Rhondor Dowlat

A large cache of high-powered guns—including AK 47s, assault rifles, and Glock pistols—were highlighted in a video that went viral yesterday on social media along with two voice notes warning citizens to stay away from the Beetham and Port-of-Spain areas as a result of impending gang wars.

However, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) described the circulation of the video as “reckless and irresponsible” and intended “to create public mischief and promote panic.”

The TTPS added that the large cache of firearms did not originate in T&T, but confirmed that the “mischievous” voice notes, however, are being generated locally.

Commissioner of Police (Ag) Stephen Williams has sent a stern warning to people to desist from producing and circulating “the offending communications.”

The TTPS has advised members of the public who come into possession of these communications to delete and cease the further circulation of it. “The TTPS will continue to be actively present in all communities across T&T to provide safety, security, and reassurance to the citizenry.”

The video with a version of Bob Marley’s rendition of ‘One Love’ showed the high-powered weapons displayed on a leatherette couch set. Around the room were several baskets of clothes, appliances boxes, and a dining set with personal items on it.

In one of the voice notes (47 seconds), a woman spoke of the guns and questioned the safety of children, believed to be close to her. She was heard saying: “...I see something on a video with Rasta City. Ramadan done already today (referring to yesterday), if you see guns and what type of guns. O Lord, I don’t know what’s going on…if you could call or send a voicemail to your children and tell them if they don’t have to go anywhere stay home and if they have to go let them go their way and come back home because I don’t know what will happen.”

She also sent a warning: “Please be vigilant and be careful…send them a voice note and wherever they is, let them stay. We don’t know when it will start and what will happen because them mean business.”

In a second voice note (46 seconds) a male voice believed to be a member of law enforcement warned those working in POS and those doing intelligence to “be alert and be careful.”

He claimed that instructions were given by “The boss,” referring to a gang leader in the Beetham to “Keep the area clean and clear after 5 pm…The word came from the boss…Don’t know what they expect or what they plan to do, but who working town side to be alert and aware of what taking place.”

POS North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young, meanwhile, said there are people who are trying to create panic, confusion, and despair.

He said the video was downloaded from the Internet, having originated from another country.

“The mischief makers are putting these videos and even voice notes onto social media and they are then being circulated with the suggestion that they are legitimate and from T&T.

“It is obvious that there are some who wish to mislead the population with dishonest and destructive untruths. All patriotic citizens must unite behind and support our law enforcement agencies in the performance of their duties to protect and serve us, and we will also ensure that those who desperately wish to destroy and mislead T&T are exposed for who they truly are and for what their nefarious, unpatriotic agendas are.”

Warring gangs

Warring gangs—the Rasta City gang and the Muslim gang promised "bloodshed" after the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday on Friday. The Rasta City gang also started its "campaign" by painting light poles in Gonzales in the Red, Green, and Gold colours declaring the area to be theirs and "declaring war against the Muslims." However, the authorities promised to increase the presence of police and soldiers in Beetham and certain parts of East POS.

The first strike was when a team of police officers moved into Gonzales on Friday and repainted the light poles in white.

This latest video and voice notes followed last week’s social media leak of three lists containing the names, photos, and addresses of 111 suspected gang members, including gang leaders.

The leak came two days after the Sunday Guardian’s expose on over 200 gangs that exist in T&T and a “secret document” which was sent to the Ministry of National Security and the TTPS identifying over 2,000 people–their names, alias’, addresses, gang affiliation, and known offences.

The leaked documents listed three areas in the Port-of-Spain Division–Leau Place in Laventille; Beetham–Phase 1 to 4, and Basilon Street.

It showed photographs along with names and alias’, date of birth, addresses and gang affiliation numbering 45, 64, and 12 respectively.

Some of the gangs identified are G Unit gang, Rasta City, Cassava Peace, Sea Lots gang, and the Muslim gang. Some of them were also linked to other areas including Diego Martin, Carenage, Belmont, and Morvant.

A police source from the POS Division, who wished not to be identified, told the T&T Guardian that most of the names appearing on the lists are “known criminals” to the police but admitted that some were “suspected affiliates.”

He refused to say if it was an official document from the TTPS.

Speaking with the Sunday Guardian, one of the men from Beetham whose photograph and name appeared on the list said he believes that the document was deliberately released by police officers, “These police dem always on we case and they friending with other gangs and this is a revelation for the rival gangs to see what we look like to kill we na boy.

Another man from Laventille said he was innocent and not in any gang, “just now you might hear I get gunned down like a dog too because of this list. We black na and from the hills so they say all ah we is gangsters but is not so.”

A community leader, who wished not to be identified, said yesterday, “I live in reality…I don’t deal with social media…Them (referring to the police and soldiers) accustom doing what they doing and I accustom doing what I doing…I am not bothered.”

The Credit Union Movement in the Caribbean region is "not only alive and well but is growing astronomically in strength, stamina, and stature," Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has said.

"But the real significance, true value and full potential of this phenomenal growth and development will be lost to the world at large if, side by side, the movement does not come face to face with commensurate levels of independence, responsibility, accountability, authority, and maturity: free from dependence upon commercial banks and private sector financial institutions to lodge your membership shares and deposits, free to put the mechanisms in place to compete aggressively, if they so desire, in the provision of the widest range of financial services to all and sundry: ATMs, purchase and sales of foreign exchange, wire transfers, letters of credit, debit and credit cards etc: financial instruments, the escalating cost of which eat away at the shares, deposits and dividends so sacrificially and painstakingly accumulated," he said.

