Three Maloney men who were arrested during last week’s blockade of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway during a protest for water were each fined $150 yesterday after they pleaded guilty.

The men—Joseph White, 40, Vince Gibson, 31, and Kuamie John, 28—were held on Saturday.

The men appeared before Arima Magistrate Debbie-Ann Bassaw. The trio was part of a group of 65 residents from the area, who blocked the east-bound lane of the highway with burning tyres and other debris.

A media release issued by the Police Service’s communication department warned: “Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is intent on prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law, persons who obstruct and disrupt the free flow of traffic on the nation’s roadways in any way.”

The response came after criticism when residents blocked the Beetham Highway to protest the arrest of two gang leaders and motorists were stranded for hours before police restored order.

The elder brother of a teenage bandit who was killed after he shot a police officer in Marabella appeared in court yesterday on robbery charges stemming from the incident.

The 16-year-old school boy, who was cannot be identified because of his age, was accompanied by his father when he appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court yesterday. He was granted $30,000 bail.

The charge stemmed from an incident last Thursday when PC Anand Ram was shot by Issac Simmons, 15, when he responded to a report of a robbery at Gopaul Lands. Simmons was subsequently killed after being shot several times by the police.

Shortly after the matter was called in the First Court yesterday, Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine cleared the courtroom because the teen accused was a juvenile. The charge alleged that the teen accused on December 14, together with other people armed with a firearm, cutlass and knife robbed Farouk Hosein of several items, including two gold chains, a gold pendant, tie pins, Playstation, a recorder, video games and an assortment of alcoholic beverages.

Represented by duty counsel, Alysa Habib, the teenager admitted to having charges of robbery, possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and housebreaking and larceny pending. He was also placed on probation until the age of 18 on a marijuana possession matter.

Habib said the teenager was a Form Five student and he wanted to attend his brother’s funeral.

The magistrate approved the teenager’s father as his surety, which meant he would be released in the care of his father.

However, the magistrate attached conditions to the bail that he was not to go out in public without his father and he had to return home from school at 3 pm.

The matter was adjourned to January 17.

In the same court, Simmons’ matter for receiving stolen articles in July, was also called. Asked by the magistrate whether he had a death certificate, the father said, “Right now his mother running up and down to handle the death certificate. I just come to notify.”

The magistrate then asked the father to bring the original death certificate on March 2, but the father asked for a closer date. The magistrate said she was adjourning it to a longer date to allow the family time to settle down. In response, the father said, “I don’t want to grieve I just want to bury my child...We done settle already.” The magistrate then adjourned the matter to February 23.

The Fire Service yesterday received a $37m Christmas gift of 17 spanking-new vehicles to boost their ability to respond more effectively.

While the president of the Fire Service Association Leo Ramkissoon welcomed the new fleet, he said there was a critical vacancy which needed to be filled to authorise ambulance drivers to operate legally.

In a telephone interview, Ramkissoon said according to Section 23 of the Medical Board Act, all institutions that offer pre-hospital emergency care must be guided by a medical director approved by the Ministry of Health. To date the Fire Service was void of a director, he said.

Ramkissoon said the call for a medical director had been made by the association for over two years after the law came into effect in 2014.

Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce acknowledged the need for a medical director was of “paramount importance” during the handing over ceremony at the Wrightson Road, headquarters and pleaded with fire officers to be patient.

He said his officers ought to be trained to the level of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), as required by the law, and is hopeful that one day they can be able to train future fire officers to be EMTs.

Responding to questions from the media, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said he could not give a timeframe for when the medical director would be appointed.

He said there have been talks with the Health Minister about the post, which has to be created within the Fire Service. He said that it should happen “within the shortest possible time.”

Asked what was the issue with appointing one, Dillon said that was better answered by Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh, but he would keep working on getting it done.

Ramkisson said apart from the officers operating outside of the law, there were other concerns that needed to be addressed.

He highlighted that in order for the Piarco and ANR Robinson International Airports to maintain their grade 9 status specialised aircraft firefighting equipment was needed at each airport.

He said the current appliances were old and are not adequate, having outlived their usefulness.

Of the 17 vehicles handed over were five water tankers, three water tenders, one emergency tender, a hydraulic platform and seven ambulances, taking the number of ambulances to 25 in the Fire Service.

Bruce said the emergency tender will be sent to Tobago while the Southern Division would receive the hydraulic platform.

He said the hope was one day the Fire Service would be equipped with a heavy-duty wrecker, renovated fire stations and restored fire appliances.

Dillon said the Crown Point and Roxborough fire stations in Tobago, Arouca Fire Station and Lady Hailes in San Fernando were on the cards to be refurbished next year.

He said the ministry also planned to acquire land for the construction of the Point Fortin Fire Station by then.

A South Korean style taekwondo champion was yesterday fined $45,000 after he pleaded guilty to possession of over one kilogramme of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Leigh Young Lum Kin, 28, of Block One, Palmiste, who represents T&T and won a gold medal at an international competition on Sunday, claimed he was driven into the illegal trade because he could not land a good job.

Prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander told San Fernando Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine that the police had executed a search warrant at Lum Kin’s home around 12.10 pm on December 2. Under the steps in the garage area, the court heard, charging officer PC Dhoray found four jars containing 50 plastic bags of marijuana and another bag of marijuana. Lum Kim reportedly told police the drugs were his and no one else knew about it. The police also found a quantity of packets with marijuana, three scales and a quantity of cash, including US$2011, $10 Belize currency and TT$18,161 in his bedroom. The drugs weighed 1062 grammes.

Lum Kin told the police he collected notes, kept his US currency home instead of banking it and the Belize money was given to him by his mother. However, the officer took the money because he was of the opinion it was derived from the sale of marijuana.

PC Dhoray subsequently handed over the money to Sgt Marcelle, of the Financial Investigation Branch, who seized it under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Asking for leniency yesterday, Lum Kin’s attorney Frank Gittens said his client was suffering not from unemployment but under employment. Listing all his academic achievements and qualifications, Gittens said his client’s expectations and aspirations were high, but the only employment he could get were menial jobs which had an effect on him.

Gittens said his client, who does landscaping, was also the current light weight champion in taekwondo and had won several medals in local and international competitions.

He said his client, who came from a strong Catholic household and had a good upbringing, had embarrassed himself and his family and was remorseful.

The magistrate commented, “I think the global philosophy that nothing is wrong with weed is what is influencing a lot of our young people.”

The magistrate ordered Lum Kin to pay $10,000 of the fine forthwith and the balance by March 1. Told that there was a detention order for the seized money, the magistrate sent the matter to the High Court for a determination on whether the money should be confiscated.

Sea Lots community leader Cedric “Burkie” Burke yesterday helped police apprehend a car thief and recover a stolen car.

But in a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian hours after his act, Burke said he was being targeted by the police and had in the past been discriminated against. He said around 5 pm he was telephoned about the stolen car, which was found at the home of the mother to his children. He said he went there with attorney Richard Clarke-Wills and said he was told by police he was being accused of being in possession of stolen property. However, Burke said the house has an open yard and he did not live there, while no one was home when the car was dropped off there.

Burke said he later reviewed CCTV footage and saw two men had parked the car there and left. He recognised one of the men and was able to track him down.

The man later arrived at the house and told the police he dropped off the stolen car there. The man was arrested and Burke and Clarke-Wills were invited to the St Joseph Police Station to assist the police as the car, a white Nissan AD wagon, was reported stolen from Mt Hope. There, they provided the camera footage and Burke was interviewed. He was then allowed to leave around 7.50 pm.

Asked if he felt he was being targeted by police, Burke said yes.

Burke and his driver Keon Bain are currently suing the State for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment over their arrests during the 2011 state of emergency (SoE).

“There is evidence to show that I am being targeted, it is no longer a matter of feeling. That is a norm, I am being targeted, discriminated against and stereotyped, but I will survive,” Burke said, adding he made himself “most present” at the house yesterday because it involved his children.

Police yesterday confirmed Burke was not arrested and charged for any offence since they apprehended the man who allegedly committed the offence. The also confirmed that at the time the vehicle was found at the home Burke was not there.

Burke was the centre of controversy in June this year, after his appearance at the swearing-in ceremony of Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald at President’s House, led to her firing by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley days later.

McDonald had been then returned to the Cabinet as Public Utilities Minister by Rowley, she having been removed previously while the Integrity Commission was probing allegations against her.

Siblings Kizzy Bernard, 38, and brother Kenol Singh, 32, of Longdenville, Chaguanas, who were charged in connection with the recent 5.5 million heist at the Piarco International Airport, were both yesterday granted bail by a Chaguanas magistrate totalling $.5 million.

Bernard, who is eight months pregnant with her third child, was granted $200,000 bail while Singh, a mason by trade and a father of two, was granted $300,000 bail.

Both were represented by attorney Kiev Chesney when they appeared before Senior Magistrate Joanne O’Connor charged with money laundering and receiving stolen money.

Singh had an additional charge of robbery with aggravation. All charges were laid indictably and they were not called upon to plead.

Singh’s robbery matter is, however, currently before the Arima Magistrate’s Court and he is to re-appear on that charge tomorrow.

Yesterday, when Singh appeared before O’Connor, attorney Chesney argued for bail on the grounds his client does not present any danger to obstruct justice nor any threat to any eyewitness. Chesney also said his client was willing to surrender his passport.

O’Connor then granted him bail and on the conditions that he report to the Longdenville Police Post every Saturday at 6 pm.

In arguing why bail Bernard should be granted bail, Chesney presented her medical report to O’Connor, which stated that she was in her final trimester and that her pregnancy was a complicated one. The medical documents produced also stated an abnormality had been detected in her unborn child. Bernard’s due date was given as January 18.

O’Connor eventually granted her bail and adjourned the matter for both siblings for January 16.

Two others who were charged along with Bernard and Singh - Abdul Mohammed, 35, and Kevon Findley, 38, both of Diego Martin, appeared before Arima Magistrate Debbie Ann Bassaw on Monday. They were charged with robbery with aggravation and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. They were denied bail to reappear tomorrow.

