Cabinet has approved the allocation of over $220 million to contractors for the resumption of stalled school projects before year’s end. But as parents of pupils at the Union Presbyterian Primary School, Siparia, wait for their school to be completed, they are worried their children’s lives are at risk.

Since May 2014, Construction Services and Supply Ltd began to rebuild the school with a deadline of March 2015 but the project ran into overtime and work eventually stopped in September 2015 with Government still owing the contractor.

Meanwhile, the pupils were being housed in a plywood building next to the construction site, which began to rot and form mould. Yesterday, teachers and staff were blocked from entering the school as parents barred the entrance with caution tape and other objects, causing the security guard to lock the gates. 

The school’s Parents Teacher Association (PTA) president, Riard Niamath, said since the beginning of the term, 150 pupils of a 400-plus population have been kept at home. He said that was a result of the shoddy repairs that have landed several pupils at the Siparia District Health Facility. 

Parent Victor Roberts said school repairs were completed on September 4, the day before school reopened. He said the plywood floors and some of the concrete blocks were changed but the rotting plywood walls were painted and the fumes had not dissipated. A look at the school also showed the plywood slightly bending under the weight of the steel roof.

“We had children complaining about throat and nostril problems and having to be taken to the Siparia Health Centre,” Roberts said.

On August 25, Niamath said the PTA had a meeting with Dr Lovell Francis (Minister of State in the Ministry of Education) and a team from EFCL (Education Facilities Company), who said the temporary school was beyond repair, yet works were done for the children’s return.

“The danger to our kids is reaching to the point where officials from other authorities have visited and we are waiting for further reports. 

“They have told us that the school is very unsafe and does not have a proper exit. They said should something happen, we will get more casualties trying to get out of the building rather than the cause of the accident,” Niamath added.

Francis told the T&T Guardian yesterday that currently the project was among others that were being examined by the Ministry of the Attorney General. He said as cash flow remained a problem, invoices submitted by contractors were being checked to see whether the work was done suitably.
Once that was completed, payments would be made and constructions would resume, he added.

“We owe something like $800 million to contractors. We have a Cabinet approval to start paying some of that money. We have some funding to pay about a quarter of the sum.” 

A “mystery” iron barricade has beenerected across the public road at HellYard, Beetham Gardens, and seniorpolice officers have seemingly reacheda dead end in finding out who is responsible for constructing it.

Once the person responsible is located,he or she will have to give answers,Snr Supt of the Port-of-Spain Division,McDonald Jacob, said yesterday.When the T&T Guardian went intothe area yesterday, the barricade, paintedin black and white, was fixed acrossthe road, which is located north of HellYard and parallel with the Priority BusRoute.

Residing beyond the barricade is saidto be one of Beetham’s notorious gangleaders and rumours have it that he isthe one allegedly responsible for erectingthe barricade.

A police officer assigned to the Portof-Spain Division said they too hadheard the rumours and added it waspossible the barricade was put there totransform that particular area to a“gated community” in a bid to keep“outsiders” from entering.

“We, the police, can pass but if astrange car enters the area those vehiclesare not allowed to enter.

“There are residents who are stationedaround to monitor people comingin and going out of the area,” theofficer said.

A resident who lives close to wherethe barricade is located told the T&TGuardian, under condition of anonymity,that it was erected by one resident(the notorious gang leader) in a bid tobring control and his “own law andorder.”

Contacted on this Jacob confirmedthat the T&T Police Service was currentlydoing inquiries surrounding thebarricade.“So far, what we were told was thatthe concrete wall that was erected wasdone so by the Government and it wasdone by a contractor but what we aretrying to find out is who put that barricadethere because we want to get itdown. That is the public road. We aretrying to see if anybody authorised it,”Jacob said.

Asked if the San Juan/LaventilleRegional Corporation (SLRC) was contactedabout it, Jacob said yes. He saidalso contacted councillor Franz“Delamo” Lambkin but admitted thatthey were yet to get real answers.“We were told that it was not thecorporation and that it could be someonefrom Town and Country but whenwe checked we were told that they arenot aware of any permission beinggiven.

But still we are still trying to findout because we cannot just go in anddemolish it, especially if someone gaveauthorisation. If someone did they willhave to give some answers,” Jacob said.Lambkin yesterday confirmed thepolice had enquired about the barricade. He also admitted no official permissionwas granted to anyone to erect the barricade.

He said in order for someone to havea closed community there must beownership of the land by the principlesintended and an application must thenbe made to Town and Country forapproval.

Asked if that was done, Lambkinreplied: “No, because if the applicationwas made to Town and Country thenit would have to come to the buildinginspector for the region and he saidthat he is not aware of it either.”

Asked if it could be a move by residentsfor protection, Lambkin said thatwhile they understand people may feelinsecure and would try to protect themselves,they (the relevant authorities)could not allow anyone to take the lawof the land into their own handsbecause the road was a public one. Hesaid anyone responsible for the road’sobstruction could be charged.

Inseparable teenage cousins —Osama Washington and HakeemCharles — were murdered justafter they awoke to pray at their home at Dump Road, Heights ofGuanapo, Arima, yesterday.

Police said residents heard gunshotsaround 6.30 am and laterfound Washington, 16, and Charles,18, bleeding from gunshot wounds. Washington died in the housewhile officers took Charles to theArima Health Facility where hedied.

This latest double murderoccurred five days after anothertwo teens were executed. Last Friday,the bodies of Enterprise residentsZion Salvary, 16, and JeremiahBrown, 18, were found by a Water and Sewage Authority(WASA) employee in Valencia.Each teen had been shot threetimes at close range in the back oftheir heads.

