One such ray of hope is Dr Garnet Sant, who has served the people of Central, especially in Freeport and environs for the past 38 years.

Dr Sant is retiring on December 31, 2016.

This letter is in tribute to Dr Sant’s love and dedication to humanity.

A gentleman, quiet and unassuming, he has always possessed a generous spirit. His career choice was as a direct result of his desire to improve the situation of people. He had seen and experienced the myriad of problems faced by many at the health institutions and he was determined to make a difference. He championed the cause of the poor man. Knowledgeable yet humble and reassuring, his reputation spread throughout the villages. His patients visited him with the confidence that they would be attended to whether they had money or not. Many times, in the waiting room, I would hear the elderly or infirm relate stories of Dr Sant’s generosity and kindness.

He treated his patients as family, patiently listening to their personal problems before attending to their health challenges. No question was too ridiculous for him to answer.

Dr Sant leaves a void when he retires. His beloved patients will certainly miss him. Dr Sant, as you retire,on behalf of all your patients I wish you a long and happy retirement with good health.

Thank you for your service to the thousands of people of Central Trinidad.

JANICE SEALY via email

Lest we forget, Pan Trinbago received almost $30 million from the Government to meet its 2016 commitments.

A minimum payment of $1,000 is made to pan players for their many hours of practice and for performing in the Panorama preliminaries, semi-finals and finals.

While the executive of Pan Trinbago must have received their 2016 executive pay consistently, they have totally ignored the thousands of young people who willingly sacrifice and participate in Panorama.

Now there is talk about cutting the payment from $1,000 to $500 for 2017.

The Community Development Minister is right in not meeting with Mr Diaz. He must give an account of what happened to that $30 million.

More than 75 years after its invention, the body charged with the governance of the steelband in Trinidad and Tobago still goes “cap-in-hand” every year to the government.

What a shame.

LINUS F DIDIER Mt Hope

These included the refusal of the Opposition to support the passage of critical FATCA legislation in Parliament, the outcome of the November 28, 2016 Local Government Elections, and the setting of the date for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.
Political reporter CLINT CHAN TACK continues a review of these and the other political stories that made the news in 2016.

FATCA stalemate

Utter contempt. This was the position of Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Camille Robinson- Regis, as she strongly condemned the Opposition for choosing to blank debate on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) legislation on December 12, for the third time. The Opposition MPs had chosen instead to occupy a room outside of the main parliamentary Chamber from where they viewed the one-sided debate on television with the government speaking to empty chairs opposite “It is indeed passing strange that on three occasions, those in opposition to us have determined they should not participate in this debate,” Robinson-Regis declared. She reminded government MPs that when their counterparts walked out on December 9, “they indicated they were doing so in solidarity” with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Naparima MP Rodney Charles when who had openly challenged Speaker Bridgid Annisette- George’s decision to deny their leader’s request to adjourn the House as a matter of urgent business to discuss what Persad- Bissessar described as government’s failure to address an unprecedented number of murders and missing persons in TT .

Finance Minister Colm Imbert did a sequel of his challenge to the former People’s Partnership (PP) government to “come outside”, baiting the Opposition this time to, “come inside” and debate the Tax Information Exchange Bill 2016 which is critical to TT ’s FAT CA compliance with the United States. Imbert declared “I appeal to them again as I appealed in the past -I appeal to the members opposite again -come downstairs.

Come inside!” Government MPs thumped their desks in support as Imbert continued, “Come inside! Why are you outside? They should come inside…

This is the people’s house. Don’t be cowards. What are you hiding for? Come inside!” In 2015, when the then Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) walked out on debate on a no-confidence motion against then Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley, Imbert challenged the PP to “come outside”, and say what they had to say.

While the Government this time around made several amendments to the FAT CA legislation to address the very concerns which the Opposition had raised, the Opposition offered no amendments of its own. Persad- Bissessar maintained the Opposition’s demand to send the legislation – the same measures approved by her former administration – to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of the Parliament.

The Bankers’ Association and other business groups agreed with the Government that the legislation did not require a JSC.

They also slammed the Opposition for saying the legislation was not important. Imbert, who managed to obtain an extension of the FAT CA deadline, said it was not likely that TT would get a third extension from the US, if the legislation is not passed by February 2017 to allow the country to meet its first FAT CA reporting deadline of September 30.

Imbert also signed the inter- government agreement (IGA) on FAT CA on August 19. The House of Representatives sits on January 6, to resume committee deliberations on the FAT CA legislation.

