Benjamin equalised in the second half with a brilliant solo goal before being involved in two other items, scored by a Jabloteh shirt and substitute Jamal Charles—all after the visitors had grabbed the lead against the run of play from a converted penalty by Josiah Trimmingham in the first half.

The night’s appetiser also had its exciting moments, when Club Sando, in the earlier game were ruthless, defeating Police FC 4-0 for their second consecutive win on the trot.

Keron Cornwall scored on either side of the break for the Angus Eve-coached Sando, who also had second half items from midfielder Jarod London and substitute forward Adan Noel.

Connection, in the top of the table-clash, celebrated their final goal of the night deep in stoppage-time when substitute and Grenada international Jamal Charles buried his shot past Jabloteh goalkeeper Javon Sample for the 3-1 win after combining with Benjamin in the area.

But it wasn’t the best of nights in the finishing department for Connection, who should have won more comfortably.

Connection’s first half of missed chances included falling behind after 26 minutes.

Trimmingham had converted powerfully from the penalty spot for the San Juan Kings after referee Keilon Bacchus ruled that Connection defender Gerard Williams had brought down Jamaican midfielder Keithy Simpson in the area.

Jabloteh forward Julio Noel could have added to Connection’s miseries five minutes from the half when he fired overbar from inside the box after brilliantly controlling a Kion Joseph cross in mid-air. Moments after, Dimitri Apai curled an attempt onto the Jabloteh crossbar, and early in the second half, Benjamin, who previously fed the pass to the Suriname forward, took matters into his own hands.

The lightning-paced winger blew past Jabloteh’s Kennedy Hinkson in the area before chipping Sample in the 55th minute to level the scores.

Three minutes after, Benjamin found Alvin Jones inside the right of the area, and the latter’s fizzing pass across the six yard area cannoned off Trimmingham and into the back of the net.

Sample was hung out to dry by his defence in the final minute of stoppage time and scorer Jamal Charles and Benjamin led the celebration.

TT, led by captain Melek Fraser, will play Turks and Caicos on July 16 in their opening match. In TT’s second match they will face either USA South B or Mexico. The other teams aiming to win the title are USA South A, Jamaica, Bermuda and Cayman Islands.

Coach of the TT team Jerome Poon Tip is hopeful his charges can improve on their third place finish.

Yesterday, at a press conference held at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Poon Tip said, “Last year we came third and the year before that we came third, so hopefully this year we can improve and win the tournament.” Poon Tip said small errors cost them a higher placing in the last two tournaments. “Of course we think we could improve. The difference between us coming third and playing for the championship has been one minor mistakes.” Discussing the composition of the team, Poon Tip said, “We have a mix of young and experienced fellas with a couple 16 and 15 year olds on the team. We are looking towards the experienced fellas to help the younger ones.” Poon Tip was reluctant to reveal the top players on the team saying it is a team sport. However, he said captain Fraser is expected to compete at a high level. “One of our star players will be our captain Melek Fraser, and hopefully he will lead by example and experience because this is his third year in the squad.” The team has been preparing for the last six months and was scheduled to have a practice match yesterday.

“We have been preparing since January. We had a practice game every month leading up to the tournament. We have a large practice game this afternoon and we leave on Thursday.”

TT SQUAD: Melek Fraser (captain), Issac Small, Emmanuel Cadette, David Harvey, Jarrel McFarlane, Askari Dawud, Antonio Moore, Romario Harrydath, Michael Gonsalves, Jabari Sandy, Hakeem Espinoza, John Aboud, Wendell Fullerton, Kyle Look Hong, Tariq Daniel, Geddes Phillip, Wayne Garrett, Andrew Lobo, Joshua Hector, Ayub Hassan, Jeron Pantor, Korri Edwards, Marquis Samuel, Isaiah Small, Quentin Lyder-Baptiste (manager), Graham Chin (assistant manager), Jerome Poon Tip (coach), Michael Browner (assistant coach), Derek Ashby, Willet Pantor.

The dominant dynamic in the family is one of “independence.” The parents are training, spending money, and educating their children to become more and more independent – to stand and succeed on their own feet. However, in the fusion relationship of marriage, the couple should be endeavoring to become more “interdependent”; seeking to increasingly work together as a merging unit in achieving agreed goals, objectives and priorities.

Thus, the couple must seek to diligently preserve the primarily “direct communication” between themselves, and prevent it from being channeled through the children. For example, “John tell your mother I am going…” and “Susan tell your father that I am taking…” Often, when this occurs in increasing measure and the young adults have finally flown, the paternal nest becomes empty in more ways than one. It is therefore not surprising that some marriages actually break-up on the departure of their offspring.

