N Touch

Central cops want public to stop ‘buying’ stolen items

Officers of the Chaguanas Police Station yesterday advised members of the public who may be in possession of stolen household items that they could face prosecution.

Officers told Newsday that persons could be charged with receiving stolen items. They advised the persons should desist from purchasing items from persons who sell or peddle stolen items. Last week, several homes in Warrenville, Cunupia, Curepe, Caroni, Macoya and Tunapuna were searched by police officers under Ag Sgt Ajith Persad, and more than $500,000 in stolen washing machines, fridges, stoves, microwaves and other items seized. Fifteen persons were arrested and handed over to officers of the Barataria Police Station. The stolen items were traced to  V&L Company, located at the Trade Zone, El Socorro. The owner of the company Vijay Maraj was not even aware that the items were stolen until he was contacted by the police and he identified the items recovered. He heaped praise on the police for their efforts in recovering the items.

Blood donors complain about treatment

Members of the public who went to the Blood Bank to donate blood on Monday complained bitterly yesterday that they were ill-treated by staff there.

One donor told Newsday that the staff on duty were rude to donors and at 11.45 am, the staff went on their lunch break leaving scores of persons waiting for service. When they returned from lunch around 1.30 pm, persons who had been waiting since 8 am to have their blood drawn were told to return the next day. Donors told Newsday that the staff at the Blood Bank seemed unconcerned that people had taken time off from their jobs to donate blood and they believed that they were treated inhumanely. They claimed that some donors who were in perfectly good health on their arrival at the facility became nervous and enraged because of the attitude of staff and their pressures went up. They were told to return in one week. The Blood Bank is under the supervision of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

Ramesh to return with new political party

RAMESH LAWRENCE MAHARAJ is not giving up hope of seeking high political office again and to this end the former Attorney General is working feverishly to form a new political party. Maharaj, who leaves for New York this morning where he will address Trinidadians living there, said yesterday that a new political vehicle is in the making in Trinidad and Tobago.

Maharaj is still leader of National Team Unity (NTU), a political group he created when he broke ranks in 2000 with the then ruling United National Congress government. NTU is now apparently defunct, but speaking to Newsday yesterday, Maharaj said that his new political vehicle will be a “shocker” to the political landscape in which there would be new personalities and a new vision. Maharaj promised that the country would indeed be surprised with the party and its policies. A draft constitution of the party has already been formulated and according to Maharaj, a technical team is currently reviewing it. The new party is expected to be launched next year in what Maharaj described as a massive exercise in changing the political culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

“I guarantee that it will be something that will capture the imagination, hearts and minds of the people,” Maharaj said. Expressing great optimism about his new political move, Maharaj said that he had no doubt that the new political vehicle would form the next Government in 2007. Maharaj said he is expected to address about 500 citizens in New York at Radio City. While there, he said he intends to hold talks with former United States Congressman Mervyn Dymally about current political events in this country.

Govt back W/Cup cricket effort

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago are in full support of the Local Organising Committee for the 2007 cricket World Cup.

In pursuance of this representatives from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs will be going to St Lucia to attend a Venue Summit seminar this weekend. President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Alloy Lequay said yesterday that his meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning last week was very fruitful. Lequay said the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is fully supporting the efforts of the local board to host matches. “The government has taken a keen interest in our efforts to host matches and will be sending a delegation together with members of the Local Organising Committee to St Lucia,” he said.

Lequay together with his deputy Ellis Lewis, Willie Rodriguez and Michelle Rahaman of TIDCO will also be making the trip to Castries. “While there they will gave us tips on how to go about bidding for events and will let us know what assurances are needed  from the government in order to get matches. We will need to have proper electricity supply, water supply, transportation as well as proper venues,” said Lequay. “After this weekend’s sessions we will know exactly what is required of the World Cup 2007  hosts and then we will be able to put things in place to host matches,” he said. A source close to the West Indies Board recently revealed to Newsday that the TTCB will be making a bid to host the opening ceremonies at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the semi-finals at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain and the first match of the series, a day after the opening ceremonies.

