Yesterday a protest was held in the capital of Caracas in recognition of those who had died. About 20 people have been killed in both the protests and looting as government forces clashed with protesters.

Feliciano Reyna from the group Civilis told Sunday Newsday via telephone they have a humanitarian programme to support people in need of medicine, food and other supplies. He said they are located near a shopping mall in Caracas where a lot of conflict has taken place between national police and protesters.

Yesterday people in nearby houses were banging pots in protest and telling the police to leave, and to leave the young people alone.

The police responded with tear gas bombs which Reyna described as a “disproportionate use of force”.

He said it was one thing to prevent protesters from causing damage or keeping them at bay, and another thing to go after them not doing much more than protesting or just banging pots. Reyna also reported that some of the canisters landed in the front of their building and they had the expiry dates of June 2013 and October 2015, and stressed it was dangerous to use these canisters after they had expired. He said the unrest has been negatively affecting their humanitarian work and some people are not able to access their building. Yesterday the national guard and national police blocked off main roads including the main highway in Caracas which passes behind their office.

Reyna said the humanitarian crisis is “huge” and much larger than what has been reported from outside Venezuela with thousands of people affected.

“There are people who are going hungry.” He said of his staff, one is a transgender woman who they learned was eating one meal a day and they started sharing meals with her. Another is a young man who would only eat a large bowl of white rice, possibly with some potatoes.

“Something we see every single day.” He said there were more products on the shelves these days but they are so expensive many people cannot buy them and the situation was the same for medicine. For example, the medicine for hypertension was the cost of a month’s basic salary.

He said yesterday a woman visited their offices asking for medication for a baby who had received burns in an accident. Reyna pointed out that it is a basic medicine but it was not available in the largest public hospitals in Caracas.

People are also calling for anti- depressants, medicine for diabetes, hypertension, multiple-sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder and anti-anxiety medication.

“We are really concerned. Government has made efforts not to talk about it as a humanitarian situation.” He said his organisation has been calling on the government to accept international humanitarian cooperation. He added, however, that this may be difficult to accept as it would only be able to come through formal mechanisms that would require transparency and participation from different sectors, including the very deteriorated public health services.

He said instead of the government admitting the crisis, they have set up a discriminatory mechanism of Local Committees for Supply and Production (CLAP) where people have to register to get food and medicine which completely violates citizens’ rights to universal access to food and healthcare.

Reyna expressed hope for political dialogue to take place, for international support and for Venezuela to return to a democratic path.

“We see the suffering and the needs daily and this should be at the forefront of anything that would look the situation in Venezuela.” On March 29, the Venezuelan Supreme Court dissolved parliament and transferred all legislative powers to itself. Though the court later reversed its decision, partially according to one human rights source, protests had started.

A representative from another agency, who asked not to be named, said the humanitarian crisis persists and many people with conditions like cancer and haemophilia are dying because of lack of access to treatment. She said that the government still denies there is any humanitarian crisis.

On the protests, she said people are demonstrating because they want the government to bring back rule of law and a democratic situation.

She reported that the police, military and armed civilians are allowed to control public order and it is the latter that is creating problems.

“It is armed civilians who are killing demonstrators. Using lethal weapons like guns which are not allowed by the constitution.” She also said excessive use of force, noxious gases or lethal weapons are not allowed to be used against demonstrators but was being allowed by the government.

She reported that seven people have been killed in demonstrations and 11 in looting; another report cites 22 dead altogether. She said the demonstration yesterday was not as repressed as previous days.

A protest is planned for tomorrow and the opposition forces are calling for the roads to be closed until political prisoners are released and elections called.

The local business community has previously sold goods and basic necessities to Venezuela in an agreement facilitated by government, which has also signed a gas deal with the Maduro administration.

Sunday Newsday was unable to contact the TT Ambassador to Venezuela Dr Paul Byam or Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses via phone for comment on the developments in the South American country.

