In assisting him in writing his autobiography, I recall how it pained him that although we had made some progress, we were not living up to our republican Constitution’s fundamental principles.

I am also concerned that we continue to act like ostriches and ignore the need, eg, for constitutional reform; to deal with our failing institutions; to develop effective plans/strategies/policies to address crime and violence, including corruption which diverts resources from the people.

The family is the bedrock of our society. We need to strengthen family life. Strong families build strong communities which, in turn, will build a strong nation.

Sadly, though, while many of those in TT ’s prisons may come from broken homes, one-parent or dysfunctional families etc, many of our white-collar criminals come from privileged backgrounds and have no qualms about stealing from that which belongs to the people of TT .

While more than 500 student nurses are protesting because they have not been receiving their monthly stipend of $800 for more than a year, citizens are aghast at the alleged acts of corruption in the country. “Fighting corruption is not just good governance, it’s self-defence. It’s patriotism,” (Joe Biden).

Are we moving away from the values that our parents tried to inculcate in us? Murder and mayhem continue apace in TT . We are indisciplined in so many ways. A few minutes of rain leads to floods in key parts of TT , partly due to our own actions.

As a republican State, power rests in us, the citizens. We must act responsibly.

We elect representatives whom we hope will be visionary, competent, and courageous; who will learn how to work across party lines to build the common good, creating conditions which will “enable individuals, families and organisations to achieve complete and effective fulfilment” (Pope St John XXIII). If TT is to progress, we need to ensure that people are at the centre of development.

After 41 years, there are too many on the margins of our society; too many who don’t have basic amenities. We need an overhaul of all our systems — healthcare, education, social services etc. And, as we engage in the Budget-making process for 2017-2018, let us not forget that effective diversification takes years.

Although we know that we can no longer rely on oil and gas to fill our coffers, we are not taking urgent steps to diversify. Effective diversification takes years. We have a yoke of growing debt around our necks because of years of Budget deficits. We continue to use the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund for recurrent expenditure. This is a recipe for disaster.

In June, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had discussions with Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s executive secretary, who stated that there was a need for the English-speaking Caribbean island states to reduce their debts.

No knight in shining armour is coming to our aid. Let’s “band our own belly” before the IMF is called in.

In spite of our social ills, remember Dr Abdul Kalam’s (former president of India) words: “We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.”

LEELA RAMDEEN chair, Catholic Commission for Social Justice

It is alleged harsh words were exchanged between the 40-yearold John, who featured for the entire match, and the Stars players, during the one-sided contest which ended 6-0 in favour of North East Stars. Central FC, who completed a historic three-peat of league titles last season, are currently languishing in the standings and looking unlikely to make it four in a row.

Ironically, John is also an assistant coach with the Trinidad and Tobago team, while national coach Dennis Lawrence looked on in the stands.

According to a Stars player, who requested anonymity, John should permanently hang up his boots instead of trading barbs on the field with this country’s professional footballers.

“I thought it was very distasteful. There is always banter within football.

Banter amongst the players is one thing but when you have the position as the assistant coach of the national team, and a head coach (of a club team), it would come across a lot different.

“I was a member of Central FC previously. I don’t know him personally but I think that the remarks were uncalled for, coming from a person of his stature. It was definitely uncalled for, banter or not.” About the all-time TT record goal-scorer (70 goals from 115 internationals), the player stated, “You are past your career. Your playing days are over.

“Nobody said you (were) not a good player.

You were a good player. But now is time for the younger players because it’s their generation, their time to shine to make something of themselves, so they can now move (forward).” North East Stars coach Derek King, when contacted yesterday, pointed out, “As a coach, I would never disrespect (any) coach in the League or disrespect any player. At the end of the day we (need), as coaches and club owners, to build Trinidad and Tobago football.

“It’s not about us. It’s about building Trinidad and Tobago football to take it to the next level.

We’re here to support, we’re the feeder for the national set-up. We should be as one, all the coaches,” ended King, the former TT defender and assistant coach.

Efforts to contact Brent Sancho, owner of North East Stars, proved futile.

His lawyer, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, yesterday described Baksh’s feelings to the media during a press conference which the oilman did not attend.