Rowley made the statement as he delivered the keynote address as the Co-operative Credit Union League of T&T hosted the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions Convention at the Hyatt Regency.

"Co-operative credit unionism has come of age, and we shall epitomise this only to the extent that we are prepared to walk the talk, take hold of the baton and head toward completion of the final leg, Rowley said

"Make no mistake about it. Power to change the future will call upon you to draw down from the wealth of merits of your proven track record and, above all, summon your richly gifted attributes of tenacity, grit and determination, and by no means least, your abiding and relentless passion for progress and excellence," he said.

Rowley said the region needs emulate how Canada protects depositors at credit unions.

"Our objective in the Caribbean should be to take a page from the Canadian experience, where credit union members enjoy, in many provinces, higher levels of deposit protection than that which is available to commercial bank customers," he said.

According to 2016 figures, T&T accounts for almost half the number of credit unions in the Caribbean.

Rowley said the number of credit unions in the Caribbean in 2016 was 297 with a membership of 2,505,918.

Shares and deposits amounted to $5.3 billion dollars, loans totalled $4.3 billion, and reserves stood at $651.6 million.

RADHICA DE SILVA

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

As T&T prepares to celebrates Labour Day tomorrow, political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah has expressed concern that the achievements of the working class following the 1937 revolution are being eroded.

Speaking at a press conference at MSJ’s headquarters in San Fernando yesterday, Abdulah said workers continue to experience exploitation, victimization, discrimination and unjust working conditions.

“Today it is almost as if June 19, 1937, never took place. Thousands of workers have lost their jobs by retrenchment or non-renewal of contracts. Thousands more are threatened with losing their jobs, tens of thousands are unemployed and cannot put bread on the table for their children. Young workers, including thousands of university graduates, cannot find decent jobs, and those that do are on short-term contracts making it impossible for them to plan their future,” he said.

“Some employers are cutting workers’ pay and forcing them to work longer hours without overtime. More than 100,000 workers are working with long expired collective agreements. More and more workers are being hired on short-term contracts making their jobs and lives insecure. Prices are going up every day, making it difficult for families to make ends meet. Additional taxes are being piled on the backs of workers and farmers and our nation’s food producers are fighting every day just to survive.”

Abdulah claimed employers, led by foreign multinationals are “actively engaged in union-busting by preventing workers from joining a trade union of their choice.”

He said even though Labour Day is important to celebrate victories won, T&T must also reflect on lessons learned and prepare for the struggles yet to come.

“It is also a moment to remind ourselves of the agenda of the 1937 Revolution and to identify the business that is unfinished,” he said.

The MSJ leader said politics has stood in the way of fulfillment of the 1937 agenda. Comparing the UNC and PNM to the colonial powers of the past, he said both parties use race to fulfill their agenda amd have failed working people.

“Their track record is clear. The UNC failed to deliver on the promises of the Fyzabad Accord and the manifesto to implement reform of labour laws and to treat workers and unions with respect and fairness. The PNM has violated the MOU. In three years there has been no reform of labour laws, trade unions are not represented on state boardsand unions have been excluded from decision making,” he said.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

A photograph being widely circulated on social media which claims to show Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley asleep during an Eid-ul-Fitr function in San Fernando, has been described as misleading and disrespectful by head of the Macoon Street Jamaat, Imam Raffaic Mohamed.

At a news conference yesterday, Mohamed denied that Rowley was sleeping and said the persons who circulated the photograph should have contacted the masjid authorities before posting it on social media.

“I came here to clear the air about what occurred at the masjid. As the leader of the masjid, it was disrespectful and in bad taste. As host to the Honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, it is my duty and responsibility to say the truth,” he said.

“I invited him to sit there, which he did. After which he was called upon to bring greetings on behalf of the government and the people of Trinidad and Tobago. It saddens me that this issue is embarrassing to the masjid and the Prime Minister since he was an invited guest.”

Mohamed denied that the masjid was affiliated with the PNM and that was why Dr Rowley was invited.

“The Macoon Street Masjid is not affiliated to any party. Everyone is welcome. This issue that has blown up is not an issue. Islam teaches respect for authority. What is being displayed is total disrespect. You disrespected the office of the Prime minister, you disrespectful to the office of the Imam, you disrespect the Jamaat, its members and you disrespect the Muslim community. When news come to you, you must verify the truth,” he said.

Asked to zero in on exactly what was disrespectful, Mohamed responded: “What the media is showing without consulting the masjid is disrespectful. The media has a right to contact the authorities of the masjid. They should not have gone on their own to do what they did.”

When he was told that the media was not involved in the posting of the photograph, Mohamed responded: “Whoever did it, it was disrespectful. There were no media here. He was sitting and leaned back so. It happened to me too, so how come this negative approach? I was at the side of him, I was in conversation with him at every moment.”

Mohamed added, “On Eid day we have visitors who come to the masjid. We do not screen anybody. The media cannot put on their own what they want to put, they must have verification.”

Asked why he thought the photograph was posted, Mohamed said: “I am not a politician and I will not get in that argument. I am a Muslim and once someone is affected under my purview, I will talk about it. I as imam have the responsibility to respond and this is what I am doing here. I don’t have to consult and ask/ That is the privilege of my office.”

He denied that he had spoken to the Prime Minister since the photograph began circulating.

“What concerns me is the masjid and the Muslim community,” he said.

Workers of the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) will be called upon to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. That is one of the goals newly appointed chairman Ashton Ford wants to achieve in short order.

