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Murder-suicide in Penal

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Fearing the worst after finding his son-in-law hanging behind his home, it was a bitter sweet moment for Purnanand Bhim when he opened his daughter’s car and found his three-year-old granddaughter clutching her mother’s bloodied body yesterday morning.

Despite being stabbed on her neck, face, hands and chest, little Arti Ramkhalawan stared at her grandfather, not crying or even moving from her mother, Aarika Bhim’s lap. 

According to police, Arti’s father, Premnath Ramkhalawan, stabbed her mother to death in the back of her green Nissan Sunny B13 on Sunday night and drove the car to a track approximately 100 metres from their home at Laltoo Trace, Penal. 

He then ran to a shed at the back of the house and used a rope and bucket to hang himself. 

Police believe Arti was on top of her mother when Ramkhalawan attacked. She was taken to the Siparia District Health Facility where she was treated and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where she remained warded yesterday.

South Western Division police, including Insp Anderson Pariman, Insp Peter Ramdeen, Sgt Irwin Joachim, Sgt Ryan Ramsingh and investigator PC Riad Hosein, processed the scene and found the murder weapon on Ramkhalawan. Investigators said hair and blood were found on the knife.

Aarika, 26, was a manager at Doors and Windows Factory Ltd while Ramkhalawan, 25, was a labourer at the company’s branch at Wilson Road, Penal. 

Bhim said yesterday when he went to feed his cattle around 6 am yesterday, he found Ramkhalawan hanging from a rafter. As he went to call his wife, Sharda, a neighbour heading to work, stopped and asked why his daughter’s car was parked in the bush.

He said it was only when he opened the car door he realised the nightmare that had unfolded.

“When I walked up there, I saw my daughter in the back seat lying and my granddaughter opened her eyes big, watching me. 

“I called the ambulance, I held her, I took her out to the ambulance and then she was gone and that was it. I called the police. I saw a lot of blood and nothing else,” Bhim said.

All three victims were still wearing their outfits after attending the wedding of Ramkhalawan’s brother at St Julien’s Village, Princes Town, on Sunday.

Bhim, who underwent a triple bypass heart surgery three years ago, said the three left home around 2 pm and he did not get to see them leave as he was resting. However, his other son-in-law, Brandon Lalbeharry, said he only spoke to Arti right before they left.

“I said Arti, you not carrying me to wedding? All she said was, ‘No,’” Lalbeharry said. He said relatives tried to call the couple around 9 pm and again at 11 pm but they did not answer so they assumed that the family would stay across at the brother’s home.

Crashed car, the first clue

Resident Shalindra Ramsaran said he and his brother Mohindra were in church in Barrackpore on Sunday night.

He said around 10 pm, Mohindra left in his car to take someone to Digity Trace, Penal, when he saw Ramkhalawan’s car stuck in a drain. When he got out, Ramkhalawan asked to be towed. 

He said Mohindra saw the woman and child in the back seat and when told to take them out the car, Ramkhalawan replied that they were asleep.

He said Mohindra left without helping as attempting to tow the car would have damaged the wheel. Other passing church members helped Ramkhalawan to remove the car but after learning of the murder, they believe the woman was already dead when they saw the car. Mohindra, who was at the scene yesterday, was interviewed by police.

No big relationship problems

Relatives were in shock as they said the couple were not known to have problems in their five-year relationship that would have led to the tragedy. 

Bhim said the couple were planning to build their own house next to his and would have got married next year. 

One of Aarika’s aunt said Ramkhalawan seemed to be a nice person who took good care of his daughter. 

She said Ramkhalawan had asked her to attend the wedding with them but she told him that she had to work. She now believes that had she gone, she would have been able to quell any arguments they might have had. 

She added Aarika was married before but her husband died.


Call for quick action on Road Traffic Bill

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With the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Bill 2014 currently under debate in Parliament Arrive Alive president Sharon Inglefield is urging authorities to have the political will to ensure this piece of legislation is passed swiftly.

Her comments came in wake of several road accidents which occurred within recent days including that of 68-year-old Una Belgrave and 26-year-old Rennie Sookdeo over the weekend. 

Their deaths took place on the eve of the World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, on Sunday.

The road death figures stood at 128 to date compared to 144 last year.

Scores of people, young and old, showed up for the event, some wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the images of those who died in road accidents over the years.

Saying that the gap in legislation must be closed Inglefield said that would enable technology to support the police.

Inglefield said especially important was a prescribe system of awarding penalty points against a person which could result in the revocation of a driver’s licence.

She added: “Because of the gaps that continue to exist the reckless drivers continue to push the boundaries and break the law. 

‘We have been allowed to be reckless for a very long time and we need to become like the developed and first world countries and have the proper laws in place and enforce those laws with zero tolerance to save lives and protect us from ourselves.

“We need the political will to make this happen fast. This bill is much more important than any other bill because you are talking about people’s lives.” 

She also called on corporate T&T to do its part by having designated “sober zones” especially as the Christmas and Carnival seasons got into full gear.

“We would like to see this in their organisational plans so that the patrons coming and going... arrive alive so that they could get back to their families safe and sound,” Inglefield said.

While saying the safe zones have been implemented for several years, she urged for Arrive Alive to be invited to all so as to ensure efficiency.

She said: “This is for the patrons to be breathalysed prior to driving home. Arrive Alive cannot just show up to a party. We have to be invited by the organisers to be there to include a sober zone.

“Apart from the breathalyser it includes handing out leaflets and encouraging patrons to call a taxi or a friend or just take some time out if they fail the breathalyser. “These sober zones have been happening since 2007 but they have not been included in all the events particularly at Christmas and Carnival time,” Inglefield added.

But she said over the last couple of years there has been an improvement in people wanting to use designated drivers. ‘While we are making baby steps with regards improvement the recklessness have continued to exist,” Inglefield added.