Local Government Elections The ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) won the November 28 Local Government Elections, capturing seven of the 14 local government corporations, ceding six to the opposition United National Congress (UNC), with a tie between the two parties for the for the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

While various bodies and commentators speculated the voter turnout for the elections was between 17 to 20 percent, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) eventually revealed an overall voter turnout of 34 percent, prompting the Prime Minister to tell a post-election media briefing that those groups touting the 17 percent turn out as not having reliable data to make a proper assessment of the voter turnout and that the analysis they were doing was, “pontification without the data.” PNM Public Relations Officer, Stuart Young, observed at that same media briefing that local election turnouts are usually less than those in general elections, adding, “This 34 percent is within expected parameters.” Rowley also declared at that briefing that the PNM was right to say it controlled the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.” Once the results were clear enough to us and we sought proper legal advice,” the Prime Minister said. “We got it, and as soon as we got it, we made that advice available to the public.” Saying the UNC reacted as expected, Rowley declared, “The fact of the matter is that under law, we retain the chairmanship and control of the Sangre Grande Corporation, not by any favour and not by any coalition.” The UNC did not share this view. On December 15, the party’s councillors and aldermen walked out of the swearing-in ceremony for aldermen of the corporation accusing the PNM of thuggery. The PNM maintained that the law was on its side. The UNC said it would consider whether it would challenge in court the legality of the PNM’s Terry Rondon remaining as corporation chairman.

While local government reform was the main issue advanced by the PNM during the campaign, allegations of a “wives’ club” under the PNM obtaining lucrative contracts, and revelations of exorbitant and unnecessary expenditure under the former People’s Partnership (PP) coalition stole the spotlight.

The latter was highlighted in the “roti wars” which spilled from the political platforms to the floor of the Parliament. On November 18, Prime Minister Rowley revealed his predecessor, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, hosted a Divali function at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on October 16, 2014 which cost taxpayers $1,677,719.79. The Prime Minister made this disclosure in response to a question from Persad-Bissessar’s former aide, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, about a $350,000 bill for roti. As Rowley gave his answer, Padarath shouted across the floor at him three times, prompting Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde to eject Padarath from the Chamber for 15 minutes.

The PNM subsequently made the invoices for the Divali event public, bringing the issue to a close. The Opposition pondered their next move on FATCA and the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation as the year ended.

Spy bill passed Legislation giving more powers to the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) was passed in the Senate after two Independent Senators – Ian Roach and temporary senator Justin Junkere – broke ranks from their colleagues and supported the measure in a 17 – 12 division. Passage of the legislation came notwithstanding serious concerns by seven of the nine Independent Senators, two of whom had called for the legislation to be withdrawn. On a night of high drama, Opposition and Independent Senators forced five divisions on normally simple procedural motions which had been tabled by the Government in order to move the legislation closer to a vote. In wrapping up the debate, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told Senators the Solicitor General, Carol Hernandez, had advised that the legislation did not require a three-fifths majority, but he did not release her opinion prior to the debate. Al-Rawi also said the bill was key to anti-terrorism collaboration with unnamed international bodies.

On November 2, Finance Minister Colm Imbert made it “crystal clear” he never announced a wage freeze for public servants. Addressing a news conference at the Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port-of-Spain, following the release of a story on CNC3 which stated he made a wage freeze announcement at the 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, earlier in the day, Imbert said, “The word I used was wage restraint, not wage freeze.

“Wage restraint is a long way away from a wage freeze,” the Finance Minister posited.

“There is a fine line in all of these things and one has to be very, very careful in interpretation.” Telling reporters he was alerted to the erroneous CNC3 story by a member of a major trade union and asked to clarify this statement, Imbert declared, “The PNM Government has no policy of a wage freeze. That in any event would have to be a Cabinet decision.

No single minister can make a decision like that without Cabinet agreement.” $53 billion Budget In presenting a $53.4 billion 2016/2017 Budget in Parliament on September 30, Finance Minister Colm Imbert rolled out a series of money-making measures which touched both the rich and poor.

Millionaires will face a new 30 percent tax rate, although their yachts will be VAT free.

Consumers of booze and tobacco are likely to have a bad hangover, with import duties going up by 15 and 20 percent respectively.

Measures in the budget included a 15 percent increase in the price of diesel bringing it to $2.30 per litre, up from $1.98. Online shoppers remain stuck with a seven percent internet shopping levy.

