The national team, under recently- appointed coach Tom Saintfiet, were due to face Nicaragua last evening, while both teams will square off again on Friday, at Managua .

According to Look Loy, “to say the least it’s an experimental team .

The selection approach or the selection policy baffles me. I find it a bit erratic. But we hope that this team could do something against Nicaragua because Nicaragua is hardly a world-power of a team or a CONCACAF power.” He continued, “so let us see what they do. The performance and results in Nicaragua will give us an indication of what to expect.” Ahead of the trip to Nicaragua, Pro League champions and current league leaders Central FC were involved in a club-versus-country row, whereby they insisted that three players (Jan-Michael Williams, Sean De Silva and Nathaniel Garcia) were allowed to play Pro League matches last week, against the national team’s wishes .

De Silva was injured in training while Williams and Garcia played against Morvant Caledonia United last Tuesday, and were subsequently excluded from the team to the Central American nation .

Asked about the stance taken by Central FC, Look Loy noted, “my policy on that is always consistent .

FIFA has rules for the release of players on FIFA dates, five days before (the game). It is at the will of any particular club that a player will be allowed to train or go and represent his country outside the FIFA date. I think that Central were well within their rights .

“Why is there no confusion that players were denied participation by their European clubs. Is it that the European clubs have one standard applied to them and another standard is being applied to the clubs by the coach and the local administration? I think if there is no issue with the foreign clubs, why should there be an issue with the local clubs. There is one rule, there are all professional clubs. If the coach wants to look at players, let him go and watch football.” Look Loy continued, “when the coach of Brazil wants a player, he doesn’t call players to training. He goes and sees a match. (Central FC) are in the middle of a title race .

I wasn’t letting my players go either, to be quite frank. While I’m on that point, I find it hard to fathom that 30 players could be invited and not one player from the National Super League, not even the leading scorer (Andy London of Siparia Spurs, with 26 goals). I find that difficult to accept.” Defence Force’s striker, Devorn Jorsling, the leading scorer in the TT Pro League with nine goals, was also left out from the training squad. “What is the rationale behind it? You leave out the top scorer in the professional league. So what is the criteria in calling these people. That’s why I’m saying I find the selection approach erratic.” Carlos Edwards, named as captain for the pair of games against Nicaragua, and Cornell Glen were both recalled to the team, after three-year-long spells out of the reckoning .

“It’s not only experience but about actual performance,” said Look Loy. “I don’t look at age.” Former TT coaches Russell Latapy (now director of youth football) and Jamaal Shabazz (technical coordinator) were named as Saintfiet’s assistants by the TT Football Association (TTFA) .

Look Loy said, “there is no technical justification for Latapy to be appointed assistant coach of the national team when the national Under-17 team was a disaster, that was a couple months ago. If Shabazz is a technical administrator, then let him do that. From the time we start to mix administrators with coaches, then we have a prob

A team of 13 — 11 athletes and two coaches — arrive in Trinidad tomorrow and dive right into the pool for a packed training schedule.

The Sports Company of TT (SporTT ), in a continuing effort to promote the Aquatic Centre as a hub for elite training activity, reached out to Canadian company Magik Tours, which conducted a site visit in early December ahead of the team’s arrival. According to Magik Tours representative Eli Daniels, “We’ve been around the world to marvellous facilities and what you have here is on par with everything we’ve seen. The coaches we work with ask us to scout various destinations and we heard about Trinidad. The facility is well laid out and very athlete-oriented so it’s ideal for training and for competition.” Head coach of the visiting CAMO team Claude St Jean is one of the top 10 coaches in Canada with over 37 years experience and 47 World Cup medals from athletes under his charge. One of the star athletes on the CAMO roster is Olympic, World Championship, Commonwealth and Pan Am medallist Katerine Savard, who most recently won gold with Canada’s 4×200-metre freestyle team at the 2016 World Swimming Championships (25m) in Windsor. It was the first ever swimming gold medal Canada had won on home soil on the world stage. Savard also won precious metal in her second Olympic Games in Rio 2016 — bronze, with team Canada in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

SporTT is partnering with the Tourism Development Company to facilitate the training camp which runs from tomorrow to January 10 at the National Aquatic Centre.

A poem also contains time because it can look to the past. And it sometimes looks back in order to bring news to the present. Implicitly, the entire project of poetry looks to a future, in the same way that all action assumes some kind of tomorrow.

Yet, sometimes it feels time has paused in a poem: as though what is being presented is a fine photograph or painting. For a moment, WH Auden’s clock stops. A poem can be timeless, even if every fibre of its being is made of time.

