Lawrence completed a five-day training camp yesterday morning at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva before selecting the 17 players to head to the US. The final squad for the World Cup qualifier, including the overseas-based players, will be announced in early June.

The players arriving in Denver on Tuesday night include Jan Michael Williams, Marvin Phillip, Adrian Foncette (goalkeepers); Daneil Cyrus, Alvin Jones, Curtis Gonzales, Triston Hodge, Carlos Edwards (defenders); Leston Paul, Nathan Lewis, Hashim Arcia, Hughtun Hector, Jomal Williams (midfielders); Jamille Boatswain, Akeem Roach, Willis Plaza and Shahdon Winchester (strikers).

Also joining the squad later this week are midfielders Khaleem Hyland and Levi Garcia, as well as central defender Sheldon Bateau.

“We’ve got the two games against the US and Costa Rica, so the idea has been to prepare the boys in the best possible way,” said Lawrence, in an interview on the TT Football Association (TT FA) website. “We have had five sessions at home with a group of players who have been able to help us start the preparations. The idea is to get there (Denver) and try to acclimatise as quick as possible so we will be starting work there immediately.

“Seventeen players will be travelling on Tuesday. Some will be coming back because the final squad has not been selected as yet.We expect to have the full contingent on June 4th.” Lawrence continued, “we’ve arranged two closed-door games.

We will play Colorado Rapids in two matches and its suits us because they are a home team there.

It will be a good competitive test for us.” Lawrence said it was vital for the TT squad to believe that they can pull off a positive result in Denver.

“Everyone understands the history shows that it’s not a nice place for us in terms of collecting points but we have to believe that we can go there and get points. We have to go there and be positive and brave as I continue to say. I have tried to emphasise to the boys is that we are leaving here and starting with a point so the idea is we are not going there to give away the point, but instead add to the point that we’ve already got,” Lawrence added.

“When we get to Costa Rica we will deal with that but the idea now is to come away with a positive result in the next game which is against the United States.” The former TT central defender continued, “the main thing is to make sure that from an acclimatisation point that we are well prepared physically. In terms of how we intend to approach the games, we are going to be on the front foot and try to compete with them. We are going to go toe-totoe because I don’t think we can afford to sit back and allow the US to take full control of the game. It’s not going to be easy because historically it’s not a generous place for us to go to but we need to try and start thinking differently now and believe we can go there and accomplish things.”

I am the constituent you gave the name “Mr Unfinished Business.” I am all for property tax.

But can I pay property tax if my house falls into the river? You know I was placed on the emergency list to get a retaining wall, since the year the wall fell at Morne Coco killing that unfortunate woman. Pictures were lodged at your office. Governments have changed and exchanged but still no wall.

Remember you toured my area? Also the councillor promised I would get my wall. Do not tell me to visit your office because he visited you on two occasions, which I think are enough to refresh your memory.

Do not tell me the country has no money. You and I know you can source the material and the villagers can do the project. And yes, I am a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen.

So tell me “godfather” — well, you are christening people — should I pay property tax while my house falls into the river, or get my wall, pay the tax and say “great is the PNM and it shall prevail?” I can be contacted 364-2888 or 622-9605.

WILLIAM AUSTIN Maraval

In blistering heat we patiently waited our turn either to have our property tax documents processed, to seek clarification about the items on the form, or simply to deposit them. This in the face of no clear notices or assistants to guide us to the appropriate line.

I do not know what the situation was in the other Valuation Division offices throughout Trinidad but surely any caring government sensitive to the needs of its citizenry, especially the older citizens — incidentally who outnumbered the other age cohorts in the lines — would have considered the setting in using this venue.

More and more as I get older, I recognise that many among the political and business elite consider us as mere digits to any transaction. It is no wonder that washroom facilities are minimal or non-existent in public spaces and offices and at banks, that no preferential treatment is provided when we queue to use public transport or to attend public events and that ramps and rails are still a novelty.

Maybe our voices are too tired to be heard, but one must remember that the level of our civilization is judged by the manner we treat our children and old people. Surely we have a long way to go but to put it crudely, at this time, we are eating our children and old people.

