Attorney Larry Lalla has suggested to the business community of Arima and other organizations that they should lobby for legislative change in issuing firearms.

He said in Jamaica the power given to the Commissioner of Police (CoP) to issue firearms to citizens was taken away and placed in the hands of an independent body.

Lalla said T&T should follow the example of Jamaica, which in 2005 set up a Firearm Licensing Authority, which took away the discretion that their Commissioner of Police had in relation to the issue of Firearm User’s Licenses (FULs).

He said this was done because of allegations of bribery by successive CoPs and they did not do their job in a transparent manner.

He was speaking at the Arima Business Association’s (ABA) Firearm User’s Licence meeting at the Arima Town Hall, on Friday.

Lalla said “We no longer live in the dark ages and it’s time we get a better system in place so members of the public can access information.

“We should not be subjected to the whims and fancies of an individual or a commissioner and his policy in the granting of firearms in T&T.

“The law stated in the Firearms Act does not allow any commissioner to have any policy. This is the law and he (CoP) should carry out the law, regardless of what is his individual opinion on the granting of firearms.”

He said the other issue was that applicants did not receive a receipt when they submitted their firearms applications.

Lalla advised that the first thing an applicant should do was to file a Freedom of Information application so that his lawyer can have proper information to take to court.

Addressing members of the audience, he said that it was very important for citizens to ensure that all of their office holders from the highest to the lowest perform as they should.

He said according to the law, quoting Sect 16 of the Firearms Act, every citizen in this country, regardless of background, had the right to apply for a firearm and should be treated fairly.

Lalla said Ag CoP Stephen Williams was in breach of the law by having firearms’ licences sitting on his desk for years with no response to applicants.

He said what Williams was doing was insulting Parliament, because the law was declared by Parliament.

Lalla said Parliament never gave the CoP the right to defer people’s application for a firearms licence.

He said Williams was doing this because he did not want too many people having a firearm and this was not his decision to make, he did not have that power and was acting in an unconstitutional manner.

—reporting by RALPH BANWARIE

Industrial Court president Deborah Thomas-Felix says social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have an impact on the court.

She was delivering welcome remarks at the Industrial Court’s sixth “Meet With The Court” symposium at Regimental Headquarters, Garden Road, Aranguez, yesterday.

Thomas-Felix inquired of the audience “You may ask, what is the link to social media and the court?

“I posit that the advent of new communication technologies that have fundamentally transformed the way we live, play, and work has also signalled a new era for industrial relations.

“Perhaps one of the most transformative impacts is how social media has amplified the right to be heard, creating new avenues fro expression not only for workers, but for all social partners.”

She said whether it was with respect to the use of social media by employees, addressing issues related to employment, disciplinary action or dismissal based on employees’ social media activities, exploring the evolution of labour law to address how social partners might address social media policies, or how the court might better utilise social media in meeting its mandate, it was clear that it was not short of issues to discuss.

In his presentation on Social Media and the Contract of Employment UWI Barbados lecturer Jefferson Cumberbatch said public employers such as the State face unique constitutional issues where their employees use social media to voice their grievances or concerns.

He said the Constitution in various countries guaranteed freedom of expression but it may also be limited in respect of public officers or public servants.

Regarding T&T’s public servants, Cumberbatch cited T&T Civil Service Regulations, Chap. 23:01 139 (1) An officer shall not respond to questions of public policy, in a manner that could reasonably be construed as criticism and which may call into question his ability to impartially implement, administer or advise on Government policy and sub-regulation(1)shall not apply to an officer acting in his capacity as a representative of a recognised association.

T&T authorities have asked international agencies which have relationships with Iraq to obtain information on the young children of three T&T women currently jailed in Iraq for association with the Islamic State (Isis).

This was confirmed by Government officials last week.

The children belong to the granddaughters of Rio Claro Imam Nazim Mohammed. He had been among insurgents in the 1990 failed coup in T&T by the Jamaat Al Muslimeen.

Mohammed’s daughter Anisa, 53 and her husband Daoud, 56 and their daughters, age 23 to 32, had migrated in 2015 to Syria, a conflict zone where Isis operated.

The family was detained by Iraqi authorities last August as Isis’s ranks began crumbling to international assault.

Anisa Mohammed and her daughters Sabirah Kumar, Azizah Mohammed and Aiydah Waheed-Hasib were detained with other females and were held separately to men who were detained.

Mohammed said Sabirah was married to a Guyanese man—Ali Kumar —who was detained separately. He said she had a girl of six and boy of two. They had been born in T&T, he added
Mohammed said Azizah and Aiydah were married to two “T&T-born brothers” and they also had three and two children respectively. But he had never seen those children who he said had been born in Syria.

“Altogether they may have seven or about eight children, most of whom I’ve never seen,” Mohammed added.