At the same time, 120,000 households with electricity bills of $300 or less will receive a 25 percent rebate, and talented entrepreneurs will get a $1 million grant, presumably exempt from the new millionaire tax which applies to persons with incomes of $1 million or more per year.

When he presented the Mid-Year Review in Parliament on April 9, Imbert said TT can no longer operate “with Champagne taste and Mauby pocket,” and the burden of adjustment must be spread across society. He announced a series of measures designed to increase revenue and curb expenditure.

In addition to the increase in fuel prices and seven per cent levy on online purchases, there were increased taxes on luxury cars, tobacco and alcohol, and steps to amplify collection of taxes from the gaming industry. Imbert also promised public servants half of their arrears by June and outlined options for the outstanding amount during September or 2017.

Politicians have talent Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young, Housing Minister Randall Mitchell and government senator Rohan Sinanan in showed off their Bollywood singing talents when they serenaded Divali Queen contestants at a Divali function hosted by the PNM at Constantine Park in Macoya in October. UNC Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial criticised the performance as insulting.

Sign and wine Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on December 5 celebrated the signing of a cross-border energy deal by dancing, wining and even being in a conga line with women dressed in bright, colourful clothing at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas.

Maduro and Rowley signed three agreements for: I) A supply of natural gas from Venezuela to TT from Camp Dragon; II) Shell Venezuela and Pdvsa entering in negotiations to evaluate opportunities to reduce gas flaring in northern Monagas state, and; III) Agreement to obtain financing for a joint venture to encourage increased oil production.

Hanging still the law As the country continued to grapple with violent crimes, particularly murders, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said on December 12, “I can guarantee you that the current law of TT is that the death penalty is to be applied for murder and we certainly intend to apply the law and it is something that I have been tracking for one year straight.” In making this declaration, Al Rawi also disclosed, “There are 32 people on Death Row right now. Those cases, I’ve been tracking since I came into office. Of that 32, none of them are in a position to meet the hangman.” Underscoring that, “under the laws of TT, the punishment for murder…a conviction of murder is that you shall hang until you are dead,” Al Rawi cited various reasons why none of these persons can be executed at this time.

Manning not a racist On July 14, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley took offence to claims made by Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Secretary General, Sat Maharaj that former prime minister Patrick Manning, who died on July 2, was a racist.” In dismissing all of Maharaj’s claims and setting the record straight with the facts as known to him and in the public domain, Rowley said, “I do not appoint myself as defender of Patrick Manning but as defender of the public record.” Clico report sent to DPP Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC in July advised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that no part of the Sir Anthony Colman Report into Clico can be made public. This is due to an investigation by the Office of the DPP into matters referred to in the report, which started under the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.

Speaking on the matter at a post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair on July 28, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young reminded reporters that the report was sent by President Anthony Carmona to Rowley on June 23.

He said subsequent deliberations by the Cabinet resulted in the report “being sent to the DPP for advice on what can come out of the report into the public and whether there were any investigations undergoing.” He explained that the DPP, “in a private and confidential manner, has indicated to the Prime Minister that there is an investigation on going.” Kids with guns On October 11, amidst Opposition claims that photos exist of persons resembling children of top Government officials holding firearms looking like those commonly used by the Defence Force, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi could not ascertain if those featured in these photos were his children, but admitted members of his family have undergone “threat assessment” training at Cumuto Army Base as part of security protocols for families of State officials deemed to be at high risk.

Al-Rawi held a news briefing outside Parliament after Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told MPs, during the Budget debate in the House of Representatives, that he possessed photographs that he would like to show to Al Rawi to see if he (the AG) recognised anyone. Al Rawi later told reporters Moonilal was “reprehensible” for bringing youngsters into the political fray. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley criticised members of the national security services for the leakage of the pictures to the media.

Tobago goes to the polls The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections will be held on January 23, a notice issued on December 15 from the Office of the Prime Minister indicated.

The notice said that Nomination Day for the THA election will be on January 3.

In November, THA Chief Secretary, Orville London, issued a statement to correct what he said was “false and misleading information” being circulated by some political parties in the island that the date for the election was not being released because of influence from Trinidad.

London said contrary to the false information being circulated, under the THA Act, “The President, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary, shall fix the date of a primary election, which date shall not be earlier than expiration of two months after the dissolution of the Assembly nor later than the expiration of three months after that dissolution”.

The PNM currently holds all 12 seats in the THA. The main contenders expected to challenge the PNM in the Tobago polls are the Tobago Forwards led by former PP minister Christlyn Moore and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) led by Public Services Association president Watson Duke.

