Balgobin Ramdeen, one of the last surviving members of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), has died at the age of 91 at a London hospital.

His daughter, Leela Ramdeen, who was with him when he died, said her father had been in hospital since last week Friday and died at around 4 pm on Wednesday. She said her had “fluid in his lungs and a chest infection, but because of his age, it all got complicated.”

Ramdeen was born in 1925, and lived in Sangre Chiquito, Sangre Grande. His great grandfather came from India in 1874. They all belonged to the Dial family.

Ramdeen served as a member of the House of Representatives in the first Independent Parliament. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Caroni East in 1961 election on a DLP ticket and served in the opposition from 1961-1966. His death has left only one surviving member of that party, John Bharath, father of former Trade, Industry and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath.

Ramdeen was one of the MPs to see the Union Jack come down and the national flag go up when T&T attained Independence on August 3t, 1962. He was one of the only two surviving MPs from that historic era alive when the country celebrated its 50th anniversary of Independence in 2012. The other was Tajmool Hosein SC.

At the launch of an exhibition hosted by the Central Bank, then Governor Ewart Williams acknowledged Ramdeen’s presence describing him as an “educator and newspaper editor who acquired a reputation as champion of the down trodden in the 1950’s.”

Leela said her father loved T&T and was sad about the state of the country.

“Too much crime and violence,” she said, which he blamed on a “lack of community spirit, lack of positive parenting, loss of love and respect for each other, failing institutions, leaders without vision, and because we have allowed too many guns and drugs to sweep into our country without any control.”

“Corruption was anathema to him. He would often rail against those in high places who are corrupt as he said that they are stealing from the poor. His concern for the poor, the homeless was well known,” she said

Leela said she was in the midst of writing his autobiography with him.

“Even on his death bed he commanded me to take out pen and paper and was dictating some thoughts that I should include in his autobiography,” she said.

“Pa truly lived to serve humanity — instilled in him by the teachings of Sanatan Dharma. He was a man of integrity and compassion,” she said.

Ramdeen left Trinidad in 1967 and was called to the bar in London in 1972. His wife, Ruby, died in 1995. He published five short books on politics, poetry and religion. Under the pseudonym Cassandra he wrote articles for the T&T Guardian for five years as well as a book titled Untold Tales of Politics and Politicians. He was also a contributing Editor of the Sentinel Magazine, co-editor of the Windian Magazine and a regular contributor to the Observer Magazine.

Former Minister Devant Maharaj, who is related to Ramdeen, said he was a man who “held steadfast on his views for liberating the oppressed.”

Maharaj said although Ramdeen was a devout Hindu, “he raised good Catholic children, and although he fought for Indian equality he loved and married a woman of African descent. Although he was a DLP, he saw good also in the PNM and was unique in every way.”

A Claxton Bay man who claimed he found a loaded gun while drunk during the Christmas season was spared a jail term yesterday.

Instead, Tony Jeffrey, 28, was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines for possession of pistol, which was loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

Jeffrey, the father of two girls, pleaded guilty to the two charges when he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the San Fernando First Court.

He was arrested by PC Davin Nagessar of the St Margaret’s Police Station on Wednesday, at Hilltop Avenue, Claxton Bay.

Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said around 3.05 pm the officer, along with his colleagues, while on patrol received a wireless transmission and proceeded to Hilltop Avenue.

Jeffrey who was standing on the road then looked at the police vehicle and began acting suspicious. When Nagessar approached and searched him, the officer found a black firearm in his front pocket of his trousers.

In pleading for a non-custodial sentence, defence attorney Ainsley Lucky said: “In the midst of holiday merriment he had in a few and he saw these objects and took possession of them.

“So in Claxton Bay you could just see guns just so?” the magistrate asked.

Lucky said Jeffrey, a skilled labourer, had one previous conviction for smoking in a restricted area. He said his client was community oriented as he coaches little children in his neighbourhood in football and cricket.

In passing sentence the magistrate said, “It is really unfortunate that guns can be found so easily, that’s why we are where we are today, a lawless society.”

He was ordered to pay $2,000 immediately and was given him 60 days to pay the balance.

A 59-year-old man from Barataria yesterday appeared in court charged with murdering his 15-year-old stepson after an argument at their home two weeks ago.

Joel Pompey, of Upper Seventh Avenue, Malick, Barataria, appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court charged with killing Josiah Martinez on December 16.

Pompey, a former employee of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), was also charged for being in possession of an illegal firearm and seven rounds of ammunition and for shooting two women during the incident.

In addition to the charges, which arose from an incident on December 16, Pompey was slapped with two charges for assaulting two police officers while in custody at the Morvant Police Station on December 27.

He pleaded not guilty to the two assault charges.

Pompey was initially brought to court on Wednesday, but his appearance had to be deferred as he complained of feeling unwell and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

When he appeared in court yesterday, Pompey was seen wearing a bandage to his arm.

Pompey was represented by Abigail Roach and will reappear in court on January 26.

A Charlotte Street vendor, who was arrested for selling fireworks without a licence, has been released on bail.

Hannah Lambert, of Morvant, appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar and was granted $5,000 bail.

When called upon to enter a plea, Lambert said she was “guilty with an explanation”.

Ayers-Caesar intervened and told the accused that the she was charged under the Explosives Act for selling gunpowder-based fireworks without a licence from police.

