The event entitled Kaiso Crosby Kaiso….We Kaiso is being hosted by the WeBeat St. James Live17 committee and is in tribute to its past chairman, the late Earl Crosby .

It is one of the longest running events on the festival calendar, and tonight it will feature some of the top performers .

Among them, popular rapso group 3Canal featuring Wendell Manwarren, Stanton Kewley and Roger Roberts; two former national calypso monarchs Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool) and Chucky (Roderick Gordon); former multiple Soca Monarch winner Super- Blue (Austin Lyons), Explainer (Winston Henry), Crazy (Edwin Ayoung) and Bally (Errol Ballantyne), young LaniK (Jelani Kojo) and entertainers Relator (Willard Harris) and Nikki Crosby .

Errol Ince and the Music Makers will accompanying performers with Errol Fabien serving as master of ceremonies .

Carl Beaver Henderson, who produced the recent successful Tobago Beach Jazz on Turtle Beach, is the producer of tonight’s event, with the assistance of his buddy Robin Imanshah .

He has promised a class and quality show .

Patrons are invited to “walk with their drinks”, as only be non-alcoholic beverages and “street food” will be on sale .

Showtime is 8 pm .

Khan-Lutchman is eyeing the top prize in the women’s physique open after finishing second last year.

Khan-Lutchman, who is in her third year of competing, said she plays close attention to the judges remarks after competitions which she uses as preparation for the next event.

Khan-Lut chman said, “I like to work with criticisms. I got criticisms from the judges, so whatever criticisms I got we worked with that to improve certain areas. For example, they said that the shoulders needed to come up a bit, my back needed to come up a bit, so we worked greatly on those areas.” Khan-Lutchman, who has been preparing for this year’s championships since March 1, said she is ready. “To be honest, preparations were really good.

I am ready – as ready as I can possibly be.” The Claxton Bay resident said she has maintained a strict diet of only fish over the past three months to get the best results from her training.

“My diet had to change completely. I started preparing for the show from the first of March. My diet is basically just fish alone, nothing else. I tend to use tilapia, because it is the sweetest fish to use for this kind of event especially when you have to eat fish alone.” Despite the stringent diet, Khan-Lutchman loves everything about body-building.

“I love the preparation, the dieting. At the end of it when you look at yourself and you see the results of it, that is what I look forward too.” Khan-Lut chman said she often has to fight temptations when she is out with family.

“When I go out with my husband and my son and they have to eat, I will sit there while they eat nice things.

I would just take out a bowl with fish. The temptations are there but I really fight it.” Her husband supports her by eating fish sometimes with her.

Khan-Lutchman, who is 34 years old, explained that after she had her son in 2011, she began to take the sport seriously.

“I was always into fitness. After I had my son, I decided to start doing it competitively.

After I had him I wanted to get all that baby fat down,” she explained

The competition, which runs over seven weeks, is expected to feature approximately 12 teams from various communities, including Valencia, Sangre Grande and Plum Mitan.

The winning team gets a cash prize of $3,500, while those placing second and third will receive $2,500 and $1,500 respectively.

Organisers are expecting an exciting tournament and urged the public to come out and support the cricketers.

The question is who will step up to the challenge of focusing on doing what is right and necessary to bring about the changes we need.

We are burdened with an old colonial- style system of running our affairs.

While we continue to hear about constitutional reform over and over, we persist in operating within an ancient and archaic constitution.

Why are we still fighting up with a “Hollywood-style” Commissioner of Police? These people have been acting all their professional lives in the most critical crime-fighting office in our country. Who will make the change? We have been hearing about term limits, right of recall and local government reform for years.

The talk about campaign finance reform and reforming the parameters of the Elections and Boundaries Commission all seem like political campaign appetizers.

Corruption continues to withhold our economic progress as we probably lose about 20 percent of our budget to corruption.

A budget of $50 billion therefore would mean that $10 billion is lost to corruption every year and never finds itself in productive public sector economic activities.

The main course at the political table however is the promise of diversification of the economy.

People are losing hope that this will ever happen with the support of government intervention.

Now we are feeling the effects of procrastination on these fronts as our livelihoods are all being affected by increases in the cost of living, salary cuts and job losses.

If we as a country depend on the PNM and UNC to fix these longstanding issues, then we may as well prepare to leave things the way they are, to our demise. History is there as evidence to prove that party politics has taken precedence over country and patriotism.

Who will make the change? We citizens must do our part to make these changes by standing up and getting involved in the politics that shapes our society and economy.

RONALD HUGGINS St Joseph

It appears that members of Parliament are so accustomed being chauffeured around that they are unaware of the hazards faced by ordinary citizens on the roads.

The goodly senator referred to a particularly obnoxious one approaching Chaguanas on the southbound carriageway which is a definite hazard. It is blindingly bright and at night completely obliterates the highway behind it. It is truly a wonder that there have not been more accidents at night in this area.