On December 6 at about 11.25 am, four masked men armed with high-powered rifles and dressed in camouflage clothing got out a darkly-tinted Toyota Hilux pick-up in the cargo bond area at Golden Grove Road, Piarco.

The security officers guarding the cargo cart with the money belonging to First Citizens’ bank were robbed. The money was being transported to Tobago banks. The getaway vehicle used in the robbery was later found abandoned in Oropune Gardens, Piarco, a few minutes away from the scene. The police have recovered $250,000 of the loot.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Oilfield Workers Trade Union staged protests demanding the removal of Vidya Deokiesingh, after he was sent to work in the South West Soldado Field Development Unit at Trinmar.

Deokiesingh is currently the subject of a probe in the Petrotrin fake oil scandal and recently returned to work following leave.

In an interview yesterday, OWTU’s Trinmar branch secretary Ernesto Kesar said workers first got wind Deokiesingh was promoted to the unit around 7 am on Monday.

“We had to be sure that he was really there because we did not want to operate using hearsay information. We went to Trinmar’s Bungalow 70 and the leader of the section confirmed that he was there,” Kesar said.

He added that Deokiesingh quickly left in his car as the workers prepared for another round of protest.

“We learnt today that he will be relocated to somewhere else but we don’t know where,” Kesar added.

Saying the investigations into the fake oil scandal were still ongoing and he did not want to say too much more on the issue, Kesar said,

“This matter is a delicate one. The Petrotrin management has a right to do what they have to do, but they cannot force us to work with someone we are not comfortable with.”

Saying the influence and strength of the OWTU continues to prevail, Kesar assured workers the union will continue to be the vanguard for the protection of Petrotrin and its assets.

Workers also protested on December 8 when Deokiesingh was sent to the Field Maintenance Equipment Department in Santa Flora after returning to work recently.

Petrotrin, on its website, said the South West Soldado Field Development unit is one of the most immediate opportunities for increasing indigenous crude oil production. Phase one, which is currently being executed, involves installation of a temporary compression and production facility, drilling of eight new wells, reactivation and work-over of inactive wells and installation of a new gas sales pipeline among other activities.

An email sent to Petrotrin’s head of external communications and branding Joy Antoine and acting communications manager George Commissiong for comment on the issue was not answered up to press time.

There was movement yesterday towards a short-term resolution for the Cuban “dissident” group currently camping out at Chancery Lane, Port-of-Spain - at least for Christmas.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi says efforts are being made so the Cuban group won’t continue to be on the pavement outside the United Nations’ office for Christmas. He said some resolution is necessary since they risk breaching T&T laws by continuing to be on the pavement there.

The AG spoke after meeting with stakeholders on the group’s issue yesterday. Al-Rawi and Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Glenda Jennings-Smith, met with officials of the United Nations, Living Waters and police divisions.

The Cubans, who are seeking resettlement in the US and other countries as political refugees, have been demonstrating in front of the UN building on Chancery Lane almost all year. They erected tarpaulins and moved possessions onto the pavement recently and moved into the UN building’s yard on Monday. UN officials called in the police, claiming the group hadn’t abided by regulations and there’d been an invasion of private (UN) property that day. UN officials later said the Cubans left the yard Monday night, returning to the pavement. UN officials claimed some of the Cubans want to stay in T&T.

Following yesterday’s meeting with the stakeholders, Al-Rawi said,”We confirmed the group - 18 - including children - are subject of refugee status applications to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Living Waters offered and presented accommodations for the most vulnerable, including payment of accommodation. UNHCR is in the process of considering applications through fact-finding.”

He said that aspect has to be considered against the need to uphold T&T’s laws and for the group’s compliance with that.

Al-Rawi said their applications can’t be expedited because of their protests.

“The last UNHCR report had 600 people seeking refugee status in T&T and UNHCR isn’t a travel agency which can send people to a country,” the AG said.

“However, the group doesn’t want to stay in T&T. Also, while T&T is signatory to United Nations conventions on refugees, we haven’t ratified the convention and have no law to make it happen.”

He added, “We have a serious balancing issue as we’re striving to ensure citizens receive fair share of state support and resources while meeting compassionate objectives for all people in the country. We’re in a significantly difficult economic environment and allocation of state resources to citizens is Government’s primary objective, while mindful of the comity of nations and need for humanitarian considerations.

Therefore, (refugee) legislation will ultimately have to be a Cabinet decision.”

Talks on the issue continue today. Al-Rawi expressed gratitude to Living Waters for “constant advocacy, as a Government alone can’t do everything.”

Police Service Commission (PSC) chairman Dr Maria Therese-Gomes yesterday admitted the commission was not in support of an election for a commissioner of police, as this process could be “utterly convoluted.”

Therese-Gomes made the comment as she appeared before a Joint Select Committee on National Security chaired by Fitzgerald Hinds at Tower D, Port-of-Spain.

The recommendation of voting for a CoP was made by the Police Manpower Audit Committee, chaired by Professor Ramesh Deosaran, which was set up by the Government to conduct an audit into the TTPS.

But Therese-Gomes said the PSC was not in agreement.

