The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) is accusing the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) of discriminating against it in its handling of a controversy over an alleged hijab ban at the Lakshmi Girls’ High School several months ago.

In a letter sent to EOC chairman Lynette Seebaran-Suite yesterday, SDMS lawyer Kiel Taklalsingh accused the organisation of being biased in a press release issued in June whilst the controversy involving On-The-Job-Trainee (OJT) Nafisah Nakhid was still brewing.

Taklalsingh said: “Given the potential for reputational harm and/or other consequential damage, it would be incumbent upon an entity such as yours, in conducting its statutory investigations, to act fairly, consonant with the principles of natural justice/fairness and avoid transgressing my client’s constitutional rights and privileges,” Taklalsingh said.

He also questioned the EOC’s justification for the press release, which was given after an initial complaint by the SDMS.

The EOC had denied any wrongdoing as it claimed the release was part of its mandate to educate the public on its functions.

“Disconcertingly, it seems that the commission has utilised this public education function to target our client and actively engage in discriminatory behaviour on its own,” Taklalsingh said in the letter, as he noted that the EOC sent out such releases infrequently and had also remained silent on other issues in the public domain.

“It is noted with great interest that the EOC has remained silent and refrained from publishing any releases on other prominent issues which arose in the public domain where a medical doctor working in the public health sector expressed malicious comments with respect to citizens of East Indian descent.”

In the letter, Taklalsingh also criticised the EOC for its analysis over its role versus that of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal (EOT). Under the Equal Opportunity Act, the EOC receives and investigates discrimination complaints and then refers them to the EOT for adjudication.

Stating that the EOC serves an important role in impartially investigating complaints, Taklalsingh questioned its conduct in his client’s case.

“What the EOC has done, quite inappropriately, is to preempt this process by expressing a view without the benefit of my client’s input, representations and opinion. By your premature publication you have, in effect, undermined the very purpose of the EOC,” Taklalsingh said.

Taklalsingh also noted his client was considering making official complaints against members of the EOC responsible for the release.

The T&T Guardian attempted to contact Seebaran-Suite for a response, but she did not answer calls to her cell phone up to late yesterday evening.

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The controversy over the use of the hijab at the Lakshmi Girls’ High School arose in May as OJT Nafisah Nakhid claimed she barred from entering the school compound for a placement interview unless she was willing to remove her hijab.

Her posts on social media caused a massive furore and led to intervention by the Government. The issue also caused friction between the SDMS and Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who had called on the school to reverse its position.

The SDMS denied Nakhid was blocked from entering the compound but claimed she was informed of the school’s dress code policy towards the hijab during the interview. It claimed the policy did not infringe the constitutional rights of citizens and that the school does not discriminate against Muslims.

It also alleged the Government’s intended lawsuit is discriminatory, as other religious bodies impose similar rules at their educational institutions.

The Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprises Development eventually reassigned Nakhid, a qualified mechanical engineer, to the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government. Nakhid is also said to be considering her legal options.

After buckling under pressure, Michael Powell yesterday admitted that he fabricated a story about being a cancer patient at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) to grab sympathy and donations from the public.

Powell, 28, was in fact treated at the EWMSC for diabetes, which resulted in part of his right foot and two toes being amputated in June.

For telling such a lie, Powell apologised to the T&T Guardian and North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), which the EWMSC falls under.

“I am apologising for all that I have done….the misleading information I gave to the Guardian that I was treated for cancer. I am a type one diabetic. That is what I was treated for,” Powell confessed yesterday.

In a T&T Guardian article on Monday, Powell claimed he lost part of his foot and toes to cancer and needed six pints of a rare blood type for an emergency surgery to save his life as the Blood Bank was out of stock.

Powell, who moves around with the aid of crutches, also claimed he had used up his life savings to maintain himself and was owing $2,400 in rent for his apartment. As a result, he claimed he had been forced to beg for handouts to survive.

Powell’s plight gained widespread attention from the public, as several people came forward to assist him financially and donate blood.

Among those who were willing to offer a helping hand was former Sangre Grande Regional Corporation councillor and East Side Plaza manager Dayne Francois, who pledged a month’s salary to Powell and promised to donate blood to help him get back on his feet.

But within hours of the story being published in the T&T Guardian the NRCHA, in a press release, refuted Powell’s claims as they stated they had no record of him being a cancer patient, he was not listed on their records for surgery and they had an adequate supply of blood at the Blood Bank.

The T&T Guardian, in a bid to clear up matters raised by the NCRHA, telephoned Powell on Monday night and he agreed to be interviewed at his apartment and show all his medical records yesterday morning.

However, when the T&T Guardian arrived at his Barataria apartment yesterday, Powell could not be found. Repeated calls by the T&T Guardian to Powell’s cell phone also went unanswered.

The T&T Guardian then called Francois and asked him to set up to meet Powell to offer him $2,000 in cash and a cheque to take care of his medical expenses and pay his rent.

