Even if Imbert, the mover of the motion to consider the bill, takes it to the committee stage, Lee told Newsday that Government would have missed an opportunity to represent public stakeholders.

“We have amendments.

Independent senators would have amendments, but we do not feel the amendments are representing the proper stakeholders.

That is where the Joint Select Committee comes in,” he said.

There would not be time in the committee stage for any debate and if a recommendation is made, he said, time will also be limited to do that.

He said that since September when in caucus with Government, Imbert had agreed to take the Bill to a JSC that would have involved Government, Opposition, Independent senators and other stakeholders.

“This FATCA issue would have finished a long time ago if Government had worked with us to go to a JSC,” he said.

“Why does Government not want to have a joint select committee? Are the opposing for opposing sake? It is mind-boggling why a simple request which is good for the country is being denied,” he said.

The Opposition, he said, will be in Parliament tomorrow but will not be debating the bill as Government has closed the debate by Imbert’s winding up.

“We had caucus and all our members were prepared to speak even if it meant that we had to go into the morning.

We felt it was important, he said.

He continued, “We also felt it ample important that the issue of crime be raised as a matter of urgency as it was important to the nation.” It was sad that the matter of urgency on crime was not approved and when Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar was ejected from the House, he said, they could not stay there either as a matter of solidarity.

“The authorities are clear that constitutionally the Service Commissions are not employers,” the judges held.

Justices of Appeal Nolan Bereaux, Judith Jones and Peter Rajkumar were asked by the Director of Personnel Administration (DPA) to determine whether High Court Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh was correct to rule that the commissions fall under the anti- discrimination law.

In his ruling, Justice Boodoosingh held that commissions ‘cannot simply say they are not employers for the purposes of a complaint under the Act when they are clearly considered as part of the State.’ The Service Commission referred to in the appeal were the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission.

In a written ruling delivered yesterday by Justice Rajkumar, the three judges unanimously agreed that Service Commission were not employers as they were not parties to any contract of service.

“It is not necessary to find that the Service Commissions must be construed to be ‘employers’ for the purpose of the EOA (Equal Opportunities Act),” they held.

While noting that certain functions were vested in the autonomous and independent Service Commissions and performed on behalf of the executive arm of the State, the judges said for all practical purposes Service Commissions were already subject to the jurisdiction of the EOC and the Equal Opportunities Tribunal.

Rajkumar noted also that nothing precluded the State from being held accountable to the EOC for discrimination by the Service Commissions.

“This conclusion is reinforced by the fact that the Act binds the State which is defined to expressly include the Service Commissions.

In Aleppo last week, the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent evacuated over 150 mostly elderly and some psychiatrically ill people, as well as people with physical disabilities, who were trapped for days.

Eleven people died because they did not have access to their medication.

On television and in the wake of yet another atrocity, US Secretary of State John Kerry muttered that they were doing “something”.

All over the local and international news unrest and uncertainty hover. Yet despite so much pain powerful figures and forces that determine how we react dominate world opinion.

The populace the world over has become so accustomed to those with power holding sway over their opinions that the news that Fidel Castro had died became a media duel. As for the funeral, those who dared attended, and those who did not think it politically correct stayed away, as the super powers dictated their last version of the man. For me a hero had died and been laid to rest.

In Trinidad the parang continues while an increasing number of small children are abused, most often by relatives and still the neighbours continue to say, “she is better off now that her suffering has ended”, as in the recent case of four-year-old Jenice, and move on.

Do you remember little Amy Annamunthodo? Yes it is Christmas. But I look everywhere for goodwill among men.

What I see is the growth of hate crimes in the wake of the recent Donald Trump triumph in the US and a deadening pallor that is signalled by apathy about social issues even during election time, as in our recent local election. Here too the spokespersons will mutter, “we are doing something”, and move quickly away.

Trinidad is relatively unique in that as a democracy there is little to differentiate between the official commentators and the critics.

Everyone looks over his shoulder at the possibility of a reprisal for something said.

And the issues therefore remain: crime, bobol, homelessness for reasons that have not been analysed, an aging population who may well live in poverty and loneliness, a built environment that is often inaccessible to the physically disabled, or even mothers with small children, and a lack of proper facilities for people with psychiatric illnesses.

The prognosis is even more frightening, for even as 2017 approaches, there are many families and individuals who still see intellectual disability as a cause for shame and who treat such people as if they lacked both reason and rights, because that is the dominant line.

