BASDEO: CAMAL PERSAD of Lot # 24 Krystal Gardens, Sinas-wee Street, Bank Village, Carapi-chaima died on 10th April, 2018. Husband of Angela Rooplal-Bas-deo. Brother of Batalal (Mooni), Kaloutie (Golin), Roopatie (Ann), Anandee (Rani), Nandanie (Usha) and the late Diawantee (Chunka), Gangaram (Baata) and Anand (Ashram) Brother in Law of Basdeo, Ramesh (Chee), Azim, Reynold, Raymond, Savi, Chan-dra, Betty, Candice and the late Chubby and Dolly. Uncle of 19. Great Uncle of 13. Funeral service for the late Camal Persad Basdeo takes place on Friday 13th April, 2018 at 9:00am from the House of Mourning lot# 24 Krystal Gar-dens, Sinaswee Street, Bank Vil-lage, Carapichaima thence to the Caroni Cremation site for Crema-tion according to Hindu Rites.

To get my pores and the hair on my arms raised when you sing, and evoking an impulsive urge to stand and applaud whenever you sing, means you can really sing and I compare your voice with some of the best I have ever heard. This is the involuntary emotion LeAndra Head stirs in me every time I hear her sing.

It was no different last Saturday night when Head premiered the 2018 series of Women in Jazz, at Fiesta Plaza, MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain.

To avoid any obvious reaction, I obscurely sat at the back of the venue and was again blown away by the purity and richness of this young woman’s vocal ability.

It was the largest turnout at the Plaza to witness one of these annual, free concerts and not an available seat could be found, not even 45 minutes before the show’s scheduled 8.30 pm beginning.

One of the things that amazes me about Head is that she reminds me of a sculptor, the manner in which she shapes notes, smoothly transitions into descending or ascending octaves and how she creates a mood by simply massaging or sustaining a note.

Head opened her set with Sade’s Sweetest Taboo followed by the time-worn Etta James standard At Last, the selection she sang 14 years ago, at the age of ten, when beat several adult rivals at the WeBeat St James Song Contest.

As her set seemed to hasten by, Head sang Simply Red’s Holding Back the Years, Michael Jackson’s Human Nature, Chris Brown’s Don’t Wake Me Up, Burt Bacharach’s Say a Little Prayer and Patsy Cline’s immortal Crazy.

Head is one of the vocalists with J9, an aggregation led by composer/ keyboardist Jeanine Ruiz and the one backing the very talented vocalist on Saturday night. For a finale, Head rendered Chronnix’s I Can and tried to exit the stage at 9.22 pm. But the audience, now on its feet with a standing ovation, enticed Head to return for a lagnaippe with Voice’s Far From Finished, beautifully arranged by Ruiz.

I totally agree with late television Twelve and Under host Hazel Ward-Redman when she said, on hearing Head sing on her programme many years ago, “Her voice is a gift from God.”

A NEW TALENT CONCEPT IS UNCOVERED

Uncovered Live is happening at Kaiso Blues Cafe, Newtown, courtesy A Millien Concepts, from tomorrow evening. For 2018, the Uncovered series has a live component added to its movement. The event series features up and coming singing talent who specialise in genres like R&B, Pop, Indie, Reggae and Gospel.

Producer A Millien Concepts is a company that designs, produces and supports events and projects in the creative sphere is the entity responsible for hosting the series of six live performance shows to be held at Kaiso Blues Cafe on the followingdates:

Show 1: Saturday, April 14
Show 2: Friday, April 27
Show 3: Friday, May 25
Show 4: Saturday, June 2
Show 5: Sunday, June 24
Show 6: Sunday, July 1

Each of these events will showcase two artistes performing a range of musical selections to compliment their incredible voices.

Tickets are available at $100 per artiste showcase. For more information, contact 462 7931 / 620 1331.

For updates on The Uncovered Series, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at Uncovered TT.

THE UNCOVERED SERIES

Show 1: Saturday, April 14: Takeisha “The VoiceQueen” Huddlin / Aisha Noel

Show 2: Friday, April 27: Daniel Griffith / Janika “Jay Renee” Perez

Show 3: Friday, May 25: Stacey “Kalika B” Baldeen / Keron “KHRSTVN” Ramsey

Show 4: Saturday, June 2: Gregory “Greg B” Burris / Sherville Clarke-Lewis

Show 5: Sunday, June 24: Heather Dickson / Safia Mitchell

Show 6: Sunday, July 1: Sherma “Aisha” Bass / Yasha “Yasha H”

NON STOP LAUGHTER

If you want to laugh till yuh belly buss, or yuh false teeth fallout, then visit the cartoon exhibition put on by Keith “Keithos” Anderson and Nalis before it ends this evening.

Billed as Keithos Returns to Town, the exhibition features comical interpretations of events in Trinbago from 1956-2018.

The exhibition was launched last week Tuesday, and was well attended. Calypsonians Contender (Mark John) and Will B (William Ballantyne), editorial cartoonists in song, brought their A-game with songs Ah Love Meh Country and Love Party respectively.

John Antoine as MC kept a tight programme with addresses by Nalis Executive Director the affable Catherine Romain, and Tony Fraser, journalist and political commentator.

At the launch were many personalities including First Citizens Bank chairman Anthony Smart, guitarist Theron “Terrific” Shaw, oldest female pan pioneer Daisy James Mc Clean, Harold Thompson of Radio 97.1FM, calypso poet Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillip), his lovely wife, former national netballer Peggy Castanada, boxer Michael Paul, rapso artiste Brother Book and Pan Trinbago’s Angela Fox. A great time was had by all in attendance.

STEEL IN MOTION IN SIPARIA

It’s that time of year again when Siparia explodes with the sweet sounds of the National instrument. Diatonic Pan Institute will be staging its Eighth Annual Steel in Motion on Saturday, April 21, beginning at 6 pm.

