N Touch

Gabriel lauded for helping Dominica

Cricket West Indies selector, Lockhart Sebastien has lauded fast bowler Shannon Gabriel for his generosity. Sebastien is from Dominica which has been ravaged by Hurricane Maria last month.

“I want to make a special mention to Shannon Gabriel. I met him last week and he said to me ‘Sebo I need to give you some things to take home because things are rough’. I told him ‘no problem,’” said the 61-year-old.

He continued, “On Sunday he came to the Brian Lara Stadium and he opened his vehicle and I asked him which box should I take. He looked and me and said ‘everything’. I

n it were two brand new generators and maybe US$1000 of stuff and I said to myself people look at cricketers and say they are greedy. This is a guy with a kind heart…I didn’t ask him for anything and he brought all this stuff and you have to congratulate people like that.

I was stunned by his contribution and (ex-TT coach) Gus (Logie) made a contribution as well.”

Sebastien expressed his thanks to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, Queen’s Park Cricket Club and Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago for organising the Hurricane Relief Charity T20 match to raise funds for those impacted by the recent hurricanes. The former Windward Islands cricketer stated that all assistance is welcomed because Dominica and other affected islands are in a terrible state.

“Some people will not be able to survive this and it would take a long long time to recover. If you visited Dominica before the hurricane and return now, you would wonder if it is the same place. Dominica was a country that had so many trees.

It looks like some army men came and decided that they wanted to bomb the place. All our agriculture is gone and I fear we will be living very unhealthy in Dominica because our supermarkets were destroyed and we don’t know what we will eat.

A guy told me rice and cornbeef is a big meal in Dominica now. It is a tough time for us,” said Sebastien.

Triple murder inside bar

Karaoke night at a popular bar in Marabella ended in a triple murder on Wednesday when gunmen walked into the crowded establishment and opened fire at patrons.

Two of the victims are Ruthven ‘Man Sandy’ Sandy, 63, and Michael Scott, 48, of John Street, Marabella and San Fabien Road, Gasparillo, respectively. Up to press time, police were yet to identify the third victim. Reports are shortly after 11 pm, gunmen dressed in dark clothing opened fire inside the Caribbean Vibes Restaurant and Bar off the Southern Main Road in Marabella.

Patrons scampered for safety and when the shooting ended, Scott and the unidentified man lay dead in the bar. An unconscious Sandy was taken to San Fernando General Hospital where he died. The killers remained at large up to press time.

At the bar yesterday, police investigators were inside the establishment gathering evidence. Sandy’s son, Ako Cobham, 33, said his father was a frequent patron and karaoke singer at the bar. Cobham recalled that he was outside the bar liming when he heard the gunshots and saw people running out.

DADDY DEAD: Ako Cobham whose father Ruthven Sandy, 63, was among three innocent men shot dead inside a bar in Marabella on Wednesday night. Cobham is seen holding his daughter Jana, two. PHOTO BY ANIL RAMPERSAD

“It seems he was coming out of the washroom inside the bar when the shooting started. He did not sing that night. Everything happened so fast, I was in shock. My father was shot five times. They killed an innocent man for nothing,” Cobham cried. Sandy was a father of 11 and grandfather of many.

The bereaved son added that unlike his father he does not frequent the bar. However, a few hours before the fatal shooting a friend picked him up and they both went to the bar. “Who knows? I too could have been killed. We don’t know who the other dead people are. At the time, all my focus was on father because he was still alive in the bar,” Cobham said.

At the Forensic Science Centre in St James, Scott’s wife told Newsday they spoke just before he went to the bar to lime with co-workers.

“It was a normal conversation. He told me he was making a turn to come back. But if I knew it would be the last time I would be seeing him, I would have hugged him tightly and kissed him all over. I would have told him that I loved him with all my heart,” she said.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said Scott was the perfect husband. She said he was slow to anger, always smiling, kind and helpful. Plus, he was an excellent cook. She revealed that while they were married for nine years, they knew each other for 23 years. Scott was a father of three and an employee of Petrotrin.

Additional reporting by RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS

Marijuana found at Chaguanas North Secondary

Officers responding to loud explosions believed to be gunfire at the Chaguanas North Secondary School yesterday, made another discovery as they searched classrooms after being called in yesterday.

According to sources, shortly before 10 am yesterday, several teachers were alerted to the sound of explosions coming from the Western block of the school. The Principal notified the Chaguanas police station and a contingent of officers led by Senior Superintendent Kenny McIntyre and Acting ASP Richard Smith visited the school where they conducted inquiries and searched the premises.

