Wednesday will make it one year since the People’s National Movement (PNM) led by Dr Keith Rowley won the general election and took over the governing of the country from the People’s Partnership coalition. 

Here political analysts grade the Government’s performance in seven key areas and comment on how they have managed the country over the last 12 months.

Dr 

Maukesh Basdeo: 

In addition to setting up a joint border protection agency and strengthening the police service, better handling of the economy and crime would have assisted the Government’s performance. 

Adoption of an intelligence-led national security model and immediately developing a policy on prison management upon assuming power would have also made a difference. 

Engage criminal justice stakeholders to re-engineer the structure to provide an efficient and legitimate system as the foundation for crime prevention, law enforcement and protection of human rights is another area that could have improved the Government’s rating.

RATINGS

Crime/Security 4/10

Education 5/10

Health 4/10

Economy 5/10

Sports 5/10

Accountability 5/10

Transparency 5/10 

Professor John La Guerre:

The process of adjustment by the population will be the most challenging problem facing the Government in the future. People got accustomed to a particular method of governance over the years and will have to adjust to the changes of the current environment. One such expectation is free education which is very rare in the world. 

So far, there have been some reassuring statements and initiatives but I think we need a clearer vision of what kind of challenges we are expected to face in the coming years and how we are going to address them. It is important to have a clear economic policy in moving the country forward which is also crucial for investment. There has not been any clear statement on what the investment plans of the Government were but felt it was an area which government should try to clear the air as much as possible. 

RATINGS

Crime/Security 6/10

Education 7/10

Health 6/10

Economy 6/10

Sports No rating

Accountability 6/10

Transparency 7/10 

Dr Winford James:

No movement with crime. The old problems remain despite increased allocations to the Ministry of National Security. In fact, the levels of unchecked criminality seem to be rising.

In education there are no big ideas yet, though recently established committees seem to be preparing some. 

Focus on removing violence and violent students from schools, making schools ready, healthy and comfortable for students and teachers. 

In health the old problems of bed and drug shortage remain. Many persons are buying their own drugs and are looking to private institutions for relief and comfort.

Government was able to focus on managing falling revenue and income to mostly keep inherited levels of employment and sourcing loans for development. Caution and conservativeness are the names of the game.

Pretty good on accountability. The attitude is right and transparency is inspiring.

Holding more consultations with various communities on their plans and programmes and starting a high stakes demonstration development project would have made a difference on the Government’s scorecard. Govern with the people in their various communities constantly and hold regular consultations and accounting sessions.

RATINGS

Crime/Security 5/10

Education 6/10 

Healthcare 6/10

Economy 7/10

Accountability 9/10

Transparency 9/10

Rosemarie Sant

“It’s been a rough ride, but thankfully we on an even keel now,” says PNM chairman Franklin Khan of his party’s first year in government.

Khan, who holds the ministerial portfolios of Local Government and Rural Development did not want to rate the performance of the Keith Rowley administration. Instead he said they entered office facing the “major challenge” of balancing the fiscal account and attempting to “bring in line the obscene fiscal borrowing which the former Government undertook.” 

In his view, they have done a good job so far.

“The fact that there have been no major retrenchments or cutbacks is testimony to the measures adopted by the Minister of Finance who has performed extremely well,” he said.

According to Khan, the Government was “constrained by access to capital in the first half of the fiscal year.” 

He said: “We dealt with cost overruns of the PP Government, over invoicing, inflated invoicing. We have a lot of investigations on going into some of what we found. They almost brought the overdraft to the limit. There was a time when we had a cash flow of only three days.

He said the Government had “performed reasonably well” with good leadership from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Finance Minister Colm Imbert.

Khan, who recently had the controversial Community Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) placed under his ministry, has met chairman Trevor Lynch and the board but is “still being briefed” as he seek answers on why the programme has become “so unproductive.”

“Cepep has 265 contractors, runs a bill of $50 million and employs a grand total of 12,000 people but the country is still overrun with bush,” he said.

“It was not like that before. I plan to bring sanity back to the programme. We are not getting value for money. Cepep has lost its way and I intend to bring it back on track.”

The minister said he was not blaming contractors for problems with the programme. 

“Management failed to give the country value for money and this must be addressed,” he said.

However, he assured: “There will be no major retrenchment. I am reviewing the programme and I will put my own stamp on Cepep.”

On the issue of Local Government reform, Khan said 14 consultations were held and a draft policy paper is now before the Cabinet. He expects legislation to go before Parliament by the first quarter of 2017. The next local Government election will be held under the existing legislation.

Improving rural communities

Commenting on one of the PNM’s key manifesto promises, Khan said over the last year Government had been crafting the structure for rural development. He said he had requested an increase in his ministry’s budgetary allocation “to facilitate projects to improve rural development infrastructure.” 

He said there was no budgetary allocation for rural development in the 2015/2016 budget because when they came into office after the general election the budget template had already been set. 

However, development projects are in the pipeline, with tenders are out for the design of the Moruga Road Fishing Facility and Port, a “$250 million dollar project which will be awarded in October. Other contracts are for the “route alignment and preliminary design for the Valencia to Toco Road and the Toco Port to Scarborough. 

“These will cater for the development of east Trinidad,” Khan said.

The aim, he explained, was “not to urbanise rural communities but to keep the rural lifestyle and bring the communities up to the standard of the urban areas.” 

“If there has been any discrimination in this country it is urban versus rural. Rural people suffer because they don’t have the same services and facilities that urban people get. The devolution of authority through local government reform will also help in this regard.”

Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre describes her first year in government as “a mixture of challenges and exciting new developments with far reaching implications for the local industry.”

“My biggest challenge has been meeting the expectations of my constituents,” said Olivierre, the MP for La Brea.

In the past few months constituents have protested over lack of jobs and poor infrastructure. Olivierre admitted the constituency “has been neglected for so many years and there was a level of expectation where jobs and services are concerned.”

She also admitted that taking over the Energy Minister at a time of declining oil and gas production has been difficult because of the requirement to manage the gas supply to industries to ensure an equitable distribution of available volumes.

“There is the added concern about the integrity of the aging infrastructure and the significant investment that will be required to replace old assets,” she said

However, Olivierre is confident about the energy sector because of what she see as a major positive—continuation of exploration activity by BP and BHP.

She said, “Globally, oil companies are reducing exploration expenditure. However the continuation of activity shows the confidence of the multi-nationals in our energy sector.”

