Former T&T High Commissioner to Ghana Nyahuma Mentuhotep Obika says it is "disrespectful" for banker Robert Le Hunte to return the citizenship bestowed on him by the government of Ghana.

Obika fears that there will be diplomatic fall out as a result of what he deemed "a slap in the face" for the Ghanaian Government, he said "you don't give it back, is not a shirt you borrow from somebody. This is the country's identity."

Le Hunte took the oath of office as Minister one week ago, but four days later Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley indicated that the appointment was in breach of section 42(1) of the Constitution and advised the President that Le Hunte could not serve as a Senator because information had come to him that Le Hunte had Ghanaian citizenship.

Rowley told reporters on Tuesday "there was a communication glitch." He did not explain what the glitch was and why the information only to came to him about Le Hunte's Ghanaian citizenship after he took the oath of office.

Le Hunte has since returned to Ghana to revoke his Ghanaian citizenship. The Prime Minister said he expected that would be done by tomorrow and once that is completed Le Hunte will again take the oath as Public Utilities Minister, until then Rowley will re-assume duties as Public Utilities Minister.

Obika told the T&T Guardian that Le Hunte was bestowed the citizenship by the Ghanaian government in December 2016 as part of a policy of recognition by that government introduced by President Kwame Entuma to offer citizenship to Africans in the diaspora.

Le Hunte, he said, was given the second recognition by the government of Ghana on March 6 on the country's 60th anniversary of independence, when he said the Ghanaian government wanted to give special recognition and "one of the awards was for the diaspora in terms of investment."

Obika said Le Hunte was selected "as the Managing Director of Republic Bank Ghana for having brought in the largest foreign direct investment portfolio with the purchase of the HFC Bank by Republic Bank to the tune of over US$700,000 into the Ghanaian economy."

"So he got a second recognition by the government of Ghana for this direct foreign investment, notwithstanding that others as well like Jamaica have several companies in Ghana and what have you."

Both the citizenship and the subsequent award, he said, caused Caricom nationals from Jamaica, Barbados and even Trinidad and Tobago who had been living in Ghana for over 50 years "to become very upset that they were bypassed, especially for the honour of citizenship of Ghana."

The bestowing of the citizenship by the government of Ghana, he said, "is a very serious thing. Africans take very strong pride in a title and all of this is a very serious matter for them to do that."

Obika fears there will be fall out from Le Hunte's decision to give up the citizenship. He said "here it is you being given citizenship, being honoured on their 60th anniversary and now you have gone to give it back to them. You going to throw back the citizenship in their faces. This is going to have a serious negative impact on Republic Bank's presence in Ghana and will upset diplomatic relations between the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Ghana."

He said "this is going to hurt Ghanaians very deeply. I am telling you this will be a sad blow. It is a royal mess, a sad blow to relations between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago."

Obika said he personally was "very very upset about this situation," because as High Commissioner he "played a significant role in Republic Bank's effort to obtain HFC Bank."

Asked whether the process for renunciation of the Ghanaian citizenship would be as quick as envisaged by the Prime Minister and the situation could be resolved by tomorrow, Obika could not say but indicated that "it is not something that happens on a regular basis." The T&T Guardian sent a message to this country's honorary counsel in Ghana, Hilton John Mitchell, but he said he was in meetings all day and unable to talk.

Following through on the words of T&T's most recent sporting heroes, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is urging citizens to support each another as Government seeks to implement the most progressive strategies and policies to attain economic, social and cultural growth and development.

Earlier this month, in what was deemed an incredible pre-Independence Day gift, T&T witnessed the "fantastic four" - Jarrin Solomon, Jareem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon - bring home the country’s first ever gold medal in the 4x400 metres relay event at the IAAF World Championships in London, England. A few days earlier, Richards made his mark in the 200 metres event with a bronze medal.

This followed the achievements in July of Akeem Stewart, who secured gold in the men’s F44 shot putt and javelin events at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.

Rowley noted these achievements in his speech marking the country's 55th anniversary of Independence.

"I noted the remarks of the young men as they spoke to the media after their races. When asked about their achievements, the young men described themselves as being “focused and fearless.” They declared that they had "made up their minds” and that “our country can achieve if we work together.” On this Independence Day 2017, let us move forward with the focus, grit and determination demonstrated by our athletes," Rowley said.

"Like our athletes, let us make up our minds to be focused and fearless on being the best we can be individually and collectively. I believe that we are a winning team of capable, enlightened citizens. Let us come together as a winning team."

Rowley said as a small island developing state, T&T has always depended on its creativity, willingness to work hard and ability to stand firm together as a nation.

In order to continue on the path of growth and development, Rowley added that "we the people are mandated to foster a strong patriotism, as well as our own capacity to take full advantage of opportunities through clear focus, grit and determination."

He said despite our challenges, "T&T continues to live up to the promise and potential we demonstrated in 1962 and we can ill-afford to falter now."

Rowley insisted that citizens must strengthen the democratic institutions and implement policies that are tailored to specific conditions and developmental objectives.

"In so doing, we will increase our chances of success exponentially," Rowley said.

The PM also implored citizens to re-commit to the nation's motto "Together we aspire, Together we achieve."

"On behalf of the Government, I wish each and every citizen of the Republic of T&T a safe and happy Independence.

"May God continue to bless our nation," he said.

Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Land and Rural Development want answers on the maintenance and management of the sea bridge service.

The T&T Guardian has been told that as part of its investigation into the procurement of the Cabo Star and the Ocean Flower 2 the Committee wants to "understand" how the ferry service got to the point which it has.

While the Cabo Star is working the sea bridge the charter for the Ocean Flower 2 was cancelled for failing to arrive on time.

