Ministers bombarded the media and the public with tales of woe at Clico.

Ponzi scheme said one.

Another said the assets if sold would barely return 10 cents on the dollar to policyholders and other creditors. A picture was painted of a company in dire straits with no prospects of recovery.

The only hope for suffering policyholders was to accept the Government’s “haircut” which the ministers claimed to be infinitely better than holding on to your policy.

In fact, if you did not accept their offer you had to find the money to take the government to court to have any hope of getting what was contractually yours.

All of this was done while the government steadfastly refused to release any financial information about the state of the company, even going to court to deny it to policyholders and others.

Within a few years, however, it became clear the picture painted by the ministers was not just false but the diametric opposite of the truth.

There was more than enough money to fully pay policyholders’ contracts but the government chose to spend over $2 billion on consultants and finance charges instead.

Even the Governor of the Central Bank eventually conceded that Clico’s Statutory Fund was in surplus and that policyholders should be paid in full.

The Minister of Finance at the time also promised on record that all policyholders would be fully recompensed. It has not happened.

It is now abundantly clear that taxpayers, policyholders and creditors were all duped by the government of the day.

Policyholders should have been paid in full and the taxpayer should have been repaid a long time ago. But then the consultants and financial institutions would not have been able to share the more than $2 billion that came their way. And government appointees would no longer have access to Clico’s valuable assets that they so derided in the past. If the courts had forced the disclosure of financial data, the story would have had a happy ending a long time ago. Did we learn anything? The Government now cries that CL Financial is insolvent and cannot pay its debts.

No audited accounts are offered. The sky will fall in if we don’t allow it to shut down the company and sell off what it likes to whom it likes at whatever price it likes.

Its record of asset sales without publication of independent valuations does not inspire confidence.

Sounds familiar? In the first round it was the consultants and financial institutions than benefited. Whose bread is about to be lavishly buttered this time around? I am staggered that the courts should allow such drastic action based on nothing more than a claim of insolvency without a demand for audited statements.

We have a government that was openly saying a few months ago that it did not know what the correct figures were.

How could such a drastic action be allowed on an unproven statement of insolvency? Here we go again destroying both private and public value on the basis of scaremongering unsupported by audited statements without demand for financial data from the courts.

We still do not even have audited statements as at 2009, the commencement of the rescue.

I have a series of questions and observations on that and the growth of the insolvency under government stewardship that I will address subsequently.

Is the Government really saying to the court and the public that it has been running an insolvent company for eight years? And when did Parliament approve expenditure of public money on CL Financial?

DAVID WALKER via email

There is therefore no way of verifying the results.

In fact, if the usual protocols are applied, there would be little support for the opposition. In a population of more than 30 million, less than eight million considered it important enough to make the effort to vote against the government’s proposal.

What is happening in Venezuela is a continuation of the democratic process so highly touted by capitalist societies, but which is so readily repudiated when convenient.

Venezuelans have to decide what kind of society they want and what works best for them, not to have a formulation imposed on them by any external force, even if that is being channelled through compliant locals.

The chief state prosecutor has parted ways with her erstwhile colleagues and that is her right, even to the extent of rebelling against them.

Democracy protects her right to do so as robustly as she sees fit, but it is not for anyone to decide that for her or how far she wishes to pursue it.

The real danger to democracy in the world today is the propensity for capitalist societies to want to make those decisions for other countries and to create discord in those countries in order to achieve their objectives.

The rest of the world must reject such interventions and resist with all their might in order to protect their sovereignty.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH Carapichaima

Just last year, Bermuda soccer coach Andrew Bascome and his brother claimed they were victims of sexual abuse in the 1980s.

Bascome called for tougher security and vetting for those linked to youth sports to help to minimise the risk of sexual abuse. And in a case closer to home, former national runner Ato Stephens (also known as Ato Modibo), has been arrested and charged for sex offences against a female teen whom he was coaching in the Cayman Islands. Stephens has admitted to sending inappropriate messages to the teen but denies touching her or threatening to expel her from the track team.

At last week’s Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Brian Lewis, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTO C), along with other sporting officials raised the topic of eradicating abuse in sport.

Lewis, chairman of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), acknowledged that sex sells but warned that the sexualisation of sport for commercial purposes is empowering and enabling pedophiles.

