“Companies who give three bursaries or scholarships, if you can consider looking at, at least, one regional student to give the bursaries to because they too are also in great need when it comes to expenses which are very high,” Charles said.

“It is something I will like you all to consider moving forward so that next year, if two or three of our donors come and say, ‘out of my pool of five we will give one to a regional student’, that will be really appreciated. ” On Thursday, 81 students from the University of the West Indies (UWI) received bursaries and scholarships to further their tertiary education from the DSSD.

Charles also encouraged the students to return and give one bursary or one donation.

“It doesn’t have to be a full bursary.

In fact, it could be a ticket to the UWI fete, because every penny from the UWI fete goes back into bursaries so other students like you can receive bursaries.” Charles said their mandate is not only to help students with bursaries but to help educate them on how to plan financially.

“We put on workshops, we teach and guide them, so students understand what they ought to be doing and how they should be spending this hard-earned money that is being given to us by our donors.” Also addressing the students, Professor Rhoda Reddock said they have been chosen by the Campus Committee for Undergraduate Awards based on their academic accomplishments, financial need and extra-curricular activity, and encouraged donors and sponsors to continue supporting the students.

“In these challenging economic times, we are well aware that many institutions and businesses are making financial cuts to many areas that do not immediately benefit their profit margins.

Therefore, we have a great deal of gratitude for all our donors for their continued support,” she said.

In a message, on Thursday, to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, Biesebroek said, the EU was already directly funding a number of local NGOs doing pioneering work in tackling these issues.

Noting that the EU was taking concrete actions globally to address the issue of violence against women, and gender equality, he said, “We have created a 100 million euro fund specifically to promote gender equality across the world.” In addition, he said, the EU will be promoting women and girls in all elements of its external activities whether they relate to environment, crime and security, or economic support.

Noting also that one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence, and that it is everyone’s problem, he said, “This staggering statistic betrays a pervasive human rights violation that does not discriminate according to nationality, economic status, sexual identity, race, religious affiliation, age or culture.” In the EU, he said, a third of women have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, while 75 per cent of women in a professional job or in top managerial positions have experienced sexual harassment.

It is estimated that 500,000 women and girls in the EU have suffered female genital mutilation, he said.

The EU and TT, he noted, were not immune to the pandemic of domestic violence.

In 2015, he said, there were 625 reported instances of crimes related to sexual assault and domestic violence, a decrease from 825 in 2014, but it was still an increase from the 2013 figure of 551.

Children were not exempt from violence, he said noting that the Children’s Authority reported 4,158 cases of children in need of care and protection within its first nine months of operation.

Of these cases, he said, the highest reported types of abuse related to sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect.

Sekon Alves, placed second; Duane O’Connor, third; Karen Eccles-Thomas, fourth and Karene Asche fifth. Other competitors were Lady Wonder, Michelle Henry, Cro Cro, Gary Cordner, Twiggy and Tigress.

Hilton “Ghetto Flex” Dalzell, Tenaj Smith, Isasha and M1 also entertained the audience.

The fashion label Afrofunkk and home d?cor line The Sykadellic Shack will host a Spring/Summer 2017 collection entitled “Warriors Walk Alone.” TT -born Sheppard- Duncan who is based in the US, was trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York has over 20 years of experience as a fashion and jewelry designer.

The “Warriors Walk Alone” collection will carry over 70 pieces ranging from Christmas cocktail wear to Carnival pieces, which the designer has labelled “fresh and funky” to flirty, fun options for Easter and vacation time.

Items sold under The Sykadellic Shack brand are designed using elements of tribal cultures mixed together in the mind of this Trinbagonian world traveller.

Forty special invitations for “Warriors Walk Alone” are available to all fashion lovers interested in attending the event and view the new collection, which can be accessed on the Afrofunkk event page on facebook.com, said a media release.

The evening will be divided in two parts: an open house display of the new Sykadellic Shack line from 6.30 pm, followed by the “Warriors Walk Alone” fashion runway at 8.30 pm.

Entertainment will include tassa drumming by the NGC Sweet Tassa Girls band as well as music by DJ Rawkus.

