Former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her PP administration stands vindicated by yesterday’s Privy Council judgment which stated the repeal of the controversial Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act was lawful.

“This decision puts to rest, by a judgment of our highest court, the criticisms of the then Opposition of the actions of the PP government,” Persad-Bissessar added via statement

Commenting on the judgment, Persad-Bissessar added, “The reasons behind the passing of section 34 in its original incarnation remain valid. The legality and constitutionality of the action of the government I led in passing the repeal legislation has been tested and affirmed at each level of our judicial system.

“This judgment is a resounding victory for the People’s Partnership government which was the subject of much vilification and political attack by those who were bent on political exploitation of what was a constitutional crisis which was created with their active participation and support in Parliament.”

She said the ruling upholds local courts’ ruling in favour of the State when the PP was in office. “It is a clear vindication of the decision which was immediately taken to repeal section 34. The judgment highlights the swift action taken by the then government to convene the Parliament on an emergency basis to repeal a law that was unanimously passed with the support of all MPs with the noble intention of improving the system of criminal justice.

“The decision affirms the supremacy and power of Parliament. The effect of this decision is that the State’s right to prosecute those persons who may have benefited from section 34 in its original form has now been preserved.”

Persad-Bissessar noted specific reference was made in the judgment to the role of PP government members including then attorney general Anand Ramlogan and herself.

“As noted in paragraph 9 of the judgment, ‘On the same day, the Attorney General called the Prime Minister and told her that in his opinion section 34 should be repealed urgently’. The Privy Council also expressed the view that the Amendment Act was not targeted at the appellants and the actions of the Parliament did not contravene the separation of powers. 

“Swift remedial action was taken which effectively nullified any unintended consequences and benefits that would have operated to the detriment of the Criminal Justice System. We had convened a powerful legal team led by Lord Pannick QC and Allan Newman QC which resulted in legal victory at the High Court and the Court of Appeal. An equally powerful team was retained for the Privy Council Appeal and it is significant the Privy Council upheld the decision given by our Local Courts.”

Persad-Bissessar added, “In the final analysis, truth and justice have prevailed. Our political detractors who voted together with us to pass Section 34 and then laid the blame at the feet of the PP Administration will no doubt continue to make malicious allegations. This is, however, a resounding victory for the rule of law and justice has prevailed. Due process must now be followed so that justice can be done according to law.”

PMM caused hysteria —Mark

UNC senate leader Wade Mark, who brought up the Privy Council issue during senate debate yesterday, slammed the PNM for “misrepresenting things to the public” on Section 34.

Saying the Privy Council judgment had upheld the parliament’s handling of the matter, Mark said the PNM had in 2012 been “all over the place marching, attacking and causing hysteria, claiming grand conspiracy and mobilising all of T&T against the PP.

“But today the Privy Council upheld the law and no financiers are free. This PNM has a way of twisting, bending and manipulating facts to sway the population. But now they in charge they have to deal with reality.”

Mark later told reporters the PNM had used the issue to generate hysteria and give their allies the impression the PP was “involved in some sinister plot” and the Piarco accused would get “away scot free” 

“But they (PNM) all voted for it in Parliament where everyone also plugged the loophole after the fact. It demonstrated as the law lords said, they couldn’t go behind the minds of everyone to determine if there was any plot or conspiracy. That was only in the PNM’s minds and that of their agents. But thank God for the Privy Council who have now put this matter to rest once and for all,” he said.

They marched for my blood in vain—Volney

“My blood was spilt in vain.”

That was the view of former PP justice minister Herbert Volney who had piloted the Administration of Justice Act and proclamation of Section 34 in 2012

On the Privy Council’s judgment, Volney said, “They marched for my blood and they got it. But given what’s happened now it was all in vain. But these things happen and I don’t think T&T is better off for what happened over the repeal.

“The Privy Council judgment has exonerated the PP administration and me on wrongdoing since the then government acted responsibly to repeal the section.

“Unfortunately Rowley has surrounded himself with yes-men, the same old crew. And it’s the same with the Opposition.”

Volney said he’s doing “intellectual work” up the islands, is “happily retired” and also farming organically produced eggs.

“I feel I’ve been wasted as a jurist but that’s God’s will. I’m enjoying retirement and that’s the end of public life.”

Volney said the PP “has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them, they never even sent me a Christmas card.” 

They marched for my blood in vain—Volney

“My blood was spilt in vain.”

That was the view of former PP justice minister Herbert Volney who had piloted the Administration of Justice Act and proclamation of Section 34 in 2012

On the Privy Council’s judgment, Volney said, “They marched for my blood and they got it. But given what’s happened now it was all in vain. But these things happen and I don’t think T&T is better off for what happened over the repeal.

“The Privy Council judgment has exonerated the PP administration and me on wrongdoing since the then government acted responsibly to repeal the section.

“Unfortunately Rowley has surrounded himself with yes-men, the same old crew. And it’s the same with the Opposition.”

Volney said he’s doing “intellectual work” up the islands, is “happily retired” and also farming organically produced eggs.

“I feel I’ve been wasted as a jurist but that’s God’s will. I’m enjoying retirement and that’s the end of public life.”

Volney said the PP “has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them, they never even sent me a Christmas card.” 

Four ministries have so far reported unpaid bills from the past PP’s tenure totalling $2.1 billion, which together with other figures would take its last 2015 Budget expenditure to $66 billion, Finance Minister Colm Imbert says.

“The (PP) government spent about $66 billion and we’re still counting as the $2.1 billion is only from four ministries, so who knows where this will reach in the final count,” Imbert added in the Senate, yesterday.

Imbert detailed the situation in response to a challenge by UNC Senator Wade Mark to give the final expenditure for the last PP budget. Both speakers were participating in a debate on a Standing Finance Committee report closing the 2015 accounts including shifting $200 million in savings from the Energy Ministry to Works for the Pt Fortin Highway and associated issues.

