The Opposition UNC’s legal team has hailed yesterday’s Court of Appeal ruling as a victory and slammed detractors who had said the UNC’s election petition had been destined to fail.

“(Instead) The rule of law, democracy and the Constitution have triumphed today,” said team leader, former attorney general Anand Ramlogan. “The judgments were illuminating, powerful and very incisive from all three judges... we have won a significant victory for democracy. It has put lie to those who cried us down and those who said it was doomed to failure,” he added.

Ramlogan, backed by members of his legal team, including Gerald Ramdeen and Darryl Heeralal, spoke to reporters at the Hall of Justice soon after the ruling. EBC chairman Dr Norbert Masson, who attended yesterday’s court session, declined comment, silently walking past reporters outside the court

UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called it a victory as well as a landmark judgment. Ramlogan, said of the ruling: “This case raises novel, complex, very important questions for a young democracy and it’s good it will proceed to trial. Regardless of the outcome, the public will benefit from the guidance the courts will provide.”

Slamming detractors of UNC’s petition, he noted in the lead-up to the appeals and in the appeal, “the kind of negative coverage, criticism and sometime abuse which were heard” by those in the UNC who had “dared simply to exercise their constitutional democratic right to lay before the court a legal challenge to the results.

“We took a lot of licks from our colleagues on the opposite side, the media. The UNC leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar herself, took quite a beating for pursuing these election petitions and she was at pains to point out it was about the rule of law and the breaches, not just to the rule of law but to the spirit of the law.” Commenting on the Chief Justice’s lone dissenting voice, Ramlogan said: “It’s not often there is a dissenting judgment from the Honourable Chief Justice but it augurs well for the strength, independence and fairness of the Judiciary system.”

He noted there were other matters which had arisen concerning the election and EBC where two people in Tobago had filed constitutional motions claiming discrimination as the voting time had been extended in Trinidad only and not Tobago. Persad-Bissessar said yesterday’s judgment was a vindication of her decision to support publicly the UNC election petitions in the public interest .

In a press release on the ruling, Persad-Bissessar said the UNC welcomed the historic, landmark ruling It added: “This is a victory for democracy and the people of T&T who are entitled to a system of elections that is free, fair and in accordance with the Constitution. “The overriding objective is to protect the cherished principles of our democracy enshrined in the Constitution ... no man or entity is above the law, hence the EBC is itself subject to the Constitution from which it derives its powers.

“We maintain there is a strong case that the decision to extend the time for voting by one hour was illegal and unfair. It put the UNC election machinery and supporters at a great disadvantage and contravened both the spirit and letter of the law.“ She said, for instance, it was very strange the EBC didn’t similarly extend the time for voting in Tobago.

The release added: “The (court) victory paves the way for a full-scale trial of (all) these election petitions. Ordinary citizens from all walks of life who were affected by the decision or who may be in possession of relevant information can now come forward and let their voices be heard. “Many aggrieved citizens who were turned away at the polls when they went to cast their vote after 6 pm will no doubt let their voices be heard. “The chaos and confusion that followed the sudden decision by the EBC to extend the voting time will now be the subject of judicial scrutiny. “Conflicting information and opinions saw many polling stations remaining closed whilst others allowed people to vote in the midst of the prevailing uncertainty as to what the true, correct position was.“

After being arrested a week ago for trafficking two Venezuelan women, Sandy Bedasie-Andrews, the owner of the popular Santa Maria Hotel and her employee Eli Sylvester, had to spend another night in jail after police complainants failed to show in court.

When the matter was called by Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan in the San Fernando Magistrates Court yesterday, prosecutor Cleyon Sedan told the court he had no facts on the case.

Cardenas-Ragoonanan stood-down the matter for just over an hour and when it was called again, neither Insp Haynes or WPC Hector, who laid the charges were present in court. This led to the annoyance of attorney Sheriza Khan, who along with Keith Scotland are representing Bedasie-Andrews and Sylvester. Khan asked for the matter to be dismissed on account of the officers’ absence.

She said both Haynes and Hector were present earlier and were fully aware that the matter would be called. She said she tried calling them three times on their phones but got no responses.

However, Seedan argued that it was the first time the matter was brought before the court and Cardenas-Ragoonan adjourned the matter until today, to give the complainants a chance to present their case. She said it was likely that it would be transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrate Court, which is currently housed at the Tunapuna Magistrates Court’s building.

Although the charges were not read, Bedassie-Andrews and Sylvester were still advised to apply for bail.

In a release from the Ministry of National Security yesterday, both accused were charged by the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) under the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2011 after they received a report from the Venezuelan Embassy. They are accused of harbouring and receiving two Venezuelan women, who were rescued by the CTU on November 11. Bedasie-Andrews was said to be the owner of Santa Maria Hotel, also known as “Dads Dan” of Bhagna Trace, Chase Village. She was also charged under the Sexual Offences Act for keeping a brothel while Sylvester was charged for assisting in the management of a brothel.

According to the ministry, the rescued women bring the count of people rescued by the CTU to twenty-six (26), since it was established in January 2013.