Many people with a disability are homeless because they are the rejected of society and are not seen as people with whom one can or should have a meaningful relationship.

It is true that the homeless in Trinidad have recently achieved a small human rights victory against the Port-of-Spain Corporation.

The right of the homeless to shelter is, however, not gong to be addressed this Christmas season.

The reason is quite simply this: they are seen as people who really should do better for themselves and who, whether drug addicts, alcohol abusers, people with physical disabilities, or who are intellectually different (and the list of causes why people become homeless is very long), really are not part of our community.

In our society of self-made men and women it is important to be seen with the right people and to create the right image. That there are reasons why there are people who cannot function within our society is not apparently obvious.

The homeless and people with disabilities are in fact not even visible, other than as objects of charity to be taken out when politicians or the successful, those who are savvy, give gifts amidst much fanfare and media publicity and as a way of enhancing their image.

Here in Trinidad it is the image and the charisma that count, even amongst those with religious affiliations.

I admire Castro especially for his refusal of the cult of personality.

The result of placing one individual in a position of power and high esteem is that he or she begins to believe the myth and to see themselves as extraordinary and perhaps not even subject to the vicissitudes of time.

It is more than time enough to climb down from all those pedestals and perhaps take example from the Catholic clergy of Ireland, despite the many problems there, who have now moved to the market place. This Christmas a bishop and priests have once again launched “Mercy on the Mall” in order to meet the people at shopping centres.

Maybe our own religious leaders and those who minister could also step down and meet with those who are most lowly, say in long-stay wards in hospitals and in particular St Ann’s and in the homes of those with chronically ill children or people who cannot meet with them on any other platform.

Not to give gifts, but simply to have a chat, maybe even a cup of tea, or to see them as real people.

Politicians and religious men and women could go out on our streets where those without real voice hover.

That for me would be truly Christmas.

Let’s look first of all at the results: the Trinidad Guardian reported right after the election had been declared that the turnout was a very low 17 percent. Now where did the Guardian get that figure from? Reporters from the newspaper have told me that those figures came out from the EBC (Elections and Boundaries Commission) itself.

Other news organisations reported a low poll of around 20 percent.

Then the Prime Minister comes out and says that the PNM’s figures showed a turnout of 34 percent.

Then the EBC comes out after the Prime Minister and says that the actual turnout was 34.34 percent.

To which I say, really? What’s wrong with this picture? Look, if the turnout was in fact 34.34 percent, why didn’t the EBC say this immediately? Where did the 17 percent/20 percent/low turnout figures come from in the first place? Something is wrong.

What? I don’t honestly know, but I can say that this whole thing has given rise to very ugly and most unnecessary suspicions that are better left unexpressed.

And I say this especially in light of the EBC’s illegal and high-handed action of keeping the polls open for an extra hour in Trinidad in the general election last year without a presidential proclamation. Something is wrong here. Something is definitely not right. It just doesn’t make sense.

And that’s the problem. I was taught that when a man tells you something that doesn’t make sense, 99 percent of the time it is because he does not want you to understand.

One percent of the time it is because he doesn’t understand. So, what is it the EBC doesn’t want us to understand? And the turnout was abysmally low. I don’t care what the “official” figures are. I have talked with dozens of people from around the country.

Everybody tells me that in their areas there was either nobody at the polling stations or hardly anybody there. Most people didn’t vote … and the reasons were pretty uniform: they were all fed up with both sides.

I honestly do not believe the 34 percent figure … and everybody that I have talked to is of the same view.

Now, if that figure is really true, then what is the EBC going to do to satisfy us that it is really telling us the truth? Because it is critically important that we trust the EBC. And right now a lot of people simply don’t. And that is not a good thing. The EBC has a duty to come to us with “palms up” and account to us in clear and concise terms that explains everything and leaves no question unanswered.

It has to regain our trust. It is most important that it does. This goes to the heart of our democracy.

People are saying they feel neither political party or their leaderships really care about anything other than feathering their own nests. Now, whether that perception is true or not, isn’t it a terrible thing for people to believe? And the sad truth is that is how most people feel. In politics perception is reality, and most unfortunately the reality in 21st century TT is that neither side appears that it really cares for we the people or making our lives better.

It is also a well-worn truism that politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum.

What is happening now is that there is a perception that the Dr Keith Rowley administration is bereft of ideas and is failing badly.

More than one person has expressed the view that the country is running on auto pilot. The problem here is that the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led UNC is not regarded by a majority of the citizenry as a credible alternative.

