N Touch

Benefits of merger?

NOW THAT Mr Ken Gordon has identified himself as the person originally proposing the UTC-FCB merger, we expect that he would now proceed to tell the country exactly what are the “significant benefits” the two organisations stand to derive from his controversial proposal. Since Prime Minister Manning floated the idea more than a week ago, the touted merger has provoked a spontaneous, agitated and unanimous avalanche of disapproval from members of the public. Also, we have heard no independent and responsible voice from the financial sector expressing support for the proposal, far less explaining how such a merger could possibly benefit the two institutions.

Surprised, perhaps, by such widespread opposition, Mr Gordon, who also happens to be the FCB chairman, considers it unfortunate that so much misunderstanding has been generated by his proposal to the Prime Minister. The document he had submitted for the Government’s consideration and study indicated “significant benefits” that would flow to both UTC and FCB if they came together under a holding company, “while maintaining their separate identities and functions.” We believe that both Mr Gordon and the Prime Minister must now see the necessity of releasing to the public the contents of this document, since the alleged benefits the FCB chairman speaks about are neither clear nor apparent to anyone outside the Bank. Indeed, Mr Gordon’s statement on Friday seems to confuse rather than clarify the issue, since he lauds the performance of FCB which, he says, has grown into a strong financial institution, enjoying the highest rating among local banks. If that is true, then we say hats off to the FCB; but having achieved that pre-eminent status what then could be the bank’s need or possible advantage in merging with the Unit Trust? Is it simply to create the country’s most humongous financial entity?

On the other hand, the Unit Trust has also carved out for itself an outstanding record of success in the arena of mutual funds, winning the support, satisfaction and confidence of some 400,000 unit holders. As a unique financial organisation in the public sector, the UTC can be held up as an admirable example of local skill and expertise, even outperforming some of the leading mutual funds in the United States. Having virtually mastered the market, we are unable to see how any merger or linkage with a commercial bank can serve to strengthen the operations or enhance the performance or increase the opportunities for growth of the UTC. The Trust has done splendidly well on its own and, in our view, should be left completely alone to serve its unit holders and to pursue its own growth. Why does the FCB chairman want to write his own chapter into this success story? For whose benefit? Will he or the Prime Minister please tell the country? However, the fundamental and inescapable consideration for Mr Manning and his government in this issue must clearly be to level with the country and to give all the details of this proposal before any decision is made. If the PM is true to his government’s commitment to accountability, transparency and the principles of democracy, then he will let the country know what is behind this proposal and also be guided by the voice of the people and, particularly, the wishes of UTC’s 400,000 unit holders.

QUALIFIED, BUT FOR WHAT?


The young man sitting in my office was definitely amused, and not even attempting to mask, that in me, he had found a new source of entertainment. Why was I so shocked by his story, he wanted to know. He reclined more in his chair, his light brown eyes impudent, as he awaited a response to his question. I was not at all certain; I had one to give him. He had arrived 20 minutes late for a job interview with no explanation other than he had stopped to talk to a friend after alighting from his taxi. He really had not thought that would be a problem. Was it? Better late than never, no? What could I tell him, this youth, who, copies of his BA in hand, thought himself “qualified” for a place in a newspaper company, entitled to a proof reader’s job, late or not? Explaining to him the reasons why it was better to be on time for an interview than to lime at City Gate, would require taking this 25-year-old back to his infancy, in an effort to fill the conspicuous gaps in his home education. One of these was a lesson in punctuality.

Adults in his early life had passed this young buck so much; he now had nowhere to go. However, was it my duty to assume the responsibility they had abdicated when they taught him that higher education was the sole goal worth pursuing? Should the spoilt buck stop here with me?
I wondered what could have led him to conclude that despite his tardiness, he had a chance at a position on staff.  And while no one could devalue the importance of possessing degrees, what could have made his parents forget to teach him about the value of things that were not written on fancy paper. I finally stopped musing and responded that his late arrival was certainly a problem, for he was not the only interviewee. The youth sitting before me shrugged and with this movement of his shoulders, I understood that I was more ill at ease with our conversation than he. That I was more worried about his present and his future than he ever would be. This young man did not really want a job. He felt, however, his “qualifications” entitled him to a pay cheque from Newsday. If we were being “unreasonable,” someone else would spoil him as his parents had ruined him.

