Under a dim street light at Grass Trace, Flanagin, brothers Mark Halbal, 14, and Aaron, 11, study at nights.

It’s not an ideal place for the boys to beat their books, but for their poverty-stricken parents, Winston and Harriet Halbal, better cannot be done.

Hard-pressed for cash and unable to land permanent jobs, the Halbals have been facing an uphill battle to survive in the far-flung community in which they live.

They are known as the poorest family in Flanagin, as they manage without electricity and pipe-borne water, and with only limited food, in an old one-bedroom wooden hovel whose furnishings consist of two pieces of dingy sponge, a makeshift fireside stove, and a faded kitchen cabinet.

Of the couple’s eight children, only Mark and Aaron live with them. The other six live on their own.

Eight years ago, Winston, a farmer, was the sole provider for the family.

“I worked for a reasonable salary and took care of my family’s needs. Life was good back then,” said Winston, showing the callouses on the inside of his palms.

But Winston’s life came crashing down when he was involved in a vehicular accident eight years ago. The accident left Winston, 48, medically unfit after he suffered multiple injuries.

With mounting bills and an empty cupboard, Winston said Harriet, 49, became the main breadwinner doing household chores in the district for people.

The backbreaking work earns her between $100 and $150 a job.

On a good week, Harriet would take home $300, which is inadequate to feed the family and send Mark to Asja Boys’ College. Every week, the Halbals have to cough up $135 to get Mark to and from his Charlieville school. 

Aaron, a Standard Four pupil of Flanagin RC, walks to school.`

Winston pointed to several missing floorboards in his verandah, where he and his wife sleep.

Three years ago, Winston said, the boys’ bedroom caved in, while the kitchen partially collapsed.

“We gave the boys our bedroom and we moved into the gallery to sleep, which is open to the elements. Whenever it rains we would still get wet,” Winston explained.

Expecting the worst in 2016

As the country faces a recession, Harriet said the family expects the worst in 2016.

“When things get bad I would go in the back of the yard and dig for yam. This is what we does eat almost every day. It’s yam and yam. Christmas coming and I don’t have nothing to offer my sons. It’s a happy time for many but not for us. It tears us apart. On Christmas morning when everybody eating their ham, lamb and jam, we does stay inside we old house. We don’t come out for nobody to insult we. Whatever we have to eat...if it is rice and salt, we don’t ask nobody for nothing,” Harriet said.

She said many days the family would go without food.

Harriett spoke proudly of her two sons, who often complain about the conditions in which they live. 

“Aaron has the potential to pass for Presentation College in Chaguanas. This is what his teachers have been telling me. He tops the class in mental Maths questions. It grieves my heart to see them struggling.”

Mark, she said, was also excelling in the science subjects.

At the time of the visit, the boys were in school. The family had no photos of them. Yesterday, speaking to Aaron on a neighbour’s phone, he said that he placed fourth in test. He said he had gotten used to studying under the dim street light. Mark, meanwhile, said the only difficulty he faced when using the street light was when there was no electricity in the community. Both boys said they want to become lawyers when they grow up.

Winston admitted that in an attempt to give his sons a better life, he sent them to live with one of his daughters.

“Yes, it’s true, I couldn’t afford to feed them and sent the boys by one of my daughters. But after about nine months, they started to fall back in their school work and I brought them back home. There have been more downs than ups for us,” Winston said.

Villagers confirmed Winston’s claims.

Winston said he did not get a proper education and wanted the best for his sons since this was the only way out of poverty.

Harriet said it was no secret that Mark and Aaron would study under the street light once the weather was good.

“We cannot afford to buy candles so they can study at home. Purchasing food is more important,” Harriet said. 

The couple said the boys would do their homework as soon as they got home on evenings, but at nights when they wanted to read, study or revise for exams, they would use the street light.

“I know it’s not the best condition because the light is dim, but it’s better than nothing.” 

Amid all the hardship, the couple, who have been living together for the last 30 years and have been married for the last 22 years, still find something to smile or even laugh about in their daily lives. Winston said through thick and thin, their love for each other remains strong.

National Commission for Self Help CEO: 

We will help

Yesterday, CEO of the National Commission for Self Help, Amy Harripaul, offered to provide the Halbals with a $15,000 minor repairs/reconstruction grant through a purchase order, with which they could buy building materials at a hardware of their choice.

Harripaul said she would first send someone from the commission to interview the family and examine their home.

“The family would have to provide us with some documents. Once that is done, we can help them before Christmas.” 

Pan Trinbago’s president Keith Diaz says pan tuners should be recognised as natural treasures and should be held in the same regard as Michelangelo and Michel-Jean Cazabon.

He was speaking during his tribute at the funeral service for veteran pan tuner Herman “Guppy” Brown, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

Diaz said, “Guppy tuned pans and took them all over the world; people cherished them in all different aspects and didn’t mind waiting a little more for one of his pans.

“But we don’t look at it in that way because he came from Laventille, and we don’t recognise his work and the quality of his instruments.

“We should cherish every single pan tuner who brings into Panorama the tonal quality and artistry of their pans. We don’t take time to see how hard these tuners and arrangers work or the art they put in place and I would compare them to great artists like Michelangelo and Cazabon.”

He said the country was not even conscious of how great these pan tuners were, and it was about time that T&T’s artistes were taken care of. Diaz said a space must be found in T&T where its artistes could be given the tribute they deserved, especially members of the pan fraternity before they passed away.

Canon Knolly Clarke called on Diaz to not only make sure that everything was all right with Guppy’s family, but also the young men coming forward who needed the skills, dedication, discipline and commitment to tune the pan, as too many people were hired hands in T&T.

He said they knew the skills but were charging money for everything.

Clarke said culture at the grassroots level would take the country out of the state it was in. 

He said the future of T&T was in the hands of people like those who performed in the church that day that gave Guppy a musical sendoff with the pan, poems and song.

Clarke also challenged the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation to look after young calypsonians and teach them how to compose, present songs and be committed about their art form, as there was too much half-hearted work being done.

He said young people must benefit from Guppy’s legacy. Guppy also tuned pans to be played in the church.

Arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe performed a stirring rendition of Take It To The Lord In Prayer.

Also present were members of the pan fraternity, “Birch” Kelman, Dr Phaedra Pierre and Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr.

The officiating clergy was Fr Carl Williams.

The nationwide million-dollar Christmas toy drive—a brainchild of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is no more. Persad-Bissessar will only be focusing on her Siparia constituency this year.

While the toy drive brought smiles to the faces of over 200,000 children in the last four years, don’t expect Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to continue this initiative. With T&T facing a recession, Rowley indicated at a public meeting on December 4 in Malabar, Arima, that he had no intention of distributing toys to children this Christmas.

