UNITED National Congress (UNC) chairman Wade Mark on Thursday agreed with CL Financial chairman Lawrence Duprey that the former Government missed out on a golden opportunity to sell Caroni (1975) Limited’s rum distillery to CL World Brands. According to Mark, the blame rested squarely on the shoulders of former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who stopped the sale of the distillery by alleging it was part of “a sell-out” by the UNC to certain individuals. The UNC chairman declared that it was Maharaj’s opposition to that transaction which eventually led to Caroni’s closure and “put 10,000 people on the road”. He said if the sale of the rum distillery had gone through, there would have been no need “to close down and destroy the sugar industry”, the UNC would have still been in Government and Maharaj would have still been AG. The UNC chairman reiterated the Opposition’s allegations that Maharaj and the People’s National Movement (PNM) had embarked on a programme to create ghost towns in Central and South Trinidad. Mark claimed that Maharaj has joined forces with a government which is hell bent on “racial and political discrimination”.
OPPOSITION MPs Gillian Lucky and Dr Fuad Khan on Thursday called upon Government to ensure that knowledge about the assets of public officials and their immediate families does not fall into the hands of criminals or persons with a political agenda. Lucky told Newsday that she has no problem about public officials having to declare, in addition to their assets, those of their spouses and children. However she expressed concern about the level of confidentiality with which that information would be given by the Integrity Commission. Stressing that confidentiality regarding such information is critical, Lucky warned that criminals are becoming increasingly hi-tech in their operations and referred to some recent kidnapping cases where persons were reported to be “on a list” due to the alleged leak of confidential information. She also warned that such information must “not be used by any Government which has a political agenda”.
The Pointe-a-Pierre MP said integrity legislation should be approached with in a holistic manner and include strict guidelines for persons (including the media) who disseminate information regarding the financial assets of public officials and their immediate families. Khan shared Lucky’s views, pointing out that information on Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s financial assets were “in the hands of other people” although that was supposed to be confidential. “Confidentiality is not practised,” he stated. According to Khan, legislation should be brought to Parliament that would “give more teeth” to the Commission, allowing it to order lower-level public officials such as Chief Executive Officers of State companies and police officers to declare their financial assets. He added there must be accountability across the board for politicians and non-politicians alike.
THE National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) on Thursday questioned why a research library was this week named after St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves. NAR Political Leader Lennox Sankersingh said while he was not disputing that Gonsalves has made a contribution to the region’s development, he wondered whether that warranted such an honour to be conferred on him. Sankersingh said an objective, non-partisan committee should be created to name public buildings.
TRINIDAD and Tobago’s leading female sprinter Fana Ashby has been forced to pull out of the team for the World Champion-ships in Paris, France. This was revealed yesterday by Ken Doldron, president of the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA). Ashby returned home recently after competing at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She finished eighth in the 100 metres final and also ran in the 4×100 metres relay team where they established a new national record. Ashby, the Central American and Caribbean Senior champion was forced to withdraw from the TT team because of illness after contracting food poisoning in Santo Domingo. Doldron said yesterday that Ashby, who competed in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia did not recover as quickly as she would have liked from the food poisoning. Also her situation has been complicated by her seeking transfer from Kansas City University to Auburn University, the school of Pan Am gold medal swimmer George Bovell, world junior sprint champion Darryl Browne and Marc Burns. “She has to attend to this important matter and the timing would not allow her to get to Paris on time for the sprint races,” said Doldron yesterday.
Trinidad and Tobago will be represented by an eight-member team led by former world 200 metres champion and quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon. He will be joined by Darryl Brown, Marc Burns, Niconnor Alexander, Jacey Harper, Julieon Raeburn, Candace Scott and Onika James. Scott is a bronze medallist in the Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo where she broke the Games record in the hammer throw while James is a long jumper who has attained the “A” qualifying standard for the World Championships. Two other athletes, quarter-milers Ato Modibo and Damoen Barry also reached the “B” qualifying standard but opted out of the Paris Champion-ships since they felt they were not quite ready to face the top guns. Doldron leaves tomorrow for the sun-baked French capital as leader of the three-man delegation for the International Asso-ciation of Athletics Federations (IAAAF) Congress starting on Monday.
He will be accompanied by team manager George Commis-siong and coach Dr Ian Hypolite. Heading the IAAF agenda is the election of officers. Current president Lamine Diack is assured of another four-year term as he has been nominated unopposed. Trinidad and Tobago is expected to be vaulted into the international spotlight at a Caribbean Night when Doldron and his fellowmen will take the opportunity to showcase their culture, hospitality, food and world acclaimed rum.
SWIMMING SENSATION George Bovell was due to challenge for his third medal last night in the 100-metre backstroke at the Juan Pablo Duarte Aquatic Centre in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 20-year-old is heavily favoured to claim his second gold medal tonight in his pet event — the 200m individual medley, as the 14th Pan American Games draws to a close. But the Auburn University student clocked 57.41 seconds to advance to last night’s final, the seventh fastest time in the heats. Younger brother Nicholas had to settle for the “B” finals in both the 100 m backstroke and 50m freestyle, after he was timed in 58.63 in the 100 m back and 24.05 in the 50m “free.” The national women’s 4×100 medley relay team also booked a spot in last night’s “A” final with the seventh fastest overall time. But Matthew Houllier, who dominated local swimming during the early 1990s, was unable to gain a spot in either the main or consolation final of the men’s 200 m butterfly.
