Details of the reasons for Stollmeyer and his colleague Justice Roger Hamel-Smith’s resignations were contained in a statement from the Office of the President yesterday. On Thursday, that office announced the resignations. The resignation letters were delivered and accepted by the President on June 22 and became effective June 30.

Following Thursday’s announcement, there were calls for the two to make public, reasons for their resignations. Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, who in a lawsuit challenged Stollmeyer and Hamel Smith’s appointments as JLSC members, said on Thursday that full and frank disclosure was a necessary part of the principles of transparency and public accountability.

“It is disappointing they opted for the diplomatic obscurity of ‘personal reasons’. In so doing, they have short changed the population,” Ramlogan said on Thursday.

STRESS IN PUBLIC SERVICE Yesterday’s statement from the President’s Office, quoted from Stollmeyer’s resignation letter, which read, “Recent events have given me reason to pause and reflect upon my commitment to public life and duty to my country.

“It has become increasingly obvious that fulfilling that duty or those duties, faces great difficulty in light of the ever-increasing tendency in our society to criticize and condemn unjustifiably…those who undertake the task of serving. Inevitably, it causes distress both to the individual and to his or her family and friends.

“It is unfair of me to continue to inflict that distress upon those for whom I have so much love and regard. I find myself with no alternative but to depart public life,” Stollmeyer’s resignation letter stated.

The statement from the Office of the President only gave Hamel- Smith’s explanation for his resignation as being, “for reasons personal to me.” The statement also alluded to a difficulty in retaining people to sit on commissions and boards.

It said there is a reluctance by good, competent, qualified and experienced citizens coming forward to serve. It noted that the reluctance was in large measure, sometimes due to the vitriol, unfair and unjustifiable criticism leveled against persons brave enough to serve and the resulting hardship and undue distress caused to family members and genuine friends.

SEARCH FOR REPLACEMENTS The President’s Office assured that President Anthony Carmona will continue to persevere and ‘will not give up in sourcing suitable persons for public office.’ “The Office of The President is of the view that everyone has a right to criticize and be critical but no one has a right to malign and denigrate another.

Criticisms must always be grounded in civility, decency and comity,” yesterday’s statement said. It also noted that the Office of the President has already begun the process of finding suitable candidates to fill the vacancies in the JLSC.

In an earlier interview, communication advisor to the President Theron Boodan, said the process to replace Hamel-Smith and Stollmeyer started when the President received their resignations. He said the process is ongoing.

Boodan also noted that persons are reluctant to accept positions on certain commissions, adding, “And remember we must find suitable persons that fit the strict requirements set out in the Constitution.” Boodan also explained why the announcement of Hamel-Smith and Stollmeyer was only made on Thursday when the retired judges tendered their resignations since June 22.

“You must remember their resignations became effective June 30, and while the announcement could have been made on that day, the Office of the President was also engaged with the swearing in of ministers,” he said.

He added that the Office was then occupied with the revocation of the appointment of Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald, as Minister of Public Utilities, as well as the investigations on a breach of security relative to McDonald’s guest, self-proclaimed community leader Cedric “Burkie” Burke.

On Monday, Boodan said the President was in Tobago for a mini-National Awards ceremony. He further noted that there were other issues relative to the resignations that had to be cleared up before the announcement was made. The remaining JLSC members are head of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Maureen Manchouck and attorney Ernest H.

Koylass, SC.

The camps are offering a variety of activities such as craft, science and technology, sports, music, French cuisine, drama among others activities.

Arts-in-Action (AiA) annual Discovery Camp Memories for children five to 12 years will be held at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts, UWI, Agostini Street, St Augustine from July 10 – 29 and August 7 – 19. Also starting Monday to Friday, August 4 is the Alliance Francais TT French Summer Camp at 17 Alcazar Street, St Clair, Port of Spain, where activities include French class, art and craft, tours and visits, French music/movies, sports and games and French cuisine. For the same period, the MIC Institute of Technology vacation STE M camp for forms four, five and six and secondary school graduates will be held at its centres in Macoya, Diego Martin, Penal, Pleasantville, O’Meara and Tobago, with participants being engaged in simulated welding, mechatronics, electronics/electrical, AutoCAD and computer literacy.

The Harvard Club Vacation Sports Camp for children six to 14 years will be held at club premises and Nelson Mandela Park, Serpentine Road, St Clair from July 10 to August 18, and simultaneously, another annual children’s vacation camp for ages five – 15 years will be conducted at the Flying Fish Swim Club in Federation Park, with activities including teaching national pride, team water sports, spoken work, dance, photography, nature walks, films, cookery and field trips.

However, the largest set of activities will be on offer at the Niherst Vacation Science Camps that begin on Monday at Costaat City Campus in Port of Spain, the National Science Centre in the East and the UTT Valsayn Campus in the north, UTT San Fernando Campus in South on July 14, and at Preysal Secondary School in Central from July 24, catering for children of varying ages.

