Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan has admitted to having a “beneficial interest” in the Kay Donna Cinema property which is in the path of the multi-million dollar Curepe Interchange.

The issue of Sinanan being one of three owners of the cinema was put to the ministry’s director of legal services Marvin Gonzales by the T&T Guardian at a press conference yesterday.

But Gonzales denied that Sinanan was one of three owners.

“What we have is a property by the name of Valsayn Resorts that had a lease with the Commissioner of State Lands. That lease expired a couple years ago and it was not renewed.”

However, Gonzales said because of improvement works done on the parcel of land, the company is entitled, under the Land Acquisition Act, to make a claim for improvements and the structure that was on that property.

Gonzales said a claim had been made and negotiations are continuing between the commissioner and the owners of Valsayn Resorts. He said Sinanan’s role in the company was that of a “beneficial interest.”

Following the press conference, Sinanan said Valsayn Resorts bought the lease of the cinema while he was an executive in the company.

“I was a director and a shareholder at that time,” he explained.

Approximately eight years ago, Sinanan said he relinquished that, “but I still maintain a beneficial interest because that transaction was not fully completed.”

Sinanan said he continues to declare his assets on his integrity forms and recused himself from any decisions made on the acquisition of the land.

“Until the payment is completed for my shares I have to maintain that I do have a beneficial interest in it.”

Sinanan reminded the media that valuation of properties are not done by the Ministry of Works but Finance Ministry.

“So the ministry has no role to play in who gets what for properties. These properties would have been earmarked for compulsory acquisition since 2013. It’s not a decision this ministry and the Government came up with last month.”

Notice was served on the cinema property five years ago.

Asked if his beneficial interest was not a conflict of interest, Sinanan said no, as he again maintained the lands had been earmarked long before he became a minister.

Although Kay Donna Cinema has since been demolished, Sinanan said from his information Valsayn Resorts has put in no claim for the land value.

Asked if he will benefit when the claim is submitted, he said, “That is why I said I have a beneficial interest. So, obviously if a claim is paid yes, I will benefit from that. I don’t make decisions on how much is paid.”

Asked if everything will be done above board with the payments, Sinanan said, “That is why you have these stumbling blocks now because the commissioner of valuations has to justify the figure that they are paying. We don’t expect the commissioner to put any figure there that he cannot justify and the public will not be able to be privy to.”

Sinanan said also informed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of his interest.

“The PM’s response was that this is a country where everybody has lands and property, once you understand the oath of office that you take and you are not going to prejudice any decision. So this issue is not a new issue.”

The Ministry of Works and Transport’s director of legal services Marvin Gonzales yesterday disclosed that some landowners in the path of the $221.7 million Curepe Interchange are hell-bent on becoming millionaires at the expense of taxpayers.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Works’ Port-of-Spain headquarters, Gonzales, who was joined by acting director of highways Navin Ramsingh, revealed that some landowners had put in claims “well over 300 per cent of their actual property values,” which was beyond the current market value of their land.

Gonzales cited a particular case where one landowner put in a claim of “over $20 million for their residential property. During the negotiation, it went down to $5 million. Such was the huge gap between what the commissioner of valuation was offering and what the residents are claiming.

“I don’t know what their intentions are. It seems as though the expectation of some of the residents was that because the State requires the land in order to execute its contractual duties, the State would be placed in a position where it would be prepared to pay any amount of monies that residents are prepared to claim for.”

He said the expectation of some residents “is to become millionaires” which simply cannot happen.

“In some cases, some residents are claiming commercial rate for residential properties. Of course, if they are doing that they have the responsibility to provide the necessary documentary proof and they have failed to do so,” Gonzales said.

Asked if the landowners had been trying to milk the State, Gonzales said the entire situation was “unfortunate.”

However, he said it would be administrative malpractice for the commissioner to pay claims well over what the evidence suggested.

The saga continued yesterday between the ministry and the landowners, who claimed in August they were given 14 days to vacate their premises. The residents are also up in arms with the ministry over the way in which the land acquisitions are being handled, as they condemned the Government for forcing them to accept between one third and one-fifth of their lands’ value through compulsory acquisition.

The ministry has been engaged in consultation and negotiations with stakeholders since 2014. The original project included 22 parcels of land for the interchange but this figure has since grown to 37, which includes residential, commercial, agricultural, state and privately owned properties.

Yesterday, Gonzales said in May 2018 a new Section 4 Order was served in order to allow the residents an opportunity to complete negotiations.

“To date, the commissioner of valuations has advised us that no progress was made with respect to these negotiations and there exists a huge gap between the proposal made by the commissioner of valuation and the offers made by the affected residents.”

He said the commissioner had since advised the residents to provide proof of the values of their properties for which they are negotiating. The ministry, Gonzales said, has three months to acquire the properties under the Land Acquisition Act to make the site available to the contractor.

“This site should have been cleared and made available before the end of 2017, which would result in huge cost overruns for the project. The State is now faced with the possibility of millions of dollars in potential claims,” Gonzales said, as he noted this would be the situation if the site is not made available to the contractor on time.

Despite this, Gonzales said the ministry was not backed into a corner with regards to its contractual obligations.

While the ministry has been exercising constraints and patience with the residents since 2015, Gonzales said “the ministry is making the decision to invoke only the options under the Land Acquisition Act” to acquire the lands needed for the project.

Under Section 5 of the act, Gonzales said the title of the properties can be vested in the State, or the ministry can issue a warrant to the Marshall of the High Court to put the owners “out of possession.”

Asked which option the ministry has considered, Gonzales said the were looking at both but would not evict the land owners.

The area to be acquired for the Curepe Interchange comprises 471.5 square metres. Each homeowner has to give up between one to 1.5 lots of land. The project is scheduled to be completed by July 2019.

Gonzales said the commissioner put forward offers between $150 to $250 per square foot for property owners’ lands, stating that only fair market value can be paid. The budget for the interchange land acquisition, Ramsingh said, was $85 million. However, Gonzales could not provide what was the collective claim put forward by the landowners.

Gonzales said they had heard that attorney Michael Rooplal, who was representing the landowners, had written to the ministry asking for a meeting but they were still awaiting Rooplal’s letter. However, he said they were willing to meet with all the representatives of the residents with a view of arriving at an amicable solution.

In a letter late yesterday Rooplal asked for an undertaking by the State that no steps will be taken to dispossess his clients pending negotiations. The letter was addressed to the ministry’s permanent secretary and mentioned yesterday’s press conference where the ministry alleged it had not received copies of his letters which he forwarded to them. These letters were dated September 6 and 7, he said.

Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno has declined to recuse herself from the preliminary inquiry into the murder of former Independent Senator Dana Seetahal, SC.

