Law Association president Reginald Armour says the body will look at the matter in which the Industrial Court has summoned members of the T&T Chamber of Commerce to court at its next general meeting.

However, Armour yesterday admitted he could not say much, as he is representing one of the parties in the case.

“What I would say is this, I have to be careful with what I am about to say … I am representing Mr Derek Ali and in those circumstances as the president of the law association I would rather not to comment. However, it is a matter that will engage the attention of the association.”

In a move that stunned many earlier this week, the Industrial Court summoned Gabriel Faria, the chamber and two other men on a charge of contempt of court, over statements made by businessman Frank Mouttet at a chamber event recently.

The summons was issued by the registrar of the Industrial Court and witnessed by presiden Deborah Thomas-Felix.

At the event, Mouttet said the Industrial Court was to be blamed for decreased levels of productivity in the country, which was making it increasingly difficult for employers to terminate workers.

He was also said to have hinted that the court was harsh and oppressive towards employers while favouring workers and their representative unions.

Media reports also claimed Mouttet suggested the court had made retrenchment into a business, whereby employees were now “lining up to be fired” in order to receive compensation.

At at event in May, Thomas-Felix had defended the work of the court from similar criticism.

“It is public information that for the period 2011 to 2015, 2,744 cases were determined by the Industrial Court of which only 34 judgements were appealed, 27 per cent (747 matters) were disposed of by judgements through the adversarial process (and) of those 747 judgements, 230 (30 percent) were in favour of employers,” Thomas-Felix had said then.

“In the Court’s conciliation (non-adversarial) process, 15.6 per cent (427 matters) were disposed by conciliation, 19.6 per cent (539) were disposed bilaterally and 24.9 per cent (683 matters) were withdrawn.

“The matters withdrawn were withdrawn by unions when it was accepted that the disputes did not have any chance of success. In other words, the employer won.”

The Court asserted then that the total percentage of disputes resolved in favour of employers during the period 2011 to 2015 was 54.9 per cent.

We are not alarmists.

That’s the position of the Banker’s Association of T&T (BATT) when it comes to its statements on becoming compliant with the Tax Information Exchange Bill, 2016 and on the repercussions if T&T does not do so.

BATT made the statement yesterday, ahead of a meeting on Monday with the Opposition to discuss the issues on the table concerning the bill. The meeting will be held at the Opposition’s Charles Street, Port-of-Spain office.

Speaking at a press conference at Scotiabank, Port-of-Spain, yesterday BATT president Anya Schnoor said T&T’s economy is already being battered by the effects of the falling oil prices and rising unemployment. As a result, she said we could not take the “risk” with compliance since it would weaken T&T’s banking sector.

“We run real reputational risks to our country and we potentially put at risk the entire stability of the banking system and the hundreds and thousands of customers it serves,” Schnoor said.

“While I have read the comments in the press that may be the bankers are being alarmists, let me assure you that I work for a bank which operates around the world and I have seen first hand the effects on small countries which have tried to thumb their noses at their global AML and FATCA obligations.”

Asked what international investors are saying when it comes to T&T’s non-compliance with the FATCA, she said they are monitoring the situation. Schnoor noted, however, that if T&T does not meet the February 2017 deadline investors could opt to invest in other countries in the Caribbean which are compliant.

Confirming that the bankers received a copy of the updated and amended version of the bill from Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, she said there were two comments which the bankers had on the new bill.

“BATT does not consider that the MoU between the competent authority and the secretary of the Treasury should be subject to the affirmative resolution of Parliament.

“The MoU would contemplate procedural matters supporting the exchange of information between them. This exchange is governed by the legislation and the Inter-governmental Agreement and therefore should be left with the remit of the Government to administer and agree.”

She also said if the bill is made subject to existing laws such as the Data Protection Act and Financial Institutions Act, “as these relate to confidentiality, the bill may be rendered ineffective. The disclosures being sanctioned by the legislation apply to persons who are already subject to US reporting requirements and therefore mandated by US law to provide the information being exchanged in any event.”

Far reaching effect

Other business groups who were present included: the Association of T&T Insurance Companies, T&T Coalition of Service Industries, T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, American Chamber and the Bankers Association of T&T.

The business groups collectively stated that they were worried about meeting the February 2017 deadline for becoming compliant and are not convinced the US authorities would give a fourth extension of the deadline.

TTCIC chief executive Gabriel Faria said he was not happy with the quality of the debate coming out of the Parliament when it came to the bill.

“I am personally disappointed with the quality of the discussion that’s occurring and as citizens of this country, we need to demand from our politicians that they mature the quality of the political discussion that is occurring.”

ATTIC president James Camacho noted that if T&T does not become compliant with FATCA, reinsurance could be affected by the 20 per cent withholding tax. This means that 30 per cent of the value of what the insurer should get from their bonds and equities invested abroad would be deducted from the total amount.

AmCham president Ravi Suryadevara said the changes to the bill pertain to US citizens living in T&T who are already obliged to disclose their information to the US Treasury, and becoming compliant therefore does not put a greater obligation.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Brigadier General Rodney Smart, says the country is plagued with falling values and violence against women and children.

Smart was addressing his fellow colleagues yesterday at the Chief of Defence Staff Parade at Tetron Barracks in Chaguaramas.

“There is an upsurge of crime and violence and the economic downturn.

“There would be an expectation from our country men in overcoming these threats,” he said.

