Murray: We were proud ambassadors

The 48-year-old Lara, while delivering the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey lecture at Lord’s, London, England on Monday, said he was “embarrassed” by the actions of past Windies teams “playing the game in a way it should never, ever be played.” He said the top Test teams had a responsibility to lead by example and uphold the virtues of the sport.

Lara touched on the infamous 1980 three-game Test series between the West Indies against hosts New Zealand which ended in a 1-0 win for New Zealand.

Ironically, this was the last Test series which the WI lost until the 1995 contest, at home, against Australia.

Lara was quoted as saying, “I grew up at a time when West Indies dominated the world. For 15 years from 1980, the West Indies never lost a Test series. And just before that, Colin Croft decided he was going to take a piece out of Fred Goodall’s shoulder and ran into him during a Test match.

Michael Holding decided he was no longer a cricketer, he was a footballer and he kicked a stump.

I’m sure the occurrences during that period had a big effect on cricket.” Murray, during a telephone interview yesterday, noted, “In my experience, the West Indies team that I was part of were always conscious that we were representing and being ambassadors for the West Indies as a region. We were always careful to seek to project the image as (not only) being excellent performers, but also excellent sportsmen and ambassadors, and always showing the spirit that the West Indies is renowned for, in terms of its sportsmanship, its entertainment and its excellence on the field.

“If, and there were occasions when we may have slipped up, we take responsibility for those. But that was not the way of the team and that was not what we were proud of as examples of how the game should be played. And I am sure that we made every effort to rectify those immediately (thereafter).” Asked if Lara was accurate about his views on the 1980 series or was the “Prince of Port of Spain” exaggerating, Murray replied, “Remember that team would have been playing together for a number of years before, so to simply choose one isolated incident may not be truly fair, and may not be in the spirit of accessing the performance or the stature of that particular team.” Lara also touched on the 1990 home series against England, with specific incidents including the Third Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair (when stand-in captain Desmond Haynes was alleged to have used time-wasting tactics to deny England victory on the final day) and the Fourth Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados (when regular skipper Vivian Richards was accused by various English journalists of intimidating Barbadian umpire Lloyd Barker to give batsman Robert Bailey caught behind by wicketkeeper Jeff Dujon).

Murray pointed out, “You can equally point to 1968 when there was no time-wasting when England won a Test match in Trinidad chasing a total when they were completely out of the game for four-and-a-half days. So you just look at different things that happened in different ways. Unfortunately we were not always perfect in every way but we certainly never intended to breach the spirit of the laws of the game.”

12 previous convictions for drugs… man jailed for nine months

He pleaded guilty to the charges laid by PC Dario Ramlal of the Marabella Police Station.

Prosecutor Sgt Veano Ragoo told the court police stopped a vehicle on Sunday at Mt Moriah Road, San Fernando. They saw Indarsingh, who was a passenger, take a bag out of his pocket and hide it in his right front pocket.

The bag contained cocaine and a device used to smoke it.

Charles was told Indarsingh was released from prison in September 2016 after serving time for drug possession. Indarsingh told the magistrate he tried seeking help through several rehabilitation programmes for his addiction, but nothing seems to be helping him.

“Yes I does take my smoke now and then, but I behaving myself these days,” he said.

Indarsingh said he did not have a house to live in and was sleeping in an abandoned shed near a cemetery in San Fernando.

Charles told him he needed to think about his life and the direction he was heading.

On the charge of possession of cocaine, he was jailed for nine months. On the charge of possession of a device, he was sentenced to six months in jail. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Sinanan to JSC: The chips must fall where they may

I have played no role in procurement of any vessel.” The minister also said contrary to claims made by certain people, no charter party agreement for any vessel was signed before Cabinet approval. Responding to questions from JSC chairman Stephen Creese and Opposition Senator Wade Mark on this issue, Sinanan said the documents the committee were seeing were ratifications of the approval he alluded to. He said the ministry would provide the JSC with further clarity if necessary.

“The Minister has nothing to do with the signing of any charter party agreement,” he added.

Sinanan said after assuming office last November, it became apparent that the port and ferry service, “were heading for a crisis.” Expressing confidence that the new Port Authority board would address the problems facing the port, Sinanan reminded JSC members that Cabinet appointed a threeman investigative committee to review the operations of the port. He also disclosed that a sea sector expert will soon be engaged to assist in this exercise.

