Trinidad and Tobago are still involved at the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round Qualifiers, but are rooted at the bottom of the six-team standings with three points from six games. TT will be meeting Honduras on September 1, followed by an away clash against Panama on September 5.

They will also face United States (at home) and Mexico (away) in October.

During a media conference on Tuesday, at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Lawrence said, “I’ve got my match analyst who is working closely with me, where I’m taking notes of the games. He’s there watching some of the games.

“The idea is we’ll try and build our reports,” he added. “If you look at the Gold Cup, apart from Honduras, most of the teams are using relatively different squads.

But we are keeping our eyes on it and making sure that we are prepared.” Recently, the trio of goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, defender Daneil Cyrus and Jamille Boatswain have earned professional contracts in Central America, with Williams and Cyrus based with Juticalpa in Honduras, while Boatswain is plying his trade with Deportiva Alajuelense in Costa Rica.

“I’ve (spoken) to (all three) players,” noted Lawrence. “I think it’s fantastic for them to go out and get a different experience.

I’m hoping that the experience that they’re going to have will help them to become better players, because every opportunity for a player to improve on himself, I think, it’s a good thing for him.

“I’m pleased for the boys.

They’ve worked hard. I think they deserve whatever rewards they’re getting. And, as long as they remain focus, I’ll be delighted for them. Hopefully it will benefit Trinidad and Tobago football.” Lawrence played most of his professional career in the United Kingdom, with Wrexham (2001- 2006) and Swansea City (2006- 2009).

Currently, there are no TT player involved in the top leagues in England.

According to Lawrence, “I’ve got mixed feelings with the contractual situation because what I’ve come to know is that the players now are trying to focus on obtaining contracts and not focus on being the best player that they can be at their football clubs. And I think that hampers (their) chances.

“I think everybody understands that to get to the UK now for us is not (an easy) situation because FIFA rankings, for the first thing, affects where the situation with the boys getting work permits. So I think the first thing that we need to do is make sure that the boys are performing for their clubs.

“Once they start performing for their clubs, it benefits the national team, then we can improve, we can progress, we can climb up the FIFA rankings and the doors are open again. So I think the most important thing, especially for the young players to understand, (is that) you have to do well for your football club. Just concentrate on playing for your football club and the rest will take care of itself,” Lawrence ended.

When he had appeared two days later before a magistrate, the father pleaded guilty but the police’s written summary of the facts was not available. He was remanded into custody to reappear yesterday.

The father of three stood before magistrate Indira Misir-Gosine yesterday and again pleaded guilty to the charge of indecent assault on the woman who is 31. Court prosecutor Sgt Krishna Beedassie, in revealing the incident to the magistrate, said that the victim was asleep in a bedroom at her home at about 3.30 am on Saturday April 29.

She was awakened by her father who was lying on top of her. He was at the time naked.

The woman managed to free herself and raised an alarm. She then ran out of the room.

Magistrate Misir- Gosine heard from Sgt Beedassie that later that morning the woman went to the San Fernando Police Station where she made a report and Police Constable Maraj was detailed to investigate. When confronted, the victim pointed out the accused father and said, “This is my father. He tried to have sex with me.” Misir-Gosine heard from the prosecutor that the defendant father had been charged with sexual offences before, but was acquitted.

The magistrate ordered him yesterday to serve three years hard labour.

Deyalsingh told yesterday’s press conference held at the Ministry of Health head office, Port of Spain, that Cabinet has agreed to create an additional 75 medical intern positions.

He said graduates who have already applied need not reapply.

Meanwhile, Registrar of the Insect Vector Control Division, Dr Naresh Nandram has reported a reduction in the incidence of Aedes Aegypti mosquito- borne diseases, dengue, chikungunya and zika over the sixmonth period from January to June 2017 compared with January to June 2016.

The incidence of dengue from January to June 2017 was 274 compared with 461 for the same period last year, or a 40.6 per cent reduction.

The incidence of chikungunya for January to June 2017 was six compared with 40 over the same period in 2016, a 90 per cent reduction.

The incidence of zika in 2017 from January to June 2017 was 40 compared with 128 in 2016. This was a 68.8 per cent reduction.

