Shortly after Government announced plans to open the Couva Children’s Hospital, part of it came crashing down on Sunday night.

The collapse of the hospital’s cooling tower occurred mere days after part of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, in front the US$150 million (TT$975m), facility also caved in.

The damage to the building, which is built in close proximity to the earthquake prone Central Range fault line, was confirmed by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday. Although he did not visit the facility, Deyalsingh said he was awaiting a report from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Udecott) about the issue.

Saying the tower collapsed sometime on Sunday night, Deyalsingh said Udecott officials did a site visit and he was awaiting a report to see the extent of damages.

“I have no answers as to what caused this. Once I get the report back I will be able to give more details,” Deyalsingh added.

He said he planned to take a note to Cabinet this week regarding the opening of the hospital which has state-of-the-art MRI, CT Scanners, 230 beds lying idle.

Asked whether the collapse of the tower will affect the planned opening, Deyalsingh said he could not say.

In an immediate response, Chairman of the National Building Code Committee Shyankaran Lalla yesterday questioned why the tower collapsed a mere two years after construction.

“Where is the structural engineering report commissioned by the PP government and why are they hiding it from the public? The Government must tell us the truth,” Lalla said

The Opposition yesterday gave approval for Government’s sole presidential nominee Madam Justice Paula-Mae Weekes to become T&T’s sixth and first female President.

Affixing four signatures to the nomination form were Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and MPs Dr Roodal Moonilal, David Lee and Prakash Ramadhar at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

Twelve signatures were required on the form.

The Electoral College, which is made up of all the elected members of Parliament and Senate, will meet on January 19 to take a vote for a new President.

Persad- Bissessar said once the nomination was unopposed “there will be no vote and the President will be declared as duly elected under the Constitution. As of now, Madam Justice Weekes is the President-designate of T&T.”

Last Friday, Persad-Bissessar, who accepted Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s invitation to discuss the nominations for the election of a new President, did not submit a candidate’s name, but after hearing Weekes being the PNM’s choice, asked for time to meet with her members to deliberate on the matter.

At that time, Persad-Bissessar described her meeting with the Government as “productive and cordial.”

At a press conference at the Office of the Opposition Leader, Port-of-Spain, Persad-Bissessar said they endorsed the form for the best interest of all and “to have a united view with respect to the highest office of the land to elect the first female President. We believed that if ever there was a time that T&T needed people to unite it was now. It is our respective view that today our country is more divided than ever before.”

She said it was time to heal the fractures created and to move the country forward.

She said the Opposition decided to support Weekes because “she appears to be deserving of this particular office and we trust that Madam Justice Weekes will understand the faith that the country has placed on her.”

She said she hoped Weekes would execute her duties in an unwavering, uncompromising and impartial manner.

“It gives me personally great pleasure to share in this very historic occasion... and collaborating and co-signing the nomination form for the first female president of T&T.”

Persad-Bissessar opted not to say if the Opposition had selected a candidate.

In 1992, she said the Opposition supported the Government’s presidential nominee.

Persad-Bissessar said while many may have their reservations about the Opposition co-signing, they queried from the Government if Weekes had met all the requirements under the Constitution.

Persad-Bissessar said they raised the issue that to become a presidential candidate the person has to be a resident of T&T for ten years, seeing that Weekes was appointed a Judge in the Court of Appeal in Turks and Caicos in 2016 for three years.

Yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said she received in writing from Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young “where he assured us that the Government is satisfied that its nominee meets all the requirements under the Constitution.”

Persad-Bissessar said they had to take the Government on its word.

President Anthony Carmona’s term in office ends on March 18.

MORE INFO

A release from the Parliament yesterday stated that there were 14 signatories to the nomination paper endorsing Weekes as the sole presidential candidate, which was received by the Speaker of the House.

This was done in accordance with Section 30 of the Constitution and the Electoral College regulation.

The 14 elected members included Rowley, Faris Al-Rawi, Fitzgerald Hinds, Stuart Young, Colm Imbert, Camille Robinson-Regis, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Edmund Dillon, Adrian Leonce, Ayanna Webster-Roy, Shamfa Cudjoe, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prakash Ramadhar and Dr Roodal Moonilal .

Surviving with a CEPEP wage for the past nine years, Kizzy Scipio was on the verge of completing a stable home. She was hoping to move in last Christmas.

However, the heavy rains which created havoc around Divali 2017, caused a major landslip that sent Scipio’s old home on Sixth Company Circular Road, New Grant crashing down the hill. Within a short time, the concrete wall of the home she was building also fell.

With the landslip already eroding most of the width of the road, residents lit discarded appliances, furniture and tyres to voice their concerns.

Scipio, 35, said she had to send her 13-year-old niece to live with someone else while she begs a lodging at a neighbour’s home. After recalling the night when heavy rains pounded the community, she said she awoke the next morning to find the massive landslide outside her home. She said she went to her MP Dr Lovell Francis, who promised to help her find a home.

