Valdeen Shears-Neptune

The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services is in the process of developing of a multi-sectoral plan to assist this country’s retrenched workers.

This, according to line minister, Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn, who is also MP for Lopinot/Bon Air West.

“The ministry is in the process of developing a mitigation plan to identify strategies to assist persons affected by and through the number of unemployment action taking place across the country. 

“Our plan is to have things in place within one month’s time, as we are fully aware of how families are being affected,” said Crichlow-Cockburn.

She spoke to the Sunday Guardian during a fun family day in Five Rivers, Arouca.

She said the approach would be multi-sectoral and would include consultations with not only other ministries, but stakeholders such as non-governmental, faith and community-based organisations.

Additionally, she said, the ministry will make available its other services to affected workers, such as the Sowing Empowerment through Entrepreneurial Development (Seed) programme. 

These grants offer start-up capital for people with ideas for small businesses or wishing to restart or enhance an already existing small business, based on set criteria. 

As for the ministry’s social services, the minister noted that while there are strict qualifying criteria, retrenched workers are being invited to access assistance. She assured that their assessment and processing would be timely.

Steel company ArcelorMittal announced closure of its Point Lisas branch and sent home over 600-plus workers, while Brazilian-based construction company, OAS Constructora, sent termination letters to 800-plus of its employees.

In January, more than 200 workers were retrenched by the Central Trinidad Steel Ltd (Centrin). 

Recently, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) also sent home 31 workers, who the authority said were “hired for short-term projects.”

In his Easter message to the nation, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has called on the citizens to put the country before self.

Noting that Easter is always a period for deep contemplation, he said: “In the Christian teachings, one momentous, selfless act spiritually liberated a people; giving some the courage to move beyond the familiarity of their homes and villages to spread a message of hope and love to all who chose to listen.

“Are we—those observing the Easter traditions and all of us as citizens of T&T—prepared to make the sacrifices that will make us proud of our country? Will we commit to conforming to the rule of law? Will we agree to work together in the spirit of co-operation and conciliation, rising above individualism and partisan interests? We want to positively guide our young people.

We want to provide for ourselves and our family. We want safe communities. We want to root out crime and criminality. We want an economically strong T&T. We can achieve it all only if we work together with our goal being the greater good for our nation

“During the Lenten period and Easter, Christians are called to examine their daily actions to determine if they are living the life that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for them to enjoy,” Rowley said.

He added that Easter promises renewal and offers all an opportunity to re-define priorities and commands all to honour a mission to make life better for those around.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris strongly believes T&T can become a better place despite all the violence and corruption.

In his Easter homily yesterday morning at the House of Corpus Christi Carmelites, Observatory Street, Port-of-Spain, called on the congregation to shun sin as Jesus' sacrifice offered  chances to be free from it.

“But, we must choose to reject it, rather than embrace it,” he said.

“Many of us are not making the most of Jesus’ sacrifice. Change is possible, but, we have to be the change we want because of Christ’s death and resurrection. Through that, sin has no more power over us unless we give sin that power.”

The Archbishop said that people must not be enslaved by sin and must live for God in Christ Jesus where peace, equality and justice can be found.

“We can achieve all of the above and all we desire if we welcome and embrace the new life and the new possibilities Jesus want for us by his death on the cross,” he said.

Before T&T’s first Olympic medalist Rodney Wilkes died, he wanted his medals to be displayed at San Fernando’s City Hall so that future generations could learn of his feats. 

But with bids on his Helsinki 1952 bronze medal for weightlifting closed off on eBay yesterday it is uncertain whether Wilkes’ wish will ever come true. Up to yesterday afternoon, there were 11 bids over the US$30,500 asking price. 

Last week, Wilkes’ daughter Grace Wilkes-Worsley told the T&T Guardian that her father wanted the medals returned and her brother tried three times to have them returned by late historian Louis B Homer. 

However, it was never done and she said the auction has caused great distress to her family. Former local government minister Marlene Coudray has described the silence from officials of the San Fernando City Corporation on the issue as appalling since Wilkes had first given them the medal so it could be used in a historic exhibition during City Day celebrations in 2011.