What the Act says

The Trafficking in Persons Act 2011, defines “trafficking in persons” as: “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power, the abuse of a position of vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payment or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” If found guilty, a person is liable to a fine of not less than $500,000 and imprisonment of not less than fifteen years. 

With regard to the keeping or management of a brothel, under the Sexual Offences Act Section 22: “A person who keeps or manages or acts or assists in the management of a brothel is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for five years.”

Let Piccadilly prevail. That was the call issued by both Education Minister Anthony Garcia and the chairman of the National Parent Teacher Association Zena Ramatali during a news conference at the minister’s office in St Clair yesterday.

It was called following yesterday’s heightened protest by parents of pupils attending the Tranquillity Government Primary School against a relocation move.

He said an unnamed female official of the ministry visited the Tranquillity Government Primary School at 6.30 am yesterday and found “the gates were padlocked, an indication that parents were stepping up their protest action.”

He said the police and Fire Services were contacted and one hour later fire officers arrived to cut the locks. The pupils were then able to enter the premises, Garcia added.

Some 41 pupils of the Piccadilly Government Primary School, which was declared unfit for use, have been relocated by the ministry to the Tranquillity Government Primary. 

Garcia expressed his “regret” over the protest action taken last Friday and yesterday by the parents of Tranquillity Government Primary, who were demanding that the pupils not be relocated to the school.

He said 39 pupils (Standards Four and Five) of the Piccadilly Government Primary have been attending classes at Tranquility since the start of the new school year in September.

Garcia said since the school was condemned the ministry could not compromise the safety of the students so the remaining 41 pupils from First Year to Standard Three have been relocated.

He said education was a right and when a school is closed the children’s rights were being denied since September.

Garcia said ministry officials have been meeting with parents in an attempt to “smoothen the situation.”

The students had a very good day at school yesterday and their conduct was above board. 

He said: “There were no incidents, no complaints of any indiscipline. They conducted themselves as students will.

“The decision to house the students at Tranquility stands until we can find suitable accommodation for the entire school.” 

According to Garcia suitable accommodation might mean constructing a new school.

“If the parents continue with their protest, then we might have to step up certain actions,” he added.

He said among the new measures to be implemented at the Tranquility school is that a plainclothes community police officer would be on the school compound during school hours.

Garcia said the ministry had asked that MTS security be increased and the installation of the appropriate rear pedestrian exit on the compound of Tranquillity Government Primary School to facilitate the safe egress of persons.

He said those measures were to be implemented to ensure there were no unsavoury acts.

Ramatali said the behaviour of the parents of the pupils at Tranquillity Government Primary could not be supported. She said: “The behaviour of the parents is not one that we are pleased with.”

She said she was “hoping that they could let good sense prevail and set an example for the both communities. Let us come around the table and dialogue.”

She said the parents “did not allow that process to take place. They just took matters into their own hands.”

She said the NPTA “cannot be comfortable and say we agree with parents locking gate and using obscene language on the school compound.”

Ramatali said the NPTA supported the ministry’s position on the relocation issue.

Asked if the protest may have stemmed from parents objecting to the area in which the Piccadilly pupils were coming from Ramatali said she would think not.

Chief executive officer of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) Brent Murphy is no longer employed with the authority with immediate effect.

The announcement was made via an internal memo dated yesterday and signed by acting chairman of the TRHA board, Lydia Peters. 

The letter came on the same day of a major protest by TRHA employees calling for the payment of their monthly salary for November, back pay and salary increases. 

While no distinct reason was given for his removal, sources told the T&T Guardian that Murphy's contract was terminated due to the differences of opinion between him and the TRHA board. 

The memo outlined the new acting arrangements.

It said: “Dr Nathaniel Duke, Medical Chief of Staff (MCOS) has been appointed to act as chief executive officer of the TRHA and Dr Inger Manswell-Myrie, Specialist Medical Officer, Paediatrics, (SMO) has been appointed to act as MCOS of the Scarborough General Hospital until further notice.” 

Murphy of Delaford, Tobago, has held the position for only six months. His contract was expected to expire in 2017.

Secretary of Health and Social Services in the THA, Claudia Groome-Duke, could not be reached for comment.

The letter came after operations at the Scarborough General Hospital came to a halt as all categories of employees attached to the authority protested for their salary increases, back pay and the late payment of their wages. The protest was led by PSA president Watson Duke.

Approximately 300 employees dressed in black carried placards, sang, chanted and circled the rotunda of the hospital in full view of patients and visitors.

Duke deemed yesterday as “Maniac Monday” as they believe that the board of the TRHA and the Tobago House of Assembly reneged on promises to pay all outstanding monies by the end of this October and November.

Duke said the workers were no longer prepared to deal with the disrespect meted out them by the TRHA board 

Speaking to the media Duke said the workers were no longer prepared to deal with the disrespect meted out to them as the TRHA board was describing their representation as illegal.

A meeting had been scheduled between the PSA, TRHA and Groome-Duke. However it never came off. T&T Guardian tried to contact Groome-Duke for a comment but all attempts were futile.

“A lot of people have been living in a fool’s paradise pretending all is well in the school system, but violence in schools have been this way for a very long time.”

