An Oropouche man on his way to collect cassava sticks in St Croix, Princes Town got a shocking surprise when he stumbled upon the nude decomposing body of a man.

According to reports, Kenrick Dookie and his brother-in-law went to Sankar Trace, around 9.30 am yesterday to collect cassava sticks.

Around 10 am, Dookie left his brother-in-law chatting with some friends and walked down the incline.

On reaching almost to the bottom of the hill, Dookie said he began getting a foul stench.

Looking closer, Dookie realised the stench was coming from the nude, decomposing body of a man.

The man’s body was lying face down and Dookie said both of his feet were in the air. He said there was a pink cloth tied around the man’s neck.

“I thought the smell was a dog that had died but when I watch inside the sohari leaf patch, I realised it was a man,” Dookie said.

“First time I ever experiencing something like this and I just run back up the hill and tell them other fellas to call the police.”

Officers from the Princes Town Police Station, including Sgt Ramlogan responded.

Up until news time, the man’s identity remained unknown. Residents who gathered when the news of the discovery spread, said they did not know of anyone in their community who was missing.

"Boat bobol." That’s what Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi may be looking into as he tries to determine how the Super Fast Galicia’s six-month contract turned into a two-year stint and if any irregularities were involved.

This, following Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s claim on a radio interview yesterday of alleged “bobol” in the Galicia issue under the People’s Partnership administration.

Works Minister Rohan Sinanan, who spoke on the Galicia issue in Parliament on Wednesday, alluded to the alleged involvement of the law firm of ND Alfonso in the matter during the PP’s tenure.

But Nyree Alfonso, an attorney from the law firm, in explaining her perceived “role” in the matter yesterday, said Port management had selected the Galicia as suitable. She claimed Government was currently eyeing the Atlantic Provider vessel to use temporarily after the Galicia’s lease ends next weekend (April 21)—but noted she’d arrested the Provider for non-payment of crew wages in August 2015 and sold it to its current owner in December 2015 (See other story)

Yesterday, Al-Rawi said the PM had instructed Sinanan to pass documents on the Galicia matter to his office.

Sinanan said the information being sent to the AG would be investigated to determine any possible irregularities in the matter.

Sinanan gave certain facts on the matter when he spoke on a Parliamentary motion by United National Congress MP Suruj Rambachan on the Galicia’s lease in Parliament on Wednesday.

Sinanan said in December 2013, a certain company was hired by the Port Authority for legal advice. He said it was ND Alfonso and Co.

A tender was issued the following January 2014 for a cargo vessel. The closing date was extended by a week, but it was later cancelled.

He added that there was a history of at least five tenders being cancelled in the matter. He said tenders again went out that February 2014 in a selective process. He listed several companies which were invited to tender and the invitation included the same law firm. Tenders closed in eight days.

There were three tenders, including Inter-Continental Shipping, he added. Sinanan said it was “astonishing”

Inter-Continental Shipping was not invited for the first tender—but they had a “broker” which was the same law firm again. He said Inter-Continental got the award in March 2014.

Sinanan claimed at a later meeting, the charterer, John Powell, said since the company had obtained a six-month lease it should get it for 12 months instead. That was given. But Sinanan said this would have disadvantaged other firms.

Sinanan said when he became minister in November 2016, he visited Tobago stakeholders and later called Inter-Continental, which said it had a legitimate agreement—but one which wasn’t signed and Inter-Continental wanted it to be signed. But he said the company later said it didn’t want a short term contract, but a five-year lease or else it would “pull the boat.”

“I considered that economic blackmail,” Sinanan told Parliament.

Speaking yesterday, Sinanan added: “I found it strange the way people were invited for tenders. The contract was advertised as six months, but this stretched into three years.

“The contract was extended for 12 months without any price reduction. In the marine industry you pay more for short term contracts. One year is long term. That situation would have put other tenderers at a disadvantage if they knew Galicia tendered for 12 months.”

Sinanan said since the vessel began operating there were five tenders which couldn’t be completed and there’s concern whether “efforts were made” to somehow ensure the tenders weren’t coming to conclusion.

United National Congress MP Suruj Rambachan, in Wednesday’s debate, said the Super Fast Galicia, which costs TT$120,000 a day, arrived on a 12-month lease which was extended for 12 months and was supposed to have been extended to October 2017.

He said the PNM Cabinet rejected a Port Authority recommendation on this. Saying there was perception of “corruption” in the issue, Rambachan called on Government to say if it was eyeing a Chinese vessel called Gohan- jinsu. He claimed it could carry 1,300 passengers and cargo, costing US $22,000 daily.

Former transport minister Stephen Cadiz, under whose tenure the Galicia was leased, yesterday claimed PNM Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, in his Works Ministry stint, had sent Cabinet a note to renew the Galicia’s lease but Cabinet rejected it.

“Who rejected it and why?” Cadiz asked.

“Port management in our term did its investigations of Galicia and the ministry issued the contract on Port recommendation. Galicia was one of the few vessels whose carrying capacity fit the bill immediately.

“Dredging would be necessary for any vessel at this point since Tobago needs a large cargo vessel, so the $50 million Sinanan is speaking about for dredging isn’t Galicia-specific. But the problem is really why the PNM Cabinet let a vessel’s lease expire without putting a replacement in place - Tobago’s suffering for it.”—Gail Alexander

Sinanan said the vessel’s cost initially was $50 million a year and T&T would have ended up paying $150 million for three years. Currently, the Port pays US$18,000 to 20,000 per day for the Galicia, he said.

“This (Galicia) was a quick fix solution which went bad,” Sinanan added.

The vessel also presents infrastructural problems, he noted.

“On Wednesday you couldn’t get into the Hyatt or Parliament since there were trailers and trucks lined up nearby waiting to board (Galicia) where it’s docked behind Hyatt. Hyatt is claiming damages to premises,” Sinanan said.