In Morning, Paramin Derek Walcott confronts this vortex head-on. The book is an extended sequence of ekphrastic poems done in response to the paintings of Peter Doig. You might think the idea of a poet having to respond to a set image is limiting, but in fact such a stricture can give the poet more freedom. The result, in this case, is an ease and fluidity in Walcott’s lines. While the poems are sometimes mindful of process, they feel fresh and free even when deploying formal conventions. Famously, a book closes at the end of White Egrets.

This new book triumphantly defies that.

In the new work, which was launched last week Wednesday at Doig’s studio space at Fernandes Industrial Estate, Laventille, the paintings are not illustrations.

Nor are the poems slavish replications of every stroke of the painter. In fact, sometimes Walcott takes the poems to unexpected places given the images.

For example, in ‘Metropolitain’, the poet finds a tone that seems counter to the darkness of Doig’s painting ‘Stag’.

“Drunk is drunk anywhere,” Walcott memorably states.

* Playwright/Director Tony Hall created the short skit in celebration the 60th anniversary of the Mighty Sparrow’s “Jean and Dinah”. Sixty years later a blind Dinah (Rhoma Spencer) and partially paralysed Jean (Penelope Spencer) put comedy in the song at the Bocas Lit Fest.

* The global phenomenon Le D?ner en Blanc event that originated in France, debuted in PoS.

The refined pop-up epicurean event where all attendees dressed in white as compelled to so do, and share a gourmet meal with good friends at a secret location had its hiccups but was enjoyed by diners.

* Media producer/ presenter and cultural impresario Holly Betaudier died at age 91. His career in media began 1946 at the American Naval base in Chaguaramas, working for the US Armed Forces radio service network WVDI. He next moved to Radio Trinidad, then to Trinidad and Tobago Television (ttt) where he became a household name from his presentation and production of his iconic Scouting for Talent show, from which budding artistes went on to become top local entertainers, some even excelling internationally.

Betaudier was also involved in parang, ballroom dancing, Best Village, acting and trade unionism.

JUNE * A street parade of fashion and mas featuring works from awarding- winning designer Anya Ayoung Chee and other local and regional designers was a spectators’ delight on Ariapita Avenue, as there was also live performances from popular local artistes at the event.

* Soca artiste Machel Montano and jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles performed at the White House (US) as part of the tenth celebrations of the National Caribbean- American Heritage Month.

* Local metal band, LYNCHPiN won the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle Caribbean competition resulting in a prize trip to Wacken, Germany, to participate in the Wacken Open Air heavy metal music festival.

They had the support of German Ambassador Lutz G?rgens.

JULY * Kes the Band music video for the hit song, “People” heavily featured the Laventille Rhythm Section throughout the video, which chronicled the journey of one of its younger members, Keyon Lewis from his home town to the stage alongside Kees Dieffenthaller, lead singer of Kes the Band.

It was directed by London-based videographer, Tom Swindell, and filmed during Carnival 2016, climaxing at the annual “Tuesday On The Rocks” concert event.

May I sincerely ask, what is the criteria for entry into the Police Service? Is it five or more CXC passes, or is it a family thing or a political thing?

RL BOONE Diego Martin

The attorney who did not wish to be named was one of the many persons around the Savannah early Saturday who scampered for safety on hearing the loud explosions caused by firecrackers, and who believed that it was persons shooting indiscriminately.

According to the attorney, she was accustomed to walking around the Savannah on early Saturdays, but on Saturday last, while she was doing so, she heard three explosions. The first one sounded like a blown transformer.

She recalled seeing two women running away from the sound of the explosion and added that although there was fright etched on their faces they still took time to tell her ‘don’t go there, it seems that someone is shooting in that direction.’ According to the attorney she did not recognise the two women who turned out to be former HDC Managing Director Jearlean John and her sister Jacqueline.

She said what stood out to her was that although John and her sister were fleeing from what they thought was someone shooting they still took time to warn her not to go in the direction of the sound of the loud explosions.

The attorney said she then made her way to the Belmont Police Station where she reported the matter to the police who informed her that they were aware of the incident. Yesterday the attorney said that she intends to go to the St Clair Police Station to corroborate the entire incident as claimed by John and her sister.

The attorney also revealed that she actually heard one of the men saying: ‘look them there.’ She pointed out that when the media reported the incident it was then that she learnt of the trauma endured by John and her sister who climbed over walls with barbed wire and suffered cuts and bruises while fleeing from the two persons who they thought were hired gunmen.

The attorney also pointed out that she remains traumatised over the whole incident, especially in these trying times with crime being what it is. She said that she is hoping that police get to the bottom of the whole incident, and seek out the persons responsible for Saturday’s incident, which left many persons traumatised. In that incident John and her sister were walking along the Savannah when, on reaching near Marli Street they saw a black SUV with two men, shouting “Look them, shoot them” followed by loud explosions.