“I think that was one of the poor recommendations of that document (manpower audit) that the media chose to highlight. We do not support the election of a police commissioner because that would be utterly convoluted,” she said, adding the PSC cannot allow themselves or the public to fall for that.

Acting Commissioner Stephen Williams, former Police Social Welfare Association president Anand Ramesar, former national security minister Gary Griffith, Assistant Commissioner Irwin Hackshaw and retired policeman and calypsonian Wayne “Watchman” Hayde were among those interviewed last month by KPMG, the recruitment firm hired by the PSC to select the most suitable applicant for the post.

Hinds yesterday asked Therese-Gomes if she agreed the T&T Police Service (TTPS) management was to some extent accountable to the PSC, National Security Minister, Cabinet and the courts. He said the impression one got was that "serious sanctions" had not been applied by the PSC.

“Then so far as the management and accountability of the police service is concerned to the commission that is not very effective?” Hinds suggested.

Therese-Gomes agreed with Hinds, saying they were trying to revamp the police service's regulations in November in order to put serious sanctions in place, but didn’t. She admitted the TTPS “is not in the shape they should be in.”

Hinds told Therese-Gomes they were about to hire a CoP knowing full well he or she is not going to be fully accountable to the PSC, as their management structure was weak.

“It appears as though the only real accountability that the police has is to the courts.”

Hind said in the police manpower audit, it was recommended that a a police inspectorate be implemented. He asked Therese-Gomes to share her thoughts on this recommendation.

Therese-Gomes said the structure of the commission needed to be amended to give them “financial autonomy” and “the teeth” to do what needed to be done. She said changing the PSC’s name was not an option and would only appease the public and political directorate.

“We have flaws and we have cracks. But those things can be fixed,” she said.

While the Constitution gives the PSC the power to fire or discipline a CoP and his deputies, Therese-Gomes said this never took place.

“So we have only had excellent commissioners?" Hinds responded.

Member Saddam Hosein asked why was it so difficult to appoint a CoP and if they were ready to elect a commissioner as recommended in the manpower audit.

In response, Therese-Gomes said when she became chairman she asked the same question. Noting some of the legislative challenges which had plagued their operations, Therese-Gomes said it would be wise in the future to consult the people who have to do the implementation.

Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister “has the full support of his Cabinet team.”

This from Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi in the face of reports of a personal matter involving Young and questions about a conflict of interest relating to his private accommodation.

Reports are that Young’s landlord is a top official of State-owned oil company Petrotrin, which only last week appeared before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Energy. The report said Young should have made the relationship known and recused himself.

But Young deflected the issue when the question of the conflict of interest was put to him at the weekly post-Cabinet news conference yesterday. He said he wanted his “private and personal life,” to remain just that and he had no intention of being drawn into any public discussion into matters involving his private life.

On his Facebook page on Tuesday night, Young acknowledged that he had “seen the article” and confirmed that “my relationship with my partner has ended and we have parted ways on amicable terms.” Young made it clear in the post that he would like his “private and personal life to remain as such and I have no intention of being drawn into any discussion of same.”

In the social media post, Young said he expected that because of “the work that I do, those who oppose me, for their own reasons, may continue to attack me.”

At yesterday’s news conference, Al-Rawi picked up the point, linking the publication of the report on Young’s private life to “those persons who have a problem with Young’s immense capacity and ability and his very aggressive charge to anti-corruption matters,” being pursued by the AG’s office. He said they “will do anything in their power to malign him.”

Al-Rawi said it was a case of “if you can’t attack someone on the basis of their competence and professionalism then you go into their private life.”

But Al-Rawi, who himself was in the spotlight earlier this year on an issue involving two teenagers with weapons at Camp Cumuto, said those who attack people and their family “ought to be viewed as cowards.”

Al-Rawi said Young had “the full support of his Cabinet team.”

There is no way, he said, that anyone can criticise the work which Young does.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi says Government will act with “propriety” in the matter involving Chief Justice Ivor Archie and calls for the executive to move to begin impeachment proceedings under section 137 of the Constitution.

Speaking at the weekly-post Cabinet news conference, Al-Rawi said while section 137 of the Constitution was used in the past by an executive it was on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“In this current scenario we have received no such intervention by any entity, nor have we seen anything to trigger 137 pursuant to the Constitution,” he said.

He recalled that on the last occasion the executive acted under 137, in the matter involving former Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma then prime minister Patrick Manning “came in for massive criticism by the UNC. It was reduced to allegations of race, allegations of interference in the Judiciary. But it was a DPP that told the then PM to take the action that he did.”

Sharma had been accused of interfering in a criminal case involving former prime minister Basdeo Panday and was eventually charged with a criminal offence. The case collapsed after the main witness, then Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicols, decided not to testify.

The AG said he had “taken note,” of the conversation between the Law Association and members of the legal fraternity.

He said “this is a matter which has to unfold and the government will act with propriety in the matter.

Archie left the country last Sunday leaving in his wake a firestorm of arguments as to why he should resign or alternatively why the executive should intervene. He is expected to return on Boxing Day.

