Roach, who earned a silver medal in the Under- 18 girls shot put at the 2016 CARIFTA Games in Grenada, says her goal is to bring home gold this year. Roach said, “That is the plan definitely this year. I have a personal best I am trying to achieve.” Roach will be among 51 TT athletes competing at the 2017 CARIFTA Games in Curacao from Saturday to Monday. Roach says Borel encourages her to succeed in the sport. “Of course I look up to Cleopatra.

She always tells me to manage my time wisely because I have CXC this year and it is kind of a burden on me sometimes with training and CXC. She always encourages me and tells me everything is for a point in time and you will get through it, she is always there for support.” Roach says her father, who is paralysed, is also a motivation to her. “My family, my parents, my dad (inspires me) especially.

He is in a wheelchair, but he always faces different adversities and he always comes through. Whenever I am feeling discouraged I look at him and how he does not give up.

“He is a great role model especially for when you are feeling down about something, he never has a frown on his face, he is never upset or ask why, he just does what he has to do.” Roach likes the team’s chances this year. “I think we have a good team this year with a lot of talented athletes. I think this team could bring home a lot of medals because there are a lot of hard working and talented athletes on the team.” TT finished fifth on the medal standings last year with 14 medals (three gold, two silver, nine bronze).

Joshua St Clair, who will compete in the boys Under-20 400-metre and the 4x400m relay event, also believes the team will produce top results.

St Clair said, “This year’s team I think is focused and ready to bring back a lot of medals. I know that for sure, because this team is strong mentally and these athletes train very hard to make this CARIFTA team and I know we going to Curacao with a strong team.” St Clair is hoping to achieve a personal best of 45 seconds in the 400m event. “At this year’s CARIFTA I will like to get a personal best, without any injuries and have my head on to bring back a gold medal for Trinidad and Tobago.” St Clair expects top performances from Avindale Smith, Jerrod Elcock and Deleth Charles, while he is hoping for a number of podium finishes in the relay events. Top performances are also expected from Tyriq Horsford (boys Under-18 javelin) and Khalifa St Fort (girls Under-20 100m, 200m), who both won gold medals for TT last year.

Antonia Burton, a sprint and hurdles coach on the TT team is satisfied with the team’s progress. Burton said, “I think this year we have a very good team. I think the signs are encouraging especially after our Barbados Dual Meet. I think the attitude of the kids is different from some years past, and I think the nation could expect a better showing than 2016.”

According to Cuthbert Alexander, vicar for Communication of The Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain, fish is not necessary for Good Friday. In fact, he says the Fridays after Ash Wednesday are really supposed to be about fasting, abstinence and spending less. He said in the past fish was a cheaper alternative to meat and the money saved from that purchase would go to the less fortunate on Good Friday.

However, with the price of more popular fish (carite, king fish, red fish, cavalli) expected to reach an estimated $100 per pound, according to some reports, should people fork out that type of money to buy fish to put the traditional fare on the table? Alexander says that is not necessary. “That it is not religious. It is all tradition.” He advises against spending large amounts of money to keep with the tradition.

Some popular options are vege/chic, made from vegetables and chic peas; vegetarian fish made from soya; bean burgers; tofu, made by curdling soy milk; paneer; quinoa, a protein-packed grain; eggplant and kale parmesan; vegan chilli with dried beans; egg-based frittata; and broccoli quinoa burgers. And for those for those who insist on observing the fish-eating tradition without paying such a hefty price, they can go with the good old saltfish buljol.

Saltfish buljol
1/2 lb saltfish (salted pollock
or shark )
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
2 tbsp hot pepper sauce or half a
hot pepper (or add pepper to
taste)
1 sprig chive chopped
1/2 lemon or 1 lime
2 tbsp olive oil
3 medium-sized tomatoes
chopped
Break fish into small pieces and wash and boil to take out excess salt. Squeeze out water. In a bowl add onion, chive, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice and pepper to saltfish and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate or serve right away. (simplytrinicooking. com)

Steamed vegetarian fish
2-3 (100-150g) vegetarian
fish slices
1 tomato, cut into 6 wedges
2-3 thin slices ginger, finely
shredded
1 tbsp vegetable oil
? -1 tsp light soy sauce
A small handful fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
Arrange the vegetarian fish in a heatproof serving plate. Drizzle oil, soy sauce and scatter plum, ginger and tomato over the plate.
Steam for eight minutes. Garnish with coriander, chilli and serve immediately. (serves 2-3)

Easy fried fish fillets
1 pound fish fillets, such as had
dock, tilapia,
oil for deep frying
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp paprika
Clean and season fish.
Pour one inch of oil in skillet; heat to 375°. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. Dip fish fillets into flour mixture.
Working in batches, fry fish for about five minutes on each side; remove to a platter. Makes three to four servings. (courtesy thespruce.com)

Research has shown that the benefits of teamwork in the workplace can build trust and commitment among colleagues, fosters creativity and learning, aids in blending complementary strengths, promotes a sense of satisfaction and ownership, assist with conflict resolution, provides support, and may more than likely encourage individuals belonging to the team to take risks.