Caribbean heavyweight king Kerston Manswell will also aim for the precious gold medal tonight in his final duel against Cuban Odlanier Solis at the Carlos Leo Cruz Coliseum. The Tobago-born pugilist will be looking to overturn his 2001 defeat to the Cuban at the World Boxing Championships and cop his first overall triumph at the world stage, following his second-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Man-chester, England exactly a year ago. Sharntelle McLean and Shannon Duval placed fourth in their respective “B” finals on Thursday night. McLean, competing out of lane three in the women’s 100 m butterfly, held the lead after 50m in 30.02 seconds, but faded away in the end, finishing fourth in 1:05.00, with Mexican Paola Espana winning in 1:03.97 and Marcella Amar of Brazil following in 1:04.65. Duval, who was third midway into the women’s 100m breaststroke consolation in 36.94 seconds, placed fourth in 1:17.96. Jamaican Alia Atkinson led from start to finish, touching the wall in 1:15.37. Chef-de-mission of the Trinidad and Tobago contingent Brian Lewis revealed that top taekwondo competitor Cheryl-Ann Sankar was expected to return home last night. Sankar will require surgery for a broken leg sustained during her second round fight against Elizabeth Franco of El Salvador on Thursday.
BIRMINGHAM: West Indies fast bowler Corey Collymore claimed one wicket on his debut for Warwickshire on Thursday in their English County Championship match against Leicestershire at Edgbaston. Collymore picked up one for 71 off 18 overs as Leicestershire scored 346 all out. Yesterday, Collymore’s West Indies and Barbados teammate Vasbert Drakes captured two wickets to help restrict Warwickshire to 277 all out and give Leicestershire a 69-run first innings advantage. Leicestershire closed the second day on 121 for six — for an overall lead of 190 runs — after they were rocked by Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis, with three wickets. Less than 24 hours after arriving in England as Warwickshire’s overseas-player replacement for Kenyan leg-spinner Collins Obuya, Collymore dislodged opener Darren Maddy (51) for his only wicket of the innings.
Brad Hodge led Leicestershire to their competitive first-innings total with a stylish 70, putting on 121 with Trevor Ward (42). John Sadler, with an unbeaten 59, held up Warwickshire, whose top bowlers were Alan Richardson (3-55) and Younis (3-52). Drakes bowled Nick Knight for a duck to give Leicestershire a boost with Warwickshire 15 for one at stumps. Drakes, who recently joined Leicestershire to replace injured Virender Sehwag, added another scalp yesterday to end with two for 42 off 15 overs to support other pacers David Masters (3-40) and Maddy (3-29). Leicestershire stumbled from 112 for two Friday afternoon and lost four wickets for nine runs, as Younis picked up three for 17. Collymore went wicket-less but was tight with none for 17 off seven overs with two maidens.
Incoma Alexander was the only police officer representing Trinidad and Tobago at the 2003 Police and Fire World Games in Barcelona, Spain recently. There he distinguished himself, emerging the most successful competitor of the 27-member local contingent. A sport enthusiast for 30 years, Alexander broke the games’ long jump to capture the record of 6.20 metres with a gold medal jump of 6.32 metres. He also won gold in the high jump, and was third in the 100 and 200-metre sprints. Those events were won by fellow-countryman fireman Brassie. A total of 80 countries were represented at the games which ran from July 27 to August 4. Alexander raised funds which enabled him to attend the games with the assistance of the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), National Petroleum (NP) and Maritime Life. On his performances, Alexander revealed that he was in better physical condition two years ago when his appearance at the games was canceled.
Despite this the dedicated sportsman went on to the Open Division 4×100 where he competed outside of the Masters Division relay, and helped the rest of the team, comprised of fire officers, to the silver medal. His haul of five medals out of the 14 gained by the team, distinguished Alexander among the rest and he says the support of the Fire Services contingent was instrumental in his good performance. Alexander thanked all his supporters and sponsors for their help in getting him to the games.
The Trinidad and Tobago arm of the American Youth Soccer Organisation (AYSO) is in Tobago this weekend. The aim of the weekend programme is to train interested persons as coaches and refreees. The TT-AYSO was launched last July 10 and have a mission to provide a safe environment through the sport of football. The training course today and tomorrow is free. However, for a year-long comprehensive course there is a fee of $300 which takes care of a uniform, ball and weekly training sessions. The course this weekend runs from 8.30 am to 4 pm on both days. Coach training will be held today, and referee training tomorrow at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet..
Prime Minister Patrick Manning is expected to attend the second annual National Hindu Youth Games at the Inshan Ali Park in Preysal, Couva tomorrow from 9am. The Games will be hosted by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, and is sponsored by the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) and Coosal’s Company Ltd. Also expected is Manning defending his wicket against the deadly bowling of Sat Maharaj, Secretary-General of SDMS. Over 35 Hindu youth groups from as far as Sangre Grande and Granville are expected to be in attendance. Pundit Lutchmidath Persad Maharaj, National Co-ordinator for the Games said that over 3,500 youths are expected to be participating this year. The Games will not only test sporting abilities, but there will also be theatrical and musical competitions as well, including drama, song composition and presentation; and dance. The youngsters will compete for prizes such as pool tables, gym equipment and cash prizes.
With an overall score of 81.1 points, Junior Joseph of Chaguanas raced off with the “Champion of Champions” trophy at the Scalextric Endurance National Championships last week at Long Circular Mall, St James. Joseph beat Peter de Montbrun into second with 76.8 points. Roger Hosein who represented Trinidad and Tobago and placed fourth in the World Championships was third with 75.8 points. The championships were sponsored by Joseph Charles Bottling Works and Tracmac’s Castrol GTX Motor Oil. The next step for Trinidad and Tobago’s Scalextric “Champion of Champions” is the International Championships in Grenada later this month. Joseph’s airfare has been provided by Chief Brand Products while his accomodation is taken care of by Sterling Services. The 12 CLK Mercedes Benz Cars that were used in the championships were provided by Sterling Service (Battoo) Bros Ltd, distributors of Mercedes Benz.
