Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last night unreservedly apologised to the Hindu community for a skit performed at the People’s National Movement (PNM) family day, saying the skit was disrespectful to that religion but it was done out of ignorance and not malicious intent.

Rowley gave the apology during a PNM political meeting held at the Malabar Community Centre last night. “Tonight, on behalf of the People’s National Movement and all concerned, I unreservedly apologise to the Hindu community,” he said.

Rowley said the party’s Tabaquite constituency put on the skit which saw a woman having her yellow sari being removed to highlight that constituency changing political allegiance to the PNM from the United National Congress (UNC).

However, Rowley said while that was the intention behind the skit, he now understands how it could be seen as mirroring the Mahabharata.

Rowley said he did not know of the story of the Mahabharata before, but loud chorus of opposition to the skit caused him to find out about it. Rowley said the Mahabharata “is a serious spiritual, religious expression” that is extremely significant to the Hindu community.

Rowley said he did not know this before and last week was a learning experience for him.

As such, Rowley said this country’s education system needs to ensure all aspects of the country’s diverse religious and ethical beliefs are taught.

Rowley, however, said while the skit was insulting the PNM were not advocating for either rape or violence towards women.

He said no one can disregard the hurt that was caused by the skit and said the situation needs to be a learning experience fpr all.

Rowley thanked Sat Maharaj for understanding that the PNM did not intend to disrespect Hindus and said all disrespect was unintentional.

He, however, slammed former Central Bank governor Jwala Rambarran for saying the skit was Rowley fantasizing about sexually assaulting Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Rowley said the skit was equivalent to someone having a skit around Christmas time and having someone pretending to be inebriated urinating on the crèche with Jesus Christ.

He said he had now problem apologising for the wrong that was committed.

Demand for apology

Pundit Satyanand Maharaj, founder of the Satya Anand Ashram Temple of Truth and Bliss in Aranguez, and Persad-Bissessar got their wish last night when Rowley apologised for the PNM’s controversial skit.

Maharaj and Persad-Bissessar, however, could not be reached for comments last night.

The two were joined by scores of people who took part in a placard protest in front the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair last Thursday. The protest followed last weekend’s PNM’s Family Day, when a skit was performed depicting a woman’s yellow sari being undone by men dressed as gorillas. This caused a firestorm of negative sentiment, though the Government rejected the criticism. National Security Minister Stuart Young said it was a “lil bit of fun”, while Rowley claimed people were “hell-bent” on creating racial, religious tensions and dismissed it as “foolishness”.

The group delivered a letter to the PM’s office last Thursday seeking an apology. It noted the skit offended many as it was seen as simulation of violence against women, mockery of Hinduism, and depiction of political violence. Plus, they said, Young’s dismissal compounded Government’s insensitivity on the matter.

The letter warned, “Government’s hostile, belligerent and intractable position in this issue only contributes to stoking fires of division. It does no good to the PNM to attempt to victimise the victim further by labelling legitimate concerns as ‘foolish’ or ‘racial.’ “

—(reporting by Charles Kong Soo)

Kareem Marcell, the public relations officer of the Beetham Gardens Community Council and UWI Makandal Daaga scholar in law, spoke to the Sunday Guardian following Tuesday’s incident involving their representative, MP for Laventille West Fitzgerald Hinds.

“An unfortunate situation occurred in Beetham Gardens between a few residents of the community and the MP, the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds and councillor Akil Audain on Tuesday.

The majority of the community is apologetic for the alleged assault and outright disrespect to the two individuals. However, there’s a minority that simply saying that the MP deserved exactly what he got; as it is karma for the lack of representation and outright neglect.

Personally, I think that there can be no justification for resorting to violence when you can use your voice and votes.

I have personally and would again take this time to apologise to Mr Hinds and Mr Audain. I also again take this time to condemn outright the actions of a few residents. Whilst there can be no justification, there’s always a reason for people’s action. We sought to get the actual people involved in the incident to hear their side (none of who will be named).

When asked if it was pre-planned or influenced by the Opposition, all the people stated absolutely not. The follow-up question was why then would you resort to such action?

Well…from early July 2018 the community experienced one of the worst flooding in the history of Beetham Gardens. Water was so high that it reached peoples’ televisions on the wall.

ODPM along with councillor Akil Audain assessed the situation and determined that over 70 homes were severely damaged.

Residents were directed to the Ministry of Social Development’s Welfare Division to seek grants offered by the ministry. Almost a month and a half later and no assistance was received from the ministry. People constantly kept asking, why is it that their MP cannot intervene to seek some urgent assistance?

Fast forward to August 13 and 14, 2018, where the rains came back even for a longer period. This time not only were the flood waters from the drains going into resisdents’ homes, but the pressure burst the sewer line and the sewer water gushed through peoples’ bathrooms, toilets, and sink holes.

This obviously was devastating and frustrating for residents to deal with. The ODPM along with councillor Audain came Tuesday morning and assessed the situation and determined that over 100 homes were severely affected.

After incidents with no real intervention from the MP, residents wanted some action. With an already tense and frustrated atmosphere, insults on the basis of under-representation by the Honourable Hinds, it took a simple outburst by Councillor Audain calling someone in the crowd “an a**hole” to trigger what occurred on the video.

As I said, this behaviour was totally unacceptable and we ought never to use violence as a response.

