According to police reports, officers including Sgt Arneaud, Ag Cpl Dominique, PCs Mc Clean, Gilkes, Murray, Harris, Thompson, Peters, Boban and Matthews, received information at about 10.30 pm regarding a firearm. The officers went to an abandoned lot in Patna Village, Diego Martin where they seized a homemade 12-gauge shotgun loaded with a single cartridge.

The firearm was sent to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for tests including those to detect fingerprints.

No arrest was made.

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday stated: The Government takes the opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of Mr Pr?val who served as President to the Republic of Haiti from 1996 to 2001 and 2006 to 2011.

During his term in office he served the people of the Caribbean Community and demonstrated his commitment to political stability, democracy and the rule of law.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this time as we mourn his passing.

I had a serious dose of Carnival tabanca, as it would be only the fourth time in my adult life that I can recall missing the festivities.

The four-hour time difference meant that most people in the UK were asleep, but I was wide awake, with a cup of tea to keep me warm, taking in the various Carnival shows via livestream. In the days just before Carnival I ended up ignoring friends who were also struggling with their own Carnival tabanca – you see misery likes company so we would collectively express our woes at missing the greatest show on earth, then resort to tormenting each other with photos and videos showing us having fun in the sun at past Carnivals. When the tabanca became unbearable I wished ill on those leaving the UK to enjoy the Carnival – I willed the doubles man to put heavy pepper with a high Scoville index instead of slight, and for the delicious delight to burn them on the way in and on the way out. I had a daily challenge trying to resist the urge to throw caution to the wind and board a flight to TT.

According to the English Oxford Living Dictionary, tabanca is defined as a “painful feeling of unrequited love, typically for a former lover and causing unbalanced or violent behaviour”. I am sure many of you can relate to having experienced a tabanca – that episode of distress when your emotions are running riot because you have a powerful uncontrolled desire for a particular person. You crave their company to the point where it begins to consume your every thought. You start behaving in an uncharacteristic manner, checking your phone constantly, and every time it beeps you silently hope and pray that it is a call, text or WhatsApp message from that special person.

In my case the tabanca was not for a person, but for that once-a-year experience of sun, soca, steelpan, and stress release that is TT Carnival.

Tabanca is characterised as emotional turmoil that affects thoughts, behaviours and concentration, often accompanied with physical manifestations such as changes in appetite, loss of energy, disturbed sleep, and aches and pains – the same symptoms of depression.

But as a society we continue to make light of it even though for many it can be very debilitating. How many times have we heard about someone “toting a tabanca” and although what they are experiencing is a genuine mental health challenge, instead of receiving empathy and compassion, a negative judgmental remark or comment is made.

This cavalier attitude is one of the reasons why in most instances depression goes undiagnosed and untreated.

The World Health Organization characterises depression as one of the most disabling disorders in the world, affecting roughly one in five women and one in ten men at some point in their lifetime.

It also happens to be the most common mental health disorder globally.

Depression is no joke, it is a real illness! But if early identification and interventions are sought, the symptoms can be managed more easily and there are many effective strategies for living with the illness. For those faced with the challenges of tabanca and depression, there are several approaches available depending upon each individual’s characteristics and symptoms. For example, various types of psychotherapy that rely upon interpersonal treatment sessions with a trained professional, and a range of medications can ease the turmoil. In addition, lifestyle changes, including improvements in sleeping and eating habits, physical activity and stress reduction are incredibly helpful in managing symptoms.

To those who offered me costumes, tickets to Soca Monarch, Panorama, Vale fete and Dimanche Gras, even though you knew I was not in TT , I hope your generosity extends to 2018 because my flight is booked already.

FRSA is a UKbased disability and mental health specialist advisor. She is a social change trainer and facilitator who works internationally, at various levels of government, business, and civil society. Contact her at yr@efficacyeva.

com

Prisoners of Geography, as Newsweek magazine noted, “… shows how geography shapes not just history but destiny.” The author, a former foreign correspondent for Britain’s Sky News television, knows his geography. He has reported from 30 countries and six war zones.

Marshall manages to provide the link between geography and history in a fact-filled read that is light and entertaining. I had a difficult time putting this book down.

The ten defining maps in this book include the following: Russia, China, United States, western Europe, Africa, The Middle East, India and Pakistan, Korea and Japan, Latin America and the Arctic.

The author provides at least one map for each chapter. The maps clearly show geography’s influence on history. Countries with rivers and natural boundaries are much better off than those with no natural resources or protection.

