All teams registered with the TTR FU will compete in the tournament which commences at 10am. Games will be of 20 minutes duration with 10 minutes per half.

This tournament will help in the sharpening process for a number of national rugby tams. The TT Women’s 10s and Men’s U-19 teams are scheduled to participate in the 2017 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Men’s U-19 and Women’s 10s Tournament in Miami, Florida, while the Women’s U-19 team will be taking part in the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) in Nassau, Bahamas. Both tournaments are scheduled to take place next month.

The TTR FU is embarking on an aggressive drive in collaboration with the Rugby Americas North (RAN) and World Rugby to raise the profile of the game, both domestically and internationally.

TTR FU president Leslie Figaro noted that rugby is the fastest growing sport in the world and is therefore ideally positioned to play an integral part in assisting the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA) and the Ministry of Health in their drive to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago reduces obesity in young people and assists them in achieving their personal development through sport.

He called for all National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), the rugby fraternity and the public to join in the launch of the 2017 season to raise awareness of these issues.

Defending champions of this tournament Caribs Rugby Football Club, will be going all out to repeat at this tournament, in honour of one of the pioneers of organised rugby in Trinidad and Tobago.

Jerwyn Balthazar handed Defence Force an early item which the Teteron Boys held on to for victory against a determined, but unlucky Police outfit at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Then, in the second game, new Connection signing Marcus “Lobo” Joseph snatched the winner at the death as the “Savonetta Boys” narrowly avoided an opening draw.

Joseph, who was denied no less than five times on the night by Rangers goalkeeper Cleon John, including a brilliant reflex save in the 65th minute to keep out a deflected free-kick, fired home the winner from the left.

The 35-year-old John had been hung out to dry by his defence which had given their all to the Rangers shirt but collapsed on a raid that saw Joseph, a former Central FC and Point Fortin Civic forward, move free inside the area to capitalise in the 89th minute.

John wasn’t flattened though.

The former Trinidad and Tobago shot-stopper made three more saves – his last to match a stoppage- time strike by Joseph.

Rangers, coached by Anthony Streete and boasting a few new additions, and Connection, currently managed by assistant Earl Jean with coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier away on international duty with the Trinidad and Tobago men’s team, looked like two well-oiled teams, providing an excellent contest from the first whistle.

Rangers had two penalty shouts — the clearer of them when forward Anselm “Worm” Jackson went down under a challenge by Connection right-back Shaquille Bertrand two minutes from the break — but referee Keilon Bacchus bought none of it.

A tug on Joshua Leach, prohibiting the substitute attacker a chance at goal, also seemed enough to win Police a penalty with less than 10 minutes left in the earlier game. But that game’s referee Marlon Perouse, nor his assistant, didn’t feel that way.

Police’s luck was clearly against them, while Defence Force had to work their socks off to preserve a narrow advantage.

Sheldon Clarke, between the uprights for Defence Force, failed to stop an Elijah Belgrave free kick on 57 minutes, but the ball ricocheted off both uprights before allowing ‘keeper a safe gather on the second attempt.

The Richard Hood coached-Lawmen, like their Marvin Gordon-coached counterparts, weren’t as lively as the game that followed. They were tactical though and a draw would have seemed a fair result between the two very experienced sides.

However Balthazar’s item in the third minute, after making contact to a free kick from the right, stood tall in the end, earning his side maximum three points.

(ttprolea gue.com )

The purpose of the bill is to “amend the Offences Against the Person Act and the Criminal Procedures Act and for related matters”.

The bill was withdrawn from the Committee stage at yesterday’s Senate sitting based on a recommendation of opposition senator Wade Mark and supported by independent senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir.

The special select committee will be chaired by government senator Clarence Rambharat. The other members are government senators Michael Coppin and Daniel Dookie, opposition senator Gerald Ramdeen and independent senator Sophia Chote.

The decision to withdraw the bill from the committee stage was taken by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi after several suggestions were made by the opposition to strengthen the legislation in content and wording.

According to leader of government business Franklin Khan, the Senate will reconvene at the committee stage on June 22. A vote is expected to be taken on the bill on that date.

The legislation is expected to provide an option for trial by a judge alone.

Trials in the high court are done before a judge and jury.

Welcoming some of the proposals from Ramdeen, Al-Rawi said the special select committee would be able to “treat with a lacuna (gap) in the law” including how it treats with someone detained at the court’s pleasure and a mentally ill person.

He said there was also need to address the use of old language in the law.

Al-Rawi said another potential gap in the legislation is how to treat with minors in relation to the Children’s Act.

“The good news is we are working on a host of amendments which will treat with that,” he said.

And also making a return to the saddle will be four-time local champion rider Brioan Boodramsingh, who has recovered from a broken collar bone.

Also, Barbados champion Jalon Samuel will be in the saddle on Labour Day.

Husbands has three booked rides including th4e Jake O’Brien-trained Valorous in the feature Carib Brewery Guineas, first leg of the local triple crown.

Boodramsingh (B), rides Rocket Wheels in the Guineas among his two booked rides while Samuel will be astride Royal Moon in the Guineas among five booked rides.

The ARC stewards framed a nine-reace programme for the day, timed to begin at 12.45 pm.

In a media release yesterday, the company said it was facing the “toughest period” in its 20-year history, as global LNG prices remained at “depressed levels” while experiencing “unprecedented” levels of gas-supply shortfall.

“Over the last two years, the severe gas supply shortages have resulted in facility utilisation rates of less than 70 per cent,” Atlantic said.