In the power vacuum that is growing by the day the doors are opening for a third force to barge in … and that third force will not necessarily come in through the democratic door. And that is why I say that the local government election results ought to be regarded by the leadership of both parties as a most serious wake-up call.

To the UNC I say, for crying out loud, get your act together … now.

Show yourself to be a credible alternative to which a besieged citizenry can turn to for help. Because right now you are not showing us that you are a credible alternative.

To the PNM I say, you are in power; you asked to be in power, you asked for this job and you told us that you could fix things. Fix them and fix them now. In other words, show us the light at the end of the tunnel; show us how you propose to fix things. Put another way, lead, follow or get out of the way.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony that honoured the club’s cricketers, hockey players and rugby players, were Chairman of the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago Michael Phillips and four-time Olympian Cleopatra Borel, who gave the feature address.

Harvey took home two cricket awards on the night winning the Best Bowler Award and the Senior Cricketer of the Year Award.

In hockey, Derry won the Senior Player of the Year award for her brilliance in the Championship Division.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the sport of rugby was Shakeel Dyte who represented the rugby senior team.

Borel, who represented TT in her fourth Olympic Games earlier this year in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil gave the youngsters in attendance some words of encouragement.

She said, “tonight I have some advice for my young friends who now balance athletics, work, academics, just life in general. I have three words for you, decide, commit and succeed. Decide means to determine what you really want, commit, work towards your goal daily and succeed by celebrating your personal growth.” Among those copping top junior awards were Chey Kidney (Rugby Under-19 Rookie of the Year), Isaiah Small (Rugby U-19 Most Valuable Player), Yohance Kwesi (Junior Cricketer of the Year) and Tiffany Seales (Junior Hockey Player of the Year).

The national shot put athlete explained that planning your life will guide you in the right direction.

“When you decide, when you make a decision about what you want and formulate the plan to get there you have already won half the battle.

You see a good plan today is better than a great plan tomorrow.

I urge you to take the time to evaluate your situation and make clear decisions about the direction of your life. Do not float through life like a butterfly, easily blown by the wind and influenced by others. When you decide what you want from your sport, from school, from work, life in general is simplified and everything is easier because you now have a map to guide your journey.”

HONOUR ROLL Member of the Year – Margaret Alleyne- Loregnard

RUGBY Under-19 Most Improved Player – Shekeil Delancy
Most Disciplined Player – Justin Forbes
Rookie of the Year – Chey Kidney Most Valuable Player – Isaiah Small

Senior Team Most Improved Player – Abdul Jackman
Most Disciplined Player – Odell Bacchus
Most Valuable Player – Shakeel Dyte Rookie of the Year – Isaiah Small

CRICKET Most Improved Player – Amando Phillips
Best Batsman – Yohance Kwesi
Best Bowler – Randy Harvey
Junior Cricketer of the Year – Yohance Kwesi
Senior Cricketer of the Year – Randy Harvey

HOCKEY Championship Team Most Improved Player – Jael Thompson
Most Disciplined Player – Patrice Padmore Most Goals – Yesenia Luces
Senior Player of the Year – Petal Derry
Junior Team Most Improved Player – Jehiliah Williams
Most Disciplined Player – Selena Hodge
Most Goals – Tiffany Seales
Junior Player of the Year – Tiffany Seales

The event, which also invites foreign clubs to participate, will be co-hosted by Marlins Aquatics Club and Royhil Seals Water Polo Club. Barbados will be sending three teams to compete against teams from the two local host clubs.

Teams will compete in the following categories – Under-14 coed, Under-16 male, Under-16 female, Under-19 male and Open male. Republic Bank Limited is the gold sponsor of this year’s event.

It will be the final event on the water polo calendar for this year and aquatics enthusiasts are looking forward to witnessing some exciting games at this world class aquatic facility. These championships will set the tone for the upcoming important Pan American Qualifier, CCCAN, which will be held at the National Aquatic Centre in June/July 2017.

The events are open to the general public at the cost of $25 for adults and $15 for children 16 years and under.

In an effort to reproduce their scintillating performances of their age group teams this past season, the East Zone will stage screening sessions for their Under- 15 cricketers.

The sessions will be staged on Tuesdays and Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm at Hardial Park in Pasea Village, Tunapuna located opposite the Coca-Cola Bottling Works plant on the Churchill- Roosevelt Highway.