“I didn’t even get a chance to move into my new place. On Thursday, the wall fell down and I am staying with a neighbour. I am fed up of this and I need somewhere to go. It’s everything I lost,” Scipio said.

As the landslip worsens, Scipio’s neighbour Melissa Baptiste, 25, fears that she along with her home would be swept down the hill. Baptiste’s home, in which the upper level was damaged by a fire, has already started to tilt. It is strenuous for Baptiste to leave her home each morning as her driveway has collapsed and she has to use her hands and legs to climb out.

“What can I do? I have nowhere to stay,” Baptiste said.

Princes Town police, led by ASP Rohan Pardasie, escorted a backhoe to clear the road while ensuring that the traffic could flow.

Francis visited the protest yesterday and he received a tongue-lashing over the Government’s delayed response to repairing the road as well as finding a home for Scipio.

Francis said he had already contacted the Ministry of Works and Transport and minor repairs are expected today. He said the Ministry of Social Development will bear the cost of rental accommodation for Scipio for six months.

He said last rainy season brought usual rainfall that worsen the conditions of the roads that were already damaged.

He said the issue was that part of the road was under the care of the Ministry of Works while the other belonged to the Princes Town Regional Corporation. Residents said that unless works start today, they will continue to protest.

The Government may not be able to spend as lavishly as before, but junior Education Minister Dr Lovell Francis says there is no truth in his ministry not being able to pay for items such as security and cleaning.

Included in a discussion between the National Parents Teachers Association (NPTA) and the ministry last week, the T&T Guardian was told that schools have been asking for financial assistance as they have not received grants for several months to purchase necessities like toilet paper and cleaning materials. In some schools where there are private security, students and staff are at risk of being left unsecured.

In an interview yesterday, Francis admitted that there have been problems with releasing funds on time, but the ministry was working on a solution with Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young.

“One has to understand that we’re in a serious economic bind. The budgetary allocation for every ministry has been cut. It comes down to the ministry, the perm secs and the ministers managing the resources available and trying to get the best use out of them.”

“It is not the case that we cannot pay for security, but we have to look at the way we operate the manpower or whatever is needed. We will do whatever is required to manage the system properly. It is not the case that we can’t pay for security or we can’t pay for cleaning. We will not be able to spend as lavishly as we used to but within our constraints, we will operate as we can,” Francis said

The new academic term started yesterday but not without hiccups for three schools in South, Central and North Trinidad.

While the majority of T&T’s 483 primary and 141 secondary schools reopened, classes were affected at the Princes Town East Secondary School, Carapichaima East Secondary and the St Joseph’s Secondary School in Curepe.

A source at the Princes Town East Secondary school said classes were dismissed after the Education Ministry failed to clean the air-conditioning ducts and install four split AC units as promised at the school.

“There were no classes for all of last term and we are very disappointed that nothing was done,” a parent said.

At the Carapichaima East Secondary, teachers promised not to return to classes unless a pigeon infestation was addressed. A source said the ministry agreed to put up netting to prevent the birds from roosting in the school but this was never done. Students and teachers came out for classes to see some areas covered with feathers and pigeon droppings.

Meanwhile, at the St Joseph Secondary School, members of the Ministry of Education and the Education Facilities Co Limited met with staff members yesterday to discuss ongoing infrastructural upgrades at the school.

Yesterday, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Lynley Doodhai said he was disappointed with the slow response of the ministry. Saying there will not be any classes for the rest of the week at the three schools, Doodhai said he hoped the ministry could address the problems as soon as possible.

Doodhai said teachers of Carapichaima East Secondary came to work yesterday and met the school cordoned off with tape. He said the Ministry of Health was expected to do an assessment of the school yesterday.

With regard to the Princes Town East Secondary School, Doodhai said at a meeting on December 19, the ministry agreed to clean the air ducts and install the four split units. He said the school did not have a proper air flow so it was impossible for classes to be held without AC.

Taxi driver Joseph Bryan Bennett has been charged with the murder of his former common-law wife Arisa Vana David, less than a week after she was killed in front of her two children at her Chaguanas home.

The 36-year-old accused of Chase Village, Chaguanas, is expected to appear before a Chaguanas magistrate today to answer the charges.

In a statement yesterday, the T&T Police Service said Bennett was charged following advice from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore- Paul on Sunday.

David’s funeral took place on Friday and an autopsy said she died from strangulation. Investigations were conducted by Insp Allister Jones and Sgt Hemraj Sirju of the Homicide Bureau while Cpl Steven Forbes laid the charges yesterday.

Relatives said David, 25, was the mother of two girls—ages seven and two. She was said to be in an abusive relationship for the past seven years which became worse since 2016.

Meanwhile, investigators have charged a man of Whiteland with the murder of Daveanand Ramsingh.