The question arises whether authority for such displays is required from the Highways Division or whether the owners of this billboard are subject to the laws of this country as other citizens.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH Carapichaima

It is not necessarily a new find from my viewpoint, if the exploration well is in the field, but the seismic data from the ocean bottom seismic programme may have helped properly define additional fault segments previously marred by the shallow gas.

These gas pools had probably been held in the “hopper” either due to size, economics, lack of infrastructure or because other attractive sizeable pools existed in other areas. Whatever the case, the drilling seemed to have been done strategically and the announcement was probably timed appropriately during a time when “the country is running out of gas.” Now, finally drilled, the country (media) appears to be in a tizzy to report on the discovery and comment on projections about the future.

Politicians and other contributors seem to be falling over each other in commenting on the gas find.

Be that as it may, there still remains an overarching question as to how the country is going to improve its successful finding of oil and gas.

The answer will definitely not come from cross-border pipelines and agreements nor from existing proved reserves.

There is no space in this short letter to discuss what I had drafted in a previous unpublished letter titled “The art in finding oil and gas” but some of the key items to address in an exploration strategy would include investment, technology and know-how, manpower, bureaucratic support etc.

An aggressive exploration programme is required, we all know, but the will to get it done appears complicated.

I mention technology and know-how as important ingredients but there are other traits needed. Based on published information, the large discoveries worldwide have been getting less and smaller in size. Eni and its partner BP’s giant natural gas discovery in Egypt and the Exxon and its partner Hess’s oil discovery in Guyana are unquestionably different.

While in general the sizes of discoveries are getting smaller and less, it shows that a whole new and different approach needs to be introduced to achieve great things for sustainability and longevity in exploration.

The only hope is that oil finders can get the job done, like Exxon and Eni, and not necessarily the commentators and those with feel-good felicitations who prognosticate on the gas find.

STANLEY RICH WHARTON via email

The general manager title was changed to managing director during Chan’s tenure.

Following his retirement, Chan continued to serve as deputy chairman of Scotiabank until he left the bank in 2004.

Better known as “Ronnie” to his friends, Chan passed away on June 5, reportedly after a long illness.

Scotiabank’s Managing Director Anya Schnoor, said the bank was “truly saddened” to hear that Chan had died.

“He was very instrumental in building the foundation of the bank locally…He was at the helm for 20 years and during this time, helped grow the bank’s operations into one of the strongest financial institutions in TT. He had tremendous foresight and dedication and was loved and respected by all who worked with him. We express deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time,” Schnoor stated.

The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TT Chamber), in extending condolences to the Chan family yesterday, said Chan, “was known within the business community as an innovator and trailblazer in the field of banking, and a man who piloted the bank through the economic recession of the 1980s.” The chamber said Ronnie was “a private man” who was far more than a career banker.

“He served both country and family with dedication and humility. He worked closely with the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago when the decision was taken to float the dollar.

Chan was a founding member of the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago and was the first President of the Institute of Banking and Finance.” Chan was also a founding member of the Silver Stars Steel Orchestra.

“Family was very important to him and he greatly valued the warmth and support of his wife Jacqueline and five children. (Chan) can truthfully be said to have left the country a better place,” the TT Chamber stated.

All the member bands which were successful in the various categories of Panorama were presented with certificates of appreciation for their achievement.

According to Gerard Mendez, chairman of the region, the executive is trying to keep the bands active and will host several events including a Panorama in September. There will be no small, medium and large bands as each band will have 60 players.

This is to be held on Republic Day at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Other activities include a bingo and Pan Under the Stars on June 16.

In his address Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz said the Pan in the Countryside series will continue in July with the first stop in Mayaro. The second stop will be Cedros and then Santa Cruz. The results for the J’Overt Bomb competition is as follow: Single Pan bands Sapophonics 175, Ice Water Ensemble 174, Belmont Hi Larks 165, Laventille Pashphonics 161 and Uni Stars 158.

In the Conventional bands, the judges could not separate Desperadoes and PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars as they both amassed 178 points.

They were followed by Courts Sound Specialist of Laventille 177, Massy Trinidad All Stars 175, Musical Gems Steel Orchestra 173, CAL Invaders 159 and Blue Diamonds 147.

Here are some highlights of the presentation.

“I prefer to stay with the United States and the United Kingdom.

With the exception of jury tampering and serious cases of fraud,” Mark said, “That is the only time they have introduced trial by judge alone. Every thing else is trial by jury.” Contributing to the debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Trial by Judge Alone) Bill in the Senate yesterday, Mark said, “I do not want to be part or seek to become part of those countries.” He said it was in a judge alone trial that, “The iconic Nelson Mandela” was sentenced for life in the cells of Robben Island.

South Africa, under an apartheid regime, he said, established the trial by judge alone for racist reasons.

“We don’t want to be part of that experience,” he said registering his opposition to the bill.

As lawmakers, he said, their first duty as lawmakers is to safeguard the majority against terror, aggression and tyranny of the minority, especially against corrupt governments where they exist.