LENNOX BERNARD via emai

There are two joint select committee public hearings tomorrow. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meets in the J Hamilton Maurice Room of Tower D at 10.30 am to discuss concerns raised in the Auditor- General’s Report with respect to the Land Settlement Agency, for the period 2008 to 2009.

At 10 am, the Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities Committee meets in the ANR Robinson Meeting Room to deal with operations of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA). The House of Representatives sits at 1.30 pm on Friday to debate a private motion on crime.

According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation in the USA, a brain aneurysm also referred to as a cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm, is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery very much like a thin balloon or weak spot on an inner tube. The foundation explained that over time, the blood flow within the artery pounds against the thinned portion of the wall and aneurysms form silently from wear and tear on the arteries.

Most aneurysms produce no symptoms and may only be found during tests for another usually unrelated condition. The brain foundation admits that symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm often come on suddenly. If you have any of these symptoms and/or notice them in someone you know, notify the medical emergency services immediately – a sudden severe headache that is different from the norm, neck pain, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, fainting or loss of onsciousness or seizures.

Based on medical research studies, it is unlikely that you are born with a cerebral aneurysm; they usually develop as you advance in age and are more prevalent in women. Research further suggests that in the brain, causes are linked to specific factors including traumatic injury such as a blow to the head, an infection termed a mycotic aneurysm, a hereditary predisposition, cigarette smoking and hypertension or high blood pressure, use of drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines and certain blood vessel disorders, fibromuscular dysplasia, cerebral arteritis and arterial dissection.

In the same way that we take precautionary measures to protect and nourish our bodies, the same approach must be used to protect and nourish our brain. Starting with our food intake which should include whole foods such as fish, nuts and vegetables rich in vitamins, nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Ensuring that you get enough sleep is critical to good health, as inadequate sleep contributes to brain decline and may also increase your risk of Alzheimer’s.

Establishing a bedtime routine sleep schedule puts you on the right track in both resting and protecting your brain.

A regular exercise routine is also important as it protects against brain ageing and improves mental function. Prolonged periods of stress are also harmful to the brain, as you may experience fatigue, poor concentration and memory loss. Remember your brain is as equally important as your mind, body and soul so treat it well! Sandrine Rattan is a communications/branding consultant, author and president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN). Contact: thecorporatesuitett@gmail.

com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com or 283-0318

Duprey, who initially accepted liability, is now calling on John to provide proof and says even so, his claim has been filed out of time. Duprey had to convince Justice Frank Seepersad that he could change his defence and he did so.

In a ruling yesterday, Seepersad said the court could not prohibit Duprey from relying on a defence of limitation because of the position expressed previously.

The judge said the court had the jurisdiction and discretion to resolve the issue which is fair and just especially since the provisions of the Civil Proceedings Rules were silent on the course of action to be adopted in Duprey’s case.

He suggested that the Rules Committee should urgently address the issue as he said “there should always be a commitment to ensure that the provisions of the CPR are unambiguous and specific.” Seepersad will now proceed with Duprey’s contention that the claim is statute barred as a preliminary issue.

At a previous hearing, when John’s lawsuit came up for hearing at the Hall of Justice in Portof- Spain, Duprey’s lawyer Michael Coppin indicated that his client wanted to withdraw his initial position of having accepted liability.

Coppin said his client’s defence was now based on the statute of limitation while Industrial Commercial Development (Trinidad) Limited – which John is also suing – has amended its defence on a breach of contract principle.

In his lawsuit, John, who was a former government minister, said around 2012, Duprey, on various occasions, requested loans which he provided. He said there was an oral agreement between them for Duprey to repay the monies loaned.

John also alleged that Duprey used ICDL as a shell company to avoid personal liability.

In all, John said he loaned Duprey $5,166,125.60 and used his property to secure the amounts he borrowed from the bank. He also provided a table of wire transfers he made to Duprey’s bank account in Florida over the period March 2012 to September 30.

John said he was expected to be repaid in October 2013, pending a real estate transaction but he received no money. He also said in January 2015, Duprey acknowledged the loan amount and assured he would repay John when he sold his 418,880 shares in MotorOne Insurance Company which is owned by ICDL.