Are people are looking for handouts? Are they lazy?

“But what is the bigger picture? Why is it that so many people in the community have been criticizing MP Hinds and the Government at large? Is it that people are looking for handouts?

Is it that they are lazy? What are the real problems besides the flooding?

These were the questions posed to young men in the community, some of who were actually present during the incident.

One young man stated that politicians campaign election after election on the promises that better opportunities would be provided to us due to sensitive issues of discrimination, borderline zones, and poverty.

At the campaign Mr Hinds said he understood well the high level of unemployment in the community and said he would make things better.

Even after the campaign, at one of the earlier community meetings held with MP Hinds, the MP encouraged contractors in the community who would usually get a ‘sub-contract’ from mega-contractors to register and pre-qualify at several government ministries and agencies so that when opportunities arose, he can recommend that work be given to those in and around the community,’ he added.

I wish I could disagree, but 90 per cent of the construction works were conducted by large-scale contractors, all of whom are based in the South.

In fact, another young man highlighted that ‘only after residents stopped contractors through violent means when they were attempting to carry out works in the community worth over $10 million without hiring one single person from the community that they were willing to hire people.’

These were some of the residents’ responses to allegations purported by MP Hinds that contractors do not want to work in the community due to violence.

Most projects that were executed in the Beetham Community were done at the hands of our skilled and unskilled labourers from right here.

This shows that the young people are not lazy or begging for handouts but more so, they’re ready to work and they are hungry for opportunities that were dangled in front their faces during the last elections.

Big contractors run

“In fact, oftentime, the works were sub-contracted whilst the big contractors ran away with all the profits.

Residents are also complaining that MP Hinds promised to have a permanent office at the Beetham Gardens Community Centre in October 2015 as soon as it was opened due to the fact that many people cannot reach his constituency office due to the boarder line issue.

Less than two months after this promise was made, the centre was opened and the promise never materialised. As a member of the council, I can assure you that space is well available.

There’s no doubt that the Honourable MP passes through the community and talk to residents, but this is exactly what the residents are tired of “just talk”.

Too many big and fancy talk with little or no action.

In the tragedy faced by the flood victims, simple immediate things are needed.

For example:

1. With a burst sewer line and dirty water through the taps, assistance with emergency water is needed.

2. When residents’ beds are completed wet and damaged; assistance with beds are needed.

3. When residents lost all appliances and furniture; they cannot wait more than two months with no realistic assistance for simple grants which are regularly provided by the Ministry of Social Development.

Simple things like these along with periodic cleaning of the drainage system that takes not only the water from Beetham Gardens but all of Laventille and the Eastern Main Road (including these large industries like CGA, Angostura etc). The periodic cleaning could be organised by employing the young people in the community in the regional corporations, Drainage Division of Ministry of Works and Transport etc.

As a matter of fact, anyway other than to pay the ancient and unrealistic salary of $69 a day (seems to me as the modern-day slavery).

Mr Hinds has even purported in the past that residents should be cleaning the drains for themselves. Why must they?

Especially when there are many hard-working taxpayers in the community that continue to contribute by way of their taxes to national services like the maintenance of the drains? The little ideological and fairytale responses like these are what aggravate the community.

Reality check for Govt

“Thankfully, despite the unfortunate incident that occurred, many members of the Government and the private sector came to the aid of the community.

“Specific thanks must be given to the senior government officials that reached out directly to the community and continue to provide assistance. The Rose Foundation, the Ansa McAL Group of Companies, Coca-Cola, Blue Waters, Fixing T&T, TCM, WEQuip Construction, and so many other private organisations.

The community of Beetham Gardens thanks and salute you for assisting us in our time of need.

The MP and councillor have stated that they have not been deterred and as such will be continuing to work with members of the community to bring more relief.

We thank both representatives for this approach as we continue to better our community.

Hopefully, not only bad may come out of this situation but it may trigger more assistance to our representatives from Central Government whilst simultaneously giving the Government a ‘reality check’.

Our community is cognisant of the hard economic times faced by this administration but we are hopeful that our community could start seeing more opportunities from the Government.

Today we started cleaning the drains in our community free of charge. This is the start of something good in our community.

When councillor Audain was contacted by the Sunday Guardian yesterday to enquire about the allegation that when he called someone in the crowd a**hole’ it triggered the attack in the video, he replied: “There was an exchange of words between us. I have a rapport with the guys down there.”

Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s apology to the Hindu community concerning the PNM’s controversial sari skit should be copied by all PNMites including party social media activists, says Pundit Satyanand Maharaj.

Maharaj led last week’s Hindu community protests on the skit, calling on Rowley to apologise.

Maharaj reacted yesterday after Rowley apologised during last Saturday’s PNM Malabar meeting.

Following the furore over the skit showing men dressed as gorillas unravelling a woman’s sari, Maharaj led a group of protesters from all over T&T—wearing saris and other East Indian traditional wear—outside of Rowley’s office last Thursday.

They believed the skit was a simulation of violence toward women, a mockery of Hindusim and depiction of political violence. Yesterday Maharaj said: “I wish to unreservedly thank the Prime Minister for his unconditional apology.

“This apology is an about-turn from the description of ‘foolishness’ by the Prime Minister of those who expressed disgust with the skit.”