Officers did not find any firearms and the cause of the explosions were believed to be due to fireworks, used for upcoming Divali celebrations at the school. However, Newsday understands that a quantity of marijuana was found in one of the classrooms. No one was arrested in connection with the find.

Newsday spoke to ASP Smith who said, due to its proximity to Enterprise, the Chaguanas North Secondary School had been deemed prone to gang activity and assured that officers, through various community policing initiatives, would continue to work with staff and students in providing a secure environment.

According to sources within the school, the exercise came as part of continued calls from the Parent-Teacher Association at the school to bring the community police into a more active role at the school to help quell reports of firecrackers and violence on the compound.

2 years for sex assault on girl, 9

A Morvant mechanic will serve out two years of a nine year jail term for sexually assaulting his nine-year-old neighbour in 2005.

The 58-year-old man was sentenced by Justice Maria Wilson at the Port of Spain High Court to nine years’ hard labour, but having spent more than six years in prison awaiting trial, he will only serve just over two years.

He was found guilty of the offences in July by a nine-member jury. In sentencing the man, Justice Wilson said such offences are far too prevalent in society and the prisoner was at one point considered to be a father figure to the girl but breached the trust placed in him.

The man was charged with aggravated sexual assault and grievous sexual assault on the girl in June 2005.

The girl had gone to the man’s house to collect an item. When he opened the front door, he was clad only in his underwear and invited her in to watch a movie.

In her evidence, the victim, now 22, said she thought the man was going to put on a cartoon but it was pornography.

She attempted to leave but he held her back and began to kiss her before inserting his finger in her vagina. The girl’s mother, who went to the man’s house after she thought her daughter was taking a long time to return home, caught the man in the act. A report was made to the Morvant Police Station. Justice Wilson such crime could not be taken lightly.

She said, based on the girl’s victim impact statement, the girl suffered mental scars from the attack and still had difficulties coping with situations of everyday life.

Kambon denounces Columbus statue defacing

Days after the statue of Christopher Columbus in East Port of Spain was defaced, director and coordinator of the Cross Rhodes Freedom Project Shabaka Kambon has distanced the organisation and himself by denouncing the act and criticising the perpetrators.

Kambon delivered a letter requesting the removal of Columbus’ statue in Port of Spain to Deputy Mayor Hillan Morean at City Hall. He said that while the statue continues to serve as a reminder to TT’s colonial past, he was not pleased with its desecration.

Kambon who has long advocated a revisionist approach to Trinidad’s culture and history, says that the removal of the statue would mark a step forward for Port of Spain as it remains a monument to the genocide of TT’s first peoples and an insult to their ancestors. He called on leaders and academics to rally behind the call for revisionism and end the white-washing of history.

Coordinators of the Cross Rhodes project, from left Clive Nunez, Khafra Kambon and Shabaka Kambon stand in Columbus Square yesterday where they staged a spirited demonstration calling for the removal of Port-of-Spain’s Columbus statue. PHOTO BY SHANE SUPERVILLE

“We are pushing for a complete overthrow of the convential imperial narrative that is being taught to our children all across the Caribbean. Every single indigenous leader we interviewed during a recent meeting at Santa Rosa agreed that Columbus had to go. Over the past few years statues have been removed so this is a part of a larger global movement.”

Kambon added that greater introspection was needed to restore Trinidad and Tobago’s pre-colonial history. Speaking in reference to a recent radio intereview with author Michael Anthony, in which Anthony said that colonisers had the right to name the streets and districts of Trinidad,

Morean spoke to reporters, after receiving the letter, that he welcomed calls from all groups who may seek to improve the state of Port of Spain and he intends to present the letter to the city council’s planning and development committee.

“We want to wish the First Peoples all the best as we celebrate on Friday (today), I would like to thank the Cross Rhodes Freedom Project, the Council is always appreciative of any proposals from the public. This will be taken before the council as soon as tomorrow during a meeting with our planning and development committee,” Morean said.

Morean also invited the project to bring forth ideas that would uplift Port of Spain and said that recent initiatives such as the renaming of Queen Street, have yielded positive results and looked forward to additional projects.

Paray: Two thirds of agriculture funds unspent

In last year’s Budget, just one-third of the development funds allotted to the Ministry of Agriculture was spent, leaving two-thirds unspent despite vital projects in need, bemoaned Mayaro MP Rushton Paray, in the Lower House Budget debate on Tuesday. “When you spend 32 percent of your allocation, in a critical ministry like agriculture, something is wrong.”

Paray also complained, “No allocation was made on the development of the fish processing industry. This is poor planning for a value-added feature in our diversification drive.”