Powell later showed up at Francois’s Port-of-Spain office at 10 am and was surprised the T&T Guardian was also there. He was asked to come clean on his medical condition in light of the NCRHA statement.

Throughout an hour-long interrogation by Francois and the T&T Guardian, Powell maintained he was diagnosed and treated as a cancer patient. But when it was suggested the Fraud Squad could be asked to step in, Powell buckled and admitted that he had lied to the newspaper about his medical condition.

“I didn’t mean to add in the cancer part …I did it just for the story to be a serious one….to show that I was in a serious condition and I really need help. I want to apologise,” Powell said in his defence.

Powell said while he was warded at the EWMSC his blood count had dropped and the doctors told him to get friends and family to donate blood, so he came to the conclusion that there was no blood at the Blood Bank.

He admitted he fabricated a story that he needed emergency surgery to garner support whether financial or otherwise.

Asked if he had any remorse about misleading the public, Powell said yes.

“I am sorry for doing, what I did. I wanted help but maybe that was not the right way of going about it. I add in a few things that made it sound serious.”

Asked if people had already offered financial assistance to him following his story, Powell said, “All I got was blood donors. Two people offered to donate blood either Thursday or Friday. I didn’t get any money.”

Good Samaritan almost donated salary

Good Samaritan Dane Francois told Powell he too had been fooled by his sad story.

“I would have given you my hard earned cash if we didn’t unearth your lies. You duped me and I am sure you hoodwinked a lot of innocent people also with your untruths. What you are doing could amount to fraud. People are imprisoned for things like this,” Francois told Powell.

Francois told Powell people would no longer have faith in helping legitimate people in need or the underprivileged because of his story.

Throughout the interrogation, several people also called to offer help to Powell, as they had done on Monday, via the T&T Guardian, after the story first appeared.

Powell later wrote an apology letter to the NCRHA and T&T Guardian for his misleading information and the damage he had caused.

NCRHA corporate communications manager Peter Neptune later confirmed Powell was not in need of emergency surgery.

“What he needs is to take care of his health. If this is done the wound on his foot would heal and he would be able to work and support himself. We will provide him with whatever medical help he needs.”

NCRHA CEO Davlin Thomas meanwhile said staff stand dutifully at the gateway between life and death for over 125,000 patients who access their Emergency Department on an annual basis.

“To abandon reasonable due diligence and to malign our efforts and the very character of an organisation that save lives daily is sinful. We are dedicated to becoming so much better,” Thomas said.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein has expressed faith in newly-appointed Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, saying his ideas and crime-fighting strategies must be respected and supported.

Speaking at the Municipal Police Induction Training Programme at the Marabella South Secondary School yesterday, Hosein said he had also been meeting with various stakeholders and planned to provide recommendations to Griffith about how municipal police could assist in the crime fight.

He said: “I believe Griffith is the right man for this job. I welcome him to this position and look forward to meeting with him when he assumes office so we can discuss how the Municipal Police Service will deepen its cooperation with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to take a sustained and cohesive stand against crime in this country.”

Hosein told those gathered that law-abiding citizens were now afraid of criminals and an increased police presence in communities would go a long way in making people feel safe.

“I want you to recognise that addressing the crime problem is not just about making arrests. It is about going into communities that have been forgotten for too long and becoming youth mentors, treating the single parents with compassion and approaching elders with respect, empathy and consideration,” he said.

He also urged the officers to stand up to corruption.

“As employees within the municipal corporations, we want you to be beacons of good, to stand up against corruption that prevents people from benefitting from the services of local government. You all will have heard reports in the news about fraudulent activities and impropriety in Sangre Grande, Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Chaguanas and San Juan/Laventille. We must take a stand against these activities and we expect that you as new Municipal Police constables will safeguard the public,” he said.

He also warned that misappropriation of public funds at any level prevented development that could benefit the people.

“We cannot fight the scourge of crime with just the TTPS, or just the Municipal Police; it takes all of us standing up for what is right. It takes inter-agency cooperation and intra-community involvement,” he said.

“So I urge you as you begin your training to keep that in mind. Remember that you must work with the community and for the community. Only together can we improve citizen safety and security across this country.”

He also told the recruits that once they became a police officer they would be called upon to do unimaginable feats.

“Though you might never believe so or think of yourselves in such a light, you will be heroes in your own right. This is a noble calling that you have chosen, to become the guardians of our communities and the purveyors of citizen safety.

“Do not approach this undertaking lightly. Serve your community with the pride, humanity and professionalism becoming of an officer of the law,” he added.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Fed up with the eyesore and the breeding of mosquitoes at the stalled renovation works at the San Fernando Magistrates Court building, San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello is considering taking the Judiciary to court for creating a public health hazard.

At a media conference outside the court at Harris Street yesterday, Regrello said that from an engineering aspect, the building’s wooden rafters and flooring are being soaked with water, which can make it unstable.