“Containers have to be pulled from the other wide of the wharf to where it’s docked and trucks have to be paid for the shifting. Barge costs are involved concerning loading. “

He said Galicia’s size required a dredged port which would cost $50 million plus $20 million annually. He said the PP administration never provided infrastructure for the vessel.

“Perhaps we need a bigger boat with a smaller draught. Even if I have to take flack for it, I’m prepared to fix it,” Sinanan said.

Housing Minister Randall Mitchell yesterday warned citizens in desperate need of affordable housing to be cautious before giving their hard-earned cash to private home developers.

Mitchell issued the warning one day after private companies, Canada-based Wylde Orchid Design and Management Ltd and local firm Prime US International Ltd, promised to sign, by September, a Memorandum of Understanding to build 120,000 homes in T&T over the next 15 to 20 years to bring some relief to the 100,000 Housing Development Corporation (HDC) waiting list applicants.

“It’s a noble cause and we would always welcome foreign direct investments, but if they are going to use this demand and desperation of persons looking for affordable housing to play a confidence trick on the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, of course I would do all in my power to defend the citizens,” Mitchell said.

Former housing minister Roodal Moonilal also warned vulnerable HDC applicants not to pass money to private home developers before seeing legal documents.

Their comments came after members of the public called the T&T Guardian newsroom yesterday questioning the legitimacy of Prime US International and Wylde Orchid after their checks on the internet yielded little or no information about these companies.

Yesterday, Aneil Singh, president and CEO of Wylde Orchid, maintained his company had a proven track record in home construction. He admitted, however, that their website was currently being redesigned.

Singh said his company will provide consultancy services to Prime US International - the developer.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. We are very qualified in what we do. We look forward to implementing this project in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

Singh said some of the Canadian housing developers he provided services to were Minto, Canderel and Gotardo Construction.

“This is the same thing we will be doing in Trinidad,” Singh said.

CEO Stephanie Bonaparte-Primus’ Prime US International was named as a holdings company created in October 2007 for the purpose of trading.

The company identified five directors with Bonaparte-Primus being CEO.

Questioned about her group of companies yesterday, she said all were registered in Trinidad and websites were now being built. Bonaparte-Primus said they have also been working on buying an office. She told the T&T Guardian that she had a two-hour long “fruitful” meeting with the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) yesterday to discuss the construction of 50,000 homes which they want to supply the HDC.

However, Udecott chairman Noel Garcia yesterday denied such a meeting took place at Udecott. Garcia said as far as he was aware, “none of the senior members of Udecott staff or management team met with anyone from this organisation.”

He said Udecott was not the agency charge with housing.

“It would be inappropriate to meet with them any how. If they are to meet with anyone it would be HDC or the Ministry of Planning,” Garcia said.

Bonaparte-Primus said because of housing scams they had opted for foreign investors to build the homes before hand, “so nobody has to take chances with their money or pay anything until they see a building. There are a lot of scams around.”

She insisted that her organisation has been operating above board, legally and legitimately.

“We are making sure that all the properties we are buying are bank-approved,” she said.

Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) leader Ancel Roget says he will not retract his statements and will not apologise to BP for saying they should take their rig and go.

Speaking to the media in front the Waterfront International Complex in Port-of-Spain, Roget said he strongly believes that BP is leveraging “to be able to get more and more concessions.”

“There will be absolutely no apology, no retraction, because we are adamant that we are correct. Our mandate is to protect those who turn the wheels of the economy, because without them we have absolutely no economy,” Roget said in the wake of suggestions by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that the union’s comments may have hurt T&T internationally.

Roget said what T&T needs to do is ensure that while they are accepting the investment it is done in strict adherence to the laws of T&T and its codes.

“So once we have workers who at the end of the day construct the facility and go offshore and get the oil and gas out from the beneath the sea, those workers ought to be treated with the highest level of dignity and respect and they ought to be working in a safe environment,” he said.

Roget also advised Rowley to ensure that T&T makes good on any investment by ensuring that all independent regulatory bodies are in place to ensure the occupational, safety and health agency and all of its inspectors are ready and up to the task.

“He (Rowley) has to ensure that all of his line ministers are responsible for all of those agencies and that they do their work. The Government has fallen on their job,” Roget said.

He added that what Government needs to do now is to take a proactive approach and check on all of those agencies if they want to ensure they have investments that will benefit T&T.

Roget said he will defend fearlessly all workers, noting they have charged him with the responsibility of ensuring their lives and limbs are safe and they are in a good and healthy work environment.

“If we have to give Rowley a check list of advice, it has to be ensure regulatory bodies are up to mark and that they are functioning effectively with the mandate for which they were formed and to ensure that industrial relations climate is conducive of investment both locally and foreign,” Roget said.

He added that if that is done there will be no need to protest every Monday morning.

Speaking during CNC3’s Morning Brew programme on Wednesday, Rowley had said Roget’s “take your platform and go”statement was hurting the country.

Roget made the statement after BP pulled construction of the Angelin platform from T&T. The decision followed discussions with Rowley and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young with BP officials in Houston, Texas, recently.

Rowley said statements like the one made by Roget are not helpful given the need to attract foreign investment to the country.

Two La Romaine brothers were granted $1 million bail each when they appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court charged with trafficking 9.9 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The drugs have a street value of $12.3 million. Two other men, one of them a Colombian national also appeared in court charged with trafficking 1.1 kg of cocaine with a street value of $1.1 million.

The four were arrested in two separate incidents in La Romaine on April 11, by officers of the San Fernando CID and the Southern Division Task Force. The four were charged by PCs Moses and Rampersad.

The brothers, Kiwebe and Chiwale Farrell, appeared first before Magistrate Margaret Alert who read the charge to them that on April 11, at Bobb Street, La Romaine, they had in their possession cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The brothers were represented by attorney Subhas Panday.

