Kamla tried to harm OWTU’s bid’

‘Kamla tried to harm OWTU’s bid’

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GREAT INJURY’: President-general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ancel Roget displays a document during a news conference yesterday at the union’s Paramount Building headquarters on Circular Road, San Fernando. —Photo: TREVOR WATSON

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar

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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar attempted to harm the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union’s bid through Patriotic Energies and Technologies to acquire the assets of the former Petrotrin refinery.

As he blasted Persad-Bissessar over statements she made this week on Patriotic’s proposal to own and re-start the refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre, OWTU president general Ancel Roget said there was an attempt by the Opposition Leader to cause “great injury” to the acquisition process.

In a UNC virtual meeting on Monday, Persad-Bissessar raised questions about Patriotic’s bid for the assets of the former State oil company and its proposed financing arrangements through Trafigura, one of the world’s largest commodities traders.

Addressing reporters at OWTU’s San Fernando headquarters yesterday, Roget said: “We want to condemn in the strongest possible terms outright all of those assertions made by the honourable Leader of the Opposition in her campaign to deny us an opportunity to protect our legacy and to advance Trinidad and Tobago and to advance the concerns and the well-being of the small man who today is left wanting.”

He said the records would show that the UNC was always against the OWTU and Patriotic acquiring the refinery, making it clear that if they had won the general election, they were going to cancel the acquisition process.

“When the announcement was made on October 31 that Patriotic will no longer be part of this acquisition process and that our proposal was denied, what in fact that did, while it brought sorrow and pain and agony not just to the OWTU and its members but to the hundreds of thousands of persons in Trinidad and Tobago, it brought joy to the heart of the honourable Leader of the Opposition.

“I also wish to remind everyone that it was only in October of last year, two prominent individuals from the United National Congress went to the High Court and filed an injunction to stop the process while at the same time they portrayed they were supporting Petrotrin workers.”

Obsession with Trafigura

Addressing the Trafigura matter, Roget said there seemed to be some obsession and sustained campaign against Trafigura with a narrative that the company is a notorious trader and there was some conspiracy with OWTU and Trafigura, where the company came to Trinidad and Tobago under the pretext of assisting OWTU, but really to gain the assets of the country.

Roget shared a copy of an extract from an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report which showed the volume of business Trafigura did with State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), namely Lake Asphalt, Petrotrin and the National Gas Company for the period 2014–2017. The extract showed that Trafigura would have paid some US$758.65 million to the energy companies during that period, with US$80.79 million being paid to Petrotrin and US$105.6 million paid to NGC in 2014.

“Two major revenue streams coming to the country when the now-Leader of the Opposition was then-prime minister. The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago must have known where these two major revenue streams came from. The (former) prime minister ought to have known. Her Minister of Energy then ought to have known.

“My point this afternoon is she ought to have known indeed, if she didn’t know, then we’re in deep trouble because it will be likened to ‘sunshine can kill Covid’.”

Roget said it is most outrageous, reckless and irresponsible for the Opposition Leader to try to portray the OWTU in scandal and collusion with Trafigura since she ought to have known that the company was dealing in Trinidad, specifically with Petrotrin, even prior to 2014.

“It is incumbent upon us because we have the information, to put this information out in the public domain to condemn and once and for all put to bed this insatiable obsession with Trafigura.”

“There was an attempt by the honourable Leader of the Opposition to spread misinformation in misleading the country by saying the original (request for proposal), which we placed our bid for, did not include Paria (Fuel Trading Company) and therefore we are now coming from behind to try to put in a bid to acquire Paria,” Roget told reporters.

Roget said with the refinery in operation, it was necessary to have both refinery and a port. Thus, their bid would have been for the refinery, now identified as Guaracara, and the port, now identified as Paria.

“So our response to the RFP and to put in a bid, it had to have been for both refinery and port facilities for it to make any sense. More than that, for it to make any economical and operational sense, for it to benefit the company, and for it to benefit Trinidad and Tobago,” Roget said.

He said it is a matter of public record that their bid was for both refinery and port, and it was an act of treachery for someone who had knowledge to the contrary, to peddle this.

He added that Patriotic’s bid was announced in the Parliament and Persad-Bissessar was present when the announcement was made.

Attempt to cause hurt

On Monday Persad-Bissessar said that Patriotic had reduced its original bid of US$700 million to US$500 million, and that the Government was now willing to accept less money for the refinery.

However, Roget explained the change in Patriotic’s offer.

“Our new proposal would have taken into account the offer made by the Minister of Finance. We would have responded to that except to say that we’re now paying upfront for what we would have taken 13 years to pay — a three year moratorium, ten years to pay.

“And the net present value, what that would value in 13 years down the road is what our offer would have worked out to be in today’s value. And therefore, using the formula and guided by the experts in this regard, we would have come up with a price and that price would have been put forward in our proposal.”

He also noted that the refinery would have been out of operation for two years and maintenance work would have to be done on some of its equipment to get them operational. “You cannot take off a refinery, some 23 plants, leave it off for two years and then expect to start it up just like that. It takes a whole lot of capital and because we want to ensure that when it starts up, it can run and make money, pay all our debts, it has to be with a level of reliability and therefore we have to repair.

“The goodly Leader of the Opposition gave Patriotic the thumbs down and make it look we want to have a steal of a deal ‘because they offered US$700 million and now they offering less, they offer US$500 million’.

“What took place, there was an attempt to cause great injury and harm to the acquisition process, to ensure that those assets are not acquired on behalf of our people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Roget said Persad-Bissessar’s pronouncements were meant to be a fatal blow to ensure that the small man did not rise to economic prominence in the country and it represented a thinly-veiled approach to hide the real intention to halt the process.