Rishie Gopie, 37, of Coorsal Road, Whiteland, was also charged with murder following advice received from Honore-Paul on Sunday.

Ramsingh, 53, of Mathura Avenue, Penal-Quinam Road, Penal, was found lying on the roadway close to his home, with chop wounds to the head, following an altercation he had with another man on April 18, 2017. The victim was taken to hospital where he died.

Those Investigations were led by Insp Darryl Coorie of Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 3. Gopie was charged by PC Kevon Nelson on Sunday.

They have also charged a 29-year-old mechanic with the murder of retired police officer Cpl John Ramkissoon.

The Police Service said in a news release that Nankool Ramcharan, of Longdenville, also known as “Danny” was charged with the crime following instructions received from Honore-Paul last Friday.

Ramkissoon, 59, of Gopaul Trace, Palmiste, Longdenville, was stabbed several times to the head during an altercation with another man while at his home on January 1, 2018.

It is alleged Ramkissoon had asked a neighbour to leave his premises where they were liming. However, he was reportedly attacked. Ramkissoon died at the scene. That Investigation was led by acting Supt Lyndon Greenidge of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 3.

Ramcharan was charged by WPC Kareema Francois last Friday.

Former president George Maxwell Richards died last night around 7.43 at the WestShore Medical Private Hospital from a heart attack.

A source close to the family said that Richards, who served as the country’s fourth president from 2003 to 2013, was not feeling well around noon following which his wife Jean and daughter Maxine took him to the hospital in Cocorite for medical attention.

There, doctors discovered that Richards, 86, had an unusual heartbeat.

Doctors advised that he installed a pacemaker to regulate his heart beat.

Before his passing, Richards was very responsive and in high spirits, the source said.

On Maxine Richards’ Facebook page last night, she posted a picture of herself and her father stating: “Rest in peace daddy, I can’t believe you are gone.”

Scores of people took to social media last night to express shock on his sudden passing and to extend condolences to bereaved family.

The T&T Guardian was told that Maxine was overcome with grief and in constant tears.

“She can’t catch her self,” the source said.

Richards was an avid mas player who loved Carnival with a passion.

Several times Richards’ family had to debunk reports on social media that Richards had passed away in 2016.

His’ death came hours after the Opposition threw their support behind the PNM’s presidential nominee Paula- Mae Weekes as the country’s sixth and first female President.

ABOUT GEORGE MAXWELL RICHARDS

Professor George Maxwell Richards served as the fourth President of Trinidad and Tobago between 2003 and 2013.

Richards was a Professor Emeritus in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Engineering at the University of the West Indies and was the first President of the Republic who was not an attorney.

He was born in San Fernando in 1931 and received his primary education there before winning a Government Exhibition to Queen’s Royal College in Port of Spain.

From May 1950 to September 1951 he was a staff trainee (exploration, production and refining) at United British Oilfields of Trinidad Ltd.

From 1957 to 1965, Richards held a number of managerial posts at Shell Trinidad Ltd, and then joined the University of the West Indies as a senior lecturer in chemical engineering.

In October 1970, he was appointed Professor of chemical engineering. He also held the post of Deputy Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor from August 1980 to May 1985.

Richards became acting principal in October 1984 and held this post until May 1985, when he was appointed Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor. He held this position until November 1996.

He served on the board of a number of local companies, including the Trinidad Publishing Company, TRINTOC, and the National Gas Company, and has also served on the boards of several service organizations, including the National Training Board (Chairman), the National Advisory Council and the Institute of Marine Affairs (Chairman).

He was also a member of several professional societies, including the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, the Institute of Chemical Engineers (London), the Institute of Petroleum (London); the Royal Society of Chemistry (London).

He received the Chaconia Medal of the Order of the Trinity - Class1 (Gold) for Public Service.

Professor Richards was married to Jean Ramjohn and is survived by his two children, Mark and Maxine.
—Source T&T Parliament

SHALIZA HASSANALI
AND KRISTY RAMNARINE

The investigation into Monday’s incident in which 15-year-old schoolboy Joshua Andrews and “PH” driver Devon Fernandez were killed and their bodies burnt while trying to escape has made a twist suggesting that Andrews may have been the target.

Investigating officers said according to new information reaching them, Andrews was part of a gang and was believed to have been involved in a shooting that occurred on Sunday night where 37-year-old Andrei Pereira was killed.

It is said that two other young men escaped injuries in that shooting.

One of the men, who escaped, did a video message on Monday where he threatened the person he believed “tried to kill” him on Sunday night.

The man in the video, who was seen smoking, what looked like a marijuana joint, waved a gun and said, “I kill them when I hold them.” Police believe that the video is linked to Andrews’ murder.

Officers were also told that two of Andrews’ relatives— a woman and a man, are currently in prison charged with two separate murders. One of the murders occurred in February 2017.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, a close relative of Andrews said she visited the Golden Grove Women’s Prison in Arouca to inform his close female relative that he had been killed.