Their hands were tied behindtheir backs and they were madeto kneel facing each other beforethey were shot. The teens wereburied yesterday, the T&TGuardian was told. Speaking yesterday, friends of Charles and Washington said thetwo were innocent. When the T&TGuardian visited the scene, a groupof men said they shared the homewith the deceased and they wouldget justice for the “disrespect.” One man, who did not want tobe identified, said the two gunmenattempted to shoot him too butmissed.

“Them (killers) come for everybody.Is about four to five peoplewas staying here. Them boys waslike my children, them grow withme. Them used to call me father.Justice has to be served, is twoyouths, 15 and 17, them ain’t getto see life yet,” the man said.

Asked about a possible motivefor the attack, the man, who saidthe murder scene was once achicken farm, claimed it may havehad something to do with an incidentinvolving another teen in thearea months ago.He also suggested that corruptpolice officers may have beenresponsible for the death of theyouths.

The men said the killers openedfire through windows in the housebefore escaping in a waiting vehicle.One of the men said Charleswas arrested by police last Fridayand released on Monday. He addedthat Charles, himself and otherswere released around 3 am fromthe Cumuto Police Station and toldto walk home, which they did.

Up the hills of Heights of Guanapo,near the abandoned sitewhere a religious adviser to formerprime minister Patrick Manningsought to erect a church, relativesof the cousins, who lived a stone’sthrow away from each other, saidthey were inseparable from as farback as could be remembered.

The men, who also did not wantto be identified, said the mothersof the teens were sisters who weregreat mothers. The women weretoo distraught to speak.Autopsies were to be done onthe teens yesterday but relativessaid they were not emotionally stable to view the bodies and theywere put off to today. The threemen said the teens both came from“strong family backgrounds.”

Their killings pushed the toll forthe year to 333.

The Government has been bending over backwards to get the Opposition to support the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

While the Opposition recently refused to vote on the Bill unless Government agrees to establish a Joint Select Committee (JSC), Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley sounded a warning that whether the Government got support or not on the Bill, a day of reckoning would come. 

Rowley was speaking at a People’s National Movement public meeting, which was attended by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Finance Minister Colm Imbert at the Mt D’Or Community Centre, Champ Fleurs, on Tuesday. 

T&T was given until September 30 by the US to come in line with FATCA.

In giving the latest details on FATCA, Al-Rawi said of September 20 “the Treasury Department of the US had told the T&T Government “nothing with respect to our request for an extension of time.”

If we failed to comply with FATCA, Imbert said the United States revenue authority would deduct 30 per cent from every payment made to an entity in the US. 

Imbert said under FATCA, all the correspondence banks in the US would stop doing business with T&T. He said T&T could end up like Belize which was deemed uncompliant and could no longer engage in transactions with companies and individuals in the US.

Imbert produced two Cabinet minutes which confirmed that the then People’s Partnership government agreed in 2013 that T&T would “adopt the model one option of the inter-governmental agreement with the US” which enabled compliance with the requirements of FATCA.

Even though the agreement was initialled by then finance minister Larry Howai, Imbert said it was not signed.

Weighing in on the issue, Rowley said if the Opposition refused to vote on the Bill T&T would be faced with a calamity and grave consequences, which Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was aware of. He said the UNC was putting a gun to the head of T&T.

“Our country is not in a position to bargain with the US. We have no option. We will do everything possible to get them (Opposition) to do what has to be done,” he added.

Rowley said if the JSC could meet on Parliament “they will meet” to facilitate the UNC with the hopes of getting its vote.

“So as of now the deadline may not be attainable. So we are at the mercy of the United States to do with us as they will... like Belize... or they may listen to us an give us an extension which we have no control over. And an extension is not guaranteed.”

Rowley questioned what fear the UNC had with FATCA.

“This will wreck our economy and destroy our country. They believe by not voting for it nothing will happen. I want to put them on notice tonight whether you vote for it or you don’t vote for it a day of reckoning will come,” he added.

Rowley said the Opposition wanted to see the B ill fail and if that had happened, it would have taken six months to come back to Parliament for debate.

The PM said the Opposition was concerned that the Government was giving the US information to help their authorities find tax dollars. 

Bring it on tomorrow. Issuing that call to Government yesterday, Opposition MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie said the Opposition was prepared to work through tomorrow, when the  second session of Parliament begins, and the weekend to pass the controversial Tax Information Exchange Agreement Bill.

This is necessary to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) between T&T and the US before the September 30 deadline. Tewarie, at a Port-of-Spain media briefing, said the Opposition had no reason to want to delay the Bill since UNC supporters were among the general public who would be affected by the halt of on-line trading, credit card operations and funding transfers, if the it was not passed.

He and other Opposition MPs replied to accusations by Prime Minister Keith Rowley at a PNM meeting on Tuesday when Rowley blamed the Opposition for lack of action on the Bill. Government had indicated it would bring the Bill after the 2017 budget debate (in October).

“But the Opposition has said umpteen times it wants to pass this Bill. We can complete it before the 2017 budget debate begins. 

“We are prepared to start work as soon as Parliament begins Friday and work through the weekend, Saturday, Sunday. The Joint Select Committee (JSC) which we had proposed to examine the bill, can be completed in that time before the budget,” Tewarie said.

Accusing Government of wasting time on the matter, Tewarie said the Opposition had called for the JSC on September 9 and the process could have started then. But, he said, Government adjourned Parliament until September 14 and debate continued but Parliament was prorogued the same day.

“At every instance we wanted to pass the Bill before the deadline. We voted against adjournment of Parliament and we voted to save work done on the bill in the last session and continue it in the upcoming session. 

