On reaching the port, I realised my important ID card was missing. I spoke to the woman at the gate who recommended that I return to my Maraval home as quickly as possible and get back before the sailing time.

Because of the peak traffic time, on my return to the port the gates were closed. The kind police officer reopened them to accommodate me to check in while the vessel waited for my family and myself to board.

In the face of all the negative reports of bad or shabby treatment in public offices, such qualities of patience, kindness and courtesy must be commended and encouraged.

Thanks again and keep up the excellent work.

Hilda Hosier Maraval

What on earth are we waiting for? More slaughter of innocent citizens? With 26 murders already, are we waiting for another 26? It looks very much so.

With the situation as it now stands, there is only one sure thing left. The Government must now seek outside help.

We are not able to cope with this constant flow of murders.

We need more armed policemen and soldiers on the streets and an urgent state of emergency, especially now that we have no crime plan.

GA Marques via email

Following the news of a procedural blunder which almost led to the postponement of tomorrow’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election, Parliament this weekend agreed to validate the January 23 election, reportedly because of errors made by the Office of the President and Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).

The passage of the THA Election Validation Bill in the House of Representatives on Friday and the Senate yesterday clears the way for the election to take place, tomorrow, after Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi explained during the emergency sittings that the error was made in which the required 21 days from Nomination Day on January 3 to polling day, January 23, could not be met.

Former chief secretary and political leader of the Platform of Truth Hochoy Charles had raised serious concerns about the issue at a meeting in Golden Lane, Tobago, last week, insisting that the election would have had to be declared null and void and in violation of the Representation of the People Act.

But now that the matter has been resolved the election will go ahead as scheduled.

The run-up to the tomorrow’s poll had all the makings of a general election campaign – bombshells, allegations, music trucks, political party songs and picong.

But after a brief and contentious campaign, more than 40,000 Tobagonians are expected to, once again, vote for the best candidates to lead the THA over the next four years.

The People’s National Movement (PNM), led by new political leader of the party’s Tobago Council Kelvin Charles, is hoping to retain its hold on the Assembly after its landslide 12-0 win in the 2013 THA election.

The PNM, currently headed by outgoing Chief Secretary Orville London, has had an unbroken, 16-year reign of governance in the THA.

However, there has been talk, even within party circles, that the victory the party enjoyed, four years ago, may not be as overwhelming this time around.

“I feel they will win but is a matter of many seats,” one woman said in Scarborough, the island’s capital. In fact, some Tobagonians interviewed by Sunday Newsday believe that the PNM will not win all of the seats in the Assembly.

“Although they have done a generally great amount of work, there are some representatives that simply did not perform,” said a John Dial resident.

It is widely felt that the Christlyn Moore-led Tobago Forwards and the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), headed by Watson Duke, would determine how the PNM fares in the election.

All three parties, the PNM, PDP and Tobago Forwards, are each fielding 12 candidates in the election while the Movement For Transformation (MFT), led by former Tobago East MP Eudine Job-Davis, has just three candidates. They are contesting the electoral districts of Moriah/ Mason Hall/Providence; Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford and Black Rock/Whim/ Spring Garden. Charles, who quit his job as THA presiding officer to contest the PNM’s leadership election, last July, expressed confidence that the party will retain control of the THA.

“The PNM is quite confident of retaining control of the Tobago House of Assembly,” said Charles, who is contesting the Black Rock/ Whim/Spring Garden electoral district. Charles said the party’s campaign was structured around its record of achievement in Tobago as well its plan to further develop the island.

He told Sunday Newsday: “We would have spoken in respect of our record because you are talking about 16 years of continuous service and in terms of that you are taking four consecutive four-year terms and, therefore, we had a responsibility to remind persons of where we were in 2001 when we just took over to where we are now in 2016.” Saying the period was marked by unprecedented delivery and performance, Charles scoffed at remarks by the PNM’s opponents about lacklustre representation over the years.