He listed areas of shortfall of spending.

“The ministry failed to set up community-based aquaculture programmes (fish farming). They spent $88,000 out of a $500,000 allocation. Something is wrong.”

Saying the buffalypso has high potential for export and substitution, he hit, “The ministry spent only $150,000 out of one million dollar allocation.”

“What is going wrong? You have allocations, you have a strategy, you are in a critical ministry, spend the allocation, because we have to move this sector forward.” He said just $300,000 was spent out of a $7 million allocation for agricultural access to targetted commodity and strategy crops.

He said nothing was spent on agricultural drainage in the last year.

In a message to Agriculture Minister Clarance Rambharat, Paray said, “The farmers want him to know they’ve been waiting three years to collect their subsidies.” He said some rice farmers in Plum Mitan and Navet have not been paid for the past year. “These are low margin operations. The minute you don’t pay these guys you put them at risk.”

He hit the Budget as “rudderless, myopic, incoherent”, with betrayal and promises that will never materialise.

Lamenting the Budget’s disclosure of a ministerial committee to allocate agricultural grants, he said, “Political victimisation is real. Today on social media I read a story of a witness who had appeared before a particular JSC and lost her job last night. It has me worried that this may have political dots to connect.”

Paray urged that in the next 10 to 15 years, food security must be a priority for TT. “Who is going to step in to be this agricultural messiah to save this country?” He said rather than the upper class and the struggling middle-class which is now being ripped apart by taxes to fund the social safety net, the task will fall to the farmers. Paray urged help for farmers, by way of land tenure reform, fresh infrastructure, guaranteed prices for food-staples such as tomatoes and rice, and a new national culture of respect for farmers.

Paray urged the country to ensure its future food security by purchasing wheat farms in the United States and Europe. Saying the Netherlands which has 150,000 greenhouses that produce 141,00 kilogrammes of crops per square mile, he said TT must likewise use technology to boost its agricultural output. He also suggested the recruitment of killed immigrants who are fleeing their countries can be used as a tool of diversification of the TT economy.

Paray said citizens are prepared to shoulder the burden of adjustment, but not under poor leadership, mediocrity and half-baked plans.

Unsung heroes

Instead of celebrating the birthday of father-of-five Richard Sandy, his family was on Monday preparing for his funeral. Whatever the circumstances, too many prison officers are dying. All murders are abhorrent, but the continued perception that members of our law enforcement corps are especially vulnerable to attack is a clear and present danger to the welfare of the State.

According to initial reports, Sandy was doing what every officer of the law is entitled to do: living his life. He attended a birthday lime in his honour. Yet, at this event, an assailant confronted Sandy’s friend. Sandy — demonstrating the best qualities of a citizen and an officer of the law — sought to provide conciliation. He paid for his efforts with a bullet to the leg and died later at hospital. All efforts must be made to bring the perpetrator to justice in this matter. But there also needs to be a serious look at the measures in place to protect the women and men who administer the criminal justice system.

Tuesday’s silent protest by members of the Prison Officers Association led by president Ceron Richards was an understandable reaction to the situation. It served, in a way that was not disruptive, to raise awareness of some startling statistics.

According to Richards, over 20 prison officers have been killed over the last two decades. In five years, over eight officers were shot and five murdered. TT has the highest rate of law enforcement officer killings per capita in the Commonwealth Caribbean. If these statistics are true, the question is why.

But one murder alone is a serious cause for concern. Every act of violence perpetuated on a member of the law enforcement apparatus sends a chill effect across the nation. Prison officers are particularly susceptible. They have to work within confined spaces at close proximity to criminals and people on remand. Recent breaches of security at jails demonstrate how permeable cell walls are. The killings say one thing: no officer is really safe, whether inside or outside jailhouses. How is a prison officer to go about his or her duty on a daily basis in such circumstances? How can such an officer be called upon to trust in their position of authority within the penal system?

Worsening the situation is the perception of corruption within prison staff. The jailbreak of 2015 and the subsequent disclosure of unspecified “treachery” within the ranks has done irreparable damage. That the disciplinary system is yet to make headway in relation to that incident is deeply distressing.

So the experience of prison officers comes down to a kind of double assault. They must fend off prisoners both inside and outside jail. And they must also be weary of potential bad apples within their ranks. This is simply insufferable.

The solution, however, is not as clear as Richards might believe. While legislation modelled after the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of the US might be useful, it is not necessarily appropriate when balanced with the overall risks. Such legislation would empower current and retired officers to carry guns in certain circumstances. But placing more firearms into the hands of officers can potentially endanger the public and also add to the trove of illicit guns. The authorities should be free to adopt a nuanced but regulated approach to the question of firearms possession. What certainly can be said is there are more rudimentary things that need to be done.