He said after calling for an independent valuation committee to review their proposal and the announcement was made that Patriotic was still in the game, and they now afforded an opportunity to present before the committee the full extent of their proposal, that would have angered and infuriated the person who would have joy had they not gotten to go ahead with the acquisition process.

He added that they met with the valuation committee last Friday and were scheduled to meet again yesterday.

AFC North Roundup: Week 10

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Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

It was a 2-2 showing for the AFC North in Week 10, with the Browns and Steelers picking up victories while the Ravens and Bengals suffered defeats. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati met for the first time this season and the result was a lopsided affair in the Steelers favor.

Elsewhere, the Browns defeated the Texans by just three points in a sloppy defensive battle, while the Ravens were upset by the Patriots on Sunday night. The division is tightening up in the middle but the Steelers are pulling away from the pack.

Updated Standings:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-0
2. Baltimore Ravens 6-3
3. Cleveland Browns 6-3
4. Cincinnati Bengals 2-6-1

Browns defeat Texans: 10-7

After a pitiful offensive performance in Week 8, the thought was that the Browns would come out of their bye week fresh and polished offensively — especially with RB Nick Chubb returning from an extended absence.

The result? Another subpar showing, although this time they did just enough to squeak out with a victory. Chubb and Kareem Hunt dominated on the ground, as they so often do, and controlled the tempo for Cleveland. Chubb and Hunt each saw 19 carries and combined to rack up 232 rushing yards.

Despite their success on the ground, though, the Browns only managed to put 10 points on the board, seven of which came in the final quarter. After their first drive of the game, which resulted in a field goal, the Browns punted twice, turned the ball over on downs, and punted again before finally scoring a touchdown.

Normally turnovers would be a prime reason why Cleveland only mustered 10 points in a game, but the Browns didn’t cough up the ball once in this game. Their passing attack was once again lackluster, as Baker Mayfield completed 12-of-20 passes for just 132 yards.

Cleveland’s defense stepped up to the plate and took away big plays for Houston, rendering them scoreless for nearly the entire game. Deshaun Watson attempted 30 passes but threw for just 163 yards, while the Texans rushed for 90 yards for the game.

Defining stat: 5.6 yards per rush

What’s next: @ Philadelphia Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Steelers defeat Bengals: 36-10

Many were of the opinion that the Bengals could give the Steelers a scare in this game, especially after Pittsburgh barely squeaked by the Cowboys in Week 10. It was apparent from the jump, though, that last week was a one-off.

The Steelers offense got off to a bit of a slow start, punting on two of their first four drives and and settling for field goals on the other two. However, they began to get into a bit of a groove as the first half progressed and led 22-7 at the intermission mark. Two more touchdowns in the second half and suffocating defense proved more than enough.

Ben Roethlisberger was not able to practice during the week after being placed in COVID protocol, but you wouldn’t have known it based on Sunday’s performance. The Steelers could get nothing going on the ground (20 carries, 44 yards) and it forced Roethlisberger to throw 46 passes. He completed only 27 of them but reached season-highs in both passing yards (333) and touchdowns (four).

Pittsburgh’s defense racked up four sacks and nine QB hits, predictably winning the battle against a subpar Bengals offensive line. T.J. Watt again played a starring role two sacks and four QB hits of his own, as well as two TFL. The Steelers forced a handful of three-and-outs and both a fumble and turnover on downs in the first half.

The most impressive defensive stat, though, was not allowing a single third down conversion in any of Cincinnati’s 13 attempts. Pittsburgh did not allow the Bengals to sustain any drives consistently.

Defining stat: +2 turnover differential

What’s next: @ Jacksonville Jaguars — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Bengals lose to Steelers: 10-36

On the flip side of the spectrum, this was an underwhelming performance from a Bengals team that, while evidently at a talent disadvantage in this matchup, had begun to build some momentum in recent weeks. Cincinnati had upset the Titans 31-20 in Week 8 and were fresh out of their bye week heading into the game.

You wouldn’t have known that on Sunday, though, as the Bengals were thoroughly handled by the Steelers on both sides of the ball. Once again missing starting RB Joe Mixon, the Bengals were unable to sustain drives and execute in third down situations — going 0/13.

They wound up rushing for 139 yards on 6.6 yards per carry, but they ran just 21 times compared to 40 throws, as they were forced to play from behind after falling into a 12-0 hole after the first quarter.

QB Joe Burrow had one of his least accurate games of the year, completing just a sliver over 50% of his pass attempts. Cincinnati’s offensive line predictably struggled in pass protection against a fearsome Steelers defensive front. Additionally, the Bengals lost the turnover battle by losing two fumbles.

This was just the second time all season that the Bengals have lost by more than one possession; first to the Ravens and now to the Steelers. If there was a silver lining from a 26-point defeat, it was the continued ascendance of rookie WR Tee Higgins, who again led all receivers with seven receptions for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Defining stat: 0/13 on third down

What’s next: @ Washington Football Team — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Ravens lose to Patriots: 17-23

After appearing to turn a corner in the second half of their Week 9 victory against the Colts, the Ravens struggled to replicate similar success on Sunday night. Instead, they were beaten by the Patriots at their own game and failed to execute down the stretch in a big spot.

The Ravens came out firing early, following up a quick unsuccessful first possession with an impressive 13-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a six-yard touchdown by Willie Snead IV — his first of two scores in this game. After taking a 7-0 lead, though, the Patriots responded with a rapid 75-yard touchdown drive of their own to even the score.

New England added another touchdown in the second quarter and the Ravens squandered a chance to tie the game or take the lead heading into halftime. Instead, while hovering just outside of field goal range with less than a minute remaining, Lamar Jackson’s pass attempt to Marquise Brown along the sideline was intercepted by CB J.C. Jackson.

