An historic bridge in Marabella collapsed yesterday, days after residents of Bayshore pleaded for help to repair the derelict structure.
The bridge, which was over 100 years old, was used as part of the train line in Marabella. It collapsed in the river yesterday.
More than 12 families have now been left with no access in and out of their homes.
The community is also without a water supply because the pipeline was ruptured as the bridge fell.
Only last week residents expressed fear that the bridge would collapse and appealed to authorities to fix the steel and concrete structure.
The dilapidated bridge, accessible through Theresa Street Extension, was closed by the San Fernando City Corporation earlier this year. However, residents still risked their lives to cross the rickety bridge while others used a lonely, bushy track to access their homes.
One of the last people to cross the bridge before it collapsed shortly after noon was a 14-year-old girl.
“As she come inside we just heard a loud crash and everybody run out,” said her mother Makebe Wildman.
She said most of the bridge fell into the river. Wildman said her two children, ages five and 11, had crossed the bridge earlier in the day because their school had dismissed early.
“They had no choice but to use the bridge because there is nowhere else for them to pass,” Wildman said.
She also complained that the track, which runs alongside a drain, is overgrown with bush, muddy and lonely. Wildman also said residents in the “rich people” area were opposed to them using the track and attempts have been made to block the track.
“We already don’t have current, so we are in the dark, and now we have no water now. We have nowhere to pass and the longest while now we calling the MP and we not getting through,” she lamented.
Wildman said she may have no choice but to keep her children home from school today. The roadway is also caving and cracks have already reached a resident’s property. She had also appealed to the authorities to intervene before the situation worsens.
MAYOR SEEKING SOLUTION
San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello said he was aware of the situation. He said two weeks ago the matter was raised in a council meeting. He said they sent correspondence to MP Faris Al-Rawi, who in turn forwarded it to Works Minister Rohan Sinanan.
“Tenders went out, proposals were done and we are awaiting feedback on when repairs will start,” said the mayor, who applauded Al-Rawi and Sinanan for their quick response in the matter. He said although the dilapidated bridge was closed several months ago it began to deteriorate at a fast rate following the bad weather. Regrello said a team will be visiting the site to assess the situation and look at what arrangements could be made for the residents.
Just two months ago San Fernando commemorated the 50th anniversary of the instalation of locomotive Engine No 11, which would have crossed that bridge, at Harris Promenade, San Fernando. Source:  Trinidadian Guardian, Nov 3, 2017

Eighty-three deep-sea species, with several new to science, have been discovered offshore in two new deep-sea cold-seep habitats east of Trinidad and south of Tobago by two local marine biologists. The marine biologists are Drs Diva Amon and Judith Gobin.
“There are at least five species of deep-sea animals, including a purple octopus, that are completely new to science,” Amon, a Trini-British post doctoral researcher said in a release.
Species of a purple octopus, a white sponge and an orange anemone were also discovered and being new to science, she said, do not yet have names.
The discovery, made almost a mile deep, reveals important information about the biodiversity of the deep ocean around Trinidad and Tobago, and enables comparisons with similar habitats elsewhere in the Caribbean. “These communities are absolutely amazing, hundreds of thousands of eight-inch deep-sea mussels, as well as three-foot tubeworms, crabs, shrimp, snails and fishes were found living at the seeps between 1,000 and 1,650 metres depth,” Amon said.
“Many of the animals are also poorly understood, such as a species of eelpout fish that lives amongst the mussels, Pachycara caribbaeum, that is known from only one other small site in the Cayman Trench,” she said.
Unfortunately, these newly discovered areas are already under threat.
The cold seeps, potentially ecologically and biologically significant sreas, will likely be irreparably damaged by drilling and associated oil and gas activities, she said. Scientific research in this area is struggling to keep up with such commercial activities and without targeted actions, Amon said, these species and their habitats may be lost before they are even studied.
The cold-seep sites and the associated fauna were an exciting find which Gobin of the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus said, “I can now use, as real examples, our own deep-sea for my students. I am extremely pleased to be engaging in this cutting-edge exploration and science in Trinidad and Tobago waters.”
The two new sites have been named after female folklore characters, La Diablesse and Mama D’Leau.
Another 85 further possible seep sites were detected, which indicate the deep-sea habitats may be widespread in Trinidad and Tobago waters.
The sites were discovered in several of the deepwater oil and gas lease blocks that are currently being explored and will soon be exploited.
“As a result, we, the authors of the study, have suggested a number of recommendations for the stewardship and conservation of these deep-sea habitats,” Amon said.
Cold seeps are areas where fluids rich in hydrogen sulphide and methane leak from the sea floor, similar to hydrothermal vents. This fluid provides the energy to sustain large communities of life in the harsh conditions that exist in the deep sea (no light, approximately four degree centigrade temperature and more than 100 atmospheres of pressure).  Source:  Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, Nov. 3, 2018

