The number one ranked player Yuvraaj Dookram was the first qualifier for the “Top 6” as he brushed aside Lawrence Ince (UTT ) 3-0 (12:10, 11-8, 11:4).

Curtis Humphreys (WASA) notched his spot by coming from a set down to defeat Everton Sorzano (D`Abadie Youths) 3-1 (9:11, 11:5, 11:5, 11:8). Arun Roopnarine (Arima Hawks) won easily against his former teammate Sarvesh Mungal (Powergen) 3-0 (11:6, 14:12, 11:7). Defending champion Aaron Wilson (Carenage Blasters) held his nerve in the end to overcome a thriller against the number two ranked Alaric Humphreys (UTT ) 3-2 (11:5, 9-11, 11:7, 8:11,12-10).

Securing the final two spots were Reeza Burke ( Arima Hawks) and Barbadian Trevor Farley as they recorded close victories over Kenneth Parmanand (WASA) 3-1 (11:9, 11:8, 9:11, 11:6) and Anson Wellington (Arima Hawks) 3-2 (11:7, 9:11, 7:11, 11:8, 11:8) respectively.

The top three ranked women in the country have filled the top 3 spots for the final round robin phase. Number one ranked Linda Partap-Boodhan (Arima Hawks) won 3-1 (11:9, 9:11, 13:11, 11:2) against the Veteran Merle Bagggoo (QPCC). Brittany Joseph defeated her WASA clubmate Chelsea Fong 3-0 (11:8, 11:4, 11:1) and UTT `s Aleena Edwards won easily against Catherine Spicer (Powergen) 3-0 (11:5, 11:4, 11:7).

The six qualifiers for the men will be vying for $2,000, while the runner-up prize is $1,500 and $1,000 for the bronze medallist.

There will also be prizes for fourth ($700), fifth ($500) and sixth ($300).

The three qualifiers for the women’s champion will do battle for the top prize of $1,500 with the silver medallist taking home $1,000 and the third place finisher gets $700.

There will be an entrance fee of $20 and all participants are asked to be at the venue at 6pm.

Adania Phillip scored twice while Kady Johnson netted the other for St Augustine, who got past Fyzabad Secondary 3-2 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Energetic striker Dennecia Prince got a pair for Fyzabad, in the 80-minute affair. Both teams had a few chances to open the scoring, but St Augustine were the first team to enter the scoresheet, in the 32nd minute courtesy of Phillip, who hit a rebound from close range after a blunder from goalkeeper Khadine Cuffy.

Prince had a chance to level the scores in the 38th, as she found herself one-and-one with St Augustine custodian Nadia Johnson, but she shot wide.

However, Prince made amends on the stroke of halftime, skipping past defender Ebony Danclair and slotting her shot past Johnson, from an acute angle. St Augustine regained the lead in the 54th through Phillip, who collected a deep ball from the left by Kady Johnson and, with only the keeper to beat, thumped her right-footed shot to the roof of the net.

Kady Johnson extended the lead in the 62nd from the penalty spot, sending Cuffy the wrong way with a left-footed take, to the keeper’s right. Referee CJ O’Brien awarded the penalty after a handle ball infringement by Donnessia Henry.

Prince got her second item in stoppage time, with a neatly-taken penalty, after Raenique Primas was bundled inside the box. But it was a little too late for Fyzabad to stage a comeback

Following a disappointing start to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Stephen Hart was fired as head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago team on November 24 after holding the position for almost three and a half years. President of the TT Football Association David John-Williams explained that the poor results by the national team recently, including the World Cup qualifiers, led the Association with no choice but to relieve Hart of his duties.

TT have no points from their opening two matches in the final round of qualifying which features the top six teams in the region. TT lost their opening match to Costa Rica 2-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, before travelling to Honduras where they went under 3-1. TT are currently in fifth position only ahead of the also winless USA. The top three teams will qualify automatically for the World Cup while the fourth place finisher will enter a playoff for a chance to compete at the 2018 Russia World Cup.

Many possible replacements have been thrown into the conversation over the past two weeks including W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier. Fevrier, a St Lucian, had a brief stint as the national coach when he led the team from May 2003 to January 2004. John-Williams is the former president of W Connection.