“It did not go well with her. It was the first time she heard of it and I did not feel good telling her,” the relative who visited the prison said. An autopsy revealed that Andrews died from gunshot injuries.

When told what new information the police were looking at Andrews’ relative said that in no way he was involved in Sunday night’s shooting,

“He (referring to Andrews) in a gang?…but he was home by 10 pm (Sunday) and no he didn’t go anywhere.. he was home.”

Yesterday morning, police officers acting on instructions from ACP Irwin Hackshaw went into the Trou Macaque, Laventille area where they made several arrests in connection with Andrews and Fernandez’s murders.

Others were also arrested on various offences. The suspect, police held shortly after Monday’s double murder at Pelican Extension, Trou Macaque, was released yesterday around midday.

Hackshaw confirmed to the T&T Guardian last evening that while this new angle in the investigations is now engaging their attention, there will be increased police patrols in the area.

However, Fernandez’s wife, Krystal Fernandez, said that the police could do what they want that it would not bring back her husband.

She said, “No matter what the police do, Devon not coming back.” Krystal said her birthday was next week and instead of celebrating with Fernandez, she will now be planning his funeral.

Another of Fernandez’s relatives, who wished not to give her name, said he was a victim of his own innocence and paid for it with his life.

“Devon thought he was so innocent to everything that nobody will touch him. His mother, his father and his uncles warned him about working taxi in that territory but he felt that he could have gone…it was a measure of ignorance…nobody will have nothing on him because he is not in anything.”

Meanwhile, residents in the area are calling on the youths to focus their attention on a mural that is written on a wall obliquely opposite Andrews’ school—Success Laventille Secondary, which reads: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God - Matthew 5:9.” The mural was painted courtesy the Ministry of National Security several months ago during part of its “I am a citizen” initiative.

The mood was sombre at the Morvant Laventille Secondary School yesterday as students expressed shock and at the murder of their classmate Joshua Andrews, 15. Some appeared visibly shaken.

Andrews, a Form Two student, was killed along with PH taxi driver Devon Hernandez when gunmen riddled Hernandez’s gold Elantra car with bullets. One of the bullets hit the car’s gas tank and it burst into flames with Andrews and Hernandez trapped inside.

Two schoolboys who were in the back seat of the vehicle were also shot. One was shot in the face and the other had one of his fingers severed when he was shot in the hand.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia, accompanied by Minister in the Education Ministry Lovell Francis and other officials, visited the school yesterday and offered words of encouragement to students and teachers.

He later told reporters: “We know the teachers are operating under trying circumstances. This school has been closed for some time and we have been able to get the school up and running and to meet a situation like this . . . it is very traumatic.

“We know that this area is subject to criminal activity and as a government are doing everything to ensure our society is safe and we have to begin with our school system.”

Garcia said representatives from the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) and the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) had also visited the school and offered support.

Permanent Secretary Lenore Baptiste-Simmons said: “We have already identified this area as being one of our priorities in terms of the projects that are being implemented by the Ministry of Education.

“We realise that special need had to be given to this community and Morvant Laventille is one of the school that when we saw things happening we would have actually come into the school. The school supervisors would have been here, the advisor to the minister and the ministry team would have been here working to ensure that the school reopened. The ministry has really taken a step in ensuring we support all our schools and teachers,” she said.

Nathalie Robinson-Arnold, senior school social worker for the Port-of-Spain and Environs Education District, said guidance officers and social workers were at the school yesterday to determine the psycho-social effect of Andrews’ murder had on students.

“We have officers who will be visiting the homes of the deceased young man as well as the children who were traumatised. We will do our assessment and look at further psycho-social assessments that they would require for them and their families,” she said.

Yesterday, schoolmates remembered Andrews as a “very friendly person” who was “always making jokes.”

Efforts are being made to reduce the number of books primary school children take to school as greater emphasis must be place on more teaching time.

So said Education Minister Anthony Garcia during yesterday’s news conference held at the Education Ministry.

Garcia also expressed concern that heavy bags could adversely affect a child’s health saying often times children were “weighed” down by thick textbooks.

He called on teachers to place greater emphasis on quality teaching time adding that efforts were being made by the ministry to ensure teachers received updated and necessary skills.

He said recommendations were also being made to have one textbook per subject.

“Aggressively we are going to pursue emphasis on teacher training,” Garcia added.

On the issue of teachers, Garcia said there was a “major imbalance” as in the majority of primary schools there were more female teachers than male.

He said boys, from an early age and especially those who came from a female headed household, needed a positive male role models in their lives.

“In several of our boys’ schools first of all you would have a female principal and very many female teachers and very few male teachers.

“Our male students need to have positive male figures in their lives,” Garcia said, adding that the absence of a father figure in the lives of boys was common.

Garcia said the ministry would be implementing measures to deal with this as there were many men who were seeking jobs in the teaching service.

