Energy Minister Franklin Khan said yesterday that the reports coming out of two independent investigations into A&V Oil and Gas Ltd have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Upon review, if it is found that there is sufficient information to warrant a police investigation, the Office of the DPP will refer the report to the police to commence an investigation.

Khan made the announcement in Parliament yesterday as he responded to an urgent question posed by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal who queried if the fake oil scandal which resulted in two completed investigative reports had been referred to the T&T Police Service.

Khan said that two investigations into A&V were conducted last year.

One was undertaken by Kroll Consulting Canada Company which focused on the measurement system, while global oil and gas consultants Gaffney Cline and Associates deal with reservoir and petroleum engineering matters, Khan said.

An internal audit by the company for the period of January to June showed that Petrotrin paid more than $80 million for oil which it did not receive from A&V, the contractor on the Catshill Field.

Khan said the matter was not referred to the police.

“However, I have been informed by the board of Petrotrin that this said matter was referred in November of 2017 to the DPP for advice.”

Moonilal asked Khan what attempts were made to “follow the real money siphoned out of this scheme and returned to the people of T&T” and “whether or not an alleged key player in this Mr Vidya Deokiesingh was still employed at Petrotrin.”

Khan said Petrotrin’s board nor himself had no such authority to follow the money.

“We did what we felt was proper to refer the matter to the DPP for advice,” he said.

Khan said Deokiesingh was still an employee at the State-owned company “because he is under investigations at Petrotrin…and Petrotrin has very robust and well-written procedures as to how these investigations take place. And that process is ongoing.”

Petrotrin terminated its contract with A&V last year and the company has signalled its intention to challenge the decision.

The Government has spent US$17.4 million (TT$120m) in acquiring an Asian vessel to service the inter-island ferry service.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert made the announcement in Parliament yesterday as he responded to an urgent question by Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee who wanted to find out how much Government had spent in acquiring a new vessel for the seabridge.

Imbert said the purchase price of the vessel “is US$17.4 million. The vessel is brand new. It has never been used.”

The vessel, Imbert said can accommodate 700 passengers and 100 vehicles.

“It is not a cargo vessel as the question implied. It is a passenger vehicle ferry.”

In his address to the nation last Sunday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said a new boat had been purchased in Asia.

The vessel is expected to sail into our port in the next two months.

Imbert then outlined the cost past governments had paid in obtaining two passenger ferry vessels for the seabridge—the T&T Spirit and T&T Express—which he said were not new.

Imbert said in 2006, the then government purchased the T&T Express at US$20 million.

“The vessel at the time was 10 years old. And one year later in 2007, the Government purchased the T&T Spirit vessel for the price US$60 million. At the time the vessel was three years old.”

Lee further enquired when the vessel was built, to which Imbert replied “it is currently in its snagging phase” as minor matters are being sorted out.

“The vessel’s construction has been completed but it has not been put into service. It has never been used by anyone. And therefore, it is brand new. Age is zero.”

In a supplemental question, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked what was the procurement process used by the Government in obtaining the vessel.

Imbert said the vessel has gone through extensive sea trial in the water.

“That is what has happened over the last month. The vessel was identified by way of a worldwide search using international experts and the vessel has been procured by the National Infrastructure Development Company.”

The vessel is expected to arrive in T&T within two months.

Three students of the Morvant/Laventille Secondary School who survived last Monday’s deadly attack in which their schoolmate Joshua Andrew was killed are said to be deeply traumatised and have requested transfers from the school.

They were friends of the teen who was killed along with “PH” taxi driver, Devon Fernandez.

One of Edwards’ cousins, who spoke anonymously, said two of the students suffered gunshot wounds to their hands while the other was wounded over his eye.

“We were told that the gunmen shoot the driver first and when he blood splatter on one of them in the back seat they started screaming and got out of the car and ran for help, not knowing that they were wounded too. One of them said that Joshua attempted to escape by jumping in the back of the car but didn’t make it out as his foot got stuck between the seats,” the cousin said.

“We believe that the gunmen wanted someone who was driving a similar car and was involved in a shooting at St Paul Street on Saturday night into Sunday morning.”

The cousin said the boys were not eating or sleeping and were very afraid.

“I know for sure two of them have already requested a transfer,” said the cousin.

They denied claims that Edwards was part of a gang and was the intended target of the killers.

Although Edwards’ mother and one of his brothers were in jail facing murder charges and another brother is charged with robbery, Edwards was determined to be different, the family member said.

“He would say that he wanted to be different and wanted to either be a fireman or a police so that he would learn the law, or a vet because of his love for animals. He was determined to finish school and get passes in all his subjects,” the cousin said.

Police are continuing their investigations. So far, 12 people from the area have been arrested for various offences.

The Ministry of National Security is currently investigating a group of Trinidadians being held at a detention camp in Iraq.

This was disclosed yesterday by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon in response to a question in Parliament by Naparima MP Rodney Charles.

“The Government of T&T, through diplomatic channels and other agencies are investigating T&T citizens are in an Iraq detention camp.”

In a follow-up question, Charles asked if Government will repatriate our citizens, but Dillon again said the matter was being investigated.

Charles tried to dig deeper to find out how many of our citizens were being detained and what was their current status, but Dillon did not give the figure, insisting that the matter was still under probe.

In response to another question, Dillon said his ministry recorded a total of 409,123 nationals of other countries arriving legally during the period January 1 to November 30, 2017.

“Of this total, 14,178 non-nationals overstayed their time and had not yet departed as at November 30, 2017,” Dillon said.

He also stated that information received from the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) for the period January 1 to December 31, 2017, four people (two adults and two minors) were reported as smuggled into T&T from Venezuela. The CTU, Dillon said also reported that three Colombians were also smuggled into T&T in 2013.

Rhondor Dowlat

In a bid to tighten on transparency, accountability and value for money, the newly-installed Procurement Board chairman, Moonilal Lalchan intends to utilise the latest cryptocurrency technology which creates a permanent digital record and even virtual money, such as Bitcoin, to stamp out corruption.

This, he explained, was the way forward as a procurement entity.