“Nobody wants to pass this bill more than us. We are willing to work on it ASAP. Government should have worked with us to pass it instead of recklessly saying they would seek extension of the deadline with the US before they knew if they could get it,” Tewarie added.

Opposition Senator Gerald Hadeed, denying the UNC was afraid of tax scrutiny, said: “If the Government is serious about this Bill, they will start work immediately as we are prepared to.”

Opposition MP Suruj Rambachan said 12 days of work had been lost on the Bill by Government’s “politicising” of the issue . He urged Government to stop “bullying,” blaming the Opposition and bring the Bill tomorrow (Friday) if it was seriously concerned about the public interest.

He accused Government of blaming the Opposition and using the FATCA issue as a distraction from its “mismanagement of T&T. 

He said the PM’s statements were setting the stage for harsh budget measures on the public but the Opposition’s budget replies would include ways of managing the recession. 

Tewarie said the PM should have explained, among other things,  the implications of the expected $50 billion 2017 budget for revenue, expenditure cuts and social impact so citizens could be better prepared. 

He expressed concern the IMF’s recent statement about the undervaluation of the T&T dollar could affect confidence since citizens were already insecure and uncertain. He warned migration and movement of funds could ensue. 

Toco/Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings-Smith has provided 600 pound Marissa Nelson with two temporary caregivers to help ease her burdens at her Johnson Street, Valencia, home. Yesterday, Nelson, 32, said last Friday Jennings-Smith sent two women from the Unemployment Relief Programme to clean her home, do her laundry and give her daily baths.

The women work everyday from 7 am to 10 am to look after Nelson’s needs.

“These ladies have really been a big help. They have been cleaning, doing my laundry and helping me with my baths. All these things were done by my mother who is in a wheelchair. It was really a challenge for her. Now these women have been making our burdens lighter. I am really appreciative of the help from my MP. She gave a commitment and has fulfilled it,” Nelson said.

Jennings-Smith said she only became aware of Nelson’s plight after reading her story in the Guardian. In addition to this, vegetable and protein meals are delivered to Nelson’s home daily. At first, Nelson said she received only lunch, but now gets breakfast and dinner.

Before Nelson cooked her meals from her bed using a one-burner stove perched on a small table. She used the handle of a broom to reach for anything she needed.

Last Tuesday, Nelson’s story was highlighted on the front page in the Trinidad Guardian, where she called on the Government to intervene and provide specialist medical care, urgent medication and provide a 24-hour caregiver. Nelson suffers with lymphoedema, which has left her limbs enormously swollen and overweight. 

For the past four years Nelson has been confined to her bed because of her medical condition and weight. Nelson lives alone and depended on the generosity of her neighbours and her 68-year-old mother, Sylvia, who is an amputee for assistance to do the simplest of chores.

Within hours of highlighting her plight, Jennings-Smith promised Nelson immediate help to address some of her needs. Other people have showed an interest in helping Nelson, including an American charitable group, DEHIX.

The water supply throughout T&T is now under threat after 75 per cent of the Water and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) water treatment plants were shut down last night.
The state-owned company is now being told to get its house in order.

At about 9.30 last night, approximately 75 per cent of WASA’s water treatment plants were shut down by workers led by Public Services Association president Watson Duke.

The workers, numbering close to 80, gathered outside WASA’s public education centre at Farm Road, St Joseph, soon after their action.

Shortly after 10 pm, a “crisis talks” meeting was called with WASA chairman, Romney Thomas, chief executive officer Alan Poon-King, other executive members and members of the board of directors.
That meeting lasted until 24 minutes past midnight and the workers were seen walking out of the building with Duke after its completion.

Some workers complained that they were threatened by their respective supervisors that they pay for last night would be withheld as a result of their action. However, the workers said it was the least of their concern, as serious health and safety matters need to be addressed urgently by the company.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian shortly after he emerged from the meeting, Duke said WASA has been neglecting its workers for months.

“Tonight (last night) the union met the management in a crisis talks in an effort to work with management to keep WASA afloat because of months of neglect by the management to the workers, in so far as providing requisite protective clothing and endangering the lives of the workers by neglect,” Duke said.

He assured Thomas that the union is willing to work with him to “get WASA back up and running.”
“WASA has shut itself down. It has nothing to do with the workers and the union, it has everything to do with the management,” Duke said.

“They have failed to supply the workers with the adequate clothing and devices to protect their health. People are dying on the job and persons are being pursued on the job by strange people. This is too much for the workers to bear.”

He reiterated that “the union is here to work with the management to get WASA up and running so as to provide a reliable portable water supply to the nation and it has nothing to do with workers, everything to do with management and their neglect and incompetence.”

Duke and the workers are expected to return this morning (Thursday) for further talks with WASA’s executive to see how best the situation can be resolved in quick time.
After the workers dispersed last night, WASA’s executive remained in a closed-door meeting until 1.20 am.

Approached by the T&T Guardian afterwards, Poon-King only assured that the country’s water supply would not be affected and added that he will make a further comment on the issue later today (Thursday)

A special team is being assembled as police continue to search for Debe hair stylist Ria Sookdeo, who was abducted in Picton on Thursday morning.

Investigators said several officers have been called out to work with the hope of finding Sookdeo soon.

Up to 4. 30 pm, Southern Division police with aerial support from two National Operation Centre helicopters were searching St Mary's, Moruga, Barrackpore and Debe while South Western Division have joined in, searching the Cedros and Los Bajos areas.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage from various areas are being checked for any signs of Sookdeo or the black Nissan X-Trail that was used in her abduction.

So far her abductors have not contacted her family for a ransom. Police said that around 8. 30 am, Sookdeo, 34, of Raghoo Village, Debe had just dropped off her two children, Elana, nine and Tores, five, at the Picton Presbyterian Primary School.