In January, T&T’s natural gas production was less than the required 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, while production last year averaged 3.8 billion cubic feet per day. The expection is that the Juniper project, scheduled to come on stream in 2017, will bring production capacity up to a maximum of 590 million cubic feet per day. 

Another major development is the Loran-Manatee cross-border field. For more than a decade, T&T and Venezuela have been in discussions on field which has an estimated 10.25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. More than 70 per cent belongs to Venezuela and the remaining 26 per cent to T&T. 

A unitization and unit operating agreement for the development and production of the Loran Manatee cross-border natural gas fields was signed in 2007, but it was only in May that a memorandum was signed which allows the two countries to direct operating companies on cross-border initiatives. Under the agreement, a consortium company has been established to operate the fields.

Oliviere said she is the two countries are moving closer to finalisation of agreements required for the fields to be produced.

“The operating companies have committed to submitting a unitisation and unit operating agreement by the end of September, which would be followed by a conceptual development plan by the end of November.”

Achievements in first year

Minister Olivierre said there were several achievements in the first year in office.

• MOU signed with Ghana for co-operation in energy.

• Commenced discussions with Guyana “towards execution of a MOU for co-operation in the development of their energy sector.”

• Issuance of the first retail marketing licence in more than five years.

• Completed drilling of the first deep water well.

• Start of construction of the CGCL methanol plant jointly owned by the Mitsuibishi Corporation and Neal and Massy in La Brea following the re-negotiation of key agreements.

• Completed phase five of the Melejo Forest survey for mineral reserves.

• Completed the national facilities audit of oil and gas infrastructure.

Tobago hoteliers say if Government is serious about developing tourism, the island’s aiport must be upgraded, airline agreements signed and there must be better marketing of the country.

They said so after Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Vidiah Ramkhelawan announced implementation of a structured certification programme to build profitability in the sector.

Ramkhelawan, who spoke at a stakeholder forum at Cara Suites Hotel, Claxton Bay, said tourism has potential to become a major income generator for T&T and Government plans to focus on visitor safety and security, environmental conservation and assistance to small tourist operators. 

She added that tourism is being put on the front burner.

“We are under no illusions about the highly competitive nature of the local and international tourism market but we are convinced that T&T can become a major tourism player,” she said.

However, she warned: “If the quality of our service and infrastructure is not up to par with what is expected internationally, visitors will go internationally.” 

Several hoteliers agreed that more needed to be done to upgrade the local tourism industry.

Kenneth Patino, who owns Enchanted Waters in Tobago, said Government must first try to remove negative travel advisories. 

“The word has to get out that it is no longer negative to travel to Tobago as a destination,” he said. 

Patino added that Government must sign agreements with airlines for direct flights into Tobago.

“We are doing our best to market ourselves internationally on Tripadvisor, booking.com and Facebook but when people see us online, they cannot get here because there is no proper flight,” he said. 

Patino said there is need a good marketing strategy to bring more tourists to the islands. He said in years gone by, 85 per cent of his guests were foreigners but now he was getting 90 per cent locals. He added that Crown Point Airport is in a dire need of an upgrade.

Alcohol was prohibited during the World Cup qualifying football match between T&T and Guatemala on Friday night because the T&T Football Association (TTFA) felt it did not make any sense to pay $100,000 for a bar licence. So said acting general secretary of the TTFA, Azaad Khan.

Without a bar licence, no alcohol could be legally brought to the venue. Khan also apologised to patrons who had to endure the “torture” of trying to enter the Hasely Crawford stadium for the game.

The estimated crowd at the football match was around 17,000 and there were six people at the gates scanning tickets for the game. This left thousands of ticket holders still packed in a crowd outside of the gate while the game was already in progress.

“We have not sat down and looked at that yet but yes, there was a serious problem. I saw what happened I mean that was torture,” Khan said.

“I think we have to apologise for what happened and try to make sure that that does not happen again because if I was a fan out there...that was too much,” he said.

There were two assigned entrances for ticket holders. Those for uncovered stands had to enter through the St John’s Gate while ticket holders for the covered stands had to enter through the Lion’s Gate.

Security adviser to the TTFA Gary Griffith said someone decided to override the operational policy he had put in place for the last World Cup qualifying game at the Hasely Crawford Stadium against St Vincent and the Grenadines in March.

“It was inappropriate, it was ill-advised. You do not scan tickets at one entrance point. You cannot scan 20,000 tickets at one area. The plan will be at future games the ticket scanning will obviously take place at the 12 entrance points around the stadium so people will have the assurance that that will never take place again. 

“Whoever made that decision to override what I had done, it was inappropriate and unfortunate but it will not reoccur,” Griffith said.

There was a good turnout for the game with the stadium being packed with the majority of patrons wearing red.

Griffith said while the ban of alcohol at football events is not new he does not feel that this country requires such a stringent measure.

“My personal view of it as a security consultant for the TTFA is that based on our threat assessment for here there really is not a need for us to go to that extreme, it is not to say that we have spectators who are unruly,” he said.

“I believe this will not take place in the future and there will not be a situation like that so that alcohol would most likely will be sold in the future.”

The restrictions however did not stop some beers being sold illegally at the venue.

Contacted for comment, TTFA president David John Williams said he would have to look into the issue of the prohibition of alcohol at the game with the Local Organising Committee.

Austin Lewis, 73, known in the calypso world as King Austin, died yesterday morning at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Austin’s son, Marvin King, said his father had been battling with Alzheimers for many years.

“I was taking care of him but then it became too difficult for me to do so, so I put him in a home. He fell ill there and was warded at hospital.”

King Austin, who sang Winsford “Joker” Devine’s Progress in 1980, was regarded as an icon in calypso. He placed second to Relator in that year’s National Calypso Monarch final. 

A modest and unassuming man, in one interview King Austin said: “I love every human being very much. It doesn’t matter where you are from. I love all the people.” 

He subsequently sang Who Guarding the Guards, a calypso which also enjoyed much critical acclaim.

King Austin actually began in the calypso arena in 1976, singing with the CDC calypso tent. He subsequently performed at other tents rubbing shoulders on the casts with bards like Mighty Sparrow, Lord Melody, Lord Nelson, Bro Superior and Chalkdust.

Highly-acclaimed songwriter Winsford “Joker” Devine said he is saddened by King Austin’s passing as he was unable to see him before he died. 