Sinanan said the problems with the TT Spirit and TT Express were the result of poor maintenance over the years. “This is an experience for the country that we need to pay attention to maintenance.” He said in some countries, aluminium hull vessels (like the Spirit and Express) are taken out of service once they pass 15 years. He described the situation with the Super Fast Galicia as as case of “commercial advantage” where the provider threatened to pull the vessel out of service if a certain arrangement was not agreed to.

Sinanan confirmed the former port board chaired by Christine Sahadeo never approved a five-year extension for the Galicia. He also confirmed the request for that extension came from the port’s management.

Sinanan said he was not prepared to commit the country to extending the Galicia’s contract at a cost of over $200 million, “without a tendering process. He also said the Galicia’s abrupt departure in April had to to do with unresolved issues since 2014 under the then People’s Partnership government.

Sinanan referred to a letter from Inter-Continental Shipping Limited, brokers for the Galicia, to support this statement. Sinanan also said the Cabo Star cargo vessel cost less than the Galicia. The Transport Minister said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley may have more information to support his comment about something being crooked in the procurement of the Ocean Flower 2. He said he awaited the findings of all investigations into this matter. Sinanan supported his Cabinet colleague Fitzgerald Hinds’ defence of Sahadeo.

Maintaining good health

Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is also key to enjoying and maintaining good health.

Your level of physical activity is to be determined according to the frequency of participation in leisure-time physical activities on a regular basis.

These activities should include walking, jogging or running, riding a bicycle or exercise bicycle, swimming, aerobic exercise, Zumba, Latin dancing, calisthenics, plyometrics, garden or yard work, resistance training, or other similar activities.

The average time you spend exercising must be at least 20 minutes three to four times a week and the level of intensity must be gradually increased over time.

Moderate alcohol consumption can be defined as no more than one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men, according to current guidelines.

CHELSEA BEDASE El Dorado

Special Ops soldier shot dead at wake, five in hospital

Dead is Lance Cpl Marcus Gay, 31, a member of an elite unit of the T&T Regiment with more than ten years service. His colleague Lance Cpl Marc Blunt and four civilians were wounded. Up to last evening, the five survivors remained at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH).

Police said, shortly after 11 pm on Monday, PCs Babwah and Ramdath of the St Mary’s Police Post responded to a report of a shooting at Dougla City in Fifth Company Village, Moruga.

On arrival, police saw Gay with multiple gunshot wounds in a yard where a wake was in progress. They saw Blunt, armed with a gun, lying on the roadside with gunshot wounds to his leg.

They were both dressed in plain clothes. Four civilians including brothers, Victor and Vincent Brown, Gerard Graham and Renrick St Clair also had gunshot wounds.

The six men were taken to the Princes Town Hospital where Gay was pronounced dead. The survivors were subsequently transferred to SFGH.

Supt. Pragg, ASPs Ali and Ali Mohammed, Insp. Gajadar, Sgt.

Ramlogan, Cpl. Fortune and other members of the Southern Division and Homicide Bureau visited the scene. Newsday learnt the soldiers, both of Siparia, were working undercover at the wake of Angela Willie, mother of the Brown brothers.

The mother of ten and grandmother of six died on Saturday from heart failure.

Another of Willie’s sons, Munroe Brown, 28, told Newsday unknown men (later identified as the soldiers) arrived at the wake and asked for Victor, 30. Victor went outside and shortly after gunshots rang out and people began scampering for safety.

“We cannot tell who shot who first,” Brown said. “He was talking to them because he heard they were looking for him in the back here.

Victor got shot in the head and face and Vincent in his hands and chest.” Brown said Vincent is not involved in any criminal activities, contrary to reports of him (Vincent) being involved in a chopping incident. “Police never arrested him for that.

He (is) innocent.” An eyewitness said, “In defending themselves from two unknown gunmen”, someone at the wake returned fire. He alleged it was the soldiers who first opened fire.

“Men started to pelt bottles and big stones.

At that point, we did not know he was an army man. About ten minutes after the shooting, a jeep with about 15 soldiers came and started to cuss and threatened us,” said the eyewitness.

Another eyewitness Isaiah Gibson, who is also Willie’s son, said her funeral service will take place tomorrow instead of today as initially scheduled.