There is the Funology camp for ages five to seven, the eMagination Level 1 and 2 camps for seven to 11 years, the Explorer camp for eight to 12-year-olds, Computer Constructors (nine – 12), and for those in the 13 to 17-years age bracket there are the Robotics, X-Stream, GrafX and App Builderz camps.

Niherst is also hosting Space Odyssey, Art Attack, Nature Detectives and Sports Elites camps for five to six years, seven to nine and ten – 12 years.

Costaat will host funology and explorer camps both from July 10 – 21, while at the National Science Centre kids can access Robotics and X-Stream Engineers camps (July 10 – 14 and 17 – 21), eMagination Level 1 (July 10 – 14) and Level 2 (July 24 – 28) camps, as well as App Builderz (July 17 – 21), Computer Constructors July 31 – August 4) and GrafX (August 14 – 18) camps.

Preysal Secondary will also conduct Funology (July 24 – August 4), X-Stream Engineers and Robotics (July 24 – 28 and July 31 – August 4) and Explorer July 24 – August 4) camps, and at the UTT San Fernando Campus, there will be Funology and Explorer (August 14 – 25), X-Stream Engineers and Robotics (August 14-18 and August 21 – 25) and GrafX (August 21 – 25).

UTT Valsayn Campus will be home to the Space Odyssey (July 10 – 14), Art Attack (July 17 – 21), Nature Detectives (July 24 – 28) and Sports Elites (August 7 – 11) camps, with the south campus also conducting Space Odyssey (August 14 -1 8) and Art Attack (August 21 – 25) camps.

“I has the misfortune – I call it the worst day of my life – to visit Port of Spain Prison, Remand Yard, the Women’s Prison and I was only heartened by the work being done at YTC.

“Any citizen who walks into the Port-of-Spain Prison – Guantanamo Bay – as it is called, will be ashamed to be a national of this country. What I saw had nothing to do with global standards nor restorative justice. It is a cesspit of criminality and indoctrination into a university level of criminality that this bill will not fix.

“It is unfortunate that we feel we have any semblance of restorative justice when we have five to 12 men in an eight by ten (feet) cell, in darkness, with no ventilation.” He said such a cell has four bunk beds, but no mattresses or pillows, and with most men sleeping on the floor. The ventilation is blocked by muck. They are ‘out’ – if they are lucky – for 45 minutes in 24 hours. How can that person be rehabilitated when they come back out? I don’t even want to go into the slop pail, in this day and age. It is inhumane, it is unconscionable, and it is uncivilised.

It takes you back to the days of slavery. The Port-of-Spain Prison should be condemned, closed down,” Richards said.

He said his views were not an indictment on any government.

“If I go in there with all my common sense and my parents good upbringing for one month, me ain’t sure I’m coming out a normal person. I’m not sure I’ll be the same person, respond to society in the same way and be able to be rehabilitated. And that’s a month.” Saying his eight-hour visit to jail had made him sick, he wondered at the prospects for inmates held under such conditions, especially those on remand at the behest of the law courts and who are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. “Someone I spoke to was there for 14 years.” Richards said a report by Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan details the atrocities faced by inmates.

“We need to fix that, as a standard of operation.” Richards lamented that the bill puts more burden onto a system that is failing.

He said few answers were given by the report of the Port of Spain prison break, such as whether accomplices took part or whether there was a dereliction of duty. “If we don’t get to the bottom of this, it could happen again.” On that count he was not comfortable putting more responsibility into the hands of the Prison Service under the bill.

He warned of illicit deals being struck to post bail, as he described a lawlessness, saying, “Cellphones and marijuana are a common trade, laptops, iPads, television sets – and I don’t want to call them ‘contraband’ – but I understand that individuals make their way into prison for ‘entertainment purposes’.”

His eye make-up and bright lipstick stood out as he danced as though he were in his 20s.

His powerful voice blended in with the tassa drums and dholak as he sang about King Dasharat from the Ramayan (text of Hindus), at a recent Indian Arrival event at the Divali Nagar in Chaguanas.

“I have a passion inside burning like an everlasting flame,” said Sadhu Boodram Ramgoolam as he spoke about the art form he has been performing for more than 60 years. He explained that some Ramayan stories are expressed in the ancient dance style of Biraha. He said the dance is highly spiritual and he knows that the gods are looking down at him and helping him through his routine.

“Long ago, our forefathers would sing a verse and then act it out in dance so that people will better understand the significance behind the story that was being told,” he said.

Ramgoolam said he learnt to sing in rhythmic style from listening to his forefathers sing chowtal songs. “When you understand the Hindi language, then this art becomes easy.” He encourages the youths and those into Bollywood- type music to learn the language so that they can better express themselves when it comes to the music and songs.