“They say children will be crying because the Prime Minister will not be giving out toys. But let me tell all you parents something, all of you parents, all who have and all who eh have, the best thing you can give your children for Christmas is your love, and give them within your own circumstances and you’ll see the difference.”

Rowley said he will not go around giving out millions of dollars in toys and not say to the public where the toys came from. 

In 2011, Rowley had called on Persad-Bissessar to say who were the sponsors of the annual initiative and questioned why contractors were being bullied into financing the then prime minister’s Christmas toy drive.

In dismissing the allegation back then, Persad-Bissessar stated that Rowley was behaving like “Scrooge” since children were happy to receive the gifts.

The then minister of the people Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh also defended the initiative, stating that the toy drive had grown as a result of donations from business and private citizens. 

Rowley further told the Arima crowd, “Is when they leave office and they’re fighting for office in the party, you’re hearing whose money buy the toys and who didn’t buy it, and who shouldn’t have bought it. That’s not what Christmas is about.” 

On Friday, Persad-Bissessar, in a brief telephone interview with the Sunday Guardian, said she treated 50,000 children with toys and a party bag containing treats annually when she was PM.

In addition, parents and guardians enjoyed themselves with the live entertainment which was provided as they waited in long lines to collect the toys from Persad-Bissessar, who wore her traditional red dress complete with a Santa Claus hat. 

At some of the distributing venues, adults also received a tea cup bearing Persad-Bissessar’s photo.

Persad-Bissessar said the initiative was managed by an organising committee, chaired by Peter Kanhai, who sought sponsors from 2010 to 2014.

In 2011, Kanhai declined to say whether or not the committee had a detailed listing of the funds provided for the toy drive and if he would make that information public. He could not be reached last week for comment. 

Asked what was the overall cost of the toy distributed, Persad-Bissessar said “again, you would have to work with the committee.”

For 2015, however, Persad-Bissessar said she can only distribute toys in her constituency. 

“This is what I have been doing for over 20 years. I will continue. In terms of other locations, it depends on whether we get sponsors to do that. So we may not be able to do the entire country, which we had done before... depending on donations coming in thus far,” the Opposition Leader said.

“I guess with the position now...thus far, I can service my own constituency.” 

Valdeen Shears-Neptune

No matter what colour she wears, she commands fearful respect. A pathway is often cleared for her entrance and many look on with smiles, tinged with fear. Even police officers stay clear, some babies and small children turn away in horror while others, fascinated with innocent curiosity, attempt to grab or tug at her. She represents our culture and is folklore personified.

Erzulie, the La Diablesse, is a combination of the traditional character dame lorraine and jab molassie, and was birthed during the Carnival 2015 season by Tracey Sankar-Charleau. With the merging of the two, Sankar-Charleau has introduced a new aspect of the character called the Fancy Jab.

As far as she knows, while women have been known to “dab on some blue paint on J’Ouvert morning,” she is the only female to have competed and won in the Blue Devil category in traditional mas. Sankar-Charleau would be the first to tell you that she has had to overcome a lot in her life to be able to reach her goals.  

In fact, she has recently had to face her biggest challenge, one which almost overwhelmed her and her four children—Nathaniel, Joshua, Jesse and Jude.

On October 30, this year, while portraying a grisly character from Day of the Dead, Sankar-Charleau received a call that her estranged husband had been shot. Cpl Shervaun Raphael Charleau, 39, a Special Force soldier for 16 years, later died in her arms that fateful morning.

“I knew something was wrong.  I had a headache that just would not go away, and a terrible feeling of nauseau. I was performing, but not in full character, because my gut told me something was wrong,” she recalled.

Charleau was shot once in the head while parked in his car at Fort George, St James. He had been in the company of a 23-year-old woman from Morvant. According to the police, the young woman reported the shooting to officers at the St James Police Station shortly after. His service pistol and 45 rounds of ammunition were stolen. Charleau was rushed to the St James Health Facility, but later died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Investigations are continuing.

And while speculation still surrounds the circumstances of her husband’s death, she remembers him being present every time she won a competition. It’s what one will see on her Facebook page where she fondly pays tribute to “Papa Bear–Raphael Charleau.”

Their marriage, she said, had been in turmoil for the last ten years. But choosing to focus first on the family, Sankar-Charleau stressed that her husband was the ultimate father.

“He was in everything, some teachers knew him more than me. His work and his death, and even the circumstances of his death, will never stain his relationship with them (his children),” she stated fiercely.

What she chooses to remember was his unending support when she first started performing as a Blue Devil. His quiet calm and words of encouragement when she was tired at the studio at Belmont, “playing around with a concept till the wee hours of the morning.” His standing in as Mr Mom when she was busy envisioning, creating and portraying a new character.

Her portrayal has left her with minor injuries, chemical burns, and even an infected right lung and severe bronchitis following a fire-breathing performance. Through it all, she remembered him being in the background, just being there for them.

She recalled too, Charleau at her side while she portrayed Erzulie at Victoria Square, during the annual Traditional Night mas event. He knew and supported her intent to not just act the part, but to be the character.

Dressed in bridal white, sporting long white horns on either side of her face—a mask of blackened eyes and lips, Erzulie hobbles, bows, and sweeps the floor with her palm leaves, as onlookers continue to clear a path.

Even her portrayal of the fire-breathing Blue Devil, face painted red, matching Victorian bustier and half bustle, is looked on by spectators with grudging respect. 

This, though, is not the first traditional character she has taken on, having portrayed Dame Lorraine alongside her mother, June Sankar, of Fou Fou Yeh masband for several years. She has even sashayed alongside her daughter, Nathaniel, who has been performing since age nine.

Taking up the challenge in an arena dominated by men, Sankar-Charleau has undoubtedly left her mark on traditional Carnival competitions playing with 2001 Jab Molassie. It all started in Paramin under the tutelage of 2001 Jab Molassie band, where she was taught the moves in half and hour and she was taught how to breathe fire.

A certified swimming coach and local competitor for close to eight years, Sankar-Charleau said her interest was peaked by sheer boredom and fuelled by a challenge thrown her way. “I am the kind of person, if given a dare, I like to show you just how it can be done,” she said sheepishly.

The petite daredevil, known for her prowess on the motorcycle, in the water and at photography, has several wins below her belt. Her first attempt at Jab Molassie, as an Individual at Victoria Square, saw her cop first place and again this year, with the band Devils and Demons.

She also won at Downtown, South Quay, and at the St James Amphitheater. Her efforts were also recognised by Caribbean Airlines, with an award for Character of the Year.

Carnival 2016 promises to be especially interesting for Sankar-Charleau, as she is bent on copping the Individual and Queen titles. However, for 2016, she competes against her mother, daughter and sister, Nadia, for the Queen title.

“It looks like it will be a lot more fun for 2016. I am looking forward to it...we’ll see who wins,” she said with a sly grin and a shake of her dread-locked head.

