SANTIAGO—A wooden box containing Fidel Castro’s ashes was yesterday placed by his brother and successor into the side of a granite boulder that has become Cuba’s only official monument to the charismatic bearded rebel who seized control of a US-allied Caribbean island and transformed it into a western outpost of Soviet-style communism that he ruled with absolute power for nearly half a century.

The private, early-morning ceremony was attended by members of Fidel Castro’s family, the ruling Politburo of the single-party system he founded, and Latin American leaders who installed closely allied leftist governments in Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Brazil.

After nine days of fervent national mourning and wall-to-wall homages to Castro on state-run media, the government barred independent coverage of the funeral, releasing a handful of photos and brief descriptions of the ceremony later in the day.

The ceremony began at 6.39 am when the military caravan bearing Castro’s remains in a flag-draped cedar coffin left the Plaza of the Revolution in the eastern city of Santiago.

Thousands of people lined the two-mile route to Santa Ifigenia cemetery, waving Cuban flags and shouting “Long live Fidel!”

The ashes were delivered to Castro’s younger brother and successor, President Raul Castro, who wore his olive general’s uniform as he placed the remains into a niche in the enormous grey boulder that will serve as his tomb.

The niche was sealed with a green marble plaque emblazed with the name “Fidel” in gold letters.

The tomb stands to the side of a memorial to the rebel soldiers killed in an attack that Castro led on Santiago’s Moncada barracks on July 26, 1953, and in front of the mausoleum of Cuban national hero Jose Marti.

As the funeral ended, martial music could be heard outside the cemetery, where Ines de la Rosa was among the mourners gathered. She said she would have liked to watch the interment on television, but “we understand how they as a family also need a bit of privacy.”

The decision to keep the final farewell private came the morning after Raul Castro announced that Cuba would prohibit the naming of streets and monuments after his brother, and bar the construction of statues of the former leader and revolutionary icon, in keeping with his desire to avoid a cult of personality.

“The leader of the revolution rejected any manifestation of a cult of personality and was consistent in that through the last hours of his life, insisting that, once dead, his name and likeness would never be used on institutions, streets, parks or other public sites, and that busts, statutes or other forms of tribute would never be erected,” Raul Castro told a massive crowd gathered in the eastern city of Santiago.

He said that Cuba’s National Assembly would vote in its next session on the law fulfilling the wishes of his brother, who died last week at 90. The legislature generally holds a meeting in December and under Cuba’s single-party system, parliament unanimously or near-unanimously approves every government proposal.

Fidel Castro, who stepped down in 2006 after falling ill, kept his name off public sites during his near half-century in power because he said he wanted to avoid the development of a personality cult. In contrast, the images of his fellow revolutionary fighters Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto “Che” Guevara became common across Cuba in the decades since their deaths.

Mourning for Castro has been fervent and intense across the country since his death, particularly in rural eastern Cuba, where huge crowds have been shouting Castro’s name and lining the roads to salute the funeral procession carrying his ashes.

“All of us would like to put Fidel’s name on everything but in the end, Fidel is all of Cuba,” said Juan Antonio Gonzalez, a 70-year-old retired economist.

“It was a decision of Fidel’s, not Raul’s, and I think he has to be respected.”

Castro’s reign over the island nation was marked by the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis a year later that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Castro, who outlasted a crippling US trade embargo as well as dozens, possibly hundreds, of assassination plots, died ten years after a life-threatening illness led him to turn over power to his brother. (AP)

Government ministries must become more efficient in order to make doing business in T&T easier, president of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) Richie Sookhai says.

He made the comment during the Chamber’s annual end of year and awards function at Signature Hall, Longdenville, Chaguanas, on Saturday night. He said there must be an enhanced level of inter-connectivity among ministries in order to boost productivity.

Looking at the past year, Sookhai said T&T experienced “economic rough seas” in 2016 that led to a loss of revenue and thousands of jobs.

He said the decline in the global economy had also impacted the region, leading to a steady influx of immigrants into T&T.

Sookhai said T&T could no longer be dependent on oil and gas and had to diversify into new and broad areas.

“There is a school of thought that says that the manufacturing sector is the driving force to bring us out of this, but I believe that we have the option to look into different sectors. We could start looking at renewable energy, renewable energy sources,” Sookhai said.