When asked if she was in possession of a licence, Lambert said no.

“They (the fireworks) are not mine,” Lambert said before being stopped by again by Ayers-Caesar.

Ayers-Caesar said because of accused utterances she would have to enter a not guilty plea.

“I suggest you get a lawyer to properly advise you on the best way forward,” Ayers-Caesar said, and suggested that Lambert apply for Legal Aid Advisory Authority for an attorney if she wished.

Lambert was arrested on Wednesday, as Port-of-Spain police conducted a exercise in downtown Port-of-Spain, focussing on unlicensed fireworks dealers and illegal scratch bombs vendors.

Lambert was the only vendor arrested.

If convicted, Lambert faces a $1,000 fine. She will reappear in court on January 26.

Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz was forced to abort a two-and-a half hour meeting with panmen on Wednesday night as they insisted “no money, no Panorama.”

The extra-ordinary meeting, which Diaz later described as unsuccessful, was intended to discuss the issue of the non-payment of money owed to panmen for performances during Carnival 2016 and allocations for 2017.

In an interview with reporters outside City Hall, Diaz said: “We had to close off the meeting because that is what the panmen say and I have to follow what they say.”

The media was not allowed into the venue but during the meeting loud voices were heard demanding that panmen be treated with more respect by the executive of the organisation and the Government.

Ace pan arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe told reporters the Pan Trinbago executive should resign immediately and an interim body be established to run the 2017 Panorama competition if there was to be one. He also said the event should be boycotted under the existing circumstances.

“No Panorama! No Panorama, No Panorama,” angry attendees shouted as Diaz tried to speak with reporters following the meeting. Diaz could not be heard, for the first few minutes of the interview.

He later said he could not guarantee the staging of any Panorama competition next year.

“They are very serious with what they are saying,” Diaz said.

He said Community Development Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly was not prepared to meet with Pan Trinbago to discuss the allocation of money for the players.

“She don’t want to talk to us, she doesn’t want to talk,” he said. The minister could not be reached for comment yesterday.

He said allocations are not given to his organisation but the National Carnival Commission (NCC).

Diaz said Pan Trinbago was seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to discuss the matter. He later said he had called an emergency executive meeting last night to discuss the issue.

Several panmen walked out of the meeting, expressing their displeasure over the situation and even called for Diaz’s resignation as leader of the steelband body.

Pan player Dane Gulston said panmen were owed money and despite a promise to have some of the outstanding money paid, there was no guarantee of Panorama next year. He said the Pan Trinbago executive must “shape up or ship out.”

Manager of Desperadoes, Panorama champions for 2016, Curtis Edwards said his band was in support of the proposed Panorama boycott if the money issue was not settled. “Time for talk done. It is strictly no Panorama,” he said.

Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) President General Ancel Roget yesterday announced that the union will serve strike notice on State-owned Petrotrin on Wednesday.

In response, president of the energy company Fitzroy Harewood said Petrotrin was not prepared to increase it’s zero-zero-zero offer to workers.

“Given what now seems an inevitable strike action, the company has initiated a number of contingency measures to ensure continuity of supplies to the local market for petroleum refined products as long as reasonably possible,” Harewood said in a letter to employees.

“It also goes without saying that the company’s financial losses will be greater due to the loss of revenue expected during the period of a strike.”

If the workers go on strike, approximately 4,450 of the company’s 5,000 employees will be staying away from work for 90 days. Production of crude oil, which is used to make gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel, will be severely affected leading to shortages at the pumps.

At an emergency press conference at OWTU’s Paramount Building headquarters in San Fernando yesterday, Roget warned citizens to brace for the effects of the strike.

“At the end of that marathon session between the OWTU and Petrotrin, conciliated at the Ministry of Labour, we are today nowhere closer to a settlement, so we have decided and we have confirmed that conciliation comes to an end on January 3, next Tuesday. The period for conciliation would have expired.

“The OWTU has taken the decision that we are not going to go for any extension and that on Wednesday morning, bright and early we are going to serve official strike notice on Petrotrin,” he said.

Referring to statements by Finance Minister Colm Imbert last week about Petrotrin’s board not having authority to negotiate salaries without the ministry’s knowledge, Roget said the union had expected a better offer.

“We thought he would have sent them with a position to close these negotiations and no such approach was taken and therefore we are nowhere closer to a resolution of these very important and critical issues,” he said.

Thursday’s meeting was the third round of conciliatory talks between the company and the union over negotiations for the periods 2011-2014 and 2014-2017. Roget said the negotiations were a political issue and he called on Government to intervene.

He promised that the union would be available anytime before Wednesday if Government decided to step in and “save the day.”

Roget did not state what figure the union might settle at but said: “Once there is a reasonable offer on the table, we will consider it. When you consider everybody else got 14 per cent, one per cent or zero per cent is not reasonable and they ought to be guided by what was the national settlement.”

He said the workers and union were not afraid of being condemned for their actions and would welcome debate on the merits of their strike.

“When you don’t get gasoline at the filling stations, don’t blame us. When you have problems at the airport to refuel jets, international and otherwise, local service and otherwise, don’t blame us. When the management says that they can guarantee a reliable service, which in normal circumstance they cannot even manage properly and the situation turns up-sided down-when that occurs, do not blame us,” he said.

Roget said the workers were also calling for the removal of Harewood because the company was suffering due to mismanagement.