“He feels let down, he feels that there has been a grave injustice done to him and his company.

He feels that he has worked hard and honestly, is not corrupt, is not dishonest and he feels very strongly about that and I don’t think Mr Baksh, from what I have seen, is, at this stage, ready to be able to talk about this matter,” Maharaj said at his law office on Irving Street, San Fernando.

It was the second occasion on which Baksh did not face the media, as he was also absent for a tour of his company’s facilities in Penal last Thursday, which most media houses boycotted over attacks on journalists who sought interviews there since the story broke two weeks ago. Police are investigating a case of physical assault against a Guardian photojournalist.

Maharaj, on Baksh’s behalf, had issued a statement of apology, inviting the media to the tour, which was led by Canadian industry expert Jim Krissa and A&V Oil and Gas Limited drilling manager Nazir Ali.

On September 10, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had disclosed at a UNC congress that a Petrotrin audit report alleged A&V Oil had defrauded the State-owned oil company of almost $100 million by inflating its oil production output for the Catshill fields.

She branded it as a “fake oil” scandal.

Media coverage of the story led to reports of Baksh’s friendship with Prime Minster Dr Keith Rowley who had appointed his daughter Allyson Baksh as a Government senator in 2015. Allyson was a director in her father’s flagship company A&V Drilling and Workover Co Ltd but stepped down as she joined the Senate.

Rowley, who was abroad when the story broke, disclosed he had called Baksh, who was also overseas at the time, asking what it was all about, saying, as his friend, there was nothing wrong in doing so.

Maharaj yesterday said Baksh’s friendship with the Prime Minister was not relevant to the allegations in the Petrotrin report.

“Whether Mr Baksh has any connections with the Prime Minister or not, I don’t think that has any relevance,” he said. “What is relevant here is, in our view and we have advised Mr Baksh that, what is relevant here is the allegation contained in the report but in addition, these defamatory allegations made against Mr Baksh have had very adverse effects on him.” Maharaj said his client has not given any instruction to initiate legal action against Petrotrin despite issuing a statement on September 14 demanding the company declare the report to be preliminary and inconclusive.

“We are hearing now clearly is there is no evidence,” Maharaj said yesterday.

However, Baksh is pressing on with a lawsuit against Persad-Bissessar, who last week denied defaming him or his company in response to his pre-action protocol letter.

Asked if Baksh had denied involvement in the media attacks, Maharaj said, “There is nothing for Mr Baksh to deny because there has been no allegation made against him, there is an allegation made against another person of interest and the police have interviewed that person.” However, he said A&V should be prepared to compensate anyone who was injured.

“The company in this matter has a duty to ascertain what occurred between the media and anyone who was on the property of the company at the material time.

Notwithstanding any legal defences which may be available to that person of interest, the company would have a duty subject to the police investigations to see that any person who suffered loss or injury be properly compensated.”

The hurricanes, sent by God to devastate our island neighbours do not come here and wreak death and destruction upon us. If you wonder why not. Why God decides to send havoc to the other islands, but not here. Consider that God probably accepts that we in T&T wreak such havoc and corruption upon ourselves, that She spares us the terrors of natural disasters.

This opinion about hurricanes and God is facetious of course, for most storms pass north of us without God’s interference.

Indeed, if it was God sparing us from storms, why does God send such bewildering incompetence and crime and corruption as a permanent curse upon us? While hurricanes devastate islands and even North America in deadly weekly succession, we continue to stumble along, having reached the saturation point of corruption, crime and incompetence.

We can no longer hide our failings—they are bursting through the secret envelopes, the broken pipelines and the slashed open veins of our people.

But it is nature’s deadly happenstance that is wreaking havoc through the northern Caribbean, wiping out homes, schools, offices, shops and infrastructure.

All of those islands are being brought to their living and economic knees in ways totally unimaginable to almost every one of us here in TT. But we are lucky enough, or blessed enough to have God Herself be a Trini and spare us these devastations.