The drugs, nine packages weighing 9.9 kg, with an estimated street value of $12.3 million, were tendered into evidence.

Panday told the court Kiwebe, 34, is a pipe fitter and a taxi driver with no pending matters but one previous conviction for marijuana from 2008. He said Kiwebe has a one-year-old child and is not a flight risk.

Panday said Chiwale, 38, is also a taxi driver and has no pending matters. Both men live at Bobb Street, La Romaine.

Panday told the court that he felt the street value of the drugs was overestimated as an ounce of cocaine in court matter is usually priced at $40. He said at that rate, the drugs would be valued $380,000.

Aler said the arresting officers would have the knowledge as to the cost of the drugs. She then adjourned the matter until May 11.

The two other men who were also charged with trafficking were Colombian national Barnes Douglas Ramos Mosquera, 27 and businessman Shaquille Bridgeman.

Alert read the charge that on April 11 at Rahaman Drive, La Romaine, the men were found with 1.1kg of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in their possession. The drugs have a street value of $1.1 million.

Attorney Shaun Teekasingh represented Bridgeman and said his client is a car rental owner.

Panday represented Mosquera but did not make any submissions on his behalf as Alert adjourned the matter until April 19 when an interpreter will be present.

Alert granted Bridgeman bail in the sum of $500,000 with surety and clerk of the peace approval. His matter was also adjourned until April 19.

A man who was planning to migrate to the United States to escape the gun violence was shot dead as he slept in his apartment in Laventille early yesterday.

Police reports stated that around 4.15 am residents of Canada Plannings, Laventille heard gunshots and when they went to investigate they found Campbell, 35, dead on his bed.

Police said they are unsure of a motive for the killing even though they claim Campbell was “known to them”.

His attacker threw a stuffed toy on the dead man’s body before fleeing the scene.

Relatives of Campbell spoke with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday said the murder rate in the country was beyond ridiculous.

“What I want to know is how come they have police patrolling and these men still getting away with this? Life in America is a million times safer than here.

“I am safer and things are better up there. I am from the hill (Laventille) in Trinidad but I get an opportunity to live in America. When I come down here I don’t even go back there because I know what going on. This whole gang warfare cause this. The way Trinidad is now, if you from one place and you warring with another place you cannot go there. That is what Trinidad reach to? We were making arrangements for him to come up to America as well,” the relative said.

He was among three men who were shot dead in the last 24 hours taking the number of people killed for the year to 151.

The first murder took place around 8 pm Wednesday, near the recently opened Besson Street Police Station.

Police reports are that Ricardo John, a resident of the Centre for Socially-Displaced People (CSDP) at Riverside Plaza, was killed when gunmen shot at Kenwin “Mang” Fagan.

Worshippers at a nearby church heard gunshots and later found John’s body on the road way. Fagan was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital by police where he is currently warded in a critical condition.

The third killing is being linked to the ongoing feud between Rasta City and Muslim gangs.

Police said the alleged member of an Enterprise, Chaguanas gang who was hiding out at Pipiol Road, Santa Cruz was shot dead.

Investigators said Winston John, 37, was shot dead when he opened the door when people claiming to be police officers knocked at around 2 am.

A priest called on parents to be more vigilant as he offered support to the family of Tyran Garcia, the three-year-old girl who perished in a house fire on Sunday.

Fr George Lewis addressing the mourners at The Church of Incarnation, Maloney Gardens, said yesterday, the death of the child has already happened and while the parents may want to blame themselves, they should seek God’s forgiveness.

“The little girl ran back into the house, I was told. Children are innocent they don’t know danger. Parents have to be more alert with the children God have given you.

“God gave you children to bring in his honour and glory and he give you wisdom to raise them you must be vigilant. There might be guilt to blame yourself, but ask God for forgiveness. God is able to give you the grace you need, ask Him for comfort and strength” Lewis said. 

As he spoke, Garcia’s mother, Abigaile Mota, sat in the front pew being consoled by a female relative. In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Mota said she regretted not being home on Sunday when the house caught afire ending her youngest of seven children’s life.

Mota and her six of her children lived at Herman Gerard Avenue with the children’s stepfather Terrance Wilson. Both adults were not at home when the fire took place around 1 pm. The children were left under the supervision of a 14-year-old, the eldest child.

The duo were questioned by police on Tuesday for close to two hours before being released. Police said that some of the information they were receiving were “not adding up” and they wanted to speak to the children and adults again.

The children were initially questioned and put in the care of other relative, as both their mother and stepfather were kept in police custody.

Three-year-old Garcia, who was buried in a white and pink casket, died as a result of smoke inhalation according to the autopsy report.

Delivering a 33-page judgement in the Port-of-Spain High Court yesterday, Justice Vasheist Kokaram ruled that Anton “Boombay” Boney, of John John, Laventille, was falsely imprisoned by police investigating the plot.

Kokaram ruled that while police had the right to detain Boney for 24 hours as they had suspicion that he may commit acts which were likely to endanger public safety, they could not justify the need to hold him in custody for five days without charging him.

“The only excuse proffered by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mervyn Richardson was that the detention was necessary as the police had ‘other persons to interview’. I would imagine that for the police to rely on such an excuse, would leave many languishing at the police’s leisure,” Kokaram said.

While Kokaram noted that Parliament had a right to infringe of citizens’ constitutional rights in the interest of national security during the 2011 State of Emergency (SoE) by passing regulations which allowed police to arrest people on mere suspicion without evidence, he said the court was still open to review a person’s protracted detention.

Boney was initially seeking almost $500,000 in compensation for his detention as he claimed that his reputation was damaged by being linked to a terrorist plot.

Boney had alleged that police had leaked information to the media alleging that terrorist propaganda material had been found in his home when he was arrested on November 29, 2011.