Steel in Motion is held in collaboration with Siparia Regional Corporation and this year will feature 12 bands. The event is held on the occasion of Siparia fete which is a religious festival held in honour of the patron saint La Divina. In addition, a calypsonian who has contributed significantly to the art form is honoured every year at the festival and veteran Johnny King will be the 2018 honoree. As such, bands are required to perform a religious song and a Johnny King piece.

The route will begin at Diatonic Pan Institute on Mary Street and proceed onto Coora Road and High Street, Siparia. The bands will be judged on their repertoire presentation along the route. The route culminates at Harry’s Furniture Store, where adjudication will take place for the Religious, Johnny King and Dianne Dupre Flag Waving Competition. The Siparia Rhythm Section will close the day’s proceedings after the parade.

Over the years, Steel in Motion has paid tribute to Baron, Crazy, Iwer George, Lord Nelson, Calypso Rose (before her recent national and international recognition), Ronnie Mc Intosh and Black Stalin.

This event continues to attract national and international interest.

STEEL IN MOTION STEELBANDS AND THEIR JOHNNY KING SELECTIONS

1. Arima All Stars Steel Orchestra — Wet Mih Down
2. Blanca 47 — Darling
3. Curepe Pholphonics Steel Orchestra — Wet Mih Down
4. Gonzales Sheikers — Wet Mih Down
5. Harlem Syncopators — Nature;s Plan
6. New Pioneers — Doh Rub Meh
7. San Juan All Stars — Appreciation
8. Scrunters Pan Groove — Ah want it all the time
9. T&T Fire Services — Ah want it all the time
10. Trinidad East Side — Nature;s Plan
11. Uni Stars — Darling

San Fernando based vocalist and thespian, Kevin Humphrey will be hosting his first full-length solo concert, titled Fr3sh, tomorrow at the Government Campus Plaza Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. The show will be produced by theatre production company Chandelier Productions, run by Tiana Chandler.

Humphrey said he wasn’t originally confident he would be able to fill an auditorium because he doesn’t perform the typical types of music which is attractive to large audiences, but he was challenged by Chandler to put on the production. “I enjoy the stage,” said Humphrey. “The stage gives an energy, a joy, a feeling that one cannot get anywhere else. I can get lost in my music and the only thing I will be judged on is my performance. I can sing almost any genre and I gravitate towards feel good music that touches something inside of you, that makes you want to sing, to dance, to cry and to laugh.”

Humphrey has been singing for years and is active in local musical theatre. He has participated in both southern and national Junior Calypso Monarch competitions and graduated as the most outstanding student from the Chris Vocal Academy class of 2000. Humphrey has had major roles in several local theatre productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, Cinderella, A T&T Musical, and most recently, Khona the Musical.

He said some of the high points of his career so far have been becoming the voice tutor at the Patrons of Queen’s Hall Theatre Camp, working at Wilubbeats Studios, working with Glenda Collens and being remembered by name by the international casting director for Disney’s The Lion King.

In the future, Humphrey will be furthering his studies in voice. He also wants to be able to host a recurring show where he can introduce new and upcoming artists and one day do a duet with Beyoncé.

Chandler said she is the producer and lighting designer for the concert through Chandelier Productions. “Chandelier Productions was started with a mission to provide opportunities for young and up-and-coming performers to showcase their talents and provide quality entertainment for the community,” said Chandler.

“In keeping with that mission, I approached Kevin, after seeing him perform several times, to give him the opportunity to do his first solo concert.”

The concert will also feature spoken word, dance and other vocalists. These include Jillia “Jillia” Cato, Kadija “Ms Dija” Jeremiah, and Gregory Burris, with Ifayomi “Ifa” Aluko performing spoken word. The dance performances will be presented by Jélae Stroude-Mitchell and Zhané George.

“They will all be backed by some very talented background vocalists and an amazing live band consisting of Aaron Lowchewtong (guitar) Adan Hagley and Atiba Williams (keyboards); Makesi Joseph (drums); and, Miguel Charles on bass,” Chandler said.

Tickets for Fr3sh are priced at $150. For more info find Fr3sh | k3v!n on Facebook, call 710-9436 and email chandelierproductions1@gmail.com

At its panyard, located at 138 Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, last Sunday, National Panorama winner bptt Renegades Steel Orchestra, reflected on its 2018 Carnival season.

It was a text message from the board and management team to band members, during the week-ending March 24, that invited ‘all’ members to the yard for 1 pm to hold related discussions.

With board members present, shy of two, and a trickle of mixed membership, at 1.50 pm, chairman Michael Marcano pulled the sparse volume of attendants together, and commenced proceedings.

Welcoming all and signalling the “floor open,” a melting pot of concerns began to bubble over as outlined by parents of pan players of the junior band, nailing the board to supply explanations or clarification.

Among the many were: the true purpose of the junior band; the music institute; recognition of junior players; expectations from the sponsor; powers of respective committees; the junior band’s position within the confines of the over-arching Renegades architecture; boundaries and scope; finance; players on the road for Carnival; the transition age to enter the senior band; fund-raisers; orientation within the senior band; establishing a parents’ committee; scholarships; the role and responsibility of the bands’ security detail; the personal and professional image of junior members.

Classed as a bumper Panorama season for Renegades, the gathering learned that all major aspects of preparatory works for the season, were accomplished courtesy Renegades as they waited-out and are still waiting-out the outcome of adjustments within their sponsor’s fold.

With the 21-year-old junior band on a high— capturing its historic beaver-trick at the National Panorama this year—confirmation came that the resignation of their musical director of these five latter years was accepted, seeing new and apt arrangers being currently sought to ensure the band continues on an upward musical trend.

Continuing to take jabs, the Board saw a wider cross-section of attendants agreeing that transparency, professionalism, accountability, respect, fairness, and proper organisational, marketing, and communication skills, should be integral to all operations of the bands.

Drawing to an end, plugged-in was word of a School Enhancement Project on April 14-15, as undertaken by the junior band at the Boissiere Primary School, Maraval. This, apprised of by senior tenor player Marvis Mohammed, while, in-keeping with the organisation’s 70th anniversary (this year), announcement of an Anniversary Service at the Rosary RC Church, Port-of-Spain on May 27 was made, with details to be provided.