He said sporting bodies need to stop denying the gravity of the issue.

Speaking to Newsday on his return to Trinidad on Sunday, Lewis said he was approached after the Lisbon forum by Alexander Schischlik, Chief, Youth and Sport Section, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) who expressed surprise that Lewis would be brave enough to discuss the issue in such a frank manner.

Lewis said youths need to be protected especially footballers from Latin America and Africa who are keen to migrate abroad in search of professional contracts to better themselves and their families.

“The issue is one which has different elements. My focus has to do not only with overall child welfare and youth protection but the focus on the need to specifically protects youths and minors from abuse – sexual , mental, emotional and physical bullying. The institutions that have the weight – International Olympic Committee, FIFA, the IAAF – where they provide funding, it should be tied into that.

There should be a requirement to tie funding into meeting universal good guidelines of good governance, financial integrity and gender diversity. I feel there should be a requirement of all sporting bodies to have policies to address child welfare and abuse. It must be important to report issues of sexual abuse and whistle-blowers,” he said.

Lewis said many times in instances of sexual abuse in particular, the alleged victim is treated worse than the accused. He believes sporting associations and institutions must be proactive in making it easier for victims to come forward and report issues of abuse.

“There needs to be checks and balances, look at what happened in England, look at what happened in the US. It would be naive to think there are issues that are not swept under the carpet.

There is always the potential where the welfare of the child or the youth is not as important as the reputation or image of he institution.

In such a situation, the environment does not empower people to come forward and make the necessary reports because the entire system does not lend itself (to that). It requires an enormous reservoir of courage and character to press forward with cases.” Lewis said one big step in the drive towards eliminating abuse is promoting gender diversity at all levels of sporting bodies.

“I also believe it’s tied to the absence of gender diversity and gender equity. When i talk about gender diversity and future is female internationally, regionally and locally, the dots connect.

It is something that I believe in.

Whether people focus on steroids and drugs and corruption in sport, the issue of abuse is also something that could significantly compromise and tarnish the image of sport,” he said.

Lewis said the trivialisation of the issue needs to stop as it indicates that there isn’t a main problem that needs to be addressed.

He believes a universal thrust by major sporting bodies in collaboration with those under its umbrella will be effective in stamping out abuse and creating an environment where abusers do not feel comfortable in taking advantage of youths they are in charge of

The large Emancipation Day holiday crowd watched in awe as, with Valorous seemingly going on to victory in he 2000 metres race, suddenly realising the only filly in the race thyundered down the stretch run on the way to a comprehensive 6 1/4 length victory. Leading Lady’s triumph denies Valorous and young trainer Jake O’Brioen the chance for the triple crown, the winner saddled by his father and ace trainer John.

Earlier, Whisper Light made all the running to win the 1900 metres President’s Cup thanks to a masterful ride by veteran jockey Ricardo Jadoo.

And Peace N Glory was a surprise winner fo the weighth at odds of 6/1.

The day was a good one for trainer John O’Brien who saddled three winners – Blind Date, Leading Lady and Lord Silver.

Ptrrick Husbands who flew in from Canada to ride Valorous, did nmanage to land a winner in the final event astride Lord Silver.

Apprentice Romario Hernandez upstaged his senior rivls landing two winmners.

In an Emancipation Day message on Monday, Muhammed said, “At this stage of our current social condition in 2017, the celebration of Emancipation must be centred on the condemnation of gang violence and establishment of peace in our communities through the eradication of guns and illegal drugs and the promotion of a consciousness emphasising the value and worth of young black lives.” “The uncontrollable bloodshed in our country is becoming so common that a desensitisation process is taking place while we celebrate our African history, but ignore our contemporary reality.” Muhammed alleged that politicians of African descent neglect their communities, while supporting non-African ethnic groups.

“Over the last half century Afro-based political parties have facilitated a pathway for non-African communities to graduate from the lower social classes to a new middle class. We are not requesting any special treatment or privileges for African people, but simply equal treatment as other races in our society receive.” He urged that in this United Nations decade for people of African Decent and along with the call for reparation for slavery, elected officials must be more mindful of the chronic neglect that poor black communities suffer.

