“I have had to live off of my savings and I now owe my landlord rent for all of 2016 to present,” said Susan Butcher- David.

“I suffer with severe depression which has taken a toll on my physical body sending me in and out of the hospital all the time. I have been given a deadline by my landlord of September 30 to pay up or I will be homeless. I am making a desperate plea to the government of the Republic Trinidad and Tobago to take a genuine look at this situation, which took place at the Consulate in July 2012, and help those of us who were treated unfairly by the previous government.” On July 5, 2012, Butcher-David and seven other TT Consulate employees were fired after their reported failure of an exam which then consul general Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam had said was necessary in order to re-apply for their jobs.

Butcher-David “started out in 2000 as a permanent employee.” Then, about two years later, she and other clerical staff were put on two-year contracts.

She said, in January 2012 she and the others “were given six-month contracts with no sick leave and one week’s leave at the end of the contract.” Speaking with Newsday back in June 2013, she recalled, “Next came the news from…

Ramgoolam that we had to re-apply for our jobs, including sitting an exam we were never given proper information on.

“They claimed we failed it and so had to be terminated. How can you be expected to pass an exam you were never prepared for?” At the time of her dismissal, Butcher-David had worked at the consulate for 12 years while others among the eight had been there for 25 years.

Having been escorted out of the building in Manhattan “like criminals”, she said, the eight were left without an immediate source of income and no health insurance.

What’s worse, Butcher- David told Newsday, is that having turned 66 in March, she is now “passed the age for employment in the TT Government.” “However, I served my country for 12 years. I am also a US citizen. We did not have the option to contribute to National Insurance in TT nor did the (then) government pay unemployment insurance here in the US.

Hence US citizens and Green Card holders cannot put in a claim for time away from work,” Butcher-David lamented.

Having exhausted the financial help available from her and her husband’s families and having reached the end of her landlord’s patience, Butcher-David decided it was time to issue an appeal to the TT Government.

Knowing government assistance may not come in time, if at all, she is now asking the public to help her in whatever small way they can to avoid eviction.

Butcher-David owes US $21,500 for 20 months’ rent; inclusive of August 2017. If you would like to help her, you can contact her via email at susan_butcherdavid@ hotmail.com or on her mobile phone at 1-347-731-0644.

Though some can sometimes say, if you choose fruit drinks and crackers, sada roti and vegetables or curry potatoes, bake and scrambled egg or even just a bowl of readyto- eat cereal with or without milk are okay food choices that will provide nutrients.

Yes, you will get some nutrients, but the focus should be on eating balanced meals. You should also keep in mind that in some cases, it might be obvious why people make these food choices; perhaps due to cultural dietary practices, insufficient funds to buy food, lack of knowledge about food nutrient content, busy schedules, and much more.

To ensure that you begin the day with good nutrition, the breakfast meal should comprise seasonal fruit, cereal with milk, staples, protein food, and beverage.

A quick evaluation indicates that the example of the breakfast meal pattern show that the Caribbean Food Groups are used as the guide in meal planning; the different food groups noted are fruits, staples, foods from animals, and legumes. The meal is balanced providing energy to start the day, along with adequate amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals and water.

Health benefits Studies show that making the choice to consume breakfast will add more benefits to your health as opposed to skipping this essential meal (which can negatively impact health), and trying to make up for it during the day. After fasting for long hours during the night, breaking the fast by eating a healthy meal is a good way to begin; it provides the body with energy and nutrients needed.

Eating breakfast can aid you in meeting the recommendation of fruit and vegetable intakes, improving mental alertness, memory, concentration, problem-solving skill, contributing to better academic performance (simply meaning boosts brain power) and school attendance, enhancing productivity in the workplace, weight management, increases in calcium and dietary fibre intakes, healthier lifestyle, and decreasing snacking are some advantages, just to list a few.

Whereas, skipping or omitting the breakfast from your daily meal plan, the negative effects are quite true, as you may have a lack energy to begin the day’s activities.

Other points to note include engaging in frequent snacking — moreso consuming unhealthy snacks, potential risk for weight gain leading to overweight and obesity, may contribute to poor academic performance, and difficulty in meeting recommendations for fruits and vegetables intakes.

According to researchers Timlin and Pereira (2007), adults who consume breakfast regularly may more than likely have better quality diets that include more dietary fibre, nutrients — calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins A and C, and riboflavin, as well as fewer calories, and less dietary fat and cholesterol. In addition, a review of several studies showed that children and adolescents who eat breakfast, have higher intakes of similar nutrients mentioned previously – calcium, vitamins A and C, riboflavin, zinc and iron.

