Former head of the public service Reginald Dumas isn’t interested in being a candidate for the country’s highest office.

He made this point clear in a letter yesterday in which he pointed out that the position of President should not be embroiled in party politics.

Dumas of Bacolet, Tobago, said speculation had understandably started and his name was among those mentioned as possible replacements for President Anthony Carmona.

He thanked the many people who had telephoned, commented via the media and and sent emails to expressed their support for his candidature but said he was not interested.

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

Although President Anthony Carmona’s term ends on March 19, under the Constitution an election must be held no sooner than January 18, 2018, and no later than February 19, 2018.

There are reports that the UNC is discussing their nominees for the position and among the names being considered by the party ae Dumas and retired High Court Judge Gladys Gafoor.

Sources also told the T&T Guardian the PNM’s pick for the post is retired CCJ Judge Rolston Nelson.

“There has, however, been a misunderstanding. I want to make it clear that I am not, repeat not, a candidate for the presidency, and have no intention whatsoever of being, or even seeking to be a candidate,” Dumas said in his letter.

Noting that T&T was increasingly riven by divisions of all kinds—racial, political and personal, he said: “Finger-pointing, snide and condescending remarks, and the public expression of unfortunate sentiments have become the norm.

“Our non-executive president, whoever he or she may be, is our citizen number one, whose election should not, in my view, be the subject of party political machinations and, consequently, of the very fissures that more and more afflict us.”

Dumas asked: “Would it therefore be feasible, instead of yet another adversarial scenario to have the three components of the Electoral College—Government, Opposition and Independents— consult as many members of the public as possible in the short time remaining, then sit together in advance of the election and agree on a single person?”

The Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope recorded the birth of T&T’s first Christmas baby 2017 when Jelysia Hall gave birth to a bouncing baby boy at 12.13 am yesterday.

The second, also born at Mount Hope, followed a few hours later at 3.45 am when Nnakeda Kenedy gave birth.

At the San Fernando General Hospital, five babies were born.

The first to Alyssa Edward, of Palo Seco, was a baby boy, who weighed nine pounds five ounces/ He was due last week Monday but Edwards said on Christmas Eve night, at the height of the seasonal preparations, she began having labour pains.

Bags were already packed but the new mother admitted that the drive to the hospital was filled with trepidation. Five hours later, at 4.12 am, her son was safely delivered.

“Now I am looking forward to enjoying my baby,” Edwards said.

Two hours after this birth, Aneika Phillip also gave birth to a baby boy who weighed 3.56 kilogrammes.

This was followed by teenager Kelly Collymore who also had a baby boy. Collymore said it was her first child and she was surprised that he arrived on Christmas Day.

“I was expecting him to come on January 4, but he came earlier than expected,” she said.

Nikibah Myler also had a baby boy. “I am tired but this is my first baby and I felt happy to hear my family singing happy birthday for him,” she said.

Myler said the delivery was exhausting but she felt comfortable now that her baby is safe and happy.

The fifth baby, a girl, was delivered via caesarian section to registered nurse Giselle Cummings.

Meanwhile, at the Sangre Grande District Hospital, Shanna Forrester-Le Sendre was the first mother to give birth on Christmas Day. Her healthy baby boy weighed five pounds. Ronald Tsoi a-Fatt, Chief Executive Officer, presented the mother with a hamper filled with baby products and congratulated her on the new addition to her family.

Forrester-Le Sendre, of Arouca, thanked the Maternity Ward staff saying she was pleased with the service at the hospital.

The year started with campaigning in full swing for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections. It was a four-way battle between the incumbent Peoples National Movement (PNM), Christlyn Moore’s Tobago Forwards, the Progressive Democratic Patriots led by trade unionist Watson Duke and the Movement for Transformation led by former PNM government minister Eudine Job Davis.

PNM political leader Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his team were seeking a landslide for the ruling party to maintain its 12-0 control of the THA. However, controversial trade unionist Watson Duke delivered a surprise as his PDP captured two of the 12 seats, ending the PNM’s complete dominance.

Although the PNM ended up with two less seats, Prime Minister Rowley still described the party’s showing as a “handsome victory by any standard” as he congratulated new THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles for his role in the party’s victory which gave them their fifth consecutive term in control of the Assembly.

Just a month later came the first indicators of a controversy that has been affecting a vital link between Trinidad and Tobago for the better part of this year. Online site shipmax.com signalled the imminent departure of the lone inter-island cargo vessel the MV Superfast Galicia, indicating that the vessel was returning Spain to begin operating there from May. The departure was Valentine’s Day, February 14.

This development came four months into the tenure of Rohan Sinanan as Works and Transport Minister.

According to reports, there had been a recommendation to the board of the Port Authority of T&T (PATT), then headed by Christine Sahadeo, for an 18 month extension on the contract for the Galicia, which had been operating on a month to month basis. The extension was never granted.

There were claims that agent for the Galicia, John Powell, of Inter-Continental Shipping, had sought a three year contract followed by two one year extensions after Sinanan refused to sign the 18 month agreement. Government insisted that something was wrong with the procurement of the Galicia.

By late February Sahadeo had resigned and shortly after that the entire PATT board stepped down. Within days a new board headed by former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Allison Lewis was installed. Their first order of business was to find a cargo and passenger ferry for the seabridge.

In April, representatives of the Tobago business community, the Inter-Island Truckers and Traders Association, hoteliers and others stakeholders held an emergency meeting and called for Sinanan to resign because of his “ineptitude” in handling the issue. In response, Sinanan said the Galicia had been contracted until October 17 and there would be legal action over its early departure from the seabridge.

A barge, the Trinity Transporter and the ferry Atlantic Provider were brought in to transport cargo at a cost of US$22,000 a day. However, the arrangement did not go down well with stakeholders. Tobago Chamber president Demi John Cruickshank described the decision to use a barge as backward but Sinanan insisted it as a short term arrangement to ensure there was no disruption in service.

At a meeting between Tobago stakeholders , the PATT chairman, Prime Minister Rowley and Sinanan, there were complaints about the inadequacy of the service and how that was adversely affecting businesses and the lives of Tobagonians. There were reports of supplies running low on the island, with empty shelves in groceries and some smaller businesses forced to close.

