“I want to tell you the story of a little boy named Anthony Sabga who escaped his war-torn country to travel half-way across the world to a country few people back then had ever heard of. At the age of 14, this boy had to leave school and take over his family business. He went on to start his own business, building an empire which now feeds over 7,000 families.

“So if a poor, dyslexic, seven-year-old who could not speak a word of English could build a business empire, imagine what you can achieve, as you who have so much more than he did when he started out,” Garcia- Brooks said.

She urged graduates to plan their goals wisely and use the tools available to help themselves and others.

She said remaining focused on one’s goals is especially challenging in the age of social media, where youth’s are bombarded by stereotypes and negative imagery.

“We are surrounded daily by negative images, conversations and choices. Please shut the door on these negative conversations and don’t spread them.

Don’t like or share them on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp.

Replace them with a positive thought or suggestion,” she said.

Republic Bank Executive Director Roopnarine Oumade Singh agreed with Garcia- Brooks’ sentiments and said greater introspection is needed among youths as they plan their next step in life to seek success.

“When it comes to thinking about the future, you can’t get too caught up in picturing just what it might be.

It is far more rewarding and worthwhile to focus on what you can do today to ensure that future becomes a reality,” Singh said.

This the 31st anniversary of the programme which entails a seven months training programme where 36 secondary school graduates gain firsthand exposure to the bank’s operations.

They also attended workshops aimed at enhancing financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.

His contract was terminated on April 15, 2011 after NP claimed (as its reason for firing him) that credit was extended to one of the company’s former gas station dealers without appropriate approvals. NP also claimed the Board had lost confidence in Callender.

In their ruling yesterday, Justices of Appeal Allan Mendonca, Prakash Moosai and Andre des Vignes set aside a previous ruling of Justice Carol Gobin who in 2013 dismissed Callender’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit.

The three found that Callender was wrongly dismissed by NP and is now entitled to three months’ salary in lieu of notice.

In his wrongful dismissal and breach of contract claim, Callender sought damages and special damages in excess of $1.7 million.

He claimed NP breached the contract of employment by its own conduct toward him, which was calculated to destroy the relationship of trust and confidence between the himself and the company.

NP contended that under Callender’s watch as CEO, Trebro managed to rack up a debt of $1.6 million despite all in-built checks on the digital system, despite all processes and rules under the policy to secure and protect the Company from harmful credit exposure. In their ruling, the judges disagreed with all of Justice Gobin’s finding except for the facta relating to the variation of Callender’s contract of employment which he sought months before the 2010 general election.

They also held that Callender’s role in the implementation of the Board’s decisions should not have been construed as a repudiation of his contract of employment but as a demonstration of his effort to ensure that the board’s decisions as it related to Trebro were complied with.

“We think the judge was plainly wrong to find otherwise,” the appellate judges said. Callender was represented by attorneys Douglas Mendes, SC; Elton Prescott, SC; and Shelly Ann Daniel while attorneys Seenath Jairam, SC; Kelvin Ramkissoon and Shobha Persad represented NP.

This undertaking was given on Wednesday to Justice Frank Seepersad in the San Fernando High Court by attorneys acting on behalf of the State at the hearing of an injunction filed in the name of Pine Avenue residents Annesa Maharaj and Ashminee Joseph and granted during an emergency sitting on Sunday.

Fifteen squatters were met with an excavator and workers from the Ministry of Agriculture accompanied by police at about 5 am on Monday.

About 15 homes were demolished.

During the demolition, several residents formed a human barricade in an attempt to prevent further demolition of houses. UNC Senator and attorney Gerald Ramdeen filed the injunction last Friday against the Commissioner of State Lands.

Justice Seepersad heard the matter ex-parte on Sunday and granted a conservatory order preventing the Commissioner her agents from encroaching onto land for the purpose of demolishing houses.

The effect of the judge’s order saw residents being allowed to return to Pine Avenue and some have since rebuilt their houses. The value of these squatters’ houses range from $90,000 to $800,000.

Ramdeen contended that the residents have occupied land at Pine Avenue for the past 30 years and have nowhere else to live. He said the State’s action was unlawful, oppressive and breached the residents’ fundamental right not to be deprived of their property, except by due process of law.

On Wednesday, Justice Seepersad heard the matter in San Fernando while attorneys for the State participated via video conference from the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain. Attorney Terrence Bharath instructed by Tamara Toolsie, appeared for the Commissioner of State Lands.

