This was the energy service provider’s second award of Friday evening, having edged out the Hyatt Recency hotel for first place in the Employer of the Year – Large Category.

The company is a subsidiary of JSL International LLC, which is based in Houston, Texas.

Addressing ECA members at the award’s function at Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, JSL’s managing director Javid Ramcharitar said the company was “pleased and humbled” to be deemed Champion Employer. As a large contingent of staff stood on stage behind him, Ramcharitar said, “It is an honour to join past recipients who I have long admired and respected.” Recognising all of the 2017 nominees, he thanked them for making “incredible contributions to their communities, as well as to the prosperity of our beautiful twin island republic in different ways.” Reflecting on the company’s journey to success, Ramcharitar thanked “all those who trusted, those who believed in some way that we, JSL, a small fledgling company with no face that started out seven years ago with five employees, sharing a 309 square foot office space, had a chance.” On its website (www.jslinternational.

net) the company describes itself as “a premium service provider, pooling the best group of companies and resources together for any job assigned.” From five employees in 2010, JSL International now employs more than 650 people and operates in more than 12 countries.

In all, seven awards were given out last Friday. The others were: 1) Micro Champion Employer of the Year – Manuchan (Trinidad) Limited; 2) Employer of the Year (Small Category) – RHS Marketing Limited; 3) Employer of the Year (Medium Category) – Crews Inn Hotel and Yacht Club; 4) Award for Excellence in Staff Development and Industrial Relations – Scotiabank TT; and 5) Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Engagement – RHS Marketing Limited.

Batting first at the Syne Village Ground in Penal, hosts Power- Gen closed day one on a massive 358 runs for seven wickets. Sookdeosingh struck an aggressive 118 off 124 balls with 15 fours and two sixes, while Nicholson scored an unbeaten 105 off 234 deliveries hitting six fours and two sixes. The second wicket partnership between Nicholson and Sookdeosingh was worth 133 runs. Akeil Cooper pitched in with 50, while Kerwyn Sirju (3/71) and Samuel Roopnarine (3/80) were the chief wicket-takers for Clarke Road.

At the Brian Lara Recreation Ground in Santa Cruz, Merry Boys closed on 144/6 against Central Sports. Mario Belcon top scored with 52, while Jeetendra Sookdeo is unbeaten on 30. Bowling for Central Sports, the experienced Shazan Babwah took 3/52 and Kissoondath Magram grabbed 2/33.

No play was possible in the other two matches featuring Alescon Comets and Jailal Enterprise Victoria at Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Charlieville and Tableland versus Queen’s Park at St Julien Road Recreation Ground.

The final of the 50-over competition between Queen’s Park and Merry Boys will be played at the National Cricket Centre from 10 am today.

Tours of outlets allows customers to learn how to prepare their favourite hamburgers and observe what goes on behind the counter. Arcos Dorados, franchisee for McDonald’s throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, said since the OPD was launched locally last year, “visits have exceeded expectation and by the end of 2017, it is estimated that a total of 12,000 visits will be achieved in this country.” The company said an internal survey “identified astonishing data”, including that seven out of ten people did not know about the hand washing process completed by employees and that eight out of ten did not know that about McDonald’s aforementioned meat standards.

“Additionally, nine out of ten people acknowledged that the food safety measures implemented at Mc- Donald’s such as avoiding mixing raw foods with cooked foods are key to disease prevention,” Arcos Dorados said.

Operation supervisor of Arcos Dorados TT, Kalifa Duncan, also shared her thoughts on the OPD in a release issued by the company last Thursday.

“We are very proud of the results of (this) initiative and its exponential growth. In these almost four years, we received more than five million people in our kitchens to show them the dedication with which we prepare each meal, our cleaning procedures and quality standards.

At each visit, we are one step closer to breaking down the myths about our food and showing that we take care of every detail in our operations.”

In my developmental psychology course at university, I was surprised at the research-backed finding that mothers have a very strong influence on children’s academic achievement.

Still so. My recent column, A mother’s ambition, provided an inspiring example. These 18,240 SEA students came from parents of different races and religions – some rich, some poor; some single, some completely absent. These embattled students also came from different primary schools – some better than others – spread across eight educational administrative districts. Some are denominational (church), some are government and some privately managed.

The competitive SEA exam itself has become a boiling-point stressor, with entry into a “prestige secondary school” as the tormenting goal. Secondary schools are judged by academic output, meaning CXC passes and scholarships, for example – never mind the virtuous rhetoric about a school’s sporting, artistic or character-building achievements.