Readers can also see the profound and heartbreaking repercussions of arbitrarily drawing maps without considering history, the ethnic make-up of a region and the geographical boundaries of a region.

European countries including England, France, Spain and Belgium often created maps without an understanding of their implications, and this is why there are so many trouble spots in the world today.

Geography impacts a country’s ability to survive economically as well. Countries that are landlocked and countries that don’t have navigable rivers are doomed to failure. Many of the countries on the continent of Africa come to mind here. Africa has many rivers, Marshall points out, but those rivers can’t be navigated because they are broken up by waterfalls. On the other hand, waterfalls provide electricity.

Marshall has an uncanny way of picking up readers and plopping them down in countries as he demonstrates how geography and history are related. At least it feels that way when you are reading this remarkable book.

Marshall’s maps provide great insight into why countries behave the way they do: why they create wars and scramble for certain alliances. These maps answer many questions and raise a great deal more questions like “why will America never be invaded? What does it mean that Russia must have a navy, but also has frozen ports six months a year? How is China’s future curbed by its geography? Why will Europe never be united? Readers will likely be interested in why the author groups Korea and Japan into a chapter about maps.

Each chapter is distinct, but each chapter also forms an interlocking whole so that you can divide the world into chunks of understandable pieces or look at the world as a whole picture.

I found the chapter on the Arctic to be the most fascinating chapter because of its implications for the future. Global warming will make the Arctic increasingly important as a waterway, and this will undoubtedly result in conflict.

A bird’s eye view of the Arctic shows how the Arctic will impact on the economic future of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greenland, Canada and the US. Melting ice means a Northwest passage – two for that matter with implications that affect the Panama Canal and the canal in Nicaragua that China wants to build. Melting ice means exposing mineral wealth and oil fields.

Maps have defined the past, and they define the present. What most readers don’t realise is how they will impact on the future.

The trio entertained the small audience with music from the pen and guitar of Boothman as well as covers of several others. Of course Boothman played his signature song Heaven which found itself on the Billboard charts back in the day.

His cover of the Beetles’ classic Hey Jude was ideal for the evening. When Cruickshank took to singing he ran up several hits in reggae. Songs like Gypsy, Body Guard and Human Nature.

Boothman also invited two of his guests on stage. First was Laurenston Special who thrilled the audience with his unique falsetto style. It was about 10.30 pm when Special came on stage and changed the atmosphere.

He started with The Main Ingredient’s 1974 hit Just Don’t Want to be Lonely and immediately won the audience.

He continued with Thom Bell and Linda Creed’s Betcha By Golly Wow made popular by The Stylistics and the entire place changed. David Rudder who was in the house pulled a chair and sat down with his eyes glued to Special.

Earth Wind and Fire’s Fantasy and Reasons followed and it seem that Special could do no wrong on the night.

But he had to make way for Jason “Fridge” Seecharan who kicked off his session with Barry White’s Can’t get Enough of Your Love followed by McFadden and Whitehead’s Ain’t No Stopping Us now.

“Fridge” ended his performance with the John Denver classic Annie’s Song.

It has been seen by thousands of patrons over its history not only in Trinidad and Tobago but across the Caribbean and internationally.

It is acclaimed by some as the best play ever out of TT . Audiences have given it standing ovations across the Caribbean and it has become a cult favourite for many patrons, some have seen it over 20 times, according to a media release.

The play will be running for those two nights and at a special celebratory price to celebrate this historic achievement in TT theatre. It is one of the few remaining opportunities that patrons will get to see the original cast as the play celebrates a longevity that is matched by few plays worldwide, the release said. Mary Could Dance written by Richard Ragoobarsingh, is the record holder of the most Cacique Theatre Awards ever won by a single production, sweeping the awards and winning ten of the 15 awards. Find out in this warm and sometimes scandalous comedy what happens when three dancer/prostitutes face the return of one of their group’s first love back from living 11 years in the United States. Mary Could Dance features everything from exotic dancing, to cat fights, to romance, to the antics of the scandalous pimp/bar owner, Mule.

The play is directed by Raymond Choo Kong and features in its multi award-winning cast Penelope Spencer, Cecilia Salazar, Richard Ragoobarsingh, Glenn Davis, Dionne Mc Nicol Stephenson and Roger Dickie.

Showtime is 8.30 pm on March 11 and 6.30 pm on

In fact, Liverpool, unfazed by fresh criticisms about the selection, stressed he had no intention of apologising to the Hindu community or his detractors in other spheres of national life.

