The biennial event is one of the largest multi-sport events with 14 compulsory sports.

The TT delegation includes Darren Alfred (400 metres, 4×100 metres relay), Daniel Telesford (200m, 4x100m relay), Moriba Morain (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay) Micah Ballantyne (100m, 4x100m relay), Portius Warren (shot put) in athletics; swimmers Aleem Mohammed (10km open water, 1500m freestyle), Amira Pilgrim (50m butterfly, 50m breastroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle) and Brittany Joseph, Catherine Spicer and Arun Roopnarine in table tennis.

The head of delegation is also the president of the Tertiary Sport Association of Trinidad and Tobago (TS ATT ), Ian Pritchard, while the manager is the TS ATT ’s vice-president Le-Roy Pierre. The coaches are Ian Carter (athletics) and Aleena Edwards (table-tennis), while the massage therapist is Shurlan Bonas.

Pritchard is very optimistic of the performance of the contingent.

He said, “The delegate, coaches and managers have the strongest confidence in the team because we have selected the best possible team possible team to represent the ‘red, white and black’ with distinction.”

He said he will be asking the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime Irwin Hackshaw to update the media on the status of the matters so the public will be sensitised on how far some of them have reached. Williams was out of the country and was expected back last night.

In his absence, Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip was placed at the helm of the Police Service.

Well-placed sources said with respect to emailgate, the team assigned to investigate allegations levelled against former government ministers have already prepared the final report in which they found no evidence of criminal conduct. They said this report is now with Deputy DPP Joan Honore-Paul who is yet to give her final directions in the matter.

Sources revealed that with the marijuana find at Persad-Bissessar’s home, recommendations were made by the investigators for disciplinary action to be taken internally against some officers. It was also revealed that with respect to the Life Sport investigation, an auditing firm was hired and work is still being done.

Other high-profile investigations which include allegations against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan in the matter involving Director of the Police Complaints Authority, David West, are ongoing.

Ramcharan Ramlokan, 49, of Ramkalliah Trace, Kanhai Road South, Barrackpore told Newsday the prosthetic leg he was using is broken and worn out and was causing him great discomfort in his leg and spine. “The crack in the false leg cut my foot and it got infected,” he said. “The doctor put me on antibiotics.” Ramlokan was born with spina bifida occulta.

According to the National Health Services in the United Kingdom, spina bifida is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. Spina bifida occulta is the most common and mildest type of spina bifida.

Symptoms may include weakness or total paralysis of the legs, bowel incontinence and urinary incontinence. He was born with a severe form of club foot and required a right below the knee amputation.

Club foot is a condition where the affected foot and calf are often smaller than usual and the skin and soft tissues are short and underdeveloped.

The cost of the right prosthetic limb is $21,000 and one left short leg calliper boots is $6,000. Ramlokan has to wear a certain type of boots as he develops ulcers in his left from regular shoes. Further to these complications his bladder was removed in 1999 and he has one kidney. He uses urostomy bags (external bags for urine) which cost $1000 per month.

He said tearfully, “I cannot do anything as I want. It gets to me sometimes. This is a hard life.” He has been seeking assistance since 2014 through the Ministry of Social Development.

Ramlokan said, “I get a run around from the Ministry of Social Development.

Every time I go they keep telling me they waiting on approval.” He said since 2015 the funding he has received from the State to pay for his urostomy bags has been cut. Ramlokhan lives alone and has no children. He receives public assistance and a disability grant which totals approximately $2210 a month. Ramlokhan has a bicycle which uses to move around.

He said he has a kitchen garden to help him cut down on his food bill. When asked if he has planned any way to raise funds he said, “I have donation sheets and I am planning on doing a curry que.” He is hoping people would support the venture. Ramlokhan is pleading with citizens to give whatever assistance they can. He has a message to those who are in some sort of difficulty. “Do not give up in life because you have a problem.

Always try to motivate yourself and move forward. Don’t let a problem keep you down.” He can be contacted at 292- 1809 or 784-9495.

Phoenix went ahead in the 10 th minute, through an own goal by Marcus Ramkhalawan, before Shaquille Ferrier responded for the hosts in the 66th.

Carlon Hughes gave Guaya a 2-1 advantage when he netted in the 75th, and he put the game beyond doubt when he struck in the 90th.