Efforts to get a comment from Finance Minister Colm Imbert yesterday were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls to his cellphone or voicemail messages.

In a letter to employees yesterday, Harewood said the strike action seemed inevitable.

Citing the company’s contractual requirement to make $1.2 billion in debt payments in 2017 and the fall in oil prices, Harewood explained that Petrotrin did not have the money to make retroactive payments for the 2011-2014 period.

“The cost impact of this is projected to increase the salary/wage bill by approximately $165 million at the end of the first period, with a pay-out of over $279 million as retroactive payment,” he said.

“Such an increase would serve to further exacerbate the situation facing Petrotrin’s business which has already been severely impacted by the approximately 50 per cent drop in world oil prices between 2014 and the present time.”

Harewood said if Petrotrin was made to pay any increases to employees, it could affect the company’s ability to meet operational costs.

“Any increase in manpower costs will result in increased losses and further exacerbate our cash flow situation, thus exposing Petrotrin to the risk of funds not being available to meet our operational requirements.”

President of the San Fernando Business Association wants the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) to hold its hand on strike action.

She said while President General Ancel Roget had a responsibility to OWTU members, he should also consider the cost to the country.

“I would ask Mr Roget to hold his hand.

“While he is well within his rights to bargain for his employers—because the workers are his employers—he also has to look at the economic state of the country at this time,” Bartlett said.

She said Petrotrin employees were well-paid and enjoyed a number of perks as it was.

“They get a $100 meal allowance every day. I have seen people use that to buy food for their entire families,” she said.

Citing the economic downturn and rising crime rates, Bartlett appealed to Roget not to put the country under further siege.

“We are under siege from all sides as it is. We can’t get foreign exchange to do business, burning and looting of business places is becoming more prevalent. We cannot leave our homes after dark ..we don’t need the further stress of not being able to get gas to go out when we want to,” she said.

With one day left in the year, the murder toll has now reached 455 following the shooting death of two men in the Laventille area and the discovery of a decomposing body of a man in Arouca.

According to police reports, in the most recent incident, 22-year-old Neil Frank was shot dead while liming with a friend near St Phillip’s Government Primary School off the Old St Joseph Road.

Police said Frank, of Building 7, Beverly Hills, was standing with Akiela Francis when around 10.30 pm they were shot.

Francis, originally from Maloney, was grazed on the left foot while Frank was shot multiple times.

Frank died at the scene. Police said his killing is part of the resurgence of the ongoing Rasta City and Muslim gang war.

In the second murder in the area, a mentally ill man, died early yesterday at hospital after being shot on Thursday.

Police said Bevon McKay, 34, of Block 8, John John, Laventille was found at the side of the road with gunshot wounds around 3 pm Thursday.

Police said he was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he remained in Intensive Care Unit until his death around 10 am yesterday.

The third incident took place on Thursday night at Windy Hill, Arouca. Police said the man, who has yet to be identified, was found in a foetal position with what appeared to be two gunshot wounds to the left side of his head and neck.

The decomposing man was found by a hunter around 9.30 pm.

Apart from the three murders, police are also investigating the attempted murder of a Morvant man in Valencia on Thursday night. Police said the 38-year-old identified as Neverson Gay, of Roble Street, was shot as he sat in a car outside Cooper’s Bar, in Valencia.

He was wounded to the head, ear and arm and taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital.

Police said the victim was later transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he remains warded in a critical condition.

Taxi driver Afteba Huggins who has been in jail for almost a month on charges stemming from the rape and false imprisonment of a police woman returned to prison yesterday.

Huggins re-appeared in the Siparia Magistrates Court where he first appeared on December 2 and was denied bail by Senior Magistrate Armina Deonarinesingh.

Yesterday Huggins, 36, appeared before Justice of the Peace Kevin King and was remanded into custody. The matter was adjourned to January 11, 2017.

The father of five is charged with six offences arising on a November 28 incident in which the Special Reserve Police woman was attacked as she awaiting transport to take up duties for the local government election. He is charged with rape, shooting at the woman with intent to murder her, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is also charged with violently robbing the constable of her gold ring valued at $4,000, a gold chain and pendant valued at $3,500, a wedding band ($2,500) and her police jacket ($250).

The offences were all alleged to have taken place at Berridge Trace, South Oropouche.

Huggins was charged by Cpl Gokool of the Oropouche Police Station.

When he first appeared his attorney Ramnarine Soorjansingh, said Huggins, was the sole breadwinner in his family.

He said Huggins lived in South Oropouche with his wife and children, ages 14 to four, and his wife was pregnant.

Prosecutor Sgt Anthony Baptiste objected to bail on the grounds that Huggins committed the alleged offences while on bail on another rape charge.

Huggins also has pending matters for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, resisting arrest and obscene language.

Residents of Massahood junction, Fyzabad, who are living in fear that State-owned Petrotrin might try to force them out of their homes have sought legal advice.

However, Petrotrin has stated that they are not asking them to demolish their homes, but the sheds and fences constructed on its Pipeline Wayleave at San Francique Road.

Several households were served with notices dated December 8, by Petrotrin, giving them seven days to demolish the structures constructed along the wayleave. The wayleave was granted by a landowner to allow Petrotrin access their underground pipes.

The deadline has since passed and the residents have not heard from Petrotrin.

However, the residents staged a protest, led by councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo, on Thursday calling for government’s intervention.