He said Government must change its five-year mentality towards projects and instead look at long term plans and the following through on plans left behind by previous administrations.

Also speaking at the event, bptt regional president Norman Christie said in less than a decade the entire oil and gas industry had been turned upside down because of factors that included shale oil and gas and global warming.

He said: “How do we continue to maximise returns from gas in T&T when the country which was our largest importer of gas less than a decade ago, the United States, is now a major exporter of gas? How do we navigate the monetisation of cross border and across border gas when our neighbour, Venezuela, has serious political and economic challenges.

“How do we continue to attract investment when there is a short to medium term global oversupply of the product we are trying to sell?

“The increased complexity in just this one area is enough to put your head in a spin and of course there are many more areas of complexity—globalisation versus protectionism, the re-emergence of the cold war, the ageing population in many developed nations are just a few of the complexities.”

Christie said confronting social and economic complexities for leaders would require courage.

He added that no one was immune from the rising crime levels.

“What is frightening is the increased callousness of humanity, it is no wonder that more and more people just want to retreat. Unfortunately, most remain vulnerable and we all soon learn that the walls we build to retreat behind, they are never high enough.

“Crime needs to be confronted and make no mistake, confronting crime requires courage.”

Christie said the secret weapon needed to bring about courage is love.

“Some of the weapons associated with courage are power, divisiveness and slander, but love is seldom present. This is why T&T stopped in awe of a young girl who decided to show love to a person in a grocery store by feeding him.”

Christie also urged national community to get all the necessary facts before making judgments or adopting a viewpoint based on one source or individual.

He said it is easy to get caught in an echo chamber that supports a biased view while never getting close to the truth.

During her address, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said 2016 had been challenging, but noted Government has been working tirelessly to create solutions in the short, medium and long term.

She urged the business sector to keep looking at Cuba as a possible market for local goods.

Recent trade missions to Cuba and parts of Europe, she added, proved to be successful.

She said Government had secured a US$25 million loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) to expand the Single Electronic Window for Trade managed by her administration that has around 7000 users monthly.

The chamber also honoured business tycoon Dr Anthony Sabga.

Sookhai recalled that Sabga was blanked twice when he had applied for membership to the T&T Chamber. Sookhai said this was one of the many stories of Sabga that should inspire nationals not to give up on their road to success.

A 30-year-old La Horquetta man was arrested on Saturday afternoon in connection with the shooting of police constable Hakeem Blake.

The man, police said, rented the vehicle used in the shooting of Blake last Thursday in Sangre Grande.

Police said Blake, 27, was approached by two men who opened fire on him as he stood along the Eastern Main Road, Guaico, around noon on December 1.

Blake, who is attached to the Sangre Grande Task Force, was shot in both legs and was taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital, where he remains warded in a stable condition.

The car in which the shooters arrived in and left was a grey Nissan Tiida, which was later found abandoned in the Brazil area.

The manhunt to arrest the two shooters, led by Supt Robert Phillip of the Eastern Division and members of the Guard and Emergency Branch is still ongoing and police believe their arrests will come soon.

Two business groups are not satisfied with the police presence in their shopping districts during what is considered to be the busiest period for the year.

President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association Gregory Aboud and president of San Fernando Business Association Daphne Bartlett yesterday expressed disappointment at the lack of a police presence in the two main shopping areas so far for the season, and are calling on the authorities to rectify the situation.

In a telephone yesterday, Aboud said there had been a “drop out of interest” by the police when it came to securing the capital.

Describing the little or no presence of police as unfortunate, he said he cannot understand the reasoning behind the decision.

He remained hopeful, however, that within the next few days it would change. As though ready to challenge anyone to question his statements, Aboud said his remarks were being made given the data available.

“We have observed a lack of interest in Port-of-Spain by the police authorities, that’s all we would like to say at his time. They (the police) would know exactly what we are talking about.

“We are hopeful that they will understand that our comments are not based upon any emotional or personal issues but purely based on the data,” Aboud said, adding he hoped the police would take a renewed interest in Port-of-Spain for the remainder of the Christmas season.

His statements come on the heels of an incident on Henry Street last Thursday, which resulted in two men being shot during an attack in broad daylight in which a woman is also said to have pulled out a gun and fired shots.