In June the PATT announced that cargo and passenger vessels Cabo Star and the Ocean Flower 2, both owned by Bridgemans Services Group in Canada, had been secured for the seabridge. The Cabo Star arrived on July 19 and started operating on the route on July 23. Truckers complained that there wasn’t enough space on board for trucks and passengers and the vessel was taking longer than the Galicia to make the trip.

When the Ocean Flower 2, which should have been in the country by late July, failed to arrive by early August its contract was cancelled. A report by Port engineer Brendon Powder and then CEO of the Inter-Island Transport Service Leon Grant pointed to several flaws in the vessel and recommended that it not be used on the service. Grant was suspended shortly after that and has not yet been reinstated.

The Ocean Flower 2 eventually sailed into Chaguaramas on the same day that tenders were opened for another passenger ferry. It as one of 11 vessels tendered.

On August 28, Watson Duke, THA minority leader, attempted a 20 mile swim from Scarborough to Toco to protest the unreliability of sea and air services between the two islands. After an hour, when he had covered about 500 metres, Duke said he was tired and completed the journey towed by a jet ski and in a pirogue.

As the year ended, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young announced that no vessel had been selected and a Cabinet Committee chaired by Finance Minister Colm, Imbert and including Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte and Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe had been appointed to secure a vessel for the service.

In early September, a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee launched an investigation into the procurement of the Cabo Star and Ocean Flower 2. Among those giving evidence were Prime Minister Rowley, Sinanan, his predecessor Fitzgerald Hinds and past and current directors of the PATT.

At the same time, businessman Christian Moutett was appointed by the Prime Minister to investigate the ferry fiasco. His report was submitted in mid September .

In October, acting CEO of the PATT Charmaine Lewis was fired. She linked her dismissal to allegations she levelled against Sinanan at the JSC but the minster dismiss the allegations as “blatant lies.” Lewis has since taken legal action against the PATT.

Adding to problems on the seabridge, one of the passenger ferries, the T&T Spirit, went on dry dock in June and had not returned to service by year’s end, leaving just one the T&T Expressto service the route supplemented at times by the Water Taxi Service.

The year started with one of the highest numbers of murders ever recorded in a single month—more than 50. It is ending with the toll close to 500, with murders taking place at a rate of about 40 a month.

In was a year in which a serious search was mounted for a Commissioner of Police, a manpower audit was done on the T&T Police Service (TTPS), there was a major shake-up in the elite Special Branch and the final report on the total day of policing two years ago holds officers responsible for that fiasco.

Police squared off with Beetham residents whose protests involved blocking major roadways into Port of Spain—the Beetham Highway and the Priority Bus Route (PBR).

The incident in November had major repercussions across the country, as residents reacted angrily to a police exercise aimed at weeding out gang leaders. They blocked roadways surrounding their community with burning debris and threw missiles at motorists caught in the girdlock that resulted.

It took several hours for the situation to return to any semblance of normalcy.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who was attending a function in Couva at the time, brushed off T&T Guardian senior reporter Radhica Sookraj when she sought a comment from him, saying he was there to discuss “Couva business.” However, less than 24 hours later, he called together together his national security team to discuss the incident, then hosted a news conference at which he condemned the “lawlessness” and warned that his administration would not tolerate “anarchy.”

In December, the country witnessed a showdown of a different kind, this time in Parliament, with the debate of the Anti-Gang Bill. Attorney General Faris al Rawi set the stage for the debate when he reveaked that between 2014-2017 the number of gangs in the country had increased by 129 per cent and there had been a 60 per cent increase in gang members.

When the Bill, which required a three-fifths majority, did not get Opposition support, Al-Rawi angrily pointed out that crime was at an all-time high and there had been “an exponential rise in gang activity.”

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her conscience was “clear” on the matter. Days later, at a UNC Monday Night Forum in Debe, she blamed Prime Minister Rowley for the defeat of the legislation.

The sticking point was the sunset clause. Government wanted it to be four years, the Oppostion insisted on no more than two years. The Bill cannot return to Parliament for six months.

In the days and weeks after that legislative stand-off, bloodshed continued, mostly fatal shootings. PC Richard Babwah was shot and killed during a robbery at the Long Yuan Chinese Restaurant in Arouca. The off-duty officer, who had gone to the restaurant to buy dinner for his family, was killed during an exchange of gunfire with two bandits
Another police officer, PC Anand Ram, was shot by bandits during a robbery at the home of a bank manager in Marabella. He was injured but survived. However, one of the suspects, a 15-year-old student of Carapichaima Secondary School, Isaiah Simmons, was killed in a shoot out with police at the scene.

The hunt for a Comissioner of Police moved into high gear, with acting CoP Stephen Williams among candidates short listed for the post along with Police Social and Welfare Association president Inspector Michael Seales and former national Security Minister Gary Griffith.

The substantive post has been vacant since the departure of Canadian Dwayne Gibbs in 2012.

In October, a 600-page report from the Police Manpower Audit Committee headed by Professor Ramesh Deosaran was handed in to Prime Minister Rowley who said would be the blueprint for transformation of the TTPS.

Establishment of an integrity cleansing system to examine questionable lifestyles and finances of officers is among the report’s 100 recommendations.

Two years after a “total policing” exercise caused nationwide traffic gridlock, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) rekeased its findings and recommended criminal or disciplinary action against some police officers.

The report’has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution, acting CoP and Police Service Commission. Its recommendations include restructuring of the Special Branch, the premier intelligence gathering agency of the TTPS, which, according to the PCA, failed to detect and report on the intended activities.

There was a shake-up at the Special Branch but it was not the result of the PCA’s recommendation. In August, acting CoP Williams sent Special Branch head ACP Ainsley Garrick on leave and transferred his deputy Snr Supt Austin Lee to the South Western Division. This action followed concerns raised about the unit’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Another TTPS shake up had occurred ten days into the new year when Williams wrote to Eastern Division head Snr Supt John Trim and Snr Supt Simbonath Rajkumar, former head of the Northern Division, asking them to explain shortcomings in crime fighting their divisions.