Mohammed said there was no word on the husbands of Azizah and Aiydah, nor on their father Daoud, who was expected to have faced trial this month. Mohammed said he felt he “might have been executed” already.

Mohammed, who spoke to Sabirah by phone last week, said he wasn’t begging, but hoped Government could use representatives in England and South Africa to help to get his daughter, granddaughters, and great-grands back home. “As T&T nationals they have rights, regardless of anything they may have done and they’re entitled to representation while in a foreign country,”

Checks by the T&T Guardian with authorities in Government confirmed T&T has no diplomatic relations with Iraq nor is there any facility for exchange or prisoners or deportees.

However, Government officials said the State has been following up the issue of the children involved in the family’s situation and a request had been made a while back to international agencies which liaise with the Iraqi government to obtain information on the young children associated with those jailed. The matter has been in train some time.

Mohammed said Sabirah said they were “ok” when he spoke to them by phone for ten minutes last week. “She wasn’t aware her sisters got 20 years (jail) also because they are housed separate. But they asked me to try and get help to get them out as people (detained) in their prison who were from Canada and other places were getting help from their Governments to get out. While they haven’t been tortured or anything like that, I feel Government should help.”

Primary schools across the country are facing a financial crisis as they are yet to receive any Direct Funding for the 2017/2018 academic year. Officials have warned that if the situation is not rectified soon, it could negatively impact schools’ reopening in September.

The allocation, usually disbursed at the beginning of the academic year, is used to purchase toiletries, stationery, and cleaning supplies.

President of the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Lynsley Doodhai said “Right now, it is the goodwill of principals, parents, and teachers that are propping up our primary schools and keeping them afloat and that shouldn’t be.”

This sentiment was echoed by National Primary Schools’ Principals Association President Cogland Griffith, who said the matter was last raised with officials of the Ministry of Education during their monthly stakeholder meeting in April.

He said, “The majority of schools have not received the allocation which is supposed to be given on a yearly basis. We have been told that monies were allocated but it went to pay suppliers who were not paid last year.

“That puts us in a place where we are without supplies and we are running very low in some instances. At some schools we don’t have supplies and principals are complaining to us about it.”

Griffith said principals were experiencing an overwhelming sense of frustration, especially as the academic year is due to end in the first week of July.

Appealing for an urgent meeting with Education Minister Anthony Garcia to discuss the issue, Griffith said it was unacceptable that 500 primary schools in both islands were forced to operate without “basic supplies.”

This number includes government-run and government-assisted schools.

He said his association would also be affected as they would be unable to properly satisfy accounting procedures detailing their expenditure for the past year and also their requisition for the coming year.

“The ministry should find the funds to purchase the necessary things for us.”

Agreeing with Doodhai, he said “It is not our responsibility to ask parents to get those supplies.”

Concerned that the lack of funding was also affecting teaching and learning outcomes, both Griffith and Doodhai said school officials have been forced to come up with creative ways to raise funds and as such, they have been spending valuable time outside of the classroom.

He said, “Our teachers have to manage a curriculum along with other duties and responsibilities, and we can’t be taken up to go outside and raise funds which means they will lose valuable teaching time. It is not part of our remit to raise funds.”

Confirming a handful of schools in the South-Eastern Education District had received funding for 2017/2018, Griffith said no schools in the Port-of-Spain and Environs Education District and the Caroni Education District had received any funding for the year.

He said, “We cannot contemplate what will happen in September, unless we ask parents to supply or go on a drive which is not something we should be doing to raise funds.”

Asked when last this situation had occurred, Griffith said “I can’t even remember any other time when we didn’t get funding for so long.”

He said “This is a dire situation and it needs to be addressed urgently because if it isn’t, we will not have the basic materials to run schools and if we do open, we will have to solicit the assistance of parents.”

TTUTA’s Doodhai confirmed the financial allocation previously stood at $150 per child, but in the face of the economic crisis this figure was reduced to $100 per child.

Doodhai criticised the ministry over the lack of funding as he said the shortage of supplies had led to parents being asked to shoulder that burden “in the best interest of their children.”

What is Direct Funding?

Direct Funding, introduced in 2012, is a monetary allocation based on the enrolment of the school that is given directly to the institution.

It enables schools to purchase stationery; items needed for the implementation of the curriculum such as chalk, dusters, whiteboards, and markers; and cleaning supplies including toilet paper, liquid soap, garbage bags, mopping liquid and disinfectant—all of which were previously supplied directly by the Ministry of Education.

Minister: We paid 50%

Denying the claims, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said on Friday, “For fiscal 2017/2018, the ministry remitted funds to the boards of denominational schools for Terms One and Two.”

Garcia said this was meant to be used for the upkeep of the school premises and equipment. However, he did admit there were still monies being owed in terms of requisites and other supplies. Garcia said as soon they received the funds, this issue would be rectified.