“Our organisation, the Black Agenda Project continues to build our education centre in Success Laventille to help teach, inspire, motivate and improve our collective condition, but Government must be more sensitive to their responsibility as it pertains to the exclusive plight of the Black community in Trinidad and Tobago,” Muhammed said.

In the other match at 9.30 am today, Windward Islands will play Barbados at Gilbert Park in Couva.

At 2.30 pm today, TT will face Barbados at NCC and Guyana will tackle Windward Islands at Gilbert Park.

Each team will play six matches in the preliminary stage of the tournament, before the top two teams advance to the finals on Sunday.

The teams finishing third and fourth will play in the third place playoff, which will also be contested on Sunday.

TT SQUAD: Reniece Boyce (captain), Leandra Ramdeen (vice-captain), Samantha Ramgoolam, Lachelle Hamilton, Alysha Gomez, Reanna Farrow, Anna Marie Pereira, April Ramoutar, Steffie Soogrim, Anjali Goordeen, Shania Abdool, Alia Joseph, Djenaba Joseph, Renelle Dookie; John Trumpet (coach), Stacy Ann King (manager), Shenelle Lord (trainer).

FIXTURES – TODAY: TT vs Guyana, National Cricket Centre (NCC); Windward Islands vs Barbados, Gilbert Park, 9.30 am; Guyana vs Windward Islands, Gilbert Park; TT vs Barbados, NCC, 2.30 pm.

TOMORROW: Barbados vs Guyana, NCC; Windward Islands vs TT, Gilbert Park, 9.30 am; Guyana vs TT, Gilbert Park; Barbados vs Windward Islands, NCC, 2.30 pm.

SATURDAY: Windward Islands vs Guyana, Gilbert Park; Barbados vs TT, Preysal, 9.30 am; Guyana vs Barbados, Gilbert Park; TT vs Windward Islands, Preysal, 2.30 pm.

SUNDAY: Third place play off – Gilbert Park; Final – NCC, 9.30 am; Presentation of Awards, 2 pm.

“The advent of this mobile app is something exciting for students teachers and stakeholders,” CXC Director of Operations Stephen Savoury said.

Savoury and CXC Assistant Registrar (Public Information and Customer Service) Cleveland Sam were in Trinidad last weekend to promote CXC first app which was launched in Barbados last week and which is due to be launched in Guyana this week.

The app has several features including voice messaging, texting, and a newsfeed that will enable posting to social media.

The app, Savoury said, does not only relate to people in the region but to anyone anywhere in the world and who will be able to connect with and access CXC services and products on their terms.

CXC has 19 territories to deal with, he said, and hundreds of thousands of students who write examinations regularly.

This is in addition to 10,000 stakeholders across the region, he said. He said that CXC had been working over the last six months to develop the app and to make it user friendly.

CXC webmaster Ayodele Pompey said, “One of the exciting features is that a lot of candidates who would have written exams can check their results on their mobile phone, anytime and anywhere.”

The “Calypso Spikers” saved their best game for last as they started with high intensity and maintained that level from the start to finish.

The hour-long final saw TT overpowering the host team 25-12, 25-16, 25-10. TT ’s most experienced player Krystle Esdelle led the way with 14 points including 10 spikes and three aces.

Also contributing was Channon Thompson who retained her Most Valuable Player award this tournament with 11 points. Darlene Ramdin and Sinead Jack chipped in with 10 and nine points respectively.

Suriname defeated Guadeloupe for the bronze medal 3-1 (25- 15, 24-26, 25-17, 25- 22). The tournament`s top scorer Surinamese Sandrina Hunsel led her team with 31 points while Leslie Figere-Turiaf top scored for Guadeloupe with 19 points.

An elated TT captain Renele Forde said, “It feels great to be champions once again, it was a smooth final. I`m really proud of the team and their efforts because we played like the best in the Caribbean.” After collecting her MVP award for a second consecutive time Channon Thompson said, “It feels great but a pleasant surprise, I anticipated winning the best server award gaging from my performance throughout the tournament. I am happy, thank God of course, and my team for supporting me and I’m really happy to have contributed towards the ultimate goal of winning. None of the individual awards would have been possible without each other.” The 23-year-old Francebased player continued, “Special mention to the coach and technical staff for their guidance also to the Minister of Sports Darryl Smith for his words of motivation before the final match as well as the public Trinidad and Tobago for their fire, enthusiasm and support from Grand Prix straight to CAZOVA.”