Justice Seepersad directed that filing of evidence commence on both sides and adjourned the case to July 25 to be heard in the Hall of Justice.

The eight-bout card is being held in conjunction with the Floyd Trumpet Boxing Gym.

Paul, who was this country’s only boxer to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will fight Jeremy Rudolfo in a 91 plus kg contest. Paul and fellow national boxer Aaron Prince, who are both from Enterprise, are preparing for the 2017 Continental Championships in Honduras from June 7 to 20.

The Continental Championships are a qualifier for the World Championships.

The recent success of TT ’s schoolboys, juniors and youth team in Guyana has increased the interest in boxing.

The Association believes this is good for the future of the sport, as they are seeing 12 and 13 year olds joining the programmes.

This card will feature four youth boxers that are presently in preparation for the Commonwealth Youth Games, scheduled for July 19 to 23 in Nassau, Bahamas.

The boxers are Justin Parris, Tyrone St Clair, Tyron Thomas and Nickell Joseph.

The TT BA thanked the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago for the assistance given to the national team in Guyana. The TT BA also thanked the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, for welcoming the young boxers on their return, saying it has gone a long way in motivating them and bringing others on board.

FIGHT CARD Nigel Paul vs Jeremy Rudolfo (91 plus kgs) Aaron Prince vs Akiel Outram (69 kgs) Isaac Herbert vs Brendon Dennis (91 kgs) Romel Lezama vs Nickkell Joseph (75 kgs) Isaac Cudjoe vs Tyrell Cadette (81 kgs) Christian McDonald vs Anthony Joseph (60 kgs) Nyrell Hosein vs Kevin Persadie (49 kgs) Joshua Sylvester vs Josiah Hunte (69 kgs)

The inaugural jazz affair will be staged at the scenic Blanchisseuse Recreation Ground tomorrow and is expected to attract both jazz enthusiasts and mainstream music lovers. The line-up of diverse local acts including Mavis John, Nailah Blackman, Adana Roberts, Adan Hagley and his band Quintet, Vaughnette Bigford, Ray Holman and Gyerlini Clarke. Veteran DJ John Gill will also entertain patrons.

One of the main sponsors of the event is bmobile. In expressing the company’s support for the event, VP Marketing Camille Campbell said in a media release: “We are happy to be lending our support to this innovative event as we see the tremendous benefits it can bring to not only the community of Blanchisseuse but to the artistes themselves who will get the opportunity to showcase their talents, right here at home.

“At bmobile, we always place tremendous emphasis on supporting local artistes, and by extension the arts and entertainment industry, because we believe that our entertainers can stand tall among the best in the world.

There is a popular sentiment that ‘foreign is better’ but North Coast Jazz highlights the fact that we can stage a first-class event featuring top performers who are 100 percent home-grown.

“It is important to us that we continue to do our part in helping to develop a diverse portfolio of exceptional events where the talent, creativity and entrepreneurial flair of our citizens are not only showcased but appreciated. We have high hopes that this festival will be a success and pave the way for similar entertainment events in the future.” The festival which is the brainchild of former mayor of Port-of- Spain Louis Lee Sing has been in production for the past year. It is being staged in collaboration with the Blanchisseuse Village Council and organisers say it is intended to kick-start the development of a bed and breakfast industry in the community, which will cater to both local and foreign visitors.

With a growing youth population in the area, the initiative is expected to further boost the economy by creating employment opportunities for the young people of Blanchisseuse and environs.

Police found six pounds of marijuana in the house. The man’s 23-year-old wife was arrested. Police said that at 2 pm, Sgt Edwards, PCs Joseph, Seenath, Singh, Hypolite and D’Abreau went to the man’s house to execute a search warrant when he ran into the nearby forest. The 30-year-old is well-known by police who expect to arrest him soon.

In an unrelated incident, Sangre Grande and Toco police led by Inspector Ken Lutchman and including Sgt Chris Edwards, Cpl Randolph Castillo, PC Joseph and others carried out a search over the weekend in Toco for a 24-year-old man wanted for crimes including shooting, wounding and robbery.

On Tuesday, the man surrendered to officers at Port-of-Spain CID.

He was taken to the Sangre Grande police station and is expected to be placed on several identification parades.

Director of the Single wicket Cricket Foundation Andre Phillips says he expects that there will be significant growth in the competition this year. Speaking at the launch at the Scarborough Library, Phillips says, “the broad vision is to make Trinidad and Tobago the mecca for single wicket cricket or all-rounder cricket which is the only way in which one can truly determine an all-rounder in the cricket game.”

