Stacy Mohammed and her 15-year-old son Antonio were two of the 30 passengers who were on board American Airlines Flight 2713 from Miami on Wednesday night who were thanking God for life yesterday.

Mohammed, 35, admitted to being left highly traumatised after the flight was forced to make an emergency landing at the Piarco International Airport due to turbulence.

“It was like a nightmare. I remembered going into the washroom and thinking to myself ‘Please Jesus, I don’t want to die on this plane.’”

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Mohammed said she is thanking God for life.

“I prayed so hard to reach Trinidad safely and for nothing to happen to my son and I.”

Minutes after saying this prayer and making it back to her seat beside her son on the aircraft, the plane dropped, causing both of them and several other passengers to “lift off their seats for a split second.”

“Screams filled the cabin. I looked at my son to see if he was okay. He had hit his head very hard on the right side and above the eye, which up to now remains swollen,” Mohammed said.

She also sustained an injury to the head after smashing into the seat in front of her in row 13.

Mohammed said she and her son were returning from a ten-day vacation in the US Virgin Islands, St Croix and had a connecting flight to Piarco from Miami International Airport. She said about two-and-a-half hours into the flight the incident occurred.

“The flight from St Croix was smooth, same airline but was very good. When we left Miami at 5.36 pm, very shortly after take off I knew something was wrong. I was very heavy. It was a rough flight and had a lot of drops due to the air pockets caused by the turbulence,” Mohammed said.

The flight AA 2713 departed from Miami from Terminal N Gate D11.

“We had about one hour again to reach Piarco so I decided to go to the wash room. While in there I had to hold on for my life I felt like. I prayed because I did not want to die in there. When I came out I had to almost creep back to my seat. When I got there, a few minutes after my son and I flew off our seats as there was a big drop,” she added.

Mohammed said an elderly couple just behind her also sustained serious injuries. “One of the man’s tooth broke and his wife hit her head.” She said as far as she could remember they all had on seatbelts as they were cautioned by crew members to keep secured because of the severe turbulence.

“Up in the sky have no branches you know. It was so scary. Up to now I am very traumatised and I tried to sleep when I got to my home but I constantly had nightmares,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed noted that there was a “noticeable” delay in landing at Piarco and wondered why.

However, in an audio recording acquired by the T&T Guardian there was a 30-minute approach time to land at Piarco. The recording revealed exchanges in radio communication between the pilot and Air Traffic Control, where the pilot informed the ATC that they were trying to stabilise the aircraft for landing and needed a delay time.

“Medical assistance is waiting on your arrival,” the ATC told the pilot.

When the aircraft landed Mohammed said they were told to remain in the cabin.

“We were being treated by the crew. I remember seeing children who fell off their seats being attended to. My son and I both had on our seatbelts and we got banged up. When we reached medical people came on board to see about us.”

Asked if they were contacted during the day yesterday by the airline, Mohammed replied: “I am quite disappointed. All our information was taken by the airline crew members but up to now I have not received a phone call from them to find out how my son and I are doing. Very disappointing. I intend to go and seek further medical treatment for myself and my son by a private doctor.”

The T&T Guardian understands the severe turbulence was the main cause of the problem as there was no mechanical issue.

“At the time of the ‘big drop’ some people did not have on their seatbelts. They were cautioned at take off of the turbulence ahead and to remain buckled in for their safety,” another passenger on the flight, who did not want to be identified, told the T&T Guardian.

Turbulence trauma! The Piarco International Airport compound turned into an emergency scene on Wednesday night to handle passengers from American Airlines Flight 2713 who’d suffered injuries after the flight encountered turbulence en route from Miami.

The Airport Authority of T&T (AATT), which confirmed the development yesterday morning, said a total of 30 passengers were injured.

The Health Ministry confirmed the majority of patients received minor injuries. Three were taken to the Arima Heath Facility and attended to, and two were discharged. However, one person was transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope and warded for overnight attention, where she remained up to yesterday “resting under observation.”

“The injuries (of the warded passenger) aren’t life threatening,” Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said, declining—under patient confidentiality constraints—to identify the person.

Speaking to T&T Guardian after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Deyalsingh said he’d been told initially on Wednesday night that there were 27 on board who would have been affected.

“The final count was that nine people were affected, six of which were very minor injuries,” he said, detailing the other three who were treated, including the one warded at EWMSC.

Deyalsingh explained that in occurrences of severe air turbulence, airline passengers can sustain injuries ranging from minor issues to fractures, cardiac arrest and anxiety.

The drama unfolded aboard the aircraft, en route to Port-of-Spain when it encountered turbulence, likely caused by the inter-tropical convergence zone which has affected the region in the last 48 hours. Passengers included holiday makers returning home.

Ahead of landing in T&T, flight crew contacted the Airport Control Tower at Piarco to advise that the flight had experienced severe turbulence while en route.