He said the Defence Force is prepared to deal with these circumstances.

‘We are capable of defending the nation’s interest and development. We must continue to strike to meet the expectations of our country men,” he said.

He said despite budget cuts and the tough economic times the Defence Force will deliver.

“We have seen challenges in our society of falling values and violent acts against women and children. We can see these in the purview of the falling standards and we should become a beacon in our nation,” he said.

Smart advised his colleagues to continue to work and pursue excellence.

On a different note, Smart said from this year onward there will be a presentation of the Brigadier General Roland Garth Maunday Trophy for the Best Formation on Parade.

This year’s winner was the Defence Force Reserves and the trophy was given to the Commanding Officer Major Andy Berahazar.

RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS FOR OVER 30 YEARS SERVICE

Maj C Richardson

Maj A Berahazar

Maj L Mc Leon-Mohammed

Capt W McIntosh

Squ Ldr L Carrington

Squ Ldr C Jackson

Flt Lt R Alexander

FCPo R Quashie

WO1 D Scanterbury

WO1 J Edwards

SSgt Mohammed

SSgt Haynes

SSgt Smith

Sgt Cox

Newly elected San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello yesterday visited the ground near Skinner Park where a Venezuelan amusement park is being set up following complaints that equipment had damaged the ground.

Regrello, who was sworn into office three days ago, said, “I heard that damage was done to the pavillon of the ground. I went to get a first hand view.”

He said there was some damage done by the trailers entering the compound and the surface had vehicle marks which could be restored with the passage of time.

He said permission to use the ground was granted by the administration arm of the San Fernando City Corporation after the council had disolved.

The ground is used by groups for various sporting and exercise activities and it’s also a popular jogging/running location.

However, he said there would be no move to block the company from setting up there as they were providing a family type entertainment which was necessary, especiallly with children being on vacation.

Regrello said they would be seeking a commitment from the company to repair whatever damage was done to the ground and pavillon.

He did not know the name of the company.

President General of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget yesterday demanded that the Government pay 1,000 retrenched Construtora OAS workers the $23 million owed to them for work undertaken for the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway project.

Failure to pay, Roget vowed that, “all hell would break loose” since the Government was going back on its commitments in dealing with issues.

“If the Government continues to turn a blind eye on the national work force who turns the wheels of the economy...if they continue to go back on their commitment we will be mobilising the likes of which happened not too long ago, but the effect of which they are going to feel.”

He said should Government refuse to take heed and walk the path of injustice, unfairness, inequality and corruption, the OWTU and the Joint Trade Union Movement are prepared “to shake the blasted place down.”

In early 2016, Roget said OAS was fired by National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco).

The workers, who were laid off last December, are still owed wages and severance benefits.

His comments came after workers joined by OWTU members staged a noisy protest outside the Ministry of Works and Transport head office, Port-of-Spain, demanding that the Government settled the outstanding million-dollar debt.

Under the watchful eye of armed police officers, the workers, armed with placards chanted “We want we money now.”

Their cries, however, attracted the attention of Minister of Works, Rohan Sinanan, who came downstairs to speak with Roget.

Following 45-minutes of discussion, Roget said, “The minister says he agrees that all of the workers should receive their pay and that it has been outstanding for far too long and that he is working on a plan to bring closure. The minister also informed us that the performance bond that was held by Nidco it has not been totally cleared because there has been some challenge from OAS....and that they won the first round in the court but OAS is still challenging so that they don’t have immediate access to that money.”

The bond is worth over $1 billion, Roget said.

He said Sinanan asked for one week to take the matter to Cabinet.

“We came here expecting the payment today. But we want to be reasonable. If the minister says....he did not guarantee any day for payment, If he says that he wants one week to take this issue to where it is suppose to go.”

Roget said OWTU was keeping its fingers crossed that the Government will treat with the matter urgently.

He said while Sinanan promised to restart construction of the highway in February, the workers must be paid first, since they were out of pocket, had mounting bills and were suffering.

Police are searching for four robbers who held up the proprietor and  patrons at Lucky City Chinese Restaurant at Williamsville on Friday night.

The thieves, who were armed with a gun and cutlasses stole almost $10,000 in cash and valuables before escaping.

Investigators said around 9:20 pm, Zheng Sheng Jiang, 33, of Eccles Village, Williamsville was conducting sales at the restaurant when four men walked into the establishment. They were wearing coveralls and bandannas over their faces.

Pointing a gun to Jiang's face, one of the robbers forced him to empty the cash register which contained an undisclosed sum of cash. They forced the patrons to lie on the floor before stripping them of cash and valuables.

Among those robbed were Swaransingh Jagdeo, 60, of Palmyra  who was relieved of $2,000 in cash and an Apple iphone valued $5,000. They also robbed Lee Sahadeo, 31, of Williamsville of $700 while Himraj Harripersad, 49, of Tabaquite was robbed of $2,200 and a cellphone. The thieves then escaped in a waiting green Hyundai accent.

A report was made to the police and an All Points Bulletin was despatched for officers to be on the lookout for the car. However, no one was arrested. PC Mahabir of the Gasparillo Police Station is continuing investigations.

The three prison officers currently on suspension following last year's deadly jailbreak claim they are being used as "scapegoats".

Meanwhile, the men said the Prison officer/s actually responsible for getting guns and a grenade into the jail and in the hands of the prisoners is still on active duty and that is frightening.

