The Rainbow Cup held its 13th edition on Saturday, with hundreds of athletes from around the world convening at the sister isle for the popular triathlon event hosted by the Rainbow Warriors Traithlon Club.

Melville was one of just a handful of Tobagonians who competed.

Melville, representing Revs Tobago, finished 12th overall in one hour, 19 minutes and 25 seconds (1:19:25) in the sprint triathlon. The race includes a 750m swim, a 20km ride and a 5km run. His time was good enough for a third place finish in the men’s 30-39 age group. Winning the age group category was Jamaican Phillip Mc Catty in 1:08:59 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Dwayne Roach was second in 1:11:08.

Melville was satisfied with his performance but was hoping for a faster time. “The performance was good, I was expecting to do a little better but I appreciate what I went out and did.” Melville said the run was his strongest segment of the event and felt he made up some ground during that segment.

He said, however, that he has to improve on his swimming. The Crown Point resident was the 21st out the water in 14 minutes and 13 seconds, 12th in the ride in 39:31 and 11th in the run in 23:57.

The 34-year-old, who competes for fun, said the Rainbow Cup is helping Tobago’s tourism but wants to see more Tobagonians involved.

“I feel real good because it is bringing foreigners to the land. It is a form of tourism, but one thing I would like to see is more Tobagonians coming out and being part of it. Having it here in Tobago and we only have two or three persons participating from Tobago; next year, I am looking to see a bigger crowd so I want to encourage the people to come out and be a part of it.” Tobago has produced numerous national footballers and track and field athletes, but not many locals have focused on triathlon.

Melville said more races in Tobago can create more excitement among locals to compete in triathlon.

“I think if they start putting on more races and opening some clinics, I feel that will help because we really don’t have (triathlon) clubs here. If we form some clubs I think that will help.”

Code named Exercise Tradewinds, it is a United States military-led exercise within the Caribbean region which started in the mid-80s.

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon is assuring the public that there would be no restriction to their movements as most of the exercise would be carried out in the north-western part of the country, specifically Chaguaramas.

“You will see a number of troops from outside of TT and they would be wearing uniforms and carrying arms and that is done under our Visiting Forces Act.

When we held Cricket World Cup in TT and across the Caribbean in 2007, countries of the English-speaking Caribbean were asked to allow visiting troops to come into their country and bear arms and participate in exercises or in the event of security issues.

“TT was one of the countries that did not have that as sunset legislation and we have that in our books today. Some countries had it as sunset legislation which meant it died after Cricket World Cup.

All that is required of us is to ensure that we list the countries and, under the Visiting Forces Act, they would be able to bear arms,” Dillon said during a news conference held yesterday at the National Security Ministry, Temple Court, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.

He added it was not a classified exercise as the troops would not be using live ammunition and that it was a simulated exercise.

Dillon said the exercise was a multi-national maritime security exercise treating with both maritime security issues and disaster response issues.

Involved are 20 partnering nations including Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts/ Nevis, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, Surinam and Guyana.

He said there would also be international assistance and participation by the US, Canada, France, Netherlands and Mexico.

The US has contributed US$3 million for the exercise, while this country has approved about $382,000.

However, if one stands at the Tarouba turnoff of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, one can see to the south-west the Mannie Ramjohn Staduim. It is well constructed, on a former racing track, with spacious parking, proper entrance and exit roads, non-obstructive view of the field, extremely breezy etc.

But it, as the rest of government institutions, has been neglected.

So why pump so much money in a neighbouring stadium when the money could have been used for other purposes, eg one-stop school for special children, or even a rehab centre for the drug and substance abuse citizens who cry out for help.

Or better yet, an oncology centre, where citizens could get accommodation, treatment, and be comforted.

Think about it.

JOHN R RAMDEEN via email

The reason for the school’s early dismissal remained unclear as parents gave differing accounts as to why they had been asked to collect their children with one parent stating he had been informed by text message about a rodent infestation at the school.

“The reason why I came to pick up my son today is because I get a text that there is a rat infestation and a cockroach problem in the school and until they don’t sort it out, the Ministry, the teachers wouldn’t be coming back,” the parent said after picking up his son who is in standard three.