He reached for his bag of “qualifications” and exited my office in the same indifferent manner he had entered the room. I wondered what he would tell his family, his peers. Would he say he had been a victim, unfairly treated?  Probably. Would this experience teach him to be on time for his next interview? Probably not. I also wondered if he would have behaved in the same manner in a foreign country. Would he not have been punctual for the interview? We were off better citizens of other nations than we were of our own. It was quite possible that no one laboured harder abroad than we did. But in our own land, we were more interested in titles and salaries, in demanding, instead of contributing. The one difference between this young man and many of us was that he had made no attempt to camouflage his true disposition, with smiles or lies, as many — both young and old — around him did.

His coming had also meant that after this interview, I would never again be able to convince myself that ours was not a society on the decline.
Discipline, tolerance and production were for the birds and the nerds. They were certainly, Trini cardinal sins. I really should have not been so surprised at this young man’s attitude, though. My office door had, of late abandoned its hinged swing for a revolving motion, as in vain, I interviewed men and women, from all social classes, in a quest for people of substance, not just of “papers” and straw. Ones, who knew that you did not have to be an upstart, to move up, that having an opinion was different from being opinionated and that possessing a degree did not mean you were “qualified.” Perhaps as many as nine out of ten of the persons who had come through that door were unemployable, for a myriad of reasons.
The tardy young man was the worst of the nine, or rather; a compact of them all, for I could tell that contained within his young body and mind, were all the attributes that no prospective employer desired. Not only would Newsday have to teach him particular journalistic skills, but we would also have to train him to be disciplined, on time, polite, you name it. Few companies were prepared or equipped for such a laborious task. We would be better off with someone less “qualified,” but of more “quality.”

It was indeed unfortunate that this young man — and many in our country — believed these two words meant the same thing. It was truly sad that many citizens of TT were convinced that a little bit of glitter meant they were made of gold. Because when you scratched the surface of their mettle, all you found was rust and decay. The greatest tragedy of all though, was that the rot was now setting in at such a young age.


Suzanne Mills is the Editor of Newsday.


Columnist’s note: I have not written of politicians this week, but have not forgotten nevertheless, that Parliament will reconvene tomorrow morning in the Red House, which is not for Manning.

Four killed in accidents, including 6-year-old boy

The carnage on the nation’s roadways continued unabated yesterday as four persons, including a six-year-old boy, lost their lives in separate accidents in Central Trinidad. According to police reports, the first accident occurred around 11.45 am on Friday morning when a white Mitsubshi pick-up, TBA 3811, driven by Balliram Mootilal, 40, of 117 Nolan Street, Felicity, was involved in a three-car smash-up in the vicinity of the Balmain Presbyterian School, Rivulet Road, Couva. Mootilal sustained head and other injuries and was rushed to the Couva Health facility but was subsequently transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where he succumbed to injuries around 3.15 pm on Friday.
   
Motilal, an employee of the Ministry of  Education’s maintenance department, was the father of three young children. A family member who asked not to be identified, told Sunday Newsday yesterday that the family was having a hard time coming to grips with Mootilal’s sudden death. She said that Mootilal was the sole breadwinner. Officers from the Couva Police Station are continuing investigations. In the other fatality, around 3.15 pm on Friday, six-year-old Johnathan Ram, of Todd’s Road, Longdenville, was attempting to cross the Caparo Main Road when he was struck by a van. Ram, a student of the Todd’s Road RC Primary School, was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Facility but was transferred to the Mount Hope Medical Centre. He died around 5.30 pm. Then, around 12.45 am yesterday, Carlos Boyce, 35, of Arena Road, San Rafael, was the front seat passenger of green Lancer which struck another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction along the Southern Main Road, Longdenville.

Boyce was rushed to Chaguanas Health Facility but was pronounced dead on arrival. Three other occupants of the vehicle Boyce was in, suffered minor injuries and were treated and discharged. An hour later around 1.45 pm, Wallace Albinas, 42, of Gran Couva was driving south along the Uriah Butler Highway in the vicinity of the Divali Nagar site when he apparently lost control of his white Datsun pick-up. The vehicle slammed into a steel TTEC lamp post and Albinas,  according to police reports, was killed instantly. Police Officers of the Chaguanas Police Station responded to these accidents and are continuing investigations. However, some officers from the station were themselves involved in an accident while at the scene conducting inquiries where Albinas met his death. According to reports, a black hatch-back Laser car crashed into the police patrol car which was parked on the shoulder of the highway.