What else is on the horizon for Sankar-Charleau? 

Apart from being thrust into the role of single mom, she has thoughts of regional and international Carnival and taking Erzulie to the world stage. She knows its a long road ahead. Charleau would have celebrated his 40th birthday last Friday, December 11, if he was alive. Boxing Day, December 26, will also bring its share of sadness. If Charleau was alive, the couple would have marked the 19th anniversary of their marriage. 

For now, she will do what she has done through her tumultous relationship with Charleau—hold on to her children, die-hard friends such as Maria Nunes, and the support of photographer Jo Jocelyn and mentor Dr Kevin Browne. Long hours at the studio/space given her at Granderson Labs, Erthig Street, Belmont, by Christopher Cozier, and leaning on the shoulder of companion, Kendel Haynes, will also help in comforting her.

Outside of Carnival, she can be seen doing her thing at the Corner of St Francois Valley Road and Circular Road, Belmont, as a guest performer of The Corner Circular Bar.

For Sankar-Charleau, her dreams, did not die with her husband, they will live on in his memories, their children and the art form.

Former head of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Prof Ramesh Deosaran says it would be good if a local person could be found with the required competence, experience, integrity and professional knowledge to be appointed as commissioner of police. 

If, however, a suitable local candidate were not found, then the Government would have to reconsider, he added. 

He said T&T needed to come to terms with what its independence was all about, one imperative being that its “sensitive public institutions” should be governed by its own citizens. 

“How long would we depend on others from outside to do the work that we should be able to do, especially with a responsibility like policing and national security?” he asked.

He said it was the Parliament that decided on the appointment of a CoP or deputy and that the PSC merely followed the parliament’s orders, making it a “political appointment.”

But Deosaran also questioned whether the PSC was fading into irrelevance since a local firm would be hired to advertise and screen applicants.

“Wouldn’t it be more efficient, cost-saving and constitutionally proper to have the PSC appropriately staffed to do this?”

Deosaran was responding to questions over Thursday’s announcement that Cabinet had approved a new order changing the process for the appointment of a CoP. 

He said changes were urgently needed to the framework and process of appointing and overseeing the CoP. 

He said it was commendable that the Government, in keeping with its promise, was taking action to improve the situation. 

“These changes should be both constitutional and administrative if we wish to have a more expeditious, cost-effective and streamlined process.” 

He said while there was public focus on the appointment of a top cop, it should be noted that three deputies have also been acting in an “in and out” fashion with domino-like career effects on the lower ranks. 

Once certified and fleshed out, the cabinet note should be published for public consideration and suggestions before being sent to Parliament, he added. 

“We should try not to repeat the mistakes of the past. For this reform exercise, building consensus is critical.” 

Deosaran said the cabinet note, after proper certification, would have to be configured for parliamentary consideration. 

According to him, it was still uncertain whether the Government would bring the reforms as a bill, a motion or whether it would require a special majority as the previous reform exercise required. 

“That is why it may be in the government’s best interest to publish its intention for public feedback and national consensus.

“Further, we are yet to know the extent to which the intended reforms will increase or reduce the existing constitutional powers of the Police Commissioner or the PSC, or is it going to tackle only the question of advertising, interviewing by a hired firm and recommending to the commission for consequent passage to the President and Parliament?”

Joint Consultative Council (JCC) president, Afra Raymond, has been forced to resign after an internal rift with two council members. 

Raymond resigned with immediate effect over a month ago after tension within the organisation became unbearable. His resignation has left the JCC headless and silent on pressing matters including the economic downturn and its immediate effect on the billion-dollar construction industry. 

Several questions have arisen since Raymond’s departure and chief among them is whether political cronyism played a role in his sudden decision to quit the JCC. The Sunday Guardian understands that an exchange of letters between Raymond and new Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) chairman, Noel Garcia, is responsible for the rift among the JCC executive that led to Raymond being ousted from office. Raymond publicly questioned whether Garcia was eligible for a state board appointment even though he was widely reported to have failed to appear at the Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into the Las Alturas project.

Las Alturas, an apartment complex in Lady Young, Morvant, cost the then government some $26 million to construct but had to be demolished when the land slipped and created structural damage to the building. It was commissioned and constructed under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) when Garcia stood as the general manager. Garcia was expected to appear at the CoE to answer questions on the project.

The Sunday Guardian learned that two JCC members sided with Garcia and attempted to force Raymond to publish an apology to him, citing the need for a “cordial” relationship with the Udecott board. Raymond’s refusal led to heightened tensions within the JCC, which triggered his resignation. The matter of whether an apology is warranted is now before the council’s legal team, but the Sunday Guardian was told that with Raymond out of the office for a month now, the need for a letter of apology has waned. 

The Sunday Guardian also learned that the JCC violated its own constitution and bypassed Raymond on the attendance list for council meetings. As the immediate past president, Raymond is automatically a council member but the Sunday Guardian has learned that the former president Winston Riley has refused to give way and acknowledge Raymond as the new immediate past president on the JCC executive.

Those close to Raymond, who spoke with the Sunday Guardian on Tuesday and Wednesday, said that out of respect for the JCC’s role in the construction sector, Raymond has not commented at all on this issue, despite several requests.

When contacted last week, JCC founder Emile Elias said in an email that he “discussed this whole question with Mr Garcia.” 

He said, “I do believe that he would appreciate an apology from the JCC for the record. However, after some discussion, he does not seem to have an interest in taking the matter against the JCC any further. In my judgment, the JCC does not have an exposure.”

Those close to Raymond are questioning why an apology was important enough to force him out of office, but was no longer necessary once he resigned. 

Elias personally selected Raymond over other longstanding colleagues to be the feature speaker at the NH International 50th anniversary celebration dinner in September. Days after Raymond resigned, Elias said he spoke with Garcia and determined that an apology was no longer necessary. 

The role of the JCC

The JCC is made up of members from all segments of the construction industry and often acts as the watchdog for that sector. The six member organisations under the JCC advocate for more transparency in tendering procedures, fair business practices, efficient dispute resolution and work to establish codes of practice.

There are six heads of councils which make up the JCC which include: 

• Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (APETT),

• Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects (TTIA),

• Trinidad and Tobago Society of Planners (TTSP),

• Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association (TTCA)

• Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago (ISTT),

• The TT Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (TTIFMA), 

Several frontline members of the JCC are among contractors and consultants owed millions of dollars by the State. Several of those bills would have to be cleared via Udecott.

It is the JCC that leverages on the Government for the payment of millions of dollars owed to the construction industry. In 2014 alone, the figure owed to contractors stood at $116 million. In 2010 when Raymond first took office, the construction industry was owed some $1.5 billion. The JCC had even threatened to take the Government to court to ensure its membership was paid. 

