Isaiah Lee, one of the season’s most consistent players, and Justin Sadoo scored in the first half to gave Naparima a 2-0 halftime lead. Omri Baird netted a penalty, midway in the second stanza, but Naparima held firm until the final whistle by referee Rodphin Harris.

Naparima have emerged with silverware during the past three years, under the guidance of coach Angus Eve. The Naps squad copped the 2014 SSFL Premiership, the 2015 SSFL Premiership and Intercol titles, and the 2016 Big 4 Cup.

Eve said last evening, “we deserved the win. We’ve played well during the season but it’s just that players came and went due to national team duties.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to field our full team,” he continued.

The former national captain, referring to the 2016 Premiership winners Shiva Boys and the 2016 Intercol champs San Juan North, went on to state, “credit to all the teams that won titles this season.” He pointed out, “it was a good season. The League has a standard and you can see that no team dominated this year.” Lee put Naparima ahead in the 14th minute, slotting a right-footer to the right of Presentation goalkeeper Jabari Gray, after Renaldo McIntosh, on the right flank, waltzed his way past a trio of defenders and set up the prolific striker. Presentation midfielder Nion Lammy later had to held his head after her missed a glorious opportunity to knot the scores.

In the 27th, winger Jordan Riley, on the right, was given acres of space and he found Lammy in the six-yard box. But the national Under- 17 player skied his left-footed attempt with the net gaping.

This miss came back to haunt Presentation as Naparima got their second goal in the 38th. Renaldo Francois, from the left, squared the ball to Sadoo who neatly placed his 25-metre drive to the right of an airborne Gray.

Presentation were presented with a chance to get on the scoresheet in the 73rd, when defender Mylz Barrington was bundled over inside the penalty box by Naparima defender Khris Stoud. And Baird obliged, to direct his right-footer beyond the outstretched left-hand of Fernandez.

Francois could have gotten his name on the scoresheet in the 83rd, when he chased down a long ball but, from close range, he could only watch in agony as his left-footed shot was denied by Gray.

After four rounds, the Red Force are struggling to find consistency, only recording one win thus far. Against Jamaica Scorpions in the last round TT lost by 132 runs at Sabina Park as experienced left-arm spinner Miller snatched nine wickets for 41 runs in 22 overs in the second innings.

The Red Force will tackle Guyana with the likes of spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie in the next round starting on Friday in Guyana and Ottley is optimistic of a comeback.

Ottley said, “It is a new game, we are looking forward to it but it is just for us to plan well, plan for the Guyanese spinners. It is a game of cricket so it is just for us to maintain that positivity and look to dominate and stay on top of Guyana.

“I would like to see a more collective effort, this being the last game for the first round it is for us to really end well and end on a postive note because we really have high goals for this tournament.” TT cricketers have been labelled as T20 specialists but Ottley wants to prove people wrong because his team is working hard in an effort to lift the title.

Ottley, who credited Miller for his stellar performance, said TT must capitalise and convert starts into big scores. The TT skipper said the team’s disappointing effort with the bat is not because of a lack of concentration but believes longer partnerships are required.

“I would not blame it on concentration, I think the guys have worked hard both mentally and physically so that work is there, but it is just we have not been able to put the pieces together because we are doing it in spurts.

It is just for us to have partnerships and do it as a team.” Jason Mohammed returned to the team from West Indies duty, scoring an unbeaten 91 in the first innings.

Ottley does not believe the Red Force rely on Mohammed too much but says it is important for the younger players to follow Mohammed’s lead.

“It is good to have Jason there, his experience, his seniority there as well. He led by exmaple being the senior batsman on the team so it is just for us to follow in his footsteps and hopefully we can put the pieces together against Guyana.”

Lester’s mother Mary Layne, who has taken time off from work to spend with her daughter, said Lester is recognising people and moving her hands but still not talking since the accident.

Lester received bruises to her face, neck and legs and had to undergo surgery for a dislocated hip after being knocked down by a car while riding with a group of cyclists in south Trinidad. Layne said her daughter is getting a lot of support from family, friends and the cycling fraternity. She asked members of the public to continue praying for her daughter’s recovery from this unfortunate incident.

PATIENCE is one of the rarest commodities that few are able to embrace, as they miss that golden opportunity to harness it; on the other hand, those who are fortunate to acquire it, guard it jealously as they understand the critical role it plays in their lives at varying levels.

The absence of patience can sometimes produce undesirable outcomes due to poor decision-making.

Life is about welcoming and accepting the present, and less about living in the future, or even in the past.

Patience is a function that occurs between a response and an encounter, but in an effort to master it, there must be ongoing daily practice accompanied by appropriate behaviours.

The world today appears to be spinning on faster than normal wheels, which results in higher levels of irritation and despair, as many believe that everything must happen quickly, totally ignoring how such behaviour can negatively impact not only their lives, but also the lives of others.

Being patient, makes us better and humble human beings, more appreciative of others, and in a larger sense, better poised to achieve our dreams and treat with our challenges effectively.

Patience offers a basket of benefits worth considering.