The new judicial policy introducing sanctions for accused persons who fail to disclose their defences at the start of their criminal cases is being met with stiff criticism from defence attorneys.

Head of the Criminal Bar Association Pamela Elder, SC, expressed her opposition of the provision while addressing a public lecture and panel discussion on the new Criminal Procedure Rules at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday afternoon.

Elder pointed out that the policy was introduced by a practice direction signed by Chief Justice Ivor Archie and gazetted in December last year, as opposed to be included in the substantive rules, which came into force in April last year.

“Can a practice direction confer the obligation on defence attorneys? How can I discharge my duty to everyone here, when one panellist is saying that these rules are a step in the right direction and I sit here and say nothing?” Elder said.

The method of introducing the policy has also been raised in a judicial review lawsuit threatened against Archie earlier this week by defence attorneys Wayne Sturge, Mario Merritt and Joseph Sookoo.

According to their pre-action protocol letter, which was obtained by the T&T Guardian, the attorneys are alleging that the practice direction was used to bypass parliamentary scrutiny, which was required for the approval of the rules.

They contend that the policy, under which adverse inferences could be drawn by an accused person’s failure to adequately state their defences, is unconstitutional as it breaches an accused person’s right to silence.

Archie, who attended the event as a member of the audience, responded to the issue as he made a brief statement.

He said: “I think it is important that we have a frank discussion because what we a tackling here is a multi-faceted problem which has taken decades to create. The disclosure of defence statements will help us focus matters so we can concentrate on the real issues.”

However, he claimed he did not want to discuss it in detail as he suggested that it may be the subject of future legal challenges.

Stating that practice directions are used to provide guidance on the rules, Archie said: “The rules really codify what we should have been doing all the time and what responsible judges and practitioners would have been doing.

Nothing we are attempting to do in having a more efficient system is something that suddenly appeared out of thin air.”

British Judge Sir James Dingemans and barrister Nathaniel Rudolf, who sat on the panel discussion, admitted that concerns over the defence statement policy were raised by attorneys in their country when it was introduced over a decade ago.

Dingemans said: “However, experience has shown that these understandable fears and concerns were not well founded because defence statements have allowed defendants to identify why prosecutions should not succeed.”

Rudolf encouraged the defence lawyers present to use the policy to their advantage when representing their clients.

“Let me tell you that they (the rules) are there to be used because at the end of the day under the new system it is far more often than not, the State that has problems,” Rudolf said.

Despite his initial scepticism over the rules, which give magistrates and judges additional case management powers, Rudolf admitted that it led to marked efficiency in the disposition of cases.

Meals from the School Feeding Programme will be provided on a needs basis, Education Minister Anthony Garcia announced yesterday. He said this is an attempt cut wastage as some $234 million is spent annually to provide breakfasts and lunches to primary and secondary school students.

At a news conference at the Education Ministry in Port-of-Spain, the minister said an audit of the programme revealed massive wastage. Out of the 42,933 breakfasts and 65,269 lunches supplied daily, a survey showed that 914 breakfasts and 1455 lunches are provided in excess of the stipulated requirements.

“This has resulted in a loss of $6059.82 where breakfast meals are concerned and $13,095 where lunches are concerned which amounts to an average loss of $19,154.82 per day. We can’t afford to sustain these losses,” Garcia said.

The minister said one would be surprised to see some of the students “lining up to collect box lunch” as he revealed that one of the recommendations to prevent wastage is a means test to identify needy students.

On the debt owed to caterers, the minister assured that this will be paid. He said $15 million was paid last month.

Garcia said there will an overhaul of the school transportation system, also in a bid to cut unnecessary expenditure. He said the PTSC deals directly with maxi taxi operators who transport needy students and those from rural communities. The PTSC bills the ministry for 35,000 seats daily.

“But the information shows that 12,000 students really access this service. We are going to look at the service delivery and we are going to ask our principals to actively monitor the service provider,” he said.

“I miss him a lot!”

Jean Ramjohn-Richards struggled to keep her emotions in check yesterday but the tears flowed as she spoke to the media at the Maracas, St Joseph home which she shared with Max Richards her husband of 50 years

Richards death on Monday evening plunged the nation into mourning with flags flown at half mast, but it was a shock to the family which he held dear to his heart.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Ramjohn-Richards admitted that her husband “was not perfectly healthy,” but she said, “I did not expect anything like this at this moment.”

“These things,” she said “come like a shock to you. It was not like I was expecting it. Sometimes you see somebody ill and later on....”

Recently she said Richards had been having “a little problem with walking, challenges with his walking. He was hypertensive and atrial fibulation that has been under control for a long time... sometimes it acts up. On the weekend it did act up again.

By Monday I thought he did not look himself so I took him to the hospital. But I thought he would go there and they would stabilise him and in a week’s time he would be home. Not knowing....”

