They called on Minister of Works Rohan Sinanan to address their plight immediately as they feel they are being overlooked because they reside in a rural area. The protestors were pacified though with assurance coming from Minister Sinanan that work will begin on fixing the road in three weeks time.

The road has been impacted negatively due to the laying of pipelines in the area with the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) on April 19, 2016, promising “restoration of the roadway will commence on Wednesday 20th April, 2016 with resumption of the pipe laying project beginning on Monday.

The Authority apologises for the inconvenience caused and thanks the residents for their patience and understanding in this matter.” Irate residents say they have been patient for far too long as the bad road is affecting their health, vehicles and jobs. Fishing Pond resident Prakash Ramkissoon explained to Newsday how the road affects his community.

“Now is dry season so is real dust. Villagers complaining, business people complaining, people that selling their food have to stop because of the dust. And when rain fall is mud so we have it real bad. I think Fishing Pond road is one of the worst road in Trinidad. We take the Minister word and we cleared the road and we wait on him (now).

In the next two weeks things going to happen again if he don’t fix the road,” he declared.

Ramkisoon continued, “They get in touch with the Minister Rohan and he say in three weeks time he will fix the road. We say ‘we want it in writing’ but he say ‘don’t worry it will fix’. We say ‘okay we will take your word for it’. The villagers themselves helped clear the debris and all the burning thing from the road with the hope that in three weeks time he will fix the road.”

The opening ceremony, which included a parade and knockout competition, signals a vibrant start to this year’s proceedings. LLPOSNL president, Debbie Ann Francois, in welcoming the teams on parade, encouraged the players and officials to strengthen the country’s most successful team sport and longest established netball league and build on last season’s success.

Trinidad and Tobago Netball Association (TT NA) Assistant Secretary Allyson Ashby, before officially declaring the LLPOSNL open, highlighted some of the netball tournaments scheduled for 2017 and urged supporters to continue to rally around the sport.

Newcomers Tamana Young Warriors won the parade followed by Mucurapo Ex-Pupils and Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service in second and third place respectively.

The protective services teams also held down first and second spot in the flag competition with Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service placing in that order. Mucurapo Ex-Pupils won best queen on parade. The Intermediate Division Knockout Competition was won by Transcend from a field of 11 teams.

Official competition starts next Wednesday at 5pm at the Jean Pierre Complex with a Divisional Knockout Competition.

The League has three Divisions including Kiwis (developmental), Intermediate and First Division.

This Strategy is geared towards matching donor funding with the needs of the country to build the supply side capacity and trade related infrastructure. This means that the Government will now have a structured programme of trade related project interventions which can be used to target specific donor funding.

Donors will now be able to use Trinidad and Tobago’s Aid for Trade Strategy as a framework for mobilising resources to address the trade priorities of Trinidad and Tobago and the related projects. For our exporters the Strategy provides a unique opportunity to obtain resources to address critical constraints that hinder their capacity to trade’.

Gopee-Scoon informed the audience that the Aid for Trade Strategy is of primary importance for a country like Trinidad and Tobago, which at this time is seeking to diversify its exports in the non-energy sectors. She said, “Currently, Trinidad and Tobago faces numerous trade-related challenges in its domestic environment.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is therefore focused on addressing such challenges as, the lack of internationally accredited testing facilities, inadequate financing mechanisms, underdeveloped market intelligence, congestion at the ports, and absence of payment mechanisms to facilitate e-commerce.” The Strategy covers a three year period from 2016 to 2019 and presents a coherent framework of priority areas, identified by domestic business support organisations, Ministries and agencies, necessary to address the challenges faced in expanding trade in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Aid for Trade framework consists of three pillars: Export Diversification, Competitiveness and Trade Facilitation. Each Pillar contains, objectives, priority areas and projects that are aligned with Government’s Draft National Strategic Development Plan, Vision 2030.’ Senator Gopee-Scoon urged the private sector to become actively involved in the implementation of this Strategy to ensure that aid also promotes ‘investment for trade’.

