The social, economic and political upheavals, hyperinflation, shortages of food, medicine and other supplies and US sanctions have forced many Venezuelans to flee their country and look for work in neighbouring countries, including T&T, to earn money and supplies to send back home to their families.

According to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) report dated August 2017, there are an estimated 40,000 Venezuelans in T&T.

Doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and many highly qualified professionals who cannot find work in Venezuela are forced to take up menial jobs such as house cleaning, bar jobs and in the fast food industry.

In bars and nightclubs across the country young, pretty Latin women can be seen working as hostesses and bar tenders. In little Latin enclaves and Spanish Harlems throughout the country, many entertainment venues, clubs and bars now have a Latin Night.

Young, attractive Venezuelan women and girls are especially vulnerable to trafficking and being forced into prostitution.

The Sunday Guardian was told the harrowing plight of how four young Venezuelan girls were lured into a nightmare underbelly world of prostitution and exploitation by the owner of a local modelling agency.

Daniela, a Cuban national, said “When I finished work Carnival last year at a concert in the stadium, I went by a bar on the Avenue with a friend to wait until the traffic finished to drop me home.

“I saw four Venezuelan girls there, one was arguing with a Trinidadian man, the youngest girl, 19, was crying.

“I asked what happened, she explained that they came to Trinidad to do promotions for alcoholic drinks.

“The man her friend was arguing with was the owner of the modelling agency that hired them and he wanted the girls to go to bed with men for money and he kept all the money for himself.”

She said the girls first heard about the modelling agency via word of mouth—another Venezuelan girl previously worked for the agency owner and all she did was her legitimate promotion job.

Daniela said now because of the economic situation, poverty and turmoil in Venezuela, many unethical people wanted to prey and exploit the Venezuelan women and men also.

She said the modelling agency owner sent a letter to them and bought their airline tickets for them to come to Trinidad to work.

When they arrived at Piarco Airport, the man picked up the girls and carried them to his home in Belmont.

Daniela said at first the girls started their jobs as beverage promoters, but then the man was bringing clients for them to have sex with.

She said when the girls objected to being used as sex slaves, the man said they had to work off the money they owed him for airfare, room and board and expenses by sexually servicing his clients.

Daniela said the girls’ plane tickets cost $1,700 (TT) and he charged them US $1,500 each.

She said she exchanged phone numbers with the girls to assist them, and one night they escaped from the house. One of them injured her leg on one of the spikes on the wall climbing over.

Daniela said the man was well connected and he managed to intercept two of the girls who were making their way to the airport. With the help of a friend, she managed to meet the other two girls and brought them to her home in Arima.

They spent two days in the same clothes as they left everything they had behind in the man’s house and she provided them with clothes.

Daniela could not say if the man was a hardcore human trafficker or pimp, or just saw an opportunity to make money off the girls with sleazy clients.

She said the man kept calling them asking to negotiate for their clothes and he wanted to know their location.

Daniela said accompanied by a friend, she went with the girls to pick up their belongings at a neutral location in Westmoorings, but the man not only brought their suitcases, he also brought a client he wanted the youngest girl to go with but she refused. Daniela said the man was well connected, didn’t want trouble and thought the issue would die down, not suspecting that the girls would go to the police.

After one week, Daniela carried the girls to the police station in Port-of-Spain, where they made a report against the modelling agency owner.

The man was charged under the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2011 and was sent to jail in June last year. She said he managed to secure bail and was out.

Daniela said all four girls were safely back in Venezuela. The case, she said, will not collapse because the Government can bring them back to testify.

She said what was unsettling, however, was that she saw the man with three new Venezuelan girls in the lobby of a hotel in the city soliciting high roller clients in December.

The clients take the young girls to rooms in the hotel.

When the Sunday Guardian called one of the managers about the activities at the hotel and how they intended to treat with it, she said they were unaware of that.

Over the years, nationals of Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana and the Dominican Republic have been trafficked specifically for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and labour exploitation.

The women, a report in 2015 stated, were brought into the country by a recruiter who sold them to a local trafficker for $1,500.

Wheeler: Increase in minors being smuggled into Trinidad

Alana Wheeler, director of the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) at the Ministry of National Security said there has been an increase in the identification of minors (Venezuelan nationals) being smuggled into Trinidad from Venezuela.

She said in 2017, the CTU identified an increasing number of Venezuelan nationals as victims of trafficking who had been smuggled into Trinidad via unofficial ports of entry and who did not have identity nor travel documents.

Wheeler said these victims were referred to the unit by the police and Immigration.

She said when foreign nationals were picked up on raids and police road blocks, it was important to screen them for human trafficking (HT) indicators and refer them to the CTU once the HT indicators were present.

She said for 2017, the CTU investigated 38 cases of human trafficking. Out of the 38 cases, the unit verified/confirmed 14 victims of trafficking, 12 of whom were Venezuelan nationals including two children.

Wheeler said these cases were for sexual exploitation and labour exploitation and out of the 14, four of them were smuggled into T&T.

She said the CTU also received more reports from the Immigration Department and the Police Divisions of male, female and child of Venezuelan nationality being smuggled into T&T.

Wheeler said these people were often held at police road blocks and on police and immigration raids.

She said she had no evidence to corroborate the 40,000 number of Venezulans quoted by the UN in Trinidad, neither was she aware of the source of the UN data.

Wheelar said the Sunday Guardian story was an excellent example of how vulnerable and desperate men, women and children were recruited, deceived, coerced and then forced or exploited.

She said the CTU had seen a few cases such as this with Venezuelan women, unfortunately because the women were often invited to T&T by their friends and acquaintances, they were afraid to seek help once they arrived and ended up in these situations.

Wheeler said the unit had assisted several women and girls in this situation and the ministry wished that many more would come forward and seek help to get out of these exploitative circumstances.

She said coercion took many forms and was not limited to physical force.