“What are some of the best practices that we can put in place and add to that are already in existence. The use of technology is going to play a big part,” he said, after receiving his instrument of appointment from President Anthony Carmona, at President’s House yesterday.

Lalchan said the Procurement Act gave the Board the authority “on a regular basis” and “as we see fit,” to go into an organisation and do reviews and audits.

“One of the things that we can do is, on a regular basis, look at reviews across the State sector or wherever money is spent. We have that power under the Act,” Lalchan said.

He said the Board will not only have powers to investigate but also to engage independent investigators when they themselves “do not have the internal capacity to do so.”

Lalchan also emphasised the importance of training and interaction with State companies, which he believes will result in “less malpractice.”

Asked if the procurement of a ferry for domestic seabridge will be one of the first issues to be reviewed by the Board, Lalchan replied: “We have to meet as a Board, first of all, to look at the composition of the Board and whatever issues come before the Board, within the Act, we will look at it.”

“However, it is too early to say…we will look at various activities of the various entities that are responsible and falls under our purview. There is a process that needs to be followed, in terms of how we go about looking at and investigating different issues,” Lalchan said.

Yesterday, only ten members were given their respective instruments of appointment by President Carmona. The eleventh member is currently out of the country and will be installed upon his/her return.

Side Bar

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015 was assented to and became law on January 14, 2015.

The Act seeks to reform the procurement laws of Trinidad and Tobago in keeping with principles of good governance, such as accountability, integrity, transparency, and value for money. It establishes the Office of Procurement Regulation to act as the governing body for matters relating to public procurement and the retention and disposal of public property.

Box

Members of the Procurement Board

Moonilal Lalchan, chairman

David Charlerie

Frederick Bowen

Dr Anthony Lamb

Robin Otway

Herdis Lee Chee

Lara Quentrall-Thomas

Sandra Sammy

Nadine Bushell

Nikoli Edwards

6 photos

Shastri Boodan

State funding is being wasted on the Chutney Soca Monarch Competition says Wendell Eversely, the vice president of the National Chutney Foundation of T&T.

Eversely spoke with the media yesterday at the semi-final rounds of the 2018 School’s National Carnival Intellectual Chutney Soca Monarch Competition at the Saith Park, Chaguanas.

Eversely said most of this year’s songs at the senior level were bankrupt of ideas and that the Chutney Soca Monarch was a “disgrace to the population”.

"We see where the Chutney Soca Monarch is concerned, one man threatened to shut down the whole organization because of funding. The Government should look and see where they are channelling funds into and they should really put a lot of funding into the primary schools and the secondary schools.

"Here it is we are talking about a part of our national culture and we see what kind of music we get at the Chutney Soca Monarch.”

Eversely said at the junior level the songs are more constructive. “The Government is channelling money in the wrong direction. We will see one man getting monies to sing stupidness.”

He said the students are given pittance for their prize.

Head of the foundation, Vijay Ramlal Rai said the competition was geared towards development of young people to ensure the next generation produces lyrics that are more meaningful. Ramlal Rai said the competitors in the adult competition usually resort to using melodies and music from Bollywood hits. “It’s a form or piracy that they do openly.” He said those using the melodies have no permission to do so and that they must pay royalties in US dollars. The finals of the competition comes off on February at the Queen's Park Savannah and 15 finalists will be taking part in the competition with a total of $100,000 in prizes at stake.

The finalists, to be announced later this week, will come up against defending champ Christina Chattergoon.

A social media conversation triggered by the brutal murder in December of Samantha Isaacs, who was shot to death and her body dumped on a road in Carenage, has given rise to a local movement against gender-based violence.

The first public manifestations of Enough Iz Enough were seen over the past week when citizens responded to the call to wear something black in support of the cause. The response was encouraging, with many people dressing in black and sharing photos online.

With the movement gaining traction, men and women began coming forward to endorse the initiative and join the cause, among them women who have experienced abuse and others with professional expertise, offering their time and talent.

Avonelle Hector Joseph, founder of the Is There Not A Cause (ITNAC) and the driving force behind Enough Iz Enough, mobilised members of her NGO to begin raising awareness. Newspaper columnist and television host Marsha Riley, whose CARE parenting project has transitioned from an online initiative to a multimedia programme was among the first to offer tangible support.

Criminologist Renee Cummings, journalist Suzanne Sheppard, founder of Beauty for Ashes, the Tobago-based People Against Domestic Violence and Kimberly Singh, who has formed a group to campaign against human trafficking, are all partnering with Enough Iz Enough.

Last Thursday evening, the group staged its first major event, a live Facebook panel discussion. Eric Alvarez provided the venue at Ana Street, Woodbrok, as well as technical resources and personnel.

The online forum featured a lively discussion of all forms of abuse, with input from Sheppard, Singh, women who have experienced abuse and educator Judith de Verteuil who operated a school in east Port-of-Spain for at-risk boys that had to be closed down because of space challenges.

According to Hector Joseph, the movement is intended to be multi-faceted, seeking out solutions that target the causes of abuse, vulnerabilities in responses to the problem and continually raising awareness.

“Not just advocacy but practical ways we can support—support for homes and programmes already in place,” she said.

“Lots of homes are in need of support. Victims are in need of support, so we want people who are also doing stuff to come together and forge a plan. Some who want to start also.”

The black campaign will continue through the year in the first week of every month from the Monday to the Friday and other events are planned.

How to join the cause

Enough Iz Enough can be contacted via email at enoughizenoughtt@gmail.com, or Itnac/Is There Not A Cause at 624-4162, 394-2042 and 742-1879. Information is also available on Itnac’s Facebook page

The public will be invited to the funeral of former president Prof George Maxwell Richards by invitation only. However, a limited number of invitations will be distributed to the public on a "first come, first serve basis" and will be available at Napa Box Office on Tuesday. The time will be subsequently disclosed.

Prof Richards' family has agreed that a state funeral will take place on Wednesday at Napa from 10 am. The viewing and funeral will be closed casket.

Richards, T&T's fourth president (from 2003-2013), passed away on January 8 after suffering a heart attack at age 86.

The body of the late President will lie in State on Monday at the Parliament with public viewing from 11 am to 5:45 pm.