The AATT in turn contacted Health Ministry senior medical staff and AATT and emergency response agencies arrived on site immediately to lend immediate care-support. Medical personnel provided immediate care on the scene.

Deyalsingh said after he was advised of the flight’s issues, he mobilised a fleet of ambulances.

“I was told initially there were 27 on board who would have been affected so I immediately liaised with the Ambulance and Accident and Emergency services from several areas—from Arima, Sangre Grande, Mt Hope Complex, Port-of-Spain and St James—and mobilised them for standby in case we had 27 cases to attend to. We were preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best,” Deyalsingh said.

The T&T Guardian was told the crew didn’t sustain injuries.

Government is yet to make a decision on who will be financing the Sandals Resort in Tobago, which will be built on the controversial Buccoo Estate, popularly known as No Man’s Land.

This was disclosed by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, after Finance Minister Colm Imbert defended Government’s acquisition of the land as part of its efforts to recover a $15 billion debt owed CL Financial (CLF).

“Actually, I just got a message from them (Sandals) the negotiations are continuing. We are hoping to tie up those negotiations in the next couple weeks,” Young said.

Young was unable to say how much of the lands will be used by Sandals, stating it would all depend on the size of the resort. Asked who will be funding the project, Young said those were issues Government was discussing.

“Government is looking at some innovative policies. We have not yet made a final decision as to how we will be financing,” Young said.

However, when asked when the project would start, Imbert said he could not say.

Imbert said he was surprised that Project Rebirth, which was submitted by the CLF shareholders to the Government in January 2017, had valued Buccoo Estate at $867 million in a December 13, 2016 report without obtaining a proper valuation. He said on page two of the report, it said it should not be relied upon by anyone for any purpose whatsoever.

“You think it is reasonable for a submission of that nature to be sent to the Government, who is acting in the public interest trying to recover $23 billion of public funds, to say it cannot be relied upon by anyone whatsoever.”

Last Tuesday, the State was given the all clear by the court to appoint provisional liquidators to preserve the assets of CLF, as it seeks to recover the debt following its 2009 bailout of the conglomerate. Government has bailed out CLF-related companies to the tune of more than $23 billion, but to date about $7.5b has been repaid.

Another strange feature of the report, Imbert said, was a valuation of Home Construction lands at $960 million, while another piece of land adjacent to the HC land at Buccoo was valued at $867 million. The lands valued at $867 million is owned by Occidental Investments Ltd and Oceanic Properties Ltd, two subsidiary companies of Clico, Imbert said. The two parcels of land are on the Buccoo Estate and Golden Grove Estate.

“But there is no valuation of those two parcels of land. This is the important thing,” Imbert said of the document provided by the shareholders.

He explained that in August 2014, Home Construction engaged Terra Caribbean to value the Buccoo lands, comprising 147 acres, and that valuation put the market value at $75 million.

“But in Project Rebirth they valued that land at $960 million. So this idea that the Government was somehow trying to steal these land at a fraction of its value is nonsense,” he said.

He said while one particular “mouthpiece” has been questioning the value of the Golden Grove Estate, if the Central Bank has to transfer any assets to the Government in repayment of debt, an independent valuation must be done. He said Central Bank did two evaluations with local firm GA Farrell and international firm Duff and Phelps.

Imbert said GA Farrell produced a 2016 report of all the properties on the Golden Grove Estate, assuming it would be used for an integrated resort development, which was submitted to the Central Bank and valued the 382-acre parcel of land at $170 million.

Duff and Phelps’ evaluation was done in February 2017. Imbert explained that while GA Farrell did not value a 16-acre parcel of “sewer lands” on the estate, Duff and Phelps did and placed the value of the land at $174.8 million, the price Government bought the land for. After adding two family homes on the Golden Grove Estate, also known as Samaan Grove, some other assets and tax relief, Duff and Phelps put the final value at $186.3m.

Imbert also dismissed reports that Government had acquired Samaan Grove, which Clico Policyholders Group chairman Peter Permell had said was excluded from the valuation of the Buccoo Estate.

“I have no understanding of how Samaan Grove, which is not part of this acquisition, arrived into this conversation… So all of this talk from these mouth pieces about undervaluation is just baseless.”

Noting the cost of lands on the island, Imbert said the Bacolet Estate, which stands on 300 acres and has more land for actual usage than the Buccoo Estate, was recently sold for approximately $150 million.

Imbert also announced the appointment of Justice Rolston Nelson as chairman of Unit Trust Corporation board.

Don’t call me any “mouthpiece!” That’s the general retort to Finance Minister Colm Imbert from former People’s National Movement minister in the Finance Ministry Mariano Browne and Clico Policyholders’ Group chairman Peter Permell, following Imbert’s statements on CL Financial yesterday.

Both rejected Imbert’s inference about being “mouthpieces” for recently making statements on the CLF matter.

