The band then numbered around 275 youngsters which included sponsored sections from The St Mary’s Children’s Home.

So very emotional about this unplanned retirement was Gabriel, that it took nearly six months for her to sit for this interview.

She admits: “Giving up was hard but couldn’t be helped.

Speaking about it was also traumatic.” The often asked question has been why did Gabriel retire? After all, the 2017 presentation was already designed and production had started. “I was feeling unwell after a bout of Zika which affected my knees coming to the end of 2016, and walking was very difficult,” says the tireless producer of children’s mas.

From 2005 to 2009 she was on the board of the National Carnival Bands Association, and for the past two years has been a member of the Junior Committee of the National Carnival Commission (NCC), and also president of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Bands’ Association.

However, fate intervened and this very placid woman was invited by the Ministry of Culture to be a mentor in its fifth annual three-month Mentoring By The Masters programme on the topic of children’s mas.

“This was heaven-sent,” says Gabriel. Twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5pm – 7.30pm, this very successful mas producer who has won Band of the Year about 17 times, conducts a programme for 15 students at the St James Youth Facility. She tutors on everything that is needed to become a successful bandleader.

One or two of her students already have bands and others are schoolteachers wanting to improve the schools’ programmes.

A pensive Gabriel spoke of some of the pluses the band added to her life. “One of the great things are the people I have met over the years with this band. I might have never met them otherwise and have become very close to a great deal of these people and will remain close to them whether I have another band or not. They have become like family. I have also had to learn to deal with all different personalities walking up your steps, to manage the staff of about ten in the camp and a large network outside of the camp.

“Some other life lessons the band has taught me are organisation skills, which could be one of the best lessons, because you have to produce 12 sections and individuals in a specified period of time, and juggle this with family life which consists of a husband, three children and ten grandchildren (ages 22 to ten). In the early years the band was produced from my home, until my adult children started to court and when the time came for engagements I had to clean up the mas camp so decided sometime in 1994 I was going to give up.” That would have been Gabriel’s first attempt to retire but she explained: “A good friend Pascal Ramkissoon of the Minshall camp found the present location at 26 O’Connor Street in Woodbrook and together with my husband, Norman, of nearly 50 years, they rented it and handed me the key because they both didn’t want to see me give up what they knew I loved so much.

“I didn’t give up willingly this time, it’s just that my knees wouldn’t carry me where I wanted to go. My mind never gave it up because I love it so much.

It was never about fame for me, Rosalind Gabriel, I was doing it for love of the country. Also trying in some small way to keep that title we owned as The Greatest Show on Earth, in the days of the icons, and have tried to keep that costuming trend in my Carnival productions. It was never about business, it was just a passion for junior Carnival, best described as “Like a fire burning in my chest really.” Who knows what the future will bring as the mas camp remains in tact at this moment, nothing has been dismantled or gotten rid of.

“In the beginning every time I went I cried, but it’s a little better now….

While ill this year, I still produced a school band for Tobago as had been done for the two years prior to that and plan to do it again in 2018,” says this very humble woman who is insistent that “there is no way I can claim all the praise which is lavished on me. No one person can produce this band – there are all the artisans, decorators, dressmakers, designers, every single person who helps.

“Then there are people who work in the camp and would cut out hundreds of decorations over and over that adorn the costumes because we try to make as much as we can so instead of going to buy an appliqué, we cut out to keep the craft in Carnival. Everybody who pitches in deserves the praise that is associated with the success of the band over the years.

Another important lesson I learned was never to burn my bridges.

Sometimes you are dissatisfied with what is produced by a supplier, I would pay for the work and remain friends with the people I have worked with for 40 years. So that there is no enemy that I have in Carnival.” Gabriel freely and willingly gives advice and encouragement to younger bandleaders because she says: “Carnival does not belong to any one person and all of us involved love its culture and creativity so we have to invest in it for the good of the country. We have to be the caretakers who will keep the original costuming in Carnival so as to maintain what the icons like George Bailey, Edmund Hart, Peter Minshall and Wayne Berkley created, thereby ensuring that the tradition and spectacle are carried on into the future.” Some years ago, Gabriel added an adult band in an effort to create a family atmosphere by parents and children enjoying quality time together, but rules were introduced which didn’t allow this to materialise.