And the schools know that. Is there a level playing field in the educational battleground? Does demography determine a student’s destiny? Why? Students’ battle for their life chances begin but do not end with the SEA.

The prevailing, dominant value in the society is for a grammar education through “prestige” secondary schools, then into university to head into one or the other “professions.” The big question ready for a discussion beyond the confines of this column is to what extent the expensive education system is really serving the civic, social and economic needs of this country? To what extent is our education system unwittingly preserving the existing socio-economic stratification system? To what extent has individual responsibility and choice faltered? Or is it the “system?” Or both? Inequity rears its head from the primary school – even from the fee-paying differentiations at kindergarten.

Take the upper level test from 2010 to 2014. Students from schools in districts Caroni and Victoria consistently showed significantly higher scores than those in Tobago and North Eastern. In the 2012 SEA, while the national average was 4.8 per cent of students scoring 90 per cent and above, schools in Caroni and Victoria produced 6.6 per cent and 9.7 per cent respectively. And these were mainly denominational schools. For Tobago, less than one per cent (0.6) of its students crossed the 90 per cent score.

From 2007 to 2011, a much higher proportion of males than females scored 30 per cent or less in the SEA – almost a 3:1 proportion. Where are these boys now? Check the Remand Yard. (R. Deosaran. Inequality, Crime and Education in Trinidad and Tobago: Removing the Masks, 2016, pp 200-210) Of the 17,268 who wrote in 2010, 62.5 per cent of females scored 90 per cent and higher in the SEA while 37.5 per cent of males did so. In fact, since then, in every year, more females scored 90 per cent and higher than males, thus entering “prestige schools” in higher proportions than males. Privately-run, fee-paying primary schools do very well.

The battle continues. We surveyed 1,300 to find out what they did three years after leaving secondary school.

We found that a much higher proportion of students from “prestige schools” entered university while those from other types ended up “working only.” Of course, in the competitive Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) system, merit by examination is the criterion.

While, for example, 72 per cent of East Indian students sampled went into university, 47 per cent Africans and 49 per cent of the Mixed group respectively did so. (See Inequality, Crime and Education, 2016).

While 65 per cent of students from two-parent homes went into university (48 per cent UWI), 52 per cent from single-parent homes did so (32 per cent UWI).

Upper social class students had the highest proportion (85 per cent) entering university. Lower class had 47 per cent. It is essentially the battle between proportions which help perpetuate the social stratification system – even if we create more places in “prestige” schools or UWI.

For everyone involved, it is also about “the will to succeed” – the subject of last week’s column.

Jeffrey will let loose his side in the Final Round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship 2017—the qualifier tournament to the CONCACAF Champions League.

The San Juan Kings qualified for the Final Round by topping their First Round group play in St Vincent last March.

Jeffrey has added ex-Trinidad and Tobago international winger Hayden Tinto, ex-Morvant Caledonia United and Central FC striker Julio Noel, St Ann’s Rangers defender Shakiyl Phillip, and Jose Centeno Parra to his roster.

Centeno, however, a 23-yearold Venezuelan midfielder, is awaiting his international transfer certificate and will not be available for the Caribbean Club Championship final round.

The incoming players also meant the surprising exit for TT winger Tyrone Charles, striker Jamal Gay, midfielder Keyon Edwards and defender Aquil Selby, who were all part of the team’s third-place finish (29 points) in the Pro League last season behind champions Central FC (47) and runners-up W Connection (46).

“The gap between the top two teams and the third place in the (Pro) league last season meant some things needed to be changed if we are to try and close the gap in the new season,” said Jeffrey.

“We still have the nucleus of last season because we didn’t want to break the chemistry. But the changes are all part of the new direction in the style of play we want to achieve. And sometimes you need a different type of player for a different style of play.” Although preferring to keep his cards close to his chest, Jeffrey promised a “more combative” team which he says can hopefully produce more goals.

Jeffrey’s new quartet enters a Jabloteh squad that includes TT international Carlyle Mitchell and 19-year-old Panama midfield talent, Jairo Lombardo, who both joined earlier this year.

_TTPROLEAGUE.COM_

Today, I have streamlined a makeup routine for all you busy moms out there. A little makeup can go a long way, for not only helping you look rested and radiant, but giving you a moment to actually relax. I know a lot of moms who look forward to their morning beauty routine, just because it gives them an excuse to sit alone, clear their head and relax for a few minutes while they prepare themselves to take on the day.

