The PNM Government has reinstated Professor Kenneth Julien as head of the University of T&T (UTT) and also appointed NH International (Caribbean) executive chairman Emile Elias as chairman of the Telecommunication Services of T&T (TSTT).

Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie announced that at yesterday’s weekly Government press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

Julien, often described as the “energy czar”, due to his role in the development of Pt Lisas, now returns to the helm of the entity where he was UTT president under Patrick Manning’s PNM administration.

He had been replaced at UTT by Curtis Manchoon after the People’s Partnership administration took office. 

Legal proceedings were later instituted against Julien and four other former UTT board members seeking to recover more than $11.4 million which the State claimed was lost because of alleged breach of fiduciary duty and failure to exercise due diligence.

This allegedly concerned the sub-leasing of the university’s Aripo guest house with Consolidated Services Ltd for a five-year renewable lease at a monthly rental of $50,000, as well as accommodating Rev Juliana Pena, the spiritual adviser to former prime minister Patrick Manning. 

In July, however, the State discontinued the proceedings and the case reportedly collapsed.

The appointment of Julien and Elias yesterday elicited mixed views from former PP ministers Dr Suruj Rambachan and Dr Tim Gopeesingh, now Opposition members. 

But Communication Minister Cuffie, replying to media queries about Julien’s reinstatement, said of the legal issues:

“He (Julien) came out of that with his integrity and reputation intact. The issues in the court case had floundered and based on testimony, the action was not brought against him by UTT but instigated by the then (PP’s) attorney general.

“Dr Julien is a well acknowledged educator and someone who has done great service to T&T.”

Last month, Government also appointed Julien to its Standing Energy Committee.

Other members of the UTT board announced yesterday are professor Clement Imbert, Shivan Ojah-Maharaj, Professor Hollis Liverpool, Marslyn Jack, Nicolette Moore, Winston Lalla and two others to be appointed.

Imbert, an engineering expert and UWI lecturer, is the uncle of Finance Minister Colm Imbert

Ojah Maharaj, niece of former PNM Toco-Sangre Grande MP Indra Ojah-Maharaj Sinanan and a relative of PNM deputy leader Rohan Sinanan, had been a PNM nominee for Toco/Sangre Grande in 2010. 

Liverpool, better known as Chalkdust, is a well known educator.

On the TSTT board along with Elias are Ian Narine, Wendell Berkley, Kimberly Derriah and Judith Sobion. 

Berkley is PNM’s Tobago East chairman. Sobion has an executive management background. Narine is in asset management.

Cuffie said Elias was a well known businessman and has promoted the national interest through the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) and other entities in which he has been involved, including the Family Planning Association. 

He said Elias had a resume that spoke to his commitment in T&T and possessed business acumen and it was based on that he was appointed.

Cuffie also announced Shaheed Hosein to chair the National Petroleum (NP) board. 

Other members are Myrna Persad, Marcus Knaggs, David Alexander, Quincy Trim, Nadine Nabbie. Knaggs is a business executive who has been involved with the T&T Energy Guide

Also announced was Marvin Johncilla, a human resources specialist, to head the National Lotteries Control Board, Other members are Winfield Quamina, Kristine Lee King and Ria Joseph.

Government also appointed southern businessman Imtiaz Ahamed to chair the E-Tech Board. Other members are Judy Ramjohn, Eric Lewis, Arnold de Four, Randall Karim and Kelvon Morris,

Also appointed was Ulric Warner to head the National Quarries board. Other board members are Shazad Mohammed, Wanda Clarke, Roger Rajan and Dons Waithe. 

opposition comments

Former PP minister Dr Suruj Rambachan commenting on Julien’s reinstatement, said:

“It’s clear the old PNM guard has come back to take over the affairs of T&T. The display of youth by the PNM was just a masquerade and you are now seeing the real PNM power brokers emerging to take over. 

“So clearly we are in for repetition, more of the same-old, same-old. We warned T&T this would take place if the PNM won government and it’s coming to pass. 

“We are also seeing other things we warned about happening, job loss. One steel company sent home almost 300 workers this week and we are also seeing ‘cleansing’ occurring in URP where defeated PNM candidates are taking up posts.”

On the appointment of Elias to TSTT, Rambachan added: “Mr Elias has been known as a PNM sympathiser and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be rewarded for this.”

However, his colleague, former minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh hailed the appointment of Elias as a “great move.”

Gopeesingh added: “I never supported the idea of a former police commissioner being chairman of TSTT and I have made statements to that effect. 

“This is a company that needed great help and I think Mr Elias has great management capacity to change things.” 

A number of United National Congress (UNC) members, including young people, are urging Opposition Senator Vasant Bharath to enter the party’s leadership race and he has been consulting various UNC constituencies in recent weeks, it has been confirmed. 

A spokesman said Bharath will likely announce by the end of the week what action he would pursue—whether contesting or not.

Sources close to Bharath confirmed Tuesday night that he had been having meetings with various constituencies including Couva South members, Tunapuna and other areas and party units to understand the feelings on the “ground” and decide whether he should contest. 

They said it had been noted there was still support for incumbent leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar as well as growing support for sole challenger to date, Oropouche East MP Roodal Moonilal.

They confirmed Bharath had also noted divisions among particular UNC units on the issue.

Meanwhile, UNC officials after Wednesday’s national executive meeting, said they were not aware of any legal challenge in the offing to the election process but “wouldn’t be surprised if there might be.”

Sources said if any challenge came, it might be from Moonilal’s side since there have been “whispers” of this. They said: “Initially, Moonilal was very confident and now his camp appears to be concerned about things.”

Moonilal didn’t answer calls yesterday. Some members of his team said they were unaware of any challenges being considered. 

Another Bharath in the party, former councillor Prakash Bharath, assistant secretary of UNC’s Tunapuna executive, has admitted there were some executive members with differing views on the leadership issue. 