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens trailed by three point at halftime. This time, though, they did not manage a comeback. It took only four plays for the Patriots to score another touchdown on the opening possession of the third quarter, and they eventually took a 23-10 lead. The Ravens put themselves in a position to make things interesting after responding with a touchdown, but their final three drives resulted in two punts and a turnover on downs.

It was an avalanche of factors that did not work in the Ravens favor. Already down three defensive starters in Calais Campbell, Jimmy Smith, and L.J. Fort, the Ravens lost Brandon Williams in the first quarter and Terrell Bonds later on. Additionally, TE Nick Boyle suffered a season-ending leg injury in the second half.

Sans Campbell and Williams on the defensive line, Baltimore ceded 173 rushing yards, most of which came in the second and third quarters. The Ravens also suffered a few self-inflicted setbacks in the form of costly fumbles from poor snaps, dropping wide-open passes, and committing inopportune penalties.

Defining stat: 0 takeaways

Verdict

Demon’s Souls is a triumphant remake from Bluepoint Games, introducing the original masterpiece to a whole new generation of players with astonishing results. It’s an unparalleled showcase for the PS5, and easily one of the finest launch games the medium has ever seen.

This uncompromising pilgrimage into the Kingdom of Boletaria won’t be for everyone. It’s incredibly harsh, unforgiving at every turn as you stumble into otherworldly monstrosities who want nothing more than to witness your demise.

But such barriers are worth overcoming, since beyond them is one of the finest RPGs I’ve played in years – and one you need to experience. It more than lives up to the lofty legacy of its progenitor, proudly taking its place alongside the likes of Dark Souls and Bloodborne as one of the genre’s all-time greats.

‘Kamla tried to harm OWTU’s bid’

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GREAT INJURY’: President-general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ancel Roget displays a document during a news conference yesterday at the union’s Paramount Building headquarters on Circular Road, San Fernando. —Photo: TREVOR WATSON

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar

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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar attempted to harm the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union’s bid through Patriotic Energies and Technologies to acquire the assets of the former Petrotrin refinery.

As he blasted Persad-Bissessar over statements she made this week on Patriotic’s proposal to own and re-start the refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre, OWTU president general Ancel Roget said there was an attempt by the Opposition Leader to cause “great injury” to the acquisition process.

In a UNC virtual meeting on Monday, Persad-Bissessar raised questions about Patriotic’s bid for the assets of the former State oil company and its proposed financing arrangements through Trafigura, one of the world’s largest commodities traders.

Addressing reporters at OWTU’s San Fernando headquarters yesterday, Roget said: “We want to condemn in the strongest possible terms outright all of those assertions made by the honourable Leader of the Opposition in her campaign to deny us an opportunity to protect our legacy and to advance Trinidad and Tobago and to advance the concerns and the well-being of the small man who today is left wanting.”

He said the records would show that the UNC was always against the OWTU and Patriotic acquiring the refinery, making it clear that if they had won the general election, they were going to cancel the acquisition process.

“When the announcement was made on October 31 that Patriotic will no longer be part of this acquisition process and that our proposal was denied, what in fact that did, while it brought sorrow and pain and agony not just to the OWTU and its members but to the hundreds of thousands of persons in Trinidad and Tobago, it brought joy to the heart of the honourable Leader of the Opposition.

“I also wish to remind everyone that it was only in October of last year, two prominent individuals from the United National Congress went to the High Court and filed an injunction to stop the process while at the same time they portrayed they were supporting Petrotrin workers.”

Obsession with Trafigura

Addressing the Trafigura matter, Roget said there seemed to be some obsession and sustained campaign against Trafigura with a narrative that the company is a notorious trader and there was some conspiracy with OWTU and Trafigura, where the company came to Trinidad and Tobago under the pretext of assisting OWTU, but really to gain the assets of the country.

Roget shared a copy of an extract from an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report which showed the volume of business Trafigura did with State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), namely Lake Asphalt, Petrotrin and the National Gas Company for the period 2014–2017. The extract showed that Trafigura would have paid some US$758.65 million to the energy companies during that period, with US$80.79 million being paid to Petrotrin and US$105.6 million paid to NGC in 2014.

“Two major revenue streams coming to the country when the now-Leader of the Opposition was then-prime minister. The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago must have known where these two major revenue streams came from. The (former) prime minister ought to have known. Her Minister of Energy then ought to have known.

“My point this afternoon is she ought to have known indeed, if she didn’t know, then we’re in deep trouble because it will be likened to ‘sunshine can kill Covid’.”

Roget said it is most outrageous, reckless and irresponsible for the Opposition Leader to try to portray the OWTU in scandal and collusion with Trafigura since she ought to have known that the company was dealing in Trinidad, specifically with Petrotrin, even prior to 2014.

“It is incumbent upon us because we have the information, to put this information out in the public domain to condemn and once and for all put to bed this insatiable obsession with Trafigura.”

“There was an attempt by the honourable Leader of the Opposition to spread misinformation in misleading the country by saying the original (request for proposal), which we placed our bid for, did not include Paria (Fuel Trading Company) and therefore we are now coming from behind to try to put in a bid to acquire Paria,” Roget told reporters.

Roget said with the refinery in operation, it was necessary to have both refinery and a port. Thus, their bid would have been for the refinery, now identified as Guaracara, and the port, now identified as Paria.

“So our response to the RFP and to put in a bid, it had to have been for both refinery and port facilities for it to make any sense. More than that, for it to make any economical and operational sense, for it to benefit the company, and for it to benefit Trinidad and Tobago,” Roget said.