National striker Keron Clarke scored a second half treble to guide FC Santa Rosa to a 4-0 drubbing of Police at the St James Barracks.

Rashad Griffith broke the deadlock in the 72nd before Clarke got his name on the scoresheet, in the 74th, 81st and 90th.

Cunupia were also in winners’ row last Sunday, as they blanked Bethel FC 2-0 at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground. Stevon Stoute scored both goals, in the 21st and 77th.

And Theon James found the back of the net, in the 22nd, as the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ) pipped hosts Queen’s Park 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium’s Training Ground, Mucurapo.

Siparia Spurs and WASA played to a goalless draw at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground while the game between Defence Force and Club Sando Moruga, at the Defence Force Sports Ground in Chaguaramas, was abandoned.

In League Two action last Saturday, Prisons remained atop the standings after a narrow 2-1 win over Marabella FCC at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) Ground, Arouca.

Levi Garcia (own goal – seventh) and Barry Carrington (eighth) were on target for Prisons while Marabella pulled one back from Russel Orie (14th).

Jamal Lucas netted in the 72nd as Perseverance Ball Runners edged Central 500 Spartans 1-0 at the New Settlement Recreation Ground while Harlem Strikers defeated Youth Stars 2-1 at the Frederick Settlement Recreation Ground.

Corie Dhandoolal (seventh and 13th) got both items for Harlem, with Kevin Woodley getting the consolation for Youth Stars, from the penalty spot, in the 35th.

Weekend Fixtures – TO DAY (League Two): Youth Stars vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin United, Roxborough Complex, 5 pm; Marabella Family CC vs Harlem Strikers, Guaracara Park, 6 pm; Central 500 Spartans vs Prisons, Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground, 7 pm; (League One): UTT vs FC Santa Rosa, O’Meara Campus, Arima, 7 pm.

TO M ORRO W (League One): Club Sando Moruga vs Bethel United, Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga; Defence Force vs Guaya United, Defence Force Sports Field, Chaguaramas; Cunupia FC vs Queen’s Park, Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, 4 pm; WASA vs Police, WASA Ground, St Joseph, 4.30 pm; 1976 Phoenix FC vs Siparia Spurs, Canaan/ Bon Accord Recreation Ground, 5 pm.

If “eating ah food” (being paid for doing nothing) is nation building, we got a long way to go.

What has been happening is that those given the job to guide our youths are grandstanding, using terms like “I prepared a paper on that.” Paper on shelves and not implemented is a waste of time. It becomes garbage.

Our education system is a complete failure as most of our children go to school but do not participate in schooling. Teachers must take some responsibility for this as absenteeism is the name of the game.

And they can be at that school for a year and not know the children or the culture of the community.

How sad.

For our country to progress we must be committed, be true Trinis to the bone.

ATHELSTON CLINTON Arima

The policeman’s 36-yearold wife was also arrested on Thursday and remained in custody up until yesterday.

The 46-year-old officer is suspected of being involved in money laundering and organised crime and was the subject of an investigation for approximately 18 months. He was placed under surveillance for the past few weeks prior to his arrest.

According to reports, members of the Fraud Squad, led by Sen Supt Totaram Dookhie and including ASP Ghisawan and SGTS Thomas and Samuel, executed a search warrant at the inspector’s office at Piarco on Thursday afternoon.

The same team then went to his home at Princes Town and searched.

A quantity of jewellery, valued millions of dollars, and nine macaws were seized and the officer’s wife arrested. The macaws were handed over to game wardens from the Forestry Division. Police also seized two vehicles valued $600,000 The inspector and his wife were being questioned yesterday and investigators are expected to approach Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard SC for advice in the matter.

Yesterday ACP Irwin Hackshaw confirmed the arrests and commended the Fraud Squad for what he described as excellent work.

He said it is the intention of Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and the executive to weed out any corrupt elements in the Police Service.

Speaking ahead of a training at the Stadium’s training pitch yesterday, Lawrence said, “The idea is to prepare for the Jamaica game which is leading up to the Honduras game which is the most important thing. I think the Jamaica game will be a fantastic test for the boys because Jamaica did really well in the Gold Cup. They will come here on a high and we are looking forward to the game .

“It is going to be good for the local players .