Start by revisiting your relationships and avoid being defensive, impatient and/ or making statements with the potential to hurt your partner, which in the end can ruin your entire relationship.

Having patience allows you to show more empathy towards others, as you automatically become more tolerant, with the understanding, that everyone is different yet valuable.

A positive attitude towards life and treating with situations is evident; an optimistic light emerges and frustration immediately disappears.

Being patient is more than a skill, as it requires constant practice in an effort to remain grounded. It is a function that occurs within an experience and an encounter; living a life of patience allows you to let go of things outside your control, and just treat with what you’re able to, within the appropriate confines.

Self-assessment requires you to deal with your own thoughts, expressions and emotions, so that you’re able to view the world through broader lenses which redounds to treating others with respect.

It is a magnificent characteristic that showers you with the strength and resilience necessary to treat with challenging circumstances that you would encounter throughout your daily co-existence.

To be part of the conference, “The Power Within: Love Your Body, Love You” scheduled for January 26, 2017 contact:t 638-1083, 268-6078 and 684-6982.

Sandrine Rattan is a communications/ branding consultant, author and president of the International Women’s Resource Network (IWRN) Contact: thecorporatesuitett@ gmail.com or intlwomensresourcenetwork@ gmail.com

Grandfather of two, Teeluckdharry Seenath, 60, of Derry Lane, off Sonny Ladoo Trace, Mc Bean in Couva could not survive the attack as the top of his head was smashed in. On May 18, Seenath’s wife Jenny, 50, a mother of four and grandmother of two, died of natural causes. Residents discovered Seenath’s body yesterday shortly before 8 am, in a yard lying on its back. Police sources said it is believed that a garden fork was used to smash in Seenath’s head. A bloodstained fork was found nearby and seized.

Relatives told Newsday that Seenath lived with two of his four children – Stephanie and Mark- as well as his two grandchildren ages eight and five. Midday on Saturday, relatives left Seenath home alone and went to spend the weekend at the home of other relatives at Chase Village, Chaguanas. They also said that at the time, Seenath was intoxicated. Shortly after 8 am yesterday, relatives received a telephone call from residents with the tragic news.

“We only just lost Jenny recently and now this. This is real pressure.

What could Maraj possible do to deserve this? Them (killers) coming in here to give our village a bad name,” said a relative yesterday. He worked as a gardener and handyman while his wife worked at a B-B-Que outlet in the area, prior to her death.

Police believe that Banfield may have been murdered between 5pm and 6pm last Monday. The video clip also showed Banfield entering I AM at around 5 pm and another clip showed the employee leaving the store with a knapsack.

Investigators believe Banfield asked the employee to use the wash room where she was killed.

Following the discovery of her body on Thursday, police held two male employees for questioning. Matthew Maharaj was released on Saturday night.

Photographs of Banfield’s shopping bags and other personal items were shown to the suspects and portions of the video footage eventually retrived from the businessplace.

Newsday was told by investigators that the employee, who was seen in the video footage, turned his face away while being questioned.

Police also interviewed several other workers from IAM yesterday.

Investigators have also written to director of the Forensic Science Centre Arlette Lewis seeking a second autopsy on the body of Banfield.

Newsday also understands that a 38-yearold suspect has refused to be medically examined by a doctor or have any part of his body examined.

When police searched the suspect’s St Helena apartment on Thursday night they seized several items including clothing but sources revealed that clothing that the suspect wore last Monday was already washed.

Several employees of IAM and Co including cashiers who were interviewed by police said that they could not remember seeing Banfield enter the store last Monday as the business place was always busy.

Reporters had waited 90 minutes for his arrival and inspection of the function that had kicked off at 2 pm, but to no avail, as he then indicated a hoarse voice. Dr Rowley otherwise engaged fully with the youngsters and adults present, even being coaxed into having a go at the tin-pan alley, and the football kicking stalls.

The group which hails from Pearl Gardens, Petit Valley, copped the coveted title from a field of eight competitors It was obvious from the moment the band was called to perform on stage that they were a favourite for the title.

There were even louder cheers when they completed the two competition songs ‘Maria’ and ‘Una Sola Voz,’ Lead vocalists for the band are Candice Corbie and Eric Gomez and Voces Jovenes gained 135 points, a two point difference between them and the second place winners of Chaguanas based band La Familia de Carmona y Amigos, which also created history for their group.

They earned their highest spot in the national competition by placing second in a tie with Voces de Promesa. Fourth position went to Los Buenos Parranderos.

This was the first national competition by NPATT since 2010 and president of the organisation Larry Denalli addressed the reason for the lengthy absence.

“There were a number of reasons; a number of challenges in terms of funding. The grant in 2010 was one million dollars. I produced that show. After we got a million, the following year we got $380 000. That could not reproduce something of the magnitude of the previous show. From then to now, we were given $125 000 to keep our show. Could we produce a show of that magnitude with that money? I’ll answer that for you. No!” Denalli stated that he requested an audience with the Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly seeking consultation regarding NPATT’s way forward.

Minister Dolly was not at the show and neither was any other minister of government. Arima Mayor elect Lisa Morris-Julien attended Saturday’s Parang finals.