Resident Richard Ramlal denied they were squatting.

“Is about 25 families affected. Some families have been living here for over a century. We are not squatting. This is privately owned land and we are paying a yearly rent.”

Showing a resident’s receipt for rent paid for 2015, Ramlal claimed Petrotrin was also paying a yearly rental fee for the land .

He said two of the residents own the land and he has a copy of the rental agreement dated 1929 between the residents and Petrotrin.

“According to the agreement with Petrotrin they only have a 12-feet space nothing more. There was no mention about any wayleave.

Our contention is that they send us notice without even having an agreement with us and the land owner. The agreement was for 12 feet space now.”

He said Petrotrin was trying to bully them into leaving their homes so they could acquire the land.

Ramlal said residents are scared.

“I don’t take them on. But, everybody here is nearly 50 and 60 years old and they have their kids with them. They are traumatised, this not easy you know. You talking about ten days before Christmas they serve us with this.”

He said they have spoken to a lawyer who has given them certain advice.

Councillor Mayrhoo said they were giving Petrotrin until after the holidays to respond before taking their next step.

In response, Petrotrin’s Head of External communications and Branding Joy Antoine said Land Management personnel have been in discussions with some of the residents in the area since April 2014 and more particularly with one resident who has paved over the pipelines and wayleave in one area and erected a structure in another.

After several warnings, he was served with a Cease and Desist notice on or about September 18, 2014.

Subsequently, she said, an exercise was undertaken to have all the violations in that area along the wayleave of the six (6) pipelines (both crude oil and gas), addressed in a comprehensive manner. Antoine said in November a site visit was conducted with personnel from Land Management, security and another on December 5.

“At this visit, discussions were held with eight of the residents who were in violation and all the relevant information was shared with them. They were advised that as a matter of procedure they would be served with Cease and Desist notices. There was only one resident that was not available at the time of the visit so no discussions were held with him.”

She said eight notices were subsequently served on December 13 and one on December 14. On the later date, she said, Petrotrin personnel held discussions with four of those residents and the issues were again explained to them.

Antoine said at that meeting a commitment was given that Petrotrin would conduct a follow up site visit to clearly identify the extent of each violation.

“These site visits were conducted on December 19 and December 20, this year. At these site visits the residents were again advised of Petrotrin’s rights and the HSE and maintenance issues in relation to their violations.

“They were told that we are not asking them to demolish their houses but the shed and fences that are within the wayleave space which present an immediate hindrance to any maintenance operations, should be removed and we would advise on a way forward on a case-by-case basis.”

In an effort to ensure the public’s safety, owner of IAM and Company Limited Ishmael Ali has installed expensive padlocks on the back doors and washrooms of the Charlotte Street store where 20-year-old bank worker Shannon Banfield’s decomposing body was found on December 5.

Ali said the keys to these padlocks, which cannot be duplicated, will be controlled by the store’s cashiers.

This was one of the safety measures he recently instituted to try to woo customers back to the store. Previously those doors remained opened, allowing anyone entry and exit.

“Last Saturday all the doors at the back of the store were restructured and padlocked. Padlocks have also been placed on the doors in the washrooms upstairs. Those keys come with special locks. I paid $6,000 for one of those padlocks. Those keys are now with the cashiers. The store is safe to shop in,” Ali said.

He said he would do all within his power to build back the confidence of customers, assuring them there is nothing to worry about and all is safe.

On Thursday, the company’s Charlotte Street branch reopened after a three-week closure during the peak Christmas shopping season. However, it was not business as usual as staff were repeatedly jeered and taunted by shoppers and passers-by.

Ali said some shoppers did patronise the store, however, to purchase items at reduced prices.

He estimates that he lost $2 million in sales due to the closure of the branch. The other branches at Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain and Trincity Industrial Estate incurred losses of $1 million each due to a boycott of the business in the aftermath of Banfield’s death.

“I thought yesterday (Thursday) was very good. I saw more positives than negatives because nobody walked into the store and created any problems. We have a sale running right now. We are giving a ten per cent discount on every item to customers. This will continue for a while until business picks up. Obviously this will be at my expense. We will have to suffer more losses.”

Ali said IAM, which has been in business for the past 50 years, was affected tremendously but he is optimistic things will bounce back in 2017.

“I think it will take about a year before we get back the confidence of the people, our customers,” he said.

“Things will work out. I can’t believe that one gentleman could have brought us to our knees. I am trying to figure what went wrong.”

Despite the losses, Ali still gave his 100 employees Christmas bonuses and hosted a dinner for them.

“So far we have not sent any of our workers home. They too are suffering,” he said.

Ali said he noticed more customers were entering the store yesterday.

“Up to this time I am watching the counter which is full right now,” he said.

He said he was perplexed as to how Banfield’s body reached upstairs without anyone seeing or hearing.

“I still can’t come to terms with that, how something like that could go on in that place.”

Ali said he is still having sleepless nights and his life has not been the same.

“To tell you the truth, I could not sleep on Wednesday night, the day before we reopened. I kept turning and twisting in bed because I did not know what to expect. As a matter of fact, I did not even have a good Christmas. We could never stop thinking about it,” he said.

After being detained for 16 months by Saudi Arabian officials on suspicion of terrorism, T&T student Tariq Mohammed, 31, was freed and allowed to return home.