This is the essence of Wendell Bompart, a 44-year-old prisons officer whose ministry manifests not only behind prison walls, but on the radio airwaves as a broadcaster and an entertainer, as he sings, is a comedian and a master of ceremonies.

And he is now pursuing a degree in Management of the Protective Services at the College of Applied Arts and Sciences of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) in The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, successor body to the Joint Services Staff College.

He lives the Word, and says of himself, “…I am a husband to one wife, a father. I am a music minister.

I am a friend to many. But I am also very, very shy.” If you’ve ever listened to Bompart on his radio show on SKY 99.5FM, shy is not the conclusion you would come to.

While a timid person may find refuge within the walls of the radio studio, Bompart normally goes live on facebook during his shows. What is more, he has created another persona to keep his listeners entertained – Granny B.

Bompart has been using this persona for years, whether as a prank on his radio show or while performing, not something you would expect from a shy person.

“A lot of people don’t know that (that he is timid),” says Bompart.

“…From ever since I was a teenager, shyness would step in. I realised I had to ‘jump in’ to do everything – feet first.

If I didn’t, if I hesitated at all, I wouldn’t do it. And most times in anything that I do, any time I hesitate, it’s normally my worst performance – whether it’s singing, emceeing, even to start a show on radio, once I hesitate, for me, that is it. Thinking before I leap, for me, it ‘doh’ ever work. I will think myself out of it…” Before working at SKY, Bompart has been an officer for the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service. “I will say ‘was’ (a prison’s officer) because I’m on leave now. I’m full-time in school now.” Being a prisons officer was not something Bompart had ever envisioned for himself. In fact, he worked for Royal Bank, and then left only to realise it was difficult to find a new job.

A congregant at Bompart’s home church – St James Church of the Nazarene – a prisons officer, took notice of his unemployment and suggested he apply to become an officer.

Bompart’s heart, at the time, was not in it. Up to time of the submission of his application, he viewed it at as just another job.

So when he secured work at a roofing company, a job that paid well, while awaiting his medical for the prisons service, he resolved not to pursue being a prisons officer. On the day of his medical, he went to his roofing company job as normal and while there, the congregant, Mervyn Harris, contacted him to find where he was, and said to him, “Boy! Go down and do your medical!” Bompart’s obedience to Harris marked a turning point in his life, for a position that Bompart once considered another job, would become dear to his heart and part of his calling.

He explained, “…I went down, had to walk through Port-of-Spain Prison Yard and see all these inmates, some of them half-naked bathing, bigger than me, and telling myself, ‘Do I really want to do this?’ We had the medical in the infirmary in Port-of-Spain, and where I sat there was a cage, an enclosed area for the inmates who are in the infirmary. And I never got the guy’s name, an East Indian inmate, he was in there. And he was like ‘Psst, Psst, young fella, young fella. You really want to come in prisons, boy?’ “So I was like, ‘I’m thinking about it.’ “‘You feel you could change lives?’ That is exactly what he told me.

“So instantly, being a Christian, that set in.

‘Yeah, I think I can.’ Now mind you, this was before the prison had started to adopt the whole restorative justice policy. So I didn’t know anything about that. So when he said if I could change lives, I said, ‘I think I could.’ “He said, ‘If that is why you coming here, ‘daz’ a good place to be. Because you could change lives here. You could change lives here.’ An inmate was telling me that. I think that’s why I made up my mind from there, that okay, this is what I wanted to do.” He joined the prisons services in 1998, where he started off as a PO1 at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) in Arouca. From there, he joined the Prisons Service Band. And a lot of what he does now as a performer stems from his experience in the band.

There, he learned how to play the saxophone, and within three to four months, he was playing “on the road for independence.” He also learned the importance of a strong stage presence.

A former prisons officer who was also in the band, Glenn Nicholas, taught Bompart that.

Nicholas told him if he could not hold someone’s attention, then he couldn’t “preach to them, you can’t teach them…” But the Prisons Service Band’s performances began to “war” with his Christianity.

The band’s performances ranged from gospel to military to conventional; so often times, Bompart had to play and sing calypso. As a Christian, he felt uncomfortable with such performances and thus, asked to be removed from the band.

Thereafter, he resumed his duties at YTC as a (prisons officer) PO I and encountered communications specialist, Sharon Ramsaran. Ramsaran had seen Bompart give a speech at an event he couldn’t recall and she was very impressed with him. She approached him about his speaking skills, and for two years, Bompart worked with Ramsaran.

