The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TT FA) yesterday secured an international friendly against the South Americans on March 10 at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname.

This game will fall in line with team’s build-up towards two 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Panama and Mexico on March 24 and 28 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

On Wednesday, Lawrence, who is coaching a national team for the first time, named a 27-man provisional training squad which will commence a training camp on Monday.

“I think it is important to work with the local players from now. The Pro League will be concluded on Sunday. So what I have done is selected the local players to work with the local players and to start building on some, so that these players will be able to push for a position on the team, come March 24,” Lawrence said at Wednesday’s press briefing.

The friendly against Suriname will be the second time in the space of two months that the two countries face each other. On January 4, Suriname defeated TT 2-1 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva in a Gold Cup qualifier under previous coach Tom Saintfiet. The TT players and Saintfiet were rounds criticised for a poor display.

Lawrence, in his first interview with the local media upon his arrival at the Piarco International Airport on January 25, promised to play a brand of football that would please TT fans.

“I hope to implement football that would make Trinidad and Tobago fans and Trinidad and Tobago people happy. Make sure that the boys show to the public that we’re out here fighting for the national flag and we’re gonna do our best for the country,” he said.

TT TRAINING SQUAD:

G o a l k e e p e r s : Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillips (Caledonia AIA), Glenroy Samuel (Ma Pau Stars), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Andre Marchan (Police FC)

Defenders: Carlyle Mitchell (Unattached), Julius James (Central FC), Radanfah Abu Bakr (Unattached), Daneil Cyrus (Unattached), Jelani Peters (W Connection), Alvin Jones (W Connection), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Jesus Perez (W Connection), Triston Hodge (W Connection)

Midfielders: Leston Paul (Central FC), Sean De Silva (Central FC), Jared London (Club Sando), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Tyrone Charles (San Juan Jabloteh), Akeem Humphrey (Club Sando), Jomoul Francois (Superstar Rangers), Nathan Lewis (San Juan Jabloteh), Keron Cummings (Central FC), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force) Forwards – Akeem Roach (Club Sando), Jameel Perry (Police FC), Jamille Boatswain (Defence Force).

The event was launched at the Barataria Oval yesterday and the multiple batting record-holder, while speaking to the media, noted, “I felt that today, what’s going on in Trinidad and Tobago, we need a little bit more positive energies coming out. If we can have an effect on two or three youngsters in any particular community, it would be wonderful.” The Barataria Oval will be the venue for the first match of Lara’s Cricket Tour, scheduled to take place tomorrow from 5 pm and will feature several past and present West Indies players.

“Dinanath Ramnarine wants to captain the second team so I believe he has earned that right, being an international player himself,” said Lara. “It’s going to be my team versus Dinas’. We’re going to share the international players that we have and the players the community brings in.” Among the international players slated to participate in the Cricket Tour are Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Fidel Edwards (who all featured in a brief nets session at the Barataria venue yesterday), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ricardo Powell, Philo Wallace, Rajendra Dhanraj and Lendl Simmons. Lara revealed, “I’m going to introduce a 13-yearold (Jacob Bethel). He’s coming in (today) from Barbados. He’s awesome. People say that I was batting like that when I was 13 – well I wished I did. You’ll get an opportunity to see him.” The ex-TT and West Indies captain admitted that the idea was conceptualised in January, during a T20 charity match in Barrackpore which also celebrated the 38th birthday of former TT and Windies cricketer Daren Ganga.

“I spoke to Daren about it and I felt that this is something that we can take to different communities around Trinidad and Tobago,” said Lara. “I started playing cricket at the age of six and, playing with Harvard Coaching Clinic, I would have visited a lot of different places around the country.

Since my international career started and ended, I’ve been far removed from those places.” Lara made it clear that this venture is not a publicity-seeking one, but one which will also highlight the state of sporting venues in various communities.

He said, “we’re at a huge facility for sport (in Barataria). We have San Juan Jabloteh (and) Barataria Ball Players (based) here. You look at the facility and it’s not what you’ll see in Australia, but still we’ve produced some of the best sportsmen in the world.

“It’s something that we want to do, bring to attention the respective people that are responsible for areas like this and see how we can help,” he continued.