Sheppard-Duncan says about the collection: “Warriors Walk Alone is me creating my own funk. Like a warrior. They stand tall. They go out and hunt and they have to come back with the goods. Me going to these tribes all over the world is like hunting season. When I travel, I feel alive and in sync with the tribal energy of the planet, and I bring that vibe back to the world in the global language of fashion. Sometimes people say, girl, why you going all the way to Africa? I’m not afraid. There are not many indigenous tribes left. They are my main inspiration.

They got a special kind of funk, and they don’t try to be funky. It’s just their way of life.” Always in search of unique fabrics, techniques and inspiration, Sheppard-Duncan continuously travels, often going alone into unknown places and spaces.

The designer’s journey has been one of solitude, with a few meaningful friends along the way.

“I know some Trinbagonians are afraid to take a chance on individual expression but I walk down the street in my necklaces and my beads, rings, feathers, funky jewelry and top hat feeling normal. Like we say, ‘normal normal’,” she said. Sheppard-Duncan strives to keep grounded to the earth and all its organic riches, by ensuring that the materials she uses are designed from scratch. For example, she has sat with village weavers, dyers and potters to perfect the unique fabrics and crafts from which her fashions are created, the release said.

The 2017 collection will be available in phases, but the designer promises that the pieces can be styled for any occasion all year through.

The initiative titled Go Safe will provide road safety tips and also seek to edify motorists not only on best practice in driving but also on matters related to traffic laws.

The information will be reproduced in a special corner in the Features section of the Friday Newsday with the intention of reaching people who will be heading out by vehicle to the myriad of weekend activities across the country.

The corner appears today as Newsday and the TTAA launch into the actual project, but the material will be published every Friday beginning next week.

Both Newsday and the TTAA have expressed the hope that the effort, as small as it is, will redound to the benefit not only of motorists, but other passengers and also pedestrians who tend to compete with the traffic specially in the city and town centres.

They are also calling on citizens to communicate traffic infractions to both the newspaper and the TAA , so that both bodies could address the issues with the relevant authorities

The concert will feature Flabej’s youthful players who will perform songs in the pop, classic, jazz, Latin and other genres.

The ensemble will play to guest conductor Maureen Clement while guest artistes include vocalist Patricia Schullier Yorke and Rebecca Gibbons and violinist Kesha Bastien.

Another special guest will be the Multon Hall Methodist School Choir of Abercromby Street, Portof- Spain.

According to manager John Douglas the first four concerts were very successful and he expects this one to be just as successful.

A visit to Flabej’s home at the COPOS Credit Union Car Park on Pembroke Street, Port-of-Spain saw the youths hard at rehearsals for the concert.

Yesterday, flooding occurred in parts of Diego Martin, City Gate in downtown Port-of-Spain and parts of St James making it impossible for commuters to carry out their daily routines.

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service yesterday issued a bulletin advising citizens to be cautious as inclement weather will continue for the next 12-18 hours.

“Trinidad and Tobago will continue to experience cloudy to overcast conditions with showers and thundershowers,” the Met office said. “This activity is related to the presence of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).” The bulletin stated that Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Models forecast that the intensity of the rainfall activity will fluctuate and continue. “The activity would be widespread with heavy showers in localised areas that can yield rainfall between 25 to 30 mm or even greater in some locations.” Meanwhile, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) is also advising citizens to be vigilant of continuing adverse weather conditions and the risk of riverine flooding.

“Trinidad and Tobago is currently experiencing overcast conditions with rainfall activity and thundershowers due to the presence of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This inclement weather is expected to continue intermittently for at least the next 18 to 24 hours.

In addition, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) has indicated that water levels in the nation’s rivers are at this time contained but rising.” The ODPM noted that citizens in low-lying areas, in particular the Caroni River Basin, are advised to exercise extreme vigilance and caution.

The release also stated that taking into consideration the forecast rainfall and the occurrence of the high tide at 1.36 pm this afternoon (yesterday), there is an increased possibility that these rivers may reach their thresholds and overtop their banks.

The ODPM, as the lead coordinator of emergency management, says it continues to work closely with all key stakeholders including the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Municipal Corporations’ Disaster Management Units (DMUs).

