TWO GOVERNMENT Ministers are using the Community Environmental Protection and Preservation Programme (CEPEP) and the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) to destroy the National Union of Government and Federated Workers Trade Union (NUGFW).
This was the allegation leveled yesterday by NUGFW president Robert Giuseppi against Local Government Minister Jarrette Narine and Works Minister Franklin Khan. Giuseppi told a news conference the NUGFW had written the Chief Personnel Officer about matters concerning CEPEP and URP. “I am surprised the media is not looking in terms of the industrial relations aspect of these types of parallel workforce. Why is the media not showing the public that these work situations as far as ILO (International Labour Organisation) conventions are concerned, these types of workforces are being exploited and we could consider these people as paid slaves. “It is an orchestrated effort by some Ministers to attack the NUGFW by created these workforces. Why are they are hiring a workforce that is outside, not legally, but they are operating outside the legal work structure?” he declared.
Giuseppi claimed that public praise heaped on CEPEP by Narine and Khan proves the union’s claims are true. The NUGFW president said Government was creating a system “worse than the colonial system” through the establishment of CEPEP and URP, noting that the latter had been rearranged over the years “to make it a corrupt type of employment practice”. Giuseppi called for CEPEP to be discontinued in its present form. He also warned that if Government destroyed the system for daily-paid workers in the country, multinational corporations could negotiate with Government to undertake work similar to what CEPEP is doing. Giuseppi said they could make this application under the World Trade Organisation’s newest arm, the General Agreement and Trading Services (GATS) and Government was “building ground for monkey to dance”.
CUBAN JOEL MARINO won five out of eight international races as the Trinidad leg of the Beacon Insurance West Indies versus The World Cycling Series ended at the Arima Velodrome on Sunday night.
The Cuban, who has been the star attraction this year, claimed the four-lap, the elimination, the 10-lap, the two-lap and the night’s feature race – the 35-lap. In the Republic Bank-sponsored 35-lap event, Marino surged to the lead after 10 laps and never relinquished his advantage, crossing the finish line in 21 minutes 54.72 seconds, ahead of Canadian Glen Randall and Belgian Nico Ruyloft. Victory in the 35-lap race was revenge for Marino, who had earlier finished second behind Randall in the International Win and Out six-lap, with Guyanese Tyrone Hamilton and Switzerland’s Michael Phillip trailing.
Marino captured the two-lap sprint ahead of Arnost Dremanek of the Czech Republic and Cuban teammates Julio Herreira and Michael Pedrosa; the 10-laps with Randall and Colombian Carlos Alzates trailing; the four-laps in two minutes 22.16 seconds followed by Pedrosa, Trinidadian Elisha Greene and Colombian Carlos Monroy; and the elimination race with Pedrosa, Greene and Randall on his heels. Greene, the 2002 TT “Cyclist of the Year”, was the lone national to win an international race on the night, claiming the “unknown race” with Marino occupying second spot and Hamilton third. And the match sprint title went to Herreira, who defeated Czech Pavel Buran in two intriguing rides 11:68 and 13:18, with Pedrosa whipping Scotland’s Robin Thompson 12:05, 12:40 for third place. The 2003 series will end at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Kingstown, St Vincent this weekend.
Other Results
Category 1 4 laps: 1.Ray Phillip 2:27.84; 2.Roger Smart; 3.Ako Kellar; 4.Paul Chooenam (Guyana).
Category 4&5 3 laps: 1.Colin Wilson 1:53.58; 2.Roger Malco; 3.Richard McCarthy; 4.Barry Luces.
Veterans 40+ 4 laps: 1.Gregory D’Andrade 2:39.94; 2.Derek Davis (USA); 3.Richard Ramchand; 4.Kent Luces.
Juniors 3 laps: 1.Adam Alexander 1:54.25; 2.Marlon Williams (Guyana); 3.Haseem McLean; 4.J Emerson.
Category 4&5 5 laps: 1.Colin Wilson 3:12.12; 2.Barry Luces; 3.Simon Spicer; 4.Roger Malco.
Category 2&3 2 laps: 1.Rocky Hosein 3:50.97; 2.Gordon Kennedy (Guyana); 3.Joe Johnson.
Veterans 40 + 2 laps: 1.Kent Luces 1:12.42; 2.Wayne Samuel; 3.Martin Rooney.