In Imbert’s lengthy post-Cabinet presentation yesterday, he raised concerns about various aspects of the overall CLF matter, including statements by CLF shareholders, Permell and Browne, panning them as actions of alleged “mouthpieces.”

Imbert also revealed Government is probing several issues, including the CL World Brands aspect and the transfer of shares from CLF significant shareholder Lawrence Duprey to Dalco representative Carlton Reis. (See page A5)

Reis is overseas and didn’t answer calls on Imbert’s statements. Former Clico CEO Claudius Dacon meanwhile indicated that attorneys for CLF majority shareholders were examining Imbert’s statements.

But Permell, slamming Imbert’s claim, said, “It’s rather unfortunate and regrettable that the Minister who represents the Government would resort to name-calling of people who are raising legitimate concerns on behalf of the groups they represent, by referring to them as ‘mouthpieces’.

“I consider it rather derogatory and demeaning and totally unbecoming of a Finance Minister. As for the Minister’s claim that I’m have no locus standi in the matter, I never claimed to be a CLF or Clico shareholder - and I’m happy I’m not one, in light of what’s going on with those two companies.”

Permell added, “His claim that I’m not a policyholder is also incorrect. He’s either misinformed or doesn’t know what ‘cashed in’ means in the insurance context. There is a policy with my name on it either at Clico or the Finance Ministry.” Browne said Imbert’s comments seemed to be a smokescreen to distract from the real issues of the CLF matter, “Answer the questions on it...,” he said.

Browne added, “I spoke on nobody’s behalf. I may not be an MP or have political responsibilities, but it’s important that public policy failures be addressed

“In the matter of the CLF/Clico bailout rescue plan, the state’s hands are not clean. They haven’t fulfilled the requirements of the agreement with shareholders, in particular, they’ve failed in their duty of care to taxpayers, shareholders, the interest of good governance and to CLF.” Browne called for Imbert to say how the state had spent $3.456 billion on CLF, which he said had been a figure given by Imbert and how this is now being described as only $250 million.

He said it wasn’t enough for Imbert to accuse his (Browne’s) figures of being wrong, since he claimed Imbert had given the $3b figure before.

“This Minister has accused previous finance ministers of dereliction of duty regarding CLF and the Clico group, when he needs to explain how the current administration is undertaking to have a $100 billion growth company wound up for $23 billion.”

Queen of Bacchanal World Tour 2017 may now be canceled for T&T’s soca artiste Destra Garcia following an accident in Bermuda after she fell through a stage during her performance.

Garcia suffered a broken ankle and is expected to undergo surgery, according to sources close to her. She was also expected to return to T&T last night.

Garcia was performing at the Cup Match Summer Splash event in Bermuda when tragedy struck.

The artiste, also known as Lucy, had to be fitted with a neck brace and removed from the stage on a stretcher.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, a fellow colleague in the soca arena and friend of Garcia, Ancil “Blaze” Isaac Jr said that infrastructure is something that they would all have to look into closely as most of them “took it for granted.”

“We take everything for granted. We go and do a sound check and make sure the sound is ok but we actually have to make sure that the infrastructure of the said event is working for us,” Isaac said.

He said that they may even have to employ Occupation Safety and Health personnel. “Things like short stage and monitors in your way, we have to look at because they are serious safety concerns. We may have to get OSHA people involved to check to make sure the stage is safe for us.”

The CNC3’s Rundown show host even suggested that a clause is included in their respective contracts, “It will work out well for us to safeguard ourselves and also safeguard promoters against being sued for something like this.”

Asked if he made contact with Garcia and/or her manager, Brian Morris, Blaze replied “yes” and added that he was told that she was in “extreme pain.”

When contacted Canada-based promoter, Kenson King said he was saddened by the incident and wished Garcia a speedy and full recovery.

For the three events carded for this weekend’s Caribana, in Toronto, King said the shows will go on without her but added that a “Gell Well Soon” dedication will take place at one of the three events.

“We want Destra to know that she is missed and we all are sad as to what happened and is wishing her a quick recovery and that we look out for her in the future. Destra is well loved by us all,” King said.

Garcia’s tour included Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, Virgin Islands (for next week’s Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs East End leg of the festival) and Toronto, Canada.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has ordered two separate probes in the face of major discrepancies involving transactions at CL Financial, one being the transfer of shares reportedly worth $10 billion for a mere $99.

Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, Imbert, who gave a background into the events which led to the current imbroglio between Government and the shareholders, said after searching the company’s registry after it was announced CL Financial’s shares were worth $40 billion, it was discovered that in 1998 Dalco Capital Management Company, which owns 26 per cent of CLF, was first incorporated with Lawrence Duprey as the owner.

He said in 2015 Carlton Reis was appointed a director of Dalco and in January the following year Duprey transferred his shares to Reis. Imbert said if the value of the Dalco shares was correct the Finance Ministry will have to probe the matter, since there was the question of whether the correct taxes were paid.

