Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday shot down reports that Speaker of the House Brigid Annisette-George had been offered a post as this country’s sixth president.

Government sources, however, insisted Annisette-George had been offered the post. She left yesterday to attend a Commonwealth meeting in Mauritius, which begins today.

Annisette-George had presented then President-elect Paula-Mae Weekes with her instrument of appointment in January at a short ceremony at the Parliament building.

So was the speaker of the house ever offered the post of president?

Speaking to reporters at a reception hosted by outgoing president Anthony Carmona at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, in Port-of-Spain, Rowley responded: “I am not aware of that…and even if she was it would have been a private conversation.”

Asked why the House Speaker was absent from yesterday’s historic event, Rowley said, “I was not even aware she was absent.”

But Deputy House Speaker Esmond Forde said Annisette-George had to attend the global event as it was important for this county.

Anisette-George, who holds the fourth highest office in the country, was a notable absentee at yesterday’s function and subsequent reception at NAPA.

Rowley also took the opportunity to clarify a comment he made last week when he responded to a reporter’s question about Carmona’s tenure.

The PM said his comment that “we survived” was not meant to be disparaging as some people had interpreted it. He said Carmona remained a valued citizen and he wished the former president and his family well.

Asked about his strained relations with Carmona and how he intended to build his relationship with the new president, Rowley said Weekes represented the best of this country and it was an occasion of optimism and celebration.

On matters he would like the new President to address immediately, Rowley said everything that involves the governance of the country was priority. However, he said he was not going to be the President’s advisor.

DARREN BAHAW and
AKASH SAMAROO

Deputy Commissioner of Police Deodath Dulalchan is threatening to take legal action against Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat over a decision to terminate a land lease contract it had awarded to him and reclaim land at Felicity.

In a pre-action protocol letter yesterday, attorneys from Fortis Chamber notified Rambharat of Dulalchan’s intention to sue for breach of contract.

The letter noted that they had read recent media reports of Rambharat’s decision to terminate the deal. However, the attorneys argued that in their view, Dulalchan was the “beneficiary of a bona fide and legally effectual licence” to “enter upon the subject lands for the purpose of cultivating the same, pending Cabinet approval of a State Agricultural lease.” They added that the licence was also duly issued by the Commissioner of State Lands and rubbished the suggestion that their client was involved in any impropriety in the conduct of the deal.

The attorneys further argued that the ministry’s decision to call a probe into the issue and terminate the deal was also unlawful, null and void, since Dulalchan has not been given a chance to be heard.

The letter argued that the reports on the land matter and comments made by Rambahrat in relation to it have also had serious consequences for Dulalchan, as he is also a preferred candidate for the Commissioner of Police.

The attorneys made several requests of Rambharat, including that he must stop all activity related to the issue, provide them with the report compiled on the issue and provide a written retraction and apology to Dulalchan for comments he (Rambharat) made on the matter. They have given him until tomorrow to respond or they will proceed with legal action.

Three people, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Angela Siew, Commissioner of State Lands Paula Drakes and the Deputy Commissioner of State Lands Bhanmatie Seecharan, have been suspended pending an investigation into the land lease by the Public Service Commission. An investigator has also been appointed to probe the matter.

However, there has been no decision yet on whether the land will be returned to the four Felicity farmers who had been occupying the parcel of land previously.

Dulalchan registered as a farmer with Agriculture Ministry’s County Caroni Extension on October 2, 2017. This was days after he obtained approval to occupy the State Land.

Despite being warned that something eerie was afoot, it was 14-year-old’s fondness for the Chapman family that led her to their La Brea home on the night they were all brutally murdered.

Speaking at Mason’s funeral yesterday, Everton Charles, the father of Abigail Jones-Chapman, one of the other victims, said he initially took Michaela away from his daughter’s home because he knew something was about to happen.

Speaking of the murders last week, Charles said: “The last time I spoke with her when I went into the home, I said to her ‘Michaela, you need to go home because things are happening here. I would not want you to be around.’ And something happened and I dropped her right home there. I said ‘Michaela, I don’t mind you coming back, but I’m afraid’ because I knew what was happening and it so happened that on the day of the sports meeting, she was supposed to go to school and I don’t know how she ended up with my granddaughter.

“A lot of people said all kinds of things but they were home in Scott’s house safe. Somebody forgot something down in the apartment and then was when the bacchanal started.”

Charles’ insight into the murders that rocked the Sobo community brought haunting screams and tears from relatives and the scores of youngsters who packed to the Sobo Village Basketball Court for the funeral.

Charles’ message to the youngsters, many of them schoolmates of Mason, at Point Fortin East Secondary School and her former Palo Seco Secondary School, was that of discernment and respect. He told the young ladies to be careful with the men they meet and said men need to check themselves on their treatment of women.

Mason wore number 9 as a striker for her school’s football team and her teammates came out in their T-shirts to have one last time of togetherness. But they could barely stand through the funeral, having to embrace each other through the ordeal of saying goodbye.

In his sermon, Bishop Christopher Henry stressed there was a need to bring back the lesson of respect in the home, as it was where nurturing took place. He said it was important for husbands to seek dialogue with their wives instead of leaving whenever issues arise. For neighbours who see a family in distress, he said it was not good enough to carry a message, but it was better to provide a solution.