“I had been meaning to pass and check and check Austin where he used to lime on the Promenade. I met Austin through Keith Smith from the Express. I had written Progress for Sparrow but he didn’t sing it. Keith Smith introduced me to Austin and, from the time Austin heard Progress he loved it. I sent him to Semp Recording Studio where it was recorded. From the start, Progress was an instant hit, winning six encores the first night Austin sang it in the tent.

National Calypso Monarch multiple title-holder Dr Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool said: “Blakie brought him (King Austin) to The Regal Tent and we accepted him. I remember King Austin to be a very humble, quiet and respectable human being. I remember him always smiling with his gold teeth shining. 

“King Austin really loved Laventille and always used to boast about Laventille and its people. He was committed to Laventille and would let everyone know that he was from there. Austin had a unique voice, one that will be missed in calypso.”

After the popularity of Progress and Who Guarding the Guards, other calypsoes recorded by King Austin included The World Today is a Ball of Confusion, Special Loving, The World Today, Time is Not Easy in the City, Soca Taking Over, Changes of Man, You Can’t Please The People and Keep It Coming. 

Of his father, King said: “My father was a born and bred son of Laventille. 

“His mother was one of the oldest citizens of Laventille and died at the age of 104 years, about four months ago.

“Daddy’s only friend is Rawle ‘Pele’ Thompson and he was in the process of doing a tribute to King Austin on September 17 to assist with his medical expenses. 

“We are still going ahead with the tribute and it will be held at SWWTU Hall in Port-of-Spain.”

King said funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

Kevan Sinanan walked onto the set of Planting Seeds anxiously clenching an invention he had engineered in his garage, a gadget made to match keys to their respective locks faster. 

He stood in position, took a breath, and calmly made his pitch. Not only was he bravely sharing his vision with a panel of investors, but he also knew in the back of his mind that very soon the entire Caribbean region would be watching his pitch on television. 

Even so, fear of failure didn’t hold him back as he confidently explained his product and its functionalities. 

During Sinanan’s pitch, Joseph Rahael, director of Amera Caribbean Development Limited, sat on the Planting Seeds panel of investors, watching and listening intently. 

Given Rahael’s background in real estate and land development, the gadget did not instantly pique his interest. 

However, as Sinanan continued to speak, Rahael began thinking about the potential of the young engineer, and wondered to himself: “If he can create such a product, what else is he capable of?” 

After the pitch, the investors on the panel grilled Sinanan, and as each question was served, Sinanan was able to return a solid answer with ease and confidence, signalling to the investors that he knew exactly was he was talking about. 

Then it was crunch time, and Rahael, inspired by the young engineer’s passion and drive, made an offer. 

Sinanan was interested but wanted to wait and see if any other offers were on the table. 

However, being the shrewd businessman that he is, Rahael indicated that he was making a one-time offer only, warning Sinanan that if he went elsewhere there would be no deal. 

Sinanan took a minute to think, looked up, smiled, and said, “I accept.”

Right here in T&T, two people with two completely different backgrounds were able to cross paths and discover overlapping business interests—all thanks to the platform provided by the Planting Seeds TV programme.

Rahael’s enthusiasm for “passionate people” and Sinanan’s passion for inventing came together to create a new business partnership, with each person feeding on the other’s drive and potential. 

Was it by chance? Or was it fate that brought these two together? And what’s next for this newly- founded business relationship? 

Sinanan explained that after the show, he realised securing financing for his dream was not the most valuable thing he received from his experience on Planting Seeds. 

The UWI graduate said having Rahael as a mentor and business partner taught him more than he could ever imagine about business and strategy. 

“Learning happens everyday, everywhere and from everyone,” Sinanan said.

The two have moved full-speed ahead and are now finalising the prototype of Sinanan’s invention in order to mass-produce and export it to the US market. 

They are also looking into multiple applications for the product, so that the venture can diversify and evolve, as there are still a plethora of opportunities yet to be explored. Planting Seeds was made possible thanks to the collaborative effort of Planting Seeds producers Ernst & Young, and JD Sellier, as well as sponsors JMMB, Caribbeanjobs.com, Beacon Insurance, Blink l Bmobile, and Very Exciting Things. 

Be sure to tune in every Tuesday at 8 pm on CNC3, and watch as T&T’s very own up-and-coming entrepreneurs vie to turn their business dreams into reality. 

The Plastikeep Recovery Programme, aimed at generating public participation in recycling, has received financial support from the Massy Group. Through Massy’s contribution, collection bins will be returned to all Plastikeep collection centres across the country, for recyclable waste to be collected regularly.

“We have a role to play, along with our valued customers, to take some responsibility for disposing of our waste in an environmentally sensitive manner. 

“Our support is meant to maintain regular collection of the waste, which is a core activity to keep the practise of recycling alive and growing in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Derek Winford, CEO, Massy Stores (Trinidad).

“The entire Massy Group is behind this initiative, not just Massy Stores, because we understand that our contribution today is an investment in a cleaner, more sustainable country for our children.”

In June, Plastikeep’s operations were halted due to the pending appointment of a board for the Green Fund. Plastikeep’s project director, Rosanna Farmer, had earlier this year lamented the fact that the NGO did not receive any funding for the year from Government, which threatened the continuance of its operation. 

Massy has pledged to offset the funding of collection services and is optimistic that Government will shortly resume its funding of the project.

“I am so grateful to Massy for coming to our rescue and ensuring that we are able to keep the collection effort going. 

“The success of this programme is based on changing human behaviour and getting our citizens in the habit of recycling. 

“Without bins and a collection service, we are hindering behavioural change so Massy’s commitment to facilitating this activity is immeasurable,” said Farmer.

Facing the possibility of missing out on his first week of school, Josiah Gay spent the last hours of his school vacation praying for a miracle.

His parents, Alpha Ramdass and father Lyndon Gay, a fisherman, had been struggling to find money to acquire everything he needed to go to his first choice school, St Benedict’s College, after the fishing industry was thrown into chaos because of oil spills and fish kill scare last month.

With the new term fast approaching, Josiah was worried that despite working hard and scoring excellent marks in the SEA exams, he would be unable to attend school. As they looked at their son’s sad face, Josiah’s parents begged friends and relatives for support. 