This was the view of Devanand Sinanan, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA). Sinanan was responding to the issue of a perceived spike in school violence. 

Today on CNC3’s Morning Brew, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon admitted that he has now been made aware of the increase in violence in the school system. 

He said the growing trend of videos of students fighting in schools being posted on social media has made him aware of the violence in schools. 

Dillon said social media has brought the issue to the government’s attention. 

He said his ministry must now deploy deterrents in high risks schools to mitigate school fighting. 

With respect to a long-term plan, Dillon said there must be a collaborative effort between parents, teachers and the T&T Police Service to change the mindset of the school system.

“We have to get into their consciousness of what they are doing, what is good and what is bad. What are their value systems? I think you have to get into their value system and their spiritual consciousness, so you have to treat with the students, the parents and from my Ministry’s perspective, we have to look at how we can provide the kind of security required to act as a deterrent,” Dillon said. 

However, Sinanan said not only has school violence been a persistant problem for decades, but TTUTA has been pleading for an education reform to find a way to solve that problem.

“There has always been school violence, but now social media is bringing it to the fore more than ever.

“I think the basic problem is that now it has been brought out in the open to the fore. A lot of people are expressing shock and disbelief, but you shouldn’t be if you are au courant with what is going on in society and in schools it certainly is not new,” he said.

Sinanan added since Trevor Oliver, former TTUTA president, who demitted office in 2004, teachers have been pleading for a change in the education system by having delinquent students removed from the schools and treated in a separate facility so they can have the care they need.

“Since Oliver we have been on record saying we need to remove students who have been showing extreme level of deviance and violent behaviour. We need to put them in institutions with serious interventions into behaviour modifications, and then the students are returned to a conventional school system. 

“The conventional schools do not have the means to deal with that behaviour especially with the large number of students who need that treatment,” he said.

Questioned on the perception of a spike in violence in the schools, Sinanan said there was no empirical data to prove this.

He suggested that a survey be done to look at school records of fighting, and those who have been fighting and only then would there be a definitive answer to whether or not school violence has risen.

The family of a Freeport man, who was left lying on the ground for over four hours waiting for an ambulance after being knocked of a feed tank, are calling on the Ministry of Health to add more ambulances to its fleet.

Balraj Jawahir, 32, of Arena Road, Freeport, was on duty at El Chico farm in Freeport around 2.30 pm on Monday when the auger of a feed truck broke off, knocked him off the top of a feed tank, and sent him flying some 15 feet to the ground. 

The auger cut a five-inch gash on the side of his torso.

His younger brother, Avinash Jawahir, told the T&T Guardian this morning that despite numerous, frantic calls to the local ambulance service, no ambulance was ever dispatched.

"We called multiple times and they told us not to move him ourselves," Avinash said.

"We waited for hours with him on the ground and they kept telling us they had no ambulance available to send out."

Contacted for comment this morning, chief executive officer of Global Medical Response of T&T (GMRTT), Paul Andrews says a thorough investigation into ‘systems issues’ has to be done before he can say what went wrong. 

Andrews said GMRTT was contracted by the Health Ministry to provide ambulance services in 2013 and currently operates a fleet of 42 ambulances.

The incident follows a recent case where a man collapsed outside the San Fernando General Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival after being taken by a city coporation vehicle.

The ambulance service said it responded within 27 minutes but by then the patient had been removed.

Acting police corporal Lloyd Samaroo appeared in court yesterday as the 41st police officer to be charged with criminal offences for the year.

The officer, who was last attached to the Central Division, appeared before Port-of-Spain First Court magistrate Christine Charles charged with four offences arising out of a September 30 incident. 

The charges are misbehaviour in public office, assault, perverting the course of justice and malicious damage. Samaroo, who was represented by attorney Paradath Singh, was granted $150,000 bail while at the Belmont Police Station on Monday night shortly after he was officially charged with the offences. 

Singh asked that Samaroo remain on the bail bond granted at the police station given that his client, by virtue of his employment, is of good enough standing that he would comply with the requirements and would attend court.

Singh added that his client’s documents used to secure the bail were also above board and they should be allowed to continue on the original bail. 

After no objections were made concerning Samaroo’s bail, the matter was transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court and adjourned to today. 

The officer, who has 18 years service, was charged Monday evening by members of the Professional Standards Bureau who on Sunday arrested him at the Chaguanas Police Station. 

Police say the charges arise out of an alleged incident in which a man was beaten at a bar on September 30 in the Central Division. 

Government will seek parliamentary approval on Friday to increase borrowing limits to the level of $30 billion to deal with general development and also to a borrowing level of $45 billion for state agencies guaranteed by Government.

This is according to various figures given in the House of Representatives’ agenda for Friday’s House sitting where several motions on the matter will be debated.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Monday told the T&T Guardian the situation was necessary due to the borrowing level done over the last five years.

At last Friday’s Lower House session, Government House Leader Camille Robinson-Regis signalled that at the next House session (this Friday), Government would be presenting motions to raise the borrowing ceilings. 

She said debate would focus on amendments regarding several pieces of legislation regarding borrowing, including the Development Loans Act, Guarantee of Loans Act (for Companies) and External Loans Act.