In response to a parent’s question of a follow-up of this meeting, chairman Marcano assured that one will be supplied in the nearest possible time.

At 4:10 pm, Marcano raised to his feet and thanked those who attended; the players of the two bands for their achievements during this Panorama competition; parents in particular; and others who made the season a positively memorable one.

To contact bpTT Renegades call
627.1543

Amadi Productions will be holding its annual concert titled Here’s My Heart in two parts: Saturday, April 14 at 8 pm (over 21) and Sunday, April 15, at 5 pm (under 21), at Daaga Auditorium, UWI, St Augustine.

Amadi Productions, a non-profit organisation, started staging concerts in 2005 on an annual basis and has produced 15 to date. The group’s objective is to promote and present educational, social and cultural events with integrity and efficiency, for the purpose of exposing the talents and skills of youths in the performing arts, to aid in their development and consequently, bring about positive social change in our community.

Amadi director Rhona Mohon has observed that there is little opportunity or stage availability for students and graduates from our educational institutions in the performing arts to express themselves. In times past, Trinidad has had the popular Aunty Kay Children’s Radio Hour and there had been more radio and television opportunities, like the late Hazel Ward-Redman’s Twelve and Under series on TTT, where gifted youths would begin their journey to becoming professional artistes in relevant areas of the arts, but these seem to be diminishing. In an effort to build a more creative society and minimise social ills, Amadi Productions’ resolve is to assist in so doing.

Part I of this year’s Here’s My Heart concert will feature five talented voices of Jacqueline Johnson (Contralto); Joanne Pyle (Soprano); Kory Mendez (Tenor); and, Baritones Arnold Phillip and Stephan Furlonge.

Part II will feature our younger artistes including the Drummology Club of St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain; Presentation College Chaguanas Music Makers; Alliyah Boland (Most Outstanding Voice at this year’s Music Festival); young musician Jovanni Carnavon Gibson; powerful vocalist Alyssa Joseph; dancer Anaya George-Chiddick and poet Daniela Bremnor.

Accompaniment will be by Sheldon Morales and the band Earl Carnavon & Friends, including Marva Newton, Junior Wallace and Terrance Sealey. Hosts of the show are Carla Roach and Roger Prince.

INFO

Tickets are available at Cleve’s One Stop Shop, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.

T&T’s eighth annual literary festival—NGC Bocas Lit Fest—is a twin festival, with a full children’s festival running alongside the adult festival from April 25-29 at the National Library in Port-of-Spain.

“It is a stimulating, exciting programme of events for young readers and writers, who are people too,” says Danielle Delon, director of the children’s festival, which remains a core offering of the Caribbean’s premiere annual literary festival of words, stories and ideas, attracting over 1,000 children each year.

Delon added: “It starts with the Children’s Storytelling Caravan for five to 13-year-olds that every April travels around T&T, allowing children to share their wonderful stories, and there is still time to book a place.

This tour culminates in the five-day Children’s Festival at the Children’s Library (Nalis) that ends with a birthday party on Sunday, April 29 for Dragonzilla, the children’s festival mascot.”

During the Caravan, storytellers guide children through the craft of storytelling, encouraging observation of the environment, personal, social and community relationships, and unleashing and leading the children’s creativity, inspiring them to value self-expression through the written word. Each year the stories the children create are illustrated and published in a colouring book.

A festival highlight is the Imagine New Worlds event at City Hall, hosted by Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez and the Port-of-Spain City Corporation on Wednesday, April 25. Over 300 children from schools nationwide will come together to experience the work of authors, artists and performers from T&T and abroad.

Trinidad-born, New York-based editor and educator Tracey Baptiste; US-based Daniel O’Brien; prize-winning Guyanese writer Imam Baksh; Natacha Jones, Jeunanne Alkins, Danielle Boodoo-Fortune, Everard McBain, Derron Sandy and Kes the Illusionist are all part of the mix.

Readings from children’s books by their authors, illustration and graphic-novel based workshops as well as a song-writing workshop, led by the band Freetown Collective, are some of the highlights of the festival on Saturday but there are many creative activities each day.

On Sunday, April 29, children and family films will be shown as part of the festival’s annual CineLit programme.

All events are free and open to the public but pre-registration is required via www.bocaslitfest.com or call 71-BOCAS.

The National Gas Company (NGC) is the title sponsor of the 2018 Children’s Bocas Lit Fest.

NGC BOCAS LIT FEST 2018 CARAVAN
Saturday, April 14:
Tobago Scarborough Library – 10 am
Couva Public Library – 10 am
Chaguanas Public Library – 2 pm
Saturday, April 21:
Toco Secondary School – 10 am
San Fernando Public Library – 10 am
Debe Public Library – 2 pm
Saturday, April 28
Port-of-Spain Children’s Library, National Library – 1 pm

It was just not to be for Cleopatra Borel yesterday, as she missed out on a medal in the women’s shot put final at the Commonwealth Games here in Australia.

The field specialist fought gallantly to the end, which looked promising until the sixth and final round concluded as she was in bronze medal position. However, Canada’s Brittany Crew surpassed Borel on her last throw.

After five rounds and reduction from 12 to eight competitors in the medal event, Borel was in third spot after improving her throws gradually from 17.59 metres to be at 18.00 metres by the end of this round.

However, Crew’s final throw reached 18.32 metres to surpass Borel and although the local athlete gave her all again on her sixth attempt, improving to 18.05m, she had to settle for a tear-wrenching fourth

place.Borel opened with a 17.59m throw, the second measured 17.82m, her third reached 17.81m, before tossing the object 18.00m in her fourth try. She then got to 17.68m and 18.05m in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively.

Speaking to Guardian Media afterwards, Borel said, “The meet progressed in a good way. All of my throws were consistently getting better but on the sixth throw, the girl from Canada put one out there and that was it. Even though I improved on my last throw it wasn’t enough to regain the medal.