“How could somebody be around for 16 years and you say you don’t like them and they have done nothing?” he asked.

“So, that in itself has de-legitimised their argument but it allowed us to outline our significant achievements over those 16 years.” Among other issues, Charles said the party addressed issues relating to inter-island transportation “because it was generating much dissatisfaction among our people.” He said the party’s vision going forward – including some major projects that had been in the pipeline since 2010 – represented its core developmental strategies “as we seek to take Tobago further to the next level.” “In essence, we are saying that a platform has been built. So what is required now is to take Tobago further together and in doing so we had as part of our core messaging enhancing delivery and strengthening partnerships,” he said.

PDP leader Watson Duke also said his party stood the best chance of winning the election, largely because of its focus on ground-up politics.“Because of the contemporary thinking of our candidates, we have been so organized to transform Tobago from a shanty town to the economic hub of the Caribbean,” he said.

“And so, we will be returning to the people those things that have been given to us, through our Mandate.” Duke, who is also the president of the Public Services Association (PSA), said the tone of the campaign was tainted by what he regarded as the distasteful utterings of PNM candidate for Bon-Accord/ Canaan Clarence Jacob and more recently, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Tobago Forwards leader Christlyn Moore.

Jacob, at a political meeting, said, “No country man can’t run town” (as Chief Secretary), in reference to Duke, who is originally from Roxborough.

The statements against Duke were construed as being both biased and condescending to the people of Tobago East and was a major talking point on the campaign. Both Charles and Jacob subsequently apologized for the statement.

Days, later, in Mason Hall, Rowley told Tobagonians who support Duke should not “cross my fence,” while Moore, on a live radio interview in Scarborough on Friday, alleged that Trinidadians were being shuttled to Tobago to vote.

Moore reportedly encouraged hoteliers on the island to put “visine” in the water used in their establishments presumably to prevent Trinidadians from voting.

She, too, has since apologized for her comments.

Duke yesterday said apologies were not enough.

“We have no sorry in this campaign,” he said.

Duke recalled that both the PNM and Tobago Forwards had agreed to conduct a clean campaign through the national Code of Conduct, established by the Council For Responsible Political Behaviour, of which political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath is chairman.

The PDP leader said crime, permanent employment and greater access to healthcare for Tobagonians were the front-burner topics on their campaign.

MFT leader Eudine Job-Davis, heading into tomorrow’s election with just three candidates, said there was a “confidence crisis” among leaders on the island.

“People have lost trust and that is big negative in Tobago’s history,” she said.

“I think the reason for that is unfulfilled expectations.” Saying that Tobagonians were mainly concerned about the future of their communities, Job-Davis claimed that in Roxborough, people complained that the hospital had not yet come in to existence.

“Over the past 16 years, the THA would have done the blue prints and to date nothing has happened,” she said. The former Tobago East MP said people have also complained about a lack of accountability and transparency.

“They are saying, where has the over $35 billion gone? That is a sentiment right through our system,” she said.

Job-Davis also complained about an apathy among voters.

She told Sunday Newsday: “That is the greatest challenge, to motivate people to go back to the polls. People are saying ‘We need a change, we want a change but I eh really voting because we don’t know who we can trust.’ “The challenge then is to motivate them and be part of the change because somebody has to run the THA,” she added. Job-Davis said the MFT’s Constitution stipulates two term limits for Chief Secretary as well as the right to recall or representatives.

“We ought not to be in and Assembly for 16 years,” she said.

She added that if are allegations of corruption levelled against an assemblyman or woman, it will be investigated.

“If found guilty, those persons will be asked to leave and will be prosecuted.

The population is just tired of hearing all these allegations of corruption and nothing is happening. We think in Tobago we need to set an example.” Job-Davis said the party was also concerned about the sustainable development of the island by way of job creation, self-employment and innovation.