Expressing her condolences to families who lost loved ones she also called for a police presence on the nation’s road, particularly on Fridays and into the weekends from 9 pm to 6 am, when most of the road fatalities are recorded.

REDUCTION IN ROAD DEATHS

Co-ordinator of the Police Service Strategic Road Safety Project, Brent Batson, assured that the Police Service would be ramping up its efforts.

He had also urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise care, caution, courtesy and common sense when using the roads.

“I am again trying to emphasise to people that please, please adhere to the road safety rules and just obey the law and take your time. There’s no rush, the most important thing is that you reach where you are going,” Batson had said.

He said in analysing the statistics there has been a 11 per cent decrease in road traffic deaths for the year thus far but for a small country it was too high. 

A stakeholder meeting is expected to take place today following which a number of initiatives are expected to be discussed, including the status of the Motor Vehicle Authority (MVA), traffic congestion, parking enforcement and plans to make high-risk drivers more accountable.

STATISTICS

Road traffic accidents (RTA’s) statistics as at September 8, 2015:

2014 2015

Fatal RTA’s 102 90

Deaths 115 104

Team to look at T&T’s health system named

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A committee examining local health system in which doctors operating in private practice also work in the public sector, will examine infant mortality problems in T&T and the Children’s Hospital as well, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said yesterday.

The committee is also mandated to conduct an audit of the level of health care delivery by the 21-year-old regional health authority system. 

Members will give recommendations on the state of dual systems—doctors with private practice working in the public sector—and review how operations in both systems are governed in keeping with the new vision for health care. 

Team members are Dr Winston Welch (chairman), Howard University president Dr Wayne Frederick, Professor Karl Theodore, Charles de Gannes, Dr Adesh Sirjusingh, Valerie Alleyne-Rawlins and Dr Albert Persaud.

Speaking at the launch at his St Clair office, Rowley lauded Frederick’s involvement which he said would bring a view from outside T&T on the matter. 

When the team reports by April 2016, Rowley said its recommendations may be factored into Government’s mid-year review in the event that changes were needed.

Rowley, noting an observation in the newspapers that the PNM’s style was “government by review,”said he had taken that as a compliment. 

He said in T&T, “we have been doing a lot of things and spending a lot of money and getting a lot of complaints about money we have spent, what we are doing and dissatisfaction associated with the efforts.” 

He said doctors, for instance, would agree that before going forward to “prescribe” on issues, one had to diagnose and to understand situations, “so we are not put out by the idea that we are reviewing T&T’s status.”

Rowley echoed sentiments by Welch that the team’s work was not aimed at anyone or any sector. 

He said it was an opportunity for national community to know what was working and not, costs and what is available or not, “and how to make things better in what is available to us.”

Rowley said he had been in Cabinet in 1991 when expenditure on health as well as public expectation on that sector had grown.

“We are spending more and more on education and health and getting less and less. This is because some of the system is inherently unworkable.”

Rowley said from a personal standpoint, he was uncertain if RHAs had brought any significant handling in health care delivery as compared to what the ministry might have done.

He said if he was wrong, Government needed to know and the team’s exercise was geared to give a final answer on that. Noting that health had the third largest budget allocation, he said Government had to “look at what we are doing.

“We see so many stories from RHAs, usually bad, our health care clearly is not obsolete or antiquated but it attracts dissatisfactions and questions, including corruption in the system,” he added.

The team’s report will be presented to him and will be open to the public.

The team will note reports from previous commissions on enquiry on health. The PM urged the public to make valid contributions, as opposed to complaint, since Government would welcome reasonable contributions.

EMA moves to clamp down on noise pollution

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The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is moving to clamp down on noise pollution via the enactment of new measures.

Those include the registration of source emitters.

The announcement was made at the a research symposium, titled—Managing Our Protected Areas and Species: Linking Science to Policy and Decision-Making—held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

The EMA’s acting managing director Gayatri Badri Maharaj said the nation’s air quality remained top priority.

Saying that in 2014 the air pollution rules were enacted she added: “We are about to commence the registration phase, with our air unit working towards having source emitters registered over the period December 1, 2015 to May 2016.

“This will then be followed by the permitting phase, during which work will begin on ensuring that our nation’s polluters are brought into acceptable standards as laid out in the schedules of the Air Pollution Rules, 2014.”

She said closely associated with work on Air Pollution Rules, 2014 was progress made in acquiring and deploying new air quality monitoring equipment which formed part of the EMA’s efforts to establish a national ambient air quality monitoring network and eventual introduction of tools, such as air quality index.

Good progress, she added, was also made with the implementation of the water pollution rules 2001, specifically the water pollution permitting process and the development of ambient water quality standards.

“The work being undertaken in areas of air and water quality has a close nexus to our environmentally sensitive species and environmentally sensitive areas.

“With the improved ability to regulate and monitor our water and air, we can potentially reduce some of the harmful effects that currently affect our environmentally sensitive areas and species,” Badri Maharaj added.

Dr David Persaud, who delivered the address on behalf of Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, said illegal hunting, illegal quarrying, unregulated development and poor agricultural practices continued to destroy T&T’s fragile ecosystems and placed pressure on the populations of our fauna and flora.

Persaud said some of Government’s initiative to protect T&T’s biological resources included the declaration of the environmentally sensitive areas and species, including the Nariva Swamp, Aripo Savannah Strict Nature Reserve and the Matura National Park.

Ten species, he added, have also been declared environmentally sensitive, including the Pawi, golden tree frog, manatee, white-tailed sabre wing humming bird, ocelot and most recently the leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill, green and olive ridley sea turtles.

“Restoration of the Nariva Swamp environmentally sensitive area is currently being implemented through a project funded by the green fund.

“The project focuses on the rehabilitation of 500 hectares of the portion in the Nariva Swamp previously utilised for rice cultivation,” Persaud added.

Electrical problem closes Arouca Govt

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What appear to be a major shake-up at the Education Facilities Company (EFCL), in charge of maintenance and repairs at schools, has forced the closure of yet another school.