This pioneering woman took children’s and adult bands up the islands as far as Miami Carnival. “We would box and ship costumes, some requested a theme others would send what they were looking for and we would produce.

This extra work was in an effort to keep the mas camp afloat outside of our Carnival, as I really couldn’t add a rental charge to the children’s costumes, this also gave my staff work throughout the year.” On the subject of beads, bikinis and feathers, with a great deal of objectivity, she says: “I do appreciate that Carnival has evolved into something rather than portrayal mas as we knew it in the early days, but we must still see a need to keep the traditional intermingled with today’s mas for those who want that kind of portrayal.

This is so necessary because if you look in all the stands there are no spectators. Why? People don’t want to come out to see naked bodies all day long. I truly hope for a day in the near future when there will be a mixture of original and modern designs to bring balance back into the two days of Carnival.”

Last year, significant cuts were made to the programme. Recent murmurings suggest more cuts may be on the way effective next month.

Among any government’s top priorities should be equal access to education for all. To this end, we in Trinidad and Tobago enjoy free education up to the secondary school level. Whether the State has a responsibility to provide free tertiary education is debatable. For some, the State has a duty to do so because in today’s world students face limited job prospects without a degree.

With university education left to market forces, those from wealthy backgrounds will have a distinct advantage over those who do not enjoy such privileges. Privatisation of education entrenches the system which sees the gap between the haves and have-nots widen.

On the other hand, some would say it is preferable that tertiary education is provided, not essential.

After all, the State already assists university campuses regionally through millions of dollars in funding.

And too often, programmes like GATE have been subject to abuse, manipulation and wastage.

Far better would be a system that funds specific subject areas critically needed to meet development goals. In theory, opening up the tertiary education sector to market forces encourages a more competitive market place and economy. It can also encourage more students to study hard to access scholarships.

The problem with all of this, however, is the fact that Trinidad and Tobago has changed little over the decades in terms of its social structures. It is still a challenge for many families to make ends meet, far worse to even dream of funding a child’s university study. And encouraging students to compete for scholarships risks turning education itself into a perversion. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, it simply encourages focus on high marks and percentiles.

We fall into the camp of those who would prefer if the State provides education. But at the same time, we acknowledge the need to streamline State subsidisation in light of reduced revenues.

The very name of the programme, with its emphasis on “assistance with tuition expenses,” should be the barometer by which we examine these matters. If the cuts introduced last year were needed to make GATE more sustainable in the long run, then the State must take a look at how those cuts worked and whether gains were realised.

However, it is counterproductive for there to be a lack of clarity on the future of the programme. A recent press release from the Ministry of Education, stating that the “status quo” in respect of the programme cannot be maintained, is far too vague.

If it is that further cuts are to be made, then these should be announced as soon as possible. If the entire programme is to be scrapped – whether on a phased basis or not – then this too must be stated as soon as possible for people to make the necessary planning needed to enter the world of work.

Whatever changes happen, the State will still have a duty to assist certain vulnerable groups. According to last year’s review of the programme, most of the recipients come from families which fall in the supposed “middle” to “high” income groups.

The reintroduction of means testing in 2017/2018 was identified as one of the adjustments that should be made to GATE. Whatever changes are coming, the State must find a way to allow our most vulnerable and talented students to go forward, side by side.

A single murder was sensational news. Villages and communities alike interacted. Now you don’t dare cross that invisible line.

So we gained some wealth and lost our humanity. I will always recall the advice of my father, Enzo Fortune: “We love things and use people, when we should love people and use things.” Today a man is measured by his material worth, regardless of how it is acquired. There has been a shift from when a man’s worth was his character and word. This development only indicated a loss of values.

Our personal values exist in relation to cultural values, either in agreement with or divergence from prevailing norms.

Social values form an important part of the culture of a society. Values account for the stability of social order. They provide the general guidelines for social conduct.

Any attempt at progress will be doomed if we do not address societal tendencies towards criminality and criminal clientelism as being the norm.