You will find that consumption of a healthy breakfast can aid persons in meeting some of their daily nutritional requirements, compared to breakfast skippers. Moreover, peer influence and media messaging may more than likely have a significant impact on adolescents’ dietary habits which include eating breakfast. Parents, caregivers and educators should encourage teens and their peers to consume breakfast daily which can aid in improving and/or maintaining their nutritional status.

What can you do? Perhaps, you might conclude that making the effort to eat a healthy breakfast daily is worth it, given the positive impact on maintaining health. A few helpful hints include: Take a few minutes to plan the weekly menu that should be well-balanced, and after doing an inventory in the pantry, add the needed items to the grocery shopping list.

Be sure to add to the menu, whole grains and whole grain products e.g. whole wheat sada roti, bake, muffins, wraps, etc, whole milk or low-fat milk and yoghurt, soy milk, almond milk, other food products rich in dietary fibre coconut bake, ground provision, and starchy fruits (breadfruit, plantain, green banana, bluggoe), fresh seasonal fruits and fortified orange fruit juice with no sugar added, and all types of vegetables.

Choose lean protein choices such as egg, sliced baked chicken –remove the skin, sardines, tuna, low-fat milk and milk products Plan wisely — prepare some food items the night before like cheese spread, salt fish buljol, veggie patties, home-made bread, bake, granola cereal, salads, chicken strips with vegetable pieces and so on Try the idea of having a breakfast club in the office two to three days per week, making available to colleagues some breakfast foods and beverages. Make the menu simple.

Nutrition take home message: eat breakfast daily, adding local produce to your meal plan.

Claudette Mitchell, PhD, RD – assistant professor, University of the Southern Caribbean, School of Science, Technology, and Allied Health.

The Honduras team, under head coach Jorge Luis Pinto, includes Barcelona B team player Anthony Lozano who told reporters before the team’s departure out of San Pedro Sula that he was expecting a tough outing..

“We are going there with the conviction that we will get the three points. We have worked hard and we believe we can give it our all in these two games to get the results,” Lozano said..

“We are hoping everything can turn out well. We have no excuses because we know each other well and we have prepared for this game,” he added..

Reports indicated that China-based forward Rony Martinez did not travel with the team as his club Baoding Yingli Yitong did not release him for travel in time for the encounter..

Pinto said he expects the contest to be a closely fought one..

“The both teams have a good chance and we know every point is crucial. We know the Trinidad and Tobago team can be dangerous and they are at home but we will be prepared to face whatever challenge comes our way..

We know the importance of this game..

Both teams know it,” Pinto said..

The TT team trained on Monday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva and a second session was scheduled for yesterday evening at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella..

European-based player Radanfah Abu Bakr was the latest overseas pro to join the camp on Monday night while Kazakhstan- based defender Sheldon Bateau is the last player to come in today..

Among the new local call-ups into the World Cup squad is defender Kevon Villaroel who scored TT’s goal in last Thursday’s friendly with Jamaica. He is eager to prove his worth in the qualifiers now..

“It’s something I have always dreamt of, being on the national team. I’ve worked hard over the years trying to catch the eye of the different national coaches and now finally I have gotten the chance. It felt great to score my first international goal in my second appearance for the national team,” Villaroel told TTFA Media..

“But that’s gone now and it’s about focusing on the preparations for Honduras..

The players have all been a great bunch to work with and we’ve been meshing since preparations began, leading up to the Jamaica game. I think everyone understands the importance of a victory on Friday..

“We’ve been discussing it on and off the training field and it’s a case now of completing our preparations and going out there and finishing the job before going over to Panama,” the former Puerto Rico Islanders player added..

W Connection’s Alvin Jones, brother of Seattle Sounders left back Joevin Jones, is also another player that has come on strongly under Lawrence and will be hoping to play his part in Friday’s outing, making mention of a strong bond within the selection..

“There is a brotherly love not just between myself and Joevin but I think among everyone in the squad. It is a joy when we come together and while we may be having a laugh at times, I think the serious part of things is always there when the boys come together to prepare for a game, especially one as huge as this game on Friday,” Jones said yesterday..