Mark, accusing the PNM of misrepresenting the PP’s performance, said despite the PNM’s “ramblings and negative insinuations” concerning the economy the report of shifting savings of $200 million from the Energy Ministry to Works showed the PP had managed prudently, frugally and remained within the 2015 Budget allocation amid the economic and financial situation and still got projects done.

He said while the PNM had accused the PP of waste and mismanagement, the reality was otherwise. Projecting there had been savings of between $3 billion and $5 billion from the last $60 billion budget, Mark called for Imbert to give the final expenditure figure.

Mark said the PP’s projects were lost by re-engineering by the finance minister. “What a con job! Talk about square pegs in round holes! 

The minister’s job is a tall order, you need someone who’s up to the task. The PNM has short-changed the public with this minister.”

Replying, Imbert said the last 2015 unbudgeted expenditure was $59 billion, not $55 billion as Mark believed. Imbert said there had been a lot of off-budget expenditure incoming, including bills not paid for 2015. He said the reports totalling $2.1 billion from the four ministries would take the 2015 budget to $61 billion. 

Also, Imbert said, the PP “maxed out” the Central Bank overdraft, told state agencies to borrow ($4.7 billion) and there had also been borrowing by HDC ($750 million), Udecott ($1.2 billion), Nidco ($1.5 billion), EFCL ($285 million), EMBD ($400 million and PTSC ($57 million). “All of this would take the budget to about $66 billion.”

A St Helena man was murdered on Sunday night while at the wake of his former boss’ brother, who had himself been killed.

According to police, Nicky Joseph, 31, of Madras Street, was at the wake of Jean-Pierre Assee at Samdass Street, Arouca, when he was called outside and shot. Police said while at the wake someone telephoned Joseph around 10.30 pm. When he stepped outside he was shot and killed. 

Speaking with the media yesterday afternoon, relatives of the father of two children, six and four, said the children were unaware that he had been killed.

Assee was Mohammed’s older brother. Mohammed was killed outside his Ross Trace, St Helena Village, Caroni, home on April 19. 

Assee was buried yesterday.

In an incident last December Assee, 30, a car dealer, was shot at least ten times. He died last Tuesday night at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre. Assee, of Sierra Vista Drive, Omeara Road, Arima, was standing outside his businessplace at Ramcharan Street, St Augustine, with Dave John, 48, and 11-year-old Kadeem Whiskey when a car drove by and opened fire. 

John was shot in the right hip and Whiskey in the right ear. It was the second attempt on his life. The first time the killer was shot dead by a security guard hired to protect the businessman. 

On September 29, Quane Rochford was gunned down by a security guard after Rochford tried to kill Assee outside his home.

In an unrelated incident, police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Carl Ramdeo. 

Ramdeo’s body was found inside a burnt shack at Crown Trace West, Couva. Police said Ramdeo was a struggling drug addict.

And in another matter, the body of a man found at Clifton Street, Laventille, on Friday night has been identified as Kerry Serrette. 

Serrette’s body was found around 9 pm last Friday face down at Clifton Street. Police said they received a phone call informing them that the man had been discovered dead on the roadway. Police said 16 spent shells were retrieved from the scene of the shooting. 

As of yesterday, the murder toll has tied with that of last year for the same period at 41. 

Homicide detectives are continuing their investigations and are calling on members of the public to provide them with any information that may assist in arresting those responsible for the murders. 

With Carnival in full swing and given the influx of visitors to this country, it is important that precautionary measures be taken in light of the rapidly spreading Zika virus.

But screening at ports of entry does not make sense as infected people exhibit little or no symptoms. 

So said Dr James Hospedales, head of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), at a media conference hosted by the agency in Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

“T&T, like many other countries, celebrates Carnival which brings visitors from elsewhere in the Caribbean and internationally

“A high percentage of people infected with the Zika virus exhibit no symptoms and thus screening at the airport would not make any sense.

‘But what is important is a high index of suspicion by health providers, for example, to take a travel history of patients presenting with a Zika-like illness and a good knowledge of the population,” Hospedales said.

Leptospirosis and malaria, he added, could have similar symptoms to Zika, and doctors and health workers needed to consider these possibilities when attending to patients with Zika-like symptoms.

Saying that the situation was rapidly evolving, Hospedales added, “As a new disease in this population, it’s not completely clear how it will behave.

“Statistics show that while heart disease, diabetes and cancer are the main causes of preventable death and health care costs, we can never let our guard down where infectious diseases are concerned.”

He said the conditions in the Caribbean made it ideal for the virus to easily spread given the abundance of mosquitoes and frequent travel and movement.

To date there have been no confirmed cases of Zika in the Caribbean apart from Haiti, but CARPHA has been working closely with the health ministry to detect any cases.

Dr Joy St John, director of surveillance, disease prevention and control at CARPHA, who also spoke, urged that public health surveillance was a key strategy in the fight against any disease which entailed the ongoing scrutiny of all aspects of a disease pertinent to effective control.

She said before a country was declared as having a local outbreak, a laboratory was critical to confirm the diagnosis.

“In light of this possibility, CARPHA has developed the capacity for Zika testing and has been actively engaged in the testing of samples from many member states as they set up their surveillance activities focused on detecting the arrival of this virus to our collective shores,” St John said.

She said at this time Polymerase Chain Reaction testing, capable of identifying genetic material from Zika, was the only reliable test for the virus.

“Antibody testing is less conclusive because a large proportion of the population in our member states will have antibodies to another similar virus, the dengue virus, endemic in many parts of the region which can confuse test results,” St John said.

Zika follow-up

She said special attention was warranted in the follow-up of patients for varying types of neurological sequelae (an abnormal condition resulting from a previous disease) after Zika infection and particular attention should be paid to following up pregnant patients who present with febrile illness compatible with Zika.