He said he supported giving Persad-Bissessar another three years until the next leadership election in 2018 to try and rebrand and reinvigorate the UNC. He said the position was outlined by activists, himself and other Tunapuna members at a briefing on Tuesday. 

But he stressed that group didn’t speak for the executive and that briefing didn’t feature UNC Tunapuna chairman Hamlyn Jailal.

He also denied the group had been mandated to hold its briefing by UNC hierarchy or leadership officials.

He said: “I can’t speak for the entire executive but we called a briefing on Tuesday because senior activists, area managers, the rank and file are telling us they strongly want to retain the incumbent leader. 

“People believe losing the general election wasn’t entirely her fault. 

“People around her gave her advice, the Congress of the People (COP) had lost popularity in the East-West Corridor but the UNC still performed creditably since the party won 17 of the 18 seats the People’s Partnership obtained.”

“She’s still vibrant and loved. We’ve suggested, the party can give her three years to do the necessary work to return to government and if there are changes, the MPs and rank and file want after that, then so be it.”

The 26-year-old woman videotaped receiving a severe beating with a steel object in a video which was circulated on social media yesterday has refused to co-operate with police investigating the incident.

Her refusal has caused investigating officers at the Arouca Police Station to consult with their legal team on whether or not the suspect, an Arouca businessman, could be charged with any offence. With her refusal to file a complaint, the victim has left police with a case that may see the perpetrator of the vicious beating walk free, despite at least seven eyewitnesses to the incident.

While the 49-second clip making the rounds on Facebook shows what seems to be a staggering amount of violence meted out to a petite young woman, the beating allegedly did not stop when the clip ended. The footage was recorded on Thursday. According to eyewitnesses, the beating continued for several minutes longer as the woman lay on the floor being kicked in her head, arms and stomach by the man. 

The woman, according to eyewitnesses, had arrived at Nella’s Sports Bar on the Arima Old Road at around 1 pm, where she was having drinks with friends. Two hours later, at exactly 3.08 pm according to a time-stamp on security footage, the man, identified as the father of her child, walked into the bar and started the violent beating.

After the incident, the man lifted the young woman by her clothing and pulled her out of the bar. Less than an hour later, he returned and threatened to assault an employee at the bar after she had called him a coward.

The owner of the bar, who spoke to reporters yesterday, said he was surprised at the attack as he had known the man for a while and had never seen that type of behaviour. He said he had called out to the man to stop but the suspect continued. Having received a leg injury in a car accident last month, the owner said he could not have intervened.

“The only other people in the bar were women so nobody could have safely stopped what was happening,” he added. 

However, a source close to the couple claimed the beating was nothing new.

“This isn’t the first time that happened to her. The last time it happened two women interfered and tried to stop him and he ended up beating all three of them,” the source alleged.

“The women are afraid of him though so they won’t talk. She won’t help the police and he will come right back out and the same thing will happen again.”

The couple surrendered to the Arouca Police Station yesterday morning and were both interviewed by police officers up until late yesterday evening. According to police sources, the victim has insisted she did not want police involvement.

In a telephone interview last night, attorney and former police officer Lyndon Leu said the police could only lay charges if the victim gave a statement or if the victim’s medical notes or a statement from the doctor showed the victim admitted to being beaten by her partner. 

“It is a very difficult situation for the police. They can’t do much without a statement. Without a statement from her there is no victim,” Leu said.

He said the video would have been enough to arrest and detain the perpetrator for 48 hours but police needed more in order to charge him. Leu, who saw the video on Facebook yesterday, said police could either charge him for a minor offence, which was assault by beating, or possibly a major offence of wounding with intent to cause bodily harm.

He added: “If the police are clever or innovative they can find a way to lay charges but it is still possible that the victim will find a way to sabotage the case when it goes to court. “But as funny as it sounds, she has to tell the police she did not give permission for him to beat her.”

He said police could also look at less obvious crimes to charge the perpetrator with, such as disorderly conduct or possession of a weapon, in the event the victim had refused to give a statement but police got statements from other witnesses.

Leu said, however, that it was common for victims of domestic violence situations to refuse police help. Another attorney, Donna Prowell, agreed that police could charge the perpetrator for assault using a statement from the witness, even if the witness doesn’t want to pursue the case further.

According to Section 26 of the Domestic Violence Act, evidence obtained through a statement is admissable in court if a witness refuses to co-operate.

More info
Section 26 of Domestic Violence Act

Where direct oral evidence of a fact would be admissible in any proceedings under this Act, a document containing a statement made by the complainant which forms part of the record compiled by the police and tending to establish that fact, shall be admissible in circumstances where—
(a) The complainant refuses to be sworn as a witness; or
(b) having been sworn as a witness, gives oral evidence which is inconsistent or contradictory to the statement forming part of the police record

A Chaguanas businessman and a Colombian woman held in connection with a multi-million dollar drug bust in central Trinidad have been released by police. 

After being interrogated for almost 24 hours, the businessman and the foreign national were released from the Woodbrook and Belmont Police Stations shortly after midnight on Thursday. Contacted yesterday, police sources confirmed the suspects were released but refused to reveal the reason why, as they stated that the investigation was at a sensitive stage. 

However, the T&T Guardian understands that the 50-year-old businessman and the woman, who recently arrived in T&T, were visiting the house where the drugs were found when police raided it on Wednesday night. The 50-year-old businessman, who cannot be named as he was not charged, has been in and out of jail for the past decade on a number of charges, including kidnapping, most of which were eventually dismissed by the court. 

According to reports, around 10 pm, officers of the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) executed a search warrant at the property in Enterprise, Chaguanas, and recovered 20 kilos of cocaine and 300 kilos of marijuana with a combined value of over $6 million. 