School principal Ainsley Gopaul called on mourners to join their annual walkathon on May 3, as they will seek to raise awareness of the societal issues that led to Mason’s demise.

Mason, who was called up to train with the national under-15 girls’ football team, was killed last Tuesday along with her best friend Olivia Chapman, 15, Olivia’s mother Jones-Chapman and their landlord Michael Scott. Mason was visiting Olivia on Tuesday when it was alleged someone from a previous relationship with Jones-Chapman went to the home and carried out the acts. On Sunday, police held the 38-year-old suspect in Valencia. Jones-Chapman and Olivia’s funeral will be held today.

Police were last night awaiting instructions on how to treat with a mentally challenged suspect who brutally killed eight-month pregnant Mayaro resident Stacy-Ann Campbell with a clay brick on Monday night.

Campbell, 29, of Radix Village, was attacked by the man, who dealt her several blows to the head as she was chatting with her neighbour, the man’s relative, around 8 pm. Campbell, who was due in June and had four other children, including a twin, died on the spot.

Ironically, police said Campbell was liming with neighbour Yvonne Modeste and chatting about the high level of domestic violence and the brutal killing of women at the time of the attack.

Police said when Campbell got up to tell Modeste she was leaving, the latter’s 36-year-old relative suddenly ran out of his bedroom and grabbed Campbell. Campbell struggled with her attacker, who then grabbed up a nearby brick and advanced her. As she tried to escape, however, Campbell slipped and attempted to brace her fall on the house’s wall. It was then the man rushed towards her and delivered several telling blows.

As Campbell fell to the ground bleeding heavily from wounds to her head and face, Modeste raised an alarm for help and ran inside the house where a call was made to the Mayaro police.

In the interim, neighbours and customers from a nearby bar went to the house and were able to subdue the mentally challenged man. However, when Modeste returned outside she found Campbell unconscious and unresponsive.

Mayaro CID officers led by Sgt Harper and including Cpl WPC Denoon, Cpl Ramsahai and PCs Gillard and Hercules responded. They cordoned off the area to allow CSI officers to process the scene and later took the suspect to the Mayaro Police Station for interrogation.

District Medical Officer Dr Grace Olimaiko viewed Campbell’s body and ordered its removal to the Mayaro mortuary, from where it was transferred to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, for an autopsy.

At her home yesterday, Modeste, 66, told T&T Guardian her relative was recently released from jail and was giving her “thunder.” She admitted that in recent times he has damaged her home and personal items and only two weeks ago she had to call the police for assistance as he became “very aggressive and uncontrollable” and attacked her.

When the police arrived following her report then, the relative eluded their capture. An EHS ambulance which was on standby to take him to the St Ann’s Hospital for observation and treatment also left empty-handed.

However, Modeste, a mother of 11, admitted the relative returned some time later and attacked her.

“I was beaten ... he jumped about my body. When I fell and I screamed for help is when he leave me,” Modeste said.

When T&T Guardian visited Campbell’s home yesterday no one answered. The suspect was last night being detained at the Mayaro Police Station.

PC Hercules of Homicide Region III is continuing with the investigation.

Campbell’s killing brought to 12 the number of women murdered so far this year. The overall toll also stands at 123, as compared to 103 in 2017.

RALPH BANWARIE

President Paula-Mae Weekes yesterday spent her first day on the job settling in and getting acquainted with staff members.

This was confirmed by a close friend of Weekes who visited her hours after she picked up duty as the country’s first female President.

The source said Weekes met and greeted staff members at the Office of the President, St Ann’s and immediately began settling down to the job at hand. (See page A10)

“I spoke to her. Madame President Weekes said she is in transition and there working. She did not want to give an official statement to the media or take pictures just yet. She is now settling down and organising things ... getting acquainted to her office staff. As of now she does not have any personal staff,” the source, who did not want to be named, said.

Yesterday, Theron Boodan, who worked as communications adviser at the Office of the President under former president Anthony Carmona, confirmed that his contract was not renewed. Boodan worked with Carmona for the full five years of his tenure.

It was revealed that the contract of Stephanie Seenath, who also served in the communications department at the President’s office, was also not renewed.

Asked when Weekes would select her personal staff, the source said, “It is taking place all now.”

Once Weekes makes a decision on how many employees are required, this will have to be approved by Cabinet.

“It will take a couple of weeks for everything to fall into place at the President’s office,” the source said.

The source could not say what time Weekes reported for duty, what matters she dealt with and who she spoke to.

On Monday, Weekes was sworn in as the country’s sixth President at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

In her inaugural speech to the nation, Weekes called on citizens to let light triumph over their darkness and to plants seeds of love which they should nurture.

With Monday’s inauguration duty done, Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s now on vacation.

But rather than a six-month period, Archie has only taken two months of normal vacation—resolving concerns within the judiciary about his using accumulated leave he claimed to have.

Less than a day after Archie administered the oath of office to President Paula-Mae Weekes, Archie, who’s been battling various issues recently, began vacation from yesterday. This ends on May 9.

A statement signed by Court Protocol and Information officer Alicia Carter-Fisher confirmed the CJ’s departure from the country. The statement added that Justice of Appeal Allan Mendonca will act in Archie’s absence.