Mohammed, son of Trinidad Broadcasting Corporation 106.1 FM radio network host Shamoon Mohammed returned home on Thursday.

Mohammed, a final year student at the University of Medinah, was detained by Saudi national security officials on August 21, 2015 as he returned to that country after vacationing in T&T.

He was in the company of his wife, Saudah Ali and 16-month baby, Sulaimaan at the time. His wife and child were eventually allowed to return to their apartment.

A number of relatives including his father, his brother, sister-in-law and attorney, Nafeesa Mohammed went to the Piarco International Airport to welcome him home.

Emotions ran high when Mohammed walked out of the airport.

Relatives said his arrival into T&T was a smooth process and he was not kept back for any sort of questioning or interrogation.

As he left the airport, Mohammed’s first stop was at the Mohammedville home of his grandmother, Ameeran, 89, who was shocked when he walked in.

“First I saw Shamoon walk into my bedroom and then after I saw this tall man walk in after and I wanted to know who is that coming in my bedroom only to realise that it was Tariq. He hugged me for long and he cried and I cried,” Ameeran said.

“I am very happy to see him. No one told me he was coming on Thursday. I was expecting for him to come home since October but I didn’t hear anything,” she said.

Ameeran, however, admitted that she thought she would have never seen her grandson again.

“Saudi, those people over there don’t bite easy and I really didn’t think I would have ever seen him again but thanks to Allah he is back home. I am nothing else but happy to see him.”

Throughout Tariq’s detention in Saudi, Shamoon maintained his son’s innocence saying that Tariq has diligently pursued his course of studies receiving good grades and has never left Saudi Arabia to go to any other Middle Eastern country during his stay there.

Shamoon also maintained that his son was not involved in any negative activities there and has been a law-abiding citizen throughout his life.

Health, personnel, finance and infrastructure committees have been appointed at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation but none of them have any representation from the United National Congress (UNC), although the party got an equal number of seats in the corporation as the People’s National Movement (PNM) in the November 28 local government election.

Even as the council gets set to meet again, the UNC says the political impasse was not over and legal action was coming.

UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen told the T&T Guardian what happened on December 15 “was illegal and the future of the Corporation is in limbo.”

He said following the UNC walkout from the meeting at which Terry Rondon was re-elected chairman, committees were appointed but no UNC councillors or aldermen are on any of those committees. Ramdeen said under the law the UNC has three months to apply for judicial review of what happened on December 15.

“We are looking at that, we still have some time,” he said.

The Corporation has sent letters to all councillors and aldermen serving notice of a meeting to be held on January 5, but Ramdeen could not say whether UNC representatives would attend because “we are still looking at our position.”

“The UNC proposes to meet before that and will caucus to determine how to proceed,” he said.

“We will come to a decision as to how we treat with what transpired in Grande, and it will be resolved one way or the other in the interest of the people of Sangre Grande.”

Rondon, who was elected by PNM councillors and aldermen on December 15 after a UNC walkout, said: “The work of the corporation will go on with or without the UNC because this is about the people’s business. We have our first meeting for the year on January 5 and notices have been sent to all councillors and aldermen, UNC and PNM. It is up to the UNC to decide if they will attend.”

Asked about the UNC’s threat of legal action, Rondon said: “If the court says we have to give up the corporation I have to abide by the court’s ruling and I will not come out with ill-feelings. This is not about me but about seeing development of the people and the area.”

Rondon said Thursday’s meeting will focus on health issues and illegal buildings.

“Litter wardens and the County Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) have been asked to come in to talk to councillors and aldermen,” he said.

In addition, the Building Inspectorate has been asked to send a representative to the meeting to address the problem of illegal structures.

“We need to address this and other infrastructural issues,” he said.

Rondon said the Council intends to meet every Thursday with the statutory meeting scheduled for the last Thursday in the month.

With or without the UNC councillors and aldermen, he said, the Council has a quorum “because the quorum is fifty per cent, which we have.”

Rondon said three days after the UNC walkout, municipal police officers went after vendors who were selling illegally on the streets.

“I got a call about the situation and I walked the streets. I heard the cry of the people who said if they don’t sell they would have no money to put food on the table for their families,” he said.

He said he appealed to the municipal police to “give them a ‘bligh’.

“There were UNC people as well as PNM people selling, but party did not matter to me. What good for one good for all and I am prepared to go that same way. Nobody will be left behind.”

Rondon said he fully supports the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government’s national clean-up campaign and the corporation was mobilising village councils and schools and having discussions with private contractors in preparation for the event.

An eclectic cast of entertainers including Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore, Z4L4, John Michael Thomas & Friends, Tsahai Koo and Imani Miller-Sorzano kept their audience in awe when Estuary PR Ltd hosted An Evening of Healing with Music at Our Lady of Fatima RC Church Hall, Bushe Street, Curepe on December 28.

John Michael Thomas opened the show singing some of the popular classics. He was followed by vocalists Danielle Williams and Nicole Wong Chong.

Following their performance, violinist David Frank took to the stage leaving the audience wanting more. Tricia-Lee Kelshall and Kevon Carter got full attention with their 2016 hit Call Me Baby.

Before the intermission, young Tsahai Koo, daughter of Liza Miller, performed two selections on the violin. The first half ended with an electric performance by Philmore. He got a standing ovation.

Second half started with a piano performance by Imani Miller-Sorzano and ended with a vocal and piano performance by Z4L4.

