Jabloteh, whose 20-man squad left for St Vincent today, will open against Saint Maarten’s Flames United SC today from 5.30 pm, then face Guadeloupe’s Club Sportif Moulien on Friday from 5.30 pm, before completing the first round round-robin stage against hosts System 3 Sport Academy from 7.30 pm on Sunday. All matches will be contested at Victoria Park in Kingstown, St Vincent.

Team captain and Jamaican defensive midfielder Damian Williams will lead Jabloteh’s 20-man squad which includes goalkeepers Javon Sample and Guyana’s Andrew Durrant; defenders Akeem Benjamin, Jerome Mc Intyre, Josiah Trimmingham, Jevon Morris and Jamaican Adrian Reid; midfielders Elijah Manners, Keyon Edwards, Jamaican Keithy Simpson, Kion Joseph, Panamanian Jairo Lombardo, Kennedy Hinkson, Nathan Lewis and Micah Lansiquot; and forwards Jamal Gay, Tyrone Charles, Kadeem Corbin and Guyana’s Vurlon Mills.

Jabloteh, champions in 2003, last competed at the Caribbean Club Championship in 2010, finishing third behind champions Puerto Rico Islanders and now defunct, runners-up Joe Public.

Jabloteh’s runners-up finish in the 2015/16 Digicel Pro League season qualified them along with champions Central FC for this season’s Caribbean Club Championship.

Central FC, the two-time Caribbean defending champions, heads a record 21 clubs from 12 countries who have qualified for the this season’s edition of the CFU competition, which will determine the region’s representatives to CONCACAF’s expanded competitions platform.

The five group winners will advance to the final round, scheduled for May 14-21. Central FC, who received a bye as reigning champions, will host the final round in Trinidad. (ttpr oleague.com)

Melville has claimed that he coined the nickname in 1998 and has been trying ever since to be recognised as the owner of the trademark and to be compensated in the sum of US$30 million.

The TTFA, currently headed by David John-Williams, decided last September to drop the use of the title for all national teams (male and female).

In response to a letter issued by Melville on December 28 2016, FIFA Head of Intellectual Property (Legal and Integrity Division) Daniel Zohny, on February 15, mentioned, “as the contested term Soca Warriors is not a trademark associated with FIFA and/or FIFA events or competitions, it is not for FIFA to intervene with third party trademark matters to which it has no connection.” Zohny added, “we therefore consider the matter as an issue to be resolved solely between you and the TTFA. “We trust you understand that we consider this matter closed and will not engage in further communication in this regard, and that we expressly reserve all of FIFA’s rights in this matter,” Zohny ended.

Melville, in his letter to FIFA, wrote, “In the year 2000, the (then TTFF) chose to use the name as its official brand. At that time, I initiated talks with the then TTFF seeking to establish my rights as creator of the name but was given the run around.” Melville continued, “for the last 16 years I have been trying in vain with the various local football administrations to come to some agreement on the ownership and subsequent use of the name.

“I am therefore writing for clarification as to what FIFA’s rules are concerning such relationships and why it is necessary for FIFA to participate in such a matter when its mandate is aligned to ‘FAIR PLAY’,” he ended.

The 1200 metres race for horses rated 70 and over with a purse of $51,000 will be the third on a nine-race programme produced by the Arima Race Club.

And five of the entrants are being handled by champion trainer Glenn Mendez The day which is scheduled to begin at noon, will see the debut of two apprentice riders, the 17-yearold Rico Hernandez, brother of two-kilo claimer Romario, who will go to scale at 48 kilos and 20-year-old Omasr Mohammed who scales 50 kilos.

Turfites will be lured into the three exocit betting – Hi5, Superfecta and Place 8.

The popular Hi5 will be offering a single winner bonus of just over $17,000.

And the Superfecta single winner bonus has risen to a bounty of $69,747.84.

The Place 8 single winner bonus has climbed to a handsome $10,470.48.

A total of 104 horses have been entered for the nine race programme on Saturday.

Leaders Hillview eased past Naparima by seven wickets in a shortened 42-over match due to rain at Honeymoon Park in El Dorado.

Naparima were reduced to a modest 115 for nine batting first with Cephas Cooper topscoring with 34. Bowling for Hillview, Nathaniel McDavid was the chief destroyer snatching 4/24, while Kareem Muradali took 2/15. In reply, Hillview got to 116/3 in only 21.2 overs with Sachin Seccharan topscoring with 32. Also making valuable contributions to the total were Leonardo Julien (21 not out), Jonathan Hosein (19) and Dexter Sween (19 not out).