As she drove up to Picton Estate Drive, near the Jaya Shri Rama Ashram, to turn her red Nissan X-Trail SUV around, a black-Nissan X-Trail SUV pulled up behind, blocking her path.

Two men, allegedly wearing tactical gear, forced her out the SUV and into theirs, and drove off. Police said the abductor's SUV had a false registration number. Her husband Mark Sookdeo said he was unsure whether an altercation at school where Tores was bullied last week had anything to do with her abduction.

Meanwhile, relatives have taken to the streets to distribute flyers about her abduction. Anyone with information can liaise directly with the San Fernando CID's Insp Don Gajadhar, Sgt Natasha Morrison or Cpl Barry Bacchus at 652-2564

Mark Sookdeo broke into tears yesterday as he pleaded with his wife Ria Sookdeo’s abductors to return her safely for the sake of their two children.

“We are hoping for her safe return. My kids do not even know what happened. They won’t be able to deal with this,” Sookdeo said while standing in front of Ria’s red Nissan X-Trail SUV in Picton.

Sookdeo, 40, a National Petroleum (NP) plant assistant, said he had already reported for duty at Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre refinery when Ria, 34, left their home at Raghoo Village, Debe.

Around 8.30 am, Ria dropped Elana, nine, and Torres, five, at the Picton Presbyterian Primary School along Papourie Road, Diamond Village, San Fernando. 

A hairstylist who worked from home, Ria was expected to return to her business for a day’s work. 

However, while following her routine of driving up to the Picton Estate Drive to turn around, a heavily-tinted black Nissan X-Trail pulled up behind her as she drove into the street. Two men, allegedly in tactical gear, then got out, pulled her out of her SUV, bundled her into their vehicle and left with her. Police were unsure whether the men had weapons.

An eyewitness contacted the San Fernando police and an All-Points Bulletin was issued. 

A team of officers, led by Insp Don Gajadhar and including woman Sgt Morrison, Cpl Bacchus, PC Rampersad, PC Joseph and WPC Marshal, arrived on the scene and began co-ordinating searches for the abductors’ SUV in the Cedros and Los Bajos areas.

However, the T&T Guardian was told that the number plate on the abductors’ vehicle was actually registered to a Ford Ranger pick-up. Fingerprints were taken from Sookdeo’s vehicle but it was not yet known if they could be linked to the abductors. Ria’s phone and bag were found in her SUV and one side of her slippers was found outside.

Two National Operation Centre helicopters were conducting aerial searches up to late yesterday while the Anti-Kidnapping Unit was gathering intelligence. Sookdeo said up the noon yesterday, he had not received a ransom demand. 

Friends and relatives were out in San Fernando and Debe distributing flyers with Ria’s photo up to yesterday evening. An email account, findria2016@gmail.com, has been set up so that anyone with information can forward it to the police or family.

The couple has been married for the past 11 years and Sookdeo said he could not think of any reason why someone would want to abduct Ria. 

“I am still trying to figure it out. I don’t know who would want to do this because we don’t live like that. We’re always by ourselves and we see about ourselves,” Sookdeo said.

Ria’s father, Frankie Rajkumar, said Torres was bullied by an older boy last week. He said while running, the boy sticked out his foot and tripped Torres. He said when Mark complained to the principal, the boy’s parents and police were called in. However, Sookdeo said he was not sure if that could be the reason for Ria’s abduction.

“I’m not sure but you can’t trust anybody in this rounds, so anything is possible.” 

He said everything was normal up to Wednesday, when they went about their normal day-to-day business, including going to the airport and the bank. Investigators believe Ria’s abductors were watching her movements but Sookdeo said they did not notice anyone following them around.

Investigators said several officers have been called out to work on the case in the hope of finding Sookdeo soon.

Community fearful

Ria’s mother, Chandra Rajkumar, said when she and Frankie visited the family on Wednesday night, Ria was in good spirits. Chandra said she had a close relationship with Ria and if something was wrong she would have known. 

“I really don’t know, I just really want my child back. The Lord will be with her,” Chandra said.

Scores of relatives, neighbours and friends lined the pavement along Papourie yesterday, horrified at the brazen acts of crime that had affected their community in recent times. 

Ria’s cousin and councillor for Debe East/Esperance/Union Hall, Marsha Jaimungal-Khan, called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to step up as head of the National Security Council. 

She said the community was a quiet place where abductions never occurred. She noted, however, that the criminals were now leaving the hot spots and targeting peaceful communities and a lot of robberies had been taking place recently .

Close friend, Donna Narace, said Ria did not know violence and would be afraid to harm anyone. She said Ria was fearful of a lot of things so they would call each other every morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Fernando police at 652-3206, 652–2858, 652-1771or the Crime Stoppers at 800-8477.

President Anthony Carmona is back home and spent part of the day yesterday visiting the home of his personal butler who died while he was in Guyana and in meetings.

Well-placed sources said he intends to clear the air on allegations of misspending at President’s House by Sunday.

The President returned to the country just after 9 am yesterday from attending the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges Association conference. 

Well-placed sources told the T&T Guardian  Carmona immediately went to the east Trinidad home of his former butler, Choy Richardson, who died of a heart attack this week. He later visited Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris in Port-of-Spain but no details of that meeting were revealed but sources said the two meet from time-to-time as the President was a devout Roman Catholic.

Carmona is said to have spent the afternoon in meetings and was seeking advice on how he intended to respond to allegations being made in the public domain about wine and jewelery.  

Sources said Carmona planned to address the issues “soon” but that may not come before Sunday due to other commitments.

