Regional Manager Psychiatric/Mental Health Services of the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) Pooran Sankar yesterday said the session was geared at reaching out to different groups in the society to deal with the issue.

Psychological first aid (PFA) covers both psychological and social support and the training was held at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital at Chancery Lane. It comprised mainly of pundits. Previous training sessions catered for Christian and Muslim leaders from the SWRHA district as well as teachers and students of secondary schools in San Fernando.

“People tend to gravitate to their respective religious leaders with whatever problems they have. We are trying to extent this to all the groups and people who have influence in terms of guiding their congregations,” Sankar told Newsday.

SWRHA district spans from Couva to Moruga to Icacos.

According to the World Health Organisation, one in four people worldwide will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. WHO further states that about 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

Yesterday, Sankar added that within the SWRHA region, there are over 10,000 persons registered in clinics (psychiatric).

“Last year there were 240 new cases. On average 1,200 persons access the services yearly

Gopaul, after a stellar 2016, copped the prize for Female Junior, Female Classic and Female Open Champion of Champions.

She also registered the highest Wilks score (145.696) which earned her the best squat (classic) accolade.

Gopaul, speaking to Newsday, said she never envisioned the success she has achieved since getting involved in the sport.

“I would encourage anyone to join the sport of powerlifting, because two to three years ago, I would have never thought that I would be a national powerlifting champion,” she said.

Hunte, after breaking the national record in the 105kg Junior and Open categories, won awards for earning the Highest Wilks score in both the deadlift (206.082) and bench press (117.331). The Wilks Formula is a coefficient that can be used to measure the strength of a powerlifter despite the different weights of the lifters.

The 21-year-old Hunte, who competed in just his second ‘Nationals’ and third competition overall, said, “I am now focused on the World Championships to be held in Belarus (June 2017) and the 2017 North American Championships (July 2017).” Barring financial constraints, Hunte should secure automatic qualification to these competitions.

He too advised those interested to “venture into the sport because it’s not too complexed.” Kevon Narine, who was instrumental in the coordination and successful organisation of the 2017 National Championships, was honoured for his yeoman service.

RESULTS

Overall Open Winners

Female-Open (Champion of Champions) – Dakoda Gopaul

Men-Open (Champion of Champions) – Rondel Hunte

Overall Winners – Equipped

Men-Junior – Josh Bahadur

Men Masters 1 – Doodnath Balgobin

Overall Winners Classic

Female-Junior (Champion of Champions) – Dakoda Gopaul

Female-Classic (Champion of Champions) – Dakoda Gopaul

Men-Sub junior (Champion of Champions) – Shane De La Rosa

Men-Junior (Champion of Champions) – Rondel Hunte

Men-Classic (Champion of Champions) – Rondel Hunte

Special Awards (Based on Wilks Points)

MALE

Best Squat Classic (181.225) – Adrian Knox

Best Benchpress Classic (117.331) – Rondel Hunte

Best Deadlift Classic (206.082) – Rondel Hunte

FEMALE

Best Squat Classic (145.696) – Dakoda Gopaul

Best Benchpress Classic (79.182) – Syanna Andrews

Best Deadlift Classic (168.792) – Lutchmi Sookram

The intent is to embark on an island-wide community-focussed cricket tour in an attempt to reinvigorate cricket at the grassroots level within Trinidad and Tobago.

Lara, the world record holder for highest Test score, will be batting in the nets today and fielding questions from the media.

The first game to get the initiative gets underway on Saturday at Barataria Oval from 5pm and Lara will be bringing seven present and former cricketers to participate in the game to enrich the event, but moreso to give cricketers of Barataria the opportunity to play alongside these esteemed individuals in a friendly yet competitive encounter.

This match is the first of the Cricket Tour which will take place monthly during 2017.

Funds raised on Saturday will be directed towards the Barataria Ball Players Sports and Cultural Club for further disbursement in community projects and efforts.

A press release yesterday stated: “On behalf of the Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation, we are excited by the possibilities of this partnership and we look forward to working closely with you and all corporate Barataria to ensure a very successful event.”