One of the suspended officers, who spoke with the Sunday Guardian under condition of strict anonymity, said this situation should be of serious concern to everyone.

It has been 16 months since since three prisoners—Allan ‘Scanny’ Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher ‘Monster’ Selby escaped from the Port-of-Spain prison on July 24 last year.

Police officer Sherman Maynard was shot dead during the incident while Prison officer Leon Rouse was shot and wounded. Martin was killed during a shoot-out with law enforcement, and Atwell was murdered after hiding out in Port-of-Spain. Selby eventually surrendered himself to officers at the Barataria Police Station.

The prison break occurred six months after the executive of the Prison Service were informed of a possible escape from the prison during one of its meetings at the Prison’s Administration Building, Phillip Street, Port-of-Spain.

On August 2, acting superintendent of prison Wilber Lovell, along with two prison officer IIs, Lancelot Duntin and Mervyn Pierre, were suspended for the jailbreak.

The suspended officer who spoke to the Sunday Guardian claimed he had nothing to do with the prison escape.

"The impression that Trinidad and Tobago has is that we gave the prisoners guns. I might have gotten shot. We tried to frustrate the escape but everyone has it that we tried to facilitate it. In the whole scheme of things the only persons that actually tried to stop the escape is the three persons who were suspended and whose names are being tarnished globally," the suspended officer said.

"I put my life on the line for the State. I was shot at and the very State does not even want to hear the matter. I was shot at and it is very traumatic to put your life on the line for a society for 20 years and when you are asking now for just the opportunity for people to hear what you have to say nobody wants to hear the story. I never see that yet," he said.

Another suspended officer told the Sunday Guardian: "I am totally disappointed with the Service Commission...with their lack of respect for people's lives. It is unreasonable for us to say to you or anybody that we are innocent and expect people to believe us. It is unreasonable for us to ask anyone to think we are innocent. All we are saying is let the course of justice prevail.

"Almost a year and half has gone and nothing substantial has been done. There has been callous, uncaring behaviour from the Service Commission with respect to us and that is not right. How can they simply see a year in a man's life as nothing. To be treated like this after serving my country for so long is really unacceptable, but our hands are tied and nobody seems to want to listen to us, nobody seems to want to hear our cry."

Today the Sunday Guardian gives you the officer's side of the story with respect to the prison break.

'It was like a movie'

Duntin was the person in charge of visits to prisoners at the Port-of-Spain prison on July 24, last year, when that prison's only high-risk inmate got a visit around 12.20 pm that day.

Duntin called acting superintendent Lovell, and informed him about the visit as special procedures are put in place for visits to that inmate.

Martin and Atwell were also supposed to receive visitors around that time and Lovell told Duntin not to let them (Martin and Atwell) come out together.

Pierre was on his way home after finishing his shift and Duntin asked him for assistance with Martin and Atwell.

However, by the time Duntin and Pierre called to ascertain the whereabouts of Martin and Atwell they were told that the duo had already been let out of their cells together for their visits.

"In prison when we hear separate two inmates we are looking to expect the two of them going to stab up somebody, the two of them going and fight or some kind of thing," the suspended officer said.

When Duntin and Pierre went to the area where the inmates meet their visitors there were 11 prisoners there.

Seven of the inmates were using the functioning phones and four including Martin were standing in the corridor waiting.

That is when the shooting started.

Video footage from CCTV cameras inside the prison showing the jailbreak went viral last year.

The video showed inmates shooting their way out of the prison.

A prison officer who had a high-powered rifle fired two shots at the inmates but the gun eventually jammed.

"My life was at risk. I saw a female officer was on the ground bawling. It was like a movie going on in front my eyes. Then they were out the gate timing the guy bringing out the prisoners' visit bags,"

The three inmates escaped around 12.30 pm.

The officers on duty left the prison around 10.30 pm trying to bring normalcy back to the jail.

“It was very traumatic,” the suspended officer said.

Despite all this, the officer said no one wants to hear his side of the story.

“I’m just asking for fair play. Don’t presume me guilty. All I am asking is let the truth be told. I have nothing to hide. If Scanny and them had a chance they would have killed me in a one,” he said.

So how did the guns get inside the prison?

The suspended officer said Martin pulled the gun he used in the jailbreak out of his waist.

How did Martin get the gun?

“I don’t know but let me tell you what I know, I know a prison officer brought it. The guns came in either by a or a group of prison officers. I don’t know who they are but I know that they are still on active duty. How I know that? Because these three persons who are on suspension were not involved,” the officer said.

The officer is calling for the Public Service Commission (PSC) to set up the tribunal to deal with disciplinary action against all three suspended officers.

“Appoint the tribunal and show the public that you mean to bring errant officers to justice. So if I am errant then I will take whatever is coming. There is too much information in the public domain. I am not looking for an innocent, I am looking for the facts to be heard,” he said.

Last month, the Prison Officers Association issued a release signed by its president Ceron Richards in which it stated that the association was “concerned and deeply disappointed” in the investigation into the prison break. Two week ago he again raised the issue.

Richards said that even after a year and a half after the incident the police had not questioned any of the suspended prison officers with respect to the matter.

The suspended officer who spoke to the Sunday Guardian confirmed that this was indeed so.

Richards said the Prison Administration’s investigation into the matter appears to be merely a “witch hunt” rather than a “serious effort to bring the person or persons responsible to account for their role/s in the incident”.