Some 547 pupils of the Arouca Government Primary School has not been to school for almost one month now and may be home until next year because of a major electrical problem at the institution.

Angry parents, led to believe the EFCL would begin the project to rewire the school yesterday, staged a protest when they saw no sign of any work being started.

Armed guards are now reportedly securing documents at the EFCL office in Maraval which points to alleged corruption surrounding the award of contracts.

The discovery of the documents was made one day after the new board appointed by the PNM Government after its September 7 general election win suspended EFCL chief executive officer Kiran Shah and chief operating officer Sharma Maharaj over claims of impropriety.

Parents believe that necessary repairs at their children’s schools are not being done by the EFCL because of the current problems at the state entity.

Grandparent Joan Wharwood said parents were not being told anything about what was going on and when their children would return to school.

“There is a big notice board at the front of the school but the PTA did not put up a sign. They did not even call any of the parents,” she said.

Debbie Carr, whose son, Ancil, is in Standard Four, added: “Getting feedback is almost impossible.”

Wharwood said students were sent home one day after fire broke out in a part of the school building because of an electrical problem.

PTA president, Roxanne Sampson said she had not been getting any information about when the problem would be fixed. 

“I am getting the runaround from the EFCL. I also went to the Education Ministry office in Tunapuna this morning but did not get to see anyone,” she added

She said the electrical problem was so bad it was only by the hand of God that the entire school was not burnt down.

Sampson added: “The EFCL visited the school and said it was a minor problem and will take two days to repair. Then the T&T Electricity Commission visited the school and took the metre and the EFCL told us it will take about two weeks to rewire the school.

“Between the tender going out and selecting a contractor, we don’t know how long it will take.

“Our children may not return to school until next year,” she added. She said Standard Five students were being accommodated at D’Abadie Government Primary and the PTA has been trying to find places for the rest of the students.

“We are looking at Bon Air Primary or the old block of Five Rivers Secondary which is now empty.” 

She said Standard Four pupils are supposed to do the practical aspect of their physical education course in the Continuous Assessment Component of the Secondary Entrance Assessment examination.

Standards One to Three are also supposed to be preparing for the upcoming National Test, she said.

A worker at the EFCL, after hearing about the problem at Arouca Government Primary, said yesterday: “Oh, that is repairs.” She transferred the T&T Guardian to a line that gave this voice mail: “We can’t take your call now.”

MORE INFO

Close to 900 students of the Chaguanas Government Primary School continue to remain at home as their parents were told there would be further delays in awarding a contract to repair the school’s malfunctioning sewer system.

PTA president, Lyndon Mohammed, said school officials informed them Friday that a contract was awarded for the project.

“We thought work would begin Saturday but then read of the problems at the EFCL in the newspapers.

“Now we don’t know when work would actually begin.” Mohammed said the PTA planned a general membership meeting yesterday evening to strategise on what they could do to help alleviate the problem.

Worrying trend in human trafficking

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GML ENTERPRISE DESK 

Seventh Day Adventist pastor Clive Dottin says over the past five years there has been an upswing in human trafficking in T&T but as a society he says we are always in denial hence the apparent inaction to the growing problem.

According to Dottin the stark reality is that as long as there is a drug trade which is not being properly managed, you will have human trafficking.

Speaking recently to the GML Enterprise team, Dottin said: “It starts off with using the women as couriers and sometimes the women are aware that where they will end up after dropping the drugs will be prostitution because they have to live.”

However, he says, sometimes the women are not always aware what was in store for them and they are simply “promised jobs, apartments and when it’s too late they realise that they are victims of human trafficking.”

He recalled two recent visits, one to an Eastern Caribbean country where he says he was told there was a nightclub with a sparkling name and girls from all over the Caribbean, including T&T, were working. 

On another trip to Curacao he was told of a big club where young women from Colombia, Santo Domingo and the Caribbean were working. “Many of them claim they are victims of human trafficking but he says they just don’t know how to get out,” he said.

The scary part of what was happening, he says, was that more and more young people are being wooed into illegal activity.

“There is an alarming phenomenon in Trinidad of the teenage drug dealer,” he added.

Dottin says he has received reports that where there are two drug dealers on a street, they mentor two teenage drug dealers, who in turn, are close to teenage girls, and the girls get pulled into the maze.

Only recently he said a father came to him and told him that he was concerned that security officials may be involved in human trafficking. 

When he asked the man why he said that the man told him he went to a certain place in north Trinidad looking for a female relative and he saw lots of young girls who were drugged. The man told him he was lucky to get his relative out since security at the place was extremely tight.

Dottin estimates that there are 150,000 people in this country who depend directly or indirectly on illegal activity, and according to him there are three levels of involvement. Those who are employed and making an extra buck, some who are under-employed and need more money and the most vulnerable are the young girls and boys who are on the streets.

These groups, according to Dottin, are easy prey for the drug dealers who invariably are also involved in the gun trade because they have to protect huge sums of money, “we talking billions.” 

The Caribbean Task Force estimates that the drug trade in the region was valued at just over US$50 billion and the worldwide estimate was over US$600 billion. “It’s a huge amount of assets to protect. What fuels a lot of the gun trade was the protection of the drug trade. The turfs are being split up, so you will have human trafficking,” he added.

With more young people being lured into the den of those whom he calls the “narcotic vampires,” Dottin is now urging the authorities to do more to stop the trade in guns and drugs. It is only when the problem was addressed at the source, he says, that the problem of human trafficking could be wiped out.

Two-year-old girl shot dead in bed while sleeping

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Tragedy struck early this morning in Diego Martin as a two-year-old girl was shot and killed by gunmen. However, the fatal bullet was intended for her father.

 
Police identified the victim as Keira Singh.

 
According to reports, around 1am Kieron Paul, 25, his wife, their two-week-old baby, and Keira were all asleep in their Good Session Drive, Patna Village, Diego Martin home when gunmen forced their way into the house.

