But with the ball touching and bulging their net three times unanswered in the first half, that feeling was definitely a figment of their imagination or maybe a dream.

A quick-fire double from Akeem “Paw” Dandrade and one from Shaquille Edwards made it 3-0 to Dream Team who showed they meant business with clinical finishing. Two Touch sought to shake things up with a number of second half substitutions which failed to reverse the tide.

And with their opponents starting to look ragged, Dream Team showed no mercy. Two Touch did themselves no favour with an own goal to make it 4-0 while Andre Jordan and Kern Diaz added to their woes. Two Touch substitute Kareem “Wasa” Moyers got a late consolation item.

The victory pushed Dream Team to seven points from three games and look to be genuine challengers this year with a number of reinforcements and depth to their squad despite losing former captain Perry Parris.

On Tuesday, SP Boys defeated Gremio 2-1 to stay perfect after two games. Alejandro Jones had fired the 2015 losing finalists ahead but Aaron Sylvester levelled before the break for SP Boys. And Brent Jackson netted the winner in the second half to take all the points.

In the second match of the doubleheader, Express defeated Alescon FC 3-1 with Andell Allsop notching a brace and Zaz Navarro also on target for the winners.

Colin Henry scored for Alescon FC who remained winless.

Meanwhile, organisers have ruled that the match between Boys Town and El Carmen 45 will resume at a date to be determined after the floodlights came off at half-time with Boys Town leading 3-0.

Weekend fixtures: Saturday – Fishing Pond Youths vs Manzan United (Fishing Pond Ground, 4pm); Alliance vs Dragon (North Oropouche Ground, 6pm); Alescon FC vs SP Boys ( North Oropouche Ground, 8pm).

Sunday – Boys Town vs Dream Team (Fishing Pond Ground, 4pm); Gremio vs El Carmen 45 (North Oropouche Ground, 6pm); Express vs Two Touch (North Oropouche Ground, 8pm).

According to Nestlé Trinidad and Tobago Limited Corporate Communications Manager, Denise d’Abadie, the final qualifiers for the Nestlé Milo FC Barcelona Football Skills Tournament will take place today in Tobago, and next weekend, in Couva. In total, 50 youngsters will advance to the tournament final on July 29 where they will compete for three spots, in a two-day training session with Barça coaches, in Spain.

From 9.30 am last Saturday, approximately 115 youngsters aged seven to 12, gathered at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo for the first of three trials in the Milo FC Barcelona Football Skills Tournament.

Separated into age groups 7 -9 and 10-12, the boys and girls were assessed by members of the Football Factory Foundation on their skills in dribbling, short passing and two forms of control.

The competition came to a close at around 12.15 pm where 21 boys emerged with the highest scores – Jaydon Critchlow, Josiah Connell (score 160); Joshua Miguel, Anton Joseph (score 150); Kade Collier, Josiah Bain (score 145); Aidon Adams, Kerry Baptiste Jr, Jose Attong, Thomas Decle (score 135); Michael John (score 130); Jaheim Faustin, Daquon Thomas, Marco Mayers (score 125); Jalani Ottley, Kanye Eastman (score 120); Jasai Theophilus, Lindell Sween, Jahmarley Caleb, Kalif Sylvester, Kymani Holder (score 115).

To register, parents must visit the “Milo Caribbean” Facebook page where all information, including registration links and football tips and tricks, can be found. As part of the registration process, a 400-gramme Milo pack must be purchased.

These Milo packs will be donated to homes within communities across Trinidad and Tobago.

On tournament days, participating kids must, therefore, bring along their full pack of Milo 400-gramme and must also wear a white t-shirt. Limited on-site registration is also available, prior to each trial

Several residents yesterday told Newsday they have reached a point where they are totally fed up.

A resident said they are living in “dry weather town houses”, because every time it rains the process of cleaning up begins and they have to be constantly buying over household items.

“It’s more than two years we are faced with this problem of leakage.

We are in the rainy season again, and nothing is being done to fix the problem.

“Recently HDC sent four contractors to fix the roofs, but whatever they tried to do is not working. Just the other day with the passing of Tropical Storm Bret, we had no rest in cleaning up. All the water came through the roof as though there was none.” The resident continued, “The water is coming through the roof and running down the walls of the apartments.

The problem is very frustrating and tiresome.