Crime statistics

In August, the TTPS reported that detection rates in the South Western, Eastern, Tobago and Southern police divisions had improved beyond the 30 per cent international benchmark. The Port-of-Spain, Western and Tobago divisions recorded the largest declines in serious crime from 2016.

However, for the first six months of the year, there were 251 murders compared to 229 in the corresponding period in 2016. Of those 251 murders, 19 per cent have been solved by the Homicide Bureau of Investigations.

Police seized 509 illegal firearms and 6,343 rounds of assorted ammunition compared to 402 guns and 5,493 rounds of ammunition in the corresponding period, last year.

Vicky’s brief taste of freedom

Two police officers have been charged with helping prisoner Vicky Boodram, 35, escape from the Women’s Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, in November. At the time she was in remand for 175 fraud related charges.

Boodram was recaptured after just three days on the run at a house in Penal and is now facing an addition charge of escaping lawful custody.

Three persons are now charged in connection with her escape. They are PC LeVon Sylvester, WPC Lisa Navarro and Roxanne Cudjoe.

Boodram has been in remand since March 2016 on multiple fraud related charges:

• 127 counts of demanding property by virtue of a forged instrument
• 25 counts of larceny
• 10 counts of uttering a forged document
• 5 counts of forgery of a bill of exchange for valuable security with intent to defraud
• 3 counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretenses
• 2 counts of money laundering
• Uttering a false valuable security
• Obtaining credit by fraud
• Causing the delivery of property by virtue of a forged instrument.

KINGSTON—The University of the West Indies (UWI) is backing Caribbean Community (Caricom) governments in protesting the European Union’s (EU) recent blacklisting of regional countries it considers tax haven.

In a statement issued, Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles said the UWI “stands with the governments of the Caribbean in protesting the recent actions by the EU and calling for a more transparent and equitable regulatory system and joins the call for the EU to enter into a process to resolve the issue.”

“To this end, The University of the West Indies will continue to put its expertise and research capacity at the service of governments, the private sector and regional organizations to craft appropriate policy responses,” he said.

On December 5, the EU named Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, and T&T among 17 countries it considers tax havens. It said those nations were not doing enough to deal with offshore avoidance schemes.

Sir Hilary warned the unilateral move stood to have a deleterious effect on these economies, while accusing the EU of singlehandedly “derailing” and “undermining” the global financial system.

“This latest decision by the EU is based on new, unilaterally-determined and unclear criteria that differ significantly from the currently accepted international standards of tax transparency, anti-money laundering and accountability. These universally accepted standards were established by the Financial Action Task Force and the OECD Global Forum and demanded by the very EU.

“Caricom countries have met or exceeded these accepted international standards and best practices over many years and demonstrated a long-standing, unwavering commitment to adhere to them. The unilateral EU blacklisting is de facto a derailing of these standards and undermine the entire process of accountability and fairness in financial matters carefully constructed by the world community,” he said.

“The unfavourable and unfair categorization of certain Caricom countries is likely to result in reputational damage, encouragement of “de-risking” including the withdrawal of correspondent banking services and the imposition of costs in the adjustment to new onerous regulatory requirements.”

Sir Hilary added that, whether intentional or accidental, the action is tantamount to creating a competitive advantage for offshore financial centres operating within the national jurisdiction of European Union member states

A meal of bacon and bread was all Allison Dick could give her children on Christmas Day and she was in tears.

She had been hoping her family would be relocated from under the steps of an abandoned HDC apartment building at Harmony Hall, Gasparillo, before Christmas. As the day came and went, she struggled with anger, depression and pain.

“I wish the HDC could let me know if my son qualified for a house or not. They told me they would try to get me out of here by Christmas once my son qualifies but nobody contacted us to say anything,” she said.

“I was a hard working security guard. I never depended on anybody for anything. I used to mind my children myself but then I got sick and I couldn’t pay my HDC rent of $1,000 a month,” she said.

As Christmas dawned yesterday, Dick said she was so depressed she could not even bring herself to cook. Her neighbours brought bacon and bread for them and tried to console her. A family from a nearby community brought toy cars for the twin seven-year-old boys Tyrel and Tyrese Augustus and for nine-year-old Rahim Germai. Her 16-year-old son Carlon Germai also got a present and her former boss brought some cash while another neighbour offered to cook lunch for the family.

However despite these efforts, Dick said she could not shake the depression which engulfed her. She did not smile even when she got news that her pregnant daughter was getting contractions.

“I just want a better place for my family. I can’t think of anything else. When my daughter and the baby comes out of the hospital, they won’t be able to come here. She will have to continue staying by my sister,” she said.

The Ministry of Social Development has offered to pay three months rent for the family but Dicksaid no landlord is willing to take her in with her six children and grandchild.

“Also, people whom I contacted said the Government takes long to pay rent so they are not willing to take us in. That is why Christmas meet us right here,” she said.

She is appealing to HDC managing director Brent Lyons to look into the case.

“My son works for more money than I was working for at the time when I qualified for a house, so I am hoping he will qualify,” Dick said.

She expressed regret that she had not paid her rent to HDC for seven years after she got a unit.

Lyons and Housing Minister Randall Mitchell could not be reached for comment yesterday. Mitchell in an earlier interview said the Ministry’s social department was investigating the matter.

He said the Children’s Authority, police and Social Development Ministry had a responsibility to assist the family.

Dick owes more than $84,000 in arrears to the HDC as she never paid a cent of rent after getting her unit.

The family was among 25 families evicted from HDC apartments at Harmony Hall on March 25. Soon after that eviction, she moved her belongings and her children into a tent on the compound but during Tropical Storm Bret the family’s belongings got damaged and she moved under the steps.

Dick said she suffers from sleep apnea, anaemia and hypertension, depression and has a low blood count,. She also has to do three surgeries unrelated to those conditions.

A man who police said is mentally challenged was arrested after he attempted to assault the customers at a supermarket on Pinto Road, Arima, over the weekeend.

