The preliminary round games were staged at the Chaguanas Indoor Sports Complex, with Crown Trace FC being the day’s most successful team with victories in the various divisions.

In the Under-9 category, Crown Trace began proceedings with a 2-1 win over W Connection. Camron Burke scored twice for Crown Trace while Kyron Baptiste replied for Connection.

Burke was again on the scoresheet as Crown Trace edged Cap Off Youths 1-0 while Baptiste found the back of the net twice as Connection whipped Cap Off Youths 2-0.

In the Under-11 section, Crown Trace got items from Obadiah De La Rosa and Kerron George to defeat W Connection 2-0. Burke notched a pair while Nickel Esdelle got the other as Crown Trace blanked Ma Guaya United 3-1. Jacey Andrews scored for Ma Guaya. And Ma Guaya took care of Connection 2-0 with strikes from Akelion Pierre and Akeem Adolphus.

And, in the Under- 13 division, Crown Trace defeated Connection 2-0 (Tyrik Trotman and Jerome Bartholomew were the scorers) but drew goalless with Ma Guaya.

Shakeem Williams and Levi Jones scored as Connection blanked Ma Guaya 2-0.

The Red Force could not make it a hat-trick of titles in the tournament, after suffering an embarrassing 292-run defeat against the Scorpions. The Jamaicans were ruthless when batting first, racking up a stupefying 434 for four – a regional record and the ninth highest score in 50-over List A cricket history.

Discussing TT ’s exit in the semifinals, Ramdin said, “It was pretty disappointing not being able to get into the final and give ourselves a chance to win the tournament again, but I think it was a good run for us.” Ramdin said the Red Force had no response to the attack of the Scorpions.

“Our bowlers were tremendous throughout the tournament and Jamaica came out and they outplayed us, they batted really well and they put our bowlers under pressure. Chasing 400 runs was very difficult, and we kept losing wickets and we never had the momentum to really chase down the runs.

“I think it was some poor bowling on our part – senior bowlers. We bowled some bad balls and they had some really good batting power that put away those balls as well.” Chadwick Walton (117) and Jermaine Blackwood (108 not out) both struck centuries for Jamaica, while Steven Taylor (88) and Rovman Powell (95) slammed half centuries.

The TT skipper said it was good to see Queen’s Park batsman Nicholas Alexis and clubmate Khary Pierre performing during the tournament for TT .

“It is good that those two young players got that experience at regional level. Hopefully they could grow from strength to strength, use what they have learned in that tournament to move forward in their career.” Ramdin is hoping the Red Force can get some positive results when the Regional Fourday tournament resumes on March 10. TT are currently last on the six-team standings.

Ramdin, who will be available when the four-day tournament resumes, said, “It is very important that we come out and play hard cricket in the four-day set up. It is very important that we come in the top three.”

Their comfortable six-wicket victory at the National Cricket Centre Ground in Balmain, Couva sets up an exciting clash for the title with South Zone on Wednesday at the same venue from 9.30 am.On Wednesday, South Zone scored an emphatic eight-wicket victory over North to book their place in the Under-15 championship match for the second straight year.

East Zone, put into bat by Central on Thursday, struggled against Central’s co-ordinated bowling attack and scrambled to 111 in 39.3 overs, with 36 extras claiming the dubious distinction of topping the scorecard.

Only Shazad Mohammed (19 not out), opener Alexander Kassiram (15), Giovanni Gajadhar (14) and Jabari Phillip (12) got into double figures but their fighting effort on a true, hard wicket failed to set their opponents a challenging total.

Man-of-the-Match Rahul Pitiram, Rajeev Ramnath and Daniel Fletcher combined well to claim two wickets apiece, while Shasri Maharaj, Nyron Boodram and Amrit Dass took one each to crown off an impressive bowling performance by the Central youngsters. Pitiram showed his allround ability in scoring an undefeated 43 to lead a successful run chase as Central reached 112 for the loss of four wickets in 28.4 overs, and he received valuable support from Isaac Ramrattan (25 not out) as the pair put on a match-winning partnership of 74 runs for the fifth wicket.

Again, extras featured prominently on the scorecard as East gave away 34, including 29 wides which did their effort no favours, especially after posting a disappointing total taking first strike.

Jabari Phillip, Abdur Rahaman, Giovanni Gajadhar, and Andrew Rambaran led an unlikely fightback by taking one wicket each but in the end, they found their team’s low score indefensible.

The 28-year-old was sent home from the Tri-Nation series (involving Sri Lanka) in Zimbabwe last November for a breach of contract — an offensive tweet directed at Cameron.

He was left out of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team for the current Regional Super50 tournament and the TT Cricket Board (TT CB) noted that Bravo will be recalled to the local-based franchise squad after he met with the WICB.

