However, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said the lack of Opposition support for the Bill had led him to seek its approval by a simple majority of votes, and not the special majority that would have protected it from being challenged as being inconsistent with the personal rights listed in the TT Constitution. He said while the Government felt confident the Bill could win a special majority in the Senate, such confidence did not pertain in the House of Representatives where Opposition MPs could withhold their votes.

Al-Rawi admitted that the passage without a special majority left the Bill vulnerable to being challenged in the law courts by anyone as lacking the parliamentary backing required of a Bill that is inconsistent with the TT Constitution.

All Government senators voted for the Bill, while abstentions came from the four Opposition senators present — Wade Mark, Khadijah Ameen, Gerard Ramdeen and Wayne Sturge — plus Independent Senator Dhanyshar Mahabir.

Al-Rawi in his wind-up lamented that of 54 child marriages last year, some involved underage girls marrying males twice or three times their age, “in circumstances of paedophilia.” He said he’d mulled an exception for 16-year-olds to seek judicial consent to marry, but that in reality they’d be unlikely to access any such ruling before reaching 18 years old. TT could not provide such couples with a timely access to law courts or social services, he said.

Noting Tanzania’s abolition of child marriages, the AG said, “It is important for us to realise where we are as a people.” Likewise noting that India also banned child marriage by raising the ages to 18 years old (females) and 21 years old (males) without exception, he asked why some people in TT were harking to India’s past practices.

He also said that in TT there is no single position being advocated by any particular religion, but various views. “As a country we must recognise who we are and be careful how we compare ourselves.” Al-Rawi said that as a nation, TT must now draw a line in the sand.

Saying the Constitution guarantees the right to respect for family life, she said, “The provision of a mandatory minimum age to contract marriage would be inconsistent with these express provisions in the Constitution and the international conventions that TT is a party to that recognises and protects the institution of the family.” She accused the AG of subverting the Constitution and legislating by tactics. Persad-Bissessar began by declaring that her statement is made without prejudice to her firm belief that the legal age for consent to marriage should be 18 years. She urged the AG to state the legal advice he had received that the bill does not breach the Constitution, when was the advice sought and received, did he get Cabinet’s not to delete the parts of the Bill that says it is inconsistent with the Constitution, when was this permission given (if ever) and why wasn’t this Cabinet approval revealed at the start of the Senate debate? Persad-Bissessar alleged, “Al Rawi made the astonishing and shocking declaration that this Government was prepared to legislate by tactics.

This paves the way for anarchy, tyranny and dictatorship.” She added, “The actions of the Attorney General subvert the express terms of the Constitution. It amounts to a dangerous undermining of our constitutional democracy whereby the Executive is prepared to risk infringing the fundamental rights of our citizens and gamble that the legislation would not be challenged or if challenged would withstand constitutional scrutiny”.

Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh yesterday gave his ruling on a libel counter-claim filed by Community- based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme Company (CEPEP) against Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, who first sued the state agency for defamation.

In a written judgement, Justice Boodoosingh held that the CEPEP Company was restricted from suing a member of the public based on the principle that a government body should be open to inhibited public criticisms.

“The fundamental right of freedom of speech is involved. There are public interest considerations in allowing inhibited criticisms.

“The threat of civil legal action can have a chilling effect on the right of freedom of speech in this context especially for a company having half a billion dollars of public funds each year,” the judge said. He said CEPEP’s best defence to public criticisms would be to be transparent ans straightforward in the information it provides to the public. The judge said in this case limited restriction on CEPEP was justified to ensure there was freedom to ask questions about its resources and criticise how these funds were being used. Moonilal’s attorneys had asked that CEPEP’s counter-claim struck out.

Moonilal’s claim for defamation was filed after the CEPEP company issued a full-page statement in the press on August 24, 2016, in which it alleged misappropriation of $39.6 million in funds on construction projects in his Oropouche East constituency. In its own defamation counter-claim, the CEPEP Company has sought an injunction to restrain Moonilal from making further statements relating to its operations, but was withdrawn on the same the judge was expected to deliver his ruling on whether it should be granted. Moonilal’s defamation claim has been adjourned to February 23. the CEPEP Company was ordered to pay the parliamentarian’s cosy of defending the counter claim.

Appearing for the CEPEP Company were Senior Counsel Elton Prescott and attorneys Phillip Lamont and Farai Hove Masaisai while attorneys Larry Lalla, Jagdeo Singh, Kiel Tacklalsingh and Vivek Lakhan-Joseph represented Moonilal

As a result no conviction therefore was recorded against the pathologist. Des Vignes was charged via summons and is alleged to have physically assaulted Alexandrov at their workplace.

Dr Alexandrov was beaten on December 2, 2014, in the mortuary room of the Forensic Science Centre. Alexandrov claimed he was grabbed by the tie, kicked and then dragged out of the mortuary room, after he was accused of interfering with des Vignes’ work as well as leaking information on autopsies to the media.

Alexandrov said the alleged assault was witnessed by staff at the centre as well as a police officer.