According to Friday’s House agenda, debate will focus on a motion concerning the Development Loans Act which authorises Government to borrow money internally or externally in sums not exceeding TT$30 billion for financing general development in T&T. 

It can also be done for repayment of borrowings effected for general development; or repayment of borrowings for general development; or by a statutory authority, by a state enterprise or UWI.

A resolution to be debated in the motion seeks to authorise Government under this Act to borrow internally or externally “in sums not exceeding $15 billion TT.”

Another resolution seeks to allow Government to borrow $15 billion under Section 3(1) of the External Loans Act, Chap 71:05. 

This Act allows Government to borrow money externally in foreign currency for financing general development in T&T, or of repaying borrowings effected for the general development. 

Also under debate is a third resolution—under the Guarantee of Loans (Companies) Act, Chap. 71:82 —which mandates that the aggregate amount of all borrowings by State companies that are guaranteed by Government under the Act, shall not exceed $45 billion.

Imbert explained: “Because of the borrowing done over the last five years, we are very close to the limits in all three (Acts) and without these increases, we would be unable to pursue T&T’s Development Programme or finalise a number of loan arrangements entered into by the previous government.”

He didn’t detail if Government would seek to use the full limit of the $15 billion and $45 billion sums allowed under the Acts, or what specifically the funds will be used for. He will speak further on it on Friday.

At last Thursday’s weekly Government media conference, Imbert said T&T’s Development Programme would have been among “one or two things” which might be delayed due to falling oil prices. 

He said the latter was a serious concern. He said the Development Programme includes roads, bridges, schools, infrastructure, etc.

Commenting on the upcoming “borrowing” motion, Opposition Whip Dr Bhoe Tewarie said: “The fact Government is seeking to increase borrowing means they will be able to borrow up to those levels (in the Acts) if they find it is necessary. What we are interested in hearing from the Finance Minister is what exactly, they are planning to borrow for.

“The Government’s borrowing strategy cannot be taken in isolation. 

“It has to be seen against the background of the recently—presented Budget and the extent to which the Budget has been implemented, is being implemented or is implementable as well as the numbers used in the budget for revenue, expenditure and deficit.”

Economist Indera Sagewan-Alli, who noted the PP Government had also increased borrowing limits in its term, said she was not surprised Government also was going that route. 

She added: “Given the information provided by the Finance Minister in the 2016 Budget, there was a lot of outstanding debts to be repaid, monies spent, owing etc.

“Add to this, falling energy prices and Government’s $63 billion Budget. The money, therefore, has to come from somewhere to pay debts and treat with 2016 expenditure.

“This (borrowing) route is the only one left to Government, given the declining revenue situation. Government’s cash cow of sorts, the National Gas Company, has instituted a wage freeze and that, to me, is an indication of how bad things are.

“Also, there’s the worsening foreign exchange situation and TT currency depreciation. If you are at the lower end of the band, you will know the dollar has depreciated.”

Sagewan-Alli said borrowing for development purposes was not “necessarily a bad thing” since development could lead to medium-term revenue generation. However, she expressed concern about borrowing that involved incurring new expenditure.

“Without a doubt they should, for instance, shelve the Rapid Rail mass transit project for at least a year,” she added.

Sagewan-Alli said that project would add to various transportation systems already in train with hefty state subsidies and would further encumber T&T with the need for new technology, infrastructure and human resources. 

Urging Government to lean towards practical revenue-generating programmes over vanity projects, she added: “(So) on Friday I hope the minister will be open about what he’s borrowing for, so there can be full transparency and accountability. 

OPPOSITION RESPONDS

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on his return from his first official trip abroad said yesterday the existing limit for borrowing under the Development Loans Act, the Guarantee of Loans Act (for companies) and the External loans Act have been used up by the former government and if the new Government had to borrow the it had to be increased by Parliament.

He said that was the reason why Finance Minister Colm Imbert was presenting a motion to increase the limit for borrowing under the legislation in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The motion is seeking to increase the limit to $75 billion.

The move was criticised by former Opposition senator Vasant Bharath, who said yesterday the Government should have exercised other options.

But Rowley said last evening on his return from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Malta the Government would go to Parliament from time-to-time to borrow, adding the limit was set by the Parliament.

He said: “What has happened is that the last government borrowed right up to that (approved) ceiling so the Parliament’s approval to borrow has been used up. The ceiling has now been reached.”

He said, consequently, “if this Government has to borrow, as we have to, we have a serious deficit, which some of it can be closed (reduced) by borrowing.”

He said the Government “does not now have parliamentary approval to borrow because the ceiling that was set by the current approval, that ceiling (limit) has virtually been met.”

He said Imbert would give the details of the matter in Parliament today. According to Rowley, the Parliament was being asked “to raise the ceiling, which will create a space for us to borrow. That is what that is.”

He added: “We have to set our sights on being able to service those debts, have a proper revenue stream and ensure the debt don’t become the number one problem in the country.”

He said the debt to GDP ratio before the PP assumed office was about 34 per cent and after it lost office that ration stood at 46 per cent.