In an interview with Newsday yesterday, Daly says there were several legal authorities on the “open court principle” which dictates that the law belonged to the people and access to the legal system was a basic right and a public good.

“The open court principle is a key component to the rule of law,” Daly emphasised.

The open court principle, in practice, means that court proceedings, including evidence and documents disclosed, should be open to public scrutiny and was important for informing and educating the public while enhancing accountability and deterring misconduct.

Daly noted the court action filed by Ayers-Caesar on Wednesday last was a public law matter and “closed justice” should only be allowed in extreme circumstances.

According to Daly, what was disturbing was if there was to a be a monetary settlement between the parties, who would pay? “You can’t keep it secret and settle with public funds. It is not a private libel case,” he said. Newsday understands that attorneys for Ayers-Caesar have requested of the Registrar of the Supreme Court the procedure for the sealing of a case filed and on whose instructions was this done in the application filed by the former Chief Magistrate.

Ayers-Caesar has filed a judicial review application seeking to have the courts review the decision of the JLSC and the President to revoke her appointment as a High Court judge two weeks after she was appointed on April 13.

However, all the documents in the case – which has been assigned to Justice David Harris and has been given a case number CV 2017-02628 – have been sealed although it is not clear who ordered this.

It was also revealed that if discussions on a possible settlement – which is ongoing between the parties – fail, moves will be made to have the hearing of the application be done in private.

No date has been set for a first hearing.

Sources have said Ayers-Caesar’s lawsuit had three affidavits attached – one from Ayers-Caesar, her husband and friend Magistrate Cheron Raphael. Ayers-Caesar’s husband and Raphael were present at her swearing-in ceremony at the Office of the President in April.

A pre-action protocol letter dated June 16, 2017, points to certain pieces of evidence on which the former Chief Magistrate’s case will be hinged – among them private email exchanges between the Chief Justice and the Chief Magistrate.

Ayers-Caesar is asking for a review of the JLSC’s decision to seek her resignation by means of “unlawful pressure.” She said she was pressured to resign by Archie and had she failed to do so, she was told he would recommend that her appointment be revoked.

Ayers-Caesar is represented by Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

The shareholders’ position was given at a status hearing before appellate court judges, Justices Peter Rajkumar, Charmaine Pemberton and Andre des Vignes who have been asked to deem an appeal filed by the State urgent.

At yesterday’s hearing, Senior Counsel Deborah Peake, who represents the State, which is seeking to have provisional liquidators appointed ahead of Government’s petition to have CLF wound up, said the hearing of the appeal against Justice Kevin Ramcharan’s ruling on Wednesday was urgent as the shareholders’ meeting was carded for Tuesday.

After hearing submissions from Peake and Senior Counsel John Jeremie, who, along with attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj,SC, lead a team of attorneys for two shareholders’ groups, Justice Rajkumar said the State’s application for a urgent hearing as well as its appeal of Justice Ramcharan’s decision to dismiss the application for the appointment of the provisional liquidators, will be heard on Tuesday.

Also listed for hearing before Ramcharan is the Government’s winding up petition.

Ramcharan, on Wednesday, ruled that the move by the State to appoint the provisional liquidators was premature as there was no evidence that shareholders, if they gain control of the CLF Board, would dispose of the company’s assets. “In fact the evidence suggests that they (the shareholders) are intent in repaying their creditors,” Ramcharan said.

The Government’s decision to file the application and the winding up petition was based on the move by the shareholders to regain control of the company and to recoup a $15 billion debt still owed by the conglomerate to the State.

In 2009, the then Patrick Manning administration agreed to a bail out of CLF’s cash-strapped subsidiary CLICO and saw the insurance giant and many of CLF’s subsidiaries going under the control of the Central Bank.

As a condition of the bail-out, CLF’s shareholder’s agreement with the Government, the Government had the power to select four members including the chairman to CLF’s seven-member board.

The agreement was renewed 17 times by the shareholders until they refused to agree to a further extension in February, this year.

The shareholders then made the move to change the composition based on the Government’s refusal to consider a proposal for them to retake control of the company and renegotiate their debt repayment plan made in December last year.

If the shareholders are successful in having their directors appointed to the CLF board, they would control majority interest with five members while the Government would remain with its original four board members.