Yesterday Senior Counsel Israel Khan said he suspected that “if the Chief Justice is being investigated they will have to suspend him from office and the President will have to appoint a CJ.”

The Law Association has retained the services of two senior counsel to advise on whether allegations against Archie are tantamount to misbehaviour to invoke section 137 of the Constitution.

At a meeting on November 30, the Association told the Chief Justice that the Law Association viewed allegations against him in a serious light. It expressed concern that the gravity of the allegations coupled with his failure to respond had brought his office and the entire judiciary into disrepute.

His failure to respond, the association said, had led people to conclude there was some truth to the allegations.

The CJ is accused of discussing with a matter of personal security for judges with someone who is not a judge, and that he had recommended two or more individuals for HDC accelerated housing granted.

The CJ, in a release issued on December 15, admitted he sought public housing for a number of needy and deserving people. He, however, described as false the allegation that he sought to influence judges to change their State-provided security to private security.

Archie is expected to return to the country sometime next week.

Attorney General Faris A- Rawi says “the Emailgate saga is far from over.”

And while he is unhappy with the position of the Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams on the issue, he said he does not intend to speak to the police nor the Director of Public Prosecutions with whom the matter now rests.

Last Friday, Williams said publicly that the investigation into Emailgate is now complete and after four years of investigation “very little of substance,” had been found. The matter, according to the top CoP, is now with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The statement made by the Commissioner has been criticised by Al-Rawi who told the post-Cabinet news conference yesterday that “the Commissioner of Police said in a nonchalant, passing way that nothing of substance was there.”

But he said the real crux of the matter is what was under investigation.

“Was it emails? What period was the investigation looking at?” he asked. He said there were a number of questions which were left unanswered.

“Were there in fact emails of this type and more importantly was there any corroborative evidence about the matters? Did someone approach the Chief Justice and ask that the Director of Public Prosecutions be elevated as a Judge? Were their tracers in the conference room of the DPP’s Office?” Al-Rawi said he has evidence that the Office of the DPP was bugged.

He noted the “emailgate (matter) has been pronounced upon several times. It is not the first time we have been told it’s at an end.”

He recalled that when the past Chairman of the Integrity Commission publicly stated that the Emailgate probe was at an end, it led to a number of resignations from the Commission. In addition, he said, “the acting Commissioner previously said that Emailgate was at an end, but we know that is not the case.”

The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley after the Acting Commissioner announced that the police had found nothing of substance found in the emails.

Rowley said it is now five years since the matter first came to notice. He said, “what was needed to be determined is whether there were people in government engaged in criminal conduct.”

Al-Rawi recalled that it was in May 2013 that Rowley approached the Parliament and revealed the information which a whistle-blower had provided and which he had taken to then-President George Maxwell Richards in December 2012.

Homicide detectives probing the murder of Kerwin Buchan have found two criminal records that may give insight into the reason for his death.

Investigators said he was known in the Port-of-Spain Division as a narcotics offender.

However, they were still trying to verify whether both records belong to Buchan. Officers said both records had close dates of birth.

The body of the 42-year-old-man, of Coconut Drive, Morvant, was found in the trunk of a silver Mitsubishi Lancer in the early hours of yesterday near the entrance of the Brian Lara Stadium.

An autopsy could not be done yesterday as no relatives came forward to identify Buchan’s body. Morvant police made contact with a relative, however, that person had not reached out to investigators up to late yesterday.

A report stated that Gasparillo police were on patrol around 12.40 am when saw a car that was parked along the Gasparillo Bypass Road, Tarouba.

The officers noticed that the trunk was open and no one around. On checking, they found Buchan lying inside with what they suspect was a gunshot wound to the head. His hands were tied and duct tape covered his mouth.

Supt Yusuff Gaffar and Insp Subhas Panday visited the scene and coordinated search efforts for possible suspects. However, no one was held up to late yesterday.

A Barrackpore man who rears tilapia was arrested after South Western Task Force and Penal CID officers raided his home and allegedly found a large cache of arms and ammunition yesterday.

According to a police report, around 6.30 am Sgts Victor and Ali, Cpl George, Cpl Singh and other officers executed a warrant at the home of the 40-year-old man at Jaipalsingh Street where they allegedly found 12 firearms and 2,164 rounds of ammunition.

Among the firearms were six pistols, four revolvers and two rifles and an assortment of ammunition. Investigations are continuing.

The Financial Intelligence Unit has reported a 500 per cent increase in the monetary value of suspicious transactions and suspicious activity between 2016 and 2017 with the monetary value growing from $4.5 billion to $22.2 billion in the period under review.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi disclosed some of the data of the report for 2017 which he said Cabinet had approved to be laid in Parliament when it reconvenes in January.

In 2016, the report said there were 739 suspicious transaction reports. That figure grew to 877 in 2017.

It was the monetary value of the transactions which he said the public must take note of. The country’s budget, he said, was $55 billion and the level of suspicious transactions was $22.2 billion.

Al-Rawi said the FIU has 2,502 registrants from various sectors, including the banking and commercial sectors.