The Tobago Forwards, which, in a short period, has emerged as a political force on the island, campaigned on the basis of promoting the holistic development of the island and restoring dignity and pride to its citizens.

Its key areas of focus included a living wage for workers, especially those employed in make-work programmes such as the CEPEP, where they have promised a 40 per cent salary increase across the board.

The party, hoping to produce the THA’s first female Chief Secretary in attorney and former justice minister Christlyn Moore, also has promised to construct 800 houses over the next four years as part of its blueprint development plan.

Tobago Forwards has throughout their campaign, also complained of financial irregularities in the THA’s makework programmes over the years.

The PNM and PDP yesterday hosted rallies in Scarborough while the Tobago Forwards held a motorcade throughout the island.

He made the comment yesterday during debate on the Tobago House of Assembly Election (Validation) Bill. Sturge was referring to the vote on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill, 2016 which was passed on Tuesday night with he and other Opposition Senators Wade Mark, Khadijah Ameen and Gerald Ramdeen as well as Independent Senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir abstaining. On social media a photo has been circulating with photos of the four Opposition Senators and the phrase “we support paedophilia”.

The bill was passed by a margin of 23 for, none against, five abstentions.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Wade Mark said subsequently that the abstentions had nothing to do with the change in the marriage age to 18, which he said the United National Congress fully supported, but due to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi “engaging in Constitutional gymnastics” and stating that the bill, which infringes on people’s rights, only requires a simple majority rather than a three fifths majority.

Yesterday Sturge said that also expected to be also demonised either for voting or abstaining on legislation to validate tomorrow’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections; he decided to vote for the legislation which was passed yesterday

Despite this, the Tobago Forwards continues to design their future developmental and revitalisation plans for Scarborough and Roxborough.

In a paid advertisement in yesterday’s Newsday, the party listed four part plan of action for the development of Tobago.

Part one detailed, for the further development of Scarborough, new construction of buildings and roads to ease some of the issues frequently raised in that area.

A Tobago Forwards- led Tobago House of Assembly would “commence renovations to the Scarborough Market which will be under the Division of Health and Social Service which will provide better management under that division”.

“We will immediately repair the gaping holes in the existing roof. We will immediately, clear all the clogged drains which cause the water backups.

We will immediately give temporary relief to those vendors who built make shift stalls. The long-term plan is to extend the market to accommodate vendors,” the party proposed.

The plan reiterated zero tolerance and strict regulations on illegal vending in Scarborough which will have a “revenue-generating penalty” to prevent the practice.

“The expansions will increase covered vending and the construction of an upper floor.

The upper floor will provide for speciality commercial offerings which centre on arts, crafts and music, which will showcase the culture of Tobago in support of our Tourism product. The entire parking lot now used by visitors and employees using the Victor E Bruce Complex would also be used for this purpose.” “We will construct a Scarborough Town Centre, at the current site if of the Botanical Gardens, which will be relocated to a more appropriate site.

The Town Centre will house all divisions of the Tobago House of Assembly. This investment…

will ultimately derive significant expenditure savings from the numerous rents being paid by the THA for office space throughout Scarborough.” “Pedestrian traffic in Scarborough would be improved by the addition of two walk-overs commencing from a newly revenue-generating parking lot at the site behind Scotiabank.

One walk-way will link foot traffic to the Scarborough Port… vehicular entrance to the port could be channelled via a Sangster’s Hill Linkage with the Claude Noel Main Road.” Using this plan, the party believes it will curb the increasing traffic congesting endured by motorists daily.

Part two and three of the plan includes the idea to “transform the town to one that is more eco-centric.” “We could change the “blacktops” of the roadway to be more “traditional” cobblestones bricks. Cobblestone, may cost four times as much as “blacktops”, however the durability of the product would have an “estimated life of 100 years.” Section four of the development plan entails the desperate need of the construction of a police station in the east of the island.