The Riley factor

The internal JCC strife seems centred among two pivotal council members: Raymond and Riley

In Raymond’s resignation letter, obtained by the Sunday Guardian, he singled out former JCC president Riley. He said Riley was fully aware that he planned to question Garcia’s appointment to Udecott and queried why Riley was now denying that they spoke on the matter. Riley’s objections came only after Garcia blasted Raymond for his letter to the editor.

“Another significant point we must register is the silence of that submission on WR’s (Riley’s) position on how Noel Garcia responded to the various newspaper reports. There is a glaring logical disconnect between WR's full support for/rationalisation of Noel Garcia's position and the imputation that Garcia has somehow been attacked. I will restate it for the record—If what Noel Garcia has done is in fact proper—which was the emphatic view of WR—how then does JCC writing the editor about it come to be seen as an attack now requiring an apology?” Raymond asked.

The Sunday Guardian has also learned that Riley is now bidding to return to the JCC as its president.

Raymond: Mediation is needed

In an email correspondence to JCC heavyweights—Elias, Riley and Mervyn Thompson—Raymond stated that Riley had been “abusive and disruptive” towards him at two meetings immediately prior to his resignation.

“For those who were absent from the second of those meetings, I stated clearly that the deterioration in the behaviour of the then immediate past-President towards me was the greatest concern facing our organisation. I also went on formal record to say that, despite the flagrant abuse, I was prepared to take part in a process of mediation so that this important relationship could be restored in the greater interest,” he said in that email. 

Garcia:

Several attempts to contact Garcia proved futile, but the Sunday Guardian received a copy of his response to Raymond’s contentious letter to the editor. In that letter, which was written on the day the letter appeared in the newspaper, Garcia said that Raymond, in reference to the CoE, “speaks disparagingly of the prospect of the Chairman of a State Enterprise declining to testify at a Commission of Enquiry.”

Despite media reports to the con-trary, Garcia said he “never refused to give evidence” before the CoE.

“Despite what Mr Raymond claims to have read (and what he erroneously plainly believes), the Commission has never at any time contacted or subpoenaed me on the matter of the Las Alturas Project. This, although my postal address, email address and telephone number have remained unchanged for years,” Garcia said in that letter.

Garcia said he never shirked his duty to give evidence before any court or any tribunal with respect to matters within his knowledge as a former employee of the HDC. 

“In his self-appointed role as guardian of the public conscience, Mr Raymond ought to be more careful about permitting his officious zeal to lead him into making what can be considered to be defamatory imputations about others. Mr Raymond’s self-confessed inability to locate any published responses from me to press reports he has read is no licence for him to do so,” Garcia said. 

More info

​The JCC has often challenged state boards and Governmental projects. It was the JCC which publicly called for more transparency in the award of the Beetham Wastewater Treatment facility and the Eden Gardens housing project. The JCC also tackled and publicised the Education Facilities Company Ltd move to hide the name of its contractors and was intrinsic in ending the first hunger strike by environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh over the Debe to Mon Desir portion of the highway to Point Fortin back in 2012.

The JCC serves as the watchdog for the construction sector. 

Thirty-one months after losing her 14-year-old son Renaldo Dixon to school violence, Camille Taitt is still trying to come to terms with his death. 

Taitt, 34, admitted that Renaldo’s passing will forever leave a void in her life.

However, the recent upsurge in school violence has opened afresh Taitt’s wounds and rekindled her grief.

Every time Taitt hears about a brawl or fight in school, she remembers how her second son met his death at the Waterloo Secondary School.

Renaldo, a form three student, was stabbed four times with a knife in May 2013 by another student over a girl, as he sat on a bench with his friends. 

In November 2014, another student, Salim Delzell, 17, a Success Laventille Composite School student, also lost his life after being gunned down by two armed men as he exited the school’s compound. 

Posted on the internet in the last two months have been videos of schoolchildren fighting in and outside of school.

In one of the videos, two schoolchildren were seen fighting with a police officer who, after trying to break up the fight, was also beaten by the girls.

Another video showed schoolgirls fighting with MTS security guards when they intervened to try to break up a fight.

There was also an incident at the Chaguanas North Secondary School involving students who threw firecrackers into a classroom while teachers were there. 

One video highlighted a student hitting another with a chair in class.

This is in spite of the “$400 to $500 million spent annually” in the last four years to curb school violence, according to former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

In the last four years, between $1.6 and $2 billion was spent to reduce school violence. 

“There was very little that we could have put in except to make sure that all these areas worked well and were implementable,” Gopeesingh said. 

Gopeesingh said he was shocked at the rise in the level of school violence.

He said Success Laventille and Waterloo Secondary got additional security and hand-held scanners following the murders. 

Taitt: School violence 

opening old wounds

Taitt has little hope that school violence will be reduced, stating that within the last few weeks, fighting among students has been taken to a different level.

“It’s getting out of control. When will it stop?” she asked. 

“Every time I hear a student is attacked Renaldo’s death would come back fresh in my mind. It’s like opening up old wounds,”

Economist Mary King says the Government intends to spend an unprecedented TT$63.1 billion and none of it looks like it is designed to boost the country’s exports or reduce its import bill. Instead, King said, it would increase the already burgeoning demand for foreign exchange.

She was responding to questions via email on Thursday sent to her by the Sunday Guardian on the recession the country was experiencing.

King said: “We are in an economic downturn, recession or whatever name you prefer, simply because our small, open economy needs foreign exchange as the fuel on which it runs. 

“When this foreign exchange income is reduced, in this case because of sustained low prices of petroleum and commodities, the local business sector cannot import as much as before or ramp up exports to compensate for loss of foreign exchange income, nor can it replace many of the things we import. 

“Hence, economic activity has to decrease with, eventually, a concurrent negative impact on incomes.” 

She said this meant that the country’s onshore sector needed imports to enable and continue its economic activity and growth. 

King said that it was useless talking about the Central Bank not releasing foreign exchange since to release more than the Government earned in energy sector rents was to run down the country’s reserves, to operate on its reserve fuel tank, at best a short-term measure.

King said the Central Bank and Government had to use the tools at their disposal to reduce aggregate demand onshore since the country imported some 70 per cent of what was consumed locally.

She said one way to do this could be to increase the cost of all imports by devaluing the T&T dollar. 

King said this was a broad-brush approach since it increased the price of essentials such as medical drugs and non-essentials like Mercedes Benz cars with the same stroke. 

She said, however, the country could use instead the vectored approach, which targeted certain imports for price increases via higher taxation and not essentials such as medicine.

King said commercial bank credit also facilitated local business, and the importation of goods and services. She said via reduction of the money supply and increases in the repo, interest rates could be nudged upwards, so increasing the cost of the T&T dollar to conduct certain business activities and, hence, the costs to import certain goods.