WI U-19s beat TT in one-day

TRINIDAD and Tobago cricketers confidence were dealt a serious blow ahead of the Red Stripe Bowl cricket tournament, when they were beaten by six wickets by the West Indies Under-19 team in their third and final one-day  match at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain Village, Couva, yesterday.

Scores: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 122 vs WI UNDER-19 123 for four wickets. Jonathan Augustus struck an aggressive 41 to carry the West Indies Under-19s past the Trinidad and Tobago total. He was well supported by Guyanese Asad Fudadin who scored an unbeaten 47. Dwayne Bravo was the best Trinidad and Tobago bowler taking two wickets for 25 runs. Earlier Trinidad and Tobago struggled on a lively pitch with Lionel Baker taking four for 25 and Mervyn Mathews four for 31. Despite yesterday’s defeat, Trinidad and Tobago won the series 2-1, after  dominating the first two games of the series. Manager Omar Khan said after the match, the defeat was  just a minor hiccup, but he hoped his players took note of it and not get complacent. Meanwhile the national team will continue their preparation on Tuesday at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Centre.

Summarised scores: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 122 – Andy Jackson 25, Dave Mohammed 20, Mervyn Matthews 4/31, Lionel Baker 4/25 vs WI Under-19s 123/4 – A Fudadin 47 not out, J Augustus 41, D Bravo 2/25.

Red Stripe Bowl semis, final live on TV

BRIDGETOWN: The Caribbean Media Corpora-tion (CMC) has confirmed live television coverage of next month’s Red Stripe Bowl semi-finals and finals in Jamaica.

Awarded the contract by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), CMC will produce and distribute the international feed of the Red Stripe Bowl semis on October 16 and 17, and the final on October 19. CMC and Television Jamaica (TVJ) will collaborate on the production — for the second year in a row — on the three games at the Kaiser Sports Club on Jamaica’s north coast. Michael Whyte, CMC’s Commercial Manager, says he is “pleased” that the WICB has again placed confidence in CMC to produce the broadcast. “It’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate that the skills of production and commentary are present in the Caribbean,” Whyte said. “These projects will help us to further develop our skills and resources to be able in the shortest possible time to do the production of international cricket in the Caribbean,” Whyte added.

For the Red Stripe Bowl’s “Final Four series”, CMC has assembled an experienced commentary panel, comprising top presenters Tony Cozier, Donna Symmonds, and Simon Crosskill, and ex-professional cricketers Ian Bishop, Cardigan Connor and Hendy Wallace for the television broadcast. Darren Millien, newly promoted Chief Marketing Executive of the WICB, is happy about the deal, which extends live cricket coverage beyond West Indies Tests, and one-day international (ODI) matches. “We are trying to increase the coverage, so that the wider Caribbean has an opportunity to see our premier one-day tournament,” Millien said. “It’s an ongoing effort to make sure every year that viewers get the opportunity to see our stars live,” he added.

CMC will also present live radio coverage of the two semi-finals and the final, with a commentary panel of five —Crosskill, Jack Matthew, Inderjeet Persaud, Maurice Foster, and Franklyn Stephenson. Territories booked for television coverage include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, St Kitts/Nevis, St Vincent, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, St Maarten, Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. For radio, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, and St Vincent have been confirmed to receive coverage. 

TT slide to 58th in football world

ZURICH: Cuba moved ahead of Trinidad and Tobago again on FIFA’s Coca Cola world rankings list to be number two to Jamaica in the region.

In the September ratings released yesterday, Cuba climbed one place to 57th in the world, while Trinidad and Tobago slipped four places from their August position to 58th after a 2-0 loss to Morocco earlier this month. Jamaica, rated 46th in the world and fifth in CONCACAF, remain No 1 in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). Trinidad and Tobago, the eight-time Caribbean Cup champions, had led the CFU rankings for over three years from February 2000, but were overtaken by Jamaica in the April rankings. They remained the CFU’s second  team until July when Cuba surpassed them, but recovered the spot last month. There is no other positional change in the CFU’s top-10 with Haiti, 82nd in the world, remaining fourth, ahead of Barbados (95th).

