The team returned home with its best-ever haul of medals, a feat that was undoubtedly due to the spirit of unity and discipline that pervaded. That spirit is an example all of us should seek to emulate.

Our contingent’s achievement is all the more special given the fact that this year’s competition was the largest ever in the history of the games. More than 1,300 young athletes, coaches and supporters participated in events on the island of New Providence. More than 70 nations were involved and over 90 medals were up for grabs.

Organisers even expanded competition for the first time to include judo, beach soccer and beach volleyball.

Particular praise must be bestowed on all of our medallists.

Namely, Adell Colthrust (boys 100 metres) and the girls beach soccer team who won gold; Tyriq Horsford (boys javelin) and the boys beach soccer team who earned silver; and swimmer Jeron Thompson (boys 50m freestyle) who copped bronze.

But it is not only the medallists who deserve plaudits. We were also ably represented in tennis, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, judo and rugby sevens. As assistant chef de mission George Commissiong stated, the barometer of a team’s performance is not the final medal count.

“While we gather to celebrate the medals, I want to remind us all that while medals are important it does not always reflect all that has taken place,” Commissiong said. “Medal performance does not necessarily reflect the growth and development that has taken place, the things learnt and the experience acquired by the athletes.

It does not reflect the enthusiasm, commitment, effort made by all athletes, those who won medals and otherwise. It does not reflect the commitment of the support team, medical team, coaches and administrators.

Perhaps last but not least, it does not reflect the camaraderie, team spirit and bonding that have taken place over the last nine days.” This spirit and commitment is something needed in all walks of life, no matter what our age. Though school is out, the team has given us all a good lesson.

Our performance in the Bahamas is a good indicator that our prospects at the 2020 Olympics and beyond are good.

If we are to meet our goal of 10 gold medals by 2024, we must continue to nurture talent and to allow our youth to gain as much competitive experience at possible. The Commonwealth Youth Games was a good forum for this, allowing our youngsters to dip their toes in the water at an international level.

But as suggested by Commissiong, the value of these sporting events is not limited to medal tallies.

With so many challenges facing our nation, it is important to remember the positive aspects of our society and to single out those who serve the national interest in whatever way. Sportsmen and sportswomen – of whatever age – do our nation a tremendous service.

They represent us on the international stage. They are ambassadors.

But they also remind us of our own potential, of the unlimited nature of human achievement.

It is this sense of possibility that energises all who participate in sports, whether athlete or observer.

Most importantly, however, sports unite us and remind us of the joy we all kindle within each other.

So to our team, we salute you.

According to police reports, at about 10.30 pm two men armed with guns went into the restaurant and announced a hold-up.

The cashier was ordered to hand over all the cash from the register and was struck in the head with a gun butt. The man’s accomplice then ordered all customers to hand over all their cash, jewellery and cell phones.

After the bandits left, members of the West End Police Station were called and the cashier was taken to hospital.

Police were able to secure surveillance footage.

Yesterday, employees said the incident has left everyone shaken up and they are hoping management considers putting proper security measures in place to avoid another robbery.

In a statement issued yesterday, RFHL said, “This represents an increase of $51.5 million or 5.7 percent over the corresponding period last year. The bank’s total assets stand at $69.4 billion at June 30, 2017, an increase of 0.8 percent over June, 2016 and 3.8 percent over September, 2016.” RFHL Group Chairman, Ronald Harford, in announcing the results, said “while the Group continues to be challenged by weak economic conditions in several of the markets in which we operate, these creditable results were achieved through controlled growth of our loan and investment portfolios, cost control and sound risk management.” Harford anticipated the performance reflected in the first nine months is expected to be sustained for the remainder of the fiscal year. He also expressed his appreciation for the continued support of management, staff and customers of the RFHL

The event is being sponsored by First Citizens.

The theme, Mawnin Neighba, will be drawn from the overall festival’s theme of Bring Back De Ole Time Days – Len Hand, as each contestant will take the audience back to ‘long time’ when we were our brothers’ keepers.