On Tuesday, the body will be escorted through the St Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies from 7:45 am en route to Napa where it will lie in state from 10 am to 5:45 pm.

An update on the funeral arrangements for Richards was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications on Friday.

Condolence books open tomorrow

The Government will open a book of condolence at the Parliament on:

· Monday, from 11 am to 5:54 pm

· Tuesday, from 8 am to 6 pm.

A book of condolence will be opened at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa) on:

· Tuesday from 10 am to 5:45 pm

· Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm

· Friday from 10 am to 6 pm.

The condolence book will not be available for signature at Napa on Wednesday.

A condolence book will also be available for signature by members of the public at the Assembly Chamber, Tobago House of Assembly and at the following venues in Trinidad, Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6pm:

· Port-of-Spain City Corporation

· San Fernando City Corporation

· Chaguanas Borough Corporation

· Arima Borough Corporation

· Point Fortin Borough Corporation

· Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Regional Corporation

· Diego Martin Regional Corporation

· Penal-Debe Regional Corporation

· Princes Town Regional Corporation

· Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation

· Siparia Regional Corporation

UTT classes suspended for Richards' funeral

All classes at the University of T&T Campus at the National Academy for Performing Arts (Napa) in Port-of-Spain have been suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

This is to accommodate all activities related to the state funeral for the late Prof Richards. Classes at UTT, Napa's campus will resume on Thursday.—Rhondor Dowlat

SASCHA WILSON

Sixty-year-old Joycelyn Neptune, who claimed she was injured when a a police officer hosed down a group of protesting villagers in New Grant last week, has reported the incident at the Princes Town Police Station.

Describing the officer's behaviour as repressive, Oilfield Workers Trade Union Ancel Roget who, together with Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah and other members, met with residents at Sixth Company, pledged to ensure the residents get justice. Abdulah said he will be writing to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Director David West about the incident.

Last Wednesday, police officers clashed with residents following a heated protest in which residents blocked the roads and burned debris to highlight the deplorable roads and drainage conditions in their community. Videos circulating on social media show a senior officer spraying the residents with water from a hose while another shows a clash with police and residents.

Neptune said since the incident she has not been able to see properly in her right eye and her head was swollen and painful.

Neptune recalled that she was standing near a wall and looking on. She said the police officers were peaceful until a certain officer came. "And I said to him when he was spraying a young lady, 'Sir, are a fireman or a police?' and he sprayed me in my eye."

She said she fell to the ground and was only seeing white in her right eye. "I am not leaving it so. I am hurt. I am painful, my head swell right now. I went and get my medical and made a report and something must be done about this," she said. Another resident, Tenelle Hackett, 23, who was also sprayed down, said one of her eyes was injured and she intends to make a report today.

Roget said the union will be taking up this matter. "That is wrong, and that police ought to be brought to book. We have to take that police down for doing what he did. He must not get away with that. You are not above the law."

Abdulah said he will arrange for Neptune and the other residents to meet with the PCA. "People cannot hide behind a police number or badge to do wrong against peaceful law-abiding citizens of T&T."

Abdulah said he will also arrange for Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein and and Works Minister Rohan Sinanan to visit the community by Saturday with a plan of action. Several residents' homes have also been damaged or destroyed because of the landslips.

SASCHA WILSON

Relatives of a 20-year-old woman who has been hospitalised after she was struck in Penal by a car are appealing to the driver to surrender to the police.

Seema Ramkissoon suffered a broken arm and fractured shoulder and was warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital up to late yesterday. A video circulating on social media shows Ramkissoon being pitched into the air after she was struck by the car.

According to a police report, around 7 pm on Thursday, Ramkissoon was crossing San Francique Road in Penal, near Better Bargain Supermarket, with her husband, Stephon Nanan, when a burgundy Nissan Almera was seen speeding towards them. Nanan tried to push his wife out of the way but the vehicle slammed into her. She was thrown about ten feet and landed in a drain. Part of the car's licence plate number fell off on the road.

Ramkissoon's husband said, "After work we decided to go for ice cream. We looked both sides of the road and no cars were coming. We decided to cross. We were almost across the road, I was still in the road but I saw the car coming. I stopped, but she tried to run across the road and the car pulled and hit her. It had no car in the road when we were going to cross. She hit the bonnet, then the windscreen and then up in the air she went. She landed in a drain." He said an ambulance took his wife to the hospital, but she is very lucky to have survived. Her husband and father, Sieunarine Ramkissoon, 43, called on the driver to come forward. "That is wickedness, the driver should have stopped. But, he should do the right thing and surrender," said Ramkissoon. He also appealed to anyone who may know the driver's identity to inform the police. PC Seegobin of the Penal Police Station is investigating.

Deyone "Milly" Guiseppi fled this country five years ago after being bullied, harassed and victimised for her sexual orientation and sought asylum in a European country.

Guiseppi has since been granted asylum and is happy.

"I am in an environment where it is more positive and I think more clearly and it is conducive to me progressing, I can grow as a human being," Guiseppi told the Sunday Guardian.

"I think it's the best decision I ever made," she said.

Guiseppi, who was born a male, said at age three she realised that something was different with her.

"I knew but I just didn't have the words to say what that was."

It was only when she turned 16, Guiseppi said she was actually able to find the words to describe what she was going through.

"I was struggling to find my identity or to at least fit in or feel like I belonged somewhere. I always thought that I was gay but then I realised I was transgender, many people just don’t understand in Trinidad and Tobago and they try to put everything into the box of being gay," Guiseppi said.

Guiseppi said that being transgender has to do with your gender, while being gay has to do with who you are attracted to.

Eventually as Guiseppi grew older, she decided she wanted to transition.

"I decided that I wanted to transition and didn’t want to stay living an unhappy life as somebody I wasn't," she said.

Guiseppi approached a private doctor for hormone therapy to assist in her transition.

The process, however, was extremely expensive and Guiseppi eventually sought therapy at a public health facility.

She also had to undergo psychiatric analysis.

"I was gradually changing myself, nothing extreme, by using make-up and wearing clothes that was more feminine," Guiseppi said.

Things, however, became problematic when she got a new boss who was also a pastor.