The Ministry will have general oversight for the implementation of the Aid for Trade Strategy, country ownership at the highest political level and effective intra-governmental co- ordination will ensure successful implementation of the Strategy. Trinidad and Tobago’s National Aid for Trade Strategy includes a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism.

Norris Herbert, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry stated that, “The Aid for Trade Strategy will be a key tool in diversifying the economy.” He acknowledged the dedication and commitment of those involved in the development of the National Aid for Trade Strategy and called for continued discussions and collaboration amongst stakeholders.

Candice Lackhansingh, Programme Coordinator at the Ministry, delivered a detailed presentation on the strategy. She outlined the Structure of the Aid for Trade Strategy and described the priority areas and projects to which Donors can target their assistance. She further explained how the strategy would be implemented.

Lackhansingh concluded by calling for the continued development of project proposals by the various stakeholders.

The woman, Alliyah Ali, 29, stood in the courtroom with her left eye bruised and cheek swollen. She showed Magistrate Gloria Jasmath the injuries her husband inflicted.

Gokool pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

Court prosecutor Sgt Krishna Bedassie told Magistrate Jasmath that at about 11.30 pm last Friday, Gokool arrived home and began to cuff Ali. He also kicked her as she ran out of the house.

Magistrate Jasmath heard that Gokool proceeded to run after Ali and dragged her back into the house. Sgt Bedassie said Gokool used a curtain rod to beat Ali. The man then used a wooden mop handle to continue beating her. Neighbours heard the commotion and telephoned the police.

PC Sandy of the Southern Division Task Force responded and met the couple on the road. Gokool was arrested while Ali was taken to San Fernando General Hospital where she was treated for injuries to her left eye and cheek.

Gokool was charged by PC Sandy.

Sgt Bedassie said the accused refused to allow police officers to take his fingerprint. He said Ali has vowed not to go back to the house and instead will stay at the home of her parents in South Oropouche. Asked by Magistrate Jasmath why he refused to be fingerprinted, Gokool said, “Well, I didn’t know what was going on.” Bedassie said the records show Gokool has three pending court cases but a further trace needs to be done to ascertain if he had convictions.

Magistrate Jasmath then noted the bruises on Ali’s face. She remanded Gokool into custody for tracing and ordered him to return to court tomorrow for sentencing.

The matter came up for hearing yesterday before Justice Frank Seepersad who granted an extension to May 8 but not before he expressed his disquiet with the pace with which the matter was proceeding.

He has adjourned the case to May 29. Representing Charles is attorney Devesh Maharaj while Reginald Armour SC and attorney Nadine Nabbie appear for Rowley whose response was expected to be filed on March 3.

In his notice of application Charles of Union Hall, Cross Crossing, is seeking a declaration that the decision of the prime minister to revoke his appointment was illegal, made in bad faith and is contrary to fundamental human rights.

He says he was not provided equality before the law and equality of treatment. Charles will also be asking the court to declare that he had a legitimate expectation to maintain his rank and position as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary upon returning to Trinidad and Tobago and therefore Rowley’s decision to revoke his appointment as ambassador was a deprivation of his legitimate expectation that he would have retained his position.

He also believe the decision is “flawed and defective” as the prime minister failed to provide reasons for the revocation.

Charles is seeking an order redirecting his appointment in addition to compensation. According to Charles, he was appointed Ambassador in March 2012.

He said he never had any previous interaction with Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and in Sep tember 2015, Moses visited the UN Headquarters in New York to attend the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

Charles said he and Moses attended a series of meetings in which he briefed the minister and advised him on several issues including a meeting of CARICOM foreign ministers.

Charles said that on September 30, 2015, Moses met the Ghanian foreign minister and while it was customary for advisors to attend, the minister did not want him (Charles) present at the meeting.

Charles said he later learned that the Ghanian minister had his advisors present at the meeting which concerned the planned visit by PM Rowley to Ghana in 2016.