 His address will deal with all issues, the wine and jewelery, Auditor General’s report, his meeting with the National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and the employment of Primati Noe as a member of staff at President’s House.

In his report laid in Parliament in April, the Auditor General pointed to “85 instances of incorrect classification of expenditure, totalling $2,685,236.90, in contravention of financial regulation 65, which stipulates that a vote may not be applied to a purpose for which it was not intended” at President’s House.

A memorandum was sent to the head of the household at President’s House, Esther Liverpool, on March 15 and according to the report a response remained outstanding as at April 15.

In the report, Auditor General Majid Ali referred to a circular sent out by the Comptroller of Accounts dated August 18 last year, which, he said, provided “detailed instructions with respect to the preparation and submission of Appropriation Accounts for the year ended September 30, 2015.” 

Nevertheless, he said “typographical and other errors, as well as omissions continue to be evident in certain Appropriation Accounts submitted for audit.” 

The Auditor General made it clear that errors or omissions which were referred to “have no material effect on the truth and fairness of the Public Accounts,” unless otherwise stated in the report. He went on to remind accounting officers “of their responsibility to ensure that the statements submitted are thoroughly checked for errors and omissions before submission.”

The T&T Guardian yesterday tried unsuccessfully to contact Liverpool to find out whether a response had been submitted to the Auditor General subsequent to the laying of the report.

ROSEMARIE SANT

A rat problem, apparently stemming from the unsanitary conditions in and around Port-of-Spain, forced the shutdown of the Rosary Boys’ RC School early yesterday.

Next Friday, pupils of the St Rose’s Girls’ RC are also expected to have no school due to the same problem as sanitation workers have had to put down rat bait to deal with a similar problem there.

One Rosary Boys’ parent, who collected his child after school was ended early yesterday due to the problem, said he was fed up, adding rat bait was not the answer. He said he believed the rodents not only came from the neighbouring food malls but also from Charlotte Street where vegetables were left to rot in the canals.

“We need a permanent solution to this rat problem. Parents cannot be leaving their jobs all the time to pick up their children because the rat problem has been around for quite some time. Something drastic must be done,” he said.

Contacted yesterday, an officer of the Catholic Board of Management said the school had to be “heavily baited,” hence the children had to be sent home early yesterday and would have no classes today.

“They have to put down rat bait and it is heavy rat bait so the children have to be evacuated for now but it is under control for the moment,” the officer added.

She said the rat problem did not emanate from the schools but agreed they came from the neighbouring malls.

“So we would always have that problem because it is not the first time. It is something we always have to be attending to because of where the school is located and because of the build-up of garbage in the city,” she added.

Also contacted, Port-of-Spain mayor Keron Valentine said he was aware of the problem at Rosary Boys’, adding the Port-of-Spain Corporation was treating the matter as urgent.

He said the chief public health inspector was also ensuring the school was properly clean and safe before being reopened next Monday.

On the source of the problem, Valentine said it was combination of things.

“At one point in time some information was that the rats were thriving underground. They were in some of the broken mains where a lot of the food stuff gathered and the rats were feeding down there and multiplying,” Valentine said.

In an unrelated matter, a school official at the Newtown Boys’ RC School said yesterday work on the electrical problem there had almost been completed. 

Parents had complained that pupils were at risk due to faulty electrical wiring at the school.

Gross negligence

National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA) Zena Ramatali yesterday urged principals to be more proactive and not wait until there was a serious problem to have it rectified. 

She said school boards must also play a greater role in ensuring the cleanliness and safety of facilities, adding that oftentimes principals wait until a problem escalates, at which time they  have no choice but to send pupils home.

“From the time there is one rat the situation should have been dealt with by the principal and not wait until they had to put down heavy bait. That is pure gross negligence and simply ridiculous because the children are the ones who have to suffer because their teaching time is lost and this nonsense must stop,” Ramatali said.

She said what was also needed were discussions between the school board and the mayor to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Ramatali also called on the Education Ministry to implement a policy when it came to sending children home.​

A mother is now seeking answers after her son’s hair was burnt during an apparent prank at the Coryal High School yesterday. 

Felicia Ragbir said two students used a cigarette lighter to burn the hair on her son Roberto Gregoire’s head. She said while her 13-year-old son, a Form Two student, suffered no major injuries, she was distraught that such an incident could occur in school.

The matter was reported to Cumuto Police Station by teachers and the two boys were taken to the Cumuto Police Station where officers took statements from them yesterday.

Police also called in all the parents but the relatives of the boys who perpetrated the act never showed up. The boys allegedly told the officers they were from single parent homes and were unable to give their fathers’ names to the police.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian yesterday, Ragbir said she received a call from the school’s vice-principal, Usha Garie, informing her that her son had been involved in an incident yesterday. She said she began to panic as so many things went through her head but was subsequently told to go to the Cumuto Police Station.

On arrival there she found her son sitting on a chair in the charge room while the other students were being questioned by two female officers.

Ragbir said some of her son’s hair was burnt but he was okay otherwise. She said the police told her the boys said it was a prank and they did not mean to harm her son. Police then asked Ragbir to go outside with her son and decide what action should be taken against the boys.

Ragbir said after speaking to her son they decided not to pursue the matter any further but she asked the police to warn the boys to stay away from her son.

The boys were then asked by police to apologise to the boy and his mother with which they complied.

Ragbir later left the station with her son but the two boys were still waiting for their parents/guardian’s arrival up to last evening.

RALPH BANWARIE

Several voice notes went viral on the social media Whats App yesterday warning citizens of T&T of a total shutdown to the water supply and urged them to ensure their water tanks were filled.

However, president of the Public Services Association (PSA), Watson Duke, confirmed on the contrary that there would be no WASA strike.