Second placed Fatima, stayed in contention for the title with a seven-wicket win over Barrackpore West at the latter’s school ground.

Despite a six-wicket win yesterday over seventh placed Shiva Boys, last placed Trinity East got demoted to the championship divsion. The bottom two teams at the end of the season will be demoted.

SUMMARISED SCORES – NAPARIMA 115/9 (42 overs) – Cephas Cooper 34; Nathaniel McDavid 4/24, Kareem Muradali 2/15 vs HILLVIEW 116/3 (21.2 overs) – Sachin Seecharan 32, Leonardo Julien 21 not out, Jonathan Hosein 19, Dexter Sween 19 not out. Hillview won by seven wickets.

BARRACKPORE WEST 97 (29.1 overs) – Rovindra Ramkissoon 19, Vishal Ramkissoon 18; Stephen Des Vignes 4/5, Giovanni Letren 2/14, Mikael Goviah 2/15 vs FATIMA 103/3 (21.1 overs) – Michael Ambard 35 not out, Jean-Paul Rocke 28 not out, Corey O’Brien 23. Fatima won by seven wickets.

PRESENTATION CHAGUANAS 165/9 (50 overs) – Sachin Balai 42, Joel Sutherland 23; Ronaldo Lezama 3/19, Dejourn Charles 2/31 vs CARAPICHAIMA EAST 168/6 (37.4 overs – D Charles 72, Travis Heerah 34; Isaiah Ali 2/33. Carapichaima East won by four wickets.

SHIVA BOYS 161/9 (30 overs) vs TRINITY EAST 162/4 (29.1 overs). Trinity East won by six wickets.

Diamond Vale won both the boys and girls categories in the West B category. In the West A category, Carenage won the girls category, while Dunross were the superior team in the boys category.

It was a sea of colour at the stadium as schools from 9 am came out to compete. Prior to the events, Carenage Girls won the West A march past, while Four Roads Government earned the top spot in the West B march past.

As expected, Diamond Vale dominated the awards in the West B category. Winning awards for Diamond Vale were Hakim Salandy (Victor Ludorum Under-11), Tyrell Springer (Victor Ludorum Under-13), Tiffany Alleyne (Victrix Ludorum Under-15) and Jordan Burton (Victor Ludorum Under- 15). Also winning awards were Naima Julius of Diego Martin Government (Victrix Ludorum Under-9), Savion Adams of Crystal Stream Government (Victor Ludorum Under- 9), Markalia John of Crystal Stream (Victrix Ludorum Under- 11) and Makeda Edwards of Diego Martin Government (Victrix Ludorum Under-13).

Maraval RC, Dunross and International School of Port of Spain stole the show in the West A awards. Averia Leacock (Victrix Ludorum) and Teriem Toussaint (Victor Ludorum) of Maraval RC swept the Under- 9 awards. In the Under-11 category, Fatimah Springer of Cocorite Government (Victrix Ludorum) and Josiah Grant of West Port SDA (Victor Ludorum) won the top prizes.

Winning the other awards in the West A category, were Perry Lee Christie of International School (Victrix Ludorum Under-13), Dylan Woodruffe of Dunross (Victor Ludorum Under-13), Chelsea Mukerji of International School (Victrix Ludorum Under-15) and Tye Clarke of Dunross (Victor Ludorum Under-15).

Cummings earned a call-up from coach Dennis Lawrence and has participated in every training session since the start of the training camp on February 20.

The 28-year-old, who suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg in December 2015, last appeared for TT against the United States in a 0-0 draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, in a World Cup qualifier a month earlier.

“It’s a blessing for me to be back in the national team and having the chance to make a return to international football,” Cummings said. “And I am grateful for coach Lawrence for giving me the opportunity.

For me the main focus is fitting back into the set up and being mentally strong and ready to wear the Red, White and Black again on the international stage.

“I will know exactly where I am at the moment once I get on the field and get some minutes under my belt. The decision is up to the coach to decide if and when he puts me into the game but as usual I will be ready to contribute in the best way possible,” Cummings added.

Cummings, who struck a double in the memorable 4-4 draw with Mexico at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, spoke about the preparations under Lawrence. “So far the sessions have been properly organised and solid. It has been enjoyable also. (Lawrence) knows what he wants from the players and he is settling in nicely and we as players are giving it our best so that he has all the options when it comes to selecting his team,” Cummings said.