These are homes we are renting and they should do something about it or relocate us. I spent all my savings fixing this place and I am still not comfortable.” She said they have all reported the matter to HDC on numerous occasions and they feel their complaints are falling on deaf ears. Another resident said when it rains she has to cut and place Chubby bottles under her furniture to prevent them from getting soaked. “How can someone live like this? I invested in my home and it is not fair to us to suffer like this. We have to be cleaning all the time. One day I came home from work and my entire living room was water-logged because rain fell earlier in th day. The situation is just terrible.” When contacted yesterday HDC Head of Communications Marissa Findlay said they remain very concerned about the condition at Lion’s Gate Units for which they have employed several technical solutions to remedy the conditions of the units.

“That particular building system has proven to be extremely challenging at that construction site was handed over to the HDC with several areas of difficulties.

We remain concerns about the plight of the residents at Lions Gate community where we have employed several solutions to remedy some of the defects in those units.

Over the years, we have specialist teams to do sealing where water is seeping through the structures.”

Stephens is seeking a meeting with Ag Chief of Defence Staff Hayden Pritchard to have this issue dealt with.

Stephens said that in September 2014, he was a driver assigned to a senior military officer. He said the senior was involved in a relationship with a Siparia woman who was engaged to another man. Stephens said he was asked to drive the senior to Siparia to meet the woman.

He said that on arrival in Siparia, there was a heated argument between the woman, her fiancé and the senior officer. Stephens said he contacted Regiment Headquarters and told officials what was happening.

Stephens said he told the senior this situation had nothing to do with the Regiment and that they should proceed back to Regiment Headquarters.

The following day, Stephens said, the same senior officer whom he drove, accused him of going to Siparia alone and without the Regiment’s permission. Stephens said he was transferred to Camp Ogden.

“When I could take the victimisation no more, I requested to be discharged and was sent on holiday leave. I was told I would be contacted so all procedures relating to my discharge from the service would be put in motion.” Stephens said he never received a call from the Defence Force, his salary was stopped and later on, his photo posted to social media indicating he was not to be allowed onto any military compound.

Three years later, Stephens said he is yet to receive his discharge orders which means he is technically still employed with the Defence Force and is 36 months salary. Contacted by Newsday, a senior Defence Force officer who asked not to be identified, yesterday claimed ignorance of Stephens’ situation but assured an investigation will be done.

Newsday understands that from as early as 10 am yesterday, Port Police, along with Customs and Excise officers went to Dock Road, where transport drivers pass to dock at the ferry to Tobago, and conducted searches of the shops and vehicles in the area.

Newsday was told that police officers searched the area for narcotics, people with outstanding warrants, and also checked drivers licences and permits to ensure that the people on the road were authorised to be there.

As a result of the search, police officers were able to find a quantity of marijuana valued at TT$7640, and arrested one man.

The man is expected to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate next week.

And even if she decides to stay home and write her memoirs there is no guarantee any of her aspiring successors could replicate her popularity within the UNC.

She is the only queen. There are no other females in the party with her charisma. Not a single one.

The males of the old brigade, all of them bar none, are past their sell-by date for various reasons.

The new young and upcoming UNC men with more than average IQ are stuck on the senatorial benches for the time being.

They could jump high, they could jump low. They could say this, they could say that. Until the queen gets around to deciding her next move in an interesting life, all who vex could stay vex.

With these few words I will remove myself from UNC people business. But in the long run, she may really have to go.

LYNETTE JOSEPH Diego Martin

Under semi-over cast conditions, residents, who chanted traditional union songs such as “Solidarity forever” and “We shall overcome”, observed that they were able to perform all of the tasks which were being performed by the imported workers.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Guayamay Welding and Fabricating Association representative Bevon Williams said the protest action would continue until they were treated equally by the respective contractors.

“We are protesting against a contractor (name called) who bringing in 95 percent of the people from the outside and they only taking a scant amount from the village,” he said.

“The scope of works are welding, fabricating, fire watch, rigging, scaffolders, all of those classifications, we have a lot of that in this community and we are being deprived of this opportunity to get a job,” he said.

Williams said they would continue with the protest action until members of the organisation were given employment by the contractors.

A BPTT official said he was unaware of the demonstration and promised to investigate the incident.

“The government is taking too much time,” said Branch Board executive Sgt Richards. “It has been 72 months and we cannot hear a word from the minister of finance the line minister, or anyone for that matter. We are only being told that a meeting has to take place with the Minister of Finance, and until that meeting is held, backpay cannot be paid,” Richards added that every month the government tarries on the negotiations, the bill for the port gets higher. Since the 2008-2011 period of negotiations, port police officers have been lobbying for a raise of pay and better conditions.

