He added, “It has nothing to do with who is in office.” Rowley reiterated that the foundation agreement was signed on Monday and, “it was now for the operational agreements to be concluded and developmental work to take place on the pipeline.” In posing his question, Tewarie said the Venezuelan National Assembly is currently controlled by that country’s parliamentary opposition.

Rowley said if legislative input in Venezuela is required with respect to the agreement, that was a matter for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to deal with. “I am the Prime Minister of TT,” he added.

Regarding an invitation from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to TT to a meeting to discuss cutting back oil production, Rowley said this country is a non-OPEC producer and is in no position to influence decisions. However from a diplomatic perspective, Rowley said TT would consider attending such a meeting, even if it was just as an observer.

Augustine Campus, Seismic Research Centre. The unit stated that the largest of the aftershocks were recorded at about 12:24 am yesterday at a magnitude of 4.9 and at a depth of 17 km.

While there have been no reports of any serious damage or injury, the centre wishes to advise members of the public to exercise the necessary safety measures during eathquakes. These include keeping your head and face protected, seeking cover in a sturdy doorway or beneath a desk and avoiding glass windows, doors, heavy bookcases and other objects which may break or cause serious injury if unbalanced.

Persons are also urged to avaoid using elevators during or after earthquakes

When Newsday arrived in front of Sweet Candy clothes store in Capital Plaza, crowds were gathered on both sides of the street as a pants-less man lay on the side of the road, struggling with several plainclothes and uniformed police officers.

According to Kevin Fidley, an employee at Sweet Candy, at about 3 pm, the man tried to shoplift several expensive garments at the store. The employee monitoring the security cameras noticed the man and informed the store’s security, one of which was a plainclothes police officer.

The officer approached the man and attempted to arrest him. However, the thief resisted and began to fight back. Other male employees of the store joined the officer as the man thrashed about, throwing down numerous garments and mannequins as he fought the employees.

As they fought, the men dragged the thief outside the store, down a short flight of stairs, and onto the sidewalk.

However, during the melee, the thief ’s pants was pulled off and his underwear pulled below his buttocks.

“I don’t know if he wanted to try to say he was crazy or what,” Fidley said. “All I know is that fella was real strong and he was in his right sense to be stealing.” The man was eventually taken into police custody.

Banfield, who resides in Santa Cruz, was last seen at about 4 pm leaving the bank’s Independence Square, Port-of-Spain branch, to purchase items on Charlotte Street.

The last conversation Banfield had with her mother was at 4.45 pm on the same afternoon.

Banfield’s mother, Sherry-Ann Lopez, told Newsday, “We are claiming it in the name of Jesus that Shannon will return home safely because she is a strong believer in the Lord and we have to continue to think positively and continue praying for her safe return.” Lopez indicated that some police officers visited the family and spoke with them yesterday afternoon to keep them updated on the progress of the case.

She said Banfield only started at the bank a couple of months ago and is known to be a fun and loving person.

She said Shannon is an active member at the San Juan Seventh Day Adventist Church and they too are praying for her to return home safely.

“God is in control. I am a little stronger today because of all the prayers we are having.

I know for a fact, wherever she is, that she is praying. I am pleading with the public if they know anything or may have seen anything unusual, please come forward so we can use the information to find Shannon.” Republic Bank’s Group Marketing and Communications General Manager, Michelle Palmer-Keizer, said “We are saddened by this incident and concerned for the welfare of Ms. Banfield. We have been advised that the matter is with the police and that they are pursuing their investigations.

We care about the well-being of every member of our team and we look forward to her safe return.” Anyone with information of Banfield’s whereabouts can contact the nearest police station or call 765-5165 or 745-0967.

As he presented the motion to approve this Order, Hosein indicated that the EBC said the total electorate in Tobago, as of August 22, was 48,767 persons.

The minister said this was an increase of 2,592 persons since the last THA elections in 2013.

Hosein said the report showed the district with the largest electorate was Black Rock/Whim/Spring Gardens with 4,462 persons.

He said the district with the smallest electorate was Parlatuvier/ L’Anse Fourmi/ Speyside with an electorate of 3,625.

After no member of the Opposition opted to participate in the debate, Hosein concluded the debate and the motion was approved.

Earlier in the sitting in response to a question from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, Social Development Minister, Cherrie Ann Crichlow-Cockburn, explained that her ministry, “provides support to the poor and vulnerable in our society.” Against this background, Crichlow Cockburn indicated that over the Christmas period, “There are therefore no plans to provide assistance to the Members of Parliament for onward transmission for the poor and vulnerable.”

There had been rumours that an engine of the aircraft had caught afire. The aircraft operating the service was an ATR-72- 600, and it has since been withdrawn from service to allow for all appropriate inspections and procedures, Ligoure said.

Meanwhile a CAL release said that the flight crew followed all standard operating procedures.

As a precautionary measure, the release said, the crew requested airport services to meet and inspect the aircraft on its arrival at Piarco International Airport.

The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew disembarked.

This was only the third win of the 2016-2017 league season for the struggling Army-Coast Guard combination, and they remain in eighth place with 10 points. But they feasted on a Point Fortin team who have gathered just one point from nine matches.