We have managed to acquire the services of a couple of the foreign players and the main reason for that is the fact that they have not been playing for their clubs so it is important that we try and give them some match time before the Honduras game. I think we have three players confirmed – Cordell Cato, Mekeil Wiliams and Aubrey David.” Lawrence added that he had a conversation with Cato after the winger was left out of the final squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against United States and Costa Rica last June .

“Cordell phoned me and we had a conversation .

Cordell understands the situation of what is expected of him .

I think what happened is behind us now. The door was never closed on him. We had a good conversation and he will be here as part of the group and he is going to try and achieve what we want to,” Lawrence said .

On playing the Honduras game at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Lawrence commented, “The idea is to basically create an atmosphere .

If you look at the two previous games against Panama and Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, we didn’t have much of an atmosphere that we were looking for.” TT provisional squad to face Jamaica – Andre Marchan, Adrian Foncette, Marvin Phillip (goalkeepers); Maurice Ford, Taryk Sampson, Curtis Gonzales, Triston Hodge, Alvin Jones, Aubrey David, Shane Sandy (defenders); Hashim Arcia, Hughtun Hector, Nathan Lewis, Jared London, Isaiah Hudson, Nathaniel Garcia, Neil Benjamin, Tyrone Charles, Cordell Cato (midfielders); Rundell Winchester, Marcus Joseph, Julio Noel (strikers) .

There were jab jabs at the Caribbean Premier League games at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain but no pan. Who can explain this? Who is responsible for it? What possible logical excuse can be used for this? Money, lack of planning, prejudice or just plain oversight? There was certainly no lack of tassa as is customary at cricket games now but again why no pan? What do they expect the viewers out there to think? This is the land of steel pan and calypso?

W DOPSON Woodbrook

At the risk of appearing to be a hair-splitting pedant, I add to this distressing list the disappointment we so often have in the command of English displayed by the constabulary.

The Newsday of August 14 quotes Inspector Michael Seales of the Police Social and Welfare Association as noting, “Our member, in her dire situation which has caused her irreputable damage, has approached the association . . .” There is no such word as “irreputable.” Perhaps Seales is creating such a word in response to the claim of Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams that the member of the association brought the Police Service into “disrepute.” Competence, corruption, detection and English are all serious subjects that the Police Service should address.

An inability to speak clearly could be an indicator of an inability to think clearly.

A BLADE via email

It’s emblazoned in my memory that Wendell Mottley won silver in the 400 metres, Edwin Roberts (perhaps the athlete with the biggest heart ever to represent TT ) won bronze in the 200 metres, and the team of Edwin Skinner, Kent Bernard, Roberts and Mottley won bronze in the 4×400-metres relay (many still refer to it as the “mile relay” even though it’s about 9.3 metres less than a mile).

Fast forward to 2017, and we have the quartet of Jarrin Solomon, Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon winning gold at the World Championships in London.

In 2015, Cedenio with “an incredible sprint kick down the straight” saw us take gold in the 4×400 at the Toronto Pan Am Games. His teammates were Renny Quow, Solomon and Emanuel Mayers.

But I suspect that not many would remember that TT broke (and still holds) the world record for the actual one-mile relay (4×440 yards) at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

The TT team comprised Lennox Yearwood, Bernard, Roberts and Mottley (running in that order). In the individual quarter- mile run, Mottley had already won gold in a Games record of 45.2 (times were measured to 1 decimal place in those days) and Bernard had taken home silver, so we were favourites to win the relay.

After two legs, and cheered on by the partisan home crowd, the Jamaicans were leading TT . But Roberts ran a magnificent third leg and handed over to Mottley with a significant lead. With that beautiful, effortless, gliding stride, Mottley romped home an easy winner in 3:02.8, smashing the then world record by nearly two seconds. Jamaica faded to fourth.

You can watch the race here: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dTYCGsTI56g.

Or you can just search for “1966 4×440 relay” on YouTube. The commentary begins, “The last track event of these eighth Commonwealth Games …

In lane 7, Trinidad, the favourites …” Some time in the 1970s, distances in all international athletics were changed from yards to metres so this world record would stand forever or until there’s a change back to yards (if a movement in the US has its way).

It would also be interesting to compare how much money we spent on the 1964/66 teams and the 2015/17 teams. Even after adjusting for inflation, it should be a lesson to those who believe that throwing money after athletes/problems is the only way to make them better/solve them.

NOEL KALICHARAN via email