Veterans 50+ 6 laps: 1.Godfrey Clyne 2:06.79; 2.Earl La Fond; 3.Ronald Peters; 4.Rupert Joseph.
Veterans 60+ 3 laps: 1.Joey Nunes 2:48.66; 2.Nathan Hasal; 3.Peter De Silva; 4.Lennox Parris.
The father-son combination of David Narine and Kevin Narine continued their wicket taking ways over the weekend.
They led their team, Exchange, to a 110-run victory over Brickfield in a top of the table clash in the Central Zonal Council First Division cricket series at Brickfield, Carapichaima over the weekend. Exchange batted first and were dismissed for 112 by Rudy Modeste who returned the sparkling figures of seven wickets for 24 runs. The only man to resist was Steve Sookdeo with 66. Brickfield then got a shock as they were bowled out for just 65 runs in reply. Mohan Mano took four for 25 and Kevin Narine claimed two for 25.
Batting a second time, Exchange posted 145 all out with Sookdeo again leading the way with a defiant 30. Rudy Modeste was again on spot with two for 31, while his brother Randy Modeste took three for 25. Brickfield were then set a winning target of 194 runs but faltered to deceive, making just 83. Kevin Narine nabbed five for 28 for match figures of seven for 53 and David Narine his father took three for 18. The win took Exchange to 111 points —- 20 ahead of second place Brickfield who are now on 91 points.
CENTRAL ZONE SCORES
At Brickfield: Exchange 112 (Steve Sookdeo 66, Rudy Modeste 7/24) & 145 (Steve Sookdeo 30, Clint Ramdial 24, Randy Modeste 3/25, Rudy Modeste 2/31) def Brickfield 65 (Sunil Lutchman 18, Mohan Mano 4/12, Kevin Narine 2/25) & 83 (Kevin Narine 5/28, David Narine 3/18) —-By 110 runs.
RUDOLPH MOORE is the leading batsman in the North Zone for 2003.
The Guyana-born bastman has scored more than 500 runs after just five rounds of competition. Moore, playing for Barataria Ball Players, started off the season scoring 100 against Paragon at the Barataria Oval. He followed that up with 140 against Ebony at the Morvant Recreation Ground. And last weekend, Moore scored a record 259 not out against Sweet Revenge at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain which enabled his team to score an innings victory and move to the top of the Division One standings. Apart from his outstanding batting, Moore has so far taken 21 wickets in the competition.
BRIDGETOWN: Stuart McGill captured his second five-wicket haul against the University of the West Indies’ Vice Chancellor’s XI yesterday to set up an easy six-wicket victory for Australia cricketers in a practice match.
The Australian leg-spin bowler captured five wickets for 45 runs from 12 overs to send the Vice Chancellor’s XI crashing to 162 all out in their second innings about 20 minutes before lunch. Set 95 to win, Australia reached the target for the loss of four wickets on the final day of the three-day match at Three Ws Oval. McGill, who captured his 100th Test wicket in the Second Test against the West Indies in Trinidad, has match figures of ten for 85 from 25 overs, which must make the selectors think hard about whether to give his place to fast bowling star Glenn McGrath, who arrived late to the series.
The Australian selectors have to decide whether to keep the five-man attack which has led the side to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-test series. The Vice Chancellor’s XI had gone to bed on 32 for two. Captain Philo Wallace, the former West Indies opening batsman, and university student Dary Balgobin, batted through most of the first hour to take them to 91 for two. McGill, however, removed Balgobin who was caught in the outfield for 26, and Wallace, caught behind for the top score of 53, to leave the West Indies’ squad on 111 for four. There was no substance or stability from the rest of the batting and the university side lost their last six wickets for 51 runs in just over an hour.
Brad Hogg supported McGill with two wickets for 34 runs, and there was one wicket apiece for Glenn McGrath and Brad Williams. Although the target appeared small, the Australians suffered a few hiccups along the way. They lost captain Steve Waugh shortly after they resumed from their lunchtime position of five for one. Waugh was caught behind for one off medium pacer Chris Gayle and Andy Bichel, who opened the batting with his skipper, was caught at second slip off Dary Balgobin to leave Australia 28 for two. The Third Test between the West Indies and Australia starts at Kensington Oval on Thursday.