Wheeler said coercion also included psychological by way of threatening to report them to immigration or police, abuse of their immigration status, allowing them to overstay their time so they would be afraid to report to the authorities, traffickers made false promises to victims such as promising to regularise their illegal status in the country and promising to get a work permit for them.

She said the CTU continued to do what it can with its very limited resources to reach out to and help the vulnerable migrants and people who fall prey to human trafficking.

She said the media played a very important role in identifying and referring victims to the authorities and in getting the message out there to warn and help victims.

Court process slow

Wheeler said to date no one has been convicted for human trafficking in T&T, but four people were committed to stand trial, including a police officer.

She said legislation had only been around for five years and matters take a long time to go through the Magistrates’ Court and then the High Court.

The CTU was established in 2013 after proclamation of the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2011.

In a 2015 interview, Wheeler had said delays in the court process was frustrating some victims. Wheeler said lengthy adjournments frustrated the victims, who might not want to return to testify because of the ordeal they had faced.

In 2014, the CTU held discussions with the Judiciary to expedite court matters and “a proposal was made to possibly have a separate court that treats with human trafficking cases because of the nature of the cases and also it involves foreign witnesses who are required to travel from their home country to Trinidad to attend court”.

January was Human Trafficking Awareness Month. After a screening of the movie SOLD at Movietowne in Port-of-Spain, on January 29, a panel discussion on human trafficking was held after with panellists Terry Ann Roy, attorney Khadija Sinanan, Paul Nahous, Dr Angelique Nixon and attorney Jonathan Bhagan.

•To contact the Counter Trafficking Unit call: 800-4288 (800-4CTU)

NAKHID: INCREASING NUMBER OF VENEZUELANS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

Rochelle Nakhid, programme coordinator of the Living Water Community’s Ministry For Refugees and Asylum Seekers said there was definitely both an increasing number of Venezuelans seeking international protection and those found to be in need of protection such as asylum seekers and refugees.

She said she could not give actual figures but we have had a nine fold increase from January to the end of December 2017.

“Yes we have found that they remain vulnerable to exploitation and even sexual and gender-based violence. We have had to bolster our capacity to treat with the situation and are working closely with the ministry on the issue,” she said.

MORE INFO

•Anyone found guilty of trafficking in adults is liable to a fine of $500,000 and 15 years imprisonment.
•Anyone trafficking in children under the age of 18 is liable to a fine of $1,000,000 and 20 years imprisonment

The organisers of this year’s Socadrome are opening up the Jean Pierre Complex stage to all mas bands and individuals in the hope of creating a better experience for patrons who choose on Carnival Tuesday.

In throwing out the invitation to bands and masqueraders, Socadrome’s Danielle Jones-Hunte said they now believe it is better to give patrons a full showcase of what Carnival has to offer.

“The Socadrome is pleased to welcome all positive aspects of Carnival to join the display of traditional and modern costumes at the Socadrome as part of our show. We openly welcome other bands to participate by asking them to contact us in advance so we can schedule them in to avoid delays or congestion,” Jones-Hunte told the T&T Guardian.

Socadrome, now in its fifth year, was initially started by a coalition of big bands, including Tribe and its sister bands Bliss and The Lost Tribe, Yuma and Harts, in 2014, as an alternative to masqueraders having to cross the Queen’s Park Savannah stage and other main judging points due to the congestion associated with this process. It was believed the initiative help to relieve that congestion and Jones-Hunte said they believe they have achieved their goal as well.

“The Socadrome continues to be a success in us managing congestion on the traditional parade route to allow the free flow of mas for party and competing bands, Tribe and Yuma, who joined together in 2014 to bring the Socadrome to life,” she said.

However, up to last year, only a limited number of bands had opted to use the venue as an option.

But Jones-Hunte said in order to give spectators a “full showcase of the best of T&T Carnival, they agreed to open up the venue to all interested, including individual large costumes (Carnival Kings and Queens) interested in displaying their magnificent costumes.

Jones-Hunte admitted, however, that they were still in the process of finalising all the entertainment and artistes for the show.

At the moment, soca artiste Shal Marshall will share the stage with veteran David Rudder, Sugar Aloes, Black Sage and Lingo, alongside ole traditional mas characters such as the Midnight Robber, Blue Devils, Jab Jab and the Baby Dolls. This year’s theme is Love Carnival...The Place For Every Face.

The gates will be open from 7 am and it’s free entry. Patrons will be also allowed to walk with their coolers.

A 22-year-old bank employee has been charged with syphoning monies from customers’ accounts totalling just over $.3 million.

Police said during the period September 2017 to January 2018, a total of $315,700 was discovered missing from the accounts of several Republic Bank customers without their consent and knowledge.

Republic Bank made a report to the Fraud Squad and a criminal investigation was conducted.

Last Wednesday, the employee, Stephanie Elie, of Malabar, a teller employed with Republic Bank inValsayn, was arrested and charged on 14 counts of larceny by woman Cpl Joseph-Francis.

On Friday, Elie appeared before Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan and bail was set at $.25 million. She is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today.

Also on Thursday, Daniel Medica, 30, of Peitit Valley, a driver employed with L Armstrong Funeral Service, allegedly went to the Police Training College and produced a fake certificate during the recruitment and selection process of the TT Police Service (TTPS). He was subsequently detained for questioning.

An investigation was conducted and he was later charged by Cpl Camacho of the Fraud Squad for attempting to gain entry into the TTPS by using a false CSEC certificate.

Medica was also taken before JP Khan and bail was set at $100,000. He will also appear before Port-of-Spain magistrate later today.

Both investigations were led by head of the Fraud Squad Snr Supt Totaram Dookhie, assisted by Insp Ramdani Dipchan, Insp Mathura, Insp Griffith and Cpl Mc-Queen.

It wasn’t difficult to find the home of Ajay Aberdeen yesterday.

It wasn’t due to his overnight social media fame, however. He’s well known in lower Santa Cruz, where he sells his hot peppers. He is known for his trade and his kind spirit.