Speaking during a Joint Select Committee on national security last week, committee chairman Fitzgerald Hinds stated that on October 6 the PSC set up a Disciplinary Tribunal to determine what action should be brought against the suspended officers.

However, on December 6, the PSC cancelled the tribunal following the resignation of one of its members.

PRISON BREAK TIMELINE JANUARY 27, 2015:

The executive of the Prison Service were informed of an alleged prison break during one of its meetings at the Prison’s Administration Building, Phillip Street, Port-of-Spain.

The senior officers who attended the meeting included former prison commissioner Conrad Barrow, deputy commissioners Ronald Morgan and Sterling Stewart (now commissioner), assistant commissioners William Alexander, Michael Walker, Cecil Duke and Chander Sinanan, and senior superintendents Gerard Wilson, Dane Clarke, Thomas Espinoza, Fize Khan and Dennis Pulchan.

July 24, 2015:

Allan ‘Scanny’ Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher ‘Monster’ Selby escaped from the Port of Spain prison.

Prison officer Leon Rouse was shot and wounded. PC Sherman Maynard was killed in the fracas.

Martin was also killed.

July 27, 2015:

Around 12.30 a.m. Atwell was reportedly shot dead by members of the Rastacity gang after hiding out in Port-of-Spain.

Around 7.30 p.m. Selby walked into the Barataria Police Station and surrendered.

August 2, 2015:

Acting superintendent of prison Wilber Lovell, along with two prison officer IIs, Lancelot Duntin and Mervyn Pierre, were suspended for the jailbreak.
October 2, 2015:
Assistant Commissioner of Prison Dennis Pulchan conducted an investigation as required by the Prison Service regulations and submitted a report of the Public Service Commission.
Pulchan was in attendance at the January 27, 2015 meeting of the Prison Service executive when they were warned of the prison break.
August 16, 2016:
The PSC referred the matter to a disciplinary tribunal.
August 30, 2016:
The PSC decided that Pulchan followed the proper procedure.
October 6, 2016:
The members of the Disciplinary tribunal were formed.
October 13, 2016:
A member of the tribunal resigned.
December 6, 2016:
The PSC cancelled the appointment of the entire tribunal and signalled its intention to appoint another tribunal.

Lisa Gomes, a former director at Sandals Resorts, has been appointed the general manager of Clico.

Gomes held the position of director of Finance and Planning at Sandals Resorts from January 2011 to March this year.

According to her LinkedIn profile Gomes’ responsibilities included Acquisitions, Investment Banking, Government Negotiations and Property Management.

On December 1 she was appointed the Clico general manager.

Chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group (CPG) Peter Permell is questioning the timing of the appointment and why it was not made public.

“The CPG can therefore understand why concerns are now being raised in certain quarters as to the timing and/or need for such an appointment and whether there could be a conflict of interest either real or perceived,” Permell said.

Permell questioned the appointment particularly in light of the fact that:

(1) “No Man’s Land is part of the Golden Grove estate at Bon Accord Lagoon, Buccoo. The estate, including environmentally important wetlands, comprises between 429.8 and 517 acres of freehold land, are owned by Clico subsidiaries, Occidental Investments Ltd (OIL) and Oceanic Properties Ltd (OPL). It is an open secret that Sandals chairman, Butch Stewart has indicated a distinct preference for No Man’s Land as the site for the proposed Sandals in Tobago. “

(2) “Finance Minister Colm Imbert is reported (in the media) to have said “If and when an agreement is reached with Sandals for the construction of a resort at that location, the land will simply be acquired by the Government. This can be done in many ways. It can be sold to the Government and the proceeds of sale netted off against the amount owed by Clico to the Government, or it can simply be purchased.”

(3) “It is the CPG’s understanding that No Man’s Land is one of the assets being held in the Clico statutory fund to back policyholders’ liabilities and, if not, certainly qualifies to be easily placed therein. What this means is that when the traditional insurance portfolio which consists of Individual and Group Life insurance, pensions and annuities is ‘transferred for value’ (ie, sold) to another service provider (let’s say possibly a Guardian Holdings) this property can/could be transferred (sold) as part of the overall transaction without the knowledge of the policyholders/public and/or agreement of the company’s shareholders. Since it is our understanding that the one of the terms/conditions of the sale is that sufficient assets of an acceptable nature, which could include OIL and OPL shares, must be transferred from Clico to the purchaser and that there would be no cash sale of the assets but instead the portfolio liability would be discounted.”

(4) “Clico already has a highly-paid executive chairman in the person of Wendy Ho Sing, who replaced former managing director Carolyn John and is presently in charge of the insurer’s day-to-day operations, seemingly duplicating effort. Additionally, Clico is in the process of winding down its operations and has already sent home more than 95 per cent of its sales force and stopped writing new insurance business.”

The CPG is calling on Clico’s executive chairman Wendy Ho Sing, Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire and/or Finance Minister Colm Imbert to please explain, Permell stated.

Attempts to contact Ho Sing for a comment were unsuccessful. Attempts to reach Imbert were also unsuccessful. Calls and message to his cellphone since Friday went unanswered.

Housing Minister Randall Mitchell says Government has made housing more affordable to low and middle-income families unlike the People’s Partnership government which catered for high-income earners.