“We may have a cricket match on Saturday but I think the follow- up is very important. What happens to the community? Hopefully we can get things moving in the right direction.” Lara, once dubbed ‘The Prince of Port of Spain’, admitted that he could not arrange a proper schedule for the Tour due to his regular travels abroad.

“I do plan to play every single month in a different community but it’s not a set plan.

My next idea was (March 3) in Tobago, to trap Dwight Yorke in Tobago, (where) we know he’ll be. It’s something we’re working towards. If that could be fulfilled, that would be another feather in our cap, in terms of getting a community out in Tobago as well,” he said.

Lara identified the sponsors for his initiative — Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Salloum’s, Ram’s Logistics and Associated Brands Industries Limited.

The TT team had a lengthy training camp in Cali, Colombia during which they played five practice games, winning their last two, losing one and drawing two. Team captain Jabari Mitchell said his troops are ready to fire in San Jose.

“We are in a great mood right now following the Colombia training camp. We arrived in Costa Rica and settling in before the first game. During the camp, our team chemistry improved both on and off the field,” Mitchell told TT FA Media.

“Our football in general took a boost during the camp. We are looking forward to the players coming into the squad now.

Nicholas Dillon is our main goalscorer and it’s good to have him involved now. We are staying focused and I think once we can start well, settling early and apply what the coaches have taught us and instructed us to do, then we should be able to pull off a good performance and result on Sunday,” Mitchell added.

Following the opener versus Bermuda, TT take on Costa Rica at the National Stadium in San Jose on February 22 and El Salvador at the same venue on February 25.

This year Lewis has given the TT public Too Sweet. A groovy soca which speaks to “being in fete, dancing and challenging someone and letting them know that I have a sweet wine. If they are able to keep up, come in and accept the challenge.” The track was written by Lewis and produced by Alton Bertie.

It was mixed and recorded by Request Music and mastered by Yohan Seethan out of Madmen Productions. The track has been two years in the making but she completed it and released it this year.

The 29-year-old grew up in calypso. Lewis entered the Junior Calypso Monarch and National Youth Action Committee (NYAC) competitions as well as Junior Soca Monarch competitions. “I was writing from the age of 11 and I penned my first soca when I was 14. I attended St Francois Girls’ College,” [Belmont], the Santa Cruz resident said.

Lewis began performing at the age of seven with her uncle, Frederick Morgan crafting her calypsoes.

Parang has also been a part of her building blocks in the music industry. “I also was part of a parang/ Latin band, San Racas, out of school. I have sung in Tobago Jazz Experience. I have done shows for past and present prime ministers. I have done different fetes for Republic Bank and various ministry functions.

“After school, I decided to go into soca full time. In 2011 I released my first official soca track.

It was Stand Up. It had an accompanying video and was number one on Synergy for a while. I released tracks the following years and stopped in 2015 when I took a break for two years,” she said.

For 2017 she decided to re-enter the industry and released Too Sweet.

For Lewis, the major hindrance to a more fruitful career in music lies in getting airplay on the local radio stations. “Social media helps a lot but to get airplay on radio is very difficult,” she said.

When asked if she felt that the topics of soca songs were limited, Lewis said, “Our culture includes the jump the wine and the wave so it is according to an artiste if they want to go that direction or if they want to singing a social commentary within soca. Everyone’s creativity is different.” She said her songs are crafted based on what she sees or hears and her muse, if it is around.

“It is according to what is happening at the moment, what I feel or an experience a friend may share,” she said.

Ultimately Lewis wants her music to be world renowned, the dream of every artiste, she added.

But through it all she has the support of her parents, Margaret Collins, mom and dad, Grantley Lewis.

It was during the encore performance of their Carnival hit when the rains came and MX Prime sang, “the rain could fall down, we jammin still” and they did. It was the perfect way to end the night that was packed with great entertainment and a lot of premium food and drinks.

The party began at 7 pm at the Eric Williams Plaza, Port-of-Spain, where before the live entertainment got underway, patrons explored the venue which offered a wide variety of good food. The ever popular horse tent returned this year surprising many newcomers to the Central Bank experience. The options were stewed, jerk and curried horse meat and it was obvious that many people enjoyed it as there was always a long line.