In addition to the couple, the 36-year-old man and his 35-year-old wife who own the house were arrested. They remained detained up to late yesterday. They are expected to be charged with drug trafficking over the weekend and will appear in court to answer the charges on Monday. 

Investigations are continuing.

Calls are being made for the Government to liaise with all Muslim organisations to stop the recruitment of terrorist fighters by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

This follows the posting of an 11-minute, 20-second video, titled Those who Believe and Made the Hijra, which featured Trinidadian parents and their young children training to become ISIS fighters. In the video posted by the Ar-Raqqah Province of the Islamic State (IS), the fighters said they left T&T to fight for Islam as practising their faith in T&T was “limited.” 

One of them was positively identified as former Richplain Road, Diego Martin, resident Chris Lewis by his friends and family yesterday. Family members said Lewis left Trinidad over a year ago with his children, saying he was going to live and work in England. 

They were stunned, therefore, when they saw him appearing in the ISIS video and were said to be still struggling to come to terms with his decision to join the terrorist group yesterday.

But in an interview yesterday, founder and chairman of the Caribbean Hajj, Zabar Mohammed Baksh, said the video was not an accurate representation of Islam in T&T. “They have to be mad. We are the best place in the world to practise Islam,” Baksh said, adding he hoped the terrorist fighters never returned to T&T.

He added: “I have travelled all over the world and we are not restrictive when it comes to the practice of Islam. I was a founding member of the IRO and that is a blessing in this country. “Islam is one of the most tolerant religions of the world. We always fear Allah. Every life on this earth must be protected and cherished.” 

Asked why locals were being enticed to go to fight for ISIS, Baksh said: “Ask them that. I don’t know what prompts them.” He added that the Government must deal with the situation by holding talks with Muslim groups. 

Meanwhile, president of the Trinidad Muslim League, Dr Nasser Mustapha, said he did not recognise any of the fighters. He said it was not true that Islam was being restricted in T&T. “Over the years we have enjoyed religious freedom and freedom to worship. We have established schools and we teach children from other religions. We have more rights and freedoms than many of the Muslim countries where people cannot speak out,” he said.

He also said when he first heard  people were going to ISIS he was skeptical. Now that he had seen proof of the fighters in the Middle East, Mustapha said it was time for Government to intervene. He said children must be taught not to accept ISIS ideology.

“The Government needs to address this issue at the level of the school and the media,” he added. Mustapha also said it was possible people with limited education and weak family ties was being encouraged by ISIS. “These people with weak spiritual development can be easily influenced. I think Muslims who have knowledge of the religion, strong family ties and a stable position in society will not be enticed by ISIS,” Mustapha said.

TML’s secretary Azid Ali had a message for his Muslim family. “My message to Muslim community is think hard about what you are doing. Search your conscience and do research and reading.  

“Seek understanding about what is your role is as a Muslim and how you can preserve your faith,” Ali said. He added that if your mission was contrary to what Allah wanted, then Muslims must understand their duty to humanity.

MORE ON VIDEO

In the video, a man, identified as Abu Zayd al-Muhajir, described the practice of Islam in T&T as limited. 

“The only practice that you can practise is what they tell you is halal (permissible) to practise. The other aspects of Islam are haram (forbidden) for you.  “You cannot practise your deen 100 per cent. It was yearning for me that I knew I had to leave, I had to leave this land. I cannot sit and watch my children grow up in this land in which they cannot practise their Islam 100 per cent,” he said.

While he admitted there were no problems in wearing hijab or other Islamic wear in T&T, Zayd al-Muhajir said Muslims were only allowed to practise what they were told. His three young sons were featured attending school learning mathematics, English and Islam. One of the children was heard saying school in the Middle East was better than school in Trinidad.

Another Trinidadian, called Abu Abdullah, urged his “brothers” in T&T to question their conscience. 

“What will we tell Allah the Great and Almighty if I don't make hijra to the land of the Muslims, if I don't make hijra to do my part and to give my little contribution towards the deen of Allah, the Great and Almighty,” he said. 

The fourth fighter, Abu Mansour al-Muhajir, said the fight was against the allies of Satan.

“As we speak today, over 60 nations of this world sign on to wipe out us but Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, is with us. I hope and pray that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, will guide us and protect us and bring us to this land so that we will make jihad for this cause and to gain the reward of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He,” he said.

Another fighter, Abu Khalid, said although he lived comfortably in Trinidad he felt he did not belong. He also agreed that Muslims in Trinidad were restricted. Last year reports surfaced that locals were leaving T&T to go to Ar-Raqqah, a city in Syria on the north bank of the Euphrates River.

Former national security minister Gary Griffith estimated that at least 30 citizens were now terrorist fighters. T&T has been named as a country where fighters were being recruited by the United Nations.

A Carenage couple whose house was partially demolished by high winds from a low flying helicopter on Thursday night is expected to receive compensation following a visit from a representative of the Member of Parliament for the area, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. 

The man, Krishna Salick, visited the Western Main Road, Carenage, home yesterday and assessed the damage done on behalf of Dr Rowley, in his capacity as MP for the area. Salick spoke with three homeowners who claimed they suffered some sort of damages. 

At the couple’s home which was being constructed following a fire two years ago, Marsha Maynard spoke of how parts of her home came crumbling when the helicopter hovered close to her home, ripping off galvanized roofs and ripping electric gates off their hinges. 

Maynard told the T&T Guardian she was at her home washing when she heard the noise from the helicopter blades. Sometime later she heard a cracking sound and saw at least six rows of clay bricks coming down towards her. The woman said she and her husband had to jostle to get through a three-foot wide doorway to escape being crushed.

Maynard said she had no qualms with the helicopter doing whatever it was doing but was disappointed that while roofs were being blown off, instead of gaining altitude the helicopter kept hovering, causing more damage. Maynard said the helicopter was taking picture of a nearby oil spill but this was not confirmed.