An official indicated this was normal vacation leave and not accumulated leave, noting Archie is entitled to approximately six weeks of vacation.

Archie had been in the spotlight for Monday’s inauguration of Weekes, as it was his duty to invite her to take the oath of office.

While front-line guests—such as Weekes, outgoing president Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley—received loud applause on arriving and departing, there was a lesser amount for Archie. But he handled duties professionally—exchanging jovial conversation with Weekes—showing no sign of his challenges.

There was no reply from President’s House on whether Archie’s leave was approved by Carmona in his final few days last weekend, or Weekes, who officially took up duties yesterday morning.

An official at President’s House said communication staff had departed when Carmona demitted office. They said meetings were held yesterday on settling-in procedures. However sources said once Carmona approved the leave before he left, Weekes would have been informed as part of handing over/debriefing duties. They added Rowley would also have been aware of Archie’s vacation—likely informed by letter—and the fact it was normal vacation and not accumulated leave.

“...Hence the appointment of Mendonca as acting CJ,” they added, noting Rowley had expressed concern about accumulated leave last week.

Legal officials said written instruments of appointment are necessary for an acting CJ rather than an official swearing-in function. If for some reason the acting CJ cannot act, the next person in line to act as CJ is Justice Peter Jamadar, they added.

With his departure yesterday, Archie has—so far—overcome issues both on his initial-then-aborted sabbatical bid, and on taking accumulated vacation also.

He’s also now off the local landscape following his various issues—most recently legally by besting the Law Association of T&T (LATT) on the latter’s bid to investigate allegations of misconduct against him. This is being appealed.

After the LATT issue, Archie again fell into controversy when he moved to go on the six-month sabbatical fellowship study course in Washington, USA. He said he was going to study “rest and reflect.” Archie applied last November to Carmona for the leave. It was granted in February.

However, after Carmona contacted Rowley to discuss appointing Mendonca to act in Archie’s absence, Rowley took issue with the sabbatical. But Archie then changed the sabbatical leave request to an accumulated 35 weeks leave request. But Rowley also sounded a warning to Carmona on this and the CJ eventually reduced the leave.

Govt readies to tackle sabbatical issue

Documents are being prepared for Government to seek a court interpretation of the sabbatical for judges issue, officials of the Attorney General’s office confirmed yesterday.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said last week Government would seek court interpretation of the sabbatical issue which Chief Justice Ivor Archie had initially sought. Apart from clarifying it in the event it was sought again, Rowley revealed Government had conflicting legal advice on it.

One set of senior counsel advice received by the AG confirmed a case for sabbatical, while a legal opinion Rowley received differed from this. As such, Rowley said he told the AG to take steps to have the courts interpret the issue.

Help is needed for a female police officer who is a witness in a matter against former Anti-Gang unit police officers who are now accused of murder, says UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen.

He indicated this yesterday during debate of the Anti-Gang Bill in the Senate. He said the bill also isn’t enough and operationalisation especially with police action, is urgent to get results.

On the issue of the female officer, he said the former Anti-Gang Unit police officers are currently in Remand Yard.

Ramdeen added that the female officer and her child are in the Witness Protection programme, but “They need the Attorney General’s help badly,” he added.

Ramdeen said the case of death of Joshua Andrews , 14, was also a similar concern. He said he’d given Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi “confidential information” that the police cannot protect the person who has the evidence to prosecute that crime.

Ramdeen also lamented the recent High Street, San Fernando incident where a jewelry store was robbed at 1 pm.

“People walked into a business place and smashed glass cases stealing jewelry and the security guard is on the ground with a gun butt to his head - yet San Fernando Police Station is a stone’s throw away!”

Both Ramdeen and Al- Rawi alluded to statements by new President Paula-Mae Weekes in her inaugural address.

Al-Rawi noted she took the position that no-one is above the law. Ramdeen noted that Weekes urged the public to find the light and ways to share this. In that context he credited the passage of the Anti-Gang Bill so far with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s efforts to get debate going again after the bill failed last year.

Independent Senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir said the public had to regain a sense of trust in the police especially following the “Day of Total Policing” when that trust was betrayed. See Page A7

A blame game has broken out at the Siparia Regional Corporation over an embarrassing situation in which they were levied on by former labourer Neru Joseph for failing to pay compensation for a 2011 occupational accident.

From the corporation’s failure to submit documents to the insurance company to compensate Joseph, then their failure to file a defence in the High Court after being sued, they were helpless as Joseph’s agent, aided by a High Court Marshal, seized five vehicles yesterday.

Around 8 am workers of Inland and Offshore Contractor Ltd (IOCL) loaded a UB water tender, a Hyundai three-tonne truck, an Isuzu dump truck and a Nissan Navarra onto heavy-duty trucks at the corporation’s compound on High Street, Siparia comp. Another three-tonne dump truck was expected to be brought from Cedros.

In 2011, Neru suffered spinal injuries after being struck with a plank while working on a drainage project in Santa Flora and was rendered disabled. After the corporation failed to provide compensation, he filed a lawsuit in the High Court in June 2015. The corporation did not file a defence loss by default in 2016. The matter was transferred to the Master’s Court and in April 2017, Master Patricia Sobion-Awai ordered the corporation to pay Joseph $650,000 in damages and $50,000 in cost. Sobion-Awai ordered that the sum be liquidated in five monthly instalments of $140,000 commencing from June 1, 2017. In default of the payment of any instalment, the balance would become due immediately.