Josiah’s grandmother, Younis Gay, used her pension money to buy school uniforms for him and his two siblings Joleen, six and Joleena, three, while his aunt, Renata Dookie, bought them notebooks, a few textbooks and stationary. However, the family still had no money to pay Josiah’s passage to get to San Fernando or to buy him a new book bag or shoes.

It was only yesterday, after the president of the St Benedict’s College Past Pupil Association Moriba Baker and community activist Shankar Teeluchsingh contacted the family pledging support, that Josiah breathed a sigh of relief.

“Finally, I am on my way to school,” Josiah told the T&T Guardian.

The young boy, who is respected as one of the top academic performers in his village, Fullerton, said he was thankful for the assistance given to him. 

“My mother had told me that she won’t be able to send me to school for the first week because the bus does not pick up the Form Ones from the first week,” Josiah said. 

Expressing eagerness to start classes, Josiah said he was relieved when  told that he would finally get a chance to go to school. Lyndon said while he was proud of his son, he was still worried about financing his son’s education. 

In an interview yesterday evening, after they got word of the boy’s plight from the T&T Guardian, Baker said the association will pay Josiah’s transportation fees until he gets a place on the free school bus. He said the books, shoes and bag which Josiah needs will also be purchased.

“During orientation we told parents that anyone who is in need we will assist,” Baker said.

Josiah’s mother expressed gratitude for the support when contacted yesterday.

“I haven’t heard this kind of thing happening in a long time. It feels good that people could care enough to do this for my son,” she said.

More students in need
In an interview, Teeluchsingh said a 25-seater bus operates from Cedros to Granville transporting students to St Benedict’s, ASJA Boys and Girls, Presentation College and Naparima. However he said this was not sufficient.

“There are more than 25 students going to these schools and we have a lot of poor people in these areas. A private bus charges $200 a week and it is very hard for some parents even when the students excel,” Teeluchsingh said. 

He also questioned why fishermen from the south western peninsula were sidelined in Government’s financial aid programme. Saying more than 1,000 fishermen were affected by the dip in fish sales caused by the recent oilspills and fish kills, Teeluchsingh called on the Government to assist the fishing communities of Granville, Fullerton, Icacos, St Marie, Bonasse, Bamboo and St Mary’s. 

He explained that while Josiah was able to get assistance in time for the new term, dozens of other children in the peninsula will have no choice but to stay at home because their parents could not afford to send them to school.

While a pot of chicken pelau simmered nearby, villagers of New Grant came out in their numbers to help contractors complete infrastructural works at the New Grant Anglican school yesterday.

Although it seemed like an impossible task, the cheerful volunteers worked alongside Junior Sammy contractors and Temperature General Supplies personnel as they helped to prepare the new pre-fabricated school for today’s new school term.

Principal Lester Haynes was seen rubbing down old school desks while parent Winston Mc Intosh packed them inside the classroom when the T&T Guardian visited the compound yesterday. Grandmother Cecilia Ignacio and parent Kathleen Wade meanwhile dragged heavy blackboards into the classrooms before giving the floors a rigorous sweep. 

As workmen from Junior Sammy prepared the gypsum walls and painted the classrooms, other parents mopped the floors of the main administrative section.

Wade said for two months before the last school term ended, students were out of school. The old school structure had been condemned by the Ministry of Works and hope was dim that students would attend classes today. Wade said what transpired recently was amazing.

“Within three weeks, they started to work around the clock and now I am certain that our children will have school tomorrow,” Wade said.  She said her daughter, Mariah Richards, was excited to start classes. 

Charlie Jagdeo, the owner of Temperature Supplies, said he started air conditioning the rooms only two days ago.

“We will be finished by today (yesterday). There will be AC in the classrooms,” Jagdeo said. 

Director of the Educational Facilities Company Limited Anthony Bisnath said the contractor operated three shifts in a 24-hour period.

“It means he was able to do nine weeks of work in three weeks,” Bisnath said. 

As to the integrity of the structure, Bisnath said the pre-fabricated school could last between 15 to 30 years depending on weather conditions. He also said that similar structures were being used at the Barrackpore Vedic and the Granville RC Schools. Asked what was the cost of the school, Bisnath said “somewhere between $3.2 to $3.5 million.” 

“This is far less than it would take to build a brand new school,” Bisnath said.

The school has a population of 159 pupils. Meanwhile, works also continued at the Granville RC School yesterday. President of the Granville Community Council Alderman Shankar Teeluchsingh said he was “95 per cent” that school will be opened today.

“Based on what I am seeing, work is going on at 100 per cent pace and they are doing the final touches,” Teeluchsingh said. He added that members of the school’s PTA were also assisting the contractors with completing the works.

65 projects completed
Sixty five projects done in 197 schools across the country have been completed ahead of the start of today’s new school year.

In an interview yesterday, director of the Educational Facilities Company Limited, Anthony Bisnath, said there were 201 projects in 197 schools identified by the Ministry of Education and handed over to the EFCL to complete. However, he said many of the projects would have taken longer than two months to complete.

Although only 65 projects were fully executed, Bisnath said this did not mean that schools could not necessarily reopen.

“What we did was subdivide all the works according to county. Project managers were assigned to counties. We allocated resources from within the office and it was a total team effort,” he said.

“There were 201 projects identified by the Ministry of Education and sent across to EFCL for works to be done. We have completed 65 out of that.” 

Bisnath added, “For the rest of the projects we have already identified the works that were required and we will allow the schools to be opened.” He noted that works will continue after the new school term opens. 

Concerned citizens are appealing to San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein to clean up a derelict service station in Marabella which has become an eyesore and a health hazard.

A citizen who requested anonymity complained that the property along Southern Main Road, which is surrounded by other businesses, was a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which could spread the virus to residents.

Noting that the fine for unkept properties was increased from $500 to $3,500 recently, the woman said it made no sense if the law was not being enforced. The service station is located opposite Union Road and is fenced but has been shut down for some time now, she said last Friday.

“I have observed this situation for the past months and weeks and recently it has gotten worse. In observing it I would like to bring it to the attention of the Mayor Haji Kazim Hosein of San Fernando,” the woman told the T&T Guardian, noting that Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and the mayor have been on several Zika drives across the country and in the south.

Other passersby and workers in the area also complained about the state of the property. 

“The country is on Zika alert and nobody seems to care about taking care of the property where mosquitoes are being bred, garbage is being dumped and scattered in it,” one passerby complained.