“CARPHA is currently in the process of piloting systems to facilitate the documentation of such cases, should they occur, so as to detect any similar patterns of association in the Caribbean region, as early as possible.

“Barbados has been chosen as the pilot site for this activity,” St John added. She also urged that the best epidemiological data be provided in order for countries to keep abreast of practices in addressing the clinical manifestations of the illness as well as the best practices in vector control.

The family of a 68-year-old man who was struck by a car and killed on Saturday is calling for stricker penalties for speeding.

Ramesh Rajkumar, also known as “Butty”, was killed around 4 pm as he was about to cross the Southern Main Road, near Deonarine Junction, Mc Bean. He was the 16th road fatality for the year.

Eyewitnesses told police the driver was speeding.

His nephew, Prakash Rajkumar, said one of his uncle’s feet was still on the pavement while the other was on the road when the car struck him.

Rajkumar crashed onto the windscreen, shattering it, bounced off and then fell into a concrete drain. Several people ran to his aid and pulled him out of the drain. However, he died on the pavement, despite attempts by the paramedics to resuscitate him.

Rajkumar said that stretch was once known as the death strip because of the amount of fatal accidents which occurred there. 

Couva police are investigating.

Phase II Pan Groove leads the pack going into the final night of competition in the large conventional bands category of the 2016 National Steelband Panorama Competition carded for February 6, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

Supernovas Steel Orchestra, led by Amrit Samaroo, made the jump from small to large band for the 2016 Panorama, and finds itself in position number two going into the final fray of ten bands, while former champion Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra missed the cut by one point with a score of 262 for position 11. 

Witco Desperadoes Steel Orchestra with a change in arranger for 2016 in the person of Carlton “Zanda” Alexander tied with defending champion Massy Trinidad All Stars for third place.

Out of the 14 bands in the medium conventional category, four were eliminated.

The final ten is made up primarily of several past winners, inclusive of Katzenjammers, Sound Specialists of Laventille, Steel Xplosion and Buccooneers.

Title defender Pan Elders, with champion arranger Duvone Stewart, is going for the hat-trick, having triumphed also in 2014 and 2015.

In the small conventional band category, champion arranger Terrance “BJ” Marcelle with his band Arima Golden Symphony is out front after the semifinal competition on Sunday. The combination is seeking another championship title, and if successful, will mean its seventh win in the past eight years in the category. 

The nine other challengers are Laventille Serenaders, Fascinators Pan Symphony, Five Rivers Modern Symphony, Tamana Pioneers, Pandemonium, Our Boys, Tornadoes, La Horquetta Pan Groove, and New East Side Dimension.

How they placed

​Medium Bands

1. Pan Elders

2. Petrotrin Katzenjammers

3. NLCB Buccooneers

4. Curepe Scherzando

5. Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille

Steel Xplosion

7. Melodians

8. NGC Couva Joylanders

9. Carib Dixieland 

West Side Symphony.

Large Bands

1. Phase II Pan Groove

2. Supernovas

3. Massy Trinidad All Stars WITCO Desperadoes

5. CAL Invaders

6. RBTT Redemption Soundsetters

Bp Renegades

8. PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Skiffle Steel Orchestra

10. NLCB Fonclaire

Contractors yesterday held a demonstration in front of Construtora OAS Golconda compound, blocking the entrance with trucks, as they demanded payment of over US$40 million.

The contractors who were hired by OAS to do work along the $7.2 billion San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway claim they have not received payment for the past seven months.

Speaking with reporters, spokesman William Ashby said OAS officials told them they (OAS) had not been paid by National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco), the project manager.

However, Ashby said he and other contractors met with Nidco senior officials yesterday and were told that Nidco was not owing OAS any money. Some 60 contractors, several workers as well as their (contractors) supplies were affected, he said.

“We start action here. We are hoping to get a response from OAS and Nidco by tomorrow, if not we will start the J’Ouvert in town,” said contractor Alastai Ramharack.

They called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Finance Minister Colm Imbert to intervene. 

“Basically what we pleading for is that Government step in and take action. Don’t let this project slip away. Don’t let 3,000 people stay hungry. Don’t let 60 business cripple on the ground.”

Ramharak said they wanted that rectified soon because they heard that OAS was packing up to go home. 

He said some contractors could not send their children to school and the banks were levying on them and they were losing their equipment and land. 

Another contractor, Clint Arjoon, said OAS had been owing him money since 2013 and when he talked out in 2015 his contract was terminated.

Blocking the gates since 11 am were six Jazco water tanks and ten dumper trucks were on the way. 

One OAS employee begged the contractors to move the trucks and allow her to pass with her car because she had to pick up her child from school but they refused. 

The T&T Guardian was told sometime later the police came and ordered the contractors to move the trucks and also issued tickets to some of them. 

Nidco, according to a CNC 3 report, said no money was owed to OAS and could not understand why contractors were still owed. Transport Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds said he did not know anything about the matter. Attempts to reach officials from OAS were futile. 

After his attacker’s gun failed to fire, a San Fernando Fraud Squad detective was shot with his own gun while fighting for his life on Monday night.

Cpl Errol Lewis remained warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital up to last night as police ramped up patrols in search of his attacker. 

An alert was issued to the health care institutions to report anyone seeking treatment for a gunshot wound as it appeared his attacker also was shot.

A report stated that Lewis had just arrived at his Tarouba home around 8.15 pm and as he entered his property the gunman, who was believed to be waiting for him, approached.

Lewis told police he heard the dogs barking and later saw the man walking towards him with a gun pointed at him.

The gunman pulled the trigger twice but luckily for Lewis it failed to fire. When he pulled out is licensed, personal firearm, the gunman jumped on him and they began to fight. He was able to fire a shot which struck him on the hand before hitting his attacker.

The report said Lewis fell to the ground and his attacker ran to the back of the house and climbed over a wall. 

Lewis was taken to the hospital where he underwent emergency treatment.