“The shares were transferred at a value of $99. So Dalco is the owner of 26 per cent of CL Financial which, according to Mr Reis, is worth $40 billion. So 26 per cent of $40 billion is $10 billion stamp duty and a transfer of shares worth $10 billion is $50 million,” Imbert said.

“The transfer of shares worth $99 stamp duty is 50 cents. The Finance Ministry will be investigating this matter to see why the company that is purportedly valued by one of its owners at $40 billion...why the shares were transferred for $99 dollars instead at a rate of $10 million..attracting stamp duty of $50 million.”

Imbert said if it is found the transfer was not appropriately done, it is possible that $50 million in duties could go to the consolidated fund and filter into strengthening various infrastructure throughout the country.

“We need to see how is it possible for this billion dollar company to be valued at only $99,” Imbert said.

The other probe, the minister said, involves CL World Brands and its relationship to Angostura Ltd. He said information from statements derived from Colonial Life’s audited accounts showed that Angostura is owned “45 per cent by a company called Rumpro, thirty-two per cent by Colonial Life Insurance Co and 22 per cent by the public... more or less.

“Rumpro is owned 100 per cent by a company called CL World Brands incorporated in Scotland and by a series of declarations of trust and transfers for money received, CL World Brands is owned 42 per cent by Colonial Life, 38 per cent by CL Financial and 20 per cent by Clico Investment Bank,” Imbert said.

He said between Colonial Investment Bank and Colonial Life, they own 62 per cent of CL World Brands.

“When you add the 32 per cent that is owned by Colonial Life directly and Angostura and then take account of the 45 per cent of Rumpro that is owned by CL World Brands, the net result of all of this is that CL Financial only owns 17 per cent of Angostura,” he said.

“Rumpro owns 45 per cent of Angostura...CL World Brands owns 100 per cent of Rumpro and CL Financial owns 38 per cent of CL World Brands... so CL Financial owns just 17 per cent of Angostura. But for some reason all of the profits flowing from these companies have been finding their way into the bank account of CL Financial...something is very wrong.”

He said all audited accounts of Colonial Life from 2015 showed it had ownership in CL World Brands.

Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams will be the first ever male police officer to be recognised by the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) for his role in empowering women police officers.

In a media release issued yesterday by the Public Affairs Unit of the Police Service, stated Williams will be bestowed the first ever, Male Award in Support of ‘HeForShe’, 2017, for his role in giving female officers opportunities excel in the organisation. The award will be bestowed on him at the 55th Annual Training Conference, being held from 17th to 21st September 2017, in Cairns, Australia. The release does not state whether Williams will be attending the award ceremony.

The IAWP, founded in 1915 and based in Maryland, USA, promotes the role of women in policing and envisions the world where police officers reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and where human rights are protected. Its mission is to strengthen, unite and raise the capacity of women in policing internationally.

In 2014, Williams recommended to the Police Service Commission then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anne Marie Alleyne-Daly, to act as Commissioner in his absence, making her the first woman to perform this role. Alleyne-Daly would go on to act on multiple other occasions. Commissioner Williams is also being recognised for the largest number of women officers being promoted under his tenure.

The release boasted that the police service has a 26 per cent female population, an 11 per cent increase compared to police in North America. The Trinidad and Tobago Police also has one female deputy commissioner, one assistant commissioner, 10 senior superintendents, six superintendents and 11 women assistant superintendents of police.

A prisoner who escaped from the Couva Police Station yesterday after he was charged with possession of a device used for consuming illegal drugs was recaptured last night.

Police said the prisoner, identified as Ishmeed Mohammed, also known as Randy Geshmeed, was held at his home in California, Central Trinidad arund 7 pm.

The police service has not issued any statement about the circumstances surrounding his escape.

However, a senior police officer said that Mohammed had been charged with possession of an apparatus adapted for the use of a dangerous drug.

He said around 10 am, a police officer was placing him into a police vehicle to take him to the Couva Magistrates Court when he overpowered the officer and ran away.

A handcuffed Mohammed was last seen running along the main road, T&T Guardian was told.

He is likely to be charged with escaping legal custody and larceny of handcuffs.

Eight of the 20 Chinese nationals who were held on Monday during a police raid in Port-of-Spain have been released as their work permits were verified by immigration officials.

Communications manager at the Ministry of National Security Marcia Hope confirmed that the men were released shortly after their detention. The men are employed with Shanghai Construction and are in the country legally with all the necessary paper work in order.

The remaining 12 are still in custody at the Immigration Detention Centre along with a Cuban national, a Venezuelan and four Guyanese nationals, who were also detained. The 26 were held during a joint police and immigration on Charlotte Street on Monday.