“In my view Boney’s claim for an award of $500,000 is unreal, exaggerated and out of all proportions to the circumstances of this case and other comparable cases,” Kokaram stated. He said that Boney had not claimed that he had been mistreated by police while in custody.

As part of the judgment Kokaram ordered that the State pay $18,000 in legal costs incurred by Boney in bringing the lawsuit.

Kokaram’s decision may have a ripple effect on similar cases filed by some of Boney’s fellow detainees, arrested in the plot investigation, who sued the State after they were released without charge.

Those who did not file lawsuits, cannot now take action based on Boney’s legal victory as the four year limitation period for filing civil lawsuits has already elapsed.

Boney, who has been on remand since being charged with conspiring to murder and attempted murder of another person in 2014, was brought to court for the hearing.

He is also facing charges for being a gang leader.

Dressed in Islamic garb, Boney sat quietly in the prisoner’s enclosure of the court as the judgement was being read.

Boney was represented by Lee Merry and Kelston Pope. Coreen Findlay, Rachael Thurab and Laura Persad represented the Office of the Attorney General.

The ANSA Mc Al Group has taken the challenge upon themselves to train its women staff in self defense, especially given the fact that there has been several recent reports of crime violence against women throughout the country—some of them beaten, abducted and in some instances, killed.

ON Wednesday, Sensei Brian Chin Leung, chief instructor of Shotokan Karate of T&T (Skott) and an eighth degree black belt in karate, held his first session, the introductory class on the Third Floor of the Tatil carpark in Maraval.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian, Chin Leung described it as a sad state when he referred to the attacks against women but added that as a result a lot of women are now leaning towards getting themselves fully trained in self defense.

“Not only is self defense good but it is also beneficial that women keep themselves physically fit to that point of self defense,” Chin Leung said.

In briefing the class, Chin Leung urged the women to always follow their instincts.

“The key to self defense is to always follow your God-given instinct because it is there to protect you…If you are getting a bad feeling about someone, stay away from that person,” Chin Leung said.

The idea to have the class was conceived by the company’s Group Director, Human Resource, Teresa White.

White explained that she was returning from exercising around the Queen’s Park Savannah when the idea came to her.

“It’s important right now with the way things are going with respect to gender-base violence in T&T. It is something that we need to do,” White said as she gave a brief address.

She urged the participants to learn, “it can make all the difference to get that advantage. And, ensure that you are not the victim of something horrible.”

A Mayaro father accused of five sexual assault charges against his teenaged daughter was found guilty by a High Court jury yesterday even though the victim refused to testify.

The 50-year-old man will be sentenced following a probation officer’s report on June 2.

The man, who will not be identified to protect his daughter, was charged in April, 2008. He was accused of grievously sexually assaulting the child, then 15-years-old, while she was sitting on the couch and watching television at their Mayaro home.

The man’s other three daughters were at home and asleep at the time. The children’s mother did not live with them at that time and the victim was the eldest child.

The second charge is that in August 2008, he grievously sexually assaulted the child again and that he attempted to commit incest by trying to penetrate her knowing her to be his blood relative. At that time, she was at the house alone and the incidents took place on her bed.

He was also charged that in September 2009 and again in October 2009, he indecently assaulted the child. Those two incidents also took place on her bed while her siblings were asleep.

The trial against him began in the San Fernando High Court before Justice David Harris on April 4, 2017. The State was represented by attorneys Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal and Sarah De Silva while attorney Ramesh Deena appeared for the accused.

During the trial, the victim, now 24 years old was deemed a hostile witness as she refused to answer any questions posed to her by the prosecution.

Her testimony from the preliminary enquiry and her statement to the police were read to the jury.

WPC Toussaint and the girl’s mother were the only two other witnesses called to testify in the matter.

The jury took a little over two hours before returning with guilty verdicts on all five charges.

Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodan, said yesterday he was saddened by the situation of former mayor, Natasha Navas, and pleading with groups who are in a position to help her to come forward.

Navas has been seen walking the streets of Chaguanas carrying a heavy knapsack. Residents have reported seeing her walking aimlessly on the street where she lives in Balmoral Park. She appeared to be a shadow of her former self.

Navas, Chaguanas’ first female mayor, served from 2009 to 2010 after Tabaquite MP Suruj Rambachan held the post. She was replaced by Orlando Nagessar in 2010.

Navas also worked in the human resource department at the Airports Authority after demitting office at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.

She also worked with First Citizens bank before she became mayor.

Boodan, contacted by the T&T Guardian yesterday said: “Regardless of what, history will always record her as a former mayor of Chaguanas.

“I am very much saddened by the present situation with her.”

Boodan said when Navas demitted office in 2010, he lost contact with her.

He said he was made aware of her situation within the last two weeks and has asked a team from the Chaguanas Borough Corporation to contact her to see if they can help her.

“This is a work still in progress,” he said. Boodan said he has no other comment to make because he would not want to publicly discuss any personal misfortune that may have befallen Navas.

But he pleaded for help for her.

“I think she needs help. “I am asking groups, even faith-based organisations, to come forward to help her in whatever way they could.

“She is a mother, she is a member of the Chaguanas community. I am asking people in the borough to please assist her. This is the holy season (Easter). Let people show compassion and care, not just talk.”

Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, head of the T&T Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said while they have social workers and counsellors, someone Navas knows will have to bring her to them.

“She may not trust strangers who approach her or even people from the mayor’s office or the media.”

Mahabir-Wyatt said Navas may respond better to church members.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan says the Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi will have to determine if Intercontinental Shipping - the provider of the Super Fast Galicia - will be allowed to retender to service the domestic sea bridge.

Sinanan was responding to a question posed by host Hema Ramkissoon on CNC3’s Morning Brew programme yesterday.

Tenders which were put out by the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) to obtain a vessel as a medium term measure to transport cargo to Tobago will close on April 24.