 
They fired shots at the family, intending to kill Paul, but it hit little Keira instead. She was shot in her stomach. She died on the scene.
 

Investigations continue.
 
 

Cyclist killed crossing highway

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South-bound motorists were trapped in rush-hour traffic this morning after a cyclist was killed attempting cross the Solomon Hochoy Highway, near road works company Seereeram Bros, Chaguanas.

Police were called in shortly after 7 am when Guyanese national Ricky Seelochan, 21, was struck by an oncoming pick-up and killed. Another cyclist with Seelochan escaped injury.

Seelochan, lived at Perseverance Village, Chaguanas was killed about 100 metres north of the Chase Village walkover. Investigations are being carried out by Cpl Sinanan.


Family advice that turned tragic

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Despite wanting to end her common-law relationship after her husband Premnath Ramkhalawan abused her at her workplace, Aarika Bhim heeded relatives’ advice to keep their family together for the sake of their daughter, Arti.

However, her decision to make things work led to her death on Sunday night when Ramkhalawan stabbed her to death inside a Nissan Sunny B-13, which was owned by her late husband Yankaran Gary Hassanali.

Speaking at their Laltoo Trace, Penal, home yesterday, Bhim’s brother, Doodnath Bhim, said after the beating at the Doors and Windows Ltd at Scott Street, San Fernando, the family sat down with them to discuss their problems.

He said when his sister said the relationship could no longer work, he urged them to give Arti the chance to have a complete family. Had he known his advice would turn tragic, he would not have said anything.

He added: “We talked about it right here and they said they could not make it together. She said he quarrels too much but every couple has arguments. 

“I told them to try and make it for the child because she needed both mother and father. He even told me he would kill himself and I reminded him that everything that child wanted, she called for her father. 

“From ever since that child born, he took care of her while Aarika worked. It was only two months ago he started to work.

“Aarika said she could not make it with him and our mother said for him to go back home but he did not want to as he was working right in Penal. He said if he went back to Princes Town, there is no work there.

“I told him to listen to me and everything would be alright. He was listening to me and everything was going well but I don’t know what happened,” Doodnath said.

No ‘horning’

Clearing the allegations that Bhim had another relationship, Doodnath said that was not so. He said his sister and Ramkhalawan got together a year after Hassanali committed suicide by hanging. 

He said Hassanali had become depressed when his car got in an accident and was stolen three days after it was repaired. He said this may have caused him to hang himself in 2009. He said Bhim and Hassanali had a good relationship.

Although the car Bhim was killed in belonged to Hassanali, he said it was purchased for him by his (Doodnath) mother Sharada Bhim. 

He said the car was parked at Hassanali’s relatives home for years until his brother gave the car to Bhim and Ramkhalawan. He added there were outstanding payments on the car that Bhim had recently settled.

The wedding

On Sunday, the family attended a wedding for Ramkhalawan’s brother, Shane, 18, in Princes Town.

According to Ramkhalawan’s younger sister, Ria Ali, 24, she said although the couple were involved in an argument at the wedding, it was not with each other.

At her St Julien’s Village home yesterday, Ali said both Bhim and Ramkhalawan appeared to have been drinking even before they came to the wedding. Even at the bride Felicia Persad’s home, the couple were drinking and dancing together.

“Everybody was having a good time and they were drinking and wining down the place. I don’t think they even had an argument with each other at the wedding. I know she has a hot mouth and maybe the argument happened after the wedding,” Ali said

Bhim and Ramkhalawan had an argument with Felicia’s mother over Arti staying in a room with the dresses. She said the couple and their daughter were kicked out of the wedding and no one knew what happened after that or what led to the killing.

Death threats

Ali said Ramkhalawan had complained that Bhim used to quarrel too much and he had threatened to kill her. However, she said she recently learned that Ramkhalawan also threatened to harm the child. 

“We knew this could have happened because he threatened to done away with her. We heard he threatened to done away with the child too. 

“About a month ago, he went to her work and beat her up. We heard that she was horning him and was not giving him anything,” Ali added.

She said relatives were still in shock over the murder.

‘Arti must live a successful life’

‘With Arti now being made an orphan, Doodnath said his priority was to ensure Arti grew into a successful woman. Knowing that there could be a stigma against her due to the nature of her parents’ death, he said he and his wife would work hard to ensure it did not affect her development.

“My niece will pull through despite all the things people will be saying about her mother and father. She will prove them wrong,” he added.

A party was being planned for Arti’s third birthday on Thursday but doctors said she would have to remain at hospital.

Staff at the San Fernando General Hospital said she remained warded in a stable condition and was being monitored closely. Doodnath said she was doing well but had plasters and bandages covering half of her face, neck and hands. He said on one hand she has approximately 15 stitches in different areas.

 

Widower drops case against three doctors

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Lorne Ramsoomair, a widower who brought private manslaughter charges against three doctors over the death of his wife during childbirth in 2011 has withdrawn his case. 

When the matter was called yesterday in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Nanette Forde-John Ramsumair’s attorney, Ravi Rajcoomar, asked for it to be discontinued.

However, speaking to reporters outside the court after the matter was heard, Rajcoomar said he was not at liberty to say why the proceedings were discontinued.

Ramsoomair, who stood close by, said quietly: “I just want to remind everyone that the reason all of this took place is because my wife lost her life.”

Crystal Boodoo-Ramsoomair, 29, died on March 4, 2011 after her third Caesarean section at the San Fernando General Hospital.

In January of this year, Rajcoomar had written to then Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan asking for $3.5 million to discontinue criminal and civil proceedings against three doctors linked to the surgery.

Drs Mondira Seenath, Deepavali Ramballack and Ashmeed Mohammed have been appearing before deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the San Fernando court since last year but the charge had not been read to them because of the objections raised by their attorney.

They were represented by attorney Jagdeo Singh, who appeared with Saira Lakhan.