In response to a question, Rowley said the study was being done to determine if the rail project was feasible but he quickly indicated that such a project would create economic development in the nation.

He said the Government was committed to ensure there was “better collection of revenues.”

He also said measures must be implemented to expand the economy.

He said that matter had nothing to do with looming gas problems which were affecting the country. 

Earlier he said there were some very serious concerns for the population because of the latest Ryder Scott Report on the nation’s gas and oil reserves, which was before a Cabinet sub committee. 

Rowley said he held very important meetings with senior officials of BG, BP and Shell in London to discuss that matter and a subsequent meeting was expected in Port-of-Spain next week. 

He said his energy adviser, Prof Ken Julien,  chairman of the National Gas Company,  Gerry Brook, and Petrotrin chairman Andrew Jupiter attended the high-level discussions in London a few days ago.

In response to questions on the Court of Appeal ruling on the UNC’s election petitions, Rowley, who was abroad when the judgment was delivered, said it was simply that the court agreed to have the matter heard.

He said the PNM was very clear on the matter. 

He added: “We won the election, we are the Government of T&T and we will discharge our responsibility until such time that something else happens.

“We don’t expect to be anything but the Government of T&T. Let them go play in the court. They are free to play in the court. We have confidence in the court processes in T&T.

“Now that the court has said it will hear the matter, and that is all that has happened so far, we now will rely on the leading of evidence and the court will then rule as to whether there is evidence to support her (Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s) optimism.”

Persad-Bissessar said the ruling brought into question the legality of the Government. 

The PP is challenging the results of the September 7 general election in six constituencies held by the PNM. It is claiming that the decision of the Elections and Boundaries Commission to extend voting in Trinidad by one hour disadvantaged its chances at the polls.

He said Commonwealth leaders at their recent conference in Malta discussed the issue of security and corruption. To this end, Rowley said, he would be attending a conference in London next May to address those issues. It is being hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

He said during his visit Singapore offered to assist T&T in “strengthening its institutions to deal with governance issues, particularly with respect to matters such as public service and corruption.”

Rowley said T&T would “take up” those offers.

The Form Three boy from Brazil Secondary School who brought a cutlass to school, injuring a Form Four boy in a fight, has been suspended from school. However, if criminal charges are not filed, the boy may be allowed to return to school.

On Wednesday, 16-year-old Jodel Noel was taken to the Arima District Health Facility by the school’s nurse after he received a chop wound three centimetres deep on his left leg, a few inches above his ankle.

Contrary to reports, the chop wound was deep enough to need 85 stitches both inside and outside the cut but it was not deep enough to cause any damage to the bone.

Yesterday T&T Guardian visited Joel at his family’s home in the Heights of Gunapo, Arima, where he was resting. The day before, he was sent to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

The fight that landed Joel in the hospital was caused by one male Form Three student bullying a female student in the same form. Jodel said since Form One, that student was bullying his friend “Chenece.”

Jodel said on Tuesday, the Form Three boy tried to take “Chenece’s” money. When she refused, they fought and he ended up kicking “Chenece” three times in her stomach.

That boy threatened to come back the next day with a cutlass to kill “Chenece.” Following through with this threat, that Wednesday at lunch time, the boy brought a small machete concealed in his book bag, Joel said.

When the boy announced he had a cutlass, another boy who was in Form Four, tried to defend his friend.

While Joel maintained he was a bystander, T&T Guardian was able to speak to “Chenece”, with the permission of her mother, and she revealed Joel tried to protect her from the cutlass-wielding student.

She said when Joel saw the boy walk out of the Form Five block with his hand inside his bag, he believed he would have pulled out the cutlass when he reached  “Chenece.” Another of her friends hit the boy and then she said Jodel hit him a jump kick.

She said the Form Three boy then pulled out his cutlass and chopped Jodel on his leg.

“A lot of us were there and we literally saw when he chopped him. I was feeling real bad because Jodel is my top friend at my school and he is always looking out for me since I got to the school,” “Chenece” said.

Sherwin Noel, Jodel’s father, went to speak with the school’s principal yesterday. 

Speaking to Noel after the meeting, he said the school was trying to pull together all the information but many of the students did not want to say what happened and as it was close to the end of year there were a number of students who were not at school because of exams.

Noel added that the boy with the cutlass had been suspended for seven days, but because of a technicality in the Education Act which stated it was the constitutional right of a child to be educated—he could not be expelled. 

The most that could be done, he added, was that his seven-day suspension  could be extended by a month pending approval from the Ministry of Education.

Unless criminal charges were filed, he added,  the boy who brought the cutlass to school would not be barred from attending Brazil Secondary School.

A communication official from the Education Ministry confirmed the boy had been suspended and encouraged Noel to report the incident to the police so they could deal with it.

“We parang d wrong house.” That was the theme of the new décor piece that was put up Wednesday night in the atrium of the Piarco International Airport.

The Airports Authority rushed Wednesday night to replace the winter wonderland display in the atrium. They had come under fire by people on social media who thought the décor piece was not reflective of T&T’s culture.

Now parang is in full swing at the airport as there are paranderos, clad in T&T national flag shirts, singing on the sand outside two huts among coconuts and poinsettia.