Delivering an oral ruling at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday morning, Cedeno ruled that she could not be judged as biased based on out-of-court discussions with Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) George Busby in November last year.

“Mere suspicion of bias is not enough, as a real suspicion should be established...A fair-minded observer would not conclude that this court is biased,” she said.

Immediately after giving the ruling, Cedeno asked Busby if the State was ready to restart submission of evidence in the case, which was put on hold since the issue of alleged improper communication was raised in July.

Busby said he would need time to speak to witnesses who still have to testify in the inquiry and asked that the case be adjourned to next week.

However, Cedeno refused as she pointed out she wanted to complete as much evidence as she could while the case is being heard at the Hall of Justice. The case will have to be transferred to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court when the 2018/2019 Law Term opens next week.

“I would urge the prosecution to get itself in order and have its witnesses here for the continuation of the matter,” Cedeno said as she adjourned the case to this morning.

Since the case started before Cedeno two years ago, prosecutors have tendered 50 witness statements into evidence and 10 witnesses have come to court and given evidence before Cedeno.

In November last year, Busby reportedly informed Cedeno that a relative of a police officer, who is a witness in the inquiry and another case before her, had received an apparent death threat via text message.

The message merely mentioned Seetahal’s assassination in May 2014 and alleged that a violent attack would be forthcoming later that month. It was not directed at Cedeno and the threat did not materialise.

While she claimed that the communication was not inappropriate, Cedeno admitted that she had cited the threat in a subsequent application for increased security.

In its submissions, the DPP’s office conceded that Cedeno may appear to be biased in the case and admitted that it was only aware of the communications after Cedeno made the disclosure.

Criminal defence attorney Criston Williams, who raised the issue of Cedeno’s recusal, was forced to withdraw from the case earlier this month after his clients requested that the application be withdrawn just as Cedeno was about to give her decision.

The Office of the DPP still requested that Cedeno make an official ruling on the issue, which she delivered yesterday.

Reputed gang leader Rajaee Ali and 13 alleged associates were charged with the crime a year after Seetahal was murdered on May 4, 2014. Seetahal was shot dead behind the wheel of her SUV while driving along Hamilton Holder Street in Woodbrook.

Ali, his brothers Ishmael and Hamid Ali; Devaughn Cummings, Ricardo Stewart, Earl Richards, Stephan Cummings, Kevin Parkinson, Leston Gonzales; Roget Boucher and Gareth Wiseman were initially charged with the crime.

In December last year, the murder charged was discontinued against Stephan Cummings, who was instead charged with conspiring to murder Seetahal. Ector was murdered earlier this year.

The United States (US) Embassy will this morning host its solemn observation of the 17th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States of America on September 11, 2001.

US officials are expected to be joined by the relatives and friends of the 14 T&T nationals who were among the almost 3,000 casualties of the attacks for the ceremony, which is to be held at the US Embassy at Marli Street, Port-of-Spain. (See page A18)

The annual ceremony consists of a prayer segment followed by moments of silence at 8.45 am and 9.03 am.

The moments of silence coincide with the time that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York and when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the centre. There were also attacks in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon in Virginia, which resulted in much fewer casualties.

The ceremony is expected to be led by Chargé d'Affaires John McIntyre, as US Ambassador John Mondello is yet to arrive in T&T to take up his post. Mondello was nominated by US President Donald Trump in March but was only confirmed by the US Senate in July.

The local victims of the attacks were Conrad Cottoy, Joan Francis, Clara Hinds, Boyie Mohammed, Glenroy Neblett, Oscar Nesbitt, Vishnoo Ramsaroop, Rena Sam-Dinnoo, Winston Grant, Stephan Joseph, Paula Morales, Jerome Nedd, Anthony Portillo and Goumatie Thackurdeen.

Four days after being kidnapped, Natalie Pollonais has been rescued by police in San Juan. This was confirmed by police a short while ago, who also confirmed the suspects are in custody.

There has been no word as yet on whether Pollonais has been reunited with her family but police said she is safe.

Pollonais, 49, wife of Jason Pollonais, director is Inland and Offshore Contractors Ltd, went missing after leaving C3 Centre, Ste Madeleine, last Thursday. Her car was found later that night in Union Hall, San Fernando. A ransom was demanded for her release but it is unclear whether it was paid.

Between Sunday and Monday, police received crucial information and an operation coordinated by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, ACP Phillip, ACP Hackshaw, ASP Pariman, ASP Edwards led to her rescue.

In a press conference a short while ago, Griffith said Pollonais was in good health and spirits and no ransom was paid.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith yesterday confirmed that three people have been arrested for the abduction of Natalie Pollonais, two of whom are police constables attached to the La Romaine Police Post.

In a media release yesterday, Griffith said the two constables were arrested around 8 pm Monday while on duty. The third person was arrested 30 minutes later when police intercepted an AD Wagon along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, San Juan.

The vehicle was being used to transport Pollonais and was driven by a civilian who was also arrested.

Griffith said contrary to initial reports, a corporal attached to the Highway Patrol Unit was not held in relation to the kidnapping. Photographs of the officer in uniform, as well as the two constables, went viral on social media overnight and threatening and disparaging comments were made against the men.

But in a release yesterday, police said the corporal was “in no way” involved in the investigation into the kidnapping and the public was urged to “cease and desist” from circulating statements that may be deemed defamatory in relation to the officer.

A senior officer told the T&T Guardian the corporal was at home yesterday when he learnt he was being wrongfully labelled a criminal. The officer then contacted the police hierarchy expressing his hurt at being accused of kidnapping. The officer confirmed the corporal was never part of their investigation.

Griffith, in acknowledging the public outrage at police’s alleged involvement in Pollonais’ kidnapping, also appealed to citizens “to not allow the acts of a misguided minority to adversely affect or impair their relationship with the police.”

Reinforcing his full confidence in his charges, Griffith also encouraged citizens to respect and obey the lawful instructions of police officers who have properly identified themselves.

He said citizens were also within their right to request the name and regimental number of any officer they meet, noting all officers are issued with identification cards which they are required to carry with them at all times.

According to the police, San Fernando CID worked in tandem with other operational units during Monday night’s rescue operation.

When the Organised Criminal Intelligence Unit and the Anti Kidnapping Units retrieved Pollonais and arrested the first suspect, a team comprising ASP Ramdeen, Insp Gajadhar, Cpl Bacchus, Cpl Pulchan, PC George, PC Lange, PC Moses and PC Acevero moved on the two constables. They were being held at an undisclosed location up to last night.

The T&T Guardian understands that over the weekend the errant officers were being monitored while other intelligence units gathered information about Pollonais’ location.

