As she outlined all of the provisions of this Standing Order, Annisette- George stated, “I have previously ruled that our continuous concern about heinous crime does not satisfy the requirements of this rule and I stand by my ruling.” She explained that to qualify as an definite matter of urgent public importance for the House to set aside its normal business, an issue must have suddenly arisen, is specific in nature and is of current national concern.

“While serious crime is undoubtedly a public concern and therefore satisfies the third requirement, it does not satisfy the other two requirements due to the broad scope and ongoing nature of the issue,” stated Annisette- George. She reminded the Opposition that it has filed a motion in the name of Naparima MP Rodney Charles that deals with the issue of murders and all MPs will each have a total of 45 minutes under the Standing Orders to contribute to that debate.

Charles’ motion is the last of five private motions listed on the Order Paper for debate.

At last month’s Private Members Day sitting of the House, debate began on a motion by Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh on employment.

The Opposition has the ability to suspend debate on one private motion in favour of another on Private Members Day

However CAB “remains concerned” about the number of Caribbean countries who do not yet have IGAs in force and is therefore renewing its “call for Caribbean countries to enact the necessary legislation for the implementation of FATCA.” CAB warned that “failure to do so has far reaching implications for banks in terms of an increase in sovereign risk and its impact on their ability to conduct business.” In a statement issued on Tuesday, CAB added that it’s important to note that if a country does not have an IGA in force, “domestic financial institutions in that territory will have to establish an individual agreement with the US Government at significant cost, which may have to be passed on to their customers.” CAB reminded that failure to become FATCA compliant by the deadline given for each territory will result in a 30 percent withholding tax on any “payment of interest, dividends, rents, royalties, salaries, wages, annuities, licensing fees and other FDAP (Fixed, Determinable, Annual or Periodic) income, gains and profits, if such payment is from sources within the US.” Additionally, any gross proceeds from the sale or disposition of US property of a type that can produce interest or dividends and certain foreign pass-through payments will be liable to the 30 percent tax withholding.

CAB is a community of banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean Region, which proactively influences issues impacting the financial services sector through advocacy, education and networking.

The Bill activates treaties between TT and other States to exchange information for the purposes of taxation and validates the sharing of personal information held by the Board of Inland Revenue or financial institutions.

The Committee is inviting all stakeholders and interested persons to submit written comments/ suggestions/recommendations related to the consideration of the Bill.

The deadline for submissions is February 10. Written submissions can be sent by email to , or forwarded to “The Secretary, Joint Select Committee on Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill 2016, Office of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, Levels G-9, Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, 1A Wrightson Road, Portof- Spain.

In a statement, ATTIC said it was pleased the debate was taking place, but said although it was involved in the bill’s development, “The current economic climate has however exposed some weaknesses in the original Bill as drafted and the opportunity should be taken to make the appropriate amendments.” ATTIC recommended the bill should be sent to a joint select committee with a deadline of no more than three months to report back to Parliament. The association said it “fully supports the expeditious passage of the bill and regulations, which in our opinion will protect the interests of policyholders, strengthen corporate governance, raise the standards of professionalism within the industry, and improve accountability

A relative said that for years he and others had warned the suspect about his drinking problem and begged him to seek help. “He would not listen to us.

He is a very nice person but as soon as he takes one drink, he turns beast. He becomes abusive and curses you…he becomes violent. It is like the Devil himself. He becomes an entirely different person,” the relative said.

The suspect’s father, during an interview on Thursday, said: “I was not there to see what happened to this young woman when she left in company with my son, but I know my son’s habits and I know his behaviour when he drinks. I saw him drinking that day,” the man said. He added that from age 17, his son began to abuse alcohol.

On the day Simms was last seen alive (last Saturday) the suspect brought Simms to his home and introduced her to his relatives.

“People are looking at us, giving us bad eye, but we are not criminals, we have nothing to do with this young lady’s death.

I saw her, she seemed like a really nice girl. When she was leaving, she was smiling and waved and said goodbye to all of us,” the suspect’s father said.

The man said it hurts when he considers what Simms’ family are going through right now.

On Wednesday, Simms’ decomposing body was found in a shallow grave in Santa Flora.

An autopsy done Thursday proved inconclusive as decomposition was so advanced, the pathologist could not identify a specific cause of death.

Tissue samples were taken from Simms’ body for tests in an effort to ascertain cause of death.

Funeral arrangements are ongoing. Simms left her Rampersad Trace, Rochard Road, Penal home last Saturday to meet with a man who promised to help her find a job.

This was the argument put forth by Dr Rudolph Ottley, owner and manager of the only all-female calypso tent Divas Calypso Cabaret International (Divas) at the tent’s opening night on Wednesday at De Nu Pub (Mas Camp Pub), French Street, Woodbrook.