A video posted on social media showed the man entering the premises with a cutlass and attempting to strike customers. The proprietor of the supermarket quickly intervenes and with the help of an employee the suspect is subdued and held until the policr arrive and take him into custody, The suspect suffered minor injuries when a glass rack fell on him, police said. Investigations are continuing.

Suspects held for firearms A 44-year-old man, of Raspey Street, Curepe was arrested for possession a firearm and a quantity of ammunition.

He was arrested when officers were on mobile patrol searched him and found a Kel Tec pistol and five rounds of .38mm ammunition .

In another exercise, officers seized a .38 revolver with five rounds of ammunition during a road black at Prince Street in Arima, they stopped and searched a man who had been acting suspiciously and found the items.

In another incident, an 18-year-old man was held with a shotgun after they stoopped a vehicle during a road check in St Joseph on Friday. Six other people in the vehicle were also arrested.

Stolen vehicles recovered

Four stolen vehicles were recovered over the weekend during police exercises in Valencia, Arima and Tunapuna.

Police said they responding to reports of robberies in Tunapuna, St Joseph and in Arima when their investigation led to the arrests of two suspects and recovery of the vehicles.

Two days he was involved in an altercation, 23-year-old Assaf Khan died at the High Dependency Unit of the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday. Police said an autopsy will confirm whether Khan, of Picton Street, Diamond Village ,died as a result of injuries he sustained in that incident.

Investigators said around 10:30 pm on Saturday, Khan was liming at Lucky Star Recreation Club at Cipero Road, Golconda, when he got into an argument with a man he knew. The man cuffed Khan in his face and he fell and hit his head.

Khan was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit and later in the High Dependency Unit. He died at 445 am yesterday.

Police seized two guns and a fake assault rifle and arrested five people over the Christmas Day and Boxing Day holidays in Princes Town.

Investigators had initially believed the AK-47 was real, but upon closer inspection released it was home-made and a fake.

The fake gun, a .38 revolver, a quantity of ammunition and marijuana were allegedly found in a farmer’s house at Buen Intento Road, Hardbargain by officers attached to the Princes Town Court and Process Division on Christmas Day. The officers executed a search warrant around 10.45 am and arrested the 57-year-old man.

The man cannot be charged for having the fake gun because it was not used in the commission of a crime. However, he is expected to appear in court today charged with possession of the other gun, ammunition and marijuana.

Meanwhile, a party of police under the supervision of Sgt Ramlogan yesterday arrested a 23-year-old man after they searched him in New Grant and found a pistol and a small quantity of marijuana on him. Three other people were also arrested for having marijuana in their possession. They are all expected to appear in court today.

Senior Counsel Israel Khan has called on High Court and Court of Appeal judges to “say something” on the issue of Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s alleged “misconduct.”

In an open letter to the judges yesterday, which he also sent to the media, Khan said, “Judges of this country, especially those of the Hugh Wooding Law School graduating class of 1979, should say something on the issue of CJ Archie’s alleged misconduct.”

Khan noted comments by Justices Carol Gobin and Ronnie Boodoosingh, as well as former CJs Sat Sharma and Clinton Bernard on the issue. He particularly noted reported comments by Bernard on other judges’ reaction so far.

“I, as the most experienced active practitioner at the Criminal Bar (37 years of which 17 as silk), now call upon the brave and courageous judges of the country to say something and not give the impression that your Lordships are only concerned with ‘to eat ah food.’

“Former CJ Bernard has chastised the sitting judges by stating in a published article that Your Lordships are ‘more concerned with how much money you are getting at the end of the month.’

“This is a serious indictment against Your Lordships and if Your Lordships continue to remain silent, I say it with the greatest respect, then you are spineless and do not deserve to be called My Lord or Mi Lud (for mimic men).”

He added: “The allegations made against Honourable Chief Justice Ivor Archie are scandalous, and if true, demonstrate he is a disgrace to the legal profession and unfit to be Chief Justice.”

Khan said if Archie cannot or would not publicly refute the very serious allegations, there are only three options open to him: “Resign now, or face a tribunal triggered under Section 137 of the Constitution and/or face criminal charge of misbehaviour in public office (15 years jail if convicted).”

He said judges would be aware “that never in the history of the entire Commonwealth has a Chief Justice been accused of such scandalous misbehaviour.”

“I dare say, with the greatest respect to Your Lordships, that by your silence, you are condoning CJ Archie’s alleged misbehaviour. It appears that birds of a feather flock together,” Khan added.

The Law Association’s Council will caucus on Friday regarding a preliminary report on alleged matters involving Chief Justice Ivor Archie, who’s expected back from overseas this weekend.

LATT members yesterday confirmed the meeting was set to T&T Guardian, saying it the preliminary salvo in their quest to investigate the issue following weeks of allegations against the embattled CJ.

The association recently appointed a five-member committee headed by LATT head Douglas Mendes SC to deal with the alleged matters. Other members are Elton Prescott SC, Lynette Seebaran-Suite, former acting High Court judge Rajiv Persad and Theresa Hadad.

LATT has also recruited two senior counsels to examine the matter to see whether there is sufficient basis to refer a question of alleged misbehaviour by the Chief Justice to Government for consideration of impeachment proceedings, under Section 137 of the Constitution.

Allegations surfacing against Archie in recent weeks include discussing judges’ security with a person and seeking to expedite Housing Development Corporation (HDC) housing for persons. The CJ has admitted to seeking the interest of people in need of HDC housing but has denied discussing security for judges with anyone outside the Judiciary.

The Law Association instituted the probe because of the negative overall effect the matter is having on the entire Judiciary.

Mendes and other LATT council members met Archie on November 30 concerning the allegations, which were viewed as bringing the Judiciary into disrepute. At that meeting, Archie was informed of LATT’s move to probe the allegations and reportedly told the group he would consider what was discussed.

Archie later addressed the allegations in a press release, where he admitted he has “from time to time” recommended people for housing but denied discussing the issue security for judges. The CJ then left T&T on business. He’s scheduled to return this weekend, a spokesman indicated yesterday.