Participants in the pageant are ambassadors for their communities and are judged on their ability to effectively convey the heritage that is unique to their communities. The event spans over a period of six weeks and serves as a developmental programme for the young women.

So said Republic Bank’s Business Development Officer Kameel Mungru who was yesterday one of several financial advisers and health and wellness coaches advising employees and visitors to the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Open Day targeting pre-retirees.

During the first three hours of the open day, Mungru said he found that a lot of people were interested in taking care of their retirement.

However, he said, “Some had no idea of retirement planning with nothing in place.

Some are pretty much taken care of because they are permanent employees but maybe not enough to bridge the shortfall in their pensions and salaries.” Mungru said a lot of salaried-income employees did not think about what they would do on retirement and contract workers might not have a pension in place.

“Whether you have something in place with your employers or not, you need to take care of your retirement,” Mungru said. “That time for when your salary is not there, that shortfall whether it be a ten per cent or a 15 per cent short fall or be it that you have nothing coming in, you need to have something put aside.” In a word of advice to young people, he said, “It is never too young to start planning for retirement because, as with most things in life, the earlier you start, the easier and cheaper it is to do.” For older people, who did not have anything in place, he said, “You may have to take a little bit more risks now, but it can still be done. You can still start late and still finish with a pension or retirement plan.” Mungru said there were different ways in which someone could go into retirement, whether it was re-engineering oneself to do a different type of job or even open a business.

Most people, he said, “just tend to think that because they have an annuity plan it is a good retirement plan, but there are other ways in which you can take care of your retirement.” Shanta Singh, senior corporate communications officer in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs said the objective of the two-day open day, which ends today, was to bring awareness and encouragement to pre-retirees, especially in the current economic downturn as to what they could invest in and what they should not.

A total of 20 institutions from the financial banking sector, credit unions societies, health and fitness centres, and travel agencies had their products on show.

Looking back on my adventures as a mother, here are the top ten pieces of advice I would offer parents.

1. Pay attention to diet: I was lucky enough to have a paediatric nurse as a neighbour when Ijanaya was born. She told me not to introduce sweet food like bananas as a first food. I followed her advice and curbed the sweets as my children grew up. Birthday parties had cake, but no other sweets. I cut out sugar as much as possible. My plan served them well.

2. Don’t make food an issue: There were no arguments over food in my house. When they had enough food, they could stop eating. They soon learned how much food to take so that they didn’t waste food. When it comes to food, I did something right because I broke the long chain of obesity that runs in most of my family.

3. Read: I read to my children every night before they went to bed. Reading is important for their imagination. It’s the foundation for their education.

4. Curb the television and avoid electronic devices: My children watched television for a limited time only on weekend evenings.

They had a tree house and a swing. Ijanaya had a doll house, dolls, books, and a tricycle. Zino had toy cars, toy dinosaurs, a fire truck that he pedalled around the gallery, and books.

They didn’t have a computer until Ijanaya was 12 and they didn’t have cell phones until they were teenagers. They used their imaginations — not electronic devices for entertainment. I never heard my children say they were bored.

5. Know pop culture and keep relevant: My children decided what music we listened to in the car, and I used their music as a study of their likes, dislikes and issues. We watched shows and movies together — even when they were teenagers. We stayed close through music and television.

6. Listen to your children: When I picked my children up from school, I always asked them about their day. “What happened today? What did you learn today?” I listened to the events that defined their day, and I respected their feelings.

7. Apologise every chance you get: I was a tired mother who sometimes snapped like a turtle, but I always apologised when I acted inappropriately. My children learned you can express feelings, and if you make a mistake, you own up to it.

8. Keep them in activities: Activities help children to be healthier, happier, less stressed out and more confident. Children must be well rounded. Structured activities help to keep children out of trouble. Make sure they choose the activities and enjoy them.

9. Create a sense of empathy: Talk to children about what is going on in their world and the world at large.

Help them to understand there are things they can do to make the world better from recycling to giving food to a homeless person.

