Malta Carib Surf Fishing at Manzanilla on Sunday

ALL looks set for the big Malta Carib Fun Surf Fishing Tournament on Sunday May 16 at Manzanilla. The competition, in only its second year, is organised by Latiff Hosein of LS Hosein Supermarket Limited of Old Southern Main Road in Montrose, near Chaguanas. Hosein said he conceptualised the contest in an effort to bridge the communication gap between parents and their children in an atmosphere of healthy fun in the great outdoors. “We wanted to get more bonding between sons and their fathers initially but found that the event also attracted mothers and their daughters also and they were also welcomed,” said Hosein yesterday.

Entry into the competition is keenly tied into this objective as the main participant must be accompanied by a child under-15. Hosein, who is organising the second annual competition with the help of a hardworking committee said fabulous prizes will be at stake comprising attractive hampers, fishing gear, trophies and medals. Apart from the main sponsor, Malta Carib the contest is also getting support from Newsday newspaper, Dairy Diary powdered milk, Blue Water bottled water, Southern Wholesale Stores Limited and Pepsi. Hosein gave the assurance that the stretch of beach at the 24-mile mark at Manzanilla has already been booked and arrangements are in place to provide safety with life guards on duty, toilet facilities and First Aid/Ambulance service on standy-by.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to be ready for any eventuality and to provide the best for the competitors, their friends and onlookers spending the day with us on Sunday,” said Hosein. However he stressed that the day essentially will belong to the parent/child teams who will be engaged in keen competition in different categories. “If we spend more time with our children we can impart on them real values that will help them be better persons and citizens. We have to take the time out to be with them and for them,” Hosein said yesterday. He said the scourge of violence and crime that currently blights Trinidad and Tobago can be reduced and even eradicated.

“The process has to start somewhere and we believe that parents must take the initiative. We are using the fun sport of surf fishing to demonstrate that it can be an effective tool to make a more peaceful and beautiful island,” said Hosein. He said apart from the noble ideals of the competition organisers, the participants can look forward to winning the attractive prizes at stake for the outstanding surf fishers. Hosein said he is once again counting on his assistants in the Organising Committee to pull off another successful competition which in its inaugural year in 2003 won plaudits as the best ever contest of its kind.