Meanwhile, Bartlett said she too had not seen the usual presence of joint army/police patrol and cannot understand the reason for this.

“What has worked for us (previously) should continue to work for us. Over the last decade, joint army and police patrols have worked for us and it kept away crime.”

She added that having the patrols act as a deterrent against the criminal element. Bartlett said her members were noticing trends where a lot of people were coming to San Fernando and “scoping out “ situations and that can be “frightening.”

Calling for the joint police and army patrol to be put in place, she suggested that the police authorities “not try to re-invent the wheel,” when it came to security for San Fernando.

​

As small businesses struggle to clear their overseas debts, president of the Penal/Debe Chamber of Commerce, Shiva Roopnarine, is calling for more equity in the distribution of foreign exchange.

At the chamber’s annual Christmas dinner at Achievor’s Banquet Hall, San Fernando, on Friday night, Roopnarine called on Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire to keep a close eye on how foreign exchange dollars are allocated.

He made the call as he revealed many of the chamber’s members still have problems accessing foreign exchange.

“The country is well aware of foreign reserve shortages and the controlled release of US dollars to the banks, even after the US$1 billion dollar oversubscribed loan secured by the Minister of Finance,” Roopnarine said.

“Members have issues accessing foreign exchange and if they do, the waiting time could be weeks. We need foreign exchange in an equitable manner, just like any other business community in Trinidad and Tobago, from the local commercial banks.”

He added: “The governor of the Central Bank needs to respond to the call from the business community and monitor the allocation of US dollars to these institutions. Will the country and the Central Bank be able to hold the TT dollar at its present value to the US dollar considering the high demand? Will we now be able to know who is using the majority of the US dollars, or will this lead to the loss of another Central Bank governor?

“Where did the US money go? It is not accessible to the small and medium businesses.”

Roopnarine said the inaccessibility of foreign exchange has caused businesses to incur additional expenditure, as they are forced to use their credit cards to purchase goods and services which attract credit card fees.

He said suppliers were unwilling to absorb the three to five per cent charged to them by Mastercard and Visa. As a result, members feel exploited by the commercial banks since they cannot get US for cash or wire transfers , but have little problems paying their US credit card bills.

“We call on the banking sector to immediately correct this dilemma, assist us in conducting our business and end this banking monopoly. You need our business as much as we require your services,” Roopnarine said.

Mexico’s cement giant, Cemex, this morning announced that it will be making a takeover bid for Claxton Bay-based Trinidad Cement Ltd.

Cemex, through one of its indirect subsidiaries Sierra Trading, is looking to acquire 132,616,942 shares at a price of $4.50 in cash per TCL share.

The proposed offer price represents a 33.13 per cent premium over TCL’s price of $3.38 at the close of trading on Friday.

Cemex currently owns 39.5 per cent of TCL, which announced at the end of October that its revenue had declined by 12.2 per cent for the first nine months of 2016, which it said had been caused by a "precipitous fall in construction activity in Trinidad and Tobago."

Assistant secretary of the Brasso Seco Paria Tourism Action Committee, Melanie Bastaldo, yesterday slammed their MP Anthony Garcia for deserting them in their darkest hour.

Bastaldo said five days after their community had experienced torrential rains and landslides which left four houses partially destroyed, roads impassable, no telephone communication and crops washed away, they had not seen or heard from Garcia.

Garcia is Education Minister.

However, Garcia dismissed the residents’ claims, stating that he has been “in touch” with Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, CEO of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) Dr Stephen Ramroop and outgoing chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Edwin Gooding to keep abreast of the situation there.

“I have not been there. That is the truth. But my personal assistant has been in constant contact with the Brasso Seco residents. I have also been communicating with the relevant ministries,” Garcia said.

Though Garcia claimed to be keeping in direct contact with those looking after the community’s needs, he could not give an update on the state of the village yesterday.

Questioned when he would pay the village a visit, Garcia said, “later on this week,” but did not give a definite day.

As Garcia spoke, he said he was heading to the Piarco International Airport to attend a meeting in Barbados and upon his return he would tour the area.

“I assure you I will visit them to see what can be done,” Garcia said.

Bastaldo said the entire community was outraged that Garcia could not even spare two hours to hear the cries of the affected residents and to see first hand what they were facing.