She left after those two years, and Bompart took up her position for the Prisons Service.

From there, he was promoted to PO II and was offered the opportunity to pursue his degree in the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies at COSTAATT.

He has not forgotten his music though, as those who are familiar with Bompart and his work know. And he cannot; for he has spent his entire life around it having grown up in a musical family.

“…My dad sang in church, I sang in church growing up. I grew up in the children’s choir. Other than my dad, my aunt, Bernice Bompart who I called my second mom – she passed away three years ago from cancer, she passed away after my real mom – was my first choir director and many of the young people from my church who are in music now, credit her for her influence.

Through her we learned how to harmonise, how to go thorough long rehearsals…” In the late 90s, he was a member of Highest Praise, a top gospel group at the time, spending five years with them.

Between 2002 and 2003, after a break from the music group life, Bompart joined another group called Word.

Word enjoyed two successful songs: ‘Arise’ and ‘Lift your Banner High’.” Bompart has also done music jingles. In 2001, he did his first set of jingles for 96.1 FM.

He is also the voice for the Lucozade energy ad, the “stick man that everybody loves to see dance for Carnival,” and he has done several for Digicel, including the James Brown advertisement.

Today, Bompart has ventured into a solo music career. His first release this year was the “Jesus Party Riddim – Holy Ghost Exchange” an upbeat song celebrating the birth of Christ, released in early November.

“Two views on the Unity Riddim” with fellow radio broadcaster and gospel minister Ancil Bain followed on the heels of his first release.

And in late November, Bompart and CNC3 news anchor, Golda Lee Bruce, teamed up for a Christmas medley entitled, “O Come You are Awesome.” “O Come You are Awesome” hit the airwaves regionally and in the United States (US).

Nonetheless, he plans to remain a part of the prisons service, using his training in management to improve the quality of the service.

“And what has helped, you see,” said Bompart, reflecting on his success, “(is) the favour of God, you cannot negate the favour of God. I had a cousinin- law, who ministers to me repeatedly, and she always says to me, ‘Your giftings will bring you before kings.’ And I’ve seen it. I’ve had the opportunity to minister in the US to several people. I’ve received a Letter of Commendation for Volunteerism from the White House from President Obama.

That was in 2013…And I don’t ever forget that, that it’s only because of the favour of God.

“You can have the best song, the best voice, the best talent, if you don’t have God’s favour then nothing will happen. I’ve had the opportunity to minister at, and sing at, to host functions for both governments. I get messages from former (government) ministers, current ministers, just on a regular basis… Again, that is not me, that is just the favour of God.

As Barbara Phyllis Laurayne (nee Lake) turned 100 years on December 30, it was mostly the same except there were no heels and she walked with the help of a cane, but as usual she was well turned out, back still upright, and grey hair stylishly cut.

But then this lady who was married to the late Norman, a mother of one daughter and three sons, nine grandchildren (one of whom was the very popular entertainer Derek ‘CG’ Silman, now deceased) and 13 great-grandchildren, comes from a centenarian line, as her mother, the late Marie Louise Lake, known to the residents of Belmont as “Granny Lake”, and a fixture in the gallery of No 102 Belmont Circular Road since 1936, was 102-years-old when she passed away on June 5, 1993.

Laurayne retired from her position as the bank’s telephone operator “after many, many years”, she said, “sometime in my 70s because the bank extended my date of retirement.” Now changed to Republic Bank, “Polly” as she was fondly called by her co-workers, still receives invitations to functions. And although she is in relatively good health and her brain is good, she prefers the comfort of home, which for more than 30 years has been with her daughter, Marilyn, (and her late husband Miles Silman), at Feldspar Gardens in Diamond Vale, Diego Martin.

“I lived at 102 Belmont Circular most of my life until my sonin- law decided that the time had come for me to live with Marilyn and himself. I am very happy here. He was very good to me before he passed and my daughter treats me very good – excellent.

I have no complaints.

Sometimes I feel sad about things I do not like in my life but most times am happy,” said Laurayne.

Could be that one of the things which she misses is travelling, one of her pastimes, to places like Las Vegas, Seattle, where her late sister Sue lived, Oregon, Canada, St Thomas and other destinations.

Her brother Desmond is deceased as well.

oments could be caused by the fact that she is no longer able to enjoy one of her favourite methods of exercise, walking from Belmont to the bank on Independence Square and back, also to the grocery and more or less wherever that was within walking distance.