Southern Division police, including Supt Phillip, Insp Bhagwandeen, Insp Knutt, Insp Persad and Cpl Ramdial, visited the scene and co-ordinated a search for the suspect. 

No motive was given for the shooting yesterday but investigators are trying to determine if the attack was related to his work. Sgt Hajaree is continuing inquiries. 

In the last six months, several police officers were shot and killed. They include:

• PC Russel Ramnarine, 24, who was gunned down along with University of the West Indies student Avery Keshwar at Aranguez Road on December 14.

• PC Govindra Roopnarine, 25, who was allegedly accidentally shot by a colleague at the Guapo Police Station on November 5.

• PC Montgomery Guy, 49, who was shot in the head at Agra Street, St James, on October 4.

•PC Sherman Maynard, 27, who was shot during a prison break at the Port-of-Spain jail on July 24.

With many hardware dealers now importing cheap Chinese steel products, the Steel Workers Union (SWUTT) is warning Government and contractors that infrastructure in T&T will not be able to stand natural disasters in the near future.

Dozens of retrenched workers of Central Trinidad Steel Ltd (Centrin), T&T’s leading supplier of steel products, protested in front of the company’s Point Lisas plant yesterday.

SWUTT general secretary Lancelot Smart said the fallout from the plant’s shutdown earlier this month has led many hardware dealers to import cheap and low grade Chinese products, which have been flooding the international market. 

Speaking to reporters yesterday, he said a leading hardware supplier was now importing the same cheap steel products. 

He called on the Bureau of Standards to conduct mill tests on the products being sold by the dealers, especially for Government contracts. He said steel buyers need to be aware that their products cannot be issued quality assurances.

He added: “We had a meeting with Centrin some time last year when they asked us to give whatever assistance we can by speaking to our affiliates and if possible, by speaking to the Government to see what they can do about hardware dealers bringing in steel from China.

Of course with hardware dealers bringing in their own steel, it hampered Centrin’s ability to sell. 

“In our efforts, they came and laid off the workers and are doing the same things they had asked the Government to stop other people from doing.

“We will be very careful to advise that these steels are inferior without it being tested. What we want to advise is that the Bureau of Standards get involved and do testing and these imported steel,” Smart said.

Branch presidents Ricky Ramdoolar said while the Chinese and Turkish products were cheaper to import than the cost of manufacturing the local items, they did not pass the quality standard test. 

Shop steward Luke Balchan said if hardware dealers were to purchase quality steel like Centrin’s products, it would cost them more. He said they were also selling the cheap product at the same price as quality products.

Centrin’s woes

Centrin produced roofing sheets, Z purlins and C purlins, decking sheets, BRC wire, welded wire mesh, chain link wire, rebars, rounds and High Tensile Deformed Reinforcing Bars.

The company’s operation was halted due to ArcelorMittal’s plant being shutdown last year. Centrin relies on ArcelorMittal’s Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) billets to make its products. This led to Centrin issuing retrenchment notices to 200 employees on January 11.

Smart said while the union understood Centrin’s problem, the company had refused to meet with them to discuss a solution. 

He said they were proposing that the 60 unionised employees at the company be absorbed into Bhagwansingh’s Hardware, Centrin’s parent company.

No clear directives for ArcelorMittal workers

Although ArcelorMittal workers returned to the Point Lisas plant on January 18 after being laid off during the Christmas season, they were informed that workers would undergo orientation and health, safety and environment training for eight days. 

He said workers were still engaged in training and the union was unaware what the company was doing with the plant.

He added: “We have taken the lay off matter to court and in the case management conference, the president of the court had asked that the status quo remained, meaning that whatever was said in those laying off letters should be remained until the finalisation of that matter at the court. 

“That is that the workers would have returned to work on the 18. The final submissions were made at the court yesterday and judgment has been reserved.”

Days after soldiers were instructed to return to the streets to patrol with police officers in crime hot spots, Opposition Senator and attorney Wayne Sturge has criticised the move saying all the military officers were doing was posing for the camera.

Sturge was contributing to yesterday’s Senate debate on a private motion brought by the Leader of Opposition Business, Wade Mark. That motion related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Sturge said that when the PNM was in Opposition in 2013 it objected to putting soldiers in joint patrols with police but in 2016 as the new Government it put soldiers on the streets to patrol with police officers following last Thursday’s killing of two teenage students in Laventille.

Sturge said the Government did it “without attempting the cover of law,” adding the measure was “not only cluelessness, it is deceitfulness.” He then said the Government was not accepting that there was a spike in the murder rate. 

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon told Parliament recently there was no spike in the murder rate. There have been more than 40 murders for the year to date.

Sturge said the Government must be honest with the population, adding: “If there is a murder every day and then one day you get seven? Then what do you call it? That is not a spike? If that is not a spike I don’t know what is.”

He said the Government could not be taken seriously when it said it would ensure the safety of citizens.

Sturge noted that “bloody September” took place under the PNM Government’s watch when the highest monthly murder rate took place during that month last year.

He also knocked the impression being given by the Government that crime would be effectively dealt with if a Commissioner of Police was appointed.

“Just by appointing a Commissioner of Police somehow crime would go down? That is simply a blame game,” he said.

Sturge added: “When the murders continue unabated they will say ‘blame he’, the Commissioner of Police.” 

According to Sturge: “It is disingenuous to give the impression that a Commissioner of Police will make all the difference.”

He then explained that in 2008, Trevor Paul was in office as the commissioner of police “and that (year) was the highest number of murders ever.”

During his contribution, Sturge also suggested that the Government should seek to eliminate income tax in order to achieve one of the goals of reducing inequality within the region.

He also criticised Government Senator Foster Cummings who said earlier that the former UNC and PP governments reneged on moves to have the Caribbean Court of Justice as T&T’s highest Court of Appeal and retained the London-based Privy Council, partly because it was inaccessible to the vulnerable in the country.