The above can also be part of a wider, and more serious, development which I have entitled “juvenile-run homes”; where the needs, desires and wants of the children take priority over the requirements of the emerging marriage. In fact, “the fusing process of marriage” may be actually stopped in order to maximise the maturing of the teenagers and their supporting amenities and environments. This can often lead to, as one recent group of seminar-participants concluded – “successful households; but grossly under-developed and malnourished marriages.”

As with many other scenarios, prevention is better than cure and immediate action better than delayed responses. Thus, from the outset, or even before, the arrivals of the newborns, the husband and wife should formulate and seek to implement a strategy and course of action that adequately address “the growth of the marriage in the midst of the blooming of the family.” Simply put, this must entail “times, places and activities with the kids” and distinct “times, places and activities without the kids”! The implementation can start when it is possible and practical to leave the infant or toddlers in the safe care of a relative or other trusted individual. Here, weekend and holiday camps for juniors can provide golden opportunities for the married parents to reenergize or advance their relationship either separately or in supported groups.

In the addition, there is the on-going academic, professional and career advancements of the couple to be intentionally and skillfully interwoven with the raising of the next generation. As I have indicated in previous articles, family or paid support – full-time or part-time, may be required to achieve an acceptable balance. This seeks to avoid the ugly specter of an obviously-neglected teen or teenager – whether physically, emotionally or psychologically- in a beautiful house-setting.

In the event of the premature end of the marriage, either through death or divorce, with budding youngsters to be nurtured, all the above become much harder to achieve; but must never be completely abandoned. For those marriages unable to have offspring of their own, the prospects of adoption or the mentoring of under-supported adolescents can also make the aforementioned road more difficult to navigate safely to the haven of full adulthood. But in the end, the experience of joy and meaningful accomplishment that can be felt in the milestone of seeing fully-matured adults with their own progressive households, regardless of the start and hurdles along the way, cannot be engineered, manufactured or substituted.

Yet we must always remember that “the children will come and the children will go, but the marriage and living must continue!”

“One of my goals is to have my pieces on local and international Fashion Week runways,” Curlene tells WMN. And she has already started making strides in the right direction. Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has stepped out in a Curlene Charles-Robinson original several times, clutch purses included.

“That opportunity came with the last change in government. I was attracted to Minister Gadsby-Dolly’s dress style. She had an ethnic way about her and I liked it.

I messaged her and she responded. We met and she asked me to sew something for her for Patrick Manning’s funeral.” Curlene did, but with all that was happening on that day the minister was unable to wear it as planned. “But she was pleased with it.

It was a joy to make, especially putting on the African print motif.” And other pieces followed.

“She would ask me, ‘Curlene what do you think I could wear?’ and when I made suggestions she would say ‘okay, you go ahead’.” Gadsby-Dolly was so satisfied with Curlene’s work that the dress worn by daughter at her graduation ball was also a Curlene Charles-Robinson original.

“The Minister sent me a picture of a top and a skirt,” as a guideline, but to be modified. “D’vonne (Minister Gadsby-Dolly’s daughter) wanted to use burgundy and we looked all over for fabric for the motif but we could find nothing to match.” Eventually, they settled on midnight blue stretch taffeta. And because she still wasn’t sure of the specifics of the style she wanted, she allowed Curlene to make the final decision. “I put a motif on every panel at the bottom of the dress and used can can material to hold out the tail of the dress,” Curlene explains.

And what was D’vonne reaction to the dress? “I loved my graduation dress, I found it very unique – just as I wanted it to be. I wanted to wear something with an African influence as it would stand out,” she tells WMN. “When I saw the dress, I was so anxious to wear it. I was amazed that it all came together so beautifully.” D’vonne says her mother posted photos on Facebook of her in the dress at her graduation, and they garnered “hundreds of likes and comments. A lot of them were about people loving the dress.” With her work coming into prominence, the saying that you are your best advertisement is not lost on Curlene. Her well put together look is tantamount to a billboard ad, and then some.

“This is something I made one night because I wanted something new to wear the next day,” she responds with a laugh and a casual wave of her manicured hand to WMN’s compliment to her jumper. Perfectly hugging her petite frame and well accessorised, the simple jumper pops with strategically placed bits of African print, which may very well be her signature.