Martin recalled walking along the quiet street on which her sister lived. With a new guest house under construction, she walked past some workmen and, “two random times I passed there the men were the worst I have ever experienced in terms of catcalling Martin said the catcalling was so bad she decided never to go back to her sister’s house on foot again.

For some women safety and security is a big issue. While some, via a small Facebook sample, indicated they do feel safe, that safety went along with having to restrict movement and even becoming hyper vigilant of one’s surroundings. As Phoebe Ann Edwards said, “Yes I feel largely safe because of my lifestyle. I do not take many kinds of risks, I do not lime, I do not have a large number of friends and I am always aware of my surroundings…” This feeling of a lack of safety and security could stem from some of the reported gruesome murders of women and children in TT. Major headlines reported the body of a 20-year-old being found in a store’s warehouse, the throat of a 15-year-old being slit, the body of a 16-year-old San Raphael student murdered with her hands bound behind her back. In 2016 the murder of Japanese Asami Nagakiya rumbled throughout TT and the globe. But what causes this, is it history, is it the socialisation of men? For Folade Mutota, the executive director of Women Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD), the first step to addressing the root of violence against women and girls in TT starts with understanding the complexity of the matter. She said: “Collectively as a society, we need to acknowledge that violence against women is a very complex manifestation of the actual status of women in the society.” Mutota said often when comments or reports were made by TT’s leaders on the matter, a very simple approach was taken to a complex dilemma.

“You can’t talk about violence against women or gender-based violence without taking into account the violent evolution of our society.” She said a legislative framework influenced by the principle of gender equality was the next pillar upon which addressing gender-based violence should be placed. “If you don’t do that what you will be doing is trying to develop legislation in a void.” The third area has to be the area of policy development and implementation, she said. “If you don’t understand the complexity of the situation then you are not going to prioritise something like a gender policy for example,” she said.

While there is legislative framework to address the problem it was largely insufficient, she said.

“If you understood the complexities you would be reviewing your legislative framework on an on-going basis to make sure that you’re relevant, to make sure that it is timely in addressing women’s needs and to make sure that, really, you are doing cutting edge work.” Life, she added, is a dynamic thing as much as is the violence perpetrated against women and girls.

“A lot of what we are seeing and hearing about is because a lot of people are now more open to discussing violence but also people have social media that they can use. They put things up, a video and so on, you also have more media to cover these things.

“We have to remember what we see in the public domain is just a part, a potentially small part of what happens in women’s lives, in their homes, when they go out on dates, when they travel in taxis, at the workplace.” Governance was the last pillar stating that it was important for leaders to have a continuing, on-going, mutually respectful conversation with women’s organisations and women who are working in communities about their lived experiences.

For a future one must make peace with the past For Sunity Maharaj, managing director of the Lloyd Best Institute and facilitator of Side by Side, a civil society organisation, there are several societal measures which need to be implemented for women’s and girls’ safety in TT . In emailed responses, she highlighted measures such as, amendments to the Domestic Violence Act; implementation of electronic monitoring for breeches of protection orders; strengthening of the administration and enforcement of protection orders; establishment of the national DNA database; promotion of sexual harassment policies in the workplace and enactment of legislation to provide protection against cyber crimes including bullying, stalking, revenge porn among others.

But at the root of all violence, be it sexual or otherwise, lies TT ’s history.

Maharaj said the “unjust system of European appropriation of the islands of the Caribbean” gave birth to the violence experienced in TT and the wider Caribbean today.

“We have come a long way in claiming our rights and freedoms but there remain large issues of justice still to be settled. Until that is done, it will be difficult to negotiate the peace that would allow us to settle down and start the job of building a nation on terms of mutual respect…

To achieve peace in the present, we have to find a way to make peace with the past,” she said.

While everyone bore some responsibility for their personal safety, the extent to which one could do so was limited by conditions beyond one’s control, she said.

This is where, she added, “the responsibility falls to Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary to create and uphold a safe and secure society in accordance with four (a) of the Constitution, that is “the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law.” While for some, any conversation around violence against women and girls comes with negative talk of men, Maharaj reminded that while all ethnic groups have come out of patriarchal cultures, in the Caribbean, one needed to remember the complete dehumanisation of Caribbean men which occurred. She said: “In the aftermath of colonial repression, we have been trying to figure out who we are and how we should relate to each other.” Womantra: TT is both progressive and regressive on gender equity and equality When the name Womantra is mentioned there are several takes one might have on it, but the force with which the group rounded-up hundreds of women in the aftermath of Nagakiya’s murder cannot be denied. The group is famously and to some, infamously, known for having led to the removal of former Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee and is often chided for its perceived selective treatment of key women’s issues.

