Police are working on the theory that the burglars who broke into the Trincity branch of Bhagwansingh's Hardware may have been stolen items to commit other planned burglaries.

According to police reports, employees of the hardware who reported to work yesterday found several power tools, cell-phones and ransacked departments before leaving. Police could not state if cash was also stolen.

For the year there have been several break-ins where burglars have been targeting financial institutions in Central Trinidad. In those instances, burglars used power tools to cut through the roofs of buildings and in some cases the walls of adjoining buildings to gain entry and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars and in some cases entire vaults.

The most recent of their robberies took place at the Chaguanas branch of the Board of Inland Revenue. There have been other similar break-ins in the Central Division and police have called on businesses and security companies to be more vigilant when securing their property.

The emergency numbers for both the Police and Fire Services were knocked out yesterday.

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) yesterday said a technical difficulty led to the disruption of both the 999 and 990 emergency numbers.

To reach police, the public is advised to use 511, while the fire service is advising that the public call the nearest fire station.

The Government will need to bring legislative changes to the Maxi Taxi Act if it wants to remove restrictions on the ownership of banded maxi taxis allowing owners to buy and band their maxi taxis and drive wherever they please without restriction.

A move which the Finance Minister told the country in the budget was meant to open up the public transportation system.

Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who represented the maxi taxi drivers in a similar matter in 2011 told the T&T Guardian that the change announced by the Finance Minister in the 2017-2018 budget presentation “will require legislative change,” but he said the amendment “will not require a special majority since it will be removing a restriction.”

The announcement by the Minister has caused some concern not just among the maxi taxi drivers but the Opposition UNC as well. Political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said it seemed that the Minister only thought about the initiative when he was presenting the budget since it is not contained in the budget statement which was given out on Budget Day.

She described the decision as “a betrayal by the PNM Government.”

Persad-Bissessar recalled that in 2011, an attempt was made to remove the restrictions on the registration of maxi taxis but this was shut down by the High Court.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark said, “it is unheard of that a Minister of Finance could make such a statement on the fly, on the huff without the statement contained in the budget statement.”

He described it as a “faux pas” which reflects not just on the Minister, but “the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. How can they release a document without a fundamental policy statement, that is unheard of,” he said.

Mark was also of the view that there is need for “legislative changes if this policy is to be effected.” He felt that because the decision is changing a court ruling “it may require special majority legislation.”

Maxi-taxi drivers say they are hoping that the Government will meet with them to discuss the increase in fuel prices, the tax on tyres and the decision to remove restrictions.

President of the Association of Maxi Taxis Eon Hewitt said these measures “will impact the travelling public and we asking the Government for a meeting. This will help if we can meet with them.”

Hewitt said as far as the association knows “there is a court order” on the issue of removing restrictions to maxi taxis dating back to 2011 when the maxi taxi drivers through their attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj went to court to challenge a decision by the then Minister Jack Warner to open up the industry. In her ruling, Justice Joan Charles cited the lack of consultation with the advisory committee.

In addition, he said, there was “no consultation” with an advisory committee as is provided for in the Maxi Taxi Act.

A number of people holding Certificates of Comfort for squatter sites developed by the Land Settlements Agency (LSA) will now be invited to buy the land at a premium of 25 per cent of its market value.

Housing Minister Randall Mitchell disclosed this yesterday in Parliament while giving an update on squatter regularisation during the 2018 Budget debate

“We expect to be able to offer 1,034 persons statutory leases over the next fiscal year. Beneficiaries of the leases will have approximately 30 years to pay off for the land,”Mitchell said.

“The statutory lease moves the beneficiary from a non-possessory right under the COC to a possessory right under the statutory lease.”

The LSA’s website states there are over 250 squatting sites on state lands in T&T with approximately 23,000 squatting households. It also states that while a Certificate of Comfort gives a squatter a personal right to protection from ejection from state land, it does not convey/give a squatter any right, legal interest or title to such land.

Yesterday, Mitchell said all COC applications will be processed, investigated and determined by January 2018.

Speaking afterwards on the new purchase thrust, he told T&T Guardian, “Now that the LSA has conducted the infrastructural upgrades to these squatter sites at full development standards, the LSA is now in a position to make this (offer) to these COC holders, once they have fulfilled their obligations under the 1998 Act.”

