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

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.”

Winston Maraj, secretary of the association and project manager of Apiary Business said the project places strong emphasis on getting the youth in the area involved in order to prevent the area from developing a high percentage of delinquent youths.

“In Brasso Seco a lot of the youths are unemployed. If they work, they work for the government, or as a security guard or a cleaner. We want to create entrepreneurship, business activity, to stimulate growth.” He said initially project members approached the Police Youth Club in the community but, since they were dealing with Africanised killer bees, the parents did not want the children to participate. They therefore encouraged anyone in the area who was 18 and over to visit their operation, taste the honey, and learn about bee-keeping. He said most bee-keepers were very secretive about their trade and did not want to teach others, but they try to involve interested parties in every stage, from building the frames for the boxes serving as hives to bottling the honey.

According to Maraj, the project started because the resident bee-keeper in the association, Matthew Lopez, kept insisting that other members try the profitable practice.

“Most of us are farmers so we didn’t think that the forest would give us anything. We usually cut land down and plant christophine, cocoa, vegetables or citrus, but now we realise the forest itself is full of money.” Maraj said in 2013, he and his sister went to an apiary course at the Ministry of Agriculture at the Government Apiary in Wallerfield. On their encouragement, a few more members of the association decided to attend the next cycle of class. However, because the five-day course would take them away from their fields, as well as the added expense of travelling to and from Wallerfield, other farmers declined and instead got their practical knowledge from those who attended the course.

“Marlon Cowie- Clarke from Tobago has been instrumental in the process. He teaches us and helps us with the honey. He helps with the technical aspects and lends us his equipment, like the extractor, until we get on our feet. He really is a good fellow and a good bee-keeper too.” He said there was a large area of natural forest in Brasso Seco so they knew the bees would have done well and made excellent quality honey. The association began looking for funds to start the apiary business.

Last year, the project was initiated when Digicel gave the new bee-keepers $65,000, with which they bought bees, protective gear, and made hives. The Canadian Embassy also gave them money for a solar system to produce electricity to pump water up to the hives in the dry season, as well as to run their machinery.

They also received a small grant from the United Nations to set up a rain water harvesting system. This year, Digicel promised them $101,000, most of which they intend to use to purchase machinery to produce their honey.

But behind her shy exterior is a mind teeming with activity, a love for movies, and a left-hand that regularly bests her own father in tennis matches .

Lexi, 12, a former student of the Point Fortin ASJA Primary School, topped 18,000 other students in this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment examination .

“It is exhausting, but I feel proud of myself,” said Lexi as she reminisced on the last week of grueling interviews and attention from strangers who now recognise her face wherever she goes .

But the fame did not come easily despite her being a born academic .

“I had to sacrifice leisure activities like TV and play time for about two years before the exam,” said Lexi. “But I have no regrets.” Her parents Krishdath and Lisa Balchan described her as a self-motivated and disciplined student who often harassed them to do school work with her even when she did not have to .

But when the examination was over, she could have finally returned to watching her favourite Nickelodeon TV show Henry Danger, her favourite movie Wonder Woman, and donning her pink sneakers to play tennis with her pink racquet .

She started playing tennis three years ago through the Atlantic LNG tennis programme at her school. Under the leadership of coach Raffeek Mohammed, she developed a strong left arm and her left-handedness was recognised as an asset to be nurtured .

“She ended up liking it so much that she started playing at home with her little sister and her father,” said Lisa .

“She actually excelled in that as well and the coach says she is her best player.” “I like all tennis players, but I love Serena Williams the most,” said Lexi .

She also spends her time playing draughts with her friends and her family, but nothing seems to excite her as much as satisfying her thirst for knowledge .

Her father, a refinery operator with a knack for mathematics, and her mother who has a love for books, have filled their Point Fortin home with books of different kinds from which Lexi could pick at her leisure .

They said she always gravitates towards the science books, at one point being obsessed with Albert Einstein as a role model. “I love science,” said Lexi .

“I just find it is an interesting subject. I have not decided what I want to be as yet, but being a scientist is an option.” But whatever the distant future holds for her, she is excited to attend the Naparima Girls High School in September, because, in her words, “All the best girls go there.” She looks forward to joining the various clubs the school has to offer and excelling there as well with the support of God and her parents .

FAMILY SUPPORT: Lexi with her mother Lisa, father Krishdath and sister Leia. PHOTOS BY ANIL RAMPERSAD

Saying that no one needed to stir up emotion with respect to any murder in TT, Rambharat said this was a, “cheap attempt to belittle the govt using what all of us accept to be a most disturbing murder or two murders.” He reminded senators that the bill, “does not interfere with the power to grant bail.” Rambharat said those powers remain unchanged as outlined in the legislation articulated in 1994 by then attorney general Keith Sobion (now deceased).

He argued that situation may have been different had the Opposition supported amendments proposed by Government to keep restrictions for bail for certain offences in place, when those measures expired last August.