“I was standing here near the traffic light and I was feeling mosquito biting me and when I look around I happen to observe this pool of water and pile of garbage, which is a health hazard.” 

When contacted on the matter, Hosein said he would immediately investigate the situation. 

“If I can’t get the owners, whether it is government or private, we will go in and clean it up,” Hosein said.

Marabella West councillor La-Verne Smith also confirmed the situation. She said sometime ago the corporation had sprayed the compound and spoken to the owner. However, she said further attempts to contact the owner have been unsuccessful. However, she promised to take immediate steps to rectify the problem.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was able to keep his cool and still manage the country in such a way that there were no scandals every day, general secretary of the People's National Movement (PNM), Ashton Ford, said yesterday.

He made the comment in response to a poll in yesterday’s Sunday Guardian which showed a majority of voters were dissatisfied with the Government’s performance in its first year.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian, Ford questioned what the people expected when the PNM came into Government meeting the price of oil down to US$26 a barrel as compared to US$120 a barrel when the last administration went into office in 2010.

“We had difficulty in managing the affairs of the county and had to make some adjustments, which entailed holding back on a number of things we would have liked to do as stated in our manifesto,” Ford said.

He also commended Rowley for being able to bring back the economy to a certain level where T&T survived, “and still we were able to introduce 12.5 per cent value added taxes, start the housing programme, move into buildings that remained unoccupied during the five years the last administration was in office for public servants, we were still able to pay out to the Caroni workers and make adjustments to GATE in cutting out the wastage, attend to the much abused food card system and much more.”

Ford also praised the Government for not firing people when it first got into office, making reference to the 3,000 people who were fired within three months when the last administration took up office.

“We have not fired anybody from CEPEP, all the contractors are still there. We maintain the employment in the public sector. We have all the CEOs at all the regional health authorities intact and we still have the director at Education there,” Ford said.

In a media report yesterday, Rowley suggested adjustments were coming to his Cabinet after the upcoming national budget, including bringing in new faces via the Senate.

Asked about the upcoming adjustments that Rowley spoke of and any hints to what those adjustments may be, Ford said that was the call of the prime minister. He added that he remains in full support of his leader.

“The adjustments Rowley would be making would be in terms of governance. He is the only one who can judge performance,” Ford said.

Asked what the public could expect in the upcoming national budget, Ford only said that the Government would be in a better position now to present the budget as compared to having just mere weeks, as it did when it came into office for its presentation of the 2015/2016 budget.

Poll a signal to Govt
Political analyst Winford James said yesterday that the Government ought to be concerned and make the relevant adjustments for the better to keep people's goodwill in the coming second year.

James was commenting on a Sunday Guardian poll where the majority of some 961 people polled said they were dissatisfied with its performance in its first term. The results for being very dissatisfied represented 65.66 per cent of voters—631 people.

Although admitting he was doubtful about whether the result of the Guardian poll was truly representative of public opinion, as it did not seem to be a scientific poll, James said if he was the Government and got such a result he would be concerned that people were calling on him and his government to make relevant adjustments where the economy and diversification were concerned.

“It’s a signal to Government that the people are not happy in the way it’s going and therefore the Government should pay attention and make the relevant adjustments," James said.

Asked what he thought about Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement in a media report that adjustments in the Cabinet would be made after the presentation of the national budget, James, noting the PM’s cautiousness in the way he signalled changes are coming, said he believes that his (Rowley’s) aim is to “make governance better than how it is going and that he wants to have greater efficiency.”

Efforts to contact Rowley yesterday were unsuccessful as he did not answer his cellphone, but in an interview with I95.5 FM yesterday, Rowley said the upcoming adjustments were not about performance but about “the Government keeping its shape in certain ways and maximising strengths and minimising weaknesses.”

He added that he tried as hard as he could to give some sense of stability in the Government’s structure in the first year, admitting that there was one adjustment he had to make and that was when former housing minister Marlene Mc Donald exited from Cabinet.

“I had to make a decision because of that and I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I am not required to give out portfolios to people to pacify them in any political structure, which was the shape of the last government. I don’t have that problem.”

The T&T Guardian continues its performance review of the Dr Keith Rowley-led Government as it marks one year in office on Wednesday. Today, political analyst Indera Sagewan-Alli gives her assessment. 

Low performance 
Indera Sagewan-Alli was blunt. She said the Government had not performed “very well” and attributed that to the “sense of fear and uncertainty” which characterised the economy. 

Although she did not rate the Government out of ten for its overall performance and in the key areas, Sagewan-Alli instead gave her candid opinion. Her summary of their performance was that the Government had failed. 

Her analysis was that there is a sense of stagnation in the country and reports of job cuts, rising prices, increased mortgage and utility rates were the new expectations. 

The 2016/2017 budget of $63 billion, she said, was revised this year to $59 billion, yet the evidence of the expenditure was not apparent in the economy. 

Crime/security: “Poorly”
In the area of crime/security, she rated Government “poorly,” saying the runaway crime statistics was frightening.

“Given that the security of the nation is a function of the Government, it must take responsibility. This situation is affecting an already fledgling tourism industry. Only last week the government of Canada upgraded its travel advisory to its citizens against coming to Trinidad and Tobago because of the continued upsurge in criminal activity,” she said. 

She added the large sum allocated to the Ministry of National Security in the budget was not translating into lower crime. 

Education: “Bare pass”
While the Government found “the will” to adjust the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (Gate) programme and the laptop programme, she said these adjustments were made primarily to save on expenditure instead of focusing on “deeper and more structural problems.” 

Sagewan-Alli said: “Now while it’s a start, there is so much more thinking through that is needed to ensure that these programmes are truly working in the best interest of the country’s growth agenda.”

Healthcare: “Fail”
She gave an outright failing grade in this area, saying the Government has maintained the status quo.

“And while the sector did not suffer in the national budget allocation, this has been a year characterised by serious shortages in medicines, particularly those available through the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme. 

“Chief amongst these is the shortage of cancer treatment medicine. This is a matter of life and death to the recipients and the current shortages can negatively impact people’s chances of recovery,” she said. 

She said this was due to the lack of procurement planning.

Economy: “Very poor” 
She said there were no signs that Government had any proper plans in place to address the worsening economic situation. She said every sector had contracted this year, unemployment increased, cost of living increased, public debt accelerated and revenue contracted. 