While corporation’s chairman Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said they had tried to negotiate a payment plan with Joseph’s attorneys, La Brea councillor Gerard Debesette said the UNC members of council voted against their motion to make a payment.

Debesette told the T&T Guardian yesterday that during a Finance and Planning Committee meeting in January, PNM council members raised a motion, where they proposed that a virement be used to pay damages, cost and legal fees of $795,000. A virement is done to redistribute funds already allocated for particular purposes. The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government had advised that the corporation do the virement and they would be reimbursed by April.

“It was put to a vote and they voted against it. They have the majority so we were voted down. We turned and warned them that the gentleman would levy on the corporation and they said ‘let them levy.’ They were fully aware but now it has reached this embarrassing situation. We can attest to this because the minutes will show this,” Debesette said.

Of the 13 votes, five PNM voted for, six UNC voted against the motion. Corporation records reflect that councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo stated that “there were other payments that were outstanding for people who did work for the corporation that needed to be addressed also. He suggested that the corporation allow Mr Neru Joseph to levy and let the ministry find a way to get back the equipment.”

Ramadharsingh said that the matter should have been dealt with long ago, but parties involved at the corporation failed to the file the necessary documents to the insurance in the required time. Therefore, the insurance refused to pay. He said that when the current council took office, they all agreed that Joseph should be paid and was seeking to work out a payment plan. However, that plan differed from what was ordered by the court.

He said the corporation was suffering from insufficient funding from central government and could not afford to pay the total sum. He added that there were 23 long-standing projects which the corporation has to complete but has no funding to do so. He said an application for the funds will be made to the ministry.

“We’ve asked for a full investigation in this matter, that people be held culpable. Further, we are asking for direct answers as to why the matter was not reported to the insurance that the corporation has for liability. Further, we want to go after those persons who are culpable and also take on the insurance company that they were still culpable and liable to pay the money although the claim was sent in late” Ramadharsingh said.

“Garrison” style behaviour is developing in T&T where people are resisting the police and school children are behaving in a way resembling criminality, says Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi

The AG spoke about the situation in the Senate yesterday piloting the Anti-Gang Bill. This was passed recently in the House of Representatives . The bill aims to disrupt gang activity.

Al-Rawi said garrison style behaviour was seen last October in Beetham Gardens. This was when residents openly protested police attempts to arrest two community members.

The phenomenon has also occurred in Jamaica where some areas controlled by criminal elements seek to defend them against security forces. Well known incidents of this occurred in 2010 when Jamaican security forces attempted to arrest Jamaican drug lord and Shower Posse leader Christopher “Dudus” Coke. It lead to a state of emergency and siege of Kingston’s Tivoli Gardens which Coke controlled.

Al -Rawi said: “The fact is statistically, T&T is wrestling with with a gang culture. We’re watching garrison type behaviour across T&T—people emboldened to go into the streets and resist the police.”

“But it’s gone further—we’re watching school children behave a particular way resembling a form of criminality,”

“In my day at Presentation College, San Fernando, you got into trouble if your socks were the wrong colour, if your handkerchief wasn’t in your pocket and you didn’t have a red ink pen (as I still do), from the kind of upbringing....with discipline and work!”

Al-Rawi noted acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams’ 2014 affidavit statement that gang culture had increased in the last 15 years, particularly attracting disenfranchised youth from at-risk areas who lacked a sense of belonging.

Williams also said police surveillance confirmed alliances were being worked out among gang factions to facilitate drugs and arms trafficking.

It was further noted that Port-of-Spain and Northern divisions had the biggest increases in gang activity in 2014. But by 2016, Southern had the largest increase.

Al-Rawi said 92 gangs with 1,500 members were noted by police in 2014. But surveillance by the new Organised Crime, Narcotic/Anti Gang unit now confirms 211 gangs with 2,459 members.

The bill has provisions to penalise gangs seeking to recruit children in schools, orphanages, recreation grounds etc.

Another provision concerns intimidation of people since he noted social pressure on some persons in places where garrison type behaviour was seen.

AG hits LATT’s slow response to Anti Gang Bill

It isn’t “tidy” (sic) that the Law Association took seven months to deliver its comments on the 19 clause Anti-Gang bill, Attorney General Faris Al- Rawi added yesterday.

Al- RAwi had said calls for stakeholders’ comments on the bill were sought when Government decided to present the bill last year. He said no responses were obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions, LATT and others.

The bill was passed in the House of Representatives two weeks ago.

Al-Rawi noted LATT’s comments came in just before yesterday’s Senate debate—seven months after it was sought— when he noted most of the bill’s 19 clauses had been replicated from the first such bill.

He noted a few LATT points which he said could be worked it, but voiced reservations on a few. “I’m prepared to entertain a few provision made,” Al Rawi added.

UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen said LATT’s views included some useful ones including on arresting officers.

He said the Senate could have benefitted from LATT’s views as well the DPP’s and Criminal Bar Associations.

