Nigerians carrying fake visas, unknowingly or not, have actually arrived in T&T but were refused entry and returned to their port of origin.

This was confirmed by director of Corporate Communications Unit of the Ministry of National Security, Marcia Hope.

Hope was responding to questions from the T&T Guardian on recent international media reports of a fake T&T embassy in Nigeria selling fraudulent visas to this country.

“I was advised by the Enforcement Unit (Immigration Division) it is true that Nigerians arrived with fraudulent visas in Trinidad. They were refused entry, left in the care of the airline and returned to their port of origin,”Hope said.

T&T currently issues electronic visas and no longer places a wet seal (an ink stamp) visa on passports of Nigerian nationals.

“In fact, the wet seal is only used in rare circumstances authorized by the Immigration Division and for certain nationalities, like Cubans.

“This can only be obtained from the Trinidad and Tobago Missions. But for Nigerians this would not be possible,” Hope said.

She advised that people intending to travel to T&T should visit this country’s Immigration website to see if they require a visa and if they do there is a list of T&T missions abroad where they can submit their applications.

They can also submit an application online at Immigration. Visas@gov.tt.

The BBC and the Nigerian press ran a story earlier this week about the fake T&T embassy in Nigeria. The embassy, which was run by Chinese nationals in collaboration with Nigerians, swindled millions of dollars from people with the promise of T&T visas, flights and accommodation.

Nigerians said they came to T&T with the visas only be detained at the airport and then sent back to their country.

Nigerian police have busted the syndicate which was operating out of a hotel in Ejigbo.

Newly installed Mayor of San Fernando Junia Regrello, yesterday, dedicated his appointment to  his mother, May Arthur, whom he said died an unhappy woman in 1978, because she was unable to fulfill her dream of properly educating her six children. 

In his inaugural address, Regrello told the audience, which included Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, of her story. A domestic worker who was fired from her job after she got pregnant for her employer, an Italian expatriate who was employed with Texaco at the time.

He said all his mother, who went on to bear five other children, had to give him, was his father’s name. He never knew him. He said Arthur sold pastries to take care of his siblings, who each had different fathers, and died at age 52, from cancer, unhappy because none of her children finished secondary school.

 “I want to say to her where ever she is today, your eldest son is now the Mayor of the City of San Fernando,” Regrello who now possess two degrees, said to loud applause. Les Efforts East/Cipero Vidya Mungal Bissessar, was appointed deputy mayor, a position Regrello held in the last administration.

Regrello, a former MP for San Fernando West, who has just completed a book on his mother’s history, said he decided to share this story because there are so many single mothers out there who feel the situation is hopeless.

“But if you persevere and you have ambition and you work hard, you can make it,” he advised.

Regrello thanked his predecessor, Kazim Hosein, now Minister of Rural Development and Local Government,  for the astuteness, steadfastness and diligence he applied in his effort to make San Fernando a better place.

“Kazim is a tough act to follow and has left big shoes to fill,”  he said but pledge to continue the work he started, work with his ministry and central government to formulate policies that will result in an improved quality of life for the people.

He identified a number of ills which continue to plague the city, including traffic woes, inadequate funding, homelessness and property owners who blatantly refuse to obey the law, but remains optimistic the new council under his guidance will provide solutions.

One of his goals is to foster prudent relationship with the private sector to reduce the burden on central government. 

In thanking Rowley for the opportunity to continue to serve, Regrello said when it became evident he was the chosen one, he delved into his character to analyse his habits and shortcomings, evoking laughter as he added, “if any.” 

Saying his wife, Kamla, has often chided him for holding his head high and not greeting people as he walk the streets, Regrello asserted, “I am not perfect in this imperfect world.

“I have made my mistakes. I have mashed a few corns. I have taken my knocks. I have fallen a few times, but I have stood up like a man when required to and therefore I can only pledge to you the people of San Fernando that I would do my best.”

There are no systems in place to evaluate and monitor the flood of herbal medicine claiming to cure a host of illnesses in this country.

And to make matters worse there is no redress for customers who purchase these drugs.

In fact, such drugs were treated as “normal drugs” as it is not a separate classification of drugs.

This was heard before yesterday’s Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting which was chaired by MP Marlene McDonald and which examined the draft summary of recommendations and conclusions of the 41st meeting of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

The issue was raised by MP Rodney Charles who said he was disturbed by the influx of herbal advertisements including some which claimed to “make you a harder man.”

Asked about this Faraz Khan, chief chemist of the Food and Health Division in the Ministry of Health, said: “There were presently no regulations pertaining to herbal supplements but there is a subsidiary committee to look at this but regarding the advertisements I cannot say whether they have been approved.”

He said previous drug advisory committees had looked at the issue but a “total comprehensive” strategy was yet to be determined.

Mc Donald , who said she was taken back by Khan’s response, added that this was a matter of national concern.