The LATT has said its investigatory team on the allegations would report to the council on or before Friday. If the association’s investigation is not completed by Friday - since the CJ hasn’t been in T&T during the probe - its time-frame for completion will be extended, the T&T Guardian was told yesterday.

Following the team’s report and the senior counsels’ advice, association members will discuss the report’s contents and decide on the way forward.

Yesterday, however, Israel Khan SC wrote to Mendes and the committee set up to deal with the matter seeking clarification of whether the two SCs the association is using are from outside of T&T.

Khan said, “LATT’s membership is yet to know the identities of the two senior counsel. While I adhere to the protection of Chief Justice Archie’s right not to be discriminated against by reason of race, origin, colour, religious or sex (which includes sexuality) and that he has the fundamental rights to join a political party of his choice and the freedom of association, I’m gravely concerned whether CJ Archie and the two silks are members of the Masonic Lodge.

“It’s well known throughout the Western world that members of the Masonic Lodge have pledged their lives to protect one another and would breach all ethics and principles of law to assist each other in time of need.

“While I uphold Chief Justice Archie’s fundamental right to freedom of assembly, I as a senior silk in our jurisdiction will have a fundamental objection, if he is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and the two silks retained by LATT are members also.”

Khan called for answers to his concern “before the outside counsel hands in its legal opinion, which I understand is due on or before December 29.”

The issue concerning Archie has been further fuelled by criticism from former chief justices Sat Sharma and Clinton Bernard. Former CJ Michael de La Bastide has declined comment. Government has also declined to become embroiled in the controversy, saying the administration is watching events unfolding, has no basis for intervention and noting Archie had responded to the allegations.

Heart patient Stephanie Mohammed spent a happy day yesterday as she received several calls from good Samaritans responding to the T&T Guardian’s article about her medical condition.

“Three people call and said they will call me back tomorrow (today) to see how the could help me,” said the mother of three.

She thanked the T&T Guardian for highlighting her plight, saying “I hope I get through. My biggest worry is for me to get through with my surgery. I am praying to God I get through.”

The 27-year-old mother, of Cunjal Road, Barrackpore, has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an erratic beating of the heart, which could be fatal if she does not undergo surgery to correct the problem. An electrophysiology study (EPS) has already been done at the Advanced Cardio Vascular Institute at West Shore Medical to assess her abnormal heart rhythm. She now has to undergo another surgical procedure costing more than $200,000, but does not have the money to pay for it.

Mohammed said her medication is costly and her family is already struggling to pay bills and buy groceries. Her wish is to get well so she can take care of her children. She said on some days the pain is very intense and in the days before Christmas her husband, Shazim, who works at a supermarket, had to stay home to care for her.

Anyone willing to help can contact Mohammed at 360-4373.

While several people spent the day visiting with family and friends, others were taking advantage of the Boxing Day sale at the Gulf City Shopping Complex in La Romaine yesterday.

Scores of people gathered outside particular stores waiting for the doors to open, while outside was chaotic with bumper to bumper traffic as motorists tried to gain access in and out of the mall and find vacant parking spots.

At least two stores, Detour Tech and She Rocks, a clothes store, had to keep their doors closed, with only a few people allowed into the store at one time. Although not all the stores were open, overall there was a large turnout of shoppers at the mall.

People were seen purchasing televisions, clothes, ipads, speakers, toys among other things.

Shopper Chantalle John said she would usually just wait until Boxing Day to do most of her shopping.

“You have to really look around, but you get some good bargains on Boxing Day. So what I would do is I will just buy a few things for Christmas, but I will do the bulk of gift buying on Boxing Day,” she said.

Another customer, who wished not to be named, said he came to shop with his wife.

“This is the first time I am checking out the sale on Boxing Day, but some of the prices I have seen are good,” he said.

Several stores were also open on High Street, San Fernando, but there was no comparison to what was happening at the mall. There was no traffic and not many people. However, at JD’s, a popular shoe store, on lower High Street, a large crowd was seen waiting to get into the store, which was already packed with several people.

Spokesman for the Salvatori Vendors Association, Steve “Black Hat” Fletcher, is calling for a better location for vendors, saying for the past year they have been “kecthing hell” to ply their trade.

Last year, vendors had to leave the compound where they were situated in downtown Port-of-Spain after being given notice to relocate by the Port-of-Spain City Corporation. They were relocated to the Central Market, but many objected to the move saying it was a poor spot to attract customers. Others also expressed concern of robberies in that area.

Yesterday, Fletcher, who had his goods on display in cardboard boxes along Frederick Street, said many vendors were still taking a chance to sell on the road this year, although the Port-of-Spain mayor had made it clear this was against the law.

“This is the worst Christmas we have ever met. Sales is terrible...is one or two thing selling,” Fletcher said.

He said this was because the city had apparently been given a “bad name” due to criminal activities and wrecking of vehicles. The exodus of customers, Fletcher said, had resulted in “big business” in the malls profiting for their bad fortune.

“People are not coming in Port-of-Spain as before. They prefer to go into the stores and into the mall to shop because they might feel safe to park their car and to walk about and we...the ordinary man, losing out,: Fletcher said.

“We need a good spot...not somewhere out of reach. We need a spot where people could see us easy and have access to us, easy to come in and buy.”

Despite the negative image of Port-of-Spain, Fletcher praised the police, who he said had done excellent work in keeping the streets safe.

“The police really came out. We saw them patrolling all the time and that was a big help, but still people did not come to shop as before in previous years,” he said, adding that part of the problem was also the fact that the city was not attractive during the holidays.

The police officer who was shot in the abdomen after he confronted an armed 15-year-old bandit in Marabella almost two weeks ago has not yet made a full recovery, but he is in good spirits.

Although moving around is still painful, Police Constable Anand Ram say he is determined this did not stop him from visiting with his relatives and sharing in the Christmas cheer over the weekend.

“I want to drive but they will not let me,” Ram, 27, who has 18 months service, told the T&T Guardian yesterday.

“My cousin and I visiting family, I just cannot stay home. Yesterday (Christmas Day) relatives came over by me so I visiting relatives today.”