"He started to harass me about how I chose to express myself in the way I dressed and I was even given a document highlighting the dress code for men and women," she said.

The company's human resource department also got involved.

"The harassment was becoming continuous and I really didn't want to go to work any more. It was a nuisance, and if I can't work then I can't support myself," she said.

The Equal Opportunity Commission could not help

Guiseppi approached the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) and filed a complaint about victimisation.

"I stood against the victimisation because I thought it was wrong, I was doing my work and I couldn't understand why I was being harassed like this, but I think it is part of our society in Trinidad where it is seen as being bad to be transgender, gay or lesbian," Guiseppi said.

"People should be able to be themselves, they shouldn't have to change for other people because I was not harming anybody."

However, according to the EOC Act, people who claim to be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation have no recourse.

The act prohibits discrimination against individuals on seven grounds (race, ethnicity, religion, sex, marital status, origin and disability), but sexual orientation is expressly excluded from protection.

Although the act includes sex as a status ground, Section 3, the interpretation section, provides that "sex does not include sexual preference or orientation".

Both EOC chairman Lynette Seebaran-Suite and head of The Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO) Colin Robinson have called for this to be changed.

Guiseppi said this hurt.

"The EOC told me they couldn't help me because gender in T&T is limited to being male or female. It made me feel like that with me being transgender that the EOC was telling me I wasn't a citizen because of my gender, it was like they were saying they are unwilling to protect me because in the laws of Trinidad and Tobago it says that there are only two genders," she said.

"My gender was not protected under the act. It is a shame that all Trinidadians cannot be protected from discrimination and it's a shame that all Trinidadians can't live in their country and be happy. I'm still proud to be a Trinidadian and nobody can take that away from me, but I think in changing some of the laws we will be more inclusive to people who are from the LGBTQIA community. It is protecting your citizens, which is basic human rights."

While going through the EOC process, Guiseppi was also physically attacked.

Lack of support from her family was also an issue.

"It all reached a breaking point," she said.

Guiseppi bought a ticket and left the country for greener pastures.

When she landed, she filed for asylum and had to undergo the requisite interviews.

She has since been granted asylum.

"If Trinidad and Tobago couldn't protect me and it is my own, then what could I do again. If my own didn't care about me and want to see the destruction of me because of only one aspect of me then I had no choice but to move away and get out of that negative situation," she said.

"It was extremely overwhelming when I reached because, of course, I didn't speak the language, there was different weather, different people and a different culture, it is still a bit overwhelming sometimes but I’m getting accustomed to it," Guiseppi said.

Guiseppi is currently in university.

New York City is the largest city in the United States and boasts a population of 8.5 million.

This means that Trinidad and Tobago with its population of 1.3 million is more than six times smaller than New York City when it comes to population size.

However, the murder toll of the two for 2017 tell a different story.

Despite being that much smaller than New York City, Trinidad and Tobago has recorded 200 more murders.

New York City recorded 290 murders for 2017.

The murder toll in Trinidad and Tobago for 2017 was 494.

This is a far cry from the twinning that was supposed to have taken place between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 2014.

In 2014 in an effort to improve the operations of the TTPS, then national security minister Gary Griffith met with the the NYPD's deputy commissioner John Miller with the goal of twinning the two police forces.

The twinning of the two police departments was aimed at providing the TTPS with the experience and knowledge that could be gained from interacting with the officers of the NYPD.

The initiative was developed by Bill Bratton who visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.

Following his visit here, Bratton was given his second stint as NYPD commissioner from 2014 to 2016.

Bratton and the broken window

Bratton is touted to have had a major role in turning crime around in New York City.

New York City was transformed from being one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world in the mid 90s to being one of the safest cities today.

In 1990 New York City recorded its highest murder toll of 2,245.

The murder toll in T&T for 1990 was only 84.

Bratton first served as NYPD commissioner from 1994 to 1996.

It was during those years, and the years following, that the city saw a decline in murder rates, violent crimes, burglary and vehicle theft.

Bratton soon became famous for applying criminologists James Wilson and George Kelling’s “broken windows” theory of policing, which claims stricter enforcement of minor crimes deters more serious offences.

Bratton also implemented a crime data and performance-measuring programme known as COMPSTAT, which departments across the country and the world began to use as a model.

COMPSTAT, which is short for Compare Statistics, is a tactical planning and accountability system.

Under Bratton, COMPSTAT identified where crimes were occurring and held local commanders responsible for their areas.

Twining the TTPS with the NYPD was anticipated to have allowed our local officers to get first-hand exposure to how the NYPD manages COMPSTAT, including domain awareness, community policing intelligence and counter-terrorism.

TTPS officers would also have gotten real-time exposure on the beat, including covert operations.

Detectives from the NYPD were also going to visit T&T to provide updates on practices and techniques that were said to have improved crime scene investigations and aid in improving the detection rate here.

Collaboration essential

The intention, Griffith said, was not to try and replicate exactly what was previously done in New York City, but that there were basic principles that could be utilised to cause positive transformation in Trinidad and Tobago.

Bratton said like a doctor dealing with a patient, every city is different and requires different amounts of medicine, different prescriptions and different procedures.

He said the secret of it all was having good police leaders, good political leadership, community leadership that can be involved in collaboration, working with the political and police leadership.

Griffith echoed this saying that there was a strong need for the TTPS to operate on important pillars of good leadership: Management, accountability and performance measurement. Without these pillars, all anti-crime initiatives will not be fruitful.

The NYPD was also able to successfully transform its image to a more positive one in the eyes of the public, by utilising the watch words: Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect (CPR).

Griffith said he would have liked this to have been adopted by the TTPS, so that officers could improve their interaction with the public, as well as how they are perceived.

By 2015, however, Griffith was replaced as national security minister and no further efforts toward the twinning of the the TTPS and NYPD were advanced.

Griffith is said to be short-listed as a candidate as this country's next police commissioner.

Anti-gang initiatives, community policing help NYC's crime fight

The murder tolls of New York City and Trinidad and Tobago have gone in different directions since 2015.

In 2015 the murder toll for New York City was 352.