If you can spare five minutes from your busy day, then you can do this. I have designed this routine to be quick, efficient and toddler-proof, using multi-purpose products that will make you look more awake and refreshed. The most important rule is to skip any unnecessary steps; if you have clear skin, skip foundation. If you have full or natural eyebrows, skip filling them in. This is the key to getting things done quickly.

Let’s get started on your five-minute face. Firstly, always protect your skin. When you are on the go, you can forget to apply your sun protection, which can lead to premature aging. The last thing you want on top of your busy life if to accelerate the appearance of hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. Whether you choose to apply it in the form of moisturiser, BB cream or foundation, be sure to keep it in your routine. Even a quick run to the grocery or picking your kids up from school can expose you to the sun’s harmful rays, which over time, can be damaging.

Tip: If you have an infant or toddler, I recommend skipping heavy foundation. They can reach out and grab your face, scratching your skin with their tiny nails. Your makeup will end up under those delicate fingernails of theirs, so the less you have on, the better. Opt for a lightweight tinted moisturiser, powder foundation, or skip it completely if you don’t need the coverage. Definitely avoid heavier cream or liquid formulas.

If your skin is clear but you have dark circles, only apply concealer under your eyes. It shouldn’t be lighter than your skin tone since there won’t be any foundation for it to blend or fade into; just your bare skin. I like liquid concealers for this step because they’re the easiest to blend and look the most natural.

Tarte’s Shape Tape or LA Girl Pro Conceal are my picks. Lightly set under eyes with powder to reduce the chance of your concealer creasing. Perk up your cheeks with a sweep of blush or bronzer; a little colour on the cheeks will help to add definition to your face and lift your complexion, making you look more awake and healthy. Opt for a baked blush, or one that has a nice luminosity to it, so you won’t have to highlight separately.

Sweep a bit of your bronzer over your eyelids with a fluffy blending brush. This will add some definition to your eyes without much effort. If you want to, you can apply a liquid or pencil eyeliner to your upper lash line to add definition to your eyes. Create whatever style you are comfortable with, whether that’s smokey liner, winged cat eyes, or classic liner. If you can’t manage doing eyeliner, that’s okay. Just curl your eyelashes if you need to, and apply a generous coat of your favourite mascara. Focus on the roots of your lashes, and wiggle the wand upwards and outwards. This will create depth at the base of your lashes, which can actually look like eyeliner. Fill in your eyebrows if you need to with either pencil or powder, and set them with a brow gel if the hairs are unruly.

Lastly, apply your favourite lip colour. Whether that’s a bold red or pretty pink lipstick, a tinted lip balm or a lip gloss. The look we created is neutral enough to work with whatever lip your heart desires.

I’m well known for my love of Korean television, but lately I’ve gotten into Chinese fantasy dramas too. So, there I was engrossed in one particular episode, when the ‘star boy’ of the series said, ‘The mother is arrogant and deceitful you can’t expect the son to be magnanimous’.

Aside from the fact that the English vocabulary of a Chinese drama seems to be larger than that of many native English speakers, he had a valid point. Children learn from modelling their parents, I’m not saying all children are going to be little replicas of their parents, but let’s just say the odds of being very different are slim.

Most parents want the best for their children and hope they grow up to be upstanding/outstanding members of society. We want our children to bring us honour through their successes. Who doesn’t hope to raise a National Scholarship winner or academic genius? Look at the parents bursting with pride when results for SEA are released. You think that just is just a lucky accident? It takes a lot of work and dedication from both parents and children.

If on the other hand you think all it takes to raise a National Scholarship winner is making sure your child has his/her schoolbooks, uniform and lunch and snacks you are sadly mistaken. It takes an investment of your time and resources. I’m reminded of Former US President Barak Obama who spoke of his mother waking up in the wee hours of the morning to help him with his schoolwork. She was willing to sacrifice of herself to ensure her son was well educated. Also by example she pursued higher education, so her children saw first hand the sacrifices required to achieve and we all know how that turned out.

The importance of providing a good example for children is not limited to academics but it is crucial when learning money management skills. No one is born knowing how to handle money, it is a skill you learn as you go along in life. The first place you are exposed to money management skills is at home from your parents. I have a neighbour who learned the hard way how to manage his money, he did a great job over the years and made his family financially secure. Very few middle class families can consider themselves financially secure but he was able to achieve that.