When Guardian Media met him yesterday he looked much smaller than the average 15-year-old. But it’s when he spoke we understood that within his 5’5 frame was the perspective of a responsible young adult.

Aberdeen said he didn’t expect that his video, which was shared on social media by the man who spoke to him and recorded their conversation recently, would be an inspiration to others. He said he was just highlighting and doing what he knew, which was hard work and ambition. And while others his age may have a disdain for manual labour, he said he has contempt for laziness.

He’s been in the hot pepper business since he was 11, he told Guardian Media. His uncle Wendell Aberdeen takes him to his garden in the mountainside. He sells the produce on Saturdays outside Uncle Beddoe’s Supermarket along the Saddle Road in Santa Cruz. From Monday to Friday, Aberdeen has a full class load at the San Juan North Secondary School. It’s a lot on his plate, but Aberdeen does not see the sun, sweat and soil of garden life, but rather its fruits.

Aberdeen also has some kill in football. In the video, which has been shared over 15,000 times, he had noted he has a fondness for auto mechanics and hopes to own his own garage one day. Yesterday, however, he said his real dream is to be a soldier. He says if he accomplishes this he will prove many people wrong.

But Aberdeen admitted that he too was almost lured into the world of criminality and unsavoury behaviour when he was younger. However, he said life is about choices.

“You don’t have to thief or sell any drugs, if you aren’t planting you can wash a car, positive vibes, honest money, blood money doesn’t last long, play whe, stealing, drugs…it doesn’t last long.”

At a time when school violence, indiscipline and criminal behaviour are always are problems plaguing the society, Aberdeen’s ambition and optimism has brought a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

AKASH SAMAROO

St Francois Girls’ College successfully defended their Secondary Schools’ title at the National Schools’ Panorama finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

The Belmont-based school, playing Crazy’s Pan Break, amassed 283 points to beat Naparima Girls High/Naparima College and St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) into second and third respectively and earn their sixth overall title.

Speaking afterwards, captain Krisana Mitchell said she was happy with the win since this was her last time playing and last year at the school.

“This will be our sixth win. It is my only time being captain. I have been with the band since 2012 when I started at the school,” the Upper Six Form student said, noting she is heading abroad to study when she graduates later this year.

Mitchell was all smiles as she held the trophy high for her band-mates who were waiting for her to leave the stage after the presentation.

“I am very glad, I had to come home with a victory before I left,” she said.

Naturally, not all the schools were happy with yesterday’s results, with some players being openly heard saying: “They always giving it to St Francois.”

St Margaret’s Boys Anglican School also defended their Primary School title for an 11th lien on the trophy overall.

Speaking afterwards, band manager Kurt Abraham, who noted they had run off eight titles in a row between 2006 and 2013, credited the success to the school’s steelpan programme, which was established by his wife Rosemarie in September 2002.

“We were in 15 Panorama finals and did not take part in 2005 in the primary school division and that year we entered the secondary school competition and won, which was open at the time,” he said, noting the competition was subsequently revised to allow only secondary school to compete in the category.

The school played Peter Ram’s Good Morning to beat out 11 other schools with 278 points. Tacarigua Presbyterian, playing Ultimate Rejects’ 2017 Road March We Jamming Still, were a close second with 272 points while Guaico Presbyterian and St Mary’s’s Government, who played Lord Kitchener’s Toco Band and Chris “Tambu” Herbert’s Free Up, were one point behind them in third.

“We are totally excited and we are glad to show and come out and give the other bands a challenge. Our programme starts at infants and the teachers are involved and past students who do the arranging. Everything is in-house, the programme is a success,” Abraham said.

The students wowed the crowed yesterday by playing several types of choreography and using entertainers such as Crazy, Ultimate Rejects and Nailah Blackman as their stage support. Many of the schools also had their own cheering sections.

A proud Minister of Education Anthony Garcia said afterwards that they plan to develop a steelpan curriculum for the nation’s schools.

“I feel elated because pan is ours and part of our culture. It is the only musical instrument that was invented in the 20th century. The Ministry of Education and the Government are committed to the development of the steelpan,” he said.

He said pan tuning and other aspects of the steelpan were being taught the students.

“As part of the curriculum in secondary schools we have a pan tuning exercise and our students in schools are being taught to tune pan and introduced the manufacturing aspect to it. As soon as the curriculum is developed we will move forward in secondary schools,” he said.

Results

Primary Schools

1. St Margaret’s Boys Anglican (278 pts) Good Morning

2. Tacarigua Presbyterian (272) We Jamming Still

3. Guaico Presbyterian (271 ) Toco Band;

St Mary’s Government (271) Free up

5. St Paul’s Boys Anglican (270) Poom Poom

6. Point Fortin Anglican Primary (268) Full of Vibes

7. Malabar RC (263.5) Hulk

8. Bien Venue Presbyterian (262) Dis Feeling Nice

9. Fifth Company Baptist (258) Buss Head

10. Rosary Boys RC (254) Far from Finished

11. Couva Anglican (247) Good Morning

12. Carenage Boys’ Government (244) We Jamming Still

Secondary Schools

1. St Francois Girls College (283) Pan Break

2. Naparima Girls High & Naparima College (268.5) Fallin

3. St Joseph’s Convent, St Joseph (264) Free Up

4. Providence Girls’ & Queen’s Royal College (262) Far from Finished

5. South East Port-of-Spain Secondary (260) Buss Head

6. Trinity College Moka (255) Year for Love

7. East Mucurapo Secondary (246) Free Up

8. Bishop Anstey High/Trinity College East (244) King & Queens

9. Goodwood Secondary Tobago (234) This Melody Sweet

A newcomer, four former calypso monarchs and five women will be among 15 artistes who will attempt to dethrone reigning Calypso Monarch and nine-time title holder Hollis “Chalkdust”

Liverpool at the Dimanche Gras show at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday.