Someone who has openly stated his interest in the vacancy is English- born Terry Fenwick. Fenwick, who has been living and coaching in Trinidad for more than 15 years says he is the best person to get the job and believes a ‘foreign’ coach will not be appropriate at this late stage of World Cup qualification as time is short for a coach to get acquainted with the national team.

The new coach may come from anywhere in the world as a few days after Hart was fired, John-Williams revealed that they had 24 applications comprising local, regional and international coaches. The new coach will not have a long time to get acquainted with the team as World Cup qualifiers resume in March with matches versus Panama and Mexico.

The CD which is aimed at raising funds to support the FBBA’s operations, features an impressive line-up of local artistes and upcoming performers. Speaking at the launch, executive producer Gerald Agostini said while CD contains elements of parang, it also includes tracks that can be enjoyed at any time of year.

“We initially wanted to do traditional soca-parang music, but opted for kaiso-parang, which is something slightly different. It’s not really a Christmas CD because we tried to maintain the elements of mainstream calypso music in it.” Agostini said he was disheartened by the responses of some individuals and companies when he sought assistance.

“One of the major challenges that we encountered through this project was getting the necessary people to assist with the production and distribution of the CD. A lot of the persons that we attempted to get in contact with have not even contacted us.” Despite the challenges, however, Agostini expressed his satisfaction with the support from the National Trade Union Congress General Secretary, Michael Annisette with assistance for the CD’s sale and distribution. Annisette who attended the launch said he felt the need to support the initiative as trade unionists have often been criticised for not practising what they preach.

“I felt that this was a worthwhile venture for the trade union to pursue, as it cuts across the traditional perceptions of trade unions as marching up and down. We understand the challenges that the FBBA has faced and I believe that we as trade unionists have a social responsibility to giving back to our community.” FBBA president Marie Ayoung- Chee said she was optimistic the initiative would go towards assisting the association in its continued efforts to provide much-needed assistance to blood recipients in need and made an emphatic plea to music pirates: “I would just like to make a public appeal to pirates, if they can please spare us on this one. All of the funds generated from the sale of the CD, goes towards the association and helping others in need of blood transfusions.

Who knows maybe one day you yourself may need a blood transfusion.” Also at the launch were popular soca parang artistes Eddie Charles and Kenny J who expressed their satisfaction with the finished product and urged public support for the FBBA and purchase the CD.

This event occurred in a now vacated space at One Woodbrook Place, which was formerly occupied by Tru Valu supermarket, but was specially-decorated and lit by Ultimate Events for an evening of culinary delights.

GCG Events has become known as the premier catering company in the region by “providing culinary experiences that consistently meet and exceed client’s expectations”.

At the launch, managing director of Goddard Enterprises Ltd, Anthony Ali explained the company’s history. He said: “The Goddard Catering Group has had a rich history providing superb culinary experiences to various clients which started in 1955 with Air Canada in our first flight kitchen located in Barbados.

“I am sure that many of you have travelled extensively across the Caribbean, Latin America and South America. I take pride in seeing GCG in almost every major city across the region.

Since our first kitchen the GCG brand has expanded into 28 cities across 24 countries. Food is in our blood, its part of our DNA from the very inception of the Goddard group dating back to 1921 when Joseph N Goddard opened his first business – a butcher’s shop in Bridgetown.

Today, most of our 79 companies within the group are directly involved with food, either manufacturing it, distributing it or preparing and serving it, so food really is our passion… “Today, I am proud to be a part of the official launch of GCG Events Trinidad – which joins its sister companies in Jamaica, Antigua, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, St Thomas, Uruguay, Columbia and Guatemala.

GCG Events is another example of how the group has been able to take one of our core competencies – food transformation – to build our brand and image across the region.” President of the Goddard Catering Group and chairman of both Allied Caters Ltd and Katerserv Ltd, Stewart Massiah as well as general manager of Allied Caterers Ltd, Ainsley Rajkumar also spoke at the event.

“Our dedicated team of over 3,400 associates is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” Massiah noted.

“GCG Events – our event catering business which is providing the complete catering service tonight – was launched in 2008, following the knowledge and experience gained from being the official caterer of the Cricket World Cup in 2007 across nine countries of the Caribbean.

Since then, we’ve been quietly building our capability and capacity and currently, the GCG brand operates in ten countries across the Caribbean and Latin American.” Whether feeding over 30,000 sports fans, flawlessly executing a black tie event for 500, or creating an intimate family dinner for 4, GCG Events said the group is determined to uphold its reputation as “the perfect catering and event management partner for events of all sizes”.