“But I am proud of what I did and I am proud of the meet I put together. We worked really hard to get here and the results were better than World Championships so we’re just going to keep working, keep plugging.”

The five-time “Sportswoman of the Year” admitted she was always wary of the dangerous Canadian.

“I was just preparing myself, don’t relax, get ready to respond. She is a spinner and spinners do stuff like that where they can make these throws. For instance I glide so I do the linear technique, which is just moving back, but she does a rotational technique and with this technique you can put a big score together out of nowhere and is what she did tonight (yesterday).

“She put it together on the last throw so I was cognizant of that and I said to myself do not relax, get ready, just focusing and get ready to respond and I did that, I responded. My response was not good enough but I did not crumble and for that I am proud of myself.”

The eventual winner was Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd (19.36), with two-time Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams of New Zealand second (18.70) and Crew third.

4x400m, Waithe join 4x100 women, men stumble out

Yesterday, the T&T men’s 4x400m team and javelin thrower Shakeil Waithe joined the women’s 4x100m relay team in the final of their respective events while the men’s sprint relay team failed to get the baton around in the track at the Carrara Stadium.

T&T women’s team will line up in the final from lane eight at 12.37 am (TT time) today as there were only eight teams entered for the event.

Waithe was first in action in the men’s javelin throw and after a nervous start, finished in fifth in the first group with a throw of 75.21m and then overall 10th to advance as part of the top 12 into today’s final, which scheduled for 12.35 am (TT time).

With former World champion Julius Yego, of Kenya, crashing out at the first stage and no Keshorn Walcott through injury, the javelin event was expected to be an open affair.

Next up was the men’s 4x100m relay semifinals, with T&T’s Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Nathan Farinha and Emmanuel Callender, running in that order, competing from lane three. But there was a mix up between the second and third handover between Burns and Farinha, which led to T&T failing to complete the event.

“I made my move too early. Australia was right next to me and I got mixed up with the mark and so I ran too early,” said Farinha, clearly despondent. “This hurts so, so much.”

Burns added, “He showed me the marker he ran off from and I had to tell him that was the Australian mark not mine and therefore that is why he moved so fast. This happens, he is inexperienced and we all make mistakes in life. The challenge will be to recover from it and learn quickly. It was a case of jitters.”

Bledman meanwhile said, “I did not see what happen. I just came out and ran my race. The focus in these races is not about speed, it is about getting the stick around but things like these happen and he now needs to learn from this and move on.”

Callender sympathised with young Farinha.

“I feel his pain but we are in this together. We probably need to have more training sessions and a relay camp to iron out some of these things. We need to support him because I know he is hurting.”

Last up in the morning session was T&T’s World Championships gold-medal winning 4x400m squad of Renny Quow, Deon Lendore, Lalonde Gordon and Machel Cedenio in the second semifinal. T&T finished in fifth in a time of 3.05.84 and was promoted to fourth after Australia was disqualified.

The local quartet is expected to welcome back new 200m champion Jereem Richards, who collected his gold medal yesterday, for today’s final, carded for at 3.07 am (TT time). They will race from lane one.

T&T Under-16 netball team improved on its showing at the Caribbean netball Association (CNA) Jean Pierre Junior Championships which ended on Wednesday evening at the Vigie Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Castries, St Lucia.

The local team, coach by Velma Hazelwood and Lystra Solomon-Simmons (assistant coach), returned on Thursday after placing fourth in the seven-team competition. In the previous competition, two years ago, T&T placed seventh.

Led by captain Esther James with support from vice-captain Tamiah Hernandez, the junior “Calypso Girls” ended with three wins and four losses.

The national netballers fell to Barbados, 27-21 in their opening match on Saturday, bounced back on Sunday to beat Grenada, 30-25 before falling to St Lucia (32-19) in their third affair. They next meet St Vincent and the Grenadines and prevailed 29-19 on Tuesday. On the final day, T&T played Jamaica and lost 38-7 but rebounded later in its final match to beat Dominica (27-21).

The “Reggae Girls” of Jamaica played unbeaten to earn the junior title, second was St Lucia and third was Barbados.

T&T junior team did pick up a bulk of awards including best team on parade and best dressed team and shooter Kelelicia George and Kalliyah Stephen were named to the top 16 of the tournament.

On Monday, T&T shooters Kelelicia George, Kayshanna Duncan and Kelaiah Stewart dominated the shooting competition, sealing the crown after combining to net 100 goals.

Jamaica was second with 93 and Barbados was third with 92.

Imran Khan started off his career as a batsman but today when he turns and bundles his long hair into a bun, he is about to unleash another deadly delivery that has left many batsmen dumbfounded.

Khan, the smiling assassin from Charlieville, has turned the current T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Premiership into his own show and has been sending batsmen back to the pavilion faster than a “Whatsapp” message.

The right-arm leg-spinner who is currently the most prolific bowler in the national set up for the Red Force, has taken 48 wickets in five ,rounds of matches for Alescon Comets cricket club.

On the weekend he demoralised PowerGen by taking 13 wickets in the match to give Comets victory and keep them at the top of the heap in the Premiership I standings.

In addition to his superb bowling he has also found form with the bat and got 76 two weeks ago as well.

Khan has played for Alescon Comets for his entire career and has stayed loyal to the club, even in bad times.

Now he will more than likely lead them to a Premiership title based on current form.

Prior to the domestic tournament, “Sharkie” as he is affectionately called was Red Force captain Denesh Ramdin’s go to man.

He grabbed 48 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 25.54 and a best haul of 6/59.

He was second only to Guyanese left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who collected 50 wickets in tournament.

The 33-year-old Khan has taken a whopping 368 wickets in 92 First Class matches at an average of 23.32.

The best innings bowling figures he has returned is 7/71 and his best match performance to date is 11/122.

Khan first played for T&T in First Class cricket way back in 2005 and has also played for the West Indies ‘A’ team, his first call coming in 2010.