Making his debut in the calypso arena, Aaron St Louis, the reigning Soca Monarch, won the judges’ nod with his popular hit Year for Love.

Former calypso monarchs Kurt Allen, Michael “Sugar Aloes” Osouna, Karene Asche and Sandra “Singing Sandra” Des Vignes-Millington, are also among the artistes who qualified for the finals following Saturday’s Calypso Fiesta at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

The other finalists are Alana “Lady Watchman” Sinnette-Khan, Carlos “Skatie” James, Dexter “The Stinger” Parsons, Helon Francis, Joanne “Tigress” Rowley, Michael “Protector” Legerton, Myron “Myron B” Bruce, Rondell Donawa, Selvon “Mistah Shak” and Stacey Sobers.

Another former monarch Roderick “Chuck Gordon” Gordon, was named as a reserve, which means he would be allowed to take the position of any finalist who fails to perform on Sunday.

With music provided by Errol Ince and the Music Makers Orchestra, some 40 semi-finalists took the Skinner Park stage during the Calypso Fiesta on Saturday.

With each trying to get the edge over the other, artistes walked with their dancers, props and back-up singers to enhance their performances. Some of them even entertained the crowd with opening skits to make their presentations more dramatic. A few of the contestants used their songs to express their concerns with the problems plaguing society, including crime, recession, child abuse, corruption and other issues. Other artistes, like Maria Bhola, who sang about Vicky Boodram’s escape from prison, delivered humorous presentations which left the crowd in stitches. Although he did not qualify for the finals, four time former calypso monarch Weston “Cro Cro” Rawlins was definitely one of the crowd’s favourites with his song Belated, which criticised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his ministers for turning their backs on him.

The contestants, however, were awarded points by the eight adjudicators based on melody (30 points), lyrics (30 points), rendition (20 points), presentation (10 points) and originality (10 points).

Patrons were also entertained by guest performers, including artistes Naila Blackman, Patrice Roberts, Timothy “Baron” Watkins, Robert “Lord Nelson” Nelson and Johnny King.

Finalists

• Aaron St Louis - Year for Love

• Kurt Allen - Circle Square Science

• Michael “Sugar Aloes” Osouna - Finally

• Karene Asche - Song of Inspiration

• Sandra “Singing Sandra” Des Vignes-Millington - Power in Song

• Alana “Lady Watchman” Sinnette-Khan - Dead Beat

• Carlos “Skatie” James - Ah Cut Back

• Dexter “The Stinger” Parsons - Chinese Tuition

• Helon Francis - Change

• Joanne “Tigress” Rowley - Rowley to Rowley

• Michael “Protector” Legerton - We Could do Better than That

• Myron “Myron B” Bruce - The Great Nation

• Rondell Donawa - De Problem

• Selvon “Mistah Shak - Rebellion

• Stacey Sobers - Calypso Capital

Former Public Service head Reginald Dumas is adding his voice to those questioning whether the Police Service Commission was properly constituted in the first instance when it went through the process which led to the recommendation of DCP Deodat Dulalchan for the police commissioner’s post.

Speaking on the issue yesterday, even as the Prime Minister has set up a to investigate the matter, Dumas said the queries over there was in fact a quorum when the decision was taken were valid and if indeed the commission was not legally constituted, then the entire process must be quashed.

“I don’t know if there was a quorum. According to the Constitution a service commission...whether it is police or public or teaching...has a membership of five people.

“A quorum, again according to the Constitution, of those five people is three people. The Police Service Commission has not had five members to since February last year... for an entire year. Therefore that the question arises was for the last year was the Commission properly constituted,” Dumas said.

He said this was a legal question which attorneys will have to battle out.

“However, if the commission was not properly constituted, then it would appear that the decisions, recommendations made by that improperly constituted commission, would be null and void, including the recommendations of Dulalchan and Phillip.

“That is a legal question and that is where one has to start on this particular matter. When that is answered we will see what happens,” Dumas said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Harold Phillip was also selected to fill the vacancy of top cop during the process.

However, Dumas again for the current selection process to be scraped, saying it has resulted in “no end of the trouble” while the country still does not have a police commissioner.

“All we have is extensions for Stephen Williams. I can’t imagine how poor Williams feels having been extended so many times and I gather he’s coming up to retirement, so he might as well retire without having the privilege of having becoming commissioner,” Dumas said.

He said the system was cumbersome and must be changed. But what it must be changed to was another issue.

“We know what it was changed from...whether we go back to that system or whether we have a new system altogether I don’t know. That is something I would want the population to have a view on as to how this can be done. But what is certain is that the current system is converted and has only brought confusion,” Dumas said

Last Friday, Prime Minister Rowley agreed that a Special Select Committee be established to review the appointments.

Speaking in Parliament, Rowley said the decision was taken as a result of ‘disquiet’ and questions raised by the public over the nomination Dulalchan amid allegations of land grabbing. Dulalchan was said to have been named in connection with incidents requiring disciplinary action under the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) in recent weeks. The committee is expected to deliver a report by March 31.

On whether any good would come out of the committee probe, Dumas said, “We will have to see. One question that may arise is does Parliament or any Parliamentary committee have the constitutional authority to demand or request from an independent commission like the Police Service Commission information of its procedures...I don’t know.

“That again is a legal matter. If the Police Service Commission is an independent commission, can anybody Parliament or anyone else say, ‘I want to know how you conduct your work.’

“Can they be summoned? Can they subpoenaed. I don’t know. These are legal issues which must be discussed and decided upon other wise we can have even more confusion.”

Also contacted yesterday, former PSC head Christopher Thomas agreed the process was “mishandled” and called for a review.

On how the country could move forward in the selection of a police commissioner, Thomas said, “We are in a very difficult situation and I understand we have to combat crime and improve the situation. How we do that will depend on the kind of commissioner we get and the process through which we get one.”

He said the Special Select Committee was a start in the right direction to determine what went wrong and how to chart a way forward.

