Last week, Sancho’s former Trinidad and Tobago teammate and the club’s coach Stern John made his competitive comeback, at the age of 40.

The decision to use John as a player/coach has been criticised by players and fans of local football, especially as the legendary TT striker is also an assistant to national men’s team coach Dennis Lawrence.

Central FC are currently seventh in the 10-team points standings with 10 points from as many games, and they suffered a resounding 6-0 beating by North East Stars in their last game on Friday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

John was accused by members of the North East Stars team of alleged belittling comments about their skills, as well as their prospects of gaining selection on the national squad.

Sancho, during an interview yesterday, called the issue of John’s return to the competitive arena, as well as his barbs towards the North East players, as a “non story.” He pointed out, “We have a limited squad. It’s well documented.

We have six injuries in the squad.

“He’s fit enough to play and he has the ability still to play.

So he could play.

“I have no problem with that.

He was registered from before anyway. It’s not the first time this has happened.” Sancho continued, “As I’ve said before, the real story is why is this situation occurring, in terms of the League. And I don’t see like anyone wants to address this situation. I don’t know if people are afraid to say that the clubs were promised subventions from the start of the season by the Ministry of Sport. And we’re all in this situation now because of broken promises. So I don’t know what else (people) expect the clubs to do.” Sancho, the former Minister of Sport, admitted that the financial plight have left a number of players disenchanted.

“It’s not much you can do,” he acknowledged.

“You just have to hang on.

And that is what we’ve been doing. We’ve been trying to make sure we can continue.

We have a service to over 300 footballers.

“What would happen if this League crashes? What you think will happen with the crime rate? That is my problem.

This is not about me. This is about young men and football in this country. That is the bigger picture.” Are the club owners trying to mobilise support from within the League to address the subvention issue, as to whether or not it will resume and what alternative measures will be taken? Sancho replied, “The owners have to stop thinking about who want to win the League.

The survival of the League is the most important thing. We haven’t gotten subventions since April.

“That is not fair. That is the number one challenge. Nobody is saying that the League should be hand-and-foot on the Government, but you have to look at what this League brings to this country. This thing has realistic implications.

“I don’t know if it’s a political thing and I don’t care. My main concern is the sportsmen and sportswomen who are struggling to put books in their children’s bags. In terms of the League, we’ll have to re-function.

Central would change our module and be competitive, that’s for sure.”

The two are being afforded armed police protection especially since the man responsible for their condition is also warded at a different section of the hospital and his associates have sent death threats to the child.

The suspect, who tried to commit suicide after stabbing his estranged companion and daughter, remains handcuffed to his bed and is also under police guard.

With the assistance of nurses, the woman was able to leave her bed and visit her daughter’s bedside. “For a moment, they saw each other. The child is not eating properly but she is looking much better,” said a family friend. The child was stabbed in the chest while the mother was stabbed in the chest and hands. Both remain listed as being in serious but stable condition.

The attacker, a 37-year-old PH driver, faces attempted murder charges as well as sexual assault on a minor charges when he is discharged from hospital.

Several friends have expressed concern for the safety of the mother and daughter saying a close male relative of the suspect has vowed to kill the two.

“He was the lookout when the man took a knife and attacked the woman and child. This man is still outside and there is no telling what he can do. All it it takes is one opportunity and their could be two murders in the hospital,” said a relative of the woman.

Last Wednesday at 12.30 am, neighbours were awakened by screams and later saw the woman and her daughter bleeding at the side of the road. Two other children, aged five and ten, were found unharmed in the family house. Hours later, residents found the suspect hiding in some bushes, frothing from the mouth.

They subsequently found his cellular phone which showed communication he had with the male relative who was the lookout. Residents believe this accomplice is in Barrackpore plotting the murders of the woman and her daughter.

Prior to the stabbing incident, the woman applied to the courts for a restraining order against her estranged companion (the suspect).