According to an eyewitness account, police officers conducting Highway patrol, stopped their vehicle on the highway to assist other police officers who were attempting to remove Albinas from the wrecked vehicle. The policemen, together with other passersby, were all standing in front of the vehicle, when a black Laser car travelling on the South-bound lane slammed into the back of police patrol car. The report said the policemen and four other persons who were standing in front of the police vehicle, were slightly injured. All three vehicles, including the patrol car, were taken to the Chaguanas Police Station. Investigations are continuing into all four accidents.

St Mary’s College boy escapes 3 kidnappers

WITH A brown paper bag over his face, 16-year-old Marcus Williams yesterday morning fiddled with a car door lock until he got the right opportunity to jump out of a heavily-tinted moving black B13 Nissan Sentra vehicle, escaping three kidnappers in the process. Williams, a Fourth Form student of the St Mary’s College, eventually made his dash to freedom in the vicinity of Northern Hardware, Diego Martin Main Road. The student then made his way to the Four Roads Police Station and recounted to police officers there the near three-hour ordeal he had gone through. The teenager, son of businessman Noel Williams, owner of Williams Printery Service, was then picked up from the station by acting Supt Henry Millington and other members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS).

He gave a statement and was then taken to his Ninth Street, Barataria, home where he told shocked family members about the incident.  “All this time I thought he was in lessons,” his stunned-looking mother, Julie, told Sunday Newsday from their home. It was around 9.30 am yesterday that Williams left to go to Prestige Living Centre, where he has been doing part-time lessons for over one year. About 20 feet from the entrance to his destination on Sixth Street, police said a black B13 Nissan Sentra vehicle, in which there were three occupants, pulled alongside him. One of the three kidnappers opened one of the car doors pretending that one of them was about to alight. However, that man grabbed Williams by his white jersey and pulled him into the back seat. “Don’t give any trouble and you won’t get hurt,” Williams said one of them told him.  They then placed a brown paper bag over his face, after which they drove to El Socorro and stopped there for about 15 minutes.

Williams said the men threw what he believed were guns into the vehicle.  “They were heavy and metal,” he recalled the sound of the drop of the items. The kidnappers then left El Socorro and made their way into the West.  While driving, Williams, still with the brown paper bag covering his face, began fiddling with the lock and when the car slowed, jumped to freedom.  He got to the Four Roads Police Station around midday yesterday.
At his home yesterday, Williams told Sunday Newsday that the vehicle did not stop after he jumped to freedom.  “They were driving around cool, cool, cool,” he said. Not wanting to speak much on the incident, Williams said two of the three kidnappers were in the front of the vehicle, while a slim-built one was in the back with him. “All this time he was in danger and we believed he was at lessons,” Julie said. She added that Williams always said he would put up a fight if he ever found himself in a situation like that. Julie also said that she has often warned her children to be careful of kidnappers, but that she is in no position to prevent them from walking the streets. His father, who also did not want to speak much, told Sunday Newsday that he is just happy to have his son home safe. “That’s important,” the elder Williams said. No arrests had been made up to late evening and officers of the Anti Kidnapping Squad, headed by Snr Supt Gilbert Reyes and Barataria/El Socorro Police officers are continuing investigations into the attempted kidnapping.

Barataria businessman released unharmed

BARATARIA businessman Ryan Singh was released unharmed yesterday by the people who snatched and held him in captivity for nearly six days, senior police officers said. His kidnappers had called the family Thursday asking for $2.5 million for his safe release.  However, senior police officers said Singh’s kidnappers settled for between $100,000 and $200,000 after a barrage of calls on Friday night. Singh, the director of one of his father’s companies, which are subsidiaries of Imrith House located at Tenth Avenue, Barataria, was dropped off around 5 am yesterday at Golden Grove Road, Arouca, Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

The 25-year-old was medically examined, questioned by members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS), then reunited with his family.  His father, Garrett, however, told Sunday Newsday yesterday that he preferred not to comment on his son’s ordeal, but police said Singh appeared to be traumatised but was in good health otherwise. Singh, the country’s 36th person to be kidnapped for ransom, was snatched last Sunday night while dropping off his girlfriend at her Lashley Street, Tunapuna, home. The couple had just returned from dropping off Singh’s parents at Piarco International Airport. As they got to the Tunapuna residence, police said a B14 Nissan Sentra vehicle came from behind and blocked Singh’s car.  Two armed men then jumped out and snatched Singh.

The same night the kidnappers allowed Singh to call his home because police said they did not believe his parents were out of the country.  His parents returned sometime after. Senior officers, meanwhile, said they were contemplating holding an educational programme for would-be kidnap victims to become more aware of potential kidnappings. They said that kidnappers scope their victims out, then determine the best place to nab their victims. No arrests had been made up to late evening and investigations under AKS head Snr Supt Gilbert Reyes and acting Supt Henry Millington are continuing investigations.