The Committee also wants answers on the maintenance and management of the vessels which have been operating the sea bridge will commence proceedings on September 4.

In its invitation to former Port Commissioner Ferdie Ferreira, the Committee said it wanted to determine "whether due diligence governed the conduct of all aspects of the maintenance and management of the provisions of the sea bridge service and to determine the changes and challenges with respect to the maintenance of the ferries."

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had expressed concern in Parliament about the contract which had been entered into with Bay Ferries valued at US$7 million a year, questioning whether the country had gotten value for the money spent on the contract in the 11-year period.

The Bay Ferries contract for the maintenance of the vessels ended last year and Ferreira said in his written submissions to the committee he will be explaining why he pushed for the contract to be brought to an end.

He will also be explaining, he said, why a former member of the board of the Port Authority supported the request for an 18-month extension on the MV Super Fast Galicia, the vessel which had been serving the sea bridge without problems, since 2014.

Currently, the T&T Express is the lone passenger vessel servicing the route and is supplemented as needed by the Water Taxi Service. The T&t Spirit was taken out of service in June for repairs and maintenance with a promise that it would have been brought back into service in July. However, the vessel remains in dry dock while parts are being sourced for it.

The T&T Express is also expected to go on dry dock before November.

President of the Inter-Island Truckers and Traders Association Horace Amede said the association had been invited to appear before the committee to speak about the ferry service.

He said all he wants to see at the end of the day is that "we get two proper working fast ferries and a proper cargo vessel, we will be happy with that."

Truckers have in the past complained about a number of problems on the Cabo Star which they say is overrun by rats and rodents, problems with the toilets and the air condition, and there is no cafeteria for them to purchase water or meals.

But in a statement, the Port said since the introduction of the Cabo Star the transportation of passengers, drivers, cargo and vehicles "has returned too a regular and reliable service between the islands."

The Port said its data reflects that there is "excess capacity on the sea bridge," and it is encouraging citizens to utilise the vessels available.

With the cancellation of the Ocean Flower 2, the Port Authority yesterday published in the daily newspapers an invitation to "duly qualified agents, brokers or vessel representatives" to tender for the supply of a roll on/roll off passenger fast ferry on a two year time charter, with the option to renew for one year.

The deadline for sealed tenders is September 20.

There is a marked difference in the process. The Port said tenders will be opened publicly at 2.15 pm on the same day (September 20).

It said late submissions will not be accepted and it reserved the right to cancel the tender process at any time.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan told the T&T Guardian he will be taking a "deeper interest" in the process this time around.

The process for the procurement of the Cabo Star and the Ocean Flower 2 is now under investigation by businessman Christian Moutett the sole investigator appointed by the Prime Minister, the Integrity Commission, and the Port Authority.

Bridgemans Services Ltd has maintained that the procurement of the vessels was in keeping with international practice and they did nothing wrong.

On trial now. Former People’s Partnership attorney general Anand Ramlogan, who has become the country’s first former AG to be charged with criminal offences, will appear in court tomorrow on two charges.

Ramlogan, 45, who was detained at dawn on Tuesday for questioning on witness-tampering allegations made by Police Complaints Authority chairman David West, was charged in the matter 36 hours later, around dusk yesterday.

The two charges which were laid against Ramlogan at approximately 5.32 pm were misbehaviour in public office and obstruction of justice. Ramlogan was charged at the Criminal Investigations Division on St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain. He was taken there very late on Tuesday night after being questioned at the nearby Police Headquarters for 12 hours earlier.

The charges arise from allegations in a report made by West to the Commissioner of Police on January 28, 2015, according to the T&T Police Service yesterday. (See box)

Ramlogan was granted bail in the sum of $750,000 covering both charges. He was released from police custody around 6.45 pm.

At the end of yesterday’s long day, Pamela Elder, SC, lead attorney of Ramlogan’s legal team, told the media, “My client has been charged with two offences, one of common law - misbehaviour in public life - and the other, under the Criminal Offences Act, for obstruction of justice.

“These charges are very serious allegations ... very serious allegations being made against my client, who has been a former attorney general who has served this country with distinction.

“He’s a person with unblemished character and I patiently and eagerly await the day when the person who has made these allegations against my client appears in court and supports them - we await him.”

Elder was surrounded by other members of Ramlogan’s legal team - attorneys Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge, Alvin Pariagsingh and Sean Sobers.

Minutes after Elder finished speaking and the team left, Ramlogan also left the CID compound. His exit, however, was cloaked and he did not speak to reporters.

While the process of charges and bail was taking place inside the CID building around 6.10 pm, outside, his black SUV was driven by an aide into the CID compound through the Sackville Street entrance.

Soon after his legal team left, the vehicle emerged from the CID compound with Ramlogan in the back seat. He was glimpsed wearing a long-sleeved white shirt. The SUV then sped off.

Two of Ramlogan’s brothers and his cousin, who had arrived around 4.40 pm along with former People’s Partnership minister Devant Maharaj - all immediately left after Ramlogan did.

PoS Magistrate hears case tomorrow

Police said yesterday that the charges were laid following consultation with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Apart from alleged misbehaviour in public office, the other charge of obstruction of justice alleges the following: That Ramlogan, in the county of St George West, “reasonably believing that West was a potential witness in judicial proceedings, did use threats, bribery or other means to dissuade West from giving evidence, contrary to Section 11 (2A) of the Criminal Offences Act.”

Ramlogan will appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate tomorrow to answer the charges. They were laid by acting ASP Arrlet Groome (Fraud Squad.)