Although the San Fernando City Corporation’s Public Health Department has issued a notice to the Judiciary concerning the stalled works, Regrello said there has been no response to date. He said that if the problem continues when the new school term starts, students attending the four schools nearby will be at risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases.

Under the Yellow Fever Regulations, it is illegal to have premises in a state where water accumulates and it can cause the breeding of mosquitoes.

“The council will meet on this matter and a decision will be taken. If we have to take the court to court, we will do so. We meet next Tuesday, again, because we have been making attempts to have this matter resolved,” Regrello said.

In September 2017, the Judiciary announced the closure and temporary relocation of its services to the Supreme Court Building, across the road, until November 13, 2017. The relocation was done to facilitate urgent repairs to the roof of the building and it was expected to be completed by November 6, 2017.

There were other minor repairs and maintenance to be done inside the building as well. An invitation for tender was the advertised for the removal of the existing roof and construction of a new roof with a closing date of July 5, 2018. However, the date was extended to July 19.

In a statement on July 26, the Judiciary said it was aware of the concerns about the mosquito threat “and is working steadfastly to rectify the issue.”

“We trust that with support from the City Corporation and other State institutions, we can work together for the benefit of the burgesses of San Fernando and the provision of justice in South Trinidad,” the statement said.

Regrello said they corporation only received notice from the Judiciary on January 26, informing them that repairs to the court would begin by January 29.

On January 26, the Engineering Department responded with a list of conditions that would apply to the repairs. On the weekend, a work crew began stripping the roof. However, work stopped soon after.

Now seven months later, the tarpaulin that was placed to cover the roof has been thrown apart by the wind.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Even as residents face water shortages across several regions of the country, high water pressure pumped by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is believed to be ripping off chunks of asphalt and concrete along the Southern Main Road, between Otaheite to La Brea.

A source at WASA said the Authority has started increasing the water pressure from the Oropouche Booster station to supply the Mitsubishi petrochemical plant which is being constructed at Union Estate, La Brea.

“The corroded main water lines cannot handle the water pressure and this is causing them to rupture on a daily basis at several spots along the Southern Main Road,” the source added.

A WASA team locked off the water yesterday and repaired two major leaks near the SM Jaleel Otaheite headquarters.

Keegan Fung, who operates an auto mechanical garage at Otaheite, said he was frustrated with the constant road damage.

“The driveway of the business place is badly damaged. WASA did some repairs a month and a half ago and they put some crush material on the road which is now filled with water. The water from by SM Jaleel runs down the hill and gathers in front of my garage. The road is raising up a few inches off the ground and this is a terrible hazard,” Fung said.

Fung said he has placed a yellow container inside the hole to alert drivers from hitting the hole.

“Big trucks and buses knock over the container. There is a bridge before Red Brick Trace which is being undermined. The road is being undermined. The concrete from the pavement is cracking up,” Fung said.

President of the Otaheite Fishing Association Spencer Persad said the constant water leaks triggered a water crisis in some areas.

“We have more water on the road than in our pipes,” Persad said.

He also said that the wet road conditions were a hazard to motorists.

“We have had lots of accidents here. We want the authorities to look into this problem,” Persad said.

Taxi driver Fraser Fredericks said the deplorable road conditions was causing hardship to motorists.

“We are spending too much money to repair our vehicles. We want WASA to look into this now before the entire road is undermined,” Fredericks said.

WASA’s communications manager Daniel Plenty said yesterday that WASA is aware of the leaks and are in the process of repairing them.

Asked whether WASA will consider reducing the water pressure going to the Mitsubishi plant, Plenty said this information has not yet been confirmed as a source for the leaks.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Contrary to media reports, homicide investigators said they are not searching for a police officer in connection to the murder of Parliament clerk Mariana Moonisar. The officer, who was said to be Moonisar’s ex-boyfriend, was not in hiding and was available for questioning, investigators said yesterday.

Moonisar was said to have ended a three-year relationship with the officer recently and rejected his advances.

However, investigators said they are yet to identify a suspect as they were still gathering information on her shooting death which occurred last Friday night. Moonisar, 28, of Couva was killed by a bullet to her head while she and her father Roopchand “Chippy” Moonisar were driving home. Reports stated that around 5.30 am they were in their Nissan Tiida sedan driving through Esperanza, Couva, when they heard gunshots. However, they did not know where the shot came from. As she was returning home from work around 5.15 pm with her father, while passing through the same area that the shooting occurred, two men opened fire on her car.

Moonisar was hit in the head while her father was struck on his cheek. The gunmen then jumped into a car and drove off. Moonisar and her father were taken to the Couva District Health Facility and later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where she died. Investigators believe that the murder was a paid hit.

Keyshawn “Boy Boy” Mckenzie yesterday appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court charged with the murders of a Chinese businessman and a 16-year-old school boy which occurred two months apart.

The 22-year-old Pleasantville accused stood quietly in the Second Court prisoner’s dock as Magistrate Natalie Diop read the charges which alleged he murdered Noah Simmons, 16, and Chen Zhi Zhong, 24.