He added, “In one of our proposals is Garry Sobers is the greatest cricketer of the 20th century. We are looking for the greatest cricketer in this century, and we are doing it through competition.”

He said the next stage is to create a program will begin in the next 12 months throughout the Caribbean and ultimately end with the international all-rounder competition. “If there is a venue Tobago can continue to rely on for cricket without input it’s the Roxborough grounds (Cyd Gray Complex). It has all the right attributes for the kind of event we hold which is sports entertainment on a cricket hub.” Last year, Trinidadian Mark Deyal was able to walk away the $15,000 prize and winner’s crown.

This year he will be defending his title against Marcus Daniel, captain of the T20 champions of Tobago, Jahron Alfred, Akiel Cooper and last year’s losing finalist Navin Stewart, among others.

Christopher Faiz Mohammed was brought to court in handcuffs and he stood before Senior Magistrate Cherril-Ann Antoine who read out seven charges. One charge alleges that at Houssa Trace in Gasparillo, Mohammed shot at Kerwin Williams with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Williams, 26, is from Tahal Avenue, Gasparillo and court prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan said he remains warded at San Fernando General Hospital in a stable medical condition. Williams was shot in the chest and arm. The other charges alleged that Mohammed of Medford Lane, Mayo had in his possession an unlicensed pistol; six rounds of ammunition; ammunition to endanger life; not having a firearm users licence, firing a pistol to endanger life and discharging a firearm within 40 metres of a public road.

PC Seedan displayed the pistol and six rounds of ammunition in court. Charges were laid by PC Kerron Castillo. PC Angelene Bassarath who assisted in the investigations, brought the pistol and ammo to the court.

Attorney Louis Andrews pleaded for bail saying his client Mohammed had no previous conviction, is a regular member of the Gasparillo ASJA Mosque, is married and has a five-year-old daughter. PC Seedan did not object to bail but told the court Mohammed had a charge for malicious damage in 2006.

He disclosed to the attorney Andrews a summary of evidence, victim’s medical record, station diary extracts, search warrants and criminal record document.

Magistrate Antoine granted Mohammed $350,000 bail with a cash alternative of $50,000. The case was adjourned to June 30.

Hotel 21 features five actresses including Nikki Crosby, an award-winning actress and an acclaimed comedienne. She has performed with RS/RR Productions in many plays such as the Biggest Macco and I Love You ‘Till Someone Better Comes Along.

Leslie Anne Lavine made her acting debut with RS/RR in Men Are Dogs for which she won the Cacique Award for Best Supporting Actress and has become one of TT ’s critically-acclaimed actresses.

Zo Mari Tanker has been on stage and television since the age of four. She has appeared in Zombie, Real Housewives of Portof- Spain and Should I Really Get Married.

Ria Ali got her start eight years ago with her first theatrical role as Dawn Agostini in the Cacique award-winning play Men Are Dogs. Since then, Ali has been honing her craft to become one of the country’s leading actresses and has performed in over 13 plays RS/RR productions. She was last seen in Real Housewives of Port-of-Spain and Should I Really Get Married.

Hotel 21 is directed by Debra Boucaud Mason, a leading lady in her own right as both actress and director. She has won many Cacique Awards for her acting and directing.

The play also features actors and comedians as Richard Ragoobarsingh, Sunny Bling and Aaron Schneider.

Hotel 21 follows the investigation of a persistent police inspector as he is hot on the trail of certain suspects in a $5 million robbery. The trail leads to a converted farmhouse in Erin that is now known as Hotel 21. The comedy never stops as it is Labour Day and major union officials are “celebrating” at the hotel as the inspector chases after the money which leads to unexpected turns and twists towards a hilarious and riveting end.

Tickets are available at all regular outlets. For more info: Facebook.

The exercise was conducted in Tacarigua.

Police are working on the theory that the liquor was illegally imported from Miami.

Police sources said they were on patrol on St Michael Road at 2.30 pm, when they saw six men off-loading cases from a container and putting them in another vehicle. Police asked the men where they got the liquor from and when none could answer, they were arrested.

Police and Customs officials later went to Bahrosa Street in Tacarigua where several properties were searched.

Police found 637 cases of Absolut Vodka, 40 cases of Johnny Walker Scotch Whiskey, a generator and a power washer.