He said his ministry had remitted approximately 50 per cent of the funding as requested by principals of government-run primary schools, which would be used to purchase stationery, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

The Tobago House of Assembly says it is taking steps to phase out the use of styrofoam on the island and is working with the private sector to do so on a voluntary basis.

THA official Linford Beckles told a Joint Select Committee of Parliament inquiring into waste management policies that while under the current constitutional arrangements the THA did not have the legislative clout to make changes, it was working outside the ambit of the law to address the problem.

He said while there were currently no taxes on styrofoam products coming into T&T, there were taxes on “environmental friendly alternatives,” which he said did not “align with environmental ideals and there was clear need for that to be addressed.”

One of the ways, according to Beckles, is through legislation.

He said: “It is incumbent on us to make structured appeals to our counterparts in Trinidad to assist in this initiative.”

Beckles said there was a willingness to work in that direction. He said the THA was currently working with the Castara Tourism Association to make Castara the first styrofoam free village. The assembly is also working with the Crown Point Partnership Association to make Crown Point a much greener area, and the expectation was that on World Environment Day a few businesses would totally phase out the use of styrofoam and turn to alternatives.

Beckles said the THA was looking at two alternatives to replace the styrofoam, one bagasse based and the other corn based, both of which originated from the United States.

He said the Ministry of Planning was working with corporate interests who produced styrofoam to assist in retooling plants to manufacture the containers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Director of Operations of Ace Recycling Kevin Clarke told the Committee that the company was the largest waste paper recycling plant in the country and recycled 14 million pounds of paper annually.

He said the paper was collected at various locations throughout the country, brought back to the facility, sorted into grades, bailed into half tonne bales, and shipped across the world to be used as feedstock.

The cost per metric tonne for the paper is between US$50 to US$300 depending on the grade.

The company also supplies material to the tissue mill at the Arima Industrial Estate.

“They take the higher grade paper to make a recycled product,” Clarke said.

Modification work was expected to begin yesterday on the Galleons Passage, following its arrival in Panama last week.

Arriving on schedule in Balboa on Wednesday, the vessel was boarded by the Canal Port Captain who identified the modifications to be made and which were in keeping with Canal requirements.

Officials of the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco) on Friday confirmed that a contractor had visited the boat on Thursday to assess the modifications required.

Following this exercise, the contractor subsequently submitted the modification plans to the authorities for approval.

The approval was received on Friday and work was expected to begin yesterday, once the weather improved. The modification works are expected to be completed by today.

Nidco said once the boat passed inspection, it would be advised of its scheduled time to transit the Canal.

It is estimated that the vessel will pass through the Canal on or around May 23.

Once this schedule is followed, officials estimated that the Galleons Passage should arrive in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, by Saturday, good weather permitting

His amazing ability to dramatise stories with a mixture of entertainment and messages of sound values is what makes Fareid Carvalho a household name in T&T’s children’s theatre industry.

Only two weeks ago, he returned to the adult theatre world exploring vital themes such as fatherhood.

In the business for some 17 years, Carvalho’s unique talent has resulted in his productions being sought after especially by secondary school students who study his work in great detail. Part of the School Based Assessments (SBAs) require students to study a live play.

Carvalho, who turns 37 on May 25, has had his plays sponsored and endorsed by the Education Ministry.

But how did his journey begin?

“At St Monica’s Preparatory School the junior school was not allowed in the choir. There was a fantastic acting coach, Sonia Moze. On my lunch hour instead of pitching marbles I would sneak into the hall. I used to watch her in awe directing the students and I couldn’t wait to become part of it all. I was in Standard Two and I could not wait to be in Standard Five,” Carvalho reminisced.

He then went on to St Anthony’s College where his love for theatre and singing intensified. He also became a member of the Love Movement at the junior and senior levels.

“At St Anthony’s I headed the drama department and everything just unfolded from Forms Two and Three,” Carvalho said.

His modelling career also took off at that time when he was discovered by famed fashion designer Meiling.

Coincidently, while at one of the shows, Raymond Choo Kong, a stalwart in the theatre industry, invited him to an audition.

From there, Carvalho’s talent drew much attention as he worked with Richard Young of The Cloth and became a key figure in Radical Designs.

A world of opportunities also presented itself to him, including numerous television commercials.

It’s all of these elements combined which has resulted in Carvalho’s many roles today including producer, writer, director, and now drama teacher.

“While modelling I had to act and while acting I had to model. Everything is intertwined. I never trained formerly. It’s a God-given gift and I decided I wanted to make a livelihood out of it. I didn’t want to work for anyone.

“Although I was hired as an actor I would go to the theatre three hours before to learn. I watched the lighting board, the make-up artist...I basically became a jack of all trades,” he said.

Carvalho, however, became bored of constantly being given the same roles and in 2007 he left for New York to broaden his horizons.