According to John, ICDL had entered into a sale agreement for the sale of Duprey’s shares in MotorOne in December 2015, and he was expected to receive an initial $24 million with the balance to be paid over one year.

He said even with the deposit of $12 million paid to Duprey for the sale of MotorOne shares, he (John) was not paid as promised.

He also said he has learned that there has been a revision of the terms of the MotorOne share sale with Duprey set to receive more than $54 million.

Although admitting the situation has been compounded by pending legal action relating to the MotorOne sale share agreement and a dispute as to the directorship of ICDL, John says there are no other assets known to him in Duprey’s name in Trinidad and Tobago and he is concerned that he will not receive the money owed to him.

Fr Bonnie Anthony Abraham, an ordained priest, performed the last rites and delivered the homily for his father who passed away last week Tuesday at age 77.

Brigo, veteran calypsonian and actor, died from complications arising from a stroke he suffered a few days before. He was also said to be suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Abraham said he and his siblings were honoured to be called Brigo’s children saying they were taught many family values as children.

He urged the packed congregation to take care of their children no matter what was happening in the home, or in society.

“Fathers take care of your sons, mothers take care of your daughters.

Long ago young people would follow old people’s funerals, now today that has turned around. We are burying too many of our young people.

“The answer is not the political parties, but it is the family. There must be unity within the family again,” he said.

Abraham said he was introduced to spirituality by his father, and even did his thesis at the seminary based on his father’s works.

“Daddy had a love of neighbour and he would stop and talk with everybody, and he had a passion for the art form. He was willing to sacrifice family for the art form.

“My father had little or no certification, but you would be amazed by how much education he had. Today, I want to recognise a woman who stood by my father during so much, my mother (Joyce Snaggs),” Abraham said as he called on his mother to stand.

After receiving a whipping for stealing the neighbour’s mangoes when he was a child, and blaming his sister, Charmaine, Abraham said he learned a lesson for life.

“Don’t take people’s things and put it in your pocket. Daddy taught me values. We live in a world that is very selfish. We need to go back to the old time days and remember the values we were taught,” he said.

Abraham said his father was in no way perfect, but he recognised his failures.

“My father was a gifted man. He was shy in personality, but when he went on stage he was transformed.

Do not wait until a person dies to sing their praises, do it while they are alive. Don’t give up on yourself, believe in your life.

You were born for a purpose and my hope is that my father’s legacy will live on,” he said.

Abraham said he would turn his thesis into a book to preserve Brigo’s legacy.

He also called on the congregation to “dig deep” in their pockets when the collection baskets were passed around at the end of the service.

“My father’s passion was to help others. Dig deep in your pockets, not for the church nor the family, but for TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation) so they can give it to the next calypsonian who is ailing or sick.

“My father died a lonely death.

We need to look out for calypsonians more. When we see them we need to ask them how we can help,” Abraham said.

Brigo’s body was later interred at the D’Abadie Public Cemetery.

Attorneys for the Commissioner of Valuations and the Attorney General had hoped for an urgent hearing yesterday of their appeals against Justice Frank Seepersad’s order last Friday, which they sought to have reversed.

Despite strong entreaties by the State’s attorneys, the three appellate court judges selected to hear the appeals said they were not prepared to hear matters yesterday and instead adjourned it to June 6.

Orders were given for the filing of submissions and supporting authorities by May 26 and 31.

Senior Counsel Russell Martineau, who leads a team of lawyers for the Commissioner, had asked Justices of Appeal Peter Jamadar, Gregory Smith and Judith Jones to treat the appeals as urgent since Government was seeking to get on with raising revenue to conduct the business of the country.

“We have legislation on the books which must be put into effect,” Martineau submitted, to which Jamadar questioned: “the government was willing to do nothing for eight years but now wants to do something?” “The financial uncertainty of the State has changed in the last few months… It is a reality of fact,” Martineau countered. “It is of great urgency for the Government that this thing is clarified as soon as possible,” the senior attorney added. Among the State’s contentions are that the judge’s order last Friday, was confusing and ambiguous.