The St Lucians stay sixth at 122nd in the world, followed by St Kitts/Nevis (125th), Grenada (145th) and Suriname (153rd), with St Vincent 10th in CFU and 155th in the world. CONCACAF giants Mexico dropped one place from fourth to fifth in the world, and the other top teams in the confederation — comprising North, Central America and the Caribbean — are the United States at 11th, Costa Rica (19th) and Honduras (41st), followed by Jamaica. Current world champions Brazil remain a clear number one ahead of France and Spain, with Argentina moving up to fourth, followed by Mexico, England, the Netherlands, and Turkey, with the Czech Republic and Germany tied at ninth.

Rangers chase St Francois in north

DEFENDING champions Superstar Rangers are continuing their chase of Northern Football Association Premier Division leaders St Francois Nationals.

Rangers whipped Maraval Youth Academy 4-2 at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Monday, with Jason Charles stroking a double and Kwasi Peterson and Anthony Peters getting the other goals. Randell Meads and Joel Felicien scored for the Academy. But The Nationals shut out Defence Force 3-0 to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the standings, although Rangers hold a match in hand. Nkosi James, Kevon Solomon and Don Morris scored a goal apiece for the league leaders. Lowly Malvern scored a stunner when they held on to Warren Phillip’s goal for a 1-0 victory over Harvard on Sunday.

But despite scoring four goals, SKHY still lost their tenth match in as many matches, when they were beaten 6-4 by La Famille. Mark Cupidore and Sheldon Baird scored two goals each and Victor Arias and Sean Richards got the other goals for the winners.  Joel Fraser scored twice and Johannn Andrews and Wayne Baptiste also contributed for the beaten team. Queen’s Park scored only their second victory of the season when they stopped Maple 3-1, with Akiel Alcindor, Brian Cumberbatch and Jason Lindsay scoring one each. Shayne Chang scored for the Mapleites.

Other results: RIVERPOOL (5) Barry Carasquero 3, Daryl Matthews, Marvin McEachnie vs PARAGON (1) Jason Peters; XCEL ORIENTAL (3) Shurland Awai, Kevin Lynch, Dexter Salandy vs FIRE SERVICE (1) Hayden Brathwaite.

Crabs inch closer to $25,000 cheque

CRAB CONNECTION moved closer to claiming the $25,000 jackpot in the inaugural All Sport National Super League when they shut out Defence Force 4-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Sheldon Thomas netted a pair for The Crabs, while Warren Butler and captain Joseph Peters scored a goal each in Tuesday night’s triumph. The Crabs need only one point from their final match against Club Sando at the same venue in the feature on tomorrow night’s “Friday Night Lime”,  to clinch the title and $25,000 prize money. Crab Connection lead the 11-team standings with 22 points from nine games, one ahead of WASA Clean & White who completed their alloted 10 matches on 21 points. Only Police who have 19 points and can reach a maximum 22 with victory over Defence Force at Chaguaramas on Saturday can deny The Crabs. At the other end of the standings, TCL Samba Boys got their first win of the series, beating Mayaro Spurs 3-0 at Brechin Castle, Caroni.

Greatest weapon is prayer

THE EDITOR: I am unable to come to terms with the scourge of kidnappings that is plaguing the country.

I sit and wonder at our helplessness in the face of these kidnappings. Why are we helpless when we have the greatest weapon, prayer, but it must be united prayer. All Christian and other religious groups must get together in earnest prayer for our country, for after all the life of this nation is at stake. There are countless religions and religious groups in this country, one only has to listen to the radio or view television to know this. From morning till night, there is endless preaching with many preachers using their programmes to slander or pull down other religions or groups. Instead, let us all unite together in prayer each day at different hours for as long as it takes for the release of our nation and its people from the hands of the evil one working through these kidnappers and murderers.

Pray for the victims’ safe release but pray also for the souls of the perpetrators, their leader and his minions. Pray that if it be God’s will they will be unmasked. We have to pray that what is in darkness must be brought to light. United we stand in prayer, divided we fall and fail.
The police, too, must pray. Before going on their raids, those in the stations all over the country should be praying for God’s guidance in our country’s present situation. Their families should join in praying for them, also, night and day.


PEARL ROBERTS
Laventille