This gradually decreased in the following two years from 335 in 2016 to 290 in 2017.

The 290 murder toll is said to be the lowest in the modern era.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the murder toll has been going the other way.

In 2015 the murder toll in Trinidad and Tobago was 420.

In 2016 this figure increased to 462.

For the year so far, the murder toll is 25.

The most recent murder was the the discovery of the body of 40-year-old Leonard De La Rosa on a compound in the vicinity of the Samaan Tree bar along the Aranguez Main Road, around 10.30 am, yesterday.

De La Rosa had what appeared to be a single bullet hole to the head.

"Crime in New York City has reached a new low," NYPD commissioner James P O'Neill said.

"The murder rate hasn’t been lower since the Korean War. As we celebrate this New York miracle, we continue deepening relationships with the public, emphasizing the shared responsibility we have to our safety. I am confident we can do more. And we will. It is an honour to lead this organization and be a part of the change we are seeing across the nation's safest city."

As the possibility of New York City's low crime figures were becoming apparent, O’Neill attributed the declines to some core factors: “precision” policing against key offenders, anti-gang initiatives and aggressive gun investigations.

O'Neill also believes that the neighbourhood policing initiative had opened up avenues of communication between cops and communities.

The NYPD said that neighbourhood policing will be a mainstay going forward.

In July 2010 when Canadian Dwayne Gibbs was appointed Trinidad and Tobago's police commissioner, he implemented the 21st Century Policing Initiative.

The initiative which mainly focused on getting police officers out of the stations and improving their interaction with citizens was touted as being "a new day is close to hand", on the TTPS's website.

However, when Gibbs resigned in 2012 the 21st Century Policing Initiative was scrapped.

Speaking at the Lower House on Friday night, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said that crime remains the largest and most significant issue facing the country.

Al-Rawi said while the murder rate continues to be an issue "it is not lost on the citizens of this country with the significant improvements in the arrest rate following events".

Al-Rawi said this was a scintilla of hope to the population.

Continuing next week

Six companies submitted tenders in November 2017 for the acquisition of an inter-island ferry to service the route between Trinidad and Tobago.

Tender submissions were received from:

• Get Away Cruises Limited

• Ocean Star Shipping Limited

• Bridgemans Services Group LP

• &empmargin;Paragon Protection Consultants Limited

• Fortune Maritime LLC

• Seajets Maritime Company

This was disclosed to former transport minister Devant Maharaj on Friday in a letter sent to him by the Port Authority of T&T’s designated officer, Daffodil Maxwell.

Maxwell was responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by attorney Douglas Bayley, on behalf of Maharaj. That request was sent on December 6, 2017.

The letter also disclosed that the four-member Evaluation Committee to select the ferry was chaired by Curtis Roach, a former director Maritime Services Division, Ministry of Works and Transport, former International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Regional Maritime Adviser (Caribbean), former Port commissioner and former senior member of the T&T Coast Guard.

The other three members were identified as: Courtney Lange (naval architect, qualified marine surveyor operating locally, regionally and internationally); Kurt Duncan (qualified master mariner and pilot master, T&T Pilots’ Association); and Jennifer Lutchman (deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, auditor and qualified accountant certified by Association of Chartered Certified Accountants as a Fellow, designation FCCA).

The PATT considered the request for information, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act Chap 22:02.

The information requested

Maharaj requested:

i) The number and names of agents, operators of vessels, companies and/or organisations that submitted bids and/or expressed interest pursuant to the advertisement published in various newspapers in T&T in August/September 2017 to provide ferry service between T&T;

ii) The names and qualifications of the committee established by the PATT to evaluate the submissions for the advertised tender;

(iii) The basis upon which the decision was taken and the Board minute of the meeting at which such decision was taken to appoint the committee to evaluate the submissions for the advertised tender;

(iv) The report of the tender committee to the PATT, in relation to its review of the submitted tenders;

(v) Any and/or all correspondence and/re recommendations between the Ministry of Works and Transport and PATT and vice versa regarding the report of the tender committee and/or any Board minutes related to such correspondence and/or recommendations;

vi) The process by which and under whose authority was the directive given by PATT to the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Nidco), to procure an inter-island ferry for use between Trinidad and Tobago and any/or all correspondence related thereto.

However, the PATT refused to answer iii and v.

Maxwell explained: “Please note that we are unable to fulfil your request in relation to items iii and v as we are of the view that those documents are exempt from disclosure under Sections 24, 27 and 33 (b) to (d) of the Freedom of Information Act.”

In relation to Maharaj’s request under item (vi), the PATT made it clear that it does not have the authority to direct the Cabinet.

Also, in relation to the other request under item vii, which concerns Nidco, PATT denied giving “any directive to Nidco”.

A four-member Cabinet committee chaired by Finance Minister Colm Imbert was subsequently established to select a vessel to service the sea bridge.

A vessel was selected in three weeks.Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young, Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte and Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe formed the remainder of the Cabinet committee. In a supplemental question put forward to Finance Minister Colm Imbert in Parliament, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked what was the procurement process used by the Government in obtaining the vessel.

Imbert said the vessel was put through an extensive sea trial in the water over the last month.

He also disclosed that the vessel was identified by way of a worldwide search using international experts and it was procured by the National Infrastructure Development Company.

The vessel is expected to arrive in T&T within two months.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan did not respond to questions sent to him on the matter yesterday.

Government has started the compulsory acquisition of land for construction of the $221 million overpass and ancillary roads at the intersection of the Southern Main Road and the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.

Twenty-two properties, including the old Kay Donna Drive-in Cinema, part owned by Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, have been earmarked for acquisition.

Letters have already been sent out to the land/business owners for acquisition.

The total settlement value is yet to be determined but can run into millions of dollars. Sinanan confirmed this to the Sunday Guardian.

Asked what was the area of land to be acquired, Sinanan could not say but assured that it would not be as elaborate as the interchange at the Grand Bazaar.

Sinanan, a shareholder of the Kay Donna Drive-In Cinema, who said it was true that he has interest in the land, promised to recuse himself from the land acquisition process.

Asked if he owned or had any financial interest in the condos at the front of the Kay Donna property, Farah’s Court, Sinanan said “No,” but added that there will be no favour in settlement with regards to the Kay Donna property.