“The people do not know what the order means. It is difficult to understand. It is uncertain,” Martineau said.

“It is confusing, vague and in the minds of the public, it does not make sense…The Commissioner of Valuations does not know what to do,” he said. Lead counsel for the Attorney General, Fyard Hosein SC, said the order was a, “recipe for confusion.” But former attorney general Anand Ramlogan SC (who represents his former ministerial colleague Devant Maharaj who last Friday successfully sought the stay) yesterday said government had over two years to implement the property tax so they cannot now say it was “so urgent.” He insisted that Justice Seepersad’s order last Friday was “abundantly clear”, adding that while things may now be financially hard for government, it is equally hard on the population.

He also said his client (Devant Maharaj) wanted to keep his money.

A separate appeal to have the matter heard yesterday was also made by Senior Counsel Deborah Peake, who also appears for the Commissioner, but she was shot down by Justice Jamadar who did not budge on the adjourned date given (June 6) and was insistent that he and his colleagues were, “not in a position to give fair and judicious consideration”, to the appeals until all submissions and authorities were filed and they (the judges) had an opportunity to read them.

A concession of sorts was also granted by allowing attorneys an hour to make oral submissions although this is not done in procedural appeals such as what was filed by the State.

Justice Seepersad’s decision last Friday came a month after the population was informed, via press release, that they would begin receiving the Property Tax forms in the mail, which were to be filled out and submitted to Valuation Division centres before a May 22 deadline.

This was met with strong opposition by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other sections of the public.

However, following a rush by property owners to meet the initial deadline, which resulted in long lines at the centres, Finance MInister Colm Imbert last week announced an extension to June 5.

The tax is expected to bring in about $500 million in revenue for Government, according to Imbert. Ramlogan has contended that the entire approach to enforcing the tax was unconstitutional, illegal and ultra vires. He also contends that implementation of the tax was being undertaken without enactment of necessary legislation and/or without amendments to the existing statutory framework.

He said property owners were being compelled by force to submit the VRF forms with a threat of prosecution if they failed to do so.

Contacted yesterday, Port Authority chairman Allison Lewis confirmed that she received a letter from Tobago Chamber chairman Demi John Cruickshank requesting a meeting to discuss these issues.

Lewis said the meeting with the Tobago Chamber will take place at 1 pm in Tobago.

This was confirmed by a Chamber official who indicated the venue for the meeting will be the Chamber’s offices on Milford Road, Scarborough.

The team have performed consistently well throughout the League, defeating Fatima College, QRC, Diego Martin North Secondary, Trinity College, Tranquility Secondary and Success Laventille Secondary.

During the past two seasons, St Mary’s have featured two teams in the League due to the numbers of players who participate in the training sessions.

There is an ‘A’ side comprising of Form Two and Form Three students, and the ‘B’ side which is made up of mostly Form One students. The ‘A’ side is captained by Matthew Gittens who has been having a fantastic 2017 season, accumulating over 600 .

runs and taking over 25 wickets; the highlight being back-toback centuries (110 and 122 not out) in successive days – one in an Under-14 game and the other in an Under-16 game.

Other outstanding performers for the team include Gerard Chin, Abdur-Rahmaan Juman and Suraj Rampersad.

Chin has over 300 runs for the season and has been fantastic behind the stumps taking over 15 dismissals. Juman has been a genuine all rounder – batting in the middle order, opening the bowling and possessing a good economy rate while Rampersad is a consistent wicket-taker, with three five-wicket hauls; with a best of five wickets for four runs against Fatima ‘A’. The team have consistently bowled teams out for less than 30 runs, the lowest being 14 all out.

Apart from their cricketing exploits, the academic aspect of the team has been high with all the boys performing exceptionally well in their school work.

Coach Aaron Kurbanali, a past student of St Mary’s, also serves as a role model for the players, as he demonstrates the balance between sports and academics (he is also a practicing attorney- at-law).

According to school principal Nigel Joseph, “we are pleased that he has chosen to “give-back” to his alma mater, his time, skills and whatever it takes to prepare the winning team.

“The team have moved on to the National Playoffs where they will face Hillview College in the semi-finals,” he added.