“National Security Stuart Young who indicated the skit was ‘a bit of fun’ as well as PNM social media activists need to make similar acts of contrition. One can only hope the Prime Minister’s apology will be also copied by the followers,” he said. Young, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Communication and National Security, apologised in a Facebook post stated yesterday.

Maharaj said: “The Prime Minister boasted his government was half Indian and those Indians had no issue or problem with the skit. The silence or concurrence of the Indian/Hindu voices in the PNM who had advised the Prime Minister that the skit wasn’t offensive, what of their advice and counsel now? Were they simply “yes men” telling the Prime Minister what he wanted to hear? These types of advisers are perhaps the most dangerous.”

Maharaj noted the Prime Minister indicated that he was ignorant of Hindu culture.

“This insularity of the PNM, I recently was confronted with, from Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who indicated similar ignorance of mandirs at homes where property tax was concerned,” he said.

“How can the PNM feign to govern and make laws for the plural country of T&T when it’s disconnected to segments of the population? The Prime Minister, with this statement, has only underscored that the PNM is chiefly governing for one segment of the population. The Prime Minister gave no indication what steps were to be taken to address this serious deficiency,” he added.

PM took too long to say sorry —UNC Tabaquite MP Suruj

While the Opposition UNC will be responding on the apology at tonight’s UNC Chaguanas meeting, UNC Tabquite MP Suruj Rambachan says Rowley took too long to “come around” to apologising.

“He only did so when faced with rebellion inside the PNM and he realised how serious the consequences were. If it wasn’t detrimental to PNM, he wouldn’t have apologised,” Rambachan added.

“He displayed insensitivity to the matter initially. I hope he now realises T&T’s a very diverse country where respect must be promoted by leaders if they want respect to pervade society and ensure social peace.

“The PNM has used a wave of subtle derogatory remarks to reinforce their base, from Eric Williams referring to the ‘recalcitrant minority’ and MP Fitzgerald Hinds’ ‘alligators from the lagoon’ to PNM Tobago’s ‘Calcutta ship’ reference. This establishes more than artificial divisions in society,” Rambachan said.

“I’m glad he said he’ll be more sensitive to the existence other other cultures and practices. Let’s hope for genuine follow-up.

“But while PNM got more votes—last election—in many areas including Tabaquite, people there are disappointed PNM used their religion in this derogatory way and they’ll express this at the polls.”

PNM Tabaquite chairman silent after Rowley’s apology

PNM Tabaquite chairman Curtis Shade whose unit had performed the skit at PNM’s recent Family Day and who defended it, didn’t answer calls yesterday after apologies by Rowley and National Security Minister Young.

Shade had claimed the skit showed how PNM was winning UNC support.

He didn’t explain why people seen unwrapping the woman’s sari in the skit were dressed as gorillas, or addressed concerns this might infer PNMites were gorillas.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the situation was an abuse of black males, continuing to portray them as apes.

Last Friday, Shade had refused to respond on calls for an apology, cut off calls and didn’t answer further after asking Guardian Media if an apology was being sought because PNM “was getting” UNC support in Tabaquite.

However, PNM Tabquite vice chairman Julian Adams who had distanced himself from the skit last Friday and apologised in his personal capacity, said yesterday: “I’m very grateful for my Prime Minister standing up to do the right thing as I know he does.

“I maintain if people are hurt over something, you must be able to do the right thing and apologise. The prayer ‘Our Father’ speaks to this.”

“I also stand by my view that anyone who felt hurt over this issue—whichever communities, religions or sectors—I apologise. We’re all one T&T,” he said.

There are currently more than 3,000 people with food cards in this country that the Government has been unable to confirm actually exist, Minister of Social Development and Family Services Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn has said.

Crichlow-Cockburn made the statement as she addressed the People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting at the Upper Malabar Community Centre on Saturday night.

She said advertisements have been placed in the newspapers calling for more than 3,000 people, who they have been unable to contact, to come to the ministry to have the process of recertification undertaken.

So far, Crichlow-Cockburn said the Government has been able to remove 18,000 people from the food card programme who were not eligible to be a part of it.

She told of the personal experience of two police officers being upset with her and threatening to withhold their votes for having their names removed from the programme.

Crichlow-Cockburn said last week 1,376 people were removed from the programme because they had not utilised their food cards since Christmas last year.

“The food support is intended to be short-term assistance. So every six months we review the clients to determine if they have moved from the state where they were and can now stand on their own,” Crichlow-Cockburn said.

“This food support also targets individuals and families who are in need and who are in vulnerable situations and experience difficulty in meeting their nutritional needs and that inability is due to limited or no income,” she said.

“So I want you to understand very clearly, the food card or the food support was not intended for anybody who just wanted it,” Crichlow-Cockburn said.

She added that detractors were trying to paint the Government as uncaring for ensuring the food card system was properly coordinated.

“We have the (former United National Congress) UNC government who is trying to convince this country that we are uncaring but this is the same government that, during their tenure, would have implemented a biometric system to support the food card that cost this government $97 million, was never fully implemented, and supported only 3,158 persons out of a total of 42,000 persons. Do you consider that to be caring?” Crichlow-Cockburn asked.

“We had that government spending $2.7 million coming down to the end to pay $1.7 million to two per cent of the people who were in receipt of the food card,” she said.