The long term plan is for Government to purchase a cargo vessel which will take 30 months to build and get to our shores, he said.

“We ended up here because we had a bad start with the procurement of the vessel,” Sinanan said.

Asked if the Galicia would be invited to re-tender for the medium term measure, Sinanan replied, “I know a tender went out ...an invitation to Intercontinental, but that will be determined by the Attorney General in going forward. Because if litigation matters are afoot, I don’t know how that will pan out. Yes, the tender went out and Intercontinental did get an invitation.”

Sinanan also gave the assurance that the Trinity Transporter and the MV Atlantic Provider, which will be used in the interim to transport goods and building materials to Tobago, was done above board by PATT and its tender’s committee.

Asked if former minister of works and transport Fitzgerald Hinds took a note to Cabinet in April 2016 recommending that the Galicia contract be extended for another 18 months from April 2016 to October 2017, which Cabinet did not approve, but which would have allowed more time for Government to approve a replacement vessel, Sinanan said some information about the Galicia was blown out of proportion by the public and media without verifying the facts.

“I have not seen any note going to Cabinet.”

He said, however, that he did see a note for dredging put forward in Cabinet.

One of the municipal city police officers who graduated from a special training course yesterday, was hailed as a hero by a Port-of-Spain business owner, after the officer managed to arrest a would-be bandit/mentally ill man who had ran into her store just before lunch.

According to police, Constable Vedesh Singh, who is attached to the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, responded to a report of an attempted robbery in which the mentally ill man allegedly tried to rob a taxi driver along Frederick Street, near City Hall around 11.50 am.

Police said the man was causing havoc in the city throughout the morning and the call of that particular robbery was the latest in a series of reports made during the day. After the man ran into the store, the owner, who did not want her name or store to be identified, said she began beating him with a chair. She said she did so because the man had closed the door as he entered and she was fearful that he had come to do her and her employees harm. While beating the man, Singh entered and both he and the suspect began fighting, resulting in the man being shot in the leg. The man, subsequently identified as Pascall Roberts, was taken to hospital where he later died.

Singh was one of 50 police officers attached to seven municipalities who were trained in police wireless communications and graduated yesterday following a two-day training stint. But Singh could not attend the ceremony due to the earlier incident.

The officers are now able to connect with the E-999 police wireless communication and vice versa, something that was non-existent a few years ago. All officers under the municipal banner will now be trained in the system, which means they will now be able to send and receive wireless messages about crimes along with their counterparts in the police service.

The training is part of the intended Local Government reform which will give more authority to municipal police, particularly in rural arrears.

The graduation of the 50 officers yesterday was the third batch of officers to be trained in using the system.

Addressing the graduating class, ASP Stevenson Mack said the idea to bridge the communication gap was spawned following a meeting with stakeholders in the lead-up to the Carnival period. Mack, who spoke on behalf of acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, said he was looking forward to the partnership, as the officers will be the additional ears and eyes of the police service.

Commenting on the shooting incident following the ceremony, Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez said any crime in the capital is not a good thing and he was not happy about the daylight brazen attack.

“Criminals don’t care about time of day any more. They no longer waiting for night, that is scary,” Martinez said.

In a significant break from tradition, the University of the West Indies is expected to appoint T&T businessman Robert Bermudez as its next chancellor.

Current UWI Chancellor Sir George Alleyne is scheduled to demit office at the end of July.

Bermudez is expected to become only the second T&T national to hold that office, the first being late prime minister Dr Eric Williams.

In making the announcement during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said Bermudez was unanimously selected over other candidates.

The university’s Search Committee is made up of representatives from contributing governments, executives from the Senate of the UWI, Students Guild, Post-Graduate Students’ Association and the West Indies Group of University Teachers.

Garcia said the decision was taken after several meetings of the search committee. He said the Heads of Government, at a meeting in February, endorsed Bermudez’ selection.

He said the recommendation will be presented at the next meeting of the Council of the University of the West Indies in Barbados next week.

The minister said Bermudez’ wide business experience had played a key role in his selection.

“It was felt that the UWI should depend less on the coffers of the respective governments and should try as far as possible to generate its own funds,” Garcia said.

“We need to have this paradigm shift where we are looking at ways and means whereby the university can generate its own funds. We felt that we needed somebody with business experience.”

Garcia noted, for example, that the T&T government contributed $650 million to the UWI annually. He said when he meets with UWI officials for scheduled meetings he often raised the issue about the university becoming more self sufficient.

He also defended the search committee over concerns raised about the change from an education-based chancellor to that of a businessman, adding that Bermudez’ vision for the university was accepted.

Garcia noted that Bermudez is chairman of Bermudez Group Ltd, Bermudez Biscuit Company Ltd, Kiss Baking Company Ltd, Holiday Snacks Ltd, Jamaica Biscuit Company Ltd and Massy Holdings Ltd.

On September 11, 2016, the Sunday Guardian published a story about Marsha Arvelay, who was then an Associate Editor of the T&T Guardian after spending 16 years with the media house.

The story focused on Arvelay’s struggle with end stage renal failure, her need for a kidney transplant, her trust in God and her belief in love as the greatest medicine.

Shortly after the story was published, Arvelay found a kidney donor and underwent tests in preparation of the much-needed transplant.

She looked forward to discussing a successful surgery in the future and often imagined life after surgery with her friends and family.

But on Tuesday night, after a dialysis treatment in Chaguanas, Arvelay, 44, was rushed to the Sangre Grande Hospital. She died less than 24 hours later in a hospital bed, while Guardian colleagues, dear friends and family waited for news.

The T&T Guardian newsroom and extended family mourns the loss of a woman who was loved tremendously by all and who was kind to everyone. Many said she possessed a genuineness rarely found in the world.

She was a woman who many looked to as a shoulder to lean on, a friend to laugh with, a page designer when you needed a special touch and perhaps the best cook in the newsroom.