However their calls have fallen on deaf ears. In an earlier report port police officers complained of missing several financial opportunities, as well as losing morale as a result of the stalled negotiations.

Yesterday, he told Newsday that not only are the wage negotiations stalling but government is also taking too long to treat with the health and safety issues that the port police are facing. “We are still waiting on a report with regard to the level of safety in the administration building. We have had calls to refuse to work because of the health concerns at the checkin back gate. Animals go there and sleep.

There are holes in the flooring. One of our workers was damaged there recently and is now on disability leave for a few days.” “The government is mismanaging the negotiation process in the same manner that they have mismanaged the ferry operations. Anything that happens from here on, the government should be held responsible and not the port police,” he warned

Today it is mainly a fishing village, but apart from it scenic coastline there are numerous attractions to fascinate visitors.

Grand Riviere can boast of having the largest population of leatherback turtles in the country, and during the breeding season from April to July it is recorded that as many as 200 turtles come ashore nightly.

This spectacle event creates employment for villagers in the tour-guide and hotel industry.

It is also a place for birdwatchers and one of the few places to see the endemic pawi or piping– guan.

This large turkey-like bird from the chachalaca family is hunted to almost extinction, and the population has now decreased to around 200. High up in the treetops another distinguished bird, the channel-billed toucan, can be recognised by its large bill and high-pitched call that sounds like a yelping dog.

The river’s mouth with its calm, soothing waters is a favourite spot for river limes, and on weekends the place is buzzing with activity.

Secluded in the mountains, on the western outskirts of the town there are several magnificent waterfalls.

The first is called Homad Falls and to get there takes an hour on a wide-open path.

Further upstream, there are refreshing pools to swim in, and another cascade along the stony riverbed is Lacatang Falls, which has 20 feet, drop into a deep plunge pool.

Grand Rivière is a destination where there is always something adventurous to do, and there is the option to discover the beach, river and mountains.

Tomorrow Island Hikers explores Grand Rivière.

Assembly 1: 6am Eric Williams Medical Complex.

Assembly 2: 6.30am at the intersection of O’Meara Road and Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Arima.(next to F T Farfan) Rated: 4 moderate Finish time: 2pm Hiking time one-way: 1 hour Registration on the morning of the hike Maxi transport provided.

For more info: www.islandhikers.

com

It was truly a special night for the first Rotary Club formed in TT 60 years ago and at the same time was commemorating The Rotary Foundation’s 100th anniversary.

This organisation was formed around 1905 when Paul Harris decided to bring together three other like-minded colleagues on a regular basis, in Chicago, to strengthen the bond with respect to morals, values, friendship, camaraderie and service. The Paul Harris Awards, named after Rotary’s founder, were achieved by Dr Roosevelt Rock who continues to provide invaluable dental services to differently-abled children and senior citizens at Rotary’s dental care clinic at the Princess Elizabeth Centre and also to Sonia Callender.

The outgoing president’s list of achievements in the past year are too numerous to mention but include: For Heart Beat International (HBI), RCPOS, under the leadership of Rotarian Francis Ottley, allowed TT to be one of the largest providers of pacemakers in the world. Out of the 11 heart centres operated by HBI worldwide, HBI TT is the most active and has consistently been the leader in providing patient pacemaker implants annually.

Of great interest are the guest speakers invited by this club to share very interesting and informative topics with members at the club’s weekly luncheon meetings. In support of local culture, the annual Pan Yard Crawl provides a spectacular and safe fellowship.

While the 29th annual district games for primary schools in Port of Spain and Environs at the National Stadium where thousands of primary school athletes, parents and supporters participated, remain a crowd-pleaser.

The board of directors 2017-2018 are Laquis, president; Sabga, immediate past president; Haydyn Gittens, president- elect; Sean Paddy, secretary; John De Gannes, treasurer; and directors – Jeremy Matouk, Francis Ottley, Lawford Dupres, Bernard Aquing and Daniel Fakoory. Those receiving awards from Sabga for support during the past year were Laquis, Eli Zakour, Matouk, Duprey, De Gannes, Ottley, Daran Bahadoorsingh, Roger Kirton, Arlington Chesney, Joe Ramkissoon and Labib Najjar.

In thanking Sabga for distinguished service Laquis presented him with the Paul Harris Award as is traditionally done to the new president, remarking that “president Howard is a very tough act to follow in this club of history, tradition and honour.