Legal sources said Ramlogan - an officer of the court and former legal adviser to the PP Cabinet - created history by becoming the first former AG to be charged with criminal offences.

They noted one-time AG Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj was jailed years ago - prior to becoming AG - for contempt of court, but this was for refusing to apologise to a judge.

The CID location where Ramlogan spent yesterday and was charged sits next to the Cabildo Chambers where he was formerly based as AG during the PP’s tenure.

Ramlogan “unwell”

The laying of the charges against Ramlogan marked the end of a long 36 hours of police custody - between Tuesday and yesterday - for the former AG

After his arrest at his Palmiste, San Fernando home around 6 am Tuesday, he was taken to Police Headquarters, PoS, where he was grilled for 12 hours with 189 questions.

Later that night - after 10 pm - police sources said Ramlogan was moved to a room at CID headquarters, obliquely opposite Police Headquarters. This, while police reviewed information on the matter and awaited instructions from the DPP.

A decision was expected yesterday morning. Media and other people gathered near the PoS Magistrates’ Court from early. But they waited in vain.

Ramlogan and his legal team were also ready very early. One of his aides emerged from the CID compound around 8.45 am with a tote bag and plastic bag containing towels and other items, including a blue travel pillow.

By 10 am, rumours were flying that instructions had been given to charge Ramlogan and he’d been charged - but that didn’t happen until seven hours later.

Lead attorney Elder, who arrived at CID around 11.20 am to ascertain what was taking place, told reporters then, “Our client hasn’t yet been charged. It’s becoming a bit oppressive now since he’s been in continuous detention since 6 am (Tuesday) and has co-operated fully with police officers.

“You’d appreciate he’s been arrested on reasonable suspicion that he committed an offence and this investigation has been going on for some two years now, so a reasonable expectation is that if charges are to be laid they’d have already been laid.”

On whether the situation had anything to do with political victimisation, Elder added, “That thought hasn’t entered my mind at all.”

Elder, Ramdeen, Sturge and Pariagsingh, who remained conferring on the situation, were joined by veteran Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan.

Khan said Ramlogan “... wasn’t feeling too well. I gave instructions for him to have a room and bed so he can relax a bit, he’s comfortable.”

Police sources also confirmed Ramlogan didn’t appear to be “well.” He was said to be napping at one point.

But last night after Ramlogan left CID, his attorney Ramdeen said, “He’s fine now, he isn’t ill.”

When the situation did begin to move towards the laying of the charges - from around 4.45 pm - Elder returned to CID with another Justice of the Peace after Khan left earlier.

Yesterday, the Opposition UNC issued a directive to officials not to comment on the matter until the situation was clear. The Law Association also cautioned the public about comments and “inflaming political passions” with it.

“As a Caribbean people, we can take on the world, therefore we must embrace or Caribbeanism.”

Those were the words of President Anthony Carmona in his Independence Day toast to the nation yesterday at a reception hosted by the Ministry of National Security at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain.

He said true Caribbeanism is “wrapped up in spreading messages of love, cultivating the art of disagreement without disrespect, adopting the attitude of being responsive rather than explosive and belligerent, celebrating and investing in the country’s best resource which its people and in the words of the late Garfield “Ras Shorty I” Blackman, remain sober in our thinking at all times to achieve a brighter tomorrow.”

The President said while progress should be celebrated, mis-steps should also be addressed in a holistic, transformational environment.

For this to be accomplished, he said, we must cultivate genuine appreciation and regard for the art of disagreement, where differences of opinion can be shared in an environment of mutual respect and objectivity.

Carmona congratulated T&T’s athletes for their achievements at the recently concluded World Athletic Championship in London.

He commended each athlete saying they had added to the tapestry of T&T. He also commended the West Indies Cricket team who recently won a match against England “against all odds and in convincing fashion.”

“We shall continue to rally around the West Indies as much as we will continue to forge and reach greater Trinbagonian heights in every facet of our individual and national lives,” Carmona said.

He said Independence Day observations and celebrations serve as a reminder that the road to independence was a long and trying one and it must not only be just acknowledged, but the celebration must be used as a forum to teach and to inform our children of where they came from and the struggles endured to afford them the freedom and lifestyle they now enjoy.

Carmona said he had every confidence that this nation would reach its highest heights.

Citizens turned out on large numbers at the Queen’s Park Savannah from early yesterday morning to view the military parade in commemoration of T&T’s 55th anniversary of Independence.

The Grand Stand was packed to capacity and spectators who could not get seats there took up vantage points behind barricades on the parade ground.

The event came off with military precision the parade starting promptly at 7.30 am and ending with the 21-gun salute,

President Anthony Carmona was greeted with applause when he arrived at around 8 am for his fifth Independence parade since becoming the country’s fifth president in 2013.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and his wife ,members of the diplomatic corps and government ministers. However, there was no sign of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar or any other members of the opposition, as was the case last year.

Detachments at the parade are divided in two contingents, armed and unarmed, came from the Regiment, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defence Force Reserves, Police Service and Cadet Force were led onto the parade ground by the band and corps of drums of the T&T Regiment and T&T Prison Band. Unarmed detachments from the Fire Service, Prison Service, Special Reserve Police, Municipal Police, St John Ambulance Brigade and the T&T Red Cross Society, Military Led Academic Training Programme and Seventh Day Adventists Pathfinders were led onto the parade grounds by the T&T Police Service band and the T&T Fire Service Band.

Following the inspection of the parade, spectators’ attention turned to the march past, fly past and mechanised display with the T&T Police Service Transport and Highway Division receiving loud applause for their presentation with motorcycles.