“We have to be careful as citizens. These drugs are quite expensive and there is no redress. These herbal drugs are mushrooming all over the country,” she said.

Asked whether any testing was done before herbal drugs were placed on the market Khan said the lab has been under repairs for the past two years.

“I cannot say to this committee it has been tested. At this point in time there is none being done by the chemistry food and drug laboratory. For imported drugs we ensure those are accompanied by a notice of approval,” Khan said.

But Mc Donald said a notice of approval was insufficient as more measures were needed so as to prevent “dumping” of drugs in other countries.

Refurbishment works were expected to be completed within the next eight months.

On whether fish purchased in T&T was safe for consumption Khan said most imported fish is accompanied by a health certificate to ensure it satisfied the law of that particular territory.

On local supplies he said that responsibility fell between the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry.

Childhood obesity

In 2009 an evaluation study was undertaken which indicated that with respect to overweight issues in school children ages five to 18 that problem had increased from 11 per cent in 1999 to 23 per cent in 2009 representing an increase on 119 per cent, the committee heard.

Regarding obesity alone, which entailed body weight in excess of two standard deviations from the norm, there was a 400 per cent increase over the same ten year period.

Due to this there is likely to be an earlier on set of diabetes and hypertension, resulting in a financial strain on the health sector.

Changes in behaviour and culture were primarily needed to address this, it was recommended.

Richard Madray, permanent secretary of the Health Ministry said in July this year Cabinet agreed to a strategic approach including tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Director of Health Education, Yvonne Lewis, said initiatives have put in place to examine the nutritional value food offered to children in schools.

She said a lot of the extra calories were contained in sugary beverages and the sale of this in schools was being looked at.

Lewis said , however, that childhood obesity must not only be addressed at the primary school level but from infanthood.

The murder of Shannon Banfield took T&T “by storm” because of the brazen manner in which it was done.

General manager of the Rape Crisis Society and the T&T Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Natalie O’Brady, said: “Many persons were taken aback by the brazenness of the perpetrators where a woman is no longer safe in a public, highly-trafficked, highly-populated place.”

Speaking during a town meeting hosted by the T&T Transparency Institute at the Port-of-Spain City Hall on Tuesday, O’Brady said Banfield’s murder was even more scary as it hammered home the fact that, “A woman is no longer safe when doing her daily duties of shopping and getting stuff for herself.”

Quoting media reports which claimed 34 women had been killed up to October 8, O’Brady said the public was bombarded daily by pictures and pleas on social media, for help to locate loved ones reported missing.

Questioning what was happening in society today, O’Brady estimated that one in three girls would be sexually violated before the age of 18.

Concerned about statistics from the Police Service which revealed a total of 6,000 domestic violence reports had been received during the period 2012 to 2014, O’Brady said the judiciary’s annual report indicated there were 12,000 applications for domestic violence before the courts.

Claiming domestic and sexual violence continued to the “silent crime,” O’Brady said many women refused to come forward and report it due to varying factors including economic and personal reasons.

Urging people to take responsibility for their actions, founder of the non-governmental organisation SHIFT! Caribbean, Alicia Small said personal development and the overall growth of the country could not take place if people failed to accept responsibility for doing/not doing what they promised.

Speaking on the issue of parents being too over-protective, Wheeler warned that children today were busy making friends online via their computers and tablets, which was one of the most popular places being trolled by persons with hidden agendas.

Wheeler presented several different scenarios depicting human trafficking highlighting motive and opportunity.

She urged persons to beware of “too good to be true” opportunities advertising domestic and employment opportunities as that was one way persons were being trapped.

Wheeler implored people to report any suspicious or illegal activity to the CTU.

Police yesterday identified David Allen as the bandit who was killed by an off-duty police officer during a botched robbery at a casino in Woodbrook on Monday night.

Allen, 31, of Enterprise, Chaguanas, had posed as a woman, complete with make-up and tight-fitted clothing, during the attempted robbery of the Stir Fry King Restaurant and Casino Pei Da Xiu. However, he was confronted and shot in an exchange of gunfire with off-duty cop Constable Omari Danglade while attempting to escape.

Police yesterday described Allen as a “disguise mastermind.” They said in 2004, Allen, then 18, also disguised himself as a vagrant and attempted to rob a TSTT technician Darryn Baksh as he was leaving 51 Degrees nightclub at Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain. There was a struggle and Baksh was shot in the stomach and later died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

In 2012, Allen pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter after he was charged with murdering Baksh. The State accepted his guilty plea and he was sentenced to four years and six months for the offence, in addition to the eight years he spent awaiting trial.

Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Allen’s mother, Ann Slater, said the father of one paid the ultimate price for his wrongdoing and she had no issue with what happened. She said her son was no saint and he hid his criminal tendencies from his family.