COLIN FORTUNE Arima

“This will come as no surprise to the authorities in Grenada and to the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago,” said the policyholders group representative and Grenada’s Ambassador to TT Dr Patrick Antoine.

Speaking at a CLF/Clico symposium on Sunday at St Mary’s College, Antoine said two preaction protocol letters have been issued by the group. British American Insurance Company and Clico were subsidiaries of CLF. Government pumped billions into CL Financial following its collapse in 2009. Appealing to Caricom to find a regional solution to the issue, Antoine said, as policyholders who had been following the issue over the years, they are convinced that CL Financial has sufficient assets to cover the liabilities of all policy holders and creditors.

“We are prepared, failing that, to continue in the legal path that we have taken two years now and which have been accelerated in light of recent developments,” he said. The group, he said, believes that “a definitive intervention” is long overdue after the Heads of Government failed to come up with a proper resolution for the problem. Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell raised the issue earlier this month with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at the last Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Grenada. Representing some 400 policy holders in Grenada amounting to EC$600 million in executive and flexible annuity payments, Antoine said, 90 percent have not received a cent.

This was despite commitments given to a regional entity from a country that was aspiring to become the financial capital of the region, and a Caricom Revised Treaty that provided for non-discrimination, he said. In discussions on CLF which has been under Government’s control since 2009, he said, the Duprey faction has admitted that significant funds from the Eastern Caribbean flowed into TT from the Eastern Caribbean.

He said that a Trinidadian taking out an insurance policy in Grenada was compensated, but he as a Grenadian taking out a policy in TT was not compensated.

That affects, he said, “the core of our morality as a Caribbean people.” Civil society advocate, Afra Raymond in his presentation said, the assets of CLF and its liabilities grew because of financial contributions from policy holders from TT and across the region, except for Jamaica.

The shareholders agreement and the memorandum of understanding signed between Government and CLF in 2009 excluded repayment to anybody outside of TT. “Philosophically, as Caribbean people,” he questioned whether the agreement was legitimate, equitable and fair to all concerned.”

Of that figure, he said, 549 of those medical cases were attended to between July 2016 and July 2017, under the banner of the club’s two flagship projects: the Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) and Heart Beat International Trinidad and Tobago (HBITT ).

While both projects sourced pacemakers from manufacturers across the globe at no cost, the Heart Beat International initiative also secured the services of surgeons pro-bono, said a media release. Williams recently disclosed this success at the 49th Handing Over Ceremony to mark the 2017-2018 Rotary term at the Teaching and Learning Centre, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

“From inception in 1985 to 2017 altogether 1,500 lives have been saved in TT alone; whilst another 1,594 devices have been distributed to other HBI Heart Centres around the world in places like India, Philippines, Paraguay, Honduras and Dominican Republic. In effect our Rotary Club has saved 3,094 lives from 1985 to 2017,” Williams said while reporting on his 2016-2017 stewardship.

The Heart Beat International initiative was a joint project with other organisations, inclusive of other Rotary Clubs. Williams, who has taken up the post of assistant district governor with responsibility for four clubs in east Trinidad, as well as those in Tobago.

During the Rotary year 2016-2017, he said, the club combined with the individual efforts of members made donations to the Rotary Foundation estimated at more than US$9,000.

Locally, donations were made to several causes including The Dyslexia Association the sponsoring of a teacher to become certified in diagnosing dyslexia.

In the aftermath of tropical Storm Bret which caused flooding in several parts of Trinidad, the club rallied its members to assist the affected citizens in Caparo.

The club then partnered with insurer Sagicor and the Rotary Club of Piarco to provide similar relief to the Piarco/St Helena community, and assisted similar efforts in south.

In addressing the club’s future, Williams noted new members were being recruited through the Interact and Rotaract systems.

Since 2003, the club has been sponsoring and supporting the Rotaract Club of St Augustine which caters for people ages 18- 30.

In 2014, the club began supporting the Interact Club of St Augustine Girls’ High School which recruits member’s ages 12-18.