Pollonais, 49, of Palmiste, is the wife of Jason Pollonais, a director of the South Oropouche-based Inland and Offshore Contractors Ltd (IOCL). Last Thursday, she disappeared after visiting the Central Athletic Club gym and some stores at C3 Centre. CCTV footage showed she left in her BMW 5308 hybrid sedan around 11.30 am. Her husband reported her missing when she did not return home.

Intelligence suggested that the kidnappers were moving Pollonais to another location Monday, the T&T Guardian was told. A tactical unit was deployed and the wagon was intercepted.

A Ford Ranger, which was said to be accompanying the wagon, was found abandoned in St Augustine. The two vehicles were taken to the Special Evidence Recovery Unit (SERU) in Cumuto for forensic testing.

As Parliament debate on the Petrotrin refinery closure finally took place with yesterday’s resumption of the Senate, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus also broke her silence on the issue.

“It’s a very painful situation,” Baptiste-Primus said responding to T&T Guardian questions (during the lunch break) on why she’d been silent on the issue and her views.

“... That’s all I’m about to say. But reality is reality. But all disputes are referred to the Labour Minister and therefore I simply cannot comment (on the matter).

“I’m not silent because I want to be silent. But I’m silent because of my responsibility. When the OWTU had served strike action against Petrotrin (earlier this year) I had to intervene and we were in negotiations with them for over 30 hours and therefore I cannot comment, as this matter (closure) is likely to end up before me.”

Baptiste-Primus continued, “Should I make any public pronouncement, either Petrotrin or OWTU can demand that I recuse myself because I’ve already commented. But note that I’m taking my legal responsibilities - under the Industrial Relations act - seriously. And based on my experience, certainly, if it comes to me to intervene, there will be fairness for all.”

Baptiste-Primus spoke ahead of yesterday’s Senate debate on the closure - the first such Parliamentary conversation on the matter since Government recently announced the refinery closure decision.

At that time, during Parliament’s recess, the Opposition had called for the immediate resumption of Parliament to debate the matter. But Parliament wasn’t reconvened.

When Parliament resumed after the recess yesterday in the Senate, Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen called for debate on the closure as a definite matter of urgent national importance.

Senate Vice-President Nigel De Freitas approved the motion for debate last evening (TU).

Apart from the airing of views on the issue there, Energy Minister Franklin Khan, earlier in proceedings, stressed the input of foreign consultants weighed heavily in the decision.

“Hence the results of the Lashley report, a multi-disciplinary team to evaluate Petrotrin’s current financial position and to recommend plans for its restructuring. After that, we had work going on to drill deeper into the data to determine what decision should be taken.”

Khan said Petrotrin recruited internationally first-in-class consulting firms Solomon and Associates and McKinsey Consultants Ltd.

“We analysed the data. The board presented the options to the Cabinet, the Cabinet accepted the preferred option of the board and the decision was taken. With regard to publishing some of the information and reports, the Government will look at it seriously but it’s ultimately a Cabinet decision.”

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) is proposing private investments into the 101-year-old Pointe-a-Pierre refinery in its attempt to save the livelihoods of over 3,500 workers.

However, the union’s enthusiasm to present their proposal document, titled Saving Petrotrin —OWTU’s Alternative Plan, quickly descended into anger and disappointment when Petrotrin’s board of directors did not show for yesterday’s scheduled meeting.

When OWTU executives went to the Pointe-a-Pierre Staff Club for the 10 am meeting, they were met by the company’s senior management, who informed them that they could not enter into any discussion on the union’s proposal.

However, Petrotrin told a different story yesterday evening, saying in a press release that company officials met with the union in a cordial meeting that lasted for 90 minutes. The release added that Petrotrin would continue to meet union representatives a part of the Memorandum of Agreement signed on April 4.

The release did not state who would represent the company in future, but quoted Petrotrin chairman Wilfred Espinet as saying, “We are open to any solution that will result in a self-sustainable, commercially viable company. This is a business and its purpose is to provide a return to its owners, the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Speaking to the journalists at Beaumont Hill, Pointe-a-Pierre, after yesterday’s meeting, Roget recalled Espinet’s willingness to listen to options on the company’s future. Given that he was absent from yesterday’s meeting, Roget said he believes it was part of the board and Government’s ruse to get the public to believe that they cared.

Roget said the union has communicated with several major, local and foreign oil companies who own or have access to sizable volumes of crude oil that are in dire need of refining.

He said arrangements with these operators should be explored as they will provide a chance for Petrotrin to remain the property of citizens. He said this proposal will address the issues of Petrotrin’s US$850 million bullet payment due in 2019, the much-needed capital injection for refinery upgrade, crude oil supply, job security and the social fallout from the impending refinery closure.

Despite saying that the refinery “had reached the end of its commercially viable days,” Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in a national address on September 2, said the refining assets of Petrotrin could be put into a separate company for opportunity attention. He said the OWTU would be given the “first option to own and operate it on the most favourable terms.”

While the OWTU has rejected the offer, Roget said yesterday there are many reputable investors internationally that have expressed an interest. He said the union found it strange that the Government did not consider this as an option. He said he believes Rowley was victimising the OWTU for its performance appraisal of the People’s National Movement tenure in office, in which it gave Government a failing grade. He said the PM believes the OWTU can be destroyed by sending workers home.

“We think that is grossly unfortunate for Trinidad and Tobago, that it is disrespectful, that it is the highest level of contempt for the union and for the people that in the face of any alternative, they are not willing to sit down and discuss the alternative,” Roget said.

“What the Prime Minister would have said was just a ruse. I made the point then that he is just trying to point the country in a particular direction where he really does not mean what he says.”

Roget said it the PM really cares he should instruct Petrotrin’s board to engage in an earnest discussion on their proposal. So far, the proposal has been presented to Rowley, President Paula-Mae Weekes and Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Copies were expected to be delivered to Independent senators yesterday. The union intends to make the plan known publicly as it continues its awareness campaign.

Insisting that the Petrotrin refinery can be saved, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has outlined a 24-month plan which she believes can save thousands of jobs at state-owned Petrotrin.

Speaking at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum in Claxton Bay on Monday, Persad-Bissessar said she plans to share her plans with the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union.

“I want to tell the union up front, the workers, that you have to make sacrifices to save your jobs. Don’t expect the rest of the country, who also seeing trouble because of this incompetent Rowley, to bail you out. Stand up, man up and accept some responsibility to save your own jobs,” she said.

Blaming the board of late Petrotrin chairman Malcolm Jones and a former PNM Cabinet for the company’s misfortune, Persad-Bissessar proposed a 24-month plan, which includes the sourcing of cheaper supplies of crude.