They have also indicated a willingness to pay back taxpayers.

Batting first, Stable Boys were skittled out for 38 in 11.1 overs with Jovan Whint taking two wickets for seven runs while Terrance Jadoo got 2/14.

Dwayne James offered lone resistance for Stable Boys with 12.

In reply, El Dorado raced to 39 without loss in 3.4 overs, with Tevon Jadoo unbeaten on 14 and Ashmeer Banwarie on 10.

In another encounter on July 1, Valley Boys had a narrow three-wicket win over Angie’s Liquor Mart Rampage.

Taking first strike, Rampage were bundled out for 28 in 8.5 overs with Ravi Singh (3/7) and Andel Ruiz (3/9) doing the damage with the ball.

Valley Boys reached 33/7 in response, despite Rajin Kanhai and Rishi Bharathsingh getting identical figures of 3/7.

And Nightngale had a tense eight-run win over Bustin Loose.

Nightngale were restricted to 50/9 in their allotted 12 overs, with Musa Mohammed scoring 12. Ronnie Mahabir grabbed 4/15 and Wesley Mohan 2/7 for Bustin Loose.

In their response, Bustin Loose were bowled out for 42 in 11.3 overs, as Ravin Mohan claimed 2/7 and Scott Ali 2/9 for Nightngale.

Other Results – June 21 – VALLEY BOYS 26 (9.4 overs) – Vikram Ramdath 4/12, Jairaj Balkaran 3/2 vs HARD DRIVE 27/8 (11.1 overs) – Andy Ruiz 2/4, Akash Garness 2/4, Andel Ruiz 2/11.

Hard Drive won by two wickets.

NIGHTNGALE SC 79 (11.5 overs) – Sieunarine Bachan 16, Johnny Ramadhin 16, Avinash Motilal 11; Joel Ramdhanie 3/14, Rennie Manolal 2/10 vs SWAZIE IMPORTS SMASHERZ 57 (10.4 overs) – Joel Ramdhanie 18 not out, Asif Mohammed 15; Solomon Edoo 3/6, Afraz Ali 3/12.

NIGHTNGALE SC won by 22 runs.

June 22 – MIX-UP BOYS 51/5 (12 overs) – Daniel Mahbub 3/9 vs KINGS 40 (9.2 overs) – Richard Siewah 3/3, Peter Mahase 2/2, Amrit Sammy 2/4, Amir Sammy 2/15. Mix-Up Boys won by 11 runs.

BRING DRINKS KREW 38/9 (12 overs) – Aneil Sammy 2/6, Kevin Ramgarib 2/7, Nicky Rampersad 2/10, Temul Ramkhelawan 2/11 vs HOME BOYS 39/3 (8.2 overs) – Sunil Sanasie 19 not out; Terrance Ragoonath 2/17. Home Boys won by seven wickets.

June 24 – SHERRY’S BAR RAMPANT RECRUITS 87/2 (12 overs) – Mahase Sookhan 31, Ryan Cassie 23 not out, Kurt Cassie 18 not out vs ROAD RUNNERS 55 (11.2 overs) – Rishi Heetia 20, Amrit Supersad 15; Rick Cassie 3/6, Kurt Cassie 2/21. Rampant Recruits won by 32 runs.

HUNTERS 86/9 (12 overs) – Shawn Joseph 25, Atiba Villafana 12 not out, Keston Villafana 12; Ronnie Mahabir 3/16, Ryan Dwarika 2/23 vs BUSTIN’ LOOSE 43/4 (12 overs) – Simboodnath Ramrattan 4/11. Hunters won by 43 runs.

DRUNKEN’ MASTERS 101/8 (12 overs) – Jason Ganpat 43, Avinash Dookran 21, Jeremy Kowlessar 13; Darnell Sookoo 3/21, Rohan Padarath 2/1 vs Legends 50/7 (12 overs) – Amelio Heerah 2/4, Sastri Jaisumair 2/17. Drunken’ Masters won by 51 runs.

June 27- INVADERS UNITED 76/4 (12 overs) – Nicholas Mohammed 37; Chevorn Griffith 2/18 vs AMIGOS 60/9 (12 overs) – Romel Lalsingh 13; Chris Ramsaroop 3/13, Viraaj Singh 3/27, Mahesh Chetram 2/16. Invaders United won by 16 runs.