He has also found favour with the Barbados Tridents in popular Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 (T20) tournament and will be looking to continue his great performances with them this year.

In the meantime, he continues to baffle local batsmen week-afterweek in the TTCB Premiership.

His performances cannot be underestimated as going into this year’s tournament, Comets were not in the national discussion as to who will win the title.

However, Khan together with fellow national players Rayad Emrit and Roshan Primus has really worked wonders at the club and they are now the team to beat.

Khan has also been talked about in regional circles as a man who can make a contribution at the highest level.

In the meantime, he continues to do only what he can and that is to address the selectors with brilliant bowling performances.

Anibale Fly represents the best time-handicap bet I’ve known this 21st century in the Grand National Handicap Chase over four and a half miles of ‘soft’ Aintree ground today; a replication of his third to Native River, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup over three and a quarter miles on similar ground at Cheltenham last month, would more than suffice.

On Thursday runner-up Might Bite confirmed that actual time-figure when winning the group one ‘Bowl’ by five lengths; only reservation is the intimidation factor of negotiating thirty fences and avoiding ‘in running’ problems but Anibale Fly, mount of Barry Geraghty, carrying colours of John P McManus, will doubtless ‘travel’ superbly, such is his class, among run-of-themillm handicappers. None would be within twenty lengths of Native River at level weights.

Prior to his latest effort Anibale Fly comfortably landed a gamble when winning a twenty-eight-runner handicap in Ireland.

A welter burden isn’t at issue, according to shrewd Irish trainer, Tony Martin, ‘he’s a big, strong horse’ obviously capable of carrying weights.

Space isn’t at a premium but there is little more to write, given such superiority, based on recent ‘classic’ form with every conceivable box ticked.

Incidentally my first article as a racing tipster/correspondent was back in 1970 when the personally computed time-handicap pinpointed Gay Trip, winner under the late, great, Pat ‘Arkle’ Taafe, at 20/1.

Several years went by before the same ‘feel’ recurred and Gold Cup winner, Garrison Savannah, was sensationally beaten by lowweighted Seagram; subsequently this column nominated Rough Quest as nigh on a ‘cert’ and afterwards jockey Mick Fitzgerald couldn’t hide his emotions and said winning was ‘better than sex!’

Mick’s wife divorced him!

Six years ago ‘it’ happened again but Sunnyhillboy, a monster eachway punt, was beaten a shorthead, in the last stride.

At one time the ‘Worlds greatest horserace’ was solved by process of elimination but daunting fences have been modified and speed is now firmly at issue; Anibale Fly should win and I’ll be surprised if ‘JP’ doesn’t shorten him in betting exchanges.

Promising in a Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight!

Six attempts have yielded five placings for this consistent Invincible Spirit filly, latest was a fortnight ago when Promising failed narrowly on her seasonal debut, beaten half a length by heavily-backed George Of Hearts over seven furlongs of Chelmsford polytrack.

This wont be easy, in fact with Roger Varian and John Gosden represented by Hermosita and Tivoli respectively, not to mention others with scope, Promising might need to hit something like the mark achieved when 3rd (of 11) in the group three ‘Fred Darling’ at Newbury last April. Richard Hannon’s charge was reckoned a genuine prospect for the 1000 Guineas.

If she doesn’t win...!

The Glenn Mendez trained Caesar’s Country makes his belated appearance today in the feature event for imported threeyear- old and over maidens and horses rated 75-50 going over a distance of 1,750 metres.

This event sees two trainers Glenn Mendez and Harriram Gobin saddling two entrants in the main event at Santa Rosa Park in Arima.

Mendez will have Caesar Country and Hurricane Harry to fly the stable flag with Ricky Jadoo opting for Caesar Country.

This horse was highly regarded at a juvenile and finished second in the Guineas before disappointing later in his career.

He makes his return to racing for a very shrewd trainer and could return to winning ways.

Stablemate Hurricane Harry is expected to run a bold race and could upset the applecart if his more vaunted stablemate does not fire.

Glenn Mohammed saddles two runners in Hello and Peace N Glory and both must be respected on their best form.

Hello is attractively weighted on his Derby form and must go close with a penny-stamp for the in-form Ri Hernandez.

Stablemate Peace and Glory cannot be ruled out with three kilos Omar Mohammed taking over the reins.

The Harold Chadee trained Wots To Report must have outstanding chance if improving from the last race.

Post time is 12.45 pm.

San Fernando East Zone was crowned champions of the Ministry of Education Victoria Education District Sports Association (VEDSA); bmobile Track & Field Championships which sprinted off at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella recently.

After over 30 action-packed events, San Fernando East concluded their competitive campaign with a golden tally of 422 points. They clinched a narrow six-point victory over two-time defending champions, San Fernando North (416) while Williamsville (323) held on to third place overall.

Rounding off the District were Claxton Bay/Tortuga (320), Gasparillo (297), La Romaine/Debe (214) and Lengua/Barrackpore (152) respectively. The triumphant zone will now represent the Victoria District at the National Primary School Championships on May 23.

“This is bmobile’s eighth year of sponsorship and we are once again pleased to be a major part of the Victoria District Games,” said TSTT vice president of Corporate Communications, Marsha Caballero.

“It is one of the cornerstones on which TSTT invests in young boys and girls who will make up the nation’s future sportsmen and women. We believe that sport should be considered a vital aspect of youth development and our organisation is committed to supporting our youth. Congratulations to every school represented at the 2018 Games and good luck at the upcoming National Championships.”

In his short address, Chairman of VEDSA and Games Co-ordinator, Azard Mohammed, paid a special tribute to departing Cunjal Government Primary School principal, Dayanan Ramsaran, for his stalwart contribution to education. He also recognised all participating schools for their heightened focus on physical education and external development outside of the classroom.

“Each athlete has trained and worked hard to represent their school at the meet,” he said. “They are competing at a very high level. This is the stage which serves as a stepping stone for kids who intend to further their prowess in athletics and sport as a whole. It would not have been possible however, without the sponsorship from bmobile and for this we thank them.”