According to that act, the COC holder is to be charged a “premium” for the land.

He added, “The premium is to be made up of a cost for the raw land, as well as the cost for the infrastructure. Cabinet recently approved the premium at 25 per cent of the market value of the land as determined by the Commissioner of Valuations. Government will absorb the infrastructure cost.”

Mitchell said the act is the State Land (Regularisation of Tenure) Act 1998.

“Purpose of the act was to protect certain squatters from being ejected from state land, to facilitate the acquisition of leasehold titles by both squatters and tenants in designated areas. It allowed for those unlawful occupiers of state land prior to 1998, a period of time up until October 2000 to apply for a Certificate of Comfort. Subsequently, through two IDB loans, squatter sites all across Trinidad were upgraded and surveyed. COC applications were processed.”

He said approximately 23,000 applications were received.

“We’ve ramped up processing of these applications and will complete all processing by January 2018.”

Low income earners targeted

Mitchell also said the ministry has terminated the Land For The Landless (LFTL) programme (of the last administration) due to flaws. This included beneficiaries signing agreements for land without deposits and some who had no income or their income was too low to qualify. No due diligence was done on the programme, he added, noting the People’s Partnership’s focus had been contractors involved in the plan rather than the public.

Replacing the LFTL, Mitchell said, will be the Aided Self-Help Housing Programme, which is geared to assisting low/middle income earners with construction of their own homes, providing financial and technical support from the state. It assists persons seeking affordable residential serviced land lots to erect houses, and also assists those with land who require help to construct a housing unit. A four-stage process goes from application to ministry assistance.

The plan provides fully developed housing lots; sold at 30 per cent its market value, access to subsidised mortgage facilities from the T&T Mortgage Finance Company, pre-approved house plans and oversight assistance for construction. Those without land can access pre-approved house plans, a number of short-listed contractors and technical oversight. One hundred lots will be available within 2018 and 500 later.

Mitchell said the programme is one of many to further stimulate the economy and create employment for skilled/semi-skilled labourers.

“It will see the increase in the national housing stock and a decrease in demand on the HDC for housing units,” he said.

Port Authority of T&T acting chief executive officer/general manager Charmaine Lewis returned to work yesterday and the computer seized when she was abroad on vacation was returned to the office she Lewis occupies.

The T&T Guardian understands that the lock on Lewis’ office door, which was changed last week, was restored to the original lock prior to her return. Staffers also said the computer, which was seized last Tuesday, was returned to Lewis’ office just before three yesterday afternoon.

Lewis remained unavailable for comment for most of the day and when the T&T Guardian finally contacted her she offered a brief “no comment” when asked whether she was called to a meeting with PATT chairman Allison Lewis on her return to office.

Asked whether she was being relieved of her post, Lewis again declined comment, saying: “I have to seek advice.”

But well-placed PATT sources said Lewis and the board’s legal representative, Brandon Primus, were at the Port “early” and met with the Acting CEO/GM to discuss managerial and other issues. The Port’s Legal Officer was also at the meeting.

Only recently, Lewis and the Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan locked horns over her testimony to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament looking into the sea bridge issues, with Sinanan accusing her of “telling blatant lies” to the commission following her statements about his involvement in the procurement of the Trinity Transporter barge.

Sinanan also told the T&T Guardian he had nothing to do with the seizure of Lewis’ computer, adding “the Port has a board that is running and there is an investigation going on. I am not involved. “

Asked last Thursday whether she felt there was a plot to get rid of her, Lewis said: “I don’t know. But it is extremely curious that all of this taking place on the heels of the joint select committee and other utterances made public by the Minister and reported in the press.”

Lewis said she found it curious that six weeks after the JSC began public hearings, “you find cause to seize my computer.”

What made it more curious, she said then, is that “they had already taken copies of the entire data base on the port with e mails, they had it in possession six weeks ago so they would have seen what e mails would have passed.”

Efforts to contact Port chairman Allison Lewis were unsuccessful yesterday as she did not answer calls to her cellphone.

Members of the Malick Secondary Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) yesterday called on the Ministry of Education to address health and safety concerns plaguing the school for the past six months.

Some the problems highlighted yesterday, as both parents and teachers staged a protest, was a rat infestation which forced the closure of the school’s cafeteria, mould, unsecured electrical outlets and falling ceiling tiles.