While in the Big Apple, he fell in love with the flagship store of Toys R Us, at Times Square, a place he described as pure magic and an oasis of inspiration.

“That’s the first time I actually saw a live pantomime and that inspired me to have something like that in T&T,” Carvalho said.

He returned to the country with renewed vigour and went into children’s theatre, a first of its kind.

But the road to success was initially bumpy as Carvalho faced heavy criticism.

His first production, the Wizard of Oz, while creatively amazing, was a bust.

“Then I did The Little Mermaid.

I remember my first two shows... not a sponsor came on board. I lost my first vehicle to the bank but I persevered,” Carvalho said.

His biggest inspiration of all, however, is his mother, Elizabeth, who is his rock. Being a single parent she worked several jobs at a time not only to make ends meet but to also ensure her son, her only child, was afford the best educational opportunities.

And today, Carvalho is a force to be reckoned with in the family theatre industry, sought after by students, schools, and even private businesses across the country.

At the start of the new school term in September he is expected to be a creative writing teacher at Mucurapo Girls’ RC, now called St Mary’s Mucurapo Girls’ RC.

What began as three classes at the school quickly turned into 16.

“The Standard Five teacher said they saw a vast improvement not only in the creative writing pieces but work ethic of the girls, like coming to school early. They have been attending my plays for the past ten years and they realised the kids were absorbing the messages via this medium.

“In my plays I try to incorporate some aspects of the syllabus like moral values and accepted social behaviour patterns. The teachers wanted this in an actual school setting and after 16 classes they wanted me as a permanent creative writing teacher. The country is so crazy with all the crime and violence and if I give some hope to one child I will be happy,” Carvalho added.

He will also be the feature speaker at the school’s graduation ceremony in June.

His advice to struggling drama students, “I paid my dues. I made coffee for the producer and faced negativity. It’s not going to be easy.

I got many closed doors in my face but never gave up. Where there’s a will, there’s always a way.”

Unaware that her family was being robbed, the two-year-old daughter of a pundit greeted one of the intruders and went to hug him. This innocent act of kindness did not stop the bandits from grabbing two gold bracelets off her tiny hand.

The robbery took place at around 2 am on the compound of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Freeport where Pundit Gajendra Kumar, a national of India, lives with his wife and children.

During the ordeal, which lasted about two hours, the armed and masked bandits stole approximately $35,000 in cash and about $85,000 worth of 22 carat gold jewelry from India from two vaults in the administration building of the temple. They also relieved the family of electronic devices, phones and jewelry and even helped themselves to beverages from a refrigerator.

Villagers and temple devotees, who gathered outside the temple as word spread about the incident, expressed shock and outrage that the robbers were daring enough to violate an area regarded as holy ground.

The temple, as well as an authentic Indian restaurant on the compound, opened as usual yesterday.

Temple president Seeta Mahabir said the robbers, who were armed with a gun, cutlass and crowbar, did not enter the temple itself. They gained entry by breaking through a door in the administration section, then tied up the caretaker and a female security officer.

“They ransacked the whole place and took his money then they moved to the spiritual head office and that’s where they found the vault. They took all of our money, then they went to the pundit’s house. They ransacked the house totally,” Mahabir said.Pundit Kumar and his family were asleep when the robbers broke into their quarters on the compound.

“They put a hand on his stomach and they say, ‘Wake up, is a hold up.’ They had gun to his head,” Mahabir said.

The pundit’s children, a twin boy and girl, were usually up at around that time to be fed. However, only the girl woke up, while her brother remained under a blanket on the bed.

According to Mahabir, who barely managed to contain her emotions, the toddler greeted the intruders and was going to embrace them when the bandits ordered her mother to put her back to sleep. They removed bracelets from the little girl’s hand.

The bandits tied up the pundit and his wife then plundered their home, taking their phones, jewelry, cash, a television and other electronic items.

“Everything is gone,” Mahabir said.

The money stolen from the temple vault was from last week’s sales at the restaurant.

No one was injured but the family was traumatised by the experience. It was the first time that the temple, which was established more than ten years ago, had been robbed. Mahabir said the Pundit Kumar, who did not speak to the media, is considering returning to India with his family.

“It is a violation of one’s right and a right to safety and it’s a very worrying situation,” she said.

Despite the ordeal, Pundit Kumar conducted Sunday service, which is broadcast live on 106.5 FM, from 9-11 am.

Freeport police are investigating.

A 27-year-old Charlieville man died in an early morning accident near the Couva Interchange yesterday.

Ricardo Ramjattan, a facilities co-ordinator with Prestige Holdings, died instantly when his body was flung from his vehicle and landed on cable barriers on the median of the Solomon Hochoy Highway. His friend Esperanzza Berallo, 24, a Venezuelan national, is warded in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Police said Ramjattan was on the southbound lane of the highway when he lost control of his black Bluebird Sylphy at around 5.45 am. He was thrown out of the vehicle which landed on its hood on the median.