A number of fire stations in the Speyside, Charlottesville, L’Anse Fourmi, Moriah, Plymouth and the Carnbee/ Bethel areas, a Public Library, a Magistrate’s Court, Licensing Office and Board of Inland Revenue are promised as part of the development plan by the Tobago Forwards for Roxborough and environs.

This time it was the Championship Division game between Las Lomas and Defence Force contested at the Eastern Regional Indoor Arena, Tacarigua.

The game ended 28-28, despite Las Lomas leading 8-6; 17-14 up to the halftime break.

But Defence Force mounted a strong rally to knot up the scores 22-22 at the end of the third period.

National player Raquel Russell led Las Lomas with 15 goals, sister Ayana Russell getting nine and Anita Pitt-Russell, four.

Goal-attack Jody Sprott scored 21 of 36 attempts; Samantha Kinsale,six; and Melissa Snaggs one goal for Defence Force. In another match in the same division, Police whipped UTT 44-32, leading all the way 12-11; 24-17; 34-23.

Veteran Patrice Goring ed the policewomen with 37 goals from 52 attempts while Donessa Wickham had six from 10. Lystra Solomon-Simmons scored one of her two attempts.

Akeilah Francis scored 13 goals, Aiesha Collins 10 and Oprah Douglas nine for UTT.dium

Up until Friday, Lawrence seemed unlikely to accept the position as the head coach of the national team after some sudden changes in his contract disappointed the former national defender.

However, Lawrence and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) have come to an agreement, as the local football administration issued a press release yesterday saying Lawrence is the new head coach.

Attempts to contact TTFA president David John-Williams to get clarity on the length of Lawrence’s contract proved futile.

The national team have been without a head coach since Belgian Tom Saintfiet resigned from the position on January 11 citing a lack of support from the TTFA. Some of the other front runners considered for the job were St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Englishman Terry Fenwick, Colombian Francisco Maturana and former TT midfielder Russell Latapy.

The TTFA statement dated January 21 said, “The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is pleased to announce that Mr Dennis Lawrence has accepted the position of head coach of the men’s senior national team.

The TTFA has worked diligently to complete the selection process ahead of our intended next Monday (tomorrow) deadline, and this press release is now being made in order to quell further speculation and keep our stakeholders informed.

“Dennis will arrive in the country next week where he will hold a press conference and meet with members of the local football fraternity to determine the rest of his support staff.

The TTFA release quoted Lawrence as saying, “I feel very honoured and humbled by this opportunity and the confidence placed in me by the Association.

I have given my all for Trinidad and Tobago as a player and now relish this moment to contribute as head coach of the national team.

“Off course I am coming into a difficult situation and we have to take each game very seriously and put our best foot forward.

The experience I gained working under different coaches during my 89 international caps for TT, and my exposure in coaching has all helped to shape me. I intend to give my very best towards this national effort.” Since his playing career came to an end in 2010 Lawrence has worked as an assistant coach.

He first worked as an assistant coach at Wigan from 2010 to 2013, before accepting the same position at Everton from 2013 to 2016.

He most recently was a scout for the Belgium national team.

All coaching assignments were under Spaniard Roberto Martinez.

Lawrence’s first major goal will be getting favourable results against Mexico and Panama when the 2018 World Cup qualifiers resume in March.

Lawrence replaces Belgian Tom Saintfiet who resigned on January 11 after only one month on the job. National goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams was happy with the decision to appoint Lawrence. Williams said, “I think I could speak for a lot of the guys who are involved in the set up right now in saying that they are excited about the prospect of working with somebody like Dennis. A high level coach, he has more than what it takes to take us to the next level and to take us to where we trying to go, so we excited and happy about it.” Williams said they are satisfied about the decision, despite Lawrence not being on the players list of a suitable replacement for Saintfiet. “More than satisfied, we not disappointed at all. As the letter stated we would have been going based upon the little knowledge that we pooled together.” After Saintfiet resigned, 23 current national players wrote a letter to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association giving their opinion on who the next national coach should be. The players felt Stephen Hart, Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Terry Fenwick and Angus Eve (assistant coach) should have been also considered for the head coaching vacancy.