He said it is a matter of public record that their bid was for both refinery and port, and it was an act of treachery for someone who had knowledge to the contrary, to peddle this.

He added that Patriotic’s bid was announced in the Parliament and Persad-Bissessar was present when the announcement was made.

Attempt to cause hurt

On Monday Persad-Bissessar said that Patriotic had reduced its original bid of US$700 million to US$500 million, and that the Government was now willing to accept less money for the refinery.

However, Roget explained the change in Patriotic’s offer.

“Our new proposal would have taken into account the offer made by the Minister of Finance. We would have responded to that except to say that we’re now paying upfront for what we would have taken 13 years to pay — a three year moratorium, ten years to pay.

“And the net present value, what that would value in 13 years down the road is what our offer would have worked out to be in today’s value. And therefore, using the formula and guided by the experts in this regard, we would have come up with a price and that price would have been put forward in our proposal.”

He also noted that the refinery would have been out of operation for two years and maintenance work would have to be done on some of its equipment to get them operational. “You cannot take off a refinery, some 23 plants, leave it off for two years and then expect to start it up just like that. It takes a whole lot of capital and because we want to ensure that when it starts up, it can run and make money, pay all our debts, it has to be with a level of reliability and therefore we have to repair.

“The goodly Leader of the Opposition gave Patriotic the thumbs down and make it look we want to have a steal of a deal ‘because they offered US$700 million and now they offering less, they offer US$500 million’.

“What took place, there was an attempt to cause great injury and harm to the acquisition process, to ensure that those assets are not acquired on behalf of our people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Roget said Persad-Bissessar’s pronouncements were meant to be a fatal blow to ensure that the small man did not rise to economic prominence in the country and it represented a thinly-veiled approach to hide the real intention to halt the process.

He said after calling for an independent valuation committee to review their proposal and the announcement was made that Patriotic was still in the game, and they now afforded an opportunity to present before the committee the full extent of their proposal, that would have angered and infuriated the person who would have joy had they not gotten to go ahead with the acquisition process.

He added that they met with the valuation committee last Friday and were scheduled to meet again yesterday.

AFC North Roundup: Week 10

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Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

It was a 2-2 showing for the AFC North in Week 10, with the Browns and Steelers picking up victories while the Ravens and Bengals suffered defeats. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati met for the first time this season and the result was a lopsided affair in the Steelers favor.

Elsewhere, the Browns defeated the Texans by just three points in a sloppy defensive battle, while the Ravens were upset by the Patriots on Sunday night. The division is tightening up in the middle but the Steelers are pulling away from the pack.

Updated Standings:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-0
2. Baltimore Ravens 6-3
3. Cleveland Browns 6-3
4. Cincinnati Bengals 2-6-1

Browns defeat Texans: 10-7

After a pitiful offensive performance in Week 8, the thought was that the Browns would come out of their bye week fresh and polished offensively — especially with RB Nick Chubb returning from an extended absence.

The result? Another subpar showing, although this time they did just enough to squeak out with a victory. Chubb and Kareem Hunt dominated on the ground, as they so often do, and controlled the tempo for Cleveland. Chubb and Hunt each saw 19 carries and combined to rack up 232 rushing yards.

Despite their success on the ground, though, the Browns only managed to put 10 points on the board, seven of which came in the final quarter. After their first drive of the game, which resulted in a field goal, the Browns punted twice, turned the ball over on downs, and punted again before finally scoring a touchdown.

Normally turnovers would be a prime reason why Cleveland only mustered 10 points in a game, but the Browns didn’t cough up the ball once in this game. Their passing attack was once again lackluster, as Baker Mayfield completed 12-of-20 passes for just 132 yards.

Cleveland’s defense stepped up to the plate and took away big plays for Houston, rendering them scoreless for nearly the entire game. Deshaun Watson attempted 30 passes but threw for just 163 yards, while the Texans rushed for 90 yards for the game.

Defining stat: 5.6 yards per rush

What’s next: @ Philadelphia Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Steelers defeat Bengals: 36-10

Many were of the opinion that the Bengals could give the Steelers a scare in this game, especially after Pittsburgh barely squeaked by the Cowboys in Week 10. It was apparent from the jump, though, that last week was a one-off.

The Steelers offense got off to a bit of a slow start, punting on two of their first four drives and and settling for field goals on the other two. However, they began to get into a bit of a groove as the first half progressed and led 22-7 at the intermission mark. Two more touchdowns in the second half and suffocating defense proved more than enough.

Ben Roethlisberger was not able to practice during the week after being placed in COVID protocol, but you wouldn’t have known it based on Sunday’s performance. The Steelers could get nothing going on the ground (20 carries, 44 yards) and it forced Roethlisberger to throw 46 passes. He completed only 27 of them but reached season-highs in both passing yards (333) and touchdowns (four).

Pittsburgh’s defense racked up four sacks and nine QB hits, predictably winning the battle against a subpar Bengals offensive line. T.J. Watt again played a starring role two sacks and four QB hits of his own, as well as two TFL. The Steelers forced a handful of three-and-outs and both a fumble and turnover on downs in the first half.

The most impressive defensive stat, though, was not allowing a single third down conversion in any of Cincinnati’s 13 attempts. Pittsburgh did not allow the Bengals to sustain any drives consistently.

Defining stat: +2 turnover differential

What’s next: @ Jacksonville Jaguars — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Bengals lose to Steelers: 10-36

On the flip side of the spectrum, this was an underwhelming performance from a Bengals team that, while evidently at a talent disadvantage in this matchup, had begun to build some momentum in recent weeks. Cincinnati had upset the Titans 31-20 in Week 8 and were fresh out of their bye week heading into the game.

