ONE WEEK after securing both the Under-15 and Under-17 titles in the TT Pro League, W Connection will be looking to continue their unbeaten run when they meet CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh in today’s doubleheader at the Hasely Cra-wford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Jabloteh are currently second on the Under-15 standings but will need to be at their best to defeat Connection, led by the scoring exploits of Aaron Downing. They have a league-leading 24 goals. The Jabloteh Under-17 squad is struggling in mid-table and, the Connection team victorious in all 12 matches, are almost guaranteed a 13th win today. Joe Public are expected to claim full points in their matches against the pointless North East Stars at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground; while South Starworld Strikers will be seeking redemption against Arima Fire at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. In two rescheduled fixtures at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima last Wednesday, Fire defeated the Southerners 2-0 in the U-15s and 2-1 in the U-17s. Today’s doubleheaders kick off at 9 am.
The Institute for Future Global Leaders (IFGL) will stage a Community Indoor Football League as part of their project “Playing Sport Prevents HIV/AIDS”.
It also involves drama presentations to raise awareness about the epidemic”. The tournament will be played at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena; the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena; the South West Regional Indoor Sport Complex; and the St Paul’s Street Multi-Purpose Gym in Port-of-Spain. The finals will be at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena. The competition will feature 40 teams competing for top honours in four zones. Each zone will have two groups of four in a round-robin competition, after which the two top teams will advance to the the semi-finals the winners to the zonal finals.
A total of 15 matches will be played in each zone and at the end of the zonal competitions the winners will meet for a round-robin competition to decide overall champions. Central Zone action gets underway today; followed by South Zone (August 17); East Zone (August 22); North Zone (August 24); and the finals on September 1. In the finals the organisers, based at the Student Activity Centre, University of the West Indies at St Augustine will invite a team from a Caribbean island to participate in an exhibition match. IFGL will also stage Theatre in Education (TIE) dramatic presentations to create HIV/AIDS awareness. There would also be interactive focus group discussions with the spectators. For further information call Ravi Lutchman at 778-7154.
THE OPPOSITION United National Congress (UNC) yesterday claimed the death threats issued against a UNC alderman are part of “PNM harassment and terrorism” against the party. UNC chairman Wade Mark told Newsday that in light of the death threats against Princes Town Regional Corporation alderman Zaniffa Fakira on Monday, all UNC members have been placed on “high alert.” Mark said the UNC strongly condemns the actions taken against Fakira by “persons who can only be described as cowards”. According to Mark, this incident forms part of a pattern of harassment directed towards UNC members since the October 2002 general elections.
The UNC chairman said Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, former minister Carlos John and Opposition Senators Sadiq Baksh and Arnim Smith have all been victims of this alleged campaign of intimidation which appears to be “politically generated.” Mark further alleged that Government was engaging in acts of “political banditry” along the lines of Grenada’s Mongoose Gang, Haiti’s Ton Ton Macoutes and Guyana’s House of Israel. He added that the reason why the PNM has allegedly embarked on this course of action was because the UNC is the only obstacle in the way of a full-flegded dictatorship in TT.
IT was sweet success for the Samlalsingh clan at the Emancipation Day holiday racing programme of the Arima Race Club at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday as they took away both co-feature races. But not so for owner-trainer-breeder Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj who saw four of his runners in the seven-horse field finish 1-2-3-4 in the day’s opening event for two-year-olds, only to have the race declared void under Rule 52 of the Rules of Racing.
This happened because the race was run off at the wrong distance. Instead of 1000 metres, the event was run at a distance of 1100 metres. It is understood that by agreement between Maharaj and ARC president Gerard Ferreira, the race will be re-run next race day, August 9. For the Samlalsinghs however, the first success came in the President’s Cup over 1900 metres, when Bertwin watched his Sugar Mike annihilate his six rivals, including pre-race favourite Phantom Bidder. The four-year-old American-bred colt, cleverly ridden by jockey Brian Harding, was kept just in the shade of the early pace makers, which included Phantom Bidder. He ranged up to The Bidder 300 metres out, and when he accelerated he left the favourite as though standing to go on for a seven-and-a-half length victory in the new record time of 1:56.85 seconds, smashing the eight-year-old clocking registered by Sian’s Gold back in 1996. Phantom Bidder ran on for second with Dottie’s Way third and Invincibility fourth.