Richards suffered cardiac arrest and died at around 7.40 on Monday evening.

Ramjohn-Richards said she had been talking about getting some nurses to help until he recovered, “but that did not happen.”

Ramjohn Richards said now that her husband is gone she keeps asking herself “did I do enough I don’t know. I tried to be with him all the time. But I think God knows best, and we can’t question that.” Her voice broke and the tears flowed as she confessed “I miss him, I really miss him a lot.”

Ramjohn-Richards said the former president “liked the culture, the joie de vivre of Trinidad and Tobago. He played mas every year.” She recalled that “when he became President the first question that was asked was are you going to play mas and he said yes. Because it was something that he loved. I was always with him, I liked it too,” she said.

She recalled that her husband was criticised sometimes “because they thought there was too much partying, but he took his duties seriously. But he also had that other side to his life where he liked to enjoy himself.”

Richards started the UWI Fete 20 ago when he was principal of the St Augustine Campus.

Ramjohn Richards said “a few days ago he told me that he was going to the UWI Fete on Sunday, but he passed before.”

She said, “Sometime ago we were talking and I said I would go quietly and get buried and you will announce it after and he laughed and he said like me I suppose I would have to have a State funeral. He more or less said yes to a State funeral. A lot of people will be disappointed if we had a private burial.”

Ramjohn- Richards repeated “I miss him a lot.”

WHAT IS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Atrial fibrillation is a very common condition that makes the heart beat irregularly unlike the normal heartbeat that is regular. The top chambers of the heart “the atria” quiver in a very rapid and chaotic pattern so blood flow slows down or stagnates. The main pumping chambers “the ventricles” are also beating irregularly so they do not push blood around the body as efficiently.

A good analogy for atrial fibrillation is the movement of water in a pond. If you drop a stone into one corner of a pond a neat ripple moves across the pond. In the same way in normal rhythm electricity spreads smoothly from the pacemaker across the atria to the ventricle. If you drop stones randomly all over a pond you get choppy, messy waves moving in all directions. This is like the electrical waves in atrial fibrillation, which give the heart its chaotic and irregular pumping.

Former president George Maxwell Richards, who died on Monday at age 86, will be given a State funeral on a date which is still being finalised. His daughter Maxine Richards confirmed yesterday that the family had agreed to a request from the Ministry of National Security for the state funeral.

Richards, who served as the country’s fourth president from 2003 to 2013, was admitted to WestShore Medical Private Hospital sometime after midday on Monday and died just before 8 pm that night. As a mark of respect flags were flown at half mast across the country and at diplomatic missions abroad yesterday.

In the many tributes that have been pouring in, Richards is remembered as “a true patriot,” “a man of exemplary humility,” “the quintessential Caribbean man,” ass well as a man who connected with the people.

Prime Minister Dr Keith

Rowley described Richards as a true patriot, who had served with class and distinction “even as he remained grounded in his love for all things Trinidad and Tobago, especially Carnival and soca music.”

“One would be hard-pressed to ever be part of or to overhear a conversation where the name Max Richards is mentioned and not hear the admiration that people had for his love of culture and his down to earth nature,” Rowley said.

Richards’ colleague and friend at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr Brinsley Samaroo, said the late president’s major achievement was his humility.

“He was always an extremely humble person and never stood on office. I would use a phrase exemplary humility to describe him.”

Samaroo said although Richards held high office what distinguished him was his impartiality and honesty.

“He always understood the important role that he had and therefore never indulged in any kind of behaviour that demeaned the office,” he said.

Samaroo said Richards was one of the very first generation of locals to take over from the mainly European people who had been running the UWI, particularly the Faculty of Engineering.

“He did very well as Dean of the Faculty and it was because of his distinguished performance as Dean that he was selected for the higher position of Principal of the University,” he said.

He also pointed out that Richards was the only T&T President who was not a lawyer and did not have legal training.

“He did very well, I would say better than some of those who had legal training and the reason for that is that he was always prepared to accept advice when he needed advice, so he never made a legal blunder during his term as President in appointments and so on,” he said.

He described Richards’ presidency as a very interesting period.

“He brought his experience from the university into the Office of the President,” he said.

Opposition Leader Kamla

Persad-Bissessar remembered the late President as an “honourable, patriotic and noble” man who had served the country with distinction She said during her term as Prime Minister she valued his sound advice.

“I recall his wit and wisdom during our consultations,” she added Although they may had differing views at times, Persad-Bissessar said Richards was always willing to listen. She said she hopes his life will “serve to inspire our young people to aspire to greatness.”

Former prime minister Basdeo Panday said he knew Richards at university and he “was very charming, kind, courteous and tried to do his best, but the system does not permit a President really to do anything to improve the quality of life of the people of the country.”

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal described Richards as “the quintessential Caribbean man” and said his death leaves a huge void.