“Persons in Petrotrin were not looking for best prices on crude. What they were doing is that they had their preferred suppliers and were not price shopping. We must also source higher prices for refined products. Petrotrin needs to have direct marketing for our products in order to maximise profits. We should also negotiate with Samsung to get the ULSD plant working,” she said.

She added that her vision was to train, educate and prepare our citizens for high paying jobs in industry and for the digital economy.

As part of the immediate plan, she said all overtime should be curtailed for this 24-month period.

“The workers must understand this overtime cannot continue. We must reduce and renegotiate benefits for this 24-month period. We must also reduce or suspend vacation leave during this period, set proper assessment and performance targets for each employee and updated terms of employment whereby employees have to and must be accountable for poor performance,” she added.

She also told Petrotrin workers that poor performance will not be acceptable.

“Let’s be real, some of these guys get away with very poor performance and keep their jobs. So don’t expect me to try to help you keep your job and expect to continue with that behaviour,” Persad-Bissesasar said.

She also noted that there was severe price gouging by safety suppliers, service suppliers and goods suppliers for products and services in the refinery.

“It cost $300 to inspect a T vehicle in the government licensing office but up to $4,000 by some inspectors in Petrotrin. Secondly, it takes half a day sometimes before anyone can start working. Thirdly, massive overcharging for goods and services. These contractors, suppliers, safety firms must come to the table and the rotten ones purged from the company,” she said.

She also called for a new open market tendering that was transparent.

“The pre-qualification system is rigged to exclude competition and favour preferred suppliers. The union must accept that some of its own members are involved in this and must assist to root them out. You can’t have proper tendering if the pre-qualification is rigged. We have many other more detailed proposals but we are positive we can lower overheads and operation, maintenance cost, employee cost and turn a healthy profit,” she told supporters.

Persad-Bissessar also said she planned to share the UNC’s plan with the union on how the US$750 million debt can be financed before sharing it with the public.

While some parts of the country experienced crippling water shortages over the past 72 hours, over 150 families in Cedros were left marooned yesterday when flood waters invaded the community of Bonasse.

A rising tide coupled with one hour of heavy rainfall caused the flooding which settled inside residents’ yards and homes.

Deodath Toolsie and his wife Eileen tried to put their furniture and appliances on higher ground when the floods started to rise.

“We have about 18 inches of water inside the house right now. It was terrible, the worst I have seen so far,” Eileen explained before passing the phone to her husband.

Toolsie said the floods were caused by an incomplete floodgate.

“Right now the whole house and the entire village is flooded. I lost my couch. The fridge is wet so we don’t know how long it will last us now.

“The drain that they construct was a bad engineering. The entire village has floods from the hospital onwards. We had about three feet of water here. We are bailing out water from inside the house,” Toolsie added.

He said the rain started falling around 11 am and as the floods began to rise students were kept inside the school compound. By 2 pm, a team from the Siparia Regional Corporation went to Bonasse and began clearing the watercourses.

Councillor Shankar Teelucksingh said the floodgates and the bridge at Bonasse were supposed to have been completed earlier this year by the Ministry of Works. However, he said the problem was compounded because there had been no de-silting of rivers and drains since 2015.

“The floodgates were redesigned to allow low water run-off but this is inappropriate because Cedros is below sea level, so once there are high tides and heavy rains the community will flood,” Teelucksingh said.

Teelucksingh said more than 150 families from Bonasse Village were directly affected but noted it may also take a few days for the water to subside in some areas.

“This is the second time we are having this problem. The last time villagers were not compensated. The schools were filled with water today and I am calling on the Minister of Works to respond now,” Teelucksingh said.

He added that the ambulance and police vehicles could not pass through the floods and traffic backed up along the Southern Main Road as the flood waters cut off access to the villages of Fullarton and Icacos.

Minister of Works Rohan Sinanan was in the Senate yesterday and could not respond to questions.

Last May, however, Sinanan said a contractor had already been paid to restart and complete work on the Cedros Bridge and the floodgates within six weeks, well before the height of the rainy season. However, the project, which is 90 per cent completed, remains at a standstill as the contractor is owed $4.5 million.

After spending four days in the hands of kidnappers, Natalie Pollonais spent yesterday resting, giving police statements and thanking God that she was finally safe with her family.

Her Palmiste home remained closed yesterday and a spokesperson who met the T&T Guardian said she was not ready to give an interview about her ordeal. He said her family would contact the media later on.

A priest visited the family and prayed with them while there were regular police patrols in the neighbourhood while the T&T Guardian was there.

Pollonais’ neighbour Jowelle De Souza said the kidnapping and subsequent rescue was a culmination of several crimes occurring in the Palmiste area over the past year. She said the crimes were so frequent that residents had hired private security at every block in the residential community.

“We are paying private security to check every block. You will see booths set up at Block Two, Block Three and Block Seven. The guard checks the residents to ensure that everyone is safe,” De Souza said.

She added that most of the residents of Palmiste knew that Pollonais would be returned safely after Police Commissioner Gary Griffith took on the role to deal with her kidnappers. De Souza said Griffith had come personally to residents’ homes to get CCTV footage of vehicles leaving and entering the community.

“I knew the way they swamped down on the boulevard looking at all the people who had footage that they were working with a strategy. The commissioner used good sense and had the training to keep the kidnapping confidential immediately after the call came in. He really worked hard on the matter and we all had a feeling that he would not fail in bringing her back home safely,” De Souza added.

She also said now was a good time for Griffith to review all cases.

“I am hoping that we could solve all the other kidnappings that occurred, such as the kidnapping of my good friend Carolyn Katwaroo, who is missing three years now. Now that the Commissioner has privileged access to investigations, dig deeper and let us solve these cases,” De Souza said.

Describing Pollonais as a strong woman, De Souza said she had no doubt that Pollonais would pull herself together and overcome the trauma that she suffered during her abduction.

A witness saw Pollonais being hassled by two uniformed police officers near the abandoned roundabout of the incomplete Debe Interchange hours before her husband Jason lodged a missing person’s report last Thursday. But there are no CCTV cameras in that location.

Her missing BMW 5380 car was recovered by police at Cypress Hills, Union Hall, San Fernando, seven hours later following an expansive sweep through the district with the police helicopter. Her phone was also traced. Around 7 pm on Monday, officers from several units intercepted an AD wagon and rescued Pollonais in what CoP Griffith described as a “calculated extraction.”

Investigators said two police constables are among three people now being interrogated at separate locations across the country in connection with the kidnapping. A corporal from the Highway Patrol Unit is also being quizzed although senior officers said yesterday he is not a suspect in the case.