For the less adventurous, patrons had the option of jerk chicken, bake and shark, chicken and shrimp kebabs, corn soup, and chicken and shrimp Alfredo and also vegan options.

The feted added a shaved ice tent, which many loved. As for the drinks, there were traditional bars as well as a Belvedere Vodka bar.

Angostura also had a Mai Tai bar where patrons were treated to a variety of cocktails.

Starting off the entertainment was Roy Cape All Stars with Blaxx, Ricardo Drue and Tizzy belting out their hit tunes. Joining them on stage was Teddyson John and Voice whose performances really pleased the hyped crowd.

Dil-E-Nadan was next and the energetic performance started with Raymond Ramnarine and Omardath Maharaj’s 2017 Chutney Soca hit, Ramsingh.

Their set included popular soca hits including Marvay’s Know The Face, Orlando Octave’s Single and Ultimate Rejects’ Full Extreme.

At about 12.35 am Kes The Band took the stage. Those who were at the various food tents and bars rushed to the front to enjoy the performance.

Partygoers were treated to performances of Incredible, Ramp Up and People.

Joining the band later was Nailah Blackman who sang the hit ‘Workout’ with Kees Dieffenthaller.

Soon after, Kernal Roberts came on to sing Shake, a collaboration with Kees. During his performance, Kernal said this year made it 17 years since his father’s, Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts), passing and paid tribute to the legend by singing a few of his songs which everyone loved.

Kes The Band ended its performance at about 1.30 am followed by DJ Private Ryan.

While many left at that time, those who remained were treated to performances by Sekon Sta with his song Kings and Queens, and then Ultimate Rejects.

The event appeared to be affected by the economic downturn and saw a smaller crowd of spectators, less costumed children and just three small bands and one medium band participating.

With the retirement of perennial bandleader Rosalind Gabriel, there was no large band competing this year.

While the event did clash with the Panorama semi-finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, this has not been a problem in past years as parents brought heir children to parade and then left for the Savannah However, the college, under its new principal Maurice Inniss, put on a good show with lots to eat and for the first time in ages the Carnival music was varied and made for jumping up. Jardel Aguillera portraying Supernova from the Boissiere Children Band was judged King of Carnival.

Zaria Grandison as Flight of the Angel from Carnivale band was named Queen of Carnival.

The Small Band of the Year went to Susan Gomes’ A Touch of China.

The Medium Band of the Year was won by Christine Nunes and Spoilt Rotten Kids’ portrayal of Carnivale which also won the Band of The Year title.

As you may know the erotic romantic drama Fifty Shades Darker is the sequel to 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey and the second of a planned trilogy of films based on the eponymous novels; the final film, Fifty Shades Freed, will be released in 2018.

I saw the original and it was one of the worst movies I have ever seen, so you can understand my apprehension at seeing the sequel. But after actually watching it I will admit that it was not as bad as I feared.

In the first film mild-mannered Anastasia “Ana” Steele (Dakota Johnson) meets emotionally-detached, sadomasochistic billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and he introduces her to his world of kinky bondage sex and weird relationship rules.

While that film was about the sex with the plot as a side note the situation is reversed in Fifty Shades Darker. As Ana and Christian reunite and seek to move forward with their relationship there is an actual plot to go along with it. Along with kinky bondage sex, nudity and butt shots as well; this is a Fifty Shades movie after all. The chemistry between the leads is improved – the character of Ana has a stronger personality and Christian is less of a controlling idiot. Joining the cast is Eric Johnson, who is decent as Ana’s new misogynist boss. and Kim Basinger as Grey’s business partner and former over. The veteran actress, however, does not have much to do other than stare and be cryptic.

What I did appreciate was that they added some suspense to the film with another former Grey lover, a very disturbed young woman.

This aspect turns the film into a bit of a thriller which adds some urgency and a touch of excitement to the proceedings.

Think Lifetime movie but with explicit sex scenes and profanity.

I detested Fifty Shades of Grey, it is an abominable film, but Fifty Shades Darker, while by no stretch of the imagination a great film, was at least tolerable.