You wouldn’t have known that on Sunday, though, as the Bengals were thoroughly handled by the Steelers on both sides of the ball. Once again missing starting RB Joe Mixon, the Bengals were unable to sustain drives and execute in third down situations — going 0/13.

They wound up rushing for 139 yards on 6.6 yards per carry, but they ran just 21 times compared to 40 throws, as they were forced to play from behind after falling into a 12-0 hole after the first quarter.

QB Joe Burrow had one of his least accurate games of the year, completing just a sliver over 50% of his pass attempts. Cincinnati’s offensive line predictably struggled in pass protection against a fearsome Steelers defensive front. Additionally, the Bengals lost the turnover battle by losing two fumbles.

This was just the second time all season that the Bengals have lost by more than one possession; first to the Ravens and now to the Steelers. If there was a silver lining from a 26-point defeat, it was the continued ascendance of rookie WR Tee Higgins, who again led all receivers with seven receptions for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Defining stat: 0/13 on third down

What’s next: @ Washington Football Team — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Ravens lose to Patriots: 17-23

After appearing to turn a corner in the second half of their Week 9 victory against the Colts, the Ravens struggled to replicate similar success on Sunday night. Instead, they were beaten by the Patriots at their own game and failed to execute down the stretch in a big spot.

The Ravens came out firing early, following up a quick unsuccessful first possession with an impressive 13-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a six-yard touchdown by Willie Snead IV — his first of two scores in this game. After taking a 7-0 lead, though, the Patriots responded with a rapid 75-yard touchdown drive of their own to even the score.

New England added another touchdown in the second quarter and the Ravens squandered a chance to tie the game or take the lead heading into halftime. Instead, while hovering just outside of field goal range with less than a minute remaining, Lamar Jackson’s pass attempt to Marquise Brown along the sideline was intercepted by CB J.C. Jackson.

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens trailed by three point at halftime. This time, though, they did not manage a comeback. It took only four plays for the Patriots to score another touchdown on the opening possession of the third quarter, and they eventually took a 23-10 lead. The Ravens put themselves in a position to make things interesting after responding with a touchdown, but their final three drives resulted in two punts and a turnover on downs.

It was an avalanche of factors that did not work in the Ravens favor. Already down three defensive starters in Calais Campbell, Jimmy Smith, and L.J. Fort, the Ravens lost Brandon Williams in the first quarter and Terrell Bonds later on. Additionally, TE Nick Boyle suffered a season-ending leg injury in the second half.

Sans Campbell and Williams on the defensive line, Baltimore ceded 173 rushing yards, most of which came in the second and third quarters. The Ravens also suffered a few self-inflicted setbacks in the form of costly fumbles from poor snaps, dropping wide-open passes, and committing inopportune penalties.

Defining stat: 0 takeaways

Key Specifications

• Review Price: £69.99
• Platform: PS5
• Developer: Bluepoint Games
• Genre: Action RPG
• Release Date: November 19, 2020

The path forward is seemingly insurmountable. Crimson-eyed gargoyles leap off ancient statues and wave their swords towards me, while the bloody swamps below are home to horrific abominations who can only cry out in agony, begging for a wayward adventurer to end their misery. Demon’s Souls is an exercise in morbid attrition, but the rewards that await those who persevere are unparalleled.

First released in 2009, FromSoftware’s action RPG was infinitely ahead of its time, the core mechanics going on to inspire an entire generation of imitators, alongside a slew of classics from the studio that spawned Demon’s Souls. Now, a remake has surfaced courtesy of Bluepoint Games, as a marque launch title for the PS5. It’s a strikingly authentic retread of the beloved classic, and cements it further as a confident masterpiece.

Given the impact it’s had on the medium, it’s fitting that Demon’s Souls would return to usher in a new era of gaming, showcasing a beautiful combination of unforgiving combat and engrossing exploration that morphs every passing second into a curious journey into another world. It’s hauntingly inviting, pulling you further into its masochistic cycle of defeat with each passing battle. Bluepoint Games has outdone itself here, setting a new standard for remakes and much, much more.

Demon’s Souls follows an untimely soul as they venture through the Kingdom of Boletaria. Plunged into darkness by an ancient demon known as The Old One, this is a world where the embers of hope have long been snuffed out. Darkness and pestilence are bursting from the seams, as deadly monsters prowl every corner, waiting to eliminate those who don’t dare convene to their own twisted ways. You never feel safe, eternally cautious of what awaits around every corner.

Upon making a character, the player is thrust into this world and left to fend for themselves. You’re weak, soulless and initially incapable of survival. This is a game where you will die, and die often – but it’s this constant failure that pushes you onward. Before exploring the variety of realms amidst Boletaria, you’ll find brief comfort in The Nexus. Acting as your hub area, this is a melancholic bastion of solitude, where anxious souls band together to ride out the apocalypse.

The characters all have conflicting ideologies and views of the world, their personal stories intertwining with one another, as they dish out subtle lines of dialogue that tease exactly what brought such an illustrious kingdom to its knees. Nothing is ever stated explicitly, leaving you to linger on the periphery to analyse every minute detail. Stockpile Thomas left his wife and daughter to die at the hands of demons, while The Maiden of Fate sits idly worshipping a god whose own falsehoods are yet to be unveiled.

Such micro-narratives reinforce the overall tone of Demon’s Souls; both that and the atmosphere remain untouched when compared to the original. If anything it feels stronger, a greater level of visual fidelity allowing Boleteria to shine like never before. Despite its grotesque nature, Boleteria is a bleak, beautiful locale brimming with imagination. Hidetaka Miyazaki’s interpretation of fantasy remains unmatched, and his original vision is respected and expanded upon here in myriad ways.