After court yesterday, Singh said his clients preferred not to speak to the media but were relieved the “legal terrorism” was over. 

He said: “My clients were simply doing their duty and trying to save a life.” 

He said his clients would have to decide whether they would take any action of their own as their reputations have suffered. In May 2012, Ramsoomair had sued the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) and the three doctors for negligence.

The SWRHA admitted liability in the civil case and Justice Frank Seepersad entered judgment against the health authority.

T&T’s ISIS fighters face Govt block

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A discussion is currently taking place with the Attorney General on revisiting or changing the current situation of free, unrestricted/unhindered entry of T&T nationals who have joined the Islamic State (ISIS), National Security Minister Edmund Dillon confirmed yesterday.

He alluded to the discussion, but said he couldn’t give details, in the Senate when UNC Senator Wayne Sturge asked if Government was revisiting or changing the free, unrestricted/unhindered entry of T&T “jihadists” now with Isis. Dillon later said the discussion with the AG was for T&T’s safety and security.

“This Government wants to make it abundantly clear that it recognises the global threat posed by ISIS and the horrific atrocities recently committed on the French people by the ISIS phenomena” Dillon added, detailing heightened vigilance measures by T&T authorities following last Friday’s terrorist attacks on Paris.

Some 129 people died and 352 were injured when eight terrorists, including suicide bombers, attacked seven Paris locations. ISIS claimed responsibility.

A manhunt is on for the eighth attacker. International forces name Abdelhamid Abaoud as the mastermind. France has carried out retaliatory air strikes on ISIS locations. ISIS has now threatened strikes on the US. 

Last night’s T&T/US football game at the National Stadium featured extremely tight safety and security measures with the National Security Ministry urging attendees to report any suspicious activities at the match to security units.

Yesterday, in the Senate Dillon detailed heightened measures in local systems, while replying to a question from UNC Senator Wade Mark on steps to ensure the safety and security of citizens, in light of nationals being recruited by ISIS and following the France attacks.

Dillon said the following measures have been instituted:

• Tightened immigration controls at air/sea ports.

• Reinforced aerial/maritime surveillance patrols.

• Tightened customs inspections.

• Reinforced security management at air/sea ports.

• Heightened systems also apply to the “ground” in T&T.

• Continued relations with the Joint Regional Communication Centre and Regional Intelligence Centre to facilitate necessary intelligence to allow T&T to deal with the ISIS phenomenon.

• Continued liaising with international partners regarding intelligence and information that can be provided based on their intelligence agencies in areas of operations.

• Continued liaising with international partners regarding intelligence and information especially regarding T&T citizens who are participating in ISIS.

Sturge also asked how many T&T nationals were actively involved with ISIS. Dillon said he could not give an accurate figure at that time and was awaiting official confirmation from international partners. He said he could not average. “One has to be exact. I prefer to wait on the exact figure based on intelligence,” he added.

Hours after the Paris attacks, the T&T Guardian confirmed that 89 T&T nationals, including families, had joined ISIS. Dillon later estimated it was around 80-plus.

Following yesterday’s Senate, Sturge said under current law, any T&T citizen who had joined ISIS was free to re-enter T&T.

He added: “There are big concerns in T&T about this. Many tell me they are concerned we are exporting jihadists and that those people who are experienced in fighting in such (terrorist) situations might return with their ‘expertise’ and we in T&T would be at greater risk once they return with foreign ideologies and skills.”

Sturge said legislative changes to change current unrestricted access would involve first amending the Immigration Act to provide for immediate detention on re-entry and interrogation. 

He said that would have to apply to all persons involved with ISIS, including families. 

“You can’t differentiate if people are innocent or guilty until they are questioned and you verify their statements.

“The second thing needed is to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act regarding those returnees. 

“It can’t be business as usual where they are free to return without hindrance, knowing their ideologies are not in synch with ours and that their stay with ISIS has equipped them to carry out terrorist activities,” Sturge added.

Imbert wants answers on forex from Central Bank

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Finance Minister Colm Imbert has asked the Central Bank to find out how the recent distribution of foreign exchange was distributed and will make the report public.

Imbert made the disclosure in the Senate yesterday while replying to Opposition queries. He also said he would ask the governor about foreign exchange for citizens on health care and education. 

Imbert said there was no de facto or official depreciation of the US currency, vis-a-vis the TT dollar.

Also in the Senate yesterday, Energy Minister Nicholle Oliverre said consultations would shortly be held with energy stakeholders on Government’s energy sector plans in its manifesto.

The Senate also named senators for the 15 Parliamentary Select Committees which will examine various issues over the term. 

Also, the Opposition Senate seat held by former senator Vasant Bharath which was empty at yesterday’s session, will continue to remain empty for “now,” UNC general secretary Dave Tancoo said.

Bharath, who was appointed a UNC senator by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the start of the term, resigned from the post last week to challenge her for the leadership in UNC’s December 5 party elections. 

The UNC didn’t name anyone to fill his Senate space up to yesterday following which Tancoo told the T&T Guardian no appointments would be made “for now.”

The Senate also named senators for the 15 Parliamentary Select Committees which will examine various issues over the term. 

The Lower House last week named MPs for the committees which will scrutinise State accounts and also national security, legal affairs, finance, local authorities, service commissions and statutory authorities, state enterprises, public administration and appropriations, land and physical infrastructure, social services and public administration, energy affairs, human rights, equality and diversity, foreign affairs and parliamentary broadcasting. 

There is also a new committee, Government assurances, to monitor how promises by Government are maintained and the integrity of ministers’ statements. 

Government had also promised in election pledges to refer certain bills to Joint Select Committees for indepth examination. 

The first of these committees were announced in the House last Friday to examine the Procurement and Disposal of State Assets Bill and the whistleblower legislation. (GA)

Suspended EFCL boss mum on probe

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Suspended Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) chief executive officer Sharma Maharaj yesterday directed all queries on the ongoing audit and criminal probe to the new management at the special purpose company.