The south club, based in Pluck Road, San Francique, recently held its annual prize-giving function at San Francique Presbyterian Primary School with Alvin Ramlogan being named Cricketer of the Year.

Rahamut’s Evergreen Sports and Culutral Club is the village’s main sporting team, placing third in the 2016 South Zone Championship of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TT CB) National League. The club is celebrating its 64th anniversary this year.

Among the main achievement for the south club was seeing its member Darren Samlal being selected on the national Under- 15 team.

Rahamut’s Evergreen 2016 highlights:
Most Wickets T20 – Alvin Ramlogan (4) 50 overs – Alvin Ramlogan (16) League – Alvin Ramlogan (49)

Most Runs T20 – Travis Blyden (67) 50 overs – Travis Blyden (215) League – Trevon Garraway (386)

Administrator of the year – Dindial Seepersad (team manager) Club member of the year – Winston Sammy Cricketer of the year – Alvin Ramlogan (Tennent Trace, Pluck Road)

And the Cougars smashed an 11-yearold record in the Girls Under-17 1600 metres relay.

The girls crossed the finish line in four minutes 17.10 seconds to erase the previous mark of four minutes 17.39 seconds set by Lodge School in 2006.

Cougars Under-15 girls scored an exciting victory in the 4×100 metres relay.

Foundation runner Leilani Haddock received the baton approximately three metres ahead of Cougars anchor Caliyah Wallace and an upset seemed on the cards.

But Wallace powered into overdrive and reeled in Haddock to the delight of the travelling Cougars party, winning in 50.03 seconds with Haddock trailing in 50.26 seconds.

Cougars also won the 4×100 metres relays in the Under-11, Under-13 and Under- 15 categories for both boys and girls.)

Sent in in the day/night affair at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Scorpions amassed a mammoth 434 for four off their 50 overs – a record for regional 50 overs cricket and the ninth highest total in the history of List A. Jamaica returned to put the Red Force out of their misery, routing the Denesh Ramdin- led squad for just 142 to romp to victory by 292 runs.

Scorpions were fired by Walton’s top score of 117 while Test batsman Blackwood hit an unbeaten 108 as Scorpions stunned the two-time defending champions with an exhibition of astonishing hitting.

The run-spree began in an entertaining opening stand of 174 between Walton and Taylor, was sustained courtesy of a 95-run second wicket stand between Blackwood and Walton and capped off in a jaw-dropping third wicket partnership of 163 between Blackwood and Powell.

Walton smashed nine fours and seven sixes off 96 deliveries while Blackwood faced just 88 deliveries and belted six fours and sixes.

The left-handed Taylor gave Red Force a flying start, racing to his half-century in the 11th over off 35 balls but was first to fall when he sliced a drive to Kjorn Ottley at point off off-spinner Jason Mohammed in the 22nd over.

All told, the American struck eight fours and five sixes.

Walton’s fifty came in the 13th over off 32 deliveries and required another 52 balls to reach triple figures, before falling lbw to leg-spinner Imran Khan in the 36th over.

Powell then joined Blackwood to rip apart the Red Force bowling and was within touching distance of century when he missed a heave at seamer Ravi Rampaul in the final over and was bowled.

Rampaul was the best bowler with two for 83. In reply, the Red Force stumbled to 142 all out in 26.3 overs, after losing wickets at regular intervals. Right handed Jason Mohammed was the only batsmen to offer resistance scoring an unbeaten 62, while Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin scored 27. Openers Evin Lewis and Kyle Hope got TT off to a solid start, but when they fell for 18 and 17 respectively TT never recovered. No other TT batsman got into double figures.

Rovman Powell demonstrated his all around ability grabbing 5/36 in eight overs with his medium pace. Also among the wickets for the Scorpions were fast bowler Jerome Taylor who snatched 3/27 in 5.3 overs and Reynard Leveridge who took 2/31.