Simmons, a Form Four student and footballer of Shiva Boys’ College, was at the home of his cousin at Union Park East, Gopaul Lands, Marabella on May 8 when he got into an argument with a man he knew .

During the altercation, the man pulled out a gun and shot Simmons in the chest. The gunman fired several more shots into the air before running off, police said.

Simmons, who had turned 16 on that day died on the scene. Zhong, 24, was at his business Karvill Supermarket Ltd, at Manahambre Road, Princes Town around 12 12 pm on July 29 when a man came by the counter with a drink.

He then shot the businessman in the mouth and left hand. The man escaped in a Nissan Tiida. Zhong died in his business place.

McKenzie, of Ixora Lane, was arrested last Friday during an anti-crime exercise by officers attached to the Southern Division.

Following advice from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul, McKenzie was on Wednesday charged by WPC Callender-St Clair and PC Mathura of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region 3.

McKenzie was represented by duty counsel Christa Jones who asked for disclosure. Court prosecutor Sgt Denzil Alexander said a copy of the summary of evidence would be handed over to her.

The magistrate transferred the Simmons murder case to the San Fernando First Court for September 6.

The other murder case was transferred to the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court because Zhong’s was killed in that area.

Mckenzie is expected to appear in the Princes Town First Court today not only on the murder charge, but other charges stemming from an unrelated shooting incident in Princes Town. Sgt Roger Richardson laid those matters.

“There is no magic wand….there is no magic pill… and not for a want of a pun, there is no magic bullet either to solve crime in any country of the world, including Trinidad and Tobago.”

This was how newly appointed National Security Minister Stuart Young gave his view on crime in general while speaking at his first post-Cabinet media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, since being appointed to the new post by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley five days ago.

“This Government is not burying its head in the sand. We know crime is the number one issue. We are going to do everything we can to deal with it.”

With a new Police Commissioner to take up his duties soon, Young said he will give his full commitment to the task ahead.

While not giving specific about his crime fighting plans, Young said when asked what was his priority in National Security he said he had asked for “specific information” from acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, acting Deputy Police Commissioner Harold Phillip and heads of the Strategic Services Agency, T&T Defence Force and the T&T Fire Service who he met this week to understand what exist.

This information will be handed to Young today by the security heads.

“So I would have a proper view of the landscape of T&T and what exactly we are facing in accordance with their information…in accordance with the intelligence. At that stage, yes, there are certain things we will be discussing to give them advice in terms of going forward.”

Young said things cannot continue the way it was before.

“I want to utilise a lot more technology. At this stage it is premature for me to come out and say this is what is going to be done. I am at this stage considering within the next week to have a specific conference as Minister of National Security after I have had more meetings with the heads etcetera, looked at the information provided. At that stage I will be prepared to discuss more. At this stage I am not going to tell you where my areas of focus are.”

Young also stated that Cabinet took a decision to upgrade the country’s radar system that goes up the islands and to re-engage with a provider, an Israeli firm, to ensure they have the widest radar coverage with the best possible technology.

“The warranty on the radars has run out. So it is engaging in a service contract.”

To upgrade the radar system will cost taxpayers US$7.5 million.

A South Oropouche man has appeared before a magistrate charged with the murder of Andre James.

Lennox Andrews, aka ‘Nutsman’, 60, of Aripero Village, South Oropouche, appeared before Magistrate Margaret Alert, in the Siparia 1st Magistrates’ Court, on Monday charged with James’ murder.

James, aka ‘Rambo’, 29, a labourer, also of Aripero Village, was shot and injured by a gunman at his home on June 2, 2018.

He was taken to hospital where he died one week later.

Andrews was arrested by officers of the Oropouche Police Station and subsequently charged by PC David Williams of the Oropouche Police Station with possession of a firearm and ammunition on June 6, 2018 and appeared before Siparia Magistrate Alert, on that same day.

Andrews was charged with murder by Sgt Rishi Ramsaran, of the Oropouche Police Station on Monday following advice received from Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Honore-Paul.

Investigations were supervised by Insp. Darryl Coorie, of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 3.

A homeless Tobago man has been sentenced to two years’ in jail after appearing before the Scarborough Magistrates Court charged with breaking into three businesses in the Scarborough district between July 23 and August 2.

Roger Charles, 25, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty to charges of office breaking and larceny, office breaking with intent and shop breaking with intent when he appeared before Magistrate Brian Debideen on Thursday.

Charles is accused of breaking into the TATECO Credit Union Cooperative Society Ltd office, at Wilson Road, Scarborough on July 23.

The Police Service said the accused gained entrance to the office through the ceiling and ransack the premises. He stole a blender, six cups of yogurt and two packs of whole wheat biscuit.

The second office, belonging to CCN TV6, also located in the TATECO building was broken into and ransacked on the same date. The third establishment, a supermarket, located along Castries Street, Scarborough, was also broken into and ransacked.