Toward the end, the troops exited the parade grounds and proceeded south onto Frederick Street, west onto Park Street, then to Tragarete Road towards Roxy Roundabout, onto the Western Main Road and finally to the Police Barracks on Long Circular Road.

President Anthony Carmona yesterday called on the citizens to put political and other differences aside to build a better country.

Speaking at the T&T Police Service’s annual Independence Day cocktail reception, Carmona, went off script as he lamented that crime and criminality were plaguing the country and appealed for divisiveness among citizens to stop.

“You know what is interesting, nobody is leaving Trinidad and Tobago. Everybody criticiing left and right but they not leaving. We all have a vested interest in peace, security and social harmony. Why don’t we get together and get something done?” he asked.

“No need to be belligerent and combative. I always tell people a bullet does not have a brain; it is a dumb peace of metal. This is not about politics or taking sides. If we want to give credence to 55 years of independence, one way we can do it is by coming g together to solve the issue of crime.”

Carmona reminded the audience, which included Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife Sharon Rowley and acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and his wife Justice Avason Quinlan-Williams, that crime is a perpetual reality.

He said each murder “diminishes him”, adding that describing a killing as gang or drug related is trivializing the life of someone and should stop.

He urgedthe media to focus on the positives like the police youth clubs that are saving the lives of children almost daily.

He recalled hearing of a Laventille teen who had six brothers, three were murdered and three arrested and charged with murder and his mother brought him to the youth club to ensure he did not end up like his brothers. He urged the gathering to show their gratitude towards the TTPS,

The mother of a two-year-old girl who suffered a ruptured colon after she was severely beaten last month says she plans to keep a round the clock vigil at her daughter’s bedside to help her heal faster.

She said she is thanking God for bringing her daughter out of a critical condition and putting her on the road to full recovery.

The toddler underwent two lifesaving surgeries at the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital in Mt Hope after the incident on August 12 and was discharged from the Intensive Care Unit three days ago. However, she remains warded for further treatment and observation.

“I am very happy to see my daughter is recovering well. I was really frightened for her given the critical condition she was in but I am thanking God,” the mother said.

“I will be by her bedside for the next five or seven days or so because I noticed that it is only when I am around that she is moving about, talking little and most importantly resting comfortably.”

The woman said she did not know the full extent of trauma her daughter was experiencing but believed she might be in need of counseling to help her fully recover.

“No one spoke to me about that but I know she is going through her own thing emotionally and mentally. Maybe she needs that level of help too,” she said.

She said preparations were being made for the toddler’s return to her home and denied knowledge of any plans to put the child in the temporary custody of the Children’s Authority.

“No one from there spoke to me about this, not even the police made mention of it so I do not know where that newspaper was getting its information from. I, myself tried to call them (the Children’s Authority) and left messages but no one has called me up to now to either confirm or deny this but this has me very concerned,” she said.

“If this is so, I don’t understand why because the incident did not happen home by me. We treated her lovingly and right now her mama and her sister are waiting anxiously to have her back home with us. She has her own room, her own toys, her own television. She was, is and will be very happy back with us, I know.”

On Tuesday, Roxanne Oliver, 39, a registered nurse, appeared before Port-of-Spain Magistrate Aden Stroude charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the child on August 12. She was granted $100,000 bail and ordered from coming within 100 feet of the victim until the case is determined.

The matter has been adjourned to October 26.

Citizens turned out on large numbers at the Queen’s Park Savannah from early yesterday morning to view the military parade in commemoration of T&T’s 55th anniversary of Independence.

The Grand Stand was packed to capacity and spectators who could not get seats there took up vantage points behind barricades on the parade ground.

The event came off with military precision the parade starting promptly at 7.30 am and ending with the 21-gun salute,

President Anthony Carmona was greeted with applause when he arrived at around 8 am for his fifth Independence parade since becoming the country’s fifth president in 2013.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and his wife ,members of the diplomatic corps and government ministers. However, there was no sign of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar or any other members of the opposition, as was the case last year.

Detachments at the parade are divided in two contingents, armed and unarmed, came from the Regiment, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defence Force Reserves, Police Service and Cadet Force were led onto the parade ground by the band and corps of drums of the T&T Regiment and T&T Prison Band. Unarmed detachments from the Fire Service, Prison Service, Special Reserve Police, Municipal Police, St John Ambulance Brigade and the T&T Red Cross Society, Military Led Academic Training Programme and Seventh Day Adventists Pathfinders were led onto the parade grounds by the T&T Police Service band and the T&T Fire Service Band.

Following the inspection of the parade, spectators’ attention turned to the march past, fly past and mechanised display with the T&T Police Service Transport and Highway Division receiving loud applause for their presentation with motorcycles.

Toward the end, the troops exited the parade grounds and proceeded south onto Frederick Street, west onto Park Street, then to Tragarete Road towards Roxy Roundabout, onto the Western Main Road and finally to the Police Barracks on Long Circular Road.

After two failed pregnancies it was a third time blessing for Mercedes Vance and Adrian Jones, of Siparia, with the birth of their daughter, Monifa Adrielle Sky Jones, at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday.

The bouncing baby girl was one of five born at the hospital as the nation celebrated its 55th birthday.

In 2015, Vance’s first pregnancy ended at 23 weeks due to oligohydramniosm, a condition in which there is a lack of fluid surrounding the baby in the uterus. The following year, she suffered a spontaneous miscarriage after only ten weeks of pregnancy.

“First child after three pregnancies. I was worried from the word go. I know all pregnant women worry, but everyone around me was worried. My mom got sick, my father got sick, my sister at home got labour pains as well.