King said government spending helped to drive onshore demands and, in particular, spending on infrastructure, some of which should be postponed since it would require related imports, again increasing aggregate demand for foreign exchange. 

She said that it was a fallacy to think that the Government could spend its way out of such a recession since such an activity did not address the cause of or combat the recession unless it was in areas that directly built export capacity or relieved the need to import while encouraging economic diversification.

King was asked what would consumers be likely to buy in a recession as the price of goods would have increased and there would be less disposable income in a recession/stagflation. She said the ordinary household would have to prioritise its spending since income would most probably be reduced by the recession. 

King said a vectored approach by the Government and the Central Bank leading to increases in the prices of non-essential goods and services would assist households in prioritising. 

She said locally produced goods that needed no associated imports would feel less of an adverse impact in a recession. King said taxes should not be increased on basic food imports. 

She said T&T’s food import bill was now $5 billion and the country could not quickly replace imports with local products. 

However, a devaluation as opposed to the preferred vectored approach would affect the population’s most vulnerable since the demand for food was somewhat inelastic, King said.

The Government is remaining tight-lipped on its next move concerning Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran and whether it can continue to work with him following Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s stinging statement last Saturday on Rambarran’s actions. 

However, T&T Guardian sources said last night the State is well “advanced” towards action. Following what was tantamount to an indictment, Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie was asked by the T&T Guardian yesterday if  the Government can continue to work with Rambarran and is prepared to do so. He said he had no comment.

Cuffie referred queries to Finance Minister Colm Imbert whom he said has to work with Rambarran. Imbert had no comment. Government’s legal adviser Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was unavailable. 

However, The T&T Guardian learned that the State is “deep into the management of the situation,” and  was advanced in its deliberations. One source said the Government knew it has to “act with certainty in order to foster and preserve T&T’s financial stability and the economy.”

Rambarran’s media assistant Charlene Ramdhanie didn’t answer calls yesterday, nor did he.

Three years into his five-year term—and barely three months into the new PNM Government’s tenure—the Government has made its displeasure with Rambarran plain, even as it has sought to be circumspect in language. What raised its ire was the Central Bank governor making the politically and financially explosive call that the country was officially He has also been roundly criticised for his revision of the 20-year-old forex system which the new Government asked him to restore to the original system,  and most recently, by big business for revealing which companies use the largest amounts of forex. Several business companies last week complained to Imbert on possible breach of laws.

The two-pronged attack of the last week, culminating in Rowley’s statements on Saturday, has left the impression of a Central Bank governor under siege, and in danger of losing his job.

 Rowley, in a sharp statement, said the situation regarding Rambarran was diminishing public confidence in the Central Bank’s ability  to conduct the public’s business in finance and diminishing public confidence in the “governor himself.”

Rowley was quoted as saying, ”If the Government  allows this to continue unimpeded, it will diminish the population’s confidence in the Government itself.” 

The PM also said there are laws governing the conduct of Central Bank affairs, and if the governor breaches those laws, the Finance Minister would have to look at the matter and the Minister “is looking at these matters.”

Rowley said if Rambarran ends up being removed, it would not be because of action initiated by the Government, but as a result of his ”own series of reckless and illegal actions.”

A Chaguanas man died yesterday after the car in which he was an occupant ran off the Uriah Butler Highway and crashed into the cable barrier at the Guayamare River. Police identified him as Clyde Victor.

Also injured was Curtis Raymond, 31, of Edinburgh 500, who police said lost control of the white Nissan B15 he was driving on the southbound lane of the highway. The accident happened shortly after 9 am.  

Raymond, police said, fell out of the car and landed in a patch of bushes on the narrow banks of the river. He was rescued by Michael Sitney of Belmont who was passing in a van. Sitney was able to pull him from the riverbank.

Police and members of the Fire Service arrived shortly afterwards and took Raymond to the Chaguanas Health Centre by ambulance. Firemen had to use a crane to remove the car from the water.

Victor, also in his 30s, was removed from the back seat of the vehicles after fire officers used the Jaws of Life to rip open a section of the car. Victor was pronounced dead by District Medical Officer Dr Indarjit Birjah. 

Natasha Chin, the common-law wife of Raymond, said she lives in Morvant. However, Raymond stayed in Chaguanas at the home of Victor’s grandmother. She said the duo may have been coming from a party in San Juan which they attended on Saturday.

She said Victor and Raymond were self-employed. She said she and Raymond had no children together but he had two children attending primary school, who lived at the homes of relatives in Morvant since the death of their mother several years ago.

Victor also had two children but was not married. Chin said she was deeply traumatised by the accident and was grateful Raymond survived.

Hansraj Roopnarine, 47, of Endeavour, Chaguanas, died on the spot yesterday when the Mitsubishi Lancer, driven by his brother, Roland Roopnarine, slammed into a pickup truck on the M2 Ring Road in Debe. Hansraj was seated in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

The accident occurred around 11.45 am and police reports state it was raining at the time of the accident. Police said Roland lost control of the car while heading east to Barrackpore and slammed into the van.

The male driver and female passenger of the van were not identified. They were taken to the San Fernando General Hospital along with Roland for treatment. The two road fatalities yesterday took the figure to 139 the number of people killed in accidents for the year. A total of 150 people died in road accidents last year.

When Hansraj’s wife, Sheryl-Ann Roopnarine, was brought to the scene after the accident, his body was still in the car. Surrounded by relatives, Sheryl-Ann denied Hansraj’s death and kept repeating, “It’s not true, it’s not true.” The couple has an eight-year-old daughter. Relatives on the scene said Hansraj was a builder by profession.

The District Medical Officer who visited the scene said Hansraj’s neck was fractured in the collision. Police confirmed he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.  

Another of Hansraj’s brothers, Randy Roopnarine, said the brothers were heading to Rio Claro to help another sibling with some roof repairs at the time. He said Roland, who lives in Nanan Trace, Barrackpore, had picked up Hansraj in Endeavour earlier in the day. 

 The accident occurred in the same area where WPC Rashma Sirjudeen, 26, her infant son Rahul, 13 months, died along with Rashma’s mother, Una Samkarran, in an accident along the M2 Ring Road, Debe, on June 26.

The Government must declare its reasons if it wants to fire the Central Bank Governor says former finance minister Conrad Enill.

 He added that the governor and the Government cannot be at loggerheads on the direction of the economy. “One has the responsibility of fiscal policy and the other manages monetary policy. So the minister and governor must co-exist to deal with the economy’s problems and tell the public what is the correct situation and what policy choices they’re going to pursue on that basis.”

He said the governor has leeway in terms of how he performs his job, “And it’s not uncommon for differences to occur between the governor and Finance Minister.” Enill said Jwala Rambarran had simply reported data that he has, but whether that was a basis to fire him, Enill couldn’t say since he said he didn’t have all the facts. 