“No, I am not apologising,” Liverpool declared in a Sunday Newsday interview. “When I make calypsoes, I don’t make them for groups. I sing calypsoes. If they do not understand calypsoes, that is their business. Calypso is for intelligent people.” The veteran calypsonian said child marriage “had nothing to do with one race, group or religion,” but was a worldwide phenomenon that needed to be properly ventilated. He maintained the song was not directed to any individual or organisation.

“I am not talking about any particular person,” he said. “I just used Sat Maharaj (Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha) because he is the link to that in Trinidad and Tobago.” A popular selection in the runup to last Sunday’s National Calypso Monarch competition at the Dimanche Gras show, Learn From Arithmetic addressed the topic of child marriage, referencing the Hindu community’s stance on the issue.

The song, at specific junctures, made mention of Sat Maharaj, with its tagline, “75 cyah go into 14.” The issue, which formed the crux of the Marriage Bill 2016, was debated on Friday in the House of Representatives. Maharaj has openly condemned the song, saying that Liverpool, a 50-year veteran of the calypso artform, has misrepresented the Hindu community.

The outspoken Hindu leader’s condemnation of the song has since triggered a barrage of criticism from other quarters. In the Parliament on Friday, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath said the song fuelled misconceptions about child marriages in the country. Padarath specifically took issue with the fact that the song neglected to mention other religious groups such as Christians as well as civil marriages that had no minimum age requirement.

“If it is Hindus that the calypsonian is asking that 75 can’t go into 14, can we also ask the same of the Catholic community in the interest of fairness?” Padarath questioned.

Also on Friday, Liverpool’s former university colleague Dr Errol Benjamin, in a letter to the editor, said Learn From Arithmetic “seemed flawed in terms of message and style.” Benjamin commented that the “central mathematical impossibility of 75 not being able to go into 14 with its overt sexual overtone seemed an oversimplification of a complex ageold cultural practice to merely its physical/sexual component.

“What of child marriage between children or child marriages entered into for economic considerations, some bordering on share survival?” Benjamin asked.

Benjamin also observed that, in terms of rendition, “what seemed intended to be sexual innuendo, turned out to be much less so in its explicitness, reducing its subtlety, exacerbated further by references to margarine and oil with their obvious sexual connotations.” Benjamin said the song conjured “a distinct sense of an explicit conversation on the block in which the participants are salivating over the impossibility of a 75-year-old attempting to ‘go into’ a 14-year-old girl.” Yesterday, political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad, in a separate newspaper column, wrote that Liverpool’s song was flawed on several counts, including attire for the presentation.

“Chalkie dons the garb of a graduand, a student, yet proceeds with his ‘lesson’ in arithmetic with flipboard and marker in the role of the teacher/educator that he is, not of a student,” she wrote. Rampersad also suggested that the child marriage message may have very well been lost in the punchline “75 cyah go into 14.” “Therefore, Chalkie’s chorus, which sent women a-giggling and senior males a-frowning, was not one revolving around the child marriage controversy but rather one which focused on older men’s impotence.” Meanwhile, All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union leader, Nirvan Maharaj, in adding his voice to the raging debate, called on Liverpool to apologise to both the Hindu and national community. “It was indeed shocking that one of the best calypsonians, a master of the artform, respected and acknowledged as an objective thinker and one for whom I have the greatest respect, would have descended into the realm of pure bias and subjectivity and stereotyped an entire community contrary to the facts in the matter of the child marriage issue,” Maharaj said in a statement.

Maharaj said Liverpool failed to say that several large Hindu organisations such as the Vedic Community and Chinmaya Mission, had supported the Government and the changes to the Marriage Act to raise the legal age of marriage to 18.

“Chalkdust failed to say to the national community that several other religious leaders, Islamic, for example, came out and were just as vociferous as Sat Maharaj and even more so at times concerning the Marriage Act,” he said. “Why did Chalkdust leave out certain leaders of the Muslim community, the Orisha and certain Christian denominations who also had the same views of Sat Maharaj, but attacked Mr Maharaj, giving the impression that it was him alone and several members of the Hindu community who had issues with the Child Marriage Act?” But speaking to Sunday Newsday, Liverpool, a headliner at the Kalypso Revue, denounced his naysayers, saying: “All of them should compose one (song about child marriage). I wish all of them, Errol Benjamin, Barry Padarath and Indira Rampersad could compose one.” Saying he was shocked and disappointed by the fallout surrounding the song, Liverpool said it was clear that some people still do not understand the artform.