Holder’s attorneys on Monday filed an emergency application which came up for hearing before Justice Frank Seepersad in the Port of Spain High Court yesterday.

Holder is seeking to be reinstated and have the court grant several injunctions against CLF and its government-appointed directors to ensure they do not impede his return to duty.

He said it is urgent his application be granted because of Government’s petition to wind up the company and for the appointment of provisional liquidators.

Holder said the move to have the company wound up was not being resisted by CLF’s attorneys whom, he said, were taking instructions from the government’s directors on the board, “despite a clear conflict of interest and duty.” Holder said his return to the job was also in the interest of employees whose salaries cannot be paid at the end of July without his participation.

At yesterday’s hearing, Seepersad adjourned the matter to September 18 in order to receive submissions from CLF’s attorneys “considering the complex and unorthodox relationship between CLF and the Government” borne out from bailout measures which were agreed to in 2009.

Senior Counsel Elton Prescott, who appeared for CLF, said Holder was terminated from his positions on all CLF’s subsidiary companies, except for Angostura and an undertaking was given that the former managing director will be given an Angostura ipad and access to emails.

In his application, Holder is also seeking an order that CLF and its Government-appointed directors not hold any board meetings, take any decision on the management of the company or issue instructions to attorneys in relation to the petition for the winding up of CLF until he has resumed duties.

Holder, who held the position at CLF from March 1, 2010, said his employment was terminated on June 28 by the Government-appointed directors and accused of engaging auditing firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to produce a proposed business plan (Project Rebirth) for the exit from the shareholders’ agreement signed with the government subsequent to the 2009 bailout.

Holder has denied he engaged PwC, saying it was the chairman of the board (who is government-appointed) and one of the CLF’s shareholders.

He was also accused of facilitating the write off of inter-company debt without board approval and caused dividends from Angostura to be transferred to CLF without prior notification to the board.

According to court documents filed by his attorneys Jerome Rajcoomar and Theresa Hadad on Monday, Holder said he was accused of taking out a number of substantial unsecured loans from its Scottish Subsidiary CLWB.

He was asked to return the company’s ipad, laptop and office keys.

His CLF email account was disconnected.

Holder said his removal as managing director and group CEO was illegal and against the company’s bye laws. He also said he did not believe that the Government-appointed directors had the power to remove him.

Founder and owner of Rose Petal Productions, Stacy Nurse, 34, created the show in the hopes that it would help other women to realise they are not alone in their feeling and challenges, and inspire them to either start or to continue to work towards their goals.

“Sometimes we see people and we think we know them. You might see them successful and smiling but you don’t know the struggles and challenges they had to face during their journey.” Each episode features one woman and delves into their lives. “We go from childhood straight up to where they are now. It’s a very relaxed, intimate setting. Just two people having a conversation with the cameras rolling.” So far, it has featured women such as Patrice Millen, CEO of Millien Concepts; Ghenere Lindsi Heerah, media student and CEO of Women of Elegance; recording artist Natalia Roxanne; comedienne Nikki Crosby; and news anchor Samantha John.

“The idea came about from my own journey in life as a woman.

Also from listening to other people and realising there is just so much more to a person. As women we compare ourselves to others and compete but the thing is, we go through the same things no matter our race, ethnicity, nationality.

We need to understand that we are not so different from other persons in terms of the things we encounter.” “Sometimes we feel someone’s life is so set but we don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. I think having that platform to share that voice is important because it encourages sisterhood, it encourages support, it encourages women to be more mindful and more compassionate to each other.” Nurse said the name highlighted both the tender and tough aspects of any woman. She said pink is associated with women as the feeling is nurturing and warm, while ego can sometimes have a negative connotation more associated with men. “As woman we have that too. We have our own persona, we are individuals but we are just a bit more subtle and do it with more finesse. Putting it together it is about showing both sides of a woman __ the nurturing and the strong.” She said her vision is for the Pink Ego to be a movement with live events where women could meet, connect and network.

She hopes it could bring women to a space where they are comfortable with their lives, and are less concerned about status or being labelled.

The show will premiere on Sunday at 5.30pm on TV6.