So what do we do to build upon our geographic and weather blessings? We work slowly (we never get brisk!) to destroy our infrastructure by ignoring maintenance, we cannot provide ourselves with a steady supply of water or electricity, notwithstanding our natural resources. Our education system is collapsing into a state of anarchy. Violent crime is spreading across the land like a plague. We allow all sorts of people to shut down our marine lifeline to Tobago as they seek to find smoking half-sunken ferries to bring here to join Colm Imbert’s piece of junk—the MV Su.

Face it, citizens: We care for nothing here in this place. There is no leadership in Government or in Opposition. There is no leadership in business or in labour.

How are the estates dealing with our crises and revelations of corruption which are preventing progress and denying our citizens their due? They appoint a series of investigations to stumble over each other and create enough confusion for every miscreant and incompetent to walk free.

And the status quo continues to sink, until everything is dead and broken. What is this deadly silence that has enveloped us as we watch our country collapse into a failed state? And while we continue towards economic collapse, the Water and Sewerage Authority announces that they are asking for people to pay more for the irregular supply of this necessity.

I will submit a comment to the Regulated Industries Commission (the bureaucracy which decides if WASA gets more money to waste). However, I refuse to pay any more monies to the Government for anything until the Government gets a grip on itself and starts to become efficient and effective in all that it has to do.

Our biggest faults and slackness in this land of ours are waste, inefficiency, corruption and the total lack of concern about all of this. All of this deliberate incompetence and dishonesty is embraced by us. We boast of how little we do at work and how we “hide” from supervisors. WASA’s management and workers must become hard working and efficient, fix all their leaks and collect the unpaid water rates which too many refuse to pay. Then there will be “water for all” and the utility will not need to raise its rates. We can do this.

I watch our Prime Minister dance uncomfortably on just two of the issues before us: On matters of the port and the ferries, with investigations still ongoing, just Mr Mouttet’s unofficial report before him, the PM is aware of corruption which he will root out, and wrongdoers will be punished.

However, in the “missing oil” matter at Petrotrin, with auditors’ reports pointing to fraud, Rowley sits quietly outside the fray, leaving the issue to Petrotrin.

He acknowledges that he is a friend of the person involved at Petrotrin, but apparently not with the ferry people? I offer no further comment, as we wait to see how these two issues play out, side by side, other than to suggest that Mr Mouttet look into the missing oil fiasco? If our estates cannot see that they must get together to save the country from itself, the storm that we are courting will destroy us all.

One week after the.11disaster, ITNAC team.11member Brent Hector.11yesterday told Sunday.11Newsday the organisation.11has mounted a.11major drive to collect.11food and items for the.11devastated island.

However, he said.11the effort was not only.11limited to Dominica.11but other islands within.11the region that have.11been destroyed by hurricanes.

Referring specifically.11to Dominica, Hector.11said the immediate.11needs were for canned.11food, dry goods, toiletries,.11baby supplies,.11over the counter drugs.11(Panadol and cough.11medicine), mosquito.11repellent and clothes.

He said there also.11was need for tarpaulins,.11cots, sleeping bags.11and blankets “because.11many Dominicans are.11living in shelters.”.11Next week, he said,.11ITNAC will begin collecting.11building supplies.

Hector said the organisation.11also needed.11cash to assist with.11shipping among other.11expenses.

People wishing to be.11a part of Dominica’s.11relief effort, he said,.11can make a donation.11to ITNAC’s Republic.11Bank account -.11510009446802.11He said the support.11has been overwhelming.

“People are coming.11to help sort clothes to.11help sort clothes and.11pack items,” he said,.11adding that people.11with vehicles can also.11visit the organisation.11to help transport items.11to the port or collect.11supplies.

Suzanne Dowdy,.11of the Port-of-Spainbased.11Living Water.11Community, said items.11were being collected.11for Dominica and other.11hurricane-affected.11islands through the TT.11For Irma Group.

The group was.11formed in the wake of.11Hurricane Irma which.11battered Leeward Island.11territories, Cuba.11and Florida earlier this.11month.

Like Hector, Dowdy.11said the island was in.11dire need of food, water,.11tarpaulins and plywood.