Her advice to others following her son’s death: “Please youths, put down the gun. We know the system failing we, but we can make the place a better place, it is us who have to do it.

“The Government is only a handful of people. We are over a million out here, let us come together, let us unite.”

Allen’s brother, who did not want to be identified, said he was most hurt by the fact that his brother won’t be able to stand as his best man for his wedding on Sunday. He added that he waited 11 years for his brother to be his best man and put off his wedding for after his release from prison for the 2004 incident.

Allen was one of two bandits killed by police within a six-hour span.

In the other police shooting, Willard Hernandez, 31, who had earlier been identified by police as John Hernandez, was shot dead near a river in Gran Couva after a robbery at an apartment at La Croix Street, Couva.

Four Venezuelan nationals were robbed of a handbag containing $3,000, a cell phone valued at $1,750, their passports, credit cards and other personal documents during the incident. Officers who responded to the distress call shot Hernandez after he fired at them while trying to escape.

At the FSC yesterday, relative disputed police information about the clothing Hernandez was in during the incident. They said they intended to visit the Police Complaints Authority to file an official report.

The woman said police came between 2.30 to 3 am and told all those who were liming in the community to run and all except she did. The next she heard was Hernandez begging, saying, “‘Oh god d boss, allyuh done hold meh already’” before the sound of gunshots. She said police seized money from Hernandez, but that was not proceedings of a robbery but money he grabbed from off a counter when police told them to run.

Dale Seecharan, the 38-year-old St Helena man held in connection with the death of Shannon Banfield who  was released from custody a second time last night.
 
Speaking with the media outside the Central Police Station Seecharan said he was feeling happy to be able to go home to his family.
 
He said his life had been ruined and he now had to start over since surrendering on December 8, the day Banfield's body was found, at his workplace on Charlotte Street, Port of Spain.
 
Seecharan, who was soft spoken to the point of being interpreted as timid, was deemed a person of interest into Banfield's murders hours after Canfield's decomposing body was found in the warehouse of I AM and Company.
 
Seecharan had been released on Monday night and re-arrested hours later on allegations that he stole a bunch of house keys to apartments belonging to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
 
 Seecharan said: "I am just relieved that this is over and I have nothing to do with this and I just want to thank my lawyer for everything. I am just feeling happy just to go home with my family."
 
"I don't know how to describe it, I just feel like my life take a turn for the worse and I just want to get back on to life. I have to start all over my life is ruined," when asked how he felt.
 
Seecharan who was released into the custody of his attorney Larry Williams was taken to his St Helena home by his attorney.
 
When asked if he had anything to say concerning his clients time in police custody Williams said, "Not one word. God is the boss".
 
Homicide detectives told the T&T Guardian that in the footage they acquired from IAM and Company Ltd, Banfield was seen interacting with a man and being led to the secluded area where her body was eventually found three days later.
 
 Detectives said footage showed Banfield gesturing to a man at the back of the store near to a doorway leading to the stockroom where her decomposing body was found.
 
The man is seen leaving Banfield in the store and making his way through the doors and out of the line of sight.
 
He returns later and spends a few moments with Banfield before leading her through the doorway and out of sight. She was not seen again.
 
An hour and a half later, he emerges from through the door, this time bare-backed, and leaves the compound.
 
Police sources admitted that the evidence so far was too circumstantial to lay any charges.
 
 
Banfield, of Mc Carthy Street, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, was last seen leaving her workplace—RBL’s Independence Square branch—around 4 pm on December 5.
 
In a telephone conversation with her mother, Sherry-Ann Lopez, around that time, Banfield said she was going to purchase items at IAM.
 
Banfield’s body was discovered hidden under some boxes in the company’s third floor storeroom around 1.30 pm on December 8 by employees who were searching for the source of a strong decomposing scent which they believe was a dead rat.
 
An autopsy stated she had been smothered and police recovered what they believed to be a murder weapon, a bloodied towel, near where she was found.
 
  Banfield was buried on Tuesday following a ceremony at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Prizgar Road, San Juan.
 
Seecharan was not the only suspect held in connection with Banfield's killing. Another store employee, Matthew Maharaj, 18 was held for two days and released on December 10 after surrendering to police the day Banfield's body was found.
 
On his release, Maharaj said: "I think the entire thing was very unfair because my face was in the media and now people will see that and say I am the man who kill the woman. How I supposed to get a job now? Right now I just want to go home and sleep in a comfortable bed and I wish that this just disappear.”
 
Following Banfield's murder, social media users have called for a boycott of the store and people have accused the owners of not being forthright with authorities in providing CCTV footage when they requested it.
 
 The police claimed that the owners refused them on three occasion when they requested the footage while the owner claimed police came once and never returned.
 
Police have since heightened patrols in busy shopping areas.

The Sangre Grande regional corporation has re-elected Terry Rondon as chairman, following a walkout by United National Congress (UNC) councillors.