On June 27, Ford will be meeting with more than 100 Cepep contractors to lay out ground rules and to chart a new way forward in cleaning up the environment.

He said some employees of Cepep have to start working for their salaries, and that from St Augustine to Port-of Spain along the Priority Bus Route Cepep workers are seen daily sitting in a shaded area, or standing doing nothing for long periods. That has to change.

“This is one of the areas of concern and that is why we are having this meeting. We are hoping that would change,” Ford said.

He said the last two weeks, he has met with some contractors to point out their shortcomings.

“There is a mechanism in place where if people feel teams are not working properly they can call Cepep’s office to lodge a complaint,” he said. adding that there are field officers and supervisors to investigate such complaints and take the necessary action.

Ford also spoke about June 4 judgement in which the Court of Appeal ordered Tora Bora Construction Company Limited return to Cepep assets comprising 13 vehicles, equipment and computers. Tora Bora had levied on Cepep’s assets in February 2018 for monies owed to them.

Ford said some of the items that were returned had been damaged and parts are missing.

“We are compiling a list to forward to our attorneys who will raise this matter in court. Our lawyers will have to inform the court if we got back the vehicles and furniture in good condition or not,” he said.

Officials of the Children’s Authority say they are investigating reports of children being abused at a home in St Augustine.

Shemelle Paradice, senior communications associate, confirmed yesterday that the case was brought to their attention by residents of the area. She said the Authority’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was dispatched to locate the children, investigate the report and to determine the necessary intervention.

“From the investigation, it was determined that the children were at risk and plans were initiated to have the children relocated to a safe place,” she said.

Residents called the police after hearing screams for help from the siblings who were allegedly being abused by close relatives on Saturday night. Yesterday morning. residents told the T&T Guardian they were concerned for the safety of the children, ranging in age from one to ten.

Eyewitnesses claimed the children had been badly beaten about their heads and bodies by a close male relative and that a close female relative, who is also a victim of severe abuse, also physically abuses them.

The children were had been staying at the home for the past 17 months after their home was destroyed by fire.

Concerned neighbours, who claimed that three of the children are regularly tied up and beaten by the male relative, shared videos purporting to show the children with bruises about their bodies from the beatings. In one video, a boy says he was beaten after he complained about being hungry, was placed under a bed and tied up. The children told neighbours they are beaten with pieces of iron, cables and a hammer. One of them lifted his jersey to showed multiple wounds to his back.

“We would hear these children screaming for their lives. The police came a few times after they were called by people around who would be hearing the loud impact of the lashes. We would see the police there and we would see the police leave and the children still there,” said one resident said, who wished not to be identified. “We often saw them stripped naked and beaten. For days they tell us they are not given anything to eat. They would be forced to sleep on the cold concrete without sheets or pillows.”

An officer at the St Joseph Police Station confirmed that they had responded to a report of abuse on Saturday night but did not give further information. An official at the Ministry of Social Development’s Social Welfare Division confirmed that the Division is aware of the case and has launched an investigation.

Paradice said the Children’s Authority is deeply concern that physical abuse continues to be one of the most common types of abuse reported to its hotline.

She said the Children’s Act 2012 permits only parents and guardians to apply ‘reasonable’ corporal punishment of children and forbids such punishment to be applied by anyone else.

“The Authority called on parents and guardians to adopt alternative forms of parenting such as positive reinforcement for good behaviour, establishing rules and the choice and consequence technique, to reduce the need for corporal punishment,” she said.

“The public is reminded that if they have any concerns or suspicions about a child’s safety, they should make a report to the Children’s Authority Hotline at 996 or 800-2014.”

RADHICA DE SILVA

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Government has no plans for psychiatric evaluation of all medical workers, Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh said yesterday. His comments follow the suspension of a medical intern who allegedly posted a racist rant on social media last week.

Speaking to reporters after distributing Father’s Day hampers at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday, Deyalsingh said there is no policy to ensure that all new and existing medical workers undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

“This is an extreme situation and I will not be saying anything more until the investigation is completed. I cannot assume it is a psychiatric case. I have to stay neutral,” he said. “The woman is entitled to due process. All of the media has made a diagnosis and I cannot do that. I have to remain fair and transparent and allow the process to take its course.”

Asked to comment on a fake profile under the name Micah Marley which also contained racist comments, Deyalsingh said the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) had already issued a statement on the issue. The SWRHA said it had reviewed its human resource and payroll databases and confirmed Marley was a fake profile meant to cause disharmony.

Asked whether T&T had sufficient laws to deal such incidents, Deyalsingh said: “That is for the Attorney General to say and that is why the AG has a cyber crime unit to deal with these issues. Incidents like these is what we have to live with now in the age of social media.”

During his visit to the newly spruced up labour ward yesterday, Deyalsingh said he was heartened to see fathers being part of the birthing process. He spoke with one father, David Ramkissoon, who broke down in tears after witnessing the birth of his child.

Deyalsingh said being a father meant being a part of the child’s life until death.

“It means being there to do homework, to play, to guide that child, so they become a responsible adult,” he said.

The minister lamented that men are not as proactive as women when it comes to safeguarding their health.

“Men traditionally don’t seek out health care as much as women. Women are more in tune with their bodies and seek health care. We have to get the men to seek out proper health care and deal with the problems that afflict them,” he said.

Deyalsingh said the Health Ministry is helping with this through the non-communicable disease plan.

Medical consultant Dr Micheal Prasad said that fathers are allowed to stay with their partners during birth if they attend two to three sessions of Lamaze classes at the hospital. He said some fathers are even given the chance of cutting the umbilical cord.