Of the 877 transactions, he said, 824 were completed transactions estimated at $8.4 billion while 53 interrupted transactions are believed to have amounted to $13.6 billion. He said, “the greatest number of reports stem from the banking sector and the money value transfer services.”

Of the cases, he said, 136 were suspected money laundering cases, 46 were for the financing of terrorism and of the number “140 were sent to local law enforcement agencies and 42 to foreign law enforcement.”

The transactions, he said, are related to “criminal associations, including gangs.”

Al-Rawi said the Government intended to “treat with the $22 billion of suspicious activity in the Trinidad and Tobago economy. We intend to lay in the Parliament an anti-corruption package which treats with mechanisms to treat with this scourge,” he said.

The legislative package, he said, includes stand-alone civil asset forfeiture provision and the way land is registered in T&T.

In addition, he said the report identified “politically exposed persons who have found themselves in the FIU matrix of suspicious activities.”

Asked what is a “politically exposed person,” he said, “it includes relatives lateral and vertical relations to persons who serve in public office,” those include mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, partners, et cetera.

“On politically exposed persons,” he said “there is anti-corruption work right now which the office of the AG and state entities are pursuing, this is an ongoing process.”

Al-Rawi said it was noteworthy that “we are treating with all allegations under current arrangements of government. There is no fear or favour, all allegations are being investigated, whether it is at the Port or elsewhere, it is being done in a fair approach by the relevant authorities.”

He urged the population to consider the growth in statistics from 2016 to 2017 saying “ it can be safely assumed that the figures are much larger as the FIU only effectively gains a snapshot and not a full gamut of reporting.”

The FIU, he said, deserves a public commendation for the kind of work that they have produced with the support of the ministries of Finance and National Security. This item will feature prominently on the Government’s agenda in the coming months.

In the new year when the legislative package is unveiled, he said, “the Opposition is to be carefully looked at in terms of their indication for support on legislation. We have not received support for amendments we bring.”

He said this was the first administration to have confronted active corruption by embarking on activities to follow money transferred outside of the country with the objective of retrieving the said money.

A 40-year-old Freeport man was denied bail after he appeared before Senior Magistrate Jo-Anne Connor charged with stealing over $3 million from First Citizen’s bank.

Hardath Solomon, of Mission Road, Freeport, Solomon was due to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate but the matter was taken to the Chaguanas court since the crime took place within that jurisdiction. It is alleged that on September 23, Solomon, using a blowtorch cut a hole to gain entry into the Montrose branch and made off with $3,000,030. None of the money has been recovered by investigators.

Solomon was informed that there were some discrepancies with his criminal record as the police records show he had 20 matters, while he claimed to have less.

Connor adjourned the matter to January 4, next year when the police are expected to provide his criminal tracing before bail is considered. Solomon was represented by attorney Criston Williams.

Usually, around this time, Seema Ramsaroop and her eight children would be busy decorating their Couva home in preparation for Christmas. Shopping would have already been done and cooking would have started.

But with Ramsaroop’s common-law husband Krishna Rampersad’s death earlier this year, fending off snakes and mosquitoes is how the family will celebrate the birth of Christ.

From living with pipe-borne water, electricity and a roof over their heads, Ramsaroop; her children, ages three to 21; twin grandsons, age two and daughter-in-law, 23 now live in a home that resembles a cowshed.

In February, the sole breadwinner died of a heart attack and days later Rampersad’s relative told them they had to move out.

She stood her ground saying the house was left by her husband for their children.

The family was eventually evicted in June and the house was demolished.

The furniture and appliances were dumped outside Ramsaroop’s maternal home in Princes Town. Rain destroyed their belongings as they had nowhere to store them.

Without anywhere to live, she moved into a shack located nearby.

Hampers of food and clothes were given to the family, but little was done to change their lives. The children’s mother said she approached the Housing Development Corporation and was included in a lengthy list of social cases who are awaiting accommodation.

“It’s been two months now we are living in the bush here and it is the worst we’ve experienced.

“This is like where animals would live. It’s just mud all around,” Ramsaroop told the T&T Guardian yesterday.

It was a task for the news team to reach the shack in Glenroy, Princes Town as the walkway of broken bricks was sinking in slippery and thick mud.

Rusted, jagged galvanise sheets thrown together made up the outdoor toilet and bath area. A worn piece of vinyl covered the flooring of the shack.

A broken bed and two pieces of sponge are what they sleep on. Two stoves, a few dishes and donated clothing are all they possess.

Bundled together in the shack the family have no idea what Christmas Day will bring.

“They went to a Christmas party over the weekend and that will be it for them. We’re trying to see if we can get help from Habitat for Humanity to build something.

“I sent in an application and I was told that there was a process so I would have to wait. It’s been two or three months and there has been nothing. I went to HDC twice and they told me I would have to wait and they would get back to me.”

Life has been a struggle, Ramsaroop said.

Growing up in poverty, at 15, she began a relationship with Rampersad, who was then 33.

At 17, she was pregnant and moved into his home. She had ten children and suffered a life of abuse at his hands until he died.

Three men accused of murdering Special Reserve Police officer Richard Babwah and robbing the owner of a Chinese restaurant appeared in court jointly charged with the crimes yesterday.