Charles was arrested on Tuesday and later charged by PCs Sekou Moses and Dominic O’Neil, both of the Scarborough Criminal Investigations Department on Wednesday.

A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to a little over 11 years in prison for raping his 14-year-old girl over a decade ago.

While Peter Andrew Davis was convicted of the offence in May, High Court Judge Gillian Lucky yesterday sentenced him to 11 years and seven months in prison for the crime.

During the hearing in the Port-of-Spain High Court, Lucky noted that the maximum sentence for the offence is life imprisonment.

However, she began with a starting point of 13 years in prison but reduced it by a year as Davis had a clean criminal record before the incident and had a positive probation officer’s report on his ability to be rehabilitated.

According to the evidence in the case, the incident took place in May 2006, as the victim was walking near his home to meet her cousin by an arcade.

Davis, who knew the girl and her family for several years, stopped his vehicle and offer to take her for a drive.

When the victim refused, he offered to drop her to the arcade. However, when she got in the car, he drove to a house in Central Trinidad, where he raped her.

After the attack, Davis forced the teenager to have a shower and then dropped her home.

The victim eventually told her mother, who took her to the police to make a report.

Before passing the sentence, Lucky read out a victim impact statement from the girl, who is now 26.

In the harrowing statement, the girl said that she was still traumatised by the incident.

“Although I wear a smile on my face, it is fake. It has also affected my mother. She does not say anything but I know it does. It made me feel it was my fault,” she said as she claimed that she attempted suicide twice.

She also pleaded with the court to pass a stiff sentence.

“I want the court to send a message to men who prey on young aspiring girls. I hope God has mercy on Peter but I believe he should suffer for the way he tricked and forced me,” she said.

The case was prosecuted by Gisele Heller-Ferguson.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Faced with frequent flooding, residents of Penal/Quinam Road yesterday staged a placard protest asking Works Minister Rohan Sinanan to immediately assist local contractors in cleaning all rivers and tributaries surrounding their homes.

Two contractors—RBMR Construction Company Limited and Jaggessar Group of Companies—have been doing the voluntary clearing of rivers since the beginning of this week, after flood waters rose in the area.

Having faced thousands of dollars in losses during floods last year, the residents took matters in their own hands and began cleaning the community themselves.

However, Denise Jagmohan said it may take months to get the job complete if the Ministry did not intervene and provide assistance as soon as possible.

Standing next to a clogged river at Anthony Trace, Jagmohan said the watercourses were so clogged that the water was stagnating causing rats, snakes, centipedes and mosquitoes to invade their homes.

“We are fed up of this. It’s been three years since these rivers were cleaned and look at the condition of it. It is no wonder that our children are falling ill. We want the government to help these private contractors to clean every watercourse. We have received no help from the government and it is very unfair to us,” Jagmohan said.

She added that some rivers were cleaned by the Ministry of Works but the majority of water courses at Quinam were in dire need of dredging.

Narace Samaroo who lives close by said the Carampo River was clogged with fallen trees and silt.

“I want the Minister to pay us a visit so he can experience first hand the problems that we go through. We know what extensive flooding is like here and we are trying our best to protect our homes but we want some assistance from the government,” Samaroo said.

Owner of RBMP Construction Company Rakesh Mohan Bajnath said he felt sorry for the residents and decided to assist. He said excavators were lying idle on the Ministry of Work’s compound and instead should be mobilized to clean watercourses in the Southland.

Councillor for Penal Shanty Boodram said the contractors had committed to clearing tributaries at Moolai Trace, Anthony Branch Trace, Jaimungal Trace and Station Road 10.

However, she said there were several other areas such as Mathura Avenue, Sunrees Road, Naipalia Trace, Goodman Trace and Lachoos Road which were in dire need of cleaning.

She said the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation did not have the resources to clean all the area but noted that they needed the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Local Government to assist.

Minister Rohan Sinanan could not be reached on his cellular phone yesterday as calls went unanswered. He did not respond to Whatsapp messages.

Three men, among them a national from the Dominican Republic, have been remanded into custody after appearing before a Chaguanas magistrate charged with the kidnapping and rape of three women which occurred over the period July 25 to August 2, 2018.

The Police Service said Nicholas Babwah, 26, a fisherman of Morne Diablo, Penal, his brother Kevon Babwah, 32, an AC technician of Scott Road, Penal, and Starling Gutierrez, 20, a Dominican Republic national residing in Chaguanas, were denied bail when they appeared in court yesterday to answer the charges.

The statement from the police said Nicholas Babwah faces 11 charges which included one count of kidnapping, three counts of false imprisonment, six counts of rape and one count of grievous sexual assault, while Kevon Babwah faced three counts of false imprisonment and one count of indecent assault and Gutierrez faced one count of kidnapping for ransom.

The matter has been transferred to the Siparia Magistrates’ Court and adjourned to August 13.

Two of the victims of the Dominican Republic were kidnapped from the Chaguanas district and held hostage at a house along Quarry Street, Morne Diablo, from July 25 until their release on July 29.