On claims Rambarran broke the law in listing the largest forex consumers, Enill said if the Government had been asked in Parliament to state who the biggest forex consumers are, ministers  would have had to answer. 

On whether T&T is in a recession, Enill said there was no question that T&T is “in a different place.” He said the governor and government should be addressing questions by the public to guide them on financial matters “as basic as if people had to borrow money to play mas for Carnival, whether they should do so. In this period, they shouldn’t.” 

Former minister of finance Mariano Browne has said, “If there are issues between the governor and minister, sort it out privately. Not publicly, lest you undermine the institution of the Bank, destabilise T&T’s smooth running and send negative signals to the international market.”

Former central bank governor Winston Dookeran and former PP finance minister said his understanding of the act indicated there wasn’t any legal argument on the removal of a CB governor that would apply to Rambarran.

“This appears to be a matter of politics rather than laws. But I do not think the public display in which this has been handled can boost confidence in the system; handling a matter as big as this in this way can’t instill confidence,”

“There are always issues between central bank governors and finance ministers, but there’s a dignity in how it is to be handled and dealt with on fundamental disagreement of policy—not this kind of tit for tat. It is unfortunate to see this.” Dookeran said when he was finance minister, then-CB governor Ewart Williams had made statements about recession and as finance minister, Dookeran had chosen to ignore any public fight in a bid to build confidence in the system.

Dookeran said a number of matters were raised about Rambarran and each had to be dealt with separately. He said the current situation reminded him of the issue concerning former chief justice Sat Sharma, whom the Manning PNM government unsuccessfully attempted to impeach.

Dookeran said the Central Bank governor doesn’t have to “report” to the minister since there are mechanisms via which both work together. He said the CB is independent. “There’s a big issue about that but the Bank is supposed to be independent of political influence. During my tenure there was a survey on trusted institutions and maintaining that trust requires independence. If you deal with it in narrow political terms, you destroy that trust.”

GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION

• Being of unsound mind/incapable of doing duties.
• Is convicted/sentenced to jail
• Convicted of any offences involving dishonesty
• Guilty of misconduct in relation to duties.
• Is absent, except leave if granted by the board from all Board meetings, from all board meetings in two consecutive months or any three months in a year.
• Fails to comply with section 16.1 (regarding declaration of interest.) 
• Contravenes any provision of any prescribed code of ethics.
• Becomes disqualified for office due to section 9 (re persons who are state/THA/corporation office holders, financial institutions.)
• Fails to carry out duties/functions conferred on him/her under the act.

A few footsteps away from where Roger Romaine was shot dead in May, the man accused by relatives of killing him was shot dead yesterday morning. 

Micheal Matthews, 57, of Fazal Avenue, Penal, was gunned down outside his home about 1.35 am yesterday,  moments after being dropped off by a friend from a parang lime.

According to Matthews’ common-law wife, Monica Gumbs, Matthews was returning home after a parang lime at Latchoos Trace, Penal, when the incident occurred. “There was no one at home then, but I was told he dropped out of the car in front of the house and walked into the yard,” Gumbs said. “Apparently whoever it was standing by the tanks shot him when he walked in.” Gumbs said she was unsure why he was killed but she said Mikey, as he was affectionately known, was accused of killing her nephew Roger Romaine seven months ago.

“I would like to know myself why he was killed, but when Roger was killed, people was saying Mikey did it. But he was lying down in bed with me the night that happened, so I don’t know where that (accusation) came from.”

Gumbs said Matthews was shot twice in the head. An autopsy is expected to be done today. When the T&T Guardian visited the house yesterday, there was a message painted across the family’s driveway in white paint, to Romaine’s killer. The fading sign read, “God forgive those who murdered Roger.” 

A collage of photos of Romaine was also hung on the front wall of the house, laminated to protect. On May 18, Romaine was shot dead outside the same house where he also lived. No one has been arrested for his killing.

In an unrelated killing, police said Chaitram Tokai was gunned down after a visit to his brother at Chickland Village, Freeport, yesterday. According to them, at around 2.45 pm Tokai was crossing the road to go home as he lived across the road, when a gunman approached and shot the 45-year-old in the head.  As his body hit the ground the gunman again fired several times at Tokai before leaving in the getaway car, a silver Nissan Tiida. 

Sgt Jitendra Tooleram and Insp Teesdale visited the scene along with Homicide officers. Police could not give a motive for Tokai’s murder. The murder toll for the year stood at 396 up to late yesterday.

Wesley Basdeo pedals his bicycle cart slowly through the quiet streets of Felicity every day, except Saturdays. An indelible part of the area’s daily life, villagers call him “sno-cone man.”

Basdeo, 38, however, is no ordinary sno-cone vendor. He has taken upon himself the tremendous social responsibility of rescuing the village’s young children, many from underprivileged and unstable homes. To villagers, he is also social worker and pastor.

Felicity, a former rural sugar cane and rice-planting community just off the bustling town of Chaguanas, and at the edge of the Gulf of Paria, has many large houses testifying of its development.

But there are unseen pockets of poverty and in them, heart-wrenching stories of little children who never have enough to eat at home, men broken by debilitating diseases and accidents and poor mothers struggling with handicapped children. 

On a regular basis Basdeo provides food, clothing and other basic necessities, and free spiritual advice and psychological counselling to families like these. This week he spent two days distributing free sno-cones to 400 children from six preschools and the Felicity Presbyterian Primary School.

“It’s my way of giving back.”

A married father of a three-year old daughter, he has earned the respect of all in the predominantly Hindu community, even “the drugs men,” he said. Basdeo works with 50 children. He said there are 30 cases of children suffering from autism and other disabilities in Felicity.

Citing some cases of needy families, he said, “A man was living with his wife and three children with an extended family but one day they were drinking and some words were shared and they were put out the house.

“They are now renting an apartment near the Bilyah River,  close to the cremation site. The father worked off and on and we help the children.”

Another straightener and painter with nine children lost one foot to diabetes and cannot work, Basdeo said. This family also receives help from him. But he was quick to point out, “This is not a one-man effort.

“This is a collaborative effort. I get financial and other assistance from businesses in Felicity, the councillor and the school.”

Basdeo and the Felicity Community Pharmacy will give out ten hampers this Saturday. His own abusive childhood in a broken home inspired him to help children in similar circumstances, he said.

“My father didn’t want me and my stepmother used to lock the kitchen and I couldn’t get food. I went to live with my mother and my stepfather ill-treated me.

“I was shuffled around from aunt to grandmother to other relatives. I used to hang around people’s homes near lunchtime, hoping to get some food.

“My mother told me the only way I could go to school was if I worked. She bought a sno-cone bike and machine for me and I started selling sno-cones at $1 without milk and $1.50 with milk.”