He said at the end of 2015, he was asked by the acting permanent secretary of the Foreign Affairs ministry to submit his resume which he did although this was not the norm. He said on September 20, 2016, he received an instrument of revocation of his appointment.

Expressing the MSJ’s opposition to the Primary Schools Principals’ Association’s proposal to reduce the lunch break for primary school children, Abdulah said, it is a “a knee jerk reaction” that some schools may have with the supervision of children during the lunch break.

Incidents of bullying and other activities that have resulted in children being physically hurt may have occurred during the lunch break, he said.

Noting that many problems require fixing, he said, it seems as if those in authority are intent on looking at either taking short cuts or refusing to take responsibility for what takes place on their watch.

“Shortening the lunch hour is just another way of saying, he said, “we don’t want to take responsibility for what happens in the schools.” The MSJ’s position, he said, is that children need the one hour lunch break to have their lunch and some recreation time with their friends.

The MSJ, he said, is proposing the Ministry of Education introduce the use of volunteers such as parents, former teachers or persons within the community to supervise children during the lunch break.

The party suggests that the ministry includes as part of the schools’ curriculum issues such as conflict resolution, and increases the number of social workers and guidance counselors in all schools to work with parents, students and teachers. “In this regard,” Abdulah said, “we deplore the situation where social workers attached to schools have not had their contractual arrangements met by the employer.

This is an indication that the ministry is not getting its priorities right.”

The men from Wilson Road, Penal, are aiming at a chance to win the Championship Division and the $30,000 prize money.

Young Starz have been playing consistent cricket, winning all 10 of their fixtures to date.

After posting a very challenging 267 for eight wickets, led by Jason Bhola 86 and Rajesh Ghinoo 78, Young Starz bowler Christopher Dipchand ripped out five wickets for 23 runs while Sanjay Ramkissoon took two for 25 to rout Buen Intento for 126.

Meanwhile, Kapil Harry hit the highest individual century of the season when he reached 154 in Gandhi Sports’ mammoth total of 308 for three wickets against Happy Hits. Brandon Gopaul contributed 88.

In a match in which two centuries were scored, Happy Hits batsman Ryan Williams struck 119 but still saw his team bowled out for 200 to lose by 108 runs.

Five other batsmen scored centuries in the Intermediate and Saturday T20 divisions.

Andre Brown had the distinction of scoring two centuries, 100 for Metronomes against Commonwealth in the Intermediate Division, then getting 125 for his team against Congo Village in the T20. Smashers’ Desmond Mohammed hit 100 against Super Hard Hitters while Dylon Ali struck 125 for Surprise against Church Street. The other century came in the T20 with Ricky Siewchan getting 102 for Cavaliers against Hillpiece.

Summarised scores: Championship division: YOUNG STARZ 267/8 – Jason Bhola 86, Rajesh Ghinoo 78, Justin Lalman 3/51, Vishnu Boochoon 3/55 vs BUEN INTENTO 126 – Krishna Seunarine 38, chritopher dipchand 5/23, Sanjay Ramkissoon 2/25. YOUNG STARZ WON BY 141 RUNS.

VALLEY BOYS 126/6 – Neville Ramoutar 55, Kevin Gour 22, T Ramsaroop 2/31 vs HAPPY HITS 117/7 – Rishi Singh 38, Vijay Harding 35, Kevin Gour 3/19. VALLEY BOYS won by nine runs.

EAST INDIANS 170 – Jumadeen Mohammed 38, Kerry Mohammed 4/29, Nigel Khan 3/33 vs UPRISING UNITED 173/2 – Avinash Mahabirsingh 133, Naresh Singh 35, Terrance Deonath 1/25.

GANDHI SPORTS 308/3 – Kapil Harry 154 (Highest Individual Score for 2017 season) Brandon Gopielal 88, Imtiaz Esahack 66/2 vs HAPPY HITS 200/10 – Ryan Williams 119, Terrance Ramsaroop 39, Alex Singh 2/2, Boodram Sonny 2/27.