Campbell is a champion at the 2017 Elite Under-23 National Track Cycling Championships with gold medals in the Women’s Omnium and Individual Pursuit. In the latter, Campbell clocked a time of three minutes 55:44 seconds to surpass her previous best of three minutes 56:86 seconds in the Elite Under-23 National Track Cycling 2015.

Now, she is eligible to participate with older athletes, some who are Olympians. Although her competitors are more experienced, she said to Newsday yesterday, “I feel pretty confident.

I’m way stronger and faster than I was two years before.

I’m hoping to take home the gold.” Her coach, Elisha Greene, has her on a strict training regimen which she believes will take her to the next level. She wakes up between 4-5 am every morning to go cycling on the road. Then her evenings are interchanged with going to the gym or more cycling. She said that some of her training sessions left her her in pain but she is hoping the hard work will put her in good stead when the Pan Am Track Championships pedal off today at the National Cycling Centre, Couva.

Campbell will be competing against riders from Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brazil, Barbados, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela.

She will be taking part in a variety of events including the Stretch Race, the Omnium Points Race, Keirin and the Individual Pursuit. She remains calm and collected despite facing a tough task versus some world class riders.

“I don’t look up to the girls there as superior to me,” Campbell said. She believes once she rides smartly, she can defeat her rivals.

The national athlete hopes to progress in the career of cycling and has her sights set on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan as well as competing in the World Cup and World Championships.

She hopes her achievements are an inspiration to the younger generation of female cyclists and wants everyone to see that female cycling is on the rise and that women can win too.

Also representing this country on the women’s team for the championship are Alexi Costa, Jessica Costa, Cheyenne Awai, Alexandra Bovell and Christiane Farah.

In the men’s team are Njisane Phillip, Nicholas Paul, Kwesi Browne, Keron Bramble, Quincy Alexander, Akil Campbell, Varun Maharaj, Lorenzo Orosco, Jovian Gomez, Gevan Samuel and Adam Alexander.

As a consequence, the support base of the PNM collective will be denied being on television, despite the tremendous work being done by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts.

Maybe certain people hate what they see in the mirror.

Maybe that is why in the US there are BET , EbonyLife TV and O networks.

LANCELOT SARJEANT via email

In response, Ramlogan, 47, submitted a 40-page statement which the police were reviewing before consulting Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard on the filing of charges against the senior counsel.

Ramlogan is accused of attempting to pervert the course of public justice by allegedly asking Police Complaints Authority director David West to withdraw as Rowley’s witness in exchange for his appointment as head of the agency.

Ramlogan, who served under the People’s Partnership administration, had sued Rowley over claims he made about him regarding the controversial Section 34 clause of the Administration of Justice Act and the extradition proceedings of businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.

Attorney Gerald Ramdeen, who is also a UNC senator, confirmed Ramlogan gave a statement to police.

“He has just given a statement and they are going over it now,” Ramdeen told Newsday at about 7.55 pm.

Ramdeen could not say how much longer Ramlogan would be detained or if he would have been released.

“I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful at this stage,” he said.

Sources said investigators posed 180 questions to Ramlogan, under the supervision of acting Deputy Police Commissioner Harold Phillip.

The day’s long interrogation was briefly interrupted at around 4 pm when investigators left the Police Administration Building on Sackville Street and went across to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Winsure Building, on Richmond Street, Port of Spain and met DPP Gaspard.

On his advice, they returned to police headquarters and resumed the interrogation but up to 8 pm, no charges had been laid.

Over the period, Ramlogan received lunch and dinner and was allowed to speak occasionally to his wife, Nalini, and children, Aniel and Schweta.

Earlier, in an i95.5fm radio interview, Pamela Elder SC, who is also Ramlogan’s attorney, said he was “coping quite well in the circumstances”.

“He’s being interviewed by the police officers, it’s rather unfortunate that they had to take that procedure because he had always indicated to me his willingness to subject himself to an interview wherever and whenever the police officers required, but notwithstanding that the police officers are very courteous and they are carrying out the interview in a very professional manner. My client has not been charged,” she told the station.

Newsday sources said Elder recently wrote Phillip saying Ramlogan was willing to be interviewed at anytime.

Ramlogan was detained after 10 police officers executed a search warrant, at about 6 am, at his home in Palmiste Villas, an upscale residential community in Palmiste, on the outskirts of San Fernando.

His wife and children sat alongside him as their home was searched for documents but investigators found none. The search lasted a mere 20 minutes.