TT will host one of the three groups of the FIVB Round Three elimination later this year. The first group will be staged in Canada from September 26-30; Trinidad and Tobago will host the second from October 4-9; while the third will be held in the Dominican Republic from October 11-16. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the 2018 World Championship that will run from September 29 to October 20.

Special Awards for TT players: Most Valuable Player/ Best Server/ Best Outside: Channon Thompson Best Blocker: Sinead Jack Best Opposite: Krystle Esdelle.

Maybe the mayor is not paying attention to the condition of Port of Spain. Maybe he is too busy playing the piano.

There are vagrants everywhere walking among people like nobody’s business, some of them half naked with their private parts exposed, others with raw sores eating away their flesh.

And it seems like no one is concerned about the vagrancy problem.

Some streets are full of human faeces — between Duncan Street and Independence Square, on Henry Street, the bottom of Charlotte Street, Nelson Street. This is outrageous and unpleasant.

This is the capital. We have foreigners coming to our country and it is a shame to see the condition of the city. Mayors come and go and it seems not one of them knows how to handle the vagrancy problem.

Sweden has no vagrancy problem.

The mayor should do some research and see what the government there does and get some ideas. Because the vagrancy problem is getting worse. The problem can be solved. This would be good not just for Port of Spain but for the country. And we can honour Penny in some other way.

MODICIA MARTIN via email

But this time, it was not that one special drink that makes it all okay, but rather the sushi. And not just any sushi, but the newly revamped Hyatt Regency Trinidad sushi experience. The hotel’s newly constructed sushi bar gives its customers the chance to enjoy custom sushi while overlooking the waterfront.

The bar was opened earlier this year in February but all of the elements were not fully in place.

According to Hyatt Regency’s Marketing Communications manager, Neemah Persad-Celestine, “This was not the sushi bar.

The sushi bar was on the other side,” she explained the bar’s new configuration to members of the media who were treated to the Hyatt’s new sushi experience on July 28, at Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. She said it was not really a sushi bar but a place where the hotel “made it happen.” “But sushi became so popular, that it continued and we never moved it from anywhere else. So recently, we finished our renovation and upgrade (of the hotel) …but this is the brand new sushi bar dedicated to sushi.” Persad-Celestine said one of the new features of the revamped sushi bar is its opening hours.

The bar would usually open Monday to Saturday, from 5 pm to 10 pm. Now, the bar will open from 1 pm on Fridays, with an aim at making the 1 pm opening an everyday thing.

Persad-Celestine explained that the new construction gives patrons the chance to sit, be more comfortable and see things properly. “Before we did not have all of that.” The hotel’s recently appointed executive sous chef, Anthony Rattigan, who has 20 years working with the Hyatt chain and four months in TT , said the team tries to craft rolls unique to the Trinidadian palate. Over the world, he said, one would not find a lot of spicy rolls but that was something found in TT .

Rolls such as the dynamite roll were to appease the Trinidadian/ Caribbean taste. But if spicy is not your thing, the Hyatt staff tones it down just for you, adding to that intimate, one-on-one experience. The ingredients used are indigenous to TT and if you are allergic to something or have a particular preference, just tell your chef and they would create something just for you. Rattigan said the adjusted time was done to accommodate the large volume of people in the hotel and from surrounding offices who requested sushi for lunch.

Eliseo Caliguia, sous chef, heads the six-member team.

And it is a team that is always seeking to offer something new to its customers, changing the menu to add new and exciting items such as the Andre Caribbean roll and the newly added spicy udon noodle soup.

Listed as one of the hotel’s favourites, the Andre Caribbean roll was named after employee Andre James, who was the hotel’s employee of the year four years ago, and in 2015 won the Caribbean employee of the year award from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. Not only was a roll named after him but the hotel will soon name a suite after him in honour of his achievement. The menu is revamped every three to six months to keep things new and exciting. And when you’re finished with the sushi roll just suited for your palate, wash it down with one of the hotel’s signature drinks for that one-on-one sushi experience.