Relatives, who gathered at Ramjattan’s home at Joe Lane, Kolahal Road, on hearing news of his death were too distraught to speak. However, a close friend, Andy Samlal, who is married to Ramjattan’s cousin, described him as a good person.

He said he believed Ramjattan, who lived with his parents and was the eldest of their four children, was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.

“He did not drink alcohol, he was not into drugs. He was always normal and very helpful,” said Samlal who explained that hours earlier Ramjattan had picked up Berallo from her workplace, Southern Edge in La Romaine, and they went liming in Couva.

“It is a normal routine for them to hang out after work. She has been living here about three or four years now,” he said. “I was with him until about 11 pm and then we went our separate ways. He was normal.”

Samlal said he found out about the accident from a friend who saw gruesome images of Ramjattan’s body posted in a WhatsApp chat.

Since 2008, National Quarries Limited and the Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBDC) have been operating quarries without ownership of the lands, mining licences, or the necessary contracts, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat revealed yesterday.

He described the two state entities as among the biggest defaulters in the quarrying sector but said the Ministry of Energy is taking steps to regulate them and grant the necessary licences.

Rambharat, who spoke at rehabilitation project at National Quarries grounds in Valencia to mark United Way’s National Day of Caring, detailed the extent of illegal and unregulated mining across the country and recounted a recent visit to Windsor Park where he viewed destruction caused by such activity.

“It is the taxpayers’ money that will be spent to correct this illegal quarrying,” he said.

“The persons who gave permission to operate quarries have no responsibility, as well as the persons who did the mining and worst of all not one cent of royalty was received.”

On the issue of hunting, Rambharat said he wants to encourage sustainable practices that protect wild life but understands that from Matelot to Marac, hunting is an economic activity.

“While I like hunting, I am the minister that imposed the most restrictions on hunting and very many more to come,” he said.

While conceding that the benefits from rehabilitation projects like the one in Valencia will be seen in 20-30 years, Rambharat expressed concern about the ministry’s reforestation programme which has been in operation for mamny years, because although some $22 million of taxpayers money is being spent a year, he is “yet to see the value.”

The minister admitted that he has been struggling for two and half years to see the balance between the 3000 jobs created and the value generated by that project.

RALPH BANWARIE
 

In cases where the safety of students is jeopardised, principals and teachers can be suspended, Education Minister Anthony Garcia warned yesterday at the launch of the North Central Regional Health Authority’s (NCRHA) SUNreach Training Programme for teachers at the Mount Hope Women’s Hospital.

Citing a recent case where a principal was suspended after a pupil’s arm was broken during an altercation with a schoolmate, Garcia said: “Some teachers and principals are being penalized because of not discharging their responsibility.

The major responsibility is the safety of the students and in this case, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) felt that the principal was not exercising due care.”

The minister said the SUNreach programme will give teachers tools to ensure the safety of their students. The programme was developed by the medical team at the EWMSC Paediatric Department to help teachers quickly identify and respond to medical emergencies at school.

Head of the Paediatric Emergency Department at the NCRHA Dr Joanne Paul said teachers are often not aware of the grave danger students might be facing, particularly in cases of injury, allergies or asthmatic reactions.

CEO Davlin Thomas said the NCRHA sees the programme as a strategic opportunity as there has been an increase in cases of children coming to the emergency room with injuries and complicated ailments that can be prevented or minimised if properly managed with early intervention. He said the objective is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with delays in handling paediatric emergencies.

“The first two cohorts of the SUNreach programme have taken the training seriously and excelled at the practical and classroom session of the course, as all participants surpassed the requirements and were awarded certificates,” he said.

So far, 67 teachers from 20 secondary and primary schools in the NCRHA’s catchment area have been trained to provide emergency first response care to children at school.

Garcia and Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh were present for the launch of the third cohort of teachers for the programme which has been oversubscribed since it started in January.

Deyalsingh thanked the NCRHA for a “positive turnaround” in organisational and managerial techniques that have kept the mortality rate down at the Women’s Hospital.

Kelly Chatoor, brother of murdered businessman Navindra “Nari” Chatoor, said pertinent information has been passed on to the police and he is confident his family will get justice.

Navindra Chatoor was shot four times at point-blank range by a gunman who walked up to him shortly after 10 pm last Monday while he was serving customers from a burger cart at Cross Crossings, San Fernando. An autopsy revealed that he died of gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.

His brother praised the police for responding quickly to the scene.

“We have no problems so far and we are confident that we will get justice,” he said.

Investigating officers have taken statements from eyewitness and have a description of the gunman. They will be reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businessess.

Chatoor believes his brother’s murder was a “hit” and that it might be linked to the murder of another brother, Rishi, who was fatally shot on May 22, 2015, at a bar not too far from his home in St John’s Village.

