According to reports, officers led by ASP Ajith Persad and Anthony Williams including Sgt Kennedy, Cpl Fernando and Constables Sookwah, Hoyte and WPC Mayers were on an exercise in the Port-of-Spain district when they responded to a report of a robbery at Erica Street at about 2 am.

When the police officers responded they saw a 57-year-old man with injuries about his body.

The man told police two men attempted to rob him but he put up a fight and the men escaped empty handed.

Police reports stated that the two suspects then went to Thomasine Street where the broke the windscreen of two vehicles, one belonging to a 38-year-old pastor, and stole cash and other valuables found in the car.

The men then robbed a woman in her 50s of cell phones, cash and other valuables, police said.

Acting on information, the police went to an abandoned building at Eastern Main Road, Laventille, where they found the two suspects and recovered all the stolen items.

The suspects were arrested and will be placed on an identification parade today before being charged with several offences.

This was the argument put forth by the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Tim Stew, as he made the case against this country’s death penalty law.

“The research that we’ve seen here, carried out by universities and so on, suggests that actually, juries are half as likely to find somebody guilty if they know that the only sentence the judge can deliver is the death penalty.

Whereas if there is a range of options; long-term imprisonment and so on, to obviously take that person out of society, they are more likely to convict the person in front of them.

“The obvious consequence of that is that you could well have people who should be in prison, who should’ve been convicted, who are walking free, walking the streets. Naturally, that is a concern of mine, that actually when people in this country are calling for the swift delivery of justice, that actually the mandatory nature of the death penalty may be making that worse, not better,” Stew said.

Speaking to the media yesterday during a walkabout in East Port of Spain, Sinanan admitted that he was aware of the inconveniences being caused to Tobago businessmen, but said that the vessels were merely a temporary solution to the problem.

Sinanan said Cabinet was currently reviewing all the options available to them to resolve the matter in the three month period promised earlier this month.

“I am aware that there are some serious inconveniences caused and I am working to see how quickly we can resolve this matter. At this time we understand that there are a number of concerns on both the part of the Tobago Chamber and private citizens, and I’m really asking them to bear with us as we are doing our best so that we get our money’s worth,” he said.

Sinanan also addressed reports the replacement vessels which included a barge (the MV Transporter) and the MV Atlantic Provider, were more expensive to rent and maintain than the Galicia itself, saying it was both false and irresponsible.

“I understand that there are a lot of rumours circulation on social media and even by some legitimate media houses, that the cost of the vessels currently being used are in the millions. This is totally untrue and I will add that there has been a marked decrease in cost of about $1.5 million since we’ve began using these vessels.” Earlier this month, the MV Superfast Galicia withdrew it’s services following controversy surrounding the vessel’s leasing, repeated delays in the contract’s renewal and the cost for it’s operations.

This is the view of retired head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas as he weighed on the controversy.

Dumas said yesterday based on information that has come to light in recent days it appears that both Ayers-Caesar and Chief Justice Ivor Archie should take responsibility for the situation.

“I find the whole thing very unfortunate,” he said. “Mrs Ayers-Caesar is quoted as saying that she should have told the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) that she had matters outstanding and the Chief Justice has chastised her by saying that she did not manage her transition from the Magistracy to the High Court well.

“It looks as though she is taking the blame,” he said.

“My feeling is that there are faults on both sides.

“First if I am interviewing somebody for a job I am going to try and make sure that I have as much information as possible in front of me so that I can question the person particularly to what was at stake.

“I would want to see not only whether she had matters outstanding, I would certainly like to know about the matters that she has disposed of already, the judgements that she have given to see whether they have held up or whether they were challenged in the High Court or anywhere else, which means I will have all this detailed information in front of me before I prepare to meet with her.” Dumas said the fact that both Ayers- Caesar and the CJ have said that she did not tell the Commission about these matters and was at fault “is not good enough.” “All of this should have been in a file in front of each member of the JLSC so that they could have seen clearly what her record was, not merely whether there were cases left outstanding or not.” Dumas said in his mind Ayers- Caesar has damaged her reputation and credibility.