Nurse said the show was a product of Rose Petal Productions, which was the governing body for her school, Rosemand’s Academy of the Performing Arts in Arima, of which she is principal.

While the school was launched in 2014, the company was established two years ago as a platform for her students to showcase their talents, usually in the form of music videos, and live theatre productions. Now the production company creates solid local content of all types. She said with cable, the country is flooded by American culture and our own culture is not showcased enough.

“It is about creating content that will be enlightening and entertaining but at the same time present Trinbagonians as people who are capable of creating quality work that can be showcased anywhere.” In addition to The Pink Ego, Rose Petal Productions is expected to launch another TV show in September – a news segment for children, by children. She said the children of her school would be the anchors and field reporters, discussing real issues from their perspective which would be both entertaining and educational.

It used to be the obsession of body-builders and gym fanatics alone, but now lots of us are keen to ensure we are eating enough. It can be tricky to get your daily quota as a vegetarian if you’re not sure what your best veggie sources of protein-rich foods are.

Forget the protein shakes, powders and supplements, let’s get back to basics. Protein is made up of smaller units called amino acids and is essential for repairing damaged cells and building new ones. It’s essential in the building of tissues, muscles and bones, so it’s important to make sure your body has what it needs.

How much do we need a day?

Adults are advised to eat 0.75g of protein for each kilogram they weigh, based on the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI). This will vary over your lifetime and depend on your individual circumstance. For example, a more active person, such as an athlete in training, will require more protein than someone living a sedentary lifestyle.

On average, guidelines suggest men should aim to eat around 55g of protein a day and women should aim for around 45g of protein daily.

Best veggie sources

If you’re cutting out certain food groups such as meat and fish, you might think your protein options are somewhat limited, but there are lots of options for packing in the nutrients.

Grains and pulses

Lentils, pulses and beans are an excellent store cupboard staple source of protein – 100g of boiled lentils contains around 9g of protein and are a hearty way to bulk up soups, stews and casseroles. Chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans and even baked beans are an easy way to power up your protein intake.

There are also a range of grains such as oats, barley, rice and quinoa that can add protein to a super-simple recipe. Quinoa in particular is a valuable veggie ingredient as it’s one of the few plant sources classed as a complete protein. This means it contains all Tofu is another low-calorie, high-protein ingredient.
And it’s well worth having that bowl of porridge in the morning – 50g of oats contains around 6g of protein.

Dairy

Dairy products are packed full of calcium and protein, which are both essential as part of a healthy diet – 100g of cow’s milk contains around 3g of protein, while 100g of cheddar cheese contains around 25g of protein. Choose reduced-fat options if you are concerned about saturated fat and calories. Vegan options include nut milks, such as hazelnut or almond milk, but be aware that shop-bought versions contain very low levels of protein. Soya milk is more comparable with dairy in terms of protein content.
A spoonful of Greek yogurt is also a great way to add in protein, with around 6g for every 100g of yogurt. Try topping your muesli, smoothie bowls or cereal with a hearty dollop of fresh, natural Greek yogurt.

Eggs

Eggs are an easily available, cheap source of nutrients. A single hard-boiled egg contains around 6g of protein and makes a nutritious, filling breakfast or lunchtime meal. They’re also easily digestible and low in calories.

Soya and tofu
Soy protein is a very versatile ingredient and can be turned into many different delicious forms. Tofu, for example, is made from the curds of soy milk and can be great when bulking out veggie stir-fries or salads. It comes in different forms: silken, firm or extra firm and is another low-calorie, high-protein ingredient you can make use of relatively easily – 100g of firm tofu contains around 8g of protein. Soya beans themselves can be eaten alone or turned into soy milk, miso or tempeh. Per 100g, soya beans contain around 15g of protein.
Although plant and animal proteins are digested in different ways by our bodies, soya is a great veggie substitute for meat and is decidedly adaptable.

Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are a handy, snackable form of protein and essential fats. There are certain types that are particularly protein rich: almonds, cashews, chia seeds and flaxseeds are all popular protein options. A 30g portion size of almonds contains around 6g of protein and will see you through the afternoon slump.