Scores: JAMAICA SCORP IONS 434 for four off 50 overs (Chadwick Walton 117, Jermaine Blackwood 108 not out, Rovman Powell 95, Steven Taylor 88; Ravi Rampaul 2-83) vs RED FOR CE 141 off 26.3 overs (Jason Mohammed 62 not out, Denesh Ramdin 27; Rovman Powell 5-36, Jerome Taylor 3-27, Renard Leveridge 2-31)

The 27-man training team, is entirely local based, as Lawrence explained that the foreign based players will only be available days before the next World Cup qualifier vs Panama. The training team will have their first session on Monday.

TT are preparing for Russia 2018 qualifiers vs Panama on March 24 and Mexico on March 28.

Midfielder Cummings has been out of the national setup for more than a year after being shot in his leg in December 2015. Cummings, who plays for Central FC in the Digicel Pro League, has gradually played himself back into contention.

“It is a nice feeling to know you could still get called back in the campaign in which you were performing in,” Cummings said, “It’s an honour always to come back and play for the national team, and I just want to come back and prove to the country and get the results that we need. It’s a nice feeling right now, today is my Valentine’s.” Cummings said regaining his fitness was not an easy task. “It is the first time I ever had an injury (like that) to deal with, I had to come back and prove that I could play football the same way. It was real hard but the hard (work) paid off.” The Central FC player thanked his family, girlfriend, well wishers and even strangers, who prayed for him while he was recovering from the gunshot wound.

Cyrus is equally thrilled to be back following a bust-up with former coach Tom Saintfiet who accused him and Jomal Williams of turning up to national training camp smelling of alcohol. The Belgian later clarified that he had not specifically said it was Cyrus that reeked of alcohol. Cyrus has vehemently denied the accusation.

“I feel happy and delighted to get called back on the national team. I know I would get call back, so I am happy for the opportunity to represent my country again,” he said.

Concerning the allegation of alcohol use, Cyrus said, “As a player who knows that he does not drink and smell of alcohol, that kind of break me down emotionally. It was not something that was on my mind, because whatever is in the dark must come to light and most people who know me know that I don’t drink.” Lawrence, speaking to the media yesterday, said he is interested in seeing what Cummings can offer.

“Keron plays in a position on the football pitch that I was interested in finding particular players for. Keron has demonstrated to me that he understands the position.

Obviously there are things in his game that I will like to work with him on to improve, to see if I could extract it out of him. Keron is one of those players who has experience of being around international football, so I think from that point of view I would like to work with him and see if we can help him improve,” he said.

TT TRAINING SQUAD: Goalkeepers – 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 Leave Me Alone campaign led, collaboratively by groups TogetherWI headed by core member Anya Ayoung-Chee, CariMAN led by Dr Peter Weller and SaySomething led by Atillah Springer and Angelique Nixon have come together to, “bring attention to gender-based violence within the Carnival Space.” The group added that there would be further collaborations with Calypso Rose on the campaign and would be revealed in the coming week. The campaign was launched, online, on February 14.

But the concept for the campaign was crafted from February 1.

Ayoung-Chee in a phone interview with Newsday said, “We were independently inspired by Calypso Rose’s song, Leave Me Alone, and we acknowledged that we wanted to collaborate.

Calypso Rose’s song was the main inspiration but the main issue is to address gender-based violence particularly as it appears in Carnival and to have the conversation raise awareness, [and] create citizen activation towards ending gender-based violence in general.

She said TogetherWI, the organisation she represents, is a collective of creatives –videographers, photographers, artists, designers and musicians– who believe in the power of art to impact on social issues. She said the group’s intent, as artists, is to dedicate its time, skills and resources, “to the creation of different types of visuals that can be used in the activity of ending gender-based violence.” TogetherWI is in for the longhaul, intending to use its art to lend a voice to varying social issues. Leave Me Alone is its first campaign. The group currently consists of 12 core members among them artist Muhammad Muwakil, photographer Maria Nunes and the Above Group. TogetherWI became a group in November last year. It has branded T-shirts, tank tops, bandanas and body shirts with the tagline Leave Me Alone for sale. The sales will go back to the campaign.

Although the group has not partnered as yet with major corporate clients, Ayoung-Chee said it is open to conversations about partnerships.