Prison officers have to be afforded an appropriate level of training and support to enable them to manage the risks they face. In addition to the enforcement of disciplinary measures, more stringent guidelines should be issued to officers. And the breaches which allow criminals to attack officers — such as the availability of unlicensed firearms — have to be sealed.

For now, we express condolences to Sandy’s family. And we warn: unless urgent action is taken, more and more unsung heroes of the law enforcement apparatus will face unacceptable risks.

Baby Arabella discharged from hospital

Hours after attorney Chelsea John threatened to file an action in the High Court to force the North Central Regional Health Authority to discharge a two-year-old girl from hospital, she was released into the care of her mother late Tuesday.

Arabella Beharry was warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex on August 13, suffering from a rupture to her bowels after being beaten by a woman who has since been charged and is before the courts.

After several surgeries, Arabella recovered and her mother Asha David yearned for the day when her daughter would be discharged. However, when she enquired why it was taking so long for her daughter to be discharged, she was told the Children’s Authority, as well as the North Central Regional Health Authority, were pursuing an investigation into the beating and this would take some time to complete.

David said she found it strange the two bodies were preventing her daughter from being discharged and sought legal advice from attorney John.

On Monday, John said she was in the process of filing an application because the actions of the Children’s Health Authority and the North Central Regional Health Authority were illegal.On Tuesday, the child was discharged from hospital into her mother’s care.

Yesterday, David said she felt relieved at having her child back home.

She said that when Arabella got home, she ran straight into the arms of her grandfather then asked for something to eat.

David said her daughter slept soundly on Tuesday night and the following morning, awoke and asked for her sister Anaya, seven.

Anaya, who was staying with a relative, is expected to return home today to be reunited with her baby sister.

French sax coming for Folklore concert

When renowned trumpeter Etienne Charles presents his Folklore concert on October 22, he will be joined by a group of talented musicians and performers, among them 3canal, Tracey Sankar and French saxophonist Jacque Schwarz-Bart.

Born in Guadeloupe to two acclaimed writers, Schwarz-Bart is an internationally-renowned musician who has played alongside the likes of D’Angelo, Roy Hargrove, Danilo Perez, Ari Hoenig and Meshell n’Degeocello.

Schwarz-Bart, winner of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and Prix Bernheim des Arts awards, formed his band, the Gwoka Jazz Project in 2005 influenced by Gwoka Music, indigenous rhythms of Guadeloupe played on a two-drum family of hand drums called gwoka.

Jacques and his Gwoka Project recorded two albums for Universal, Soné Ka La and Abyss, which built his current career as an internationally-acclaimed jazz band leader.

Schwarz-Bart continued his exploration into indigenous culture with a 2012 project that synergised modern jazz and ritual voodoo music from Haiti.

Charles worked on this album which also features two Voodoo priests: the great singer Errol Josué, and percussionist Gaston Bonga, and jazz musicians Obed Calvaire, Luqies Cutis, and Milan Milanovic.

After touring extensively with this project, Schwarz-Bart’s Jazz Racine Haiti project was finally recorded and released by Motema Music in January 2014, and inspired raving reviews from journalists all around the world.

“Mr Schwarz-Bart through his liquid glissandos that dapple bluesy phrases and spiritual intercessions has created a new language between tenor saxophone and trumpet. And for that Mr Charles seems to be in the right place at the right time. Mr Charles is himself highly spiritual and these bedfellows are pre-eminently disposed to making music that is complex in its proverbial imagery of voodoo and the moveable metaphor of jazz,” said a review in the Latin Jazz Network.

Since the release of Jazz Racine Haiti, Schwarz-Bart has become an ambassador for a school of modern Jazz rooted in voodoo music.

In late 2016, he became associate professor at Berklee College of Music, where he is teaching mainly ensembles over different styles: jazz music, neo-soul.

He has also been busy working on two new projects. Voodoo Jazz Trio and Jewazz which is the jazz recording and interpretation of Jewish liturgical chants, many of which carried the spirit of a people through 5,775 years of history. This project is a tribute to his late father, the writer, André Schwarz-Bart. Both projects are to be recorded by the end of 2017.

Folklore Live takes place at Queen’s Hall, at 6 pm. Doors open at 5 pm. Tickets at Queen’s Hall Box Office and other outlets

Talent Expression auditions open to all

The auditions for the 16th edition of the Southern Marines Talent Expression competition have been extended to tomorrow and Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm.