But for its founder and co-director Stephanie Leitch violence against women in TT is a matter of culture and socialisation.

Leitch, too, said history plays an integral role in what happens today. She said in emailed responses: “Violence against women is rooted in our very history and colonial socialisation.

When we tell our boys and men that to ‘be a man’ and to be ‘masculine’ they must be aggressive, we socialise them to understand that violence and aggression are necessary parts of their identity.

We also insist that masculinity is powerful, and thereby train them to use violence as a tool for maintaining power.

This works in tandem with the disempowerment of women and girls through the insistence that femininity is equated with weakness and is subordinate to masculinity, as well as with the disenfranchisement of women in economic and political spheres.” She agrees the Caribbean needed to revisit its gender constructs.

“The TT and Caribbean have very rigid and toxic views around gender that contribute to the culture of violence, and specifically gender-based violence and work to marginalise groups of people who do not conform to what is considered ‘normal’.” While the country’s establishment of a gender unit and while its makes provisions for education on gender, the country does not have functioning systems in place to monitor, “[the] situation of gender-related issues nor implemented policy to help inform the responses to gender-related issues, which made it an “anomalous country that is both progressive and regressive simultaneously” in comparison to global standards.

No where to be safe But for women like Helen Kennedy there is quite no where in TT to be safe. “I feel unsafe almost everywhere in Trinidad. I never know when someone who was socialised to think that he/she should make no effort but should live high on the hog, would attack me to relieve me of my hard-earned possession, my dignity and possibly my life. The problem is exacerbated by those who believe that once they invest in advanced security strategies, they’re good to go and should therefore be unconcerned about those who are unable to protect themselves.

In other words we have evolved into a very selfish society…”

The programme started with Success Stars playing perfect renditions of the national anthems of Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago; and continued with many speeches complete with interpreters; interspersed with parang from Los Angeles de San Miguel, the Prem Jyoti Dance Academy’s East Indian Dance, North West Laventille Cultural Performers’ Tribute to the Ancestors (Orisha dance), limbo, Winston “Gypsy” Peters in calypso and a parade of Carnival characters.

But the highlight of the programme came when during the Pan Sounds’ rousing performance of Hunger, the Cubans spontaneously left their seats in the audience, ran on stage and in the twinkling of an eye choreographed a dance to the pulsating sounds of the steelband.

It was an electrifying moment and something which another guest agreed with me, would unlikely have happened with a Trinidad dance troupe.

The reception ended with a luncheon. The menu prepared by the Regiment included baked chicken in a tomato sauce, fried fish in a creole sauce, Caribbean- style pigeon peas, Trini vegetable rice and a tossed salad with a country dressing.

Concert performances by the Cubans, in a ten-day programme which includes several workshops, will take place at 7.30 pm tomorrow at Queen’s Hall, on Friday at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, and on Sunday at Shaw Park in Tobago.

Initially, making changes in any way whether by cutting back on portions consumed, limiting concentrated sweets, greasy foods, and salty snacks, or complying with the prescribed diet and medications from your medical doctor may be challenging at times .

Amidst of the difficulties one may probably experience, physicians, dietitians/nutritionists, and other public health educators working collaboratively with patients, and community residents can make the difference .

Risk factors Studies show that risk factors such as overweight/obesity, uncontrolled blood pressure, high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, unhealthy diet, tobacco consumption, physical inactivity and alcohol abuse have a negative impact on overall health contributing to the chronic non-communicable diseases .

Just taking a brief look at overweight and obesity, the World Health Organization (2016) documented that in 2014 among adults 18 years and older 1.9 billion were overweight, of which 600 billion were noted to be obese. While within the given period, 41 million children under age five were noted to be overweight or obese .

These people lived in countries where overweight and obesity may probably tend to greatly affect health much more than underweight .

Overweight and obesity can result due to overconsumption of calories from energy-dense foods rich in fat and sugar, and sugary beverages, along with too little energy expenditure (physical inactivity). This simply means that when people eat a poor diet over period of time, and also do not engage regularly in physical activity such as walking, running, aerobics, gardening, volleyball, football and so on, it becomes easy to add pounds to your body weight .