Another parent who was picking up seven students said she had been informed that there was no water.

An education ministry official said classes had been dismissed around lunch time to give parents enough time to collect their children.

The official said there were several issues at the school including a need for repairs to be carried out and a “pigeon problem” for which the principal had contacted an exterminator to deal with.

“In the short term, the city corporation would be working to sanitise and clean the school so that the EFCL would be able to effect repairs in the shortest possible time.”

While tools and school buildings can be improved through the provision of adequate resources for education, quality teachers are not that easy to come by.

Quality implies the ability to set and exceed performance targets.

In the context of education, these parameters are not so easy to define simply because schools are not factories but places where human capital is developed and people are given the opportunity to realise their maximum potential.

How then do we ensure that teachers are not just mechanistic in their approach to teaching but constantly positioning themselves to be able to adjust to a rapidly changing global order that is consistently redefining the education agenda? The teacher must now understand that the changing task environment implies a reorientation in thinking, beginning with a renewed appreciation for the nature and purpose of education as a precondition to defining their role and approach.

The quality teacher must be defined as one who understands the need to be a self-directed lifelong learner, teaching children how to learn rather than what to learn. He/she must be consistently surveying the global education landscape and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the field of education, constantly seeking out new approaches and consciously striving to become better educators.

Possessing university-level academic qualifications will not by itself make a quality teacher.

This academic foundation merely serves as the starting point to a career that demands constant reflection and refinement of practice. Quality teaching is thus a state of mind rather than a state of existence. It is reflected in one’s commitment to the challenge of ensuring that all schools represent a place of genuine hope for a brighter future for all children, regardless of their cognitive ability or socio-economic background.

As a professional association, TTUTA acknowledges that quality teachers will not just magically happen but will only come about through a sustained campaign of teacher re-education and professional development.

Teachers must be given not just the opportunity to engage in a sustained programme of continuous professional development both formal and informal, but they must be given the motivation and incentive to see the wisdom of this paradigm shift in education approach.

While TTUTA engages in several programmes aimed at teacher development through workshops and training sessions in and out of school, this is not enough to deliver the cadre of quality teachers that is required to transform our education system into high-performing models like Finland, Japan, Canada, Estonia or Singapore.

The Ministry of Education must have a broad vision of education as a vehicle for the emergence of a knowledge society, characterised by innovative and critical thinkers rather than a society that is contented to be consumers of knowledge and technology.

The drivers of such a vehicle must be quality teachers, operating in a dimension of professional freedom and autonomy who are seen and treated as true professionals. They in turn must be self-motivated to set and attain higher standards of practice in an atmosphere of self-regulation.

The national vision of education cannot be rooted in the failed model of the past, defining an agenda for teachers that reinforces mediocrity rather than excellence. Our societal obsession with examinations is not the platform for quality teachers.

A culture of quality must be the new norm.

Batting first, Hillview struggled to 93 for eight in 30 overs .

But Hillview’s spinners later combined to bowl out Presentation for 90 in 29.1 overs and celebrated a hard-fought victory and the nationwide title .

Lef-tarm spinner Anderson Mahase claimed two for 14 from six overs while off-spinners Alexander Cassiram (2/22), Shazard Mohammed (2/19) and Brandon Basraj (2/14) did the damage, while skipper Giovani Ramdenny scalped the final wicket .

Amrit Dass was the only steadying force and topscored with 19 that was scored off 62 deliveries and was the eighth batsman dismissed at 84 after 25.6 overs .

Presentation College’s overall total contained 29 extras including 26 wides while their bowlers did even worst and conceded 33 wides among the 39 extras for Hillview’s overall tally of 93 in the allotted 30 overs .

For Hillview’s total, Giovanni Ramdenny topscored with 20 that included two fours off 59 deliveries while Rikky Ramlogan added 11 off 22 balls. They were the only batsmen to reach double figures .

Presentation skipper Aaron Bankey copped the “Best Bowler” prize with his four wickets that cost 10 runs from six overs. Khovaan Boodoo took two for 24 from six overs .

Hillview’s captain Giovanni Ramdenny, who made 20 and claimed one wicket for 19, was voted “Player of Match” and also collected the “Best Batsman” prize .