During a WICB Townhall Meeting at the Preysal Secondary School Thursday, Cameron noted, “My understanding is that Mr Bravo has met with the executive of the WICB and the ball is in his court, as to whenever he is willing to come back and play cricket.” Asked specifically if he received an apology from Bravo over the tweet, Cameron reiterated, “the ball is in his court.” Cameron, during an interview on regional television network SportsMax, said that Bravo was offered a grade C contract since his Test average had slipped over the past year. Bravo slammed the WICB boss on Twitter, calling him a “big idiot” and denying ever being offered an ‘A’ retainer contract.

Another TT left-handed batsman who has been in the bad books of the WICB is Nicholas Pooran, who was banned from the 2016-2017 Regional Four- Day and Super50 events after signing with the Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League, instead of honouring his contract with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Cameron said, “the WICB, with WIPA (West Indies Players Association), has formed a tribunal and Pooran would have the opportunity, through his representatives, to appeal the decision.” The WICB head insisted that Pooran knew of the repercussions of his actions before opting to feature in the Bangladesh T20 contest.

The tandem of Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan will remain at the helm of the WICB, as president and vice-president respectively, when the regional governing body stages their elections in March.

The duo has not been opposed, according to a media release from the WICB recently.

And Cameron, outlined what he hopes to achieve during his third consecutive two-year term as president.

“What we see as a successful third term is successfully transitioning Cricket West Indies, which we’re very close to doing now,” said Cameron, “finalising our High Performance Centre which is in Antigua — our office would be in Antigua as well; creating that dual partnership agreement with our players; and, most importantly, getting our finances in order, in a sustainable way.” Cameron, who replaced Dr Julian Hunte at the helm in 2013, has been embroiled in numerous controversies, with players, regional leaders and coaches.

As far as it concerns regarding the relationship between the Board and players, Cameron insisted, “we are not in charge of the players.

It is incumbent of the players to have their own management. It is incumbent of the players to use the Players Association.” He added, “players have grouses all over the world, not only in the West Indies.

Right now, the Australia Cricket Board are negotiating with their players.

It’s been going on for six months.

“We’re encouraging our players to take (up) their issues through different avenues — industrial relations practices.” Cameron stressed, “our core values — integrity, respect, excellence, teamwork, inclusiveness, accountability — that’s what we stand for.

We’ve wavered a lot of times in the past but, going forward, we’re not wavering any more.

We just want to continually communicate with our players that that’s how want to operate.”

The first edition of the cricket tour will bowl off today at the Barataria Oval from 5 pm with several past and current West Indies players as well as those from the Barataria community in action.

Lara said, “I will be dedicating my first game of this Island-wide Tour to two of my best friends in sport that recently passed, Mr John Sabga and Mr Scott Anderson.

It is difficult to find a more passionate and knowledgeable man in sport as John Sabga and it’s guys like him that inspires you daily to keep going.

“As I exited professional cricket, everyone knew about my love for golf, and it is Scott Anderson who became my coach, my business partner in golf and most importantly, my friend.

Both passed from cancer and both gone too soon, just young men. This one is for them. I miss them dearly, may they both rest in peace.” The initiative of the cricket tour is to influence the nation’s young people, and highlight the state of sporting venues in communities throughout the country.

The monthly matches will include players such as Darren Bravo, Dinanath Ramnarine, Denesh Ramdin, Fidel Edwards, Lincoln Roberts and Kirk Edwards.

Former national and Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke is also expected to participate in the cricket tour.

Although Grammy-award winning writer Angela Hunte does not readily accept that her work helped pushed this, evidence shows otherwise.

The fact that her 2016 hit Mon Bon Ami was named as one of the top 100 songs for 2016 (it was number 73) gives testimony to the fact.

Hunte has also stamped her style and songs on the hearts and minds of many a Trinbagonian.

This year she has continued in the vein of the infusion of zouk-style songs with Love Me Some Him.

She also has Big Beat Drum and Make Me Go for this season.

For 2017 Hunte is doing things a little differently. With her own band in tow, she will perform without Machel Montano at Lime, Hyatt Regency Trinidad’s all-inclusive fete, and at Calypso Rose’s SoCalypso-Rose on Carnival Friday (February 24).

Asked about continuing to build her name in soca, Hunte said, “I have no intentions of abandonment, even though I am embarking on a global artist career, venturing with a brand new label and a brand new team.” For the singer/songwriter, while this is not her first go-around as a performer, she wants people to see her more as a performer with her own band now.

“My band is a very different band than what they’re used to seeing…I’m excited for them to see that. They have seen one way of me, now it is time for them to see the other side… Angela, an artiste in her own right, and switching up styles. People will see a total change for Carnival 2018 in my music and what I plan to do.” Hunte’s band is made up of musicians from a lot of different cultures. “We have a horn section, two percussions, we have bass, guitar, two keyboards and one background singer.” “It is made up of diverse cultures. They love soca, but they have a different way of approaching it…it is very big and percussion-driven and it brings a totally different sound to my music and what I do,” she said.