The right-handed Aguilleira controlled the defending champions’ run chase with an unbeaten 30 as they overhauled a paltry target of 83.

When TT slumped to 41 for four in the 15th over, Aguilleira anchored a match-winning, unbroken fifth wicket stand of 43 with Felicia Walters (15 not out) to deny Guyana.

Aguilleira faced 50 deliveries and counted four boundaries.

Caneisha Isaac had earlier taken four for 22 from eight overs to wreck Guyana for 83 all out off 42.4 overs.

She was supported by West Indies Women off-spinner Anisa Mohammed who collected three for 15. Meanwhile, teenaged West Indies batting star Hayley Matthews made her presence felt, stroking an unbeaten half-century to fire Barbados to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Jamaica.

Set a meagre 88 for victory at the Arnos Vale Stadium, Barbados romped home in the 24th over with the right-handed Matthews carving out a delighful 56 not out.

Kycia Knight fell cheaply for five in the fifth over with the score on 20 but the 19-yearold Matthews partnered with Reshelle Griffith (14) to add 40 for the second wicket and take Barbados to the brink of victory.

Matthews struck 10 fours in her 73-ball knock.

There was no such enterprise from West Indies Women’s skipper, Stafanie Taylor, who was dismissed without scoring as Jamaica, sent in, were bowled out for 87 off 34.1 overs.

Her Windies teammate Chedean Nation top-scored with 17 but it was medium pacer Deandra Dottin who shone, ripping through the innings with a spell of four for 22.

Fast bowler Shakera Selman, who has also played for West Indies, claimed two for 17.

In the other game at Park Hill, Twenty20 World Cup star Afy Fletcher produced a solid all-rounder performance to help Windward Islands brush aside Leeward Islands by 75 runs.

She struck 29 in the Windwards’ 179 all out off 41.1 overs and returned to take three for 23 as the Leewards were bowled out for 104 off 36.2 overs.

At Sion Hill: Trinidad and Tobago won by six wickets.

GUYANA 83 all out off 42.4 overs (Caniesha Isaac 4-22, Anisa Mohammed 3-15) vs TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 84 for four off 29.3 overs (Merissa Aguilleira 30 not out; Subrina Munroe 2-17, Erva Giddings 2-25).

Relatives of O’Shea Charles, eight, said when he was pulled from the water he had a faint pulse although he was unconscious.

They said two nurses tried to help the boy and was doing a good job but when two lifeguards arrived, they stopped the women saying the women were not known to them.

Charles was taken to Scarborough General Hospital were further attempts to resuscitate him were futile. He was pronounced dead on arrival. Relatives claimed that at the beach the emergency medical technicians “strolled” onto the scene with no urgency, and believed if both the life guards and emergency personnel had been more professional, Charles would have survived.

This was 19,000 more than the number of emergency cases at the hospital in 2015, South West Regional Authority (SWRHA) chief executive officer Anil Gosine disclosed yesterday.

“Ap p r ox i m a t e l y 81,000 clients accessed services at San Fernando General Hospital’s emergency department in 2016, which reflects an increase in emergency visits from 61,291 in 2015,” Gosine said.

He was addressing an Emergency Medicine Conference billed, Emergency medicine and You, hosted by the TT Association of Emergency Physicians & Surgeons at San Fernando City Hall Auditorium, Harris Promenade.

The influx at the SFGH was even greater the patient visits at the Point Fortin Area Hospital, Couva, Princes Town and Siparia district health facilities which recorded respective estimates of 60,000, 55,000, 45,000 and 36,000 emergency visits.

The increase overall crossed 20,000.

“In the last fiscal year, we recognised that there has been an increase in total emergency visits at the emergency departments by 26,000 persons,” Gosine revealed.