Although it was tough on his son (you know, he was young and had a good job and wanted to go a bit wild) but in the end, when home ownership is an almost impossible dream for many young people, he was able to secure a home, pay off his mortgage early, flip the house and upgrade. No mean feat for someone under 40. He learnt the lessons of financial management at home and that gave him a head start.

When making a household budget include your children in the process. Give them an allowance that they can count as income. This helps them learn how to budget their allowance to get the things they want and need.

My six-year-old gets $5 a week, if he wants something like snacks I don’t approve of, he can buy it with his own money. If he wants me to buy a special toy or game that costs a lot, I ask him to save his allowance and contribute a specific sum toward the item.

The most critical aspect parents influence their children is in modelling morals. You can’t be a lying, cheating, old scamp and expect your children to be honest and upstanding citizens. I am stunned by the number of men I encounter, who chased skirts like their lives depended on it, then are upset when their daughters grow up to be as promiscuous as they are. To quote my deceased grandmother, the late, great Pearlie ‘Sheep don’t make goat!’.

This isn’t long ago where parents could say ‘Do as I say not as I do’. In those days there was the community, the church, the school system and the extended family to make up for the shortcomings of parents.

Now that these supporting institutions have more or less collapsed and the responsibilities for the moral teaching of our children, falls on parents. Not living the life we claim we are, is not going to wash with modern children. Modelling decent, honest behaviour and good manners is the only chance you have of raising well-behaved, honest children. That means waiting your turn in line, following the rules of the road and saying please, excuse me and thank you. Don’t be a cussbud or listen to music with profanity, then be shocked when you hear your children using the same words they heard.

Wondering why the youth of today are so violent and angry? Look at the parenting they received. I know all about ‘you could make the child but you can?t make their mind’ but the odds of a child being shown the straight and narrow from the beginning, turning into a delinquent are slim. I remember one very attractive, single mother who came to me asking for help. Her teenage daughter had a ‘boyfriend’ who apparently had been living in her house for a month. The first question to my mind was, how can someone live her house for a month and not be noticed? The mother’s attention was on her relationships and looking good and liming. I had to give her the harsh truth, this is what you have shown your daughter, how can you demand now that she live a life different to yours? It’s not just mothers but fathers too. Daddy is rude and disrespectful to Mummy and Junior thinks this is the way to communicate with women. So he also speaks to Mummy in a rude and disrespectful manner, since that’s what men do but he’s punished for it. The hypocrisy of it all.

So parents, examine yourself and become the kind of adults you want your children to become. It’s not easy but if you don’t have the discipline to guide your children by example, how can you demand it of them? Modelling living an upright and respectable lifestyle for your children, is much more effective than beating them. It takes more effort but parents aren’t your children worth it?

Bravo had suffered the injury during his stint with Melbourne Renegades in December last year and underwent surgery. He missed the Pakistan Super League in February, then joined his IPL franchise Gujarat Lions in India but did not play as his rehabilitation continued.

Bravo played in a friendly match for the opening of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Friday, but wanted to ensure he did not rush into full-time cricket without regaining full fitness. He also reiterated that he remained available for selection in the West Indies T20 squad, the only format which he plays for the team.

“My next competitive cricket will be for CPL,” he told line&length, a Barbados-based network. “International cricket is different. I want to give myself the best chance of coming back and playing the way I usually play, which is give 100 percent and do all the crazy things I do. I am not going to rush into anything.

My target is to keep training and get my entire body in shape.

“I have improved a lot. I am closer to playing now than I was threefour months ago. The surgery itself was successful. It’s just a matter of continuing my rehab programme. I don’t want to rush things, it’s a very severe injury. I want to make sure I am feeling good and comfortable in my mind.

“I am available for T20 selection, it’s the only format in which I am available for selection. So if selected for T20s, I will play. I will always have the passion and the drive to play for West Indies. I am only limited in being able to play one format and those are things that I don’t have control over.” Having last played an ODI (One Day International) for West Indies in October 2014, Bravo was almost certain he would not play the format again unless the selection structure for the West Indies team changes.

Currently, players need to participate in the Regional Super50 List A competition to be available for selection in the ODI side.

“I am not going to give up the contracts that I have around the world to come back and play in the domestic tournament,” he said.

“I did it already and I got burned.

I am not going to allow the same mistake to happen again. I gave up half of my contract in BBL in 2015 to come and play and make myself eligible for selection for the World Cup and the Sri Lanka tour, but I was not selected.