He was speaking at a key distribution ceremony for approximately 180 new Housing Development Corporation (HDC) home owners, many with young children at the Government Campus Plaza, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

“We returned the approved ceiling from $45,000 to $25,000. In so doing, we ensured that we maintained our legislative mandate to provide for low and middle income earning families and not the high-income earners that the last administration attempted to cater for,” Mitchell said.

“Now, low to middle-income earning families will no longer be left behind. We made the affordable mortgage programmes offered by the T&T Mortgage Finance Company Limited (TTMF) even more affordable by revising the mortgage-financing regime,” he said.

Mitchell said the qualifying income of people eligible for the two per cent interest rate had moved now from $10,000 to $14,000 and they can now access properties valued between $850,000 and $1 million.

Those earning between $14,001 to $30,000 can now benefit from a five per cent interest rate and can access properties valued between $1 million and $1.5 million, he said.

Mitchell said since assuming office, the ministry returned the HDC to its original moorings, which was to construct affordable housing for deserving applicants.

Mitchell said the average price of an HDC unit will return to a more affordable $450,000 to $500,000, down from $900,000 to $1.3 million in the last administration.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Simone Thorne-Mora said while the ministry was aware that it was the season of goodwill, she reminded the new homeowners that being allocated a Government-subsidised home from the HDC was not a free gift.

She said they had a responsibility to honour their commitments, pay their bills ,and fulfil the requirements that were stated in their guidelines and regulations.

Simone Thorne-Mora said by doing this they can help others who were desirous of home ownership.

Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez said the Corporation was committed to deliver services, develop new and existing infrastructure in the city, and providing support at every level with all stakeholders and government agencies.

Two women were shopping in a downtown Port-of-Spain fabric store, Thursday. One of them remarked that she was not venturing into the interior of the premises for fear of being murdered like Shannon Banfield. This is now the pervading fear among many women venturing into the capital.

A merchant whose store is located close to IAM and Company on Charlotte Street, where Banfield’s body was discovered on December 8, said that with her killer still at large this did not instill any confidence in the population by the police.

The bank worker’s death, coupled with the reported dismal sales for merchants during a downturn in the economy does not bode well for a prosperous Christmas season in the capital.

One businessman in close proximity had another conundrum. A female customer had bought a large Christmas tree and she had parked on lower George Street. Two of his porters could not deliver the tree for her because they lived “behind the bridge” and there was an invisible demarcation line where they cannot cross. A third porter who did not live in the area refused to go for fear of mistaken identity.

Moroccan-born businessman, Ayoub Kabli is encouraging shoppers to get out of their shell and come to Port-of-spain, claiming there was ample parking above Park Street and the crime was unfortunately stereotyped.

Speaking to the Sunday Guardian at his Bedouin rest cafe, Royal Atlantic on Charlotte Street, Kabli said “Charlotte Street compared to 15 years ago is one of the safest places, it’s just in people’s heads how dangerous they think town is.

“You can get robbed anywhere in Trinidad. Most of the crimes happen outside Port-of-Spain, in the East, West and South.

“It is obvious, don’t look like a target. My advice is don’t flash hundred dollar bills in your hand and don’t have big, gold chains sticking out.”

Kabli, 51, a resident in Trinidad for 20 years, shot dead a gunman who tried to rob him at his business on Henry Street, in 2012.

He said sales were much slower this year, buying patterns had changed with the advent of warehouse clubs and South Asian expos. Wil Chang, general manager of S Chang Variety Store, said ten days before Christmas a shopper normally cannot walk into a store on Charlotte Street because it would be full of people, now the stores were half empty.

He said the street was known for bargains and cut-rate prices, however people were willing to pay more money in the malls that was perceived to be safer to shop.

Chang said he was hoping that there will be extra police on the streets, that Port-of-Spain Mayor, Joel Martinez, will be trying “something” but it may be too late to make up for this year and hopefully things will improve next year.

A supermarket owner on upper Charlotte Street said there may be short and long-term repercussions of the IAM incident as women did most of the buying, they may be more cautious coming into town or would decide to stay away.

He said suppliers imported less goods either due to a slow down in the economy or a lack of US funds.

The supermarket owner said sales were much quieter than last year, customers were not buying as much luxury items such as chocolates, sweets and expensive alcohol, but basic food items.

He advised women to pay attention to their surroundings, do not be engrossed on the cellphone, secure their purse, cellphones and no ostentatious display of “bling”.

A supermarket owner on lower Charlotte Street attributed the slow sales to the recession, crude oil had dipped below $50 a barrel, and people calling for a boycott of IAM.

He said his business also took a hit when 14,000 people were removed from the T&T food card programme.

Gary Aboud, managing director of Mode Alive said sales must suffer due to Government’s misplaced regulations such as no parking in the inner city.

He said vehicles were being wrecked when there was no traffic, yet vendors were erecting tents in the same place where the towed vehicles were parked.

Aboud said violence was everywhere, billions were being misspent on national security, yet there were few if any police to be seen in the high-traffic capital city where the population in search of value for money flock to the capital city.

Nine months after his charred, dismembered body was found in the ruins of his home, 14-year-old Darian Nedd was finally laid to rest yesterday.

In an interview before the funeral, Darian’s pregnant mother Christine Nedd said she will give birth to her baby next March during the death anniversary of her teenaged son.