Hearing of the application was set for this Friday at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court

Saying that film-making is not the exclusive preserve of the young, he keenly noted that one of TT’s current emerging film-makers is a retired public servant.

Urging everyone to break the chains around culture, Ramesar urged, “If you want to get the best film and stories that are out there, you’ve got to spread your net wide.” He noted that Jamaican reggae icon, the late Bob Marley, was born in an obscure little village, Nine Miles, even as it was later noted that TT’s Nobel Laureate author Earl Lovelace lived in far-flung Toco.

Ramesar said that patriotism is not about buying a red, white and black flag, but about respecting all of your fellow citizens and affording them an opportunity.

Animation pioneer Camille Selvon Abraham said her field offers opportunities for autistic students some of whom have already proven themselves in that field.

If institutional support is given, she saw huge potential for animation, saying it would generate many job opportunities for designers, storytellers, musicians and comedians.

Dr Marielle Barrow, a social entrepreneur of the group “Caribbean In Transit” and “This Is Me”, spoke of the challenges she’d faced in helping youngsters from a wide range of backgrounds in the region to be trained in the arts including its business side.

Saying such training also involves a life-skills component for vulnerable youngsters, she said that one must deal with these social issues such as poverty so as to help them reach to a higher level artistically. Phase II ace pannist Yohan Chuckaree asked guests to raise their hands if they knew where to buy a steelpan.

He surmised, “In a roomful of Trinidadians, only five people know where to buy the national instrument.” However on a positive note he said his firm has begun digitally recording samples of local people playing acoustic instruments, including the Laventille Rhythm Section. “A guy sitting on the Eastern Main Road, Laventille is now being used by a music producer in California, or in Asia.” However Chuckaree said the creative sector needs a roadmap, saying, “Export TT wants to help us but doesn’t know where to start.” He said it is a challenge to deal with banks who do not understand how local creators are using e-commerce to sell their innovations overseas.

“We and the corporate sector must start believing in ourselves.

Our culture can stand up on the world stage.” In the question session, Costa Rica Ambassador Lilly Edgerton Picado said TT’s abundance of talent is mind-blowing but she said creative personalities must also face up to the realities of business, such as crafting a business plan and properly pitching the price of their works.

Rudolph Hanamji of the Calabash Foundation asked all present to consider what is the advocacy gap that is preventing long-espoused ideas from bearing fruit?

Director of the Ensafe (Institution for Health, Safety and Counselling Training) and New Vision Learning Centre on Coffee Street in San Fernando Hassim Ali made this announcement on the weekend during a ceremony to hand over food supplies, clothing and pharmaceutical items to be shipped to Dominica.

Ali said the school would offer scholarships to ten students valued $56,000. He said the scholarships would be offered to students in the field of phlebotomy, Nebosh and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSE C) classes. Nebosh is a UK-based independent examination board delivering vocational qualifications in health, safety and environmental practice and management.

Ali said tuition would also cover uniforms, books and extra fees. He said two students would receive the phlebotomy scholarship, three would be selected for the Nebosh course and five would be offered private tuition in different subject areas in CSE C.

Ali said his offer is an open invitation to the Prime Minister and other agencies to meet with him to discuss and finalise details of the proposals.

“It is an open invitation to the Prime Minister to come meet with me as we are willing to open our doors to these students. We are here to help,” Ali said.

Last week Tuesday, Category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica leaving hundreds homeless. At least 17 people were killed while 20 others are still missing and feared dead. Many areas of the island have also been cut off due to damage to roads and other infrastructure.

“It is heart-breaking to know what these people are going through, but they are our neighbours and if you can help your neighbour you should act upon it. If your neighbour roof was blown off I am sure you would want to help, the Dominican nationals are our Caribbean neighbours,” Ali said.

He added that citizens need to open their hearts and remember that giving is divine.

The Ensafe Institution is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago while the New Vision in Learning is recognized by the Education Ministry. Ali said students took money from their pockets to purchase cases of water, tinned food items, clothing and more that would be sent to Dominica.