On Prime Minister.11Dr Keith Rowley’s.11appeal for TT citizens.11to open their homes.11and hearts to Dominicans.11for a period of six.11months as the island.11rebuilds, Dowdy said.11the community does.11not have housing accomodation.11to facilitate.11this need.

“But we are open, as.11a community, to whatever.11the need is. We.11will always offer what.11ever we can. It may not.11be housing but we will.11do whatever we can.”.11Hector said ITNAC.11has not yet had a conversation.11about the.11Government’s appeal.11for citizens to open.11their homes to distraught.11Dominicans.11for a period of six.11months.

.11

“We are seeing crime spiralling at an alarming rate, with citizens living in fear as they go about their daily activities. Our economy is in a downward spiral, with thousands having lost their jobs since this Government took office. Investment is drying up, and our business people are facing tough financial circumstances. By all indications, the outlook for our country is grim.”

She reminded citizens that, “The power lies in your hands. It is up to each of us to work together to bring about positive change in our society,” adding, “as a parliamentarian and a citizen, I will continue to work towards serving the people of this country.” She further called on all citizens to join with her and her team “as we seek to continue to build our nation, and to build a brighter future for us all.”

Persad-Bissessar challenged citizens to, “Continue to work to protect our hard-won freedoms, and demand of our leaders to take their responsibilities seriously, and work in the interest of all citizens.”

“It cannot be, that those holding high office seek the interests of a few while ignoring the needs of the majority. The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve more, and I call on all right-thinking citizens to stand up for your rights and let your voices be heard. I will stand with you as we seek to further the development of our nation.”

Declaring she remained committed to TT, Persad-Bissessar called on citizens to do their part to create a society of which they could all be proud.

Everything is destroyed. These people need urgent help if they are to survive. These are our CARICOM neighbours and a tragedy of this magnitude could happen to any country, even our beloved TT although in our complacency, we claim that “God is a Trini.” One, so called, religious leader is advising “his people” to close their doors to the displaced Dominicans.

How as a nation, we have become so callous and insensitive? The Dominicans are a proud people. I do not expect many will leave their country as they will want to stay and rebuild. They are highly educated and have a history of being skilled tradesmen. They are very resourceful. My grandfather, Arnold Johnson, a builder came from Dominica in the 1920’s and brought all his children including my mother, Anolia. He was an asset to this country and was a building contractor who employed and trained many Trinis in the field of carpentry, masonry and plumbing.

He worked on the Arima, Couva, Siparia and Chaguanas Health Centres in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He also built the Couva Roman Catholic Church’s Presbytery which is still standing. His sons carried on his legacy.

We, the second and third generation Dominicans/Trinis have contributed to our beloved Trinidad and Tobago. We are educators, tradesmen, nurses, doctors, bankers, lawyers, priests, housewives and much more. There are many Trinidadians of Dominican ancestry who are hurting for Dominica.

We are our brother’s keeper. It is time we change our mindset. We Trinidadians have a reputation for being “generous and caring.” We have opened our doors to thousands of Guyanese, Indian nationals and others who were not in crisis.

What makes this so different? I am confident that the people of Trinidad and TT will rise to the occasion and assist in whatever small way they can.

Janice Frederic k-Sealy Retired teacher Trini/Dominican, Couva

“My entry into the world of film came at a young age when my mother began to film environmental documentaries,” Aurora says of her first exposure to the industry she now calls home. “This was a wonderful experience: seeing our country’s caves, waterfalls, flora and fauna captured on film.” At the age of 14, she was offered the opportunity to write a column for a leading local news publication, and interned at Gayelle The Channel as a co-host for one of their television shows at 17.

She was accepted into the Journalism Specialist Programme at the University of Toronto and studied, lived, and worked in Canada for five years before returning home and partnering with her mother to launch an environmental television show, Showcase Environment.

It was this varied background and experiences that fostered Aurora’s passion for media. “I truly believe that it is the best platform to effect positive and sustainable change in the world,” she says. “For me, utilising media means fiction and non-fiction storytelling through film and television and also the practice of journalism.” Upon returning to Trinidad in 2011, her sights were set on work as a journalist. Yet, small coincidences seemed to gently steer her in a different direction. Firstly, she was offered work on the set of Caribbean’s Next Top Model where she was introduced to Danielle Dieffenthaller, a woman she respected since the TT classic Westwood Park was on air. Soon, she would meet other colleagues who she grew to admire: she worked with Robert Dumas as a researcher for his film Red White and Black: A Sports Odyssey, and eventually interviewed with the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), becoming the official blogger for the festival – a position she filled for the past three festivals.

