The $5000 first prize saw several teams from throughout the nation competing for the title.

At the end of it all, More Fire and Fight Spirit emerged the champions with a gripping tie in points atop the leaderboard.

Stating that the Paharry Sports and Cultural club focuses on developing the youths of the community, founder Denezel Pierre said, “This cricket tournament is just one way in which we hope to provide a platform for youths in the community to demonstrate their skills.” With the club being around for more than five years, Pierre has goals to make the one day cricket event one of the most prominent community tournaments in the country.

Saldenah began his mas career after World War II assisting bandleaders such as Harry Basilon, Mansie Lai and Harold Tang Yuk.

Inspired by the Hollywood movie of the same name, Saldenah designed his first mas band Quo Vadis in 1953, with Roman soldier helmets made of papier mache painted to look authentic.

In 1955, he introduced metalwork to mas by employing Ken Morris to fabricate copper breastplates for Roman soldiers in his winning Band-of-the-Year presentation Imperial Rome 44BC to 96AD.

As his band attracted more masqueraders in the early-1960s, he became the first bandleader to create sections in his presentations.

He won six Band of the Year titles (1955, 1956, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1968) before moving to Canada in 1977, where he became involved with Toronto’s summer Caribana, a carnival- like parade. Over the years, many people worked with Saldenah, including chief designer Norris Eustace, Bobby Ammon, Edmond Hart and Stephen Lee Heung.

El Dorado, City Of Gold in 1968 was the last of Saldenah’s six victorious presentations.

Trini Revellers has chosen 12 of Sally’s winning bands to highlight the magnificence, colour and splendour of his portrayals.

And, like Saldenah, Trini Revellers’ Enrico Rajah said he has researched these sections to ensure that the now-designers are able to re-create the moments in time in history.

Velvet, leather, copper, foils and papier maché will be used in the costumes to portray centurions, gladiators and vestal virgins in Imperial Rome 44BC to 96AD.

For 2018 the Revellers are producing We Mas have class (1985); Mexico 1519-1521 (1964); Psychedelic Latin America (1969); Cree Indians (1959); Fantasy in Jewels (1972); Sun Kingdom of the Amazons (1974); Pacific Paradise (1965); Epic of the Zulus (1967); Fashionable Sailors from Paris (1973); Norse Gods and Vikings (1956); El Dorado, City of Gold (1968) and Imperial Rome 44BC to 96AD (1955).

The Band with be launched on September 16, at St Mary’s College, Pembroke Street, Port of Spain.

This was the message shared with graduates of the 2017 Republic Bank Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme by Level 1 valedictorian Malaika Ferreira as she joined Level 2 valedictorian Romario Peters on stage.

Peters and Ferreira were two of the 125 graduates who, on Thursday at The UWI’s Daaga Auditorium, received their certificates of achievement for completing the programme.

The three-week programme, now in its 22nd year, is an annual effort made possible by the bank’s Power to Make a Difference Social Responsibility Programme.

Chief coordinator Michelle Amoroso took the opportunity to highlight the benefits of the programme which, she noted, has resulted in past participants becoming accomplished composers, arrangers and performers.

David Robinson, general manager of wealth management at Republic Bank Limited, applauded participants for their dedication. He also commended the parents for giving their children the support and urged them to keep supporting their chil dren’s dreams.

Robinson urged participants not waste their efforts as the certificates can boost their qualifications to enter multiple programs at the UWI. He also spoke of the importance the programme holds in preserving and promoting local culture.

Echoing Robinson’s sentiments, motivational speaker Don La Foucade encouraged graduates to not take opportunities lightly and stressed the importance of having responsibility.

Showing off their versatility on the pan, graduates treated audience members to music ranging from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” to Fifth Harmony’s “Work from Home” during multiple entertainment segments.

This year’s top Level 1 and Level 2 performers were Nicia Inniss from El Dorado West Secondary School and Fayola Wilkinson from St Joseph Convent, respectively.

