The victory at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair was TKR’s second win in as many matches, which moved them to the top of the table on net run-rate ahead of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The four-wicket victory was a far cry from the crushing win by the Knight Riders over the Stars in the opening match of the CPL on Friday in St Lucia. On that day St Lucia posted 132 for nine, before Trinbago raced to 137/1 in 10.4 overs.

Monday’s match seemed to be a repeat of the opening contest when the Knight Riders restricted Stars to 118/9. However, a destructive spell of bowling from veteran off-spinner Shane Shillingford ensured the Knight Riders had to work for the win.

After opener Sunil Narine was dismissed for a quick-fire 11 with the score on 12, the New Zealand pair of Colin Munro and Brendon McCullum guided TKR to a comfortable 33/1 in the third over. McCullum, who struck three sixes, was caught by Jesse Ryder for 19 off nine deliveries to give Shillingford his first scalp.

Munro (one) was given leg before attempting a reverse sweep, before Darren Bravo (one) was bowled as Shillingford continued to have his way.

Shillingford also bowled Ramdin for 13 to get his fourth wicket as TKR were reduced to 52/5 in the seventh over. TKR captain Dwayne Bravo and Khan mounted a comeback with a 23-run partnership before fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan uprooted the captain’s middle stump with a yorker.

Searles and Khan then joined forces with the score on 75/6 after 9.3 overs. Needing 44 from 63 balls, Khan and Searles continously rotated the strike to keep the required run rate below six runs an over. With 20 runs required for victory Searles entertained with back-to-back sixes off McClenaghan, before steering a ball down to third man for four in the same over as TKR got to 120/6 in 15.4 overs. Searles ended on 27 not out off 20 balls with two sixes and two fours, while Khan’s unbeaten 30 off 33 deliveries comprised one six and one four.

Earlier, a brilliant bowling performance by TKR left the Stars hurting at the halfway stage. The spin trio of Khary Pierre (4-1-15- 1), Khan (4-0-16-1) and Narine (4-0-17-1) all kept the scoring down, while Kevon Cooper (4- 0-21-3) and Dwayne Bravo (3-0- 33-2) were the chief wicket takers.

After progressing to 45/1, the Stars lost wickets regularly with saw them limp to a modest 118/9.

Andre Fletcher top scored with 40, while Stars captain Darren Sammy scored 25.

Today, TKR will face Jamaica Tallawahs at the Queen’s Park Oval from 8 pm.

The group is making the call in the light of the great inconvenience and indignity being experienced by Muslims during this crucial period in the Islamic calendar when they leave their homeland to travel to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, the atrium of the airport is under repair and it has become impossible for the facility to facilitate the large crowds which accompany the pilgrims to bid their family members goodbye and make final supplications before their departure.

Ummah TT respectfully suggests that an open area to the east of the departure lounge be immediately available specifically for the Muslim community to fulfil the religious rites before departure for the holiest site in Islam.

Currently, there are five Hajj groups which are authorised by the government of Saudi Arabia to take Muslim pilgrims to the Sacred Land where they will perform one of the most important obligations of the religion lasting three weeks to a month.

Ummah TT believes that the current ad hoc arrangements where the departing Muslims are forced to jostle with other travellers, and perform their rites of departure in an undignified manner is unbefitting and possibly infringes on the constitutional right of Muslims to practice their religion.

Indeed, it is incumbent on the Airports Authority to make contingency plans to ensure that the several hundreds of pilgrims who pay up to $60,000 each to make the trip are allowed to depart in comfort, and with a peace of mind which will not detract from the serenity and tranquility required for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Ummah TT is also drawing to the attention of the Airports Authority the desirability of allocating more parking spaces for the families of the pilgrims who customarily accompany their loved ones and jama’at members since serious problems are currently being experienced in this regard.

On an ordinary day, Ummah TT has pointed out, it is very difficult to get a parking spot especially at peak periods on the arrival and departure schedule and this situation is compounded in this extremely busy Hajj season.

The group feels that Muslims deserve to be treated with courtesy and in a manner befitting the status of the importance of their reason for being at the airport during this period when they forsake their friends and family to travel thousands of miles for the sake of obeying the commands of Allah, Most Exalted.

Indeed, their departure from Piarco is especially significant and momentous since the pilgrims are quite unsure whether they will return safely to the land of their birth since Muslims believe that no one except Allah, Most Merciful knows the future.

Ummah TT calls upon the Airports Authority to urgently put in place all arrangements to make the experience of the pilgrims and their families one of sacredness and dignity that all religious rites require.