New faces will join The Nexus as you rescue them out in the world. Priests, knights and thieves will linger in the gospel halls, offering their wares to you in exchange for a few souls. Proceed with caution, since allowing the wrong individuals to mingle could result in an untimely demise for some. It feels like these people exist without your presence, dealing with their inner demons as you seek to relinquish Boleteria from its own monstrous clutches. Before you’ve even swung a sword, Demon’s Souls is downright enrapturing.

The Nexus features a selection of Archstones, which teleport you to Demon’s Souls’ variety of levels. Ancient castles, poisonous swamps and claustrophobic mines are just a few of the locations you’ll attempt to conquer throughout the lengthy campaign, all of which present their own demented conveyor belt of challenges. I welcomed this journey, even if my hesitance was obvious through sweaty palms and a racing heartbeat in my chest.

Combat in Demon’s Souls is a matter of deliberacy. It’s challenging, but never unfair. It’s simply strict, expecting you to memorise the movesets of each enemy and take them on one by one. Each encounter is a perilous duel, with even the lowliest dregs of Boletaria capable of striking you down if carelessness happens to surface.

This meant I was always on my guard, shield risen in areas I had conquered again and again in fear that my resolve would slip. Growing from a terrifying newcomer to a bold warrior upon mastering a stage brings with it an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. You feel genuinely triumphant, like you’ve ascended a mountain and claimed the peak as your own.

However, each such achievement comes with the realisation that a higher summit awaits, watching over you with a hostile, unwavering gaze. So, I returned to spend my souls at The Nexus and prepared for yet another ruthless breach into the unknown. Much like Dark Souls, each fallen foe rewards you with souls that can be used to level up, purchase items and upgrade equipment.

Fall in battle and you’ll drop your souls. Fail to receive them and die again, and they’re gone forever. This balance of risk and reward has been translated into countless games since the debut of Demon’s Souls, but nobody does it quite like the original. Here, it’s a wondrous mechanic that reinforces the need to explore and push beyond your own boundaries.

I lost 25,000 souls in the Swamp of Sorrows and felt they were lost forever – but perseverance allowed me to march forward and claim them once again. The elated feeling that accompanied such a feat was immeasurable, even if it was little more than a small piece of the wider puzzles I had spent dozens of hours solving.

Demon’s Souls is filled with such moments, instances where your own personal story of triumph and loss is formed before your very eyes. The freedom given to your character and the range of disciplines you can adopt simply by speccing in a certain way only adds to this idea of building your own legacy. You’ll select a starting class in the opening moments, but this is merely a vague blueprint.

I began as a knight, but by the end I was a light-footed rogue with a selection of shortswords and spells at my disposal. I could hold my own in battle against daunting adversaries, but I could also roll away in defeat if things proved too overwhelming. Even though its fights are brutal gauntlets of aggression, the ability to adapt to each new situation means you never feel hopeless, even if the world around you is drenched in sorrowful apathy.

Bluepoint Games has crafted a visual treat in Demon’s Souls. It’s one of the finest-looking games I’ve ever seen, with each creature, surface and character awash with untold detail. You can feel the anguished emotion of the faces of friends in The Nexus as they reveal their tales of plight, or the sneers of contempt from shopkeepers as you walk away without buying a thing.

You can enjoy Demon’s Souls in modes that prioritise either graphical fidelity or performance. The former is stunning and runs at a decent frame rate, but I spent 99% of my time with the performance mode purely because it felt so much smoother to play. Combat encounters require razor-sharp reflexes, and it’s far harder to perform parries with fewer frames on-screen. It’s a small sacrifice to make – because Boleteria is enchanting, regardless of which you opt for.

Those hoping for the RPG to make creative use of the DualSense might feel somewhat disappointed, as the act of swinging axes and deflecting blows with your shield is seldom reflected in the haptic feedback or adaptive triggers. Contextual moments such as the soaring of dragons overhead or the pouring of lava into an abandoned mineshaft are conveyed with more than enough impact, but it isn’t the show-stealer I expected going in.

‘Kamla tried to harm OWTU’s bid’

Donstan Bonn

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GREAT INJURY’: President-general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Ancel Roget displays a document during a news conference yesterday at the union’s Paramount Building headquarters on Circular Road, San Fernando. —Photo: TREVOR WATSON

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar

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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar attempted to harm the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union’s bid through Patriotic Energies and Technologies to acquire the assets of the former Petrotrin refinery.

As he blasted Persad-Bissessar over statements she made this week on Patriotic’s proposal to own and re-start the refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre, OWTU president general Ancel Roget said there was an attempt by the Opposition Leader to cause “great injury” to the acquisition process.

In a UNC virtual meeting on Monday, Persad-Bissessar raised questions about Patriotic’s bid for the assets of the former State oil company and its proposed financing arrangements through Trafigura, one of the world’s largest commodities traders.

Addressing reporters at OWTU’s San Fernando headquarters yesterday, Roget said: “We want to condemn in the strongest possible terms outright all of those assertions made by the honourable Leader of the Opposition in her campaign to deny us an opportunity to protect our legacy and to advance Trinidad and Tobago and to advance the concerns and the well-being of the small man who today is left wanting.”

He said the records would show that the UNC was always against the OWTU and Patriotic acquiring the refinery, making it clear that if they had won the general election, they were going to cancel the acquisition process.

“When the announcement was made on October 31 that Patriotic will no longer be part of this acquisition process and that our proposal was denied, what in fact that did, while it brought sorrow and pain and agony not just to the OWTU and its members but to the hundreds of thousands of persons in Trinidad and Tobago, it brought joy to the heart of the honourable Leader of the Opposition.

“I also wish to remind everyone that it was only in October of last year, two prominent individuals from the United National Congress went to the High Court and filed an injunction to stop the process while at the same time they portrayed they were supporting Petrotrin workers.”