The voice notes began circulating just after 10 am alleging talks have broken down between the Union and WASA’s management.

Two of the voice notes, in particular, referred to health and safety issues impacting process plant operators (PPO).

One of the voice notes said: “WASA will be shutting down all water treatment plants throughout the country as of 9.30 tonight so you all secure your tanks, make sure all your tanks full, all your buckets full, all your kegs full, right... we making a stand as process plant operators for our safety, for the health and safety we working under... right. So you could spread it to your friends and family.”

The other voice mail referred to a meeting between WASA officials and the Public Service Association (PSA) yesterday morning. 

It stated: “Meeting has just over. Watson Duke, the president of the PSA, has made a decision on the PPO’s behalf that WASA would be shut down until further notice due to health and safety reasons until the managers of WASA comply on our behalf.”

However, Duke said the PSA had been trying to work with WASA’s management and at no time had it taken any negative action towards the public.

“All our actions have been positive and in the direction of self-preservation where health and safety is concerned. 

“The workers perform even when they are lacking the basic resources. We have caught management with their pants down and they have expressed no concerns, all they are doing is apologising.

“We are hopeful that the issues will be resolved so that there would not be any crisis or any perception of crisis,” Duke said.

On Wednesday night at about 9.30 pm 75 per cent of WASA’s treatment plants and wells were shut down. 

WASA workers then made their way to WASA’s public education centre building, Farm Road, St Joseph, where they met with Duke to discuss health and safety issues. 

They were later given a hearing from the utility’s chairman, Romney Thomas, chief executive officer, Alan Poon-King and other executive members, including members of the board of directors.

Chairman of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Romney Thomas yesterday assured there would be no water shortages in the country and WASA’s water supplies will be kept safe.

He said WASA had contingencies in place to ensure  its water supply was not disrupted while all its facilities, such as wells, reservoirs and water treatment plants, remained protected and safe around the clock.

His assurance came hours after it was reported that a few of WASA’s water treatment plants were shut down on Wednesday night after workers complained to president of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke about health and safety concerns.

Thomas said the walkout by WASA’s process plant operators had not affected the company’s operations.

He, however, admitted there were some health and safety issues that have been lingering which needed to be addressed.

He said: “I came there last night (Wednesday) and I listened to what he (Duke) had to say. Right now we are trying to address those issues.

“To be quite honest, from what I have heard it is not a long and unreasonable list and some of the things can be dealt with very quickly. 

“We are addressing those as we speak. One or two of the other issues we will engage in discussions with the PSA and ensure that those are taken care of as well.”

Thomas stayed clear from answering what were some of the concerns on the list, since the union and WASA were still in discussions.

Questioned about 75 per cent of WASA’s workers walking off their jobs at the water treatment plants, resulting in its water supply throughout T&T being under threat, Thomas admitted that one or two of the plants were temporarily shut down.

“I think they (plants) have been restarted. I don’t think it is alarming as it is being made out to be. That is being alarmist. 

“There were quite a few workers at head office last night. Some of those guys were not on duty. To be honest, we had a good meeting. 

“Everybody was able to express their concerns and we are working towards normalising the situation during the course of today,” he said.

Thomas said WASA had contingencies plans in place to deal with situations, such as workers downing tools.

“Those plans are being effective right now. I want to give the population the assurance that there would be no water shortage and all the water supplies would be kept safe,” he added.

In under one week 600-pound Marissa Nelson will be admitted to the Eric Williams Medical (EWMSC) where she would undergo an intense weight loss programme by a team of specialised doctors.

Once the weight is shed, Nelson would have two surgeries done by the country’s leading gastric bypass surgeon, Dr Dilip Dan.

Also her bedroom would be repaired, tiled, painted, furnished and air-conditioned in the coming weeks.

The commitment was given to Nelson yesterday by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, who visited her Johnson Street, Valencia, home  with Social Development and Family Services Minister, Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn, and Toco/Sangre Grande MP, Glenda Jennings-Smith, to render assistance.

Last Tuesday, the 32-year-old woman pleaded with Government to intervene and provide specialist medical care, urgent medication and a 24-hour caregiver in the T&T Guardian and on CNC3 television, which led to an outpouring of support.

Nelson suffers with lymphoedema, which has left her limbs enormously swollen and overweight. 

For the past four years Nelson has been confined to her bed because of her medical condition and weight. 

She lives alone and depends on the generosity of her neighbours and her 68-year-old mother, Sylvia, who is an amputee, for assistance to do the simplest of chores.

Deyalsingh and Crichlow-Cockburn thanked Guardian Media Ltd for bringing Nelson’s plight to their attention.

Overjoyed by the news, Nelson said after nine years of pleading, help had finally come her way.

“I am really happy and excited for all the attention I have received. I think I made history. It’s a bit overwhelming. Where there is life there is hope. 

“I know this is not going to happen overnight but I am willing to do whatever it takes to get my life back and health back on track. It has been long overdue. I don’t intend to spend another ten years here while my life is just wasting away,” Nelson said.

Deyalsingh said having spoken to Chief of Staff at the EWMSC Dr Andy Bhagwandass, the ministry was prepared to put together a team of doctors, including Dr Dan, to help Nelson’s health improve.

Deyalsingh said the team of doctors would be from San Fernando General Hospital, EWMSC and Sangre Grande Hospital.

“Before we can do surgery we have to assess you medically. We are going to put you on a weight lost programme. We are prepared to make a special bed for you in Mt Hope and once you can come down to a certain weight and is fit for surgery we will start a two-part surgery on a gastric bypass. 

“We are prepared to do all of that. So you have the whole Government behind you.”