“Not all fathers will be keen to do that,” he said.

National security agencies need to prepare a comprehensive contingency plan for specific surgical operations to flush out gangsters, says Garvin Heerah, former head of the National Operations Centre.

“This plan has to be from a concentrated effort, with renewed and adjusted tradecraft, and maximising all facets of the available intelligence architecture, co-ordinated and theatred from one specific fusion centre,” he said.

Noting a sense of panic and desperation across the country, Heerah said surgical operations need to be carried out in crime hotpots in a way that “no innocent citizen feels its impact.”

“The innocent law abiding citizens are the victims and have suffered too long and far too much in the face of these vicious violent acts within the once peaceful abodes of their communities,” he said.

A more strategic, co-ordinated and collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, social service providers and the public, with the objective of significantly curtailing gang involvement, and its negative impact, should be implemented with immediate effect, he added.

Heerah is also recommending a multidimensional gang strategy for high risk young people between the ages 12-24.

“Based on research, young people who would move up the ladder of gang membership and activity are those who commit intentional acts of violence or who are arrested for gang-related incidents,” he explained.

“These traits are first detected and flagged as these young boys and girls exhibit violent tendencies at the school level. However, a number of educational institutions are guilty of concealing this information in an effort of safeguarding the image of the school and good ratings,” said Heerah,an expert on safe city operations and homeland security solutions.

The ten finalists selected to compete for the title of Miss World T&T were introduced to the public during a reception last Thursday at the Audrey Jeffers House, St Clair.

New franchise holder for the Miss World T&T pageant Brian Gopaul said the selection process was very difficult since so many young women who were equally good attended the screening.

“We had to consider many different things,” he said. “Some of the young women will even get the chance to come back next year.”

Gopaul said he is confident the “very unique and strong young women” that made it past the screening are “perhaps ten of the strongest candidates we have seen in pageantry in Trinidad and Tobago for over a decade.”

He said his team is working hard to ensure the girls are well prepared for the international contest to be held in December. The aim for Miss World T&T is to “produce an ambassador that will represent our brand, Trinidad and Tobago, to the highest standard—someone who will take our brand and our country into the market to promote tourism and for development,” he explained.

Gopaul added, “I want women to know that it doesn’t end with a pageant but it is what they do with the pageant and how they use the tool to reach the underprivileged and unfortunate. We want to mentor our girls to understand that there is life after pageantry and this is where they come in to help other young people, to uplift and empower others for a better society.”

Asked how he feels about the support he has received thus far, the new franchise holder admitted he is quite impressed. Gopaul, who is in the events planning industry, said many of his suppliers had come forward to contribute.

“We are hoping that once things are going right, we get the government to understand that we are not just doing this for pageantry or crowning a girl. We are putting country first and doing it with a sense of national pride,” he said.

Gopaul hopes T&T will support the venture and the young women.

“At times like this when we are faced with so many challenges, we must try every venture possible to uplift the youth and their development. We need to believe in these delegates and believe in our youth because they are the future and if we can just begin with a little change, we can definitely make a great difference,” he said.

The total number of men, women and children displaced by war, persecution and discrimination around the world in 2016, was approximately 65.6 million.

Of this number, 22.5 million were refugees,2.8 million were asylum seekers, 40.3 million were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); and ten million were declared stateless people.

Confirming the figures last Wednesday, officials at T&T’s United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) painted a grim picture as they said the situation had worsened since then.

With updated statistics to be released later this week, officials described it as a, “Continuing crisis over the world.”

At a workshop last week, UNHCR Associate Public Information Officer Sibylla Brodzinsky sought to drive home just how dire the situation had become.

“Every two seconds, one person is displaced in the world,” she said.

She said in the first half of 2017, 6.5 million people around the world had fled their homes.

Urging persons to be mindful of the terminology used to describe these persons, Brodzinsky said a refugee is someone forced to flee his or her home country and who feared persecution based on one of five grounds—race, religion, nationality, political opinion, membership in a particular social group. A migrant, on the other hand, is someone who has left their country freely and not because of a direct threat or violence.

An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country and whose claim to refugee status is being assessed. This group is considered to have the same international protection needs as a refugee and when there is a mass influx, refugee status can be automatic or prima facie.

Other persons of concern (POCs) include a stateless person who is not considered a citizen or national of any country, while internally displaced persons (IDPs) are those who have been forced to flee but remain inside their own country.

Brodzinsky said under the 1951 Refugee Convention, the primary obligation of States is to not send refugees back to the country of persecution.

Pointing to the legislative protection afforded to persons via the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees, Brodzinsky revealed that they had appealed to Government to apply this in instances where refugees and asylum seekers entered T&T. Unwilling to delve too deeply into the Venezuela situation, Brodzinsky said since 2014, 1.5 million have fled that country.

Having made a supplementary appeal for $46 million address this crisis, Brodzinsky said $9 million was allocated for the Caribbean region alone.

In T&T, the UNHCR and Government have started working even closer to address the influx of persons coming into this country.

Brodzinsky said this strengthened relationship had led to a more structured and phased manner in which refugees, migrants and asylum seekers were being documented and assisted.

The Cartagena Declaration

The Cartagena Declaration is a non-binding regional, i.e. Latin-American, instrument for the protection of refugees and was adopted in 1984 by delegates from ten Latin-American countries including Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela. It has been incorporated in national laws and state practice of 14 countries.

The declaration is the result of a Colloquium on International Protection for Refugees and Displaced Persons in Central America, Mexico and Panama held in Cartagena, Colombia from November 19 - 22, 1984.

