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.”

In a media statement, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) advised customers in parts of Central and South- West Trinidad about a disruption in their normal water supply from Saturday last to tomorrow. Production at the Plant has been reduced from 40 million to 10 million gallons per day (mgd), while the repairs are being carried out.

The affected areas include: Caroni, Felicity, Charlieville, Cunupia, Chaguanas, Chase Village, Carapichaima, Endeavour, Montrose, Point Lisas, Couva, Claxton Bay, Vistabella, Marabella, Gasparillo, San Fernando, Gulf View, Duncan Village, Pleasantville, Union Hall, La Romaine, Palmiste, Phillipine, Woodland, South Oropouche, Rousillac, Avocat, Fyzabad, parts of Siparia, De Gannes Village, Debe and parts of Penal.

WASA stated that to manage the deficit caused by the disruption at the Desal Plant, an amended water supply schedules had been implemented while a redistributing water from the Navet Water Treatment Plant and Point Fortin Desalination Plant had also been enacted.

“Customers are further advised to manage their water use efficiently, as it may take 12 to 24 hours for the supply to normalize to some affected areas, after the Plant returns to full operation,” WASA stated. “A limited truck-borne water service will be available with priority given to schools, health care institutions and special homes,” WASA stated.

The Desalcott is a single purpose entity originally formed in 1999 to sell desalinated sea water to WASA on a build and own operate basis. In November 2012 an Amended Water Sale Agreement was signed with WASA for Desalcott to expand its plant to produce 40 mgd. This increased supply is expected to allow WASA to further supplement its supply of potable water to residents and businesses in South Trinidad.

D DALTON via email

The question that immediately arises is, “Are the countries of the Caribbean prepared to execute this measure without disadvantaging anyone?” Of more import to us of course is whether or not Trinidad and Tobago is currently positioned to implement e-testing successfully.

This question has arisen at this time since in Trinidad and Tobago the process of running pilot e-testing has begun. While there may be many benefits to e-testing, we cannot do like we have done with potentially beneficial innovations in the past and put the cart before the horse.

If e-testing is to be successfully implemented then we must proceed with caution and ensure that all systems are in place, because the one thing we want to avoid is institutionalising further disadvantages into the education system.

In this regard, TTUTA, drawing on research and discussions in other jurisdictions desirous of implementing any form of online assessment, would like to highlight the various areas to which careful consideration must be given to ensure that this innovation would be fair and equitable to all students, whether located in Toco, Cedros, Charlotteville or Port-of-Spain.

These include access to sufficient bandwidth, access to devices, changes in school schedules, test administration, professional development, technical support and needs assessment and planning.

An initiative such as this cannot be expeditiously implemented without proper consideration of the foregoing factors.

The following questions need to be asked: *Is there adequate bandwidth (in terms of speed and access) across the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that in spite of a student’s location they have an equal opportunity to successfully completing the examination? *Do children have access to devices whether at school or home to support e-testing? * If only carried out at the level of the school, have we considered the necessary student-to-device ratio that will be needed to successfully conduct the examination? *Do we have the capacity to administrate such an examination? *Have our teachers been adequately prepared to create and use digital content, manage online relationships and collaborate within an online community? *How about ongoing technical support, funding and planning? The foregoing are just a few of the questions that need answers before we can proceed with full implementation of this initiative.

We recognise that there are some quarters that may construe the association as being opposed to advancing new technologies and innovations in education.

However, this is far from the case. Our experience has taught us to be vigilant and very cautious when the Ministry of Education embarks on any innovation in education, because in most instances it is fuelled by expedience rather than the best interests of our students, contrary to its usual pronouncements.

TTUTA cannot be silent while the ministry attempts to blindly follow the dictates of a service provider that seems to forget that it is in fact in the employ of the citizens of the country and the region.

We acknowledge that there are some benefits to e-testing. Nevertheless, we are convinced that without the necessary infrastructure in place, e-testing can have the affect of entrenching a class system based on privilege, prestige and location.

As the former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador of TT and former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador I can say, without a doubt, that the Conservative Party is the way to real global development.

The UK election comes at a time when Europe is redefining itself, when the world is adjusting to US President Donald Trump, North Korea is unstable as usual, the Chinese economy continues to grow and India is climbing onto the world leadership ladder due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s innovation.

Therefore the world needs a strong UK and that is only possible with a Conservative Government.

The Conservative Party has made amazing strides within the past five years, such as reducing its debt burden, creating effective education opportunities and fashioning a stable economy.