Accountability and transparency: “Business as usual” 
On these two issues, Sagewan-Alli said: “It is business as usual. We are no more presented with information than before. This feeds the sense of uncertainly and fear.”

Make economic diversification a priority 
Asked what the Government could have done differently in the last year to improve on its performance, she said it could have made economic diversification its number one priority. 

Even as it managed and minimised the social fallout from a declining purse, which it has done, Sagewan-Alli said it needed to be setting up parallel mechanisms to derive new growth and revenue sources for the economy. 

“Now this is not a short-term goal, but it needs to be put into the public domain as the way forward so that the people can all rally around a pathway to innovative growth,” she said.

“Maybe this is happening behind the scenes, but from where I sit I am not sensitised to its development.”

As for advice to the Government as it moves into its second year, she said it should establish and resource a full-time institution focused on economic diversification; on analysing industry by industry to determine where we should develop based on robust market analysis, value chain analysis, cluster mapping and development. 

From today, members of the public will have to pay increased national insurance contributions.

However, the National Insurance Board (NIB) says it is justified in increasing its contribution rates because benefits payments, which include the $3,000 a month minimum pension, were being partly funded by the scheme’s investment earnings instead of from contributions.

According to the NIB’s website, effective today, national insurance contributions will be increased from 12 per cent of insurable earnings to 13.2 per cent of insurable earnings. The maximum insurable earnings covered will also be increased from $12,000 to $13,600 per month.

In a statement to the T&T Guardian yesterday, NIB said: “The NIB’s decision to increase the contribution rates and the maximum insurable earnings was in keeping with the conclusions of the 9th Actuarial Review, which recommended a robust mix of short-term and long-term reform measures to fortify the strength of the national insurance fund in coming decades. It was also one of the best short-term measures to adopt to ensure fund sustainability.”

An actuarial review, according to the NIB, is conducted in five-year intervals or less and combined with projections, it assesses the ratio of benefits to contribution income and pronounces on the long-term financial condition of the fund.

Dated June 2015, but with information as at June 2013, the 9th Actuarial Review, which the NIB is using to justify increasing contribution rates, states: “From 2019-20, assets will rapidly decrease and the NIS funds will be completely depleted in 2029-30, if nothing is modified in terms of contributions or benefits.”

However, NIB assured yesterday that “increasing the contribution rate and the maximum insurable earnings will safeguard the National Insurance System, improve fund stability and preserve the NIS fund, as the NIB continues to put measures in place to ensure that the organisation remains solvent and viable now and in the future. The increased maximum insurable earnings will also result in greater protection for employees  in the long-term, since a greater proportion of their income will be insured.”

On the issue of the premium contribution, NIB said the current 12 per cent cannot stay. In the 9th Actuarial Review, NIB said: “The general average premium of the system (the constant contribution rate necessary to finance all NIS benefits over the next 50 years) is 23.8  per cent.

“What is clear, is that the financial situation of the scheme ‘has significantly deteriorated’ since the last report was done, due to the recession and therefore, 'action must be taken' to restore its financial health.”

It added, “The present contribution rate of 12.0 per cent is not sufficient to support the present level of benefits in the long run. It is not even sufficient to meet current benefit expenditures, which represent 13.8 per cent of the payroll in 2013-14. Investment earnings have to be used presently to support the expenditures of the system.”

Two men were murdered in separate shootings in Arouca and Chaguanas early yesterday morning. In the first incident, Kamau Charles, 31, of Windy Hill, Arouca, was liming at the La Luna Bar along the Eastern Main Road, Arouca, when he walked outside around 2.30 am. 

Police said as he was urinating on the wall of a nearby business, a gunman walked up behind him and shot him in his head. The gunman then ran away. Charles, who police said had a lengthy criminal record, was pronounced dead on the scene by a District Medical Officer (DMO). 

Investigators believe that Charles’ killer was also liming in the bar and followed him outside. In fact, they said other patrons confirmed their theory, saying believed his killer was also inside the establishment, where several such incidents have taken place in the past decade. Police had not arrested any suspects up to late yesterday. 

Almost three hours after Charles’ murder, police responded to a report of a shooting outside Mid Centre Mall in Chaguanas. When they arrived on the scene they found a wounded man lying unconscious along the road at the right side of the shopping mall. The victim was later pronounced dead on the scene. 

The victim remained unidentified by police up to late yesterday, as he did not have any identification documents on him. Anyone with information that may help identify the victim is asked to contact the Chaguanas Police Station at 665-5271/0200. 

Post-mortems will be performed on both men’s bodies at the Forensic Science Centre in St James today. Their murders raised the murder toll for the year to 312. 

Meanwhile, Homicide detectives are investigating the possibility that one of the two men who were found shot dead in Belmont on Thursday night was in fact the other’s attacker. 

According to reports, around 11.25 pm, residents of Roget Place, Belmont, reported hearing a volley of gunshots. When police arrived, William Louis, 34 and Rahim Marshall, 23, were found shot dead. 

Although police initially classified the case as a double murder, Louis’ relatives on Friday claimed that Marshall had attempted to rob him before he (Louis) wrestled the gun from Marshall and shot him with it. They claimed that Louis was then shot by Marshall’s accomplices. 

Police sources said they heard of the family’s claims but would wait until tests for gunpowder residue on Marshall are done during his post-mortem. They said no gun was found on the scene but noted it could have been removed before they arrived.

Three drug smugglers will appear in court this morning following the seizure of almost $100,000 in marijuana by the T&T Coast Guard yesterday. 

In a press release yesterday, Coast Guard public relations officer Lieutenant Sherron Manswell said the suspects, two men and a woman, were detained by a team of officers three miles off the coast of Chacachacare Island. According to Manswell, the officers were on patrol around 1.17 am when they stopped a pirogue named “Kelsea” after its occupants started behaving suspiciously upon seeing them. 

The officers found a parcel of marijuana wrapped in plastic aboard the vessel and recovered a crocus bag containing 24 similar parcels, which was found floating near to the boat. Investigators believe the smugglers dumped their drugs overboard upon seeing the Coast Guard interceptor patrol boat. 

The suspects were arrested and the boat was towed to the Coast Guard’s Staubles Bay base. 

The suspects were later handed over to detectives from the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB). The drugs weighed a total of 7.2 kilos and has an estimated street value of $93,600.

RALPH BANWARIE

Fishermen and Friends of the Sea secretary Gary Aboud may have been lured to the Manzanilla beach yesterday in an apparent fish kill hoax.