GANG MEMBERSHIP BY DIVISION

North Eastern (15 gangs/256 members).
POS (41/574 members).
Central (10/ 106 members).
Southern (19/202 members).
Eastern (9/121 members).
Northern (25/365 members).
South Western ( 21/178 members).
Western ( 49/525 members)
Tobago (24/190 members)

Following much anticipation, the artistes carded to perform at the Tobago Jazz Experience 2018 have been made public.

The announcement was made by the chairman of the Tobago Festivals Commission George Leacock at the conference room of the Tobago Festivals Commission on Tuesday. The event is carded for April 27 to 29.

The Tobago House of Assembly is also expected to spend $7,315,000 for the event, which would see two main shows, Jazz in the East, Caribbean Night at Speyside on April 28 and World Music, International Night at Pigeon Point Heritage Park on April 29.

Tanya Stephens, Tarrus Riley, Anthony Hamilton and Ne-Yo have already been confirmed, while a sixth surprise artiste would be revealed in the future.

Responding to questions, Leacock said his team members received their instrument of appointment on January 3, 2018 and the primary target market for this year’s Tobago Jazz Experience was Trinidad and not the international market as in previous years.

“Included in our mandate was the running of the 2018 Tobago Jazz Experience, the task therefore was to run a festival in a very condensed way. That is further reflected in a reduced budget, for a reduced number of events, with a narrowed market focus. Our primary markets for the TJE 2018, is Trinidad” he said.

With respect to the air and seabridge challenges, he said he was optimistic that those issues would be resolved in time for the event.

“We do expect challenges, however, for every edition of the festival, for weekends like Easter, Caribbean Airlines has stepped up and put on the necessary additional flights to accommodate the upsurge of visitor arrivals, we expect no less on this occasion. With regard to the ferry service we also expect the full co-operation of the port authority to the extent of their capacity at that time. We are still five weeks away from the festival and we do hope that the Port Authority has additional capacity for weather conditions that allow for capacity that they don’t normally use on that run to be utilised” he said.

Tickets for the Tobago Jazz Experience will be available online via SunTixx.com and at all NLCB outlets. They have been priced at $600 for general admission and $750 VIP.

In 2016, the Tobago House of Assembly budgeted $16 million for the event while in 2017 saw a reduction to $12 million to be spent on the event.

At that time, the Tobago Jazz Experience was held over a ten-day period, with events being in the East, North, West and South West Tobago. Three signature events namely, Jazz in the East held at Speyside (Free), World Music Night and Beach Jazz Fiesta at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park saw most patrons attending.

A mandate to complete 400 cataract surgeries per month to clear a lengthy waiting list at the San Fernando General Hospital is proving difficult for doctors and today a high powered team will meet with doctors to discuss the way forward.

The doctors, who have been doing 24 cataract surgeries per day, have been struggling to fulfil the mandate set by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh who plans to clear the country’s waiting list by year end.

Some of the operations take a minimum of 45 minutes but complicated surgeries take more than an hour. San Fernando General Hospital has 2,400 on its waiting list of which more than 200 have already been completed.

A source, who requested anonymity, said the Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority Gail Miller-Meade, Direct of Health Dr Albert Persaud and Medical Director Dr Pravinde Ramoutar have scheduled a meeting to discuss concerns about staff shortages and space constraints.

“They are also expected to discuss recommendations from the Ophthalmology department. Among the recommendations to be discussed are a reduction in the number of cataract surgeries per day as well as a reduction in screenings.

Currently 30 people are screened of which 24 are prepared for surgeries and the other 16 are rescheduled.

Apart from doing the surgeries, medical personnel have been juggling a full clinic and this is proving to be tedious,” the source said.

Issues related to equipment and supplies will also be raised.

The source added that only 12 cataract surgeries are done per day at other private hospitals.

Last week, former medical director Dr Anand Chatoorgoon raised concerns about the quality of cataract surgeries being done. He suggested that Miller-Meade, Persaud and Ramoutar meet with doctors saying they were under stress.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh later assured that quality surgeries are being performed. At the launch of the cataract initiative on March 5, Deyalsingh expressed hope that T&T’s 4,308 cataract waiting list will be cleared by the end of this year.

A Special Reserve police officer appeared in court earlier this month charged with stealing $500 from the property room at the Besson Street Police Station.

PC Hebron Ryan, 25, of Jackson Street, Curepe, was granted $20,000 bail by Magistrate Cheron Raphael, presiding in the Port-of-Spain 11th Magistrates’Court. He was charged with misbehaviour in public office and larceny of $500.

The accused, who was attached to the Besson Street Police Station, was arrested by PC Ralph Rampersad, of the Professional Standards Bureau, on March 12, following investigations into the disappearance of $500, from the property room of the Station, on October 12, 2017. The officer had five years’ service.

CCTV footage recorded a man entering the property room and removing a quantity of money from the exhibit cabinet, before placing it in his boots and leaving.

Since the incident, PC Ryan had failed to report for duty and attempts to communicate with him had proven futile.

A self proclaimed artist, charged with allegedly showing pornography to a school girl and trafficking cocaine in front of a secondary school in San Fernando, has been denied bail.