Hillview’s coach Richard Kelly (Snr.) expressed his gratitude to the his school’s principal Leslie Mahase and all other teachers who supported the players .

Commenting on the victory, Kelly said: “It was real hard work by all the players and it was not an easy match. We had to fight all the way to the final over before we got the result .

Much credit must go to the school’s principal, Mr Leslie Mahase and other teachers at the school who supported the boys right through .

“The teachers were very accommodating while the players were away from school throughout the season .

And I am extremely grateful that they provided that level of support which allowed the boys to focus on their game and did well throughout.” Ronald Hosein, manager of Presentation College (Chaguanas), thought that his players gave a very good account of themselves but was let-down by their frontline batsmen who did the bulk of the scoring in all their previous encounters .

“Throughout the season, our frontline batsmen did the bulk of batting and won the matches for us. But in final, they came up short and that put a lot of pressure on the other players,” he said .

In the Classic Bodybuilding- Class B event, Pantin dominated the event where he did one over Bruce Allum and Evan Jackson to set up another class winner final on the night. Pantin faced off Isaiah Garcia where he again got the judges’ nod to walk away as the double overall winner on the night.

Meanwhile, Krystle Khan emerged victorious in the Bikini Fitness, then stepped up in the Bikini Overall Class final to take first place ahead of Andrea Rampersad. Khan had previously beaten Kichelle Farrell and Deneisha Goolcharan in the Class A event and moved forward into the final where she never looked back.

In a telephone interview with Newsday, Khan said, “It was a motivating experience to see, despite the lifestyle we adopted in Trinidad and Tobago, there are others, like myself, who value the importance of dieting and promoting a healthy lifestyle by actively training, exercising and eating healthy.” Khan’s success comes in just her second appearance in the competition after joining the sport just over a year.

“Adopting a positive mindset and associating with the individuals who have a common goal or motive as you helps with your development and remaining focused on your desired outcome,” she said.

Christiana Cassie won the Body Fitness category ahead of Nathalia Jeremiah who finished second, and Nathalie Danclar- Rodney who placed third.

Marisa Khan-Lutchman won the Women’s Physique over her lone competitor Shenelle Gordon in their category. Andre Brown snatched the Men’s Physique Overall Class Winner, getting the better of Nathaniel John-Nicholas and Kwadwo Odinga on his way to taking the trophy home.

Sponsors for the event included Xtra Foods limited, Raw Fitness, Muscle Pharm and Oasis.

Nicholas Gopaul, a labourer of Ghandi Street, Marabella, appeared before Magistrate Natalie Hamilton- Diop in the San Fernando Second Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was arrested at his home on Friday afternoon during an exercise conducted by members of the San Fernando Police Station.

During a search at his house, police allegedly found a black duffel bag containing 35 packets of marijuana in a bedroom. The drug has a street value of $67,000. He was charged by PC Sheraz Mohammed of the San Fernando Police Station.

The verdict against Harry Ramlochan, 65, of St Charles Village, Princes Town, was delivered by a nine-member jury, comprised of five men and four women, in the San Fernando High Court. The jury deliberated for almost three hours. The trial began on May 15 before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor.

The court heard that on May 5, 2011, the girl’s mother was taken inside the station by Ramlochan, who was then a 49-year-old acting sergeant.

Another police officer was assigned to take the mother’s report while the daughter remained in the veranda.

Ramlochan returned to where the girl was and started asking sex-related questions. He then went and asked her mother for permission to further question the daughter and she agreed.

The victim testified that Ramlochan led her to a dorm where he began making sexual advances towards her. After a colleague walked in and then out of the dorm, he took her to the court prosecutor’s office, then to a store to change a $100 bill, to the police canteen and back to the office. There he committed the act on “a piece of sponge” during which he pushed the girl against a cabinet and a wall causing injuries to her mouth. He then told her not to tell anyone about it. Ramlochan, the jurors were told, returned the victim to where her mother was and then transported them to their home. He took the girl’s father to a bar and warned him in relation to the report made against him. The rape was reported to police and Insp Christine Mc- Millan charged Ramlochan.