John and her sister thought they were being attacked by gunmen and began running and climbing over walls to reach to safety, and later contacted the St Clair Police.

Camera footage later received by police revealed that the two men in the SUV were responsible for throwing firecrackers and did not appear to be in possession of any firearm.

No spent shells were recovered from the scene but officers found traces of residue from firecrackers. Yesterday police investigating the incident said that the probe is ongoing as the search continues for the two suspects in the black SUV

Yesterday morning, the Stannis family was revelling in the final day of the three-day Christmas weekend, eating, drinking and laughing around the feet of Agnes Stannis, the 84-year-old matriarch of their East Bayshore, Marabella home when the festivities were abruptly halted around 10.30am when six-year-old Kayleen Attong scampered out of the upper level of the two storey house screaming “Fire, fire !” A fire had broken out on the upper level of the main house, and was already beginning to spread.

Adults tossed aside their drinks and children ran away to safety while neighbours tried everything they could to put out the spreading fire.

According to Gerard Joseph, 45, neighbours formed a bucket brigade while others used hoses to try to contain the blaze, “But water wasn’t on the line and the water pressure was too low,” said Joseph, so they watched as the main structure of the house which stood for 43 years burn to the ground, taking another adjacent house with it.

Another two houses were also badly damaged in the blaze.

“It had nothing we could do and I don’t know what going to happen to us now,” said Joseph. Joseph said that the Fire Service reached the scene 45 minutes after the fire broke out. By the time they reach, everything was already gone.” Completely destroyed in the blaze were two fridges, four wardrobes, five beds including two newly bought double-decker beds, and several other appliances.

However, though the fire destroyed their homes during the Christmas season and left around 20 of them without a home, those affected managed to maintain a hopeful spirit. “At the end of the day, we go build back,” said Joseph.

“There basketball court there, that is our own. Who could stay by neighbours by neighbours. All we want the people of the country to know is that all we need in the ghetto is material. Once we get material, is a love. We will handle our own stories from there.” The cause of the fire was not yet determined.

Persons wishing to assist the fire victims can contact Leon Grant at 276 3546. Officers of the Mon Repos Fire Station are continuing their investigations.

Meanwhile, six persons are now homeless after fire destroyed a tyre shop and family home at St Mary’s Village, Moruga yesterday morning. Reports said fire started at around 11.23 am at Fatboy’s Tyre Shop located downstairs the dwelling house and quickly spread to the family home located at the upstairs of the two storey building.

The cause of that fire too is not known.

To cope with late night fears amongst the citizenry in recent years, some have just adjusted the time, like last Saturday night at The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, which started at 10.30 pm with the Blessing of the Creche and a Solemn Procession led by Chief Celebrant The Right Rev Claude Berkley Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago, assisted by Interim Rector Fr Carl Williams.

The beautifully decorated Cathedral, its full choir in specially designed gowns accompanied by the new organist Rico Cummings on the majestic pipe organ, were not enough to encourage the majority of the congregation from this downtown parish to brave the “Deadly Fear” spoken of by the Bishop in his sermon and attend the late night service.

The Bishop opened his sermon with words from the Christmas Gospel according to Luke where one of the key elements in the greatest story ever told revolves around angels appearing to shepherds living in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night who were terrified when an angel of the Lord stood before them bringing the good news of great joy for all the people “to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” “The Angels immediately gave assurance in the face of this “Holy Fear” telling the shepherds “Do not be afraid.” However said Rev Berkley: “One can hardly fault someone possessed and seized by Deadly Fear. God’s message to us is that All Will Be Well.

But Deadly Fear is just what it says Death. Strive as we may to listen to God’s assurance, it is difficult not to be distracted at Christmas with a runaway murder rate which seems as if nothing will happen to change it…One headline screamed 450 killed. Another spoke of the contracting economy and that money is no longer available as it used to be. Money is the problem not like before when former politicians declared “Money is no problem. Then there is child abuse and domestic violence – war declared on women and children.

“So you have coming out tonight half the congregation, the other half in fear of ‘Deadly Fear’ is not here….The first responsibility is usually accorded to the police, and notwithstanding the low detection rates and the fact that some elements do let the side down by engaging in corrupt practises, the police can do an excellent job when they feel like it and the results they can get are much more than the record shows.” The Bishop thought it disingenuous to blame the police only, what of the family unit, school, church and community groups as primary shapers of moral and spiritual values which worked for many years but have been put aside now…. “Although home, school discipline, community groups like scouts, guides and police youth clubs usually do shape certain quality of behaviour and conduct, we are all guilty at some level of reneging on our moral responsibility as crime mounts and mounts and now captivates us in fear.