Love is colour blind


It’s a case of who wooed whom. When the blue-eyed British-born and newly married Dr Edward Salter presented his side of the story as to how he met his “very, very attractive” wife, Trinidadian Jonelle Ollivierra, it was interspersed by some gesticulating suggesting “not true, not true!” from Jonelle. At that point “Ed,” as she fondly calls him, winked and Jonelle knew where he was going next. One fact stands — that the two met at bp plc in Aberdeen, Scotland while on a safety walkabout tour of the company. Jonelle, 29, and originally from San Fernando is an Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) at Galeota. She is the first female OIM, specially trained in that field at bpTT. Edward, 31, from Little Hampton, London, England is an Environmental Engineer. The two now work for bpTT after applying for posting in Trinidad.

Thereon, Edward tells the story. “Jonelle was on the same tour and I said ‘this is an attractive woman,’ or words to that effect,” Edward said. “I remember later on going for lunch with two of my colleagues, and I did mention Jonelle to them. Then Carolyn was told, and Carolyn told Monica…” Edward spared a smile. He continued: “…and plans were being hatched and developed. Then ever so often, as the days went by, Jonelle would pop in the office and say hello, at least to everyone but me, which was a direct indication that something was afoot. “I distinctly remember when the office was being redesigned and I was walking past one day, I’m not lying, I can see it! And Jonelle looks over from the meeting room and gives me a kind of look, like a wink almost, and I’m like thinking ‘Great! Something’s about to go on here,’ but I didn’t think anything more than that.” Jonelle had to interject. Here’s her side of the story: “The truth: I came into the office on Monday, October 23, 2000. When I saw him on the tour I said those were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen in my entire life and he kept staring at me. I didn’t think much of it, I just thought oh! that’s a nice guy.” The name Monica arose again. Monica was the Health Safety and Environment technican at the company, as well as their tour guide. “She told me, ‘Jonelle, you know that new engineer has the hots for you and he’s single. C’mon Jonelle you have to go out with him.’ And I told her I was not going to ask him out, if he’s interested let him approach me.”

Well, the opportune time for making acquaintances and maybe a lot more did arrive at a “Challenge” function organised for members of “The Challenge Programme” arranged by the company. The group of 20, including Jonelle and Edward, dined at The Jewel in the Crown, Crown Street, Aberdeen. However, prior to that evening, Jonelle, “lo and behold!” came asking him for directions to the restaurant known for its curried dishes. It’s a restaurant and a meal they will never forget. Jonelle continued: “I heard about the Challenge dinner and I pretended I didn’t know how to get there. So, hoping he would get the hint and offer to take me, Edward went on the internet and printed me a map of the area, and highlighted in yellow the way from my house to the restaurant and says ‘here you go’ and I said ‘thanks, great.’ So I thought clearly he needs a little more help. “So, Monica, who was supposed to be helping put in a little word for me was going on vacation and Ed was leaving in a matter of days on a two-week trip to Houston, as part of the Challenge programme. I thought if he didn’t get hit with that little pebble that I threw, let me get a brick.” Jonelle had to change plans.

“At the dinner I strategically positioned myself across from him so that we could chat,” she said. However, throughout the evening she noticed that Edward was “quite quiet, shy and reserved. I didn’t know if to interpret his shyness for ‘I don’t like you’ or ‘just shy’.” Whenever would he ask her out? That was foremost among the thoughts going through her head. Jonelle turned to plan C. “I decided to ask one of the guys, Matt, sitting next to him, what he was doing the following night and he said ‘oh no Jonelle, I’m going snowboarding tomorrow and I’m gonna be really tired I’m not going anywhere.’ So I made a concerted effort to look very disappointed that Matt wasn’t going anywhere, showing that I wanted to go out.” Seconds later, Edward trumped up the words: “Jonelle, um we’re going out tomorrow night would you like to come along with us? And I said, ‘As a matter of fact I would.’ I said: ‘Great where are you going?’ He says, ‘um, I don’t know we haven’t decided as yet.’ I said, ‘um, what time?’ He said ‘I don’t know we haven’t decided yet.’ I said ‘you wanna give me a call?’ He said ‘okay I will.’ I said: ‘Do you want to take it down, do you have a pen and a piece of paper?’ He said, ‘ah, I don’t’.”