Ram said he was given 28 days injury leave, but when he returns to the clinic on January 19 he will have an idea when he can resume duties.

Although he knows it might be some time before he can return to work, Ram said he was anxious to return to patrolling the streets with his colleagues.

Two Government ministers fell ill this year, but while one is back on the job the other remains hospitalised in Washington. It was also a year which saw another Cabinet reshuffle, the third in 22 months and the ministerial appointment of a T&T citizen with dual citizenship, an appointment which had to be revoked hours after it was made and the oath retaken when the issue was resolved.

2017 was also a year when there appeared to be a diplomatic snub against the Prime Minister and a neophyte was given one of the most important diplomatic postings available.

As 2016 gave way to 2017, the country learnt that Energy Minister Franklin Khan, who fell in while on vacation in December 2016, would have to undergo heart surgery. The triple by-pass surgery was done on January 8 and Khan was off the job for more than three months until early April.

By September, Public Administration and Communications minister Maxie Cuffie suffered a stroke and was admitted to the intensive care unit at St Clair Medical Centre in Port-of-Spain.

Cuffie was eventually transferred to a medical institution in Washington DC for physical rehabilitation and remained there up to late December. Relatives were quoted as saying he is speaking now and his condition is improving significantly. Relatives and Government also denied reports he was brain dead, assuring that he would return to the country by year end.

Cuffie was elected as the Member of Parliament for La Horquetta/Talparo in the September 2015 general election.

Also this year, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley returned to a medical centre in California, United States, for a medical check-up. It was a follow-up to one made in August 2016 when he was given a “good report” by his doctors.

In late June, Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald, who was fired from the Cabinet by PM Rowley in March of 2016, was sworn-in as the new Minister of Public Utilities.

Her appointment came after Rowley advised President Anthony Carmona to revoke the assignment of Fitzgerald Hinds as Minister of Public Utilities and reassign him as Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs to assist” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Faris Al-Rawi.

Hinds, the MP for Laventille West, was first appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Works and Transport on September 11, 2015, until he was reassigned as Minister of Public Utilities during a Cabinet reshuffle on October 30, 2016.

But McDonald’s return would be short lived. On July 2, three days after she took the ministerial oath, President Carmona was advised to revoke her appointment “with immediate effect.”

The reason for the revocation had to do with an uninvited guest who attended her swearing-in ceremony at President’s House, Cedric “Burkey” Burke. Burke was held during the 2011 state of emergency and charged with being a gang leader. The charges were eventually dropped.

McDonald admitted in an interview that she had invited Burke and Kenroy Dopwell to President’s House. Sources at President’s House confirmed that McDonald requested two extra invitations for the ceremony but didn’t get names. When Burke arrived at President’s House he was made to hold on in the waiting area, but when McDonald arrived all guests, including Burke and Dopwell, were ushered upstairs.

Prime Minister Rowley later called McDonald to a meeting at the Diplomatic Centre, when she was informed her appointment was being revoked. McDonald remains on the back bench in the Parliament and continues to be an outspoken advocate on behalf of the People’s National Movement.

Rowley added the Public Utilities portfolio to his own plate and it took more than a month before he announced McDonald’s replacement in the person of banker Robert Le Hunte. He took the oath on August 24, but the appointment was subsequently revoked when it was discovered he had dual citizenship in Ghana.

Rowley said the issue of the Ghanian citizenship had come to him after the appointment was made and as a result Le Hunte was not qualified under section 42(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to be appointed as a senator. Late on Independence Day, Le Hunte re-took the oath as Minister of Public Utilities.

In the intervening days he had returned to Ghana and revoked his citizenship in that country. Le Hunte was bestowed the citizenship by the Ghanaian government in December 2016 as part of a policy of recognition by that government introduced by President Kwame Entuma, to offer citizenship to Africans in the diaspora. Le Hunte, who was managing director of Republic Bank in Ghana, was selected for the citizenship for having brought in the largest foreign direct investment portfolio with the purchase of the HFC Bank by Republic Bank.

US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Rowley on February 19. The White House said the call was “to facilitate cooperation on shared priorities.” A brief paragraph on the website of the White House on the call said “the two leaders reaffirmed the strong security partnership and agreed to continue close coordination in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime. President Trump invited Rowley to visit Washington, DC, in the coming months.” That visit did not take place this past year.

But it was also a year when an announced visit of the Prime Minister to China was cancelled. In early November, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young announced that Rowley had been invited to China to attend a high-level meeting of world leaders themed “Work together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind and a Beautiful World,” in Beijing, China, from November 30-December 3, with a continuing visit from December 4-9, 2017.

The Chinese indicated there would be nine other world leaders invited to these meetings. But a week after the announcement was made the Government announced that Ambassador Song Yumin paid a visit to Young and indicated the Chinese government wanted to replace the invitation to the high level meetings, and would instead invite Rowley to pay an official visit to China next year,

The country’s longest serving diplomat and retired head of the Public Service, Reginald Dumas, said it was “highly unusual” for China to withdraw an invitation to a foreign leader, adding it seemed to “represent on the face of it a snub.” Former minister in the Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne also commented on the decision by the Chinese, saying he also felt it was a diplomatic snub.

The comments caused a war of words with Young lashing out at Dumas and Browne, saying they should not comment on matters about which they do not have all the facts.

Almost simultaneously with the Chinese ‘snub,’ came the announcement that Government was appointing PNM activist Makeda Antoine to the post of this country’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Switzerland.

Dumas criticised the appointment, saying he did not believe Antoine had the experience to head such an important mission. He said the position requires the person appointed to deal with a number of agencies, including the World Health Organisation, UNESCO, the FAO, UN Industrial Development Organisation and International Labour Organisation, adding he did not believe Antoine was so qualified. The appointment was also said to have affected senior diplomatic professionals within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It was also a year when the Government and Opposition traded words over the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). As the New Year turned the issue, which remained on the table from late 2016, returned on the agenda with the banking sector pleading with Parliament to pass the legislation.

After much toing and froing the legislation was passed unanimously in the House of Representatives on February 23, 2017, with all 39 MPs present on that day voting in favour of the amended bill. The legislation was also passed in the Senate with 29 in favour, none against and one (1) abstention.