Other residents who did not want to be identified said they all came together to nail sheets of galvanise back on the roof of a family, who had a new-born baby at home when the incident happened. Defence Force officials up to late yesterday were seeking to determine whether the helicopter belonged to the National Security Ministry. 

Sources within the Defence Force told the T&T Guardian on Thursday that the helicopter was not part of the Defence Force arsenal. 

Although nurses at public health institutions are always under scrutiny, South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) CEO Anil Gosine emphasised that it was a tough job that not everyone could do. 

“It takes a very strong, intelligent and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet,” Gosine said. He was speaking at the Nurses Achievement ceremony at the San Fernando Hill, Visitor’s Centre, yesterday where primary and secondary care nurses were recognised for their achievements.

Noting that nurses are always highlighted in the media, he said it was because of their role as frontliners in healthcare institutions. He added: “It is said that the hallmark of a successful healthcare organisation is the presence of committed individuals who keep the organisation running despite the odds. 

“This is reflective of our staff in the SouthWest RHA, especially our nurses, whose outstanding service, unwavering commitment and inspiring contributions to patient care in the southwest region have proven integral to our development as a people-centred organisation. 

“Nursing is not for everyone and for this reason, it gives me great pride to witness these achievement presentations today. 

“Our successes cannot only be measured by statistical data but by what we have accomplished despite the obstacles encountered and our willingness to persevere against the odds.

“I know that there will be inevitable challenges but it is the way we deal with challenges that allow us to grow and improve our ability to provide excellent service.”

General manager of Nursing, Franka Olliviere-Andrew, told her charges that they were the backbone of the nation’s heathcare system, therefore playing a big role in every patients’ experience. 

She added healthcare was also changing because of technology, cost containment and Government decisions which pose a challenge to them. As a result, she said, nurses needed to change the way they did things in order to get better outcomes for their patients.

In Barbados

Climate change can cause billions of dollars in losses in the Caribbean and changes need to be made for the future and present, according to Juan Cheaz Pelaez, senior programme coordinator of Agricultural Policy and Value Chains at the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation.

He said so in an interview yesterday at the  Second Caribbean Agri-business Forum at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados.

“The effects of climate change in the Caribbean represents over $100 billion in the period 1998 to 2002 and this amount until 2050 is estimated at $22 billion in losses. If we don’t do something about climate change this could set back the economies of the Caribbean,” he said.

Pelaez said nations were already seeing the effects, with the changing rain patterns, drought in the Caribbean and loss of crops.

“The issue is so complex to address and is not something that can be done by governments alone. All actors in society have to work together and government presenting policies, the consumers and individuals all have to work together,” he said.

Pelaez said that money had already been lost due to these conditions. “The patterns of life can be improved and consumption habits and in terms of our use of fossil fuels and explore alternative energies but it has to be done by everyone,” he said. He said climate change affected us all globally.

Governments in general have the duty to support the development and generating of policies to allow businesses to flourish, he said. On another issue, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute executive director Barton Clarke, who was at the forum, said cross-border investment should be improved to move more produce between countries.

“Some of this happens in the region. More of that needs to happen. If we can do that and do it in an efficient way that does not disenfranchise domestic farmers it means less will come in from outside of the region. More of that needs to happen because it is one Caribbean,” he said.

He added, “However, we need to understand it is about increasing production, improving efficiency and improving trade particularly in the Caribbean and we have to deal with this food import bill.

“Farmers need all the support they can get and they receive incentives from the government. We are not endowed like Europe and I believe in Barbados farmers don’t get handouts. I believe the government is doing as much as they can but they can do more,” he said.

President Anthony Carmona believes there is a crisis in the way the T&T society handles conflicts and disagreements. 

Delivering the feature address at the Presentation College, San Fernando, prize-giving and awards ceremony 2015, Carmona called for mediation and conflict resolution to be incorporated within the home and school. “Parents and students should take a course in mediation and dispute resolution because in Trinidad and Tobago we are not very good at resolving conflicts in an affable and effective way,” Carmona said. 

He explained that mediation encouraged emotional stability and decreased anxiety. “Mediation is a strategy in ensuring disputes are resolved amicably and that both individuals and the nation can arrive at a solution and devise a way forward to forge a rewarding relationship with each other,” Carmona added.

He said as T&T experienced an evolving democracy, lines of succession must be created in the workplace, the corporate world and in governance. He also lauded the college for moulding upstanding citizens who did not bend to immorality.

“Presentation College, San Fernando, does not train ‘yes men’ and would not add ‘yes men’ to our society. At Presentation College we are not trained to say yes in the face of wrong or when wrong is being done. “That is how we must function in a society now grown weary by its unholy adherence to the negatives of westernisation,” he added.

Carmona said he would continue to believe in the transformation of men and women who were weak. Principal Dexter Charles Mitchell, who also addressed the students, lauded the Open National scholarship winners — Antonio Beatrice, Joel Balkaran and Samuel Seepersad — for making their school proud. 

He told the graduates that as they navigated their next moves, they must be mindful of their responsibility to God and his people. “Be the best you can be and believe in your capacity,” Mitchell said. He also urged the students not to compromise the principles of fairness, justice and truth. 

Lotto mania has not hit all of T&T as yet, even though the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) has set the jackpot at $30 million, the largest in the country’s history. In San Fernando, Debe and Ste Madeleine yesterday, several Lotto vendors recorded a poor turnout of customers. 

Kamla Pope, the vendor who sold T&T’s largest, winning, $20 million Lotto ticket two years ago, said people were losing interest in Lotto because they suspected it was rigged. “I have my usual customers but they complain all the time that Lotto is rigged. I tell them if they want to play it is their choice but people don’t bet like they used to,” Pope said. She said, “They are losing faith in the NLCB and this is not good for business.” 