“Somewhere along the way, all of the tents, including TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation), have all become businesses; there’s limited space for the young aspiring calypsonian.

So when you go to the tents, you find almost the same cast of people, one or two (new ones) may slip in each year (but) there’s really not a feeding ground for the young aspiring calypsonian, except for those who may venture into the community tents or who may venture into Divas,” Ottley declared.

Turning his attention to TUCO President, Lutalo ‘Brother Resistance’ Masimba, who was seated in the front row, Ottley said, “I’m saying this to try and send a message to my president.” “TUCO needs to also embark on a conscious mission of ensuring that a cadre of young aspiring calypsonians are included in each of its tents on a regular basis,” Ottley continued, “because it’s the only way they’re going to reach the status of a Sparrow, a Brigo…a Calypso Rose.” “Unless they mix with that group of (experienced) people, they’re going to continue to fall by the wayside (or) give up calypso and go into soca because there’s something that seems to be blocking the young aspiring calypsonian from moving into the calypso tents, which is the main avenue for establishing themselves,” Ottley stated.

Earlier during the formal opening of the 2017 edition of Divas, the TUCO president issued a call of his own — for calypso tents to be seen as cultural businesses ventures.

“We must find a way to understand that the documents that calypsonians produce will (show) us a way forward here in Trinidad and Tobago.

In doing so,” Masimba argued, “we would understand that when somebody has a calypso tent…it’s not just a situation of leisure, that a calypso tent is a business unit and the same way we could accommodate other business units in other aspects of industry in this country, we should also find ways to accommodate the calypso tent production.” Masimba also spoke about the importance of marketing what makes TT’s carnival unique and in so doing, earn more revenue for the benefit of our culture and economy alike.

“It should be that calypso tents (and) the steelbands on the road…are an important part of our cultural business; we’re talking about creative and cultural industries.

We should find ways to embrace what we do…These two experiences are what set the standard for the power of calypso,” Masimba stated.

Stuart Charles-Fevrier was the team coach during those moments (except for a brief spell as TT coach from 2003–2004) and he will be looking to add another Pro League title to the team’s array of silverware.

However, they do not have destiny in their hands tomorrow as they trail leaders and two-time champs Central FC by one point (43 to Central’s 44), entering the final day of league play in the 2016-2017 season.

Connection will tackle Ma Pau Stars at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella while Central FC will square off against San Juan Jabloteh at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva – both games beginning simultaneously at 3.30 pm.

Connection will be looking for victory tomorrow, with the hope that Central FC drop points their game, in order to leapfrog them to the title.

The “Savonetta Boys” also have a superior goal difference to Central FC (plus-35 to Central’s plus- 26), therefore, if Connection draw their game and Central FC lose to Jabloteh, then the title will be heading back to Connection for the first time in three years.

Despite the permutations, Charles-Fevrier is adopting a simple and cautious approach to tomorrow’s fixture.

“We’re going into the game just as any other game,” said the former St Lucia defender, in a telephone interview yesterday. “In the last round, we started behind and our main objective was to concentrate on our games and concentrate on what we have control over – that’s what we have done. So far we have done pretty well in our last couple of games. We have no control over Central’s games so we don’t think about that. We just concentrate on our games.” Some of the Connection players have tasted league success, including captain Hughtun Hector, Gerard Williams, Dimitrie Apai, Andre Toussaint, Alvin Jones, Kurt Frederick, Neil Benjamin and goalkeeper Julani Archibald.

Asked if some of the other players may be nervous entering this final phase, Charles-Fevrier replied, “I don’t think so because what we have told them is to concentrate on our game and forget everything else. Just concentrate on trying to win our game. That’s the focus and that has been the focus for the entire round.” He added, “the league (title) wasn’t really in our hands and we had no control over the other games. But I just need the team to focus on what we have control over, which is our games. And so far they have done a good job at that.” The title has come down to the last day of action, but Charles-Fevrier pointed out, “you must take into consideration that this league was a very short one. Had it been three or four rounds (more), it would have been different.” Asked how they plan to celebrate the title, if results go their way tomorrow, Charles-Fevrier responded, “we have never really celebrated our championship on the day. We never really believed in that. We enjoy the moment and then later on try to do something for the players.

That’s how we have normally celebrated our championships.” He ended, “we never like to bring wine and champagne. We never liked to do those things. We want to play the game first and then, after the game, we will see.”

