years,” said Lara, who has been in the game for 12 years. “What we are seeing in first-class cricket out in the middle are pitches which will not breed top-class cricketers,” he said. Apart from the wicket in Antigua, which hosted the fourth and final Test, all of the other regional pitches in the Test and one-day series have come in for criticism for being unresponsive to fast bowlers and are not allowing batsmen to play their shots freely.

Lara is hoping for a good cricket wicket at the Oval this weekend. The West Indies need a miracle to stay in the seven-match one-day series, which Australia now lead 3-0. “We have to come up with two wins. It’s not a matter of if I think we can do it, we have to do it. We have to find the right formula to do so,” he said. The West Indies will draft in wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, while the tourists who had a light work out yesterday morning will welcome back Adam Gilchrist and pacer Brett Lee. Jacobs took part in a full practice session yesterday after recovering from a groin injury. “I understand that Ridley will be playing (today). It will be nice to have his experience back with us,” said West Indies skipper Brian Lara. Jacobs should offer the shaky West Indies batting line-up some welcome resistance in their lower order.

The West Indies have been focusing on their batting problems after seemingly attainable Australia targets had slipped out of reach in the first and third games. Lara hinted that he could shift his own position in the batting order to give his team more stability. “We have discussed moving me up or down the order. I may bat later because in recent One-Day Internationals we have been running out of steam after 35 or 40 overs,” he said.


Teams:  WEST INDIES (from) – Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (capt), Ricardo Powell, Carlton Baugh, Ridley Jacobs, Omari Banks, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore, David Bernard, Ryan Hurley. Vasbert Drakes.
AUSTRALIA (from) – Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting (capt), Jimmy Maher, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Brad Hogg, Ian Harvey, Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee. 

$2M National Youth Games launched

THE inaugural $2 million National Youth Games was launched by Sports Minister Roger Boynes at the VIP Lounge, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.

In his feature address Minister Boynes said the event “marks the start of the journey towards providing the youth of our communities with the opportunity to shine. “Through the Youth Games, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs will re-affirm its belief that sport is a cohesive factor in building character, and in building communities,” he continued. The inter-community club games, in four categories — small-goal football, windball cricket, netball and basketball — will be contested throughout the next three months with the grand finals at the Eastern Regional Sporting Facility, Tacarigua, in August.

Events are open to persons between the ages of 15-35 while, according to Boynes, several community co-ordinators will be working alongside members of the Sports Ministry, Local Government Ministry and Works Ministry, as well as the popular CEPEP (Community Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme), in earmarking and upgrading facilities for use during the Games. Boynes continued: “Through this project, our youth population will gain another perspective on life as they combine the rudiments of true sportsmanship to the challenges of everyday living and the attainment of their future goals and aspirations.” But the Minister urged the business sector to pledge their support for the venture, noting that “your investment today will guarantee us a safer, more productive tomorrow.” Among the companies pledging financial assistance in the sum of $250,000 apiece are National Gas Company and the Unit Trust Corporation.

The event promises great incentives for youths, with the Most Valuable Player in the respective Community Championships receiving a $100 voucher and free access for one year to all sporting events at the five national stadia – Hasely Crawford, Larry Gomes, Ato Boldon, Mannie Ramjohn and Dwight Yorke, while the MVP of the National Championships will be awarded a $500 voucher. The total prize structure, including the top three teams in the Community and National Championships, is $393,000.

British Customs tell Baptiste sorry

LONDON: Former West Indies paceman Eldine Baptiste has received an apology from Britain’s Customs and Excise service after he was held in custody for three days on suspicion of drug smuggling.

Baptiste, 43, was stopped by customs officers at Gatwick Airport on Sunday on his way to South Africa. In a statement released yesterday, the Customs and Excise service said Baptiste had been cleared and a full investigation was being held. “Tests on golf balls that were in Mr Baptiste’s possession gave a positive reading for a controlled substance more than once,” the statement said. “However, in-depth forensic tests later confirmed that no controlled substance was present.” Baptiste, a member of the West Indies side which won all five Tests in England in 1984, said: “The way I have been treated is an absolute disgrace.”

Public aim to widen U-17 lead

THE EASTERN Lions, Joe Public, will be looking to widen their lead in the Under-17 Division as fourth round matches in the T&T Pro League continues today.

The Macoya-based lads won their three matches to date, against CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, Defence Force and North East Stars; and will have a tricky encounter against South West Institute of Football (SWIF) at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground. But South Starworld Strikers can overtake Joe Public atop the standings if they defeat fellow unbeaten team W Connection at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

Jabloteh will be looking for their first win of the season when they travel east to the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground to meet cellar-placed North East Stars while the struggling Army-Coast Guard combination will host Arima Fire at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. The Starworld-Connection battle in the Under-15 category will also hold great significance as both teams are neck-and-neck at the top of the eight-team standings with six points. Under-17 fixtures will kick off at 10.30 am, with the U-15 matches beginning two hours earlier.


Current standings:




































































































































































































Under-15 Division
P W D L F A Pts
Strikers 3 2 0 1 7 2 6
W Connection 2 2 0 0 7 3 6
 Jabloteh 3 2 0 1 4 4 6
Defence Force 3 1 1 1 6 6 4
Joe Public 3 1 1 1 4 3 4
SWIF 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
Arima Fire 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
N/East Stars 3 0 0 3 0 10 0
Under-17 Division
P W D L F A Pts
Joe Public 3 3 0 0 9 2 9
Strikers 3 3 0 0 8 0 9
W Connection 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
SWIF 2 1 0 1 6 3 3
Jabloteh 3 0 1 2 3 8 1
Defence Force 3 0 1 2 1 5 1
Arima Fire 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
N/East Stars 2 0 0 2 0 6 0

No promotion for Falkirk

GLASGOW: Motherwell were spared relegation from the Scottish Premier League yesterday after Division One champions Falkirk were denied promotion because their stadium was rated unsuitable.