At King’s Wharf, San Fernando, only a few people were seen outside Khan’s Lotto booth. Vendor Kizzy Williams said, “Things slow right now but we expect it to pick up tomorrow,” before the winning numbers are drawn at 8.30 pm. “Many people are sceptical about the Lotto. They saying that only one person will win this week.”

Kevin Nuckchaddy who went to purchase a ticket also contended that the draw was not fair. “There was a time when people used to run down bets but in the last few months nobody winning because they want it to be a big jackpot so everybody will play and they will create a hype. Last week the Lotto was $25 million and people who got five numbers without the powerball only got $48,884.60.”

Despite the scepticism, players promised to help the poor if they won. Moses Beckles, of Rio Claro, said, “If I win I will build proper houses for poor people, starting in my own community. I will go around the country and look for the poor and build houses for them. “I will also travel a little, tour the world starting with the Caribbean first,” Beckles said.

Champa Sookoo, of Princes Town, said she planned to build homes and buy properties for her children before offering financial aid to T&T’s children’s homes. Lisa Deo also promised to help poor children while Kelvin Teeluckdharry said he could not even begin to think how he would spend $30 million.

NLCB responds

An NLCB official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to make public statements, yesterday denied claims that the entire operation was a hoax.

“We are existing as a legitimate entity and it is not a scam. This is a very legitimate operation and after all of these years in the business, this question should not still arise,” he said. He said that sceptical customers were free to visit to witness the NLCB’s live draws if they were suspicious.

“We have always advertised that the public is free to visit our draws when it is being conducted. We have published the winning ticket with the numbers and identified the agent who sold the ticket. What more can we do?” he asked.

He also noted that the NLCB could not disclose the identity of actual winners because of the crime climate in the country but noted that the NLCB remained open to suggestions from the public.

This week was a very sad one for T&T’s National Security agencies as it lost three of its law enforcement officers—a soldier, a senior prisons officer and a Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer—all by the gun. CNC3’s Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne has since launched investigations into all three incidents.

On October 30, at about 9 pm Special Forces soldier, Cpl Shervaun Charleau, 39, was shot in the head during a robbery at Fort George, St James. He died while undergoing emergency treatment at the St James Medical Facility. Alleyne, who visited Fort George showed footage of the area where the incident occurred. He also got a contact number for the 23-year-old woman from Morvant, who was said to have been in Charleau’s company. 

However, when he called her she hung up after Alleyne identified himself to her. Repeated attempts to contact the critical witness proved futile. Alleyne received information that Charleau and the woman bought two bowls of soup and went up to the area that night to eat it.

Charleau was caught off-guard by a man wearing a grey hoodie who ordered him to lie on the ground and shot him once in the head. His service pistol and 45 rounds of ammunition was stolen. The woman told police she was able to escape on foot and made a report at the St James Police Station.

Alleyne also received critical information on the identity of a man, of Dundonald Hill, Dibe, who he said could assist in his investigation. His investigations have revealed a link between the woman and the shooter.

On Monday, at about 8.30 am, senior prisons officer, Supt David Millette, 50, was seated in his car just outside his home at Second Caledonia, Morvant, when he was approached by four gunmen, two of whom opened fire on him, killing him on the spot. 

Millette, who was on vacation, was reportedly targeted by remand prisoners after an incident at the Maximum Security Prison, Arouca, the night before, where prisons officers injured an inmate after he refused to hand over a switchblade.

In the third incident, just after midnight on Wednesday, Special Reserve Police officer Govindra Ramroop, 25, had just returned from a police patrol at the Guapo Police Station when he was accidentally shot in the abdomen by a colleague clearing his weapon. 

The incident occurred at about 12.08 am. Ramroop was taken to the Point Fortin Area Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Alleyne went to Ramroop’s home, Penal, where he spoke to several relatives, including Ramroop’s brother, Garvin, his mother, Parbatie, and Ramroop’s wife, Susan.

Susan told Alleyne she and her husband have been married for the past 15 months and were both fasting for Divali. She told Alleyne Ramroop was also a youth officer at his temple and a very religious person as he would light a deya (an earthen lamp) every morning and offer prayers. 

Susan also disclosed that on Wednesday morning she had a bad premonition and warned her husband to be very careful at work given the horrid dream she had. She reminisced of their life together and described him to be a very loving and kind husband and one who was very much dedicated to his job as a SRP.

Alleyne said his investigations are continuing into the incident, which has been so far labelled as “accidental.”

ABUSE TO MINORS

This week, high on Alleyne’s agenda was domestic violence and abuse to minors. Alleyne showed an exclusive video of a man allegedly beating his teenaged daughter who was heard saying she wanted to take her own life.

He was able to locate the family and brought them on his show where she highlighted years of alleged abuse. After the family appeared on Crime Watch, the woman went to a Clerk of the Peace seeking a protection order for her children and herself. A date has been set in the Arima Magistrates’ Court for hearing next week.

Sexual assault

In an unrelated incident, a distraught mother, Lu-Ann Marcelle, of Chaguanas, alleged that a close male relative had taken away her three children—ages four to nine years—last month. She told Alleyne she made a report to the Chaguanas Police Station. However, the man and her three children were yet to be found. She pleaded with Alleyne for his intervention.

Alleyne also highlighted an incident where a 14-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by one of her mother’s former male friends. Alleyne was told by the teen’s mother she made a report to the police and alleged that nothing ever came out of the report.

Alleyne made it clear that his stance against domestic violence and abuse towards children were clear and called on people to report any such incidents to him by contacting him on 294-4081.

The Opposition UNC’s December 5 leadership contest will be a three-way race following yesterday’s decision by UNC Senator Vasant Bharath to challenge incumbent UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and compete with contestant Roodal Moonilal for the top post.

 Bharath confirmed his decision to contest yesterday after a final meeting with his team, which will form his slate that includes UNC San Juan/ Barataria MP Fuad Khan. “This is more than just an internal UNC election for me, it’s about fully rebuilding and taking the party forward and moreso all about T&T’s future,” Bharath added.