Carlos Edwards, who was recently recalled to the national team, said Lawrence will be an asset to the team. Edwards said, “Dennis is a very smart guy when it comes to the game, and it’s different to just playing the game, but also knowing the game and studying it. He has the sixth sense about the game and his leadership will be valuable.

Obviously he will have his own methods of coaching and dealing with the players.

Smith, who has been asking for a local coach to be hired said, “The experience that he (Lawrence) has gained in Europe under some of the best coaches in the world I think will do us well. I am happy it is a local, I am happy it is finally over. He does not have much time, but I think at this point in time (it is important) to have somebody who the players are relatively familiar with.” Former manager of the national team Bruce Aanensen said, “I think Dennis is a very serious fella. He has done a lot of coaching in the short time with (Roberto) Martinez and he has the highest qualifications of coaching. He may not have all the experience but I think he will get the respect of the players.” Aanensen added that it is crucial that Lawrence has support around him. “The important thing is that he gets the support of the administration (TTFA) and the players, because he will certainly need that if he is going to be effective. Let us hope this is the beginning of a turnaround on our fortunes, and we could see some positive things coming out of the football before March when we have those two important games.

“He needs some strong people around him to help him out, because notwithstanding the qualifications he has in coaching he does not have the experience, he is relatively new to it.

But you only get experience by coaching, so it is a good opportunity for him and let’s hope he can make the best of it and that everybody provides the level of support that he certainly is going to need.”

Written by acclaimed songwriter, Nadia Batson, the song has struck a chord with audiences across the nation and breathed new life into Terri’s career.

“Well Nadia was the one who wrote ‘I am Lion’,” she admits to WMN. “I just wrote the second verse… It was written early September if I’m not mistaken and the inspiration for it came from her seeing and knowing what I was going through because she knows my story and her journey was similar to mine, so she could relate…” Born into a musical family, Terri believes she had no choice but to be involved in the music industry.

“Both of my parents were entertainers,” she reveals. “Although many people don’t know my mother, Dionne Phillips – may she Rest In Peace – was part of Brother Resistance’s Rapso Band and sang alongside Karega Mandela. She was also a background vocalist with the Spektakular Calypso Tent. And of course, my dad is Super Blue, so I couldn’t get away (from music) even if I tried,” she laughs.

“Everything was music – my mother would even do revisionary school work with me using music, hence the reason I could still sing the alphabet forward and backwards – yes, backwards – I don’t know why I need to know it backwards, but it was taught to me in song! Reminiscing about her childhood, she says, “We used to live in Arima at one point and when my dad came home at night, he would whistle a special melody so I will know it’s him – up to this day we still use it, so music was packed into me. Most kids got a story read to them at night, but my dad would pick up his guitar and sing to me his version of nursery rhymes.” A jovial spirit, Terri has long faced adversity and has been sidelined and maligned in the industry – even as her tremendous talent evolved, matured and was obvious to everyone around her.

“When it comes to my catalogue of songs I’m comfortable with it,” she says. “I think I have improved in my writing over the years, even though some songs never got played. I’ve been a finalist in the Young Calypso Queens completion several times, a semi-finalist in the senior version and I won Best Local Artiste in the film festival for the movie, No Soca No Life.” “Aside from my achievements, I would like to highlight more the lessons I’ve learnt: the art of being grounded… grateful… thankful and humble. To have patience and a determined spirit and also to accept the things in life that just won’t be. I’ve actually learnt to be thankful for closed doors also because Lord knows I’ve gotten a lot of closed doors!” The mother of three-year-old Matthias, Terri says the experience has only been positive and has made her more serious and focused in life.