The septuagenarian from Hermitage Village, San Fernando, is actively involved in Ramleela and other dramas that are staged in temples across TT .

Ramgoolam who is a vegetarian and lives a simple life in the countryside sat in his hammock at his home as he spoke to Newsday about his life. He is an ex-Caroni worker who spent all his spare time reading and explaining the Ramayan in villages across the country. He is known for doing the Biraha dance at local functions and in the US.

“I have a passion for this Bira ha dance because it really is a powerful means in which to enlighten people about the scriptures that originated more than 5,000 years ago in India.” His life’s work is based on reciting and enacting stories from the Ramayan and other Hindu texts.

“Ramleela comes just before Divali and it is done in ten days’ time, but with the Biraha dance an audience can get any excerpt from the Ramayan or the Bhagavad Gita at any point in time,” he said.

He praised the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) for hosting several workshops in Hindi and in the art of Biraha for the younger people who were interested in learning. “I believe this art should be shown in schools and through the community outreach programmes as it contains valuable life lessons to benefit people.” President of the NCIC Dr Deokienanan Sharma described Ramgoolam as an unsung hero who should be given a national award for his work in keeping this ancient culture alive. He agrees with Ramgoolam that this art should be taught in schools and through community-based programmes. Sharma commended Ramgoolam whom he said, is one of a kind in the Caribbean.

Ramgoolam’s command of the Hindi language led him to play various roles in Ramleela at Tarouba in 1964.

“I had to prepare my own elaborate costuming and I was excited to present the ancient characters for the viewing public back then,” he said. Through the years he developed footworks by practising folk dances. His dance wardrobe is worth thousands of dollars. “I use brightly-coloured clothing for all my performances,” he said, adding that this helps in bringing out the art in a fashionable way.

For the future, Ramgoolam says he takes one day at a time enjoying nature, singing and dancing everyday.

“You do not need an audience to perform.

You have to dance and sing for the lord. Make your art a prayer and then everyone else will appreciate it.” He believes that Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman will give him the strength to continue dancing and singing all through his life. He also believes he will be dancing until he is 100 years.

Singh, who played in net three (9-13 years) last season, won the player of the year award for nets three, four and five. Singh also won the most outstanding award and a batting prize for his accomplishments in net three.

Kadoo won the player of the year award for nets one and two, along with an Under-17 challenge trophy. President of The Harvard Club, Mervyn Rawlins, thanked everyone who made the 2017 season a success.

“It is good to see so many of you here. Special words of appreciation must go out to the parents whose active support for the children is vital to the success of each child and to the clinic,” Rawlins said.

“We also take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation for the tireless work being performed by the coaches and administrators. They came out every week of the clinic to selflessly contribute their knowledge and skill to the development of their young charges.”

HONOUR ROLL:

Net Five (5-8 years)

Most Outstanding – Alex Jogie

Batting Prize – Deshawn Williams

Bowling Prize – Meghan Patram

Single Wicket Champion – Meghan Patram

Net Four (8-10 years) Most Outstanding – Jordan Bryce

Batting Prize – Jordan Bryce

Bowling Prize – Ethan John

Single Wicket Champion – Kyla Latchman

Double Wicket Champion – Nathan Feeles/Sydney Dimsoy

Net Three (9-13 years)

Most Outstanding – Darius Singh

Batting Prize – Darius Singh

Bowling Prize – Akeil Richards

Single Wicket Champion – Akash Singh

Nets One and Two (14-18 years)

Most Outstanding – Ravi Kadoo

Single Wicket Champion – Tristan Gray

Nets Three, Four, Five

Challenge Trophy/Player of the Year – Darius Singh

Nets One and Two

Challenge Trophy/Player of the Year – Ravi Kadoo

Under-17 Challenge Trophy – Ravi Kadoo.

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.

A tiny school sandwiched between Cocoyea and Palmyra (almost unnoticeable), its students excelled under unfavourable conditions.

While students of other schools studied and wrote the SE A in cool classrooms, St Clement’s students had to put up with limited resources and hot classrooms.

With the odds stacked firmly against them, three students passed for Naparima Girls High School with one placing as high as 51st (Justine Gooding). Approximately 40 percent got either their first or second choices.

One could imagine what this school can accomplish if it receives a “facelift.” I am asking Minister of Education Anthony Garcia to please help improve the conditions of this school, especially the hot classrooms. Who knows, next year’s top student may well come from here.

L ROOPNARINE proud parent

The midday series features three National Performing Arts Entities which will provide the public with free concerts for three weeks – the National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO), the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Theatre Arts Company.

NSSO which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, opened the series with 21 players and conductor Akua Leith.

The musicians, all professionals performed to the delight of their audience which included the Minister of Culture Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and several ministry officials, as well as pannist, arranger Mia Gormandy who was sitting in the front row taking in the action.