Christopher Nandlal, 52, of La Romaine, was not asked to plead to the indictable charges when he appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

Nandlal was arrested around 7.15 am on Tuesday in front of ASJA Girls’ College.

Constables Alister Redhead, PC Seedharie and PC Ramesar were in a police vehicle travelling along Todd Street when it is alleged they saw Nandlal showing the pornography to the girl as she was walking past him.

The police officers found in his possession four drawing books with sketches of people engaging in sexual intercourse. His name was written on some of the drawings.

Nandlal also allegedly had five compact discs with pornography, a Sunday punch and a quantity of cocaine in his possession.

He was taken to the San Fernando Police Station where he was charged by PC Redhead.

Yesterday, San Fernando magistrate Kerianne Byer read the charges to him that on Tuesday at Todd Street he intentionally exposed a child to pornography, contrary to Section 41 of the Children’s Act.

The second charge alleged that he was in possession of cocaine within 500 meters of Asja Girls’ College for the purpose of trafficking.

Court prosecutor Sgt Chanardath Jhilmit informed the magistrate that Nandlal refused to give his fingerprints to the police and as a consequence they were unable to obtain his criminal record.

The magistrate started to speak to him about that when Nandlal interjected and began speaking loudly about unrelated things.

He told her the last time he appeared before the court he had his St Ann’s documents, but “them come and thief meh papers.” He continued, “I trying to do my drawing business. Any time somebody from Hollywood come to meet me......” He did not finish his sentence, but went on to claim that the substance the police found on him was terrazzo stone and not cocaine. The magistrate remanded him into custody and transferred the matter to the First Court for March 23.

Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds yesterday threatened to take Opposition MP Barry Padarath to the Privileges Committee for accusing him of encroaching on his neighbour’s land.

The incident took place while Padarath, who is MP for Princes Town, was delivering his contribution on the Land Adjudication Bill in Parliament.

Responding to Hinds’ contribution, Padarath said Hinds gave “us a typical song and dance. And it appears that the Honourable Member has also fallen victim to his own stubbornness.”

Padarath said earlier in the House, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, in explaining the clauses of the bill, said members were told of people who encroached on land.

“Mr Deputy Speaker, the member for Laventille West, I believe it is well-known and publicised is one of those who has a case in the public domain for encroaching on his neighbour’s land.”

Padarath did not indicate the location of the land.

The House immediately erupted into an uproar with Hinds citing Standing Order 48.6, stating that “no such thing has taken place.”

“The member should be taken to the Privileges Committee. I have no matter before the court. Twisted as usual!” he said.

Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde urged Padarath, “Again, be careful of the road that you are going down,” and to tie in his points with the bill.

Al-Rawi rose from his seat and pointed out Standing Order 48.6, stating that Padarath was “imputing improper motives” as he called on Forde to have a ruling on the matter.

Forde reminded Padarath that he either “take ownership or withdraw” his statement.

Padarath eventually backed down, opting to withdraw what he said, but corrected Hinds on an issue he raised regarding the granting of lands by the former People’s Partnership government to Super Industrial Services (SIS).

He said the facts surrounding lands granted to SIS were in the Hansard.

“It is well known that the EMBDC had indicated in March 10, 2015 that SIS was not squatting on 35 acres of land and indeed they were paying rent for those 35 acres,” Padarath said.

As tributes and tears poured out at the funeral of murdered teacher Abigail Jones-Chapman and her daughter Olivia Chapman, those who lived near her were chastised for not offering a helping hand in their time of need.

Quoting the old African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child," Jones-Chapman's cousin Alana Jones questioned where was the village when they suffered verbal and financial abuse. Jones' eulogy at the La Brea Seventh Day Adventist Church might have mashed several corns among the hundreds who crammed inside and huddled outside the church building. However, it was a call for the community to unite and confront domestic abuse where and whenever it was found.

"Growing up in this community, I was told that it takes a village to raise a child, but somehow we forgot that as this said child is nurtured and moved into puberty, that the child still needs that village. Abigail needed that village. As a young mom, she struggled to make ends meet to provide for her children. She was married, but not adequately provided for but it was the village that still was not there."

Jones said that Jones-Chapman and her estrange husband Ronsworth Chapman were not immune to the challenges of most modern marriages despite her being a great cook, a loving mother and a devoted wife.

"Being married did not protect her. When emotional and financial abuse reared its ugly head in her Christian marriage, the village was dormant, too afraid to call domestic violence by its name. And when family members tried to intervene, we were labelled as aggressive and nosey," Jones said.

She said when Jones-Chapman left the safety of her marriage, no one asked why. Instead, they became the local Ian Alleyne where conspiracy and gossip ruled. She called on villagers to become agitated in raising awareness of domestic abuse and support those in need beyond the usual lip service.

Earlier, a teary-eyed Ronsworth told mourners that he hoped that the death of his wife and daughter would not be in vain. He believes that God has a plan for his younger children, Kacey and Amy as it was why the killer did not find them last week Tuesday. He said there was no time for animosity and acrimony as life was short.

Principal of Olivia's Point Fortin East Secondary School, Ainsley Gopaul, said the country lost a potential lawyer and human rights activist. Describing her a "little warrior princess," he said Olivia would always stand up for her class whenever issues arose. The school is expected to host a memorial next week in which they invited the Jones and Chapman's families.