Kidnapping timeline

September 6: Natalie Pollonias leaves the gym at C3 mall to visit a friend but never arrives. Husband files a missing person report. The family receives a ransom call for US$300,000.

September 7: A witness comes forward with information that he saw Pollonais being hassled by two men dressed in police uniform at 11.45 am on the day she disappeared. Police collect all CCTV footage from properties surrounding the family’s residence in Palmiste. CCTV footage at C3 mall yields credible leads.

September 8: Negotiations continue. Police work on sensitive information. Media is shut out from investigations.

September 9: Police intercept a white AD wagon along Churchill Roosevelt Highway in San Juan. Pollonais is rescued and a suspect is detained. Two police constables are later arrested. A police corporal from Highway Patrol is also identified but police later say he is not a suspect. Griffith says more arrests are coming.

While 176,000 applicants are waiting in line for Housing Development Corporation (HDC) homes, only 160 successful applicants will become owners of the HDC’s million-dollar apartments at Mahogany Court in Mt Hope.

The 48 two-bedroom apartments are expected to cost each homeowner $1.1 million, while its 112 three-bedroom apartments will fetch higher prices. Eight of the three-bedroom, two bathroom apartments, will be built for the physically challenged.

This was revealed yesterday following a tour of the project’s construction site by contractor and executive chairman of NH Emile Elias, Housing Minister Edmund Dillon, HDC chairman Newman George and its CEO Brent Lyons.

The visit was to give an update on the project.

The sod for the project was turned in November 2016 with work being started in April of this year. Completion is expected in September 2021.

Elias boasted that NH’s tender was $100 million lower than the second tenderer. The value of the contract was $192 million. The development is expected to be completed in four phases with a total yield of 160 two and three-bedroom, two bathroom apartment units.

Elias said First Citizens has financed this first public-private partnership model for the housing sector instead of the HDC.

At a press conference following the tour, Elias admitted there were delays with the project based on financing and getting the banks on board.

“The construction is the easy part for us. But the financing is a challenge….getting the loan agreements done…getting all the I’s dotted and T’s crossed. But now it serves as a model,” Elias said.

Asked about the cost of the apartments, George said, “The average cost of one of these units would be about $1.1 million.”

George admitted the cost of the three-bedroom apartments would be “a little higher.” Pressed further on this cost, George said the HDC would have to work that out.

Asked if the HDC had moved away from its mandate of building affordable homes for low-income earners, George said this was not so.

“HDC is still doing that in other developments.”

George cited River Runs Through in Arima, priced at $585,000 and other projects at Malabar, Carlsenfield, Bon Air South and Lake View that were reasonably priced to meet the needs of those seeking homes.

George said approximately 23,700 of the HDC’s applicants had indicated they would like to live in the San Juan/Laventille and Tunapuna/Piarco regions. These applicants fell within the $14,000 to $25,000 monthly pay range.

A background sheet provided by the HDC said of the 23,700 applicants, only 350 had been shortlisted and pre-qualified for the Mahogany Court development. However, of those shortlisted only 160 will qualify for an apartment.

In the fact sheet, it showed that 31,857 of HDC’s applicants had expressed an interest to live in the Tunapuna/Piarco region, while 19,855 preferred to live San Fernando, with Chaguanas and Arima having the least figures with 17,804 and 15,517 respectively.

Since taking up office as minister last month, Dillon said there were 176,000 applicants waiting in line for housing. He admitted there had been an increase in applicants.

“It will continue to increase because there are always young people looking for homes and houses,” Dillon said.

Last August, former housing minister Randall Mitchell said the HDC had 170,000 applications in its system.

Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) chairman Romney Thomas yesterday apologised to thousands of students, citizens and the business community who were adversely affected by a disruption in water supply following the rupture of a major pipeline along the Beetham Highway.

Several schools were dismissed early again yesterday as a result of no water in the lines, while some businesses and offices in the capital city closed their doors as well.

The 36-inch pipeline burst on Sunday and left thousands of citizens without water for two full days.

The pipeline, which services the East-West corridor and almost 250,000 customers, was finally repaired at 8.30 am yesterday. At first, Thomas said WASA thought they would have been able to repair the line in a couple of hours but it took longer than expected. Although the line was eventually fixed, several people took to Facebook yesterday to complain that they were still faced with dry taps.

“We are very sorry that this had to occur. I want to apologise. It was really unavoidable. We have done our best to try and minimise the disruption to the public,” Thomas said.

Thomas’s apology came a day after Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte also apologised for the inconvenience caused as a result of their dry taps.

Yesterday, Thomas said water was being gradually introduced into the repaired pipeline.

“We are back up to full volumes right now, but it is taking a little while to charge back up the line properly. As the water goes around the route people are using up water. So it would take a while for it to come back to a normal level and for us to restore the schedules.”

Thomas said he expected water to flow normally through taps by last evening.

Some of the areas affected as a result of the leak were Cocorite, Morvant, St Augustine, Beetham Gardens, Mt D’or, Bamboo, El Socorro, Port-of-Spain, Curepe, Valsayn South and Santa Cruz.

Thomas said WASA still delivered truckborne water to some schools and senior citizens who needed water. Water was also provided to some hospitals to ensure that healthcare workers carry out services to patients.

Thomas said it would cost WASA billions of dollars if they were to change all its old pipelines.

The Port Authority of T&T will soon be advertising for sale, the water taxis MV Su, HC Olivia, HC Katia and the HC Milanica, on which valuations will be done prior to advertisement, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan said yesterday.

Sinanan was replying in the Senate yesterday to an Opposition question on the future of the vessels.

He said over March 2010 to June 2012, the then Cabinet gave approval for Nidco, through an international broker, to take steps to sell the vessels.

But in August 2012 the then Cabinet rescinded the decision to sell “the fleet of second-hand vessels” and directed that the then Transport Ministry enter into a contract with the Port for another international shipping broker to value the vessels and sell them at the minimum price on a valuation basis.

Sinanan added that a valuation was done by the Maritime Services Division and in January 2013, power of attorney was given to the Port to sell/divest the vessels. He said since then, several attempts by the Port to engage a broker to sell the vessels were unsuccessful.

Over the period, Nidco also referred potential buyers to the Port. However, Sinanan added, the vessels weren’t sold, remained vested with the Port for sale and are moored at Chaguaramas.

He said the Port will make another attempt to sell them and will advertise them for sale. Prior to the ads, he said valuations will be done.

On UNC Senator Wade Mark’s query on if the vessels—which never sailed—couldn’t be used at all in service as water taxis, Sinanan said judging from the past government’s move in 2012-13 to sell them, this indicated they shouldn’t be put back in service.