The Samlalsinghs celebrated further two races later, when Sweet Tempo strode away from her field, quickening inside the final 200 metres of the 2000 metres event, for an emphatic five-and-a-half-length victory in the colours of Merlin Samlalsingh. The Tempo took over the running 900 metres out and there was no challenge after a brief attempt by Golden Honour who galloped on for second with an outclassed Firestorm struggling in third and Cornerstone a disappointing fourth. Sweet Tempo’s victory gave Glenn Mendez his fourth of the day to be the leading trainer, while apprentice rider Gary Laban landed two winners, to join both Ryan Thomas and Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz. There were a number of upset winners on the day, none more than when Cotonou whipped her 12 rivals in the Optional Claiming sixth race over 1250 metres. The filly rewarded backers with $93 and $13.70 on the tote, and with Shezabute second and Yankee Eagle third, the trifecta dividend was $5,321.20. No turfite managed to put together the superfecta combination however, with Tour D’Argent fourth. But the biggest superfecta dividend of $8,646.40 was paid out on the Maid Of Honour, Gaza Strip, Mandela, Squeezed Moment combination. Another outsider to oblige was Bonus Point who paid $14.10 and $4.70 on the tote, and with Badpayjameasee, Ula and Soca Tempo following him home, the superfecta was a handsome $7,683.20.
TRINIDADIAN, Trevor Alleyne has been re-elected unopposed as Secretary of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions. Alleyne is President of the Telephone Workers Credit Union. His re-election took place at the 46th annual international convention and 32nd annual general meeting of the organisation held at Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort, Palm Beach, Aruba just over a week ago. More than 100 credit union leaders drawn from 41 financial co-operatives throughout Trinidad and Tobago attended the two events.
Also attending was the Commissioner for Co-operative Development, Keith Maharaj. Over 700 participants from the English, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean attended the annual convention and general meeting. The convention had as its theme: “Co-operation Expansion through Regional Integration”. The feature address at the opening was delivered by the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves. The Trinidad and Tobago delegation was led by Rudy Serrette, vice-President of the Co-operative Credit Union League.
THE UNPREDICTABLE weather in Tobago could play a significant part in the 47th Annual Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships which tees off on Wednesday.
Tournament Director William “Bill” Agard yesterday acknowledged he was very concerned about the spells of rainy weather at the Tobago Plantations Golf and Country Club, which is hosting the competition, for the first time, from August 3 to August 10. “There is a possibility that the tournament could be rained out. You must remember that last year in Puerto Rico there was actually lightning during the competition. We are hoping that we will be favoured with better weather next week,” said Agard. Currently in Tobago overseeing the final phase of preparation for the annual championships, Agard said overall results could determine the winners if at least two rounds are completed. But a stop and start scenario be-cause of rain could pose a “horrendous” problem. He described as a “nightmare” the situation which could face the Organising Committee if severe weather forced the postponement of play as the rescheduling of competition would create an enormous backlog which would stretch over the days allocated for the championships.
Other than casting a wary eye to the heavens Agard expressed great satisfaction with the preparations so far for the staging of the tourmament which has attracted teams from Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Puuerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and hosts Trinidad and Tobago. Agard said Puerto Rico are the defending champions having made a clean sweep of the championships last year at home. Up for grabs are the Hoerman Cup for the top male amateurs; Francis and Steele Perkins Cup, for senior men (Over-50); Ramon Baez Figueroa (Mid Amateur) Trophy, introduced this year for players over 35; Higgs and Hill Trophy for men over 60; and the George Teale Memorial Trophy for the women. Agard said he is optimistic of Trinidad and Tobago doing well and did not rule out a clean sweep to repeat the feat of a decade ago when the championships were last staged here at the St Andrew’s Golf Club Course at Moka in Maraval. He said although Puerto Rico will be favourites to extend their dominance, the home team shows great promise with their young players. Their effort should be balanced with the seasoned veterans in the ranks Agard said.