Sessions will be staged in Princes Town, St Augustine, St James, San Fernando, Chaguanas, Siparia and in the sister isle Tobago

The Association is headed by Sifu Rahman Khabir, who has been involved in martial arts since 1968, honing his craft during the 1970s when he was a student of Grandmaster Alan Lee’s Kung Fu Wusu Association in New Jersey, United States

Wushu is a form of Chinese martial arts which evolved from Wusu (which originally meant War Art). Wushu is a martial art for sport, flair and acrobatics and not for self defence as contemporary Wushu is. Both traditional and contemporary arts are highly effective methods of mental and physical training, incorporating body conditioning, meditation breathing exercises, throwing and grappling

Tai Chi Chuan, also known as Tai Chi, is a more relaxed art performed by doing slow movements with the use of Chi or Vital Energy

It strengthens the body’s immune system and internal vital organs, combats stress and tensions in the body, helps regulate high and low blood pressure and assists in joint flexibility.Persons interested in the sessions can call 354-1114

The cyclists will pedal 110km from Tarouba to the Arima Bypass Road to Blanchisseuse, where the race will end.

Participants eligible to compete are elite (men and women), juniors (men and women) and cyclists in the masters 40-60 age group. Registration will be done on race day at 6.15 am.

National cyclist Jabari Whiteman and Barbadian Phillip Clarke have been the most consistent cyclists in the road series so far.

Clarke of Knights FR Cycling Club, won the first road series event on January 15 which started at Mucurapo Foreshore. The cyclists journeyed south to Couva, before heading north where the race ended at Bhagwansingh’s in Port of Spain. National cyclists Adam Alexander of Team Foundation and Whiteman of Heatwave was second and third respectively.

Whiteman was the winner in the second road series on January 22. Whiteman finished ahead of national junior cyclist Tyler Cole of Team Drive Phase Sport (second) and Clarke (third). The second road series started at the Mucurapo Foreshore and ended in Toco.

National women’s cyclist Teniel Campbell of PSL/RBC has been dominating the women’s open, winning both events.

After the Trinidad and Tobago men’s 4×100-metre 2008 Beijing Olympic relay team learned that they will be upgraded to gold, there has been criticism from national athletes with regards to elite funding and the availability of Sports Minister Darryl Smith to address their concerns.

Richard Thompson and Emmanuel Callender, two members of the 2008 relay team, both stated their displeasure with funding issues facing national athletes in recent years.

Thompson reminded the Government to remember its promise of retroactive compensation for their upgraded 2012 London Olympics silver medals following the disqualification of second- placed USA for a doping violation.

He also hit out at the red tape athletes are forced to deal with to access funding.

In a press release yesterday, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs responded by saying, “The Ministry finds it regrettable that some athletes have decided to take to social media to air their concerns, instead of seeking more details about how they can ensure compliance with the process to access elite funding, which has not changed since its inception.

“Further, with the drafting and consultations for the National Sport Policy ongoing, the concept of elite funding and reward for athletic achievement will be included so as to formalise the Government’s philosophy and approach to sporting excellence and to high performance sport.” The National Sport Policy will alleviate any doubt in the minds of athletes when they achieve success, as the sport policy is expected to clearly state how athletes will be rewarded.

The release further stated that the success of TT ’s athletes was part of the reason the Eilte Athlete Assistance Policy was implemented.

“The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs wishes to inform the public that Trinidad and Tobago’s success at the international level, particularly in track and field, was one of the motivations behind the Elite Athlete Assistance Policy (EAAP) in 2006.

The Cabinet-approved Policy led to a formal mechanism, using a tiered system, to contribute to the preparation and continued improvement of the country’s multisport games medallists and world-ranked athletes.

The applications of teams and of athletes in non-Olympic sports are considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the financial support is available to a wide range of athletes who meet the criteria and have the potential to attain world-ranking or other benchmarks in their sport.

There are currently 33 athletes in eight disciplines on the EAAP roster, who have received funding for the last fiscal year 2015/16.

“The Policy clearly states that the payment of grants are subject to the availability of funds in any given year.

Despite this and other prevailing constraints, however, for the quadrennial period 2012-2016, the Ministry has disbursed in excess of TT $24 million to athletes and teams in 13 disciplines.

Predictably, and given the large number of elite athletes, track and field received 73% of that sum, followed by cycling (8.1%) and swimming (7.7%). Additionally, the Ministry also contributed TT $996,950.00 to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s Olympic Preparation Fund in 2016 which supported a pre-Olympic Camp.

“Also in 2016, the Ministry’s implementation arm, the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago assisted 11 Olympians in seven sports with direct reimbursement or payment of expenses (travel, accommodation, medical, coaching) to a total of just over TT $600,000.

This does not include a range of free services which has been accessed by 135 plus athletes during 2015-16, such as psychology, nutrition, gym access, massage therapy and recovery, through its Elite Development and Performance Unit (EDPU).

“Some of the notable athletes on the programme for the period 2012-2016, were Keshorn Walcott, Cleopatra Borel, Andrew Lewis, Thompson, Njisane Phillip and Nyoshia Cain.”