In addition, the age restrictions have been removed and the competition is now open to everyone. This decision was made at the behest of the formerly excluded demographic many of whom have been long-standing supporters of Talent Expression, which is hosted by the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation.

Talent Expression has served over the years as a launching pad for many young artistes who have gone on to win national acclaim like dancers Samantha Flores and Aaliyah Lewis, pannists Keisha Codrington, Junior Hinds and Richarde Bereaux and vocalists Megan Walrond and Mark Eastman among others.

Among those registered for this year’s competition is Caleb Hinds, winner National Action Cultural Committee Emancipation Calypso Competition 2017.

Innovative ways to earn foreign exchange

THE EDITOR: The Minister of Finance indicated that one of the objectives in the 2017/18 budget was to spread the burden of adjustment across most sectors of our society.

One may conclude that the punitive measures outlined were perhaps not the best way to address declining revenue. The minister may want to consider investing in areas that has the potential to earn income and change our economic circumstances rather than imposing fines and taxes to sustain an insatiable appetite for foreign goods.

The days of relying on the energy sector as the major contributor to our revenue stream is over and there is need to explore innovative ways to earn foreign exchange.

Previously, I indicated that a properly managed tourism package can be a major contributor towards earning hard currency. Another area that can drastically reduce our demand for foreign goods and increase revenue is agriculture.

TT is a major importer of feed, eggs and accessories to support our poultry industry. In addition, most of our beef and pork is imported. We import citrus juices, coffee, rice, potatoes and bananas. All of this must be paid for with our limited foreign exchange.

Perhaps it is time to consider leasing out large acres of the Caroni lands for the cultivation of corn. That will reduce the demand for feed for our poultry industry. It may be necessary to subsidise this activity. That cost however will not affect our foreign exchange supply as the subsidy will be in TT dollars.

Similarly, specific acreages ought to be identified and leased to farmers for the cultivation of citrus, coffee, coconuts, bananas, ground provision and cocoa. These are all crops that were once grown in large quantities on TT and exported.

Immediate consideration should be given to cultivating sugar cane again so that at the very least we would be self-sufficient in sugar and produce enough raw materials to sustain our rum industry.

The Caroni Plains are open grasslands that can be converted into grazing grounds for livestock with minimal investment. In a short time, TT can be self-sufficient in the production of most types of meat and meat products.

Investment in agriculture provides jobs, ensures food security, reduces the food import bill, positively impacts land use, minimises flooding, encourages food processing, supports a manufacturing and service industry and has the potential to be a major earner of foreign exchange.

The new agricultural plan must be much more than simply giving lands to farmers to plant whatever they wish. There is immediate need to identify marketable crops, provide land and access to capital for food processing, set production standards to ensure that goods produced can be competitive on the international market and subsidise the industry so that the activity is attractive to investors.

Our lumber and fishing industries need immediate attention and planning so that they can be major contributors to a revitalised agricultural sector.

Agriculture ought to be one of the pillars in the divestment of our economy as our nation joins with the rest of the world in reducing the dependence on oil and gas.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email

The cycle of suffering

THE EDITOR: As humans we tend to notice cycles and patterns, especially when we’re on the outside looking in.

Often times when we’re in the cycle ourselves we become blind to it. What cycle is it am I referring to?

That of the September suffering that many frustrated parents and helpless students face year after year.

Why should it be that any percentage of the nation’s children are made to return to schools with partially functioning facilities and amenities? Worse is the fact that these failings often bar students from returning to school at all.

Has the Minister of Education considered the potential dangers and difficulties that the above situations place on students and their parents? Has any interim protocol or procedures been put in place to help ensure the safety and well-being of the students and teachers? Has anyone considered their compromised chances of academic success?

More concerning is the lack of actionable response to the public outcry. Broken promises have begun to fall on deaf ears. But the depleted energies and quieted voices of tired parents is no licence for our government ministries and agencies to weaken the response to this travesty.

Even a conservative estimate of the consequences of this cycle going unresolved is frightening. We risk disgruntled and discouraged teachers, whose best efforts have been dulled by the repeated failures of the administration to address their concerns. And lastly, we risk, through what is essentially the abandonment/neglect of children, both our and their future. Or have we forgotten who will invariably become the leaders of tomorrow?

Now, many may say that complaints can only achieve so much, so I’m imploring the teachers, educators and problem solvers of the nation to write in as I have, offering solutions while the powers that be continue (we hope) to work on what they have promised.

Maybe, just maybe, the Government will help those who help themselves.

JON BRISTOL

via e-mail

Make holiday permanent

THE EDITOR: The Government in its wisdom has given the First Peoples a one-time public holiday today.