Obsession with Trafigura

Addressing the Trafigura matter, Roget said there seemed to be some obsession and sustained campaign against Trafigura with a narrative that the company is a notorious trader and there was some conspiracy with OWTU and Trafigura, where the company came to Trinidad and Tobago under the pretext of assisting OWTU, but really to gain the assets of the country.

Roget shared a copy of an extract from an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report which showed the volume of business Trafigura did with State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), namely Lake Asphalt, Petrotrin and the National Gas Company for the period 2014–2017. The extract showed that Trafigura would have paid some US$758.65 million to the energy companies during that period, with US$80.79 million being paid to Petrotrin and US$105.6 million paid to NGC in 2014.

“Two major revenue streams coming to the country when the now-Leader of the Opposition was then-prime minister. The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago must have known where these two major revenue streams came from. The (former) prime minister ought to have known. Her Minister of Energy then ought to have known.

“My point this afternoon is she ought to have known indeed, if she didn’t know, then we’re in deep trouble because it will be likened to ‘sunshine can kill Covid’.”

Roget said it is most outrageous, reckless and irresponsible for the Opposition Leader to try to portray the OWTU in scandal and collusion with Trafigura since she ought to have known that the company was dealing in Trinidad, specifically with Petrotrin, even prior to 2014.

“It is incumbent upon us because we have the information, to put this information out in the public domain to condemn and once and for all put to bed this insatiable obsession with Trafigura.”

“There was an attempt by the honourable Leader of the Opposition to spread misinformation in misleading the country by saying the original (request for proposal), which we placed our bid for, did not include Paria (Fuel Trading Company) and therefore we are now coming from behind to try to put in a bid to acquire Paria,” Roget told reporters.

Roget said with the refinery in operation, it was necessary to have both refinery and a port. Thus, their bid would have been for the refinery, now identified as Guaracara, and the port, now identified as Paria.

“So our response to the RFP and to put in a bid, it had to have been for both refinery and port facilities for it to make any sense. More than that, for it to make any economical and operational sense, for it to benefit the company, and for it to benefit Trinidad and Tobago,” Roget said.

He said it is a matter of public record that their bid was for both refinery and port, and it was an act of treachery for someone who had knowledge to the contrary, to peddle this.

He added that Patriotic’s bid was announced in the Parliament and Persad-Bissessar was present when the announcement was made.

Attempt to cause hurt

On Monday Persad-Bissessar said that Patriotic had reduced its original bid of US$700 million to US$500 million, and that the Government was now willing to accept less money for the refinery.

However, Roget explained the change in Patriotic’s offer.

“Our new proposal would have taken into account the offer made by the Minister of Finance. We would have responded to that except to say that we’re now paying upfront for what we would have taken 13 years to pay — a three year moratorium, ten years to pay.

“And the net present value, what that would value in 13 years down the road is what our offer would have worked out to be in today’s value. And therefore, using the formula and guided by the experts in this regard, we would have come up with a price and that price would have been put forward in our proposal.”

He also noted that the refinery would have been out of operation for two years and maintenance work would have to be done on some of its equipment to get them operational. “You cannot take off a refinery, some 23 plants, leave it off for two years and then expect to start it up just like that. It takes a whole lot of capital and because we want to ensure that when it starts up, it can run and make money, pay all our debts, it has to be with a level of reliability and therefore we have to repair.

“The goodly Leader of the Opposition gave Patriotic the thumbs down and make it look we want to have a steal of a deal ‘because they offered US$700 million and now they offering less, they offer US$500 million’.

“What took place, there was an attempt to cause great injury and harm to the acquisition process, to ensure that those assets are not acquired on behalf of our people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Roget said Persad-Bissessar’s pronouncements were meant to be a fatal blow to ensure that the small man did not rise to economic prominence in the country and it represented a thinly-veiled approach to hide the real intention to halt the process.

He said after calling for an independent valuation committee to review their proposal and the announcement was made that Patriotic was still in the game, and they now afforded an opportunity to present before the committee the full extent of their proposal, that would have angered and infuriated the person who would have joy had they not gotten to go ahead with the acquisition process.

He added that they met with the valuation committee last Friday and were scheduled to meet again yesterday.

AFC North Roundup: Week 10

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Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

It was a 2-2 showing for the AFC North in Week 10, with the Browns and Steelers picking up victories while the Ravens and Bengals suffered defeats. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati met for the first time this season and the result was a lopsided affair in the Steelers favor.

Elsewhere, the Browns defeated the Texans by just three points in a sloppy defensive battle, while the Ravens were upset by the Patriots on Sunday night. The division is tightening up in the middle but the Steelers are pulling away from the pack.

Updated Standings:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-0
2. Baltimore Ravens 6-3
3. Cleveland Browns 6-3
4. Cincinnati Bengals 2-6-1

Browns defeat Texans: 10-7

After a pitiful offensive performance in Week 8, the thought was that the Browns would come out of their bye week fresh and polished offensively — especially with RB Nick Chubb returning from an extended absence.

The result? Another subpar showing, although this time they did just enough to squeak out with a victory. Chubb and Kareem Hunt dominated on the ground, as they so often do, and controlled the tempo for Cleveland. Chubb and Hunt each saw 19 carries and combined to rack up 232 rushing yards.

Despite their success on the ground, though, the Browns only managed to put 10 points on the board, seven of which came in the final quarter. After their first drive of the game, which resulted in a field goal, the Browns punted twice, turned the ball over on downs, and punted again before finally scoring a touchdown.