While the Government says it’s time for discussions on a national development plan to treat with at-risk youths in certain urban areas—particularly Port-of-Spain “hotspots”—the Opposition has suggested consideration of national service for such youths to save them from a life of crime.

The respective positions were given at yesterday’s senate session by PNM government senator Foster Cummings and UNC opposition senator Gerald Hadeed. Contributions arose during debate on an opposition motion calling on the Government to note the United Nations’ sustainable development goals and implement them.

Cummings noted the murders of two Laventille youths last week. He said when one looked at youths in Port-of-Spain’s outskirts, national discussion ranged from people casting blame to questioning how it could have happened. 

“It all points to the question of poverty and education.”

Noting a recommendation on the issue had once been made in Parliament “by someone” and had received criticism Cummings said maybe it’s now time to pay attention to at-risk youths in certain urban centres in Trinidad and for national discussion on a development plan specifically targetting the areas that various reports usually refer to as at-risk areas.

He added, “On one hand we continue giving a lot of attention to negatives coming out of these areas. But when it comes to discussion on how we treat with it, you get criticisms when there is focus on how we target the special problem and everyone knows there is a problem. 

“So it’s time for us to engage with the assistance of the media, on discussions how do we target and deal with the special problems in certain urban sectors in T&T. Am I talking about Sea Lots and Katanga? Am I talking about Laventille and Morvant? I think we could all answer these questions.”

Hadeed, who spoke before Cummings, said the Government must find ways to encourage youngsters towards more productive ways of life.

“I was passing through an area, which I wouldn’t name, when I saw a sign reading ‘Join a gang, it’s better than a family’. I asked Rev Fabbister David who was with me if he’d seen it. He said it had been there so long,” Hadeed added.

Calling for the Government and Opposition to work together on the crime issue, he added, “If there are divisions in Parliament, it’ll also be divided outside.”

Hadeed said the Government seemed on a path of confrontation, governing without consultation which wouldn’t assist in solving issues. “At some point and very soon the people won’t listen to you (Government) continuing to blame the PP. They’ll say if things are wrong, you should fix them because that’s why they put you in power. The people will judge you by your actions.

Hadeed said upcoming VAT on zero-rated items would affect the poor and should have been placed on luxury items for those who could afford it, not staples. 

Saying hard times would be harder for the poor, he suggested assistance for single mothers, the poor and vulnerable and an increase of the School Feeding Programme to assist such mothers and fathers who needed it.

On Hadeed’s appeals for the Couva Children’s Hospital to be opened, Cummings said at the appropriate time the building would be put to suitable use for Central and T&T citizens. Cummings also raised questions about “millions” worth of poor quality pipe which he claimed was lying in a Chaguanas yard for several years, unused. (GA)

T&T’s only way to guard against the Zika virus is reduction of the host mosquito since stopping the virus’ entry into T&T is virtually impossible, says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.

He gave the information in the Senate, replying to opposition queries on how the Government would curtail the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, especially at carnival time. The virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and its main symptoms include fever, rash, muscle, head and joint pain and red eyes.

Deyalsingh said most of the states in the Americas where the virus has been found haven’t been able to halt entry of it and it was similar to the chikungunya virus which hit T&T in 2014.

“It’s (Zika) virtually impossible, it can only be stopped if you build a wall, halt international trade and containerised trade and movement of people. The vector transmitting chikungunya is also transmitting Zika, so it’s impossible to stop it, regardless of Carnival.”

He said the ministry began management approaches last month with Local Government bodies. “The attack is source reduction, alerting agencies, Insect Vector Division, Local Government, etc, and the public which has a big role to play in this to get rid of potential breeding sites in and around their homes.”

The PNM Government says the Privy Council ruling on the Section 34 issue is no “vindication” for the PP administration.

The Privy Council on Monday ruled that the repeal of the controversial legislation was lawful. This was done by the PP administration. Former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the ruling vindicated her government despite PNM attacks and rabble rousing on the issue. 

Yesterday, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister stated: “With respect to the recent ruling at the Privy Council, the simple outcome is that persons who are charged with criminal offences will be made to face a trial, despite all attempts to do otherwise. This being the undisputed fact then, the public utterances of the Opposition Leader claiming vindication is insulting to the population.”

The statement added: “It was Persad-Bissessar’s Government that produced legislation, into which Section 34 was buried, with the intention of creating an opening for persons to avoid a trial. It was her Government which gave assurances to the Parliament, then promptly ignored them, and it was a Cabinet-led by her which secretly proclaimed Section 34.

“This conspiratorial proclamation had one singular objective and it was to give persons the opportunity to escape the court trial. It was when they were caught red-handed and in the face of public outrage at the actions of her Cabinet that the Government was forced back to the Parliament and with PNM support was made to undo what she had secretly proclaimed.” 

Recalling that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley promised to pay cane farmers if the People’s National Movement was elected to Government, the Association of Combined Cane Farmers are now calling on him to set a date for payment before August.

In a press conference at the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce yesterday, association chairman Balram Ramdial pleaded with Rowley to honour the remaining $103 million owed to cane farmers for the diversification of the trade following the 2008 closure of the sugar industry.

However, the association, which comprises four bodies representing 3,481 former cane farmers, are worried after Rowley said farmers would not be paid. 

In Parliament last Wednesday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar asked Rowley about the payments and he replied that legal advice against the payment was given by her former attorney general and said he would not disregard it.

During a political meeting in Couva last August, Rowley told supporters: “I want to say to cane farmers, we of the PNM have no record of turning our backs on a Government commitment made by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and since this Government has done that, we will pay you the money.”

The farmers said no legal impediments existed as the most of the money was from the European Union (EU) and not taxpayers’ dollars.

Ramdial is now questioning whether Rowley was confusing former cane farmers with former employees of Caroni (1975) Ltd. 