The best tasting cake in the world is officially a Trini one. 
Trinidadian chefs, Michelle Sohan and Kathleen Lange made the country proud after their cake was given the award for Best Tasting Cake in the World earlier this week at the World Cake Designers Championship 2017 in Milan, Italy.
The group, which was one of 20 countries which competed, also placed seventh in the World Cake Competition which was held by the FIP Federazione Internazionale Pasticceria Gelateria Cioccolateria. 
In a public Facebook post, Sohan, who owns local business Bakery Treatz, thanked all those who helped her and Lange win the coveted prize. 
Source:  The Loop Oct 27, 2017.

The Pantin family from Woodbrook answered the call to “serve the people, serve the people, serve all of the people” of T&T. Service has never been an alien concept to the prominent Pantins who made positive inroads on the socio-economic landscape. The late Anthony Pantin was archbishop of the diocese of Port-of-Spain. Former Fatima College principal, Clive Pantin became Minister of Education. Fr Gerard Pantin founded Service Volunteered For All (Servol).  Three doyennes among the Pantin clan epitomise the notion of service, volunteerism and humanitarianism. Ten siblings were born to late housewife Agnes and Julien Pantin, a managing director at the defunct Salvatori Scott Ltd. The union produced Gerard, Tony (late), Rose, Geoffrey (late), Clive, Monica, Ronald (late), Helen, Patricia and Michael. The Pantins’ matriarch Agnes was a “very religious woman” who took them to mass regularly at St Patrick’s RC Church, Maraval.  The family remained steeped in Roman Catholicism. Rosa answered the call to join the nunnery with the Sisters of Cluny at St Joseph’s Convent.
Commenting on their calling, Clive Pantin said: “It was a gift from God.  We enjoyed every minute of it. That was important. If you go into a job and you have reservations about it, don’t do it. You are not going to succeed.” Indeed, the Pantin clan have been a blessing. In 1995, Pastor Cecil Quamina paid kudos to them via letter to the editor when they were named Family of the Year. He said: “We can never repay the Pantins for the contribution they have made to our society.”  Another gentleman Hollis Thomas realised the importance of Pantins’ vast contribution and compiled biographies on them. Sunday Guardian also salutes the Pantins’ sterling contribution.
Clive Pantin... Minister of Education— zenith of his career
With pompek Bella at his feet, former Fatima College principal, Clive Pantin takes a stroll in his garden at Woodbrook. Casting a cursory glance, a passerby might think he’s always lived a life of rest and relaxation; but Pantin, 77, has always been a hard worker. He left a legacy at Fatima College, Mucurapo and strengthened the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) during his tenure as Minister of Education. He was part of the ANR Robinson regime (1986 to 1991). On Monday, Pantin said his contribution as Minister of Education was the zenith of his career. Quizzed on his major accomplishment, Pantin said: “I would say my major role was as Minister of Education. I enjoyed it very much.  When you are principal of a school you just see minor changes. But when you see all the schools combined that’s a very tough task. Minister of Education role is not an easy one.”
Pantin would pop in unannounced to get a first hand account of the inner workings of T&T’s schools. 
“I liked going out to the different schools unannounced and  just visiting them.” With a mischievous twinkle, he said: “There was a little panic when they saw I had arrived. But after a while they got a hold of my modus operandi.”  Pantin explained his mission was not just to catch principals and teachers napping, but to get a deeper knowledge of the students’ needs. He firmly believed in the value of education as a catalyst for change and socioeconomic improvement. No school was forbidden. “I continued to visit schools particularly schools far away; in the deep West, deep East and deep South.” 
Pantin was not a greenhorn. After all, he had spent 27 years as a Language (French and Spanish) and Religious Education teacher. He was principal for ten years. Patting himself on the back, he said: “Fatima became a first class school.”
The impact of Feel
After the crushing defeat of the NAR administration, Pantin founded Feel (Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life) in 1991. He and his team including the late Leoline Boxhill distributed hampers to about 120 Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the massive warehouse owned by JB Fernandes at Laventille. “To my great surprise, he showed me this huge compound with every possibility of goodness about it. We decided to get the NGOs together. They were finding it difficult to continue the work. There were some who were really conscientious in their work.” 
Each year, about 2,400 people received food and hampers. “People from the United States sent down a lot of stuff for us.”  