“I am not even studying Sat and I am not responding to Sat. I was not even thinking of Sat,” he said of the song. “You have to understand the artform. I wanted people to understand the issue of child marriage but I was not talking about Sat personally.

Sat was just the link, that’s all.

That’s calypso and the audience has to understand the issue?” The veteran calypsonian also lashed out against a Newsday editorial, last week, which, he said, misrepresented the song. The editorial had described the song as a “thinly-veiled personal attack (against Sat Maharaj) under a fig leaf of current affairs.” “That is a biased editorial,” Liverpool said. “I did not attack any race.

I did not attack anybody in my calypso.

I attacked an issue. I did not attack any race. They have no sense.” Liverpool said calypsonians have long referred to politicians, dignitaries and other office holders in their work.

“We have sung about kings, queens, governors, (Arthur Andrew) Cipriani (late labour leader and politician) and Butler (legendary labour leader Tubal Uriah Buzz) Butler. So, who is Sat Maharaj?” he asked.

“We sing calypsoes on all kinds of people.

There is no bias in that. You take an issue and if you call a person name, people think calypsonians are biased. They are not. They think issues.” Chalkdust said. “But nobody is biased against anybody’s race or religion. When Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) sang about the Queen of England, you think he had anything personal issue with her?” Liverpool asked.

She made the comment yesterday while speaking to the media at the PNM Women’s League prayer and worship event “When Women Pray” held at Balisier House, Port-of- Spain. Robinson-Regis, also Planning and Development Minister, was asked about the rise in the number of cases of violence against women.

She responded that “there has certainly been an increase but violence against women has been taking place for quite some time not only in Trinidad and Tobago but across the world.

And we feel strongly that as a political party and as the Women’s League of the party that we have to stand in solidarity with those women and those groups that feel that something must be done seriously about that situation.” She added: “We believe prayer is one of the answers but we also feel that our men need to be educated with regard to how they treat women and our women need to be educated with how they value themselves as women.” She said they have expressed their concern before “but we do no know there has been a problem with domestic violence existing for some time.” Last month Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley received both praise and criticism for his statements that women have a responsibility to choose who they associate with wisely and should know when to get out of a relationship.

On yesterday’s event, Robinson-Regis said the Women’s League decided to give thanks to God for their 61st year of existence, to commemorate International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, and also to pray for the nation.

“We believe strongly that prayer is an important part of any nation’s existence,” she said.

Asked how the country stands in terms of equality for women and girls, Robinson-Regis responded, “We feel we are leaders in that regard.” “If you look at the statistics we are certainly ahead of many developed countries in terms of the number of women in leadership positions and particularly in the Parliament. We have a very high number of women in the Parliament and also at local government level and we have had a significant number for quite some time. Additionally the Cabinet is…populated by quite a number of women also.” She said in the region TT has one of the highest number of female participation in politics and in other areas such as the financial sector and educational opportunities “has also shown that we are leading in that regard”.

“So we do not feel that necessarily we are lagging behind anyone including the developed nations in terms of women’s participation.” She said one area the league feels strongly about is the marriage of minors and noting the continued debate on the Marriage Bill 2016 in the House of Representatives on Friday.

“Because over the last 10 years there have been over 3,000 marriages of minors particularly young girls under the age of 18 and we feel that it is time there be a legislative solution to that issue.” She said there is also a problem with teenage pregnancies and the league is looking at that “very seriously”.

In terms of other initiatives she reported that in January the league held a session informing people about social services that are available and plan to have an Up Market in May or June where women producing craft and other products will put on a display at Balisier House. She said this is to assist people to become entrepreneurial.

They also plan to have a series of meetings across Trinidad and also in Tobago.

She pointed out the league has not only invited PNM women but women from other institutions including the Network of NGOs.

“And we feel that we should stand together ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago keeps on the right path.” In her welcome remarks, she said her priorities are always God, family, country and party and spoke about the faith handed down by her mother and grandmothers.

“Praying women have carried our great party and our great country in their hearts and in their hands.” She said on any given day hundreds of women pray that wickedness would be removed from the streets and homes.

And, in the next months, on July 16, he retires but will continuing his service to people as a civilian.

Newsday caught up with the Commissioner at the Santa Cruz Green Market, last Saturday, where he was being honoured by the Outfit International Socalypso Band.

“You don’t ever retire from doing good. We are soon to launch a Library at the Port-of-Spain prison, using an area that was condemned on Death Row,” Stewart said yesterday at the Green Market, Santa Cruz where he was honoured by Outfit International Socalypso band.

The Children’s Art Foundation and Wishing for Wings Foundation are sponsoring the prison library.