Bharath was scheduled to deliver remarks at last night’s Divali Nagar celebration in Chaguanas. When Persad-Bissessar addressed the Nagar audience on Thursday, she apologised for losing the September 7 general election and asked for support in her leadership bid. Certain religious teachings, she noted, showed that sometimes kinsmen had to go up against each other to do the right thing.

Moonilal, who also addressed a Nagar audience on Friday, said he was aware of heartbreak over the general election outcome and promised “brighter days ahead.”

Bharath, 58, has been meeting with various constituencies over the last three weeks to gauge members’ opinions and decide if he should contest. Following yesterday’s meeting where he confirmed his decision, he told the Sunday Guardian, “I’ve met with many of the major constituencies, executives, activists and influential people in the party and today I met with a group which will become my slate and will be launched after Divali.

This has been a complex decision to arrive at as many things had to be taken into consideration. But with the encouragement of family, friends and my team I’ve decided to contest.”

Bharath, a chartered accountant with a master’s degree in law and an MBA degree, has been involved in politics for just over 20 years and was deputy chairman of the UNC under the former (2007) Panday administration during which time he was tipped as Panday’s successor. He was St Augustine MP. He unsuccessfully contested the St Joseph seat in the September 7 general polls.

On factors prompting his decision, Bharath said, “I particularly believe many institutions of the party have broken down, some irretrievably so. If we have to present ourselves as a credible alternative for the people, we must rebuild. It’ll be a long, painstaking process, but I’m up for the task. We’ll require all hands on deck and I’ll seek to do that immediately after the election.”

On his rivals, Bharath said, “I prefer not to comment on the pros and cons of either. Mrs Persad-Bissessar and Dr Moonilal, I’m sure each will make their respective cases in the next few weeks. My campaign will focus on the work we’ll do to rebuild UNC into a viable party to confront challenges facing T&T.” He acknowledged Persad-Bissessar would have residual support from the recent general election. 

“She’s been a very popular leader and prime minister. But I feel it’s time for us to move on. 

“As a party, I think we’ve been waiting to exhale and though she’s much loved, our message has to be that T&T is bigger than any person and we must put country first.”

Bharath, who isn’t a member of the House of Representatives—though his two rivals are—said he fought a difficult marginal seat in recent elections. 

“I clearly felt our election strategy was wrong for a national campaign. I withdrew from the ‘No Rowley’ campaign after my first three appearances there since I didn’t believe it was a campaign that would sit well with the public and I registered my objection to this.

“However, what’s important now is rebuilding party institutions. I’ve mapped out spending two years for this within our plan for the party’s future.”

Bharath said: “If the UNC has to present itself as a national party, we must have national support and similar appeal. 

“My slate will have many people who have such appeal and can command crossover support. 

“T&T in the last ten years has become very divided, almost to a dangerously low point and trust needs to be rebuilt. We must bring the races back together. The politics of our slate reflects the diversity of T&T.”

Khan, who had knocked Persad-Bissessar’s leadership and called for her to step aside, confirmed yesterday he was supporting Bharath. Several East-West corridor UNC units are also supporting Bharath. Khan said Bharath’s supporters included MPs Ramona Ramdial, Rudy Indarsingh, Bhoe Tewarie and ex-UNC ministers Brent Sancho, Stacy Roopnarine, Steven Cadiz, Garvin Nicholas and Jairam Seemungal. Khan said Bharath was also supported by businessmen.

While Cadiz confirmed he would support Bharath, Tewarie said yesterday he wasn’t involved. Nicholas said he hadn’t decided on whom he would support. Ramdial and Roopnarine also said they had not decided. Sancho said he hadn’t decided but had always admired Bharath’s skills. Cadiz said he was supporting Bharath since, “I think T&T has moved away from tribal voting. Recent elections have seen voters moving towards people they feel would best represent them. 

Vasant is viewed as being one of those with national appeal. “His political career has shown him to be a true Trinbagonian at heart and he doesn’t come across as being representative of only one particular group. He’s shown general appeal, is intelligent, well respected and as a minister and MP was performance-oriented with T&T in mind.”

Persad-Bissessar has support from several of the UNC’s 18 MPs including MP Barry Padarath, Suruj Rambachan, Rodney Charles, Rushton Paray, Dr Lackram Bodoe, David Lee, and others including certain former UNC MPs, the UNC’s six corporation chairmen, the UNC’s women’s arm and youth arm. 

Women’s arm head Roopnarine has, however, maintained distance from her group’s release supporting Persad-Bissessar. Yesterday, Persad-Bissessar didn’t answer calls regarding Bharath’s entry. Moonilal officially launches his campaign at 7 pm next Thursday at Rienzi Complex and will announce his slate, according to former UNC senator Devant Maharaj, who is among his supporters. Moonilal didn’t answer calls yesterday.

Moonilal’s attorneys recently wrote the UNC’s general secretary seeking information on the party’s voter list—estimated to be over 100,000. Moonilal’s supporters include MP Tim Gopeesingh, who will contest the chairmanship on his slate; Gerry Yetming; ex-CNMG CEO Ken Ali; former Office of the Prime Minister aide Francis Joseph and Kevan Gibbs; certain sugar union officials; and certain other UNC members. 

Maharaj claimed Moonilal also has support from people who were appointed by Moonilal to agencies under his former Housing Ministry. He said that included former Cepep chairman Adesh Deonarine, ex-HDC board members Rabindra Moonan, Henckle Lall, and others.

Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine, among those who have called for Persad-Bissessar to step aside, said he’d say whom he’s supporting after Divali. MP Ganga Singh said he had not personally taken any position. MP Fazal Karim had no comment on the issue recently.
 