It was at a festival event that she met filmmaker Sean Hodgkinson. “He told me he needed a first assistant director for his film, Trafficked. I had never done that job before but it spoke to my skill set. That was my conception into the Quirky Films family, which I am proud to still be a part of today,” she shares of her first active role in film production.

She has worked on the projects of fellow filmmakers such as Salty Dog (2017), which makes its national premiere at this year’s ttff, The Warehouse (2016), Bazodee (2016), as well as other commercial work. She also produced The Weekend (2017), another Quirky production that is nominated for People’s Choice Award at this year’s festival.

“A producer is essentially responsible for co-ordinating the filmmaking process from beginning to end, developing the project with the director and other team members, finding funding, and running the production from casting to post-production,” she explains of the role she has now taken onset. “A producer makes sure that everyone does their assigned task on time and within budget.” However, she points out that in our local film industry, one person may wear many hats; directors may produce, producers may manage audio, actors edit, editors write, and writers create musical scores. She believes this diversity in roles is part of the magic that has birthed our local industry. “However, I don’t feel that is a fair or sustainable practice. Each person should have the opportunity to be paid for their particular role and also feel supported by all others fulfilling their own roles.” Of her producer credit on The Weekend, she describes the experience as intense and wonderful. “It was wonderful because so many people came together to give of their time and talent to the project,” she says, revealing that 42 pages of script was shot in three and a half days, as the cast and crew worked 20-hour days during filming. “I once described The Weekend as a passion project that took so much and gave so much. [Director] Sean has a very special ability to tell stories with dark undertones in a funny way; in many ways, this type of storytelling embodies our distinctive Trinbagonian culture and when I work with Quirky, I feel like I play a direct part in translating the nuances of our national identity on the screen.” She also worked as co-producer on Salty Dog, working alongside director Oliver Milne and producer Lesley-Anne Macfarlane, who she says has been one of her mentors and inspirations as a multi-talented woman trailblazer in the industry.

Of her work on the film, she says, “I scouted locations, set up casting sessions, and worked onset during initial weeks of filming.” Salty Dog is nominated for best TT short at this year’s film festival and Aurora holds pride in being a part of its coming-to-life.

While Aurora does not believe in “gender essentialism”, she does note that there are roles within the film industry that are not equally represented across genders. “I would definitely love to see all of these roles benefitting from equal representation,” she says, attributing directing roles to a mostly male demographic, while producers, script-writers, and costume designers tend to skew to a female average.

She has been privileged to work on balanced and diverse sets, where the gender imbalance isn’t glaring. However, outside of sets and in the arena of finance, she feels that women are less successful in securing funding for film projects than their male counterparts. “I think this speaks to our gender biases in society and needs to change.” As for the contribution of the ttff, she praises the organisation for effectively creating platforms for filmmaking on our shores that has consistently grown the industry. “They have provided workshops for filmmakers and producers, carefully opened up the market for Caribbean films, and painstakingly built regional and international relationships with investors and filmmakers,” she praises, adding that the festival has intelligently programmed the festival to examine pertinent societal issues. “The ttff has moved our country forward.” Yet, she notes that the availability of such progressive cinema that highlights our stories and societal contexts outside of the festival remains elusive, as opposed to cheaper and more accessible options such as cable television and Hollywood movies. “Hardworking creatives toil for months to years working on a project with very little revenue,” she says, pointing out that the channels for proper remuneration or constant funding to tell our own stories are limited at best.

“I fully acknowledge that our television stations need favourable economics to run. However, I feel that it is past time to negotiate terms between local content producers and television stations. We have the content. Now we need the platforms.