Moonilal said the fact that Richards served as head of state for a decade is testament to the “enormous value he brought to the Presidency and the esteem in which he was held by the nation. He symbolised stability and strength, grace and charm.”

Political commentator Ralph Maraj remembered Richards as a man “who attempted to bring the Presidency to the people.”

“He identified with the local Carnival. He was accepted as Max, which was a term of endearment.

He brought the presidency on the street being in the bands and playing mas,” he said.

In a statement, the T&T Chapter of Disabled Peoples International said Richards was a man who had “sensitive and caring concerns for the needs of persons with disabilities and showed a keen interest in their affairs.”

Richards entertained members of the organisation at an annual Christmas dinner at President’s House, the group said.

A Tobago businesswoman has lost her lawsuit against her former lawyer over a failed property deal.

Eleonore Nollet-Neuhaus sued attorney Samantha Lawson in 2015 after a deal for the sale of her $3.9 million property fell through when a British buyer was unable to obtain a licence under the Foreign Investment Act for the purchase.

Nollet-Neuhaus claimed that she was still entitled to a 10 per cent deposit which was paid by the prospective buyer.

Delivering an oral judgment in the Port-of-Spain High Court after both women testified yesterday, Justice Frank Seepersad dismissed Nollet-Neuhaus’ case as he ruled that she was aware of the possible bar to the sale when she struck the deal.

“It is evident that the claimant was acutely aware as to the restrictions which affected the property,” Seepersad said.

However, Seepersad strongly criticised Lawson for drafting the sale agreement in a “poor and substandard manner” and for failing to properly record how the deposit was paid.

In the agreement, Lawson had stated that the deposit was to be paid by the purchaser to Nollet-Neuhaus, however, while testifying yesterday she claimed the money was transferred before the agreement was signed.

Nollet-Neuhaus had claimed that the deposit was held on escrow by Lawson for the parties and she (Lawson) admitted that she did not correct her (Nollet-Neuhaus) when she first requested payment after the deal was terminated.

Lawson also admitted that she did not seek to recover the deposit from Nollet-Neuhaus on behalf of the buyer after the deal fell through.

While Lawson would have been entitled to her legal costs for the lawsuit as she successfully defended the claim, Seepersad ruled that each party should bare their own costs due to her (Lawson) handling of the property deal.

In her lawsuit, Nollet-Neuhaus was also claiming that Lawson had a conflict of interest in the deal as she (Lawson) had represented her in her divorce battle over the same property.

Seepersad rejected this as he pointed out that it was the prospective buyer, who paid Lawson for the subsequent deal and not Nollet-Neuhaus.

Nollet-Neuhaus was represented by Thomas Cunningham and Stefan Mungalsingh.

Vowing to resist any attempt by Government to retrench workers and privatise State-owned Petrotrin, the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union says it will mobilise all Petrotrin workers today in a massive show of force.

The mass mobilisation is expected to begin from 7 am at Petrotrin’s Trinmar operations in Point Fortin and continue at the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery on Friday.

It follows a statement by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Sunday that cash-strapped Petrotrin will be restructured in 2018 as it owes the Government $2.75 billion.

In an interview yesterday, president general Ancel Roget said the OWTU was not opposed to restructuring Petrotrin. He said the union submitted a restructuring plan to Government since last year asking for autonomy of all of Petrotrin’s divisions including Trinmar offshore and Marine operation, Field Exploration and Production and the Refining and Marketing division.

Saying autonomy of the various divisions yielded maximum productivity at Petrotrin, Roget said it was time to go back to this model.

“The committee agreed this was our most productive years. That model was working before and we got the most out of Petrotrin. When they restructured Petrotrin to facilitate Malcolm Jones as an executive chairman presiding over Petrotrin operations which failed. It did not work because in that type of super structure the issue of accountability is compromised. Trinmar was sidestepped and neglected,” Roget added.

He added that instead of firing workers, Petrotrin should be hiring staff as there were over 800 vacancies to be filled.

Saying that the organisation was top heavy, Roget said redundant managerial positions must be cut.

“There are high paying positions that are not necessary. In refinery there are 100 vacancies for operators. How can you refine products if there are no skilled workers? When skilled people retire they are not filling vacancies,” Roget added.

He warned that now that Petrotrin is in an unstable position, workers should not be blamed for poor management.

Roget also denied that workers were under performing.

He added that constant political interference by the Government has hampered Petrotrin’s productivity.

Calling on all Petrotrin workers to stand ready in defence of their jobs, Roget said, “We are going to tell workers that this is a Government of incompetence and they are about to destroy the fabric of a State entity that has made a significant contribution to the economy of T&T.”

The president general said despite Petrotrin’s financial burdens, it continues to contribute towards the State’s coffers.

A father of two yesterday admitted to robbing a female employee at a supermarket, but he claimed the police framed him with marijuana and ammunition.