As a matter of fact, only last week the UK recorded its lowest unemployment rate in over 20 years.

Much credit must go to former prime minister David Cameron but a lot more must go to the Conservative Members of Parliament and the think tank which have delivered a very stable, successful and sustainable UK in the past five years.

However, if this was a football match and Cameron had scored the opening goal, then Prime Minister Theresa May would have just headed home two more goals and would complete her hat-trick on June 8.

What has been most impressive about May besides her humility is her vision and her steadfast approach to development. In essence, May knows where she wants to go and she is taking the UK to the promised land.

As a political leader, May is dedicated, committed and well suited if not perfectly prepared for the rough global world we face. May has the opportunity to not only be one of the best prime ministers the world has seen but one of the best leaders ever. Testament to her inspiration is the number of female and youth candidates taking part in the election.

Given the fact the most nations in the Caribbean were former colonies of the British Empire, we have often benefited from the expertise, assistance and guidance of the UK. In a post-Brexit world a number of opportunities open up for the Caribbean and UK to build upon pending the election of a stable and well visioned government.

So a stronger UK with a Conservative government led by May works for a better global community, especially for the Commonwealth.

A UK governed with vision, principles and proper etiquette which the Conservatives seek to offer present a world of opportunity for us in the Caribbean as it relates to strengthening our diplomatic and trade relations.

There is no doubt the election of a Conservative government on June 8 will be in the world’s best interest.

NICHOLAS MORRIS via email

The show is scheduled for May 27 at 7.30pm at the The Creative Arts Centre, Circular Rd, San Fernando. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the shipping of indentured labourers to the country.

Written and directed by Walid Baksh the play features Hubert Ramlal, Adesh Deonarine, Willard Gopaul, Candace Mathura and Juliana Mohammed.

On March 12, 1917, the recruitment of labourers in India was suspended. Then on March 27, 1917 the Viceroy of India proclaimed that the transport of natives out of India by sea for labour in any other country shall cease immediately.

The transport was stopped but the contracts of indentureship were still in force.

The last ship sailing to the West Indies was the SS Ganges with 421 on board but with seven died on the trip.

That ship bringing the last indentured labourers from India landed in Trinidad on Sunday, April 22, 1917.

Tickets at $125 are on sale at the venue

As he presented a timeline of events as it relates to the assignment of the case to them, Justice Jamadar said it was not for him or fellow Justices of Appeal Gregory Smith and Judith Jones to investigate what transpired in the 48 hours preceding yesterday’s hearing.

Justice Jamadar was responding to concerns raised by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan SC, questioning whether Government had ‘privileged access’ to information based on secret information with and unfair access to the court, after Attorney General Faris Al Rawi announced in Parliament on Friday night that the matter was, “being appealed and is on for 9 am on Monday.” Ramlogan said this was said even as the Registrar of the Supreme Court and Manager of the Registry of the Court of Appeal on Saturday denied that an appeal had been filed and a hearing set for yesterday. He also questioned how Al Rawi was able to say Justice of Appeal Mendonca had confirmed he would hear the State’s appeal on an urgent basis yesterday, and why then, did the composition of the panel change to the quorum comprising Justices Jamadar, Smith and Jones. Ramlogan has written to the Registrar seeking answers but brought the matter to the court’s attention at the start of the hearing yesterday, saying it was important to the administration of justice that the process be transparent and there was frank disclosure to avoid any further undermining of the public’s confidence. He called for an investigation on the issue.

In response to Ramlogan, Justice Jamadar said while the court had no problem with the issue being raised, as Ramlogan was entitled to do so, it was not for them to undertake any investigation. He said the appropriate person was the Registrar whom he expects will respond to Ramlogan’s letter.

“…Until there is a full investigation, it would be injudicious and improper for us to come to a conclusion on what has been raised,” Jamadar said, adding that it was not within the court’s province to undertake any investigation into the matter.

He put on record that he was notified at 7 pm on Saturday, that there were two appeals panels sitting and since the other was overburdened with over ten procedural appeals, he received the agreement of Smith and Jones, to preside over the State’s applications. Jamadar added that also on Saturday night, they received via email, drafts of the application and were notified that Mrs (Deborah) Peake, who appeared for the Commissioner of Valuations on Friday last, gave an undertaking that the appeal will be filed on Monday.

“I can say no more or less. The rest is for others to deal with,” Jamadar said. Jamadar added they did not know what the AG said in Parliament nor did it concern them, as he made it pellucidly clear, “nobody runs our court!”