“We are disappointed because everybody in the village say if our councillor Candice Alleyne could come, why he can’t do the same. Garcia should treat this as a priority.”

Bastaldo said the last time they saw Garcia was following the 2010 general election.

She said due to fallen electricity poles and lines cellphones could neither be charged nor used, while landlines had gone dead.

While roads such as Madamas, Paria Bay and Brasso Trace remained impassable, Bastaldo said the Paria Main Road was cleared of all debris.

At Madamas Road, Bastaldo said, nine households were affected by the heavy downpour.

“Thick mud has covered the road’s surface. You can only get in and out by foot. It’s impossible for any vehicle to pass.”

Giving an update, Gooding said the corporation has cleared all but Madamas Road.

He said work came to a grinding halt on Sunday after the corporation’s backhoe started malfunctioning.

“Another backhoe was sent in today. But I cannot tell how work has been progressing since I am unable to reach anyone by cellphone. I have to wait until our work crews come in to find out. What I can tell you is that no family has been marooned.”

Unable to say when clean-up operations would end, Gooding said he knows that the ODPM and the corporation’s disaster unit have been providing relief supplies to affected families.

“I don’t think it is anything close that happened in Matelot.”

Ramroop did not respond to several calls yesterday.

Four men from Port-of-Spain who carried out a half of a million dollar robbery at a jewellery store in Gasparillo yesterday are now in police custody.

The men were held when police intercepted the getaway car shortly after the daring act.

According to reports, around 6 pm the men held up the jewellery store at Gasparillo. They relieved the owner of diamonds, gold, silver and other precious stones valued at $500,000.

Police were contacted after the bandits fled in a getaway car, and later intercepted the vehicle and recovered most of the stolen items and a loaded revolver.

The men were taken in custody and will appear on a number of ID parades on today.

​

Although there have been several threats made to the Alexis family, relatives said yesterday there would be no reprisals for the murder of Mervyn Alexis, 46, the younger brother of reputed gang leader Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, 50.

The younger Alexis was gunned down on Sunday night as he stood along Railway Road, Enterprise, Chaguanas, one street away from where his older brother was killed five months ago, also on a Sunday.

According to police, a white Nissan Wingroad pulled up around 10 pm Sunday and three men got out and shot Alexis in the head and body before jumping back into the car and escaping.

The older Alexis, described as a crime lord in the community, was at his business place along Freedom Street on July 17 when he was confronted by a man known to him and there was a shootout.

In the end, Alexis was dead along with his long time friend, Kevin Escayg, and the duo’s killer, Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe. Escayg’s son was shot in the stomach and Alexis managed to save his granddaughter from being shot by shoving her out of the way.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian at the family’s business along Southern Main Road yesterday, two of Selwyn’s children — Keron and Katisha — said their uncle’s death was due to jealousy and malice.

They added, however, that they would not be chased out of the area by cowards who would sneak up on an unarmed man they knew was not involved in criminal activity.

The duo said after their father was killed the country was bracing for a reprisal and close to five months later there had been no such fallout and there would not be any now either.

“After my uncle get killed they sent a text to my mother phone saying ‘One gone, bye bye’. They firebombed my brother’s house, shoot up a brother’s car, sent threats for the whole family and we ain’t do nothing,” Keron said.

“I realise I have to be the bigger man and say enough is enough. I have patience. I willing to work with the police and help them.”

He said the killers had been timing the police patrols and knew when they would be able to strike as the Central Division had depleted resources with the transferring of some officers last week. The killings of the Alexis brothers was being placed on the Unruly Isis gang.

During a tour of the Enterpise area following the killing of Robocop in July, Mervyn Alexis had spoken to National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, saying to solve crime in the area there would need to be a police and people partnership.

Since then there have been two town meetings in the area involving acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.

Yesterday, Keron Alexis called on Williams to visit the community again to help end the bloodshed.

MURDER VIDEO GOES VIRAL

Meanwhile, in two unrelated murders, police arrested two men who were held shortly after a confrontation with a man along the Priority Bus Route, Curepe, on Friday night.

The two men were videotaped by a passer-by accusing Lall Dwarika of stealing from them. One man hit Dwarika in the head with a piece of iron and when he collapsed the men rummaged through his clothing. The men then fled but were chased by a uniformed police officer and apprehended. Police said the incident took place around 9 pm and Dwarika died at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex one hour later. The video was released on social media and has since gone viral.