Guests were treated to a generous menu served buffet style with different stations offering portions of delectable dishes such as: Wild Mushroom Risotto, Creamy Polenta with Pork Belly 74/12 (Sous Vide), Slow Roasted Lamb and Pork with cous cous salad and Chimichurri Salsa and slow roasted potated respectively, a Pho Vietnamese Soup Bar and a number of scrumptious desserts were also available on the night.

From 7 to 11 pm, guests sampled and chatted about the unique dishes and amazing cucumber and ginger-flavoured welcome drink, while also meeting, exchanging business cards and taking photos with the executives of the company

Just consider having balanced meals and healthy snacks that are nutritious (including foods from the Caribbean Food Groups), avoid overeating and watch portion sizes, limiting fried and greasy foods, concentrated sweets and sweetened beverages.

Engage regularly in physical activity, and get some rest which can aid in maintaining health. These healthful tips may more than likely be beneficial in helping you to keep a few pounds off, continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and probably minimise your potential risk for disease.

Choices Though some people might think this can be somewhat difficult during the season, effort should be made to maintain good dietary practices. These may include the consumption of fruits, vegetables, peas and beans, ground provision, brown rice, lean meat, fish, poultry without the skin, low-fat dairy products and whole grains and whole grain products.

Remember to drink water in plain or flavoured form and limit sugary drinks.

Therefore, choosing foods moderate to high in dietary fibre, preparing healthy dishes by enhancing the nutritional value or quality such as ground provision pie (incorporating cheese and milk), spinach rice, the addition of oats, grated coconut or cornmeal to bake and bread, whole wheat roti and so on.

Serve snacks such as trail mix, fruit pieces, yogurt, milkshakes, mini sandwiches with cheese spread, dasheen chips, and melongene fritters are a few good approaches meal managers might consider.

Maintaining health Given the aforementioned suggestions, you can also conclude that making wise food choices, participation in physical activity, and managing stress may aid in improving health.

Points to note Although, meal planning is essential, this should not be the only focus; as studies show that diet and exercise go together in helping people to manage their weight, and achieve other establish health goals.

Consider these points… Reduce time spent watching television and playing video or computer games, etc.

Eat less of your favourite food, and limit concentrated sweets.

Use a smaller plate, and consider portion control.

Change the menu, to include more vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and decrease the number of starchy dishes or staples serve in one meal.

When making up your plate, one half should consist of veggies and fruit, and divide the other half of your plate into two sections, fill a quarter with protein food (meat, fish, chicken or legumes), and the other quarter with the starchy food (ground provision, rice or pasta).

Encourage restaurants, cafeterias/ canteens, and caterers to offer patrons healthy options.

Build physical activity into the regular schedule and playtime for children and their families.

Ensure that adults get 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, and children should aim for at least 60 minutes.

Your support network – get a buddy who can hold you accountable, and encourage you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Create opportunities for persons to participate in physical activity programmes at the workplace. Employers may wish to consider making the facility and equipment available for employees.

Community facilities should be readily available and easily accessible for physical activity, to all people, including the elderly (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).

Claudette Mitchell, PhD, RD – Assistant Professor, University of the Southern Caribbean, School of Science, Technology, and Allied Health

All alcohol can cause hangovers, but dark drinks (such as port or dark spirits) tend to be the worst offenders because they contain congeners (chemicals which contribute to their taste and colour).

Mixing drinks means you’re more Empty Bottles likely to have drinks containing congeners.

Does taking a painkiller before bed help a hangover? Probably not – most painkillers only work for a few hours, so their effect is likely to have worn off by the morning.

Does eating before bed absorb the alcohol and help a hangover? No – by the time you get to bed, the alcohol will have left your stomach and been absorbed into your bloodstream, so it’s too late to have any effect on absorbing alcohol.

Aim to eat before drinking (and drink in moderation) instead.

Does a morning drink help a hangover? Categorically not.

It may conceivably postpone the inevitable hangover, but it’s likely to be worse when you do get it.

Does taking vitamin C help a hangover? No – there is absolutely no evidence for this.

The celebrities seen having intravenous infusions of vitamins and minerals to prevent or treat hangovers are kidding themselves and wasting their money! Does coffee help a hangover? Possibly slightly.