“There have been preliminary reports of flooding emerging in areas near rivers in the Sangre Grande and Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporations.”

The concert begins at 7 pm at Central Bank Auditorium, Eric Williams Plaza, Independence Square, Port-of-Spain.

The youth orchestra continues to fly the cultural flag of TT very high as it embarks on international tours to expose the pan to the world.

Recipient of the Humming Bird Medal Gold, the orchestra has been selected to participate in the LA festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and also to perform at Disney Land.

This invitation comes as a result of the band’s past stellar foreign performances.

In June 2015, at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York, these talented musicians received a standing ovation and, in April 2016 in Orlando, Florida, at the Orlando Spring Music Festival, St Margaret’s emerged Overall Champions and collected five trophies –St Margaret’s Boys’ AC School copped first place in the Elementary Schools category and also the grand Championship Trophy Elementary Schools.

The St Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra won the Open category and received the Championship Trophy Open Category and the trophy for The Most Supportive Group.

St Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra’s participation in these festivals is possible because of the vision, commitment and dedication of its musical director Shenelle Abraham, founder Rosemarie Abraham and manager Kurt Abraham, said a media release.

Tickets are $100 and are available from members of the orchestra or 310-3318, 788-4310, or 765-0669.

Jarryd John, Kovid Capildeo, Brian Harricharan and Brianna Harricharan led Dave Patrick Clinic Centre to the Red Ball Team tournament title finishing ahead of Bosses Tennis Academy (second) and Point Fortin AC Two (third).

In the Orange Ball Doubles tournament, RC Roman Catholic won behind performances from Arziki Richardson, Joshua Nancoon, Lyshaun Morris and Damani Roberts. Bosses Tennis Academy had to settle for second place again, while Point Fortin Primary School claimed third spot.

The tournament catered to primary school players and incorporated the use of modified balls, rackets and court sizes which are recommended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for players at that age as they transition towards the standard yellow balls.

The tournament consisted of nine red ball teams, inclusive of three teams from Point Fortin schools under the Atlantic LNG Primary School Tennis Programme.

The red ball teams that competed were Bosses Tennis Academy, Point Fortin AC Two, Anglez Tennis Academy, TIA Five Rivers, Point Fortin RC Three, Point Fortin RC Two, Dave Patrick Coaching Clinic, Fanny Village and TIA Warrenville.

Nine orange ball teams competed, inclusive of seven teams from Point Fortin schools under the Atlantic LNG Primary School Tennis Programme.

The teams in the orange ball category were Point Fortin AC One, Point Fortin AC Three, Point Fortin Group Two, Point Fortin Primary, Egypt Government Group One, Egypt Government Group Two, RC Roman Catholic, Point Fortin RC Four and Bosses Tennis Academy.

At the end of the game, the 2–1 scoreline was enough to take Caution FC past a fighting MayGuaya United team, who were denied copping both the Knockout and League titles in the 2016 edition of this benchmark sporting event in Mayaro.

According to Caution’s captain, Keston McLeod, “it was a struggle but we came through in the end because we fought and played like a team. This year was the best ever in terms of the league competition and I have to commend the organisers and sponsors for constantly making improvements to the competition.

Now it is up to us players to use this league as a platform and step up to recapture the glory days of Mayaro football.” The knockout final also marked the formal end of the league and segued into the prizegiving ceremony, which was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat.

“I recently had to correct someone when they said that energy companies don’t invest in our country.

I reminded them that over the years, bpTT has made invaluable investments in the development of Mayaro, including the Mayaro Resource Centre, the Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development, the Brighter Prospects scholarship programme and sporting leagues like this football league.

We need to acknowledge what bpTT has done and remember that to whom much is given, much is expected,” Rambharat explained.

Matthew Pierre, Community Liaison Officer, bpTT, represented the company in the distribution of the many trophies and prizes at the event. “More 300 players took part in the footbal league this year and I want to thank everyone who worked hard to make it a success,” he said. “I especially want to commend Illusions International Sports Club for making this league accessible to everyone with the new Under-12 division to support the Under-14, Under-16 and Senior age divisions.”