Granddaughter, Stacey, remembered her grandmother having to hide out in a bathroom in one of the downtown arcades as she got caught in the middle of gunfire during the 1990 attempted Muslimeen coup.

“I was walking home and on reaching Frederick Street saw people running, some with guns and took cover until it cleared up,” said Laurayne.

Did that stop this intrepid woman? Not at all, she just continued walking on her way to Belmont when things calmed down.

Says Marilyn: “Mummy eats everything in very small amounts, loves ice tea and all supplements, and ice cream and cake which was last Friday’s celebration.

She reads two papers every day and Newsday happens to be one of them.” As can be seen from the picture taken just about two years ago with great granddaughter Della Marie Silman, “Granny Barbara” is a favourite with her grands and great-grands, especially when one considers that Stacey and husband, Kevin, came from England where they live, specially for the 100th anniversary of her birth; and one remembers the late CG “giving a shout out on his radio programmes to Granny Barbara.”

Delivering the feature address at the ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Hislop openly stated his displeasure with the use of social media to chastise athletes.

The TT Olympians experienced such an ordeal following the 2016 Rio Olympics as members of the local public were disappointed with the performances of the TT Olympians and made their feelings known on social media.

Hislop stated, “I don’t know how post (Olympic) Games people are as critical of our athletes as they have been. On August 23, two days after the Games I was going through Twitter. Don’t get me started on social media, I am not a fan. I think it has become too easy for us to criticise.

“I was going through Twitter and following the criticism, and I tweeted this, ‘Let the level of your criticism be reflective of your contribution.’” Keshorn Walcott won TT’s only medal at the Rio Olympics when he grabbed bronze in the men’s javelin.

The TTOC celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016 and Hislop believes the 2016 TT Olympic team is a clear indication of how far the country has come.

“Through the years I think we have made huge strides and you only have to look at the Olympic team that we sent to Rio this year to understand that; record numbers, a number of debut sports and the number of women that we had representing the twin island state are testament to how far we have come over the 70 years.” The former goalkeeper, who represented TT at the 2006 World Cup, thanked the national athletes for their contributions throughout the year. “To those athletes who so proudly represented our twin island nation, your victories rewarded and unrewarded, recognised and unrecognised, those personal, those shared, thank you. Thank you for showing the world our dignity neatly wrapped in red, black and white.” Hislop added that the performance of the nation’s athletes will help the TTOC’s goal of winning 10 or more Olympic gold medals by the 2024 Games. “To those athletes who felt the sting of disappointment but cheered on anyway, to those who were training partners, competitors or friends, thank you.

Thank you for giving us all what we can be most proud of, thank you for giving our future 10 gold medallists the example and foundation of their success.

Thank you for giving us you, all of you, the best version of you.”

The 27-year-old Dookram who is enjoying his first ever No1 ranking felt accomplished.

“One of my career goals was to be the number one ranked player in the country since winning my first national title in 2014. Being number one was the next goal on the list but I fell a bit short in 2015 so I`m glad that I was able to achieve it this year,” he said.

It was a serious test of consistency for the right hander in his long journey to the top of the ranking list.

“My performances for the year were relatively decent as I didn’t place anything less than third in any tournament for the year. Also, I was able to get wins against three foreign players being David Mahabir, Khaleel Asgarali and Trevor Farley who are all very tough opponents,” he continued.

Four-time top ranked women’s player, Linda Partap-Boodhan, is enjoying her second consecutive year at number one but this year she was made to battle to the end as she played the last four months of the year with an injury. She revealed: “It means a great deal to me especially struggling with the injury I picked up in Dominican Republic in September. To finish off the year successful was due to my mental motivation. It feels good and my two daughters were my biggest supporters.” An athlete goes through many challenging periods throughout their career and in most cases motivation is needed to be become successful.

Explaining where his motivation comes from, Dookram said, “I have good support from my family and friends which is always needed for people to keep moving forward in their respective sport.

Also, I am quite motivated when I see our local players improving and getting to the next level so I want to be there with them and not fall behind. However, sport needs changes and improvement to keep players motivated because if things stay the same players could end up leaving the game which has happened in the past with many top national players.” Whenever there is news of a 41-year-old player dominating the sporting arena while still seeking to improve daily, there has to be a special inspiration.

So when Linda was asked what is the secret for her continued success, she declared: “The love for the sport which I have been playing from a tender age and I would like to see the sport excel.