Arvelay worked at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper for over 16 years, creating not only good work, but also nurturing young sub editors and reporters alike, as well as contributing to the family atmosphere which was a signature of the Guardian newsroom.

Arvelay started at the Guardian in May 2001, as a graphic artist in the Special Publications Unit (SPU). She was later transferred to the Editorial Department as a senior sub editor in 2003 and was upgraded to an Associate Editor in 2006. In December 2016, she left the Guardian as part of a retrenchment exercise.

She leaves behind her devoted husband Richard, her loving daughter Jodi Marie, and her wonderful grand-daughter Jada, whom she doted on incessantly.

Her former colleagues at the Guardian, had only positive memories to share.

“I will always remember Marsha, full of laughter. She always could see humour in situations other people couldn’t. An amazing cook and always looking for ways to make people happy. She was always willing to listen and comfort a friend in need,” said Marvin Smith.

Another colleague, Vidya Thurab, remembered her as a mother and a sister, always willing to give advice and support.

Mark Thomas, a colleague who sat next to Marsha at work said the world had lost one of its brightest, most beautiful lights. It may have been her colleague Bernadette Millien-Williams that worked with her the longest, over a period of 20 years.

“We moved one after the next working for the same employer to late last year and in those years I have experienced the best pepper sauce, best sweet bread, best curry, bake or stew chicken, geera pork, cheese paste you name it Marsha made it and it tasted amazing.

Marsha never complained and if she did, it had to be unbearable for her to say something about it. I always observed how calm and collected she would respond to situations and I learned from her disposition that being hasty wasn’t always the best solution.”

The article in September was titled “Love is Marsha’s Medicine.” It would turn out to be the truth in multiple ways. Love was the medicine Marsha gave the people who knew her, with every smile and laugh and squeeze of a hand or hug.

“I love you” were the final words Marsha said to me on Tuesday evening, the final words she said to her dear friend Bernadette Millien-Williams, the final dose of medicine for her loved ones.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

According to an international newspaper, the Middle East Eye, Crawford, who had been hit it by a US drone strike in October last year, eventually “succumbed to his injuries.”

It said although Crawford had been confirmed as killed, he was added to a list of ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ (SDGT), by the US State Department in March this year.

T&T had also designated Crawford a terrorist.

The newspaper also reportedly contacted Crawford’s mother Joan, who had confirmed her son was hit in a US drone strike in October last year and eventually “succumbed to his injuries.”

“It feels like a part of me has gone. It’s something I know would have happened. As a Muslim I understand and accept, but as a mother I grieve,” the Middle East Eye quoted Crawford’s mother as saying.

Crawford left for Syria in 2013 and was believed to have been the first of more than 100 Trinidadians to leave the Caribbean nation for the Islamic State.

In March this year, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi obtained a High Court Order under the Anti-Terrorism Act declaring Crawford to be a listed entity and freezing his funds.

The order against Crawford, also known as “Abu Sa’d at-Trinidadi” and “Asadullah,” came after several months of intelligence sharing and investigative cooperation between T&T and its foreign counterparts, including the US and UK.

Crawford appeared in an ISIS recruitment video last year, where he called on Muslims in Trinidad to commit acts of violence against “non-believers.” Crawford, 31, is originally from Enterprise, Chaguanas, was also featured in an ISIS online propaganda magazine.

He first entered the public’s eye after being detained during the 2011 state of emergency and was investigated for an alleged plot to kill former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Despite being detained for 14 days, no charges were laid against him.

The US State Department has identified Crawford as an English language interpreter and propagandist for ISIS.

Under US law, sanctions are imposed on “foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals, or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.”

In 2014, his mother had told another newspaper that her son left this country because of a sense of “inadequacy” with what his life had become in T&T and because of the need to find a greater purpose. She had also said he would never leave Syria to return to T&T.

David Brash, managing director of Trinity Offshore Supply and Tow Ltd, which was recently awarded a contract to transport building materials and heavy equipment to Tobago on the Trinity Transporter barge, yesterday promised to deliver to the business community on time.

“I don’t think Tobago has enough cargo to fill the barge. It’s more than adequate. This barge carries a lot of big bulk cargo. We will see what will happen from this week,” Brash said.

Brash, whose company is based in South Oropouche, pleaded with Tobagonians to “keep an open mind. You will see that all the cargoes will be delivered exactly on time.”

His comments came in response to Tobago Chamber of Commerce chairman Demi John Cruikshank claim that stakeholders are still against the idea of a barge operating on the sea bridge.

Cruikshank’s comment came after the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) awarded Brash’s company the contract to transport cargo to on the sea bridge using its 70.2 metre long barge. The PATT also secured the MV Provider to replace the Super Fast Galicia, which will make is final voyage today.

The MV Provider will be used to transport container cargo and perishable goods.

From Sunday, both vessels, which have a longer sailing time than the Galicia, will service the inter-island ferry route.

PATT chairman Alison Lewis said the daily rent of the MV Provider will be US$14,500 while the Transporter will cost between US$8,000 to $10,000.

Asked yesterday if his company offered PATT a reduced price for use of its barge, Brash said yes.

“I gave them (PATT) a longer term price over 30 days. We don’t know if it is going to be there for more than two weeks. I still give it them.”

He said the barge will service Tobago at one third of the cost. Brash said three prices were offered to PATT in the tendering process. For a week or less, Brash said the cost was US$12,000 a day.

“We charge US$10,000 a day for 30 days or less. A daily fee of US$8,000 is charged for over 42 days. We agreed to give them (PATT) the barge for US$8,000 a day,” Brash disclosed.

Built in 1983, the Transporter was re-engineered in 2012, he said. Two years ago it was upgraded with bin walls.

“The barge can carry up to 5,000 metric tonnes,” Brash boasted.