Children must grow up with a sense of empathy.

10. Encourage children to follow their dreams: My children always knew there were many paths to success. They don’t have to be an engineer or doctor.

I learned that being a good parent wasn’t about being perfect.

It was about being open-minded and supportive at every stage of their lives.

With both teams using their encounter as preparation for their forthcoming World Cup qualifying assignments, TT looked the part in a first half which saw the teams taking a 1-1 scoreline to the dressing rooms at the half.

TT had two debutants in their starting team — FC Santa Rosa forward Keron Clarke cutting his teeth in TT colours and North East Stars defender Kevon Villaroel.

Juan Luis Anangonó punished TT for a defensive lapse with the opening goal in the 21st minute and Carlyle Mitchell, captaining the national team for the first time, rose to head home the equaliser for the visitors in the 40th minute from a Hughtun Hector right side free kick. But Ecuador turned on the pressure after the break, backed by their boisterous home fans, going on to add goals in the 73rd minute through a penalty by Fernando Gaibor before substitute Jacob Murillo sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time.

TT had their fair share of moments in front of goal with Mexican- based winger Jomal Williams lashing one over bar from the left of the goal in the 27th minute and Clarke’s right footed effort which goalkeeper Esteban Dreer blocked with his legs after Hector slipped one through for the Santa Rosa man.

TT gave up a penalty after soaking up pressure from the hosts as they searched for the go ahead item. Alvin Jones was adjudged to have fouled Ayrton Preciado and the resulting penalty was properly dispatched for a 2-1 lead.

Before Ecuador go their third item, substitute Willis Plaza had an effort blocked from close range.

The TT squad were expected to return home yesterday.

Speaking with the Newsday after yesterday’s lecture on gestational diabetes at the San Juan Health Centre, where recently appointed director of women’s health Dr Adesh Sirjusingh spoke on the issue, Deyalsingh said much pressure was being placed on women where contraception might be a non issue.

“I appreciate the unfair burden that is placed on women globally that they are the main primary caregiver. They breastfeed, they are the primary caregiver to this child and when these children grow up, they are the ones involved generally…it is women who have to manage the house, buy the groceries, go to the market, do the homework with children, cook, wash and iron and, very often, many of these women are single mothers.

“As a member of parliament I am so disappointed with the way men abdicate their responsibility to their women folk, their children and their families,” Deyalsingh said.

“I think it is important to give women some sort of redress in longterm contraception.” “Contraception is by and large the responsibility of the women.

Even if a man uses a condom, if the condom fails, who carries the burden? It is not the man, it’s the woman,” he added.

He said women car- ried an unusual burden with contraception which was why the Government was planning to bring in subdermal implants that could last for five years.

The implant is inserted in the arm.

“It has been used successfully in many parts of the world, so we are not asking our women to use any untested technology. This has been used around the world for decades, and we are now catching up to it,” Asked about the choice of a woman having tubal ligation, Sirjusingh said this was a personal choice.

“There may be clinical reasons to do so.

Somebody may have health issues and we may strongly recommend that pregnancy is not advised and they may seek something long term like tubal ligation,” he said.

Deyalsingh added there were risks for a mother after having three Caesarean sections.

“After three Caesarean sections you should have had your tubes tied because with every successive Caesarian, your chances of having a safe delivery decreases dramatically,” Deyalsingh said.

Questioned about women in the lower economic level having multiple children, Deyalsingh said it was all about education.

“We have to educate women in our lower socio-economic level because very often they are the ones with the large families they can’t support,” he said. “Contraception at those levels become important. When you have these families at the lower socio-economic level it more or less dooms that family to a life of poverty.

“Every cent that you earn has to go into minding these children and you can’t dedicate it to buying school books, a proper house, nutrition. So it is a self fulfilling prophecy when we have people in the lower socio-economic groups having large families. And that is something that we need to tackle so that people could have children and family sizes that are reasonable for their circumstance that they could support.”