The ladies who read the books will probably love it, especially one scene where Christian works out and Ana stares at him lustfully.

I did notice that there were a lot more females than males at the premiere at Gemstone, the new luxury cinemas above Digicel IMAX. It was my first time at Gemstone and I must say those recliner chairs are most relaxing.

That may have had something to do with my moderate enjoyment of the film. Who knows? Rating: Fifty Shades Darker gets one sexual bondage device out of four.

The far-fetched letter written by Persad-Bissessar to US President Donald Trump on FATCA is clear evidence the Opposition does not want to support the legislation.

The privilege that Persad-Bissessar holds in situations like this as Opposition Leader when a three-fifths majority is needed in the Parliament can make or break legislative agendas. She is being mischievous in her posturing on the legislation.

Giving the impression in the public domain that her side is willing to support the legislation now seems to be nothing but a tease of her power. The power of the position of Opposition Leader has been demonstrated as the Government is now trying to avoid a possible request for a third extension. The Opposition’s reasoning for requesting more time at the JSC stage appeared to be a mountain of delay tactics.

The public is still uncertain as to what it is really trying to achieve by continuously delaying support for the Bill. Should this type of behaviour continue, the public will witness a very unproductive five-year parliamentary term.

“We need more time,” “We have not seen all the documents,” “The Opposition was not given sufficient notice before the sitting of the JSC” and similar stories were advanced for the Opposition withholding its support at the most recent debate.

The constant delays and apparent teasing with regard to the passing of this Bill only points to a unwillingness to truly support the global FATCA legislation.

The citizens of this country are not blind nor are they dumb.

We would like Persad-Bissessar to stop teasing, delaying and attempting to circumvent our country’s global obligations and vote for the legislation next Thursday so that we can all put this issue to rest and move on.

Ronald Huggins St Joseph

I wish to salute him for the several initiatives he has put in place to ameliorate the standard of education as it obtains today. From day one he has hit the road running, and like Usain Bolt he has not stopped. His latest endeavour to deal with the inadequacies of mathematics and language arts, inclusive of creative writing, could not have been more providential and opportune.

I would like, however, to humbly suggest, in addition to the extensive teachers/principals/supervisors/ district teams workshops already conducted, several retirees who are willing to come aboard be invited to share their skills, knowledge and expertise with deficient students in their communities. Thus these young people could access additional help to bring them to an acceptable standard.

I had been offering free lessons in English language, creative writing and “broughtupsy” to several students from my community since 2009. I even wrote two books, Caribbean Sunshine For Mammie’s Children and Mammie’s Folklore Stories, using the children themselves as the protagonists in the stories to encourage them to enjoy reading, build their vocabulary, English and sentence structure and writing skills. Unfortunately, I had to stop because of cancer treatment for some time. Today some of these young people have progressed to university, and those from the primary schools are now at Hillview, Holy Cross and Northeastern Colleges, to name a few.

I marvel at the way in which these unmanageable teenagers were able to come to terms with the realisation that they are indeed important, and that there are indeed people who really care about them, and want to see them become good citizens, no matter what obstacles they may encounter.

A bit of “tough love” helped tremendously.

They were pleasantly surprised at their success in their exams, especially in English and creative writing. As such, I would like to exhort other retirees like myself to offer themselves in this nation-building venture for our young people, and posterity.

Eva David-Swain Sangre Grande

As unfortunate as it is, perhaps it is the will of Allah, in retribution for the ban which has been placed on Ahmadi Muslims. Following is a sample of such countries: Ahmadi Muslims are banned from entering Saudia Arabia to perform hajj (pilgrimage).

Ahmadi Muslims are banned from praying or building mosques in Pakistan.

Ahmadi Muslims are banned from proselytising Islam in Indonesia.

Ahmadi Muslims are banned from conducting jumah (Friday prayers) in Malaysia.

Ahmadi Muslims are banned from the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) in Trinidad.

I have been banned from the compound of the Islamic Broadcasting Network.

Ahmadi Muslims were bombed in 1983 at their convention in Marabella.

Imaam Iqubal Hydal Felicity