The Editor: We in Trinidad and Tobago are reaping the results of a failed development model. For nearly fifty years our decision makers have convinced us that economic growth will raise the standard of living of all — “The rising tide will raise all boats etc, etc…The increasing wealth will trickle down.”
Certainly there has been economic growth, but the free market has no mechanism to ensure the desirable distribution of income to all sectors of the population. As in the US, the home of this model of economic development, the rich have gotten richer and the poor have become poorer. In TT, this has led to a serious alienation of large numbers of the population who have resorted to all sorts of methods, legal and illegal, to attain and to maintain their comfortable lifestyle. The drug trade and non-productive speculation like gambling and opportunistic kidnappings, have attracted many of these marginalised individuals.
The important stabilising effect of a well-off middle class is being eroded constantly. Programmes to redistribute the national income which reward narrow party loyalty rather than the increased production of essential goods and services are counter-productive in the short and the long term. Rather than looking outwards to foreign consultants and trained personnel in various fields such as health care, education and business enterprise, we should be tapping the wealth of potential human resources that remain unrecognised and ignored. As a result, not hundreds, but thousands of our most gifted are frustrated over lack of opportunities in their native land. As anyone with a passing interest in economic development will attest, abundant natural resources, eg oil and gas etc, are not enough.
Many highly developed countries in Europe for instance are lacking in material resources, but they have concentrated on harnessing their human resources to compensate for that deficiency. In Trinidad and Tobago, we are neglecting our tremendous native human resources to such an extent that we feel helpless and despondent about our capacity to organise our society to provide our basic needs and to create the opportunities for our own economic and social development. We need to build a new self-confidence as we face the future. Our failure to succeed in small things has undermined our resolve to deal with the larger issues that need to be addressed.
J M Dube
Guayaguayare, Mayaro
THE Editor: In a society ravaged by AIDS, a generation being killed by abortion, and at a time when self- respect and self-control seem to be forgotten ideals, we, as young people, must stand up for true freedom. In our world today, certain sectors of society seem to be brainwashing us with many falsehoods and perversions.
Society constantly scolds us for not being responsible yet advocates that we abandon true love for selfish infatuation. In this sex-hungry world, is there really a chance at purity? Are we as young people going to lie back as cowards in the midst of societal influences that seek to strip us of our dignity? As young people it is becoming harder and harder to sculpt our lives and mould our futures. The clay being handed to us seems to have little or no substance. Our world has become so completely sophisticated but we seem to have lost an appreciation of simple blessings.
Has our communication really improved as families have become little more than names for reference and our next-door neighbour has almost become a virtual stranger. As I’ve heard it said before, such is the paradox of our times. I truly wonder how this divine comedy looks from the outside. Are we so caught up in our survival race that we forget the true meaning of being human? The womb is no longer a place of security and the old are seen as burdensome. Humanity seems to be losing its very humanity, as repetitive as this may seem, to embrace a culture of death.
As young people, young leaders, we are the ones to carry our world into the future and clear up the mess we seem to be already in. In our world today people are too often viewed as objects and true respect has been lost. Selfish desires have replaced selfless love as people seek to disrespect themselves and others. Love today has become little more than a way of experiencing sexual pleasure as hurt abounds in so many torn relationships. We have been brainwashed into believing that sex is the beginning and end of everything. Our will has been reduced to an animalistic state. Even as “sexologists” seek to imprint their perverse ideas onto an instinctual audience, we have the responsibility to stand up against this culture of death. Young people can and must show the world that purity and chastity are indeed possible.
They can try to brainwash us, but they can never undo the freedom of chastity. Self-control is imprinted into our very nature. This is what allows us to rise above our instinctual tendencies and grasp our humanity. I call on the youth to stand up for chastity, for respect, for life. The responsibility lies is our hands, now we must lead the way.
Matthew Martinez
Diego Martin
BRIDGETOWN: Australia reg-ained top spot in the world Test cricket rankings from South Africa after beating the West Indies by nine wickets before tea on the last day of the Third Test yesterday. Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill claimed five for 75 to seal the victory.
The win gave Australia a 3-0 lead in the four-match series with previous victories by nine wickets in Guyana, and 118 runs in Trinidad and Tobago. Australia will become the first team to sweep the West Indies in the Caribbean if they win the Fourth Test, which begins on Friday in Antigua. The West Indies, 187 for three overnight, were bowled out for 284 in their second innings, leaving the visitors just eight runs to win. Fast bowler Jermaine Lawson completed a rare hat-trick by trapping Justin Langer plumb leg before wicket with the first ball of the run chase. The 21-year-old had ended the Australian first innings by bowling Brett Lee and MacGill off consecutive balls. But Australia cruised to victory off just 15 deliveries with Matthew Hayden (2) and Darren Lehmann (4) together.