KITCHEN KREW 63/6 (12 overs) – James Sooknarine 16, Christopher Thomas 11; Noel Gopaul 2/8, Stephan Charran 2/21 vs JUST FOR KICKS 37/8 (12 overs) – Nicholas Kanhai 2/3, Kishore Seeboo 2/4, James Sooknarine 2/6. Kitchen Krew won by 26 runs.

June 28 – MASH-UP KREW 40/8 (12 overs) – Sherwyn Hamilton 2/7, Amir Sammy 2/13 vs MIX-UP BOYS 46/7 (10.1 overs) – Amrit Sammy 16 not out; Vinod Ramdeen 3/10, Jesse Mohammed 2/11. Mix- Up Boys won by three wickets.

SILVER STARS 60 (11.4 overs) – Narindra Rampath 17, Ricki Sieuchan 17; Leon Ramdeen 5/11, Darrien Manohar 2/7, Vickram Ramdath 2/13 vs HARD DRIVE 59 (11.5 overs) – Adesh Lalla 13; Narindra Rampath 3/10, Denesh Ramsaran 2/13. Silver Stars won by one run.

June 29 – SWAZIE IMPORTS SMASHERZ 76/6 (12 overs) – Ricky Ramroop 22, Joel Ramdhanie 12; Atiba Villafana 3/9 vs HUNTERS 74/9 (12 overs) – Shawn Joseph 22, Takshnaa Jairam 12; Kavesh Maharaj 4/19, Sultan Mohammed 3/11. Smasherz won by two runs.

D’ BOSS TEAM 76/8 (12 overs) – Christopher Jagmohan 13, Riaz Mohammed 11; Danesh Ragbir 2/14, Ismail Mohammed 2/20 vs TEAM SPORT 25 (8.3 overs) – Safraaz Aki 3/3, Dylan Ravello 3/7, Terry Ramnarine 2/2. D’ Boss Team won by 51 runs.

June 30 – KINGS 50 (10.2 overs) – Navin Ali 11, Allan Baboolal 10; Sashtri Ramdeo 3/10, Jameson Sunny 3/11 vs D’ A-TEAM 60/5 (7.2 overs) – Sashtri Ramdeo 25, Rohan Sookdeo 14. D’ A-Team won by five wickets.

NEW RECRUITS 74/8 (12 overs) – Kapil Ramcharran 19; Shane Ramnanan 3/11, Sanjay Lahorie 2/14 vs D’ ALLIANCE 49/8 (12 overs) – Vikash Mearns 10; Alex Frederick 3/10. New Recruits won by 25 runs.

Wreckin’ Krew 37/7 (12 overs) – Pradeem Ali 2/4, Riaff Ali 2/7 vs TOOL TIME WIN LOSE OR DRAW 40/0 (7.2 overs) – Sunil Boochan 20 not out, Ravindra Naidoo 18 not out. Win Lose or Draw won by 10 wickets.

The embankment was part of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the highway. But following the 2015 General Election and the subsequent departure of the Brazilian contractor, the embankment has remained an eyesore and has been identified by farmers as the chief reason for continual flooding in the region.

Floods associated with Tropical Storm Bret have not subsided almost five weeks after the storm’s passage and has transformed once lush agricultural lands into a virtual swamp. Addressing a media conference on the banks of the Oropouche river yesterday, Highway Reroute Movement (HRM) leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh said the aggregate, which had been quarried from the Northern Range and at Valencia should be “mined” and used in the construction of the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway.

“The farmers have to cross the highway or embankment to get to the land and the water is making it very difficult to cross this embankment and therefore the water coming from Siparia, Barrackpore, Valley line, its backing up here and causing tremendous problems and therefore if you leave this embankment here on a permanent basis, the agriculture here would never be returned to how it was before,” Kublalsingh said.

“So I intend to approach the Minister of Works, we have had very good meeting so far, remove this embankment, treat this like a dump, treat it like a quarry, treat it as a lay down yard and mine back all of this embankment here, take it to the San Fernando/ Point Fortin highway and use it there and build a simple bypass connector road here at the level of the street so people can cross and fix back the natural water watercourses,” he said.