One such student-athlete, Sierra Joseph of Vistabella Presbyterian Primary School (San Fernando North), showed class on the track by copping gold in the Girls Under-13 100 metres, 200m and 400m. She also played a crucial role in carrying her zone to victory in the 4x100m with fellow sprinters Destiny Douglas, Kaira Baird and Tyler Howe.

Having represented T&T at the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) Games in 2014, Joseph has been using competitions such as the VEDSA Championships for additional training towards achieving her goal of becoming a professional athlete.

“To prepare for today’s events, I did a lot of jumping jacks, drills and other exercises. I am working towards representing my country at other tournaments. But, I must listen to my coach and continue to train hard. I love track and there’s a lot of work I have to put in to become successful,” stated the Simplex Athletics athlete.

SELECTED TRACK RESULTS

3k: 1 Liam Carrington (San Fernando TML); 2 Hakeem Chinapoo (Ste. Madeline Government); 3 Joshua Braithwaithe (Marabella Government)
60m Girls U-9: 1 Alissa Jeremiah (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 2 Kimora Duncan (Gasparillo); 3 Tasyah George (San Fernando North)
60m Boys U-9: 1 Josiah Huggins (San Fernando North); 2 Jeduthun Emptage (San Fernando East); 3 Donelle Ramnarine (Williamsville)
100m Girls U-11: 1 Jael Archibald (San Fernando North); 2 Akira Malavar (San Fernando East); 3 Azelia Mills (Williamsville)
100m Boys U-11: 1 Kadeem Chinapoo (San Fernando East); 2 Timothy Hamilton (San Fernando North); 3 Kiel Marshall (Gasparillo)
100m Girls U-13: 1 Sierra Joseph (San Fernando North); 2 Aniela Packette (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 3 Annelyn Lewis (Williamsville)
100m Boys U-13: 1 Hakeem Chinapoo (San Fernando East); 2 Emmanuel James (La Romain/Debe); 3 Chaz Forde (San Fernando North)
300m Girls U-11: 1 Missy Rudder (La Romain/Debe); 2 Mieka Balfour (Gasparillo); 3 Yohel Ramnarine (San Fernando North)
300m Boys U-11: 1 Moses Boatswain (Gasparillo); 2 Akiel George (San Fernando East); 3 Kyron Baptiste (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
400m Girls U-13: 1 Sierra Joseph (San Fernando North); 2 Brianna Rampersad (San Fernando East); 3 Kaadijah Arnold (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
400m Boys U-13: 1 Hakeem Chinapoo (San Fernando East); 2 Emmanuel James (La Romain/Debe); 3 Christian Weekes (San Fernando North)
1500m Walk Girls Open: 1 Onika Mike (Williamsville); 2 Markaylia Hamilton (Gasparillo); 3 Ashia Chinapoo (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
1500m Walk Boys Open: 1 Jahmal Castang (San Fernando North); 2 Salem Thompson (Gasparillo); 3 Zackariah John (Claxton Bay/Tortuga)
Selected Field Events
Shot Putt Girls 13-15: 1 Jenessa Doughty (San Fernando East); 2 Amaya Hills (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 3 Haile Cox (Gasparillo)
Long Jump Girls U-11: 1 Jahzarah Zamore (Gasparillo); 2 Rayanna Gilbert (Lengua/Barrackpore); 3 Azelia Mills (Williamsville)
Long Jump Boys U-11: 1 Moses Boatswain (Gasparillo); 2 Ganesh Gobin (Lengua/Barrackpore); 3 Luke Blackie (Williamsville)
Discus Boys 13-15: 1 Ronaldo Patterson (La Romain/Debe; 2 Jabari Charles (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 3 Kyal Marcano (San Fernando North)
Javelin Girls 13-15: 1 Shakira Wright (San Fernando East); 2 Isabel Basdai (Williamsville); 3 Haile Cox (Gasparillo)
Javelin Boys 13-15: 1 Jabari Charles (Claxton Bay/Tortuga); 2 Nicholas Maharaj (San Fernando North); 3 De Shaun Wong Shing (La Romain/Debe)
Relay Results
4x100m Girls U-9: 1 San Fernando North; 2 Gasparillo; 3 Claxton Bay/Tortuga
4x100m Boys U-9: 1 San Fernando East; 2 Williamsville; 3 Claxton Bay/Tortuga
4x100m Girls U-11: 1 San Fernando North; 2 San Fernando East; 3 Williamsville
4x100m Boys u-11: 1 San Fernando East; 2 Gasparillo; 3 San Fernando North
4x100m Girls U-13: 1 San Fernando North; 2 Claxton Bay/Tortuga; 3 San Fernando East
4x100m Boys U-13: 1 San Fernando East; 2 San Fernando North; 3 Williamsville

T&T Pro League (PL) interim Chief Executive Officer, Julia Baptiste, stands confident a three-day UEFA ASSIST-Trinidad workshop hosted at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva, a week ago could see T&T football reap enormous benefits.

Baptiste however cautioned that this can only be possible if recommendations from UEFA are implemented by clubs and the PL’s administration.

“In this (UEFA ASSIST) scenario, board members were able to come together, and someone was able to say to them listen this is what you need to do, and with us in T&T it’s always where the information comes from that is important,” Baptiste said.

The UEFA ASSIST workshop, which ran from April 4-6 and was attended by club owners and administrators, was made possible through CONCACAF following a request by T&T Football Association (TTFA) president David-John Williams for assistance to the beleaguered T&T Pro League.

Eva Pasquier, head of international relations at UEFA, headed a team of UEFA ASSIST officials that included Kenny MacLeod, who specialises in commercial, media, digital marketing and match day knowledge, and Efraim Barak, a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Arbitrator and practicing lawyer in Sport Law for almost three decades, while CONCACAF was represented by Howard McIntosh.

“UEFA ASSIST was asked by CONCACAF to come here to discuss the Pro League particularly” said MacLeod.