“I do have an interest in Kay Donna as a shareholder but that matter was dealt with before. The settlement for me would have no favour as the Ministry of Works does not deal with settlements... it would be with the Finance Ministry and it would be a fair valuation process for all,” Sinanan said.

Sinanan disclosed that the acquisition process began some time before November last year and is being done by the Valuation Department in the Ministry of Finance.

“There is a process and they are the ones who determine the value keeping with the present- day value,” Sinanan said.

The acquisition letter

The letter sent to land/business owners in Curepe states: Compulsory acquisition of land by the Ministry of Works and Transport for the construction of an overpass and ancillary roads at the Intersection of the Southern Main Road and the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.

It reads: “In accordance with Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act, Chap. 58:01(the Act), a Notice of Intended Acquisition was published as Legal Notice 181 dated 26th August, 2013 in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette Legal Supplement Part B in Volume 52 Number 114 on the 4th September, 2013.

“Under Section 4 of the Act, a Legal Notice No 137 dated 7th November, 2017 was published in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette Legal Supplement Part B, on the 10th November, 2017, in which is attached.

“This Notice gives the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport or her Agents, the authority to enter upon your property for the purpose of constructing an overpass. The area to be acquired comprises (the amount of metres), more or less.”

According to the letter, “It should be noted that Section 22 of the Act provides for a land owner to present a request for an advance payment regarding compensation in respect of lands to be acquired once possession of the land has taken place under Section 4.”

The advance payment, according to the letter, should not exceed 80 per cent of the agreed value.

The contract

Of the five companies which tendered for the project, one of the Chinese firms—China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) was awarded the $221.7 million contract by the National infrastructure Development Company (Nidco).

Fresh tenders went out on March 27, 2017 and closed on June 7, 2017.

Sinanan said that he expected nothing less than “value for money” and boasted about the savings incurred as that same project had been tendered out at over $400 million under the People’s Partnership administration.

In June 2015, then opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley had raised concerns about the $400 million Curepe project and called for it to be stopped after Nidco jointly awarded Lutchmesingh Transport Company and Vinci Construction the contract.

“We have serious competitive bidding now and the $221 million is what was tendered out, the public tender price saving over $150 million,” Sinanan said.

Construction is expected to start later this year. Once construction is started, the project, which is a design-build package according to Sinanan, is expected to be completed in 18 months.

About the overpass

• Work on the overpass will start from the Southern Main Road and go all the way to the bustling intersection of the CRH.

• At the intersection, two loops will be built for motorists to get onto the west and east lanes of the highway.

• The traffic lights at the CRH intersection will be removed to allow vehicles a free flow onto the four lanes that will be constructed.

VALUE OF LAND AND PROPERTIES (RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL) AT VALSAYN NORTH, SOUTH AND WEST

Registered Real Estate Broker of TTPropertySearch Colin Ghouralal confirmed that the Valsayn South, North and Spring Vale areas are considered as high profile residential areas.

He said that residential plots, per sq ft, in the Valsayn North area are pricey.

“The prices there can range from $300 to $350/sq ft and the area span from 20,000 to 25,000 sq ft, according to open market value.

“In the western side of Valsayn known as the Springvale area, the prices are a bit lower from about $200 to $250/sq ft and plots there are about 10,000 to 15,000 sq ft. At the Valsayn South area is about the same $200 to $250/sq ft,” Ghouralal said.

Asked the value of land in a .5 km radius from the traffic light, Ghouralal said, “very pricey…as much as $400 to $450 sq ft—that includes from Kay Donna in the south of the highway to the gas station area to the south of the highway.”

Prices for residential properties, according to the Open Market valuation, Ghouralal said, ranges from $10 million to $30 million in the Valsayn North area; Valsayn West from $5 million to $12 million and Valsayn South from $5 million to $12 million.

Commercial properties, he said, “not less than $6 million and that price can go up to $15 million, maybe beyond, it depends, once within that half kilo radius.”

BENEFITS OF THE OVERPASS ONCE COMPLETED

ACCORDING TO THE MINISTRY:

n Reduce traffic congestion
n Increase capacity on Churchill-Roosevelt Highway
n Improve access to/from adjacent communities
n Improve pedestrian accessibility and safety
n Reduce pollution
n Reduction in road user cost
n Reduced fuel consumption
n Reduction in emissions which results in reduction in pollution due to reduced idle times at intersections and traffic
n Ultimately, it will improve the lives of citizens

New York City is the largest city in the United States and boasts a population of 8.5 million. This means that Trinidad and Tobago with its population of 1.3 million is more than six times smaller than New York City when it comes to population size.

However, the murder toll of the two for 2017 tell a different story.

Despite being that much smaller than New York City, Trinidad and Tobago has recorded 200 more murders.

New York City recorded 290 murders for 2017.

The murder toll in Trinidad and Tobago for 2017 was 494.

This is a far cry from the twinning that was supposed to have taken place between the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 2014.

In 2014 in an effort to improve the operations of the TTPS, then national security minister Gary Griffith met with the the NYPD’s deputy commissioner John Miller with the goal of twinning the two police forces.

The twinning of the two police departments was aimed at providing the TTPS with the experience and knowledge that could be gained from interacting with the officers of the NYPD.

The initiative was developed by Bill Bratton who visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.

Following his visit here, Bratton was given his second stint as NYPD commissioner from 2014 to 2016.

Bratton and the broken window

Bratton is touted to have had a major role in turning crime around in New York City.

New York City was transformed from being one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world in the mid 90s to being one of the safest cities today.

In 1990 New York City recorded its highest murder toll of 2,245.

The murder toll in T&T for 1990 was only 84.

Bratton first served as NYPD commissioner from 1994 to 1996.

It was during those years, and the years following, that the city saw a decline in murder rates, violent crimes, burglary and vehicle theft.

Bratton soon became famous for applying criminologists James Wilson and George Kelling’s “broken windows” theory of policing, which claims stricter enforcement of minor crimes deters more serious offences.

Bratton also implemented a crime data and performance-measuring programme known as COMPSTAT, which departments across the country and the world began to use as a model.