“It will be bitter joy. I cannot have another child like Darian. There will only be one Darian, so I do not plan to name the baby after my son. There is nobody who will ever replace my son,” Nedd said.

It was only on November 29 that Darian’s remains were released from the Forensic Science Centre in St James and given to the family after DNA analysis confirmed it was him. However, Christine said the autopsy was inconclusive so she still does not know how her child died.

“All I could do is speculate. Every day it is hard coming to terms that he will never be with us, but I am thankful that we could give him a funeral today,” Nedd added. The distraught mother and her five other children have erected a shrine where Darian was murdered. They have planted flowers and placed ornaments around a photo of him where a candle and a kerosene light remains ignited every night.

“We want to remember him. He was only 14 and I wanted him to have a good life. He had just started to get a little hair on his face and he was getting very handsome. He grew up here and everyone loved him,” Christine said. The hearse carrying Darian’s remains went through the narrow bumpy track where he lived in a wooden house with his family. The track was decorated with pink balloons. Following a service at Belgroves, the remains were incinerated at the funeral home in San Fernando.

Darian, a Form One student of Siparia East Secondary School, had gone into hiding before his death. His body was found around 12.30 am on March 20, amid the ruins of a wooden house. His right foot and left hand were missing. It is uncertain whether his limbs were chopped off and whether he was still alive when the house was set on fire.

His neighbour Roger Ragoopat was charged for the murder and the matter is being heard at the Siparia Magistrates’ Court.

VALDEEN SHEARS-NEPTUNE

An aged newspaper clipping of a memorial bearing the photos of her eldest son and only daughter is 62 year-old Myroon Ali’s most poignant reminder of her losses.

Ali, who sat immobile in a steel walker, pulled the yellowed piece of paper out of a floral-print cloth purse and recounted the two most dreaded days of her life as a mother of five.

She cannot remember the exact date, but recalled the last time relatives saw her son Shakeer “Sheldon” Ali, who they believe was led away by an “unknown man on a bike”.

Her daughter, Natasha “Tash” Ali, a mother of four, was shot dead during a robbery at a bar at Riverside Road, Kelly Village, on February 28, 2010.

It was a stone’s throw away from her home.

Both tragedies are marked by the ages of two of her daughter’s four children.

It has been so long since her son’s disappearance, that Ali can only mark the year according to the age of her second grandson, Rivaldo, who turned 16 this year. He was just a toddler when his uncle went missing, and Ali remembers the two as being inseparable.

She vividly remembers the death of her only daughter because the youngest of her four grandchildren, Ricardo, was only three months when their mom was killed.

Ali, who said she can walk no further than the roadway in front her Kay Street, home, lovingly stroked the clipping which carries the date of her daughter’s birth and death.

It bears, though, only her son’s birth date and the word “Unknown” in lieu of the day he died.

For her, this represents hope that “one day he will come calling by my gate, as he used to every morning”.

This sentiment, she said, is not shared by his father, Shaheed, who in 2003 went to the Police Complaints Authority and asked that investigations into his disappearance be discontinued. Ali showed the worn and creased document of the PCA, citing that the case would be “deemed closed”.

Her husband, 68, remained inside their home for the entire interview.

Every year the Christmas season is a harsh and painful reminder of her son’s disappearance. He would have turned 39 tomorrow (December 19).

“I does miss him so much for his birthday every year,” she mumbled, her eyes filling with tears.

Ali, though, quickly recovers and in the same breathe, fondly recalled him as a child, hiding away bottles of home-made amchar under the bed.

Her son, who lived a few streets away at his grandfather’s house, made it his duty to visit her every morning. Ali remembered the morning after he disappeared being visited instead by his distraught wife.

Ali’s son also met his demise close to home.

On that fateful night, Ali had donned a vest, short pants, and rubber slippers and accompanied his wife to a cousin’s home next door to watch television.

Relatives, she said, told her before the movie could begin, a man on a bike, unknown to them, called him outside.

It was the last they would see of him.

“That’s why, no matter what your age, tell somebody where and with who you going out with or going to meet. It’s the only way family can help each other and the police if something happens,” she lamented.

She recalled being in a daze and walking miles of back streets, cane and rice fields, searching for her son. Ali said she did this for months after his disappearance even when concerned villagers begged her to return to her home.

Ali said her son had no known enemies, no altercation with anyone, whether relative or friend, and was fondly remembered by all.

In fact, his disappearance, she said, was a shock to the entire community. Her son’s wife, she recalled, moved out of the family home less than a month later and has since moved on with her life. The couple had no children.

Police, she added, visited their home once when the incident first occurred.

VALDEEN SHEARS-NEPTUNE

Tomorrow will mark a historical meeting between representatives of the Vatican (Holy Seal) and indigenous people of the Caribbean.

Ambassador HE Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio, is scheduled to meet with Albert DeTerville, executive chairman and head of delegation of the Global Platform, at the Apostolic Nunciature, Vatican Embassy, St Clair.

This was disclosed yesterday by DeTerville shortly before a closed-door meeting at Photo House Studio, Arima.

DeTerville, who also holds many other roles regarding indigenous peoples and issues, yesterday said the meeting, labelled “a first of its kind anywhere in the world,” follows the issuing of a letter to Pope Francis seeking dialogue.

While the letter initially represented indigenous peoples of St Lucia and T&T, DeTerville said the Global Platform will speak on the behalf of all CARICOM member countries who had adopted and reaffirmed the treaty of Chaguaramas, which explicitly outlines the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and issues.