The election of councillors began this afternoon after aldermen from the UNC and the People's National Movement were sworn in.

Both the PNM and the UNC won four districts and two aldermen each in November's local government elections, causing a deadlock at the corporation.

During the vote for chairman, UNC councillors and aldermen walked out, saying Rondon did not have a casting vote to break the deadlock.

However, after the UNC representatives left, the voting process continued and Rondon was elected chairman.

During the proceedings, two UNC councillors questioned Rondon's authority in presideing over the ceremony as chairman, however this was immediately dismissed by Rondon, who cited Section 15 of the Local Government Act.
 
Videsh Ramsingh and Sookdeo Bedassie were sworn in as UNC Aldermen.

Danielle Machel Piper and Cuthbert Pierre sworn in as PNM Aldermen.

Incumbent chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Terry Rondon retained his title under controversial circumstances yesterday, as the corporation swore in its new executive.

United National Congress councillors and aldermen walked out of the ceremony after Rondon used his deciding vote as chairman, thus giving him two votes in the process, to break the 4-4 tie in the corporation between the UNC and the People’s National Movement.

There were signs yesterday’s proceeding would not go well from early on after Rondon entered the ceremony with the chairman’s chain around his neck and proceeded to chair the proceedings instead of corporation CEO Angela Guerra.

UNC councillor Nirmal Singh objected on the ground that as an outgoing chairman, Rondon had to allow the CEO to take control of the proceeding. He was supported by councillor Kenwyn Phillip.

Singh questioned Rondon about his taking control of the ceremony and asked under what section of the Municipal Act he had the authority to do so. But Rondon said he had full authority under chapter 15 of the Municipal Act.

Rondon then called for the nomination of a presiding officer to take control, but UNC councillors again objected, saying this was the duty of the CEO.

UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen, who was present, then stood up and asked his councillors and aldermen to walk out, which they complied with.

However, the walk-out did not hinder the process as a chairman and vice chairmen and committees were then elected by the PNM representatives.

Speaking afterwards, Rondon said he was very disappointed at the walk-out by the UNC councillors and aldermen, noting he had spoken to them on the way forward for Sangre Grande. He promised to carry out his duties with dedication, adding he will be “working for all the people and not party.”

He warned his new councillors to show respect for all people and forget the party politics.

“We are here to serve the people and this is what we must do,” Rondon said.

Rondon said whatever the outcome of pending UNC action over yesterday’s proceedings, he would “leave it in the hands of the Lord.”

Also speaking on the issue of protocol, deputy PNM leader and Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan, told T&T Guardian that the chairman remains the chairman and this was in the new Municipal Act.

“The old act was repealed sometime in 2013. Rondon was right when he quoted Section 15:2 of the Municipal Act,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister Office Stewart Young also said the law was clear and Rondon acted under Section 67:2 of the Municipal Act, which gives him the right and privilege to preside and have the casting vote where there is a tie, as was the case in Sangre Grande. He said he was very dissatisfied at what he saw from the UNC.

“It seems that this is the mantra of the UNC - they walked out in Parliament and today they walked out in Sangre Grande,” Young said, adding he would now wait to see how yesterday’s walkout would affect the corporation’s operations.

RALPH BANWARIE

Police have released the two men they deemed “persons of interest” in the death of Shannon Banfield, however, they are not void of a suspect, rather they are trying to avoid a media circus hampering their investigations and have vowed silence as the matter progresses.

Police sources close to the case said the information pertaining to the video footage should not have been published by the media as that may have hampered their investigations, despite it being circumstantial evidence. Sources said there is another suspect and police are working diligently and silently as they gather the necessary evidence needed not only to arrest but to charge and convict the suspect.

Banfield was found beneath boxes in the storeroom at IAM and Company on Charlotte Street on December 8, three days after she went missing. Since then the store has been closed and the 12 employees rigorously questioned by Homicide detectives.

In a telephone interview yesterday owner of IAM Ishmael Ali said his employees received counselling and were also assisting the police with investigations. On his release from the Central Police Station yesterday, Dale Seecharan said the ordeal of him being labelled a suspect had “ruined his life” and he was looking forward to spending time with family. Another man of interest, Matthew Maharaj, who was released on December 10 made a similar comment saying he was branded in the public eye and questioned how he is going to move on.

On his release Seecharan said: “I am just relieved that this is over and I have nothing to do with this and I just want to thank my lawyer for everything. I am just feeling happy just to go home with my family.

Asked how he felt given that he was arrested twice following Banfield’s murder, he said: “I don’t know how to describe it, I just feel like my life take a turn for the worse and I just want to get back on to life. I have to start all over my life is ruined.”

Seecharan who was released into the custody of his attorney, Larry Williams, was taken to his St Helena home by his attorney. When asked if he had anything to say concerning his clients time in police custody Williams said, “Not one word. God is the boss”.