COMPSTAT, which is short for Compare Statistics, is a tactical planning and accountability system.

Under Bratton, COMPSTAT identified where crimes were occurring and held local commanders responsible for their areas.

Twining the TTPS with the NYPD was anticipated to have allowed our local officers to get first-hand exposure to how the NYPD manages COMPSTAT, including domain awareness, community policing intelligence and counter-terrorism.

TTPS officers would also have gotten real-time exposure on the beat, including covert operations.

Detectives from the NYPD were also going to visit T&T to provide updates on practices and techniques that were said to have improved crime scene investigations and aid in improving the detection rate here.

Collaboration essential

The intention, Griffith said, was not to try and replicate exactly what was previously done in New York City, but that there were basic principles that could be utilised to cause positive transformation in Trinidad and Tobago.

Bratton said like a doctor dealing with a patient, every city is different and requires different amounts of medicine, different prescriptions and different procedures.

He said the secret of it all was having good police leaders, good political leadership, community leadership that can be involved in collaboration, working with the political and police leadership.

Griffith echoed this saying that there was a strong need for the TTPS to operate on important pillars of good leadership: Management, accountability and performance measurement. Without these pillars, all anti-crime initiatives will not be fruitful.

The NYPD was also able to successfully transform its image to a more positive one in the eyes of the public, by utilising the watch words: Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect (CPR).

Griffith said he would have liked this to have been adopted by the TTPS, so that officers could improve their interaction with the public, as well as how they are perceived.

By 2015, however, Griffith was replaced as national security minister and no further efforts toward the twinning of the the TTPS and NYPD were advanced.

Griffith is said to be short-listed as a candidate as this country’s next police commissioner.

ANTI-GANG INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY POLICING HELP NYC’S CRIME FIGHT

The murder tolls of New York City and Trinidad and Tobago have gone in different directions since 2015.

In 2015 the murder toll for New York City was 352.

This gradually decreased in the following two years from 335 in 2016 to 290 in 2017.

The 290 murder toll is said to be the lowest in the modern era.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the murder toll has been going the other way.

In 2015 the murder toll in Trinidad and Tobago was 420.

In 2016 this figure increased to 462.

For the year so far, the murder toll is 25.

The most recent murder was the the discovery of the body of 40-year-old Leonard De La Rosa on a compound in the vicinity of the Samaan Tree bar along the Aranguez Main Road, around 10.30 am, yesterday.

De La Rosa had what appeared to be a single bullet hole to the head.

“Crime in New York City has reached a new low,” NYPD commissioner James P O’Neill said.

“The murder rate hasn’t been lower since the Korean War. As we celebrate this New York miracle, we continue deepening relationships with the public, emphasizing the shared responsibility we have to our safety. I am confident we can do more. And we will. It is an honour to lead this organization and be a part of the change we are seeing across the nation’s safest city.”

As the possibility of New York City’s low crime figures were becoming apparent, O’Neill attributed the declines to some core factors: “precision” policing against key offenders, anti-gang initiatives and aggressive gun investigations.

O’Neill also believes that the neighbourhood policing initiative had opened up avenues of communication between cops and communities.

The NYPD said that neighbourhood policing will be a mainstay going forward.

In July 2010 when Canadian Dwayne Gibbs was appointed Trinidad and Tobago’s police commissioner, he implemented the 21st Century Policing Initiative.

The initiative which mainly focused on getting police officers out of the stations and improving their interaction with citizens was touted as being “a new day is close to hand”, on the TTPS’s website.

However, when Gibbs resigned in 2012 the 21st Century Policing Initiative was scrapped.

Speaking at the Lower House on Friday night, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said that crime remains the largest and most significant issue facing the country.

Al-Rawi said while the murder rate continues to be an issue “it is not lost on the citizens of this country with the significant improvements in the arrest rate following events”.

Al-Rawi said this was a scintilla of hope to the population.

The bullet riddled body of a URP worker was found by police in Fyzabad on Saturday night.

Acting on an anonymous tip off called in to the Fyzabad Police Station at around 11 pm, officers went to Gowers Well Road where they found the body of Andre Sydney, a father of one.

Investigators suspect his death to be drug related but Sydney’s neighbours at Pond Street, La Romaine, said they did not know him to be involved in drugs. One resident said Sydney was originally from Fyzabad and moved into the area with his siblings after his grandparents died. No one was at the victim’s home when the T&T Guardian visited yesterday.

Investigations are continuing.

In another incident, at around 9.30 pm on Saturday, a senior fire officer was at his home in Mon Repos when two men entered and announced a hold up. The intruders stole a quantity of cash and jewelry and beat the 54-year-old officer about his head and body. He is warded at the San Fernando General Hospital in stable condition.

PC Bicano is investigating.

Naparima MP Rodney Charles, in a statement yesterday, warned that citizens might be spied upon for political or other reasons and soon there will be little they can do about about it.

“This is all part of our slow but inexorable march towards a creeping dictatorship under this Rowley administration,” he said

The Opposition MP said that the Government had “quietly laid in Parliament” Freedom of Information (exemption) Order 2017 which seeks to exempt Strategic Services Agency (SSA) from the application of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

He said on Friday the Opposition tried to annul the Order when it came up before the House of Representatives but Government used its majority to ensure its pasge. The order now goes to the Senate for further debate.

Charles said: “The FOIA in Section 3, ‘...extends the right of members of the public to access to information in the possession of public authorities’ like the SSA ‘limited only by exceptions necessary for the protection of essential public interest and the private and business affairs of persons in respect of whom information is collected and held by public authorities.”

He said in her contribution to the debate, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar pointed out that at the end of fiscal 2018 nearly $500 million was spent on the spy agency whose director is appointed by Cabinet and takes instructions from the Minister of National Security.

“He is therefore a political appointee reporting to politicians,” he said.

The MP said in the United States the CIA’s director is nominated by the President but is subject to confirmation by the Senate, while the in United Kingdom an Investigatory Powers Tribunal made up of legal professionals investigatea complaints about intelligence agencies’ activities.