The raid was led by Snr Supt Glen Charles and included officers of the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigation Department, Immigration Division, and the City Police. On Monday Charles called on the business owners to refrain from hiring illegal immigrants as they too can be arrested and prosecuted for aiding and abetting. Charles had described the working and living quarters of the eight Chinese nationals as inhumane. The other 12 Chinese were held at a nearby grocery, while the others were held along Charlotte Street.

People seeking to find information about forested and protected areas within T&T can log on to the new national website in order to learn more about the projects and activities aimed at preventing biodiversity loss and promoting environmental preservation.

Currently being administered by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on behalf of the Government, the four-year project which is just about half-way completed is intended to be the main repository of information on forests and protected areas.

The website—www.protectedareastt.org.tt—will initially provide profiles of six pilot sites in which the current project is focused.

The sites include the Caroni Swamp, the Nariva Swamp, the Matura Forest and coastal zone, Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Main Ridge Forest Reserve in Tobago and the North East Tobago Marine pilot protected area.

The profiles will include notes on each site’s location, boundaries, legal designation, socio-economic description, wildlife assets and management.

Introduced during a formal launch at the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), St Clair yesterday, chief technical advisor, Project Coordination Unit, Neila Bobb-Prescott, said the initiative was geared towards developing a new Protected Area (PA) system, enhancing management effectiveness, and improving the expertise of staff with responsibility to manage PA’s in T&T.

With an estimated 60 per cent of T&T under forest cover, Bobb-Prescott said managing biodiversity was important as it provided national and global benefits which was under constant threat.

She said even though forests in T&T have been formally reserved since 1776, apart from their declaration as PA’s under multiple laws, efforts to manage biodiversity remain disjointed and ineffective.

Senior policy officer of the FAO, Dr Terri Raney, said the project was aimed at improving the management of these natural sites in order to increase and improve the provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and also increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.

She said while the conservation objective establishes a clear statement about the purpose of designating each site a PA, it would feature outlines about the unique attributes of each site, tourism potential, eco-system services, and livelihood potential.

Applauding the efforts of both State agencies and non-governmental organisations to promote environmental protection and preservation, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat said his ministry remained committed to this initiative.

Members of the public are being urged to carefully exercise their buying power in the coming weeks by the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), who yesterday called for a boycott of 120 franchise stores and other business outfits owned and operated by the “elitist one per cent.”

In making the call during a rally in Port-of-Spain yesterday, JTUM president Ancel Roget said, “The time has come for us to take back power and place it in the hands of those who deserve it.”

Addressing the workers who participated in yesterday’s united labour march through the streets of the capital, Roget promised that trade unions would soon be circulating to members a detailed and extensive listing of the business establishments involved.

The “one per cent” phrase was first mentioned by businessman Mario Sabga-Aboud in June, during airing of travel star Anthony Bourdain’s segment on T&T in his culinary show Parts Unknown. Following public outrage over remarks termed insensitive and irresponsible, Sabga-Aboud later issued a public apology.

But yesterday, Roget told the crowd workers were the most powerful tool in generating revenue both in the public and private sectors, adding, “Joking time is over.”

He said without workers, employers would not be able to conduct business and realise a profit, and as such they should “prepare to take control and know where to spend your money.”

He said the trade union movement will be meeting within the coming week to finalise the list and advised members to get ready for battle as they would also be called upon to picket the various Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Employers’ Consultative Association (ECA) for advising employers on what he claimed was the wrongful exploitation of workers.

When the T&T Guardian called Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus for a comment last night her husband answered and said she was unavailable and asked that we call back. Calls thereafter went unanswered. ECA chairman Keston Nancoo and president of T&T Chamber of Commerce Gabriel Faria were unsuccessful last evening.

Various union leaders also yesterday criticised the People’s National Movement for its handling of the economy thus far. Among them was Amalgamated Workers Union’s first vice president Michael Prentiss, who urged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to take a step back and re-evaluate the road his party was travelling. He said, “Pull yourself together, we are not happy. You have gone off course and you need to get back on track.” 

Police are searching for two men who were captured on tape robbing the Kam Wong Chinese Restaurant in Arouca on Thursday night.

Three video clips totalling one minute and nine seconds of the unmasked bandits were circulated on social media shortly after the robbery. The bandits, one armed with a gun, robbed customers and the owner of undisclosed cash and valuables.

One of the thieves, who was captured shoving a man and stealing a woman’s handbag, later carefully returned a bank card to a woman his accomplice had previously stole a cell phone from.

In the video, the man is seen gesturing to the woman, demanding her valuables, while she gestures that the other man had taken all she had.

After taking the money from the cashier and placing it in a bag, the thieves leave.

Police said last evening that they expect to arrest the men soon, since the footage “is very clean.”

Three female police officers accused of attempting to cover up a traffic accident earlier this year have been released on $100,000 bail each.