In the end, Jonelle punched in the digits of his number on her cellphone. She called. He invited her for an evening out. They had drinks at a bar and according to Edward, “it was all very ad hoc, we men are very opportunistic, we don’t plan our evenings carefully, all British men at least.” Then they went salsa dancing at Hoagies. Edward complimented her on “having natural rhythm.” She said that’s a “Trini thing.” Days later Edward left for Houston. They emailed each other. When he returned to Aberdeen, the two began courting. Edward said that the evening out dancing was “the key” to the relationship they would then develop. “I thought she was very attractive, very clever in the sense of bright and being able to participate in a conversation.” Up ’til now, nothing has changed. He added: “She’s a good person to talk to as a friend and lover. She’s cleverer than I am, we never get bored with each other, and that’s very important.” Both had met each other’s parents. Edward’s parents (Robert Salter and Barbara Reid) were impressed by Jonelle and Jonelle’s parents (Alfred and Joan Ollivierra) were fond of Edward. Not once did the issue of race come up since, “Britian is highly cosmopolitan,” Edward said. Add to that, Edward once dated a black Jamaican girl, and one of Jonelle’s earlier boyfriends was white. On the second anniversary of their courtship, Edward planned to propose marriage. It was Monday, January 13, 2003.The setting was Tiki Village Restaurant, Kapok Hotel, Trinidad. After the main course Edward presented her with what she thought was a gift. It was a gift bag, tapered all around with Scotch tape. In it was a ring box wrapped in a pair of swimming trunks. “I was thinking what the hell does he have inside here…but then he went down on one knee. So I started to put together the box and him on one knee and I just started to cry.”


Said Edward: “‘I said will you marry me,’ I didn’t dilute it and it seemed as if she was gasping and crying.” The three-letter word seemed to linger from Jonelle’s lips a bit and “I felt like it was five minutes that I was on my knee.” When Jonelle mustered up a ‘yes!,’ almost immediately she began dialling her friends and parents to deliver the good news. In a true Caribbean setting, the wedding, arranged by Jonelle’s mother, took place at the Coco Reef Resort and Spa in Tobago on September 6. The groom and his groomsmen were donned in white and kakhi courtesy fashion designer Meiling. The bride’s gown and her mother-in-law’s dress were also done by Meiling. There were tassa drummers and dancers in costume who did the jig. Pan virtuoso Len “Boogsie” Sharpe played on pan “Here Comes the Bride” and Jonelle just had to do her dance as they walked over to the reception hall, arm in arm with her husband. Guests flew in from all over the world including England, USA, France, Scotland, Norway, Germany and Barbados.

Jets, Olympians, Sonics share Squadron honours

MORVANT Jets, Health Olympians and Airbon Sonics shared the honours at this year’s Squadron Sports Club Republic Day Sports Meeting. While the Jets flew away with three victories in the higher age-bracket, Sonics also took the top prize in three races. Carifta 1500 metres gold medallist Carlan Arthur, wearing Morvant Jets colours, turned sprinter to romp away with the 100 yards Men Open, but unattached runner J Arthur deprived his teammate Onika George in the women’s equivalent. Arthur won from Shawn Alexander of Health Olympians, while Mark Preston of Phoenix was third.

And Archer had George trailing in her wake with Shemilia Simon (Health Olympians) getting the bronze. George sprinted to gold ahead of Archer in the 100 yards for Girls Under-17 however, with Simon again getting the bronze. But Simon was not to be denied gold, as she got to the finish line ahead of Health Olympians teammates Cherissa Leacock and Merrisa Gail in the Girls Under-15 100 yards event.
Leacock turned the tables on Simon in the 75 yards sprint for Girls Under-13, with Gail again getting bronze for a Health Olympians sweep.
But alas, Gail struck gold in the 50 yards for Girls Under-11 ahead of Ria Ranger and Cherris Joseph for another Health Olympians 1-2-3.
Kevon Solomon won the boys 50 yards for Under-11 and brother Keron Solomon took the honours in the Boys Under-13 75 yards event.