Keane Osei Simmons, 25, a father of a six-year-old, Shawn Scott, 34 and Shurland Jones, all of Maloney, appeared Magistrate Debby-Ann Bassaw-Nancoo in the Arima Second Magistrate’s Court charged with murder, robbery with aggravation, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

The charges were laid by Insp Shawn Gregg of the Homicide Bureau Region II Arouca.

Simmons was represented by attorney Clement Daniel, Scott by Ronald Daniels and Jones by Lasana Murray.

Magistrate Bassaw-Nancoo read the charges that the trio, on December 11, allegedly shot and killed Babwah during at attempted robbery at Long Yuan Restaurant along the Eastern Main Road, Arouca, robbed the owner of $2,500 in cash and were in possession illegal firearms and ammunition during the incident. The trio were not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably

The three, dressed in jerseys and three quarter pants, stood in the docks with blank looks on their faces as the charges were read.

Court prosecutor Ag Sgt Ramai requested added strength to ensure security was maintained.

Bassaw-Nancoo then remanded the trio to the prison at Golden Grove to return on January 16.

Babwah, 40, who was attached to Homicide Bureau Region II, Arouca, was shot by two bandits as he attempted to foil a robbery at Long Yuan Restaurant on December 11. It was reported that he had just got off duty at the Arouca Police Station and went to the restaurant to get dinner for his family, when the bandits entered and announced a hold-up. Babwah drew his service revolver but the safety lock was on. He was shot several times but managed to wound one of the bandits. The men escaped in a waiting car. One of the bandits was arrested after he sought medical attention while the other two were held in Maloney.

RALPH BANWARIE
 

In less than a month the country will have a new President.

January 19, 2018 is the date set for a meeting of the Electoral College of Parliament to elect a new President of T&T.

Although the term of office of President Anthony Carmona comes to an end on March 19, under the Constitution an election must be held no sooner than January 18, 2018 and no later than February 19, 2019.

There has been a link between the government’s inaction on allegations against the Chief Justice in the wake of what has been described as “serious allegations” and the President.

Senior Counsel Martin Daly and Israel Khan have both argued that the Government may not have wanted to intervene in the matter, because the President who does not have the best relationship with the Government, will have to appoint a Chief Justice if Archie is removed.

The Government has argued that there is nothing in the public domain that will cause the trigger of section 137 of the Constitution, for the Prime Minister to go to the President to set up a tribunal under section 137.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bridgid Annisette-George, who is responsible for the holding of elections for President, has informed Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that she had set the date for the “convening of a meeting of the Electoral College for the purpose of the election of a President,” as January 19, 2018.

A copy of the letter from the Speaker to Persad-Bissessar obtained by the T&T Guardian quotes the speaker as saying that the date was selected “in an effort to ensure that this office fully complies with the deadlines set out by the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and the Electoral College Regulations.”

Carmona was elected to the office of President on February 15, 2013 and received his instrument of appointment on March 18, 2013.

That term of office expires on March 19, 2018.

Under the Constitution the Speaker as the person responsible for holding the election must announce the date of the election in the gazette not less than 21 days or more than thirty days In advance of the day chosen.

The T&T Guardian understands that the UNC is discussing their nominees for the position. Among the names being considered by the party are those of retired head of the Public Service and long serving diplomat Reginald Dumas as well as retired High Court judge Gladys Gafoor.

Well-placed sources told the T&T Guardian that the PNM’s pick for the post is retired CCJ judge Rolston Nelson.

Nelson was the longest serving judge on the Benches of the Caribbean Court of Justice and retired in May this year.

He was appointed chairman of the Board of the Unit Trust Corporation in August.

Nelson was hired by Angostura Holdings Ltd (AHL) to investigate a sexual harassment claim against its chairman, Dr Rolph Balgobin. The board subsequently dismissed the claims brought against Balgobin.

THE ELECTION PROCESS

The Electoral College is a unicameral body comprising members of the Senate and the House of Representatives assembled together.

The College is convened by the Speaker is governed by the Electoral College Regulations 1976, made under section 28 (4) of the Constitution which states that the Electoral College may regulate its own procedure and may make provision for the postponement or adjournment of its meetings and such other provisions as may be necessary to deal with difficulties that may arise in the carrying out of elections under this Chapter.

Nomination papers for persons to be elected must be signed by the Candidate for the election as President and by twelve or more members of the House of Representatives and delivered to the speaker at least seven days before the election.

In computing the seven day deadline for the receipt of nomination papers, Saturday, Sunday, public Holidays as well as the first and last days are not included.

On receipt of the nominations the Speaker will subsequently send a letter to all members of the electoral college inviting them to attend the meeting and identifying the candidates.

During the election, one or more of the proposers of every candidate is allowed to speak for fifteen minutes on the merits of the candidate. The text of the speech to be given must be submitted to the the speaker for approval 24 hours before the meeting of the College.

If there are more than one nominee, a poll is taken during the meeting.

A quorum of the electoral college under the constitution is 10 Senators and 12 other members of the House of Representatives.