Gay’s mother, Sandra Smith of Santa Flora said she received a telephone call about the incident at about 3 am yesterday. The mother of seven said he was a straightforward man who loved his job.

“All I heard is he went to work and that was it,” Smith said.

“He works all over and does not have a base. Marcus was a very nice person, always willing to help people.” In a media release, the Regiment extended condolences to Gay’s family and colleagues and said even as police continue to investigate the incident, it stands ready to lend any assistance into the matter.

Long wait

All relevant documents were submitted.

On April 5, the adjuster visited to assess the damage. Thereafter, I kept calling to enquire about the status of the claim. But it has only been pressure with all kinds of excuses.

Finally, on July 11, I was asked to sign a letter of acceptance for a specified sum which I did. Since then I have been calling, only to be told they don’t know when payment will be made. Can anyone assist or tell me where to go? I am tired and fedup.

Please, somebody, help!

K RAMAI via email

New trial date for Insp Alexander

Alexander and PC Sheldon Mires’ trial for assault was expected to start before Senior Magistrate Nannette Forde-John in the Port of Spain Four A Court yesterday, however Alexander’s lead counsel Gilbert Peterson,SC, indicated there was some difficulty on the part of the defence to do so.

After some discussion, it was agreed the two policemen will return to court on November 28 when a timetable will be set for the hearing.

Forde-John urged both the defence and prosecution to file and exchange statements and submissions so they can focus on the issues and the witnesses who would be germane to the case when the trial begins.

Alexander is charged with assaulting Santa Cruz resident Christopher Charles, in July of last year, causing him actual bodily harm.

Mires is charged alongside Alexander with two similar offences arising out of the same incident. He is charged with assaulting Charles by way of beating him and also committing common assault upon the alleged victim. The offences were alleged to have taken place in Santa Cruz.

Alexander’s and Mires’ case was transferred by acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle who recused herself from hearing the trial since Alexander was involved in a school mentoring project in which she was involved.

The policemen were first expected to go on trial in May before former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, who was subsequently appointed a High Court judge on April 12, and later resigned after it was revealed she left behind a number of part-heard cases on her magisterial docket.

Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson and attorney Lee Merry are representing Alexander, while Mires is being represented by defence attorney John Heath. Senior State attorneys Angelica Teelucksingh-Ramoutar and Mauriceia Joseph are prosecuting.

Sou Sou Lands teen missing

She is of African descent, 5 feet, 1 inch tall and slim built with a dark brown complexion.

A nyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the police at 999, 555, 911 or any police station or call 800-TIPS

Hinds defends Christine

This, as Hinds appeared before the Land and Physical Infrastructure Joint Select Committee (JSC) at Tower D of the Port-of- Spain International Waterfront Centre. As he confirmed receipt of a letter from former acting Port CEO Leon Grant complaining about Sahadeo’s conduct, Hinds disclosed, “I received complaints from her about other persons.” Hinds said it became clear to him from the various pieces of correspondence that “bacchanal and confusion and egos” were causing “friction between the board and the management.” The minister said it was also clear to him that Sahadeo did nothing irregular in pursuance of her responsibilities of her duties as chairman.

He said his focus was to encourage all stakeholders to work in the country’s best interest

TTFA awaiting FIFA clearance for TTSL All-Star game

“The FA wishes to further confirm that it has in fact made a request to FIFA to have the match sanctioned and is currently awaiting their approval.

“The FA will also like to place on record that it was only on the 29th of August 2017 it received from the TTSL information requested since early August by the FA to support the TTSL’s application to send to FIFA .

“The TTFA will in no way attempt to stall an event of this magnitude which is intended to aid the promotion of the sport in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.

“The FA will continue to support the development of the TTSL,” a TTFA press release stated.

The TTFA quoted Article 78 of its constitution which states, “The Authority for organising international matches and competitions between representative teams and between Leagues, Club teams and/or scratch teams lies solely with FIFA, the Confederation (s) and/or the Association (s) concerned. No such match or competition shall take place without the prior permission of FIFA, the Confederation (s), and/or the Association (s) concerned in accordance with the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches.” It also cited Article 79 which states, “TTFA, its Members, Players, Officials and match and players’ agents shall not play matches or make sporting contact with Associations that are not Members of FIFA or with Provisional Members of a Confederation without the approval of FIFA.”