Crichlow-Cockburn said due to the financial state of the country the Government had to ensure it was getting value for money from the food card programme.

“We decided to engage in a revalidation and recertification exercise of all who were in receipt of the food card.

“Approximately 13,000 people did not come. So when the UNC and the detractors say to you this government is wicked and it is uncaring they take back people food card, we have not taken back any food card,” she said.

“What we have done is sought to ensure that the persons who are in receipt of food support are persons are eligible for it and persons who are in need and cannot feed their families.

“We have dropped off from the system approximately 18,000 persons what this meant we have been able to save approximately $150 million annually,” Crichlow-Cockburn said.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Although two of his six children grew up and became fire officers, fate brought a cruel end for Petrotrin retiree Leroy “Javay” Walters, 72, as he was killed in a fire that destroyed his Gasparillo home on Saturday.

Derek Walters, a fire officer in the Central Division, said he was on his way to Chaguanas when he learned that a fire broke out at his father’s home along the Bonne Aventure Road. By the time he returned to his father’s home, which is located next to his, Mon Repos firefighters were extinguishing the fire and had just found his father’s remains.

A police report stated that around 7.30 pm, Derek’s brother, Dariel, was at his downstairs apartment located at their father’ house. Dariel told police that he heard an explosion that came from the upstairs apartment and when he ran outside, he saw the upstairs apartment ablaze. With fire consuming the wooden and concrete structure within a few minutes, Dariel could not reach to his father’s bedroom.

At his home yesterday, Derek told Guardian Media that it appeared his father, who suffers from severe glaucoma, was against the wall as his body fell outside when the structure came crashing down.

He said neighbours and limers at a nearby bar went across to help, breaking the windows to free the smoke but the fire was too much for anyone to enter. Investigators from the Fire Prevention Unit had not yet determined the cause of the fire and are expected to return today.

Derek said that as a fire officer, he also looked around for possible signs of what might have claimed his father’s life but could not find anything.

“After 21 years in the service and seeing this much, it is surreal that this time, it is my father. I see so many people grieve in this situations but...” was all Derek could say about his father’s death. His sister Desire, also a fire officer, 34th birthday celebrations were cut short by the tragic news.

Obliquely opposite Walter’s home, several of his former colleagues at Petrotrin, where he worked as a plant maintenance foreman, sat down and reminisced about his life.

Ramesh Maraj said Javay was a fierce cricketer and footballer who should have represented the national sides. The group of friends said they will always remember the fear Javay struck on the hearts of the members of a T&T Regiment football team, who refused to play when they realised that he was on the opposing side.

Mourners at the funeral of murdered family doctor Sinanan Lutchman yesterday appealed to new Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to find the killers and bring closure to the case.

Scores of people turned out at Lutchman’s funeral yesterday at Belgrove’s Crematorium in Tacarigua.

Many of Lutchman’s colleagues said they were confused about the murder and questioned why anyone would kill a man whose interest was for providing service to the poor and needy.

They described him as an honest and down-to-earth man, who had no enemies.

Lutchman, 79, was shot in the head after two men stormed his office at Paul Street, Sangre Grande, last Thursday. Police said the gunmen escaped with the doctor’s licenced firearm.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, who attended the funeral, said he too was confused as to why anyone would want to kill a humble, respectable doctor, who was the longest-serving doctor in the East Trinidad.

Police reported that the father of one was at his Sangre Grande office around 2 pm when two men wearing bandanas entered his office.

He was shot once before the men escaped. The injured doctor died in hospital while undergoing emergency treatment.

Inspector Lawrence, PC Mc Queen of Homicide Bureau, are continuing investigations.

Two years ago a group of young men in Maloney made local news when they celebrated New Year’s by shooting guns in the air.

This time around a group of young men in Maloney is making news for a completely different reason. Instead of guns, this group was armed with the most powerful weapon; education.

Friends Taliq Singh, Shakir Solomon, Tijani Veronique and Kristoff Taitt, of Trinity College East, are being lauded for the 27 passes they attained collectively in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) after a photo of them was posted on social media.

On Friday, Manu John went to his mother’s Maloney home when he saw his nephew, Taliq, and his three schoolmates there.

The young men were there to tell her of their CSEC results.

CSEC results were released in T&T on Friday. Impressed by the success of the young men John said he decided to take them outside to take a photograph while he bought a round of Malta Carib for them to celebrate.

John then posted the photo on his Facebook page with the intention of sharing the young men’s success with his group of friends.

The post has now taken on a life of its own, John said. As of yesterday, the post was shared more than four thousand times.

“I was just sharing it for my friends to show them a positive side on Maloney,” John said.

John said he hopes the post being shared now will help other youths in Maloney and other areas in the country that are affected by crime to be motivated to overcome whatever challenges they face.

“This is the kind of things the youths should strive to be in the news for,” John said.

Trinity College East secured 82 per cent full certificates at CSEC.

Singh, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday, attained six passes in CSEC.

Solomon achieved eight passes while Veronique attained six and Taitt attained seven.

On Friday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said this year’s CSEC results was the best this country has seen in the last decade. Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan said the ministry had recorded the highest CSEC pass rate with five and more subjects in the last ten years.

Seecharan said 60.78 per cent of students who wrote the examination obtained five and more subjects, while 56.47 per cent got five and more with Mathematics and English.