“I can assure you all that we are committed to improving the quality of our healthcare delivery services at our emergency departments,” he said. “We are working on reducing waiting times developing techniques to avoid overcrowding at busy periods and enhancing the injury surveillance system at the SFGH emergency department.” SWRHA emergency department head Dr Robin Sinanan said the authority was looking at developing a hotline to help people seeking medical attention, as well as create a trauma registry to track cases such as injuries due to fireworks.

In his presentation on fireworks injuries, Dr Justin Sookram said the hospital’s emergency department had a steady increase in these injuries which occurred during the Divali, Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Using graphic photographs of fireworks-related injuries, Sookram said 11 serious cases were recorded at SFGH in 2015 with 19 cases last year, none of which was reported to the police.

“This craft has really energised me,” she says of her latest artistic endeavour.

“It offers a lot of different avenues to do all manner of things.” Chappin has mastered the art of newspaper craft, so much so that she teaches a class at the public library, opposite to her home and business place on Brierley Street, Sangre Grande.

“I have to pass on my knowledge,” she said in a Sunday Newsday interview.

“It is not just about doing this and keeping it to myself. This is something for future generations.” With her slogan, Taking Nothing And Making It Into Something, Chappin has turned her knack for newspaper craft into a thriving business with customers from all over the country.

The mother of six said her clients are fascinated by the unusual and often inexpensive items she produces at her home.

She could not say, though, if hers is a unique talent.

“I really can’t say if anybody else is doing it but people from all over come here and I feel proud.” In fact, Chappin said several of her past students also have taken the art to other parts of the world, including Nigeria and South Africa.

“One of my students went to Canada about one month ago and she is going to start a class of her own, doing the same newspaper work.” Chappin said the class, which began just two years ago, currently has an enrolment of about 25 women.

“But interest is growing. People are still coming because they want to join in time for Christmas to make their house beautiful.

So, then I would have to incorporate drapes and cushion covers into the class,” she joked.

Chappin said the classes are generally conducted twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 1-3 pm. Sometimes, it can run until late evening depending on the assignment, she said.

The artisan, however, noted that some people join the class but leave prematurely believing they have perfected the craft after just a few lessons.

“What I have recognised is that some of them will be interested, start the class, and feel they know but they do not because you can take one pattern and make so many things out of one pattern. But is how to make it. You must have the technique.” Chappin said she hosted a hugely successful exhibition last year, and another was being planned for some time in the upcoming months.

Once a member of the ancillary staff at the nearby Cunapo (St Francis RC) School, which she also attended in her youth, Chappin has always enjoyed art and craft.

There, she earned the title, flowers lady, in keeping with her penchant for using mostly flowers alongside other items in her creations.

Chappin also has used Bristol board, plastic and cardboard to create beautiful ornamental pieces, over the years.

But rather than utilise the ready-made craft merchandise available in stores, Chappin uses old, inexpensive and discarded items in her pieces.

“So, if I or any of my students have to make a chair cushion, it must not cost over $5. I don’t want the idea for people to start buying things,” she said.

“You could take paper and you could make flowers. I sold some gazette paper flowers that you would not believe is gazette paper flowers. I sold the plant pots and made curtains out of gazette paper and people can’t believe it.

“I believe that craft is not about going out and buying things to do it. I believe that you can take nothing and make it into a beautiful something.” She said far too often people discard things which they feel have no value. “But when I used to walk from school, I would see things all over the place.” Chappin recalled taking a cover from a soft drink bottle, one day, and creating what she felt was a beautiful piece of art. “I said to myself, ‘If you take that and put it on a cardboard and tile it, that will look good. My thoughts just started to go wild.” The soft drink bottle, she felt, could also have been turned into a vase.

“You start imagining all sorts of things that could come out from nothing.” Her introduction to newspaper art came quite by accident.

Chappin recalled that two years ago she had received a call from workers at the library, who told her that the children wanted assistance to build a Christmas tree.

She quickly agreed but requested help in acquiring the material.