The inaugural production, An Evening of Healing with Music—Vol I, was a concert to benefit medical expenses for Martica Thomas, mother of Estuary PR’s managing director Liza Miller who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

Conceptualised as a quarterly production, the event seeks to raise funds for various beneficiaries who face the trials of sustaining spiritual, emotional and physical well-being in the face of medical challenges.

Princes Town Member of Parliament Barry Padarath is threatening legal action against State-owned UDeCOTT, for breach of the Freedom of Information Act with regard to information relating to the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.

Padarath said one of his constituency executive members filed a Freedom of Information application seeking to find out who were the contractors awarded work on the Brian Lara Stadium during the period September 8, 2015 to August 2016; the values of the contracts and the process by which they were awarded. He said UDeCOTT acknowledged the application on August 29.

But after several months Paradath said “there has been no response from UDeCOTT, the company responsible for the works being done to the controversial stadium,” and as a result, he said, plans are “afoot to file the necessary court action against UDeCOTT.”

He said the board and chairman of UDeCOTT stand accused of violating section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act, which says “a public authority shall take reasonable steps to enable an applicant to be notified of the approval or refusal of his request as soon as practicable but in any case no later than 30 days after the day on which the request was duly made”.

UDeCOTT chairman Noel Garcia told the T&T Guardian the project was broken up into 19 packages and went out to tender for each package. He said based on the tenders received “contractors were selected.”

He said 15 contractors are working on the project with different contractors having been selected for air conditioning, landscaping, installation of chairs, general building works, electrical, plumbing and the fire system.

Completion of construction work on the stadium is earmarked for tomorrow with installation of 10 thousand chairs to be completed by February 15.

Garcia said the stadium will be “up and ready by February 15, and we hope to host a 2020 match.”

He said the civil contractor on the project is LCB Contractors. LCB is a company based in South Trinidad, but efforts to contact company official Jameel Baksh proved futile. The building contractor on the project is Diamond Contracting Company.

Garcia had previously told the T&T Guardian that a range of work had been completed on the stadium so far, including civil works, decorative fencing, structural works, security fencing, hand rails, guard booths, roofing repairs, upgrade of the playing field, installation of new pitches and landscaping with the exception of the entrance to the stadium.

Among the work completed but which still require commissioning after reconnection of permanent power to the stadium by T&TEC: include refurbishment of the fire, potable, irrigation and sewer pumps, three standby generators, the installation of all speakers for audio media, all air-conditioning units and access control and CCTV cameras.

Consultant NLBA Architects Ltd is responsible for overseeing the project.

More info

The Patrick Manning administration commissioned the stadium in 2005 in preparation for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, which was named after legendary local batsman Brian Lara.

It was to be built at a cost of $275 million. But the cost ballooned to over $800 million. It was not ready for the world tournament.

Although the People’s Partnership government under Kamla Persad-Bissessar agreed in 2013 to continue work, nothing happened.

Then housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, who was in charge of UDeCOTT, said it would have taken an additional $185 million to complete the stadium.

Shortly after taking office the government of Dr Keith Rowley announced that work on the stadium would resume and $90 million was allocated for the project.

Garcia said because the building was left unattended for six years there was significant damage to fixtures and furniture. The place was vandalised and electrical cables were stolen.

Replacing those cables cost between six to nine million dollars of the $90 million allocated by the Government for the project.

So far, $73 million has been spent and Garcia said the project was within budget and on time.

This year, 2017, is expecting to be a year of recovery for T&T. Despite the trying circumstances of 2016—now compounded by strike signals from the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU)—Finance Minister Colm Imbert has projected recovery for T&T in 2017. This was his response when asked about T&T’s direction for the new year.

The Central Bank on Friday indicated that in November it had stated that it considered growth of 1.5 per cent "to be a reasonable projection for 2017." T&T's economy was estimated to have declined by approximately 4.5 per cent in 2016 following contractions in 2014 and 2015 due to energy sector deterioration.

Imbert's view of a 2017 recovery was also stated in government’s 2017 budget. Last week, he confirmed the budget's position on recovery stands.

In the budget, he explained, the Government had embarked on a fiscal plan aiming to achieve overall budget balance by 2020 via reforms and changes to reduce energy revenue dependency, as well as containing government expenditure.

Measures towards this included elimination of waste, corruption, and movement away from subsidies and discretionary transfers. Focus would be on spending on essential economic infrastructure.

The economic state of play, implementation of projects and programmes for recovery and projected challenges are expected to be among discussions at a retreat of the Rowley Cabinet being held immediately after tomorrow's public holiday, the Guardian confirmed last week.

The retreat on January 3-4 will be at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's. It will be the second such retreat after the Government's first in February 2016 in Tobago. Government officials said the retreat includes focus on implementation schedules for 2017 budget projects, including for Tobago, now preparing for the January 23 Tobago House of Assembly polls. The ruling PNM launches its THA campaign on January 8 at Market Square, Scarborough.

Other sources said the retreat focus will also be on ensuring ministers take responsibility for tasks since there have been concerns about some 2016 performances. The retreat ends the day OWTUplans to serve strike notice. However, the retreat was in the works before OWTU's action.

The new year focus is also on the "bang" that 2017 has opened with, following breakdown of OWTU/Petrotrin wage negotiations at Thursday's marathon meeting. OWTU last Friday said it will serve strike notice on Wednesday.