Seecharan noted that 51.93 per cent of boys who wrote the CSEC examination in 2018 “got five and more (subjects) with Mathematics and English, compared to last year’s 47.88 per cent.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

The political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah says that while he does not condone the use of violence to resolve any situation, he believes that there will be more episodes similar to the incident where Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds was doused with flood water last week.

Unless there is a change in the governance and respect for the issues citizens face, politicians will continue to face difficulty in their interaction with the people on the ground, Abdulah said at the MSJ’s media briefing in San Fernando yesterday.

“Not condoning it, but it is going to happen again unless we change our system of governance,” Abdulah said.

Following long and heavy rainfall last Monday and Tuesday, the Beetham Garden’s in Port-of-Spain was left with several metres of flood waters in their community. Hinds, the acting Attorney General, together with the councillor for Picton/Beetham, Akil Audain, were chased away by the Beetham Garden residents, who kicked and threw floodwaters on them.

“We have to recognise that there are some underlying problems in many of our communities and we have spoken about this before. About two years ago when residents blocked the road on Beetham.

It came up a year ago again and we made the point quite clearly that there are underlying trauma, stress and problems in some of our communities.

“Given our failed governance system, which does not allow people to be involved in decision-making and to see their problems being resolved in a timely way, tensions, trauma, stress, frustration and anger tend to build up and it will explode in ways that we don’t find acceptable but we can understand why it happened,” Abdulah said.

He said while the residents’ action was unacceptable, it was the same kind of frustration that residents of Penal and Barrackpore felt when they block roads for water and other issues.

He said although Hinds was correct to criticise those deviant residents, describing them as ignorant and illiterate was not helpful. All it did was to further alienate the young men involved in the incident and does nothing to help in gaining their respect.

Abdulah said this type of behaviour was common among politicians as he recalled Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal referring to women of the Highway Reroute Movement women as “bags of aloo” when they protested at an Indian Arrival Day function which then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had attended.

Carnival angels rained down upon O2 Park in Chaguaramas on Saturday night as Fantasy Carnival mas band launched their 2019 presentation, League of Angels with a cooler party at The Amphitheatre.

Hundreds gathered to enjoy the event and witness the unveiling of twelve sections presented by enthusiastic models representing the diverse ethnicities of Trinidad and Tobago. Guardian Media’s Dion Roach was on hand to share these images.

Late former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan championed issues at the UN including promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women which are aligned with the priorities of UN members, including T&T, at the multilateral level.

The Office of Prime Minister stated this yesterday in a release on the passing of the former UN secretary general and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

He was a described as a champion of humanity. The UN’s first black Secretary General, Annan, 80, died in Switzerland after a brief illness on Saturday. The OPM noted Annan’s priorities also included peace and security, development, poverty reduction, combating climate change, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, combating terrorism as well as the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

“His legacy includes agreement to the Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations’ confrontation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Mr Annan played a significant role in advancing the ideals of the United Nations through the promotion of an agenda of peace, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law.”

“T&T not only shares the loss of Mr Annan with the world but particularly with the African region and countries of the Global South. It is a source of pride Mr Annan was a prominent African multilateralist of Ghanaian descent who rose through the ranks of the United Nations to lead the organisation for two terms from 1997 to 2006.”

“Kofi Annan infused his service to the world as UN Secretary-General with selfless commitment to the empowerment of all people, equality, the promotion of human rights, justice and peace. During his tenure, he met the challenges of the Office boldly, addressing various issues and crises facing the world with diplomatic acumen and compassion, bringing to bear his experience within the UN system to yield the best possible outcome in every situation.” (GA)

A true statesman who spent much of his life working towards global peace and security.

That’s how Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar lauded late former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

He passed away at the age of 80 on Saturday in Switzerland.

“Global iconic persons and recognised high achievers like Kofi Annan and our own Vidya Naipaul reinforce the view that notwithstanding the circumstances of our birth and the struggles we face in life, we can rise to the highest levels and make our individual contributions to the betterment of mankind,” Persad-Bissessar added. “His commitment to hard work, disciplined professional principles combined with an enviable and unquestioned performance orientation ensured his rise through the UN bureaucracy to assume the mantle of leadership of the world’s most powerful multilateral institution. A son of Ghana, he remained deeply committed to uplifting his homeland and other countries in the African continent. Some initiatives included his chairmanship of the Africa Progress Panel, as well as through his chairmanship of the Kofi Annan Foundation and as chair of The Elders, the group founded by Nelson Mandela. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 along with the United Nations, and was described by the Committee as Africa’s foremost diplomat.

Persad-Bissessar added, “He believed, as I do, in the power of education to lift people out of poverty. He is quoted as saying, ‘Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.’”

“The world has lost another great mind, but I have no doubt Kofi Annan’s legacy of humanitarianism and service will live on, “ she said urging T&T citizens to examine Annan’s life and seek to emulate his compassion and empathy towards people in need. (GA)

A variety of improvised weapons and other contraband items were confiscated after a search at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca on Saturday.

A statment from the Prison Service said, “The confiscation of these illegal and unauthorised items signals the ongoing efforts by the officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service to rid the nation’s prisons of items, which are prejudicial to prison security and by extension, public safety.”