According to the police, the women were released in exchange for the third victim, a Venezuelan woman, who was kept against her will at the house from July 29 to August 2 when she was rescued by a party of officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, South Western Division Task Force and San Fernando Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Gutierrez was arrested in the Chaguanas district on August 1 while the Babwah brothers were arrested at the scene of the alleged incident on August 2.

Investigations were headed by acting Senior Supt Ajith Persad, acting ASP Anderson Pariman and Inspector Nicholas Thomas, all of the Port-of-Spain CID while charges were laid by acting Cpl Girwar, of Chaguanas CID on Thursday.

The police are appealing to members of the public to like and follow the TTPS via its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for the latest news and information on matters of interest to the general public.

Former managing director of the Housing Development Corporation Jearlean John yesterday thanked God for sparing her life after being involved in what she described as a “serious vehicular accident” in Mayaro on Thursday.

The white Kia SUV vehicle John, the deputy political leader of the United National Congress was driving was written-off.

“I could have faced death yesterday. It was pretty serious. It was really chaotic. I am so thankful…grateful. God is good. I am living to see another day,” John said yesterday in a telephone interview, while on her job.

John said she was heading to Point Galeota around 7 am to pick up work at her employers Hydrotech when on approaching the Mayaro Fire Station a maxi stopped on the left. She said she saw no warning.

John, who was driving behind the maxi, said she proceeded to overtake on the right “but the maxi driver was actually turning in the same direction I was going.”

John said her SUV and the maxi taxi collided. She said he vehicle slammed head-on into an electricity pole.

Photos of the damaged vehicle surfaced on social media which John said he was surprised to see.

John said the SUV belonged to Hydrotech where she has been working for the past five months as a consultant.

“The impact deployed the airbag in the SUV and that is what saved my life. If that vehicle was not strong the news could have been different yesterday. ”

John said her co-workers who drove on the same route to get to work and saw the accident stopped and rendered assistance.

“A group of young men came to help me out of the car. Trinidad is a wonderful place with good and caring people.”

John praised and thanked the staff at the Mayaro District Health Facility who quickly attended to a superficial wound on left leg and a blow to her chest.

“They should put Mayaro District Health Facility in Port-of-Spain to serve the public because their health care service was fantastic by the doctors and nurses. The doctors checked my vitals and said everything was good.”

Nursing her injuries, John did not go to her St Ann’s home to rest after the accident, but went to work as usual.

“I came to work today but I am not feeling to well. I will bounce back.”

The matter was reported to the Mayaro police.

Less than a dozen public servants represented by the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) staged a noisy protest outside the Public Services Association (PSA) headquarters, calling on PSA president Watson Duke to settle their outstanding negotiations.

The protest was organised yesterday by BIGWU’s PSA branch president Kester Duncan at PSA’s Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain office, as the PSA workers armed with placards called on Duke to stop playing games with their negotiations which has been outstanding for nine years.

Bearing placards and chanting “Watson in the building hiding,” the workers said enough was enough.

Duncan is contenting that its 36 workers have not received an increase in salary since 2009.

On Thursday, Duke called on the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) to put $15,000 into each public worker’s account.

Duncan said the same way Duke asked the CPO to put the money in all public officers’ account, they are asking to bring their negotiations to an end.

“If Duke wants us to take him serious he supposed to lead by example. The same thing he is asking his employer, we are asking our employer, which is him to settle our negotiations.”

He said BIGWU submitted proposals on May 5, 2017 and has received no response from Duke.

“He is not even trying to meet with our representing union to sit around the table to come to an understanding to get negotiations going.”

In February, Duncan said 11 of the 36 workers whose task is to serve public officers were wrongfully dismissed which was taken before the court and a ruling given that they be reinstated.

When the permanent workers, some of whom had 28 years’ service returned to work in June, they faced locked doors.

Duke, in response to Duncan, said every time the PSA’s talks about salary negotiations for its members up comes BIGWU saying they want money too.

The union leader accused BIGWU of politicking at PSA’s headquarters and campaigning for PSA’s members.

He said PSA has sent representatives to meet with BIGWU on several occasions, the last being in July to discuss pertinent issues.

“There is no need to see me, why are they taking on Watson Duke personally? We have officers who are responsible for treating with those things.”

Duke accused BIGWU of trying to mobilise against the PSA.

“They are fighting a union who is not fighting them,” Duke said.

CasandraThompson-Forbes

Police are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a T&TEC employee in Tobago.

Dead is Ahkenaton Quashie 32, of Golden Lane.

According to reports, the incident occurred shortly before 2 pm at an area known as Franklyn in the Village of Les Coteaux.

The T&T Guardian understands that Quashie, a line clearer, was struck by a falling branch during a tree trimming or rigging exercise. The branch reportedly fell and hit him in his head. He died on the spot.

Quashie, a father of one daughter, was employed with the commission for five years.