It reaffirms the importance of the right to asylum, the principle of non-refoulement, and the importance of finding durable solutions.

Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle of international law that forbids a country receiving asylum seekers from returning them to a country in which they would be in likely danger of persecution based on “race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.”

Unlike political asylum, which applies to those who can prove a well-grounded fear of persecution based on certain category of persons, non-refoulement refers to the generic repatriation of people, including refugees, into war zones and other disaster locales.

In spite of financial challenges in the past year which has led to them owing millions of dollars to caterers, officials of the National School Feeding Programme (NSFP), say they have managed to preserve the quality and quantity of the meals being served to students daily.

Although they had been experiencing challenges over the past year to pay the 75 caterers contracted under the NSFP, officials said they have managed to make payments to some since the start of 2018. However, some of the caterers complained that these “sporadic” payments went to settle outstanding debts to suppliers accrued throughout the academic year 2016/2017. With the current academic year 2017/2018 is due to end when school closes in July, they are concerned about how this could affect operations in 2018/2019.

An estimated $220 million a year is required to effectively run the NSFP. A breakfasts cost $8 each, while lunches cost around $9.50 a meal.

The contractual agreement between Government and caterers stipulates that the providers supply a predetermined number of meals to schools within a specific zone. A total of 83,000 lunches and 56,000 breakfasts are provided daily to students in pre-school, primary and secondary schools across Trinidad alone.

The NSFP’s jurisdiction does not extend to Tobago, which is handled by the Tobago House of Assembly.

According to the NFSP, caterers should be paid within a month of the invoice date for services rendered. However, some of them have complained about having to wait for more than a year for payment.

The caterers said they are forced to beg for credit from suppliers and the banks and some of them are worried that their operations could be in jeopardy.

Requesting anonymity, one caterer said: “I am at a point now where I will have to send home workers.”

“Many of these people have been with me for over 15 years and they are bread winners in their families. But what can I do? I have exhausted my personal savings and money to keep the kitchen running, but I have nothing left.”

He described the situation as “extremely stressful.”

Another caterer said: “By the time the cheque comes from the Ministry it will go straight to my suppliers. Thank God they have been understanding but my credit is maxed out with them and they need to get paid.”

Approached for comment, Education Minister Anthony Garcia assured that the situation will be rectified by the end of this month.

“We have concerns with respect to payment to the caterers and I know that is a real problem but we are trying our best to rectify the situation,” he said. “I am appealing to the caterers to hold strain as we are doing everything possible to ensure they are paid.”

Garcia said he empathised with the caterers about the difficulties they have endured as a result of late payments but said: “Our finances are not as we would like them to be and as a result, we have to be very careful in the expenditure of funds.”

Villagers of Melajo, Vega de Oropouche, say they have not had a pipe borne water supply since last December and they want Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte to intervene and bring them relief. Faced with dry taps, the residents have to spend $150 to get a truck borne supply.

Brenda Branch, a mother of two, said she can’t remember the last time she was able to prepare a home cooked meal. With water in short supply, the family has been purchasing fast foods, or meals that don’t require much water for preparation.

“Our children are eating bread in all forms and fashion as it is the easiest meal,” she said.

Villager Arjun Singh said the North Oropouche reservoir is not too far away, so it should not be difficult to get pipe-borne water. He said after pipes in the area went dry about six months ago, complaints were made verbally and in writing to WASA. A team of officials from the utility visited the area and promised to resolve the problem but there has been no improvement in the situation.

“We are still getting WASA bills for payment and worst of all WASA is sending disconnection notices to villagers,” he complained.

Another resident, Chris Clement, said with no water in their taps, it is unreasonable to expect the villagers to “pay for something we are not receiving.”

The water situation is now so severe that some villagers travel about 14 miles to the Matura River to bathe and wash their clothes and cooking utensils. Some water is being provided by the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, but Chairman Terry Rondon and Councillor Anil Juteram admit that those efforts are not sufficient to meet the demand since they also have to service other areas.

WASA officials said they are aware of the problem and are working to resolve it.

A 35-year-old mother of three, who had recently taken out a restraining order against a man she knew, was found dead in St James last night.

Police said there was a single gunshot wound to the head. Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is believed to have gone into hiding.

According to police reports, at about 8 pm officers acting on information received went to Dundonald Hill where they found the woman, who was identified as Nadine Smith. Smith was married five years ago.

Up to late last night investigators were still on the scene gathering details.

However, speaking to the T&T Guardian under strict anonymity, a close friend of Smith, who was very distraught, described Smith as a “gentle and loving soul”. She said Smith often attended church and was known as a “woman of serious faith”.

“She was the most humble person you would ever meet and her children were her world. She lived for them and to make them happy,” the friend said.

“It is so shocking and sad to know she had to go in this inhumane way.”

An investigating officer told T&T Guardian that Smith recently removed herself from an abusive relationship with a man she knew and added that she received several death threats afterwards.

Smith’s murder was recorded as No. 263 for the year thus far.

Investigations are continuing.

President Paula-Mae Weekes yesterday called on all citizens to do their part in “forging an environment that is conducive to productivity and development.”

“This begins, of course with our attitudes to work in general. We ought to work while it is day and bring to bear punctuality, conscientiousness and impartiality in the execution of our duties. These matters, if addressed willingly and collaboratively, will produce tangible improvements to our economic environment,” Weekes said in her Labour Day message.