Additionally, it helps me to keep a healthy lifestyle. I owe a great deal of my motivation to my Arima Hawks clubmates.” She added: “Teaming up and playing with my daughter Rayanna this year was a spur of the moment decision but has proven to be the greatest joy.” Yuvraaj experienced table-tennis at different levels as he had a training stint in Sweden last year and during 2010-2013 he represented LindonWood University in Missouri, USA for four years where he graduated with a Bachelor in Computer Science.

He suggested some steps for improvements for table tennis in TT.

“There should be continuous national training for players vying for the team along with a dedicated coach. If it is too difficult to achieve funds to send players away, then bringing a coach and a couple top players to us seems like another option.” Linda believes more effort is needed at the school level as she expressed: “ I am coaching at schools and it is difficult to get these kids to attend tournaments so if we cannot motivate them then we are in trouble.”

Spurred on by three well taken goals from 36-year-old Cornell Glen, centre-back Carlyle Mitchell and winger Aikim Andrews, TT got their first victory under new coach Tom Saintfiet to rebound from their 2-1 loss to their hosts on Tuesday.

But as was the case in the opening friendly, TT found themselves trailing in the first half as Daniel Cadena placed his shot past Adrian Foncette to put the hosts 1-0 ahead the 25th minute after left-back Maurice Ford was left for dead by Jaime Moreno before finding Cadena unmarked in the six-yard box.

But despite going a goal down, TT fought hard and caused their hosts some trouble. Saintfiet gave veteran Glen a start alongside Tyrone Charles, Carlyle Mitchell and midfield workhorse Kevan George and it paid dividends.

Glen caused the Nicaraguan defence some problems with his acceleration, getting off two quick strikes at goal but goalkeeper Diedrich Tellez was up to the task both times.

But the former Columbus Crew striker would get on the scoresheet after the Nicaragua defence failed to clear their lines.

Mitchell played a diagonal ball on the right of the box for a lurking Glen and he kept his balance to volley into the turf and past Tellez for the equaliser in the 37th minute.

Six minutes after the interval, Glen won a free-kick midway into the opponents half and Hughton Hector floated one in for Mitchell to clinically convert with a neat glancing header to put TT 2-1 ahead.

TT would pull further away as Mitchell tussled with three defenders inside the area, going down in the process before the ball came out for Andrews who took one touch before striking a superb right footed volley into the far left corner to push the visitors 3-1 ahead.

Substitutes Daneil Cyrus and Shahdon Winchester muffed further opportunities for TT but Saintfiet would be pleased to see his team bounce back from their first loss in some style.

After the match the Belgium- born coach discussed the performances of his team and the results on their short Christmas tour.

“As a coach you want to win every match and I was very disappointed after the first match that we lost 2-1. I felt the players deserved more for the effort. So it was very important I think in my mind and in the players mind to get a good result before we travel back.

“It was the last game of 2016 and if we could win this match we would be in a stronger psychological mood to start the (Gold Cup qualifying) competition against Suriname and Haiti. And it think it was a very clear good performance not only tactically but also physically and mentally where we proved today that we could win this match and the result will help us naturally in the near future,” Saintfiet said.

He commended more than a handful of players for their efforts.

“It’s always difficult to say because we also have to respect the players that played last Tuesday. They also played quite well last match. Today the guys who came in like Kevan George, Carlyle Mitchell, Tyrone Charles and Cornell Glen did fantastic but it’s not only them, it’s a whole team performance. Even after the changes I have to think of players like Aikim Andrews and other players who performed well.

I think we as a team don’t have one, two, three big players but we have a team performance of 20-23 players who are playing on a high level.

Sure today some players showed that they deserved to be on the national team. I think some were a little bit out of selection for a long period and they wanted to prove something and I hope in the coming weeks they can continue that.” He spoke of the value of the twoweek training camp including the two friendlies in Managua.

“I think it’s very important and I am very happy that the (TT Football) Association could organise these matches in a short period of time. People sometimes people forget that I am only two and half, three weeks in Trinidad and that I saw only a few league matches and I had not a lot of time to select and to find the right players for the coming weeks. So this twoweek training camp plus these two friendly matches helped me a lot to know which players are ready, which system is best and how we can be prepared for Suriname and Haiti. I am a very happy coach that we use these days between Christmas and New Years to prepare our team because we have made a lot of steps forward.” TT resume preparation today ahead of their CFU Gold Cup playoff encounter against Suriname on Wednesday from 7pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Tickets for the upcoming Gold Cup playoff matches are now on sale at all Lotto Locations nationwide.

There are 3-in-1 season tickets for the three matches costing $100 for adults and $45 for children.