Unless averted, how OWTU's strike could affect government's recovery plans remain to unfold since legal strike action can be taken uninterrupted for three months—up to March, including the busy Carnival period—which could affect T&T's economy.

Last Friday, OWTU boss Ancel Roget warned citizens to stock up. Petrotrin management, however, has assured contingencies are in place. Labour officials said that Government was working on the matter. Government sources noted that globally oil companies have had to cut costs in the oil price downturn.

In the 2017 budget Government had said discussions with OWTU will be held "early in 2017" to see how to resolve Petrotrin's many issues.

The budget noted a range of "far-reaching measures" are needed to guarantee Petrotrin's "very survival" and that it needs to cut operating expenditure by $500 million over the next four years or increase profitability.

This requires reduction in spending, review of the organisational structure, stringent control of operating costs and other measures which are "absolutely necessary since a robust restructuring programme will be a pre-condition for rescheduling Petrotrin's huge debt burden."

Initial discussions had started and OWTU was expected to issue its recommendations.

The 2017 budget

The budget stated T&T's medium-term framework is predicated on resumption of economic growth starting at one per cent in 2017, increasing to two per cent annually in 2018-2020.

It was projected the recovery in growth would be based largely on energy sector rebound, new oil/gas discoveries coming onstream, and expected turnarounds in other major sectors, particularly construction and manufacturing.

Projections are for oil prices—(US)$50 this year and (US)$60 in 2018, which would aid petroleum revenue recovery from $2 billion currently, to $14 billion by 2020.

From this year also, steps will be in force to reduce tertiary education expenditure, and also on Cepep and URP.

UNC FINALIZES FATCA STANCE NEXT WEEK

Meanwhile, the Government's retreat ends just before the January 6 resumption of Parliament when the crucial FATCA legislation returns for Government and Opposition deliberations, at the stage of a vote.

Last Friday, UNC's Suruj Rambachan said further stakeholders' meetings on the issue had not come off, but the UNC will caucus this week to confirm its position. He could not say if UNC would shift from its hard-line call for Joint Select Committee scrutiny of the bill.

Killers ended 2016 with a bang with six murders being recorded in four separate incidents across the country between Friday and yesterday

A seventh man was reported to be brain-dead following one of the shootings.

Even before the killing spree, however, the murder toll for 2016 was the highest this country has seen in six years.

The murder toll was 461 up to yesterday.

Among the murders was the shooting death of four men in Beverly Hills, Laventille, which resulted in senior officers of the Port-of-Spain Division calling an emergency meeting yesterday.

The bloodshed began around 10.40 pm on Friday when a teenager was stabbed to death following an argument over money.

Dead is 18-year-old Zion Murray.

According to reports, Murray, of Jack Terrace in Enterprise, was at School Lane in Enterprise, when he had an altercation with another man over money. The man stabbed Murray in the chest and ran away. Murray died on the spot.

The second incident took place around 11 pm on Friday in Caparo. Officers of the Brasso Seco Police Station responded to a man lying motionless along the Caparo Valley Road in the vicinity of the breeding unit. PCs Ramoutar and Badall found a man of mixed descent with a low hairstyle approximately six feet tall lying face down. He had a gunshot wound to the left side of his head.

District Medical Officer Dr Birjah visited the scene and ordered the removal of the body to the San Fernando Mortuary pending a post mortem to be conducted at the St James Forensic Science Centre.

After boasting a significant drop in killings in the Port-of-Spain Division this year, four men were murdered in Laventille on Friday night.

One of the four dead men was described by police as a gang leader.

He was identified as Sherwin “Chookoo” Balthazar.

Balthazar, who owned a car wash in Maloney, was gunned down at Beverly Hills around 11 pm.

A couple hours later, gunshots were heard in the area, and three men were killed.

Officers believe the shooting of the three men was a revenge for Balthazar’s death.

The three men were not identified by police yesterday.

Another man, nicknamed “Dirtsman”, was shot in the eye and was warded at hospital up to late yesterday.

The Salaries Review Commission (SRC) has not been involved in the decision to grant a housing allowance to President Anthony Carmona, a letter from the personnel department on behalf of the SRC has stated.

This “directly contradicts” what Carmona has said on the situation and if the SRC statements are true, then the implications for this country are “terrifying”, attorney Justin Phelps has said.

The letter from the personnel department stating that the SRC was not involved in the decision to grant the housing allowance to Carmona is dated November 7 and was sent to Phelps in response to five Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests he sent to Chief Personnel Officer Beresford Riley one month earlier.

Phelps, on behalf of his client activist Rhoda Bharath, wrote Riley on October 6.

The Sunday Guardian obtained a copy of both letters.

Carmona assumed office as this country’s president on March 18.

It was revealed that Carmona received a tax-free housing allowance of $28,000 a month from July 2013 to May 2015 despite also being provided with state accommodation at Flagstaff Hill.

Carmona addressed the situation during a televised address on September 28.

He explained that: “The Chairman and Members of the Salaries Review Commission (SRC), through its secretary the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) decided in the context of what can only be deemed deplorable conditions that the President and his family were living in, granted him the housing allowance.”

“The Salaries Review Commission that granted the housing allowance was not appointed by His Excellency Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona ORTT, SC. This Salaries Review Commission, at the time of approval, was appointed by His Excellency the fourth President Prof George Maxwell Richards ORTT.