“These items were found in separate Divisions of the Maximum Security Prison during a routine search exercise. These search exercises are an ongoing and integral part of the Prison Service’s safety and security management arsenal and are carried out on a regular and continual basis,” the statement said.

The statement added that the confiscation of these illegal and unauthorised items signals the ongoing efforts by Prison Service to rid the nation’s prisons of items, which are prejudicial to prison security and by extension, public safety.

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Staff from the Public Transport Service Corporation in San Fernando yesterday staged a placard protest, calling for a reliable bus fleet and a safer work environment, on the anniversary of their colleague’s murder near the facility.

Standing outside of the PTSC bus terminal at Kings Wharf, the workers called for an urgent meeting with Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.

Branch secretary of the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union Ryan Ramdath said since PTSC painter Carlos Samuel was gunned down outside the corporation’s garage at Lady Hailes Avenue on August 20, last year, PTSC’s management had not repaired the broken fence.

“Anyone can walk in here. PTSC says they are going to move the facility but when? In the meantime, we are exposed. People are coming into the compound and robbing workers and stealing the batteries. This place is infested with mosquitoes and rats,” Ramdath said.

He also said that bus drivers were placing their lives at risk because many of the 350 buses in PTSC’s fleet were defective.

“The buses are shutting down and PTSC is not buying sufficient parts,” Ramdath said.

“We need new vehicles, new parts and we are not getting that,” Ramdath said.

He also said several routes had to be abandoned because there were insufficient buses to service them.

“At least 15 areas are affected. People in Tabaquite, Mayo, Union Hall and Woodland are suffering because there are no more buses working in these areas.

“The San Fernando to Chaguanas route is at a standstill,” Ramdath added.

Charlton Felician, shop steward of the TIWU’s Port-of-Spain branch said while PTSC’s management was ordering parts, there was confusion because there were more than 29 different makes and models of buses in the existing fleet.

He also said that there was a severe shortage of workers in the garage and body shop.

“The mechanics are short by 15 workers and the body shop is short of 18 workers. We have 16 people in the body shop and 13 in the mechanics’ department.

“Some of them working 15 and 16 years and they were never regularised,” Felician said.

Another worker, Lester Lake, said those bus drivers who spoke up about the issues were usually victimised.

“They would send us in another area to work if we speak up. Bus drivers not supposed to be frustrated when they are at work but they frustrate us,” Lake said.

PTSC’s manager of the south branch Shawn Harris declined to comment and referred questions to acting general manager Davis Ragoonanan, in Port-of-Spain.

However, Ragoonanan was engaged in a meeting and could not respond yesterday.

Contacted yesterday, Minister Sinanan said he had no information on the bus drivers’ concerns.

“Those are matters related to the internal management of PTSC that the chairman can speak about,” Sinanan said.

Asked whether he was willing to meet with the workers, Sinanan said: “I have no information on this. Once a report comes in from the Board. I will give it consideration.”

Two men who were allegedly in possession of a hand grenade, firearms, ammunition and marijuana were each granted $950,000 bail yesterday.

Trevor Geeban, 34, of Boissiere Village, Maraval and Kadeem Weekes, 30, of East Dry River, Port-of-Spain appeared before Siparia Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert.

The men were arrested by officers of the South Western Division Task Force and Penal CID during an anti-crime exercise in Penal on Saturday. It is alleged that the officers stopped and searched a grey Hyundai Tucson in which the men were travelling, around 11.40pm at Tulsa Trace, San Francique.

It is alleged that the officers found a hand grenade, a pigtail bucket containing two Smith and Wesson revolvers, along with nine rounds of .38mm ammunition and 58 boxes containing a total of 1,450 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The police allegedly found in the back seat a crocus bag with ten packets of compressed marijuana, weighing 5.179 kilogrammes said to have an estimated street value of $51,790.

Geeban and Weekes who were allegedly in the car were charged by PC Riad Hosein, of the Penal CID.

The charges included possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of ammunition, possession of firearms and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Prosecutor Starr Jacob objected to bail. Jacob also told the court that the Defence Force advised that they should produce photographs of the grenade rather than the actual grenade as it is a highly sensitive explosive and dangerous item.

However, the defence objected and requested that the grenade be produced during the trial. The magistrate ordered the accused to report three times at a police station.

They were represented by attorneys Mario Merritt and Nera Ramdeen. The matter was adjourned to September 17.

In the same court, Penal welder Kevin Ramsaran, 22, was jailed for 24 months after he was found with a Glock pistol and 15 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Ramsaran was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero when he was stopped during a police roadblock at Field Road, Bennette Village, Santa Flora on Saturday.

Police found the loaded pistol under a mat on the driver’s side of the vehicle. He was charged by PC Brandon Joseph of the South Western Division Task Force.

After spending a little over two years on remand, a former Defence Force soldier was yesterday freed of murdering a Diego Martin man, who was shot and left for dead in a forested area of Chaguaramas.

Ross Russell Jr, 25, was discharged by Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate's Court yesterday, after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed a notice of discontinuance against him.

The DPP's Office took the decision after Russell's attorney Criston J Williams filed a no case submission, in which he questioned whether the State had sufficient evidence linking his client to the murder of Selwyn Gaff, who was killed on June 5, 2016.

Russell's 36-year-old cousin, Balondemu Julius, who was also a soldier and was jointly charged with the crime, was not as lucky.