Police said that at about 10 pm, Jameel Nicholson of Persad Lane, El Socorro was liming at Boundary Road, when a white car stopped in front of him.

Armed men alighted from the car and shot Nicholson, before getting back in and escaping.

The gunshots were heard by residents who alerted police.

When officers arrived, they found Nicholson’s body on the road. His body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy will be done tomorrow, since today is a public holiday. Investigations are ongoing.

This plan would see the reversal of traffic flow on Penitence and Mon Chagrin streets from the main shopping centre on High Street.

Traffic which normally flow from Harris Promenade, down Penitence and across High Street into St James Street, will now flow up Penitence from St James Street and left onto High Street.

The flow on Mon Chagrin Street will be changed from left into St James to High Street, to left from High Street and left onto St James Street.

Encouraged by what he sees as the success of traffic arrangements which went into effect two months ago, San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello said he has studied the plan and is certain it will work.

Regrello said there is a lot of congestion at the High and Penitence streets intersection, when vehicles have to stop on High Street to allow vehicles to cross the road. He said traffic is often backed up to the Promenade and Lower High Street as a result.

“With the new arrangement, vehicles exiting Penitence Street would now be able to turn right onto High Street and make a left into Mon Chagrin. If you drop off someone to do business at one of the two banks at this intersection, First Citizens or Scotia, and there is no place to park, the driver could make a block by going down Mon Chagrin, left onto St James, another left onto Penitence and one onto High Street.

Before you would have had to go all the way up High Street and turn either on the Promenade or on St James Street.” This system was first initiated by former Works Minister Jack Warner but reverted by former Mayor and now Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein.

He said the decision is a culmination of ideas from various stakeholders including taxi drivers.

Regrello said the plan would be reviewed in two weeks’ time. Regrello said he intends to address the traffic congestion caused by parents picking up and dropping off children at Naparima Girls’ High School, which has a student population of close to 1,000.

“That is a nightmare,” the mayor said added that he once stood at the foot of the hill one evening and in a short space of time counted over 300 vehicles going up the hill. He said this creates a back-up on the Vistabella Main Road and Circular Road.

The robbery was only discovered at 9 am yesterday when bank officials received a call that there was a gaping hole at the eastern side of the bank,

When they visited the bank officials saw the hole and on checking found that one of the vaults were cut open and the cash missing. Officers of the Central Division were alerted as well as acting Police Commissioner Harold Phillip,

A team of officers under the supervision of Ag Snr Supt Ajith Persad, head of Port-of-Spain CID, is investigating,

Up to press time, fingerprint experts as well as officers of the Cyber Crime Unit were at the bank continuing investigations,

It remained unclear whether any security officer was on duty when the break in took place,

The stolen money represents deposits from businesses and other business transactions carried out on Friday last,

Bank officials who were at the scene told Newsday they are hoping for a breakthrough in this investigation,

Officials say they believe the people who robbed the bank had information on the location of the vault and which vault to target,

Yesterday, ACP (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw told Newsday he remains confident the crime would be solved and added that the police will be relentless in their efforts to recover the money,

He said that within recent times the Police Service led by himself and Ag Snr Supt Persad have made a series of breakthroughs including the recent robbery at the D’Abadie branch of PriceSmart, two kidnappings and other serious offences under the supervision of acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Deputy Commissioner Harold Phillip,

“I have been in class with Samuel taking his notes. The teachers are making sure that he is comfortable and do not fall behind as they write on the board, they also call out the notes for Samuel. He has been able to keep up with all his classes, so far,” said Modeste .

Although she continues to make the sacrifice for her son, Modeste said they are in desperate need for a student aid to be present at St Anthony’s College. “A student aid was supposed to be provided at the beginning of the school term. It was pushed back to September 11 and still Samuel is presently without one. He is my son, I don’t mind making the sacrifice but I have to take time away from work,” said Modeste, a domestic cleaner .