The 2017 Elite Pan Ams will pit over 200 cyclists from 20 countries against each other for five exciting days of cycling, as they compete for a total of 20 Pan American titles. Also, for the first time, an Elite Women’s Madison Champion will be crowned, making this event even more exciting.

As part of the current sports tourism drive taken by the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT ) the TT CF view this as an essential tournament and a step towards the right direction.

With the Federation being provided with the great opportunity of showcasing the twin-island republic as the perfect backdrop for the world-class facility, Elite Pan Am Local Organising Committee Event Director, Joseph Roberts, stated, “Our intention as the TT CF is to make this facility (NCC) the hub and the premium location for top world class track cycling in this part of the world.” He detailed, “Last year we hosted the Junior Pan Am Championships.

This year we feature the Elite Pan Am Championships and, as we continue through the years, we are expecting much more to come.” Participating countries for the 2017 Elite Pan Am Championships include Antigua/Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and the host nation Trinidad and Tobago.

Among the featured cyclists are Fabian Puerta and Marta Bayona from Colombia, Mexico’s Jessica Salazar, Chloe Dygert and the United States’ Women Team Pursuit along with TT ’s Njisane Phillip, Teniel Campbell, Nicholas Paul and Kollyn St. George.

Other national cyclists wishing to compete at the 2017 Elite Pan Ams will be given the opportunity to qualify for the event during the National Elite Championships carded for the Couva venue from August 10-14.

General admission for the 2017 Pan Am Track Cycling Championships evening sessions, which starts at 6 pm daily, are set at $50 while the morning sessions, carded to begin at 10 o’clock daily, are free to the public. Limited season passes cost $200 and are only available at the TT CF office in the National Cycling Centre where tickets can also be purchased.

Kick-off time is 8.30pm (TT time).

The TT team arrived in Guayaquil on Monday night and were scheduled to have a training session at the match venue last night.

Coach Dennis Lawrence will have a 20-man squad for the encounter as Mexican-based winger Jomal Williams obtained his Mexican work visa and has been released by the Murcielagos club for the match.

The player was scheduled to join the camp in Guayaquil yesterday.

“We will go into this game with a positive mindset and obviously looking to execute our game plan,” Lawrence said. “It’s a good test for us and again in international football there are no easy games. But this is all part of our preparations for the two World Cup qualifiers in September.” San Juan Jabloteh winger Nathan Lewis is anticipating a strong test from the South American outfit which will comprise of several of their domestic players.

“It’s going to be a very strong test for us because every team in South America tends to play good, attacking football and that is why we are here, to get the best possible test on the day,” Lewis said.

“We know that the bigger focus is the Honduras match but this match will give us a good chance to put our thoughts and our efforts together to get things right in time for September.” Experienced goalkeeper Marvin Phillip noted, “We have some new faces in the squad but all very capable of showing up with solid performances.

The coach has selected a team based on what he is looking for, to add to the squad for the qualifiers in September. The preparations have gone well over the past week and I expect we will see a good brand of football and tidy performance from the team against what I expect to be a proper opponent on the night.” Ecuador have qualified for three FIFA World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2014. Their best performance came in 2006 when they advanced to the Round of 16, eventually eliminated by England. Ecuador defeated El Salvador 3-0 in their most recent friendly in June and will be away to Brazil in a World Cup qualifier on August 31.

TT Squad (clubs in brackets) – GOALKEEPERS: Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic Centre), Andre Marchan (Defence Force).

DEFENDERS: Kevon Villaroel (North East Stars), Carlyle Mitchell (East Bengal FC), Triston Hodge (W Connection), Alvin Jones (W Connection), Maurice Ford (W Connection), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force).

MIDFIELDERS: Jared London (Club Sando), Leston Paul (North East Stars), Nathaniel Garcia (Central FC), Nathan Lewis (San Juan Jabloteh), Neil Benjamin (W Connection), Sean De Silva (Central FC), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force), Tyrone Charles (Club Sando), Jomal Williams (Murcielagos FC).

STRIKERS: Keron Clarke (Santa Rosa FC), Willis Plaza (East Bengal FC).