In the other killing, police are seeking to identify the body of an East Indian male partially wrapped in a sheet at Samaroo Village, Arima. Police said residents saw the body around 9 am and called police. The man’s was wearing a red, white and blue T-shirt, blue jeans pants and plaid boxer shorts.

The serenity of Arena Road, Freeport, was disturbed yesterday after retiree Cyril “Ramesh” Maharaj was found bludgeoned to death in his living room yesterday afternoon.

Police said they received information that Maharaj, 70, had a confrontation with a man who returned and hit him in the head, killing him. However, residents and relatives of the deceased believe he was killed by an intruder. Police, relatives and residents agreed the incident took place around 1 pm.

Maharaj was found in his living room after relatives checked on him as he was not responding to telephone calls. A neighbour said a man from the area was seen in Maharaj’s yard around 1.30 am yesterday morning and they suspect the man may have had something to do with his death.

Speaking with the media at the scene yesterday, Maharaj’s sister Leela Ramoutar said in her 74 years living in the area, nothing like that had ever happened. She said the community was a place where one could go to sleep with the doors open and wake in the morning without an incident.

About her brother, she said: “He don’t trouble anybody. His brother have open heart surgery today (yesterday) and his mother went away to be with the brother and this now come and happen.”

Meanwhile, Tobago police are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a taxi driver, after he was found dead at the side of the road by passers-by.

Gilbert Thomas, 60, of Zion Hill, Belle Garden, was found around 9.30 pm on Sunday along the Mt Hay Road. The victim’s vehicle was also found on its hood a short distance away at Orange Hill Road.

Initially, investigators thought Thomas’ injuries were as a result of an accident but when the District Medical Officer examined the body, what appeared to be multiple stab wounds were found. Tobago police have ruled the incident a homicide and investigations are continuing. An autopsy is expected to be conducted to determine the cause of death. 

With the murder rate for this year already exceeding last year’s toll, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon says more will be done to reduce the incidence of murder in the country.

“The (crime fighting) strategies will be reinforced as we go along; (there will be) more operations, more presence, more deterrents, more arrests,” he said during a brief interview yesterday.

Questioned about the current spiralling murder rate, which stood at 426 yesterday, Dillon said the statistics were one thing “but my concern is really reducing the murder rate as much as possible. All efforts are geared towards that.”

He noted that while there has been a decrease in incidents of serious crime this year, “murder is the barometer by which we always measure and so all efforts are being made to see how best we can reduce the murder rate.”

In response to another question, Dillon said, “We continue to improve our operational capabilities, we continue to provide what is required for the Police Service to do what is necessary and ensure they are supported by the Defence Force.”

He said, however, that there was always the need for improving strategies being tested on the ground.

“We continue to adjust as we go along,” he added.

Dillon said there was a police operation in Sea Lots yesterday and these will continue in various areas “where they have identified from intelligence where a number of (criminal) activities are taking place.”

He then noted that a law enforcement base is being established in Enterprise, Chaguanas, where there has been an increase in serious crimes in the past several months.

Dillon said the police “now operate with the army out of El Socorro. They have to travel to Enterprise.” He said within the next week the new base will be operational.

He said the police will be “going behind the perpetrators, but there are a lot of instances of domestic violence and so on, which are difficult to predict.”

Improving intelligence gathering within the Police Service was critical, he said, adding that “if your intelligence is sound you’d have a better chance of success in your (crime fighting) operations. So there is room for intelligence gathering.”

Dillon said he was pleased with the success of a recent initiative to have the heads of the various police divisions take charge of operations within their districts. He said he would like to see inspectors, sergeants and all other officers take responsibility for their areas.

He said a recent announcement by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for a return to community policing was also being implemented.

“There must be a little more focus on community policing, where the police and the community will work together to satisfy the security needs of the various communities,” he said.

He said the initiative was being advanced by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams.

RIA RAMBALLY,

in Caracas

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro yesterday signed an historic gas deal here, which will allow T&T access to gas reserves from Venezuela’s Dragon Fields. Three agreements were signed but the details were not revealed.

The agreements are the first of their kind and were signed at the Presidential Palace here in Caracas before ministerial and energy teams from both countries.