“I love African prints and I incorporate it into all my clothes. But I have a large female clientele and I give them what they want,” which she says can guarantee them at least one second look. “None of my designs are ever ‘nice little things’. It may be simple but people still take notice.” Although fashion design was not her _ rst choice as a career, Curlene didn’t just stumble upon it.

“I have been sewing all my life. My mom was a dressmaker so it was mandatory that my two sisters and I learn to sew. I am the only one who got into it as a profession, though. Sewing came as second nature. But to be honest, I always wanted to be a soldier. I was always in love with the military. Still, when I see a female soldier I feel like ‘Oh my God’.” Now a graduate of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) with a degree in Fashion Design, and the University of the West Indies with a Masters in Curriculum Planning, Curlene enjoys teaching Textiles, Clothing and Fashion at the Belmont Secondary School.

“Even when my fashion plans become a reality I won’t give up my day job. I love teaching. I love sharing my creativity with my students. I am forever breaking the people’s rules, though, as it regards the curriculum,” she chuckles.

“The curriculum requires them to do household articles like throw pillows etc. I allow them to make personal items like clutch purses etc. I want them to be able to say, ‘look I created something for myself’.” Curlene recalls how impressed teachers at a workshop she and another teacher had facilitated were, when they saw the personal items created by her students on display. “They were asking, ‘the students at Belmont did this? How?’.” She said the workshop was aimed at helping teachers to get students interested in Textiles, Clothing and Fashion.

“Sure, we as teachers are faced with a number of challenges, but my philosophy is that change is inevitable and when we face challenges we find a way to get around them. If we can’t, then we go under or through. I sometimes look to my teenaged daughter for guidance in current fashion trends and I use it. That is how I like to deliver my curriculum – current. If I have to I help my students draft the pattern and they adapt it to their style. As a teacher, you have to be you and do what is best to motivate your students.” She is also a firm believer in networking in problem solving. “My strong point is pattern draughting and garment construction.

I am not very tech savvy, but that may be another teacher’s strong point. If we pool our resources it could bene_ t everyone, especially our students.

So, what is on the cards for the 41-year-old Laventille resident? She says she is working hard at getting her business set up in a professional manner. Her dream is to dress the wives of prime ministers and presidents. “In this life, you have to keep pushing. I thank God that I have my children who keep me focused. I especially thank God for my mentors.

The past principal of Belmont Secondary School, Betty Adams-Skeete who was always there for me. My sisters Lynette and Roxanne who encouraged me to keep fighting. And Christopher Nathan who were my eyes and ears in fashion.”

Originally, we agreed to meet in a lush outdoor park but the rain has doused those plans. She’s exiting the shop as I enter and when I greet her she smiles, shakes my hand, and says, “Hi!” Before this meeting, I don’t know much about Samantha Sinanan. I know she is hearing impaired and made it to the Top 14 round of Miss World Trinidad and Tobago 2017 pageant – everything else we have left up to our meeting.

I expect her to be accompanied by a translator or supportive friend, but it’s just her, dazzling in colourful garments, her eyelids dusted in bright pink and yellow shadow blanketed in sparkling dust. She leads us back into the shop and points out a table for me to take a seat.

As we take our seats next to a rain-splattered window, she explains that she can speak, but she cannot hear. “I can read lips sometimes as well,” she says, but she cannot gauge the volume of her voice, which may prove a hurdle when speaking in public spaces. She also explains that using technology to communicate is one of her pastimes and assists her daily in effectively conversing with others.

To an onlooker, we are two abled persons having a conversation; I nod and smile while Samantha answers my questions – softly and demurely – accompanied by flowing hand gestures and short pauses to think.

Sometimes her fingers distractedly stroke her flowing locks over her shoulder. Apart from the softness of her voice, she does not seem like a shy person; she certainly isn’t afraid to hold eye contact while she begins to share her story.

“I lost my hearing when I was 11-years-old,” is one of the first things she tells me – perhaps out of tradition to satisfy people’s curiousity – but the pages of Samantha’s story were being written long before this.

To fully grasp the woman of poise, strength, and pride she is today, we must look further into her past than the moment she lost the ability to hear.

Her own childhood intersects closely with her mother’s childhood: a woman who was abandoned in a garbage heap because she was a girl, which was considered the wrong sex by her mother. “She was adopted by the person who found her, but her life changed drastically when she was married off at the age of 12,” Samantha says of her mother’s own cruel formative years as a child bride. Her first child came at the age of 13, and she would have four more children before Samantha, the sixth and final offspring to her family.