Forde-John is expected to rule on legal submissions relating to the case against Julius on September 7.

According to reports, on the day of his murder, Gaff and his friend, Jesse Quashie, accompanied three men on a hike from Diego Martin to Chaguaramas.

The friends were reportedly ambushed by the three men while walking through a trail between Covigne and Macqueripe.

Quashsie was shot but managed to run away and reported the incident to police.

He directed police to the location, but by the time Gaff was taken to St James Medical Complex, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Russell and Quashie were charged after being discharged by the Defence Force.

They were also slapped with additional charges for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and for shooting Quashie with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Russell was also freed of those charges.

Russell Jr is the son of former national footballer Ross Russell Sr.

Russell Sr, coached the Defence Force football team which won two Pro League titles before he retired in 2015. His son was a member of the team.

Contacted yesterday, Russell's relatives were celebrating the outcome as they spent time reconnecting with him.

His mother said he was not at home as his friends had just picked him up to go to the beach.

Guardian Media understands that Russell Jr is now considering suing the State for malicious prosecution.

A delivery driver who was caught drinking at a bar with a loaded gun has been jailed for three years.

Adesh Adhar, 28, of Pleasantville, who pleaded guilty, claimed he had the gun for his own protection after receiving threats.

He appeared before Senior Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine in the San Fernando First Court.

The court heard that on Saturday PC Narine and other officers went at Bartender’s Bar, Cipero Road, San Fernando. Around 5.40 pm Adhar, who was sitting on a bar stool at the counter, walked away as the officers arrived.

Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said Narine approached and search him and found a Taurus pistol with ten rounds of 9 mm ammunition tucked in his pants. Adhar said, “Boss, I have that for my protection.”

Yesterday his attorney Dane Halls told the magistrate his client had a clean record and was remorseful.

Halls said three years ago his client’s mother, sister and uncle were sitting in a car outside their Pleasantville home when they were ordered out of the car at gunpoint and the car was stolen.

Halls said his client was also robbed and shot on his right forearm, but nothing came out of that. Halls said Adhar got the gun after receiving threats. However, Seedan said when people buy illegal firearms they trigger the trade of illegal arms and ammunition.

He said Adhar had a loaded gun in a bar where people were consuming alcohol and situations could have arisen. Noting that he took the gun with him to have a “good time,” the magistrate said no good reason was given to warrant a non-custodial sentence.

Labour and Small Enterprise Development Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus yesterday accused the former People’s Partnership government of terminating the contracts of 529 Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) workers for political revenge and retaliation.

Baptiste-Primus made the announcement as the former URP workers collectively received $21.9 million for their years of service at a cheque distribution ceremony at the Cipriani College of Labour in Valsayn.

The workers, who were sent home in December 2010, took up the matter with the Banking Insurance General Workers Union (BIGWU) and the issue went before the Industrial Court in 2013. In June 2017, a settlement between BIGWU and the ministry was arrived at to pay each terminated worker for their years of service.

Yesterday, Baptiste-Primus said the PP wanted to give each worker a meagre one month’s salary, which was never honoured during their term in office. Some of the employees had given upward of 16 years of service while others had worked less than six months, she said. The lowest payment ranged from $4,000 to the highest being $179,000.

In an address to the former workers, Baptiste-Primus said, “It has been a journey of eight long years. Eight years of patience, hardship, tolerance and I dare say eight years of endurance…you who were the unfortunate victims of political retaliation and revenge. You are about to be blessed with what has been for many years your just and rightful due.”

Expressing similar sentiments was worker representative JoAnn David, who admitted that following the 2010 general election the URP workers went through their own political turmoil.

“Every time there is a general election and the government of the day is changed hundreds of workers are sent home because you support a particular political party….that is your right,” David said.

On the eve of Christmas in 2010, Baptiste-Primus said the workers’ services were “maliciously and uncaringly terminated by an administration on the basis of nothing more than false, misleading and downright presences.”

However, she cautioned that some employees may not receive payments for their entire years of service, as the URP records were in a mess. She suggested, however, that if the former workers have records of their own they should bring it into the ministry so they received their correct benefits. She also advised the workers to put the money they received to good and productive use.

“Save and invest. It’s a pity the date for the National Investment Fund has gone. Do not run out and spend what you are getting on consumerables…you want a new fridge…no! What you have is enough. Save and invest wherever you can,” Baptiste-Primus pleaded.

Former URP regional supervisor Christine “Twiggy” Livia, who collected upward of $100,000 for her four decades of service, said she was not satisfied with her payment. “They supposed to put $200,000 again with this,” she said, pointing to her cheque.

She, however, thanked the PNM for the money, which she said would she said would come in handy.

Lawyers representing businessman and sex therapist Giriraj “Raj” Ramnanan have written to the Comptroller of the Customs and Excise Division to clarify its position on the importation of adult toys.

The move from Ramnanan, a self-professed sexual wellness pioneer in T&T, comes less than a week after e-courier Web Source issued a notice to customers warning that such intimate items fell under the division’s list of prohibited items. The list included other conventional contraband including drugs, firearms and camouflage clothing.

In the letter, Ramnanan’s lawyer Kiel Taklalsingh claimed the division is required to clarify the position, especially for corporate citizens like his client whose businesses revolve around the importation and distribution of such items.