“There were certain issues we find were not true coming out from the motion,” explained Brighton/Vessigny Councillor Gerald Debesette in a telephone interview with Newsday yesterday regarding the PNM walkout.

Debesette said the PNM councillors disagreed with the accusations being meted out against the Corporate Secretary, Natalia Cummings, in the three-page motion brought by Avocat/San Francique Councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo.

“She was being accused of bias, of only dealing with the other side, the other side being the PNM, of only giving us information,” said Debesette.

“This is not true. We debated it, not supporting the motion, and we walked out just after my last colleague made his contribution, before it was put to a vote.” The corporation is made up with six PNM members of council; six UNC members of council; and one independent councillor in its former chairman, Leo Doodnath, who declared himself independent in January after.

Doodnath was not present for the vote on Wednesday, however, leaving the floor evenly split with Chairman Glenn Ramadharsingh having the casting vote.

“Glenn Ramadharsingh would have had a casting vote and the motion would have carried in favour of the UNC,” said Debesette.

“We found it was unfair and if you had to sit there for this motion to be carried, we wanted no part of it.” The walkout left the council with one less person necessary for a quorum, and therefore no voting occured.

“The essence of our democracy is that you will have one side that will win and one side that will lose,” said Ramadharsingh yesterday.

“Walking out of a debate I think is absconding from your duties and responsibilities in the corporation.” Ramadharsingh said the PNM councillors did not show the level of cooperation that was expected of them. The UNC members of council will caucus today and make a press statement on the way forward

Attorneys representing the JLSC and the AG appeared yesterday before Justice David Harris in the San Fernando High Court. They were given until September 8 to file their objections to the court granting leave to the former chief magistrate for judicial review.

Her attorney senior counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj launched a scathing attack on the JLSC and Office of the President saying Ayers-Caesar was constructively dismissed from the bench like an ordinary employee.

Ayers-Caesar yesterday arrived in a white Mercedes Benz which pulled up in front the courthouse and she alighted dressed in all black jacket and skirt to be greeted by a barrage of television and press photographers.

She was followed by a few friends and relatives into the courtroom. She sat in the courtroom and bowed her head during the proceedings. It was her first official public appearance since she was “fired” as a judge for failing to declare to Archie and the JLSC that he had left 52 part-heard cases unfinished in the magistrates court.

Maharaj said the case was one involving important principles in safeguarding the independence of judges and their security of tenure.

He said the actions of Archie and President Anthony Carmona were a far cry from what Section 137 of the Constitution mandates for the removal of a judge from office.

He said on April 10 the JLSC expressed its desire to find a workable solution to dealing with the partheard cases. But Ayers-Caesar was summoned by Archie to a meeting on April 27 and asked to tender her resignation. Maharaj submitted his client was told about a prepared media statement after which Archie left the room to take a telephone call from the Office of the President. He said Ayers-Caesar was told by Archie upon returning to the room that he was under pressure from the president who was expecting her at 5 pm that day. A resignation letter was then given to her by Archie’s secretary, Maharaj said.

He submitted Section 137 gives constitutional guarantee to judicial officers against their removal from office except by the procedures provided, but Ayers-Caesar was forced to resign and, if she did not the JLSC would have removed her from office.

Assuming but not admitting, Maharaj said to Harris, if Ayers-Caesar had misled the JLSC, Archie should have advised Carmona that the question of her removal from office should be investigated.

Maharaj, instructed by attorney Ronnie Bissessar, took issue with Carmona accepting Ayers-Caesar’s resignation. He told the judge Carmona participated in the JLSC’s unlawful pressure by agreeing to accept the resignation. He asked the judge to note that it was the judiciary that made the call to President’s House. Senior Counsel Russell Martineau, who is leading Senior Counsel Deborah Peake and attorneys Ian Benjamin and Ian Roach for the JLSC, told Harris he would reply to Maharaj in written submissions. He is to do so by September 8. The judge fixed the case for 3 pm on September 29 at the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain.

Senior Counsel Reginald Armorer, instructed by Ravi Nanga is representing the Attorney General.