Inspector Jurneal Alexis, Sgt Natasha Morrison and Cpl Nicole Andrews were granted bail by Magistrate Aden Stroude in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court after being charged over the incident, which occurred on January 30.

Alexis and Morrison were charged with perverting the course of justice, while Andrews was charged with failing to take action knowing that a criminal offence was being committed. The three officers were not called upon to plead to the charges, which were laid indictably.

The officers were taken to the courthouse around 6.30 am in an apparent move by their colleagues to evade media personnel outside the court.

Also, instead of accessing their bail at the courthouse after their appearance, the officers were placed in a prisoner transport van by themselves and were taken to the Golden Grove State Prison.

Their bail was approved shortly after their arrival at the prison and they were allowed to leave with their family members. The T&T Guardian contacted T&T Police Service (TTPS) public information officer ASP Michael Pierre, who said the organisation would not issue a press release with the officers’ photographers, as done in other high profile matters.

According to the charges, on the date of the incident Alexis and Morrisson were driving in a vehicle assigned to the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) when it was struck by another vehicle.

While Alexis was driving the vehicle, Morrison allegedly reported that she was the driver as Alexis’ driver’s permit had expired. Andrews was the officer who took the report.

The officers were investigated by the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) after another officer, who allegedly witnessed the report being made and refused to participate, reported it.

The officers were detained by detectives of the PSB earlier this week and placed on identification parades before the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that they be charged.

Alexis and Morrison were represented by Fareed Ali, while Andrews was represented by Cedric Neptune. The officers will reappear in court on September 1.

At five and a half months pregnant, Yudee Seepersad now has to find the strength to move on after her boyfriend was killed near his business, just outside the family’s St Helena home.

Seepersad, who believes the child she is carrying is a boy, spoke with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, as she recalled hearing the gunshots that took boyfriend Ian Jordan’s life.

Jordan, 31 and his neighbourhood friend Dillon Samuel, 20, were gunned down Thursday night.

According to police reports, around 9.30pm a white Nissan Tiida pulled up near Jordan’s mini-mart at the front of his Herrera Road, Kelly Village, St Helena home and opened fire.

After hitting Samuel, the car stopped so that the killers could properly shoot at their target.

Police said last evening they had no definitive motive for the double killing, which has taken the murder toll to 286 for the year.

Seepersad, who also has a seven-year-old daughter with Jordan, said he was not involved in anything criminal and believed the killings may have stemmed from disagreements he had with people in the area who hated his strong personality.

“It was not a robbery, they didn’t come to do anything else but kill them. They come to do a job and made sure it was done,” Seepersad said.

“He was liked and respected but there were those who found him to be too strong. If he believed something is right there is no changing his mind.

“There were falling outs with people in the village, but he was not one who holds grudges.

But like whoever he got away with, probably didn’t let it go.”

She added that Jordan’s goal was to leave a legacy for his daughter, as everything he did was driven by the need to provide for her. She said it was their daughter who suggested that the mini-mart be named “Izzy” after her, but the couple never got around to doing that having opened on Monday and up to Thursday. She added that Jordan was a part time scrap iron dealer and farmer and would do anything legal to ensure his child had everything.

“I was just counting down the time for the birth of this child and now I have to be calm on top of this, and be strong for the family on top of this. Ian took pride in everything he did because he believed if he doing something he must do it to the best.

“To me it is very hurtful going in the parlour but I don’t want to close it down. I don’t feel brave now. Every car pass I feel threatened. I am uneasy,” Seepersad said as she wept and wiped the tears away with her hands.

Speaking earlier, Samuel’s mother, Cathy Simon, said her eldest child would have celebrated his 21 birthday in two weeks. She said her son, a customer service representative at Car Search, spent Thursday at home as he was not feeling well.

Simon said: “The only thing negative I thought might have happened to him was that he would be arrested for smoking marijuana. He was a quiet child, never gave any trouble, never arrested or nothing. I guess he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Samuel, of Rabindranath Street, Kelly Village, was eating a meal of fried chicken and fries when he was shot dead. His step-brother, Kenny Simon, was murdered six years ago while walking along Rabindranath Street. Samuel’s step-father, Renison Simon, said the two were killed in similar fashion and all he could do now is to cope as best as he can and move on.

For what purpose is Government ordering a probe of a private entity such as Dalco Capital Management and is this a witch hunt to persecute people regarding the CL Financial issue?

That’s the question which Carlton Reis (Dalco Capital Management Company Ltd) has posed to Finance Minister Colm Imbert following Imbert’s claims about Dalco on Thursday.

Imbert had said Government would be probing the transfer of shares from CLF, reportedly worth $10B by CLF significant shareholder Lawrence Duprey to Dalco and Reis for a mere $99.

Imbert also announced a second probe to determine how all profits from the companies under CL World Brands were being put into CL Financial to settle subsidiaries’ debts, and not being used to repay the 2009 bailout debt owed after Clico’s collapse.