While Hunte wants to see soca win a Grammy, the process has not been easy. Hunte has called upon the local music industry to continue to put music out there as its path to Grammy recognition.

“I don’t feel I have contributed to the globalisation of soca…I am just trying to help that process if I can. I think it is on its way truly but surely. I think the unification of the artistes and the constant putting out of music is needed. The more you put it out, the more it will be the world will be aware.” Hunte is working with Belgian model, singer actress and media personality Fanny Neguesha, who is expected to come to TT in 2018.

“She came into the studio and was looking for a director. I was showing her Party Done video…and she says to me, ‘Angie, why are you showing me this?’ The French accent is really harsh and she was like, ‘Why are you showing me this?…This is Party Done.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, you know this song,’ and she was like, ‘Yeah this is my favourite song.’ She said the song is huge in Belgium, and when they go out in Belgium this is the song they turn out to…” Hunte gave illustrations such as walking into a major record label’s office and hearing Mon Bon Ami, to say that soca’s global reach and growth have been occurring for a while.

There is a movement that is happening, she said, an infusion of soca into the global space.

Her blend of soca with the wider global sound she has branded as Gully Pop.

She defines it this way: “You can look at ‘Gully’ as being a bad word, but I don’t look at it like that. For me, gully is like the street urban. Urban spaces don’t always have to be the ghetto. Urban spaces are spaces full of life. It represents the people who work to live. It is like street music.” While Hunte’s musical taste might shift during the year, as she is in a “very musical space right now,” she wants to do more live performances in 2018 with her band. She is also looking to add more of a Trinidadian sound to her music, having had meetings with Phase II steelband. She also hopes, one day, to hear Mon Bon Ami played on pan.

She believes she has something different to offer than what is normally seen in TT , particularly from a female performer. “It is super-high energy. You don’t usually see females in that space. It would be good for the people to see something different.” In 2018, Hunte has plans to bring not only Neguesha but some (other) “really big names,” whom she could not identify at the moment owing to contractual arrangements.

While she and Montano have worked together and may work together again, she said, “I think it is time to showcase what I can do as an artiste and what I can do as a performer. I think it is time to show them another side.” She is expected to release a soca EP next week called SPEAKHer which will feature a remix of her popular Mon Bon Ami made with a well-known rapper.

And in answer to the million-dollar question that’s probably on everyone’s mind: while she did not have time to get it done last year, a video for Mon Bon Ami is set to happen soon.

Thirty-seven kings and 37 queens bearing costumes such as Monia Haka’s Out of the Ashes, A Saga of Piracy, Desideria Cordis, De Nubela and Doodad Daddy which bore a resemblance to Peter Minshall’s famed Saga Boy, danced to attain a place in the finals on Tuesday.

Characters such as pierrot grenade, blue devils, moko jumbie, midnight robber, fancy sailor, bat, black Indian, burrokeet, baby doll and imp were on display for the appreciative audience.

Here are some of the devils which graced the stage in St James.

The members elected are Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan (vice chairman) and Couva/ Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) chairman Henry Awong. San Juan/ Laventille Regional Corporation chairman Anthony Roberts was re-elected chairman.

During his address, Roberts recalled that Opposition members had not participated in the Association over the last several years despite a “gentleman’s agreement” to take an active role in its activities. However, speaking to reporters following his election as vice chairman, Boodhan said the election of the two Opposition members was “better than the last occasion” which witnessed no UNC members on the executive.

“I take some level of comfort in that we now have two persons present on the executive and we will now be able to share our ideas and opinions on the way forward for the organisation,” Boodhan said. “The Association is about representing the views and ideas of its members,” he said.

Earlier, Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein advised Local Government practitioners to give their best during their three year terms saying politics was a “temporary” occupation.

“Politics is temporary,” Hosein said, adding, “life is temporary, but politics is the most temporary thing it have because today you are here and tomorrow you do not know where you are.” “So you give a commitment, you come here for one month, or one year or three years, so work to the best of your ability, always have transparency in everything you doing,” Hosein said, and noted that he had an “open door” policy for local government councillors.

However, he acknowledged that while TT’s education system reflects the country’s colonial past, it has worked reasonably well. “But within that paradigm,” he continued, “there are a number of inconsistencies, a number of inherent flaws. You see, people keep talking about post-Colonial and every time I hear that word I smile, because the colonial baggage is still here; it ‘eh’ really ‘post.’ It’s like carrying ‘colonial’ with you still. In our education system, we’ve been doing that. You know why? Because education was very central to the colonial experiment,” he said.

According to Lovell, the fact that the nation’s education system reflects its colonial past is evidenced in the fact that schools inculcate in children a particular world view and do not allow them to question that view. However, while the education system needs to be transformed, Lovell said citizens also need to take a look at themselves.