Mark did not agree with Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, other Government and Independent senators who said the new piece of legislation was providing for an option to the trial by jury.

He said that the bill seeks to amend trial by jury in the Criminal procedures Act in relation to mentally ill persons, to trial by judge alone. His colleagues, including Attorney General Faris Al Rawi who piloted the bill and who spoke before him, Mark said, have quoted extensively Chief Justice Ivor Archie who favours the abolition of trail by jury. Back in June 2012, he said, Al Rawi was against abolishing trial by jury.

Mark said, Al Rawi at the time claimed that trial by judge alone was infringing on citizens constitutional rights, that it was dangerous and that he had a difficulty with it in the criminal justice system.

In 2012, the then People’s Partnership Government, he said, “had brought something (in the Parliament) to abolish trial by jury and we pulled it back because when we went out there the people were against it.” The former Senator, now Attorney General, he said, is singing a different tune by advocating for trial by judge alone.

Cooper and his elder brother Silus led South-East Zone’s T20 champions Nazarite Sports Club to an 82-run victory over Swansea (Vega de Oropouche, Sangre Grande) at the Fairfield ground, Princes Town. Julien, meanwhile, piloted South Zone’s runner-up Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) to a 25-run win over North Zone kings Sweet Revenge at the Brian Lara recreation ground, Santa Cruz.

Cephas Cooper made an attractive 58 that was decorated with seven fours and one six.

He shared a 151-run second wicket stand with Silus who smashed eight sixes and four fours in the topscore of 93 as Nazarite amassed a challenging 196 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.

Cephas also featured among the wickets with two for 15 runs (2 overs) and was supported by Kyle Dorner (3/15), Charlton Charleau (2/37) and Carlos Moore (2/10) as they bowled out Swansea for 114 runs in 16 overs.

Julien, who opened the batting for HYO, struck seven fours and one six and eventually topscored with 55. He featured in a 51-run third wicket partnership with Brian Deosaran (22) and was third out at 86 for three in the 12th over. Adrian Adams also contributed 33 as HYO posted 140 for six in 20 overs.

Despite Sheldon Thomas’ 54, Sweet Revenge ended their challenge on a sour note when they were restricted to 115 for nine in 20 overs.

Shazard Manshoor (3/26) and former national youth player Javed Mohammed (2/14) did the damage.

In the other re-scheduled matches, Central Zone’s champion team Marchin Patriots edged South-West runner-up National MonDesir Organisation (MYO) by eight runs in a tense match at the Avidesh Samaroo ground, Endeavour; South-West champion Progressive Sports Club got the better of Central Zone’s runner- up Chickland Sports Club by five wickets at the James Park, Point Fortin.

Crystian Thurton, who is tipped to captain the Trinidad and Tobago under 19 team, was the leading scorer for Chickland Sports but ended on the losing side when Progressive Sports replied with 135 for five (18.2 overs) in reply to Chickland’s 132 for nine in 20 overs.

There will be three quarterfinals today. HYO will take on Marchin Patriots at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva; Progressive Sports Club will clash with Dinsley Sports Club at James Park, Point Fortin; Nazarite Sports club will battle All Stars Sports at St Julien. All matches start at 6 pm.

Courts InterZone T20 Summarised Scores: At Fairfield Road, Princes- Town: Nazarite Sports Club 196 for 7 in 20 overs (Silus Cooper 93, Cephas Cooper 58; Damien Boney 3/27) thrashed Swansea 114 all out in 16 overs (Amrit Kistow 22, Peter Cedeno 21; Kyle Dorner 3/15, Cephas Cooper 2/15, Charlton Charleau 2/10, Carlos Moore 2/10).

At Brian Lara recreation ground, Santa Cruz: Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) 140 for 6 in 20 overs (Leonardo Julien 55, Adrian Adams 33, Brian Deosaran 22; Joel Sietaram 2/43) beat Sweet Revenge 115 for 9 in 20 overs (Sheldon Thomas 54; Shazard Manshoor 3/26, Javed Mohammed 2/14).

At James Park, Point Fortin: Chickland Sports Club 132 for 9 in 20 overs (Crystian Thurton 48, Joshua Alexis 21; Javed Khan 3/26, Regal Brown 2/21) lost to Progressive Sports Club 135 for 5 in 18.2 overs (Ronnie Goddard 53, Brent Ferris 45).

At Avidesh Samaroo ground, Endeavour: Marchin Patriots 110 all out (Param Rampersad 32, Roshan Parag 19 no; Tariq Abdool 3/5) edged National MonDesir Organisation (NMO) 102 all out Tariq Abdool 69; Ryan Hercules 2/17).

Courts T20 Quarter-Finals today: Hermitage Youth Organisation (HYO) vs Marchin Patriots at NCC, 6pm Nazarite Sports vs All Stars Sports, St Julien, 6 pm Progressive Sports vs Dinsley Sports, James Park, Point Fortin, 6 pm.