In a message to the media on Saturday evening, Aboud said they were reliably informed by their members that dead fish had washed ashore and were rotting at Manzanilla. The message also warned the public to avoid Manzanilla and not expose themselves to the possible health risk until it is known what had caused the fish kill.

“We are attempting to contact the EMA through their emergency hotline, and trust they will investigate the matter with urgency and if necessary determine any responsible parties and see that they are brought to justice,” the media statement said.
But when Aboud turned up yesterday, there was no sign of any fish kill.

The T&T Guardian met Aboud and a female companion looking for the dead fish themselves and expressing surprise that there was no sign of any. Asked who gave him the message that prompted the media release and subsequent visit yesterday, Aboud said a reliable friend of the FFOS from Manzanilla and said he was confident that it was no hoax.

However, fishermen, lifeguards, villagers and watchmen said they had seen no sign of any fish kill along the beach.

Lifeguard and part time fisherman Alvin Persad looked at T&T Guardian in shock when asked if he knew of any fish kill sighting recently. Noting the recent fish kill controversy affecting fisherfolk in the Gulf Paria, he urged those spreading to rumour get their facts correct.

“I have patrolled the beach and not one dead fish was seen on the shore. Look, the tide is low and one can see that there are no dead fishes. If there were dead fishes, corbeaux will be seen. Are you seeing any corbeaux?” He pointed out that the report may have been the reason why the nearby resort was sparsely populated yesterday.

At the nearby Manzanilla fishing depot, the fishermen said they too had not seen any fish kill.

“Our waters are free from any toxic chemicals and I only hope that no one is trying anything on us to prevent our sale of fish, which has increased over the weeks,” one fisherman said

Manager of the Cocal Estate resort, who only gave his name as Yankee, said after hearing the news he walked the entire beach from the resort to Mitan Bridge and saw no dead fish. He said he also did not hear anyone complain of this either.  

At Ortoire, fishermen told T&T Guardian that their fish sales had gone up since reports of fish kill in the Gulf of Paria. They said they were hoping someone was not trying to cause panic.

“The fact is that there are no dead fish, no health risk and all are welcome to the beaches of Manzanilla,” one said, adding they also caught lots of crabs in their traps on Saturday night.

“We live by fishing and we will ensure that our daily livelihood is not hampered by illegal activities. We want to fish and sell our fish, so we can have bread on our table for our family.”

The United National Congress has appealed a judge’s decision to dismiss its five election petitions challenging the result of last September’s general elections. Attorneys for the Opposition party filed its appeal of Justice Mira Dean-Armorer’s decision last Thursday.

In her judgement last month, Dean-Armorer had rejected the UNC’s claim that the election should be invalidated because the Election and Boundaries’ Commission (EBC) was not allowed to extend the poll by one hour due to heavy rainfall in Trinidad. 

While Dean-Armorer had agreed with the UNC that the EBC acted illegally, she ruled that its error did not materially affect the result of the election, in which People’s National Movement (PNM) beat the UNC by a 23-18 margin.

A date for a hearing of the appeal is expected to be set by the Court of Appeal within 14 days. In its notice of appeal, the UNC identified almost two dozen grounds on which they are challenging Dean-Armorer’s judgment. 

The party claims that the judge erred in speculating over its decision to file petitions for only six marginal constituencies-San Fernando West, Tunapuna, St Joseph, Toco/Sangre Grande, Moruga/Tableland and La Horquetta/Talparo. 

The petition for La Horquetta/Talparo was dismissed before the trial of the petitions, as it was served on the successful PNM candidate Maxie Cuffie past the deadline required. 

The UNC also contends that the judge was wrong to dismiss its evidence of the unknown consequences of the EBC’s decision as speculation. 

“It was not known from the evidence before her how many people were aware of the commission’s directive and how those people who were aware of it would have reacted to it. 

“These unknown consequences meant that the learned judge could not properly have found with certainty that the breaches did not materially affect the outcome of the election,” the appeal stated. 

In a press release, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her party’s Queen’s Counsel advised that it has a strong appeal against Dean-Armorer’s views on the consequences of the illegality committed by the EBC. 

“The Court of Appeal is the final court in election matters and we believe the issues raised in these election petitions warrant further judicial scrutiny, so that there can be a definitive statement on the law. I expect that the appeal will provide much-needed clarification on issues that are critical and central to our democracy,” Persad-Bissessar said. 

Persad-Bissessar again criticised the EBC’s conduct in handling the election and extension. 

“No doubt, the EBC acted on legal advice in this matter. As would be expected, a well resourced institution like the EBC would retain the best lawyers that money can buy to advise it. 

“In spite of this they got it wrong, as the court agreed with us that the decision to extend the time for voting was unconstitutional and illegal,” she said. 

Persad-Bissessar said the EBC was yet to file a cross-appeal challenging Dean-Armorer’s findings against it.

Rosemarie Sant

The chairman of the Integrity Commission retired Justice Zainool Hosein has described as “unfair” criticisms levelled against the commission by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. 

“We are not sleeping on our work. It is unfair especially when criticisms are made in the absence of any details to support it,” Hosein said yesterday.

It was during a radio call in programme on Sunday that Rowley criticised the commission for the length of time which it was taking to investigate allegations made against former housing minister Marlene Mc Donald which led to her dismissal from the Cabinet. 

Rowley told i95.5 FM that “in the spirit of integrity in public life when allegations are made against public officials, especially parliamentarians, the Integrity Commission must act expeditiously to deal with those investigations, determine whether there’s a case to answer or whether the person’s name should be cleared and the person continue without a cloud. But those investigations are dragging on too long.”

Hosein, a retired Justice of Appeal, said: “The comments are very unfair and are without any factual basis to support them.

“If anyone is going to criticise and continue to criticise the commission they should try to have some evidence to support it and give us the opportunity to tell them why their proposed condemnation should not be voiced.

“The matters that are being attended to the parties will be aware of what is taking place because they would have been written to, but Section 20 of the Act clearly prevents us from divulging to anyone details of any particular matter. We can’t do that. The parties will know what is taking place.”

Hosein said the commission was “exposed to adverse criticism and slander on no facts,” but he said: “We are not sleeping on any matter that we have on our files but it does take time to investigate because the information and the evidence may not be easily forthcoming.”