“The church cannot sever its responsibility and must return to its strong moral teachings in the community. “The Church has to be more outgoing and because the church is where the people are, it must hit the road to meet the people at their point of need.

It becomes outdated if it is only in a building so the church must not be sanctuary clerics – the action is out on the road.

“Rules have changed and we have to adjust accordingly. Besides school, home, church and community space, resources must come alive in a bold way to allay fears shaping the city, such as, not going out in the night. The Christmas message engages ordinary people in the execution of a divine plan which wars against a false supernatural hope that cannot do for you what you can and must do for yourself.”

Since being elected two months ago as president of the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nursing Association (TTRNA), Idi Stewart said he would be looking into keeping local nurses here within the health system.

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Stewart said during this Christmas season nurses have been fulfilling their duties, with just a few exceptions. “I can’t say what the figures are, but there has not been any drastic shortage as far as I have heard, or any fall outs. Most of the nurses came out to work, there may have been one or two on a shift but nothing drastic.

“I will be looking at the shortage of nursing staff in the new year. In 2017 it would get even worse due to the fact that a number of United States and English recruiting agencies are presently intervieing a number of our nurses. They are being offered positions abroad so they would have done the exams so they can get through with the proposals to go abroad,” he said He said some of the nursing agencies were only hiring European nurses, but now that England had reopened its borders to Caribbean nurses, next year the nursing brain drain would begin again.

“There has been no emphasis placed on the problem, but we are hoping that the nurses who would gruaduate later would fill the gap, but unfortunately they would be green and need to be guided, and the senior ones would not be around to shepherd them.” Stewart said the nurses could not be blamed because there was a lack of opportunities locally for nurses to advance themselves.

He said their basic salary was “miniscule” for a professional for a person who would have spent five years training, no health insurance.

“There is a lack of opportunities financiallly and professionally so a number of nurses are looking to fly out. A number of them would have gotten in contact with the Nursing Council to get their transcripts ready,” Stewart said.

He said a standard nurse’s salary was around $6,000 a month, with allowances. However, these allowances were paltry when compared with foreign nurses who received about $3,000 for housing when compared to local nurses who received $100

“There are no safety guidelines, no directions on the boxes on how to use these types of items. We will like to encourage customers to stay away from them because they are very explosive and very dangerous,” Abraham explained.

Speaking on the issue of firework safety, Abraham said all the company’s firework items were legally imported, and went through testing procedures by the American Fireworks Safety Laboratory (AFSL), from the amount of black powder use, the type of fuses, packaging, and labelling.

Abraham said fireworks users should also be considerate to their neighbours when using fireworks because not everyone appreciates it.

“It is important that customers use the fireworks on Old Year’s night around 11.30 pm and 12.30 am on New Year’s Day. At least for one hour at the point of the New Year and then stop. We don’t want our customers using our products at all hours of the night, and unannounced.” He further added, “Customers must consider senior citizens and animals. If people are aware of a time frame which the fireworks are being used they can have enough time to secure their pets and prepare senior citizens who cannot handle the noise.” He said FireONE Fireworks has more than 20 locations throughout TT and the products in their stores all met the international guidelines. As 2016 comes to an end, customers yesterday clustered outside FireONE Fireworks’ Warehouse in Macoya for the company’s Boxing Day sale, to purchase fireworks to bring in the New Year with a colourful bang.

According to Abraham, when workers opened the store at 9 am, there were more than 400 customers already waiting with shopping carts to purchase fireworks.

“We normally have 400 to 500 shopping carts and all were in use. Customers were anxiously waiting for the store to open. Every single item in the store is on sale, today is our authentic sale buy one and get one free. We also have a wide range of new products from 2017 such as the ‘Hell in a Handbasket, ‘Golden Peacock, ‘Starkeeper’ and lots more,” he said.

On sale were numerous items from snap A-dappa, shine sparklers and firecrackers, to rockets and aerial repeaters with prices ranging from $1 to $1,000.

Abraham said even when the country is at a downturn, customers always look out for bargain sales.

“I believe when there are sales such as this it does much better than a normal sale because people are looking for cheaper items and based on the reactions we got today, it has been good.

People prefer to spend money on fireworks and stay at home with their families rather than purchasing a ticket for a party.” He continued, “Especially these days when there is so much negativity in the country, I think people are sick of all the negativity that surrounds them and we have to move past the negativity in our society.” Abraham said, “Selling fireworks is more of a responsibility to our country. We believe we bring families together and our products are used to express our aspirations as a country and as a people to what we would like for the New Year and the further.” A customer from Couva said he attended the sale this year and spent a considerable amount of money on various fireworks to bring in the New Year and to celebrate his father’s 50th birthday.

Another customer from Westmoorings said he always looks forward for the sale to get the great bargains, and bought fireworks with a total value of $5,000.