Nine-time NPATT Parang champion Los Alumnos De San Juan was visibly absent from the competition. One member of NPATT’s Committee stated that the band did not fulfill of the registration requirements. Also missing from the competition was Amantes De Parranda. They are in a rebuilding process and decided not to compete.

“The Police Service is the biggest gang in Trinidad and Tobago and they are left untouched,” West said.

He was speaking at an event hosted by a diplomat that was broadcast all over the world thanks to social media. The event took the form of a discussion entitled “Eat and Tweet: Anti-Corruption Debate.” As implied by its title, the forum allowed for live tweets so what West said went viral quickly.

His apology sought to “clarify” that he intended to say there are rouge cops who should be facing justice, while saying there are also law-abiding officers. But we have been down this road before. By the time the apology was issued on Saturday, it was too late to put the genie back in the bottle. Social media quickly picked up on West’s remarks, regardless of his supposed true intent. Why he failed to qualify his statement as it was being made we do not know.

Our impression West’s judgment has been seriously undermined in two ways by this incident.

Firstly, the director ostensibly showed extraordinary callousness in deeming all police officers akin to gang members. Doing so unfairly painted all officers with the same brush. It furthermore endangered the lives of the men and women who daily patrol the streets, following their motto to protect and serve with pride. To deem all such persons, prima facie and without a shred of evidence, “gang members”, is to invite retaliation from members of the public.

Secondly, West was reckless to make such an unqualified statement at a forum designed to quickly and widely broadcast his remarks. He must have also recognized that his role as police watchdog would give such statements a certain weight. It is one thing for an ordinary citizen to describe the police as a gang, it is another thing for the police regulator – part of the armature of law enforcement – to do so. West should have anticipated the effect his statement would have on the ordinary citizen and on the morale of the Police Service.

While it is laudable that West quickly apologied to the Police Social Welfare Association president Michael Seales and Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, that is not good enough to reverse what was an extraordinary act of recklessness.

A press release issued as damage control does not excuse West, a former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, from this misstep.

His remarks will not engender the cooperation he seeks in reviewing complaints against the police and could prejudice cases being reviewed by the PCA.

Further, the comments risked embroiling the Parliament as MPs have been asked to consider bestowing more powers to the PCA.

What is worse is the fact that West is currently the nominal complainant in criminal proceedings filed in the Magistrates Court in relation to the PCA’s probe of the infamous day of “Total Policing”.

That matter is sub-judice and it was unbecoming of the PCA director to ventilate such views while also pushing criminal charges against a police officer in court.

It may well be that West’s remarks were an expression of justifiable frustration over a lack of resources. But castigating all police officers at large at a public event does little to make the PCA more effective in handling inquiries of complaints. In fact, it does needless damage to the institution and its members.

On this count, we tend to agree with the Police Social and Welfare Association president Inspector Michael Seales in his dire assessment.

This may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. West, already controversial due to his role in litigation featuring politicians and in resisting a Parliament committee months ago, has erred one time too many.

Maharaj was released from police custody on Saturday night.

“We can only imagine the pain that the Banfield family must be going through, but the police have to do their jobs properly and make sure to catch the right person for this crime,” said relatives at Maharaj’s El Socorro home yesterday.

Maharaj was not at home yesterday but his relatives said he was not the kind of person who would harm anyone.

“I know people will say that family will always take care of their own, but ask anyone on this street … He is a very shy and quiet boy. He would not hurt a fly. If a dog on the road comes up to him and bites him, he would let the dog bite him and not do it nothing.

He doesn’t even like the sight of blood.” His family said it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and bad information which led to him being labelled as a person of interest by the police.

They said he only, six weeks ago, secured the job as a clerk at IAM and Company. He was robbed at his last place of employment and decided to quit for fear of being targeted again.

Sources said Maharaj told police he did not see Banfield at the store on Monday as the businessplace, where her body was found three days later, was very busy.

He said on Tuesday, he did not go to work and on Wednesday, he arrived late and was sent home, despite reports that Maharaj had not been seen by his employers for two days.

Residents in the El Socorro area where he lives said Maharaj was non-confrontational and quiet. They said they did not believe he had anything to do with the girl’s death.

At St Helena, residents said they recognised the other man being held for questioning by police.

They admitted they were shocked. One woman said she recognised him as soon as his photography was shown on the news.

“I would normally see him as he was coming from work, with a back pack on his back walking from the junction,” said the resident. “We never talked. He would always have a serious face, and would not say anything to anyone.” Other residents said he was a quiet individual who hardly interacted with anyone in the area.

Investigators told Newsday they were conducting final interviews and are expected to approach the Director of Public Prosecutions today for directions.

Up to late yesterday, police were still questioning the second man in the presence of his attorney Larry Williams.

Banfield left her workplace on Monday at 4 pm and told her mother she was going to Pennywise Cosmetics and IAM on Charlotte Street before going home.

Her mother Sherry Ann Lopez said Shannon did not make it to her Santa Cruz home and her mother reported her missing to police.

On Thursday, Banfield’s bloated, decomposing body was found on a shelf in a storeroom on the third floor of the store. Cardboard boxes were used to conceal her body.