He clarified that cane farmers were contractors who produced the raw material for the Caroni (1975) Ltd and the Sugar Manufacturing Company Ltd. 

He said $130 million is to be paid to them in three tranches of $27 million, $75 million and $28 million, based on a rate of $105 per tonne of cane a farmer would have supplied during a period between 2002 to 2007. 

The first tranche was paid in July 2016 and the second was due last October with the last payment to be done before the end of 2016. 

The first two payments are funded by the EU while the Government has to fund the other. This agreement was signed by the EU, the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture under the People’s Partnership in 2015. 

“This is an agreement that the farmers made with Government and we expect the Government to honour it even if there was a charge of party in the Government in September 2015.

“One Hundred and three million dollars was allocated for payment to cane farmers in 2016 and we see that as good intention by the Government.

“Seventy-five million of that was supposed to be paid out to farmers in December 2015 but that was not done. 

“We would like an early date to be set for the payout of $75 million to farmers. If the Prime Minister can give us a date for the final payout before August 2016, we will be grateful,” Ramdial said.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) will be moving to achieve a higher degree of autonomy as by January 1 next year the organisation will be transformed into the National Statistical Institute (NSI) and removed from Central Government.

As it stood now, the current Statistics Act was “froth” with the statement “subject to the approval of the minister,” said the CSO’s director Sean O’Brien, who added that was the case with many national statistical offices (NSOs) around the Caricom area.

O’Brien was speaking at the launch of the Project for the Regional Advancement of Statistics in the Caribbean (PRASC) at Hilton Conference Centre, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

The project is funded by the Canadian Government.

“Independence must not just be present but it must be seen to be present and as such the new National Statistical Institute will be removed from Central Government to be given a more autonomous footing as a statutory agency or body,” O’Brien added.

He said over the next year the exact form of the NSI would be determined.

Another issue was that many people, outside of statistics, failed to understand the difference between the NSO and the National Statistical System (NSS), O’Brien said.

But, he added, no NSO could produce official statistics without the help of the NSS.

“For example we cannot produce health statistics outside of the help of the Health Ministry. We cannot produce education statistics without the co-operation of the Education Ministry.

“And many of these... what we call satellite statistical agencies outside of the NSO... need some sort of statistical mentoring,” O’Brien said.

He added it was also critical that the standard of international best practice was also maintained to ensue the methodologies by which actual statistics were being produced were of a robust character and worthy of decision-making.

“At present, the CSO and I suspect the NSOs around the Caribbean were not in an ideal position so as to fulfill the role of supervisor of the national statistical system.

“So that the new NSI in T&T would be empowered to go into the ministries and ensure compliance with best international practices,” O’Brien added.

He said the data to be collected from the satellite agencies would then be worthy to compile into official statistics which in turn be used for planning and achieving.

Saying the launch of PRASC was timely, O’Brien said it came at a time when the CSO was at a “crossroads,” as he described the expected change as a “very challenging task.”

He added: “PRASC is here at a time when we need them the most. We need statistical capacity-building at this point in our history more than we ever did before because in the context of T&T we do not want the change from the CSO to the NIS to be cosmetic.

“We do not want it to be merely a change in name. We want it to move from an organisation at one level to an organisation at a much higher level and to enable this we need statistical capacity-building.” 

He said the transformation of the CSO was critical as the UN’s handbook on statistical organisation dictated that national statistical offices (NSOs) should have a high measure of independence.

“As you may know and with many NSOs around the Caribbean area we are a part of the Central Government. Notwithstanding that the CSO does enjoy a high degree of independence.

“In the 20-odd years that I have been at the CSO there has been no report or hint of any government minister or any representative of the political directorate who has even tried to influence the data that we put out,” O’Brien added.

Gerard Latulippe, the High Commissioner of Canada to T&T, who also spoke, said Caricom had identified some statistical gaps in both social and economic statistics, which made it difficult for policymakers to make informed decisions that benefited their countries and the region.

The gaps, Latulippe added, also made it difficult to monitor key development measures in the areas of economic growth, poverty, health, education and migration.

“In most governments statistics, including administrative ones, often do not get the attention they deserve but they are critical to any government’s decision- making to be able to make sound decisions and for countries to assess their successes and challenges,” he noted.

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​PRASC will aim to strengthen the statistical system of the Caribbean in order to address identified gaps to improve socio-economic measures and support evidence-based policymaking. 

The Caribbean community has identified some statistical gaps in both social and economic statistics, which make it difficult for policymakers to make informed decisions that benefit their countries and the region.

The gaps also make it difficult to monitor key development measures in the areas of economic growth, poverty, health, education and migration.

Through the PRASC, Statistics Canada intends to work with the NSO of 14 eligible Caricom countries and in collaboration with other organisations active in the region to develop methods and approaches that can eventually be used by the statistical system of all Caribbean countries. Specifically, the initiative will focus on four components to:

• Enhance the systems of national accounts.

• Improve business statistics by working on a robust business survey infrastructure.

• Improve household statistics, including sex-disaggregated socio-economic indicators, by working on a robust survey infrastructure for household surveys.

• Improve sharing of statistical information and expertise at the national and regional levels.

Embattled T&T off-spinner Sunil Narine has been included in the West Indies team for the upcoming World T20 in Sri Lanka, pending test results on an alleged illegal bowling action.

Banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after he failed his last test on his bowling action, Narine has been doing rehabilitative work and is expected to fly off during the Carnival weekend to Lougborough University, in England to do another test on his bowling action.

If he passes this test, he will take his place in the West Indies squad that will compete in the ICC World T20 in India in March and April.

Today, minister of sport Darryl Smith will host a media conference at his office alongside Suruj Ragoonath, CEO of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and Narine to announce the Ministry’s assistance to the player in the form of elite rehabilitative coaching. 

According to the TTCB, Narine has been allowed to represent his club, Queen’s Park, in the Premier 1 League competitions as he undergoes rehabilitative work on his action.