The NSSO played Sparrow’s Slave, Ray Holman’s Waltz for Iris, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s Baby Ashley, Zequinha de Abreu’s Tico Tico, the Eagles’ Hotel California, Olatunji’s Ola, Keegan Taylor and Kit Israel, MM and Bunji Garlin’s Buss Head and the Ultimate Rejects’ Full Extreme.

The pick of the set was “Boogsie’s” Baby Ashley which he composed for his daughter when she was born 14 years ago.

It was arranged for NSSO by Professor Liam Teague. Some onlookers could not help but dance to the sweet sounds of the national instrument.

NSSO continued the series last Thursday and the National Philharmonic Orchestra will take centre stage on July 11 and 13 while the National Theatre Arts Co will close off the series on July 18 and 20.

The concept of the series is geared towards exposing a new generation to the performing arts with a view of them taking an active role and making it a career. The three professional entities are constantly giving back to the community through music and theatre.

The 45-minutes concerts can also act as a stress relief for office workers in the downtown area and they are invited to bring their lunch and come to NALIS.

Hence the name Brown Bag Series.

Elegant Promotions (EP), a newly-formed committee aimed at providing safe and quality events for the entertainment market, certainly brought back that wonderful atmosphere of the 80s and 90s that patrons partying at Upper Level Pub in West Mall, West Moorings, had back then.

Together with Cascadia Hotel, EP launched its unique brand of entertainment on June 28 that saw the dance floor filled in short order.

Magician Jonni Majik began the live entertainment with what he knows best and the audience loved it. Then came youth band sensation Lujoe and the Gifted. Those youths were nothing short of phenomenal, performing music way before their time and nailing it.

The young men ages 20 to 25 all grew up in music and therefore know all genres of music. Frontline singers Rashaad Ahong Luke and Joshua Samerson were a pleasure to watch and hear.

But throughout the evening, original Upper Level DJs Scobie (Mark Ramjohn) and Darryl (Darryl Singh) had guests trying to do all those fancy dances to the back-in-times dance music they played, as well as some current numbers.

Every Friday Uppa Level Returns will take the form of an after work lime, with live entertainment and drink specials during happy hours from 6pm – 8pm, then it will flow into the main event, Uppa Level Returns from 10pm, which will feature DJ Scobie and DJ Darryl, Richard Simply Smooth and DJ Billy J.

Organisers have also promised an operating kitchen and secured parking.

The OPM said Caricom issued a statement after a closed door session.

The Caricom statement reaffirmed the body’s principles of adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and democracy, and non-intervention in the internal affairs of states.

Caricom Heads of Government urged all parties in Venezuela to “commit to engage in renewed dialogue and negotiations leading to a comprehensive political agreement with established timetables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation for the well-being of the nation.” The OPM statement said, “The regional body is proposing to facilitate constructive dialogue between the relevant parties in Venezuela.

The Chair of the Conference, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr the Honourable Keith Mitchell has been mandated to write to these parties making the offer.”

CHILDREN GETTING FAT The session also received a report on the progress of the 2007 Port of Spain Declaration to stop the epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Harris, in delivering the report, said the region’s development is undermined by NCDs and the cost of their treatment.

“The report identified diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful alcohol use as the main risk factors. It recommended that Caricom focus its effort on dramatically reducing tobacco consumption across the region through legislative action, taxation and public health campaigns.

“On the issue of obesity, the report identified 30 per cent of young people in the Caribbean as obese and called for an intervention to save the next generation. Dominica and Barbados were lauded for their taxation regimes which targets sugary and salty foods.” In the same session, Rowley asked Caricom’s stance on West Indies cricket.

“I would like to recommend that we again empanel a committee on cricket and re-engage that issue and pursue it, in spite of the frustration, to bring some kind of resolution. I do not think that it is helpful for us to concede that we no longer have an interest. “Having given this recommendation, as a former member of the committee I would like to make myself available and to encourage my colleague from Grenada to come back to the committee, so that we can have a team of members to stay engaged on the matter of West Indies cricket.” Outside the forum, Rowley met with US State Department officials for talks on issues of mutual interest including trade and security.

Regarding security, the US said it could provide more support to Trinidad and Tobago and pledged to do so. Rowley stressed the need for a strengthened partnership, specifically in the areas of training, equipment and information sharing.

Yesterday Rowley also took the opportunity to attend an observatory tour of Sandals LaSource Grenada, of which Sandals is expected to open a similar resort in Tobago. discovered was that mangroves were being depleted which is a serious problem because with concerns about climate change and CO2 emissions, mangroves capture 60 percent of CO2 emissions and mangroves are very good at sequestering and storing CO2, in addition to which they provide habitats for migrating birds and represent an effective coastal barrier agent.