“Recognising the need to respond to the gas shortages, to streamline its activities and ensure it remains efficient in the new environment, Atlantic has conducted a comprehensive review of its business __ part of which has included a review of the required resources.” It said “regrettably” Atlantic would be reducing its permanent staff, but this was expected to be by fewer than 50 people, or approximately seven per cent, and it was hoped the reduction could be achieved “as far as possible” by voluntary separation. In an immediate response, former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine said that the company’s VSE P offer was a “sign that companies are adjusting to the new normal” of lower energy prices.

In a text message, Ramnarine expressed confidence in the company’s management saying, “Atlantic is a well-run company with a good leadership team. I’m sure they will make the best decisions to guarantee the viability of the company going forward.” Another former energy minister Conrad Enill said the VSE P offer was another sign that the industry was “right-sizing itself” to the present economic situation.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Enill said he was not surprised given the reduced gas supplies and revenue earnings.

“Any other reductions in the energy- sector workforce would not surprise me,” he added, “because the energy streams are not there to support the level of expenditure that we as a country are accustomed to.”

While Durant and Curry were showing off their skills, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ryan Chin was showing off his shooters’ touch at All Out Sports Bar to win a Dennis Rodman-autographed basketball at the Coors Light NBA Finals Viewing Party.

Chin prevailed over a number of participants including West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo who passed through and took part in the shooting competition.

The event was made possible as a result of the multi-year partnership between the NBA and Molson Coors International (MCI), Coors Light – Official Beer Partner of the NBA.

Through this partnership, Coors Light provided fans in the Caribbean and Latin America with unique experiences, including viewing parties during some of the most exciting times of the NBA season such as the NBA Finals, as well as fun customer events.

In Trinidad, the viewing parties for these NBA Finals took place at popular sports bars in the north, east and south. In addition to watching the NBA Finals on big screens, members of the public who came to these viewing parties enjoyed Coors Light specials and prizes like authentic NBA memorabilia, including official NBA basketballs autographed by some of most recognised former and current basketball stars.

“Coors Light has seen double digit growth across Latin America and the Caribbean in recent years as beer drinkers seek out the world’s most refreshing beer, born in the Rocky Mountains,” said MCI Chief Commercial Officer Brett Vye, in a press release.

“Partnering with the world-famous NBA, an organisation with such strong tradition and with such enthusiastic fans, is a terrific match for Coors Light and its consumers. Together we will delight world beer drinkers with a great American beer and a great global sport.” “Coors Light is a leading brand with a storied history,” said NBA Latin America Vice President & Managing Director Arnon de Mello. “Through this multi-year partnership, we will work with Coors Light to connect with our fans in new ways, provide more opportunities to experience live NBA events, and introduce new co-branded products at retail.”

The bank’s position was stated in a media release issued on Monday in response to allegations from the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) that RBC was extending workers’ hours to include Saturdays.

The release said the event, which is scheduled to begin next month, is aimed at easing the stress of elderly customers who visit the bank to cash their pension cheques on the Monday after the month-end.

The bank said, “We have asked employees to volunteer for the additional paid shift so that we can support this special event.

Those who qualify will be paid overtime for working. As the shift is voluntary, those branches where employees do not volunteer will not open.” Addressing claims of worker exploitation by BIGWU president Vincent Cabrera, RBC said the claims were unfounded, and a number of members of staff had welcomed the Saturday event “Our RBC values inform everything we do. These values are at the core of every decision. We hold ourselves to a high standard of acceptable behaviour and do not – and would never – exploit our colleagues,” the release stated.

Newsday spoke to BIGWU’s labour relations officer Sharon Miller, who called the claims “an unequivocal lie.” She said she had received complaints from staff that management had been pressuring them to take the Saturday shift without any promise of overtime pay.

“It is not voluntary,” she said.”We have workers in Tobago who told their manager that they won’t be able to come out that Saturday, and their managers told them that unless you come out that Saturday they will be chaired. Management is holding the contracts of these workers over their heads.”

Police from the Cumuto station, operating on an anonymous tip, visited a home in Cunaripo Road, Tamana, at around 5 pm on Monday and saw a man tending to the massive field.

On seeing the police, he ran into the nearby forest. Police chased but the man escaped.

The police found five 12-gauge cartridges at a nearby camp.

Shortly after 5 am on Monday, three bandits accosted Harvey at the St Martin de Porres RC Church in Gonzales, Belmont and tied him up before ransacking the presbytery. The thieves escaped with $1,000, a mobile phone and items from the church.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Maharaj said the nation’s leaders had to shoulder some of the blame as they were setting a poor example with their behaviour in and out of Parliament.

“This has to do with the message that the leadership is sending to the young community of Trinidad and Tobago,” Maharaj said.

“When you stand up in Parliament, because you have the votes in Parliament, you stand up and you say, ‘We are in charge now, and therefore we will ram this piece of legislation down your throats.’ To me what it is telling the young population is that it’s okay for you to take a gun and walk into a church as if to say, ‘Listen, Fr Harvey, I am in charge now, I have a gun, I am in charge.’ “Not because you have the power you must ram things down the throat of other people, because the young people are looking on. That power is strength and I believe the role models that are talking to our people and are talking to the population are partly responsible for what has transpired.

This arrogance is coming to haunt the whole national community now.”

This is a beach lime event, so come with your coolers, eats and snacks. Life jackets will be provided along with a football, cricket bat, wind ball and maybe a kayak.

Rate: Easy Meeting point: Maracas Bay Lookout, North Coast Road Time: 7.30 am For more info: visit hikersinc.com