“The stakeholders of nation building have outlined the desire to ‘see ourselves on television’. However, how can these stakeholders expect the very people asked to work creatively to survive within substandard conditions?” She believes this situation can be changed if proper negotiated standardised contracts are instated, providing sustainable living and job security for creatives. As it stands, many cast and crewmembers currently create and contribute to projects solely out of passion, with no financial impetus.

“As human beings who are called to create, our work carries a very deep meaning,” says Aurora of the offerings the people in our local film industry bring. “Often, these cultural meanings have a hand in defining and redefining personal and national identities. This is a huge impact.” Even against such financial obstacles, Aurora is proud to be a part of our local film industry, and sees the ttff and other bodies that promote our local film market as irreplaceable. While there is still a ways to go, the progress that has been made thus far cannot be ignored.

“I genuinely feel that I am contributing to effecting positive change within TT. I am able to manifest and engage in national conversations on human rights, migration, government corruption, environmental degradation, crime, family, economic imperatives, art, and creation,” she says of the topical themes that can be relayed effectively through the magic of film.

“I have been very blessed to possess my particular skill set and I have worked very hard to develop and expand it. I believe that life is a gift and that if you can utilise your talents to make the world a better place, then you should.” 7

Kevin Hart released an IG video last weekend apologising to his pregnant wife (of barely a year), also known as his “rib” (as he calls her) for putting himself in situations where “bad” things have happened.

Now quick recap, this is Mrs Hart number two, who glowed up big time when she went from mistress to missus. Anyway back to the tea… so why did Kevin Hart just jump out himself to confess to the world of his mistakes? Was it because he was finally ready to do the right thing, come clean and change his cheating ways? If you thought yes! Yes, he wanted to finally be a big man (pretty hard for a short man). Nope sorry, you would be dead wrong! Homeboy was being blackmailed by one of his sidepieces, who videotaped them doing the nasty. Pretty much he take in front. Homeboy didn’t wanna jump out none of his coins and he was not about to be blackmailed! Now Twitter is having a field day dragging his new wife to hell and back, and you know what? I’m not really sure I feel much (read any) sympathy for her to be honest. I mean yes she’s very, very pregnant but I guess as long as she stays off the Internet she go be ok, right? Loads of comments of “how you get them is how you lose them”, “if he will do it with you, he will do it to you”, “a cheater is always a cheater” and my favourite “when you move from side chick to main chick, there’s now a vacancy for the side chick.”

Mel: Sigh. We need to give up on monogamy.

Kimba: Sorry. New wifey need to take several seats, she did the same thing.

Mel: New wifey needs to relax, you know ya man, cool it. Kevin needs to not overdo though, respect your wife, bat in secrecy! There is a right way to do a wrong thing!

Staci: So question this week, is a cheater always a cheater?

Kimba: I ain’t gonna say people change but I will say… they get tired!

Mel: Tired is right, the horning game ain’t easy, it takes great skill to navigate that life.

Staci: I’m sure child support and alimony is probably not what she had in mind when she got him to leave his first wife and marry her. But is a cheater always a cheater though? Do you believe a serial cheater can change, settle down and be faithful to just one person?

Mel: I’d say yes, especially if it’s two cheaters coming together…

Kimba: The video is also pretty damning it seems.

Staci: But on a real note, people have to WANT to change! Just like love is a choice, horning is also a choice. Horning is soooo much work but I guess with the levels of success and money men like Kevin Hart have, that makes it that much easier right? Or is it that much harder because these groupies out here feel they could blackmail his stoopid behind. But what surprised me is how no one has sympathy for Eniko (preggers 2nd wife). The internet has renamed her Echo, Ensure, Eskimo, Echinacea, Enchiladas, Etcetera basically anything with a capital E…I mean come on ladies, why don’t we feel any empathy for her? After all Papa Smurf cheated on her on her birthday weekend, jeez, Kevin is Hartless!

Mel: What she really expected? So ok, she expected him to change but don’t be hurt when he doesn’t, especially when she been mouthing off on social media about the first wife.

Tats: I think the reason Twitter is going in so hard on her is the fact that she didn’t care about wife number one and was rubbing her “married bliss” in her face. I’m sure wife number one sipping some liquor laced tea all side-eyed like “It good for she.”