Defence attorneys Kevin Ratiram and Chris Ramlal represented him while attorney Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal and Sarah De Silva prosecuted on behalf of the State.

In his defence, Ramlochan testified that the girl had injuries to her mouth when she arrived at the station. He denied raping her. Yesterday, Ratiram told the court that his client joined the Police Service on June 1, 1972. He is a father of four, two of whom died, and grandfather of five.

The judge adjourned the matter to June 28 when she is expected to pass sentence.

“People tell me I should be in the Hall of Fame and that’s what I would truly like,” said the still mobile woman who will be 87 on August 8. “In my day women were supposed to be housewives, cooking food, see about the children, wash clothes and see about the house etc…..men was everything.” Gooding made contact for this interview, still able to use one of her St Ann’s taxis so that we could meet at the stand near to Trinity Cathedral, Port-of-Spain and continue to Newsday’s interview space on Chacon Street.

Since we had never met, I was about to give her my car number for identification, but the very feisty woman preferred to let me know the colour outfit she would be wearing instead, and would call me on the morning in question. “Too many television crime dramas….” I thought with a chuckle.

And, there she was in her “light-green blouse and jeans” –not with one or two trophies as was asked for picture purpose– but all her trophies fitted into one hold-all bag which she was able to easily carry. In nearly 20 years of representing school, club and country, those were the sum total of her awards. To quote one of her peers, Marjorie John, who was fortunate enough to make it into the Hall of Fame: “Those were the days when you won a cup, spoon, saucer, plate, bowl or maybe fork.” Born in Belmont in 1930, Gooding started to run as a five-year-old at St Margaret’s School at a time she says: “When the schools in Belmont used to challenge each other and before school went on vacation, Belmont Intermediate, St Margaret’s EC, Belmont Boys and Girls RC, the Methodist schools and all the government schools in Belmont would meet in a day of sports organised by the schoolmasters and mistresses. They would take us to the [Queen’s Park] Savannah and run the races….it was heavy competition.” Then Gooding went to Providence Girls Secondary, in the days when it was run by the nuns, where she continued running.

Her teacher was Phyllis Mitchell. “The nuns those days were very sacred and proper and could not walk the streets unless properly attired. Every district in Trinidad, north, south, etc, took part in Inter-zone Sports, then the winners used to go to the [Queen’s Park] Oval and run against each other to find out the overall champions… This is how I started meeting people from the whole of Trinidad. I would run within my age limit to see who is the winner of the various age groups in Trinidad and Tobago…

I lost one race in my life to Eileen King here in TT .” Gooding’s first trip overseas was to Guyana while at Providence when Mother Pius, her parents and club Mitteo Harriet where Victor Roberts was her trainer, stood the costs so that she could represent the country.

Gooding’s board and lodge were courtesy Mitchell who boarded a plane and came to Guyana so that the young athlete could stay with her teacher’s parents who were Guyanese. In Barbados, she reminisced, “I stayed with the Blackburns.” As I listened to the octogenarian tell of her inability to represent the country any further than Guyana, Barbados, Grenada and the Caribbean because her mother could not afford to send her to run in England, as that was when the onus fell on club and parents to stand the costs, my mind went back to the 70s and 80s. During that period, as executive members of the TT Women’s Hockey Association, we held cake/bake sales at the side of the St James Barracks field, organised hockey queen shows and fetes to send national teams to Caribbean and world tournaments and host tournaments here.

And, I was even more amazed to read in Newsday, June 2, the plea from President Anthony Carmona for support for athletes…

“with the authorities of this country to support national athletes on their journey to success and not wait until they become heroes” –made at the installation ceremony of the executive of the TT Olympic Committee at his office. I realised that the President is unaware of the hardships of as late as the 1980s to train, prepare, outfit and support 15 members, plus staff of a representative hockey team on a minuscule Government subvention, as there was just no money in the national coffers back then.

My plea here is that the powers- that-be making nominations for the Hall of Fame, do some research into this woman sprinter of the 1940s/50s who also taught sports in the primary school system at St Dominic’s Home and St Martin’s School, Belmont, and seek to fulfil her dearest wish – induction into the First Citizens Hall of Fame.