Deyalsingh said that would be a permanent solution to Nelson’s weight battles.

From next week, Deyalsingh said Nelson would be medically assessed following which doctors would put her on the programme.

“Once she starts to lose the weight... she would have to undergo some light physio until she is done... to fight the weight to do the surgeries.”

Deyalsingh said it was all up to Nelson’s determination and will power to shed the pounds so it was impossible to give a time frame when the surgeries would take place.

“I am making you a promise. When you leave this room to go for surgery we will make sure that this room is refurbished. So when you come back... you will come back as a new person to a new room. I will get some private sector help so that is an incentive to leave here and come to the hospital,” Deyalsingh.

However, Nelson said she was willing to go the full distance to reduce her size.

“I am willing. I have the support. I am getting the help and whatever it takes I am going to do so.”

A week after her young daughter was targeted by a suspected paedophile, a Central mother is petitioning Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi to make the police list of sexual predators public.

The woman started the petition at around 10 pm on Wednesday as she said the entire experience has left her 11-year-old daughter traumatised. 

The woman had pretended to be the child when a man began sending messages to the child’s phone last week Thursday.

The woman said many sexual predators were repeat offenders and she believed giving the public access to the list of offenders would assist parents in keeping their children safe.

“Stop protecting the paedophiles and allowing them to repeat these crimes to our babies. As a mother that experienced this first- hand in hurts me in my womb when I study my child was in the presence of this monster all alone and the outcome could have been so different... save our kids, protect our future,” she wrote on the petition.

Support for the petition has been slow in coming but the woman said she was not bothered by that.

“I am not worried because I know the support will grow once people know it’s out there because a lot of people have been telling me this is what is necessary. I am just making the necessary moves to get it done,” she added.

Yesterday, social activist Diana Mahabir-Wyatt said while she supported the move, the task to get a list made public was a trying one.

“We tried many years ago to get a sexual offenders register done up but concerns were raised over whether it would be a violation of the people's constitutional rights,” she said.

Mahabir-Wyatt said there were other factors that needed to be considered before a register could be implemented.

“The first thing is that the only time someone's name can go on that list is after they have been charged and convicted of a crime of a sexual nature. 

“The second thing it is very traumatic for children to have to relive those memories constantly for the courts and many mothers do not want their children to be exposed to that, so many times the cases are not reported to the police.

“The third major factor is once police have the name and address of the offender, they just move and the police don't have the resources to follow up on everyone of these people,” she said.

She added she believed people with a criminal record for sexual offences should not be given taxi badges.

“In my opinion the trend of taxi drivers targeting young girls has been ongoing for the past 30-40 years and I think no one who is convicted of a crime of a sexual nature should ever be given a taxi badge.” she said.

Mahabir-Wyatt says she hopes the mother's efforts will inspire other citizens to think of preventative measures against sexual abuse.

“She is right in doing this but what we need to find is preventative measures. Maybe your readership can help with suggestions on how to we can go forward. This needs to be a conversation at national level.”

Calls, texts and Whatsapp messages were sent to the cellphone of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi but up to yesterday evening he had not responded to questions.

Members of the San Fernando Fishing Co-operative said the $1 million payout for fishermen from the Government had not solved the fish kill problem.

President Salim Gool said their livelihood is still at stake. 

He said the payment was just a temporary balm and members of his co-operative have not benefitted from the compensatory package.  

Gool said they wanted a permanent solution.

According to Bobby Sooklalsingh, the fish kill has affected the industry across the island, yet only selected people are benefitting from the compensation.

However, Gool said he was assured by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, who is also the Member of Parliament for San Fernando West, that the San Fernando fishermen would get their dues.

“The fish kill was not solved by the million dollars. It helped some people who were struggling to make a dollar,” Gool said.

Local fish consumption which has been on the decline since a fish kill was first reported on the Mosquito Creek, La Romaine, in July and subsequent sightings at La Brea and Vessigny beaches, has not improved. 

Now after months of wrangling between the various State agencies and fisherfolk to get to the root of the fish kill, the Ministry of Planning and Development, agreed on Monday to send fish samples of the Food and Drug Administration laboratory in the United States for testing. 

At the meeting with representatives from the various agencies, including the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri), it was agreed that various species from 12 geographic areas where landing sites were located would be tested for heavy metals (lead, copper, mercury, zinc) as well as poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). 

Gool said he was not certain this would improve their situation and also questioned whether the samples would be from the July fish kill or from the present time.  

“We want to know what caused the fish kill, if they could stop it so it would not happen again and our livelihood would become steady.”

Dumping fish every day

Another member of his organisation, Steven Marlon Taylor, said that decision would further hurt the fishing industry. 

“That is dread news. The way that news come out is that fish has poison and chemical and that could kill the whole industry.

“Right now people not buying fish and now it will only get worse and people will not buy until the results come back clean. But that results could take months, years to come back and what would happen to us in the interim,” he said.

Taylor who has been fishing for the past 35 years, said he worked hard to uplift himself and made a heavy investment in fishing by way of a boat and equipment and in the employment of others.

“Right now my equipment need fixing but the money going down, down, down, yet I still have to reach into my pocket when my employers come looking for something. 

“We not selling. Everyday I throwing away thousands of dollars in fish. Some days I don’t have the heart to do it and I ask the other fellas to throw it away for me because is money I throwing away.”

Even though the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) has deemed the lease of the Safari Eco Park in Chaguaramas illegal, several animals continue to come into the country. 

Last Wednesday, four zebras came  in, while in August four camels arrived on T&T’s shores. 

Yesterday, manager of the park, Matthew Habib, said the animals were ordered in April last year, after their lease was approved by the CDA. 