By age 16, Basdeo had built his own little apartment, adjoining a relative’s home and was on his own.

“I have the best job in Felicity,” he said.

Write to My Story at letters@guardian.co.tt.

Leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah is suggesting that workers who were retrenched by steel giant ArcelorMittal last week be allowed to operate the manufacturing plant in Point Lisas on their own.

Speaking at a press conference at the MSJ office in San Fernando yesterday, Abdulah said the country is getting to a point where these ideas should be considered.

“We want to suggest that if Arcelor Mittal does not want to operate in Trinidad, then maybe the steel workers themselves should go in and occupy that plant,” Abdulah said. “And start in back up and run it in the interest of themselves and the people of T&T.”

“We are getting to that point where we have to think about that kind of arrangement.”

He was commenting on the recent retrenchment of hundreds of workers by Mittal as the company decided to shut down it’s operations in T&T.

“Close to a thousand workers were put on the breadline days before Christmas. And it’s not just them affected but their families too, about 4000 to 5000 people in total are now in a dire situation because of a decision by one of the biggest international companies in the world Mittal, which closed down it’s operations in Trinidad.”

Abdulah said the decision is a part of “new liberal economic practices” by Mittal and slammed the company for making workers pay for a downturn in the global economy.

“We want to make the point that workers must not be made to pay the price of economic circumstances by companies that are continuing to make very substantial profits globally, the ethos of big capital in particular is when they are faced with lower profits, not no profits just lower, the first thing they seek to do is cut labor to keep their profit levels high.”

He said this leads to higher payouts for shareholders and executive members of the company while workers are left to suffer.

“That is absolutely wrong, this ethos of big capital in the context of what we know as new liberal economic systems has been promoting and fostering greater inequality and inequity in societies by ensuring those at the top continue to earn huge incomes while those at the bottom lose their jobs, suffer pay cuts and wage freezes.”

He said when Mittal first came to Trinidad in the late 1980’s, the company benefitted from infrastructure and low energy and gas prices, but after ‘sucking’ T&T dry, the company has moved on.

“We have a situation where these multi-national companies come here, they get fruit like an orange, they suck it dry and when they are finished exploiting our resources and our people they then throw it away. That is what is happening here in Trinidad.”

My name is Stanley Jennings and I am a parrandero. But when I’m onstage, my sobriquet is Albertos Alvarales Consuelo. Stanley Jennings is mellow. But Albertos is cocky.

I’m born and raised in the West my whole life. My family is from Woodbrook. I live in Santa Cruz. When I was 17, I went Santa Cruz with a friend and said: “I’m going to buy my home in this place!” And that’s what I did.

“Jennings” is not a Panyol name but my grandfather, Daniel Noriega, is originally from Venezuela. He was actually the head judge in the first parang competition ever held in Trinidad and Tobago. So I come from genuine parang stock.

I honestly didn’t appreciate parang until I met the Thomas family from Diego Martin. I was playing in a rock band called Burn. Aaron Thomas and I worked in the bank together and, one Christmas, Aaron brought his cuatro and was strumming and we went around the bank, parang-ing A Piece of Pork. 

Aaron had two younger brothers, Aldon and Avelino, and this band Los Hombres Sexuales was formed. Burn was a five-member rock band and I wanted a five-member parang band. We started practising in Burn’s band  room. Stuart Franco booked our first Christmas gig in 2007.

The Hombres Sexuales are—Anthony Maillard, John Hussain on guitar, Jesse Fournillier on maracas and Aldon, Avelino and Aaron Thomas. Without Aaron, there would be no band. This year, Pastor Kelvin Thomas, the father of Aldon, Avelino and Aaron, passed away. We dedicate our performances to him and feel his vibe every time. 

We were chosen as the only parang group to play for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference. I asked them if they were drinking, because we’re a novelty act. I told them there were genuine parang groups, such as Lara Brothers, that could represent the art form (properly) but they wanted us because we brought something different.

We do covers of rock and other songs (including) a parang version of my favourite song, Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. We give Don’t Stop Believing by Journey and David Rudder’s Bahia Girl the parang treatment. We do the Det commercial in parang. Because I real like Brigo.

Costaatt booked us (when), I used to walk with slips of paper because I couldn’t remember the song lyrics. We were actually singing, in Spanish, over-and-over, to make the song last longer, “No tengo dinero/ Quiero un gato/ Quiero una mujer con un gato,” literally, “I have no money/ I want a cat/ I want a woman with a cat.” We didn’t know there were a lot of Venezuelan students in the audience. They never rehired us.

I knew La Pascualidad, which every child learns in school, apparently, and Alegria by Daisy Voisin and liked that song. Otherwise, I didn’t have an affinity for parang at all. When I saw the passion that they expressed in the music, I figured, I want to respect the tradition—we doing that!—but I want to revolutionise the approach. So I’m channelling

Scott Weilland in parang. I wanted to call the band “The Sexy Men” in Spanish. I remembered “los hombres” from school but I wasn’t sure of the Spanish word for “sexy.” So I just said, Los Hombres Sexuales. Then I found out that really meant the Sexual Men. Ironically, I did Spanish at A-level.
One night, the DJ, trying to wild the band, introduced us as Los Homosexuales. Albertos went up there and said: “You figure it’s your father up here, but it’s Los Hombres Sexuales.”

We did seven gigs weekend before last. We’re making more money from parang than I was from rock. The most gigs we’ve played in a day is ten—but we weren’t having fun. Money’s not worth that. So the most gigs we’ll do in one day now is three.

Up to this year, I never missed a day at work at the bank; I’m real regimented about that. The more gigs we do, I want people to recognise even more that I’m on time for work. I get to the bank 5.30 some mornings. A Trini is a relaxed individual who doesn’t realise how simple things in life benefits him.  They have people in Trinidad who probably ent seen the beach for this year.

Trinidad and Tobago is a haven of peace and love that I appreciate very much.

• Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com

Darius Emrith
Student, Hugh Wooding Law School

There are two circumstances where a police officer’s powers of search and seizure may arise: (i) in effecting an arrest; and (ii) in effecting a search warrant. This article focuses mainly on the search of one’s private property in effecting a search warrant. 

Generally, a search warrant is necessary for entry and search of anyone’s private premises. A search warrant may be issued to enter a building or any place to search for evidence in relation to any summary offence, as outlined in section 41 of the Summary Courts Act Chap. 4:20. The only legal way to search one’s premises, other than in effecting an arrest, is with a search warrant or the express permission of the owner.

Where the question of effecting an arrest arises, an officer may enter premises without a warrant
a) to prevent a murder 
b) to arrest an offender who was followed into the premises
c) to prevent the commission of a crime, and 
d) to follow an offender running away from an officer

Issuing of a search warrant
A magistrate or judge issues a search warrant once a police officer satisfies the magistrate or judge that he has reasonable cause to suspect that grounds exist to justify the issue of the warrant. These grounds must be sworn on oath. There is no need to first lay a charge, but evidence obtained from the search may then be used to justify the charge.