Rambharat also reminded senators, “this is a not the PNM (People’s National Movement) government at work on this bill. He disclosed that St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar recently disclosed that under the former People’s Partnership (PP) government, work was significantly advanced with respect to cash bail and bail by certified cheque.

Rambharat said Ramadhar, as justice minister in the PP, indicated equipment had been procured for this initiative and could not understand why nothing happened to move this process forward. Questioning why the Opposition was distancing itself from the bill, Rambharat said the legislation was also connected to the Electronic Monitoring Bill which the PP never brought to Parliament.

Rambharat also said contrary to statements made by Opposition Senators Wayne Sturge and Gerald Ramdeen on the bill, both men represented a client in a matter last year which referred to the very issues contained in the legislation.

Neither Sturge nor Ramdeen were in the Parliament Chamber during Rambharat’s contribution.

Replacing Cumberbatch as chair of the regional body’s most important arm is Peter Nero, also from Trinidad and Tobago, with Lalman Kowlessar, another experienced local umpire and administrator appointed as committee member on the regional body.

Kowlessar is also the second vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

Cumberbatch made the announcement at the end of the third day of the week-long meeting of the region’s umpires at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Since his retirement from the field of officiating close to two decades ago, Cumberbatch, as chairman of the august West Indies body, has seen the elevation of Joel Wilson and Peter Nero, two Trinidad and Tobago umpires who have achieved international status.

Also climbing up the ranks was Zahid Bassarath, among several others who greatly benefitted from Cumberbatch’s wide experience and guidance over the development of their careers.

In Jamaica earlier this week, the affable Cumberbatch was accorded the status of Honorary Life Member of the WI umpires, joining Harry Mahabal and Tony Lalacksingh – his other TT colleagues who have been similarly recognised for their exemplary service to West Indies and world cricket.

“I have no doubt that Mr Justice Barrow will serve the citizens of the Caribbean with fervour and with the wisdom, strength of character and sense of fairness that has characterised his distinguished career. We are grateful to have him on the bench of the CCJ and as a part of the leadership team at the Court.” He said Justice Barrow has had judicial appointments across the region, served on the International Labour Organisation’s Committee of Experts and has had a career in private practice for more than four decades.

Justice Barrow is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, with a Bachelor of Laws, and received a Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School.

The release said, in 2007, Justice Barrow was selected by the Bar Association of Belize for its prestigious Custos Justitiae Award for excellence in the practice of law.

He was also awarded the insignia for Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service to Belize and the field of law in 2012. Justice Barrow said, “It is a great honour to sit with a group of Judges whose erudition, reasoned judgements and service to the region I have admired.

I also pay tribute to Mr Justice Rolston Nelson, who recently left the bench, for his indelible contribution.” He continued, “It is an honour to defend the rights of the citizens of the Caribbean, and one which I do not take lightly. I am truly a Caribbean man, having lived and worked in many nations, and serving in a court that defends our rights, staffed by those who live in the region fills me with pride.” Justice Barrow was selected from among applicants from the Caribbean, North America and Eastern Europe

The tournament, which runs until Friday, will feature matches in the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Under-18 and Under-21 categories. Over 90 juniors have entered the tournament including 10 from Tobago.

T4here will be singles, doubles and mixed doubles for boys and girls.

Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph and Kale Dalla Costa won the girls Under-10 and boys Under-10 categories respectively at the Lease tournament, which was held from June 15 to 19 for the Under-14, Under-12 and Under- 10 players. Daniel-Joseph and Dalla Costa will aim to win titles again at the Sagicor tournament.

Charlotte Ready (girls Under- 12), Nicholas Ready (boys Under-12) and Kyle Kerry (boys Under-14) will all hope to repeat their achievements after winning titles at the Lease tournament.

Some of the other favourites at the tournament are Isabelle Abraham (girls Under-14), Yin Lee Assang (girls Under-16), Kyle Lee Young (boys Under- 16), Adam Escalante (boys Under-18) and Keshan Moonasar (boys Under-21).

There will also be a Red Star (beginners Under-10) tournament tomorrow from 9 am to 12 noon. An opening ceremony at 8.30 am today will start the tournament’s proceedings.

Team TTO also marked individual wins with Sachin Kumar awarded the James Moss-Solomon Trophy as the Boys Under- 18 champion, alongside Yiji Lee who lifted the Kenneth N.

Francis Trophy as the Girls Under- 15 champion.

Receiving the TTGA subvention of $286,000 from Sports Minister Darryl Smith, TTGA Director of Golf Chris Harries, said, “The timing of the presentation is welcome as the Association continues its work on development and introducing the game to new players. We are pleased at the progress of our junior players on the regional circuit and with continued support from the Ministry and Sports Company, we can achieve even more in the future.” Two-time Under-18 champion Kumar now qualifies for the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy to be held from September 12-14 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.