“Because a lot of people appearing before Mrs Ayers- Caesar will wonder whether they are going to get justice or not.

It is not that she is not capable of dispensing justice but they will say, “If this lady behaviour is so and she did not care about justice for people whose matters are still part-heard, who have been in many cases in jail for several years, why should she care about me?” he said.

It seems logical, therefore, that in the period of governance outside of the election campaign citizens should cooperate with the Government to ensure there are more successes than failures.

There are more than enough examples of political organisations supporting one idea in office and opposing the same out of office simply for political gain.

The present opposition party will have one believe the property tax is an albatross around the neck of citizens and should be vehemently opposed.

With such strong feelings one would have thought that when it had the opportunity to rewrite the laws governing property tax it would have done so, but it did not.

Similarly, the Opposition has been advocating alternative sources of income.

The records however indicate that given the opportunity to govern, this organisation did not follow up with the initiatives of the previous government.

Initiatives like the industrial parks in Wallerfield and La Brea as well as downstream industries in the energy sector were ignored.

There is little achievement, beyond gaining political mileage, in blaming former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar or current Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for the ills of our nation. We should work together for the success of initiatives that benefit our nation regardless of which political organisation is responsible for its origin.

Is it a fact that billions of dollars were accessed from the National Gas Company for a water treatment plant that in the long term does very little to earn income for TT ? Did the last administration enter a contract for billions of dollars for a highway without first determining how it was going to finance the initiatives? What is the track record of the last administration with regard to restructuring agriculture and tourism as essential avenues to augment the income of the nation? The data will indicate that much of the initiatives advocated today by the Opposition were ignored during its term in office.

One should not be detracted by rhetoric for political gain.

We need to work with the Government and Opposition on arriving at long-term solutions for TT . We are too small and vulnerable to allow political divisiveness to destroy our fragile nation. We need to arrive at a place where taxes are not burdensome, where government services are friendly and efficient, and where communities can grow in order and peace. Such objectives can only be achieved if we aspire together.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email

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

President of the La Brea Fisherfolk Association Alvin La Borde said yesterday there was no oil at the beaches in La Brea.

“It have no oil in La Brea. God is good to the people who look up to Him, there is no oil in La Brea,” he said.

Coffee Beach fisherman Gopaul Balkissoon and Oropouche fishermen Eversley Sookram and Avinash Battoo also confirmed there was no oil in the waters where they fished.

President of the Claxton Bay Fishing Association Kishore Boodram said there were no signs of oil where they were located but said given the wind pattern, he expects there would be oil further out to sea.

He said he was awaiting reports from trawlers but noted that there was a decline in the number of pelicans seen on the shoreline in the Claxton Bay area.

In a release yesterday, Petrotrin said there was significant progress in its recovery and clean-up activities both on land at the port area at Pointe-a-Pierre. The statement said the company was working with the Energy Ministry and the regulatory authorities.

“Whenever aerial and marine surveys revealed patches of spilled material, vessels have been quickly dispatched to treat with them using materials approved by the Ministry.

Aerial surveys conducted both on Friday and yet again today (Sunday) reveal that there are no new sightings of oil outside of that contained by the booms,” Petrotrin said.

“However, one such patch of hydrocarbon material that was close to the border has since entered into Venezuelan waters,” the release noted.

Mine favourite is Here Comes the West Indies by David Rudder. If you don’t happen to have a favourite yet, you might want to consult History of West Indies Cricket, a newly published history of cricket through the voice of calypso.

Written by Nasser Khan, this collection of cricket history and history of cricket calypsoes is an invaluable resource featuring over 200 calypsoes from 1926 to 2016.

President Anthony Carmona, Minister of Education Anthony Garcia, rapso artiste Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Masimba, former West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Sharon Melville, general manager of NAGICO Insurance all offer praise for Khan’s book.

