Central Sports begin defence of their T20 Festival title against Bess Motors Marchin Patriots at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain on Friday, in match two, from 7pm. Having won this year’s National League title in March and already qualified to the next round of Sunday League (50-over) action, Central Sports start their quest for a possible domestic treble, in a Group A tie versus premiership newcomers Patriots. The opening match bowls off at 3pm and sees fellow group members and hosts Queen’s Park Cricket Club take on Merry Boys Sports Club. Central Sports coach/player Rayad Emrit s ..read more

A CLASSY, unbeaten knock of 96 runs from 50 balls from Amrita Ramtahal partnered with a well-woven spell of 4/10 from Adiel Rostant played the most instrumental roles in Barrackpore East's 78-run victory over Holy Name Convent in semi-final one of the Secondary Schools' Cricket League (SSCL) Girls' Open T20 tournament, which bowled off at Greig Street Recreation Ground in Balmain, Couva, on April 25. Having won the toss and opting to bat first, Barrackpore lost opener Chelsey Sookhram without scoring after five balls of the first over. New batter Hope Rostant (five) didn't last long, and at 3 ..read more

NATIONAL Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters has said competitions like the Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM), Soca Monarch and Calypso Monarch were needed, as they were the vehicles for cultural continuity. Gypsy shared his thoughts at the CSM prize-giving ceremony at the NCC’s VIP Lounge, Queen’s Park Savannah, on April 25. Southex Event Management CEO George Singh also spoke and distributed cheques to the competition’s 12 finalists. Southex promotes and organises the CSM. Gypsy commended Singh for hosting the annual Carnival competition for the past 29 years. Speaking about ..read more

CHIEF Justice Ivor Archie’s call for legislative intervention to deal with the provocation defence is one that should be heeded. A panel of the Court of Appeal this week split over the finer details of the law in the case of a man who had been sentenced to hang for murder. Two justices of appeal suggested the man suffered a procedural disadvantage because a jury had not been asked to consider provocation. But Chief Justice Archie disagreed. “Any reasonable jury, properly directed, would reject the partial defence of provocation,” he said, before going on to suggest the law needs to be address ..read more

THE EDITOR: Is it that every neonatal death or infant death in the country has to be justified to the media? A media who may not have the medical knowledge to understand the complicated matters being dealt with in an NICU? And what about the staff? Are they, as Dr Timothy said in the press conference on April 22, to be blamed for every death, even those which were inevitable? Let us face facts – not all preterm babies live. It is my understanding that these are very complicated patients to manage. Dr David Bratt’s newspaper article spells this out in great detail also. I wonder who read it? F ..read more

Epic Hanuman Chalisa ChanTTing 03, invoking the power of Hindu deity Lord Hanuman, will take place at the NCIC Nagar on April 27. Some 15,000 participants are expected to gather to chant the Sri Hanuman Chalisa at the nagar, 28-38 Narsaloo Ramaya Marg Road, Endeavour. The Hanuman Chalisa is an ode to Lord Hanuman, the beloved Hindu deity known for his devotion to Lord Ram. Composed of 40 verses of praises for Lord Hanuman, the Chalisa was composed by Goswami Tulsidas, author of the Ramacharitamanas, in Avadhi – the Hindi dialect spoken in Ayodhya, Lord Rama’s birthplace, a media release said ..read more

THE EDITOR: I grieve with those families who have suffered with the deaths of their babies. I pray this ache eases as time goes by. It is essential to get answers for these heartbreaking incidents. I know there are hard-working and professional staff who put their best forward in this unit. My first son was born there 37 years ago, my grandson and his mother survived a difficult birth where he had to spend his early days in the NICU in November 2023. Incidentally, I was born in this hospital some 63 years ago, the tenth child for my mother. I have always thought the neonatal unit offered the ..read more

THE EDITOR: In this country, it was once referred to as Carib Country, and the indigenous peoples got a one-off public holiday some time back for it. We have Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day, Indian Arrival Day, and now African Emancipation Day, in addition to all the other religious and non-religious holidays. There is a holiday we celebrate 365 days in the year that we have grown so accustomed to, that we don't even realise we celebrate daily. This is called NID (National Inaction Day) CLARKE PETERS Port of Spain The post Trinidad and Tobago observes NID every day appeared first on ..read more

THE EDITOR: Dr Keith Christopher Rowley’s recent statement that Cabinet plans to change the name of Emancipation Day to African Emancipation Day is meaningless. What are more newsworthy is the PNM’s callous disregard of the UN General Assembly’s Declaration of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2004-2025), the disrespectful attitude to the TT Reparations Committee, and just recently, the lamentation of Camille Robertson-Regis that she is seriously affected by the decline in African communities. These are a few matters that show the lack of concern the PNM has for Africans ..read more

THE EDITOR: The pivotal decision by Government on renaming Emancipation Day African Emancipation Day is sure to spark debate in society, with passionate arguments both for and against this change. Let's delve into the reasons behind this decision and explore its merits and drawbacks, particularly in comparison to other ethnically named holidays. First, it is essential to acknowledge the historical context of Emancipation Day. This day commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British colonies, marking the liberation of African slaves after centuries of oppression and exploitation. While Em ..read more