“We were expecting her on her father’s birthday on August 28, the same day I was admitted but they induced labour yesterday and she was born today,” Vance said.

Asked how she felt that her daughter would share the nation’s birthday, she said: “I am quite elated and would not give up this experience for anything in the world. I have parents who are older than the nation and now I have a daughter born on the birthday of the nation.”

Jones’ face lit up when he walked into the post-natal ward and saw his newborn daughter for the first time. He said just as Independence was a gift to the nation, so too was his daughter.

“This is a happy day for me and the most important moment in my life,” he said.

First-time mother Tamika Mayers said her daughter Isabella Shaniya George was worth the eight hours of labour. She went into labour around noon on Wednesday and it was not until 8.44 am yesterday that she heard Isabella’s cries.

“It was painful, but I was excited to hear my first child’s cry. I have not even slept as yet,” Mayers said.

Sherel Ann Zhang and Ryan Hosein’s daughter Chelsea was the first baby to be born at the hospital yesterday. Zhang said childbirth was the hardest thing she ever did in her life.

“When she came out, I thought to myself, finally she is here now, after so long, nine months,” she said.

Hosein said he was happy his daughter was born on Independence Day.

Caricom Secretariat, Guyana—Caricom Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on T&T’s 55th anniversary of Independence, has praised the country for its progress at the national level and its significant contribution to promoting regional integration.

LaRocque said the people’s creativity and resilience has ensured that this country maintains a dynamism that has secured for it a place of prominence in many fields, including culture, sports, academia and diplomacy.

He also credits T&T as a founding member of Caricom with providing significant promotion of regional integration, particularly in the areas of energy and security, for which it plays a lead role on the Quasi-Cabinet established by Caricom Heads of Government.

Noting that T&T has enjoyed “great economic progress over the years, which has contributed to the social and economic development of the region, as a whole”, LaRocque added that Caricom places great significance in this country’s dedication towards the advancement of its objectives and “stands ready to assist the country in its thrust towards continued development.”

Dr Deokienanan Sharma, head of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), says T&T’s First People deserve more than a one off holiday.

“I do make a genuine appeal to the powers that be to consider very seriously the granting of a permanent annual holiday to our First People,” he said in an address at the NCIC’s annual Independence Rainbow Dance Festival at the NCIC Nagar, Chaguanas, on Wednesday night.

Sharma said recognition of the First People had come exceedingly late and the one off holiday, though welcome, is inadequate.

He suggested that one of the many holidays “that do not hold contemporary relevance to T&T” be replaced with a permanent First People holiday.

He said the worst disease of all plaguing the country was crime which seemed to be escalating,

“Each day brings news of death of the most horrendous kind. It has become so commonplace that we are tending to accept such situations and we now miss such news when the newspapers report no murders on a particular day which is in fact a rare occurrence,” Sharma said,

NCIC PRO Surujdeo Mangaroo was critical of the business community’s failure to sponsor the Rainbow Dance Festival which he said was funded from the pockets of NCIC members.

Mr Mayor,

We have experienced perennial flooding in the city of Port-of-Spain now for more than 50 years and I wish to put forward a solution to mitigate this problem if not yet explored.

Powergen has applied to all the environmental authorities for the demolition of the power station which stands idly overlooking the city. This exercise will begin in the future when the necessary clearances are given as we are unsure of the start date or place where this work will begin. We remember Dr Emru Millette who offered a plan but was it was shelved mainly due to economic reasons.

Being a retiree of Powergen, it is of my knowledge that there is a pump house on Wrightson Road which delivered water from the sea to the condensers and other ancillary equipment. Water entered the power station through two channels and returned through two channels to the sea. This pump house is about 15 feet below ground level, allowing the water to flow naturally from the sea to the suction of the pumps.

When we look at flooding in the city, we see water backed up from the Light House landmark to the National Flour Mills on Wrightson Road, from the City Gate to the Diego Martin Maxi Taxi stand, the Brian Lara Promenade and even lower Charlotte Street amongst other highly used areas.

When the tide is high, the water does not have the potential energy to overcome the swells resulting in deluge. On both sides of Wrightson Road, there are drains that carry water to the sea through a main drain next to the University of Trinidad and Tobago, John Donaldson Campus.

If instead, this water is routed to Powergen’s channels, the water could then be pumped into the outlet drain resulting in relief.

Another advantage is that the Fire Station Services pump house is adjacent to Powergen and through piping, valving arrangement could assist in the case of an emergency.

There is much to be considered in detail to set your engineers to work to see how best this plan could be developed for the benefit of all.

For further discussions, I can be contacted using information supplied.

MR SONA SUPERSAD,

RETIREE

devaki.supersad@gmail.com

Tonight's CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier match between T&T and Honduras will be shown live in all Caribbean territories, with the exception of T&T.

According to a press release from cable and internet provider Flow, the match will be blacked out in this country.

Flow apologised to its Flow Sports viewers for any inconvenience but did not provide reasons for the blocked programming.

A 16-year-old Sangre Grande student is among the five people jointly charged with kidnapping a 14-year-old student of North Oropouche granted a total $ 950,000 bail with surety by a Sangre Grande Magistrate yesterday.

The 16 -year-old had initially been reported kidnapped but on Thursday the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution instructed police investigator Cpl Randy Castillo, of the Sangre Grande CID, to lay charges against him.

The other accused are Deokumar Lutchman, 39, a construction worker, of North Oropouche; Bissessar Arjoon, 52, also a construction worker, of Brierley Street, Sangre Grande; Ashraf Hosein, 28, of GP Road, Barrackpore; and Nicholas Jagessar, 20, of Thai Road, Barrackpore.