Thursday’s graduation ceremony marked the end of the Trinidad leg of the programme which also ran concurrently with the Tobago leg. The Tobago leg, supervised by Anthony Moore, had 56 participants bringing the total number of participants in this year’s programme to 181.

The vibrant instrumental four-piece band from San Fernando, consists of former Naparima College, San Fernando, students Joshua Regrello (steelpan), Darren Ramsook (bass guitar), Lyndel Bertie (electric guitar) and former Presentation College, San Fernando, student Daniel Ferguson (drum kit). _Regrello, Ramsook and Bertie are students at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Ferguson, who took one year off from school, will be leaving the band soon to head to the University of California, Los Angeles. Ramsook, Bertie and Ferguson are all national scholarship winners. Regrello is the son of San Fernando Mayor and Skiffle Bunch founder, Junia Regrello. The aspiring attorney-at-law is a tenor player and co-captain of Skiffle Bunch.

The 4Triplets combine their unique style with all genres of music and have just completed their Trinidad tour, entertaining crowds in their hometown of San Fernando at C3 Centre; Chaguanas at Price Plaza; Port of Spain at Fiesta Plaza and Point Fortin at Victor Chin Kit Park._ Regrello spoke to Newsday about the band and how, despite a hectic university life, The 4Triplets had managed to hold on and pursue a dream they have had since coming together three years ago. He said The band’s motto was “Team work makes the dream work,” and that what they did as a band of young instrumentalists was what provided them with that much-needed balance in their lives.

“What this band is and what we do, comes as a stress reliever and as leisure for us,” Regrello said. “So it is good to do it and to balance school work because university life can be very stressful.” The band, he said, began in Naparima College when the principal, Dr Michael Dowlath, was asked to send a group to perform at an event hosted by President Anthony Carmona.

“I play the pan and I remember the principal calling me to his office and telling me he wanted a musical piece, and I should make it special because it is for the president,” Regrello recalled. “I once heard a band play David Rudder’s High Mass and I knew I wanted to play that for the president but I felt I didn’t want to do it alone.” This prompted him to call on two of his schoolmates, a drummer and a guitarist, and they performed their hearts out._ “That was the first time we played together, we were the Triplets,” he said. However, as fate would have it, the drummer went abroad to study and they recruited Ferguson.

The 4Triplets has become very popular on the school circuit followed around by screaming teenagers. Just the image they wanted.

“You watch television and you hear of a boy band,” Regrello said. “A boy band doesn’t happen every year. It is something that happens irregularly.

“There is one in every generation and we want to make sure that we survive.” He said boy bands created a certain “hype and crowd.” “When people talk of the 4Triplets today in our teenage years, we want that when we become adults we will still be performing as the 4Triplets and still have the same fans and more. We have a passion for the music.” They rehearse together as much as they can.

During school time, practice sessions are less frequent but once school is out they are always in the band room._ The band is inspired by the “excellent musicianship” of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and local soca stars Machel Montano and Kees Dieffenthaller._ The band is always busy and has performed at numerous events throughout Trinidad, among them The Palliative Society’s Poor Man’s Dinner at the Trinidad Hilton; the launch of Angostura’s 1787 rum; the opening of Starbucks, SouthPark; at the Diplomatic Center for the Prime Minister’s Annual Christmas cocktail and numerous graduation balls.

The 4Triplets will host a concert on August 11_at City Hall Auditorium, San Fernando, from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm followed by an after party until 11 pm. Also performing, will be reigning National Youth Extempo Monarch Kevan Calliste; reigning South Calypso Monarch Prince Calliste; Marina Mohan, DNA Productions; Jen-ai Mohammed and Sam Khan.

Follow them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, You- Tube, Twitter and Snapchat @ TripletsTT.

Smith’s past school mates from Hillview College, as well as his school mates from University of Pennsylvania, attended the funeral to pay tribute.