Excerpt from MediaTakeOut: When Torrei Hart cried on TV about Kevin cheating on her with Eskimo, Eskimo posted on IG “this too shall pass”. I guess she thought she was exempt to Karma! I wonder what biblical quotes she has for her current situation? Didn’t she say Torrei was lying and playing victim about a week ago? I wonder if she still feels that way? *Side Note: This was some of the best Karma ever!

Ronz: I think men are capable of change and just because you started as an outside person doesn’t always mean you would end up on the receiving end of a horn. I think it all depends on the circumstances and what the people want out of the new relationship.

That said, I think that’s usually the exception and often relationships that start with one person being the side piece usually end with the same issues that existed the first time around. It’s easy not to feel bad for said Rib because she was de outside woman and we always want to villainise that person whether she deserves it fully or not. I not sure I feel bad for her either though, cause she knows the man she married and even if she wanted to believe that he had changed and the circumstances of his previous marriage are not currently present, he IS a still a man, a celebrity, and a previous cheater. So shock and dismay shouldn’t be her go to responses. Disappointment and sadness sure but definitely not surprise.

Nics: “Hard head makes for a soft behind”, “If ya cyah hear you will feel.” Some people just don’t want to see or hear the warnings. I tried to warn my so-called replacement. My time for that pass it’s her time now.

Reyann: What made me revel in current wifey demise is (gag) just like two weeks ago she replied to a comment on IG talking bout she take de first wife place because their marriage was already broken blah blah blah. I feel zero sympathy for women like her. Well not all of them, just for de home wrecking kind #shedidntknowsheplace

Tracy: I said the exact same thing, once a cheater, always a cheater. If you can’t be faithful no problem, just don’t go marrying and impregnating people girl chirren.

Arie: Exactly! If she had just kept her mouth shut, maybe just maybe I could find a morsel of sympathy for her because yuh know what? Stuff happens and sometimes relationships don’t work.

People cheat for different reasons and don’t nobody know what goes down in big people bedroom. But like Eniko never hear the saying “what miss yuh doh pass yuh”.

The Girlfriends is a group of 15 women between the ages of 26 and 45 who are willing to give an unadulterated look at their own experiences. Some names have been changed for privacy.

With the result, North East extended their lead to four points over W Connection (24 to Connection’s 20), while Central stayed in sixth spot with 10 points from as many games.

Earlier, ex-national midfielder Hashim Arcia converted a penalty, to the right of ex-Central FC goalkeeper Javon Sample, in the 84th minute as Defence Force edged San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 in the opening game of the double-header.

But the evening would be remembered for the insipid performance of the once star-studded Central FC, as well as the performance of national great Stern John, who tried his best to roll back the years (in his new role as player/ coach of Central), but looked a pale imitation of himself.

John, at age 40, is also the assistant coach of the TT team and one wondered if he was trying to earn a place on Dennis Lawrence’s squad for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against the United States and Mexico next month.

In his second game since making a comeback a week ago, John played the entire match, and he spent most of his time pulling up his socks, gesticulating with his teammates, walking short distances and, inevitably, getting an offside call in the dying minutes.

After a mass exodus of players, as well as supporters and even previous coach Dale Saunders, only one substitute (of the six available) was used by Central FC, while John’s son Tyrik sat on the bench throughout. Oh how the mighty has fallen!!! Elton John started the bombardment of goals in the third minute, sending goalie Kern Caesar the wrong way from the penalty spot after he was bundled over, inside the box, by rightback Rhondell Gibson.

A fantastic midfield exchange, involving Akeem Garcia, Winchester and veteran Densill Theobald ended with a neat left-footed finish by Neptune, in the 13th, while, eight minutes later, Winchester got between two defenders to side-foot Villaroel’s ball past the beleaguered goalie.

Villaroel and Neptune had a field day on the left flank, and the two combined to tee up Winchester to finish home in the 40th.

Stern John was the recipient of a crunching tackle by James in the 49th, but Central FC held firm until the 81st, when substitute Felix sent his curling left-footed free, from the right, to the top right-hand corner.

And Winchester duly got his treble in the 85th, beating the offside trap to head home Duane Muckette’s freekick.