The result provided captain Steve Waugh with his 36th victory in his 48th Test, drawing him level with former West Indies great Clive Lloyd (36 wins in 74 matches) as Test cricket’s most successful captain. “It was a great Test match for us, one of the hardest Test matches we ever had,” the 37-year-old Waugh said after the win. “I think 18 hours in a row in the field is a tremendous effort.” “I’ve got a pretty good side. That certainly helps as a captain,” Waugh added. “The wins I have are the team’s wins so it’s a credit to all the players I’ve played with. “It’s nice to have that record and to draw alongside Clive Lloyd is a great thrill.” Waugh passed a number of landmarks during the match. He overtook Sir Don Bradman as Australia’s leading century-maker with his 30th in the first innings and also leapt into second on the list of Test cricket’s leading run-getters.
MacGill set Australia’s winning tone with the first ball of the day, claiming Ramnaresh Sarwan leg before wicket for a top score of 58. Sarwan appeared unlucky to being called out by umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan. Lara perished eight runs later at 195 for five as Andy Bichel gained a more authentic leg before wicket verdict from umpire David Shepherd as the batsman missed an on-drive. The West Indies captain added just one to his overnight 41. Australia sensed a quick kill and took the second new ball at 218 for five. But Omari Banks and Shivnarine Chanderpaul added 61 for the fifth wicket in contrasting fashion to raise West Indian hopes. Banks blasted four fluent boundaries in 32 off 74 balls. Left-hander Chanderpaul was less flashy in compiling a boundary-free 21 off 92 deliveries.
The pair went to lunch unbeaten at 250 for five but the innings soon subsided after the interval. MacGill again provided the breakthrough as Banks snicked a drive to Matthew Hayden at first slip. Once Gillespie claimed Chanderpaul four balls later to an edged cut through to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, the result was never in doubt. Vasbert Drakes and Tino Best both fell for ducks to give MacGill his sixth five-wicket haul in 22 tests. The 32-year-old from New South Wales grabbed match figures of nine for 182 to earn the “Man of the Match” award. Drakes was bowled when the ball skidded through low to hit his off stump as he padded up while Best pulled a long hop googly to midwicket.
Wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh and Lawson, a fellow Jamaican, avoided the innings defeat in a stand of 19 for the last wicket. However, Baugh eventually fell for 18 when he was sent back too late by his partner and Jason Gillespie’s swift return to Gilchrist from backward point found him well short. Lawson ensured there would be some joy for the West Indies in claiming his hat-trick. The pacer joins Wes Hall (vs. Pakistan, Lahore, 1958-59), Lance Gibbs (vs. Australia, Adelaide, 1960-61) and Courtney Walsh (vs. Australia, Perth, 1988-89) as West Indians to have achieved the rare feat.
LONDON: Portsmouth, with their Trinidadian goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, finished the 2002/2003 English First Division Championship in style Sunday, whipping Bradford 5-0 at The Bradford and Bringley Stadium.
Bulgarian striker Svetoslav Todorov grabbed a 10-minute hat-trick as Portsmouth celebrated their championship win and promotion to the Premier League with a ruthless demolition of the home side. Jamaica international striker Deon Burton was on the bench for Portsmouth. Todorov took his tally for the season to 26 with three goals early in the second half after Gianluca Festa had marked his final appearance for Portsmouth with the first-half opener. Former England midfielder Steve Stone completed the scoring in the 67th minute as Portsmouth prepared for life in the Premiership in the best possible fashion. Portsmouth ended with season with 29 wins 11 draws and six defeats for 98 points, six ahead of Leicester (92), with Sheffield United a distant third on 80 points.
BRIDGETOWN: West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sar-wan, who briefly took charge of the team when Brian Lara fell ill on Saturday, said that his team-mates had to remind him to set the field. “My only experience was captaining the Guyana Under-19 team,” said Sarwan on Sunday after making an unbeaten 58 to keep the West Indies alive in the fourth series.
“(Team-mate) Chris Gayle said to me, ‘there are a few gaps in the field’. Then I realised that I am the one who is supposed to actually set the field. “It was strange because I was looking for my team-mates to help me,” he said. “I’m used to somebody else setting the field and being told where I have to go.” Asked if he had been groomed for the role by fellow Guyanese and former captain Carl Hooper, Sarwan replied: “Actually, I haven’t spoken to Carl for a long time and I don’t even know where he is.”
NEW ORLEANS: Trinidadian Stephen Ames carded a disappointing final round 74 to finish 30th at the US $5 million HP Classic of New Orleans on Sunday.
Ames, who was positioned third after Thursday’s first round, ended on an 11-under 277 total, 10 strokes behind the winner Steve Flesch, who beat Bob Estes in a play-off to celebrate his first triumph on the tour. Flesch began the day seven strokes behind leader Scott Verplank and shot a final-round 65 to finish tied with Estes at 21-under 267. Verplank held a two-stroke lead with four holes to play, but bogeyed 16 and double-bogeyed 18 to finish with a two-over 74. He ended third at 19-under. The 39-year-old Ames, whose international triumphs include the 1996 Benson and Hedges Open in England, had previous rounds of 65, 68, and 70, and missed his chance for a third top-10 finish of the year. He was eighth at the Bob Chrysler Classic in February, and 10th at the Bay Hill Invitational in March.