In addition to Queen’s Park coach David Furlonge and national assistant coach Kelvin Williams, Narine has also been working with bowling consultant Carl Crowe. 

Crowe is a former right-arm off-break bowler for Berkshire and Leicestershire and former assistant coach of the England Women’s Cricket team. The Ministry’s role in this effort is to facilitate and advance the player’s return to regional and international cricket

Once cleared, Narine will join another six Trinidadians on the West Indies team. The others are Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Samuel Badree and Keiron Pollard (pending a fitness test).

The team which is being described as a dangerous one is packed with T20 stars and will be led by the St Lucian Darren Sammy. Also on the team is West Indies Test and ODI captain Jason Holder.

Making a return to the squad is T&T Red Steel spin bowler Sulieman Benn, who missed the tour to Sri Lanka. 

There is no place  for Barbadian Dwayne Smith or T&T’s fast bowler Ravi Rampaul—both of whom were in the team that won the world title in 2012 in Sri Lanka.

West Indies team: Darren Sammy (capt), Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Sunil Narine, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor and Carlos Brathwaite.

A pregnant woman was robbed and then gang raped while a nine-year-old schoolgirl escaped a man she believed was about to abduct her on Tuesday evening. The schoolgirl was forced to jump through the window of a moving red-band maxi-taxi on Tuesday after the driver left the route in Mt Lambert.

The Standard Three student told police she ended up being the only passenger in the maxi-taxi at one stage as it was heading west from the east shortly before 4 pm. The girl said she became frightened when she realised the driver had turned the maxi onto a “strange” road.

She said she told the driver he was going the wrong way but he kept on driving. She then asked him to stop but again he ignored her and continued on. She told police she then began desperately pleading with him to stop but he still refused.

Fearing she would be harmed, the little schoolgirl said she managed to open one of the windows and jumped out. Although she fell very hard on the ground and rolled to the side of the road, she said she managed to get up and run for her life.

The girl told police the driver stopped and turned around the maxi taxi in and attempt to pursue her but she said she hid in an abandoned container on a piece of land. The girl was later found screaming and crying uncontrollably by two passers-by who took her to the St Joseph Police Station. 

She was then taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mount Hope, where she was treated for injuries, mostly cuts and bruises, sustained during her escape. The girl was said to be severely traumatised and is expected to receive professional counseling.

In the aftermath of the incident, the school’s principal reportedly had a talk with pupils at the school yesterday during assembly, where she warned them of the dangers that existed and advised that they should take extra precautionary measures while travelling to and from school.

Police are continuing investigations and a report has been filed with the Ministry of Education. Contacted yesterday for comment, president of the Route Two Maxi Taxi Association, Linus Phillip, said he was stunned but said he hoped the police investigated it thoroughly.

He said while there was no foolproof plan to ensure incidents like that were not repeated, the travelling public, adults and children alike, should exercise extreme caution when travelling on maxis.

“From the time you stop a maxi, take its name and/or number plate. When you enter take a good look at the driver, look around to see if there are any specific posters, paintings, or specialised upholstery so that a proper description can be given in the event that something happens and it reaches to the police.

“It will be good that all these things are done when one is in a composed state so it can be remembered when needed,” he said.

Asked if more stringent measures could be taken to stamp out drivers with criminal intent, Phillip said: “Well, it is already in place. In order for anyone to earn a badge a certificate of good character must be presented.”

Also contacted yesterday, Association of Maxi Taxis president Eon Hewitt said in the coming months security would be beefed up in all maxis, including PTSC buses, where surveillance cameras would be installed. He said for the past two days they had been in talks with Minister of Transport Fitzgerald Hinds on traffic alleviation and security measures.

In the other unrelated incident, police have launched a manhunt for three men who robbed and sexually assaulted a pregnant Chaguanas woman. 

According to a police report, the 24-year-old woman boarded a black Nissan Almera, PCJ 4282, at Roopsingh Road, Couva, around 8.30 pm on Tuesday. Including the driver, there were two other male passengers in the car.

Police said the woman asked to be dropped in Chagauanas but instead was taken to Cunupia where the driver and the other men sexually assaulted her. The woman was also robbed of $1,000 in cash and her cellphone.

A report was made to the Cunupia Police Station. She was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility where she was medically examined.

With 17 road fatalities already for 2016, partygoers are being warned against drunk driving as the DUI Task Force will be waiting outside Carnival fetes. Already 65 people have been arrested by the DUI Task Force following last year’s toll of 1,149 arrests for drunk driving. 

With the message being instilled in secondary school students around San Fernando yesterday, co-ordinator of the Police Service Road Safety Project SRP Brent Batson advised motorists leaving parties to request breathalyser test from the police before getting into their vehicles. 

Speaking at the Interact Club of Naparima College’s Smarter on “D” Road programme at the school auditorium, Batson said that could save lives and money. He said at the same time last year, there were five road deaths. Of the 17 deaths in 2016, the drivers involved in five of them are suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol. 

Further to that, he added, three of 17 deaths were women, ages 27, 42 and 62, three were pedestrians and one motorcyclist. Batson said the TTPS wanted to target schools in its road safety campaign as it believes the much needed behavioural changes in society can be done before young people become drivers. 

He said simple steps like teaching children to cross the road safely and making them advocate against drunk driving should be effective for the future. 

Statistics from 2016 showed people between ages 15-25 were the leading category in road traffic deaths with the age group 25 to 35 following. Together, he said, that accounted for almost 40 per cent of road traffic deaths in T&T. He said  drunk driving was prevalent between ages 30-50 with managers to labourers being arrested for the offence.

Batson added: “The message the TTPS wants to send is to please engage us. We have voluntary breath testing stations. We go outside the fetes to try to warn the persons before to check their limits so we don’t actually have to arrest them.