Hangovers are caused by a combination of your body having been hit with a dose of toxin (alcohol), the effect of congeners, lack of quality sleep (your body’s sleep rhythm is disturbed by alcohol so you’re likely to wake early, having had poor quality sleep) and dehydration.

In moderate quantities, coffee can help to rehydrate you.

Caffeine can also raise your levels of alertness, but it won’t help with other aspects of the hangover.

(BBCgoodfood

At a news briefing outside the court, Roge who is head of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), called on others in society, including Cabinet Ministers, to also defend the Industrial Court on what he saw as an attack on its independence.

He said while the JTUM may not agree with some of the court’s rulings, JTUM had never criticised the court, unlike the businessman.

Alleging an “unrelenting and frontal attack” on the court by the businessman, Roget said, “To have the temerity to suggest that the Industrial Court is ruling in favour of the unions and that it is bad for business and productivity, and that the judges were trained in Siberia under Stalin, is an open attack on the court.” He said if the High Court and Appeal Court cannot be so attacked, why is the Industrial Court attacked? Roget said without the Industrial Court the country would collapse into anarchy and chaos. He alleged a deafening silence from the Cabinet which, he said, should declare its support for the court’s independence, specially calling on a statement by Attorney- General Faris Al-Rawi, who is Cabinet’s legal advisor, and Labour Minister, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus.

This is especially so given the Government’s efforts to push tripartisism.

“We are not happy with all the court’s judgements but we don’t launch vicious attack on the independence and sanctity of the Industrial Court.

“We are calling for contempt proceedings against those making these inciteful remarks against the court,” Roget said. The National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), in a statement from its general secretary, Michael Annisette, also condemned the businessman’s words, as “misleading and calculated.” Claiming clear evidence exists to show equality in the court, Annisette said that to blame low productivity on the court is “misleading and mischievous.” Saying the employee sees the workforce as an expense, Annisette said workers generate wealth for the nation to grow and sustain itself. “We in the NATUC are concerned about job creation, sustainable jobs and living wages but, at the same time, it cannot and must not be that we have productivity and a level of redistribution where the wealth is reassigned to just a few,” said Annisette.

Annisette alleged that many employers still see the relationship between the employer and the worker as that of master and servant. In that context therefore, one cannot blame the Industrial Court if the employer fails to adhere to the set standards of proper industrial relations practices”.

This will be followed by cremation at 11 am at the Long Circular Crematorium.

British-born Hilton had won many journalism awards for her prolific writings on a diverse array of topics, including social events, cookery, horticulture, environmentalism, popular culture, visual arts and health, while also doingbook- reviews and restaurant-reviews.

For many years, she wrote extensively on several issues in the pages of Newsday.

Addressing the Penal/ Debe Chamber annual Christmas dinner at Achievers banquet hall in Duncan village last on Friday, she said government has recently received approved survey plans so that leases can be prepared for tenants of the Debe Industrial Park. “We are conscious of the need for land to facilitate the expansion of your businesses,” she said adding, “the establishment of this Park will facilitate the food processing, furniture manufacturing, auto repairs, printing and packaging and the manufacture of wheelbarrows and roof bolts.” “After being commissioned as far back as 2010, thirty-year (30) leases will be issued by the end of the year,” she said. And in an effort to ensure that local products are able to compete in the regional and international market, she said a National Quality Policy was being developed in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards while discussions were also taking place on the establishment of a Garment Production Facility, the development of a National Services Policy and the preparation of a National e-Commerce Policy.

She said several incentives were also available to further spur private sector activity including the import duty concession where manufacturing enterprises could benefit from duty free treatment on inputs such as raw materials, machinery and equipment and in some instances, packaging material. “Furthermore, there are tax concessions for the construction of multi-storey car parks and commercial buildings.

This concession could assist in alleviating the traffic congestion that currently exists in the Penal/Debe area and serve to promote business development and expansion as well as job creation,” she said.

Gopee-Scoon also noted that government was pursuing the implementation of the Partial Scope Trade Agreement with Panama in an effort to assist the private sector to increase exports to foreign countries.

“Under the Agreement with Panama, traders can benefit from zero or reduced customs duties on certain products being exported to the Panamanian market. In addition, importers can benefit from zero or reduced duties on specific products being imported from Panama,” she said.