Meanwhile, in a release yesterday by corporate communications manager Annabelle Brasnell said T&TEC has formulated a team to launch an investigation into the accident.

"A six-member investigative committee which includes representatives of the OWTU, T&TEC’s Health Safety and the Environment Department and Management, is currently being convened, " it said.

T&TEC’s assistant general manager of Human Resources Jacqueline Cheesman has flown to Tobago to visit the Quashie family and personally express the commission’s regret and condolences.

T&TEC has also committed to extend counselling services to Quashie’s colleagues, particularly those who were present during the incident.

Moriah Police and Scarborough fire officials are continuing investigations

Temporary repairs have been completed on a broken culvert which caused part of the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Freeport to sink on Thursday, triggering a massive traffic jam.

In an interview yesterday, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan said it is not the first time that underground infrastructure collapsed. Saying it was not a sink-hole, as reported, Sinanan said the underground infrastructure was old and it was not uncommon for this to occur.

“It is simply a failed culvert which we fixed. They have done some remedial work following which we will issue a tender for permanent repairs to be done.

This will be done within the next week or two and the permanent repairs will be done within a weekend,” Sinanan said.

He could not give a cost of the project but said the cylinders under the highway have been there for some time and needed changing.

On Thursday, some motorists went into a panic when a hole appeared on the highway near the Unicomer factory warehouse in Freeport.

There were no accidents as Ministry of Works personnel quickly cordoned off the area and began fixing it within hours.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Apart from temporarily hiring 250 foreign specialist doctors, the Government should consider training unemployed doctors in specialist medical fields.

So said vice president of the Medical Board Dr Varma Deyalsingh, a day after Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced that the Government will be recruiting Cuban doctors to fill specialist posts. His comments were made after the T&T Guardian did an exclusive expose which showed more than 680 fully qualified doctors have been struggling to find work since 2014, even though $.5 billion of tax payers dollars was spent on their subsidized tuition.

However, in an interview, Dr Varma Deyalsingh said a recruitment drive regionally and internationally will not be necessary if local doctors were given opportunities to train in specialist medical fields.

“If there is a need for a particular specialist in a particular field and no locals are qualified or willing to take up the post, giving foreigners temporary contracts to fill the post as well as sending nationals to specialise in the field may be necessary,” he said.

He also recommended that the unemployed doctors be given On the Job Training contracts in lieu of permanent employment. For young doctors who are not getting state jobs, Deyalsingh said they had three choices.

“They could open a private practice, as the medical board would have granted full registration upon successful completion of internship, they can try and get a job at a private hospital or look for jobs in the United Kingdom, United States, or Australia,” he said.

However, acting public relations officer of the T&T Medical Board Dr Colin Mootoo said it is not wise to go into private practice without sufficient medical experience.

“TTMA continues to be concerned about the lack of employment for qualified medical professionals, and in particular House Officers in the public sector. We estimate that there are close to 200 of our colleagues who continue to seek permanent employment,” Mootoo said.

He said since 2015, the job security historically enjoyed by the medical profession is no longer guaranteed.

“A one-year internship after graduation makes a doctor legally able to practice across the Caribbean in private institutions, and on their own in a private practice. While their internship gives them exposure to six months of Surgery and Medicine respectively, it is the opinion of the T&TMA that there may not be enough experienced garnered in this year for junior doctors to stand on their own in private practice without the support of senior input,” Mootoo added.

Saying the TTMA acknowledges the ministry’s claim that specialist Consultants are needed in 11 fields of medicine, Mootoo said, “It is lamentable that we cannot produce home-grown candidates, partly as a result of lack of employment and spaces in specialist education programmes, for our young doctors to train to become specialists in those fields.”

On Thursday, the Health Minister said RHA’s were facing difficulties sin recruiting doctors in 11 specialist areas. He also said those doctors who do not take up job offers will be asked to repay their GATE funding.

CNC3 television anchor Khamal Georges breathed a sigh of relief yesterday afternoon as his Kia Sportage SUV was returned to him after being twice stolen and recovered in a little over 24 hours.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian as he arrived outside the Central Police Station, in Port-of-Spain, to collect the vehicle yesterday afternoon, Georges said he was still recovering from the emotional rollercoaster he endured over the past few days.

“I keep replaying what happened in my mind but I think I am okay,” Georges said.

He explained that he was surprised when he first heard that the vehicle was “re-stolen” from where it was impounded outside the Besson Street Police Station on Thursday afternoon.

“I initially thought it was fake but then I eventually found out it was true. I was surprised but at that point what can you do,” Georges said.

Asked whether the bizarre development made him think that he was being specifically targeted, Georges said no as he claimed that he was just one of several victims who attended the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) opening match at the Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday night.

“I believed they followed me home. I hope I am correct because it is easier to accept that theory over that I was being marked,” he said.

Asked his opinion of the police’s work in handling his unique experience, Georges said he was satisfied.

“People might be surprised by this but I think their response was good. In all my interactions with the police, all of the officers, who contacted me and worked on the case, kept in close contact and were really supportive and even apologetic as well,” Georges said.