The former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) yesterday ‘arrested’ an armed man and in so doing foiled what could have been a murder after another man, bleeding badly, ran to Santana’s front gate and said he was being pursued by a man who wanted to kill him.

In an ironic twist, it was later learnt that the suspect is a businessman who was robbed at his home by the man who Santana rescued yesterday and who was only released from prison last week after posting bail for the alleged crime. He remains warded at hospital in critical condition suffering from gunshot wounds while the businessman remains in custody.

According to reports, at 11.25 am yesterday, the 29-year-old businessman was driving his white Toyota Hilux van along Husa Trace in Mayo when a silver Lancer car driven by the robbery accused, now out on bail, stopped in front of the Hilux and the man alighted from the car. The businessman is said to have shot the other in his leg and stomach, forcing him to run back to the car and drive off with the businessman in hot pursuit.

The wounded man drove six miles all the way to retired ACP Santana’s home in Gasparillo.

He ran out of the car, his clothes drenched in blood and called out to Santana. “I was in my yard when this car pulled up in front my gate and a man covered in blood came out and fell in front my gate as he called for help. I rushed to him and he said a man had just shot him in Mayo and he was trying to escape but the man was following him.

He gave me the man’s name and vehicle number before he slipped into unconsciousness,” Santana told Newsday.

He said that because the shot man’s car was parked almost in the middle of the road, other vehicles were unable to pass.

The driver of the Hilux soon arrived. At this point, Santana recognised the license plate number as they one given to him by the shooting victim. Santana said he drew his licensed firearm and approached the driver of the Hilux.

“I searched him and found a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol in the crotch area of his pants,” Santana said. The firearm had six rounds in its magazine. By this time, officers from the Gasparillo police station arrived and handcuffed the businessman whose unlicensed firearm was also seized. The shot man was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital. Police said that the businessman was robbed at his Mayo home of hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewellery, cash and household valuables by a gunman.

Commenting on the crime situation, Santana said, “things are now good and it does not seem to be getting better. I am calling on citizens to support the police however you can.

The police alone cannot fight crime.” The wellknown officer said that despite being recently retired, he is still willing to serve his country in whatever way he can if so called to do.

The suspect is expected to be charged with a number of offences including attempted murder, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

The shooting victim’s car, which was riddled with bullets, remains impounded. Detective Constable Castillo is investigating.

One person, who declined to give his name, but who was holding a brown envelope, said he had travelled from La Romaine and was informed by a security guard that, “everything closed off until further notice.”

Another man, who was seated under a tent placed in front of the office, said he was of the view that although the matter was due to be heard on June 6 at the Court of Appeal, the office should be opened still to those in the public who want to voluntarily submit their valuation forms. Another said that persons at the valuation office were refusing to answer queries from the public as to why they were not accepting the forms.

“They not advising you, they not telling you anything, so we are just sitting there. Some people just left while others like myself are hanging around hoping someone can tell us somthing,” a man said.

Nanan was hospitalised after complaining of feeling unwell on Wednesday last. A blood clot was discovered in his head and he died at the San Fernando General Hospital on Thursday, two weeks after celebrating his 59th birthday on May 5.

His funeral service was held at his home in Exchange Lots, Couva, yesterday morning after which his body was cremated at the Mosquito Creek Cremation site in La Romaine.

He was given a military funeral and among those at his home and the ceremation site were those officers who graduated with him from the Police Training Academy at the St James Barracks.

His son Andre remembered him as a bird lover, a hard worker, and the co-ordinator of all of their family gatherings.

Nanan’s legacy culminated in his latest promotion to being Senior Superintendent, the most decorated responsibility of his being the lead investigator into the “emailgate” scandal of 2013.

Speaking briefly during the service, Commissioner Williams said “During his last few years in the service, he (Nanan) would have been the main investigator in one of the highest profile investigations seen in the country over recent times.” Williams celebrated Nanan as a model example of the police service.

And so did National Security Minister Dillon. “I remember some time ago he reminded me, when he was an honour guard, I was a young officer then. At one of the inspections, because we had to inspect guards before the Prime Minister came out, I remember giving him a good turnout. A good turnout, ladies and gentlemen, is one where you couldn’t be checked for anything because you were dressed so impeccably.

There was nothing the inspecting officer could have checked you for.” Dillon said Nanan lived the values of the service and he did so with pride before extending his condolences to Nanan’s family. Nanan is survived by his wife, Lystra Nanan, a police sergeant, and his son Andre.