Personally for Ayoung-Chee, Rose’s song is about letting men know that women would simply like to be left alone to enjoy themselves. “For me, the reason the song resonated this way is there is the desire to enjoy my space, personally, without being attacked, without being violated, without being harassed –is a perfectly normal desire. And we have a right to that and at the same time not inciting violence against anyone who comes at us with that behaviour.” “I think the conversation around ending gender-based violence should not incite more violence,” she said.

On her FaceBook page, Ayoung-Chee said, “We invite you to use the hashtags #leavemealone #leaveshealone to share stories of your experiences of street harassment and violence during Carnival and also of positive moments when you felt defended or protected by your Carnival community.

“And we ask you to share your thoughts about how we create change and also to encourage men to hold their friends, brothers, family, and colleagues more accountable. LeaveMeAlone & LeaveSheAlone are rallying cries against those who harass or want to control women, and they are also serious calls to all of us, especially men, to step up and help us create safe spaces and a safer Carnival for women.”

The show entitled Soca Under the Trees, which was held at The Normandie St Ann’s, saw Douglas deliver Too Sweet in a most enticing way that put mischievous smiles on the faces of some of the women in the audience, before raising the tempo to sing his Grammy Award-winning song that found favour with the mainly international audience.

Douglas continued with a powerful delivery of his 1997 remake of the Growling Tiger classic, When Ah Dead Bury Meh Clothes which he renamed stickfight, and had some patrons on their feet. He closed with his 1993 hit, Ragga Poom Poom, making way for soca powerhouse and two-times winner of Soca Monarch, Ronnie McIntosh.

The high-energy performer rushed to the stage front: “We have 6,000 songs to sing , bring the first one,” then launched into Biting Insects, followed by Happy, before rising to fever pitch with How it go Look. He paused to poke fun at Douglas stating when he, McIntosh, was in Massive Chandileer, his band “lick” every band that Douglas was a part of, including Fireflight, Atlantik and Four Horizons. “But it was a love back then,” claimed McIntosh while the audience laughed.

McIntosh, backed by D’ Experience Band, got more movements from the crowd to his 1995 monarch title song, On The Road ,before closing with his other titled song Ent.

The band comprised a number of former musicians from Blue Ventures, with which McIntosh performed for years. Those musicians included vocalist Tony Wilson and horn men Bert Marcellin and Gary Gervais, while leader Bobby Quan sat in the audience.

The Valentine’s night show compelling people to fall in love with soca all over again, included a special appearance by Kenny J, who delighted with a fantastic delivery of Frankie Valli’s My Eyes Adored You. He continued with his own Addicted to Soca and Stuck on You from the pen of Lionel Richie. Then to just rhythms, had patrons singing along to a medley of past calypso hits –Jean and Dinah, Melda, Drunk and Disorderly, Lizard, He Lick She and Somebody– followed by Bob Marley’s Is This Love and John Legend’s All of Me, done reggae style, and closed singing Discount a cappella style.

Earlier Impulse (Wayne Modest) opened the show with songs and jokes more suited to a different audience but received polite applause for his efforts.

During the recent launch at Vas Lounge in St Clair, Engel Santos the sales and marketing manager of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, said: “Presidente beer represents freshness and quality.

It has established a track record of success and even exciting the expectation of our consumers. Tonight, I have the honour to present to you our newest innovation, Presidente 8.5 which is now available throughout the country in a six-pack presentation.” The presentation comes in “fun size” to offer customers a more convenient way to enjoy the beer.

Camille Chatoor, general manager, Caribbean Bottlers TT Ltd, in welcoming guests said that after taking a look into the industry, together with their partners AB InBev they took the decision to reignite Presidente beer.

The night was filled with entertainment with hosts having fun games for guests to win Presidente prizes..

Guests were also treated to solid performances by Sekon Sta (Nesta Boxill) and Destra Garcia. Attending the event were Darryl Smith, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs; Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon; footballer Carlos Edwards; Shakers’ owner Clayton Archer and businessmen Sean Burkett and Stephan Monteil.