No one can debate the First Peoples contribution to TT’s development. Why is this part-time appreciation for one day only? I humbly suggest we make the holiday continuous.

The first Trini is Banwari Man. His skeleton was found in 1969 and dates back to 3400 BC. A time when cutlass was knife.

Christopher Columbus visited in 1492.

Our First Peoples, Amerindians, were already here. They had complex social systems, trade links with the South American mainland and the Antilles to the north.

Trinidad’s geographical location makes it ideal for connection to the world. They knew this many moons ago.

The Roman Catholic festival of Santa Rosa celebrates Carib heritage.

The First Peoples have given us names like Mayaro, Guayaguayare, Chaguanas and Arima.

Let us all make this indigenous heritage holiday a truly national event. I say again once is not enough.

AV RAMPERSAD

Princes Town

Beetham residents, police square-off

Beetham residents and police engaged in a tense stand-off yesterday after officers shot at a man who had attacked another man.

Residents were in uproar after the shooting, saying police in an unmarked vehicle stopped suddenly along the Priority Bus Route, alighted from their car and began shooting at people liming near the All in One Child Development Centre.

The confrontation led to a lockdown of the bus route with officers diverting traffic to the Eastern Main Road and Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

Police said that at 2.45 pm, Colin Guy was driving in the Beetham area and on nearing the centre he was attacked and shot in the hip by another man. At the same time, officers of the Homicide Investigations Bureau were passing along the bus route in an unmarked car and saw the shooting incident.

The officers challenged the gunman and a shootout ensued. The gunman jumped into a river near the school and escaped. While all of this was taking place, a wounded Guy drove himself to hospital.

Residents are however disputing this version claiming that the police arrived and without warning, opened fire on people liming near the centre.

“It wasn’t no raid, no exercise or nothing,” said a man who claimed to be an eyewitness.

“They just started to buss shots. Them fellas was just sitting down right there, not doing anything, so when police start to shoot behind them they started to run. People saying that they shoot back behind police but I didn’t see that.

Residents, many of them women, challenged police officers chastising them for being reckless by shooting near a daycare centre.

“They are mad people!” said one angry resident. “Is shoot they shooting near a school. Anyone could have picked up a bullet, whether is a teacher or one of the children! They only shooting behind we black head chicken (sic)! Why don’t they go John John and do that,” a resident shouted. In the end, the officers left the scene with no arrests being made.

Lawrence: This is the beginning of a new era

Dennis Lawrence, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago football team, is keen to see the squad build on their 2-1 win against the United States, at the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round qualifier, as they look towards the future.

In the post-match media conference at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Lawrence said, “I’m extremely proud of the boys. From the moment we lost to Panama (last month), the idea is to start to think about going forward. “We need to start building a platform from now,” continued the former TT central defender. “The first mission is to try and dominate the Caribbean. It has to be my first mission, and we’ll grow from there.”

Lawrence admitted that the team was eager to end their recent poor run of form, having lost their previous seven matches (both World Cup qualifiers and friendly internationals).

He said, “We’ve had a rough time. Everybody knows we’ve lost a few games. We took a few punches. (On Tuesday) night we punched back. Unfortunately for the USA, they had to fall victim but that’s not my concern, that’s somebody else’s concern.

“All the complaints about the pitch and everything, it’s football. As long as there is grass, there is a ball (on) the pitch and three fair (officials), I’m okay with that.”

Concerning his expectations for the TT team, Lawrence noted, “I would like everybody to look at (Tuesday) night and just understand that is the beginning of our new era. We must continue in that form. There has to be discipline, structure, organisation and pride for Trinidad and Tobago, because that’s my belief.”

About the experienced players who were used during this campaign, Lawrence pointed out, “You always need experience around the boys. But what I’m looking for is the right experienced player. I’m going to give special praise to Khaleem Hyland because I thought he led as a proper captain. And that is the type of people I want working with me.

“Any of the senior players that want to get on board will have to follow the trend because we’re here to build something.”

He is keen to meet David John-Williams, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), to map a way forward. “The programme going now is (that) I need to sit down with the president. What I would like to happen is that we have to play an international friendly on every international FIFA date. I’ll like to have more contact time with the players so they could work to get to understand what we’re trying to build on now.”