“I am a lot more serious about the things and people I let in my life now,” she confides. “I’m a lot more focused now also ‘cause it’s not me alone anymore. Becoming a mother changed the meaning of love for me – I have loved before, but it’s only now I understand the real essence of the word… I’m not trying to come over corny, but when you can stare at your child while they play and tears start flowing down, but you realize you’re crying because you’re happy, it’s because you’re experiencing a love that only God can explain – I know some parents can relate, it’s different! I thank God for blessing me so abundantly.”

Terri is also thankful for her own mother’s positive influence and parenting skills.

“I wish she was here ’cause she was a driving force behind me,” she admitted. “It surprises me sometimes when I see or hear kids don’t have good relationships with their parents – I was like my mother rib – she was like that with both my brother, Davon and me. No one could tell if we had or didn’t have ’cause we stuck together. She taught us how to be happy with the least of things.

“My dad was always on tour, but for the times I saw him, it was like he never left and that was because of my mother – she kept that connection even though they weren’t together or she might be upset with him. She always instilled in me that I should always respect my dad and he noticed it, so they always had and kept a good relationship as parents. So, with that kind of relationship between single parents, I grew up accepting things for what they are and being positive and knowing that there is a way that things could still work regardless of the odds or the circumstances…”

Terri is happy to be appreciated for her talent and determined to maintain her relevancy in the industry. Looking ahead to the rest of Carnival 2017, she says she doesn’t always play mas, but will be on the road this year.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the food,” she joked. “Somehow the food around Carnival time especially pelau does taste extra best! On a real though I am looking forward to performing and I’m not coming to fill anybody’s shoes – I am coming to showcase me Terri Lyons… Well, it’s funny that school mates will know me as Auslyn Lyons – yes, I know: Auslyn? Ask my dad… he is Austin, so he named me Auslyn,” she rolls her eyes.

“Anyway, I’m looking forward to all events. I don’t usually play mas but I played with Ronnie and Caro a few times and it was great! I mostly I stay in and watch it on TV, but I think I will be out on the road this year.”

Asked to sum up who she is in one minute, Terri is as jestful as ever: “I’m that Dark girl! Most people would call me that” she laughs.

“I’m very simple – not an in-your-face type of person; easy to talk to – although most find I’m hard to approach ’cause they say I always look so serious… Most of the times, I’m just thinking though.

“I’m a person who’s passionate about acting, dancing, singing, modelling, fashion… and eating! I’m all about making and preparing my son for life: I know I can’t and won’t be able to shield him from everything harmful, but I’m instilling in him morals, so if anything happens to me, he is taken care of and that’s my biggest project right now, God spare life.

“Right now, I’m focused on my son and career – the love and feedback I’ve been receiving is overwhelming, bookings are coming in and I’m thankful…”

“Growing up, I was always involved in my church’s choir and groups at my school,” she shares of this talent she realised from a young age. She says her love for God was expressed through song.

At the age of 19, she started her first job at National Flour Mills Ltd and since then has educated herself and climbed the corporate ladder. In fact, her work and academic quali_ cations are in the field of Procurement.

Apart from a workingwoman, Kelisha is also a mother – a role she takes personally and seriously. “Since [becoming a mother] my priorities have changed,” she shares of the ways her children have changed her life’s outlook. When her first period of maternity leave ended, she did not feel right to go back to work. “I wanted to be there for my son,” says the dedicated mother.

She says motherhood has defined her in a different way. Before her son came along, everything she did was for herself – she notes she spent a lot of money on material and unimportant items. “The day I had him, I knew I had to start to think differently. It was no longer about me, but about this gift that was given to me.” Becoming a mother gave her a new sense of purpose: “When you wake up in the morning you know you have to _ nd a way to feed, clothe, and teach your child to be the best they can be.” She admits that mothers don’t “do everything right all the time”, but says there is an unnamed force that pushes mothers in the right direction. She describes this unidentifiable strength as unexplainable; the strength of womanhood.