Normally turnovers would be a prime reason why Cleveland only mustered 10 points in a game, but the Browns didn’t cough up the ball once in this game. Their passing attack was once again lackluster, as Baker Mayfield completed 12-of-20 passes for just 132 yards.

Cleveland’s defense stepped up to the plate and took away big plays for Houston, rendering them scoreless for nearly the entire game. Deshaun Watson attempted 30 passes but threw for just 163 yards, while the Texans rushed for 90 yards for the game.

Defining stat: 5.6 yards per rush

What’s next: @ Philadelphia Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Steelers defeat Bengals: 36-10

Many were of the opinion that the Bengals could give the Steelers a scare in this game, especially after Pittsburgh barely squeaked by the Cowboys in Week 10. It was apparent from the jump, though, that last week was a one-off.

The Steelers offense got off to a bit of a slow start, punting on two of their first four drives and and settling for field goals on the other two. However, they began to get into a bit of a groove as the first half progressed and led 22-7 at the intermission mark. Two more touchdowns in the second half and suffocating defense proved more than enough.

Ben Roethlisberger was not able to practice during the week after being placed in COVID protocol, but you wouldn’t have known it based on Sunday’s performance. The Steelers could get nothing going on the ground (20 carries, 44 yards) and it forced Roethlisberger to throw 46 passes. He completed only 27 of them but reached season-highs in both passing yards (333) and touchdowns (four).

Pittsburgh’s defense racked up four sacks and nine QB hits, predictably winning the battle against a subpar Bengals offensive line. T.J. Watt again played a starring role two sacks and four QB hits of his own, as well as two TFL. The Steelers forced a handful of three-and-outs and both a fumble and turnover on downs in the first half.

The most impressive defensive stat, though, was not allowing a single third down conversion in any of Cincinnati’s 13 attempts. Pittsburgh did not allow the Bengals to sustain any drives consistently.

Defining stat: +2 turnover differential

What’s next: @ Jacksonville Jaguars — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Bengals lose to Steelers: 10-36

On the flip side of the spectrum, this was an underwhelming performance from a Bengals team that, while evidently at a talent disadvantage in this matchup, had begun to build some momentum in recent weeks. Cincinnati had upset the Titans 31-20 in Week 8 and were fresh out of their bye week heading into the game.

You wouldn’t have known that on Sunday, though, as the Bengals were thoroughly handled by the Steelers on both sides of the ball. Once again missing starting RB Joe Mixon, the Bengals were unable to sustain drives and execute in third down situations — going 0/13.

They wound up rushing for 139 yards on 6.6 yards per carry, but they ran just 21 times compared to 40 throws, as they were forced to play from behind after falling into a 12-0 hole after the first quarter.

QB Joe Burrow had one of his least accurate games of the year, completing just a sliver over 50% of his pass attempts. Cincinnati’s offensive line predictably struggled in pass protection against a fearsome Steelers defensive front. Additionally, the Bengals lost the turnover battle by losing two fumbles.

This was just the second time all season that the Bengals have lost by more than one possession; first to the Ravens and now to the Steelers. If there was a silver lining from a 26-point defeat, it was the continued ascendance of rookie WR Tee Higgins, who again led all receivers with seven receptions for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Defining stat: 0/13 on third down

What’s next: @ Washington Football Team — Sunday, Nov. 22 (1:00 p.m. ET)

Ravens lose to Patriots: 17-23

After appearing to turn a corner in the second half of their Week 9 victory against the Colts, the Ravens struggled to replicate similar success on Sunday night. Instead, they were beaten by the Patriots at their own game and failed to execute down the stretch in a big spot.

The Ravens came out firing early, following up a quick unsuccessful first possession with an impressive 13-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a six-yard touchdown by Willie Snead IV — his first of two scores in this game. After taking a 7-0 lead, though, the Patriots responded with a rapid 75-yard touchdown drive of their own to even the score.

New England added another touchdown in the second quarter and the Ravens squandered a chance to tie the game or take the lead heading into halftime. Instead, while hovering just outside of field goal range with less than a minute remaining, Lamar Jackson’s pass attempt to Marquise Brown along the sideline was intercepted by CB J.C. Jackson.

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens trailed by three point at halftime. This time, though, they did not manage a comeback. It took only four plays for the Patriots to score another touchdown on the opening possession of the third quarter, and they eventually took a 23-10 lead. The Ravens put themselves in a position to make things interesting after responding with a touchdown, but their final three drives resulted in two punts and a turnover on downs.

It was an avalanche of factors that did not work in the Ravens favor. Already down three defensive starters in Calais Campbell, Jimmy Smith, and L.J. Fort, the Ravens lost Brandon Williams in the first quarter and Terrell Bonds later on. Additionally, TE Nick Boyle suffered a season-ending leg injury in the second half.

Sans Campbell and Williams on the defensive line, Baltimore ceded 173 rushing yards, most of which came in the second and third quarters. The Ravens also suffered a few self-inflicted setbacks in the form of costly fumbles from poor snaps, dropping wide-open passes, and committing inopportune penalties.

Defining stat: 0 takeaways

Verdict

Demon’s Souls is a triumphant remake from Bluepoint Games, introducing the original masterpiece to a whole new generation of players with astonishing results. It’s an unparalleled showcase for the PS5, and easily one of the finest launch games the medium has ever seen.

This uncompromising pilgrimage into the Kingdom of Boletaria won’t be for everyone. It’s incredibly harsh, unforgiving at every turn as you stumble into otherworldly monstrosities who want nothing more than to witness your demise.

But such barriers are worth overcoming, since beyond them is one of the finest RPGs I’ve played in years – and one you need to experience. It more than lives up to the lofty legacy of its progenitor, proudly taking its place alongside the likes of Dark Souls and Bloodborne as one of the genre’s all-time greats.