“We eventually made the Christmas tree out of cardboard.” Days later, while walking through the main street in Sangre Grande, Chappin observed a visually-impaired man twisting some straw.

“I said to myself that I could do that but instead of using straw, I decided to use newspaper to make a Christmas tree and it was at that point that the class started.” Chappin has since made vases, cups, dishes and a host of accent pieces, both for her home and commercial purposes.

Dolls, bicycle wheels, canes and garbage disposal bins are also among the objects Chappin has fashioned with her skilful hands.

She did not perfect the art overnight but has laboured painstakingly to get the desired results.

“I learnt by trial and error.” Her first order of business, she said, is usually to get the raw sheets of newspaper print, which is then rolled and glued into a long, pointy stick, referred to as a pipe.

“You use the glue to form a pipe and bending it (newspaper) to start to plait (in the form of the desired object). So, all you have to do at the end of the day is to buy glue.” Chappin recommends wood glue for newspaper craft, mainly for economical reasons.

“If I use the standard glue they sell, it costs too much. So, I buy a gallon of glue for students, it might last two months.” She said the glue should be dried to the point where it loses its softness, after which varnish or poster paint must be applied, depending on the finish required.

“You then have something to last a lifetime. It is a beautiful craft.” With the downturn in the economy, Chappin said newspaper craft can be an avenue through which young, unemployed people, craft lovers and others can earn a decent living. “Young people now feel they can’t survive but you could. All you have to do is use your imagination.” “With this class, someone could be self-employed because when you make things, it sells. Remember, this is something that many people don’t know about. People are still amazed when they hear the word newspaper. I have sold vases for as much as $500. So, people could make a profit out of it.

“But what I want them to understand is that the theme is taking nothing and making something.” Chappin makes a point of creating one-of-a-kind items for her clients.

“God bless my hands. Whatever I get, I will use to the best of my ability. When I make something for somebody, they are guaranteed that no other person will have that because I have put my stamp on it,” she said with a laugh.

Hinds, who is also an attorney, explained the Standing Orders of the House and Senate make it clear that parliamentarians cannot berate judicial officers in the course of debates in the Parliament.

However, Hinds said, “Yet these same members venture outside of the Parliament and behave in that way.”

The group won the title on Easter Sunday in San Rafael.

Members of Los Amigos Cantadores, captained by former National Parang Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NPATT) president Neil Marcano, are no strangers to the parang circuit.

They sang Maria Magdalena by Henry Perrieira and a Gavilan Medley.

La Esperanza de Parranda, a fairly new band on the parang landscape, with no experience in national competitions, placed second. The band was captained by Kaychelle Padmore.

Competitors were required to sing one song on the resurrection or crucifixion of Jesus Christ and another song of their choice.

The competition was judged by Neville Mendoza, Dr Francisca Allard and Keith Simpson.

The Arima Boys RC and Girls RC Primary School Parang band, which placed fourth in the National Junior Parang Competition, were among the many who gave special performances on the night.

The Venezuelan Embassy was represented by Maria Nuitter, who performed a Burriquita De Choroni dance.

According to SRAPA members Kerry Ragoobarsingh and Anthony Solozano, the purpose of the event was to promote the preservation of the authentic parang sound.

“We are trying to preserve parang in it’s natural form.

Let it stay like this.

“We will enjoy the soca parang and chutney parang.

“But we want the traditional sound to stay,” said Solozano.

He said parang has deep roots in San Raphael and the first ever recorded parang song was done by a band called the Brazil Serenaders captained by Tommy Ribero.

“The last member of that band, Ernest Cummings died last year,” he said.

The event was hosted by SRAPA in collaboration with the San Rafael RC Church.