Two supermarket cashiers were robbed at gunpoint at the crime-stricken Housing Development Corporation Village Plaza in Pleasantville on Saturday afternoon.

According to a report, around 4.50 pm Edwina Loubon, 36, and Nicole Reifer, 43, were at the Pleasantville Supermarket when they were approached by a man who pointed a gun at them and announced a hold up. He robbed them of a total of $11,075 before running away.

Last May, Pleasantville councillor Robert Paris was among several customers robbed at gunpoint at the same supermarket. Three months later, vendor Naylan Farrel was selling bread along Pleasantville Avenue, opposite the plaza, when two gunmen robbed him of $200 and then shot him in the knees. An employee was also murdered at the plaza. In March, Christopher Wells was sitting outside his workplace, Top Notch Barber and Beauty Salon, when he was shot in the head.

Complaining about frequent crimes at the plaza, residents and tenants have continuously called for increased security and police patrols.

In an unrelated incident, a motorcyclist was killed after he lost control and slammed into a light pole at Sixth Company, New Grant, yesterday.

Kurt Ramjohn, 35, of Indian Walk, Moruga Road, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Princes Town Health Facility. According to reports, around midday Ramjohn was riding his motorcycle along the Moruga Road when he lost control and ran into the pole. He was taken, via ambulance, to the health facility. Princes Town police are investigating.

Yesterday, the Sunday Guardian exposed the reality facing many immigrants in this country.

Citizens fleeing hardship in their home country are often shackled into modern day slavery. They are lured by the promise of a better life. The ambiguity of this new life arrangement seems more appealing than the current conditions they are now facing.

While the NGO movement and governments attempt to find a workable solution to combat the link between sex work and trafficking, many NGOs in the United States are asking the Government there to consider a controversial solution in its drive to combat modern slavery.

Some NGOs are asking the law makers to consider decriminalising prostitution.

Earlier this week, while addressing a group of international journalists on the issue at the Foreign Press Centre in Washington, DC, Jean Bruggeman, of the Freedom Network USA, stated: “We believe that ending sex trafficking starts with decriminalising sex work. People engaged in sex work must feel safe to come forward to report attacks of rape, exploitation and abuse. Sex workers must feel safe.”

The Freedom Network is largest alliance of experienced advocates in the US and prides itself with advancing a human rights based approach to human trafficking.

Last year a message to his citizens, US President Donald Trump recommitted the government’s efforts to eradicating the evil of modern day enslavement.

But even with this commitment is seems law makers, the US Supreme Court, law enforcement and NGOs in Washington differ on who is to be identified as victim and who will be labelled a perpetrator in the billion dollar human trafficking industry.

Bruggeman believes the law places the victim and perpetrator in the same category. She noted the emotive responses that have emerged since the debate reopened, but stated “there is a difference between decriminalising and legalising.”

One essentially removes the penalties while the other involves massive structural change and even cultural change. She is advocating the former.

“We feel when workers continue to be arrested for engaging in sex work it puts them in all forms of harm and will and perpetuate sex trafficking and other forms of exploitation. In the end it’s the pimps to post bail and these women are once again beholden to their captors.”

The human rights activist is of the belief that by “empowering these women to control the working arrangements, you take the power away from the pimps and brothel owners.”

She lamented that “too often, reports of abuse of sex workers are discarded and they are labelled as occupational risks of prostitutes.”

But not everyone is supportive of this NGO’s cry. In fact, according to Bruggeman there is “immense and great resistance” to the proposal.

“Most of our law makers are men and I don’t think they have a diversity of experience to understand the problem,” she said.

While that may be her assessment of the resistance, there is a strong opposing view on proposals to decriminalise and legalising sex workers in the United Stated.

Steven Wagner, who has served in the US Department of Family Services for over 20 years, believes prostitution has it genesis grounded in slavery and abuse.

He stated: “In my line of work I have noted that many of these women were abused as children and that is how and why they ended up in the trade. They may be 18 now but the decision to enter the industry was made before that and most times not by them.”

He boldly stated that “no one will choose sex as a means of survival.”

• Hema Ramkisssoon was part of a team of international journalists participating in a reporting tour on Human Trafficking in the United States. The tour was organised by the Foreign Press Center and the US Department of State.

A fire officer who was reportedly shot by police on Saturday night is now expected to be questioned regarding gun and ammunition possession.

The Chaguanas man was initially said to be given a 50-50 chance of survival following surgery, but police said he was conscious at hospital yesterday.

It was reported that officers, acting on information, went to the fireman’s home on Saturday to search for guns and ammunition.

Police said when they got their they allegedly met the fireman smoking marijuana. A confrontation broke out between the officer’s and the fireman and during the fracas it is alleged one of the officer’s gun went off. The fireman was hit in the stomach and was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he underwent emergency surgery. Police said the bullet caused some damage to his bowels but doctors were able to repair it.

The fireman was said to have been home with a female relative at the time of the search.

Investigations are continuing.

Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah is calling on acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams to immediately suspend a police sergeant who is being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) over assault allegations stemming from a protest at Sixth Company, New Grant, last month. Residents were allegedly hosed down by an officer during the protest.

Abdulah made the call during a press conference yesterday, saying it was highly unethical that the officer was still on duty while the PCA was conducting its probe.

Complaining that the residents are being harassed and threatened by the police, Abdulah said at least two of six people who were injured during the spraying incident have since been arrested and charged. They are currently at Remand Yard prison as their relatives have been unable to secure their bail.

A video showing the officer using a hose from a fire tender to spray protesting residents, who had blocked the road on January 10 to protest bad roads, has been circulating on social media sites.

Yesterday, Abdulah, along with Oilfield Workers Trade Union president general Ancel Roget and vice president Ricky Benny, met with residents at Sixth Company to give them feedback on what has transpired since their last meeting on January 13.