Teachers Megan Ali said while some teachers have opted to work in the unsafe conditions, the majority of them continued to stay off the job since last week. She pointed out some electrical wiring which was exposed to a puddle of water in the school.

Parents upset by the delay in fixing the issues at the school yesterday marched and chanted outside the school’s Coconut Drive, Morvant compound demanding work be done on the school to bring it up to proper health and safety standards.

PTA vice president Karen Walters said they had a brief meeting with school officials yesterday and were given empty assurances the problems will be addressed. She said a Ministry of Education official, whom she identified only as Ms Griffith, could not give a time frame for when the problems would be addressed.

“Today no teachers in classrooms as they have taken a stance that their safety is at risk, and rightly so, and the environment is not conducive to learning. You cannot come to school when you think things will fall and hit you, as the ceiling is also falling down,” she said.

Walters said parents are now forced to keep their children home, which is not sustainable, noting by law parent cannot leave children under the age of 18 unsupervised and they cannot stay home from work to supervise them.

“When you leave idle hands it becomes the playground for the Devil and his imps. So we are not only looking at this situation here but for the safety of our children, our communities,” Walters said.

Two weeks have passed since the gates of St Joseph Secondary School have remained closed to its teachers and students because of health and safety issues.

T&T Guardian was told that on September 28 classes were dismissed at about 1 pm and students were told that they would have to return to their homes becomes the school's environment had become unhealthy for them and staff.

One parent told the T&T Guardian that classrooms had a build up of moss and mold and as a result, there was a foul stench emanating. The school is also plagued with an infestation of bats and rodents.

An education official at the Ministry of Education said that they received several reports about the school and confirmed that officials from the Occupational Safety and Health visited on Monday.

However, the official said he was unable to confirm when classes will resume, "the entire school has been power-washed over the weekend so it will be reopened soon once clearance is given."

Police officials have appealed for co-operation from residents of east Port-of-Spain to deal with an upsurge of violent crime in the area.

At a T&T Police Service (TTPS) town meeting at the Brian Lara Promenade in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday night, senior police officers noted that residents had not co-operated with police following a spate of recent murders.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Radcliffe Boxhill said: "We are continuing to try to bring harmony to the communities of east Port-of-Spain by pushing away with our initiative for peace, hope and reconciliation amongst the people of east Port-of-Spain. We cannot succeed in this initiative without the full participation of the members of the community."

East Dry River resident Wendell Scott, whose cousin was one of three victims of a drive-by shooting three weeks ago, asked about the outcome of previous anti-crime initiatives in the community. He said the current situation had him considering migrating.

"I am a law-abiding citizen who has never been inside a courthouse or a jail. I am living in St Paul Street and can't go over into John John where I use to live because I could get kill," Scott said.

Boxhill said that the TTPS was focused on improving its detection rate for murders and violent crimes as well as increasing firearm seizures.

"We have not thrown our arms in the air. We have continued with our firearm interdiction effort which to date has seen over 700 firearms being taken off the streets. Most of these firearms recoveries were made possible by collaboration with members of the community," he said.

Boxhill said the TTPS chose the Brian Lara Promenade because previous meetings in communities across T&T were not well attended. The meeting was attended mostly by street vendors who complained about the police and the Port-of-Spain City Corporation's handling of illegal vending.

Melba Boxhill and Juliet Davy, co-ordinators of the Charlotte Street Heritage Vendors Market, said police officers had a nonchalant attitude when approached by vendors during their daily foot patrols.

"We would stop the police and point out a person who is threatening us. They say that is not their problem, tell the City Corporation police," Melba Boxhill said.

Head of the Port-of-Spain Division Senior Supt Floris Hodge-Griffith took note of the complaint and promised to address it with the officers under her charge.

"I can guarantee you in the shortest possible time you will see our presence," she said.

Radcliffe Boxhill and Hodge-Griffith said the TTPS will launch their anti-crime plan for the Christmas season later this month.

"We are optimistic that this plan would work because after we instituted similar measures last year, we had the lowest level of crime in Port-of-Spain in December. We will institute heightened police presence, foot patrols, static vehicles, mobile units, you name it we are going to have it," he said.

The work done for the past 16 years by Wayne Chance and the Vision on Mission was applauded on Wednesday night by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Speaking at the award ceremony for the non-profit organisation and swearing-in of the new Vision on Mission board, Rowley said such initiatives are worth supporting.