“While my mother was pregnant with me, my father asked her to have an abortion. He refused to stay with her unless she did so,” she says of her father’s ultimatum. Making good on his threat, he stepped out of the picture around the time of Samantha’s birth, an occurrence that negatively affected her mother’s mental and emotional balance. With her mother unable and deemed unfit to care for her newborn daughter, a neighbour raised Samantha.

“But the neighbourhood in front of us saw it as an opportunity to use me as a child labourer,” she recalls of these unfortunate times, relating stories of scrubbing toilets, doing endless piles of laundry, and sweaty yard work that left her body aching.

“I had to wash my own clothes as a 7-year-old and send myself to school,” she reveals of the brash independence she gained early on in her life. It was around this time that her elder sister was also diagnosed with a form of mental illness. “The situation became harder and I would usually suffer beatings by her and other family members, too,” Samantha recalls the physical abuse she was subjected to. She also relied on free meals at school for sustenance as she says there was often nothing to eat at home. A boyfriend of her eldest sister would often beat Samantha on his visits and, as she mentions only momentarily, sexually abused her as a child. Eventually this sister would move out, leaving only Samantha, her mentally ill sister, a brother, and her mother in her childhood home: a dark and unwelcome structure with no windows and an almost-bare interior.

“We would always fight because we were so poor,” she says of the tumultuous times with her family, compounded by their lack of access to money, food, and other necessities like running water and electricity that many take for granted.

Even through all this, Samantha had a dream for herself. “I wanted to become a lawyer,” she tells me softly. She closes her mouth and composes herself before continuing; “I still wanted to make something of myself despite everything. But all that changed when I was eleven…” The rain outside the coffee place has started to come down again; fat grey drops that reflect the elephant-skin colour of the dense sky in the distance.

The table we are occupying is scattered with some papers and our phones – all littered with words and shared communication over the course of our conversation thus far. A coffee grinder spins noisily behind the counter. Communicating with Samantha takes on many forms; either written, typed, mouthed, or gestured. “What happened to your dreams of becoming a lawyer?” I scribble hastily on one of the pieces of paper on the tabletop.

She tells the story of losing her hearing; it is not long or over-explained. It first reared its head as an ear infection, and then developed to hearing loss. She remembers the depressive state her life personified after this occurrence.

“My dreams of becoming a lawyer, as well as my education, went down the drain; it was difficult to adjust without my hearing. My family and teachers didn’t know how to accept the situation at the time; my life was a total mess.” Added to this, Samantha’s home life was still very much disjointed, as she moved between family homes, all the while still suffering verbal and physical forms of abuse. Her loss of hearing did nothing to curb the victimisation she would face at the hands of family and schoolmates.

As the years progressed, she learned to accept her differently abled status slowly; she did not want to be left behind and so she learned to read lips in order to survive in the world. The task was not an easy one but it was her only hope of piecing together the brokenness she felt and reentering the world confidently as a functioning person.

“All my strength, courage, and determination came from God; without Him I’d be nothing. This was God’s purpose for me in life.” At the age of 19, she would once again have to call on strength, courage, and determination as another blow was dealt: her mother was murdered just a few houses away from her sister’s home, where Samantha lived at the time.

“My mother wasn’t perfect in life; she was mentally ill but she was always a mother to me and I loved her with all my heart. She was always up on mornings to see me off to school and always there when I returned,” she describes her mother, who despite personal hardships and flaws, supported her in the ways she could.

“Losing her shattered me deeply… even through everything else in my life, [her death] was by far the worst experience.” The murder left her feeling empty and directionless once again, and she became bitter towards the world and men in particular.

It was during the time of her healing that Samantha discovered a passion that she holds dear today. Through modeling, she not only put her best face forward but finally found a mode of expressing her hardships and triumphs, as well as spreading encouraging messages to others through the bravery to share her story. She first entered the local pageant arena in the Miss Charlieville competition, and found a second home and mentor in the likes of Jacqui Koon How, owner of House of Jacqui, a company that specialises in churning out fashion industry and beauty pageant success stories.

“My greatest triumph in life, thus far,” Samantha says to me softly across the table, “was being able to create history this year in TT as the first hearing impaired contestant to enter the Miss World TT national competition.” She says she accepted her disability wholeheartedly a long time ago, but to see her self-love and determination come to fruition when chosen as part of the Top 14 for this year’s national pageant further affirmed that her disability is not a hindrance to her goals.

“I was disappointed… of course, I was disappointed,” she says slowly about not making it to the finals of this year’s pageant, but she is moving forward with even more determination than ever. She has one more viable year to enter for a chance to represent TT at the international competition in 2018 and she has already begun preparing.