The T&T Guardian was only able to speak with Maharaj for a brief time before he ended the phone interview yesterday.

“If this is about EFCL, you just keep writing what you have been for the past week,” Maharaj said when the paper identified itself.

When asked if he was concerned about the police investigation or the alleged secret room where employees were found backdating contracts, Maharaj said he had no comment.

Sharma and EFCL chief operations officer, Kiran Shah, were suspended last week with full pay and benefits pending the outcome of an investigation into the EFCL’s operations under the previous board. 

Head of Communications at the T&T Police Service, Ellen Lewis, yesterday confirmed that officers attached to the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIE) were at the EFCL’s office as part of the criminal investigation into the operations at the State company under the previous administration.

The investigators, the T&T Guardian understands, carted away documents and computer hardware.

The T&T Guardian last week reported that a secret room, which was on a separate floor from the actual EFCL office space, was discovered by a new board member last week. 

Some employees were found allegedly doctoring documents and back-dating contracts in the room on the lower floor of the building, which houses another business. The employees were subsequently sent home and barred from accessing the company’s IT mainframe.

The T&T Guardian has learnt since the news of the find became public, two contractors who were favoured by the last executive had met with their respective lawyers to determine a legal way forward. 

Another contractor with close links to the People's National Movement (PNM) and who was recently appointed to a State board is also part of the investigation.

Reinstated queen faces long road to China show

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Kimberly Farrah Singh may have won the battle to represent T&T in next month’s Miss World Pageant in China but her struggle to get there is far from over.

Speaking on her behalf yesterday, one of the attorneys Rondell Donowa, who made her victory possible, said she still needed a substantial portion of the $35,000 required for air travel.

He said she was scheduled to leave for China Saturday but because of the cash flow problem, the reservation has been extended until next Thursday.

Donowa said the road ahead would be tough for Singh who has to make the journey to China alone as there was no money for not even a chaperone. 

He said they were also trying to source a wardrobe, including a national costume and a gown for the competition.

“We are pleading on her behalf if any organisations which want to come together to assist,” Donowa said.

He said attorneys representing both Singh and Miss World franchise holder Vanessa Sahatoo-Manoo met on Tuesday to chart a way forward and had agreed on a number of areas.

“Both parties were very upbeat and willing to put this issue behind them and move forward for the greater good because at the end of the day we are representing Trinidad and Tobago.”

Donowa said both Sahatoo-Manoo and Singh were advised not to make any public statements at the moment as they tried to heal the rift. 

He added: “The franchise holder indicated she was making progress in terms of sponsorship and Kimberly is also seeking sponsorship from certain persons. 

“We (the attorneys from Fortitude Chamber who fought her case) are trying to make this is possible for her because we see her as a young person, like ourselves, who needed her just due and we were successful.”

He said Singh, who continued to train while her firing was in arbitration, is also making progress.

“She is fine tuning things with regards to a stipend and getting the national costume and wardrobe. 

“A number of clothing stores have committed to assist. She is also receiving a lot of assistance from the past Miss World delegate Sara Jane Waddle and she is doing well.”

The issue

Singh was dethroned and replaced by the first runner-up Daniella Walcott. 

She took the matter to court and it was referred for arbitration.

On Monday, arbitrator Ernest Koylass, SC, ruled that while Singh breached specific terms of the beauty pageant agreement, such breaches were not fundamental enough to warrant her termination as Miss World T&T.

He, therefore, ordered that she be reinstated and that each party bear their own legal costs of the arbitration and that both parties attempt to agree on the way forward to arrive at a mutually accepted resolution of this matter. 

Attorneys for Kimberly Farrah Singh:

• Prakash Maharaj.

• Rhon Mitchell.

• Frank Gittens.

• Rondell Donowa.

Attorneys for Vanessa Sahatoo-Manoo:

• Kevin Ratiram.

• Charlene Kalloo.

Settlement in Mora Ven’s 13-year-old legal battle

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A 13-year-old legal battle between two businessmen over control of a multi-million oil exploration company, Mora Ven Holdings Limited, ended yesterday. 

Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Appellate Judges Gregory Smith and Judith Jones were due to hear an appeal of a High Court judge’s ruling in the case yesterday when attorneys representing businessmen George Nicholas and Dr Krishna Persad indicated that they had reached a settlement and no longer wished to pursue the case. 

Details of the settlement were not revealed by both sets of attorneys during the brief hearing at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. 

Since 2002, Nicholas and Persad have been locked in a fierce legal battle over the two companies—Mora Ven Holdings Ltd (MVHL) and Mora Oil Ventures Ltd (MOVL)—with assets of well over $100 million.

Nicholas, then majority shareholder of both companies filed the lawsuit against Persad’s company, Krishna Persad and Associates (KPA), the companies minority shareholder, claiming that KPA had breached its fiduciary duties and had acted oppressively towards both companies. 

The lawsuit centered around an operating agreement between MOVL and KPA in December 1994, which resulted in the latter being appointed operator of the exclusive licence to search for, bore and get petroleum in the submarine area known as the Mora Field.

Nicholas seized the oil platform being operated by KPA and took control on October 11, 2002. 

In a counter-claim KPA and Persad also alleged acts of wrongdoing by MOVL, MVHL and Nicholas. 

Former High Court Judge Sebastian Ventour had to temporarily resign as Integrity Commission vice chairman in February last year to deliver his judgment in the case, which remained outstanding since he left the Judiciary. 

After analysing evidence from over two dozen witness who testified over a six-year protracted trial, Ventour ruled in Nicholas favour as he said KPA had acted unfairly, oppressively and in an unfairly prejudicial manner in his handling of its agreement with the companies. 

Ventour’s ruling led to KPA filing the appeal which was eventually withdrawn. 