Rowley said the $11.6m given to the organisation between 2001 to 2016 was well spent and accounted for.

"Vision on Mission is a crime-fighting tool that has been used to curb recidivism and keep children on the straight path," Rowley said as he repeated a call he made in 2010 when he got into office for more citizens to volunteer their services.

Rowley told the audience at the Central Bank Auditorium that the current justice system was focused on retribution and rehabilitation. President Anthony Carmona and Justice Malcolm Holdip received the Restorative Justice Awards at the event.

Chance in his address said the new aim of the entity is to go further and faster. He said part of that initiative will be materialised with the completion of the women's facility.

Other examples given throughout the night was the completion of low-cost housing in Laventille for former inmates and deportees as well as the partial completion of another low-cost housing facility in south Trinidad and greater usage of the farm in Wallerfield.

The new board for Vision on Mission include former National Operations Centre (NOC) Garvin Heerah as the executive director, former prison commissioner John Rougier as a trustee and Snr Supt Joanne Archie as public information officer. An 11-member team chaired by Chance was also appointed as the board for Partners of America, Trinidad and Tobago chapter.

After receiving her award for the category of Keep Pressing On, Stacey Beckles, a former inmate who began her own Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to assist women in prison, thanked Chance and the Vision on Mission team for the work they have done.

The Vision on Mission team was also congratulated for turning former inmates into business owners who now contribute positively to society.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has praised the contribution of T&T First Peoples, saying the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community has done much to ensure their historical legacy is preserved and that they continue to be relevant to the country’s cultural landscape.

He also congratulated Santa Rosa Queen Jennifer Cassar, Chief Ricardo Bharath Hernandez and the members of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community for their ongoing work to sensitise T&T about the role and contributions of the community.

“Recognition is also due to them for educating the young members of the First Peoples community in the history and ways of their ancestors. It is a history of which we can all be proud.

“Today – a national holiday – I proudly stand with the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to recognise and celebrate the first inhabitants of our beloved nation,” Rowley said.

He said while it has been established that the history of the Americas and the Caribbean was punctuated with violence, confrontation and subjugation, it is also a history of courage, bravery, resistance and an enduring aspiration to preserve traditions through which the country has derived its identity.

“In T&T the indigenous Amerindian populations were the first to suffer the onslaught of European colonisers. Demoralised, disillusioned but never defeated, our First Peoples, largely recognised through the Arima-based Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, have continuously strived to preserve and revitalise their Amerindian history and traditions,” he said.

Rowley said many have participated in the First Peoples Community Annual Santa Rosa Festival, in honour of the community’s patron saint and during National Patriotism Month 2017, heritage tours are organised to local sites dedicated to preserving the legacy of the First Peoples.

“So much of Caribbean history and the history of T&T has been lost or distorted that it is immediately necessary for us as citizens of T&T to research, hold on to and share our stories with one another and with the world.

“We, in Trinidad and Tobago, are a people of diverse origins. We have weathered many storms and together we will continue to draw on the strength of our ancestors to build a strong and resilient nation,” Rowley said.

President Anthony Carmona said his DNA is “inextricably bound” to the First Peoples as his paternal great-grandparents were Waraos, Amerindians from the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela.

In a message for the First Peoples holiday today, Carmona said he felt a deep sense of connection and bond to the culture and this had informed his public support for recognition of the inalienable rights of the First Peoples.

By declaring October 13 a national holiday, T&T has made a profound statement of genuine inclusivity for all, he said.

“It is a belated attempt, in some measure, to right the wrongs of the past and to confer due and equitable recognition to this Republic’s indigenous demographic. The First Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago are an undeniable, integral and revered component of our history, heritage and dynamic, multi-faceted cultural tapestry,” he said.

“In spite of their past afflictions and woes, the First Peoples continue to soldier on in their quest to preserve their cultural heritage and maintain a community way of life that is inspiring and exemplary.”

Carmona commended Chief Ricardo Bharath Hernandez and the descendants of the First Peoples for their enlightening and progressive initiatives to celebrate the occasion over the past few days.

He said a mandate has been given to citizens by T&T’s First Peoples to “lay down our weapons of intolerance, apathy, race and cultural isolationism and indifference and instead nurture a society of compassion, understanding, tolerance and community.”