Junior Salena, 34, of La Romaine, Trevonlee Walker, 33, of Golconda, and Andy Phoolchan, 31, a PH driver, of La Romaine, were not called upon to plea to charges of armed robbery and marijuana possession when they appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

However, Salena, who was also charged with ammunition possession, admitted he carried out the robbery, but he claimed he used a fake gun.

The charge alleged that on January 5 they robbed an employee at Time Savers Supermarket at Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, of $2, 072 and 14 packs of cigarettes valued $3,049. Sometime later officers of the San Fernando CID intercepted the car at Beach Ave, Bamboo Village, La Romaine which led to the other charge after a bag containing 154.6 grammes of marijuana was allegedly found in the car. It is further alleged that police found three rounds of ammunition in Salena’s possession.

Salena told Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine he committed the robbery because he did not have any money and his children were hungry.

However, he alleged a police officer fabricated the marijuana and ammunition charges. “The officer say he going to frame us with that. He say he going to build his house and we will help him build his house,” he claimed.

Asked by the magistrate how framing them was going to help the officer, Salena said he was told the Government pay an officer more than $400 for every case in court. The magistrate advised him to retain an attorney.

The police, through court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan, denied the allegation.

Walker’s attorney Charlene Khalloo said he was a first time offender, worked as a security officer and labourer and also has three young children. Phoolchan’s attorney Lauren Ramtahal said he had one conviction from 12 years ago for larceny and his wife is pregnant. Seedan did not object to bail.

Police are investigating the assault of two men outside a casino in San Fernando.

A video of the incident circulating on social media yesterday, showed the victims lying motionless on the ground as they were being kicked.

A woman intervened and several other men cautioned the assailants who were later seen walking off. The identities of the victims were not disclosed by the police as no one had lodged a report.

Anyone with information on the beating can contact CrimeStoppers at 800-TIPS.

Meanwhile, residents of Penal and environs were warned to be on the lookout for four men of Platanite Trace, Barrackpore who have been reportedly committing robberies in the Debe, Barrackpore and Penal area.

The faces of the four men were circulated on social media. Police have asked members of the public to be on the lookout for the men.

Former prime minister Basdeo Panday yesterday identified “corruption, waste and mismanagement” as the main problems that have been existing in the Police Service for decades.

This was what Panday told a Joint Select Committee on National Security chaired by Fitzgerald Hinds as they examined the report into the T&T Manpower Audit Committee, set up by Prof Ramesh Deosaran.

The report has identified a number of challenges in the Police Service

Giving his take on the report, Panday said National Security Minister Edmund Dillon is the general manager of the Police Service so he must manage, as the ultimate responsibility of tackling crime rests on his shoulders.

Having served as national security minister, Panday said he took charge by calling all his heads of departments that dealt with crime on a weekly basis and asked them for their suggestions to address crime and murders.

“Those who were not performing would have to admit before their colleagues that they were non- performers and nobody likes being humiliated in front of their colleagues.”

Instead of using the big stick approach, Panday said he used a management technique to get the job done as it worked “like a charm” which resulted in murders and crimes dropping to its lowest in 20 plus years, under his tenure.

Panday said the Police Service was putting the cart before the horse, as they needed to first look at systems and then find personnel.

He said as far as what he saw the managers in the service were not managing.

“The whole system is corrupt. I don’t blame the people. I blame the system. And the present political system does not allow for control. You need fundamental change. We have a political system in the last six years we can’t even appoint a police commissioner.”

This, he said has got to change to make people accountable.

He said the report shies away from identifying problems in the Police Services stating that he became shocked after reading it.

In this day and age, Panday said police officers were afraid to use technology to advance their training.

Stating that T&T’s police officers are among the highest per capita in the world, yet there was a shortage of drivers to respond to reports.

Member Prakash Ramadhar asked Panday to name two things, apart from Constitutional Reform that he would recommend to bring about accountability within the Police Service, buy Panday said he can’t think of any.

With the Carnival season now in full swing, police are warning people who plan to gyrate on others that they can be arrested for assault if the person they want to “thief a wine on” decides to engage the police.

Speaking at the weekly media briefing yesterday, public information officer of the Police Service ASP Michael Jackman said it is an assault to touch someone without their consent.

“Any physical touching where there is no consent with one of the parties involved is in fact unlawful and can be deemed an assault,” Jackman said when asked about unsolicited gyrating.

Asked about plans to ban glass bottles for Carnival events, Jackman said the necessary stakeholders are having discussions about that. He added that Gold Commander DCP Deodath Dulalchan and alternate Gold Commander ACP Radcliffe Boxhill met with the heads of the nine divisions to ensure a full turn out of police officers.

Jackman said there have been a major decrease in criminal activity during the Carnival period.

Last year, there was a 33 per cent decrease in serious crimes reported compared to the year before. He added since 2012 there have been an 87 per cent decrease in serious crimes during the Carnival period.

He called on both locals and foreigners to be vigilant during the Carnival period.