Chatoor, who is the registered owner of Chatoor’s Burgers, a business he started on August 3, 1996, on the Gulf City Link Road, said his mother, Shirley, is very distraught about the violent death of another of her sons.

However, he was reluctant to comment further on his father’s killing in 2006 and the murder of another brother, Kimraj, in 2008. He did point out, however, that yet another sibling, Balchan, had died from poisoning.

Chatoor said his family is law-abiding and are business people who are “not involved in anything illegal.”

The murder of Nari Chatoor, the fifth member of the family to be killed, took place nine days before the three-year anniversary of brother Rishi’s death. His funeral took place last Friday morning.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan has denied claims of ethnic cleansing of T&T’s East Indian community via the property tax.

He did so in response to questions from reporters when he attended the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha’s (SDMS) Indian Arrival Day dinner at the Radisson Hotel, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday night.

Prof Dilip Dan, head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at The UWI, who was honoured at the event, had referred to ethnic cleansing and claims that the reintroduced property tax targeted East Indian when he spoke at the function.

However, Sinanan said ethnic cleansing had no place in T&T and was not a factor in any of Government’s decisions. He added that traditionally East Indians have always been comfortable paying property taxes.

In his address, in which he focused on ethical leadership, Professor Dan said although the majority of T&T’s scholars are of East Indian origin, they make up only 18 per cent of corporate T&T and major Government posts are not proportionately obtainable by that ethnic group.

He also said most cases of racial prejudice had been adjudicated by the courts and pointed out that Radio and TV Jagriti, media outlets operated by the SDMS, had faced many legal battles.

SDMS Secretary General Satnarayan Maharaj said the organisation’s schools, which had once been described as cow sheds, are now the prefered schools in the country.

He said Lakshmi College had been called a “see through” college because at one time its administrators couldn’t afford doors and windows but had broken every record in the Caribbean for three consecutive years by winning the President’s medal.

Maharaj added that SDMS schools will not close down due to a lack of Government funding because they are self reliant and raise their own funds.

The Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), the recognised majority union for workers at the University of T&T (UTT), is yet to receive critical information from Education Minister Anthony Garcia on recent retrenchments at the institution.

Second vice president Sati Gajadhar-Inniss said the union submitted a counterproposal to the UTT’s proposed restructuring in February but the university’s board and management had “blatantly refused to discuss” the matter.

“The union did write to the Minister of Education on April 10 but to date is yet to receive a reply,” she said.

Gajadhar-Inniss said the UTT board has also been unwilling to consider adjusting allowances for high paying management, or other cost-cutting proposas which the OWTU claims would have saved more the university more than $40 million.

Approached for comment yesterday, Garcia said: “I have left all questions to be answered by the university’s board and management.”

Meanwhile, eight of the workers retrenched by the UTT are now seeking answers from Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus about the staff cuts at the university

The workers, who are being represented the Sanctuary Trade Union which is led by political activist Devant Maharaj, are asking whether UTT served notice to the Ministry of Labour but the retrenchments.

On May 11, 30 UTT staffers were served retrenchment letters, They include 11 lecturers from Centre of Education programmes. Last Friday, more letters were distributed at UTT campuses at O’Meara, Valsayn Teachers College, John Donaldson and Point Lisas.

Police were up to late yesterday still questioning the suspect held in connection with last Tuesday’s shooting of Scotiabank employee Rostan Mahabir. They confirmed that charges have not yet been laid.

Snr Supt Zamsheed Mohammed revealed during a walkabout on High Street, San Fernando, on Friday that an arrest had been after investigators conducted surveillance work. H said the suspect was arrested around 2.30 pm on Friday at a house in Fyzabad in an operation co-ordinated by South Western Division police.

Mahabir was shot in the abdomen shortly before 8 am Tuesday as he was about to enter his work place on the corner of Penitence and High Streets. The gunman grabbed his computer bag and ran down Penitence Street.

Mahabir, 28, was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to repair serious internal injuries. He remains warded in a stable condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where his condition is being closely monitored.

Police have not been able to get a statement from Mahabir because he is being kept sedated.

Investigations are continuing.

BRIDGETOWN—Citing disrespect from the T&T-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart says if his Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is re-elected in the upcoming general election, his administration will leave the CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction.

Stuart, who was speaking late Saturday at a political meeting in the parish of St. Michael, said he also had a problem with the limited number of cases brought before the regional court.

“That court has heard two cases for the year—one from Barbados and one from Guyana,” said the Prime Minister, who added that Barbados will not return to the London based Privy Council.

“. . . we are not going backward, life goes not backward or tarries with yesterday, but once the Democratic Labour Party is re-elected to office, I am determined to put Barbados on the same level as every other Caricom country by delinking from the Caribbean Court of Justice in its appellate jurisdiction. We went in first and we can come out first.”