“We as a nation can learn so much from the traditional value systems of the First Peoples, which placed greater responsibility and ownership of the community rather than oneself. Inherent in the culture and value system of the First Peoples, is respect for Mother Earth, respect for the elderly, respect within families and the institutional wisdom of the old Sage,” the President said.

“The matriarch and the patriarch in First Peoples communities are the repositories of great influence and guidance and their words of wisdom are always sacrosanct.”

Carmona expressed the hope that the First Peoples Heritage celebrations will trigger awareness, sensitivity and knowledge of the indigenous and spiritual traditions, highlight the positives and the importance of the sustainable living practices and engender a revitalisation of the traditional skills associated with indigenous culture.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday sold himself as the country’s best salesman, saying he has been able to bring investors to our shores and sign deals that will generate revenue to take the country out of the economic downturn and recession.

Rowley threw out his sales pitch during his Budget contribution in Parliament, saying he recently sealed the deal with Sandals Resorts to build an 800-room in Tobago which, upon completion, will put T&T on the world map as a tourist destination.

“The communication between me and Sandals ownership is based on mutual respect. I speak to Sandals as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. No underhand deal. Not on this side. We don’t do that,” Rowley said.

He said while he has been trying to sell T&T, the Opposition had not offered any alternative to take the country of economic crisis. Describing Sandals as a world brand, Rowley said according to the MOU, Sandals will manage the hotel and a board has been assigned to start preparatory work for the hotel, which would change Tobago and raise it standards.

He added that the agreement between BP and the National Gas Company (NGC), which he was instrumental in, saw a $10 billion investment for T&T.

“That is not the end of it. We are talking to some Italians now who have expressed an interest to come to T&T and get involved in some kind of industrial business.”

On the economy, Rowley said if Government doesn’t cut expenses the country would run into bankruptcy. He said in setting an example at the Office of the Prime Minister, he has reduced the bill for telephone, entertainment, overseas travel, promotions and printing and hosting of conferences by millions of dollars.

In 2011, Rowley said it costs taxpayers $387 million for these services, which went up to $495m the following year for a total $882m. In his last two years in office, Rowley said they reduced the figure from $882 to $521 million.

“A savings of $361 million. When we had money that is how we spent it. And to come here today to give us lessons as to how to spend money, no thank you!”

Touching on the gaming industry workers who protested outside of Parliament on Wednesday, Rowley said the casino owners have been operating illegally in T&T.

“A lot of people are engaging in illegal activity and telling me they go burn down the country. And you giving them gasoline.”

He said what we have were private members clubs that owners, many of them foreigners, have converted into casinos. In the coming days, Rowley said they would address the matter through the work of the Joint Select Committee.

“We are going to legalise casino gambling in this country,” the PM said, adding it was better to have a gaming commission that would regulate the gambling and take out the crime, criminality and foreign details from it.

“I am appealing from my colleagues on the other side to join with the Government to put this thing under proper legislative control so the workers could have proper and secured jobs in a legal setting.”

Arouca/Maloney MP Camille Robinson-Regis yesterday created history by reading out in Parliament a search warrant which was issue for Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal in connection with committing misconduct in public office and corruptly giving advantages as an inducement or reward.

Robinson-Regis read the document during her Budget contribution in Parliament, which led to an uproar and caused tempers to flare among Members. At one point, deputy Speaker Osmond Forde had to warn Members that he would not condone any outburst.

Robinson-Regis said the warrant, under the Indictable Preliminary Offences Act, was issued in the County of St Patrick by Inspector Derrick Walker of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau and signed by acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle.

In addition to Moonilal, she said there were eight other people and companies who the search warrant had been issued for in relation to the offences.

“What it means is that when a search warrant is issued, it means that a court was convinced that there was a prima facie case of evidence linking the Member for Oropouche East to the charges I spoke about.”

She said that “all constables…meaning every single police officer looking for him” referring to Moonilal, who was absent from the Chamber during her contribution.

In response, Moonilal said it was a fabrication by the PNM and at no time had the police searched his home, office, car or locker room.

“Camille reported on an issue which is already in the public domain and reflected a desperate fight back. Her statement reflected my prophetic statement that they will come after me.