The group said that the proposed arrangements for the Muslims will also serve in good stead when they return, God willing, after the Hajj when the airport will be transformed into a sea of joy and happy homecoming following the successful completion of the religious rite.

Ummah TT is confident that its recommendations to accommodate the Muslims will be treated with the importance and urgency it deserves.

Imtiaz Mohammed via email

A plastic bag wrapped over the teen’s head, has led investigators to believe he was murdered.

According to reports, Darell Mansingh, 19, of Bhola Trace, was last seen liming at a bar in Felicity on Friday night. His body was discovered in a drain at Connector Road in Chaguanas at 11 am.

A relative confirmed that Mansingh’s head was covered with a plastic bag. When Newsday visited the family’s home yesterday, his mother Farisha Ali, was too distraught to speak. Mansingh was Ali’s only child.

Mansingh’s grandmother Dularie Mansingh, 72, recalled that her grandson whom she called Ernie, last spoke to her on Friday evening when he said he was going to meet a friend in Felicity.

She said another grandson met Ernie while at the bar and spoke to him about the company he was keeping.

“He went by the place about 10.30 and when he went into the bar the other grandson saw Ernie and told him he was in the wrong place with the wrong company.

My grandson came home and told us that Ernie was in a bar keeping bad company,” Mansingh said. She recalled that his mother subsequently telephoned Mansingh who promised to return home later that evening.

His grandmother said the family had been told that he had left the bar sometime between 11.30 pm and 12 midnight and was standing at the side of the road when he saw some other persons also leaving the bar and asked for a ride to Chaguanas.

She said the family was not satisfied with the response from officers at the Chaguanas police station who only began searching for her grandson after an intervention by a senior police officer from Southern Division. “He was a nice boy. A very nice boy who was never rude. He was in the wrong place and mixed up with the wrong people,” Mansingh said. “And now look how he come and dead. My grandson gone too soon,”Mansingh cried. An autopsy is expected to be performed today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

The Caparo Filling Station which at one time was the hub of activity in this part of central Trinidad, has become a nest for corbeaux and other animals of destruction.

The Caparo Filling Station had raised the social and economic profile of this community which has a population of over 3,000, but with the economic decadence in Trinidad and Tobago, it has also brought disaster to the community.

The Filling Station is in total state of disrepair, and until recently there were armed guards, probably guarding the litter of stray dogs who now inhabit the surroundings.

I appeal to Minister Franklin Khan to look into this matter.

Re-equipping the Caparo Filling Station could be a project for the Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, after all, the Caparo community is a rural one, but with the growth of several business entities, it is moving up to town status.

Vehicle owners have to drive to either Chaguanas or Flanagin Town to fill up their tanks every day, notwithstanding the perilous and time-consuming traffic chaos.

The community can wait no longer for reactivating the Caparo NP Filling Station, as it could become a sensitive issue in the next general election. I hope this request meets the eye, ears and nose of the authority whose portfolio is to manage National Petroleum in meeting the needs of the people overall.

Paras Ramoutar CAPARO

A gentleman in the truest sense of the word. A champion for all people. A kind man with a golden heart. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

M GOVIA St James

He warned the country would lose if this happened.

He said the OWTU wants “experienced and competent management” being put at the helm of Petrotrin to rid the company of the “poor leadership and poor management” which has plagued it for years. Roget told reporters the OWTU is calling for the removal of some “top management personnel” at Petrotrin who it believes has contributed to the poor state of affairs at the company.

While the union was informed that Cabinet has taken no decision about Petrotrin’s future, Roget said, “Lots of bad decisions were made for and on behalf of Petrotrin.” He told reporters those decisions were not made “by the workers.” Roget said some of these decisions were taken under the former People’s Partnership government while others were taken before.

According to Roget, Petrotrin’s workers were not responsible for “giving out contracts to friends and families” or “gas to liquids decisions.” He also said unqualified people were placed in top positions.

“Positions were created for persons at the top, at the expense of filling of vacancies at the lower levels.” Against this background, Roget said the OWTU told Khan it wants to be privy to any decision which Cabinet will take about restructuring Petrotrin, before that decision is made public. He said Khan told him yesterday’s meeting was about getting more information from the union which he would take to Cabinet at its regular weekly meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Thursday.

Last week, Cabinet held a special meeting about Petrotrin but no decisions were made. Roget said Khan gave no indication as to when a decision would be taken.