He said investigations were “time-consuming and to use the old cliché ‘We don’t have the benefit of low hanging fruit.’”

Hosein was appointed chairman of the commission 18 months ago.

In that time, he said, the commission had stabilised “and ought to be given the opportunity to perform its functions as set out in Section Five without unsubstantiated adverse criticism. That’s all we can do. But we remain focused on achieving what the purpose of the Act intends.”

He said the commission had been “trying desperately to clear the backlog that we inherited and thanks to our staff, particularly those in compliance, we are doing reasonably well but there is room for improvement.” 

Under his watch, he said, the commission had introduced outreach programmes. They have already visited Tobago where he said there was 95 per cent compliance with the Integrity in Public Life Act.

“Why can’t we achieve that level of compliance in Trinidad?” he asked. The commission, he said, would be going to San Fernando on September 21.

He said the commission had a team of “courteous, efficient and accessible staff to assist anyone who is having any problems in filing their returns or declaration, if that is done then people would feel more confident in coming forward to serve.” 

He advised people in public life to utilise that option, saying he did it years ago when he was required to comply when called to serve on a committee organising world cricket.

Hosein said he had noted a report which quoted the Prime Minister as saying that people were shying away from public service because they wanted nothing to do with the Integrity Commission. He said: “We are not here to catch anybody out. I will not be in any vocation that requires you to catch people out.” 

He said what the law required was that people in public life “file a declaration of income, assets and liabilities. If you have difficulties we will assist you. There is no need for anyone to be fearful of the Integrity Commission.”

He said the commission had a number of proposals for amendment to the Act but “I do not share the view that this Act is not workable. We are utilising the provisions which are intended to facilitate our achievement of our objectives. There are provisions in the act which allow it to work and we are utilising those provisions.”

How they investigate

The commission utilises the services of an investigative team, comprising retired police officers, to conduct investigations into matters brought before the commission.

Investigations could appear to take long because of a number of factors, sources said, as investigators did not have police warrants and depended on third party sources and they also have to deal with lawyers who may sometimes make investigations more difficult.

When the investigation is completed a sub-committee reviews the findings and may make recommendations to the commission. The commission reviews and analyses the report and decides whether there is reasonable grounds to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions or to close the investigation.

The commission is also now for the first time utilising the courts to go after people who fall within its ambit and fail to file declarations. The commission wants the court to order people to file and if not. to face fines or jail time.

Case against Marlene

Mc Donald was fired following allegations that her spouse Michael Carew and his brother Lennox were hired among 13 members of her constituency office over several years in the last term.

It was reported that Michael Carew worked at the office from June 2010 to September 2015, earning the second highest salary of $13,400 monthly for the entire constituency term, while his brother has been working at the office since 2011 and received $14,000 in salary.

It was also alleged that Michael Carew headed the Calabar Foundation which received a $375,000 cheque from the Ministry of Community Development, a ministry Mc Donald then led, even before the foundation was registered.

​Rowley vs Integrity Commission

The Integrity Commission collapsed in 2009 when the High Court found that then chairman John Martin had acted in bad faith with Rowley on the Landate affair. This led to a mass resignation of all commissioners.

The High Court ruling found that the commission was guilty of “tort of misfeasance” when it prematurely referred the Landate matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and as a result all commissioners resigned.

People can stall system—Gordon

​Former chairman of the Integrity Commission Ken Gordon, who was Hosein’s predecessor, told the T&T Guardian amendments to the Integrity In Public Life Act were critical to moving the commission forward.

Gordon said a number of recommendations were made and even though they were approved by the commission under his tenure they were never implemented “because the new chairman wanted to review them. That was over a year-and-a-half ago.”

He said the Commission had six investigators when he was chairman “and that was enough. The problem is not the lack of numbers but we got stalled because we did not have the authority in the Act to go further so things came to a halt.”

He feels there are “too many unjustifiable delays. People feel it’s taking too long and sometimes it does.”

Gordon said under his tenure there was a particular matter which required a tribunal being set up, because “if you get to a certain point where people refuse to give information you can recommend to the President that he appoints a tribunal.

“It took one year in the particular matter despite writing to the President, we had the information but we could not get the President (Carmona) to act.” 

The matter Gordon referred to involved allegations against former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner over bribes for votes during a Concacaf meeting at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain.

Gordon said the problem “is not so much the people as it is the system. The Act has limitations. The commission is really a toothless tiger. People can stall the system and when you don’t have the authority to deal with it, it drags out.” The “system”, he said, “is sadly in need of an overhaul. It is really a call for action.” 

The most critical change, he said, was to “facilitate the investigative process.” He said the Act as it existed “does not spell out how you go about taking the action required and then you have to end up lining up to go to the courts.”

Rowley was eventually awarded $900,000 as compensation.

As if the pain of losing her son to the gun was not enough, the mother of a La Romaine teen says it’s unbearable everyday to see her son’s killer walking free in the community.

“Why is my son’s killer still roaming free?” she asked.

Dionne Thomas came to the T&T Guardian’s South Bureau seeking answers but police officers investigating the case would only say that investigations were continuing.

Her son, Mickel Thomas, 19, was shot to death on July 16, while riding his bicycle along Charles Street, La Romaine.

Thomas said information as well as a photograph of the alleged killer had been passed on to the police. 

She said 999 calls were made to the police on different occasions when the suspect was seen liming in the area but all her information has been ignored.

“The police is saying they need a witness to come forward before they could arrest or charge but they have not even called the alleged shooter in to assist them in their inquiries or even the man who ordered the hit. People are afraid to come forward.

“I am still in shock. I cannot function. I raised Mickey without a father. I did not know I was growing him up to be taken from me at age 19. He was a good person. 

He was no gangster. I cannot say that he was not involved in the drug dealing because he used to lime with people who were selling but he did not deserve to die like that. Over what, small talk. I want justice for my son and I will not be able to rest until I get it,” she said. 

Thomas’ killing sparked a series of shooting incidents, which has left Stephon Gonzales, Gary Mc Laren and Wendell Mose injured and nine-year-old Cyon Paul dead. 

Paul was killed by a stray bullet and news of his death prompted statements from both Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. 

The Police Service also moved to restore some order in the community and recently installed a mobile police post in the district.

Mose has undergone four surgeries to date and doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital are waiting for him to get a bit stronger before performing a fifth. Police said they are continuing their investigations to find out whether all of those incidents were related.