I think Camille will arrest me,” Moonilal stated in a text message last night

Government is supposed to collect $500 million a year in taxes from this country’s gaming industry but only received around $56 million last fiscal year, Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said.

“This is going to come to an end,” Imbert said as he wound up the Budget debate in the House of Representatives last night.

In the 2018 Budget Imbert signalled his intention to increase the taxes the gaming industry will have to pay. There have been protests outside the Parliament by members of the gaming industry against this move and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has promised to appoint someone from the industry to the Senate to speak about their plight.

But Imbert yesterday knocked this suggestion, saying, “Speak about what? There is no relationship between the Gambling and Gaming Bill, which is to establish a commission to regulate casino gambling in this country to put an end to the scourge of money laundering, the illegal activity that take place in these casinos,” he said.

Imbert said according to “conservative” estimates Government is supposed to collect $100 million annually from the “proliferation” of amusement games scattered around the country. However, only $8 million was collected last year.

“And yet I would hear people go out and say ‘this is all a set of old talk, everybody is paying their taxes, none of us are doing anything underhand, everything we do is above board, we are all legal’,” Imbert said.

Labelling those who avoided payment as tax cheaters, Imbert said casinos were also supposed to pay close to $400 million in taxes but only paid $48 million last year.

“All of these large enterprises are owned by foreigners,” Imbert said.

He said the casino owners never protest but instead “threaten the poor little workers” to protest or they will be dismissed.

Based on current figures for revenue and expenditure, Imbert said the country will have a shortfall of $2 billion this month. The “inescapable expenses” for this month, including salaries and pensions, is expected to be $3.1 billion.

“That does not include a number of cheques that were written in the month of September that will be presented in the month of October and when you add the cheques that were written in September and not yet presented in October, we get another billion dollars. We are talking about $4.1 billion,” Imbert said.

The total cash inflow is estimated at $2.2 billion, he said.

A night of karaoke fun turned deadly when masked men sprayed bullets into a crowded bar in Marabella on Wednesday night, killing three patrons. Police suspect one of the men, Michael Scott, 48, a rigger, was the intended target. The others, Ruthven Sandy, 62, a grandfather of 11, of Marabella, and another man who remains unidentified, were innocent victims, police said.

Investigators believe Scott was shot in retaliation for a murder allegedly committed by one of his close relatives.

At around 11 pm, two masked men ran into Caribbean Vibes bar on the Southern Main Road and began firing wildly. Scott, a father of three, was shot several times, as was Sandy, who was walking from the washroom area, and the unidentified man, who was sitting on a chair. Sandy, who was shot five times, died while undergoing emergency treatment at the San Fernando General Hospital. The other two died at the scene.

Scott’s wife, Janice, said yesterday she had no idea why anyone would want to kill her husband.

“He was the best husband I ever saw,” she said, adding he never showed anger or raised his voice to anyone.

Saying she spoke to him just before he went to to bar, she said: “It was a normal conversation. He told me he was going to make a turn and come back. If I knew it would have been the last time I spoke to him I would have hugged him up and kissed him and told him that I loved him with all my heart.” Janice, who was married to Scott for nine years but knew him for 23 years, said she fell to ground and cried when she heard of his death.

“I felt it in my belly. I still feel as though I am dreaming,” she said.

Sandy’s son, Ako Cobham, said: “He wasn’t suppose to go that way. We not taking that just so. The man they come to kill dead. They kill my father for nothing, an innocent man. I out with a father and them men happy.” Cobham said he was outside the bar with his brother and a friend when he heard the gunshots and saw one of the attackers running away.

“A golf course is like a woman, so you have to groom her every day otherwise it turns into a pasture.”

This was the statement Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made as he defended Government’s decision to spend $3 million to upgrade the Chaguaramas Golf Course during his contribution to the Budget debate last night.

However, within minutes of his utterance he was taken to task by social media users for the comment, with some calling it sexist.

This is the latest statement made by Rowley which has drawn the ire of people on social media.

Last month Rowley was taken to task for his use of the word “jammetry” in describing the actions of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the Petrotrin “fake oil” scandal. In February, he was chastised for telling women involved in domestic violence relationships to choose their partners better, saying, “I’m not in your bedroom...”

In the build-up to the 2015 general election, Rowley also came under fire for a “dog and cyat” statement he made, which was also viewed as a sexist attack on women and Persad-Bissessar.