Samuel has been enjoying his classes at St Anthony’s where he takes an active role by asking questions. Some of his favourite subjects included French, Spanish, visual and performing arts along with integrated science .

“I have been using the laptop I received from (Education) Minister (Terrence) Deyalsingh to do some of my work,” said Williams with a smile .

“The Blind Welfare Association has his textbooks which they are converting to Braille. It is a time consuming process but he would be better equipped when he receives the Braille version of the textbooks,” added Modeste .

An official of the association said that the student aid is for students with special needs, blind and visually impaired and is supplied by the Ministry of Education .

“What we have been informed is that the contracts for these cases have come to an end and they have not been renewed. We at the Blind Welfare Association are aware of 15 children in the public school system who are in need of a student aid .

“These children are at a disadvantage. The association is exploring the possibility when our budget is allocated, to possibly pay for some of the children to get a student aid,” said the association’s chairman Felix Cazoe .

Association CEO Kenneth Suratt said a student aid will dictate the information the teacher is writing on the board into Braille .

“For instance if a map of TT is drawn on ordinary paper, a blind person would not be able to make sense of it but if different gradients and textures of sandpaper is used, that would help .

“Through our welfare department the intervention we are trying to make is to allocate funds towards hiring a few student aids who would also teach the children about mobility and how to move around independently .

We are having a problem converting the textbooks into Braille, as it is a manual process that takes long to do .

“What we are proposing for the ministry is that all the books they are using in the classroom should also have a soft-copy version .

Once there is a soft copy, the child who is blind can use software to read the words to him,” said Suratt .

He added that Samuel should not be an exception, but the norm in regard to the ability of children with special needs and those visually impaired to lead successful lives .

“We are proud of him and we want him to have all the support he needs to be successful,” said Suratt .

The National Policy on Persons with Disability advocates for the disabled to have the same rights and responsibilities and should enjoy equal access to the services available to each and every citizen .

“However, these policies are not law…some are still a draft,” said Cazoe .

“The Ministry of Education must partner with the TTBWA in this regard. We want the best for Samuel, but he one of many visually impaired children who are at a disadvantage,” Suratt said .

Contacted for comment .

Yolanda Morales- Carvalho, the Ministry of Education’s Communications Manager stated that the ministry is working to address the matter .

Last week, during a 20-minute midday trek to purchase lunch, my concern ran on all of the professionals who endure work outside during hot spells and heavy rain.

In that same instance, I witnessed the unfortunate incident of a disgruntled motorist abusing a traffic warden and my heart sank because I know these individuals work hard to maintain order and safety on the streets.

I am looking forward to the amendments for the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act so that these officers can be given the credit and the weight for their manual labour and tireless efforts.

SALLY BAKSH via e-mail

In the open category, Joshua Johnson got his second win of the tournament by defeating Dev Soondarsingh 1-0.

Maro Merritt and Ryan Harper followed suit as they got past their respective rivals, Esan Wiltshire and Frank Yee by 1-0 margins – both earning their second victory in as many days.

Adrian Atwell Winter also won his second match when he battled Ravishen Singh and came out victorious while Kevin Cupid handed David Jones his second 1-0 defeat. Alan-Safar Ramoutar and Isaiah McIntosh drew their match to split the points.

Gabriella Johnson picked up her second win of the tournament in the Women’s category when she triumphed over Shemilah James 1-0. Zara La Fleur recovered from her opening day defeat as she emerged victorious over Sadiqah Razark 1-0.

Amy Ali, who was on a first round bye, held Aditi Soondarsingh to her second draw in the competition as both had to share the points. The battle between Anusha Saha and Shannon Yearwood also ended in a draw while Athena Martin was a mere spectator in the second round as she was on a bye. The 2017 National Chess Finals continues today at the same venue and is scheduled to begin at 2 pm.