Suspect remains silent

Yesterday, defence attorney Fareed Ali confirmed that he represents the 38-year-old Gonzales Village, Guapo mason, who is suspected of murdering Jones-Chapman, 41, Olivia, 14, their landlord Michael Scott, 69, and Olivia's friend Michaela Mason, 14, on March 13.

Police believe that the murders stemmed from a domestic dispute between Jones-Chapman and the suspect after she ended their year-long relationship. As a consequence, it was believed that the suspect went to the home at Khani Settlement, Sobo Village, La Brea where he killed everyone in the apartment.

Ali confirmed that the suspect remained in the custody of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three.

He also dispelled rumours that his client confessed to the murders adding that the suspect has maintained his right to silence since his arrest on Sunday.

Ali said that much has been said about his client, both in the press and social media. He said it was unfortunate that the public, without information from a credible source, had concluded that his client was responsible. He said what was carried by the press (Not Trinidad Guardian) about comments by his client was nothing but rumour mongering and conjecture.

The Cyber Crime Unit of the Police Service is waiting with bated breath for the passing and proclamation of the Cybercrime Bill 2017 as it will assist directly in its respective investigations.

This was yesterday disclosed by Sgt Daniel Hernandez of the Cyber Crime Unit during the weekly police press briefing held at the Police Administration Building, in Port-of-Spain.

Hernandez said that as for now they are “a bit challenged” as they have to rely on other pieces of legislation.

He explained that the unit was given the opportunity to assist in the drafting of the Bill and added that some offences which fall under their purview will be directly addressed should the Bill become law.

As he addressed the issue of cyber bullying, Hernandez said it is becoming more prevalent among the youth as they use social media as platforms to continue bullying beyond the classroom and school yard.

He added the “young ones” are “slowly becoming victims of using social media without the specific knowledge.”

He, however, noted that in order for the unit to investigate a case of cyber bullying a report must be made and it must also be founded that it is a wilful and repeated act that’s inflicted through the use of computers, cellphones and other electronic devices.

“The behaviour has to be deliberate. Bullying reflects a pattern of behaviour and the target must perceive that harm was inflicted,” Hernandez said.

He disclosed that in 2015, the Unit received 25 reports, 17 of which were solved. He added that reports increased from then to now but was unable to provide statistics as officers were still tabulating.

Hernandez, however, made it known that cyber bullying will be taken seriously and urged parents and teachers to be observant to such cases.

The Cybercrime Bill 2017 was introduced in the House of Representatives by the Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi on May 6 2017.

The purpose of the Cybercrime Bill, 2017 is to provide for the creation of offences related to cyber crime and for other related matters in T&T and if passed would repeal the Computer Misuse Act 2000.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi yesterday gave the assurance that operations at the land and company’s registries at the Registrar General’s (RG) office are in operation.

Al-Rawi made the comment at a news conference in Port-of-Spain in light of information reaching him that search clerks at the (RG) office had stopped work which the media enquired about.

“The Registrar General reached out to me and said that she noticed that something happened today, and that was, several members of the search clerk community attended at the registry, worked, stopped…went outside and said there was no work going on.

“This is what was related to me by officers not the RG herself and after doing an interview with the press went back to work,” Al-Rawi told reporters.

He said the UNC had also raised concerns about the functionality of the Land Registration Information System also known as the property management information system (PMIS) which can be accessed online.

The land registry and company registry store information on births, deaths, marriages, mortgages and land titles.

In the years 2013 and 2015, Al-Rawi said, the UNC while in Government decided not to renew the license for the software contract at PMIS, which meant that the entire system was left “prejudiced” and had been operating with a Windows XP system.

“No data back up or imaging were done,” Al-Rawi said, stating that the PNM Government went to work in creating back up files and to expand the system.

He said last month there was a restriction on the system “and you found yourself unable to pull up the images, but you could still utilise the search parameters.”

As a result of this, Al-Rawi said a manual system of checking at the registry had to be undertaken.

However, he said the Government has since renegotiated the term for the contract and has backed up all data.

“The system is operational and the on-line version of the system will get a turbo boost.”

Had this not been done, Al-Rawi said, they could have lost hundreds of thousands of documents but was able to scan over 5.8 million records which the public can access online.

“Unfortunately, I understand that there are still some people that are alleging the system is not in a state of operationality which I want to reject that position. This relates obviously to the ease of doing business as it affects titling, mortgaging and the general users of the environment.”

A domestic dispute yesterday turned deadly for a 27-year-old woman, after she was stabbed in the neck by her lover in broad daylight at the Croisee in San Juan. Anita Bahadur, of Evelyn Trace, San Juan, later succumbed to her injuries at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope.

The suspect, who is said to be in his early 30s, was chased down by eyewitnesses, including a T&T Defence Force member, who were stunned at his brazen knife attack on the woman. He was held several metres away from the busy Croisee intersection and badly beaten before he was handed over to officers of the San Juan Police Station. The incident occurred at about 2.30 pm.

Speaking afterwards, a still shocked eyewitness Aldwin Samuel, 59, told the T&T Guardian moments before the mother of four was stabbed, the suspect walked up to her and asked her for his gold chain and money.