Noting that the day celebrated the events of 1937, when labour leader Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler led local oilfield workers in a nationwide strike which culminated in the deaths of 14 people and the arrest and detention of dozens more, Weekes said: “Today, we celebrate the workers who stood firmly against oppression and injustice, risking both lives and livelihoods. We remember the appalling circumstances under which our forebears worked and the long struggle to achieve improved working conditions, fair wages and job security. We also recognise present-day workers whose invaluable contribution to the national economy cannot be denied.”

However, she added, “It must also be said that we cannot expect that the strategies and emphases of the 1930s can serve to mitigate the challenges of 2018. Reliance upon outdated ways of thinking does not bode well for accurate representation of the modern-day worker. Instead, it risks stagnation of a movement that has played and must continue to play an integral role in the shaping of our economic and political history.”

She thus urged trade union leaders to align their goals and strategies with the economic and social realities of the present day.

“Unionism must ensure that today’s worker is well-equipped not only with a decent living wage but with opportunities for retraining and further education to deal with a changing local and global environment,” the President said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also recognised the work which union leaders of Butler’s time put into the country’s early development.

“Workers make up the majority of our society. Our nation is built upon their hard work, honest toil and dedication,” Rowley said.

“While we all readily acknowledge that most of us as individuals work with the aim to enjoy a better standard of living, we must also recognise that this individual goal is also the national objective being pursued by the Government. Indeed, the micro and the macro objectives are inextricably linked. We want the same thing and the odds of us achieving our goals are greatly improved if we all work together.”

Noting that, Government and labour are not pursuing opposing objectives, Rowley said,”We have indeed come a long way and we certainly still have a challenging journey ahead in light of our formidable economic challenges. However, if we band together with a view to attaining our objectives, underpinned by our common desire for what is right and just, we would undoubtedly increase our chances for success and a better standard of living for us and our children.

Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says they will be acting to ensure that people are not unfairly discriminated against when the report of Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill amendment is debated in Parliament tomorrow.

She made the announcement last night at the United National Congress’ campaign launch for the Barataria and Belmont East by-election, which takes place on July 16.

Persad-Bissessar pointed out that US Ambassador to T&T designate Joseph Mondello had testified before the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee that T&T has the highest recruitment rate of ISIS “soldiers” per capita.

“But when I signed the United Nations Anti-terrorism Convention when we were in government, (Faris) Al-Rawi and (Dr Keith) Rowley complained,” she told supporters at the Don Miguel Hindu School in San Juan.

Persad-Bissessar said the JSC’s report on the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill amendments will be debated tomorrow in Parliament and while the UNC hasn’t had time to look at it - and she agreed that T&T has to fight terrorism - she pledged the Opposition will work to ensure that people are not treated unfairly and that there will be a balance regarding the rights of the innocent.

Saying the UNC will work to ensure there is no undue discrimination, she added that attorney Nafeesa Mohammed, who spoke with her during an Eid celebration last Friday, had told her that she (Persad-Bissessar) has to be the guardian of T&T’s democracy.

“She’s a lawyer, we studied together and she shared some thoughts with us and we consulted her; she’s a former deputy leader of the PNM.”

SHe added: “So we assure that the UNC MPs will ensure that it’s a fair bill and it doesn’t discriminate against anyone in T&T and that it will have all the due process clauses.”

Saying that Government was “tone deaf” to the feelings of people on the ground, she added, “In the height of Ramadan the Prime Minister is so insensitive in his comments on the Muslim community and the Carnival plot. He doesn’t understand that every creed and race have an equal place.”

Criticising Government’s handling of the crime situation, she queried the outcome of yesterday’s National Security Council meeting, which she said the PM took four days to call in the height of a crime crisis.

Also querying an alleged national security “unmarked car contract” issue, she also announced that the Opposition is going to file a motion of no confidence on Friday against National Security Minister Edmund Dillon over his handling of crime.

She added, “Prime Minister, wake up and do your job, T&T is in crisis.”

She also vowed that the day the UNC forms the next government they will repeal the controversial Property Tax.

Persad-Bissessar also thanked Maha Sabha secretary general Sat Maharaj for allowing the meeting to be kept at the school.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Deodat Dulalchan is again considering his legal options, as the Government appears to have reversed its position on revoking a decision by the Commissioner of State Lands to grant him a licence to occupy a parcel of State land in central Trinidad.

In a letter sent to Dulalchan’s lawyer Kiel Taklalsingh last Tuesday, the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs claimed the decision was in fact never revoked by the Government.

The letter was in response to several queries made by Dulalchan’s legal team over an investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries into him acquiring use of the agricultural land at Chatoorie Street Extension, Felicity.

The Government’s apparent new position is bitter-sweet for Dulalchan, however, as it does not mean that he was given automatic approval to continue to occupy the land.

While State attorney Zelica Haynes-Soo Hon noted that Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat had no intention of revoking the decision, she pointed out that the licence granted was conditional and not irrevocable.

“Please be advised that the Commissioner of State Lands granted permission to your client to enter the said lands subject to Cabinet’s consideration as to whether it will approve of a State Agriculture Lease in favour of your client,” Haynes-Soo Hon said.

The letter did not reveal whether the issue had been considered by Cabinet nor did it give a time frame for such.

As part of the letter, Haynes-Soo Hon informed Taklalsingh that his request for disclosure of the preliminary investigative report on the matter, which was sent to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in February, was denied. She claimed that the document was exempt under the Freedom of Information Act as it is a report between high office holders on sensitive issues, contains confidential information and because the investigation is still ongoing.

In a brief telephone interview yesterday evening, Dulalchan refused to comment on the issue as he claimed that he had not seen the letter.