Among the expenditure for this fiscal year in the Budget, was a $3 million allocation to the Planning and Development Ministry for the upgrade of the Chaguaramas course.

“Making a big issue of $3 million in a $50 billion budget to fix the single public golf course in Trinidad and Tobago, when of course Barbados has five or six golf courses and that is what makes them an attractive location, a golfing destination for high-end tourists and long stay tourists,” Rowley said.

“Golfers don’t come and spend one day, most times they spend three to five days and they pay at the top, Trinidad and Tobago has a number of golf courses and most of them are sheep pastures.”

Then Rowley made his comparison between women and golf courses.

Rowley said most of the people who play golf in the North of Trinidad learnt to do so at the Chaguaramas course.

“It has probably the only junior programme in the golfing fraternity in the country, so why would my colleagues come here and want to make an issue of that,” Rowley said

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship ‘RFA Mounts Bay’ which aided in hurricane relief-efforts up the islands will arrive in T&T next week.

The ship arrived from the UK in July and is three months into a three-year Caribbean deployment.

In the early part of its deployment, it played a pivotal role in providing humanitarian relief in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Last month, the people of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and Dominica were supported by its crew, who delivered aid to the ones in the isolated communities of the hurricane-ravaged islands. The crew also assisted in repairing critical infrastructure.

To support work ashore, the vessel carries an array of vehicles including diggers, trucks, quad bikes, command and all-terrain vehicles.

Its “Wildcat” helicopter was also used to assess damage after both hurricanes. The ship has been invaluable in delivering fresh water, shelter and aid to isolated communities.

Commanding the Commando Engineer Regiment, Lt Oli Fletcher RE described his small detachment of 19 people as being “full of useful skill-sets in times of need.”

“Plumbers, fitters, joiners, mechanics and plant operators provide a wide range of potential options to the Disaster Management team in that first 24 – 48 hours following a disaster. And with the army’s, Royal Navy’s and Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s assistance we can deploy rapidly and get to work where we are best needed,” Fletcher said.

Commanding Officer Captain Stephen Norris said it is a privilege to command such a versatile unit, “with such an amazing and helpful range of military personnel, equipment and capability.”

Norris added that while the ship’s primary task is to provide enhanced security and reassurance to the UK Oversees Territories, including disaster relief when called upon, “she will also be involved in work with regional partners on security issues in the area while being on very short notice to react to any emerging crises around the world.”

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has given the First Peoples the commitment that a monument will be erected in their honour at the Red House when it is completed at the end of 2018. He added that the bones of their ancestors found at the Red House will also be handed over to the First Peoples in an official ceremony to be announced.

Rowley made the announcement at yesterday’s First Peoples holiday celebrations at the Arima Velodrome. He said the time had come to preserve T&T’s history, including the rich heritage of the First Peoples.

“The bones and artefacts found beneath that building (the Red House), that at the appropriate time towards the completion of that construction, before the Parliament returns or as we return to that building to continue our parliamentary sessions, an appropriate ceremony event will take place where those ancient bones would be restored at an appropriate location on the Red House site marking with respect,” Rowley said.

As the Parliament returns to be seated in that Red House, I give you the commitment that an appropriate monument would be established on that ground after appropriate consultation with those who are relevant to such development.”

The PM was referring in part to the April 2013 discovery of bones under the Red House during restoration work on the Parliament. Udecott officials subsequently confirmed that the human remains of four people and archaeology experts had said the remains and certain artefacts were believed to be dating back to the time when Amerindians occupied the country. In early 2014, then Speaker of the House Wade Mark had told the Parliament that results from DNA tests confirmed that the samples of bones discovered ,as well as the artefacts, belonged to people living in T&T and parts of Central America during the period AD 990 to AD 1400.

On the issue of First Peoples located in the southern part of T&T, Rowley yesterday said the Government plans to consult with them to find appropriate land for them. He said although he could not promise any financial support, Government would be supportive to their activities, including having a cultural and heritage village in Arima. He said while there cannot be a permanent holiday to commemorate the First Peoples it would be more appropriate to have a day to recognise the First Peoples instead.

Referring to preserving the history of the First Peoples, he said a textbook is being put together to be added to the curriculum at the nation’s schools.

