National Under-20 player Lindell Sween scored one and made two others as San Juan North Secondary stunned defending Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division ‘Big-Four’ champions St Benedict’s College 4-3 at San Juan North's Bourg Mulatresse Ground, San Juan, on Wednesday.

The Randolph Boyce-coach St Benedict’s went into the contest brimming with confidence following a 4-3 win over reigning National Inter-Col title-holder Fatima College in the 2023 SSFL NGC Super Cup clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain on Saturday.

After being barred from entering the Treasury building to change cheques on Monday because her shoulders were exposed, Arouca caterer Allison Skinner-Bacchus draped herself in a curtain she had in her vehicle and unintentionally reignited the national debate on the dress code for government offices. However, the Minister of Public Administration said yesterday the policies are being reviewed.
In an interview with Guardian Media in front the Treasury yesterday, Skinner-Bacchus said she refused to accept the two options when she was refused entry—either returning home to change or purchasing something more “appropriate.”
“I walked away, went back to my car and the only thing was watching me was a plastic bag and a curtain and the curtain telling me—aye, look me here. So, I say come here, we going to the bank. So, I pick up my curtain, come back and as a normal Trini, I could’ve taken the curtain and throw it as a shawl over me but I needed to make a point,” she said.

“I didn’t know what the point was, at the time, so I open the whole curtain and drape it like a superhero (cape). When I came back here the security was in stitches...she opened the bank, ushered me in very politely. I went in the line, do my business, come back.”

THE EDITOR: I was outraged to read that an 85-year-old man was denied service at the St James Licensing Office because he was wearing short pants. This is madness. In the midst of a pandemic they have put this man at risk for a second time by having him return to the office.

This foolish dress code for government offices has to be abolished. The public service is not a private entity. The staff and buildings are supported by taxpayers who are being denied service by petty bureaucrats who have assumed the role of fashion police.

Four-time premier division champions Naparima College will try to get back to winning ways after going without a title last season, and they will begin their 2023 campaign by hosting reigning central zone intercol winners, Chaguanas North Secondary, at their Lewis Street, San Fernando home.

Today, "Naps" and St Mary's will hope their players find their goal-scoring boots again, as the two teams meet in one of the marquee SSFL matches from 3.30 pm at St Mary's College Grounds on Serpentine Road, St Clair. Naparima won the first two editions of the premier division in 2014 and 2015, and they went back-to-back again in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The SSFL then had a two-year hiatus due to covid19, and Naparima weren't able to find their championship touch last year as St Benedict's and Fatima College won the two national titles on offer.

Elsewhere, 2022 premier division champions St Benedict's College will go after their first win of the season when they host East Mucurapo Secondary at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin, while San Juan North Secondary host Pleasantville and will aim for a second straight win after defeating Benedict's 4-3 on Wednesday.