When asked what were his plans now that he is a free man, Seecharan said: “I can’t say”.

Banfield, of Mc Carthy Street, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, was last seen leaving her workplace—RBL’s Independence Square branch—around 4 pm on December 5. In a telephone conversation with her mother Sherry-Ann Lopez around that time, Banfield said she was going to purchase items at the same store (IAM) she was eventually found in. Banfield’s body was discovered hidden under some boxes in the company’s third floor storeroom around 1.30 pm on December 8 by employees who were searching for the source of a strong decomposing scent which they believe was a dead rat. Her autopsy stated she had been smothered and police recovered what they believed to be a murder weapon, a bloodied towel, near where she was found. 

Tobagonians will go to the polls on January 23 to elect a new House of Assembly.

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed the date yesterday.

Nomination Day is January 3.

The People’s National Movement (PNM) is seeking to create history by winning all 12 electoral districts for the two consecutive times.

In the last elections in January 2013, Chief Secretary Orville London led the party to the historic landslide victory. London will not be at the helm this time, as he is stepping down after years of service to the party.

Former THA presiding officer Kelvin Charles was elected as the political leader of the party’s Tobago arm in July.

Former head of the public service Reginald Dumas has predicted the PNM will win the elections handsomely because the opposition parties on the island were divided.

Dumas said, however, that the PNM was likely to face some challenge from the new Progressive Democratic Party, led by Public Services Association president Watson Duke.

The other significant party in the race is Tobago Forwards, which is led by former justice minister Christlyn Moore.

Anna-Lisa Paul Ten months after he was declared this year’s road march winner for an eighth time, soca super-star Machel Montano was yesterday presented with his brand new 2016 Ford Ranger truck at ANSA Motors, Port-of-Spain.

And while he has no intention of returning to active competition Montano has vowed to continue producing the quality and calibre of music he has come to be known for.

Deeply humbled by the accolade decided by the people for the people, Montano said he was more focused on “cooperation over competition” moving forward.

Confirming deepening collaborations with the players of Bad John Republic in the form of Keegan Taylor, Kyle Phillips and Kit Israel—Montano said he also wants to work with icons including Calypso Rose, to revive the local music industry and ensure knowledge and tradition was passed down to the younger generation.

Referring to the road march prize which he intends to hold on to, he added, “This road march competition is not a competition like other competitions. You are not really competing. You are about giving the public the energy and vibe they need and they reward you with that prize.”

Inviting Taylor, Phillips and Israel to join him at the podium as he acknowledged their input in his success, Montano said family and relationships were more important to him now as he sought to move higher.

Proclaiming himself to be a “bridge” between the past and present generations, Montano said he was privileged to have worked with artistes who took the time to pass down and nurture traditional aspects of the culture.

He said this was his duty now and one which he did not take lightly.

Montano reaffirmed, “I can work with the young people and give them some of the cultural tradition. A lot of the knowledge is usually in cemeteries and we don’t want to wait until they pass on.”

Claiming this knowledge could be passed on through music, Montano said it was important as the whole world was watching and loving our culture including pan and soca—so they needed to be properly informed.

Promising that upcoming releases would feature tradition side by side with innovative and modern technology, Montano said the Monk philosophy was a movement of new knowledge, of knowing oneself, where they came from and where they were headed.

During the live broadcast on Vibe CT105 FM, a subsidiary of Guardian Media Limited which has been supporting the competition for the past 17 years, Ford’s general manager, Jimmy Boissiere, said, “We are very proud of our involvement with the road march competition and hope to continue this tradition for many years to come.”

Delivering remarks on behalf of sponsor Carib Brewery Limited, Marketing Manager Antron Forte commended Montano on his achievements through the years and pledged to continue in their partnership.

President of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco), Lutalo Massimba or Brother Resistance as he is known in the cultural arena urged Montano to continue to fly the organiation’s and country flags high.

Confronting detractors who believe Tuco was no longer relevant, Massimba said Tuco members were the ones responsible for “Bringing music, feeding the frenzy and providing music for the carnival that you so love.”

Promising the release of a second movie called Machel Monday before the end of the year, Montano said a documentary on his journey as a soca king would also be released in theaters early next year.

A 24-year-old PH taxi driver from Maraval was shot dead in front of his home yesterday morning in apparent retaliation for a argument he had at a bar earlier this week.

According to reports, around 3 am police received a report of gunshots from residents of Paramin Village, Maraval.

When police arrived in the hillside community they found a wounded Michael Sylvester lying in the back seat of his Nissan Almera.

He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Residents told police Sylvester, who lives a short distance away from where his car was parked, was playing music from his vehicle on Wednesday evening and decided to sleep in it after the battery had died.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian after an autopsy was performed at the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday morning, a relative who asked to remained unidentified, suggested that Sylvester was killed because of a disagreement he had with a group of men outside a bar on Morne Coco Road on Tuesday night.