In a brief statement following the signing, Rowley said yesterday’s development marks a commitment from both countries towards the significant and necessary commercial development of the hydro-carbon sector.

Maduro thanked Rowley for entering into the agreement and said finalising it will open doors towards the staircases of international markets and he looks forward to T&T climbing those stairs side by side with Venezuela.

Tobago police are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a taxi driver, after he was found dead at the side of the road by passers-by.

Gilbert Thomas, 60, of Zion Hill, Belle Garden, was found around 9.30 pm on Sunday along the Mt. Hay Road. The victim’s vehicle was also found on its hood a short distance away at Orange Hill Road.

Initially, investigators thought Thomas’ injuries were as a result of an accident, but when the District Medical Officer examined the body, what appeared to be multiple stab wounds were found. Tobago police have ruled the incident a homicide and investigations are continuing. An autopsy is expected to be conducted to determine the cause of death

This brings Tobago’s murder toll to four for 2016.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Scarborough CID at 639-2515, the Tobago Homicide Bureau at 635-1649, 555 or 800-TIPS.

A homeless man has been given a lifeline in his novel legal bid to block the Port-of-Spain City Corporation from locking him and other homeless people out of Tamarind Square at nights.

Almost one month after Hugh Bernard was denied permission by Justice Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell to pursue his judicial review claim against the corporation for implementing the measure without providing alternative facilities, the corporation yesterday withdrew its challenge of his appeal on the issue.

Appellate Judges Peter Jamadar, Gregory Smith and Charmaine Pemberton heard several hours of submissions on the appeal of Donaldson-Honeywell’s decision and were about to rule on the issue when the corporation’s attorney John Jeremie, SC, intervened.

However, Jeremie was careful to note that the decision was not a concession of the entire case but was a tactical and pragmatic move by the corporation.

He also gave an undertaking that the corporation would leave one of the five gates to the park open until the lawsuit is determined.

Bernard filed the claim earlier this year after the corporation erected fences along the perimeter of the park in East Port-of-Spain and placed padlocks on its gates. He claimed that he has been homeless since being deported from the United States in 1993 and has been living on the streets as the Centre for the Socially Displaced at Riverside car-park (located opposite Tamarind Square) was unfit for human habitation.

In his claim, Bernard’s attorneys also alleged that under the Municipal Corporations Act, the corporation was not allowed to limit access to public parks without enacting by-laws, which was not done in this case. In addition to seeking to have the corporation reverse its decision, Bernard was also asking the court to order the corporation to construct temporary facilities at the location to accommodate homeless people.

In dismissing Bernard’s claim, Donaldson-Honeywell said she felt that he should have filed a constitutional motion alleging breaches to his constitutional rights instead of a judicial review challenging the corporation’s decision.

The issue again arose on appeal yesterday, with Bernard’s lawyer Christopher Hamel-Smith, SC, claiming that his client would decide his next move when the case returns before Donaldson-Honeywell.

Bernard is also being represented by Imran Ali and Krystal Richardson, while Eduardo Martinez and Kerwyn Garcia appeared alongside Jeremie.

An early morning house fire in Tarouba has left a family of four homeless and a mother nursing first and second degree burns at hospital.

Carl Guschard, 49, his wife, Rosanne, and the couple’s two children — Tsian, 21, and Leonardo, 14 — lost all their belongings when fire gutted their home at Bernard Julien Drive, Tarouba, yesterday.

Guschard, a driver at a security company, told the T&T Guardian he was asleep around 7.30 am yesterday when he was awakened by his wife for breakfast.

He said Rosanne usually prays everyday and yesterday was no different.

“She said she didn’t want to wake me so she went into our son’s room and lit the candles and said her prayers,” he said.

“She said before she left the room to wake me, the candle she had lit tipped over but she thought it was out.”

After waking Guschard, Rosanne went into the kitchen but several minutes later she began screaming as she noticed flames coming from her son’s bedroom.

“I heard her screaming and then she was shouting that the house was on fire,” he said.

Rosanne tried to put out the flames herself and received first and second degree burns on her hands, shoulders, back and head.

At the house yesterday, Guschard sat at a table in the yard as fire officers of the Mon Repos Fire Station carried out investigations inside the house.