The misery Lisa Thompson-Cooper faced when her youngest son was murdered in 2012 returned to haunt her on Friday night when her elder son was gunned down in similar style.

Cylus Cooper, 30, of Lengua Village, Indian Walk, Moruga, died from multiple gunshot wounds around 11 pm on Friday. His killing occurred three years after his younger brother Marcus Cooper was shot dead in a drive-by shooting close to his home on New Year’s. Police said yesterday that both brothers were involved in organised crime including drug trafficking and gun-running in the Princes Town and Moruga districts.

Police said Cooper (Cylus) was driving his car along Lengua Road, close to his home, when a silver Nissan Tiida pulled up. The back seat occupant pulled out a gun and started firing at Cooper who sped off in his car. He lost control of the car which went over a 25-foot precipice and crashed into a mango tree.

The gunman came out of the Tiida and got closer to Cooper’s car where he started firing several shots at him, hitting him in the chest and arm. The men then sped off in the Tiida. A man who lives close by said he hid in his house when he heard the barrage of gunfire.

“I heard more than five shots but I didn’t come out. In this rounds, you cannot take any chances,” the resident added.

The Tiida was then set afire in a dirt track at Diamond Road, St Croix, a short distance away. Police said the car was stolen from Barataria earlier this year. 

At the family’s home yesterday, Thompson-Cooper said she had barely come to terms with Marcus’s death when Cooper was killed. Asked whether Cooper had any enemies, she responded, “Everybody knows he had many enemies.” She said her sons’ two killings were related, adding that several weeks ago Cooper received a death threat.

“He did not report it. I also got a death threat and I went to the police, so if they come for me the police will know who they are,” Thompson-Cooper added.

Asked whether she planned to move out of her house, Thompson-Cooper said, “Move out and go where? I feel there is no justice in this country. With the police you have to have money to talk to them and I have no money.

“It’s one day to live and one day to die. Regardless of the precaution you take, they will still find you and the police will not do anything.” 

Police said yesterday that Cooper had several pending matters in court for drug trafficking, shooting, and possession of arms and ammunition. Officers said they believed that Cooper’s death would spark reprisal killings in Indian Walk.

“We are putting things in place to brace for more revenge killings. Now that a key player is dead, we expect there will be more fighting for drug turfs,” the officer said.

• Anyone with information on Cooper’s death can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS. 

New contender in the United National Congress (UNC) leadership race Vasant Bharath, who officially announced his bid for the leadership post yesterday, says he had not yet decided whether he would give up the senatorial position in the run up to the December 5 internal elections.

Another contender for the UNC crown, former UNC chief whip Dr Roodal Moonilal, resigned that post in order to campaign for the UNC political leader position against incumbent, former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Last month, the Sunday Guardian reported that Bharath was being courted to contest the leadership post. He confirmed then that while he had been approached, he had to determine whether he was ready for the massive undertaking of rebuilding the party from the ground up.

His decision comes after Bharath held talks with his close inner circle, including his father, wife and children. Yesterday, Bharath met with UNC operatives before finally deciding to announce his run for the leadership post.

Bharath, the Sunday Guardian understands, has the blessing of several long-time UNC insiders based on his business acumen and his political savvy. Attempts to contact UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday via cell phone were unsuccessful.
 

​President Anthony Carmona says the lesson to be learned from Divali is to let positivity triumph over negativity.

A brazen daylight shooting left one man dead in Enterprise, Chaguanas, yesterday.

Police are currently investigating the shooting death of 27-year-old Jameel “Bones” Boyce, which occurred just after midday. 

Around 12.15 pm, Boyce, who lived at School Lane, Enterprise, was at the home of a female friend at Lot 33, LP 84 Walcott Lane, Enterprise, when a male voice called out to him. Witnesses say Boyce went outside and a man dressed in black pulled out a firearm and started shooting at him. Boyce was hit several times in the upper body and head. 

Boyce was able to run a short distance away, but collapsed on the roadway. The shooter then approached his body and shot Boyce at close range with rapid gunfire.

The shooter escaped on foot along Walcott Lane. 

Officers, led by Inspector Glen Teesdale, Sgt Jitindra Toolaram and Sgt Glen Persad of the Central Division Task Force and Central Division Criminal Investigations Department, cordoned off the area and carried out a search for the perpetrator without success. 

The scene was processed by CSI No 16786 PC Chapdeosingh and No 18334 PC Endal, as well as CSI from Homicide Region Three. The body was removed by undertakers and an autopsy is expected to be conducted tomorrow. 

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar likened the battle for the post of UNC leadership to a holy war.

Speaking at the Divali Nagar on Thursday night, Persad-Bissessar quoted the Hindu holy text of the Bhagavad Gita that justifies fighting between family members for the greater good of society. 

“Sometimes we need to fight those we love not out of spite or malice but we must do it for the better benefit and for the greater good. At times we have to confront even those closest to us,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar said during her stint as the prime minister of T&T she tried as far as possible to close the gap between what religion proposes for a spiritual life and the manifestation of spirituality through her actions. 

She said the policies of her administration were people-centred and leaned on the side of compassion. 

“I will not be a leader who will see babies and children undernourished and hungry, parents without a roof over their heads, the elderly being unable to take care of their material needs, the health of people beyond their reach. This is why I chose to build hospitals, to build schools and make sure that every child under the age of six has a place in an international standard early childhood centre,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar apologised for the “shortcomings” of her People’s Partnership regime.

“I share the pains of your disappointment and apologise for whatever might have been our shortcomings. But I also commit not to abandon the cause for which we stood together in 2010,” she said.

The Clico Policyholders Group (CPG), led by Peter Permell, is “deeply concerned” by the news the Central Bank is planning an update of the resolution plan with it.

In a statement released yesterday, the CPG said while it welcomed the news, its concern stemmed from the fact that the Central Bank had been “conspicuously silent on the balance owed by Clico.”