Single match tickets cost $50 for adults and $20 for children.

TTFA Season Pass holders can access the games at no additional cost. Those TTFA Season Passes which includes access to the World Cup qualifiers are available at First Citizen’s Banks nationwide

Reliving the trauma she endured, hours later to police, the teen said at one stage during the gang-rape she begged the men to stop and let her go but they cursed her and slapped her across the face. The teen said at this stage, she thought she was going to die and in her mind, began making peace with the Almighty, not even bothering to pray to be released.

According to a police report, at about 5.15 am, the girl was liming with two male friends in the porch of her Valencia home.

Hours earlier, the girl’s family had a lime at the house with the two young men being the only guests who remained after the get together ended. Without warning, two men – one with a bandana (large handkerchief) covering his face and the other with a hat pulled over his face – emerged from the pre-dawn darkness, entered the porch and began beating the young men.

As her friends cowered in fear on the floor, the girl was grabbed by the two intruders who took her into the bushes at the back of the house which led to the forest.

After walking for over two miles, the trio were met by another man who was holding a gun.

They then continued the trek in pouring rain until they reached the banks of a river. There the men took turns raping the teen.

In the meantime, the girl’s relatives contacted the Valencia police and officers responded immediately, alerting their counterparts from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit as well as soldiers from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.

Officers from the Eastern Division Task Force and the Air Support Unit also got involved in a massive search of the forest for the abducted teen. Officers later came across a farmer who told them he had earlier heard a scream and directed the officers to the direction of the sound.

Officers involved in the search included ASP Robain, Acting ASP Rishi Singh, Inspector Ken Lutchman, PC Khan, PC Hernandez and others. After the gang-rape, the three men marched the naked girl out of the forest and toward a Nissan B11 car parked off the main road known as the Valencia Stretch. Seeing that she was about to be forced into the vehicle, the girl started to struggle with the men and managed to escape, running back into the bushes where she hid. The men did not bother pursuing her and instead got into the car and sped off.

At 6.30 am, the girl was found by police officers cowering and weeping on the forest floor. She was given a sheet to cover herself and taken immediately to the district health centre for treatment.

There she was reunited with weeping relatives. Police officers said the teen was thankful to have survived the harrowing ordeal in the forest. Even as she was being treated, police were busy setting up roadblocks as they continued the search for the three rapists.

Up to press time, no arrest had been made.

Police sources said they believe the men may be hiding in the forest and as such, teams of officers were in the bushes searching for them. Sources further said that trained counsellors from the TT Police Service’s Victims of Crime Support Unit will visit the teen at her home, to provide counselling.

The TTPS is reminding fireworks users that the Summary Offences Act Chapter 11:02 section 99. (1) states, “Except as prescribed by Regulations under this Act, any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks within any town is liable to a fine of one thousand dollars.” “Furthermore section 99. (2) and sections 100 and 101 defines a ‘town’ to include the City of Portof- Spain, the City of San Fernando, and the Borough of Arima, and every part of the area within two miles of the boundaries of such City or of either of such Boroughs and also, any place or area declared by the Minister, by Order, to be a town or to be deemed to be included within a town for the purposes of the said sections,” the TTPS yesterday stated.

This reminder comes almost one month after the NGO, Animals 360 Foundation Incorporated, wrote to Acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams, requesting a night of total policing to crack down on the illegal use of fireworks.

This is something which can pose health risks to the elderly and sick as well as to dogs, whose hearing is much more sensitive than that of humans.

Untold numbers of dogs runaway from home in an attempt to get away from the loud, unexpected explosions, with some dying of fright or after being hit by a vehicle while crossing roadways.

The use of fireworks outside of towns and the sale of fireworks were also addressed by the TTPS in a statement issued yesterday (Friday) afternoon. Fireworks outside of towns: Section100 also states that any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks into, in, or upon any street not being in any town, or into, in, or upon any place being within sixty feet of the centre of any such street, is liable to a fine of four hundred dollars. Under the Explosives Act Chapter 16:02 explosives is defined among other things as “gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, blasting powders, coloured fires and fireworks.

Sale of Fireworks: In accordance with section 10. (1) of the Act no person other than a wholesale or retail dealer shall sell fireworks or offer or expose the same for sale without a licence.

Subsection (2) states any person who contravenes the provisions of this section is liable to a fine of two thousand dollars. Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will be ensuring all places where the sale of fireworks takes place such persons are in possession of a licence to sell said devices. Anyone found in contravention of the law will be charged.