He went on: “They gave me assurance that they would do everything in their power to ensure that the vehicle was found and they did.”

Questioned over his communications with newly appointed National Security Minister Stuart Young shortly after the robbery, Georges admitted that Young contacted him via Facebook as his phone was stolen.

“It was not a long conversation, he asked if I was okay and if I had my phone,” Georges said. Speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Young said that after learning of the incident he contacted senior police officers to ensure that the case was properly investigated.

While he could not say if his case was given special treatment, Georges said: “I am thankful that efforts were done, but I hope such efforts are given to other victims of crime.”

Georges’ statement came hours after outgoing acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams issued a public apology to him on behalf of the T&T Police Service.

According to a release from the TTPS’s public affairs unit, which highlighted the apology over George’s “re-victimisation”, an internal disciplinary process has been instituted into how the vehicle was stolen in front of the station, which is also located within a stone’s throw away from specialist police units housed at Riverside Plaza.

The release stated that police arrested 20-year-old suspect after the SUV was recovered, with fake licence plates, at Roget Place, St Barbs Road, yesterday morning.

However, police sources said that the suspect was, in fact, a 38-year-old, from Belmont. The suspect remained detained at the Port-of-Spain CID where he was being interrogated by detectives led by acting Senior Supt Ajith Persad and ASP Anderson Pariman.

The suspect is expected to be charged after he participates in identification parades over the weekend.

The vehicle was first stolen as Georges was ambushed by two gunmen as he returned to his home after the CPL game. After robbing him of his cellphone, wallet and car, Georges reportedly asked if they were willing to give him his identification cards and apartment key, which was in the car.

The men threatened Georges with the gun before driving away.

Georges ran to the St James Police Station where he made a report. The vehicle was eventually recovered by police at the Bath Street Plannings in Port-of-Spain.

The vehicle was impounded at the Besson Street Police Station as police refused to release it to Georges until he produced the certified copy.

Shortly before 6 pm, police officers at the station noticed that the vehicle was missing.

Police believe that the suspect used the key that was taken from George’s during the first robbery and not found when the car was first recovered.

Investigations are continuing.

RALPH BANWARIE

Arima Open Market Vendors have taken legal action against the mayor of Arima and the chief executive officer of the Arima Borough Council after they failed to respond within the seven-day period to a pre-action letter from the vendors’ attorneys.

Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, adviser to the Arima Open Market Vendors’ Association, told media representatives present at the Arima market on Friday that the vendors would be taking the mayor and CEO to the High Court.

Kublalsingh initially faced some difficulties with the Arima Municipal Police who advised him that they could not have any meeting on the compound of the market without permission and to remove all posters. This was later settled and the meeting began.

He said on July 26, 2018, the vendors’ association delivered a pre-action protocol letter to the mayor and CEO asking them to deal with measures affecting the vendors otherwise they will take them to court. The attorneys representing the vendors are Lennox Sankersingh and Mata Sharon Maharaj.

The letter addressed the following: destruction of private property without lawful process, financial loss and hardship, frustration of the legitimate expectation of vendors, and arbitrary use of power by a public authority.

They claimed that on May 7, 2018, the mayor and CEO instructed the police to enter the market and destroy most of the vendors’ stalls. Most of the vendors in the Arima market are middle aged women. The authorities did not leave the stalls on the outside of the market, but took it to the landfill site at Guanapo and bulldozed it, despite the women’s pleas. They claimed they have suffered enormous hardship, stress, and financial losses and are filing for compensation.

“Their constitutional rights have also been affected and the authorities ought to understand that you cannot destroy the private property of an individual without legally due processes, so this action has been taken regrettably to protect the constitutional rights of the vendors and to protect them from further arbitrary and haphazard actions,” Kublalsingh said.

“This is very important because we need to protect the integrity of the market. Vendors are feeding fresh food to the nation and most of the food here are not imported but locally grown. Feeding people fresh and healthy food is important, we need to protect the authorities who are against the legal vendors.”

Kublalsingh said the seven-day deadline given to the authorities to address the problems has expired. “Neither our attorneys or the association received a reply to their letter.”

Lydia Victor Mark, a vendor, said the 300 vendors have legitimate rights and if we look around T&T, vendors are people who are not appreciated. She said the vendors were pleading with the mayor and CEO to listen to their problems, but all went on deaf ears.

Mark said it was time vendors come together to have the relevant authorities listen to them.

“We had a situation in Arima on May 7 where vendors were victimized because we were standing up for our rights. Why are we being discriminated for standing up for our rights?

No one wants to hear or listen to vendors’ problems. This market has been here for more than 31 years and look at the condition, we still don’t have a proper facility, we support the local farmers. All we were asking for was that the mayor, CEO, and authorities listen to us and hear our plea.”

Lisa Morris-Julian, the mayor of Arima, could not be contacted for comment as she was in a meeting and was unable to answer her phone.