A Trinidad and Tobago Under-21 women’s football team face a visiting Canadian club side, Oakville Vipers, in two friendly matches this week.
The champion women’s club from Ontario will arrive this morning before the matches tomorrow and Friday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar from 4.30 pm each day. Coach Jamaal Shabaaz said the core of the TT team will form the squad preparing for upcoming Olympic qualifiers starting in either October or November against the Dominican Republic. Shabaaz also revealed that veteran player Izler Browne will join long time teammate, Ricarda Nelson on the management staff as both players have since retired from international football following the Gold Cup last year.
Browne will serve as assistant coach to Shabaaz and Marlon Charles while Nelson will be assistant manager to Richard Bereton. Shabaaz boasted about the fact that there at least eight secondary school students on the team. Among them are speedy striker Ahkeela Mollon, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Kia Rigsby, Kathrina Meyer and Alania Burgin. Also earning a recall is former Swiss-based professional, Kathy Ann Nixon, wife of former national striker Jerren Nixon.
Missing will be goalkeeper Lisa Jo Ramkisson who is now attending college in the United States. Goalkeepers Nicole Mitchell and Jana Walters have been included. “I think these are two handy warm-up matches for us. It will serve as good exposure for what is a relatively new set of players we have. What is good for us at this stage is that there are several players from local schools which is a good sign for what lies ahead,” Shabaaz said. Meanwhile, Shabaaz will not be accompanying the TT men’s team which departs for Venezuela today for a friendly match in San Cristobal on Wednesday. Coach Zoran Vranes and manager George Joseph will lead the contingent.
Vranes, still obviously disappointed with the results in Martinique, said the upcoming friendly, even now, has its value. “We are taking some younger guys who were part of the recent training process but were not able to go to Martinique. This is a good chance for us to check these players and I believe we have to take better care of them because they are part of the future for us,” Vranes said.
TT Women’s Team: Nicole Mitchell, Jana Walters, Janelle Nedd, Leslie Ann James (Joe Public); Jeniella McKella (St Clair Coaching School); Nadia James, Kia Rigsby (Real Dimension); Terry Lisa John, Terry Lisa Abdool, Ahkeela Mollon, Nayasha Reyes (Petrotrin); Michelle Reyes (St Augustine Girls High School); Tineka Alexander, Alania Burgin (Malick SC); Maylee Attin-Johnson, Tasha St Louis (Caridoc Stringrays); Kamika Alexander (Arima Ballmasters); Ayanna Russell (El Dorado SC); Avianne Douglas (St George’s College); Dernell Mascall (Moruga); Kathrina Meyer (Joe Public); Kathy Ann Nixon (unattached).
TT Men’s team: Peter Ramon Fortune (Arima Fire); Brent Sancho, Kerry Noray, Kerry Baptiste, Ian Gray, Cyd Gray, Nigel Daniel, Trent Noel, Cornell Glenn (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh); Keyeno Thomas, Kevin Graham (Joe Public); Reynold Carrington, Silvio Spann (Vibe CT 105 W Connection); Anton Pierre (Defence Force); Jason Scotland (unattached); Brent Rahim (Northampton Town); Conrad Smith (Caledonia AIA); Sean Julien (Starworld Strikers).
TRINIDAD and Tobago junior cyclist Simeon Commissiong guided the Indiana University team to a silver medal at the annual “Little 500” cycle race, at the Bill Armstrong Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana over the weekend.
In the 200-lap circuit relay race Commissiong, riding the final leg for his team “Team Major Taylor” — which included Kenny Burgess, Steven Ballinger and Houiller German — found himself in a precarious position with four laps remaining. With his team in 14th position, Commissiong, well-known for his burst of speed, advanced to fourth spot and on the final stretch, sprinted past the finish line to give his team the runner-up position. His courageous display earned him rave reviews from the media in attendance.
Simeon, the son of Anthony “Bike Doctor” Commissiong, is not the only member of his family excelling on the cycle track. Brother Trevor was adjudged “Most Outstanding” Under-12 wheeler in the Beacon Insurance Cycle Series, in the Trinidad and Barbados BMX category; while sister Anzinga copped the “Most Outstanding” eight-and-under girls rider during the series.
