The corporation’s aim was to encourage customers to appreciate the value of preserving the environment and how they can make a tangible contribution to sustainable community development.

The initiative also brought into focus the fragility and beauty and diversity of the natural world in which we co-exist. The seedlings distributed included pimentos, chive, tomatoes and melongene.

Neisha Victor of UTC’s Supply Chain Management and co-ordinator of the initiative noted that UTC is committed to engaging its customers and this environmental project was a vehicle to do so. “We are encouraging them to channel their energies to building a sustainable environment and sensitise our customers to “thinking green,” she said in a media release.

The UTC recognises that the well-being of the nation’s environment depends on the responsible management of the country’s natural resources, the release stated. World Environment Day is one of the many ways the organisation takes positive action to protect its natural surroundings.

The junior “Calypso Girls” destroyed neighbours Grenada 76-35 in their final game in Botswana yesterday .

It was their second victory of the cup series after their victory over Wales 36-32 on Tuesday .

But Caribbean teams fared badly at the cup series as none except Caribbean queens Sunshine Girls of Jamaica (facing Uganda in their last preliminary game) have a chance of qualifying for the round of eight. Neither Grenada nor Barbados managed to win a solitary game at the cup series .

Despite their two victories, the junior “Calypso Girls” failed to reach the final eight team group to challenge for the title currently held by New Zealand .

The Silver Ferns, Australia England and hosts Botswana head their group .

The top two teams in each group after the preliminary round advance to the second round .

The issue being bandied about in the public domain arose as a result of letters served on employees of the ministry which indicated that the contracts of these workers will expire at the end of this month, hence their automatic termination if these contracts are not renewed.

Indarsingh is suggesting that the union leaders who represent these workers could make certain objections and prevent them from being retrenched.

Now, isn’t that double standards by the MP? He had the chance to do something but he didn’t raise a finger and allowed the entire sugar industry to crumble.

Indarsingh is advocating that the workers of the ministry concerned “have to buy food for their families” and have “mortgages to pay.” Didn’t sugar workers back then have similar commitments? That raises the point as to why Indarsingh, as leader of the trade union representing sugar workers at the time of the closure of the sugar industry, did not do the right thing and object, since he is against workers losing their jobs. He could have saved the jobs of the 9,000 plus workers of Caroni 1975 Ltd.

In Guyana, there was talk about the closure of the sugar industry recently. However, this was averted as a result of the objections and a solid case put forward by the trade union representing the majority of workers there.

Hats off also to Joseph Remy, the union leader representing workers in the Ministry of Tourism. He was successful in getting a court order preventing the restructuring of the ministry which may have meant the termination of some workers.

At least they have bought themselves some time in which to plan their next action.

Well done, union bosses.

I can’t say the same for the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union.

WKS HOSEIN Chaguanas

“Part of our Local Government reform is to strengthen our Municipal Police throughout the 14 Regional Corporations of Trinidad and the Tobago House of Assembly. We’ve already started the recruitment process for that…

In addition to that, we are also launching shortly a programme referred to as the NCPP. This would provide a direct nexus between the Ministry of National Security and the municipalities; what we call Community Councils, dealing with issues within the communities because we’ll have (direct communication). Therefore, we’ll be able to take certain kinds of initiatives to treat with situations.

More on that later on; I don’t want to go too much into detail because it will be launched soon.” Dillon previewed Government’s latest crime fighting strategy yesterday while speaking with reporters on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony for the Citizen Security Programme training course in Information and Communication Technology for residents of Sea Lots.

The six-month course was taught by staff at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago, and it was at the college’s City Campus Student Centre on the corner of Dundonald Street and Fitzgerald Lane, Port-of-Spain, that the graduation ceremony was held.

Asked if he was concerned about the police yesterday fatally shooting 22-year-old Kendall Garcia, alias Sausage; one of the suspects in the June 27 double murder in Malabar, Dillon said, “Any kind of engagement with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) or other law enforcement agencies and the public will always be of concern to me but that is being dealt with by the Commissioner of Police.” Dillon was also asked about border security, in relation to Venezuela and the deteriorating economic situation there which has prompted thousands of Venezuelans to come to this country.

“The Coast Guard continues to work together with Venezuela’s Guarda Costa and Venezuelan National Guard. Some time ago, we re-established bi-lateral co-operation with the Venezuelans; to the extent where we had direct person- to-person contact between the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard and the Commander of the Guarda Costa. In fact, the Commanding Officer of the Guarda Costa is due here some time next week for another one-to-one visit with his counterpart – the TT Coast Guard Commanding Officer.” “Additionally, we have tasked our Military Attaché in Caracas to go into the outlying areas; the places that are border to TT on the east coast of Venezuela, to give us a sense of what is happening in those coastal villages. So we are looking at tapping different sources.” Dillon told reporters that according to the latest report he’s received from Immigration officials, “between January and now, roughly 9,000 Venezuelans came into this country legally.