“We signed a contract with a foreign supplier who has a list of animals that we requested. We paid for those animals well in advance and they are coming in small batches,” Habib said. 

The park sits on 40 acres of land on the northwestern peninsula and is one of 22 leases which the CDA and Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis have deemed illegal. 

Habib said the park had approximately 100 safari animals, which would continue to grow. 

“We were offered from an orphanage in Africa, two elephants. It is our ambition to bring them in. But before we can even start that we have to work out the acreage because it’s like five acres per elephant. We would have to organise ten acres so they can walk freely. It’s a lot of money to build up the enclosures for these elephants,” Habib said. 

Among the animals they currently have are lemurs, llamas, kangaroos, alpacas, monkeys, macaws, mountain lions and variety of birds. 

“What we plan to bring in is a lot of safari animals. We have antelopes that are due to come in before the end of the year. We are looking at a few hippopotamuses and African porcupines as well. We also have scheduled some three-toed sloths. All of that is to bring in the crowds,” Habib added.

​Police are investigating a shooting incident at a restaurant at Trincity Mall on Thursday night involving a businessman from Tunapuna.

According to police reports, around 10 pm, the 55-year-old businessman was liming with friends outside Bootleggers Restaurant when he had an argument with another patron.

During the verbal confrontation, the businessman reportedly drew his licensed gun, pointed it in the man’s direction and fired twice. However, both gunshots missed their target.

The businessman, who has strong links to UNC, reportedly got into his Toyota Prado SUV and drove away. 

Police were contacted by patrons and the restaurant's management and he was eventually arrested at his home.

The T&T Guardian understands his gun was seized by investigators from the Arouca Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and he was detained for questioning.

Sources said he was interrogated by investigators and was then released from custody pending further investigations.

Contacted yesterday, a supervisor at the restaurant who only identified herself as Shauna, acknowledged the incident took place but refused to comment. 

“The management of Bootleggers does not wish to make a statement at this time,” she said in a brief telephone interview. 

Sgt Joseph of the Arouca CID is continuing investigations.

Spiritual visions and a few phone calls have led police and relatives of missing hairstylist Ria Sookdeo to the remote areas of Moruga and Cedros hoping to bring her back home.

But by sundown, Sookdeo, 34, was not found and her abductors have not contacted her family to make any demands for her return. 

Investigators from the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) were at Sookdeo’s home at Raghoo Village, Debe, yesterday, trying to piece together a motive for her abduction. 

Investigators said they were acting on every bit of information coming to them, even a spiritual vision that someone had, showing that Sookdeo was in Cedros. 

They said people have called, saying that Sookdeo or the black SUV she was whisked away in, have been spotted in the Moruga area as well. 

Since Thursday night, her husband Mark, relatives and neighbours left for Cedros hoping to find her.

There was panic in the community yesterday morning when there were reports of a body found along Pluck Road, La Romaine. 

Sookdeo’s neighbour, Mohan Ramnath, said someone called, saying he saw police in the bush in La Romaine. He said he and another neighbour went to the scene and informed police where they were from and that someone was missing from their community. There was relief when they learned the body was that of a man.

Reports stated that around 8 am Thursday, Sookdeo dropped off her two children at the Picton Presbyterian Primary School and drove her red Nissan X-Trail SUV to Picton Estate Drive to turn. 

That was when a black Nissan X-Trail pulled up behind, blocking her path. Two gunmen wearing tactical clothing emerged and bundled her into their SUV and drove off.

Helicopters from the National Security Operations Centre and T&T Air Guard joined police searches but neither Sookdeo nor the black SUV were found.

Children worried about mommy

It has been tough for relatives to try to keep Sookdeo’s children — Elana, nine and Tores, five — away from the stresses being faced. 

Mark’s mother, Sama Sookdeo, who told reporters police brought the children home from school on Thursday afternoon and they have been asking for their mommy ever since. 

She said a teary Mark would not answer and eventually they told the children their mother was at the hospital. The children remained at home yesterday, unaware of their mother's abduction.

“Last night he (Mark) and the others went down to Cedros because he said he could not take this. The children were asking for their mommy, saying they want back their mommy but he was only crying and not telling them anything. 

“We told them that mommy got sick and gone to the hospital. The little boy wrote on a piece of paper “Help Mommy,” Sama said.

Flyer misinformation

Flyers about Sookdeo’s disappearance were distributed throughout San Fernando and Debe, published on Facebook and broadcast on electronic billboards. 

However, Mark appealed to relatives and neighbours to cease sharing the flyer, saying the contact numbers were not those of the police and immediate family, therefore they should not be used. 

Based on instruction from investigators, he said anyone with information should contact 679-3165/623-6793 or 800-TIPS.

Community stressed

Scores of relatives, neighbours, friends and Sookdeo’s clients gathered at her home from Thursday night into Friday. Sookdeo’s father, Frankie Rajkumar, said a prayer session for her safe return was held.

“I am a Christian. I served a great God. I am praying that God will work out something and she will come home to us. All of us go to church and last night we had all the pastors, friends and her clients over so the place was crowded.

“We had a prayer meeting and trusted God but so far we are not hearing anything. Nobody saying they want a ransom. If someone calls we will have a little more peace, knowing she is alright but nobody hasn’t called,” Rajkumar said.

He said his family came from a humble beginning as from a tender age he began working in construction jobs. He said his children followed in that path and lived humble lives.

Ramnath described Sookdeo as a decent and humble person who worked hard. 

“This has left all of us puzzled and the community is not taking it well. She is a down-to-earth person so everybody liked her,” he added.

A neighbour said Sookdeo was such a good hairstylist that she attracted wealthy clients from around the country.