Another passion of hers is learning to play the violin; a task she assures me is quite possible for hearing impaired persons. She hopes that learning such a talent will not only open her up to a new challenge but also place her at an advantage to breakthrough with a coveted spot in TT’s Top 8 at the national competition in 2018.

She is also hoping to open her own foundation that will assist children living in situations very much similar to hers.

Today, she is a manager at a company that specialises in the IT field, where her responsibilities are varied and numerous.

She also has a sideline job as a makeup artist for her friends, family, and personal acquaintances (she did her own makeup for our meeting, and looks like the rightful star she is).

However, she still remembers when life was not this kind to her and she hopes through charitable work she can assist the less fortunate. “The situations I had to face in life as a child, I know what it feels like to be in negative situations.

I know if I can change their world, maybe our world will become a better place for others,” she says of her rationale and passion behind helping people, especially children, in need. She taps her forearm a few times with her fingers and says, “As the saying goes: who feels it, knows it and I surely live by those words.” She shares that she is now in the process of penning her first book, an autobiography titled “Destiny”, that not only details the many sufferings of her early life, but also her triumphant resurrection on the opposite side of such hardships.

“As a child, I had to raise myself, was used for child labour, abused at home, bullied, mocked, laughed at, and scorned.

These stories are my life, my experiences, my sufferings, which I know will make an impact on people’s lives,” she tells me matter-of-factly; she knows that her harrowing story is one that is, sadly, not a unique one to young girls and women in our country and region. “I believe that my story can be the key that unlocks someone else’s prison; that’s why I’m never afraid to share it.” She hopes upon its release, “Destiny” will be able to touch lives on intersectional levels; whether victims, survivors, abusive partners, or social activists and authoritative agencies. As our conversation wraps up, we begin clearing our table and exit the building. Outside is still wet and dreary, but the rain has stopped. Toward the horizon, the weak, bleak whiteness of the sun behind the overcast sky peeks out hopefully.

We hug goodbye – a warmer farewell than our stilted greeting – and I commend her bravery. She smiles and nods knowingly.

“I know this wasn’t one of your questions…” she says hesitantly before we part for good. I lean toward her with an expectant look to let her know I’m listening.

“I’m very courageous, determined, caring, and down to earth,” she says. Outside, in the cool air away from the noisy coffee grinder, it’s much easier to hear her voice; soft but strong, a little rushed but still forthright. I nod laughingly and assure her that these traits were quite obvious during our conversation.

She continues, “Despite my sad life, I’ve become a different person, a person who will make changes in this world. All my experiences and challenges I faced in life, I overcame through self-acceptance and my faith. I love myself unconditionally, in spite of my disability.

“And I want other people with disabilities to know that anything is possible for them – just like me.”

Mitchell, formerly of MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps agreed to join East Bengal Football club for one season where he links up with countryman Willis Plaza to play in the I-League, the top tier of football in India.

The FIFA Under 17 Men’s World Cup will take place in India in October and the country is abuzz with football activity.

East Bengal plays its home matches at the Salt Lake Stadium which has a capacity of 85,000. The stadium will host the final of the U-17 World Cup with 85,000 bucket seats being installed.

The largest crowd at the venue was 131,781 spectators for a domestic Federation Cup final between East Bengal in Mohun Bagan in 1997 prior to the refurbishment of the venue.

Before the start of the I-League, Mitchell and Plaza will appear for East Bengal in the Calcutta League starting next month.

Mitchell, 29, has played on the Asian continent before, having plied his trade with Seoul E-Land in the South Korean K League between 2015-2016. He is a past player for San Juan Jabloteh, Joe Public and Caledonia AIA and also joined FC Edmonton in Canada on loan in 2013 while he was contracted to Whitecaps. He has made 35 appearances for TT and is a past student of Hillview College.

Mitchell said he was happy with his latest move. “I am happy and very grateful for my new contract with East Bengal Football Club. I feel fortunate to have yet another opportunity to play international club football in a country where football is growing at a rapid pace,” Mitchell told TTFA Media yesterday.

“Playing in the I-League is a great opportunity for me, especially playing for a team like East Bengal.

They have won three national football league titles in India, eight federation cups among other competitions.

I am excited to have the chance to play a season with them along with my compatriot Willis Plaza,” he added.

Mitchell has not been involved in the national team’s recent slate of World Cup qualfiers after suffering a groin injury which ruled him out of the home matches against Mexico and Panama and subsequently the USA and Costa Rica games. But with two crucial matches looming in September, Mitchell is hoping to force his way back into the set up.