Falkirk’s Brockville ground does not meet the criteria set down by Premier League authorities, but the club had hoped to ground-share with Second Division Airdrie United. The Premier League’s website said that idea was rejected by their board yesterday, meaning Motherwell, who are guaranteed to finish bottom this season, will not be relegated Falkirk, the club at which Trinidad and Tobago striker Collin Samuel is a professional, won the Scottish First Division title weeks before the season closed. Falkirk were also denied a promotion play-off against Aberdeen in 2000 for the same reason.

Hooper hits 101 for Lancs

DURHAM: Carl Hooper stroked his first century for Lancashire and fast bowler Nixon McLean grabbed three wickets as the only West Indies players in English County cricket made the headlines on Thursday.

Hooper helped Lancashire into a commanding position against the University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) and McLean snared three important wickets to leave Somerset in charge against his former club Hampshire. Hooper scored 101 and there was a century as well from Alec Swann (137) as Lancashire gathered 432 for three by stumps in reply to the UCCE’s 327 for nine declared on the second day of the three-day match at the Durham University Ground. Lancashire lead by 105 runs with seven wickets remaining in the first innings.

Axed as West Indies captain after the World Cup, Hooper withdrew from the Caribbean side’s Cable & Wireless Test series against Australia and joined Lancashire earlier this month as the replacement for injured Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. He scored a fluent run-a-minute 51 off 37 balls when Lancashire beat Hampshire in the National Cricket League (NCL) on Sunday, and on Thursday the 36-year-old Guyanese maintained his free-scoring form with his hundred off 122 balls, including nine fours and four sixes.Swann smashed 22 fours and three sixes in a punishing 215-run opening stand with Mark Currie (97) that gave Lancashire early control.

Hooper had bowled a tidy six overs without taking a wicket while conceding just 11 runs in the UCCE’s innings. At Southampton, McLean’s three-wicket burst rocked Hampshire as they closed at an unstable 123 for seven in reply to Somerset’s 308. McLean created mayhem at The Rose Bowl when he removed the home side’s first three batsmen without conceding a run with sheer pace. Jamie Cox (127 not out) had a fine knock and pushed Somerset past the 300-mark early in the day, with McLean blasting 16 from 16 balls near the end. The big Vincentian then sent Hampshire tumbling to six for three by removing John Crawley (duck) and Derek Kenway (3) leg before wicket before he bowled 39-year-old veteran Robin Smith (duck).

Song of Freedom smashes record

SONG OF FREEDOM slaughtered his four rivals in comfortably landing the feature Brian Lara Starter Allowance race at the Arima Race Club Friday Evening Lime at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday.

On the day with races named after cricketers from the West Indies and Australian teams, here for the fourth and fifth Cable & Wireless one-day internationals, the gelded son of Boston Harbor/Duchess Diva smashed the course record for the 1100 metres distance on the turf. Skilfully ridden by Ricardo Jadoo, Song Of Freedom joined leaders My Son John and In Swinger after 100 metres, and scooted clear 400 metres out for a five-length victory in a time of 1:03.54 seconds, bettering the previous best of 1:03.64. The seven-race programme drew a bumper crowd of over 6,000 fans and over $680,000 went through the windows, causing Chief Executive Officer B Persad Rooplal to exclaim, “We should have this every two months.”

Jockey Wilmer Galviz was the star of the riders landing two winners, while Grant Lourenco saddled two horses into the winning enclosure to be best among his peers. Dividends were very good yesterday, starting with the day’s opener won by Yankee Eagle who rewarded backers with $25.50 and $4.60 on the tote. There were two trifecta dividends past the $1,000 mark, with the biggest, on the Loud Music, Hyarima, What Left trio of $1,235. And three superfecta dividends went over the $1,000 mark with the biggest a whopping $9,268.80 on the Jointy Venture, V For Victory, Living In Hope, Redoubled quartet.

Kellar keeps kilo crown

NATIONAL kilometre cycling king Azikiwe Kellar outpedalled his rivals to retain his title, clocking 1:11:85 at the Arima Municipal Stadium.

Filling the runner-up spot was elder brother Ako who was timed in  1:10:84, while in third, behind the brothers, from Heatwave Cycle Club was Madonna’s Elisha Greene. Greene, who was voted 2002 Cyclist of the Year, was expected to provide stiffer competition for the Kellar brothers on Wednesday night last, but fell short. But with his performance Azikiwe showed he will give a good account of himself at the World “B” Cycling Championships in Switzerland in five weeks’ time. In the kilometre ride, beside his brother Ako and Category 1 winner and Match Sprint champion Clinton Grant, Azikiwe represented his club valiantly.

Christopher Sellier also created a big impression in the junior category taking the gold for the second year in a row with a time of 1:11:52. Adam Alexander was second in 1:14:08 and Haseem McLean third in 1:14:08.  And in the 40 and over category, champ Richard Ramchand covered the 750-metre distance in a time of 57:25 to take the gold. Pedro Castello finished second in 58:41 with Simon Spicer third in  58:6. Heatwave cyclist Peter Hernandez, aptly named “The Energizer” rounded off the club’s good night with a winning time of 1:01:08 in the Veterans Over 50 class Madonna’s Ronald Peters was second in 1:01:58 and in third position was Neil Alleyne also of Madonna in a time of 1:02:04.