Ramlogan was allowed to contact Elder and Ramdeen, after which his cellphone was seized.

Ramdeen, who also lives in Palmiste Villas, went over to Ramlogan’s home and spoke with him before he was escorted in an unmarked police vehicle to police headquarters, arriving by 7.30 am. Ramlogan was met by Phillip and his team who informed he was a suspect in an investigation and was asked to co-operate.

Sources said at that time Ramlogan replied he had nothing to say until he was advised by his attorneys.

Almost an hour later, Ramdeen and several attorneys, among them Dinesh Rambally, Jagdeo Singh and Criston J Williams, arrived and asked to meet with Ramlogan but only Ramdeen and one attorney were allowed to do so.

They were later met by Elder at about 11.50 am.

Singh speculated whether Ramlogan’s detention had to do with an injunction which he, and the group of lawyers who tried to see him, successfully obtained against the acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams halting a promotion exercise. (See page 7) “I don’t know if this is in retaliation of the injunction we obtained against the Commissioner of Police this morning (yesterday) preventing him from doing a round of promotion. But this is the same team of lawyers that obtained the injunction, so we don’t know whether if this is a retaliation.

We did not get to see him. I don’t know the facts. I am here as a colleague,” said Singh.

In 2015, the witness-tampering allegation led to Ramlogan’s resignation as attorney general, and prime minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar’s firing of Gary Griffith as national security minister.

Several former PP ministers have already been questioned by police including Griffith, Suruj Rambachan and Roodal Moonilal.

Former Express journalist Anika Gumbs, who broke the witness-tampering story, has also been interviewed by police.

(with reporting by Marlene Augustine, Clint Chan Tack, Sean Douglas)

That said, thinking up inspiring ideas can be a challenge. It’s tempting to fall into the trap of using packaged, readymade options. Although these seem like the easy answer, they tend to be high in fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.

Keep choices varied, fresh and tasty, high in protein, veg, fruit and fibre, but low in fat, salt and sugar. Lunch should provide at least a third of your child’s daily requirements — without it youngsters struggle to concentrate in the afternoon. Pack plenty of sustaining, nutritious options to make the school day a productive one.

Coping with a fussy eater Involve your child in planning and preparing their lunchbox – kids are more likely to try foods that they’ve been involved in selecting and making.

Children are happier choosing from a small range of foods. If your child seems to pick just one or two favoured things every day, this is not unusual — gradually introduce more options but be prepared to be patient.

If they refuse wholegrains, like wholemeal bread, don’t worry — some small children find fibrous foods too filling and they may even upset their small stomachs. Instead, supply fibre by opting for beans and pulses puréed into a creamy dip or add to salads or sandwich fillings. Introduce brown versions of rice, pasta and bread when your child is a little older.

Don’t use food as a reward — this reinforces the idea that sugary, fatty foods are better options than healthy whole fruit or dairy products.

How much does my child need? You’ve probably noticed that some food labels display the percentage of your Guideline Daily Amount (GDAs) that the food supplies — many manufacturers show these figures to help you make sense of the information on the label. GDAs are a guide to the amount of calories and nutrients an adult or child may have as part of a balanced, healthy diet. Remember, we all vary in size and activity levels so these figures are only a guide, but they can help you to see how much a food is contributing to your child’s daily diet.

Portion sizes for little ones (5-10 years) Drinks: Ideal options include water or milk.

Dairy: Yogurt/fromage frais, child-size pots vary from 50-100g.

Hard cheese like cheddar, approximately 15g-20g.

Soft cheese, approximately 20-25g.

Glass of milk, approximately 150-175ml.

Calcium: Calcium is essential for bone-building.

Good sources are milk, cheese, yogurt and fromage frais, as well as green leafy veg and canned fish.

Protein: Protein is important for helping your child to grow. It will also keep them feeling fuller for longer. Good choices include skinless chicken, oily fish, eggs and dairy foods, as well as beans and pulses for vegetarians.

Give your child the amount they can fit in the palm of their hand.

Vegetables: Aim for two portions of fruit and veg, with at least one being veg or salad. Fresh, frozen, dried, canned or you can use a juice — they all count.

Starchy carbs: Such as bread, noodles, pasta, rice or potatoes. These are important for energy and should make up a third of their lunchbox — opt for wholegrain versions or, for sandwiches, try one of the high-fibre “white” breads.