“I suspect that they would have sent a copy to my lawyer. My lawyer has not communicated with me so I would not like to make any comment until I see something in black and white,” Dulalchan said.

The issue shot into national limelight when allegations of land grabbing against Dulalchan were raised by four farmers, who claimed they were displaced by the top cop before he was granted permission to occupy the land last year.

Three public servants - permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Angela Siew, Commissioner of State Lands Paula Drakes and her deputy Bhanmati Seecharan - were suspended as the allegation was being investigated. They have since been reinstated after the probe was completed.

The allegations were among a handful raised against Dulalchan after it was revealed he was the Police Service Commission (PSC)’s top pick for the post of Commissioner of Police. Dulalchan reportedly only applied for the post of DCP but was considered for the CoP post nonetheless.

On June 6, Parliament rejected the nomination after it questioned the recruitment and assessment process used by the PSC.

Ironically, on the same day Haynes-Soo Hon sought to clarify the land grabbing investigation, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) also issued a letter in which it responded to questions over its investigation into separate allegations against Dulalchan.

In its letter, head of legal counsel in the PCA’s Compliance and Complaints Unit, Lisa-Marie Robertson, noted that the complaint was made in 2011 and the investigation was concluded in 2017. Robertson denied allegations by Dulalchan’s attorneys that he was not informed of the allegation and given an opportunity to be heard, as she pointed out that he responded to it in September last year.

Responding to their requests for information on the complaint, Robertson said there was documentary evidence that was corroborated by a witness. She also questioned whether there was an internal investigation into whether the complaint was fabricated as alleged by Dulalchan.

“In light of this, kindly indicate what, if any, steps were taken by your client or any other officer to investigate this matter including, but not limited to, whether the officer responsible for this alleged fabrication or prevarication was the subject of a charge or of disciplinary action following this alleged wrongdoing. Our searches reveal that to date, this was not done,” Robertson said, as she invited Dulalchan to make a complaint over the issue to the PCA.

Robertson also noted that Dulalchan was not affected by the PCA’s recommendation, as it merely advised that the PSC bring disciplinary charges against him.

“Kindly therefore indicate how your client has been adversely affected by the PCA’s actions in his matter, particularly, as the PSC, to which the recommendation for consideration was made, took a decision in your client’s favour,” she said.

Dulalchan is also being represented by Jagdeo Singh, Dinesh Rambally and Stefan Ramkissoon.

Lawyers representing a pair of asylum seekers from Venezuela are threatening to sue the State over its failure to make its official national policy for refugees transparent.

In a pre-action protocol letter sent to National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and acting Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews yesterday morning, lawyers for Carlos Jose Perez Arias and Maria Carolina Olivares Sahad sought clarification on the policy and its applicability to them.

According to their lawyer Darrell Allahar, the policy, which seeks to address the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees and how the State would determine their status, was passed by Cabinet in June 2014.

Allahar pointed out that it was mentioned by Dillon’s predecessor John Sandy at a meeting of the Council of the International Organisation on Migration in November that year, and by Gandhi-Andrews at a meeting of the executive committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in October 2016.

He noted that while both officials announced the policy to their international counterparts, only a draft document on the “phased establishment” of it was published.

“It is assumed in the absence of any other publicly available material that this policy statement (draft) represents the policy which had been approved by the Cabinet in June 2014 and adopted by the Government of T&T,” Allahar said.

He noted that the letter arose out of concerns from his clients over the Government’s role in repatriating 82 of their compatriots in April and conflicting and evasive statements from Government officials over whether some of the group were registered asylum seekers.

“Having regard to the Government’s recent statements and actions as alluded above, my clients are now fearful that this country has and/or intends to deny and/or frustrate and/or undermine my clients’ legitimate expectations as set out above, as well as those of all other registered asylum seekers,” Allahar said.

He requested that both Dillon and Gandhi-Andrews give written undertakings that his clients would be placed on orders of supervision and would not be deported while the UNHCR was mulling over the final decision on their refugee status. Allahar is also seeking assurances that the Government would not impose penalties against them for illegal entry until the determination of their applications and would only consider detention as a last resort.

In addition to the applicability of the draft policy, Allahar is seeking the disclosure of the Government’s standing operating procedures related to asylum seekers.

“At present, the liberty of my clients and indeed all registered asylum seekers is restricted by executive decisions, therefore, the policy and the decisions taken under it need to be transparent and clearly stated,” Allahar said.

In the event that both Dillon and Gandhi-Andrews fail to respond to the letter within 14 days, Allahar will file the lawsuit on his clients’ behalf.

He also noted that they would consider converting the claim into a class action lawsuit in which they will represent all other asylum seekers in T&T, who would then be bound by the final judgement in the case.

The letter was also sent to the UNHCR, which is based in Washington, DC and the Living Waters Community, a local Roman Catholic social services NGO which coordinates asylum applications on behalf of the UNHCR.

Arias and Sahad are also being represented by Douglas Mendes, SC, Chase Pegus, Ajay Baball and Edisha Greene.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy John McIntyre believes legislative changes must be made if T&T and the rest of the Caribbean region have to successfully combat counter-terrorism and recruitment of ISIS foreign terrorist fighters.

Responding to questions from the media after donating two shallow search and rescue watercraft to the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation yesterday, McIntyre said counterterrorism was discussed at a meeting of all US ambassadors recently.

Saying he was very impressed with the full review that was done on regional counter-terrorism, McIntyre explained, “A lot of people were able to comment on it but the basis right now, the foundation is not up to the current situation and that’s why I think the laws have to change.”