The T&T Guardian asked a number of people who stopped to pose in front of the display what they thought.

Emily Lewis, visiting from London, thought it was a “lovely idea.”

Though Lewis initially asked what parang was, she then said: “It looks like they are having a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see it in real life.”

Kareem Mohammed, of Diego Martin, said he was happy to see something that looks more like his home.

“You know, when I saw the first one on Facebook, I could not believe these people. I don’t understand how they could think snow in the tropics was a good idea. I’m glad they had the good sense to change it,” he said.

However, some people appeared to be apathetic on the décor piece.

James Williams from San Fernando said: “I don’t know what the big fuss is about. It’s Christmas. There is snow somewhere in the world. It really does not matter.”

T&T Guardian attempted to contact Zola Joseph, corporate communications officer for the Airports Authority, but calls to her mobile phone went unanswered. 

Defence Force officers, which comprise members of the Coast Guard, Air Guard and T&T Regiment, are still waiting on final approval from Cabinet for salary increases.

The Defence Force signed an agreement on September 5 with Chief Personnel Officer Stephanie Lewis for the negotiation period of January 2011 to December 2013.

While the agreement was a relief to many current and retired officers, the negotiations are still not up to date.

The source said pensioners, who would have been affected by negotiations within that period, would also have their payments adjusted and would receive back pay.

According to a source, the documents containing the agreement went to the Ministry of Finance in September.

In order to obtain final approval, a Cabinet Note would need to be prepared for the Minister of Finance Colm Imbert to lay before the Cabinet.

In July, police officers accepted a 14 per cent increase from the CPO.

The increase for the Defence Force was said to be around 15 per cent.

The source said several serving and retired members of the Defence Force had raised concerns over the lengthy negotiation progress for revised pay and allowances.

The Defence Force is not represented by any trade union and is not, like other national security agencies, allowed to take industrial action.

Several officers said they feared having a bleak Christmas and complained of  having outstanding loans and other financial commitments as well as families to support.

They hoped the process would be completed as soon as possible.

Some bar owners says they intend to heed the advice of the police by encouraging patrons to either use designated drivers or not to drink at all when liming.

The Police Service at a press conference at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, announced that some 136 people were killed in road traffic accidents for the year to date. For the same period last year the figure was 147, representing a seven per cent reduction.

But traffic officers said that figure still remained unacceptably high. “As we are fast approaching the end of 2015, T&T is also entering a very festive period with Christmas season being quickly followed by an early feting season as a result of Carnival being celebrated early on February 8 and 9, 2016.

“It is in this context and against the backdrop of the recent road traffic accidents which resulted in multiple road deaths, the TTPS is again reminding road users of the importance of their roles in road safety,” said public information officer of the Police Service, acting ASP Michael Pierre.

The manager of one St James bar agreed with the police that for too long people were jeopardising not only their lives but also those of innocent people when they ran the risk of drinking and driving.

“Too much people dying on the roads and with Christmas there is only craziness on the roads,” he added.

But another bar owner said very little could be done to stop a person who wanted to drink then drive after. “Once you leave my bar there is nothing I could do afterwards,” he said.

President of Arrive Alive, Sharon Inglefield; Douglas Mayers, of the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT); Shirlane Hendrickson, assistant general secretary of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO); Stacy Clarke, of the T&T Beverage Alcohol Alliance and acting Supt Mathura Singh of the Police Service’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch launched an initiative on Wednesday which was aimed at keeping motorists and passengers safe throughout the Christmas period into Carnival.

The measures also entailed stepping up patrols on what they described as “hot days and hot nights.”

Contacted yesterday, managing director of Carib Brewery Gabriel Faria urged drivers not only to drink responsibly for the Christmas into Carnival seasons but “all year round.”

In a telephone yesterday interview, Faria also appealed to drivers to have regard for human life. 

He said should drivers feel the urge a have a drink they should let good sense prevail and do so in moderation.

“We don’t want people to be only safe for this Christmas season we want them to be safe into the Carnival season and all year round,” he added.

Angostura’s public affairs and corporate communications manager Giselle Laronde-West said the company had also been involved in awareness campaigns. 

She said: “We have been encouraging drivers to be responsible. 

We also did several ads and have launched awareness campaigns on social media.” 

She said it was evident that people were responding to the campaigns on social media sites as there had been in excess of 1,000 downloads.

She said while the company continued to promote its rum products “we have been doing all we can” to promote awareness. 

She said those campaigns have even extended to schools so that school children could be made aware of safe driving and the effects of drinking and driving when they reached adulthood.

Police are investigating the source of a photograph now circulating on social media of a Beetham man holding a high-powered military rifle. 

Up to late yesterday, lawmen were investigating the origin of the photograph and the identity of the man in it.

The man, who has a gold chain around his neck, has the rifle in his right hand and is standing next to a garbage can.

The photograph has grabbed the attention of many on social media.

Many users expressed surprise at such weapons being out in the public.

The weapon in the photograph is an AR-15 that was first manufactured in 1959 by ArmaLite as a small arms rifle for the United States armed forces.

Several users on the site commented on whether he had a job and his family status.