About Clive Pantin 
He was a fine athlete at St Mary’s College. He earned a BA degree at the University of (Dublin) Ireland and got a Diploma in Education at UWI Jamaica. Initially, he was studying for the priesthood. “You talk about prayers. I realised it was not for me. I had Anna in Jamaica.” He also married Patsy and fathered Bernard, David and Thomas. He has nine grandchildren.  Quizzed on the secret to his longevity, he said: “Live a good life and drink apple...” On behalf of his siblings, Tom, an ex-Fatima boy, said: “We are all proud of him. We admire him.  He is a shining example of a father.” He added: “One of the aspects of our house was our love for sport... love for English football and our love for Manchester United. It was like a tradition. We would be drinking beer. All the boys.”  Pantin’s contemporary/retired St Augustine Senior Comprehensive principal Osmond “Slim” Downer said: “He played for St Mary’s. Then, he played for Casuals. Geoffrey Pantin also played for St Mary’s and Ronald played, too. He was in my time and I played for Casuals.  At that time, Casuals and Shamrock were known as the “white people” team.” “But Pantin’s greatest contribution is education,” said the   FIFA referees instructor.
Pantin on Pantins 
Growing up in a huge family, Pantin described the experience as “wonderful.” His mother Agnes was a strict disciplinarian. “She was worse than any principal,” he said. It was a sad day when they put their father in the earth at Lapeyrouse Cemetery. “Michael... the last one was about a year when he died. His funeral was a huge traffic stopper. He had  lots of friends.” Commenting on his siblings, he said: “Tony was the first to come in as a priest. He was always an accessible archbishop. “Oh, yes, we adored him. The only thing we didn’t do was go to confession. The best priest I could tell my sins, too. He would cheups if he felt it was a big sin.  Tony was quite a guy.” “Gerard... he was the intellengentsia of the family. He won an island scholarship.” “Shortly after daddy died, Rosa told our mother she had this calling to be a nun. Agnes said: ‘Well, may God be with you, child.’” But his favourite sibling is Geoffrey, whom he described as his “real riding partner.” “I always remember the day we were going to school (Belmont Intermediate). He said: ‘I will tow you through the Savannah...next thing I know, the two of us found ourselves on the ground in a puddle. He said: “Boy, I slipped. Well, boy, I cuss Geoffrey.” For Christmas, the senior Pantin said: “I will be looking forward to turkey with stuffing.” 
Source:  Michelle Loubon and Malissa Lara-Patterson, Trinidad Guardian

​Congratulations to the TT men’s hockey team on their resounding 7-0 victory over Argentina in the gold medal match of 2017 Pan American indoor hockey tournament. As a result they have qualified for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Germany in February 2018.

Trinidad and Tobago's Joel Kissoon has topped the region in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
Kissoon who attended Presentation College, San Fernando, has won the Dennis Irvine Award for Outstanding Performance.
As a result of his achievement, Presentation College, San Fernando, has been named School of the Year by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
The 2017 Regional Top Awards were announced at the meeting of the Sub-Committee of the School Examinations Committee meeting held on Tuesday at CXC Headquarters, Barbados.
When the Express broke the news to the 19-year-old yesterday he was almost speechless.
"Oh my God, are you serious? This is so great!" an excited Kissoon said.
"I don't know how to feel. I am shocked," he exclaimed, saying he could not wait to get off the phone to share the news with his relatives, teachers and friends.
Kissoon said he signed up for twice the number of CAPE subjects as he was unsure of his career path.
"Usually students do four subjects, I did eight, and I did a total of 16 CAPE units. I did those subjects to cover my bases. I did a lot of science and maths subjects in case I decided to do medicine and I did foreign languages in case I wanted to become a UN Ambassador or something," he explained.
Kissoon achieved Grade One in 14 units and Grade Two in two units.
"Doing that many subjects was not as difficult as I expected. Lucky for me I had really good teachers who worked with me. I thought I would have had to drop some of the subjects but I didn't," he said.
Kissoon said he has taken a year off from studies.
"I am looking into medical school. I got through with Mt Hope but I asked for a year off to look into my options abroad, to ensure that I wanted to do medicine," he stated.
Hard work pays
Principal of Presentation College San Fernando, Dexter Mitchell, was just as surprised at the news.
"I am now hearing this. It is indeed humbling and we just want to thank the Almighty God for blessing us with small mercies. I think hard work paid off and I want to commend Joel, the teachers, students, and all our major stakeholders who have worked with us over the years," he said.
Also in winners' row this year was Naparima Girl's High School student Chela Aufderheide, who won the Language Studies award with Grade I in 12 Units.
The awardees will receive their prizes at the Regional Top Awards Ceremony on December 14 at the St Kitts Marriott Resort.
Guyana takes most awards
Three of the top six CAPE awards were copped by students of Guyana and one by a student of Jamaica.
Shawn Shewram of St Rose's High School, Guyana, took the ACCA/CXC Business Studies Award, becoming the first recipient of the ACCA-sponsored award. He achieved Grade I in 12 Units.
Shannon Woodroffe, of Queen's College, Guyana, won both the Mathematics and Natural Science awards in 2017 with Grade I in 13 Units, all with "As" in the Module grades.
She is the second pupil to win both a CSEC award and a CAPE award, CXC said in a news release yesterday.
Jared Johnson of Campion College, Jamaica, is the winner of the Hodder/CXC Humanities Award.
He achieved Grade I in nine Units and Grade II in one Unit.
Source:  [email protected]