He reiterated the OWTU will oppose any decision which results in sending workers home. Roget reminded reporters that in 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015, the OWTU was very vocal about poor performance at Petrotrin.

Our national penchant for knee jerk responses and the application of instant resolutions without carefully defining the issue being addressed guarantees a non resolution and simply adds to sterile debate.

President Carmona has argued that the Republic Day celebrations on September 24 were jaded and lacked the elements that may usefully contribute to strong concepts of nationhood and the development of a meaningful national psyche. Taken within this context, it would appear that the substantive issues to have been addressed were firstly, the meaning/significance of national awards and secondly, the role that these awards can/should play in nation building. If we accept this proposition then it begs the question, does the proposed change to having the awards on Republic Day resolve them? I would think not.

I do believe that a different approach is required. Indeed, there is urgent need for a rethink on associated public expenditure on every aspect of national life.

There is a clear distinction between expenditure on national holidays, but the state should stand aloof of unnecessary expenses associated with all public awards/competitions as well as with the many religious and so called ethnic and cultural festivals however styled under the guise of “multiculturalism”.

The task is to build pride in our nation with a distinct “Trinbago” culture – a humongous task that requires thoughtful and purposeful- planning and execution over several generations.

Sincerely, Samuel B Howard

Khan’s brother Inool, a senior Licensing Officer sobbed yesterday at the funeral service at the house of mourning in Barrackpore .

Khan, 36, owner of Shaz Wrecking Service was killed along with Customs Guard Terrence Alleyne on Sunday along the Uriah Butler Highway in Charlieville while attending to Alleyne’s car which got a flat tyre at 5.30 pm .

Also in attendance was Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kazim Hosein .

Mourners paid glowing tribute to Khan, identified as a man who was willing to help anyone in need even if the person could not pay for the service immediately .

Inool, a supervisor at the Licensing Office in San Fernando, said his brother was born on Independence Day and worked his towtruck seven days a week .

Khan stopped to render assistance to Alleyne whom he knew .

He told mourners that the driver of the vehicle which struck the tow truck was later tested for alcohol on his breath and the result was nil .

“What then happened? No braking impression, no alcohol. What then was the driver doing,” Khan asked .

“I call on the nation to take heed as one mishap by one driver has left two men dead and children without their fathers. Take a page from my brother’s book and do not let Shaz’s life go in vain. He was working since age 12 and he worked from Monday to Sunday,” Khan said. Khan was buried at the Lalbeharry cemetery and leaves to mourn his wife Clarrisa and two children

An unfortunate photo of a police woman is circulating on social media and suddenly it is a cybercrime.

The ever resourceful Watson Duke, smart enough to see political mileage in this debacle, seizes the moment to talk about cybercrime legislation.

He appears to be attempting to sound reasonable after the trade union movement collectively made themselves appear to be out of touch with the needs of the very poor workers they seek to protect.

We have this penchant in TT for “trying to make important people look small.” At the end of the day, it appears nothing truly “illegal” was going on. But the idea, it could be alleged, was to just simply make the government of the day look bad.

If anything had happened to those children, uttering the word ‘sorry’ would be obscenely inadequate.

I say that this unfortunate young policewoman should have known better, but vulgarity in TT is sometimes viewed as being “cute” and well worth circulating.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin

He said methods which were used to engage people will not work in this time as they are outdated. The letter is meant to analyse how communication affects and guides the church in using the media available. “Due to the rapid developments in technology, we have created this document to really enhance how we spread the message of the church, especially to younger persons.” The pastoral letter is titled New Ways of Being Church in a Digital Milieu.

The pastoral letter consists of several sections, including research on the methods of communication currently being used by members of the church. It identified the forms of communication which various age groups preferred and suggestions on how to better reach their demographic.

He said for the more traditional people, it was found articles and wordy documents appealed to them, however for the tech-savvy generation this is not the case. Gordon said, “You will find that the young generation are more into image- driven communication.

That’s a whole new way of thinking.” He said the key to drawing young people to the message of Christ is deliver it to where they are, in their language and in a way they can understand.

“We have to find ways to break down the information into bite-size pieces and use the digital platform to engage them.” The letter is a challenge to the AEC territories to think of the way in which they transmit the message of faith to the new generation, while staying faithful to the message of the gospel.

AEC representatives received copies of the letter to take back to their territories. “The first audience of the letter will be the ministers in the various ministries of the church, these include priests, catechists and those who proclaim the message,” Gordon explained. “If the methods used by people giving the message do not change, then there will be no change in the result.”