The legislation enables local financial institutions to report to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on accounts held by US clients via this country’s Board of Inland Revenue. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is part of US tax evasion law.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert thanked the Opposition for its support. He said “I agree that there were some small points in the legislation, small points, little points, that we have dealt with in the exercise. What I am happy about is that we are able to reach consensus.”

Adding that “Parliament is here to pass laws; forget the old talk and the fighting that goes on. It goes without saying that the laws must be good.”

The Opposition uses the exact same reason when it voted against the Anti-Gang Bill brought to Parliament several months later in November.

Government said the legislation was critical for the police to deal with gang leaders and the growing number of gang members in the country ,and would make it an offence to be a member of a gang, to be in possession of a bullet-proof vest, to participate in, or contribute to the activities of a gang, to support or invite support for a gang, or to harbour or conceal gang members or recruit persons to a gang.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi quoted figures from the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit, which he said indicated there were close to 2,459 suspected gang members across the country whose names, whereabouts and alleged activities are known to authorities. He said members of the OCIU were hard at work gathering intelligence across the nine police divisions and the information would be used to root out criminal elements if Government’s amended anti-gang legislation was passed.

When the vote was taken after 1 am on December 7, the bill failed to receive the required three-fifths majority to make it law, as 21 Government members voted for, while 12 Opposition MPs voted against with one abstention.

Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar lay the blame for the defeat of the bill at the doors of Prime Minister Rowley. She said: “When we put forward a recommendation for a two year sunset clause, the Prime Minister said, ‘I not doing that,’ and then he says, after one in the morning, ‘Put it to the vote.”

The legislation cannot return to Parliament for six months.

But AG Al-Rawi said all eyes will be on the Opposition in the New Year when the Government brings an anti-corruption package which seeks to deal with the scourge of criminal activity which had resulted in billions of dollars being lost to crime.

Quoting from a report compiled by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which will be laid in Parliament in January, he said there had been a 500 per cent increase in the monetary value of suspicious transactions and suspicious activity in the period 2016-2017, with the monetary value growing from $4.5 billion to $22.2 billion. He said the transactions were related to “criminal associations including gangs.” He said the legislative package to be brought in the New Year includes stand-alone civil asset forfeiture and the way land is registered in Trinidad and Tobago.

As the year came to a close the country heard from Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams that Emailgate allegations levelled against former prime minister and now Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013, by then Opposition leader and now Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, had been found to be of “very little of substance,” and the matter was now with the DPP.

The commissioner’s statement prompted calls from the Opposition for Rowley to resign. But both Rowley and the Attorney General advised the Opposition that it was not the first time “we have been told it’s at an end.” Al-Rawi subsequently said “the Emailgate saga is far from over.”

The Government also held fast to the position this year that despite allegations in the public domain about Chief Justice Ivor Archie, there was nothing to “trigger Section 137 of the Constitution” which would begin an investigation into the CJ.

It was alleged among other things this past year that the CJ made recommendations to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for housing for persons, an allegation which he has confirmed. It is also alleged that he sought to influence judges to change their state provided security, an allegation which the CJ said is “false.”

The Law Association has since retained senior counsel to advise a committee of the association, which was set up to investigate and verify the allegations against the CJ before determining whether any recommendation can be made to the PM to act under section 137 of the Constitution.

At the end of the year, a cloud stood over the head of the Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young over developments in his personal life.

The details of the story spoke to a marital dispute between Young and his partner and alleged that he had moved in to an apartment owned by a senior official of Petrotrin. Asked whether there was a conflict of interest, Young declined comment, telling the media there had been no impropriety on his part. In a Facebook post he admitted his relationship with his “partner has ended and we have parted ways on amicable terms.”

But Al-Rawi condemned the “attack” on Young, linking it to the work which he is doing. He said “those who have problems with Minister Young’s immense ability and capacity will obviously do anything in their power to try and malign Minister Young. If you can’t attack someone professionally you must expect them to pry into your private life.”

It said: “The Honourable Prime Minister and his wife state without hesitation and without fear of contradiction that neither of them operates any foreign bank account outside of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The statement said any “innuendoes or assertions however made by Dr Roodal Moonilal or any other person contradictory to this are nothing but patent falsehoods concocted by such persons as a deliberate slanderous conspiracy for self-serving political gain.”

In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of downtown Port-of-Spain in the days leading up to Christmas, the usually busy Charlotte Street was almost devoid of vehicular and pedestrian traffic for most of yesterday’s Boxing Day holiday.

Save for a handful, the majority of stores also remaining closed.

In fact, many vendors, including those who sold produce, clothing and toys, described sales as the “worst ever,” with some saying their losses had run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, while others said they barely broke even.

Businessman Anno “Blacks” Persad said he invested some $100,000 in toys and barely made $20,000 in sales during the Christmas period. He said sales were so slow on Christmas Day that he closed his store early and went home.

He said the expectation that sales would pick up yesterday also never materialised, as sales were “even worse.”

When the T&T Guardian visited yesterday, a despondent Persad, who owns Sweet Look on Charlotte Street, was busy loading toys onto a van to take back to his Aranguez warehouse, in the hope that next year’s sales would be better.

“I just feeling sick...I made four trips for the morning already packing up toys because sales just dead. Right now my wife quarrelling with me because she told me not to invest in the toys.

“And when you take the goods from the wholesalers you have to pay them...whether or not you make any money...you have to pay them from your own pocket,” Persad said.

On the reason for the slow sales, he blamed it on poor spending on the part of customers.

“This year like people just freeze their money. Nobody spend money at all. They way I feeling with all these goods left behind I cannot even describe it,” Persad added.

Asked whether he believed calling a sale for the unsold items would be prudent, he said, “They didn’t buy anything for Christmas...what make you feel they would buy now?”

Vegetable vendor for the past 27 years Nari Boodoo, who also complained that he saw a drastic reduction in sales compared to last year, said there was also no definite word from Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez.

“We just waiting to see what happen. We have no definite word on anything,” Boodoo said.