Smith, a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Pennsylvania and young artist, lost his battle with cancer last week while in Trinidad. A member of the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago, Smith moved to Pennsylvania in 2015 to attend the university where he was part of the Caribbean students community.

According to a report from the Daily Pennsylvanian, Smith was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, during the July-August vacation of last year while preparing for his first solo art exhibition entitled Kyrie. The article said Smith left the university on a medical leave of absence for ten months.

He was the only child of his parents Hayden and Anna Smith who are also artists. In the article, Smith was described as a “thoughtful and passionate visual artist” and his mother described him as someone who loved adventure.

“Transitioning from Trinidad to studying in Pennsylvania was just another adventure for him.

That’s how he treated life…everything as a new adventure,” she said.

She said Smith showed other students how to “take a break and enjoy the moment” while being students.

His friend Chase Rapine said he remembered when he spent over three hours with him in a snowstorm and he was “impressed” with Smith’s pictures. It was Smith’s first time seeing snow.

“His love of art was ingrained in him,” Rapine said. “He was able to see the beauty in things that so many of us take for granted each day.” Speaking with Newsday on Thursday, acting president of the Art Society, Robert Ramkissoon, said the funeral was abundant with an “outpouring of love.” He added although Smith was one of the organisation’s younger members, he was “very active” and helpful. “We are an NGO so we are highly dependent on sponsors and things like that. But Jonathan came forward and helped with graphic arts, creating invitations and stuff.” Ramkissoon described Smith and his parents as “very helpful.” “Jonathan gave of his time and his services to help in any way,” Ramkissoon said.

Smith’s funeral took place on Thursday at Belgroves Funeral Home in Tacarigua. The eulogy was read by a family friend and those who couldn’t make it, sent messages which were read to the gathered friends and family.

The family thanked the University of Pennsylvania for their support.

Smith’s father said he received “quite a few messages” from people he “never met before, but whose heart Jonathan has touched.”

Now in its 26th year, the camp seeks to provide a facility where children can spend their July- August vacation engaging in a fun and educational arts-based process, using the disciplines of art, dance, drama and music as learning and developmental tools.

This year’s theme is Memories, inspired by the classic calypso by the Mighty Sparrow in which he croons the names, lives, and work of important cultural icons.

With the passing of some of these icons, including Narcenio “Señor” Gomez and Sir Derek Walcott between 2016 and 2017, AiA felt it timely to find ways of memorialising these important contributions to Caribbean cultural life and civiliSation, especially for a young generation who run the risk of never hearing these names.

Memories runs for its second cycle in August – 7 to 19 from Monday – Friday 9 am – 3 pm.

The camp will be held this year at the DCFA, UWI, Agostini Street, St Augustine.

For more info call 289-4242 or email email@artsinaction.org

Today at 4 pm at Eddie Hart, Trincity Nationals will play the National Under-17 team. Trincity Nationals, which remain winless after two games, will want to return to winning ways after losses to current league leaders Flow Sport Real Dimension and QPCC, which currently sit third. The National Under-17 team sit near the bottom of the table in eighth position and have the opportunity to advance in the standings with a win.

At 6.30 pm in Guaracara Petrotrin will play QPCC. The Petrotrin girls will also be looking to bounce back after losing to the high flying Real Dimension outfit last weekend.

QPCC on the other hand can close the gap between themselves and Nationals to one point with a win. At Leo Thompson Ground Club Sando will play Real Dimension.

Real Dimension, which are on a spectacular run at the moment have an opportunity to distance themselves from the pack with a win over the Sando girls, who find themselves at the bottom of the league with zero points thus far.

However, in a game where Club Sando seems to have nothing to lose, a win for them can bring an end to Dimension’s run which will create opportunities for the other teams hoping to catch them at the top. Tomorrow at 4 pm at New Settlement, MIC-IT St Ann’s Ranger’s will play Tobago Chicas. With a win Chicas can overtake Rangers in the standings, however Rangers will be looking to maintain their current position on the table. In the First Division also at New Settlement grounds MIC-IT St Ann’s Ranger’s B will play Defence Force in a match beginning at 2 pm. Finally at 4 pm at the Queens Park Savannah, Malvern will play St Augustine Juniors.