These countries include, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Canada, and some regions of Africa.

Similar letters were also forwarded to heads of government of former “colonial occupiers”, such as Spain, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands.

Responses were issued from three of the international countries, while they await a response from Spain, he said.

Additionally, all members of CARICOM were also issued similar correspondences.

Letters were also forwarded to President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, said DeTerville.

However, no response has since been forthcoming.

DeTerville lamented the lack of response from CARICOM countries, as well as the present administration.

He noted the significance of both former and successive governments’ adherence to protecting the rights of indigenous peoples as outlined by the UN declaration.

“It’s incumbent of governments to respect those rights. Their international obligations to protect the rights and issues of indigenous peoples are clearly outlined. However, we have gotten no response from either local government or CARICOM members even after 10 months, not even a courtesy of acknowledgement of those letters on serious matters of significance,” he noted.

Of the CARICOM countries, he said, T&T has recorded the largest presence of indigenous people, with an unofficial and debatable population of over 200,000.

DeTerville called for the inclusion of indigenous peoples into the Housing and Population census, which will determine the actual figure. He noted too, that countries such as Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica had done just that.

At tomorrow’s meeting, he said, the main focus will be the “provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress and other issues regarding historical and contemporary injustices committed against indigenous people.”

“The UNC will not go to court to contest the re-election of Terry Rondon as chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.” So said Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi during a press conference at the San Fernando City Hall yesterday.

Al-Rawi said according to the law, Rondon was allowed an original and a casting vote.

“I am not confident that the UNC will go to court on this issue because the law is pellucidly clear. The Municipal Corporation Act and the Standing Orders of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporations is very clear as amended post 2013 that a presiding officer has an original and casting vote,” Al-Rawi said.

Noting that most corporations tend to offer the CEO because the business is usually clear, Al-Rawi added, “Terry Rondon as an elected councillor had an original vote and as the chairman, at that point, has a casting vote. So it went from 6-6 to 7-6.”

Al-Rawi said despite the “grand charge and shouting” by attorney Gerald Ramdeen, he did not think the UNC ‘had the guts to go to court.” “And if they do then c’est la vie, it is due process, that is what the courts are there for. We will meet them on the floor of the courts and we will beat them again. You have to remember that Sangre Grande was won with popular votes to the PNM and we did not pass the amendment in 2013, the UNC did.”

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. Last Thursday, the UNC walked out after questioning Rondon’s authority in presiding over the ceremony as chairman. This was immediately dismissed by Rondon, who cited Section 15 of the Local Government Act.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is planning to bring a powerful suite of legislation to Parliament in January 2017 meant to hit the pockets of organised criminals.

Speaking at a press conference at the San Fernando City Hall yesterday, Al-Rawi said the new pieces of legislation will not need a special majority to be passed.

He said the management of crime was the absolute priority for this government. Al-Rawi said, “Nobody enters organised crime without profit. Our mission is to take away the profit from crime so in January, the AG office will lay in Parliament a suite of legislation to specifically target the dollars behind crime.”

Al-Rawi also questioned why Kamla-Persad-Bissessar and her team were adamant not to support the FATCA legislation.

“I have raised FATCA on the fight on crime because the reciprocal exchange of bankers information for T&T citizens who have accounts abroad, is important so you will know where the profit of crime is hidden,” Al-Rawi said.

Seeing that there was no explanation for the need for a JSC in the FATCA legislation, Al-Rawi added, “You got to ask yourself what is the Opposition of this country doing? What is their mission? What is their objection to foreign accounts?”

He also said he was working on the Bail Amendment and Anti-Gang legislation by laising with the Director of Public Prosecution, the Criminal Bar Association, and the Judiciary.

The Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce (CPLCC) is calling for more resources to be allocated to police officers in the area.

Liaquat Ali, the president of the chamber, said he was not surprised to learn that there were only three vehicles at the Couva station, making it difficult for the police to effectively fight crime in the area.

Ali said several criminal hotspots were emerging in the California, Point Lisas area, and that Chinese businessmen have become the brunt of criminal activities, many not reporting crimes committed against them because of various reasons, which may include the language barrier.

Ali said criminal activities from other parts of the country were migrating into Couva.

Ramchand Rajbal-Maraj, vice president of the chamber, said people were losing faith in the police service. Rajbal-Maraj said there was a lack of police visibility. California businesswoman Denise Chinpire-O’Riley said her employees have also been robbed several times while leaving work.

Air Canada is keeping its promise to return to T&T after dropping the route eight years ago. The flights will resume tomorrow and last for one year.

The Ministry of Tourism has issued a statement confirming the return of the flights which was announced in April this year. The flights will be operated be Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada’s leisure carrier. It will fly a 282-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft offering a choice of premium and economy cabins.

The first flight will arrive around 3 pm tomorrow. There will be a welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight at Gate 11 of the North Terminal Building of the Piarco International Airport hosted by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with Lazarri & Sampson, the travel agency responsible for the airline’s operations, and Air Canada’s Latin America and the Caribbean Sales Team.

Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Tourism, will deliver an address at the event and there will be a ceremonial water salute and a cultural programme. Air Canada had flown the T&T route for 60 years before it was dropped in 2008.