“But what is very important to us is that we don’t just concentrate on the Pro League and that we look at football as a whole in T&T.

“And we have met with a number of stakeholders—clubs, boards and the media—to really get a full understanding of the situation of the football in the country.”

The UEFA ASSIST team recommended that clubs formalise youth development, engage key stakeholders such as the fans, media and government and that the PL updates its strategic plan. Clubs were also reminded of the importance and benefits of fulfilling compliance regulations of CONCACAF and the TTFA following discussions that included club licensing, good governance in the federation, the league and the clubs as well as marketing and communications.

Baptiste said the UEFA-ASSIST workshop helped cement a lot that was continuously said over the 16 years of the PL’s existence.

“Now there is a cohesion, people understand. And we hope that in the understanding we could now move forward as a league and see how we can [grow] the brand and take it to another level.

“There is now an understanding that football is not only about the game, it’s a business and how do we make the business of football work for us. That is what the board will now sit down and plan to see how we can go forward.”

MacLeod highlighted that T&T’s situation was not unique in the challenges faced financially and otherwise. And that the League and clubs should find innovative ways in realising their potential.

He said T&T is seen as aspirational within the region and “we (UEFA ASSIST) want to keep you in that place”.

MacLeod said, “What we have learned is that football is well-established here—the fact that there is already a professional league in place—and you have a number of situations where players aspired and gone on to play at the top leagues [around] the world.

“The base is here but what we are trying to understand is how to professionalise it and how to take it to the next level.

“We looked at both positives and the challenges just to make a point that there is a long way to go. We are trying to benchmark here.

“And we are not trying to say we are benchmarking against the best league in Europe, but through our experience we understand where football in T&T should be.”

MacLeod said over the three days focus was placed on planning and structures “but more than anything else”, putting the fans and the players at the centre of the strategy.

“(What) we really wanted to get across was that if the fans and players can be part of the future and build in the future then I think that would be much better for football (in T&T).”

Pasquier meanwhile called for all stakeholders involved in T&T football including the lower level leagues and schools leagues to sit together and discuss “clear responsibilities, clear roles, clear system of competitions and who is responsible for what”.

Pasquier echoed MacLeod’s sentiments that the PL and its clubs must focus on growing professionally and also told club owners and officials to put more importance on youth development through academies.

T&T’s LaTeisha Joseph and Suraya Chase will go into their final Pool C match versus unbeaten USA’s Brittany Howard and Kelly Reeves in a must-win situation, if they are to have any chance of reaching the quarterfinals of the opening leg of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Circuit in Aguascalientes, La Isla de San Maercos, Mexico today.

This after Joseph and Chase endured a tough first day yesterday, first losing to Mexico’s Claudia Rios and Cinthya Cruz 8-21, 5-21 followed by defeat to Nicaraguans Swan Mendoza and Lolette Rodriguez 15-21, 17-21.

In yesterday’s other Pool C matches, Reeves and Howard overcame Mendoza and Lolette 21-13, 21-12 and also defeated Rios and Cruz in a late contest.

Top ranked local women’s beach volleyball duo, Malika Davidson and Phylecia Armstrong, were also expected to compete in the opening leg of the tour as well.

However, T&T women missed their Copa America flight out of Trinidad on Thursday morning and will now look towards the second-leg which serve off in La Paz, Mexico from April 19-23.

The third-leg is carded for Varadero, Cuba, April 26–3 and T&T is is expected to be represented as well. Davidson and Armstrong had earned the right to represent T&T as the points leaders after three stages of the National Beach Volleyball Circuit at Saith Park in Chaguanas, last month.

The duo led the table with 22 points, two ahead of Rheeza Grant and Abby Blackman, who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia last week.

Both Davidson and Armstrong, and pair Grant and Blackman were level on 14 points each after the first two stages of the National Beach Volleyball Circuit after winning one leg each. However, in the final of the Third-Leg, Davidson and Armstrong battled their way to a come-from-behind 25-27, 21-14, 15-13 to earn the right to fly the national in Mexico while Joseph and Chase were third on the table with 12 points and earned T&T’s second pair of tickets to Mexico in their absence.

Both Armstrong and Chase are coming off helping Glamorgan to a fourth straight lien on the Flow National Indoor Women’s Premier League title at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo on Sunday last and have never competed on the NORCECA Tour before.

Locally, the National Beach Volleyball Circuit which has been on a break since March 12 and is set to resume on May 5 at Chaguanas.

In Baracoa, on the eastern tip of Cuba, is the ‘Cruz de la Parra’—a cross made from parts of a Crucifix planted by Christopher Columbus. The relic is now swathed in silver to protect it from visitors who break off bits as souvenirs. Celebrated for having failed to discover new trade routes to China that could circumvent the treachery of the Old Silk Roads, Columbus inadvertently fashioned a new convoy system—the ‘Spanish Silver Fleet’ linking Andalucía to ‘El Dorado’. These silver galleons transported lumber, gold, gems, pearls, spices, feathers for fashion, tobacco, and other exotic commodities to and from ports in Portobello, Havana, Cartagena, Veracruz, and Seville.

Xi Jinping’s One Belt One Road will now connect the Old Silk Roads to El Callao, Manta, and Taltal. Manufactured goods from China Inc, once displaced the Atlantic as the Mare Nostrum of international trade with Pacific Coast ports in Seattle, Tacoma, Oakland, and Long Beach stifling East Coast ports like New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), Baltimore, Savanah, and Charleston.

An expanded Panama Canal has reversed this imbalance. Ships now cross the isthmus and head for Norfolk and Miami. The Bayonne Bridge was raised to 215 feet to allow the Port of New York and New Jersey to welcome larger, more efficient vessels. By 2020, ten per cent of container traffic will shift to the East Coast Ports serving huge consumer hubs like Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, and Memphis. The Port Authority of NY & NJ makes New York blossom into one of the most opulent cities in the world. Businesses clamour to locate there, hoping to reap the windfall of profits that being close to this port can bring.