In 1964, Shurland’s cousin, Stephanie, was the first local principal of the now 96-year-old school, which was founded in 1921 by Arthur Henry Anstey – Anglican Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago – with a student body of 48 girls. Bishop Anstey believed that girls of all ethnic, religious and social backgrounds deserved access to the knowledge, skills and values to compete, thrive and contribute positively in a rapidly changing world.

Shurland is 11th in the line of principals at this school in which the Anglican church retains its involvement.

Although the school is financially assisted by the government, it is run by a Board of management appointed and chaired by the Bishop. The first three headmistresses were foreigners – Amelia .M. Stephens (1921-1938), Dorothy Shrewsbury (1938- 1950) and Christina Sutherland (1950- 1964). The new principal, herself a mother of two adult children, was busy settling into her new office in the Abercromby Street School in this the last week of the school year, but found time to share her aspirations for “Bishop’s”, where the student body is now approximately 700.

She comes with a wealth of experience from Diego Martin North Secondary School, where she has been vice principal for the past seven years. Prior to that, she was Dean of Discipline, responsible for ensuring that students are functioning successfully; academically and behaviorally; and also ensuring the safety and good health of students.

As dean, she was also responsible for preparing schemes of work, lesson plans, classroom delivery.

She also functioned in the capacity of Head of Department and was the teacher representative on the Local School Board.

“I did not know I wanted to be a teacher but I always took charge of my three siblings, grooming and talking to them when my parents were not around,” the new principal said.

Shurland was encouraged to follow her ‘fashionista’ dream by her deceased mother, and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Art in Fashion Design with a minor in Art Education at Pratt Institute in New York.

She lived abroad for 12 years, travelling the world working in the fashion industry, but always knew “I wanted to come back home,” which she did.

“I was moving up in education having started as a qualified teacher, but I always wanted to be a principal.” She did a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, followed by a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education – International Education and is now working towards a Doctor of Philosophy – Psychology – Counselling Psychology, which should be completed in 2018.

“Seeing a lot of behavioural issues in the classroom I knew that is what I want to do, pursue this course so that after teaching this would be my area of interest. Children and families, that is what I am focusing on now through field work at the Child Guidance Clinic, which is only for children three to 18.

There are a lot of mental health concerns in Trinidad and Tobago, also a lot of hurting parents.” She is also affiliated to several other church and educational organisations, including recently being appointed treasurer of the Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

How is she going to personally achieve all that she wants in readiness for postretirement from the teaching service in the next three years, and at the same time manage this school where the motto, “Non Sine Pulvere Palmam” – not without dust the palm – has guided many exceptional women in their work in or on behalf of the wider national and regional communities in the country? Her reply was: “I have always been very active and am able to balance my time as am a very well organised and meticulous person.

“My tenure here as principal is not going to be long but I am going to do as much as I can to bring Bishop’s back to a place where people respect the accomplishments of the girls. We have a lot to offer. It has always been a school of excellence. Above all I wanted to do this for what Auntie Stephanie represented as a past principal and for what my late mother instilled in her three girls. She had a staunch, Victorian background and was always there to push us.”

The one ideal party was the NAR. Its existence was brief for reasons best known to the people of TT .

It has mutated and is now called the COP. Many people voted for the COP.

The COP leadership election has been postponed as party members attempt to resolve legal issues regarding the eligibility of candidate Nicole Dyer Griffith.

The present leader has said the July 9 poll has been deferred to a date to be announced.

A general membership meeting is set for July 23.

Is our country mature enough for three parties? The US, in spite of its size and diversity, has two.

If Marlene McDonald is really upset about how her party treated her and serious about national unity, she should join the COP.

I say this changing of the election date is what you call a “COP-out.”

AV RAMPERSAD Princes Town

One only has to recall ex-West Indian cricketer Mervyn Dillon, veteran road runner Ronnie Holassie, former track and field star-cum coach Annalee Walcott and, more recently, Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott to conclude that the school continues to be a dominant force in almost every sporting discipline.

In fact, for the first time in the country’s history, five of the school’s past students were nominated this year for the prestigious First Citizens Sport Personality of the Year Award.

They were Apphia Glasgow (rugby); Darryl Lewis (surfing); Daneil Williams (volleyball); Samantha Wallace (netball) and Keshorn Walcott (javelin throw).

Walcott eventually won the Sport Personality of the Year title in a male category.