On how many trucks it can accommodate, Brash said this would depend on their size.

“It can accommodate cars, trucks...whatever. The only thing you cannot put on it is passengers,” Brash said.

More efficient than Galicia

Also weighing in on the issue was vice president of the Shipping Association of T&T Garry Dalla Costa, who said the Transporter can accommodate three times more cargo than the Galicia.

Giving details about the Transporter, Dalla Costa said the Galicia can carry a capacity of 1,500 tonnes.

“So we are talking about three times the capacity. So on every one sailing of the Transporter you could have three times the capacity going to Tobago. I can give you that assurance she is in good shape,” Dalla Costa said.

“The Transporter will provide much more efficiency than the Galicia. The reason why I can tell you that, we used that vessel to transport cargo for several companies. The Tobago Chamber of Commerce has nothing to worry about.”

He said the Transporter was also heavily insured.

“The maritime authority has fully approved the Transporter.”

Dalla Costa said while the sailing time of the Transporter was ten hour while the Galicia takes five, “If I sail from Trinidad with a barge this afternoon it can arrive in Tobago early the next morning. It can work.”

Brash also insisted that his barge has a proven track record. It has transported aggregate, freight containers, drilling rigs, lowboys, trucks and trailers, he said.

He said the Transporter has been providing services to ports in Trinidad and Texas and Louisiana in the United States. It has also worked in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

Brash also said the Tobago Chamber of Commerce was jumping the gun by making utterances without seeing the barge’s specifics or in operations.

“As a matter of fact, if the Chamber use their head well, they would get the quarry business in Tobago kicked off. They can use this barge to bring all the materials from Tobago to build the highways in Trinidad. There are a lot of benefits for their businessmen for this barge working in Tobago.”

Truckers at the Scarborough Port yesterday forced the Port Authority of T&T to order the crew of the Super Fast Galicia to make a return trip to Trinidad last night, after the vessel’s crew indicated they were instead heading to Spain directly from Tobago.

The truckers became incensed when, after being made to wait for approximately 24 hours for the Galicia to get to Tobago, the local crew was ordered off the boat around 10 am because its foreign crew started preparations to sail to Spain, indicating their contract had expired and they had purchased their own fuel for the European journey.

But the enraged truckers stormed the vessel’s ramp to prevent it from leaving. The melee lasted for over one hour before the truckers started boarding the boat without authorisation. The action caused a traffic pile up in Scarborough and delayed the afternoon sailing of the T&T Express.

The crew eventually relented and agreed to take the truckers, most of whom were from Trinidad, back to Port-of-Spain. Heavily armed police officers also visited the port, but no one was arrested.

A T&T Coast Guard vessel, the TTS Carlibay, also arrived to escort the Galicia back to Trinidad. An officer also went aboard the Galicia to ensure the passengers and cargo arrived safely, as many feared the vessel might still divert to Spain on its way back.

Speaking to the media at the Scarborough Port, Trucker and Traders Association president Horace Amede said the truckers were ready to take legal action if the Galicia had sailed without their trucks.

“They had no other choice than to take the vehicles back to Trinidad, because this was the original arrangement, that the trucks would go back to Trinidad. If not we were going to take the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to court, because we have valid tickets for all these vehicles here to go back to Trinidad, so there was going to be a cost for staying in Tobago and every day that those vessels stayed in Tobago, additional cost was going to be added.”

He also reiterated that no trucks will be placed on any barge to transport goods between the islands.

“We don’t want to hear anything about any barge, that comes like a bad word right now,” Amede said.

“That barge situation is a total disrespect to us, because when you travel on the Galicia you are 30 feet from the water and you still get water spray, so how could you put your vehicle on a barge that there’s an eight-feet wall, so imagine what will happen to our vehicles.”

Amede also warned Tobagonians of a possible food shortage if their needs are not met.

The MV Atlantic Provider and the MV Transporter, which will be used in the interim until Government finds a replacement for the Galicia, are scheduled to service the sea bridge from tomorrow.

Chaos on last sailing

Approximately 13 local Galicia crew members were temporarily put off the vessel at the Scarborough Port by its captain yesterday.

A worker who requested anonymity said the crew was ordered to leave the vessel when it docked in Tobago around 10 am.

The Galicia made a round trip yesterday, both of which were delayed by several hours.

The first sailing departed Trinidad at 4.35 am, while the final sailing from Tobago to the Port-of-Spain Ferry Terminal was expected to depart at 8 pm.

The Tobago incident occurred after the Galicia’s trip from Trinidad was also delayed as the crew fuelled the boat for the trip to Spain.

“You don’t treat paying passengers this way because you are paid by the Government to provide a service,” the worker said.

“You could have seen anger and frustration on the faces of the passengers and truck drivers. People were quarrelling and cussing because they were not expecting this. I thought it would have been smooth sailing...at least for the last time, but it turned into chaos and confusion.”

The worker said the foreign crew was intent on heading to Spain until they realised they could face a backlash.

“They say their company tell them don’t put anything on the vessel because they did not get paid to take cargo back to Trinidad. So everybody walked out. It was only until the security outside insisted that the crew be put back on board they obliged. We spent about two hours on the port,” the worker said.

Yesterday, communications manager of the Inter-Island ferry Service, Vilma Lewis-Cockburn, admitted that the Galicia departed Trinidad late.

“Yes, the Galicia left late because they were taking bunkers from since yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. It was delayed by a few hours.”

Intercontinental Shipping Ltd (ISCL) now has the option to replace the Super Fast Galicia with another vessel, but it must fulfil the contract it signed with Government to service the sea bridge until October 17.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan yesterday told the T&T Guardian this was an option ICSL could work with to avoid a breach of contract and avoid a lawsuit from Government.