To date, the CPG said, there were over 15,000 “assenting” policyholders who accepted the former government’s offer of zero-interest bonds and Clico Investment Fund units.

“Our information suggests that whilst this first partial payment to the ‘non-assenting’ policyholders represents 85 per cent of the contractual cash value as at the end of the interest term specified on the policy certificate in the case of the Government as assignee and trustee of the rights of the ‘assenting’ policyholders this is not the case,” Permell said.

He said “sources” revealed that there has been some “clandestine agreement” between the previous government and the Central Bank/Clico “to only claim the actual payout value of the offer and not the full amount that is contractually due to the assenting policyholders.”

He said if this were true, it was “extremely troubling” as Clico was now solvent and its Statutory Fund was fully funded. 

“Moreover, the Government as assignee and trustee for these insurance contracts is standing in the shoes of the assenting policyholders and as such is the only entity legally empowered to claim, on our behalf, the full amount that is contractually due to us from Clico,” he said.

“The CPG is therefore calling on the Central Bank Governor to clear the air on this matter and for the new Finance Minister Colm Imbert to also make his own inquiries, if necessary have any such unfair and unjust agreement rescinded and issue a statement accordingly,” Permell said. 

The aircraft that allegedly caused damage to a home in Chaguaramas due to alleged low flying in the area on Thursday evening has been identified as one of the AugustaWestland AW139s belonging to the TT Air Guard (TTAG).

This was yesterday confirmed to the Sunday Guardian by officials of the T&T Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA).

Yesterday morning (Saturday), at about 9.48 am, a team of TTCAA officials were at the TTAG’s hangar at Piarco reviewing cockpit voice recordings onboard the helicopter 9Y-AG314, as part of its ongoing investigations.

It was reported that three homes in the area suffered some sort of damage, including the home of Marsha Maynard.

Parts of Maynard’s home came crumbling down when the helicopter hovered close to her home, ripping off galvanised and causing six rows of clay blocks to collapse. At surrounding homes, electric gates were ripped off their hinges.

An official at Air Traffic Control (ATC), who wished not to be identified, told the Sunday Guardian yesterday that the helicopter was in the area taking aerial photographs. The source said that officials onboard the helicopter had called into the ATC to confirm that they were operating in the Chaguaramas area flying at allegedly 500 feet.

Another aviation official, who also wished anonymity, explained that the downwash created by that big a helicopter at low level would cause extensive damage to loose objects.

“Plus, if you are hovering you need more power, hence the greater the downwash. An airplane has wings that create lift so the prop wash or engine thrust is behind the aircraft. The rotor blades create the lift in a helicopter so the associated downwash is below the helicopter,” the aviation source said.

An official from the TTCAA told the Sunday Guardian that once an aircraft was involved in an incident, an investigation was launched and the TTCAA would move to ground the aircraft so that the necessary evidence could be extracted.

When contacted for comment yesterday, T&T Defence Force (TTDF) Civil Military Affairs Officer, Major Al Alexander, confirmed that officials of the TTCAA were reviewing voice recordings.

“This is being done to determine what time they were there and how low our aircraft was. However, I will maintain that during that time window, we may not have been the only aircraft in the area, so I think that Civil Aviation is exploring all the possible aircrafts that would have been in the area,” Alexander said.

He, however, added that the TTAG’s helicopter was not grounded and would continue operations and carrying out exercises as normal.

Not wanting to admit fault with respect to the damage that occurred in the Chaguaramas area, Alexander said that he along with engineers of the TTDF visited Maynard and her husband.

“We have done an assessment there and we have been given the okay by the Chief of Defence Staff to assist where we can, based on what we finalise. We are not admitting fault and would not wait on the outcome to assist but there is a family in need and we will do what we can do to assist in the meantime. This is a family that live about a mile and a half from the defence headquarters,” Alexander said.

Dexter Jones collapsed on the banks of the Coorsal River in Gran Couva yesterday, after the body of his seven-year-old son, Jordell Jones, was pulled out of the river. 

Jones, a Standard One pupil of Gran Couva RC school, died around 1.45 pm after he slipped off a concrete pathway and fell into a deep part of the river. The incident occurred a few miles away from the family’s La Vega Road, Gran Couva home. 

Jones, who wanted to become a soldier, was playing in the water with his siblings Joshua, 14, Lashawn Mc Kenna, 12, Kayla, six and Kaylan, five, when tragedy struck. His mother Josanne Simmons said she was watching her children laughing and running when Jones slipped off the river bed.

“He was jumping about and running after the crabs. He was in a joyful mood. He was telling me, ‘Mommy, mommy, look I am a fish!’” a tearful Simmons recalled. She said the sides of the river were slippery and her son slipped off the concrete, hit his head and fell into the deep side of the river, situated under the bridge. 

“I called my husband and he started to search,” Simmons cried. Dexter, who appeared to be numb with shock, said, “I searched for him but I couldn’t feel him in the water. There was too much slush.”  

Candace Brown, who was close by, quickly ran up the street and called out to her brother Christian Brown. Christian, who knew the river well, managed to pull out Jones about ten minutes later.

“I felt his foot and then I pulled him up. The water on that side was about nine feet deep. His face was already blue. My cousin John Campbell and I took turns in doing CPR. He started to get some colour on his face but we did not get a pulse,” Christian said told the T&T Guardian.

Candace contacted the Gran Couva police who arrived shortly thereafter, placed Jones in the police jeep and took him to the Couva District Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Simmons said her eldest son Joshua was very distraught about the death. 

“Joshua came down for the weekend and that was why we decided to go to the river. This was a perfect weekend, we had no quarrels,” Simmons said. An autopsy will be done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James today.

Ag Sgt Noel, Ag Cpl Alicia Soodeen and Cpl Peter Cumberbatch visited the scene yesterday and are continuing investigations.