With tears welling in his eyes, he said that his son had not yet been told of the fire, as the St Benedict’s College student was writing exams all day.

He said whatever was not burnt was covered in soot and ash, adding: “Basically everything is lost.”

Although he said his family might find lodging with family members for the night, they are facing a bleak Christmas season.

An accident at the corner  of the O'meara Road and the Churchill Roosevelt Highway has left six people dead.

According to reports, an Isuzu pick-up vehicle with four security officers was heading east along the highway when it came into contact with a grey Mitsubishi Lancer.

The impact caused the Isuzu to go airborne before slamming into the ground.

Initial reports indicate that three people, including two the security officers in the Isuzu died, while three of the occupants in the Lancer also perished.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake yesterday rocked T&T, with aftershocks being experienced as far as St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The earthquake, which took place at 5.42 pm, was felt by citizens in Arima, Chaguanas, Port-of-Spain, Matelot, Chaguaramas, San Fernando, Penal and even neighbouring Tobago.

Although no one was reported injured, nor was there any infrastructural damage, food items on the shelves of several supermarkets across the country, including Xtra Foods and West Bees in Diego Martin, toppled over with the earthquake’s prolonged vibrations.

According to a Facebook post on the UWI Seismic Research Centre page, the earthquake’s location was 11.04 north latitude with 60.70 west longitude at a depth of 29 km.

Yesterday, many people took to Facebook afterwards, saying they were surprised by the magnitude of the earthquake. Others admitted that the aftershocks felt even stronger.

A female employee of West Bees, who gave her name as Ms Johnson, said they had to close the supermarket after a large quantity of goods feel off shelves and scattered onto the isles.

“The supermarket is in a mess with items all over... some of them which were broken.

“We had to close our doors. Our staff are in the process of repacking the shelves, which would take a while. This was the last thing we were expecting,” Johnson said.

Customer service representative at Xtra Foods Grand Bazaar Sandra Khan said the entire supermarket shook, while a few items skated off the shelves.

“For a long time I had not experienced such a powerful earthquake. It was really frightening.”

She said some customers remained calm while others left in fear. But Khan said they did not see the need to close the supermarket.

“A few of our workers picked up the goods that fell on the ground and place them back on the shelves. We continued with business as usual,” Khan said.

Last night, seismologist Dr Joan Latchman said the magnitude we experienced was felt in Tobago back in 1997.

Asked if the earthquake could have been predicted, Latchman said that was a big discussion which she preferred not to engage in.

However, she said she was not surprised by the occurrence of the earthquake and its magnitude. In the coming days and weeks, Latchman said T&T should brace for several aftershocks.

Screams were heard as yesterday’s 6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the T&T Regiment Headquarters at Aranguez South, San Juan.

The earthquake struck shortly after President Anthony Carmona presented more than 300 Efficiency Awards to members of the Regiment.

Most of those present remained calm during the event, but some people were heard screaming. One person said after the quake, “That was a big one.”

Others said the quake was very strong, with some predicting it would be a magnitude of over six.

Carmona and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon remained calm during the event. The room was filled with soldiers and other security personnel.

There were no reports of damage or injury at the location.

In an interview before the earthquake, Dillon said security will be beefed up across the country during the Christmas and Carnival seasons.

He said it was expected that certain types of crimes like shoplifting would increase during this period and as has become traditional there would be increased security across the nation.

He said the security forces will place emphasis on targeted areas based on intelligence gathering even after the seasons have ended.

Carmona, in his address, thanked Defence Force members for what they had done to assist the people of Matelot and other communities following the recent flooding and landslides.

Several residents were adversely affected as more than 11 landslides occurred, several roofs blew off and bridges were destroyed. He said there remains a need for more to be done to deal with the issue of climate change in the Caribbean.

RIA RAMBALLY

CNC3 News

This country’s new gas deal with Venezuela is likely to cost hundreds of millions of US dollars. However, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says Trinidad and Tobago can afford it.

The PM and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed off on the deal at the Palacio de Miraflores in Caracas on Monday. While no details were revealed in Caracas, Rowley told Government ministers and energy officials from both countries that the deal was “significant and necessary for the commercialisation of the hydrocarbon sector which will have far reaching consequences for the people of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.”