LOS ANGELES: The Lakers are not in quite as much peril, the Trail Blazers are not going to get swept, the Suns are not going away easily.
Those were the storylines that emerged in the Western Conference on a busy day of playoff basketball on Sunday, and things have gotten interesting in the East, too. Top-seeded Detroit are one loss away from elimination, while third-seeded Indiana are in danger of losing their series, too.
Now nine days into the post-season, the playoff picture is an interesting one all around. The latest developments:
– The three-time defending champions, Lakers, got a huge game from Shaquille O’Neal and benefited from two late missed free throws by Kevin Garnett to beat Minnesota 102-97, tying the series 2-2.
– The banged-up Trail Blazers avoided matching the longest post-season losing streak in NBA history — 11 matches — by defeating Dallas 98-79 to avoid a 4-0 sweep.
– The no-quit Suns rallied from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter and beat San Antonio 86-84 on Jake Voskuhl’s jump hook over Tim Duncan with 2.3 seconds left. The series is tied 2-2.
– The Orlando Magic kept finding ways to shut down Detroit’s offence, the latest installment a 100-92 victory. Tracy McGrady’s team leads the series 3-1.
– Paul Pierce had an utterly unstoppable third quarter, scoring 21 in the period as Boston rallied past Indiana 102-92.
There were a pair of Game 4s last night — Philadelphia, up 2-1, playing at New Orleans; and Sacramento, leading 2-1, visiting Utah. After that, things will get even more exciting with four Game 5s scheduled for today and four more tomorrow.
LONDON: With the league football title seemingly on the way to Manchester United, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is venting his anger and frustration.
With three league matches and the FA Cup final against Southampton to go, Wenger has three more players on the sidelines after Saturday’s 2-2 tie at Bolton. The Gunners are five points behind Manchester United although they have a match in hand. But United will win the title this weekend if they beat Charlton at home on Saturday and Arsenal fail to beat Leeds at Highbury. With Patrick Vieira expected to be out of action until the May 17 Cup final and Sol Campbell suspended for all four matches, Wenger saw Freddie Ljungberg, Pascal Cygan and Cameroon defender Lauren all go off injured against Wanderers.
“They were eliminated by bad tackles,” said Wenger who accused Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce of trying to get the referee on his side before the match. Allardyce was reported to have said that Arsenal was the worst team for intimidating referees. “I don’t like the way Allardyce prepared that match with the referee,” Wenger said. “He put him under unbelievable pressure.” Although Arsenal lost three players through injury, it was Allardyce who wound up criticising the performance of referee Andy D’Urso for sending off Florent Laville for two yellow cards near the end.
Wenger admitted his team should not have conceded two late goals to Bolton after taking a 2-0 lead through Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires. “I have a lot of regrets about the two bad goals we conceded at Bolton. With the experience we have it was very disappointing,” he said. “All we can do now is try to win our last three league matches and hope teams show the same commitment against Manchester United as Bolton did against us.”
FORT-DE-FRANCE: Honduras struggled against a depleted 10-man team from Martinique but prevailed to win a 4-2 victory in a football qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Martinique got off to the worst possible start when they lost midfielder Jeah luke Desprol in the 12th minute for a violent foul on striker Milmar Neal. Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez chose severe punishment with an immediate red card, leaving the hosts to fight the rest of the way with 10 men. Honduras capitalised shortly after when Neal dusted himself off and scored in the 31st minute for a 1-0 advantage for Honduras. Playing before home fans, Martinique lifted their game and showed real poise in equalising, through Jose Thiery Goran three minutes after the interval. Despite the loss of Desprol, the home side took the fight to the Hondurans.
They fell behind when Jose Ramirez netted in the 63 for a 2-1 advantage for the visitors but stormed back to cancel that out with a 67th minute goal of their own. Willy Padoly found the net. But Martinique’s resolve faded and, hampered by their 10-man limitation, allowed two late goals. Turcois Elvis scored after 73 minutes to make it 3-2 for Honduras. It was a lead they did not relinquish as they tacked on an insurance item a minute from time, when Walter Hernandez scored in the 89th minute, to round off the scoring. Martinique still will be in the Gold Cup Finals. Like Honduras, they ensured that with victories over Trinidad and Tobago in earlier matches. The Gold Cup matches will be played in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Miami and Mexico City.