But Reis in a subsequent statement noting Imbert’s warning about probe of the matter, said: “The company (Dalco) wishes to advise the Minister that it is a private company and owns shareholding in CL Financial and not the converse.”

“All company business is carried out with the upmost compliance with the laws of T&T and are done in full conformity with legal and accounting advice from reputable local and international professionals.”

“The timing of such investigations lends itself to the appearance of a witch hunt meant to intimidate and to persecute private individuals for standing up for their constitutional rights under the Republican Constitution of T&T.”

Reis added: “However, the company wishes to pose a number of questions to Minister Imbert including: under what enactment of law gives the Minister of Finance the power to order a probe into the private affairs of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago?”

“What body has Minister Imbert charged with the investigation into the sale of Dalco? Is it the Board of Inland Revenue and if so has the Minister sought legal advice on how to interpret his powers under this act?”

“For what purpose is the Minister Imbert acting in ordering a probe of a private entity and citizen of T&T?”

Reis queried how many other similar transactions Imbert had ordered probes into since he assumed the role as Finance Minister.

“Minister Imbert’s latest actions may be construed as arbitrary and may be seen as an attempt to trample on the enshrined principle of the separation of powers.

Reis reminded Imbert that section 4 (a), (b) and (d) of the Republican Constitution protects:

(a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law;

(b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;

(d) the right of the individual to equality of treatment from any public authority in the exercise of any functions;

Reis added: “It’s shocking that Minister Imbert would claim CL Financial is insolvent and has more liabilities than assets one week and then the next week express such optimism about the value of company that owns 27 per cent of CL Financial.”

“Had the Government complied with the order of the Court to provide audited financials of CL Financial then there would be no need for such probes.”

Responding Imbert said yesterday: “The Companies Registry is a public forum. The records of all companies, whether private or public are available for any member of the public to scrutinise, either by walking in or going online.”

“The ownership of companies, and the transfer of shares in companies, and the capital value of shares in companies, of any kind, is public, not private.”

Imbert didn’t reply on who is handling the probes—whether forensic auditor, police, the Ministry’s Central Audit division or private contractor.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert has advised that chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group Peter Permell has no contractual relationship with Clico and is owned no money.

In a press release issued yesterday, Imbert stated that he has taken note of a statement made by Permell yesterday that he was still a Clico policyholder and he wants the balance of the money due to him from Clico.

In response to Permell’s comments, Imbert said that the ministry’s records would show that on May 22, 2012, Permell accepted the former Government’s offer for the purchase of his Clico policies by virtue of Deeds of Assignment and Declarations of Trust in respect of two Executive Flexible Premium Annuities (EFPA) with Clico.

Based on Permell’s acceptance, Imbert said he received the sum of $75,000 in cash for each policy, with the rest being paid in bonds.

“Further, in May 2012, in full and final settlement, Permell also relinquished all claims to these policies and signed a clear and unequivocal waiver of all future claims against Clico with respect to these policies,” Imbert stated.

As a result, Imbert has been advised that Permell no longer has any contractual relationship with Clico, and, contrary to his assertions, there is no balance of money due to him from Clico whatsoever.

Permell in an interview on Thursday said Imbert’s claim that he was not a policyholder was incorrect.

“He’s either misinformed or doesn’t know what ‘cashed in’ means in the insurance context. There is a policy with my name on it either at Clico or the Finance Ministry,” Permell said.

He also rejected a statement made by Imbert that he was a “mouthpiece” for CL Financial shareholders.

Despite being criticised by the trade union movement over the years, former Petrotrin executive chairman Malcolm Jones remained unfazed because he knew he did nothing wrong.

So said his daughter Fay Blackburne, who described her father as a wonderful gentleman, a loving father and a great husband who contributed a lot to this country.

Jones, 74, succumbed to a prolonged illness at Petrotrin’s Augustus Long Hospital in Pointe-a-Pierre yesterday.

Over the years and even as recent as last year, Jones felt the wrath of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union which accused him of mismanagement of the state-owned company.

Jones had resigned in 2010 following allegations of misconduct. The Ancel Roget-led OWTU then staged a protest in front of Jones’ San Fernando home demanding that the government revoke his 2015 appointment to a State energy committee.

In an interview at Jones’ home in St Joseph Village, San Fernando, hours after her father’s death Blackburne said although her father was ailing he so loved this country that he still worked even though he was ill.

Asked if his troubles with the union had impacted on his health, she said, “It did not.

“He was not bothered by that because he knew what he did and he loved this country so much that he still contributed even though he was not well.”

She said her father was alert, pain-free and died peacefully. She said when they left him yesterday he was checking his email and playing sudoku.

Recounting his fondest memories about his former Presentation college schoolmate and close friend, Winston Rudder said Jones was like a brother to him. Rudder said he admired his honesty, integrity, brilliance and commitment to public service.