“A friend of his got into an altercation and he put in his two cents. The gunmen made an example of him.

They did not get who they were looking for and they killed him to send a message,” the man said.

The relatives maintained that Sylvester was not involved in any criminal activities.

He said Sylvester had recently assisted his father in building a home and was planning on moving in next week before Christmas.

Homicide detectives had not established a motive for his murder up to late yesterday.

Investigations are continuing.

It has bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and to wash down the food is a glass of cold milk.

That has been the meal for mentally ill patients at the Point Fortin Extended Care Centre (PFECC) for the past week since running out of cooking gas.

Life at the centre could have been worst after staff tried to install a 25 lb tank on the compound. It resulted in a female cook having one of eyebrows burnt off when the flames flared up from the stove. It was later found that the gas was leaking from the tank’s valve.

Staff said it was beyond frustration as the patients have begun to complain.

As a result, many of them cannot take their medication, making them irritable.

One employee said meals were usually made at the Point Fortin Area Hospital but since the kitchen there was being repaired, staff the Centre were being used to provide food for patients at both facilities.

As a result, gas consumption went up and a 110 lb tank, which is usually serviced by Ramco Industries Ltd, finished last Saturday.

“We wanted to cook lunch for the patients on Sunday so we sent someone out to get a small tank. The girl was lighting the stove when it blew up and she got her eyebrows burnt off . She did not get bad, bad damage but it you can see how dangerous it is now.

“Since then, the patients have been eating bread three times a day, sometimes with tuna paste, cheese paste or sausages. They get everything cold because we have to form of fire to heat anything.”

They said management was aware of the issue and the problems has been going on too long while the patients suffer.

The Centre is a facility that caters for level 4 and 5 psychiatric patients, some of who are elderly and their family cannot care for them. It accommodates 50 patients at a time.

South West Regional Health Authority CEO Anil Gosine said he was not aware of the problem but would check with his facilities manager in Point Fortin to see what issues are there.

One day after he was sworn in as Mayor of Point Fortin, Abdon Mason visited fire officers at the Point Fortin Fire Station and joined their call for a new fire station to be built there. 

But Fire Service Association president, Leo Ramkissoon says while the officers are grateful for the support, they are still waiting to hear something from their line Minister, Edmund Dillon.

On Monday, fire fighters at the Point Fortin Fire Station removed office furniture from a room on the building’s second floor and into the parking bay for the fire tenders. The officers cited health and safety concerns, saying the 85-year-old wooden structure was termite-infested and falling apart. 

“The new mayor and the chairman visited the station on Wednesday and they were appalled at the condition of the station,” Ramkissoon said.

“He vowed that he would be making representation to have the officers relocated and a new station built there.”

“He also promised that to have a detailed report done by the Health and Safety Committee of the corporation.”

But Ramkissoon said the officers are disappointed by the lack of response by Dillon, the Minister of National Security.

“I heard he told the media that he doesn’t understand how we can’t reach him, that he always answers his phone and he has constituency days twice a week in Point Fortin. But while this may affect the constituency, it is a matter that the Minister of National Security needs to deal with it. It cannot be dealt with a constituency office. I have two numbers for Mr Dillon, I can’t reach him, I’ve sent texts, emails and letters and still no response.”

He also knocked Dillon, saying if he is in Point Fortin twice a week, why he doesn’t visit the station.

“It is within in their rights under the Occupational Health and Safety not to report for duties at that station. They could report to another station but they have the right to remove themselves from a situation where there is a direct threat to their health and safety.”

Dillon, who attended a function at the Point Fortin Borough Corporation where the new mayor was elected on Tuesday, said he was aware of the station’s dilapidated condition.

“The fire station is old. I born and grow up in Point Fortin, it is older than I am. We have been making arrangements, so far, we have visited a temporary site for 

them.” He could not say when the relocation would take place “because it has to go through the government procedures.”

“They have to come and look the building, make sure it is okay and make the allocation accordingly. I myself went and looked at it a couple months ago.”

He said $11 million budgetary allocation has been approved to build a new station in 2017.

Dillon could not understand why the fire fighters have been saying they could not reach him.

The two police officers charged with robbing two Chinese nationals in Claxton Bay last month are still behind bars as no one has secured their bail.

Special Reserve policeman Sean Joseph and PC Noel Williams both appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the San Fernando First Court. They are each on $250,000 bail with clerk of the peace approval.

But, Joseph ‘s attorney Sade Lee Duprey asked the magistrate to grant him a cash bail alternative because he was having difficulty in securing bail.

The magistrate granted him a cash alternative of $75,000. 

Williams’ first court appearance was two weeks ago in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court where the charge was read to him, he was granted bail and the matter transferred to San Fernando.