After a seven-hour stay in Caracas, Rowley and his contingent, comprising Cabinet ministers, officials from state-owned National Gas Company (NGC), energy advisers and local journalists, returned on a chartered Caribbean Airlines plane.

At Piarco International Airport, Rowley explained that unlike the Loran/Manatee agreement, this “across the border” deal allows T&T to access gas reserves in Venezuelan waters under the full sovereignty of Venezuela. The agreement facilitates a pipeline from the Dragon gas field in Venezuela’s Marisal Sucre region to Trinidad’s Hibiscus platform. Rowley said this means that Trinidad will have to fund the construction of a pipeline from Venezuelan waters to the Hibiscus platform located in the north western region of Trinidad.

He said: “It says in the agreement that all parties will bear their own costs.”

Asked by journalists if T&T was in a position to afford it, the PM made it clear that NGC will find the money to construct the crucial pipeline which will allow Trinidad access to Venezuela’s Dragon gas field.

He said over the years NGC had built a significant pool of capital for projects like the Dragon Field. However, he admitted that NGC’s pool of funds was largely consumed by the need to pay out dividends to fund T&T’s national budgets.

“So now that the NGC has had to do this, the capital will have to come from the Government or from what little NGC has left,” Rowley said.

He suggested that NGC would have to look at its ability to borrow or even consider a partnership to fund the construction of the pipeline.

“I don’t want to speak for Shell, but the capital is not an impediment to the project’s existence,” he said.

Shell, he said, played a major role in the Dragon gas field deal. Not only did it partner with NGC, but Shell helped to fast track finalisation of the deal.

While Shell has an interest in Atlantic LNG, he disclosed that it also owns the Hibiscus platform, which he hopes will start receiving gas before the year 2020.

Asked if he was worried about how the United States will react to T&T’s deal with Venezuela, the PM said: “I’m sure the US being our major trading partner would wish us well in any venture we undertake with any other country. T&T is at peace with all, especially at Christmas time.”

Secretary of the Brasso Seco Paria Village Council Winston Maraj said yesterday that 35 families in the far-flung community were still trapped in their homes, following last week’s torrential rains last which triggered a series of landslides and left a trail of destruction.

Maraj said he was upset by the slow response from the authorities in providing relief supplies to residents who have been affected by the landslides.

“I am furious, it’s a sad state up here,” Maraj said in a telephone interview.

Maraj said several areas of Madamas Road had been covered by fallen trees, electricity poles, rocks and heaps of dirt, as a result of a chain of landslides.

Yesterday, Maraj said villagers banded together to help at least 15 affected families living there, which was hardest hit.

Madamas Road which ends in the forest is located a few miles from Matelot, where hundreds were cut off from the rest of the country by landslides and broken bridges.

But in response outgoing chairman of the corporation Edwin Gooding said the members of the T&T Defence Force moved in yesterday with heavy equipment to clear the roads that had become inaccessible.

Gooding denied that those affected were being neglected.

“That is not my information. My information from the corporation’s disaster management unit who are up there right now told me that everyone has been reached. I understand the anxiety of these people. When it comes to clearing of the roads that is not my expertise. I have to leave it to the engineers to decide when they are going to do things.”

He said clearing of Madamas Road, which began Monday, continued yesterday.

Maraj said at Paria Bay Road, Maraj said 15 families were also stranded, while a few residents of De Nobriega and Brasso Seco Roads could not get out.

All together, Maraj said 35 families were “trapped” and needed help.

He said several parts of these roadways were blocked and the only way in or out was by foot.

Maraj said he was grateful that outgoing Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon had delivered bottled water, canned goods and food items yesterday. But added that it was distressing that they lacked sufficient resources to drop off supplies to the affected homes that had been cut off from the village.

“These items have to be taken in by hand because the roads are impassable. We have to clear the roads first which would take a few days.

Maraj said he wondered why so much attention was paid to Matelot and Grand Riviere, while their community was left in the wilderness.

“Whatever games they are playing, tell them, forget their games and let us get real. Is people’s lives they are playing with.”

About Brasso Seco

Brasso Seco which is an agricultural based community has a population of 300 located about 45 minutes drive from Arima.

This quiet village once made its living from growing cocoa and other crops.

Today, it has reinvented itself as a low-key base for nature lovers in search of hiking and bird-watching.