As Brother Resistance says, “By calypso our stories are told…” Telling stories about cricket and praising stellar cricket players have been a common theme throughout calypso history. The introduction to The History of West Indies Cricket Through Calypsoes, says the book is “intended as a youth literacy initiative to be given to high schools in the region.” NAGICO has provided copies for schools throughout the Caribbean region. A brief history of West Indies cricket and how it has been featured in calypsoes creates a broad overview of the book. Khan finds many innovative ways to examine the relationship between West Indies cricket and calypso by breaking down the history into eras defined by cricket stalwarts. Charts and pictures helps to make information visible and easy to comprehend.

Narrative pieces tend to be short as well.

In one chart, Khan provides a breakdown of cricketers featured in calypsoes by their position: batsman, bowlers all-rounders and wicket keepers. He extracts some of the memorable calypsoes descriptions of cricketers for easy reference.

According to Calypsoes, Garry Sobers is “the greatest cricketer on Earth or Mars”; West Hall is “affable but furious”, and Lance Gibbs is “master of spin and deception”. A list of firsts and other highlights by year, from 1808 to the present, and a timeline of important events provides additional useful information for research. Khan provides a brief biography of calypsonians and lyrics to their cricket calypsoes.

Each calypso is listed in chronological order. Many of the featured calypsoes come with a brief explanation of the song. Each calypso is identified according to musical genre, so that chutney calypsoes and extempo are also included.

Chapters are organised thematically and include Player Calypsoes, Team/Game/Series Calypsoes, World Cup Celebrations, Anthems/ Rally Calls/Praise/Party Calypsoes, Politics/Social Commentary/Satire Calypsoes, Humour/Double Entendre/ Innuendo Calypsoes and Incident Calypsoes.

The History of West Indies Cricket Through Calypsoes features many pictures and drawings of individual cricketers and the West Indies Cricket Team through the ages. The book concludes with short, concise biographies on many renowned cricketers and the calypsonians who sang about cricket.

History of West Indies Cricket Through Calypsoes is a wealth of information for secondary school research. The effort is remarkable; the research is detailed and the information is astounding. NAGICO has provided copies for every secondary school.

Students need to be doing more research, and this book offers a wide variety of information that can be interpreted thematically in many different ways.

Now, the challenge is for teachers to realise the importance of using this most important resource in the classroom.

Fresh off his triple crown victory at the 2017 TT Badminton Association National Championships in January, Espinoza was able to repeat that feat as he captured titles in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles categories.

In the men’s singles, up-andcoming player Will Lee proved that he will be a formidable opponent in the future as he gave Espinoza a stiff run for the title.

Espinoza’s experience once again came to the fore as he was able to put down the challenge of Lee 21-15, 26-24. The pair of Espinoza and Lee later teamed up in the men’s doubles final to defeat Naim Mohammed and Sheraz Nabbie 21-13, 21-18.

The triple crown was completed when Espinoza, together with partner Jada Renales captured the mixed doubles title, downing Lee and Chequeda Deboulet 21- 10, 21-14.

Capturing two titles on the night was Solangel Guzman. In the women’s singles final she defeated Renales 21-6, 21-9. Guzman completed the brace of titles when she paired up with Renales in the women’s doubles to outlast Leanna Castanada and Latoya Walrond 21-9, 21-10.

The master’s round-robin title eventually went to the pair of former national champions Ronald Clarke and Derwin Renales, who remained undefeated during the division.

Dr Keith Rowley was against the property tax in 2009. He made the following comment in Parliament, “In my constituency there is anger, anxiety and resentment at both ends of the spectrum.” He went on to say the PNM has “brought the tax at the worst possible time.” This was in 2009 when things were good, not 2017 when things are bad and getting worse. He went on to say about the proposed tax, “If you try to defend the indefensible, you will create resentment and provoke people, and that is what we have at the moment.” Finally, he said, “I know a lot of people for whom $100 is a lot of money. A lot are struggling to make ends meet.” So get out your cheque books.

GORDON DALLA COSTA via email