Boysie Cupid, from Laventille, also a vegetable vendor, said previous mayors had allowed the vendors to sell from around December 12 each year for a two-week period. But this year the vendors were only given the green light to sell on the Wednesday of Christmas week and only for four days.

“This Christmas it was just a loss. Slow sales and vendors had to come out late also cause all this depression. It was really terrible. The people who come out just was not buying like the previous years. People hold back their money...now thing really hard,” Cupid said.

What caused utter chaos and panic among shoppers at the Aventura Mall in Miami on Saturday night may remain a mystery, but four Trinidadians are today thanking God for life.

Amid shouts of “active shooter,” Trinidadians Priya Deokie, her husband Keith Sylvester and friends Mawalal Sirju and Marlene Sirju ran, dropped and took cover to save their lives as an apparent shooting hoax at the mall, one of the largest in the United States, caused panic shoppers to scamper for cover and emergency exits.

According to a report in the Miami Herald, the incident occurred at about 7 pm. Panic erupted at the mall as shoppers ran amid reports of a shooting, the report stated. The mall was evacuated after being placed on lockdown. However, hours after, Aventura police said there were no victims and no evidence of shots being fired.

But dozens of Twitter users said they had heard something that sounded like gunshots. Shoppers gave differing accounts about where the sounds may have come from, as some said they heard shots and others reported the noise in different sections of the mall.

Recalling the most horrific moments in her life, Deokie told the T&T Guardian that she had to grab Marlene by the hand and run.

“The men were a distance away from us. Mawalal and I were chatting with a rep for face creams at Macy’s when we heard people screaming and saw them running.

“People were yelling “run” and some were saying “active shooter,” so I grabbed her hand and started to run. I saw a counter and pushed her into the space. We were falling over people, but we managed to drop for cover under the counter.”

Deokie added: “We dropped everything including shopping bags. Our husbands found us and after a minute or so some staff at Macy’s told us to run for the exit so we all followed. We got out to the parking lot, but our husbands turned back into the mall to see if they could help others.”

She added that after a few minutes, while all four of them were heading to their car, they heard another call to run for cover.

“We didn’t wait another second. We began to run for our lives again. All the time not knowing what was happening.”

Deokie said later that night while listening to a news report, they were informed the incident was a false alarm.

“We really did not hear gunshots or see any shooter(s)...but it was pure panic. It was terrifying! Lying on the floor under the counter, my friend and I thought we were going to die. We started praying. Our husbands on the other hand were quite brave and calm in the face of the uncertainty and confusion,” Deokie said.

“It was one of the scariest things I have ever experienced. There were baby strollers toppled over! When I think about it, I tremble with fear. I always read about it, but never thought I would experience something like it. I could only imagine what it must be like when the threat turns out to be real and you have to face the wrong end of these lunatics!”

A diesel mechanic accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm to his mother-in-law has been granted $50,000 surety bail, but he has to move out of his home and have no contact with the woman.

Dwayne Harricharan, 31, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Christine Charles in the San Fernando First Court.

The charge alleged that on December 23, at Boodoo Trace, Macaulay Village, Claxton Bay he maliciously and unlawfully inflicted grievous bodily harm on the 73-year-old woman. The charge stemmed from an altercation at their home which resulted in the woman falling to the ground and receiving injuries. She is still warded at the San Fernando General Hospital in a stable condition, prosecutor Denzil Alexander said.

Harricharan has two children, ages three and eight-years-old, with the victim’s daughter.

They live in a house to the front of the victim’s house but in the same compound.

Addressing this concern in her application for bail, attorney Annalee Girwar said Harricharan was willing to stay with his mother at her Forres Park, Claxton Bay home.

His mother, who was in court, told the court that her son can live with her pending the determination of the case. Girwar said her client only had previous convictions for obscene language and indecent exposure.

The prosecutor, however, objected to bail because the victim was still in the hospital. But the magistrate said the victim was in a stable condition.

The magistrate, however, warned him not to return to the premises or have any contact with the victim because his bail could be revoked. His wife, who was in court, said arrangements have been made for someone to pick up her husband’s belongings.

Also granting a cash bail alternative of $20,000, the magistrate adjourned the matter to January 24.

The sound of machine-gun fire sent patrons of an all-night private pool party scampering for safety in Couva yesterday and left one teenager dead and another injured.

Witnesses said patrons had hide behind fences and in drains, while the gunmen walked along Deonarine Junction Mc Bean, Couva, randomly shooting.

Police said more than 30 gunshots were fired. Several spent shells were found at Shark Street and Mc Bean Road.

A witness, who only identified himself as Farmer Brown, said the gunmen began firing wildly around 6.30 am just as patrons were leaving the Jungle Fever pool party.

Isaiah Trevor Mitchell, 19, was killed instantly and Hakeem James, of Couva, was wounded.

“Isaiah got hit on the road. It was no dispute. They were just playing wild and he got hit,” Brown said.

Another witness, who also requested anonymity, said he was standing by a wall, a few metres away when he heard the gunfire.

“About seven shots ring off. I waited a while and then I started to walk up the road and then I heard ‘rat-at-at-at-at’ like they were walking down the street firing in the air,” the man said.

However, Mitchell’s mother Mamawa Guy said there were different versions of how her son got killed.

“One man said they came for someone else and he tried to stop them by holding the gun so they killed him. He was trying to make peace and that was how he died,” Guy said.

She added that another person told her that Mitchell had a dispute with someone and that was when he got killed.

Guy said she also attended the Jungle Fever pool party but left before her son arrived.

“I came home around 5 am and he was home sleeping. He told me he and his friends had gone to another party. I went in my bed and he left home to go to the Jungle Fever party. While I was in my bed asleep I got a call that someone now kill Isaiah,” Guy said. She left home and went back to the venue to see her son’s corpse sprawled on the side of the road. Guy said Mitchell was looking forward to the new year.

“He planned to help me finish build the house. He loved to fish but sometimes when he gets work, he would go to work at the Point Lisas plant,” Guy said.

An autopsy is scheduled to be done on Mitchell’s body today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.