On his stewardship as Prisons Commissioner Stewart used Christian ideology (and without naming a specific programme) to explain that during his tenure his aim was to shed light into darkness and break curses.

He defended his brother in the protective service, Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams who was criticised for saying the country needed divine intervention to help solve crime.

“Imagine the Commissioner of Police talk about God and people chastise him. I don’t understand why people in Trinidad and Tobago so bad….so much to love here.

People have to change their language,” said Stewart.

He belted out a verse from the the Mighty Sniper’s song, Portrait of Trinidad. “Trinidad is my land and of it I am proud and glad. But ah cyah understand why some people does talk it bad,” he sang.

On retirement, Stewart will be succeeded by Deputy Prisons Commissioner Cecil Duke. But Duke will only be in the post for about a month as he is due to retire on August 31, Independence Day.

Stewart said the only thing he wants to leave after his retirement is “a legacy of godliness”.

On the case of the 2015 jailbreak at the Port-of-Spain prison, Stewart said the inquiry now lies with the Public Service Commission.

“Under Regulation 90, I am unable to view the findings at this stage. Although it happened under my tenure. It is now in the hands of the Public Service Commission.

I hope it (breakout) never happens again,” Stewart said.

On July 24, 2015, three prisoners, Allan “Scanny” Martin, Hassan Atwell, and Christopher “Monster” Selby shot their way out of the Port-of-Spain prison. PC Sherman Maynard was killed during the break-out, and prison officer Leon Rouse was shot and wounded.

Selby eventually surrendered to the police. Martin was killed during a shoot-out with law enforcement and Atwell was murdered while hiding in Port-of-Spain.

Acting Prison Superintendent Wilbert Lovell, Prison Officers II Lancelot Duntin and Mervyn Pierre have been suspended pending the completion of the investigation.

In the case of three men shot dead in a bar in Debe, near Penal on Thursday night, Deputy Commissioner of Police Wayne Dick in a radio report yesterday said quite a bit of evidence has been gathered in a bid to solve those murders.

The dead men are Terry Edwards, Sanjay Mahabir, both of Debe, and Kevin Fuller of Palmyra.

Sunday Newsday learned yesterday that Edwards’ children, Isaiah, 11, and Kerry, 14, continue to ask for their father. Their mother Ann Marie Khadoo said the children need more than her words of comfort to heal.

“It is hard enough for me to know that he is gone and will never return but they are just kids. This is so hard for them to accept. I keep telling them to be strong and daddy would want to see them happy, but they need someone to sit down and talk with them; someone to counsel them,” she said.

Edwards, Fuller and Mahabir were killed by gunmen while liming at Runway 69 Shorts bar. Reports said Edwards, who attempted to flee, was shot and collapsed on the roadway where he died. Mahabir was outside the bar speaking to his wife on his cellular phone when on hearing the gunshots, he tried to reach his car, but was shot and collapsed.

The killers escaped in a vehicle which was parked on another street. Nineteen bullet casings were retrieved at the scene.

Khadoo said yesterday she and Edwards shared a relationship for 17 years.

“Together we had these beautiful children which was his world.

“He was one of the best fathers you would come across. The bond he shared with his children was unbreakable and now he was taken away from us, an innocent man,” she cried.

Kerry was inconsolable at the crime scene as she sat on the road near her father’s body.

“My heart breaks, I know their father was a good man,” Khadoo said.

Edwards lived in Wellington Gardens while Mahabir, an offshore worker, lived at Serenity Heights.

Mahabir’s parents Harripersad Mahabir, 77, and Jean Mahabir, 74, have said they hoped his death was a dream.

Fuller’s mother, Joanne, and relatives also remain in a state of shock.

Up to late yesterday funeral arrangements were being finalised for the men.

Investigators have since obtained video footage from two surveillance cameras at the bar and senior police officers yesterday said they are working on certain leads.

Within the last eight days there have been reports of eight murders in south Trinidad.

The victims include: * Piparo grandmother Dorothy Hosein, 65, who was beaten to death and dumped in a pond near Brothers Road, Rio Claro; * Nickell “Moose” Gibson who was shot dead while liming in Bay Shore, Marabella; * Businesswoman Sylvestine Bernard, 87, and her daughter Kathy Ann, 38, who were found dead at their Gonzales Street, Siparia home. They were stabbed to death.

* Dave George, 53, whose body was discovered on Penal Rock Road, Penal last Friday with bullet wounds to the head and chest.

No arrests have been made but investigators said several persons were questioned in these cases.