Intermediate Division: TREASURE CITY 179/5 – Teeluck Samaroo 58, Geno Balram 50, Justin Salick 2/6 vs LOTHIANS 132/6 – Keston Boodoo 35, Justin Salick 32. TREASURE CITY won by 47 runs.

METRONOMES 246/3 – Andre Brown 100, Bevon Duncan 87, Vicki Choon 2/32 vs COMMONWEALTH 165/9 – Anil Nariensingh 50, Vicki Choon 40, Andre Brown 3/21, Shammi Mahase 2/30. METRONOMES won by 81 runs.

SMASHERS 191/3 – Desmond Mohammed 100, Danny Oudit 39, E Ali 2/44 vs SUPER HARD HITTERS 189/ – Damian Ransome 60, Jervon Garcia 28, Danny Oudit 4/28, M Rambharat 2/35. SMASHERS won by two runs.

APOLLO XI 191/7 – J Khan 55, Andy Arjoon 44, Visham Mangroo 2/33 vs MANOHAR UTD 192 – Shazam Mohamed 68, Mulchan Arjoon 27, Nimchand Sookdeo 3/31, Wayne Sookraj 2/28. MANOHAR UTD won by one run.

LINKS XI 108 – Ravindra Siew 19, Glen Changoor 19, Damian Solomon 3/27, Prem Mohan 2/10 vs KNIGHT RIDERS 110/9 – Rajkumar Ramoutar 18, Prem Mohan 18, C Sookermany 2/15, A Buckreedan 2/18.

KNIGHT RIDERS won by one wicket.

BORDE NARVE INVERNESS 200/9 – Naresh Durgadeen 53, Howard Soogrim 44, R Monilal 3/35, S Loubon 3/26 vs SECRET STORM 189/- Reynold Ramnarine 51, Samaroo Loubon 37, Naresh Durgadeen 3/25, Christopher Soogrim 3/33. BORDE NARVE INVERNESS won by 11 runs.

SURPRISE 295 – Dylon Ali 125, Kenrick Kalicharan 61, Rondell Renwick 3/64, Brandon Maharaj 2/51 vs CHURCH STREET 132 – Russel Seelochan 36, Jason Forbes 19, Damian Ali 4/45. SURPRISE won by 163 runs.

PUNISHERS 150/9 – Ritesh Ramlochan 37, Lyndon Luke 22, Lyndell Singh 4/40, Evin Harry 2/23 vs STAR WARS 151/6 – Darian Ramdass 44, Evin Harry 34, Anderson Maingot 3/29, Sheldon Ramrattan 2/44. STAR WARS won by four wickets.

X-MEN S.C 273/7 – Visham Boodram 78, Sylvester Subrattee 43, Radesh Badree 2/43 vs RENOWN 176/6 – Shamid Mohammed 34, Robin Rampersad 26, Anirudh Ragoonanan 2/32. X-MEN won by 97 runs.

SUCHIT TRACE 155/6 – J Subhag 53, Tarran Ramhit 39, Neil Rambachan 2/17, Gary Rampersad 2/20 vs BATCHYIA SPORTS 159/8 – Haimanth Sookhan 37, Roland Pathay 33, Dennis Ramlal 3/16, Heman Sonny 3/28. BATCHYIA SPORTS won by two wickets.

SMASHERS 126/3 – Shiva Durbal 36, Desmond Mohammed 22 vs TREASURE CITY 125/9 – Devon Balram 26, Ramesh Bajnath 22, V Rooplal 3/13, M Rambarath 2/26.

SMASHERS won by one run.

TULSA TRACE 171/9 – C Ramgarib 41, M Rampersad 39, Ryerson Bhagoo 3/35, Sheldon Ganga 2/14 vs APOLLO XII 174/6 – Dane Ramsaroop 53, Rajesh Sinanan 29, Damian Dillon 2/30. APOLLO XII won by four wickets.