Nicholas, MVHL and MOVL were represented by Queen’s Counsel Andrew Mitchell and Keith Scotland while Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson and Justin Phelps represented KPA and Persad.


There’s case for wrongful dismissal

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If he so chooses, fired Strategic Services Agency (SSA) director, Bisnath Maharaj, has a good case for wrongful dismissal.

This was the response of former prime minister Basdeo Panday on the revocation last Friday of Bisnath’s appointment as SSA director.

“There must be a reason why he is dismissed. If there is no reason, surely it is an act of discrimination.

“I thought a reason would be supplied as to why he was dismissed. I think Maharaj may very well have a case of wrongful dismissal, if he so chooses,” Panday added.

Bisnath, an attorney and former assistant superintendent with the police Special Branch, was appointed head of the intelligence agency in 2012 under the last People’s Partnership administration.

He was also part of Panday’s security detail during a former UNC administration. His appointment was revoked with immediate effect and there are reports he was not to be allowed into the SSA’s compound.

Former national security minister, Gary Griffith, in response to questions from the T&T Guardian on the matter, said Maharaj’s sacking was “expected.”

“Every administration has a right to put people (of its own choosing) in strategic positions, even in national security,” he added.

He said that must not be viewed as political victimisation since the State had the right to appoint people, even on the National Security Council.

The SSA falls under the National Security Council, usually headed by the Prime Minister.

Griffith said qualified and experienced people must be appointed in those strategic positions, however.

Mathew Andrews, a seconded police officer attached to the SSA, has been appointed acting director.

Panday had a completely different view of the matter, saying outright Griffith “was certainly wrong.

“Griffith is wrong because the position of head of an intelligence agency is supposed to be a non-political one. This is not a political appointment,” he said.

Panday said if the norm was that every time a government changes, people were to be fired then that should be written into the Constitution and be made legal.

“So people will know they are going to be fired,” he added. 

Panday said he had not seen Maharaj since he (Panday) left government.

There have been questions over the independence of state intelligence agencies.

Under the former PNM adminstration, the SSA was dubbed Manning’s secret service and it was believed the phones of politicians and journalists were tapped.

It is also believed that continued under the PP government.

The SSA is a merger of three intelligence agencies, the Security Intelligence Agency, the Special Anti-crime Unit of T&T and the Strategic Services Agency.

Maharaj has been mum on the issues surrounding his position as SSA director and several efforts to reach him yesterday were not successful.

Concern over spread of animal-borne diseases

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In an attempt to improve this country's food security and ensure the Caribbean region can accurately recognise and respond to animal and food-borne diseases, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources has convened a two-day symposium to educate local farmers and other officials about what needs to be done.

Delivering brief remarks during the opening ceremony at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Mt Hope, the ministry's chief veterinary officer, David Kangaloo, expressed concerns about the increasing world population and each country's continued ability to provide food for their citizens.

Kangaloo said with a current estimated global population of approximately seven billion people and with that number expected to grow to nine billion by 2050, it was necessary now for the relevant authorities to get their act together.

Claiming that over 70 per cent of new and emerging infectious diseases for the past 30 years had originated from animals, Kangaloo agreed with the other speakers that diseases such as ebola, salmonella, mad cow disease, avian influenza and leptospirosis, had been passed to humans from wild animals.

Titled Animal Disease Recognition and Response Workshop, the symposium is being hosted by a number of agencies including the European Union, the Pan American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation, UWI's Research Development Impact Fund, Food and Agriculture Organisation; and CIRAD.

Under the theme “One Health, One Caribbean, One Love”, the goal of the initiative, according to Professor Chris Oura, was to increase food security throughout the Caribbean region by decreasing the risk of livestock production losses due to foreign and endemic animal diseases.

Stating that they were about educating farmers and livestock owners, Oura said key areas had been identified as they worked on compiling a concerted and integral approach to the complex issue.

Seeking to ensure that the training reached the communities for which it was intended, agricultural economist Omardath Maharaj urged Oura and his team to expand the workshop sessions for persons in rural areas.

Claiming that T&T's food import bill was around $5.5 million and that most of the imports originated from the US, Maharaj said given the global conditions right now with the attacks by the Muslim extremist group Islamic State one had to consider whether those arrangements would continue in the future.

Also making out a case for the education of people residing in rural areas, director at the UWI School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Murali Manohar said early detection and rapid response were essential to the preservation of both animal and human health, food safety and security and to alleviate rural poverty.

He called for the establishment of a regional network to ensure timely communication among countries and for the introduction of legislation to aid in the process.

TTPS pleads with people to be more cautious on the road

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Six people dying in road accidents in the past three days has prompted the T&T Police Service to issue a media release imploring drivers and pedestrians to be cautious on the roads.

“Whereas the TTPS will continue our efforts to enforce and educate, we continue to plead with all road users, be they drivers, passengers, bicyclists, motor cyclists or pedestrians to use the road with care by practicing road safety courtesy, common sense and consideration at all times,” the release stated.

The latest data from the Records and Statistics Section, Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, of the TTPS, show a road death toll of 129 so far for 2015. This figure comprises of 40 drivers, 33 passengers, 44 pedestrians, 11 motor cyclists and one cyclist.

The release stated: “Although this figure represents an 11 per cent decrease for the same period last year — 145, the continued lack of regard for human life and limb displayed by motorists is a serious cause for concern.”

Aside for the road fatalities, the TTPS has issued more than 43,000 traffic tickets to motorists for various driving offences with an estimated value in excess of TT$43 million.

This figure excludes driving under the influence (DUI) and other traffic offences for which drivers are summarily brought before the courts. 

More than 2,300 motorists were arrested and charged for DUI offences yet drivers continue to drink and drive in spite of many cases of alcohol related road fatalities highlighted in the media.

On November 15, the TTPS participated in the global recognition for the United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims with the walk and ride event hosted by local road safety NGO Arrive Alive to highlight the serious consequences of unsafe road use.