“Playing in those tournaments doesn’t guarantee you selection. It makes you available but it doesn’t guarantee selection. I am past the stage where I will give up certain amount of money on my contract and make myself available without any guarantee. If the structure changes or something different happens, then yes.”

The 33-year-old, who plays both midfield and striker positions for Trinidad and Tobago, has been a member of the national squad since the early 2000s.

Even in the twilight of her career, she noted that she deals with her tasks, on and off the field, to the best of her ability.

“At times, it’s been difficult balancing the two but, for the love of the game, you sacrifice a lot,” said Tasha, during an interview at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, moments before a TT team training session.

“Having loved ones like my family and also my teammates supporting me along the way, that’s where the help and encouragement comes from.”

Tasha’s husband, Kareem “Tiny” Joseph, has been a long-serving player with TT Pro League club Morvant Caledonia United and, together, they have a seven-year-old daughter, Kailah.

Asked, during her pregnancy, if she pondered whether to continue playing sports or did she have the drive to play regardless, Tasha responded, “I always believed in combining the two, while playing the sport and having a family.

“I never had doubts in giving up football to go start a family. I always thought I could do the two and I did.”

She also admitted that her teammates regularly ask her about the challenges she faces being both a mom and an active footballer.

“Teammates ask me all the time about it because they all are women too and they want to know what the experiences are,” she said. “Some of them are probably setting their minds on having a family. So, the questions are always there.”

As far as her career is concerned, Tasha sees herself playing for “probably a year or two years.”

She stated, “that’s how long I see myself playing. I gave all what I have to give before. The body’s getting older.”

Regarding Kailah, Tasha revealed, “Right now, I don’t think she’s focused on football or I haven’t seen anything like that. Both parents (are) footballers and you’re never to know if she’ll follow in (those) footsteps.”

However, she is keen to encourage her daughter 100 percent, if she decides to take up football, or any sporting discipline for that matter.

“Whatever it is she wants to do that is positive, I would always be there for her,” Tasha said. “It doesn’t matter what sport she chooses I would support her because I took that avenue as well in sport. So I would always support her, it doesn’t matter what.”

Asked if she wants to grow her family, she replied, “Yea, for sure, one more because I don’t want more than two kids. So… soon.”

Finally, how does she and her husband juggle both parenting and football?

“He’s the better half of me so we co-parent very well, together with the football, because he understands what I’m going through and I understand what he’s going through,” she responded.

“I think it’s very easy for us t

There are lots of principles that mothers can apply on a consistent basis that will make a difference in their children’s lives and prevent them from joining the criminal element. They must be the best mothers they can be .

We’re not perfect, but good parenting is selfless. It’s a balance of rewarding good behaviour, teaching the consequences of bad behaviour and being involved in your child’s life. Being overprotective, overly punishing, too permissive or absent can only increase the possibilities of a teen who is prone to addiction (because of a biochemical problem that may already exist) becoming addicted .

Most of the civilized and law-abiding citizens today were created by good mothers. Our moms decided to give birth to us and with that took on the responsibility to love and support us in good times and in bad. They would hold us any time of day or night when we needed them. When we were afraid and in a state of vulnerability, our mothers’ love made us feel secure. When we were vulnerable as a baby, our moms were our protectors and providers .

Our moms spent all of our baby years keeping us safe so we were able to grow through experiences and become the people we are today .

Most of us are successful today because our moms offered us as much security as possible .

Their only job in the first years was to ensure we had the basic necessities .

Good moms are selfless .

They put their children before themselves with everything and are dedicated to their children .

They love us even when we don’t love ourselves in the adolescent years. There are some tough years when we don’t even know who we are anymore but our moms teach us how valuable we are with their love for us .

They are the ones who know when something is wrong, no matter how many times we tell them, “Nothing.” They are the only ones who know our annoying habits and still love us in spite of them and look beyond our faults and weaknesses .

Our moms never fail to tell us they love us at least once a day .

They will go above and beyond, through the toughest of conditions, just to make sure we are happy. They stand beside us when everyone else has abandoned us .

Every child needs a strong, loving, relationship with their mom to feel safe and secure and to develop a sense of trust. Behaviour problems and delinquency are less likely to develop in children whose mothers play an active role and are directly involved in their lives, especially at an early age .

It’s not easy to show love to a child all the time, but it must be practised in order to ensure the future of TT is nothing like the present crime wave we are experiencing .

SIMON WRIGHT Chaguanas