“We are asking party workers, before you serve people alcohol, if they are looking like they had too much, don’t serve them anymore. Of course if they paid an all-inclusive price, it is their right to drink as much as they want. 

“What I want to warn people is that if you choose to drink and drive, the DUI Task Force will be out there to deal with you. There is no ticket for the offence, remember there is arrest without warrant so you will be going to jail.”

The Integrity Commission (IC) has confirmed it is examining Opposition allegations against Housing Minister Marlene Mc Donald that she allegedly abused her ministerial power in 2008 to facilitate an HDC house for her partner. Confirmation of the situation came via letter from the commission to Fixin’ T&T’s Kirk Waithe.

Waithe had asked the commission if it was investigating the most recent allegations against Mc Donald made by Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge and if the commission would be launching investigations into it. Sturge last December asked the commission to investigate Mc Donald for allegedly breaching the Integrity in Public Life Act. 

He alleged that in 2008 when Mc Donald was community development minister she used her office to recommend and help obtain an HDC townhouse for her common-law partner, Michael Carew, and helped pay for it. Sturge produced documents, including a copy of a cheque paid to the HDC by Carew, and his bank statement. 

He also produced correspondence from Odette Alexander, who was adviser to the Housing Minister in 2008, Emily Dick-Forde. That correspondence requested an allocation of a house for Carew, allegedly on Mc Donald’s behalf. According to the documents, recommendations were made in August and September of 2008 for Carew to be allocated a unit. 

The recommendation of the minister was then allegedly acted upon by the acting HDC manager director, Margaret Chow, who approved the allocation of the unit to Carew on December 3, 2008. Carew, allegedly made the payment for the townhouse the next day.

The unit was reportedly never occupied by either Mc Donald or Carew and was rented out. Sturge said that should also be investigated. He had said the matter was “most serious” since Mc Donald presently holds the portfolio of Housing Minister.

Sturge said if the allegations were found to be true, “as prima facie evidence seems to suggest, it would not be right for such a person to continue to hold such office.”

Mc Donald had denied wrongdoing and said Carew was being treated unfairly. She subsequently confirmed she made inquiries at the HDC on her partner’s behalf but maintained she had not abused office. Prime Minister Keith Rowley later said he was not removing her.

Fixin’ T&T, which has supported calls for her resignation, wrote the registrar of the Integrity Commission on the issue on January 15 and received subsequent response yesterday. Registrar Martin Farrell stated in the commission’s reply: “I wish to refer to your email on the caption and to advise that the matter is receiving the attention of the Integrity Commission.

Mc Donald has also denied allegations made by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) allocations manager Lauren Legall that she (Mc Donald) requested a file for Carew. Legall was one of several HDC senior managers sent on leave in December after the new HDC board ordered an independent audit of HDC.

Legall claimed Mc Donald had made “direct inquiries regarding the deed for a Fidelis Heights property” which Carew purchased in 2008. Legall copied her letter to the Integrity Commission and police. Legall’s letter was in response to a request by the HDC’s Human Resource Department for Legall to return Carew’s file which she  allegedly took last November. 

Legall said she didn’t have the file but felt it appropriate to inform the Integrity Commission of Mc Donald’s inquiries “as she wasn’t accustomed to a minister taking personal interest in a particular client.” Mc Donald described Legall as “disingenuous.”

Commenting on the Integrity Commission’s examination of the Mc Donald issue, Sturge said yesterday: “Kudos to Fixin’ T&T and Kirk Waithe. “They seem to be the only ones applying the same standards to the current Government which they held the past PP government to, when all others, including some union leaders, seem deaf and dumb.”

Asked about further information on the Mc Donald issue, Sturge said he was working on matters regarding the Calabar Foundation — concerning which there had also been allegations about Mc Donald, as well as others within the Housing Ministry. 

In 2014, Mc Donald claimed she didn’t know her companion was a director of the foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that received grants from the community development ministry which she once headed under the former PNM administration. She named Carew as her partner. Mc Donald didn’t answer cell calls on the IC issue yesterday.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley has appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses Minister in the National Security Ministry, assisting National Security Minister Edmund Dillon. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) announced that development yesterday.

The OPM stated Moses would operate with Dillon in addition to his (Moses’) responsibility as the Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs. The Prime Minister mandated that Moses would assist Dillon “in the performance of such duties as the minister (Dillon) may specify from time-to-time.”

Rowley’s move to give the National Security Minister some “assistance” comes in the wake of rising crime and tougher measures by Government after the murder last week of two schoolboys from Success/Laventille Secondary School. 

Denelson Smith and Mark Richards were pulled out of a taxi and shot dead while going home after school.

Within 24 hours Rowley installed an army presence in Laventille and other crime “hot spot” areas around T&T. A handful of murders last weekend, however, followed the PM’s move. Since then none had been noted until another murder was reported yesterday in east Trinidad.

In the interim, Government has been moving to beef up its security framework. The National Security Council was due to meet Tuesday, the same day Rowley visited the National Operations Centre. He received a presentation from  Strategic Services Agency head Col George Robinson and toured the facility.

The PM was accompanied on that visit by Attorney General and Legal Affairs ministers Faris Al-Rawi and Stuart Young, Dillon and Moses. Government officials said the appointment of Moses would consolidate the Government’s onslaught on the crime situation. Neither Dillon or Moses were available for comment.

Moses, who has a BSC in agriculture, MSC in agronomy, also has a post graduate diploma in international affairs. He served as representative at the Organisation of the American States General Secretariat in Guyana and in Barbados as the deputy representative of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) and in other capacities in other countries for six years.

He joined CAB International‘s UK headquarters and was also the regional representative of CAB International.

Opposition Whip Ganga Singh, however, questioned the appointment, saying: “The Prime Minister’s move to appoint the Foreign Affairs Minister has, for one, demonstrated a lack of confidence in the National Security Minister. It’s also baffling, since how could the Minister of Foreign Affairs be involved in local affairs.”