In doing so, these enterprises support 400,000 jobs amounting to nearly $25.7 billion in annual wages. Many of these jobs are apportioned to a variety of skilled trades. Meanwhile the port generates close to $8.5 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.

San Antonio port in Chile has allocated $40M for dredging and a further $400M for storage. The Posorja Port in Ecuador invested $530M to accommodate postpanamax vessels. Buenaventura Port in Colombia is dredging its canal, improving wharves, installing postpanamax gantry cranes and RDT yard cranes, all to the tune of $80M. Cartagena invested $800M to make its port neopanamax ready.

Caucedo in the Dominican Republic is investing $30M to take advantage of the Las Américas International Airport and the Caucedo Logistics Park and to increase its share of inter-American container cargo transport, redirecting cargo from Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.

Freeport Container Port (FCP) in the Bahamas has dredged its port. Upon completion of the $250M Phase V Development, FCP will have a total quay length of 1,536 metres, a yard area of 63 hectares, a depth alongside of 15.5 metres, nine post-Panamax cranes and one super-post-Panamax quay crane. The Jamaican, Kingston Freeport Terminal can now accommodate extra-large container ships with the completion of upgrades on section one of the Kingston Container Terminal.

Stage two of the upgrade on the south terminal is to be completed by this year at a cost of $150M. These upgrades along with new gantry cranes and cargo handling equipment will position Jamaica to benefit from increased transshipment business.

The Fukushima nuclear disaster has accelerated changes in Japan’s energy matrix. Production of gas from shale formations in the Gulf of Mexico has seen growth in top-off transfers of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) from larger vessels outside the Canal to those that can pass through the waterway transporting LPG to Japan.

Today, top-off operations are reduced as LPG transport ships with a capacity in excess of 6M cubic feet of gas and VLGC-type tanker vessels traverse the new ‘Green Route’ taking the least polluting fossil fuel through the Canal.

ExxonMobil, Hess, China National Offshore Oil Corporation-Nexen operating offshore Guyana at the Pacora-1 well discovered an oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. Pacora will boost Guyana’s production to more than 500,000 b/d of oil once it and Payara come online. Pacora-1, Payara and Liza will be developed using a floating, production, storage, and offloading vessel. Undoubtedly, since the Spanish West Indies, the unravelling of port economics and global supply chains remains a rich passage to competitiveness and prosperity.

Dr Fazal Ali

As Zuckerberg underwent his ten-hour long interrogation this week on Capitol Hill, we observed him bob, weave, and genuflect through the complicated maze of citizens’ rights to privacy and control of their data, the limits to those rights, and exactly how much we give away in service of the connectivity and opportunity that Facebook and other such social platforms provide. We saw the congressmen and women, with a couple exceptions, struggle to corner the icon or catch him in dishonesty because of a combination of their inability to phrase technically-savvy questions and his razor-sharp intelligence.

Thus is the paradox. Almost all of us use technology but only a small percentage really understands how technology works. Those who understand how it works have an extraordinary advantage over those who do not. Yet Zuckerberg could not help but look like an unfaithful husband desperately seeking to save a marriage after being caught in an affair.

You see, the defining feature of our time is our hyper-connectivity and its precious progeny, big data. Each of us who use Facebook are in a relationship with Mark which many believed was monogamous—in fact it’s a threesome.

Every time we share, post, message, send a WhatsApp, or use a credit card online, we are acting as “Data Producers (DPs)”. Seduced by the promise of fun, the latest goods, connectivity, or some mind-numbing activity, DPs create and exchange their data freely with the “Data Aggregators (DAs)” (mostly app and platform developers). Most DPs are unaware that there is an outside person in their relationship with the DAs —the “Data Consumers (DCs)”—companies, universities, research facilities, think tanks, and political groups which then analyse large data sets to uncover patterns, trends, and associations, relating to human behaviour and interactions. Some DCs like research organisations collate and analyse data to increase knowledge, spur innovation and development and others do it in order to exert influence over human behaviour.

Facebook is the largest DA of our time and nothing prepared us or them for the sledgehammer effect of the Cambridge Analytica disclosures on how Facebook uses data. The CA scandal also exposed the previously camouflaged relationship between DAs and DCs. With access to aggregate data, both DAs and DCs now know more about DPs than they know about themselves.

This raises the unavoidable political question of whose data is it? Who has the right to that data and the power to control and/or to use that data? Should it be us, or Mark, or, (please not) the DCs?

Like jilted partners, DPs are deleting their accounts left, right and centre with retorts like “they are selling my data and I’m not making anything from it!”, “targeting me with fake news!” and “I won’t be a product!”—making a stand for DP rights on the political question of who should have power over data. DAs and DCs, unsurprisingly, are scrambling to justify billion-dollar business models built on monetizing user data to maximize profit over privacy.

But is this a zero-sum game? Yes, Facebook is not the idealized platform for connectivity and opportunity. However, isn’t it something much greater?

These people breaking up with Facebook are choosing to leave an unprecedented, and until recently, unimaginable, collective of 2.13 billion people of which over 730,000 are from T&T. If this collective were a country it would be the largest country on the planet by almost one billion people and growing at the rate of 14 per cent per year. A collective where over 2.4 million pieces of information are shared every minute and which has over 100 million people interacting in meaningful online communities.

Undoubtedly, innovation has outpaced regulation. Under interrogation, Zuckerberg conceded that the European GDPR was a progressive step in data protection and that Facebook was willing voluntarily to comply with this regulation worldwide. In a data-chess game, that Zuckerberg move would have been a check. If Zuckerberg does follow through, this would mean that for countries like US and T&T, where politicians are dragging their feet on comprehensive Data Protection legislation, corporations would be providing more protection of fundamental human rights to privacy than governments. Ponder that.

Margaret Rose-Goddard is a lawyer and public procurement specialist. She is currently a doctoral researcher at the Institute of Policy Research, University of Bath, UK and is the founder of the Procurement Innovation & Leadership Lab and U-Solve School of Empathic Leadership & Entrepreneurship. contact@u-solve.org