The preliminary inquiry involving a group of men charged with murdering former Independent Senator Dana Seetahal, SC, resumed yesterday after an almost two-month hiatus.

When the high-profile case came up for hearing before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, a police officer took to the witness stand to testify on his involvement in the case. He was allowed to give evidence and was cross-examined by defence attorneys.

During the hearing, accused Ricardo Stewart complained of feeling unwell and Cedeno directed police to take Stewart to the hospital for an examination after the hearing. She then adjourned the case to this morning.

Evidential hearings of the inquiry had been put on hold since July as Cedeno was considering an application calling on her to recuse herself based on alleged improper communication with Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) George Busby.

In November last year, Busby reportedly informed Cedeno that a relative of a police officer, who is a witness in the inquiry and another case before her, had received an apparent death threat via text message. The message merely mentioned Seetahal’s assassination in May 2014 and alleged that a violent attack would be forthcoming later that month. It was not directed at Cedeno and the threat did not materialise.

While she claimed the communication was not inappropriate, Cedeno admitted she had cited the threat in a subsequent application for increased security. The DPP’s office agreed that Cedeno may appear to be biased in the case and admitted it was only aware of the communications after Cedeno made the disclosure.

Criminal defence attorney Criston J Williams, who raised the issue of Cedeno’s recusal, was forced to withdraw from the case earlier this month after his clients requested the application be withdrawn just as Cedeno was about to give her decision.

Despite the unusual move, Cedeno still considered the application and rejected it on Monday, allowing for yesterday’s resumption of the inquiry.

The preliminary inquiry has encountered several roadblocks since reputed gang leader Rajaee Ali and 13 alleged associates were charged with the crime a year after Seetahal was murdered on May 4, 2014.

Seetahal was shot dead behind the wheel of her SUV while driving along Hamilton Holder Street in Woodbrook.

Ali, his brothers Ishmael and Hamid Ali; Devaughn Cummings, Ricardo Stewart, Earl Richards, Stephan Cummings, Kevin Parkinson, Leston Gonzales; Roget Boucher and Gareth Wiseman were charged with the crime.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt aborted a trip to India in transit yesterday in order to be in the country which was preparing for the passage of Issac which has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Skerritt made it a point to assure Dominicans that he was in the country, “for those who are wondering, I am in Roseau Dominica and nowhere else. I was on my way to India to have some very important meetings there, but cancelled the trip in transit to return to be part of the preparation of the country for the approaching weather system.”

Skerritt said he was well aware that as the anniversary of the ravages wrought by Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017 approaches, “all of us have anxiety reliving personal experiences during Maria, but we have to remain calm and continue to help each other so there is minimal anxiety.”

The Prime Minister urged the population to pray not just for Dominica but for the Carolinas in the United States with the approach of Hurricane Florence in that part of the world, “we can imagine their anxieties and pre-occupation. Pray that the hurricane will weaken and that the impact on life and property will not be an issue.”

He said while Dominica was “grateful to the Lord for downgrading” Issac the population should be no less alert than if a category five hurricane was approaching.

As a precautionary measure the Prime Minister announced all public offices will remain closed today when the system is expected to pass over Dominica, “we have accepted advice to suspend work for the public service on Thursday, September 13 and we would like to call on the private sector to follow in the same manner to have their employees stay home.”

The Prime Minister said his government is hoping to implement legislation before the end of the year “so when a decision is taken with regard to work it will apply to every employee in the country.”

Skerritt said the exception would be members of the essential services “and people like myself,” who are expected to be at work.

Skerritt also urged citizens to be their brothers’ keepers, “let us account for every single person in village community our surroundings. All of this is part of the preparatory process,” he said.

Fisher-folk were advised to ensure that they secure their boats, as Skerritt cautioned them they have a “personal responsibility to secure their livelihood.”

One hundred and eight emergency centres have been set up to assist the public and several private home owners have offered their homes to assist those who require shelter.

Citizens were urged to get to the shelters within thirty minutes of them being opened and not all rush to go at the last minute, thereby preventing the chaos which occurred which occurred after Maria struck. They were also informed that no pets, weapons or alcohol, or cigarettes will be allowed on the compound of the shelters.

As Skerritt urged the population to prepare he also urged “let us continue to pray, because with prayer all things are possible.”

The executive summary of US consultants HSB Solomon and Associates, who examined Petrotrin, didn’t state the refinery should be closed but recommended organisational building blocks for Petrotrin to achieve its goal of becoming a top-performing business.

The summary of S&A’s February 5, 2018 report to Government on Petrotrin spoke of this and other recommendations to address workforce optimisation.

United National Congress Senator Gerald Ramdeen produced the 500-page report at a briefing yesterday at the Opposition’s Port-of-Spain offices.

“Nothing in the report says to close the refinery—the unions must know that. So the Prime Minister must now be man enough to call an election and see if he’ll win,” Ramdeen added.

Ramdeen produced the report after Government declined—in Parliament on Tuesday—to say if reports which assisted in its decision to close the refinery would be shared with the public.

Energy Minister Franklin Khan, replying to Opposition questions on what assisted them in making the decision, particularly cited US consultants Solomon and Associates as a First in Class performance improvement expert and McKinsey and Company Inc.

Yesterday, Ramdeen displayed S&A’s report, releasing the executive summary and introduction to reporters.

“This report belongs to the people—it cost taxpayers tens of millions,” he said.

In Parliament in June, the Energy Ministry confirmed HSB Solomon Associates was paid $7.4 million for company optimisation work regarding Petrotrin. McKinsey and Company Inc was also paid $28 million for a strategic review and transition.

S&A’s summary states Petrotrin retained the company for a workforce optimisation effort for its Exploration/Production and Downstream/Marketing organisations at Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin and Santa Flora, to determine where opportunities exist to optimise and enhance efficiency/workforce effectiveness.

S&A stated that Petrotrin wanted to know the recommended manpower utilisation “based on peer group benchmarks and assessment of its existing organisational structure, staff levels and work processes” in relation to top-performing facilities of similar size and complexity.

S&A was to assess the current work processes/practices associated with daily operations, maintenance and support activities associated with E&P, as well as Refining and Marketing businesses.

The summary noted:

“The result of Solomon’s assessment indicated that several of the key leaders within Petrotrin are very knowledgeable, engaged and committed to the success of the business.

Likewise, Petrotrin management has communicated a commitment to placing the business on a path to sustainable improvement and enhanced performance.

“The practices followed within the Petrotrin business sites were compared to Solomon’s index of best practices for workforce optimisation. Overall, Petrotrin is currently doing a number of things well and employs practices in several areas that are consistent with the best oil and gas businesses in the world.

“However, many practices are lacking or are inconsistently applied in relation to those employed by top-performing facilities and present an opportunity for Petrotrin to significantly enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.”