His comments came yesterday after attorney Dr Claude Denbow, SC, representing the ministry and the Port Authority of T&T (PATT), sent a letter to ICSL’s managing director John Powell advising the company to continue its charter hire agreement (CHA) on the inter island-ferry service until October 31, 2017, or face legal action. ICSL is acting agent for the Galicia.

Denbow is contending that withdrawal of the Galicia from the sea bridge was a breach of contract. In the letter, which was dated April 20, 2017, Denbow gave ICSL a 9 am deadline yesterday to respond, which they did.

Asked if ICSL’s response was favourable, Sinanan said some of the options presented “were not accepted, some were accepted.” He said he did not think ICSL had a choice in the matter because Transmed—the owner wants back its vessel.

‘That is the predicament we find ourselves in when we paid an attorney to find the boat. We are holding fast that there was a contract and they did not keep their end of the bargain and we are going to be billing them for any cost incurred,” he said.

Sinanan said one option ICSL can work with is to replace the Galicia with another vessel on the sea bridge.

“They can substitute a vessel that is equal to the Galicia. There is an option based on the agreement that they can substitute one vessel for the next. But they must have a vessel here, even if it is not the Galicia,” he said.

Asked if they have accepted this option, Sinanan said he knew ICSL “was trying to get a vessel here, so if the Galicia remains there can be a smooth transition. We cannot allow the sea bridge to operate without a vessel.”

Asked if his attorneys were still looking at legal action against ICSL, Sinanan said a final letter will be sent to ICSL by Denbow “in response to what they have sent to us. I think by the end of the day...we are adamant we had an arrangement based on the advice of the attorneys and the agreement was breached.”

A copy of the letter, signed by Denbow and copied to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, which the Trinidad Guardian obtained, drew to Powell’s attention that the original charter hire agreement between the Government and ICSL, who acts as agents for the owner of the Galicia, expired on April 30, 2016. It added that following correspondence between ICSL and the Government and PATT, the charter hire was extended for a further period of 18 months from May 1, 2017, at a daily rate of Euro 14,500.

“Senior Counsel has advised that charter hire agreement (CHA) is still in place. Indeed, its existence and continuing life has been acknowledged by the letter of August 12, 2016 from ICSL,” Denbow wrote.

Denbow indicated to Powell that the daily rate of Euro 14,500 continued to be paid to ICSL by the Government.

“Indeed, the PATT has paid to ICSL the sum of Euro 442,500 for the period April 1 to April 30, 2017,” Denbow wrote.

“Notwithstanding the foregoing and without any prior warning, ICSL by letter dated March 28, 2017, purported to terminate the CHA and give 17 days notice to withdraw the Galicia from service between T&T with effect from April 14, 2017. That date was subsequently extended to April 21, 2016.”

Denbow added, “As you are acutely aware, the Galicia performs a vital role in the speedy transportation of cargo between T&T. Its summary withdrawal from service will cause severe and fundamental disruptions to the conduct of business in Tobago.

“Already you would have witnessed the major outcry which has taken place as a result of the summary conduct of ICSL. Our clients have not been afforded the opportunity to arrange alternative transportation which would have been possible had you given advance notice or adequate notice to terminate.”

In any event, Denbow pointed out to ICSL that they were contractually bound to keep the vessel in service until October 31, 2017.

Speaking to CNC3 last night, Intercontinental managing director John Powell said they were looking into the matter.

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon says an investigation is to be conducted to determine if possible national security breaches were committed when a senior officer at the Gasparillo Police Station went to the nearby Tabaquite constituency office of Opposition MP Surujrattan Rambachan to photocopy police documents.

Rambachan made disclosure of the matter during his contribution to yesterday’s debate on a Government motion in the House of Representatives to approve the nomination of former Chief of Defence Staff, Commodore Anthony Franklin, as the fourth member of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Rambachan said in 2007 the Police Commissioner was given full authority to manage the Police Service, and consequently he wanted to know “how come a sergeant of police and policemen have to come to my office from the Gasparillo Police Station on a regular basis to get photo-copies of charge sheets and time sheets.” Rambachan said this was done up to yesterday morning, hours before the sitting.

Rambachan quickly added that he hoped “that by my saying this that nobody goes and discriminate against Sergeant Maharaj at the Gasparillo Police Station.”

“The public was there when he came to my office and I am saying this and I will defend him,” Rambachan said.

Rambachan told legislators, including Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, that the police officer was “only doing his job (as) he could not find the resources in the Gasparillo station and he was taking the trouble to do it (at my office).”

Minutes later, Dillon commented on the matter as he began his contribution, saying initially that he did not know why Rambachan called the officer’s name in the Parliament.

Dillon then said he had concerns with the officer’s decision to leave the station to copy a document in the MP’s office.

“The problem I have with that is the security implications. Why would a police officer go to a civilian office and photocopy (a document)?”

Dillon said the sergeant could have left a copy at the MP’s office and it could have been “scanned.”

Dillon then told Rambachan he had serious problems “with what (information) you have brought to this House and therefore I will cause some investigation (to take place) to find out why (that was done by the police officer).” He said there were “other resources that are available” for the officers to do their work.

Dillon insisted: “I have serious problem with that from the Member for Tabaquite.”

Leader of Government Business, Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis also endorsed the need for a proper investigation into the matter involving the officer. She said such behaviour should be denounced, adding it was “passing strange that a member of the Police Service should think that he had the right or the need to go the Office of the MP.”

Robinson-Regis said she questioned “whether that officer now feels beholden to the MP for Tabaquite.”

She then recalled another police officer, Surujdeen Persad, had written then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar identifying a list of officers who should be fired from the Strategic Intelligence Agency (SIA). She said all the named officers were subsequently fired by the former government.

She said she hoped the matter involving Maharaj “will be examined by the Police Commissioner and the internal investigations unit of the Police Service.”

Government and Opposition MPs all layer spoke in support of Franklin’s nomination as a member of the PSC.