“I was sitting and he (the suspect) standing up next to me watching straight across the road. I notice when he walk across the road and walk past she, then he walk back to she and stood at her side. He ask she ‘where is my money and where is my gold chain?’

“Then I see the man start to stab she up. He run and I take off behind him. About three of us and an army man made it four. We hold him by the book store and we beat him. When the police come we hand him over,” Samuel said.

Samuel said he later learnt that the man and Bahadur were seen a few minutes before the stabbing incident at a nearby grocery engaged in a conversation.

“I was told that he was telling she that she owed him $80,000 before he left and walked away,” Samuel said.

Samuel, a father of two daughters, admitted that he himself went through domestic problems in the past. He grabbed the opportunity to send a strong message to men, “Give up! Give up and let them go. Do not allow yourself to reach that position. Just give up!”

Samuel said he was saddened to see Bahadur lying motionless on the stretcher after the attack.

“This was just awful. So sad for me to go and look at her. I just tell myself that she gone. It was a hurtful thing, really wasn’t nice to see. I just feel proud that we were able to hold the man and give him to the police.”

Another eyewitnesses who helped catch the suspect, Garvin Tesheira, said he could not have sat idly by and do nothing after seeing the attack.

“I see the happening. The man had a big, long knife. I see the blood and when he jump up and run, I run him down and we hold him and beat him.”

Up to late last night, the suspect remained in police custody.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted on Bahadur at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, today.

This latest incident occurred even as the funerals of murdered La Brea teacher Abigail Jones-Chapman and her daughter Olivia Chapman were being held yesterday. Domestic violence victim Jones-Chapman and her daughter were killed at their Sobo Village home last week, alongside Olivia’s friend Michaela Mason and landlord Michael Scott.

Bahadur was the 14th female killed for the year so far and the second victim for this month. In 2017, 52 females were killed.

Investigations are continuing.

A 33-year-old man was stabbed several times minutes after he had an altercation with a close female relative at his home in Las Lomas yesterday.

Dexter Hospedales died while undergoing treatment at the Las Lomas Health Facility.

According to a police report, at about 10.30 am Hospedales was at his Boy Cato Road, Las Lomas No 1 home when he got into an argument with a close female relative.

Police said several minutes after an unknown man ran into the compound where he stabbed Hospedales several times. The suspect then escaped in a car.

Investigations are continuing.

Headless corpse found

Meanwhile, police were up to late last night at a crime scene in Sangre Grande where a man’s headless corpse was found.

According to a police report, at about 7.30 pm officers from the Sangre Grande CID, acting on information received, went to a dirt road off Foster Road where they found the body.

Officers believe the man was killed elsewhere and his body dumped off the road. The head was yet to be found up to press time.

Investigations are continuing. 

The Police Service is now investigating a claim that some 27 Arima business owners and some residents were threatened by a Muslim organisation, forced to sign a document and extorted for protection or security money.

The complaints were made to officers during a police walkabout in the communities last Thursday. A senior officer close to the case said it was under investigation by several branches of the service. However, he said many of the business owners and residents feared for their lives and did not want to give “evidence” against those committing the crime, which was a problem.

One of the victims yesterday claimed he was approached by the men and asked to pay a zakat although he was a Christian.

“Several men came about paying zakat. They came with a paper with a letter head asking for an agreement to pay the money. It did not have any money on it and I told them I not paying it,” he said.

However, the man, who did not want to be named, confessed he was afraid because he was robbed before and recently a man’s house in the area was burnt down because he did not pay the money.

“They burnt down his house because he did not want to pay it. If they could do that to him they could do that to anybody,” he said, adding he applied for a firearm license to protect his property after he was robbed years ago but did not even receive a reply. The police reportedly held the men recently for questioning in the matter but eventually released them.

A woman in the area hid while giving information to the T&T Guardian on her own case. She said the men approached every business in several communities and also claimed they burned down a man’s house because of non-payment.

ACP Northern Division McDonald Jacob yesterday confirmed the issue was raised with him during a walkabout in Carapo last week. He said four men were held in connection with the crime but they had to release two due to insufficient evidence.

“They were acting as a watch group and asked people to pay protection money. They asked 27 businessmen to pay them money, $300 per week and from $300 a week for the month and multiply that by 27....That’s a lot of money,” Jacob said.

Jacob said two of the suspects held were also later charged for a double murder in the area. Asked if the homicides had something to do with the extortion racket, Jacob said no. He said the officers are looking for eight more men wanted in connection with the incident.

Commenting on the issue, Arima Business Association chairman Reval Chattergoon said this was unacceptable to the people of Arima.

“This is the first time I heard of it and if they are extorting money from businessmen this is wrong and they (business owners) have to look at what they (businessmen) can do and the law-abiding people cannot be held at ransom by a number of people. This has to stop,” he said.

Chattergoon said it was only a matter of time before they spread their wings and multiplied to other communities.

“These people have power and expand and grow if they do not nip it in the bud,” he said.

He called for more police patrols and for business owners to get firearm licenses so they could protect themselves.

“We need more police and firearms. We have to be our neighbours keeper and know how to deal with it,” he said, adding some business owners wait between six and eight years for firearm licenses, which was unacceptable.