Gopeesingh: PP was intolerant to school violence

Former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday rejected an argument from La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre that a bullying incident at the Siparia West Secondary School was connected to the removal of corporal punishment from secondary schools under a former United National Congress (UNC) administration. Responding to Olivierre during the budget debate in the House of Representatives, Gopeesingh said the removal of corporal punishment was due to TT becoming a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Caroni East MP further stated the former People’s Partnership government exercised zero tolerance on indiscipline, bullying and indiscipline in schools. Gopeesingh said this was evident in measures such as the appointment of local school boards, security scanners in schools and increasing the Education Ministry’s student support services division. He also claimed that some 400 homework centres were closed under the People’s National Movement (PNM). Education Minister Anthony Garcia told Gopeesingh those centres were closed in May 2010 under the PP.

Gopeesingh also alleged there was bid-rigging at the Education Facilities Company Limited and that a relative of a government minister was involved in a company that was conducting audits for the Government. Later in the sitting, Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim claimed the PNM was discriminating against the Aviation Academy in Couva by not providing it with any funding.

Tears, anger as US knocked out

The United States football team were roundly criticised, by both their media and former players, after they failed to book a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

A headline on ESPN website read “US out of excuses, out of World Cup”, while the New York described Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago as “the darkest moment in US history”.

The Bruce Arena-coached squad were even slammed by a number of ex-players, turned pundits, including defender Alexi Lalas and striker Taylor Twellman.

Lalas noted, “They let themselves down, they let us down and they will have to think about that for a very long time.”

According to Twellman, “This (was) an utter embarrassment. With the amount of money that is in Major League Soccer and in this sport, you can’t get a draw, a tie, against Trinidad? You don’t deserve to go to the World Cup.”

This will be the first time since 1986 that the US will not be involved in the FIFA World Cup.

Team captain Michael Bradley said on Tuesday night, “When you lose the first two games and you drop points on too many days, your margin for error goes away, and so you know you’re at the mercy of a night like this, where everything possible goes against you, both here and in the two other games (referring to Honduras’ 3-2 win over Mexico and Panama’s 2-1 win over Costa Rica).”

“We like to hang our hat on the fact that we outwork teams and we press teams,” goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “They won a lot of second balls tonight and put us under pressure.”

A relentless work ethic the Americans relied on for years was absent too often.

“You can’t go and score four, five goals every game. We have to be able to be hard to play against,” forward Jozy Altidore said. “We weren’t hard enough to play against too many times on these nights.”

In this cycle, the Americans not only lost their first home qualifier since the 2002 World Cup qualifying rounds, they lost two home games in a qualifying cycle for the first time since 1957 — during their 40-year absence from soccer’s top event.

Bradley is 30 and may not play in another World Cup. Howard (38) and Clint Dempsey (34) will never again appear on soccer’s biggest stage.

“If I said disappointment, it would be an understatement,” Howard said.

US’ failure to qualify will even be felt off the field of play. Fox Sports recently announced a contract worth US$200 million for coverage of the 2018 World Cup while Nike, providers of the US team jerseys, extended their deal through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Beaten and robbed in Rousillac, American couple declares ‘EVIL EVERYWHERE’

In a few minutes of sheer terror, an American Missionary couple and their teenage son were savagely attacked, beaten and robbed by two cutlass-wielding masked bandits at their Rousillac home on Tuesday night.

However, although left traumatised Michael and Kathryn Purdom, who are in their 60s, said this incident has not changed their perception of Trinidad and Tobago or cause them to pack up and leave back to America because, “Evil everywhere.”

Recalling the incident, Michael said he, his wife and their 16-year-old son Silas had just returned to home from evening Bible study at the Church of Christ in Aripero, at 8.30 pm, when there was a knock on the front door.

Believing it to be a member of the flock seeking salvation, Michael opened the door only to be pounced on by two masked bandits who began to planass (beat with flat side of a cutlass) him across his face and arms.

This was the first time, Michael said, he had ever came face to face with such violence.

‘PASS THE CASH… CASH ONLY’

As he tried to ward off the blows, Michael said he fell to the ground. The violence did not end there. The bandits grabbed Michael by his feet and dragged him further into the house. Michael’s screams brought his wife and son running to see what was taking place and they too were attacked by the bandits. As they doled out blow after blow with their cutlasses, the bandits had one demand only from their victims: “Pass the cash… cash only!”

Mrs Purdom, who is nursing a broken hand which she suffered after a fall, grabbed all of the money the family had in the house and handed it over to the bandits. The intruders then walked out of the house and disappeared into the night. “They told us if we did not give them all of our the cash, they would come back… and we would be sorry,” Michael said yesterday.

He said the bandits stole US$180, TT$1,200, some EC currency as well as their wallets which contained driving permits and other legal documents. While not planning to leave Trinidad, Michael said the attack has left him shaken and afraid as this is not the first time the family has been attacked while on their missionary work in this country.