Toco Secondary’s proud tradition of sporting excellence has never wavered.

On July 5, the school paid glowing tribute to its current crop of athletes as part of the institution’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

Close to 50 students were presented with certificates and tokens for outstanding performances in National Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships and other prominent athletic meets over the past year.

In the end, Otis Barker and Donicia Antoine were adjudged Most Outstanding and All Round Athletes. Barker also received an award for the Most Disciplined Male Athlete while Xea Bruce won in the female category.

Jada James won the prize for the Most Improved Athlete.

Delivering welcome remarks at the function, principal Verona Davis-Modeste acknowledged the school’s greatness, particularly in the area of track and field.

She noted that Toco Secondary had made a clean sweep in the 2016-2017 cross country events, winning the boys and girls’ competition as well as the overall school title.

The school repeated the feat in the 5K Classic.

“We have proven over the years that one can be small but still powerful,” she said to rousing applause from the audience. “For a small school we are very powerful in track and field.” Davis-Modeste noted that in spite of the school’s overall performance, a number of the students do not train on a regular basis.

She also registered her disappointment at the turnout of parents at the function “When we go out to compete, the teachers have to be parents, they have to be coach, they have to be everything because they can’t find parents,” she said.

“For those of you parents who are here today, I congratulate you. And I want to urge you to encourage your fellow village members to come out and support the children.” Attributing the school’s success to the commitment of past and present teachers, community members and other stakeholders, Davis-Modeste urged the young athletes to train incessantly.

“God has blessed you with talent.

However, you need to develop it through discipline, perseverance, and hard work,” she said.

National sprinter Ayanna Hutchinson- Britton, who delivered the feature address, followed in this vein, urging the athletes to exercise discipline despite the trials they may encounter in life.

Hutchinson-Britton recalled that after receiving an athletic scholarship, she had consulted with her mother and coach before compiling a list of the things she needed to do in order to excel in her chosen field.

Hutchinson-Britton said, though, that she also relied on the discipline she had been taught as a child to guide her career.

“I was determined to get my diploma and there was this discipline that was instilled in me as a child and later, as a young person, that allowed me to understand that making hard decisions and in some cases, life-changing decisions later on, will require the discipline that was instilled in me as a younger person. You have to have courage to make this decisions and the courage to stick it out until the end.” Urging the athletes to forge relationships with people they can trust and who will assist them in making sound choices, Hutchinson-Britton said on occasions when they require physical rehabilitation “you need to have the discipline to ensure that your body heals.” She said they also must have the discipline to execute their techniques in times when the coach may not be present.

Hutchinson-Britton told the athletes that discipline also should be exercised when competing in international tournaments.

“You have to know how to behave in different societies and cultures when you go out there because it will be different from what you are used to.” She told the athletes they also should not be afraid to make mistakes.

“They tend to bring valuable lessons but do seek advice and counsel from people who share your aspirations, mindsets and minimise your chances of making those mistakes.” She told them: “God did not give you a spirit of fear but of power and of love and self-discipline.” In his remarks, former Toco Secondary principal Kendall John said although the school delivered impressive performances during this year’s athletic season, many of the students still did not understand the significance of their achievements.

He said sport was much more than just a game of cricket or football.

“Sports is not like before where you just come and run, you play cricket, you play football and that is the end of it,” he said.

“This is a professional career and you are not seeing it like that. You still have to have that vision, both with the students and the parents, that vision still have not been caught on and my greatest desire is to see people get more fight in terms of that vision.” Saying the school has produced high-calibre athletes, John recalled that at a similar function in 2010, he told another group of students that Toco had the potential to achieve Olympic status “Two years after that, we got Olympic gold (Keshorn Walcott),” he said.

John, a schools supervisor III, said while many people were surprised by Walcott’s accomplishment, he was not.

He said: “I saw the way in which that student operated. As a mater of fact that person, was one of the few persons that would come in the office, use my computer, check out the competition and prepare himself without being supervised.” Saying that Toco’s students are often wooed by the so-called prestige schools, John said: “But Toco has its home-grown talent and you must see it as a talent that needs to be developed.” He urged parents to play a fundamental role in nurturing their children’s potential.

“Parents do not treat the sports as just a side thing. You must wake your children up to go their training. Whatever your child is involved in, I want you, in terms of sport, to be supportive.” John also urged the athletes to remain grounded. “Do not forget where you would have come from. This is what make other schools prestige because the people who went before always recognised.” He said the 2020 Olympic Games must feature athletes from Toco Secondary.