Appearing for des Vignes were Senior Counsel Israel Khan, and attorneys Phillip and Rachael Lamont.

“Some have died on the battlefield and there will be some, as they continue to lose the war in Iraq and Syria, who will look to come back,” he told Newsday yesterday during an interview at the US Embassy, St Clair. To reintegrate them back in society, he said, “You must have a strategy to do so. Not all of them would want to be reintegrated. It is a serious problem.” It is a problem for which he hopes the Government and the Opposition get together and do what is best for the country.

“I will be very clear and very blunt. You do have an issue with foreign terrorist fighters,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of terrorist activities occurring in TT, Estrada said the question should be when will it happen, if the right measures are not taken to prevent them. The right measures, he said, will include strengthening security cooperation, building intelligence capacity, building law enforcement capacity and sharing information with partners like the US and other countries that are currently fighting the same issues.

“This is a worldwide problem,” he said, referring to recent terrorist activities in France, Belgium and Turkey. As ISIL continues to lose the war in Iraq and Syria, TT-born terrorist fighters, Estrada said, “will look to come back. Should they make it back home, they will return with a very deadly skill set.

That skill set is how to fight, kill and blow people up.” TT was not immune to terrorism, he said, “and big countries like the US that has the best intelligence service, best military, get struck by terrorists all the time.” As he demits office tomorrow at the same time as outgoing US President Barack Obama, Estrada, a political appointee, said he has achieved much in his ten-month tenure. On TT and US partnerships, he said, “We are much safer than we were a couple of years ago because of some of the agreements we have completed.” Asked about the agreements, he said a lot of them had to do with security involving information and intelligence sharing — including foreign terrorist fighters — to keep both countries safe, and building law enforcement capacity.

“That is as far as I will go on that (security issues),” he said. Estrada listed the US Department of Justice working with and building partnerships with the Office of the Attorney General on “numerous issues” and visits by Justice officials as one of the successes of his tenure.

(See Page 14A)

Explaining this was the result of mainly of outstanding payments being remitted by companies during the period of the amnesty, Imbert said there is a view, “that if you continually give amnesties people will continually avoid paying taxes in order penalties and interests and then pay during the period of the amnesty, thereby escaping penalties and interests.” The minister continued, “Be that as it may, we received a considerable sum of money in fiscal 2016 as a result of the tax amnesty, in excess of $500 million. I think the actual figure is $750 million.”

Imbert said this money will help in no small measure, “to manage our finances and to run the country in 2016.” Reiterating Government’s commitment to improve the administration of the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR), Imbert said, “The amnesty certainly did work in 2016.” Imbert later revealed an initiative by the former government resulted in the, “provision of additional collateral of $40 million on a cross currency swap note transaction from US Dollars to (Japanese) Yen.”

Imbert said, “The former government when it went on a roadshow in 2012, while out there raising money, mysteriously agreed to a currency swap arrangement with Citibank where the Government of TT… undertook to gamble…the previous government…undertook to gamble…on the exchange rate of the Japanese Yen versus the exchange rate of the US Dollar.”

Hart made reference to a lesson his coaching mentor taught him as he gave advice to the players by stating, “Write everything down and absorb what you like, discard what you do not like but most importantly, add what is uniquely your own by bringing your own quality.” Hart reminded the athletes that coaching is only the influencing of behaviour and they (the athletes) have to be the ones to go out there on the field and do the job.

While relaying this message, he encouraged them to always be curious as to how they can develop themselves to become better, how to develop a dynamic or create a cutting edge to enhance and grow as a player, as well as understanding how does each individual training session impacts on performances produced on the field. Hart motivated the athletes in attendance, of various schools throughout Trinidad, as he stressed, “Keep polishing your strengths because coaches like players for what they can do but always remember to approach your weaknesses in the same manner you attack the opposition on the field. Remember only you can make you better!” Shiva Boys’ dominated the 2016 all-star team in the male category as Fyzabad also made their presence known in the female division of the SSFL as they both had the most players of all schools in representation amongst the best players of the season. Six “Shiva” players managed to impose themselves into the team as they had a player from every position in the team which consisted of their goalkeeper, defender, three midfielders and striker. Three of their players also made it into the “top five best players” along with their midfield maestro Tyrell Emmanuel copping the Player of the Year award.

“Fyzo” also featured a player from each position as they filled five spots in the all-star female team and produced two of the “top five best players” at this year’s ceremony.

Kedie Johnson of St Augustine Secondary won the female Player of the Year award.

Honours were shared amongst the athletes in attendance as SSFL distributed awards across the different divisions of their programme.

At the championship division, each zonal champions won a total of $3,000 for their school, while Carapichaima won the “Big 5” Shell Trophy along with adding an extra $5,000 to their account.

In a similar manner in the female category, the FCB trophy was captured by St. Augustine Secondary as they added $4,000 to their $3,000 as each zonal champion received the cash for winning their respective zone.