Michael said that he ‘uprooted’ his wife and eight children from the comfort of their farming community in Arkansas, USA and migrated to South Trinidad to spread the gospel on behalf of the Church of Christ, seven years ago. During this time, two of his daughters fell in love and got married to local preachers, giving Michael and his wife Kathryn four grandchildren.

WHITE, AMERICANS, ATTACKED

Calling on the bandits to turn from their wicked ways and obey God’s Commandments, Michael said that contrary to what some people may believe, he and his family are not wealthy.

Speaking bluntly, Michael told Newsday that because he and his family are white Americans, some people believe they have lots of money.

“Being American does not mean we are wealthy. We are ordinary folks trying to serve the people of Trinidad and Tobago through the word of God. We are here on our own nickel. I am on a pension and we get assistance from a few people… but everything we do is voluntary. We are not here for the money. We are here to serve God, to do God’s will,” he said.

He revealed that in March their home was ransacked while they were on a Carnival camp in Tobago. Michael said the thought of packing up his bags and leaving this country has crossed his mind, but he reiterated, “There is evil everywhere.”

“Being in the United States is no safeguard against evil,” he said recalling the recent Las Vegas shooting which left 60 people dead and over 500 injured. Stephen Paddock, an American opened machine-gun fire from his hotel room at people who were attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Vegas strip.

“I love the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Two of them are my sons-in-law. I love this country and this incident although terrifying, won’t make me leave,” Michael said.

Officers from the La Brea and South Oropouche police stations visited the scene and recorded statements from the victims. No arrest has been made.

In July, Fr Clyde Harvey, now Bishop of Grenada, was robbed of $1,000 and his cellphone by three bandits who broke into the presbytery at the St Martin de Porres church in Gonzales, Belmont and hog-tied him.

Dad, I did it: Strike Squad member’s son scores revenge on US

Alvin Jones has paid tribute to the 1989 Strike Squad team, in which his father Kelvin was a member, after he played a key role in Trinidad and Tobago football team’s 2-1 victory over the United States in their 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round qualifier at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva

After US defender Omar Gonzalez scored an own goal after 16 minutes of action, Jones unleashed a thunderous 40-yard shot, in the 37th minute, to gave the hosts a 2-0 halftime lead. Teenaged US midfielder Christian Pulisic netted in the 47th but the Dennis Lawrence-coached TT outfit held firm until the final whistle.

That result ended the United States’ hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia and, on the flip side, earned a measure of revenge. The Strike Squad, on November 19 1989, were beaten 1-0 by the United States, at the then National Stadium (now Hasely Crawford Stadium) in Mucurapo to qualify for the 1990 World Cup in Italy – at the expense of the Strike Squad.

Jones said that Tuesday’s victory will serve as sweet redemption of the ghost of 1989.

“Yeah, I think it was,” he said, during a telephone interview yesterday. “From (1989) it was something that they lived (with) for the rest of their lives, getting knocked out. And I think that (Tuesday) we displayed as a team that finally, after so many years, they’ll put this to bed, they can live comfortable now and I think that the Strike Squad got justice.

“I’m happy for them, I’m happy for the players and also I’m happy for our team.”

Jones’ right-footed blast, which flew past the outstretched right hand of goalkeeper Tim Howard, will live long in the memory of the minds of the estimated 3,500 fans in attendance, as well as the millions who watched the game live, both on television and via online streams.

Asked how he felt when he scored, Jones replied, “Words can’t explain. If you know me, that’s one of my strengths, to kick the ball. I just gave it a try and it finally paid off.”

Was he surprised that he had no challenge from any US player before he took that kick? “I think the system they started off playing was the diamond in the middle,” he replied. “So we had plenty room on the flanks so they were giving me the opportunity to push high into the midfield. So that’s how I got the opportunity to shoot.”

Jones also had a chance to score from a freekick in the 44th minute which was fumbled by Howard.

“That’s a strength I have also,” said the 23-year-old, who is the younger brother of midfielder Joevin. “I had scored from 30 yards so I said that my confidence is high. The freekick that we (got) I wanted to take it because my confidence was high and I (thought) that Tim Howard’s own was low from that goal. So I just made use of the opportunity.”

The W Connection defender is keeping his fingers crossed that he can earn an overseas contract in the immediate future.

“I didn’t get any (offers as) yet. It was only (on Tuesday). But I’m hoping that something happens.”

He added, “The whole world watched it. It’s just not about the goal. I think my performance was one of the best on the day. I’m just hoping that one or two clubs come behind me. Hopefully my club and their club can agree to some kind of contract, and I can take it.”