Stuart told supporters he was not commenting on the decisions of the CCJ, noting that as an attorney he respects the decisions made by the regional court.

To date, the only countries that have signed onto the CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction are Barbados, Guyana, Dominica and Belize.

In its appellate jurisdiction, the CCJ hears appeals from the lower courts in both civil and criminal matters, while in its original jurisdiction, the court interprets the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for countries, businesses and citizens of Caricom.

Barbadians will go to the polls in a general election on Thursday to elect a new government with the contest expected to be between the ruling DLP and the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) headed by Mia Mottley, who is seeking to become the first woman head of government in the country.

Ashmeed Mohammed, shortly after 11 pm, opened the door to the restaurant at Cipriani Boulevard after hearing a knock. Three armed men stormed in and opened fire on Mohammed.

Several staff members, who were still at work, carrying on post-closing duties were unharmed but said to be in “extreme shock.”

Mohammed died on the scene. Police said the gunmen escaped in a waiting Tiida vehicle.

Officers have already taken surveillance footage and are in the process of viewing.

Employees are very scared for their lives.

See full story in tomorrow’s edition of the T&T Guardian

Central Division police are bracing for more bloodshed following the murder of 17-year-old Kevon Paul, who was gunned down a short distance from his Claxton Bay home on Sunday.

Witnesses said a relative was heard calling for “reinforcements” at the crime scene, demanding blood for the death of Paul.

Hours later, a man was shot in the leg near the scene of Paul’s murder and investigators are probing whether it was in retaliation.

A report stated that around 8 pm Sunday, Paul was standing along Lodge Road Extension when a silver Nissan Tiida sedan stopped alongside him.

A gunman emerged and opened fire on Paul, who attempted to run but was hit several times.

The gunman then got back into the car and the driver drove off. Paul died on the scene.

Couva CID and Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region Three officers responded and a search was made for the car and the occupants. However, neither was found up to late yesterday.

Investigators were yet to establish a motive yesterday but noted that the area had been a hotspot of drugs, guns and other crimes. Even residents complained of feeling unsafe in their homes and warned the media of the presence of criminals in the community.

When a news team visited Paul’s Rosehill Street home yesterday, a relative hurled expletives and threats at journalists, adding that he did not want them in his community.

Investigators were also running background checks on Paul to see if they could find any links to his killers.

On Paul’s Facebook profile, there are photographs of him wearing large gold jewellery and in possession of a large amount of cash.

In an unrelated incident, a motive is yet to be determined for the murder of 22-year-old Maraval resident Kadeem Critchlow yesterday.

According to a police report, at about 9.30 am Critchlow, of Le Platte Village, was walking along a dirt track in the area when he was shot several times about the body.

Residents who heard the gunshots later found him dead.

Critchlow’s murder was the 213th for the year so far.

Investigations are continuing.

—With reporting by Rhondor Dowlat

An estimated 300-plus workers are being cut from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. While 57 academic staffers have so far received dismissal letters, an additional 287 non-academic staff members are also expected to be dismissed, Education Minister Anthony Garcia confirmed yesterday.

Garcia was replying to queries in the Senate from UNC Senator Wade Mark on UTT job cuts.

Garcia’s figures signalled an estimated total of 346 staffers will be losing jobs.

Garcia said, “Information from UTT states 59 academic staff are to be dismissed, 57 of which already received dismissal letters. In addition, 287 non-academic staff are expected to be dismissed. Discussions are still ongoing between the Oilfield Workers’ Trade union (OWTU) and the UTT,” Garcia said.

He was also asked about the request for information by the union regarding the 287 to be retrenched.

“As part of the negotiating process, the union has been requesting certain information - bits of information - that has been provided to them. However, I’ve facilitated three meetings in an effort to bring both parties together and at the last meeting I held between the union and UTT, the union had requested some additional bits of information.

“The UTT is now treating with that information and I’ve been assured that in the not-too-distant future that information will be relayed to the union.”

Mark expressed concern at the impact retrenchment of 300-plus workers would have on UTT’s quality of education.

On further Opposition questions about whether the Labour Ministry had been formally notified of the retrenchment exercise - and what assistance is being provided by the ministry to retrenched workers -, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus said: “Information from UTT states that with regards to the academic staff, they’re not deemed to be workers under the (governing) act which requires reporting to the ministry.”

The law mandates that job cuts over five must be reported by employers to the ministry.

Mark protested Baptiste-Primus’ information, saying the academic staffers are citizens.

On assistance for workers, Baptiste-Primus added, “We have a programme in our 10-point plan - the National Employment Service - where employers register with us and unemployed/retrenched people are invited to register with the Labour Ministry.

“We’ve also opened a National Retrenchment Register to capture more accurately the number of people retrenched in T&T, as the act states an employer is only required to inform the Labour Minister if that employer is retrenching five or more workers. Under five there’s no requirement.