Abdulah said on January 18 he wrote PCA director David West requesting an investigation into the incident. He said letters were also hand delivered to the office of the Police Commissioner, Director of Public Prosecutions, Minister of National Security and Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).

“We expect all of them will be making their own investigations,” he said.

Abdulah said a PCA investigator has since interviewed several residents. He said the video footage and copies of the medical cards of residents who sought medical attention have also been handed over to the PCA.

One of the residents, Joycelyn Neptune, 60, who was sprayed in her eyes, underwent laser surgery on her right eye and is expected to undergo the same procedure on her other eye later this month. Neptune complained her sight has been seriously affected.

Abdulah said, “We cannot have a situation where investigations are taking place and the police officer who is being investigated is still on the job and is hiding behind the uniform and his power to harass and intimidate residents who have made a complaint against him. That is absolutely unacceptable.”

He also called on the PSB to take immediate action against the officer.

With regards to the infrastructural problems, Abdulah said he also spoke with Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, but he indicated that they fell within the purview of Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan. He said he was told temporary work was done at one of the landslips until additional resources become available.

However, the residents said they were tired of “the mamaguy” and are prepared to continue protesting until their roads, drains and bridges are properly repaired.

Roget said the entire case was one of residents being disrespected by their MP and Sinanan and he will support residents if they resume protest action.

A 22-year-old Republic Bank Ltd (RBL) employee has appeared in court charged with defrauding her employer of a little over $300,000.

Stephanie Elie, of Hugh Payne Terrace, Arima, appeared before Magistrate Kerri Honare-Narine yesterday accused of 14 fraud charges.

Elie, who was last assigned to the bank’s branch at Valpark Shopping Plaza, in Valsayn, is accused of stealing the money in a series of transactions between November, last year, and last month.

She was slapped with an individual charge for each transaction, which ranged from $3,000 to $70,000. In total, Elie is accused of stealing $315,700 from the bank.

Elie was not called upon to enter pleas for the charges as they were laid indictably.

The Fraud Squad began investigating Elie after the bank allegedly discovered that quantities of money were withdrawn from the accounts of several customers, without their knowledge and consent.

During yesterday’s hearing, Elie’s case was transferred to the Tunapuna Magistrate’s Court. Elie was represented by Shivani Ramkissoon and will reappear in court on February 27.

The search for missing diver Chevonne Bartholemew has stretched to Venezuela.

Coast Guard officials said yesterday that they had examined the drift pattern heading north of Venezuela and had contacted the Venezuelan authorities about the disappearance of Bartholemew who went missing on January 29.

His wife, Pete-Ann Bartholemew, remains confident that he will be found alive.

Venezuela’s Guardia Nacional have been searching for Bartholemew.

In an interview yesterday, Pete-Ann said she was happy that the search was ongoing. Bartholemew’s disappearance has united the diving fraternity who are now calling for a ban on commercial scuba diving.

Bartholemew, 37, of Flamboyant Crescent Valencia, disappeared at sea on January 30, while inspecting the C Spirit oil tanker, anchored off Gasparee Island, Chaguaramas.

The tanker is almost 1,000 feet long, 230 feet wide and 70 feet in depth.

Bartholemew was hired by Trindivers Underwater Services and went into the water with another scuba diver Lee Bedeau when he disappeared.

Since the incident officials form the Diving Association have questioned whether proper safety protocols were followed. They said usually scuba method is not used for commercial air diving as it was risky. (RDS)

Tobago hoteliers are keeping their fingers crossed that the T&T Spirit will return to service on the seabridge soon.

The vessel has been out of service since June last year when it went on dry dock, leaving its sister ship the T&T Express operating solo on the route. Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said he expects the vessel would be “out from dry dock soon.”

Tobago’s business community has suffered immensely in the past year following the departure of the Superfast Galicia shortly after Easter last year. Since then problems on the seabridge have resulted in severe hardship on the people of Tobago and the island’s tourism sector.

President of the Hotel and Tourism Association Chris James told the T&T Guardian that because of the situation on the seabridge and the resultant problems on the airbridge there is a lack of confidence about transportation and several Trinidadians have cancelled bookings to Tobago for the Carnival weekend.

James said hoteliers lost considerable bookings last summer, over the Christmas period and now another Carnival is here with no resolution. He is hoping there is some resolution by Easter.

“We cannot afford to lose Easter, we have to rebuild confidence on the sea and airbridge,” he said.

In addition, he said, international arrivals have declined considerably. In 2017, he said, there were less than 19,000 international arrivals, compared to years ago when the figure was over 80,000.

“We have not been doing destination marketing, so that market is lost,” according to James.

The disaster on the seabridge, he said, had created problems on the airbridge which has been “unable to cope with the demand.” To compound this, he said, the introduction of the “$50 penalty also added to the problems.”

He is holding out some hope that the Spirit which has been on dry dock for the past eight months will be back on the seabridge soon.

“It is going on sea trials in February, if it is successful it will be back out,” he said.

A meeting of Parliament’s Joint Select Committee investigating the procurement and maintenance of the ferries heard in September last year that close to US$8 million was being spent to repair the vessel and of that US$2.5 million will be recovered via insurance.

The vessel required spare parts for the engine which took close to three months to receive, and that led to a delay in the engine hull works which became necessary after a crankshaft failed.

This past week the Cabo Star has had to pick up the slack after the T&T Express experienced mechanical problems.

A 27-year-old man has been remanded into custody after appearing in court for a brazen midday shooting in Port-of-Spain, which claimed the life of a teenager and left his friend nursing serious injuries.

Josimar Chase, of Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle charged with murdering 19-year-old Guyanese national Luke Adams and shooting Adams’ friend with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on January 18.

Chase was also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Chase was represented by Richard Clarke-Wills and will reappear in court on April 1.

“No, I am not a lesbian.”

