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DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Injury-hit France arrived in Qatar on Wednesday to begin the defense of their World Cup title, with coach Didier Deschamps leading the squad off the plane after it landed.

The squad was to take part in stretching exercises before having dinner.

Forward Randal Kolo Muani, who was called up on Wednesday morning to replace the injured Christopher Nkunku, was expected to join the squad on Thursday evening.

Nkunku injured his left knee following a tackle from midfielder Eduardo Camavinga moments before the end of Tuesday evening’s final training session in France.

Deschamps is without injured midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who helped France win the World Cup four years ago. Central defender Presnel Kimpembe pulled out Monday after failing to sufficiently recover from a six-week layoff following a hamstring injury.

Deschamps has an anxious wait to see if his best central defender, Raphael Varane, is fit to face Australia on Nov. 22 — exactly a month after he limped off for Manchester United with a hamstring injury.

There’s also some doubt about Karim Benzema’s fitness. Since winning the Ballon d’Or last month, Benzema has played fewer than 30 minutes for Real Madrid, coming off the bench in a Champions League game.

France start their title defense against Australia on Nov. 22 at Al Janoub Stadium, then face Denmark before completing their Group D matches against Tunisia on Nov. 30.

No team has successfully defended their World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.

When Les Bleus came into the 2002 tournament as defending champions they went out in the group stage.

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Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Senator Peter Bunting, has described as “political theatre”, Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ declaration of states of emergency (SOEs) in seven parishes.

“… This is not about law and order. This is not about reducing violent crime. This is about political theatre and political propaganda; the main core competence of this Andrew Holness-led Administration,” declared Bunting on Wednesday.

Holness, at a press conference on Tuesday, cited the increase in murders and gang activities as justification for the security measure across the southern arc of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and Clarendon, and the tri-parish area of Westmoreland, Hanover and St James.

However, Bunting is pushing back against the latest use of the SOEs as a crime-fighting tool, even amid hope expressed by Holness that the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) would support the measure, given that he said some of its own parliamentarians had appealed to him (Holness) for help with crime in their respective constituencies.

“It’s reasonable to conclude that the declarations of the states of emergency across a number of parishes is the prime minister performing political theatre,” insisted Bunting in a video statement that has been shared by the PNP.

He said National Security Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Horace Chang, in trying to build interest for Sunday’s Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) annual conference, had indicated weeks before that Holness would “announce something”.

At the time, Chang, the JLP General Secretary, had stated that the prime minister would be unveiling the Government’s plan to tackle crime.

Bunting also took a swipe at Chang for his “continued management-by-excuses approach to his portfolio”, arguing that from last weekend the national security minister has been “willing to go back seven years to say that we (the PNP) didn’t fund the police adequately.

Dr Horace Chang

“In fact, he (Chang) copied the defund the police slogan that is popular in the USA,” the senator claimed.

“… But the truth of the matter is, we could all see this building up to try and create some interest in their (the JLP’s) conference.”

Arming himself with purported police statistics, Bunting said since this year, Kingston and St Andrew have been among the few parishes in which significant reductions have been seen in murders and shootings. According to him, murders were down by 17.5 per cent, while shootings decreased by 23 per cent.

“Yet, a state of emergency has been declared in Kingston and St Andrew. So, even by the JLP’s justification of using it to address increase in violent crimes, this doesn’t qualify,” Bunting maintained.

He said, “curiously”, murders in St Elizabeth, Trelanwy and Manchester have increased by more than 70 per cent so far this year, yet SOEs were not declared in any of those parishes.

“The Opposition has long held that the routine use of states of emergency as a tool of policing is unconstitutional. The courts have upheld that view in at least two cases, one of which is now before the Court of Appeal.

“We would have anticipated that the Government, out of respect for the judgments of the court, would not have continued this unconstitutional use,” stated Bunting.

Pushing back at Holness’ hope that the Opposition would support the current SOEs and any extension to be sought by the Government, Bunting said the JLP leader, while in Opposition, purportedly stated: “‘This (crime-fighting) is not a whole-of-society-approach; this is the responsibility of Government. There is a lot that can be done!’”

Seven years later, said the former PNP Member of Parliament (MP), “We still haven’t seen what that ‘lot’ is from the prime minister.

“… And now, he (Holness) is constantly seeking to deflect responsibility from himself – the figure in authority – to the Opposition.”

Bunting charged that the country is now “fed up” with such an approach, pointing to the JLP Administration’s time in office for 11 of the last 15 years.

“Stop trying to blame others, or as former Opposition leader Keith Rowley (in Trinidad and Tobago) said: ‘When a Government is constantly blaming an Opposition for their failure to perform, it’s time to go,” Bunting concluded.

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From left, Apostle Carlyle Chakersingh of the Faith Centre, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan, Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, and Barry Rampersad of the Faith Centre smile for a photo at the Rapidfire Kidz Foundation gala at Acheivors Banquet Hall, Duncan Village, San Fernando. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

The Presbyterian Church (PCTT) will observe 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV).