She adds that she wanted to find a way to take care of her son without having to sacri_ ce 12 hours a day while growing someone else’s business. “I wanted a change.” A part of the change in her life was the passing of her mother in 2007 after a battle with Type II Diabetes and kidney failure. She shares that this experience was devastating and a strong desire came over her once more to act upon her feelings of change and starting a new life and earning an independent living for herself.

“I moved to Tobago [the month after my mother died] not knowing what I was going to do, but knew I had it in me to do something great,” says the con_ dent woman.

By the end of that year, she had bought a franchise specialising in high-end office furniture with her nowhusband.

“Things took off; sales were (phenomenal),” she admits of this venture, describing the business’ success as coming like a “mighty rushing wind”. However, the downside was that Kelisha was not ready for such monumental success so soon.

“We were able to move to a new rental house, bought a company vehicle, traveled abroad for conferences, put my son in private school, and lived comfortably,” she says of the spoils of her business’ initial success.

However, the economic downturn of 2009 affected the company’s acceleration; the orders and sales decreased and with a high mortgage to repay and numerous monthly _ nancial commitments, she and her husband made the decision to move their business to their home.

In the next two years, she gave birth to her second and third children and describes the time as a struggle and the pressure of financial commitments proved too much. “In 2013, we made the difficult decision to close the business. I was totally crushed,” says Kelisha of the hardships she endured. They not only closed their business but she and her husband moved their family to a smaller rental home with three young children and no steady income. She felt depressed and like a failure to her family.

Her life was flipped upside down and by 2014 she had to give up her rental house and lost the company vehicle and remaining assets. That was the same year she gave birth to her fourth child. “I remember being in the hospital the day after my delivery taking calls from upset suppliers and bank managers asking for their money; I was under so much pressure, I felt like I was at rock bottom, even lower than the bottom.” She says the ensuing depression affected her marriage and relationships with her children. “For my birthday that year, I could not even buy an ice cream for myself but at the end of that day, I came to a decision: that my next birthday would not find me in the same position. I decided to pick myself up and pull myself back up to the position I once was in.” She discovered that her true calling was to help other women in similar situations who feel like they can’t make money to take care of their families or live the lives they desire. “I was directed to start learning about online business and creating a profitable one. For 18 months, I researched, studied, and learned from the best on this topic. I connected with other moms who were once in my position and who are now making money by designing their dream business online,” she says of the new passion her hardships gave birth to.

She says her change of mindset led to her fundraising and being able to start over in 2016, with the ultimate goal of serving women and mothers. “I now teach and motivate mom entrepreneurs and show them how they can make money doing what they love,” she says of her new professional lease on life.

She has her own website (www.centurymom.com), has written two e-books, created an online course to train other women entrepreneurs, and started university majoring in Business and minoring in Entrepreneurship.

Her first online course, taking place on February 15, is called “Boss Mom” and is a six-month training program for mothers who want to use their profession and natural talents for profit in an online setting.

“We go through key components of creating a profitable online business and work together towards the ultimate goal: an income generating website,” she expands on the course’s objective. “We also dive deep into your life as a mum and help increase your effectiveness in your daily tasks,” she continues, highlighting that topics covered in the online course include mindset strengthening, list building, heart centered copy writing, website design, and marketing.

She will also host two smaller in-person workshops on the February 4 and 11 focusing on list building and copywriting exclusively.

“I believe personal challenges can shape a person for the better,” says Kelisha of her past experiences. She says these challenges may cause persons to look to something greater than them. “When everything you tried has failed, you realise that you can’t do anything on your own. Challenges cause your faith to rise and also cause you to look deep within your soul for answers.” She says her work now is to encourage our nation’s girls and women so they know they can live the quality of life they are after. “With faith, determination, and the right direction, you can realise any dream you have in your heart. But it requires the first step,” she advises. “Think good thoughts about yourself always and ask for help when you need it. That’s what caused me to be where I am today. If I can do it, you can do it as well!”