That was the firm response of president-elect Paula-Mae Weekes yesterday as she sought to put to rest questions, raised on social media, about her sexual orientation in light of the fact that she has never been married or had any children.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian in an one-on-one interview, Weekes said she was “fascinated” that some people would be more interested in her sexual orientation than her character and ability to do the job as this country’s next head of State.

“Somebody drew to my attention a photograph that was a composite of me and another person and saying that I was a homosexual and I wondered ‘well how did they arrive there, based on what?’ But you know you can’t really spend any of your valuable time looking at those things,” Weekes said.

“To me, what is important will float to the surface, people will see it for what it is, and what is unimportant will fall by the wayside.”

Weekes believes that at the end of the day people will realise what really matters is whether or not she can get the job done effectively.

However, Weekes, who has a Facebook account, admitted the social media site is a “savage world.” It was there questions about her sexual orientation were raised.

As a result of this, the T&T Guardian asked Weekes whether or not she is a lesbian.

“No I’m not, but you know what fascinated me is why were they going there at all? Why did they think it necessary to either find that out, or make up their own story,” Weekes said.

“I was just fascinated as to why that was of interest. It didn’t offend me, you ask me a question and I would give you an answer, but I just couldn’t understand why of all the things you would want to know about the person who is likely to be your next President is that, I should think there are far more important things that you would need to know.”

But Weekes admitted that sometimes people “major in the superficial.”

“We major in the superficial, I don’t think it is peculiarly Trinidadian but I think we have to face it. I think questions of character were far more important,” she said.

Weekes is also of the view that all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago should face equal treatment no matter, their sexual orientation, gender or race.

“I think in terms of the State and the law all citizens and all persons under the protection of our jurisdiction should have equal treatment whatever their gender, whatever their sexual orientation, whatever their race we need to have absolute equality across the board in terms of State obligations and constitutional rights,” she said.

When Weekes is inaugurated as this country’s sixth president one of the people who will me missing is her brother Robert. Robert, who was her only sibling, passed away in 2000 at the age of 37. He died as a result of kidney failure caused by HIV.

“He first manifested symptoms in 1998 and then he had an easy period and then in 2000 things took a turn for the worse,” Weekes said.

“I was not particularly impressed with our experience in the public health sector. I really have not been following sufficiently to know if things have changed, I hope they have, I hope there is a lot more education, there is a lot more awareness among the professionals there, as well as among the population, but I must say I have not been following closely those developments over the years.”

Robert’s death caused Weekes to eventually complete not one but four international marathons.

“Oddly enough, it was the Christmas after my brother died. I was just sitting down watching the TV one day feeling down and blue and I saw an advertisement, there were two people talking, a husband and wife, about having entered the marathon and I thought ‘yeah I could do that’ so I talked to a few people and the first reaction was ‘you mad or what’ and then eventually I got about 12 people and we started training, we got a schedule online and that was it,” Weekes said.

“We did three years straight then we took a year off and then we did the fourth one.”

Weekes said a marathon is also a good metaphor for life.

“I’ve seen written after I started running that it is a metaphor for life and it really is. When you feel ‘oh my God I can’t go another step’ you tell yourself, ‘all right just make it to that lamppost and we will see where you go after that’ and that is what it was,” Weekes said.

Unfortunately, Weekes says a bad back and bad knees will not allow her to do a fifth one.

The tenacity of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The wisdom of former prime minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill.

The people’s touch of former president of the United States Barack Obama.

And the personality of the former minister of Dominica Eugenia Charles.

These are the ingredients that President-Elect Paula-Mae Weekes are hoping to use when she assumes her role as this country’s sixth head of State next month.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian in an one-on-one interview yesterday, Weekes said she wants to be remembered for being a servant of Trinidad and Tobago.

The T&T Guardian asked Weekes if there are any world leaders she is inspired by as she assumes her new position.

“There are so many of them, you want to take a piece of this one here and a piece of that one there,” Weekes said.

“Well of course Angela Merkel for her tenacity. We could go a lot further back, Winston Churchill, who was a very wise leader for his time. I would love to have the people’s touch of President Obama. I think coming closer to home and not because she is a woman, but Eugenia Charles, because she never lost contact with the people. Up until the end you could call her telephone and she would answer her telephone for herself, so I think if I can pull the best from those four I will be going very well indeed.”

One day the country may even been fortunate enough to see President Weekes ride into the Independence Day Parade on horse-back.

Weekes was learning to ride horses at the Police Barracks in St James before she fell and injured her shoulder, she revealed. However, since being elected president Weekes has dreamed of putting those talents to work and riding into the Independence Day parade.

You may have to wait until next year to see that happen though, if ever, she said.

Weekes said if she had to describe herself in one word it would be “deliberate.”

It was this mentality she also used when deciding whether or not to accept the offer to become this country’s next president.

Asked if someone were doing a biography on her what would she like the title to be, Weekes said “Enjoy life.”

It’s a philosophy she lives by.

“Try to make the most out of every day and have some fun in every day,” she said.

“I have had many, many happy experiences and I have absolutely nothing to be despairing about in my private life, of course we despair about what is happening around us in the country but then again never losing hope.”

Weekes said she was concerned by the country’s high crime rate, but she believes all is not lost.

“I’m hoping that whatever resources can be afforded would be put toward addressing the issue (of crime) but I think we need some more creative measures,” Weekes said.

“I think there are small things that can be done that perhaps we are not doing. I think we are a big picture people, we always look to the most grandiose plans, ignoring a lot of small but effective things that can be done in the interim.

“So there is nothing wrong with the grand plans, but we can’t await that and do nothing until we can put that in place because that might be a never.

“There are incremental things that I feel can be done so that I would hope that we use the resources we have, we use them wisely, we don’t waste time reinventing wheels and where we have to tweak things that others have done to make them fit our situation we do that but that we get on with it and stop just talking.”

Cabinet has ratified the purchase of the Galleon’s Passage for the sea bridge.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called his Cabinet team to a meeting yesterday afternoon to address the matter, but social media was awash with speculation that the ‘emergency’ Cabinet meeting was to discuss a shake-up in portfolios and a Cabinet reshuffle.