Yesterday, was the first time Williams appeared in the San Fernando Court on the charges which allegedly took place at the home of casino owner Wei Hui Zhu, at Johnson Avenue, Soledad Road, Claxton Bay on November 11.

 The charge alleged that armed with a firearm he and Joseph robbed Hui Zhu of $406,000, an Apple IPhone valued $7,000 and an air rifle valued $20,000.

They are also accused of robbing Jin Fu Zhu of an Apple iPhone 6 valued $6,000. 

Joseph is also charged with possession of 22 rounds of .38 ammunition at the San Juan Sub-Station. Both officers have been suspended from duty.

 They are expected to reappear in court on January 17.

Christmas came early for 51 residents of Matelot, Grand Riviere and St Helena villages who were affected by recent floods and landslides as they received $350,000 worth of stoves, fridges, televisions, living room sets, mattresses and electric fans yesterday from the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services.

Another 15 households are also expected to receive appliances and furniture from Capil’s Furniture Store in Sangre Grande in the coming days.

The items, according to former chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation Terry Rondon put a smile on the faces of the residents who were marooned recently from the rest of Trinidad, after two bridges were washed away and the roadway was left covered by slush, rocks and fallen electricity, cable wires and trees.

Late last month persistent rains, led to seven roofs being uprooted, a disruption in electricity and water supplies, while several homes along the coastline were flooded.

Rondon thanked Social Development Minister Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn for helping 66 families who suffered losses following the disaster at the northeast coastal village.

In total, 26 mattresses, 25 stoves, 12 televisions, 12 fans and 30 living room sets were distributed to the residents.

Each family got an item.

“I am happy to announce that these families were well treated this morning. Christmas came early for them. It was gratifying to see them smile once more after facing that devastation. At least they can enjoy their Christmas like the rest of T&T. Remember all their household appliances and furniture were covered in mud and water. They lost practically everything. Their homes were in a mess. It left them feeling despondent and hopeless. This morning all of that has changed,” Rondon said.

Rondon said 15 additional families were also in line to collect items as well.

“The corporation will drop off thse items at their homes very soon.”

He praised the corporation’s disaster unit and ministry for their quick response in trying to help the families get back on their feet.

A 34-year-old old man yesterday appeared before a Chaguanas magistrate charged with assaulting a woman who shrugged off his advances at the Munroe Road branch of KFC.

Dawood Ali, of Munroe Road, Cunupia, was granted $25,000 bail for the offence.

According to reports, the stemmed from an incident on Wednesday where Ali was said to have assaulted the woman after she shrugged off his advances. The victim alleged that Ali had been stalking her since June.

The situation came to a head on Wednesday and she sought refuge at KFC. She later met PC Huggins of the Cunupia Police Station, where she reported the incident. Ali was subsequently arrested and charged.

Ali appeared in the Second Magistrates Court and was granted $25,000 bail. The matter has been adjourned to December 30.

For the second time in six months, the United States (US) has been refused permission to enter former government minister Jack Warner's legal challenge of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s decision to sign off on an extradition request from its Department of Justice.

Delivering a 17-page written judgement at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Appellate Judges Allan Mendonca and Peter Jamadar ruled that the US had failed to prove that its interest differed from the AG's office, which represents all foreign states in extradition proceedings.

Mendonca, who penned the judgement, said: "One assumes that there would be full consultation between them prior to all court appearances in relation to all decisions proposed to be taken and submissions to be filed, as one would expect between a principal and agent in the usual course of such a relationship."

Despite the ruling, Mendonca said the US was entitled to reapply if the circumstances change in the future.

"The dismissal of this application does not shut out the USA from making a fresh application if it can demonstrate, in light of the submissions of the parties before the court, that it can indeed make a useful contribution to the resolution of the matter or would be substantially prejudiced by not being able to do so," he said.

The judgement was consistent with a ruling by High Court Judge James Aboud, who dismissed a similar application in June leading to the appeal.

Presenting submissions in the appeal last month, US attorney James Lewis, QC, claimed that his client did not feel its interests could be best articulated by the AG's Office and it preferred to be an interested party as it stood to be directly affected by the outcome.

Warner, in his claim, is questioning the procedure adopted by the Office of the Attorney General in signing off on the US’s request for his extradition made in May last year, at the end of the US Department of Justice’s investigation into Fifa. He is facing fraud and money-laundering charges related to his two decades as a vice-president of world football’s governing body.

Earlier this year, Aboud granted Warner a stay of his ongoing extradition proceedings currently before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, which will expire after Aboud decides on the legality and constitutionality of his extradition.

Warner’s attorneys are alleging that this country’s extradition treaty with the US contradicts the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act.

They are claiming that in passing the act, Parliament afforded citizens certain protections which are ignored by the international treaty. He is also complaining that Al-Rawi failed to give his attorneys a fair opportunity to make representations to him before he signed off on the Authority to Proceed, which was required to kick off the proceedings before Ayers-Caesar.