Friends rushed to his defence claiming that he was a very respected person in the community and did “just did a stupid thing by taking the picture.”

Others said: “What war this country have? If you drop some of these elements in war, they cry like babies.”

“Omg in America that is all they need to put him in jail for 15 or more years...God bless Trinidad.”

“I’m sure the clown doesn’t have his own home or savings in the bank or credit union and what maybe even more sad is that he is a father.”

Investigations are continuing.

A Tarouba man was sent to jail yesterday for 16 months yesterday for maliciously wounding his common-law wife with a cutlass during an argument.

Kadir Drickpaul, 30, of Bocus Drive, Thompson Road, Tarouba, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Margaret Alert in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. 

According to the facts, read by court prosecutor Krishna Bedassie, on August 29, 2015 the victim, Melissa Sooknanan, was at her home at Picton Street Extension, Picton Settlement, San Fernando.

Drickpaul was also at Sooknanan’s home when around 12.30 am the pair began arguing.

During the argument, Drickpaul took up a cutlass from inside the house and struck Sooknanan several times about her body, resulting in cuts.

Drickpaul then ran away. Sooknanan made a report to the San Fernando Police Station and PC Kevin Crawford visited her home and spoke to her about the matter.

Crawford also took possession of the cutlass used in the beating.

Sooknanan went to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) where she received treatment for her injuries and Crawford collected a medical report on her behalf.

Sometime later, Bedassie said, Crawford went to Lalbeharry Trace, Barrackpore, where he met with Drickpaul.

When Drickpaul was told of the allegation, he replied: “Boss, that night me and Melissa had a fight and she end up getting some cuts.”

He was then arrested and taken to the San Fernando Police Station.

Yesterday, defence attorney Analee Girwar told the court Drickpaul was a coconut vendor and a father of four.

She said Drickpaul told her the argument started over Drickpaul’s cellphone. Girwar said Sooknanan accused her client of being unfaithful.

Girwar said the argument escalated into a scuffle during which both Drickpaul and Sooknanan received cuts about the body.

She said her client was sorry for his actions and had spent his time in custody thinking about what he did.

She asked Alert to show leniency, stating Drickpaul had learnt his lesson.

However, Alert disagreed as she cited a pending matter on Drickpaul’s court record for breaching a protection order taken out against him by Sooknanan in April. 

Alert said that allegation and the conviction showed an escalating pattern of violent behaviour towards Sooknanan.

She sentenced Drickpaul to 16 months hard labor and ordered the cutlass returned to Sooknanan.

There has been no immediate negative impact on Port-of-Spain businessmen regarding the threat of a stall in the delivery of mail but past hiccups in this area has led to failure in productivity.

Making the statement was Gregory Aboud, president of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) in light of statements that workers of TTPost were threatening industrial action.

At a press conference by the Postal Workers Union of T&T at the Eastern Main Road, El Dorado, on Wednesday, the union’s president, David Forbes, said workers were fed up and frustrated by the apparent lack of interest from management to ensure workers not only had the tools for their trade but to ensure proper promotional systems were in place. 

Forbes also called for an audit into the operations of the company.

However, Aboud said over the past two to three weeks the postal service had become “somewhat regularised.”

He warned that disruptions in such a service would have a critically negative impact of the business sector's efficiency.

“The question of basic services, which includes postal service, continues to be the central cause of our nation's uncompetitiveness and failing productivity.

“It is incomprehensible to imagine that any model in society can expect to survive in the new world order with so much chaos in critical basic services,” Aboud said.

He added that there was a period of time, prior to August of this year, when for “many, many months" the mail service was non-operational, resulting in a tremendous negative impact on the business operations, especially as it related to “time sensitive mail.”

"This included bank statements, details in relation to ‘renewables’ and ‘payables’ and also requirements for payment of quarterly taxes and VAT returns.

“In many cases businesses were forced to collect forms by messenger and submit payments by hand,” Aboud added.

Contacted yesterday, an official of TTPost said the organisation was working to ensure that no one would be adversely affected, especially as the Christmas season was in full swing.

T&T has suffered its fourth quarter of negative growth and decline is is now officially in a recession, Central Bank Governor Jawala Rambarran announced this morning. A recession is a sustained period of general economic decline defined as a decline in GDP for two or more consecutive quarters.

Speaking at the Fifth Monetary Policy Forum at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, Rambarran said the recession was triggered by prolonged supply disruptions in the energy sector resulted in shortfalls in natural gas which in turn adversely affected output of LNG and petrochemicals.

He added: “Lower energy prices also negatively impacted the domestic energy sector. This has already been reflected in job losses at some energy companies. The decision by Arcelor Mittal to idle its steel plant will not only affect energy output but also jobs.”

Rambarran said in recent years the non-energy sector had kept the economy “from veering off its already weak growth trajectory” but seems to have lost its momentum and weakness has crept into key sectors, including distribution and construction.

He said the Central Bank expects the T&T economy to contract by 1 1/2 per cent, in a reversal of the sluggish growth of one per cent recorded last year. The energy sector is expected to contract by more than three per cent and activity in the non energy sector is expected to be flat.