From another perspective, in looking at nutrients, they also work together to maintain one’s nutritional status, though each has specific roles.

For example, some nutrients can be classified as macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat) meaning that they are required in larger quantities; whereas micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are needed in smaller amounts. Water is also an important nutrient needed in the body.

You should note that for a balanced diet, your daily meals cannot comprise of just one food or a list of foods from only one food group, but rather a combination of foods from different food groups — staples (good source of carbohydrate, and a small quantity of minerals and vitamins), legumes (mainly contain protein, minerals, and vitamins), foods from animals (rich source of protein, minerals, and a small amount of vitamins), fruits and vegetables (excellent sources of vitamins and minerals), and fats and oils (rich in fat and some fat soluble vitamins). In today’s discussion, the main focus will be on some vitamins e.g. B vitamins, vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals which include iron, zinc, iodine, and copper.

The need Micronutrients are essential in the diet. According to the World Health Organisation, these nourishing substances aid in the production of enzymes, hormones, and other substances needed for growth and development; when absent or lacking in the diet over a period of time (nutrient deficiency) having a negative impact.

In such cases, at the global level a deficiency of iodine, iron, and vitamin A affect the health and development of populations, more so children and pregnant women in low-income countries.

“In addition, anaemia resulting due to iron deficiency is a global public health problem, and a widespread nutrient deficiency.

The consequences of anaemia can cause serious problems increasing the potential risk of maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality; poor pregnancy outcomes contributing to low birthweight and preterm birth; affect cognitive development, reducing learning capacity and academic performance in children; and among adults can decrease productivity (Mora, et al. 2009).” Overall, the basic functions of iron include — transporting oxygen in the red blood cells, and needed for certain reactions involving energy formation; for folic acid, which helps with the normal formation of red bloods and prevent neural tube defects and low birthweight in pregnancy; for vitamin B12, required for the development of red blood cells; for B vitamins ( vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin B3), which work together with the macronutrients for the production of energy, and aids in proper functioning of the nervous system; for copper, a component of enzymes that helps the body to use iron and oxygen, and participates in growth, immunity, and brain development; for iodine, which is stored in the thyroid gland and is needed for the production of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, prevents goitre in adults and cretinism in infants; for zinc, which activate enzymes in the body, promotes growth and development; for vitamin C, which aids in absorption of iron, acts as an antioxidant, protects the immune system, and helps with wound healing; and vitamin A, needed for good vision, acts as an antioxidant, and helps with the formation and maintenance of skin, bones The menu Given this basic nutrition information, some might conclude that just having a meal consisting of only bread and cheese, rice and stewed chicken, or ground provision and fried fish with gravy is not well-balanced. You will need to add a serving or two of veggies, peas and beans, and fruits. When planning the menu add rich sources of vitamin A – spinach, callaloo bush, pak choi, pumpkin, carrots, mango, papaya, butter, margarine, etc.; B vitamins – whole grains, liver, milk and milk products, meat, fish; vitamin C – citrus fruits, watermelon, red West Indian cherry, guava, pommecythere, cantaloupe, apples, grapes, etc.; iron – meat and meat products, liver, dried beans, dried fruits (raisins, currants, prunes), dark green leafy vegetables; zinc – meat, grains, nuts, milk, cheese, yogurt, ready-to-eat cereals; iodine – fish, iodised salt; folic acid – fortified grain products (bread, flour, pasta), oranges, bananas, ready-to-eat cereals, dried beans, dark green leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, yogurt; vitamin B12 – meat, liver, chicken, eggs, milk, yogurt, fortified ready-to-eat cereals; copper – bread, potatoes, dried beans, nuts and seeds, grains, fish, ready-to-eat cereals.

Nutrition message: select a variety of foods from the Caribbean Food Groups for meals and snacks.

Claudette Mitchell, PhD, RD – Assistant Professor, University of the Southern Caribbean, School of Science, Technology and Allied Health.

So whether it’s an intimate family backyard grill, or in the great outdoors with friends, you can’t beat a bit of back-tobasics barbecuing, especially in these sterile times when our stomachs just can’t handle a rough and ready approach to food hygiene.

Follow the few basic rules and you can be sure you and your guests will go home feeling pleasantly satisfied not peaky.

1. Keep all your perishable ingredients in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them. Often with a barbecue people are grazing over a period of time so you want to avoid taking food out before it’s necessary.