Shortly after taking over the case from his predecessor Garvin Nicholas in September last year, Al-Rawi extended the option to Warner. However, his attorneys allegedly refused as they said it was made a day before Al-Rawi was required to approve the extradition.

Warner is being represented by Fyard Hosein, SC, Nyree Alfonso, Rishi Dass and Anil Maraj, while the State is being represented by Douglas Mendes, SC, and Michael Quamina.

Aboud is expected to set a date for the case when it comes up for hearing on March 13. 

Ten people, including two children and an elderly widower were left homeless following what fire officials suspect as a case of arson at a Morvant warehouse.

According to fire officials the blaze took place around 2 am at the warehouse once owned by Y De Lima & Co along Second Caledonia, Morvant. The warehouse was a storage place for used tyres and the tyres were still on fire when the T&T Guardian visited the scene some ten hours later.

Fire officers said they tried to put out the blaze from arrival to around 2 pm yesterday but were hampered at one time due to a lack of water. Fire officials used both water and foam to out the blaze.

Two houses were caught in the blaze, one a two storey shared by several families, was completely destroyed, while the other suffered minimal damage. Damage has been estimated to be approximately $3 million.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian at the scene yesterday, three of the affected women, all Jamaican nationals, said they managed to escape with little more than the clothes on their backs while the bulk of their belongings were destroyed.

One woman, Angella Burton, said she was awakened by her daughter, Princess, who awoke to tea and realised there was a fire. Burton said she grabbed her child and some clothes and ran out the house trying to alert the other residents.

Another woman, Debbie Row, said: “I lost everything. I was planning to return to Jamaica next week after five years and I buy up a whole set ah thing. The only thing I save was my passport and ticket. I lost US$2000, TT$3,500 that was sou-sou money and TT$500 I had for myself.”

Row added that the owner of the house, Lincoln Charles, suffered the loss of his wife close to a month ago and was now homeless. She said she fell and injured her left ankle and right leg fleeing the burning building. Next door, two cars were damaged by the fire and the owner, identified as “Ras” lost electricity in his home. “Ras”, the T&T Guardian was told, has offered to house the family until they can be helped further. The women said they were in need of assistance and at least a place to sleep until that can get back on their feet.

Contacted yesterday, MP for the area, Adrian Leonce, said he heard of the incident around 6 am yesterday but had a prescheduled meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Leonce said he spoke with the councillor for the area and had the Office of Disaster and Preparedness Management contacted to render assistance to them.

Chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Terry Rondon, is willing to extend an olive branch to the UNC following the walkout by the party’s councillors and aldermen at Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony.

But UNC chairman David Lee has refused to accept the peace offering, saying it was too late.

“As I speak, I want to extend an olive branch to the UNC. I do hope they take it,” said Rondon, who retained his position as chairman under controversial circumstances as the corporation swore in its new executive Thursday.

The UNC stormed out after Rondon used his deciding vote as chairman, thus giving him two votes in the process, to break the 4-4 tie in the corporation between the UNC and the People’s National Movement.

Yesterday, Lee said party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was weighing her legal options in light of what had happened.

“I don’t know to what extent Rondon is extending an olive branch to the UNC after that thuggery that took place at the swearing in,” Lee said.

Lee queried why Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley refused to seek a meeting with Persad-Bissessar following the November 28 deadlock.

“I really don’t know if Rondon has the authority to extend an olive branch to the UNC for the people of Sangre Grande. At this point in time, that olive branch should have been extended when he should have vacated his seat and allow the CEO of the corporation to conduct the proceedings as the norm in all corporations.”

Lee said Rondon tried to “high road the processions” when he had no authority to do so.

He said the meeting was convened “illegally and with a high-handed approach. This should not have been done. Good sense should have prevailed.”

Questioned if the UNC will be taking the matter to court, Lee said with Persad-Bissessar in England “I am sure while there she would be seeking legal advice before she returns. She has a wealth of great connections out there. She might be seeking some views on their side. One never knows when she returns... she would then put out a release to say exactly where the party would be taking this.”

Describing the walkout as disrespectful, Rondon said the UNC was prompted to do so by attorney Gerald Ramdeen who should have known better.

He said the people of Sangre Grande deserve an apology from the UNC.

“They disrespected the chair. Leave it to me, peace will prevail. I call on them to come back and let us work in the interest of the people. Let us forget that type of behaviour. Sangre Grande don’t need it,” Rondon said.

Rondon said the behaviour displayed in the public gallery was worst than a fish market.

“I could tell you that people who support the UNC did not like how they behaved yesterday. Even today, I got calls from strong UNC supporters telling me that they were not pleased with that kind of behaviour.”

Having served as a councillor for 23 years, Rondon said this was the first time he experienced such insolence.