“Carlos ‘Sexy’ Baynes is the top player in the country while Dion Gonsalves is a bright star on the horizon. The young Torry sisters — Diana and Michelle — should also make their mark. All the teams are capable are emerging tops in their respective categories,” said a confident Agard. He said the local team had their final opportunity to play on the new championship 18-hole, 7,000-yard Plantations course last weekend and seem quite ready to challenge their guests. “The main complaint was the greens were a bit slow. This most likely was caused by the heavy growth because of the rain. Once the greens are cut it should get faster,” said Agard. The Tournament Director said teams will start arriving today and should be safely lodged at the Hilton Tobago by tomorrow evening. He expects close to 200 players, supporters and officials for the tournament. On Monday there will be a practice round followed by the annual meeting of the Caribbean Golf Association. Team captains get together in the evening. On Tuesday there will be another practice round with the opening ceremony at 6 pm followed by the President’s Cocktail party. On Wednesday the competition gets underway in earnest with the first round of play. Agard said after every day’s round there will be a happy hour at the scoreboard area followed by dinner at the Hilton Tobago.
St Vincent Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonzalves, responded to critics of the proposed deepening of political links between Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent and the Grenadines, by saying such a development was inevitable. He was addressing the Second Annual Emancipation Dinner of the National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) on Thursday at the Cascadia Hotel, St Anns. Gonzalves said the political expression of the deepening of linkages in the Caribbean was as inevitable as the sun rising tomorrow, although he said the form of this integration may not be a unitary state or a federation. In light of Opposition criticisms about the relationship between the two countries, Gonzalves assured: “I’m not a PNM man. I’m an individual. I work with governments and peoples who advance a similar programme to what I have in mind.” But he added that he could not “look askance at” his friends with a mock-impartiality.
Saying that in the Caribbean the people with the best relationship with Africans were those of Madeiran Portuguese-descent like himself, Gonzalves also brought a message of African pride. “Work together in an organisation for common ends, not to work against people of other races but with them but to show solidarity among yourselves… “Among the groups that should be promoting solidarity are the very groups that are seeking to undermine…Too many people coming out of UWI do not espouse a doctrine of solidarity but of petit bourgeoism…There’s a crass individualism where dog eat dog. We should instead look within ourselves and beyond the boundaries to build a social individual.” Gonzales advised: “The problem in the Caribbean is that whatever is African has been devalued. This must stop.” NAEAP President Prof Selwyn Cudjoe urged that the University of the West Indies follow the recent American decision to make race a criteria for university admission. “80 percent of university students (in UWI) consist of one race. In the University of Michigan case a court ruled that race should be a factor in admissions. We in Trinidad and Tobago must do the same. Our Universities cannot be 90 percent East Indians and ten percent black people.” But he added individual Africans must also do their part to gain admission. Cudjoe proposed that African attire be adopted as the formal wear of Africans in Trinidad and Tobago. President George Maxwell Richards and First Lady Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards attended the event but did not speak formally.
Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC), Clarry Benn on Thursday emphasised that any success Unit Trust has achieved to date, has been fuelled through joint enterprise with the people of the country. “The success story of the Unit Trust Corporation since 1982 has been the success story of the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” he asserted. “Our growth, the confronting of the challenges, the changing of the financial landscape, this springboard to a bright and prosperous future has been the product of our joint effort over the years,” Benn acknowledged as he addressed the sod turning ceremony for construction of UTC’s new Tobago Branch Office on location at the corner of Main and Castries Streets, uptown Scarborough.