2. All frozen meat should be thoroughly thawed out before you put it on the barbecue, otherwise it may appear to be cooked on the outside but will be raw on the inside 3. Wash your hands before handling food to avoid any cross-contamination.

If you touch raw meat or fish, wash your hands before touching ready-to-eat foods and do not put ready-to-eat foods on plates that have been used to carry raw meat or fish.

You also want to avoid using any utensils for both raw and ready-to-eat foods.

4. Make sure your barbecue is hot enough before you start and turn your meat during cooking time so that it cooks evenly throughout.

5. For extra safety, ensure all meat, particularly chicken, pork, sausages and burgers is cooked throughout.

You can be less concerned with steaks and lamb chops.

Ensure fish is cooked throughout too.

6. Watch out for dripping meat and fish juices, avoid trailing raw meat or fish over cooked and do not use leftover marinade as a sauce.

7. Don’t leave food out in direct sunlight, pick a shady spot or indoors for your buffet table.

Don’t leave food out for more than two hours.

The safest option is often to throw away leftovers. But here’s our guide to the do’s and don’ts.

8. If you are planning to be serving food over the course of an afternoon, put salads, meats and other perishable foods out in batches in fresh bowls.

9. Keep desserts in the fridge until the main course is over, again avoiding unnecessary time standing around.

10. Barbecues can be dangerous so take a look at the Fire Service advice to ensure you and your familyand friends stay safe.

(BBCGOODFOOD) Grilling from Page 10B

At last week’s launch, guests were greeted with a glass of sangria, a beverage of Spanish origin consisting of red wine and chopped fruit.

Once seated they were entertained with Spanish guitar music by Enrico Camejo and Delicia Riley and treated to food prepared by chef Victor Alejandro.

The meal comprised foods of Latin origin, including chicken and seafood paella, quesadillas, Spanish tortilla, shrimp bruschettas, empanadas and patatas bravas. Denise de Gale-Mc Intyre and her dancers from the Dance Sport Latin and Ballroom Dance School later took over the dance floor and encouraged guests to join them.

Michiela de la Rosa, Ciao’s marketing manager and the mastermind behind the event was busy ensuring that everything was executed according to plan, while Fred Chin Lee, managing director, Hotel Normandie and Emilio Lorenzo Serra, Spanish Charg? d’Affaires exchanged stories on Latin food and culture.

The Charg? d’Affaires congratulated Chin Lee, de la Rosa and the Normandie for what he described as the excellent choice of paella on the night.

He then gave a history of paella, which evolved from being a Valencian rice dish, to one the national dish of Spain.

He said: “Paella is a dish coming from the Mediterranean coast, more specifically Valencia.

But there has been the evolution of the paella about 50 years ago. It was a beautiful dish for peasants made of rice, vegetables and some chicken meat, but everything evolves, and with paella leaving Spain and to a great extent becoming an international dish, it is like a symphony that is played in different ways depending on the conductor or the chef.

I am sure the paella of tonight will be a very exciting experience.” He then thanked Normandie for displaying the colours of Spain in the decor for the occasion, before getting down to his helping of paella.

The PNM administration needs serious assistance and should ask for the help of former national security minister Gary Griffith.

The Dr Keith Rowley-led administration has me extremely disappointed.

After almost two years in power it has my country stagnated and all it is saying is that the UNC is responsible for this predicament.

I am tired of that. Get to work and let me see some glimmer of hope economically and in the social disarray of my country. The PNM is in extreme trouble and would definitely not get a second term if it cannot solve the crime situation.

Crime will always be here but please allow citizens to see a decrease, allow us to see Dillon at some crime scene talking to us.

The PNM wanted power but was not ready to govern.

The people put it there to feel safe, comfortable, and to enjoy the benefits of our great country. All we feel now are fear and uncertainty.

We are not happy and the is tense.

I voted for Rowley because the other administration was allegedly corrupt. But every single day he is getting a failed grade from me and other citizens. If he doesn’t improve he will only see one term or maybe not even finish his term.

Rowley and his ministers seem to be unaware of how the country is feeling and they continue to act as if everything is excellent, everything is more than good; it is not.

I am becoming very fed up. Just hearing the name PNM now brings with it uncertainty, hopelessness, and an uneasiness.

ELIZABETH PEREZ Arima

This was condemned by Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris. He said it could never be an answer to solve the crime epidemic because this is totally against what the church stands for.

RC priest Fr Gregory Augustine, in response to Taylor’s comments, said, “The church is an institution that does not believe in capital punishment.

Serious crimes ought to be fully explored so as to determine the root cause because these were not natural. We as a society have to spend more time developing that human aspect.” While Augustine is spending his time developing the human aspect, citizens are being subjected to gun attacks, kidnappings, rape, arson attacks, domestic violence, strangulation and other violent and heinous crimes. We need a solution now.