Saturday T20 scores: CAVALIERS 211/3 – Ricky Siewchan 107, Scott Ragbir 67, Kern Ramdeen 2/43 vs HILLPIECE SPORTS 214/2 – Avin Bissoondath 101, Ravi Samaroo 59. HILLPIECE SPORTS won by eight wickets.

METRONOMES 244/4 – Andre Brown 125, Varoon Samaroo 62, Selwyn Ramsingh 2/38 vs CONGO VILLAGE SPARTANS 58/8 – Stanley Persad 30, Keegan Jagersar 3/10, Andre Brown 2/14. METRONOMES won by 186 runs.

TREASURE CITY 125 – Devon Balram 26, Ramesh Bajnath 22, M Rambarath 3/24, V Rooplal 4/12 vs SMASHERS 126/3 – S Durval 36, Dave Mohammed 22. SMASHERS won by seven wickets.

CAVALIERS 114/6 – Amit Jaggernath 51, Saeed Mohammed 21, Christopher Ramsaroop 3/16.vs TREASURE CITY 69 – Aleem Ramjohn 21, Christopher Ramsaroop 14.

CAVALIERS won by 45 runs.

SMASHERS 123/4 – Krishna Maharaj 34, Dhamendra Singh 32, K Ramkissoon 2/22 vs DEBE YOUTHS 120/8 – Ronnie S 31, Karon Ramkissoon 23, A Mohan 3/15. SMASHERS won by three runs.

COMMONWEALTH 194/6 – Simran G 86, Kevon Dookie 19, J Sookhoo 2/13, D Rampersad 2/19 vs VALLEYLINE 145/7 – J Sookoo 16. COMMONWEALTH won by 49 runs.

CENTRAL RENEGADES 141/8 – Alvarado Bryce 47, Ravi Ramsaran 34, Rennie Jangesingh 3/30, Niraz Harrilal 2/22 vs VALLEYLINE 142/3 – Joshua Dookhoo 29, Kenny Jangeesingh 21. VALLEYLINE won by seven wickets.

Thirty-seven first time authors were selected for honours at the function last Wednesday.

Minister of Public Administration and Communications, Maxie Cuffie in delivering the feature address said literature had done a lot for the country which has produced three Nobel prize winners in the persons of VS Naipaul; Sir Derek Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis who won the prize in Economics.

Cuffie told the first time authors that when they write and are published, they add to a rich store of information of the country and every book that is written and published adds to that historical store and further cements the country’s history.

He said this year the country was recognising a special first time author, its Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, although he noted that he was not the first prime minister to be published while in office. He said that the late Dr Eric Williams also published his autobiography, Inward Hunger, the Education of a Prime Minister, while he was Prime Minister.

He observed that this year NALIS is recognising the author, Michael Anthony, for his work Green Days by the River, which is to be made into a movie scheduled for release in September.

He said this will go even further in establishing the literary presence of the country’s authors.

Cuffie said the 37 first time authors will add to Trinidad and Tobago’s 267 already published writers, telling them their names will be forever etched into the country’s history and they will be recognised internationally. Cuffie advised the authors to get a number from the International Standard Book Numbering System (ISBN), saying that when they have such a number in their books it means that they have the support of a recognised publisher and it is much easier to get their books sold locally and internationally and purchased by libraries. Acting deputy executive director of NALIS Catherine Romain said the ISBN numbers are available at the National Library.

Among those present was former Newsday editor, John Babb, who represented Suzanne Mills. Suzanne was to be honoured for completing work on the book Byline — Memoirs of Therese Mills, a work begun by her mother, Newsday’s late editor-in-chief.

Babb recalled that he and Therese Mills were friends since 1946 when they worked together at the Port-of-Spain Gazette, adding that Mills would later start the Newsday, confounding the naysayers who insisted that three daily newspapers would not survive in the local media market.