“So we invite those retrenched to visit our offices and they’ll be given the necessary assistance and guidance where possible.”

Prior to the Senate yesterday, Sanctuary Workers’ Union president Devant Maharaj told T&T Guardian that last Friday, UTT’s president refused to “meet and treat with the wrongful dismissal of the UTT lecturers.”

The union has lodged a formal trade dispute with the Ministry of Labour on the matter.

Maharaj added, “The minister, in accordance with Section 51 (1) of the Industrial Relations Act and Regulations, now has 14 days in which to respond to the union. SWU notes that despite the very public disquiet about the callous and wrongful termination of the UTT lecturers, the Minister of Labour hasn’t been heard on the issue.

“The dismissals of the UTT lecturers were harsh, oppressive and contrary to the principles and practice of good industrial relations and unbecoming for an institution that teaches international best practices in management.”

It’s a free country.

That was the general sentiment from United National Congress (UNC) and People’s National Movement (PNM) officials yesterday to moves by Mickela Panday and her group to form a political party.

Panday and her supporters received a loud “yes” from some quarters when the question of forming a party was raised at an open forum she hosted in Chaguanas on Sunday. Chairman of the function, Dr Ronald Roopnarine, said the “consensus was clear” and the group intends moving ahead with plans for a party.

Commenting on this, UNC MP Suruj Rambachan said, “This is a free country. Anybody who wants to enter the political fray has freedom to do so - we’ll see them on the hustings.”

Asked how UNC might maintain members - especially old Panday supporters - in the face of the Panday group’s moves, Rambachan was tight-lipped. But he added, “The UNC will always retain its maximum base. The party’s been serving people and people are beginning to understand UNC was a very good party in government and they continue supporting it.”

On whether the Panday name would win over UNC members, Rambachan said, “It’s on the hustings, you’ll see the final determination.”

Asked about what he thought of the attendance at last Sunday’s Panday group launch - and that UNC MP Ganga Singh attended - Rambachan said, “It’s good people are going to see what’s on offer, they’re free to go anywhere they want.”

But UNC activist Devant Maharaj, who came out swinging, said third parties only assist the PNM, Team Unity, COP and ILP.

Maharaj added, “I was a part of the Team Unity under then-AG Ramesh Maharaj, I also was part of COP with Winston Dookeran, I saw the rise and fall of Jack and Hulsie. These political figures were much larger than Mickela and they failed. They only beneficiary to a third party has been and will always be the PNM.

“Imagine Louis Lee Sing, whose station was in full swing attacking the Panday administration, now clapping for Panday? Is it that the PNM is silently going to support this new entity knowing they will split the vote?”

He added: “What’s Mickela’s claim to fame other than the Panday name? Panday is trying to live a dream but really putting the population in another PNM nightmare. Panday’s toy of a party to his daughter will be paid for by an unsuspecting population.”

Also commenting yesterday, PNM general secretary Daniel Dookie said, “In T&T’s democratic processes everybody’s free to engage in the political process as they see fit. If people have political ambitions, our system allows them to pursue that in accordance with T&T’s laws. But the PNM’s a political party and we’ll do our job in any competitive environment and do what we have to in order to be victorious at all the polls regardless of who’s contesting - we take on all comers.”

In the absence of COP leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, who’s overseas, COP MP Prakash Ramadhar said he always encourages people to get involved in politic, “but we must all work together in a unified effort if we have to improve T&T. I look forward to many others getting involved not only for leadership but to find solutions, as people are tired of the same old rhetoric.”

COP Parliamentary caucus member Rodger Samuel said,”Personally, I feel T&T’s at a stage where some are disappointed in the Government not doing well and others have trust issues with the Opposition. In such an environment, entities arise - people are searching. But it augers well for politics as it gives new perspectives and redounds to the people’s benefits.”

Tough task—Analysts

Political analysts had mixed reactions to Mickela Panday’s open forum meeting last Sunday, which ended with a call for her to launch a new political party.

Dr Winford James (overseas) said, “I haven’t read all the reports, but if they’re true then it’s not good news for Kamla and the UNC. Mickela may release energies within the Indo-TT constituency that are pro-Panday, young and feel alienated. She’d also create space for the Prime Minister and the PNM - but she has the task of building her brand. Not easy in two and a half years.”

Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, who said the Panday move was the latest of several aggregations he’d heard of being formed, said,”My view is whether the support base is broad enough to take this Panday initiative into the future as a strong political party. From media reports, last Sunday’s gathering was a small group. They need to expand their base and ensure their movement if they’re to survive at all.”

He said currently there are political entities with small numbers of people and whether the Panday initiative would be a significant enough to be a third force, “we’ll have to wait and see”. But he saw them as no threat to the two main parties at this point.