A well-played innings of 148 by 15-year-old St Mary’s College student Luke Balwant has placed Invincible in a commanding position to force an outright win.
This is against Essex in the TTCBC North Zone match at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. Balwant is one of three CIC players to join Invincible this season. Another player, Kevon Ramdhanie, scored 137 not out in his first match against Glenora. Balwant led the batting against Essex and got valuable assistance from Adrian Don Mora (82) and 36 runs each from Aaron Thomas and Anthony Garcia. When played ended on Sunday, Essex were struggling on 111 for seven wickets. Mora was the pick of the bowlers with four for 31. The match ends on Saturday.
Michael Ramcharan struck an unbeaten 102 to lead Sunrise Sports to victory over UpTen in the fourth round of the BAS Penal Sports Association Superleague cricket series.
Sunrise batted first and got 182 all out with Ramcharan topscoring. Angelo Leotaud grabbed five wickets for 40 runs. UpTen in reply were bowled out for just 83, as they found Denis Ramlal (6/37) a difficult proposition. Batting a second time Sunrise reached 148 for seven declared with Ramlal scoring 50. Set 248 to win, Upten were bowled out for 164, losing the match by 83 runs. Ramlal took three for 68 to finish with nine for 105 in the match. Also in winners’ row were Rochard Road and Sunrees Road. Rochard Road defeated Mendez by eight wickets. Sunrees got the better of Apollo by 10 wickets at Barrackpore.
BAS CRICKET SCORES
Sunrise 182 & 148/7dec (Michael Ramcharan 102 n.o., Dennis Ramlal 50, Angelo Leotaud 5/40) def UpTen 83 & 164 (Ronald Leotaud 22 n.o., Ancil Valdez 48, Vindra Boodoosingh 4/54 & 2/21, Denis Ramlal 6/37 & 3/68) —- By 83 runs.
San Francique 270 (Clint Deosaran 85, Vishal Deosaran 50, Rajin Katwaroo5/84, Visham Mangaroo 3/81) drew with Renegades 121 & 112/8 (R Kemraj 4/66 & 3/41).
Mendez 33 (I Moonesar 8/12) & 163 (A McDonald 33 n.o., R Balley 5/54) lost to Rochard Road 141 & 60/2 —- By 8 wkts.
Apollo 101 & 104 (K Nandlal 27) lost to Sunrees Road 194/8 dec & 12/0 —- By 10 wkts.
Defending champions Exchange Sports are through to the final of the Ramsingh-sponsored Central Zone limited overs cricket competition.
Exchange got over Caroni Savannah Road in the semi-finals on Sunday at the Exchange Cricket Ground. Batting first Exchange reached 228/8 in their allotted 40 overs. David Narine, who has been one of the stars of the series, got 53 and Lindsey Rondon also contributed 53. Frederick Paul was the pick of the bowlers with four for 43 and Hemraj Maraj took two for 15. Caroni Savannah Road in their reply were routed for 160 in 33 overs. Davan Rajack top scored with 24, as David Narine grabbed two for 21 to keep up his wicket-taking habits. Mohan Mano nabbed three for 34 to lead the bowling. Exchange will now meet Brickfield on May 30 at a venue to announced. The teams met in the final last year and Exchange came out winners by 52 runs. For their efforts they were awarded $3,000 and a trophy.
RAMSINGH SCORES
Exchange 228/8 (40overs) (David Narine 53, Lindsey Rondon 53, Steve Sookdeo 33, Frederick Paul 4/43, Hemraj Maraj 2/15) def Caroni Savannah Road 160 all out (33overs) (Davan Rajack 24, Leyton Paul 23, Mohan Mano 3/34, David Narine 2/21) —- By 68 runs.
Fatima College chess teams have re-established the school’s dominance of the discipline after finishing one-two after five rounds of fierce competition in the RBTT National Secondary Schools’ Chess Championship.
The Fatima “A” team of National Junior Champion Sean Perryman, Imran Hosein, Marcus Joseph and Anthony Gellineau finished with a perfect 20 points. They were followed by Holy Cross College who beat Queen’s Royal College in a tie-break for second place. The competition organised by the Junior Chess Federation featured eleven teams comprising Fatima College, Queen’s Royal College, Holy Cross College, Bishop Anstey, ASJA Boys, St Anthony’s College and hosts Trinity College East. Fatima swept the individual prizes as Perryman, Hosein and Joseph finished on perfect five points and second placed “B” team member Duane Dean ended on four points.
The Chess Federation thanked sponsors RBTT for their support and Trinity East for hosting the event and all others that made the event possible. Next on the Federation’s agenda are the Junior Chess Federation Open Tournaments for Under-10, 12, 14 and 16 players to be held on May 18, 24 and June 7 and the National Primary Schools’ Team Championship to be held on May 31. Interested individuals or schools may contact Donna at 632-6555.