Human beings are inherently social animals and connections are an integral part of our nature, so an absence of meaningful social contacts has the potential to create mental and physical deterioration. Most people will from time to time feel pangs of loneliness whether that is due to social, environmental, psychological, physiological factors. However, for some, such as the acquaintance, the loneliness is compounded by feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, pessimism and considerable pain that runs deep.

Because he has people around him – an ailing mother, wife, and children he had been struggling to consciously understand and articulate what he was feeling, and identify that his loneliness was causing emotional pain. But, it is more than just sharing a physical space with others, it is about companionship – that those around show they value your company, that you are supported, and loved, and most of all that you matter.

Technology has enabled people to be more connected than ever before, yet society is in the throngs of a loneliness epidemic which is having a multiplier effect on depression rates because loneliness and depression are co-related. To quote Dr Hawkley from the University of Chicago, “Although depression doesn’t always lead to loneliness, feeling lonely is often a predictor of depression one year or even two years later”.

Depression craves solitude and isolation, and some may also struggle with relational anxiety and display guarded weariness towards others fearing rejection or intimacy. This can often be a valid reaction because the mind has a way of protecting itself and if someone has been let down or hurt or experienced a broken relationship or friendship, the natural default is to protect against further disappointment, which can mean isolating from people, places and situations.

But chronic isolation and loneliness has the potential to be harmful. Researcher Julianne Holt-Lunstad, says it is akin to the harm caused by smoking, obesity or alcohol misuse.

Brigham Young University undertook a study of 3.4 million participants and found that mortality increased by 26 percent in people who feel or are socially isolated or lived alone.

So, what can be done? It is not about just going out and socialising, or engaging in unhealthy survival strategies such as drug and alcohol misuse, eating junk or sugary foods, overspending on impulse purchases, engaging in random sex, or seeking out destructive relationships.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that people should not seek pleasures, after all there are proven psychological rewards to be gained from ‘retail therapy’.

I know too well that warm feeling you get when you buy a beautiful perfectly fitting pair of shoes, or indulge in a delicious chocolate cake with two scoops of coconut ice-cream. It is developing safe coping mechanisms, and monitoring and moderating behaviours so that they do not compromise one’s health and well-being.

There are some who are grappling with loneliness and all they require is for someone to be there; someone who shows that they care and who will listen without judgement or offer unsolicited advice; someone in whose company they feel loved and needed; someone who helps to validate that they matter, and that they have a significant role in their life.

For others, it is much more complex, however, if someone you know is struggling with loneliness and depression reach out, call, make the time and show them that you care. You don’t need to have all or any of the answers to what they are currently experiencing, just let them know that you are actively thinking of them.

Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UK based disability and mental health specialist advisor. She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society. Contact her at yr@efficacyeva.com

In a telephone interview yesterday, Garcia said all the supervisors have been trained, testers have been given their assignments through training, and everything is in place to ensure that there are no hiccups.

“I want to make the point that our objective is to achieve the success that we had last year where there was not a single cause for concern during the SE A examination. We are working toward repeating that success,” he said.

Garcia also noted that the Chief Education Officer together with the Director of School Supervision, and Curriculum officers have been visiting schools to ensure that the physical infrastructure is adequate for the students’ comfort.

The minister also assured that work is being done at the Cunupia Government Primary School where there was an electrical fire in one of the air-conditioning units recently.

“The electrical inspectorate has been on board…Our experts from the ministry of Education and EFCL they have also been on board, and I have been assured that everything is okay for the children to write the exam on Thursday at the school.” President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Lindsay Doodhai said the association has been told that all schools are ready for the SE A examination.

Meanwhile, the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) has also activated a hotline service to ensure that there are no interruptions to the electricity service at Secondary Entrance Examination Centres on the day of the examination.

A statement from TTEC saod from 3 pm on Wednesday to 3 pm on exam day, principals and supervisors can call or text the T and TEC hotline at 794-4823 or 794-7264 to report any disruption in their electricity service or any electrical safety concerns.