At the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Thursday, Imbert said those fees were in the order of $250 million and not $3 billion.

Imbert said Browne’s latest unsubstantiated claim was that the $3 billion figure was contained in the Government’s affidavits in its application to the court to appoint provisional liquidators for CLF.

“This latest statement on his part is again untrue since nowhere in the Government’s affidavits is any such figure mentioned,” he said. Imbert indicated that the cost of professional fees for the Clico/CLF bailout was not quantified in any affidavit of the Government.

Imbert said it was inexcusable that, having been called out for making a false and reckless claim on this matter, Browne continued with his $3 billion misrepresentation.

On Thursday, Imbert said the liquidators would be investigating the true value of CLF and the leakage of some $1.1 billion from CL World Brands that was apparently used to settle debts owed by companies within the conglomerate.

Sisnarine Heeralal dropped his lucky Freeport man would drive away with a brand new Hyundai Elantra motor car from Massy Motors.

Sisnarine Heeralal dropped his lucky entry form at Bhagwansingh’s Changuanas branch.

The draw took place yesterday at Bhagwansingh’s Hardware in Sealots. It was an elated Heeralal who answered his phone yesterday when Bhagwansingh’s group marketing manager Baliram John called him to deliver the happy news.

“At first I couldn’t believe it. I felt really excited, I felt like ‘wow’,” said Heeralal, who works for a tele-optics company.

Heeralal said he was yet to reveal the good news to his family.

“My wife and two sons are in Canada at this time. I am just waiting for them to take out the photos and I will send them to her later,” he said. John said the competition was a promotion with Black and Decker, DeWalt and Stanley.

“We worked an alliance with them whereby we brought in tools at special prices to the customers of Trinidad and Tobago and at the same time we gave out vouchers for every purchase of $200 for a chance at winning this competition,” he said. The promotion ran for two and a half months at all branches of Bhagwansingh’s, including Dansteel, and John estimated that they received about 7,000 entries.

The entry forms were kept in locked tanks and were emptied into a barrel where the winning voucher was drawn in the presence of the public. John said all requirements were met by the National Lotteries Control Board.

“It was a successful promotion because we would have sold a lot more tools because people would have wanted to have a better chance at winning and that would mean more entry forms,” he said.

Addressing comments in the media regarding its operations and labour policies following an advertisement in which it was seeking foreign workers who speak English , Swissport, in a release issued by its attorney at law Vivek Lakhan-Joseph said, it prided itself on “its longstanding reputation as a competent and efficient provider in the service of the aeronautical industry of Trinidad and Tobago.” As a “responsible employer,” Swissport said, it also placed “great value on ensuring that respect permeates its organisation and operations,” and “remains hopeful that this matter will be resolved promptly and having due regard to the respective rights of the parties.” Lakhan-Joseph said that given “the far reaching and damning content being circulated, Swissport is constrained at this stage to provide an urgent and interim response.” The response was in relation “to the specific statements which have been recently broadcast and/or published in the media regarding certain contractual, employment and/or other issues in relation to the company.” His client, he said, “disputes any illegality on its end but still remains desirous of arriving at an amicable resolution.” Swissport, he said, “maintains that it strictly abides by both the legal processes of the country as well as to well-established principles of good industrial relations practice.

This seems to be paramount now more than ever especially having regard to the nature of the action being threatened.” Swissport’s response follows recent remarks made by Public Service Association President Watson Duke that the company was infringing on the rights of its workers.

Duke claimed that employees at Piarco and ANR Robinson international airports were being forced to work long hours with no scheduled lunch or bathroom breaks.

Duke also questioned an advertisement the company placed in a daily newspaper in which Swissport was seeking foreign nationals who speak English to work in TT as baggage handlers, gas and diesel mechanics, supervisors, cargo agents and aviation security agents.