Of those, about 800 remain in TT.

“It seems to be a travel pattern as to those who come through the legal routes,” Dillon stated.

Also performing well was Makeeda Lewis who passed for St Joseph’s College, St Joseph.

Angostura salutes these two graduates, who have done their school proud.

Principal Ann Antoine also lauded the efforts of Cotton and Lewis. “Congratulations Makeeda and Saleim, we look forward to your continued success. Your outstanding performance would motivate students of this school to strive for excellence.

Our school would grow from strength to strength as you continue to represent us in the education arena. Let the world know that the students of the Excel Beetham Estate Government Primary, are becoming a competitive force and are poised for success,” she said in a media release.

Antoine also extended congratulations to all the teachers at the school, especially Ms Paul and Ms Samm, the two standard five teachers who worked with the pupils to help them achieve their results.

A family friend went to the Forensic Science Centre in St James and identified the body yesterday.

The friend told reporters the man had moved from St Vincent years ago and lived in St James for sometime but he began suffering from a mental illness and was admitted to the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital.

When he was released, he moved to Riverside Plaza in Port of Spain where there is a shelter for homeless people. His friend said Thomas had just started getting his life together when he was killed.

“The last time I saw him was about a month ago. He was doing very well. Sometimes he would go over to Sea Lots to meet with some friends there, but I don’t know what happened for him to be killed.” Arrangements are being made for his body to be taken back to St Vincent for burial.

Justice Mira Dean-Armorer yesterday cleaned house as she granted permission for the applications to be withdrawn and made no orders for costs which was agreed to by the attorney for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“These matters were forgotten,” the judge said as she went through the list of applicants.

Those whose applications were withdrawn were: Russell Huggins, Renee Pierre, Anderson and Sherwin Meharris, Amrith Maharaj, Aman Harripersad, Collin Catlyn, Oswald Catlyn, Ishwar Galbaransingh, Northern Construction Ltd, Carlos John, Ameer Edoo, Steve Ferguson, Brian Kuei Tung, Barbara Gomes, John Henry Smith, Brent Alvarez, Carlton Roop, Dane Lewis, Montgomery Diaz, Maritime Life Caribbean, Sadiq Baksh, Fidelity Finance and Leasing Co Ltd, Basdeo and Oma Panday, Maritime General and Krishna Persad versus George Nicholas.

Dean-Armorer also had listed before her several constitutional claims in addition to the Section 34 applications but she heard the constitutional matters first and these were dismissed by her in April 2013.

Ferguson, Edoo, Maritime Life (Caribbean), Maritime General Insurance and Fidelity Finance filed constitutional motions and their cases were used as a test case that, if it succeeded, would have paved the way for the other accused to also have their matters dismissed.

However, Dean-Armorer ruled against them by dismissing all eight grounds argued in the lawsuits.

The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling.

They then petitioned the Privy Council and in January of last year but the London-based court cleared the way for the Piarco Airport fraud accused to go on to trial.

The London Law Lords said the repeal of Section 34 by Parliament on September 14, 2012, simply altered the general law by restoring it to what it had been before the controversial section was proclaimed.

Ferguson and Edoo had argued they had a legitimate expectation of being freed from prosecution under Section 34 and its repeal on September 14, 2012 was unconstitutional and in violation of the basic principles of law

Speaking at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at the Bamboo Presbyterian Primary School, she told supporters, “I will meet with him because there’s so much I want to tell him. I want to tell him that he has brought this country to a ruinous state.” She lamented the high crime-rate and added that the prime minister had not fulfilled a single undertaking he had given her at that first meeting.

“Not one thing they said they would do, has been done.” She hit Government for many pupils failing the SEA exam and for their decision that those under age 13, must repeat the SEA if they scored below 30 percent instead of advancing to secondary school. As then education minister in the Basdeo Panday government, Persad-Bissessar said she worked to ensure all pupils moved on to secondary school notwithstanding some hiccups. “Under the Panday Government we had a policy, ‘Not a child left behind’.” Persad-Bissessar said in the past pupils had been excluded from secondary school not because they failed the SEA but because not enough school places were available and at Panday’s behest she caused schools to be built quickly and new teachers hired to alleviate this shortage.

She accused Government of ignoring children’s needs in education and health.

Lamenting recent cases where two ill children could not access the Children’s Life Fund, Persad-Bissessar said legal action is being taken on Shannen Luke, four, and five-year-old Terrance Chandoo’s behalf.