Execution of a search warrant
A search warrant may be addressed to any police officer.  If a specific officer is named, he alone can enforce the warrant. Search warrants may be executed at any time on any day of the week. A police officer can even break down the outer door of the premises to execute the warrant, if a demand for entry has been refused.

Usually, a search warrant is executed in the presence of the occupier or, if he is absent, in the presence of any adult on the premises. The police will read the warrant to the person and after the search, the officer should endorse on the back of the warrant what was found and seized, the name of the person present and the time and date.

Seizure of property
The police can seize any items from premises they have lawfully entered, which may constitute evidence to implicate the person in some crime, even if the items are not related to the reason for the search or entry. Seized goods may be retained as long as necessary to prosecute that crime.

If the police lawfully seize property on suspicion that it was illegally obtained, they can only hold such property for a reasonable time. The police would have to show that they have reasonable grounds for believing that the property was stolen, and that its continued detention is necessary to complete their investigations. 

Illegal searches
Even if the police seize goods illegally (that is by illegal entry or by an illegally obtained warrant) they may retain them once the goods constitute evidence in relation to a crime. However the homeowner may have recourse in an action for damages. 

—This column is not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, you should consult a legal adviser.

A police constable and another man were gunned down this morning along the Aranguez Main Road.

Police investigators are currently on the scene.

According to a police report, at about 5.30 am the officer, who has only been identified as PC Ramnarine, was found slumped on the side of the pavement just outside a car while another man, who is yet to identified was found dead in the car.

Ramnarine was las assigned to the St Joseph Police Station.

A firearm was recovered at the scene and it is believed to be the officer’s gun.

Investigations are continuing.

Further details to follow. 

Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran will likely challenge any unjustified move against him, it was confirmed yesterday

And at least one big business enterprise — Massy — which was threatening legal action on Rambarran’s recent revelations about T&T’s mega Forex users, is on hold, clearly awaiting action from Government on Rambarran.

Expectation of moves against the governor have been developing following last weekend’s scathing statements by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Rambarran’s modus operandi.

Rambarran had been negatively spotlighted on the Forex shortage issue and for announcing a recession without telling Government first. The situation was further inflamed after he revealed who was consuming the most Forex in T&T, particularly big businesses. Reaction came in the form of several businesses’ complaint to Finance Minister Colm Imbert, alleging Rambarran “may have been in breach of the Central Bank Act”. T&T’s Chamber of Commerce expressed similar sentiments. Imbert advised his legal team to examine whether there was indeed a breach. 

Government has been stockpiling legal advice on the situation. Imbert last week updated Cabinet on advice received. Cabinet reportedly sought advice on whether Rambarran’s revelations constituted “misconduct in relation to his duties.”

The Central Bank Act (section 12) outlines ten grounds that can be used to terminate the appointment of a Governor, deputy Governor or director. Section 12 (e), allows the President to terminate appointments if the person is “guilty of misconduct in relation to his duties.”

It was reported Cabinet also sought legal advice on whether the President has the discretion to reject, modify or delay a Cabinet directive on the governor’s termination. Cabinet was advised the convention is that heads of state obey the wishes of the Government of the day. 

Following last week’s Cabinet meeting where the issue was discussed, Rowley, last Saturday, said the situation was diminishing public confidence in the Bank’s ability to conduct the public’s business in finance and diminishing public confidence in Rambarran. He added if the Government allows this to continue unimpeded, it will diminish the population’s confidence in the Government also.

Rowley noted laws governing conduct of Central Bank affairs and that Imbert was examining if Rambarran breached that. He said if Rambarran “ends up” being removed, it would be because of his “own series of reckless, illegal actions.” 

Government has subsequently been mum on if it can work with Rambarran or is prepared to continue to. 

Yesterday, Central Bank communication officer Charlene Ramdhanie had no comment when the T&T Guardian asked about Rambarran’s response to Rowley’s statement, whether he was receiving legal advice on the matter and other aspects.

Amid businesses’ complaints, Massy president Gervais Warner, had claimed Rambarran’s disclosure, was a breach of confidentiality and added they were exploring legal options in the matter. He said the company ‘s legal advisers found Rambarran “really shouldn’t have disclosed the information. Warner claimed some parts of Central Bank law was breached and he would “sit back and wait to see what officials do about this.”

Yesterday after the T&T Guardian contacted Warner’s office on whether Massy was proceeding with legal options, spokesperson Candice Ali replied via email,“ Mr Warner has confirmed that at this time Massy will not be discussing the matter further.” 

he didn’t reply whether Massy would be proceeding with legal action at all.

On whether the Chamber would initiate any legal action against Rambarran, Chamber president Robert Trestrail said, “Not at all. We’re an association, our name wasn’t called in (revelations). The Chamber articulated its view and we’ve noted the comments of others- (but) our view hasn’t changed.”

Yesterday the T&T Guardian was told Rambarran is “calm, and confident,” watching the situation and would likely challenge any “unjustified move against him made on a shallow basis,” and against the independent office of governor. 

Information also is that the situation was being monitored to see if any move develops over “coming weeks.”

There is speculation former Central Bank deputy governor Terrence Farrell may be among frontliners for the post if Rambarran is removed.

Two members of the protective services appeared before different Port-of-Spain magistrates yesterday. A Coast Guard officer charged with unlawfully killing a child and a soldier charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. 

In the drunk driving matter 32-year-old Jason Scipio pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Rehana Ali. 

Scipio, of Emerald Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, had an alcohol level of 42 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath. 

The legal limit is 35. The test was conducted some three hours after he allegedly knocked down 63-year-old Hilton Joseph who was attempting to cross the Western Main Road, St James, around 6 pm on Saturday. Scipio, an instructor at Tetron Barracks will re-appear in court on December 22.

In the second court matter, 33-year-old Emile Garraway was not called on to enter a plea when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar. 

Garraway was granted $150,000 bail after no objections were made. Garraway was ordered to surrender his passport and report to the Arouca Police Station every Monday and Thursday between 6 am and 6 pm. 

Garraway, who is represented by Israel Khan SC and Karunaa Bisramsingh is charged with the unlawful killing of 23-month-old Khristha Knutt on December 7. 

Khristha, who would have turned two in January, was reportedly discovered unresponsive after which there was a botched attempt to resuscitate her with an electrical fan cord..

While she was noticeably absent from her child’s funeral last Friday, Tiffany Rawlins, Khristha’s mother was present in court yesterday when her boyfriend appeared. 

The few other relatives in the courtroom sat in silence as the charge was read and bail granted. 

He will re-appear on January 11 next year.