East Zone official Kazim Mohammed said that the young, talented cricketers must reside within the boundaries of the zone, namely O’Meara Road, Arima in the east; Boundary Road San Juan in the west; and La Paille Village, Caroni in the South Interested parents can contact 354-4688 or 379-4589.

There were many inquiries about his recent playing form as he is the most experienced player of the current crop of national table tennis players.

Humphreys can have some breathing space against the doubters as he copped the men’s singles title at the Super Singles Tournament last week.

It seems as though he had a point to prove as he expressed, “I want to say a special thank you to the media for the increased coverage in table tennis especially to the recent articles that motivated me to win this title.” Success comes with sacrifices and Humphreys explained his situation.

“Two years ago I decided that I need to give back to the sport that has been giving me so much. One of the areas I now devote my time is to coaching and administration of WASA Table Tennis Club (WTT C).

The effort of the WTT C in doing initiatives is solely to benefit us as players at the club and by extension the table tennis fraternity.” Due to poor performances, the 32-year-old Humphreys dropped in the men`s rankings, losing out on the number one spot which he held invincibly for six years. He is not bothered by his demotion in the ranking.

“Firstly let me congratulate Trinidad and Tobago new number one ranked player Yuvraaj Dookram because he truly deserves it and one of my goals as a coach is to help players like Yuvraaj become the best so I am truly happy for him.” The former Sweden- based player was also excluded from the national team that went to the Caribbean Championships held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in September, despite being, at the time, the top ranked player and a virtual certainty for selection.

“This year I was excluded from representing TT for the first time in over a decade for making a stance against the policy used for player selection.

As a result, a formal letter was written to them asking for answers on their selection policy. I understand that everything is a process and this is an indication of why I have sacrificed my energies and personal practice time because the goal is to see table tennis move forward in TT .” The forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be crucial to the development of table tennis in TT as agreed by Humphreys. “In moving forward a team of visionaries, selfless, honest and critical thinkers must form our new association with the focus on the holistic development of players in TT ,” he said.

The A&B Division final was a repeat of the 2014 and once again the 71-year-old Baggoo defeated Stuart Morales 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7.

In the semi-final round Baggoo won against teenager Alex Walcott 11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5.

Morales battled from two sets down to overcome Wayne Dopson 6-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 in the other semi.

The National 1963 women`s table tennis champion Baggoo, referring to her performance, said, “I felt relaxed going into the tournament as many of our players are training and practicing.

However, I was ready to give them a fight of my life regardless of the outcome.” Baggoo played dual roles of player and organiser and she explained, “our tournaments are fun and exciting but hard work by everyone especially the chairperson Wayne Dopson.

It is encouraging watching our table tennis sport discipline at (Queen’s Park) grow and the dual role of playing and organising only gives super-size rewards for me through the table tennis fraternity with goals for youth development.” In the C Division Richard Hart was victorious as he defeated Geoff Weedon 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 in the final. In the previous round Hart defeated former West Indies cricketer and Parkites` president Deryck Murray 11-1, 11-3, 11-2. Weedon also won 11- 4, 11-7, 12-10 over Ian Dore.

The week- long tournament had 24 participants and Murray was pleased as he said, “I applaud the efforts of the table tennis section, its growth as a new structured sports discipline at Queen’s Park and look forward to the continued growth from strength to strength.”

Matches will take place between the hours of 11 am and 6 pm.

Teams will compete in the following divisions – Primary Schools Boys (today), Primary Schools Girls (tomorrow), Secondary Schools Under-15 Girls (tomorrow), Secondary Schools Under-15 Boys (Thursday), Secondary Schools Under-20 Girls (Thursday) and Secondary Schools Under-20 Boys (Friday).

Wednesday will be the only rest day.

This year the Under-20 competition will be fierce as a number of junior national players will represent their schools with the hopes of being crowned champions. Defending champions Fatima will look to national players Marcus Pascal and Teague Marcano, with Marcano coming off of a stellar 2015-2016 school season, cemented by his selection as TT HB Male Schools Player of the Year.

The Under-20 girls division will receive a much needed boost as junior national players were barred from competing last year due to the closeness of their Junior Pan American Championships held in March 2016.

St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain ran away winners last year led by TT HB Female Schools Player of the Year Lauryn Pounder.

This year they will be even stronger as junior national players Cyan Lue Sue, Amanda Tang Nian, Lisa Benjamin and Kayla Escayg will all join an already strong team in hopes of retaining their title.