“Any policy or practice of Customs with respect to the deeming of imported items as being “prohibited” must by necessity be sufficiently clear to obviate the risk of Customs Officers acting in an arbitrary manner,” Taklalsingh said.

He questioned whether the division’s officers had the discretion to classify an item as prohibited or whether the division had an overall policy on adult toys and devices.

“Given the fact that there exists a spectrum of objects which may be labelled as “adult toys”, it is also our considered view that it would constitute an unlawful exercise of your discretion for the Customs Department to adopt a carte blanche policy banning any item with the nomenclature “adult toys” in the absence of some clear, cogent and rational criteria,” Taklalsingh said.

He also questioned whether the classification of the items fell under an interpretation of Section 45 (l) of the Customs Act. The legislation bars the importation of “indecent or obscene prints, paintings, photographs, books, cards, lithographic or other engravings, gramophone records or any other indecent or obscene articles or matter”.

“It is our view that an archaic interpretation of this statutory provision without recourse to modern realities, standards of acceptable practices and proper consultation is irrational, ultra vires the intent of the Customs Act, null and void and of no effect,” Taklalsingh said.

In addition to requesting the legislative basis for the alleged policy, Taklalsingh also requested information on whether the division’s staff was given guidance on classifying items as adult toys. He requested that he receive a response with 14 days.

Speaking to a Guardian Media (GML) team at his Total Image Limited business in St Augustine yesterday, Ramnanan said his lawyers requested the information to determine if a lawsuit against the alleged policy is possible.

Although Ramnanan is seeking clarification in the letter, he claimed the issue of the importation of adult toys arose almost six months ago when some items in his shipment were seized by Customs officials. He claimed competing businesses also experienced similar problems.

He complained, however, that the current process, in which the discretion allegedly rests with individual officers, was too subjective.

Saying mostly products which bear illustrations of genitalia are flagged, he said, “It all depends on how the person wakes up in the morning, their mood, attitude, how they feel about themselves or what they feel about the product based on their religious upbringing.”

Ramnanan also said the ad-hoc policy is loosely based on T&T’s colonial-age laws.

“We changed our Constitution in 1976 but we cut and paste these laws. Now the same countries we have cut and paste from have done away with it, while we still hold on,” Ramnanan said.

Although he said he was willing to take any potential lawsuit through the entire process, Ramnanan suggested it would be easier with political intervention.

“We need some politicians with the testicular fortitude to say hear what, these things need to be taken off or struck off the books and we need to let people decide what they want,” he said.

He also claimed some of the devices on the banned list are being used by some to treat sexual medical conditions, including erectile dysfunction.

“How can you put a ban on these instruments when people use it for their own benefit and medical reasons? These are things that have to be taken into consideration not just the pleasure aspect of it,” he said.

While he said adult toys were considered a taboo subject when he entered the business over 30 years ago, Ramnanan claimed citizens’ attitudes towards them had evolved.

“I have seen a drastic change from the 1980s to now. I have seen people mature and individuals know much more now,” he said.

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

Which People’s National Movement (PNM) Government Minister’s wife is working with a company which has received several Government contacts?

Questions on the alleged situation were raised last night by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Health Minister Dr Terrence Deyalsingh to clear the air on the issue so the public can be assured the contracts were awarded above board.

Speaking at the party’s Monday Night Forum at the Chaguanas South Secondary School, Persad-Bissessar claimed there was a “Wives’ Club” in the PNM. She claimed this “Wives Club” had benefits and company where the minister’s wife worked had acquired several contracts.

“This company has the contract for several Government projects which includes the Mt Hope School of Dentistry and the Red House Restoration project. It is our understanding that the company is also handling the Port-of-Spain General Hospital reconstruction project,” Persad-Bissessar told supporters.

“I call tonight on the Minister of Health and the Prime Minister to say which PNM minister’s wife works at this company. It’s also alleged that the minister and his wife are friends of the owner of the company.”

She also launched questions at Finance Minister Colm Imbert and PM Rowley on the National Investment Fund bond issue. She called on Imbert in particular to say if financial institutions, among them insurance companies and credit unions, may be in violation of the new Insurance Act 2018 by purchasing the bonds.

Holding up what she claimed were two recent Cabinet documents on proposed amendments to the Financial Institutions Act and the Insurance Act, she said, “Tonight on behalf of citizens who may have invested in the NIF, or who have shares or assets in financial institutions including insurance companies, banks, credit unions, I call on Minister Imbert to tell this country whether it is true, that these institutions are now at risk if they have bought these bonds.

“Would they be in violation Section 89 (1) of the new Insurance Act 2018 now overdue for proclamation? Are they in violation now of the Financial Institutions Act sections 42(1) and 43 (1) and (2)?”

Persad-Bissssar congratulated new Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, also calling on him to probe the “AV Drilling/Fake Oil” scandal.

Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim also called on Griffith to ensure that Chaguanas East was one of the first stops on his tour of duties.

Among earlier speakers, deputy leader Jearlean John, who listed the PP governments achievements (and knocked the PNM’s record), alleged that several PNM MPs are now backbenchers after the latest reshuffle.

“(Laventille East MP Adrian) Leonce is ah backbencher, Ancil Antoine is ah backbencher, Nicole (Olliviere)—they call themselves the blackbenchers.”