You should also note that obesity is a major health problem contributing to other chronic diseases and conditions, which include but may not be limited to hypertension, stroke, heart disease and diabetes mellitus, just to list a few. Research shows that the associated complications of high blood pressure and uncontrolled blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are potential risk factors for kidney disease. Hence, engaging regularly in physical activity to manage your body weight, and making wise food choices can more than likely help you to lower your risk for disease. Note: prior to participating in physical activity, first check with your medical doctor .

Evaluating body weight The body mass index (BMI) is used for the classification of body weight (underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity in adults and children; it is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in centimetres square. For example, the adult classification – overweight is classified by BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, obesity the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, healthy weight 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2, underweight ≤ 18.5 kg/m2 .

Children BMI classification: underweight ≤ 5th percentile, healthy weight fifth to the 85th percentile, overweight 85th to the 95th percentile, and obesity ≥ 95th percentile (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010) .

Nutrition management Being able to manage and comply with your prescribed diet is a plus for some individuals. In the case of the kidney patient or those who are at potential risk for kidney disease, “good nutrition will aid in providing energy to perform daily tasks, maintain healthy weight, prevent infection and loss of muscle mass, and slowing the progression of kidney disease (National Kidney Foundation).” The aim here is to ensure that you understand which foods to choose based on the nutrient content, plan balanced meals, select healthy snacks, and how to manage any complications that might occur. Therefore, the kidney (renal) diet should be comprised of the right amount of these nutrients: protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium) .

From this you may conclude that there is need to work with the diet, and the registered dietitian will provide the appropriate nutrition education and nutrition counselling customised to meet the needs of the client .

Moreover, having knowledge of basic nutrition information pertaining to the kidney diet is helpful. You and/or the meal managers, chefs or caterers should know which foods are sources of the aforementioned nutrients; this also includes which foods are high in potassium, low in potassium, high in sodium, low in sodium, high in phosphorus, and low in phosphorus. For example, foods which contain large quantities of potassium include: avocado, banana, orange juice, prune juice, plantain, mango, cantaloupe, honey dew melon, beetroot, spinach, dasheen leaves, sweet potatoes, tomato, lentils, carrot, pumpkin and so on .

Lower potassium foods are corn, melongene (eggplant), cabbage, peppers (green, red, and yellow), cucumber, cauliflower, lettuce, etc.; foods containing large amounts of phosphorus – dried peas and beans, nuts, peanut butter, cheese, milk, yogurt, pudding, ice cream, chocolate flavoured beverages, cola beverages, macaroni and cheese, bologna, hot dog, bran bread, bran cereals, etc.; low phosphorus foods – fish, eggs, chicken, rice, crackers, popcorn, sherbet, apple/apple juice, grapes, cucumber, graham crackers, green beans, among others .

Take home nutrition message: manage your weight wisely, follow the diet and medical prescription provided by your medical doctor, make the necessary changes in lifestyle practices – select nutritious foods and participate in physical activity .

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

The new executive is once more comprised of 12 younger women who will now tirelessly execute the association’s work.

In her farewell address, past president Sophia Laquis remarked that “2016 was not a large fund-raising year, nevertheless, the ongoing charitable projects were expanded along with an increase in our membership.” Continuing attention was placed on many academic charities including, most notably, a scholarship to one primary school pupil to The Cotton Tree Foundation for 2016-2017.

The outgoing treasurer’s report noted some $779,000 were donated to 42 charitable causes for January 2016-January 2017.

The year ended with the annual Hamper Project on December 6, 2016 and despite a significant cost increase of goods, the association was able to fill its annual quota of 1,500 Christmas Hampers delivered throughout the country. The association also continues to donate over 50 food hampers monthly to needy families.

Chamely expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming year saying: “Coming out of a quiet 2016, the association is geared up for a large fund-raising year with lots of new and exciting things planned. With a young and vibrant committee we will see a lot of waves from the SLWA as we embark on 2017, with emphasis on finding new avenues to expand our charity work throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

“We continue to be thankful to our many kind supporters and members who give so tirelessly to our association which was founded in 1950 by a group of eight women who lived in Port-of- Spain, with the idea that the Arab women of TT should be knitted together as a strong community and that they should reach out in charity to their fellow countrymen.” From a membership of eight at the beginning and annual donations of around $125, to over 350 members today and contributions of over $500,000 annually, the association has remained committed to its mission to reach out to their countrymen.

For more info: 286- 7592 or 287-7592 orslwassoc@ yahoo.com or, PO Box 34, Goodwood Crescent, Goodwood Park, Trinidad.