But the T&T Guardian was told that the meeting, which lasted for just over half an hour, was simply to ratify the purchase of the vessel. The Cabinet reportedly had to go through “the normal formalities with a purchase of this type.”

Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced in January that the Government had agreed to purchase a boat for the sea bridge at a cost of US$17.4 million.

The vessel, which is currently in China, will cost the country an additional US$800,000 to get to Trinidad, bringing the total cost up to US$18.2 million.

Cabinet sources told the T&T Guardian the discussion was on the urgency of getting the boat here in light of growing concerns from the Tobago business community that with the Carnival weekend upon them, there have been a number of cancellations from locals who would normally have spent the weekend on the island.

With the Cabinet having approved the funding for the boat, the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) will now proceed with the purchase of the vessel.

Cabinet sources also said the meeting was not “an emergency meeting, but a special meeting called only to ratify the purchase of the vessel.”

Imbert had previously said the Government will “take delivery of the new ferry in China on or around February 9, 2018! It will set sail for the Caribbean shortly thereafter.”

The vessel for the sea bridge is expected to be in Trinidad and Tobago waters by April.

Asked whether there was any discussion on the spiralling crime wave in the country, the T&T Guardian was told “no, the meeting was very brief and dealt only with the boat for Tobago.”

Is Property Tax looming for properties used for religious, educational and charitable purposes?

The areas—so far exempt from the tax—are spotlighted in new proposed Property Tax legislation laid last Friday.

New Property Tax proposals, plus new proposals concerning the Valuation of Land (VOL) act, were part of a supplemental package laid in Parliament.

The proposals concerning the VOL involve a revamped Valuation Return form, seeking expanded details about properties.

As Government sought to implement the Property Tax last year, media reports had noted the Property Tax Act exempted properties such as churches/places of worship, school compounds/playgrounds, property used for charitable/philanthropic work, land occupied by state enterprises, public hospital facilities and university/tertiary education facilities.

In May 2017, Finance Minister Colm Imbert was quoted as saying churches and schools were exempted from the tax, but Government had no plans to tinker with the law to include “wealthy churches,” since it simply wanted to implement the law then.

New Property Tax proposals circulated in Parliament last week, however, stated, “Clause 6 seeks to amend section 16 of the Property Tax Act, to remove from the list of places exempt from taxes a repletion that occurs in paragraph (c) which already appears in paragraphs (a) and (b) ‘lands attached to, or otherwise actually used in connection with and for the purposes of a place of learning maintained for educational, philanthropic or religious purposes, the whole profits from which are devoted or applied to such purposes’.”

Imbert and Minister in the Finance Ministry Allyson West didn’t respond to emails seeking clarification on Clause 6 and the prospects for property used by churches, schools and charitable work from the T&T Guardian yesterday.

Under other new Property Tax proposals, reference to “an incorporated charitable institution” will be deleted and replaced with “a charity exempted from Corporation Tax under the Corporation Tax Act.” Properties being exempted from the tax include lands belonging to/in occupation of a Statutory Authority or state enterprise.

The proposals list approximately 80 state entities—from Wasa and TTEC to municipal corporations—to be exempted from property tax.

Under proposals, objection to an assessment of the tax must be filed within 21 days after receipt of the notice of assessment, rather than after the tax becomes due and payable. Someone who has objected to their assessment and is dissatisfied with the decision is entitled to appeal to the Tax Appeal Board.

Proposals specify how valuation assessments will be done for town houses, condominiums and multi-owner commercial accommodations. Proposals regarding the Valuation of Lands (VOL) Act include a new Valuation Return form.

Last year, Government issued a form for property owners to submit. The Opposition challenged the format and the courts ruled it could be submitted voluntarily but wasn’t mandatory.

The proposed new form appears more structured than the last form.

Details being sought include which municipal corporation area a property is located in, whether it was bought in the last 24 months, the purchase price, whether any tenants’ rent include water/TTEC rates, cable/Internet, security/service charges. The proposed form also seeks details on commercial/industrial building rentals.

The VOL proposals also seek to increase the penalty for failure to file return forms from $500 to $5,000.

Another section involves how valuation would be conducted for town houses, condominiums and multiple-owner commercial units.

The proposals are expected to require a simple majority—Government—votes for passage rather than Opposition support. Debate is expected between this month and next month.

MORE INFO

The proposed Valuation of Land bill allows the Commissioner of Lands to notify the Finance Minister once the Commissioner is of the view that more than 50 per cent of all lands in Trinidad and Tobago have been valued and the Minister would then declare that the valuations are in effect.

The Commissioner will also be able to revalue land where he believes it is overvalued or under-valued.

Other aspects concern appeals, speedy attention to this plus establishment of a Valuation Tribunal to hear objection and how this functions.

President-elect Paul-Mae Weekes’ says the hardest thing to come to terms with as she looks ahead will be the “loss of personal invisibility.”

One thing the incoming president would like you to know though is that her name is Paula-Mae not Paula.

“Could you put for me my name is Paula-Mae, with a hyphen between Paula and Mae, it took me so long to get people to call me Paula-Mae,” Weekes said.

How did she get the name, the T&T Guardian asked.

Weekes chuckled.

“Well, as legend has it, my father gave me that name and supposedly it means ‘little pearl’, I am selling that as I bought it. I never checked it but that is what I was told and that is what I am telling you,” she said.

Among those to cheer the most when Weekes was elected president were her alma mater Bishop’s Anstey High School.

Weekes said she hoped to be an inspiration to other pupils of the school.

“In terms of Bishop’s I hope that I am able to inspire years of students, I hope that they will see a holistic picture of me painted over time that we could have fun, we could work hard, we could be direct without being offensive, and we can get the job done,” she said.

And that is what Weekes hopes to do as president; get the job done.