Coca-Cola Intercol Champions San Juan North Secondary and Premier Division Champions Shiva Boys College both won $8000 and $23,000 for claiming their respective titles. However, Naparima College came away the largest winner on the day as they won the Digicel Play Cup and pocketed a total of $30,000 for becoming champions. Presentation College San Fernando, who lost to naps in the finals,received $10,000 for their second place finish.

List of SSFL Top 5 best players in 2016:

Female: Top 5- Kedie Johnson (St Augustine Secondary), Shaunalee Govia (Tranquillity Secondary) Malak Marcelle (Diego Martin Central), Collette Morgan, Denecia Prince (Fyzabad Secondary).

Player of the Year – Kedie Johnson (St Augustine Secondary)

Male: Top 5 – Isaiah Lee (Naparima College), Kyle Thomas (San Juan North Sec.), Quinn Rodney, Junior Asson and Tyrell Emmanuel (Shiva Boys Hindu College) Player of the Year – Tyrell Emmanuel (Shiva Boys Hindu College)

The game ended in a 41-41 draw.

Police were seemingly running away with Saturday’s game at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Tacarigua.

The policewomen led at all three stops – 11-8; 23-17 and 32-28.

But the sputtering Fire sprung to full flame in the final stanza scoring 13 goals to Police eight for the final score.

For the policewomen, goal-attack Tahirah Hollingsworth scored 24 of her 40 attempts while national utility player Joelisa Cooper netted 17 of her 23 attempts.

Goal-shoot Jameela McCarthy got 31 goals for Fire from 43 attempts Nariba Grant got seven and Aquila Blugh three.

In the other Premiership game on Saturday, UTT beat UWI 25-22 in another thrill packed match.

The UTT women led 4-3; 13-8;before UWI came into their own to knot up with the scores 17-27 at the end of the third period, only for the winners to just edge away for the victory.

Anastascia Wilson got 15 goals from her 20 attempts while Kanesha Greenidge had eight and Lilah Matthews added two for the winners.

Tiana Dillon scored 13 goals and Akeela Rodriguez netted nine for UWI.

Other results: Championsip Division – UTC (35) Roanna Dalrymple 16, Ayanna Peters 12, Crystal Noel 1 vs LAS LOMAS (28) Auyanna Russell 17, Raquel Russell 11; POLICE (45) Patrice Goring 38, Gushier Grant 4, Lystra Solomon-Simmons 3 vs TSTT (27) Sophia Harper 14, Kamika Paul- Payne 12, Jewel Coutain 1.

Under the instruction of the energetic instructors of Limitless Fitness, regular and new fitness enthusiasts alike were put through their paces in preparation of Carnival 2017.

Head of communications at Digicel Penny Gomez welcomed participants encouraging them to “feel the burn, the vibe and d’ music.” D’ Burn resident DJ Dwayne provided the motivation to participants as he offered up a selection of both past and current soca selections.

Still a favourite, “Walk and Wine” by Byron Lee provided the perfect ending to an energy packed workout session.

For the first time, Digicel welcomed on board partner Beacon Insurance and d’ Fitness Circuit Zone which provided participants with the avenue for high impact intensity training.

Competing in pairs participants worked through the stations performing squats, tricep dips, dumbbell press, push ups and more to take their exercise routine up a notch.

A fun time was had by all as exercise met party to provide participants with an all-around burn.

Providing hydration were partners Gatorade, Blue Waters and Exotic Flavours. Also partnering in this year’s burn are Nature Valley, Pepe’s Marketing, Kotex and Degree who provided giveaways to lucky attendees of d’ Burn. Several patrons were also presented with Digicel branded mason jars, beach mats and caps at the event. For those missing out on the action, 94.1 FM was on hand providing live updates to its listeners.

The TT Football Association (TT FA) has been scrutinised for a lack of judgement after hiring Belgian Tom Saintfiet to replace Stephen Hart as the national football coach in December.

After just one month in charge Saintfeit announced his resignation on January 11 citing a lack of support from the TT FA.

The TT FA has reportedly narrowed down its options to Englishman Fenwick, St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier (coaching W Connection for over 15 years) and Colombian Francisco Maturana, who had a brief stint with the TT team from 2008 to 2009.

The new coach is expected to be announced today.

Fenwick, who first started coaching in TT in 2001, explained that there are talented players in this country but more support is required.

Fenwick said, “so many wonderful young kids have come through my development, believe me Trinidad and Tobago are producing some fabulous young footballers, I just want the coaches and administration to give them a bit of support, they need that.

We are going through very difficult times as a country, but these kids some of them are not academic, they need help and support, they are very good footballers and if we do that we could provide them with an opportunity not just here in Trinidad but outside and that’s really my goal.” Fenwick says with two pivotal World Cup qualifiers coming up in March a local based coach with a knowledge of TT players is crucial to the success of the national team.

“I still feel that (a local coach is needed) only because you’ve got two games coming up in March that are critical.

We still got to recognise that United States of America are underneath us (in the World Cup qualifiers), they will still feel like they could qualify, if they could do it why not us.

But whoever takes over the reigns must have a huge knowledge of local footballers, they must have a bit of determination and discipline behind them so we could get things back on track.”