Recalling the last conversation with Jones on Thursday night, he said, “His mood was sombre, he knew he was very ill. The last thing he said to me was to tell my wife and daughter, who is his god-daughter, good night. And I told him to be strong and I will speak with him in the morning.”

The family has not yet finalised funeral arrangements. The grandfather of three is survived by his wife Brenda and five children.

Energy Minister:

Jones transformed T&T

Energy Minister Franklin Khan described Malcolm Jones as “a true pioneer whose dedication and commitment to the development of the domestic energy sector was unquestionable.”

In a statement yesterday, Khan said Jones’ career spanned over 40 years. The minister said during that period Jones “served with distinction” at the executive level in several State enterprises including his last tenure in 2009 as the executive chairman of Petrotrin.

“He was a member of a group of visionaries who transformed T&T’s energy sector into a world-class location and laid the foundation for the country’s economic development. As a country, we are indebted to pioneers like Mr Malcolm Jones whose contributions to T&T helped us gain international recognition as an important energy province and favoured site for energy sector investment,” the release stated.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, the entire energy fraternity and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, I wish to recognise the invaluable contribution that Mr Malcolm Jones made to our country and to extend my sincerest condolences to his family,” Khan stated.

As the municipal police moves to crack down on illegal parking and street vending in San Fernando from next week, calls are being made for a designated area for street vending and parking.

The calls were made following a walkabout by municipal police headed by Snr Supt Carlyle Huggins to sentisise business owners and street vendors along the main shopping area at High Street about the law.

Huggins, who in charge of the southern region spanning from Couva to Point Fortin said, “We are here on a walkabout on High Street just to talk to business community about the parking because we have a robust wrecking system in place. It started about two weeks ago, although we haven’t really wrecked much vehicles on High Street.”

Huggins said on Wednesday the officers did a cursory walkabout and observed that some people were parking their vehicles for the entire day, when the law provides only for the loading and offloading of goods.

He said another issue was illegal vending.

“We have a lot of parents shopping for school clothes, books, so the place is filled up. We want to speak to the people who are doing the illegal vending that they should not block the pathway. As a matter of fact they should desist from vending illegally on the pavements. If you observe some people have to step out on the road which is dangerous to their health. “

Huggins said they will be allowing the street vendors and business people a grace period to put their house in order.

“But, some time next week we will exercise zero tolerance,” he said.

He said this will be an ongoing exercise which will also be initiated at various areas in the southern region.

In response, Michael Prince, spokesperson for the street vendors, said, “We don’t mind they cracking down on street vending as long as they provide a place for the vendors to ply their trade.”

San Fernando Business Association president Daphne Bartlett said they support the police upholding the law but it must be on an even playing field. She said while the business community are being targeted for illegal parking she was yet to see a ticket issued to a street vendor for the same offence.

“I also want to say to the authorities we have no designated carpark in the southern city,” said Bartlett.

She said they were left without a carpark after the Chancery Lane multi-storey complex which was supposed to house the administrative building and carpark was converted to the Teaching Hospital. She suggested that a public area on along Penitence Street be used as a public carpark.

Bartlett also said the Association felt disrespected that San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello did not consult them before implementing the new traffic system which “is creating tremendous choas,” in the city.

The secretary of the Marabella Police Youth Club, her boyfriend and another man appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court yesterday charged with possession of a pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition.

Anisha Ifill, 20, of Marabella, and her boyfriend Jason Williams, 25, of Claxton Bay pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them by San Fernando Fifth Court Magistrate Kerianne Byer.

Their co-accused Lynte Prime, 25, however, asked for a maximum sentence indication (MSI) before he enters a plea.

The three were arrested on August 2 after the police stopped and searched a car they were in at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, and allegedly found a Beretta pistol and the 9 mm ammunition. They were charged by PC Mohammed.

They were all represented by attorney Frank Gittens.

Gittens said Prime, a labourer, is an expectant father and is in a common law relationship. Prime claimed a 2011 charge of assaulting his sister was dismissed, but it is still listed as pending on his criminal record.

Prosecutor Sgt Ian Sylvon objected to bail because Prime would have allegedly committed the firearm offences while on bail for another offence. The magistrate told Prime to produce a court extract at the next hearing when the MSI is expected to be given. Byer granted him $150,000 approval bail and ordered him to report to the St Margarets Police Station three times a week.

Ifill, Gittens said, also worked as a hairdresser, takes care of her five-year old godchild and has a pending matter for malicious wounding. The magistrate granted her $150,000 approval bail and a cash bail alternative of $45,000. She has to report to the Marabella Police Station twice a week.

Gittens said Williams, has a six-year-old son, is the sole breadwinner in his family and had no previous convictions or pending matters.

Williams was granted $100,000 bail with his mother as surety and ordered to report to the St Margarets Police Station twice a week.

The matter was adjourned to August 9.