“We now have, in this guava season, a $500 million spy agency under the direct control of politicians, led by a politically appointed director, and citizens will soon be deprived of the right to find out about the SSA’s hiring, promotion or dismissal policies,” Charles said.

“When this Order becomes law we will not be able to enquire how our millions are well spent in this expensive spy agency, or even salaries paid. We will not know through the FOIA whether its services are employed for legitimate intelligence gathering or to spy on political opponents.”

He said under existing law the SSA can withhold responses to requests under the FOIA based on national security considerations.

“Why therefore does the SSA now need a complete institutional exemption?” he asked.

With 28 murders in just the first 14 days of the year, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon yesterday said the various national security agencies are “not comfortable.” However, he assured that perpetrators will be brought to justice because there is an all out war against crime and criminal elements.

Dillon was fielded questions from the media about the killing spree that has been taking place in the first month of the new year following a press briefing at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) yesterday.

“Any murder is always a concern for us. The level where we are at right now none...none of the agencies of national security are comfortable right now,” he admitted

The minister stated law enforcement has been beefed up and over the weekend there was not only an increased presence of police and soldiers on the roads butpolice officers were “in different focus operations” in an effort to catch criminals.

“We will not give up, we will continue,” he said.

Dillion said up to yesterday he had discussions with the deputy police commissioner in charge of crime about development different strategies. He said preliminary investigations showed that several of the murders were drug and gang related.

“We now have to focus on the available laws to treat with—more importantly to focus on—especially those drug blocks throughout the length and breath of Trinidad and Tobago that seems to be contributing to the murder rate as we go along,” he said.

“The Police Service and other agencies are working assiduously.”

The minister was once again critical of the Opposition for failing to support the Anti-Gang Bill. He said during debate of the legislation late last year they have taken the Government “down to the wire, clause by clause” without any objection being raised

“When we got to the wire it was a resounding no except for the MP for St Augustine who abstained,” he said.

Dillon said police had given him an update on investigations into the murders of 15-year-old Morvant Laventille Secondary student Joshua Andrews and “PH” driver Devon Fernandez. He said there had been some arrests and investigations are continuing.

The teen was travelling home from school in a car driven by Fernandez last when he was fatally shot. The gunman fired repeatedly at the occupants of the vehicle and one of the bullets caused it to explode. The bodies of the two victims were burnt.

Andrews will be buried today following a funeral service at TIWU Hall in Laventille.

There will be an open casket during public viewings of President George Maxwell Richards and at his State funeral on Wednesday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, who gave details of the arrangements for the lying in state, said Richards was “a true son of the soil” who will be remembered for his distinguished service to this country. Richards was the country;s fourth President and served for two consecutive terms from 2003 to 2013.

Dillon said: “Professor Richards’ family has agreed that a State funeral will take place on Wednesday 17th January, 2018, at NAPA, Port-of-Spain from 1o am.

“The public will be invited to the funeral of the former President by invitation only but a limited number of invitations will be distributed to the public on a first come, first serve basis and will be available at NAPA box office on Tuesday 16th January, 2018. The time will be subsequently disclosed.

“The viewing and the funeral will be open casket.”

Following the funeral service a private cremation service will be held at the Belgrove’s Funeral Home.

The body of the late former president will lie in State today at Parliament, International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, with public viewing from 11 am to 5:45 pm.

Tomorrow the body will be escorted through the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies from 7:45 am en route to NAPA, Port-of-Spain, where it would lie in State from 10 am to 5:45 pm.

Condolence books will be opened for signing by members of the public at locations across T&T and at the Parliament today from 11 am to 5:45 pm and from tomorrow to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm.

Condolence books will also be at NAPA tomorrow from 10 am to 5:45 pm and Thursday and Friday from 10 am to 6 pm but will not be available on Wednesday. They also be located at the Assembly Chamber, Tobago House of Assembly and at the following venues in Trinidad from today to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm:

n Port-of-Spain City Corporation

n San Fernando City Corporation

n Chaguanas Borough Corporation

n Arima Borough Corporation

n Point Fortin Borough Corporation

n Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Regional Corporation

n Diego Martin Regional Corporation

n Penal-Debe Regional Corporation

n Princes Town Regional Corporation

n Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation

n Siparia Regional Corporation

Classes at the University of T&T Campus at NAPA have been suspended tomorrow and Wednesday to accommodate activities related to the funeral.

Maxine Richards, daughter of former president George Maxwell Richards, shared fond memories of her father yesterday during a function in his memory at the San Fernando City Hall.

She was welcomed by San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello and Hazel Manning, widow of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning when she arrived to sign the condolences book.

“Richards was a San Fernandian. We are very proud of his contribution to San Fernando and Trinidad and Tobago by extension,” said Regrello.

People who had grown up and worked with the late President shared some their memorable experiences with him.

Maxine, who thanked citizens for their outpouring of support and love, said it was a difficult time for her family.

“As I said before, I know my father was loved. I did not know he was so loved. Te outpouring of love has been unbelievable. It’s been hard, I would not lie about that. I never thought it would be like this and I still, to be honest, can’t believe he is gone,” she said

Manning said the Richards family had been her next door neighbours for ten years.

“I really want to say thanks because I know it is a difficult job, a lot of work, to be leader. From all sides you get it, but he stood and did what he had to do and he did it well.

“I would like to thank him for loving his people, for the culture—he was very much into his culture—and for the hard work he did,” she said.

Manning’s late husband served as prime minister when Richards was president.

FLAGS AT HALF MAST-FROM TODAY

The national flag will be flown at half-mast at all state and non-state agencies and at all T& T’s diplomatic missions abroad from today to Wednesday in observance of the passing of former President George Maxwell Richards.

A release from the Ministry of National Security said the flag should be flown at half-mast today and tomorrow when Richard will lie in State , as well as on the day of the funeral on Wednesday.

At half-mast, the flag is first hoisted to the top of the staff for an instant, then lowered to the half-mast position. Before lowering the flag for the day the flag is again raised to the top of the staff.

Other flags on the same stand of poles should also be at half-mast, or should not be flown at all when the national flag is at half-mast.

Flags of foreign nations should not be flown at half mast, unless their countries are also observing mourning.