She hit Government for failing to buy $80 million worth of laptops for students but allowing State-owned TSTT to spend $200 million to buy Massy Communications.

She urged Rowley to set up a tribunal to probe the case of Marcia Ayers-Caesar and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission under Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s tenure.

Hosein told Newsday, “Nothing yet on the bye-election. The party will decide.” He also said Bruno’s funeral service should take place tomorrow but this is still to be confirmed.

On Monday, Prime Minister and PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley extended his condolences to Bruno’s family. In a statement yesterday, the PNM’s St Joseph’s Women’s League expressed its condolences.

“His passing comes as a shock to the fraternity and we mourn the great loss of such a humble man who served his burgesses with great dedication,” said Sharon Felix, the league’s public relations officer.

Felix also extended condolences on behalf of St Joseph MP Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh and the constituency’s executive

The group of 50 athletes, across nine sporting disciplines, will represent Trinidad and Tobago at the sixth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games, from July 18- 23, in Nassau, Bahamas.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), in the capacity as the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA), selected its largest ever contingent to a Youth Commonwealth Games. The TT team will compete in athletics, beach soccer, beach volleyball, cycling (road), judo, rugby sevens, swimming and tennis.

The 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games will be the largest international sporting event to be hosted in the Bahamas, and the largest-ever edition of the Youth Games, with up to 1,300 athletes, between the ages of 14 and 18, set to make the most of an inspiring and immersive mix of impactful sporting competition, personal development and new Commonwealth friendships.

Coordinated by the Bahamas Commonwealth Games Association and the Bahamas Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the nation’s first-ever international multi-sport event will see 94 medals contested in a variety of sporting disciplines – athletics, aquatics (swimming), beach soccer, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (road), judo, rugby sevens and tennis. It will be the first time that judo, beach soccer and beach volleyball are presented at a Commonwealth Youth Games.

It will also be the first Commonwealth Games event to be held in the Caribbean for over 50 years, with Commonwealth athletes last participating in the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

Trinidad and Tobago Team – ATHLETICS – Tyriq Hosford (Men’s Javelin), Adell Colthrust (100m, 200m), Ianna Roach (Women’s Shot Put), Akilah Lewis (100m, 200m); Antonia Burton (Coach), Wade Franklyn (Coach), George Comissiong (Manager).

BEACH SOCCER – (Men) Levi Fernandez, Jabari Gray, Nathaniel Brown, Immanuel Russell, Omri Baird, Juaval Roberts, Anderson Peters, Jordan Riley, Che Richards, Kevon Williams; (Women) Akkasia Charles, Tamika Campbell, Jade Noreiga, Maya Blanc, Ketara Munroe, Adanya Phillip, Tsai-Anne Fernandez, Nia Honore, Asha James, J’Nae Harris; Yuri Chapman (Manager), Arlene Paul (Manager), Chad Appoo (Coach), Jesse Bailey (Coach), Jason Pilgrim (Athletic Trainer).

BEACH VOLLEYBALL – (Men) Daynte Stewart, Devaughn Martin; (Women) Tsyan Selvon, Ebony Williams; Nancy Joseph (Coach), Andrea Davis (Manager).

BOXING – Justin Parris (Men’s 56kg), Nickell Joseph (Men’s 75kg), Tyron Thomas (Men’s 81kg); Rawlson Dopwell (Coach), Reynold Cox (Manager).

CYCLING ROAD – Tyler Cole, Jabari Whiteman; Robert Farrell (Coach), David Francis (Manager).

JUDO – Xavier Jones (Men’s -73kg), Luke Walker (Men’s -90kg); Joel Bernard (Coach).

UGBY 7S – Fayola Jack, Thea Marrast, Jamika Mellville, Shania Charles, Kendra Bournes, Talitha Forde, Alisha Antoine, Kimberly Goolie, Rochelle Burke, Daenelle Tobias, Skylette Augustine, Zakiya Belle; Rudolph Jack (Manager), Ursula Andrews-Smith (Massage Therapist/ Chaperone), Ronald Silverthorne (Coach).

SWIMMING – Jeron Thompson (50m, 100m & 200m Breaststroke; 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly); Joseph Mc Leod (Coach).

TENNIS – Emma-Rose Trestrail, Aidan Carter; Yohansey Williams (Coach).

TTCGA Team Management – Chanelle Young (Chef de Mission), Rheeza Grant (Deputy Chef de Mission).

Medical Team – Rudranath Ramsawak (Doctor), Karielle De Bique (Physiotherapist), Nicole Fuentes (Massage Therapist), Keisha Fraser (Massage Therapist).