Asked whether any agencies have been partnering with the US government to stop ISIS recruiting of foreign terrorist fighters, McIntyre said a full inter-agency approach was being undertaken to tackle this problem.

“I know there is a debate coming up, the ATA, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment, that was also a top topic for all of us, but with respect to Trinidad and Tobago, this is an island and a country of law and the solution to these problems is a legal solution. I think the Government, as well as the Opposition, has agreed that the current legal structure is not sufficient,” he said. (See other story)

He further explained, “When it comes to our efforts on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism, we have been working with the Government, the Opposition and the civil society and more, for quite a long time. It’s a full inter-agency approach, its always been that way but we can always do more and we will continue to do more on that front.”

Asked whether the talks were successful, McIntyre said yes.

“I think the response to the Carnival threat is a great example of the responsiveness as we noted in our press releases along with three other governments, we were very pleased with the work the Government did to disrupt that threat.”

With regard to the passage of the Anti-gang legislation, McIntyre said this was commendable.

“I think any time you change the legal structure to allow the authorities to have more tools at their disposal to deal with the issue, that’s great, as well as ensuring there’s civil society protection for those that are accused. That’s very very crucial but we understand, just like we in America, that crime can be a devastating effect on all, on a personal level, on an economic level and so I think that anytime you provide the authorities with tools, legal tools to do more, its critical and very beneficial,” he added.

He refused to say whether he was concerned about the tension between warring Rasta City and Muslim gangs in T&T, saying he did not want to comment on domestic security matters.

However, McIntyre described the partnership with the US government, T&T Government, Opposition and civil society as one of the best.

“You all have to realise we consider T&T a regional leader, it’s why we have to put so much effort in. It’s why we are here today on disaster response. We are your best long-term partner, we are here for the long haul, we are a partner, we are not trying to take stuff from you, we are your partner,” he said.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday pleaded with teachers to be patient as he was optimistic that the economy will turn around.

He was responding to threats of a September boycott over stalled salary negotiations by the teachers’ union.

Commenting on failing grade T&T’s education system received at the Joint Trade Union Movement’s (JTUM) annual Labour Day rally in Fyzabad and the boycott threat, Garcia said, “I am the eternal optimist and I am asking our teachers, and I am extending this to the population, hold some strain, better days are coming.”

In an interview at Naparima College yesterday, Garcia said that he expected JTUM to give T&T’s education a failing grade as it was customary for unions to do so. However, he was convinced that the Ministry has done an excellent job compared to its operations before the People’s National Movement took over the Government in September 2015.

Garcia said that during his tenure as president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), he also took part in Labour Day demonstrations and gave the teaching profession a failing grade.

“This is because we felt we just had to say something. However, today I am convinced that the Ministry of Education has been doing a tremendous job. In fact, when we came into office in 2015 and we compare what has been going on now, we see a tremendous stride in education. We have been able to achieve so many things and that makes us proud. We are very confident that the education system is moving in the right direction,” Garcia said.

During Labour Day celebrations at Avocat Junction, Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Lynsley Doodhai warned that unless the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) commences negotiation with the union for the period 2014-2017, classrooms would be without teachers at the beginning of the new school year in September.

Doodhai said that the union submitted proposals to the CPO in 2015 and have not yet received any response. Now, teachers are frustrated and angry as the cost of living has significantly increased over the past three years.

In response, Garcia said that he sympathises with every worker who has difficulty in making ends meet but repeated Government’s explanation that the country was experiencing financial problems.

Like Doodhai, Garcia recalled Finance Minister Colm Imbert mid-year budget review, in which he said the economy had turned a corner. Garcia said he expects these issues to be resolved soon.

However, he stressed that negotiation of collective agreements was not a function of the Ministry as that was the responsibility of the CPO. He added that if Doodhai threatened empty classrooms, he would refer him to President Paula-Mae Weekes inauguration speech in which she encouraged citizens to engage in productivity.

“So if he wants to close down schools, that tells us the thinking of the union. We must engage in productivity. Our teachers must be there so that our students will be able to benefit from the quality of education that we are committed to providing. The Chief Personnel Officer has the responsibility for negotiating terms and conditions of service for all public servants and that is totally out of our hands.”

Schoolmates of murdered 16-year-old schoolboy Joshua James paid tribute to him in a poem at his funeral yesterday.

James’ schoolmates from the Success/Laventille Secondary School dedicated the poem to him saying their hearts have been broken “to see him go.”

“The memories we had with you are golden but we wanted you…You did your very best for us…God knows how we miss you,” part of the poem read.

Tears flowed from men, schoolmates, friends, acquaintances and family at the service held for James at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Main Road, Laventille.

On June 8, at about 10.45 pm, James, 16, was playing a video game at his home, when he was shot when gunmen sprayed bullets in front of his yard. Two other bystanders were killed - Carlos Abraham, 38, who was celebrating a friend’s birthday, and Curtis Hepburn, 49.

The trio are believed to be collateral damage in an ongoing gang war in the area.

James’ cousin, Kamika, in her emotional eulogy described him as “perfect” in her eyes. Others referred to him as a young man who portrayed attributes like Jesus Christ, where he, like Jesus, brought joy to all those around him.

James, according to Kamika, had so many high hopes, “Besides karate, being a chef and the best car washing personnel ever, Joshua was very passionate about swimming and the love he had for it was very admirable since he was so determined about becoming an underwater welder.”

“This has been the most tragic, shocking and devastating moment that broke everyone’s heart,” Kamika added.