S&A also stated, “While many companies attempt to optimise their workforces simply by reducing staffing levels or implementing a new organisational structure, Solomon has observed over the years that the most profitable businesses are actually focused on maximising organisational effectiveness and financial performance, not just minimising the number of people.”

S&A stated that its proposed organisational structure and staffing targets would equip Petrotrin with the necessary resources to “safely, effectively and efficiently operate and maintain the business as well as capture significant value that’s currently being lost.”

Ramdeen said S&A presented a plan to improve business on a phased basis “but after S&A’s presentation on the way forward, S&A was put to an end as Petrotrin’s board wasn’t interested in carrying Petrotrin forward.”

Saying the Lashley report on Petrotrin didn’t recommend closure either, Ramdeen added, “I challenge Government to produce a report that supports the decision. This closure is the biggest deceit, deception and betrayal of the people.”

He accused Government of wanting the assets for “handpicked friends, family and financiers...already determined by Government” and “the one per cent.”

He added, “Who are the people showing interest in Trinmar, the refinery and Petrotrin?... those waiting in the wings … local and foreign?”

Ramdeen cited how Petrotrin’s deterioration - its US$750m bond, failed plants and other issues - began under the previous PNM of which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was a part.

“… And it’s now it’s said he has the minus touch, not the Midas touch - his Government only takes and doesn’t give,” Ramdeen added.

S&A’s summary also noted:

•While Petrotrin has greater staffing levels than its key competitors, the business results being achieved are significantly less than top-performing Upstream and Downstream businesses in the key performance areas of Operational Availability and Operating Costs.

• As such there appears to be a significant opportunity to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Petrotrin workforce in order to maximize the financial performance of the business.

• While many companies attempt to optimize their workforces simply by reducing staffing levels or implementing a new organizational structure, Solomon has observed over the years that the most profitable businesses are actually focused on maximising organizational effectiveness and financial performance, not just minimizing the number of people,”

• Solomon’s experience is that the businesses that have consistently achieve top-quartile performance in terms of reliability, energy efficiency, yield optimisation and overall profitability are not necessarily the businesses with the fewest personnel.

•In fact, the best performers within the industry typically have personnel resources ranking in the second quartile. At the same time the skills and capacities of their workforces, in conjunction with the efficiency and effectiveness of their work processes, enable them to consistently achieve an increased level of performance versus their competition,”

• Key factors to be considered and be present in a business organisation for sustainable optimization of the workforce are:

Efficient work processes.

Clarity of roles/responsibilities.

Focused aligned organizational structure.

High levels of skills, competency.

Utilisation of technology and automation to help maximize productivity.

• Suggesting Petrotrin establish a continuous improvement culture, S&A stated: “Continuous change isn’t just a project, it’s a relentless, never-ending process as well as culture change.”

• The summary alluded to “transformational change which could only be achieved by Petrotrin management, union leadership and the Shareholder all working together in concert” to implement necessary changes that will provide the company with “foundational elements” for it to increase efficiency, effectiveness and financial success for many years to come.”

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

With her 11-month-old son in her arm, Penny George’s voice trembled as she questioned whether there would be enough counsellors available to help families through the upcoming turmoil they expect with the impending shutdown of Petrotrin.

George, the wife of Daniel George, a casual labourer at Trinmar Offshore Operations, told her story to those gathered at the Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies’ public forum on Petrotrin at the San Fernando City Hall auditorium yesterday. It was just one of the few stories on the hardships that casual workers are expecting as Petrotrin prepares to close its marketing and refinery operation and terminate its entire workforce as it restructures.

At Trinmar, 1,700 permanent employees are expected to be retrenched and 800 rehired for its revamped Exploration and Production operation.

“The thing is, we have two daughters, one is six and one is four and they have bad seizures. Then we have our son. My question is, will it have enough counsellors to deal with this situation with families who have children that are sick and may not be able to get grants?” George asked.

In addition to the seizures, the girls also suffer from asthma, she said.

Following the meeting, Daniel said he has been working at Trinmar for the past four years and four months and was a junior compared to many of the other casual workers. He said while Government has promised attractive separation packages for workers, nothing has been offered to the casual workers who depend on the company to sustain their family.

“The persons whom they have put out the invitation to reapply, I don’t fall in that bracket. They only referred to the permanent workers for reapplying,” Daniel said.

“If it comes to Petrotrin shutting down I will be unemployed and that new system they are introducing will not be an option for me. It means that my family will not have an income unless I find some other means.

“However, the market will become tougher as other companies will be looking to send home workers instead of taking on workers because of the ripple effect that is expected.”

While Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is putting his faith in the construction of a new port in La Brea to provide 5,000 jobs for citizens in South West Trinidad, Daniel said he and many others would not be guaranteed employment because with thousands of workers being laid off, it means many people will be competing for jobs. He added that there was also no timeframe for when workers will be hired for the project.

Temporary clerk shows $7,400 payslip

Erin mother of four Crystal Bernard yesterday took umbrage with claims that the average casual Petrotrin worker was taking home $20,000 per month.

Bernard, a clerk at the company’s office in Santa Flora, shared her payslip which showed that as a temporary clerk, she took home around $7,400 per month after deductions, which she said had to cater to payments for her house and car.

She said permanent and temporary workers have the same rate of pay in each job category. The difference was that casual employees can work for six weeks and be without a job for the next six weeks to four months.

“In essence, what I work for is really what my counterparts in the government offices work for if you calculate it. But the public was made to hate me and be jealous of me because someone said this average clerk works for $20,000 a month, when in reality my general expenses are about $4000-$5000.

“I still have to pay my light bill, school fees, face the grocery and buy a birthday gift for each of my four children when that time comes.,” Bernard said.

She added, “There is a story within this Petrotrin story that is not being told. The story of the single mother. The story of the woman who is the sole breadwinner in her family, the story of the woman who was betrayed on that day in the middle of the back to school season, with one week to go and being told she will no longer have a job.”

Since the announced of retrenchment, Bernard said mothers at the company have been reaching out to each other, crying on each other’s shoulders. She said there were those who have HDC houses to pay for, as well as car loans and are doing so without a husband.

She called on the “powers that be” to have a public discussion so that all who will be affected by the shutting down of the Petrotrin refinery can understand their fates so that they can prepare better.

“A new low!”

That’s how Downtown Owners and Merchants Association president Gregory Aboud describes the Oreo comment made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in reference to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday, as criticisms against the comment which has been dubbed “racist” continued to grow.

But the Opposition United National Congress is defending Persad-Bissessar, saying her statements had absolutely nothing to do with race. One Opposition MP meanwhile told the T&T Guardian he is “proud” of the UNC leader.