Results
1st: Los Amigos Cantadores
2nd: La Esperanza de Parranda
3rd: Los Antiguos Alumnos
4th: La Casa de Parranda
5th: Los Reyes de la Colina
6th: Mucho Baila
Best lead instrument: La Casa de Parranda – mandolin
Best cuatro: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best guitar: Los Reyes de la Colina
Best maracas: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best box bass: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best Lead Singer: Los Amigos Cantadores
Farouk Khan Challenge trophy: La Casa de Parranda
Youth award: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best Original Composition: Los Reyes de la Colina – Make yourself at home.

This initiative – the Atlantic Good Governance and Accountability Programme – is a joint initiative between Atlantic and Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI).

Camille Salandy, Atlantic’s Head of Sustainability and Corporate Communications, explained that the participating NGOs are all partners with Atlantic on the company’s various Sustainability initiatives that target youth development through sport or capacity building at the community and national level.

“Atlantic wanted to increase the already significant impact that these NGOs are making on the children who participate in our sustainability programmes and there is an established link between good governance and good performance,” Salandy said. “Over an 8-month period, the Atlantic Good Governance and Accountability Programme will evaluate and upgrade the governance policies and processes of our NGO partners. They will be assisted through guided self-assessment exercises; special workshops on governance and accountability; and then through post-assessment interventions using the expertise of TTTI.” Dion Abdool, Chair, Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI), said that the Institute’s partnership with Atlantic was part of the organization’s wider aim to build good governance policy and practice in the public and private sectors and also in civil society organizations.

Abdool said that TTTI recently hosted an initial workshop on Accountable Governance, Financial Management, Human Resource Management and Accountable Programmes for these NGO partners of Atlantic. “The NGOs were exposed to the Accountability Tools – seventeen elements which comprise the Civil Society Accountability Toolkit, a framework developed by TTTI in collaboration with the Commonwealth Foundation.”

The first generated the headline “Narine opens batting in big KKR victory.” In the match against Kings XI Punjab, Sunil Narine, after bowling an economical spell of 1 for 19 in his four overs, opened the batting with his captain Gautam Gambhir and scored 37 in 18 balls (four fours and three sixes) to lay the foundation for a successful chase by the Kolkata Knight Riders. By the time he got out, KKR was well on the way to victory. Narine duly won the man-of-the-match award.

The second headline, “Pollard 50 overcomes Badree hat-trick,” captured it well.

Batting first, Samuel Badree’ team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) scored a below par 142 for 5 in its 20 overs. But Badree made it seem formidable by reducing Kieron Pollard’s Mumbai Indians to 7 for 4 in the third over, taking a hat-trick in the process. By the time he completed his spell in the eighth over, his figures were 4-1-9-4 and the Mumbai Indians were reeling on 33 for 5, needing 110 runs from 12 overs. Enter Pollard.

Playing with a maturity we wish he would show more often, he skillfully manipulated the middle overs while scoring a brilliantly calculated 70 off 47 balls, leading his side to victory.

According to the commentary on ESPNCricinfo, “But for a brief period, Badree masked everything frail about RCB and produced the sort of magic you don’t come back from. Not unless you’re Pollard.” Pollard was awarded manof- the-match. Had RCB won, Badree would surely have got it.

With so little to cheer about our cricket, it certainly warmed our hearts to see our local boys excelling on the world stage. We look forward to many more sterling performances.

NOEL KALICHARAN

Webster, coming off his maiden first class century, struck 55 off 52 deliveries to guide QPCC One to 186 for six batting first. Justin Guillen, who shared in a 66-run opening partnership with Webster, pitched in with 35. Darren Deonarine (2/27) and Christopher Mitchell (2/40) snatched two wickets each for QPCC One.

In reply, schoolboys Dexter Sween and Kirstan Kallicharan had an unbroken 104-run sixth wicket partnership but could not get QPCC Two to victory.

Sween (54 not out) and Kallicharan (45 not out) took QPCC Two from 37/5 to 141/5 after 20 overs.

Spin bowler Akeal Hosein was the best bowler, taking 4/15 in four overs.

All other round one matches were played on Thursday. Round two bowls off on Tuesday.