The church is seeking to develop strategic ways to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls,

Unite to End Violence is the theme being observed from November 25-December 10, with a special worship service to be held on November 20 at the Arima Presbyterian Church, starting at 4 pm. The service will also be livestreamed.

PCTT Moderator the Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan said such action will fit into the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

In a message to mark the beginning of the Advent season, Abdul-Mohan said it may be useful to make the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love a reality in the lives of the most vulnerable in the community.

“When we join the rest of the world in marking 16 days of activism against GBV, we would have taken a significant step in walking the talk.”

She said studies show violence occurs in families from all walks of life and is no respecter of persons.

“It also takes place, far more often than we care to admit, among people of all racial, socio-economic, religious and educational backgrounds.

“This makes it imperative that gender-based violence becomes a priority concern for us, not only in the PCTT, but in other religious organisations and civil-society groups.”

Observing the new levels of violence against women in the home and society within recent times and especially during the pandemic, Abdul-Mohan said sadly, women, family members, and other distressed citizens seeking refuge are sometimes subjected to further physical, sexual and mental abuse.

“They are exploited by those who should be protecting them. “

In the interim, she said, “Governments over the years have been unable to adequately treat with this criminal assault against our citizenry.

“We have to guard against the tendency to so assimilate violence that we become desensitised or immune to the shock of these grievous assaults.

“The PCTT, like the rest of the population, is concerned over the increase in violent crimes and unequivocally condemns this state of affairs.”

Abdul-Mohan said while it is welcome that citizens and law enforcement are preparing to assist each other in the fight against the criminal elements in the society, some are not enthusiastic about the demand in certain quarters for arming the population. “Nevertheless, law enforcement must be given all the necessary tools and powers to do the job for which they are trained as they continue to protect and serve the citizenry. “

“There seems to be no plausible reason for these senseless acts of violence, uncontrolled anger and rage sweeping through our nation. May God bless us all as we seek to end violence in all forms,” Abdul-Mohan said.

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The late Gavin Ramoutar, former employee of the Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) quarry in Mayo. – Photo by Marvin Hamilton

The Ramoutar family of Whiteland, Williamsville, was still trying to come to terms with the recent death of their father when, before dawn on Wednesday, they got wind of an accident at Trinidad Cement Ltd’s (TCL) Quarry in Mayo.

The family’s worst fear was realised when they went to the site and learned that 39-year-old widower Gavin Ramoutar had died.

The father of three lived at Mappapire Road, Whiteland, in Williamsville, and worked as a labourer at the plant. Ramoutar was also known as “Son Son” and “Dickey.”

His father, Anand “Son” Ramoutar, 63, died in June of a heart attack. Ramoutar’s wife Julie died in a car crash in 2019 in the Mayaro district.

Ramoutar’s sister Davika Ramoutar recalled that he left the family’s home around 10.30 pm on Tuesday to start work on the 11 pm shift.

The Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) facility in Mayo was closed on Wednesday morning owing to a freak accident that took the life of Gavin Ramoutar. – Photo by Marvin Hamilton

On Wednesday morning, a worker called and told the family he had been involved in an accident at work. Hoping the injuries were not fatal, Davika and other relatives immediately headed to the site at around 6. 30 am.

“When we reached, they told us we had to wait on the doctor. We were hoping he was still alive. We heard it happened after 3 am. His body was still on the compound. I was allowed to see his face,” Davika said.

She said she did not have details of the accident, but heard he came into contact with a machine that fatally injured him.

Davika said Friday marks five months since their father died. Their brother, who lives in the US, was expected to return to Trinidad for a prayer service for Anand.

Davika added that the family, including Ramoutar’s three children, aged four, nine, and 11, was devastated.

It was also a double blow for Ramoutar’s mother, who learned she had cancer exactly a year ago.

“My mother is not doing well. She is fighting a battle with cancer. She is in stage two.

“Garvin was very close to his children. He was a quiet and loving person. He was building his house next door, but stopped work when Dad died,” Davika said.

The home of the late Gavin Ramoutar, former employee of the Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) quarry in Mayo, who died owing to a freak accident. The father of three was in the process of rebuilding his home in Mapappire Village, Whiteland. – Photo by Marvin Hamilton

She said she spoke with officials from TCL earlier in the day, but did not want to divulge details of the conversation.

TCL has offered condolences to the bereaved family. A statement from Janelle Collins of TCL’s communications department said the company was deeply saddened over the death.

TCL was said to be liaising with the family and “doing everything” to support them during this difficult time.

“An investigation has been launched, and we are fully co-operating with the relevant authorities. There are no further details at this time,” Collins said. “We kindly ask that you respect the highly sensitive nature of this incident for the family of Mr Ramoutar as well as our employees.”

Newsday contacted the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union’s branch president for the TCL workers, Kevin Arjoon, who was in a meeting and promised to comment later in the day.

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