Senior Lecturer at COSTAATT Sajjad Hamid, has been awarded the Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising (ACFBA) by the Family Firm Institute (www.ffi.com), the foremost authority in the field, based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. 

The advanced certificate is presented to individuals who have achieved comprehensive professional knowledge and gained significant expertise that can add value to family-owned businesses and family wealth clients. This qualification further ensures that the highest standards in professional best practices will be employed in the delivery of training.

The Family Firm Institute (FFI) Global Education Network Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising is designed to increase awareness and exposure to the concepts, skills and knowledge necessary to optimize effectiveness as family business advisors and consultants.

Hamid, who is a faculty member of COSTAATT’s Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, lectures on Managing the Family Enterprise and is also joint author of the text Family Business, along with Ernesto Poza of Thunderbird School of Global Management.

This course, which COSTAATT was the first to develop locally, is in response to the recognition that most businesses are family owned and operated, and therefore require a tailored entrepreneurial skill-set to be able to function effectively. The training and knowledge Mr. Hamid received from the Family Firm Institute will bring even greater relevance to the College’s curriculum and COSTAATT was pleased to support him in obtaining this qualification.

“Through completion of the certificate programme, Sajjad Hamid has gained a deeper understanding of the needs of family-owned enterprises and the many roles family business and non-family members play,“ said Judy Green, President of the Family Firm Institute.

Participants have access to cutting edge information and resources for exploring the core disciplines—behavioural science, finance, law and management science—as well as steps for forming collaborative teams. FFI provides multidisciplinary educational programmes to advance family enterprises worldwide, by enabling collaboration between family enterprise practitioners and academics, and in creating a global network of professionals.

Chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group (CPG) Peter Permell is questioning the timing of the appointment of Lisa Gomes, a former director at Sandals Resorts, as general manager of Clico. He also wants to know why the appointment was not made public.

Gomes was appointed on December 1. She previously held the position of director of Finance and Planning at Sandals Resorts from January 2011 to March this year. According to her LinkedIn profile, Gomes’ responsibilities included Acquisitions, Investment Banking, Government Negotiations and Property Management.

Permell said: “The CPG can therefore understand why concerns are now being raised in certain quarters as to the timing and/or need for such an appointment and whether there could be a conflict of interest either real or perceived,” Permell said.

Permell questioned the appointment particularly in light of the fact that No Man’s Land, the planned location of a Sandals resort in Tobago, is part of the Golden Grove estate at Bon Accord Lagoon, Buccoo.

The estate, including environmentally important wetlands, comprises between 429.8 and 517 acres of freehold land, are owned by Clico subsidiaries, Occidental Investments Ltd (OIL) and Oceanic Properties Ltd (OPL).

He said: “It is an open secret that Sandals chairman, Butch Stewart has indicated a distinct preference for No Man’s Land as the site for the proposed Sandals in Tobago.”

Permell also recalled that Finance Minister Colm Imbert was reported to have said, “If and when an agreement is reached with Sandals for the construction of a resort at that location, the land will simply be acquired by the Government. This can be done in many ways. It can be sold to the Government and the proceeds of sale netted off against the amount owed by Clico to the Government, or it can simply be purchased.”

The CPG chairman said in a statement yesterday:“It is the CPG’s understanding that No Man’s Land is one of the assets being held in the Clico statutory fund to back policyholders’ liabilities and, if not, certainly qualifies to be easily placed therein.

“What this means is that when the traditional insurance portfolio which consists of Individual and Group Life insurance, pensions and annuities is ‘transferred for value’ (ie, sold) to another service provider (let’s say possibly a Guardian Holdings) this property can/could be transferred (sold) as part of the overall transaction without the knowledge of the policyholders/public and/or agreement of the company’s shareholders.

“Since it is our understanding that the one of the terms/conditions of the sale is that sufficient assets of an acceptable nature, which could include OIL and OPL shares, must be transferred from Clico to the purchaser and that there would be no cash sale of the assets but instead the portfolio liability would be discounted.”

Permell also pointed out that Clico already has a highly-paid executive chairman in the person of Wendy Ho Sing, who replaced former managing director Carolyn John and is currently in charge of the company’s day-to-day operations.

He said: “Additionally, Clico is in the process of winding down its operations and has already sent home more than 95 per cent of its sales force and stopped writing new insurance business.”

The CPG is calling on Clico’s executive chairman Wendy Ho Sing, Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire and/or Finance Minister Colm Imbert to explain, Permell said.

Two men died and another is fighting for his life following an early morning accident in Tobago yesterday. The accident occurred at around 4 am on the Claude Noel Highway near the entrance to the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort.

Dead are Keylon Chapman, 23, of Mason Hall, and Trevaughn Noray, 21, of Moriah. Quincy Daniel, 23, is in a critical condition at the Scarborough General Hospital.

Police said the three were travelling east along the Claude Noel Highway in a burgundy Nissan Almera driven by Chapman when the vehicle ran off the road, and slammed into a utility pole on the northern side of the roadway. Chapman and Noray died on the spot, while Daniel was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. He underwent emergency surgery yesterday and arrangements were being made to airlift him to Trinidad for further treatment.

Police believe the vehicle was being driven at a high speed and that the men may have fallen asleep, as there were no brake impressions on the roadway.

Relatives say the men who were close friends who had attended the Mason Hall High School together. At the time of the accident they were returning home after a night of partying.

Officers from the Old Grange police station are continuing investigations.