Asked whether he would mobilise HRM members to remove the embankment should government fail to heed his advice, he said, “you know how much aggregate is there, over 100 thousand tonnes of aggregate from the Northern range, so what will I do, poor Kublalsingh, take a pick axe and go and clear up this embankment.” Farmer Bikery Sigobin, who farms over seven acres of land, said he had lost several hundred thousand dollars in crops as hundreds of citrus trees and mounds of ochroes, bodi and peas were drowned in the flood waters. He said while they were accustomed to floods during the raining season which would subside within a few hours, the floods associated with Bret had refused to subside as the embankment had trapped the water.

Another farmer, Devanand Soogrim, seemed to be on the verge of tears as he related how his livelihood had been severely affected as there were mounting bills to pay and he had been deprived of an income.

Permission was granted by Justice Ricky Rahim for the courier companies to withdraw their legal challenge and no order was made for costs.

The nature of the resolution was not ventilated in court yesterday.

The matter was expected to go to trial after Rahim granted the six courier companies leave to have the court review the decision of the Government to implement the tax.

Ecouriers Ltd, Websource, Jet Box International, Aeropost, CSF Couriers and Caribbean Shipping Agencies were contending that the minister’s decision to implement the tax, which came into effect on October 20 last year after the national budget, was irrational, wholly unreasonable and disproportionate to any aim of the State and was done without adequate consultation.

They also contended they were not given a fair opportunity to be heard before the imposition of the tax and this was in violation of the principles of procedural fairness.

They were seeking declarations that their rights were violated by the minister when he implemented the tax and that they were unfairly discriminated against.

The fiscal measure was announced by the Finance Minister, Colm Imbert in the 2016-2017 budget statement.

Imbert said then that the new tax would be imposed on purchases that arrived in TT through courier companies or were brought in directly by individuals via air freight. This measure, he said, was expected to raise an additional $70 million revenue.

Representing the courier companies were attorneys Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, Keith Scotland, Joel Roper, Gideon Mc- Master and Jacqueline Chang, while the Minister of Finance was represented by Senior Counsel Martin Daly and Jason Mootoo.

Representing the AG were Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein and Michael Quamina.

Trincity Nationals, who are currently unbeaten and sitting on top the Super League Division standings with a perfect 15 points from five matches, will be looking to continue their winning ways against a determined Real Dimension outfit, who sitting in second place with 12 points.

In another match, third placed St Ann’s Rangers will face off against St Augustine FC, from 5 pm at the Frederick Settlement Ground, Caroni.

At 6 pm, at the Leo Thompson Ground in Gasparillo, Club Sando will play Tobago Chicas while, at 6.30 pm, at Guaracara Park, Petrotrin will play the National Under- 17 squad.

In First Division action tomorrow, third placed Defense Force will be playing second placed Sweaters Women from 4 pm at Reserves Ground, Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas.

Simultaneously Step by Step will be playing St Ann’s Rangers at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular.

Newsday spoke with Griffith yesterday, who said he was optimistic that a recent meeting between Rowley and Persad-Bissessar would yield long-term results for national security but stressed that the success of any initiative would hinge on both parties putting aside their differences and uniting for the common good.

“I do believe both of them have the country at heart, unfortunately, sometimes they have lieutenants that will only be thinking about politics.It is hoped that in that meeting they forget about politics and just do what is right for the country.

The Prime Minister has serious concerns that he needs the support of the opposition to push certain bills to reduce crime. There should be no reason why the Opposition Leader should disregard those things because those are the same things that we had when we were in government and it helped us in reducing crime drastically.” Griffith added that the Opposition leader should also make every effort in cooperating with the Prime Minister in the policy- making process, citing a drasatic decrease in violent crime during his tenure as National Security Minister, he said that the Opposition leader had a lot to offer the Prime Minister, by way of implementing crime plans.

“On the other hand, the Opposition leader has shown there were dozens of policies that she implemented as prime minister that played a part towards the year 2014 having the lowest number of serious crimes in 31 years. Every crime was reduced from 23 per cent-35 per cent it was the highest visibility of law enforcement ever seen in the country.” Griffith said that unless both parties are able to find common ground, the meeting would have been an effort in futility.