Caribbean Times 12.02.2016

SPORTS
Controversial sports program may
be linked to lawyer’s assassination
21
Caribbean Times | December 1-14, 2016
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- In June
2012, the former People's Partnership
government in Trinidad and Tobago,
led by then prime minister, Kamla Persad
Bissessar, launched a program called
“Rio 2016: The Journey Begins Now”,
which was drafted and created by the
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee
and then advisor to the prime minister,
Gary Griffith, to assist local athletes
representing Trinidad and Tobago in the
Rio Olympics.
However, the entire design and implementation
of the program changed
when the project was handed over to the
ministry of sport, resulting in the then
minister of sport, Anil Roberts, taking
the program to help and educate underprivileged
young men in society, under a
new name: Lifesport.
What started out as a worthy and
benevolent social program was transformed
by questionable management
into a vehicle for murders, money laundering
of hundreds of millions of dollars
of state funds and financing of criminals
by government for illegal purposes.
Now it appears that the 2014 assassination
of prominent local lawyer, former
senator Dana Seetahal, may be linked
to individuals financed by the Lifesport
program, which was riddled with claims
of criminals running the program and
hundreds of millions of dollars being diverted
to criminals to purchase arms and
contraband -- some of the many issues
that Seetahal was investigating.
Seetahal was a former state prosecutor,
senior counsel, a down to earth individual,
a woman who made everyone she
interacted with feel special, a prosecutor
who developed one of the strongest legal
portfolios in Trinidad and Tobago by
heading some of the highest profile cases
in the nation, but at the same time developing
a list of potential, political and
powerful enemies.
Her frequently expressed and strongly
held principles resonated with many in
Trinidad and Tobago, especially in relation
to extreme inequality, which corrupts
politics, hinders economic growth
and stifles social mobility; it fuels crimes
and violent conflicts; it touches a moral
nerve in threatening the very existence of
mankind, the very health of democracies.
When political and economic power is
captured by weak elites, they undermine
the institutions necessary for a fair and
unbiased society. Critically, the rapid rise
The late Dana Seetahal
of extreme economic inequality stands in
the way of eliminating global poverty.
On May 3, 2014, minutes before midnight,
security video footage showed Seetahal
leaving the Ma Pau Casino, nestled
among other bars, clubs and eateries in
the middle class environment of Woodbrook,
Port of Spain. She was a frequent
visitor to the casino, as one of her very
few forms of relaxation.
Driving her Volkswagen Toureg SUV,
Seetahal headed towards Wrightson
Road in Port of Spain and her apartment
in One Woodbrook Place. However, her
short drive home was interrupted when
a Nissan Wingroad wagon suddenly
stopped in front of her, coming to an
abrupt stop in front of the Woodbrook
youth facility on Hamilton Holder Street,
a complex of mainly grey buildings with
a basketball court and soccer field.
A panel van pulled alongside Seetahal’s
Volkswagen and two men emerged, one
carrying a pistol and the other a 5.56 calibre
assault rifle. This high powered rifle
is a weapon used by NATO forces and is
designed exclusively for military use.
Seetahal was shot five times. Twice
in the head, twice on her right forearm,
which she lifted to protect herself, and
once in the chest. She was shot at such
close range that there was visible gunshot
residue on her face. The quiet neighbourhood
was shocked out of bed by the
sounds of crackling gunfire.
At 12:05 am on May 4, 2014, Seetahal
was dead, the victim of a brutal murder
described as a local JFK assassination.
A mathematician has theorised that,
Continued on page 26
PARANG
Continued from page 20
ranging, are to Christmas in Trinidad &
Tobago, Grenada and St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, what traditional carols and
community caroling are to Christmas in
America.
Today, Parang shows have become an
anticipated feature of the Christmas experience
in New York and elsewhere for
Parang lovers, thanks to a great extent
to the organizing contributions of Trinidadian-American,
Thomas “Captain” Jacobs,
his colleagues and other like-minded
promoters.
Thirty years ago, Jacobs forged the establishment
of the Brooklyn Parang Association,
which stages Parang and Soca
Parang shows annually, in conjunction
with the collective known as Five Boro
Parang Lovers.
According to Jacobs, the objective is
“to maintain a sense of cultural continuity
and connection” for Caribbean Parang
lovers living in the Diaspora. Dubbed
“The Original Parang Festival-Wild Meat
Style,” this year’s show is carded for December
3rd, at Tropical Paradise Ballroom
in Brooklyn.
This year, one of the hottest Caribbean
bands playing Parang and Soca Parang in
Brooklyn is Todo En Uno Caribeño (All
in One Caribbean), led by Lennox Picou
and Merlita London-Picou, who back in
late October released the song, “We Paranging,”
which very quickly became one
of the best 2016 Soca Parang hits in Trinidad
& Tobago. This song was produced
by Lennox, with lyrics written by Barnett
“Preacher” Henry, and arrangements
done by Dr. Leston Paul. The background
singers are Cheryl Vincent (aka Cheryl
V) and Keith “Designer” Prescott.
Over the years, several bands and solo
artistes singing Parang and it’s derivative
genres, have graced audiences in New
York. This list has included the likes of
Todo En Uno Caribeño, Los Tocadores,
San Jose Serenaders, Los Pajaros, Lara
Brothers, Parang Queen Daisy Voisin
with La Divina Pastora, Las Reinas de
La Cancion Parang Band, King Ajamu,
Adesh Samaroo, Toronto Scrunter, Lennox
Picou, Cheryl V and Merlita London-Picou.
Todo En Uno Caribeño will be doing a
live performance on December 3rd, at the
Royal Empress Banquet Hall in Queens.
“So get your dancing shoes ready,
along with the ham, the black cake, the
pastels, the bun, the rum, the ginger beer
and the sorrel -- as we Parang our way to
Christmas, without forgetting the reason
for the season,” says Caribbean Times
publisher, Mike Babwar, himself a parrandero.