Fruit: The amount your child can fit in the palm of their hand — typically one small apple or banana, or three or four cherry tomatoes.

Buy healthier — what to check on the label When you do buy ready-packaged options, read the label — this is key to making good choices. Here’s the information you need at your fingertips: Ideas to get kids to eat up Make fruit more exciting with a fruit slaw.

Cut apple, firm mango, pommecythere into fine matchsticks, add a few berries and toss together with a little lime juice. Serve in tubs.

Swap the tuna mayonnaise in their sandwiches for tinned mackerel or salmon mixed with mayonnaise — these will provide a higher amount of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

Instead of a sandwich, give them a little tub of hummus with blanched broccoli, raw carrot, red pepper or cucumber sticks for dipping.

Write a message or your child’s name onto a boiled egg or a banana skin.

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The name TTT summons a sense of national pride that allows us to know that we exist in the world of television. I must admit that the announcement by Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie was a pleasant surprise.

The benefits are clear to all who create, support, market and appreciate local content in the area of film-making, creative artistic expression, various forms of storytelling, steel pan and other musical instruments etc which all need to be showcased.

The Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) had clearly lost its way from all reports. It was extremely saddening and distasteful to watch the former United National Congress administration heavily politicising CNMG as a State-owned entity while in office.

Some miss the point and think we are going back in time. These people clearly did not pay attention to the government consultations on the relevance of Stateowned media in our society.

People at those consultations were screaming for not just more cultural content from TT but higher-quality local programmes and they agreed that State-owned media are critical to promoting the culture of our country.

While other local television stations have been trying for some time with commendable efforts to create and promote local content, this critical role has to be the ultimate full-time responsibility of a State-owned media entity and not a private enterprise. The reality is that local programmes reflecting the rich history and culture of our people in our plural society are yet to attract substantial private sector advertising dollars.

This TTT rebirth is in keeping with the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) campaign promise to heavily pursue areas of diversification of the economy. The PNM manifesto is coming to life with this initiative as it promised to “leverage the creative sector to enhance the economy.” A wider avenue to showcase our culture expressed in local content translates into more jobs and business opportunities for the sector. I therefore look forward to viewing more programmes about the history, culture, achievements and many successes of our people.

RONALD HUGGINS St Joseph

The boy will spend the next two weeks there and it is the hope of San Fernando magistrate Alicia Chankar that he will undergo rehabilitation in a controlled environment. He is to return to court on September 12.

The boy, from Gasparillo, was taken to court having been arrested on Sunday and charged with larceny from a dwelling house.

It was the second time he was before a magistrate for larceny – the first being in February last year.

He again pleaded guilty.

Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan, told the magistrate that at about 5.30 am on Sunday, police from the Gasparillo station, responding to a report, saw the boy walking out from a house.

He was arrested and in his possession were clothing, a pair cuff-links, a gold chain and a gold watch.

They items were valued at $2,500.

When questioned about why he stole the items, the boy replied, “I was acting on orders from someone.” The boy, Seedan said, had been placed on a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for six months when he was first arrested and charged in February last year.

Byron is set to demit office having attained his seventh year of stewardship at the regional court. The tenure of president is for a non-renewable term of seven years.

A release from the Port of Spain-based CCJ said, the process of seeking his replacement had begun with the post being advertised extensively.

Advertisements have been in the public domain since August 4.

The RJLSC, which is tasked with the responsibility of finding a new president, has also communicated with regional and international stakeholders informing them of the start of the recruitment process, the CCJ said.

The deadline for the submission of applications is September 18, 2017. Details, including guidelines for applying, are available on the CCJ’s website at www.

ccj.org In a comment on his tenure to date, Byron said, “It has been an honour to serve the region as the President of the CCJ.” He was “particularly proud” of what was accomplished by the judges and the rest of the court’s team during his tenure. “It is now time for me to take on other challenges but I will look back at the six years I have spent at the Court, with pride and with a great deal of fondness,” he said.

Byron has been a jurist for over 50 years. He was first appointed as a judge in 1982.

He was sworn in as the second president of the CCJ in 2011 in St Kitts.

His predecessor was Trinidadian Justice Michael de la Bastide TC.

Byron was appointed by the heads of government of the Caribbean community on the RJLSC.

Applicants must have been a judge for over five years or have practised, or, taught law for at least 15 years.

A criteria of an applicant must possess “high moral character, intellectual and analytical ability, sound judgement, integrity and understanding of people and society.”