Voting for the President is by secret ballot. The candidate who is unopposed or who obtains the greatest number of the votes cast shall be declared elected. If there is an equal division of votes for two or more candidates the Speaker exercises a casting vote.

Carmona’s rocky relationship with Rowley

Carmona was the choice of the then government under the leadership of Persad-Bissessar and in his inaugural address struck a chord with citizens when he declared “Under the Westminster form of governance, there are parameters within which I must operate. Powers you think I have, I do not,” but he added pointedly: “Power you think I do not have, I do,” he said to a roar of approval from the crowd.

He said under section 81 of the Constitution the Prime Minister is mandated “to keep the President fully informed of the general conduct of the Government, and at the President’s request, to submit information which respect to any matter relating thereto.”

But his relationship with the current government led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley would turn out to be rocky.

In 2016 the Prime Minister sought legal advice on a meeting which the President had with National Minister Edmund Dillon.

Senior Counsel Martin Daly, in his advice to the PM, stated that it was “constitutionally improper and inappropriate,” of the President to have called Dillon to the meeting.

Daly’s opinion was that the President had no power to invite a Minister to discuss issues under his portfolio without reference to the prime Minister. He said “the office of the President should do nothing tending to undermine or which could be perceived as undermining the authority of the Prime Minister.”

Under section 80 of the constitution the President’s contact with members of Cabinet is the Prime Minister.

But the President insisted that PM Rowley knew about the meeting with Dillon. He said he had advised the PM of his intention to meet Dillon not once but three times and that Dr Rowley had given his prior consent and approval.

Issues about the purchase of wine from Italy and the Presidential crest on bottles of wine also surfaced but in his defence the President said “there is no corporate branding or advertisement on the wine bottles of a supplier” and it is used strictly for official functions of the Office of the President.

He said the wines with the crest and seal “can be monitored and audited so as to prevent theft and disappearance,” and the wines cannot be “commercially sold, exchanged or be available to the public outside of State functions and events.”

There were also issues over a $28,000 housing allowance which Carmona was receiving even while living in state assigned accommodation. The President said the money was used to offset costs while he was living in Flagstaff which flooded when it rained and which was not fit for occupation.

He said he instructed that the allowance be stopped when he and his family moved into the cottage in May 2015.

The term in office was also marred by questions raised in the Auditor General’s report about a discrepancy of $2.6 million, Carmona said that was merely an administrative or classification error. He said when the Office of the President was alerted to the discrepancy, it sent a comprehensive response.

Government Ministers, Opposition MPs as well as mayors will be spending Christmas praying in churches, cooking, visiting new-borns at hospitals and playing with their grandchildren some of whom are new additions to the family circle.

Yesterday, Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon said she would maintain her tradition by going to mass and giving charity to the less fortunate.

“That would be the most important thing for me. After that, I will be heading home to cook for my family and oldest and dearest friends. There are two things that must be on my table for Christmas—spinach and sweet potato pies. I always say my sweet potato pie is the bomb,” Gopee-Scoon boasted.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh intends to visit the Port-of-Spain and Mt Hope Women’s Hospitals to congratulate parents of newborn babies born on Christmas day.

Thereafter, the St Joseph MP said the rest of the day will be spent in the company of family and loved ones.

Tobago East MP and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy will be attending church in Tobago where she will distribute gifts to children.

“I have spent so much time away from my children and husband I just want to be with them on this special day. That is all I want to Christmas,” Webster-Roy said.

Pointe a Pierre MP David Lee said his family would get together at one location where everyone would eat, relax, open gifts and enjoy the company of each other.

Princes Town MP Barry Padarath also plans to go to church and pray.

He said: “I usually spend mass with other parishioners in a church in Princes Town. On Christmas morning the entire family will go to my grandmother’s home in Couva to spend the day, which has become a tradition.”

Though Padarath was robbed by bandits who invaded his grandmother’s residence a few weeks ago, he said they had already beefed up security to enjoy the festive season.

Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim will focus his attention on a new additon to the family—his five-week-old grandson named Christopher Samuel.

“Christopher is my third grandchild and he is occupying everyone’s time. That is the best Christmas gift we could have asked for. As a matter of fact, Christmas came early for us,” Karim said.

Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial will also spend Christmas cuddling her two-month-old daughter Anuja Vivya Barrath.

“Usually I would travel out of the country for the holidays but we are grounded because of the baby.

“So I will be spending Christmas at home and visiting a few family members.

“It will be pure spoilage and 100 per cent love and attention for my two children who have brought so much joy to my heart.”

Chaguanas mayor Gopaul Boodhan, who admitted to waiting all his life for a grandson, finally had his wish come true eight months ago.

“I finally got my first grandchild so I am just excited to play with him on Christmas morning and to see him open his gifts. This is what I am looking forward to. This is one of my Christmas gifts,” Boodhan said.

Port-of-Spain mayor Joel Martinez will attend church to pray for the capital city and burgesses to have a safe Christmas and a prosperous 2018.

“On Christmas morning I will traverse the city and bring greetings to burgesses. Then it’s home for me to be with my family and to enjoy a nice meal,” he said.