At that event the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Deodat Dulalchan, expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, to the families of those who lost loved ones to road traffic collisions. 

ACP Dulalchan appealed to all road users to commit to engaging in safer and more responsible road use as the consequence of selfish, thoughtless and reckless driving often results in death or serious injury. 

Youth killed by off duty cop in botched robbery

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The stubbornness of a La Horquetta teen, coupled with negative influence by elders, are the two major reasons Kayode Edwards was killed on Wednesday night during a botched robbery.

According to police, around 10.20 pm Wednesday three men stormed a private residence with a room used for gambling and equipped with a roulette table and attempted to rob those gathered.

As the men entered the home, located at Phase Five, La Horquetta, an off duty police officer, attached to the Maraval Police Station, opened fire on the bandits.

Edwards, 19, of Phase Seven La Horquetta, was shot in the head and died at the scene. The other two robbers ran, leaving their wounded accomplice behind.

Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Edwards’ father, Samuel, said his son was a jovial, unassuming young man who was led astray by older men involved in criminal activity. 

He said: “I used to talk to him everyday, even up to yesterday (Wednesday) morning me and him spoke. The reality haven’t reached home yet. I had a very long discussion with him in the morning. 

“That was a continuous thing. Sometimes I think one of the walls that the youths put up is that they think they could take care of themselves and they ‘not in that (criminality).’

“It have older men in the area who are involved in criminal behaviour and the youths gravitate towards that. I think the problem is and it is a bit scary because it not going away. It will keep happening over and over.”

Edwards said one of the problems being faced was that there were pockets of negative elements that always come up and they have a strong attraction to the unassuming youths and the little delinquent youths like his son. 

He said the killing of his son came as a surprise to the family as they never knew he was involved in criminal activity but knew he associated with those who were. He said he did all he could to keep his son, the last of six children, out of trouble.

“I really don’t know... I think I used everything in my capacity and as a person who deals with people. This is a very difficult one in terms of keeping him to maintain that direction.

“As my father taught me bad association spoils useful habits and birds of a feather flock together. These youths always seem to understand and know. 

“Something definitely happen... he was there. My issue is you were there and he did not use to be there. The issue is who did the shooting? Edwards asked.

Edwards’ sentiments were echoed by his wife, Denise Kingcape, the teen’s stepmother. She said she would remember her stepson the way he was and not the way she saw him the night he was killed. 

She added: “People have many sides but I will remember the side he showed me, very respectable, a child I could call on at any time... as his daddy said choices and company. 

“I will like to tell the others who were left behind, try to put God in your lives and to the older ones stop influencing the younger ones because as they say children learn what they see. Kayode was a child, at 19, he was a child.” 

Women Soca Warriors earn Concacaf Olympic spot

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T&T Women Soca Warriors will be confident of topping the Caribbean Football Unions Olympic Qualifiers finals when they come up against Puerto Rico at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, from 7.30 pm 

This after both teams booked their places in next year’s eight-team Concacaf final round event from February 10-21 in Houston, USA next year with extra-time semifinal wins at the same Couva venue on Wednesday night.

The Women Soca Warriors who defeated Jamaica 1-0 on a Mariah Shade goal in their CFU Cup final last year, fell behind on the stroke of half-time on Wednesday when Jodi Ann Mcgregor netted for the Reggae Girlz.

However, on the resumption, T&T took the match to the visitors and drew level in the 59th thanks to  Dernelle Mascall after which both teams failed to find a winner in regulation-time.

Two minutes into the 30-minute extra-time period, veteran Women Soca Warriors midfielder, Tasha St Louis who got a beaver-trick ina 6-0 first-leg win over St Lucia in the previous round last Friday fired the host ahead.

The locals then survived some nervous moments, but in the end held on for the hard fought come-from-behind win to seal both a Concacaf Final Round qualifying spot and place in tonight’s decider against Puerto Rico, 1-0 victors over Guyana in Wednesday’s first semi final.

Getting the goal for the Puerto Ricans was Karina Soccarras Villalonga in the 119th minute. 

Speaking after the tense encounter, Creece, a former national Olympic team player was full of praise of the supporters that turned out. He added, “I felt that the crowd support really pushed the girls to get the job done in the tough patches of the match.

“The girls have a saying that the crowd should always be their 12th warrior on the field of play and tonight (Wednesday) it was surely present and you can see the extra effort and positive response it brought out from the players and we hope to have that same kind of turn out for the final.”

Reflecting on the match with the Reggae Girlz, Creece a former Fatima College and East Mucurapo standout said he was delighted with the effort and result. “We came up against a tough, well organise team in Jamaica and even though we fell behind, the girls never dropped their heads.

Creece in praising the team also singled out the quartet of Dernelle Mascall, Karyn Forbes, Kamika Forbes and Khadidra Debesette for their impact on the game.” 

He stated, “Mascall joined the team early on Monday, but the trio of Karyn, Kamika and Khadidra only arrived around 1am on Wednesday morning with the game being played in the night.”

“Having Kamika in goal also gives the players an extra bit of confidence with the experience she brings to the team while her sister, Karyn and Mascall showed their qualities as well as Debesette, who ran out of steam, due to the travelling.”

With regards to the mood in the camp, Creece said all the players are on the same page. 

“They all came into the team to give their all and I think we have a positive vibes among us. They have all put the distractions aside and focus on the task at hand. Looking ahead to the clash with Puerto Rico, Creece said the match will be a little different  as they are a team that likes to pass the ball around and play on the counter-attack.

Creece added, “They (Puerto Rico) are not a very physical team, but they are well coach, but overall it should be an interesting match as both teams are coming off extra-time semifinal matches. 

“Our first aim coming into the tournament was to qualify for the Concacaf stage, and now that we have done that, our next target is to win the tournament outright, but we won’t be taking our opponents lightly either,” ended a confident Creece.

From the Concacaf Championship, the top two  will qualify to the 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, August 3-20.

 

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