“Using the President’s Official Residence—the Great House—as the standard, the Flagstaff residence was not, and cannot, be considered “suitable alternative accommodation”. I did not make the decision nor did I coerce, suggest, authorise or impose that decision of the SRC. It was made by an independent SRC, together with its Secretary, who by letter dated 7 July 2013, informed me that I would receive the allowance during that period I occupied such temporary accommodation.”

One week after Carmona’s address, Phelps wrote Riley under Section 13 of the FOIA seeking information with regard to the housing allowance to the President and asking for the “details of the date on which that decision was made and by whom.”

Phelps also asked for the “details of the ground (s) upon the basis of which that decision was made” and “details of any Cabinet or Parliamentary authorisation for such additional expenditure of State Funds”.

When the personnel department responded, it stated that the SRC “had not been involved in the alleged decision.”

The SRC also denied ever having the July 2013 letter referred to by Carmona.

“There is no correspondence between the SRC and the President or anyone on his behalf or record of any meeting with the President or anyone on his behalf” during the period March 2013 to August 2013 the Personnel Department’s letter stated.

Speaking to the Sunday Guardian on the situation, Phelps said this was cause for concern.

“If the position of the SRC is true, the implications for Trinidad and Tobago are terrifying. Our democracy depends for its survival on the intangible but fundamental legitimacy that resides in the institutions that make and enforce law and maintain law and order. Where the Head of State appears to lack the legitimacy to exercise that authority the rule of law and maintenance of law and order are being gambled with. In other words, the murdering, abuse and general rampant crime are hardly likely to diminish where there is a perception that compliance with the law is optional,” Phelps said.

Phelps said the “obvious question” now is “if the SRC did not participate in the decision to pay the housing allowance, why did the President say what he did to the people of Trinidad and Tobago?”

Phelps said the total amount of pubic funds involved here is about $600,000 and citizens must agitate for an investigation into the matter.

“The SRC letter compounds the suspicions which have been hanging over the allowance received by the President. But it means nothing unless the ultimate source of constitutional power, the citizens, agitate for an investigation. I have seen no evidence that that is on the horizon. That is not a cynical view—when this issue was first raised in 2014 the President merely went silent for two years. No one did anything at all. The silence strategy worked. The President is silent again. It will work again unless people get mobilised. The CoP (Commissioner of Police) has not been persuaded to act, and no one is asking him to, except my client,” he said.

Phelps has written to CoP Stephen Williams four times but has not received a response.

Acting Police Commissioner Harold Phillip was written on October 26 and 30, while Williams was written on November 11 and 29.

Attempts to contact Williams to confirm whether he received the letters and the status of the matter were unsuccessful.

Phelps said Bharath has instructed him to take action against the Auditor General in order to get more information with respect to the housing allowance.

Attempts to contact the President’s communications adviser Theron Boodan via phone calls and texts for a response to the situation were unsuccessful.

Chaguanas vendors say consumers are asking for scratch bombs and other illegal fire explosions despite negative media reports and the items being against the law.

Yesterday, stalls and vendors selling firework devices saw very little sales as they said many people have shied away from purchasing this year.

“We haven’t had the usual sales,” said vendor Radhica Mohammed.

“With all the negativity that surrounds the firework industry currently it definitely has taken an effect on sales. However, the sale of fireworks is not illegal. It’s family fun, it brings communities and people together for happiness,” she said.

She added that many of the vendors did not sell the illegal items.

“We don’t deal in stuff like scratch bombs which come through an illegal channel just like guns on the streets,” Mohammed said.

“I think more focus should be placed on to the criminal activity and level of murder rate in the country than on families having healthy fun and definitely, it is an industry that will affect an enormous amount of citizens who make a daily living by selling fireworks.

“I mean legally we have licences, we are all equipped and we sell consumer-friendly fireworks.”

Mohammed, who has been legally selling fireworks for the past 20 years, said the items were for innocent fun.

Another vendor, Usha Persad said this year’s sales had been particularly slow.

“We were busy last year. We are still selling some of the fireworks with nice effects for $75 and up, but the big ones for $600 are not selling this year despite sales and specials like buy one get one free and discounts.”

Despite a downturn in the economy, managing director of FireOne Fireworks Andre Abraham says there has been an increase in sales.

Speaking to the Sunday Guardian on New Year’s Eve at the Macoya warehouse Abraham said “We’ve been trading in a positive financial position. The number of visitors to the store has increased compared to last year.

“We’ve seen an increase (in sales) which is phenomenal especially in light of all the negativity that we as Trinidadians are faced with on a daily basis such as crime, recession, and uncertainty.

“It says a lot for T&T people that they’re extremely optimistic and positive.”

He said people were just anxious to put 2016 behind them and start a brand new year with a positive and bright outlook.

Abraham said last year’s hot seller was The Jwala Bundle and this year’s most popular product was the 98-shot FireOne multi-cakes that customers loved. Abraham described it as a full pyrotechnic show in a box for $1,500.

When told the Italian province Parma was using silent fireworks on New Year’s, he said the company also stocked silent-type fireworks.

Abraham said one of the main things the company was encouraging its customers for this year and the previous year in absence of proper legislation was to use their fireworks at specific days and time such as Old Year’s night from 11 to New Year’s morning at 12.30, in that way, they can show some level of respect for their neighbours who may have senior members and pets.