T&T’s retail and distribution sector is the “most voracious consumer of foreign exchange”, says Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarrran. That sector alone gobbled up US$4.5 billion or nearly one third of the total foreign exchange sold over the past three years.
In his address at the Fifth Monetary Policy Forum at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, Rambarran identified the top users of foreign exchange in the country over the last three years. They are as follows:

Top Five Users in Retail and Distribution
• PriceSmart - US$507 million
• Courts - US$198 million
• Smith Robertson & Company - US$169 million
• AS Bryden - US$153 million
• Massy Distribution - US$136 million

Top Five Users in Manufacturing
• Nestle - US$194 million
• Witco - US$129 million
• Carib - US$107 million
• National Flour Mills - US$102 million
• Caribbean Bottlers (Coca Cola) - US$94 million

Top Five Users in Automobile Dealerships
• Southern Sales - US$275 million
• Massy Motors - US$251 million
• Toyota - US$245 million
• Diamond Motors - US$59 million
• Lifestyle Motors - US$36 million

Top Three Users in Telecommunications
• TSTT - US$294 million
• Digicel - US$263 million
• Columbus Communications - US$250 million

After a protracted legal battle, the husband of Crystal Boodoo-Ramsoomair, who died while delivering her third child almost four years ago, has settled her medical negligence lawsuit. 

Lorne Ramsoomair agreed to the settlement yesterday minutes before High Court Master Marissa Robertson was due to give her ruling on the compensation to be paid by the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), which operates the San Fernando General Hospital where his wife died on March 4, 2011, after undergoing a caesarean section procedure. 

Details of the settlement were not read in open court as it is the subject of a confidentiality agreement. 

While SWRHA had accepted institutional liability for her death shortly after Ramsoomair filed the case in 2012, Ramsoomair was allowed to pursue a separate claim against the three doctors who treated his wife before her death. 

As a result of the settlement, Ramsoomair agreed to withdraw the case against the SWRHA as well as against Drs Mondira Seenath, Deepavali Ramballack and Ashmeed Mohammed.

There was no mention of the settlement on Thursday, when High Court Judge Frank Seepersad set trial dates for the hearing of the case against the doctors in January next year. The dates will now have to be vacated and witnesses notified that they are no longer required to testify. 

Ramsoomair had filed private criminal complaints against the three doctors for manslaughter after they unsuccessfully attempted to have themselves struck from the lawsuit after the SWRHA accepted liability. Earlier this year, he wrote to the authority asking for $3.5 million to withdraw both the civil and criminal cases against the doctors. Ramsoomair eventually discontinued the charges last month.

Ramsoomair was represented by Israel Khan, SC, Ravi Rajcoomar and Allister Khan, while Alvin Fitzpatrick, SC, and Jagdeo Singh represented the SWRHA and the doctors. 

A blueprint for chaos on the horizon.

That is how former planning minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie described actions being taken by the Government.

He was making his contribution to the debate in the Lower House yesterday on a motion on the Increase of Loans Ceiling under the Development Loans Act, through which the Government is seeking to borrow $50 billion.

Tewarie said chaos might very well be on the horizon because what the Government was saying was different from what it was doing.

“The gap between what the Government is saying and doing will make people very uncomfortable.

“You are saying no one will lose their jobs but thousands were terminated in the last three months and more are coming.

“You are saying you are consulting with the trade unions but there are unilateral wage freezes at the National Gas Company.

“How long will the $15 million inducement to the unions guarantee the good will you now enjoy?” he asked.

Referring to the expected introduction of VAT on zero-rated items in January, Tewarie asked if it was not the unemployed, underemployed, working and middle classes who would have to fund this source of revenue for the Government.

He said Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran disclosed yesterday that food inflation would rise to double digits, a significant portion of it VAT induced.

Tewarie said the Government had brought the economy to a standstill.

“The construction sector has gone into decline,” he said, adding that hundreds of construction workers have been sent home.

The burning question about the $50 billion the Government was seeking to borrow was, “Why so much money?” he asked.

“This is the question for us on this side, not so much that you came to ask for an increase in the borrowing limit.

“Why so much at the beginning of your term? This is the equivalent of one year’s budget.

“You can’t expect the Opposition to give the Government support carte blanche to borrow so much money.

“You want to tell the public of our sins by the way you are organising your narrative but why so much, what are you spending it on and how are you going to pay for it?

“We don’t know your debt management and debt repayment strategy. Why do you need almost 71 per cent more fiscal space than you already have?”

Tewarie said monies owed contractors was nowhere near $50 billion and he suspected some of the money they were hoping to borrow would have to do with development projects, making mention of the government’s proposed rapid rail project.

Tewarie asked whether government’s strategy was to drive state development and stimulate the economy through borrowing.

“I think this will be the wrong strategy,” he said.

He said the challenges facing the economy could not be solved by borrowing, austerity measures, taking an IMF prescription and raising taxes alone.

He said when he left the Planning Ministry, he left a ten-year plan for the country which public servants were working on.

Tewarie asked the Speaker for an amendment to the motion which, in essence, asks that no more public procurement be facilitated until related legislation comes fully into effect