If would-be criminals know without the shadow of a doubt that they will be put to death should they murder with premeditation, most of them are less likely to commit murder.

Capital punishment is the ultimate warning against all crimes. If the criminal knows that the justice system will putting him to death, then the system appears more fearful to him. Hence he is less inclined to commit a serious crime. He may have no intention of killing anyone in the process of robbing them, but is much more apprehensive about the possibility if he knows in his mind that he will be executed.

Taylor was very wise in his call for the reinstatement of the death penalty for murderers because the taking of the murderer’s life sends a strong message that murder is not acceptable and will not go unpunished.

Retribution has its place in religion, which historically maintains that it is proper to take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a life for a life.

It is true that the victim and the victim’s family cannot be restored to the status which existed before the murder took place, but at least an execution brings some form of closure to the murderer’s crime and ensures that he will not be able to repeat his crime and create more victims.

For the most cruel and heinous crimes, the ones for which the death penalty is applied, offenders deserve the worst punishment possible and that is the death penalty. Any lesser punishment would undermine the value society places on life.

Life seems to have no value in Trinidad any longer.

For justice to prevail, some killers just need to be put to death.

Simon Wright Chaguanas

It apparently don’t have a problem with actual vendors who stand on the white line in the middle of the road and ply their trade selling water, nuts and steering wheel covers. Or with windshield washers who intimidate motorists into paying them to “wash” the windshields.

Did the police even realise that by issuing that release they have actually given some degree of legitimacy to these in-the road (not roadside) vendors? It appears the Commissioner of Police is in need of a communications officer. I would like to offer my services pro-bono as a concerned patriot. This is what the release should have said: “The illegal vending on the highways has now escalated to the point where some vendors are attempting to extort motorists.

The Police Service is aware of the situation and will be moving expeditiously to enforce the laws that prohibit vending on public roadways.

“The public is advised not to engage these lawbreakers and assist the police by using Waze to indicate the location of vendors (instead of the location of police).”

David Maharaj Santa Cruz

Prospective police officers and teachers need to attend UWI for human relations courses for a minimum of two years after sitting SEA.

They also need six weeks additional training each year to be able to assess the capability of these individuals to keep these important jobs that shape the future of our beautiful islands.

The background of some of those who want to be police officers and teachers is the same as the criminals, so we need to address this immediately.

In 2003, I remember hearing about people who witnessed a crime, went to report it, and saw the same criminals enter the station, go behind the desk and put down their guns. The witnesses left quietly.

A newspaper report last week stated there are 25 to 35 schools with students in criminal gangs, and 12 police stations in northern Trinidad which over the last three years have the most negative complaints made against those policemen by the public.

This did not happen overnight. Where were our Ministers of Education and National Security? This must have taken a minimum of ten years to reach this destructive point.

We sent back the Canadian policeman because we want a Trini in his place, and this is the present situation.

This place real jokey.

Patricia Blades via email

But we face many other problems. Here are some them: Immigration: We have to begin to manage this area.

Tourism: We also need proper management here, what with crime apparently stifling this industry.

Agriculture: We ran ourselves out of business — no more manufacturing of sugar, planting of cocoa, yams, eddoes cassava, corn, rice etc.

We prefer to import from Grenada. Why? Our food import bill is over $5 billion. All the above should be on the negative list as all can be grown here.

When are we going to diversify and make the country self-sufficient in terms of food? In the past we were pushing small business.

Now it appears we have turned a blind eye on it.

And a seven percent tax is placed on online shopping. This must be reduced to 2.5 percent, if not small business will not survive and many people will be looking for employment.

Transport: All First World countries have a railroad service. We got rid of this service and created a traffic jam.

Town and Country: Businesses approved in residential areas are creating parking woes.

Therefore we have created a business of wrecking cars.

We have to diversify and create new businesses.

We must start with agriculture. Could someone say what is happening with the Chaguaramas agricultural venture? We have to stop depending on oil and gas to bring in foreign exchange and stop depending on construction to create employment.

Even though we are late in the game to build our country, we have the infrastructure.

Starting now, all State boards must begin to work. We need to see a progress report from each board every month. Those boards that are worthless and not producing must be removed. Taxpayers demand this. The days of jobs for the boys are over. I suggest we seek to balance imports against exports by looking at the concession to manufacturers who import and repackage as a local produce. A 2.5 percent import duty must be applied on free items coming to TT under the import tariff. If the Government does this it could remove the seven percent online tax and save jobs.

Some shipping agents are collecting between 6.85 and 6.90 percent for freight charges, adding to the high cost of goods and sending up the cost of living, as everything imported costs more at the grocery etc. This must be reduced now.

Immediate action is required to reduce costs to taxpayers.

Gordon Laughlin Westmoorings