Aboud told the T&T Guardian the statement signalled “a communication of weakness” on the part of the Opposition leader.

“If someone has a good point to make they do not need to disparage anyone else and usually, as taught to me by parents and grandparents, trying to insult your opponent is usually a clear indication that you have no point to make.”

Addressing UNC supporters in Point-a-Pierre on Monday night, Persad-Bissessar referenced the PM’s relationship with the so-called “one per cent.” She accused the Government Rowley leads of “helping their friends and the one per cent,” which has become the term used to describe members of the Syrian-Lebanese community, following a comment made during an interview with some members of the community with the now deceased CNN culinary journalist Anthony Bourdain.

Persad-Bissessar said, “They tried to own Mr Manning they couldn’t do that… They tried to own me but I sent them packing. They have their Oreo now who is their guy in Keith Christopher Rowley and that’s how the one per cent friends and family of Rowley control him.”

Yesterday, Aboud said “the pronouncement is in itself a new low.”

While some have sought to link the remark to the “Calcutta Ship” statement made by former Tobago House of Assemblyman Hilton Sandy years ago, Aboud said, “I would like to be counted among those who find both remarks reprehensible.”

The businessman said he longed for the day “when we will have leaders that see all men as brothers in the same way as Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi.”

There have been calls for an apology from Persad-Bissessar to the PM, but Aboud said, “Politicians always feel issuing an apology is a sign of weakness and the population always sees it as a sign of strength.”

Former transport minister in the People’s Partnership government Stephen Cadiz said the statement was “downright racist” and uncharacteristic of the UNC leader.

“It was a stupid thing, I don’t know what possessed her. I am extremely disappointed in her as a leader to not think before she made the statement and if she did think before she made it that is worse. I did not think she would be following gutter politics,” Cadiz said.

Cadiz said there are some politicians who naturally engage in “gutter politics, but I don’t believe that she is that person. I have never had reason to believe she is that kind of person, so why do it. The population does not expect that kind of thing from her. It is not her style.”

The PNM Women’s League and the Arouca/Maloney constituency have condemned the statement as a “racist and offensive description of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley” and called for a public apology.

But Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told the T&T Guardian it was Government spokespersons who should apologise to the national community “for their hypocrisy, their lack of intellectual depth and their lack of understanding of very serious political issues.”

Moonilal, who was on the platform on Monday night when Persad-Bissessar made the comment, said she was dealing in a “contemporary way” with a matter raised by French writer Franz Fanton in his book ‘Black Skin White Masks.’

He said like Fanton, Persad-Bissessar was dealing with the effect of colonisation on third world leadership, “the issue of how third world leaders become servants of their colonial masters even when they become independent.”

Moonilal said Persad-Bissessar’s reference to Oreo cookies was “contemporary, which people can relate to and understand. I think Mrs Persad-Bissessar did well and had the courage to raise the issue and I am extremely proud of her.”

He insisted that the statement “had nothing to do with race, what she raised is a universal issue. These are issues raised in Asia, Africa and in the former third world countries.”

In fact, he described it as a “deeply intellectual issue” which “deserves discussion.”

The UNC Women’s Arm also defended Persad-Bissessar.

In a press release, the UNC women said the PNM Women’s League had failed to acknowledge the range of issues facing the country, including domestic violence, women who go missing and the shutdown of the Petrotrin refinery.

The body said it would not allow the issues to be swept under the carpet and called on the PNM Women’s League and Government to redirect their focus on questions surrounding the impending shutdown of the Petrotrin refinery, “the ongoing fiasco of the ferry service, the increase of crimes against women, the displacement of families that will be affected by the Curepe Interchange and the many other real issues that are affecting the citizens.”

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Former Economic Development Advisory Board chairman Dr Terrence Farrell has likened T&T’s oil industry to the old Nokia and Blackberry phones that were popular back in the 2000s that have now gone off the shelves.

“Nokia is dead as a phone company,” Farrell said at the Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies’ public forum on Petrotrin at the San Fernando City Hall yesterday.

He told those gathered that products and industries die because technological and economic progress changes economies and that Government should now focus on investing in renewable energy. One of T&T’s lead economist, Farrell irked members of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) who were present at the forum.

They accused him of ignoring the role of Petrotrin to the fortunes of T&T, as he went against the grain of the other panellists.

In contrast to Farrell, fellow economist Gregory Mc Guire suggested that a new and efficient refinery be built while geologist Dr Krishna Persad advised that Petrotrin should ignore exploration so that it could tap into proven oil reserves that would increase production for the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery.

But Farrell relied on the laws of economics to drive his presentation and a forecast that stated that the high-cost producers like T&T will be out of the crude oil business by 2030. By 2050, it is predicted that gas may be a high-cost production, he noted.

“The stone age didn’t end because of a lack of stones and change of hands, the oil age is not going to end because of a lack of oil. There is going to be plenty of oil and natural gas in the ground when the planet has stopped using fossil fuels to generate energy. What will happen? We don’t know…” Farrell explained.

“Solar, wind, tidal are coming. The Chinese are investing in renewable energy. The Chinese have taken an old coal field, turned it into a lake and put solar panels on top of the lake to generate solar energy. The cost of solar energy is coming down rapidly.”

He said a renewable energy thrust would present opportunities for the retrenched Petrotrin workers to create businesses.

However, the trade union movement continues to urge the Government to seek alternatives to shutting down the refinery and dismissing the entire Petrotrin workforce.

But Farrell said investing in industries for the purpose of saving jobs was not about economics and had to do with the political economy.

For employees, a job is something that allows them to feed their families and pays bills, but Farrell said it must produce value.

He said politicians need to understand this, recalling that since the 1960’s the sugar industry was in a terminal state yet governments kept Caroni (1975) Ltd open for 30 years. The cost of doing that began to pile up and it became inevitable that the company could not survive, he noted.

He said since the 1970’s T&T’s political economy has led to it becoming a rentier state where Government took taxes from the energy sector to upkeep the public sector.

He said the Government was the largest employer in the country but described State enterprises as a “bed of corruption.”

Under the People’s Partnership, he said the National Gas Company engaged in many things that it had no business in, wasting its resources.

Those resources, if they had been used for proper investment, could have enhanced T&T’s economy, Farrell said.

He said for a country with vast resources, there was too much poverty and low productivity.

“We do have an opportunity now to grasp and pursue renewables and energy efficiency in this country.

“Let us step back and focus on that industry and see what can we do for Trinidad and Tobago to bring and to introduce renewables, introduce solar energy, to use tidal power, to use wind power to generate our electricity, to convert our transportation system,” he said.