The high-rise building complex which is scheduled to be completed in 12 months, is being constructed at a cost of some $14 million funded ‘in-house’ by UTC Property Development Limited. The design was done by Bynoe Rowe Wiltshire Partnership. Structural engineers are Phillips Engineering Limited; mechanical engineers — AdeB Consultants Limited; quantity surveyors — IT McLeod Partnership; and the Building Contractor is H Lewis Construction Limited. Benn recalled that when UTC opened its current Tobago branch office at the Scarborough Mall seven years ago, the Corporation boasted of a unit holding base of 123,000 and $1.3 billion in funds under management. “In a mere seven years our unit holding community now stands at 415,000 accounts and our funds under management amount to $9.3 billion.” It is envisaged that Unit Trust will pass the $10 billion mark by year’s end, Benn revealed, noting that Unit Trust was now the third largest financial institution in TT, in terms of domestic assets under management. “This building therefore is testimony and a symbol of the growth the Corporation has accomplished over the past several years; needless to say our Tobago operations contributed handsomely to our growth momentum!” noted the UTC Executive Director.
Stefan Bissondial of El Dorado North Hindu School has taken first place in the Under-15 age group of the 2003 Scalextric Endurance Car National Championships.
The competition was held at Long Circular Mall in St James last Saturday and was sponsored by Tracmac’s Castrol GTX Motor Oil and Joseph Charles Bottling Works. Prem Sawh, a Form One student at St Benedict’s College took second place and Kevin Lee-A-Ping was third and Elizabeth Nicholas finished fourth. The four finalists were presented by Neverson Davis, president of the Model Car Association of Trinidad and Tobago with cases of Solo beverages generously donated by Joseph Charles Bottling Works. Dion Jackson of Moruga grabbed first place in the 15-75 age group with a 76.7. Jenelle Joseph, a 16-year-old, took second place with 75.2. Devon Atton Paul of Fatima College was third (74.7) and Marilyn Peters followed with 71.3.
In the Champion of Champion’s Race, Junior Joseph, sponsored by Chief Brand Products, easily won with 80.1. Peter de Montbrun, who placed second could only manage 76.8. Roger Hosein finished third with 75.8 and Ravindra Maharaj was fourth with 70.2 Joseph also had the quickest time of the tournament clocking one minute and 30 seconds. Vice-president of the Model Car Association, Rawson Samuel presented Castrol GTX and medals to the finalists in the 15-75 age group and the Champion of Champions. Action in the National Scalextric National Formula One Championships in all age groups will commence on the October 11. The South preliminaries will take place at Gulf City, and the North at Long Circular Mall. Action will speed off at 1 pm. Tobago Preliminaries will take place on the November 1 at 9 am at the Standard Showroom in Scarborough. Later this year, 14 T T drivers are expected to go to Grenada to compete in the International Tournament. They will compete in both categories- Rally Car and Formula One.
NEWLY appointed Point Fortin Mayor, St Clair Natha yesterday broke his silence to the media. He spoke to Newsday and declared his optimism that the open opposition he got from persons within the ruling PNM party opposed to his appointment would have no adverse effect on how he runs the Borough and how he relates to all persons. Mayor Natha, speaking to Newsday in a brief interview, commented on the matter where up to 1,000 residents signed a petition against his appointment just days before he was actually sworn-in. “That issue (the petition) is now behind us and we are in a position to work for all the burgesses of Point Fortin,” Mayor Natha said.
Asked why he shied away from the media minutes after being sworn-in, Natha laughingly referred to his behaviour as a “gracious decline.” He defended his action by saying that he would have preferred to have something to share with the media rather than just face questions. Natha also went on to say that it would have been difficult for him to face the media since he first had to familiarise himself with the political systems in place before making public statements. This was dealt with in part yesterday when he held a meeting with councillors and members of the Borough executive. Natha said there were discussions, including the way Borough issues would be dealt with.