​Veteran masman Edmond Hart died yesterday at the age of 94.
Hart died at the San Fernando General Hospital after falling ill on Thursday night.
His passing was announced on the Harts Carnival website yesterday. The mas band said, “At this time, we sincerely appreciate all the kind words and prayers from our family, friends and fellow masqueraders.”
Hart started his Carnival band in 1960 with his then wife Lil. Hart, originally from San Fernando was a part of bands with Harold Saldenah and Bobby Ammon. Their first band of the year title came in 1966 with the band Playing Cards, followed by four more titles with Inferno (1970), Mas Sweet Mas (1983), Islands in the Sun (1986) and Out of this World (1988). In 1973, Edmund Hart received the Humming Bird Gold Medal for his contribution to Carnival development.
David Lopez, head of the National Carnival Bandleaders Association (NCBA) said “the old veterans are going one by one,” referring to the passing of bandleader Neville Aming at 95, last week.
Lopez said Hart was one of the first bandleaders to be involved in a bandleaders association. “He, along with George Bailey and Neville Aming were among the first to approach Dr Eric Williams about the formation of what was the Carnival Bandleaders Association.”
“His contribution to Carnival was really great along with his wife Lil. They were really artists who loved what they were doing,” he said.
Lopez said the NCBA has honoured the Harts by naming the Small Band of the Year trophy after Lil Hart who died in 1991.
“They were making mas in the days when you had creativity in Carnival when they didn’t have all that money. His legacy is with his children, the Harts new generation.
“On behalf of the NCBA, we extend condolences to the Hart family. T&T will be ever grateful to him and his wife for the contribution they made to Carnival.”
Edmond Hart leaves behind his wife, Judy, six children Karen, Maritza, Thais, Aixa, Luis and Gerald, as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Source:  Guardian, September 30, 2017

 SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jesse Ramkalawan had a difficult time choosing only eight subjects to write for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). Unwilling to sacrifice a single subject she loved, she decided to do the 11 subjects for which she had been studying and earned 11 distinctions this year.
“These were subjects that I loved a lot, and I did not want to drop any. All the subjects I did, I had a lot of fun doing,” Ramkalawan said when asked why she did so many subjects. “I was not expecting to do so well. I am really thankful to everyone who helped me.”
The 11 subjects the St Augustine Girls High School (SAGHS) student did were mathematics, English A, English B (literature), physics, chemistry, biology, additional mathematics, information technology (IT), French, Spanish and technical drawings (TD). Ramkalawan did ten subjects this year and TD last year when she was in Form Four.
She stuck to a strict study routine months before the May/June exams. Studying two subjects every night, Ramkalawan said she was quickly able to get through the school’s syllabus. “I only went to lessons for add maths and physics. I rested before I studied so I would not be tired. There were a lot of late nights, but I love to study. Since I started high school I was really serious with my work,” she said.
Ramkalawan said she did not think that 11 subjects were too many for her to do because three of the subjects, literature, Spanish and French, she considered to be more hobbies than actual work.
Unsure of her career path, Ramkalawan said she is just doing subjects that she loves until she figures it out. However, she said she loves physics and often thinks about working in NASA or being a nuclear physicist or becoming a software engineer.
Balance was another secret to Ramkalawan’s success. She participated in many extra-curricular activities both inside and outside of school. She was the president of SAGHS’ TTPCA (TT Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), she took part in the Astro Club, a junior division of the Astronomy Society, and participated in invention competitions with the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.
Ramkalawan said all her teachers, both at school and lessons, were “amazing” and helped her with her exams. Source:  Rachael Amanda Espinet  Cnews