A trio of ex-national players got on the scoresheet for Defene Force – midfielder Hashim Arcia (14th, 59th and 61st minutes), striker Devorn Jorsling (first and 64th) and winger Jemel Sebro (38th and 45th).

Jamille Boatswain netted both goals for the table-proppers, in the 71st and 82nd.

W Connection remained in second spot with 22 points, three adrift of leaders Central FC, after a comfortable 4-2 win over Ma Pau Stars in the latter game at Couva.

Ma Pau Stars, runners-up in the First Citizens Cup, took a while to settle into proceedings, with Connection literally setting up camp on the offensive end.

Veteran Andre Toussaint struck the bar in the third minute, midfielder Daniel Diaz forced a magnificent save from Glenroy in the fifth and captain Hughtun Hector had a goal ruled out (in the absence of goal-line technology), though his shot seemed to have crossed the line after hitting the post in the eighth minute.

Eventually Connection broke the deadlock in the 14th, as Dimitrie Apai headed a wonderful diagonal ball from right-back Daneil Cyrus beyond Samuel’s reach.

With newly-installed national coach Tom Saintfiet in attendance, Connection went 2-0 up as the Surinamese Apai stripped the ball from right-back Keryn Navarro and curled his right-footer to the left of a leaping Samuel.

Former national striker Kerry Baptiste pulled one back in the 31st, from the penalty spot, after another ex-TT player Anthony Wolfe was fouled by goalie Terrence Lewis.

Hector restored Connection’s two goal advantage on the hourmark, starting and finishing a counter-attacking move involving Apai, while the ex-national midfielder got his second in the 67th, taking a pass from Kurt Frederick and slotting home a right-footer. Substitute Sayid Freitas got on the scoresheet for Ma Pau Stars, in added-on time, pouncing on a loose ball and hitting home from close range.

The featured races include the Santa Sprint, Parang Tempo, Feliz Eliminacion (Elimination) and the Pastelle and Points Race.

Over $7,000 worth in prizes is up for grabs.

Admission and Registration is free and open to cyclists registered for the 2017 season, born in 2001 or before and have ridden on a banked 250-metre velodrome previously. Registration closes tonight at 8 pm.

Camille Campbell, TSTT ’s VP Marketing embraced the initiative, saying it was synonymous with the Foundation’s drive to support youth development.

Apart from sports, the Foundation also spreads its wings to provide assistance in the areas of education, culture and health.

Campbell noted that, “We have been a part of this event since its inception. We believe that it is critical to provide opportunities to our young people at a very early stage. This will aid in their development and it will also help build their self confidence.” The tournament saw action in the Boys Under- 8, U-10, U-12 and U-14 categories while the Girls competed in the U-15 and U-17 divisions. The tournament was played in a round-robin format which meant each team in the group played against each other for a duration of eight minutes, without any break.

Tournament founder Attin-Johnson said her aim was to ensure that young players across Trinidad and Tobago did what they love to do best, which is play football, saying it was a tremendous joy to have seen the smiles on the faces of the young players.

Apart from having fun, Attin-Johnson said it also enabled the young players to develop in areas of goal scoring, building awareness and working on their technical and tactical aspects of the game.

Attin-Johnson, a former national captain and stand-out player admitted she adopted the initiative from her stint in the United States where she had been at University. “Jinelle James and I saw the tournament and we took a special interest in it as we saw ways in which it can help in local football, particularly in goal scoring,” she said.

Their dream now is to introduce a 3v3 League in TT as well as take a TT team to the Disney Cup in the US soon. “This will be a grand initiative so we have to ensure that it is organised properly first and hopefully we will get the support from corporate companies like TSTT which has been a tremendous help for us.” On the field, Santa Cruz United won the U-8 boys and Eastern United claimed the top spot in the U-10 boys.

The Under-12 and 14 divisions were won by Marabella FCC and Eastern United respectively.

Among the girls, the Waterloo Institute of Soccer claimed the U-15 division and Misfits captured the the U-17s.

Carter, 20-yearsold, touched the wall in 1:42.48, to place fourth in the final while lowering his own record of 1:42.90 set in the preliminary round.

Winning gold was South Korea’s Taehwan Park in 1:41.03 while South Africa’s Chad Le Clos (1:41.65) and Russian Aleksandr Krasnykh (1:41.95) grabbed silver and bronze respectively.

Carter had earlier produced an impressive swim in the preliminary of the 200m freestyle in a national record 1:42.90 to become the fastest qualifier in the event.

Carter smashed the 200 freestyle record of 1:44.81 set by 2004 Olympic bronze medallist George Bovell III in 2004. Carter won his heat nine comfortably ahead of Korea’s Taewan Park (1:44.09) and Belgium’s Pieter Timmers, with Park emerging the 7th fastest qualifier moving on to the final.

Franz Huggins, Carter’s locally based coach was pleased with the performance in the prelims.

“The swim this morning looked very controlled. He split his race perfectly and really looked smooth throughout. With two Olympic 200 freestyle medallists in the final with him tonight, he will have his hands full, but there is no doubt a place on the podium is the goal.”