The five, who are accused of kidnapping Brandon Sam, were not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably.

Jagesssar and Hosein are being represented by attorney Candace Price who asked for reasonable bail for her clients. She told the court Jagessar is gainfully employed, has two children ages 4 months and three years, has strong family ties and is not a flight risk. She also said Hosein has two children and is a self employed construction worker.

Attorney Elvin Cudjoe, who is representing Lutchman and Arjoon said his clients have relatively clean police records and are gainfully employed, while Denise Waldropt, who represented the teen, said he lives with his family and is not a flight risk.

Quintyne granted bail to the five accused with conditions, including that they stay 1000 ft from the victim, must not communicate at any time with him and desist from visiting his home and school.

The teen was granted $100,000 bail with surety, while Jagessar, Lutchman and Bissessar were each granted $200,000 bail with surety and Hosein $250,000 bail with surety.

The matter was adjourned to September 29.

RALPH BANWARI

Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, will have to wait until next year to begin his defence against criminal charges for misbehaviour in public office and obstructing justice. His case was adjourned to January 11 when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate's Court on the charges which were laid on Wednesday evening.

Flanked by a small group of friends, relatives and his legal team, Ramlogan and his wife arrived at the St Vincent Street courthouse almost 20 minutes before he was due to appear before Forde-John. No stranger to the surroundings, he was seen smiling and speaking with lawyers and members of the public in the corridors of the court building.

When his case was eventually called, Ramlogan, his entourage and members of the media entered and almost completely filled the public gallery of the courtroom.

Dressed in a grey and blue checkered suit, the former AG was directed into the prisoner enclosure and stood silently before Forde-John as he waited for her to read the two charges. However, as she was about to do so, Forde-John paused and had a brief conversation with Ramlogan's attorney Pamela Elder, SC, which was almost inaudible from the public gallery. She then stood the matter down for a short period.

The T&T Guardian understands that Forde-John's query was over an administrative error on the $750,000 bail bond granted by Justice of the Peace Anthony Soulette who reportedly had forgotten to sign the document. When the matter was recalled almost 20 minutes later, the issue appeared to have been rectified as Forde-John immediately proceeded to read the charges to Ramlogan.

He is accused of obstructing justice by using threats and bribery in October 2014 to persuade Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West to not give evidence in a defamation case against then Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. Ramlogan is also accused of misbehaving in public office by improperly endeavouring for West not to testify on Rowley's behalf.

The lawsuit against Rowley centred around statements he made against Ramlogan about his handling of extradition proceedings against businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson and the controversial Section 34 issue.

Ramlogan was not called upon to plead to the charges which were laid indictably.

After the charges were read, Elder asked police prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon if he was ready to disclose the evidence against her client, including the warrant used by police to search his house on Tuesday morning. Dillon said disclosure of evidence will occur within a month. He also said the case will be prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Forde-John said she would only dealt with Ramlogan's first court appearance and the case will be transferred to acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle who is assigned all capital offences and high profile cases.

The charges arose out of an investigation initiated by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams after West gave a statement implicating Ramlogan in January 2015.

Ramlogan was arrested on Tuesday when a large group of police officers raided his home in south Trinidad. He was interrogated by the police for close to 12 hours and detained overnight before he was eventually charged the following day.

Even with charges pending, Ramlogan can continue to practice. The disciplinary committee of the Law Association will take action against him in the event that he is eventually convicted.

Ramlogan was also represented yesterday by Alvin Pariagsingh.

Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan and former and current Port Authority of T&T (PATT) board members are among stakeholders called to appear before the Joint Select Committee (JSC) which will look into the procurement for and maintenance of the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2 next week.

In a release yesterday, the Office of the Parliament said three consecutive meetings starting on Monday through to Wednesday have been scheduled before the JSC on Land and Physical Infrastructure at the Parliament, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

The committee will meet in public with officials including: Sinanan; Dhanmattee Ramdath, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.); Marvin Gonzales, Director, Legal Services Unit; Duane Murray, Senior Legal Officer and Ronald Alfred, Director, Maritime Services.

Also with the current PATT board, including: Alison Lewis, Chairman; Adrian Beharry, Deputy Chairman; Ainsworth Mohammed, Commissioner; Tommy Elias – Commissioner; Dexter Jaggernauth – Commissioner and Suzette Baptiste – Commissioner.

Acting chief executive officer of the T&T Inter-Island Transport, Leon Grant, PATT’s General Manager/CEO Charmaine and Michelle Scipio-Hosang, the Manager, Fast Ferries will also appear.

Former PATT board members include: Christine Sahadeo - Former Chairman; Radha Permanand - Former Commissioner; Glenn Wilson - Former Commissioner; Ken Wright - Former Commissioner; Melissa Alexis-James - Former Commissioner and Ferdinand Ferreira - Former Commissioner.

Other Stakeholders to appear will include: Fitzgerald Hinds, MP and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and Former Minister of Works and Transport; Stephen Cadiz - Former Minister of Works and Transport.