Squadron Results:
Under-11 Boys 50 yards — 1. Kevon Solomon (Airbon Sonics); 2. Daniel Gumbs (unattached); 3. Ryan Smith (unattached).
Girls Under-13 50 yards — 1. Merrisa Gail (Health Olympians); 2. Ria Ranger (Health Olympians); 3. Cherris Joseph (Health Olympians).
Boys Under-13 75 yards — 1. Keron Solomon (Airbon Sonics); 2. Stefon Jack (unattached); 3. Emmanuel Thomas (Airbon Sonics).
Girls Under-13 75 yards — 1. Carrisa Leacock (Health Olympians); 2. Shemilia Simon (Health Olympians); 3. Merrisa Gail (Health Olympians).
Boys Under-15 100 yards — 1. Cris Henruy (Airbon Sonics); 2. Justin Julien (Aribon Sonics); 3. Jose Clark (unattached).
Girls Under-15 100 years — 1. Shemilia Simon (Health Olympians); 2. Cherrisa Leacock (Health Olympians); 3. Merrisa Gail (Health Olympians).
Boys Under-17 100 yards — 1. Junior John (Morvant Jets); 2. Neil Fortune (Morvant Jets); 3. Keros Martian (Health Olympians).
Girls Under-17 100 yards — 1. Onika George (Morvant Jets); 2. J Archer (unattached); 3. Shemilia Simon (Health Olympians).
Men Open 100 yards — 1. Carlan Arthur (Morvant Jets); 2. Shawn Alexander (Health Olympians); 3. Mark Preston (Phoenix).
Women Open 100 yards — 1. J Archer (unattached); 2. Onika George (Morvant Jets); Shemilia Simon (Health Olympians).

Jabloteh duo expelled from US

A FULL-strengthed CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh football team will be looking to continue their magnificent form when they oppose North East Stars at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground in the 20th round of the T&T Pro League. All senior division matches kick off at 4 pm with the Under-20 clashes beginning two hours earlier. Jabloteh, minus key defenders Ronald Primus and Cyd Gray as well as playmaker Otis Seaton (Aurtis Whitley), all out with suspensions, cruised past “the Stallions” Caledonia AIA last  Wednesday while North East Stars were held to a goalless draw by Joe Public in their last encounter. Closest challengers to Jabloteh, W Connection, will face a tough matchup against South Starworld Strikers at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella while Defence Force are almost guaranteed full points against the weak “Stallions” outfit at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. And lower-placed teams Joe Public and Arima Fire will square off at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

In related news, the Jabloteh pair of Kerry Baptiste (midfielder) and Kerry Noray (striker) are back with the national champs after their scholarships at the Lindsey Wilson College, United States were terminated. According to Jabloteh’s coach Ricky Hill, the duo returned home two weeks ago after the college officials found out that both Baptiste and Noray were professional players, which is contrary to their rule that only amateurs are allowed into the institution on a scholarship. The pair, as well as injured veteran midfielder Angus Eve, will resume full training this week to regain their spots in the starting lineup.

Kiwis hit by rain again

VISAKHAPATNAM: Rain forced play to be abandoned without a ball being bowled on the second day of New Zealand’s three-day match against an Indian Board President’s XI yesterday. Poor weather in the eastern coastal city had restricted the first day’s play to 10.1 overs, the home side making 23 for no loss. New Zealand play another three-day match against an India “A” side before the two Tests in Ahmedabad (October 8-12) and Mohali (October 16-20) and a one-day tri-series also featuring Australia.

Chief Of Staff shows some sparkle

TRAINERS were just about getting  the Royal Oak Derby and Triple Crown buzz behind them and are slowly preparing their horses for Saturday’s nine-race programme. Now that the dust has cleared and all speculations on whether Top Of The Class would win the Derby and achieve the prestigious Triple Crown is over, the focus is now on Day 30 of the Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. It is now history that the Son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo not only achieved the feat but did so with ridiculous ease, and has left the Barbados invaders Ginger Bay, Royal Red and Sweet Dreams to return home today all empty handed. But as the saying goes, the show must go on, and although many horses were kept in their stables yesterday, a handful was seen doing some handy spins.

Taking the spotlight was Chief Of Staff who stepped 400 metres in 25.1 seconds.     
Apart from this, the only worthwile run was recorded by newcomer Privilege who went over 600 metres in 43.1 seconds.
Riung Dang Do and Alamanamou got back a shade slower over the same trip, clocking 43.2 seconds.
Here are gallops recorded on Friday:
400 METRES: BONUS POINT – 29.9; BOUND TO DOT COM – 29.9.  CHIEF OF STAFF –  25.1; GETTESBURG – 29.9; MASSOUD – 29.9; ULA – 28.3;  ZALYAN – 29.9.
600 METRES: ALAMANAMOU – 43.2; ANGELENO – 44.9; DESERT ROSE – 44.0; PRIVILEGE – 43.1; RING DANG DO – 43.2; RUNAWAY ROCKET – 44.9.
1000 METRES: MAGEN – 1:11.5;