President of the school’s Parent- Teacher Association, Leroy Serapio, gave perhaps the most passionate address to the students.

A former star athlete at the institution, whom many felt could have represented the country internationally, Serapio said sport was much more than a casual activity at Toco Secondary “This is not just a sport. This is not just a going and run. This is something cultural to the school.” He said the school had excelled in sport way beyond this year’s performances. “This is not ten years of success,” he said.

“We started winning high school championships since 1986 for those of you who don’t know.

So we have a long tradition of greatness coming out of this institution.” Serapio challenged the athletes to learn about the history of the school as they strive to be the best in their respective events.

“I am appealing to you, the athletes, to start to know about the history and start to value a little more what you have and what God has blessed us with coming from this part of the vineyard.” Serapio said he was disappointed by the turnout of parents at the event. “To say I am disappointed with parents is an understatement,” he said.

“I am disappointed with the parental support for the students of this school . Yes there are few parents who help and support but generally those numbers are too small. “I urge you now to come on board and to come with your two hands on board and to put more than a casual interest in your children’s development.

Sports, track and field is s billion- dollar development today.

“I am saying to you parents.

You have gems sitting in this room , waiting to be nurtured.

“Please, I urge you to support them. Whom much is given, much is expected and we have been given a particular talent and much more is expected of us. Start understanding what you have and maximise it to the fullest potential.

And, with fears that flooding could re-occur if heavy rainfall persists, one wonders if measures can be put in place to minimise concerns about the impact of such natural phenomena on the lives of many citizens.

Last month, Government announced the establishment of a $25 million relief fund to help families adversely affected by the effects of Bret.

And while some may argue that a price tag can never be placed on the huge losses many residents have suffered as a result of this perennial occurrence, the absence of a workable solution, it appears, remains elusive.

Some theorists suggest that flooding is a man-made phenomenon while others blame a lack of political will for the absence of a meaningful, long-term strategy to combat the problem.

Urban planner Dr James Armstrong believes the problem is multi-faceted and studies undertaken on ways to curb the problem over the years have yielded little fruit.

In a recent Sunday Newsday interview, Armstrong said the country’s existing drainage infrastructure is inadequate to accommodate the volume of flood water which has ravaged many communities after consistent rainfall.

This problem, he said, was identified in the Caroni River Basin Study of 1975/76 and the1984 National Physical Development Plan which also highlighted the floodprone areas in the country at that time.

Saying there have been other more recent studies awaiting consideration, Armstrong said if one were to do an overlay of the development that has taken place since the surveys, it would be realised that while there has been significant progress in some of the floodprone areas, much of the development was unauthorised.

“At the time, the various developments recommended restrictions in the areas where development did not as yet take place. This was not done,” he said.

Armstrong recalled the situation raised debate about the inadequacy of land for development at that time.

He said land degradation and development also contributed to the problem of flooding as there was a significant increase in the volume of water.

“Coupled with unregulated quarrying, this water drains into the flood plains where a significant amount of debris is carried along, thereby often clogging the already limited carrying capacity of the rivers.

Similarly, the volume of water run-off along the urban corridors is now in excess of the capacity of the aging infrastructure.” Armstrong, who holds a first degree in environmental design and a doctorate in developmental planning from the University of Nairobi, said the State must take a serious stance on haphazard developments including the problem of squatting. He said since it is quite unlikely that much could be done to scale back the spread of “development,” further hydrological analyses will be required to contain upstream backwater, while also instituting a regular programme of maintenance of the drainage system, including significant investments in improved infrastructure that is informed by proper technical analysis.

Asked what measures could be undertaken by the authorities in dealing comprehensively with flooding as it relates to Government housing and private developers, Armstrong observed this country has a very high level of non-compliance in dealing with development regulations in the Caribbean.

He said the Town and Country Planning Division needs to be strengthened to enforce measures for proper development.

“It is anticipated that the strengthening of the local authorities and the devolution of some planning and development control measures to that level will assist in this connection,” Armstrong said, adding there was need for an integrated development plan to address the peculiarities of the country’s physical space.

Noting than an updated spatial development strategy was required, Armstrong said it might be prudent to consider some form of land-for-shelter swaps so that the density of shelter is increased and land is preserved and used effectively.

He made it clear that no further consideration should be given to any “land for landless policy.” “Squatting must be curtailed and rolled back in some areas,” he said.

Armstrong, a former independent senator, said some related infrastructure such as roadways also impede the run-off of water.

He said water “harvesting” could also assist in slowing the incidence of flooding “but this will require careful