OTHERS TO APPEAR BEFORE JSC

T&T Inter-Island Transport Company: Hafeez Mohammed - Divisional Manager, Operations and Ticketing; Vilma Lewis-Cockburn - Manager, Marketing & Public Relations; Nadine Pierre-McKenzie - Accountant (Ag.); Michael Bahadoorsingh - Manager, HSE (Ag.); Michelle Scipio-Hosang - Manager, Fast Ferries; George Ronalds - Team Lead, Operations and Safety; Anil Ramdial - Manager, Strategic Planning

Bridgeman’s Services Group: Andrew Purdey - Vice President

Other Stakeholders: Alfred McMillan - Marine Consultant, Nyree Alfonso - Attorney

Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU): Michael Annisette - President

Ken Shipping and Marine Services Ltd: Lester Kenny - Managing Director

Intercontinental Shipping Limited: John Powell - Managing Director

Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA): Christopher James - President, Kaye Trotman - Representative, Dedan Daniel - Representative, Ted Greis – Representative

Other Stakeholders: Dianne Hadad - Former President, Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Kelvin Charles - Chief Secretary and Secretary of Education, Innovation and Energy, Tobago House of Assembly, Assemblyman Watson Duke - Minority Leader, THA

Inter-Island Truckers and Traders Association: Horace Amede - President, Wazir Ali - 1st Vice President, Robert Tardieau - 2nd Vice President, Samuel Applewhite – Secretary

Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte said the good relationship he developed with the Government and people of Ghana helped him to get his citizenship there renounced in four days instead of the requisite two weeks. He explained this yesterday after UNC's Devant Maharaj asked how the Ghana citizenship was renounced so quickly when that country's Constitution states renunciation takes two weeks

"The two week period is stated on Ghana's Government website," Maharaj said yesterday. "I'm calling on Mr Le Hunte to show Trinidad and Tobago the certificate of renunciation since Ghana's rules are that a certificate is given when citizenship is renounced."

Maharaj made the call after Le Hunte was sworn in again as Public Utilities Minister on Thursday night. It was the second such function for the new minister and senator who was initially sworn in last Thursday.

On Monday, however, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said Le Hunte couldn't be sworn in as a senator and couldn't be a minister since he was a citizen of Ghana. He had served there from 2013 to last month as a Republic Bank official.

The OPM cited Section 42 (1) of the Constitution which debars people who have acquired citizenship from another state from holding senatorship. The OPM said Le Hunte was rectifying the situation. He left T&T on Monday to go to Ghana to renounce his citizenship and returned on Thursday.

Maharaj has written to Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey seeking confirmation that Le Hunte's Ghanaian citizenship was indeed revoked "within a mere three days"" and in accordance with that country's laws and with a renunciation certificate as required.

He asked: "Was Mr Le Hunte afforded any special treatment by Ghana's Government to expedite this?"

Le Hunte said he wasn't given any special treatment and T&T's Government didn't intervene but it was expedited because he had a good relationship with people when he worked in Ghana for the past four years.

He said based on the advice he received before he was sworn in as a minister the first time, the Ghana status wasn't an issue since he was advised based on the Representation of the People's Act.

"It was when I examined the Constitution myself after that I realised there was an issue and I informed the Prime Minister myself immediately," he said.

"I was given the Ghana citizenship in recognition of the role I was playing in forging trade/investment ties between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana and I accepted it as I didn't have to renounce my Trinidad and Tobago citizenship."

However, Maharaj said: "Mr Le Hunte swearing on the Constitution essentially violated the oath of office of the Constitution. What was the role of the Attorney General who is the legal advisor to the Cabinet and supposed to vet all such appointments in this latest fiasco? Where's the Law Association on this legal issue of the intent of Section 42?"

He said Le Hunte should have been aware of the Ghana MP for Bawku Central who was jailed for two years for having dual citizenship.

"How can citizens now be expected to repose trust and confidence in Mr Le Hunte who didn't see it fit or proper to advise his political leader that he held citizenship of another country? Yet Prime Minister Rowley will have T&T simply believe it was a 'communication glitch'."

Analysts: He should not have been reappointed

Political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said Le Hunte shouldn’t have been reappointed as he failed to tell the Prime Minister about his Ghana citizenship when he took the oath of office.

"A classic example of mismanagement,” he said

Political analyst Dr Winford James asked what was checked when the Dr Rowley asked Le Hunte to serve.

"The Prime Ministeer has access to much information. That's what the Attorney General is there for. There doesn't seem to be a legal bar to reappointing him but the situation is an embarassment for Government.

"If it was a deliberate mistake in not telling the Prime Minister of the citizenship, then reappoinment could be reconsidered. It's whether the Prime Minister's Office did proper background checks. These problems of embarassment—the ferries, the Le Hunte appointment—are solved by due diligence. Someone isn't doing their work."

Former Congress of the People (COP) deputy leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said Le Hunte's reappointment "not only undermines integrity in public life but also speaks to the very same issue of corruption the Prime Minister identified as a major problem in Government."

She added: "Before a minister takes the oath of office, it's mandatory they become familiar with Constitutional provisions. If the Prime Minister is serious about improving the problem of corruption within his government he should lead by example. It's on this basis Mr Le Hunte should have been disqualified from holding any public office."

Phillip “Ladders” Doldron, who was shot during a bar robbery in Pleasantville on Wednesday, has died.

Doldron, 62, of Cemetery Street, La Brea, had been warded in critical condition with a bullet lodged near his spine. He succumbed to his injuries at around 5 am yesterday at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Police said at around 6 pm on Wednesday, Doldron, proprietor of Ladder’s Bar in La Brea, was liming at Dianne’s Bar in Blitz Village, Pleasantville, when two gunmen entered. After announcing a robbery, one of the gunmen grabbed at Doldron’s gold chain and he resisted. The other gunman shot him in the stomach and both suspects ran off.

Colleagues and neighbours described him as a community man who had helped many young people in La Brea.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the murder of a University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) student who was stabbed to death in Carapichaima on Thursday night

Keeghan Subero, 22, of Penal Rock Road, Penal, was liming on Waterloo Road with a group of men when he got into an altercation with a man he knew. The man pulled out a knife and stabbed Subero several times.