“My Government is making strides to ensuring that the history our First Peoples are accurately reflected in our schools through the publishing of the history of T&T which was mentioned by the Minister of Education, a voluminous text which will soon be available to all of T&T.”

As the Prime Minister made the commitment yesterday, Chief of the Santa Rosa First Peoples, Ricardo Bharath Hernandez called on Government to establish a committee to develop the Cultural and Heritage Village.

“I make a special appeal to you to ensure that the vision of the Santa Rosa First Peoples community, to realise the establishment of a Heritage village is fulfilled. Strategic steps need to be taken that would lead to achieving this goal.

“I ask the Government to establish a committee from various arms of (T&T) private sector, NGOs that would bring their skills and resources to develop our Heritage village.” he said

Bharath said what is clear is that the village, when completed, would have a twin role— the first to earn revenue for T&T and the second to preserve the history of the First Peoples.

Disrespectful and demeaning to women!

That’s the view of the Opposition UNC’s National Women’s Arm concerning remarks by Prime Minister Keith Rowley during parliamentary budget debate when he was speaking about golf course projects. This was on Thursday.

The UNC’s NWA claimed, “He’s continued to liken a woman’s person to that of ‘pastures which need regular grooming’ and similar to that of a ‘golf course.”

“We’re calling for an immediate and sincere apology! Respect our women!”

NWA added, “The innuendos once more continue to degrade women and the sexist undertones are undeniable. The Prime Minister, instead addressing the many issues facing the country, saw it fit to use his time to make distasteful comments. “

“Once more the NWA calls for an apology from the Prime Minister to all women of T&T - it will no longer be tolerated . It’s very unacceptable to degrade women who are a significant section of society. The women of today are strong, courageous and will stand up against sexism and the apparent misogynistic tendencies of this present Prime Minister.”

UNC’s party unit said Rowley’s latest remarks came on the heels of his recent reference to “jammetry” as he responded on statements by the Opposition Leader regarding an issue.

During budget debate Opposition MPs also jammed Government on the PM’s posturings. UNC MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh on Wednesday said Government’s leader had a “predilection” for the female anatomy aspect.

On Thursday UNC MP Roodal Moonilal was told by the House Speaker to withdraw statements that the Government’s leader had an obsession with the female anatomy. UNC MPs also slammed Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s brush-off of criticism of the budget - and himself - by females at a recent Chamber seminar.

A teenager, who according to police, shot at residents of Beetham Gardens, was killed yesterday morning. Two of his accomplices ran away as he lay bleeding.

Leroy Reynolds Isaac, 19, of Prizgar Lands, Laventille was found at Eastern Quarry Laventille, near the Success Laventille Secondary School around 4 am . Police said they responded to a report of gunshots in the area and found Issac dead.

Officers reported that when they arrived at the scene they were shot at by residents of Beetham Gardens who were still agitated. This is the second time within a week that gunmen from Beetham Gardens and police had an exchange of gunfire.

According to police, residents of John John will usually send two gunmen across the Eastern Main Road to shoot at Beetham residents.

When the residents retaliate, the John John gunmen, perched on the hills, would open fire on their targets. Issac was said to have been on of two men who early yesterday morning opened fire on Beetham residents who returned fire, killing him.

No reports were made of anyone from Beetham Gardens being shot either by police during their brief gun battle or by acquaintances of Isaac.

In another murder that took place yesterday, police are searching for an identity for the victim.

Police said around 6 am, a resident of Chinapoo, Morvant, was walking when he saw the body of a man at the side of the road.

The man was wearing a white t-shirt and blue pair of jeans and believed to be of mixed descent in his 20s. Anyone with information on his identity can contact the police.

The two murders and that of a Maloney man, who was threatened one month ago and died Thursday afternoon after he was shot near his home Wednesday night, increased the murder toll to 385 for the year.

Police said Kazim Burke, 20, was approached at his Building 19, Maloney Gardens home around 9.30 pm by a masked gunman who opened fire on him before running off.

Burke was taken to the Arima Health Facility and then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) with gunshot wounds to the head, face, back, abdomen shoulder and hands.

He died around noon on Thursday at the EWMSC.

Relatives said Burke was threatened recently and asked if he wanted war with men from the Maloney housing scheme.

Police believe his death is linked to ongoing gang war in the Maloney area but could not say if Burke himself was affiliated with any gang.