Subero was taken to the Chaguanas District Health Facility where he died while receiving emergency treatment. Freeport police and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region III responded and a man was held for questioning.

In an unrealted incident, an unidentified Chinese labourer was killed in an accident at a construction site in Wallerfield yesterday afternoon.

Up to late yesterday evening, police had no positive identification on the man, who was driving a mini concrete mixer on a private road near Eteck Park, Wallerfield. Police said the man was hit by a dump truck and died on the spot. The deceased was said to have been on his way to get lunch when the accident took place.

Police say an autopsy will be done on the man’s body on Monday as investigations continue, but labelled the death an an on-the-job accident.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has referred to comments made by Opposition Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal as a “dog whistle” in a bid to cause racial divide in this country.

The PM made the comment yesterday as he strongly condemed Moonilal’s claims his Government was behind the arrest and charges laid against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.

Rowley noted the police investigation which led to Ramlogan’s arrest on Tuesday commenced under the last government and emphasised that it was under the guidance of an independent Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that Ramlogan was subsequently charged.

“Nobody from this Government is involved in these investigations…driving it or encouraging it. This is an investigation that started under the last government and its now reached the point of an arrest of one individual,” Rowley said during a press conference at the Piarco International Airport before his departure for the United States.

“In the first instance, Dr Moonilal made a comment in response to that and the comment is what I called a dog whistle. Meaning it is a sound to those who will hear it…with its content being clear…without being spelt out.”

Rowley said the statements made by Moonilal, who is no ordinary person and who holds the office of MP of T&T of long-standing and former leader of government business in the House, were divisive and would only serve to cause racial divide.

“I condemn that statement and I call upon the national wider community to take note and to condemn this and similar statements, because it is this kind of statement that creates division in a country like ours, the consquences of which can be quite grave if they go unchallenged,” Rowley said.

“He (Moonilal) is saying that this is oppression on the part of the Government, implying that it is an executive action of the cabinet and members of this party…not actions of an independent police, under the guidance of an independent DPP, where the requirements are for information to be converted into evidence and for evidence to be acted upon…under the guidance and watchful eye of the DPP, a place where the cabinet has no presence of involvement

“…he (Moonilal) is saying that this arrest of his former colleague is political action on the part of the Government and even further to say it is action against persons of East Indian background and he named a number of East Indians who had been through the court process and attaches this recent development to it and is indicating to the country that law enforcement in this country is based on your racial complexion.”

The PM added: “I condemn that and I call upon all the leaders of this country to condemn this development. It is my understanding, and I am sure that it is the understanding of the vast majority of the people of T&T, that in T&T the police does not take political instructions from political parties to prosecute or persecute any person.”

He said initially he had refused to comment on Ramlogan’s arrest as he did not want to fuel any impression the Government had “any horse in this race.”

Rowley also spoke of the matter where the state, through the Attorney General’s Office, had gone to court to complain about eight or ten people with respect to the handling of over $400 million dollars at the Estate Management & Business Development Company Limited (EMBD). One of the names mentioned was Moonilal’s, he said, and a warrant was subsequently issued to Moonilal with allegations of misconduct in public office in relation to the matter.

Rowley suggested Moonilal was using the development involving Ramlogan’s arrest to make a point that East Indians are now being targeted. He added that weeks before the general election in 2015, Moonilal made a comment that went unnoticed by the media, in which he (Moonilal) was warning the police not to allow itself to be used by persons for political means.

“Now that is an alarming statement coming from a Member of Parliament, a former minister of government, who has questions to answer about the handling of public monies and for which information was provided for a court in T&T and the court being so satisfied that allowed warrants to be issued on this matter,” Rowley said.

“I find it inexplicable that such a comment could have been made in this country by a person who still holds his post in the parliament and could have made a comment like that without challenge…today I challenge that statement.”

He added: “Worse, what Dr Moonilal was doing was protecting himself because as he named the persons who had been to court, Mr Panday, Dr Narayansingh, Chief Justice Sharma, he very carefully didn’t name himself, because while being currently under a warrant to account for matters under his own portfolio…so what he is doing is seeking to incite flavours of understanding of this development to make it appear as though the police is acting against East Indians under the direction of this Government and so therefore when he appears before the court under the warrants that now exist, he will be a victim of this same development.”

Rowley does not care about citizens, says Moonilal

In an immediate response to the Prime Minister’s statements yesterday, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said instead of dealing with the issues that are affecting the people of T&T and putting forward solutions, Rowley, “chose instead to sow the seeds of division in our nation.”

Moonilal said it was very disturbing to hear Rowley suggest that he has personal information on possible further charges to be laid by the police in the Ramlogan matter and to insinuate that other members of the Opposition will be in court soon.

“How does the Prime Minister know this?” Moonilal asked.

“We ask whether there is collusion between elements of the police service and the political directorate? Our democratic principles are being eroded when the PM can openly allude to future police action and suggest personal and intimate knowledge of police investigations.”

He condemned Rowley’s latest attempt at misleading the population and distracting from the issues that matter.

“It is worth reminding the public that it was the PM, the head of Cabinet and head of the National Security Council, who has repeatedly criticised the T&T Police Service, choosing to blame law enforcement for his Government’s inability to deal with spiralling crime.”

Moonilal emphasised that Rowley does not care about the people of this country.

“As he leaves on yet another trip, the matter of the ferry debacle remains unresolved and the re-appointment of Robert Le Hunte to the position of Public Utilities Minister, which is unacceptable,” he said.

“The Opposition maintains that Mr Le Hunte’s firing and re-appointment is a breach of the Constitution and laws of T&T, and the Prime Minister has to accept responsibility for bringing the two highest offices in our land into disrepute.”