Coudray, who is also a former San Fernando Mayor, said the bronze and silver medals which Wilkes won in the 1948 Olympics in London, were loaned to Homer for display in a museum at his home in San Fernando during a visit by a delegation from Martinique.

“Mr Wilkes told me he wanted to keep his medals on display because I had done a cabinet in the lobby with a lot of stuff in it. Mr Wilkes told me that having it at home served no purpose and he did not have a problem with the city keeping it because, ironically, he knew it would be safe and the people of San Fernando and others would be able to come into City Hall and look at them,” Coudray said.

She explained that because San Fernando is twinned with the town of Trinite in Martinique, a group called Friends of San Fernando had invited a delegation to view the display. However, the medals and several other artefacts from City Hall were never returned by Homer and after he died in August 2013, no one knew what became of the collection.

Coudray said: “I went to Mr Wilkes’ house and Louis Homer came. The last time I visited, it was just before I left office because I had a project to do some repairs to his house where he lived on Bertrand Street.

“I wrote to the then minister of sport for help because Mr Wilkes was our first Olympic medalist and when the question of the medals came up, I said Mr Homer had asked to borrow the medals. 

Mr Homer would usually do our City Day historic exhibition and the medals were loaned to the city. Mr Homer borrowed them from the City Corporation. Mr Wilkes was asked, because when Homer asked to borrow them, we said it was not ours, they belong to Mr Wilkes.

“Mr Homer took a lot of items from the City Corporation to put where he opened his museum. I was not a part of that then, I was on vacation, but I am aware that those things were loaned to Mr Homer—the medals among other stuff—by the City Corporation when he was opening his museum at his house.”

She said the sale of the medal needs to be stopped as the seller is in possession of something that does not belong to him or her. She believes the rightful owners are Wilkes family. 
City Corporation taking legal action

In a release over the weekend, San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein said the City Corporation is taking legal action against the sale of the medal. It states that chief executive officer Indarjit Singh met with CID officer to discuss the possibility of stopping the sale.

“Mr Wilkes entrusted the medals to the City Corporation as he had full faith in its ability to find a suitable place for their display as part of San Fernando’s cultural and sporting heritage. The SFCC loaned the medals to the late Mr Louis Homer, former journalist and historian, who displayed the medals as part of a small museum dedicated to San  Fernando’s history.

“Since Louis Homer’s death, however, the medals have changed hands without the knowledge of the SFCC. According to the rules governing the sale of items on eBay, property owners who believe their items are being sold without permission are required to report the matter to their local law enforcement agencies,” the release said.

Hosein said he was disappointed that Wilkes legacy might be sullied by those seeking personal gain. He said Wilkes was a national athlete and a valued employee of the Corporation who at the very minimum deserved to have his wish for his treasured medals fulfilled.

Investigating officers say they have several leads in the abduction of school teacher Keston Mahabir and are hopeful of a breakthrough soon.

Since Mahabir’s abduction, police have detained several people for questioning, including the mother of a 17-year-old girl and a female Venezuelan national. However, no one has been charged. Up to yesterday, they had not been able to determine a motive for the abduction and suspect it may just be “an eerie case of mistaken identity.”

A close friend of Mahabir, who described the missing school teacher as fun, loving and caring, said close friends are holding prayers and hoping for his safe return.

“We want to hear something positive in this. We are hoping that somebody would get a call and tell us where to find Kessy (as he is fondly called). This seems like a never ending nightmare and we really hope that the police gets whoever is behind Kessy’s abduction,” the friend said.

Mahabir, head of Keston’s Educational Institute of Pitiman Trace, Mc Bean Village, Couva was abducted from his home last Wednesday. CCTV footage shown exclusively on CNC3’s Crime Watch programme last Thursday, shows that at about 11.50 am, two women parked a silver vehicle near Mahabir’s house. Mahabir, who was wearing a red t-shirt, met the women and escorted them inside the house, where he conducts his classes. Two minutes later, two men are seen coming around the front of the house and entering the door.

A few minutes later, one of the men is seen coming back outside, this time, holding Mahabir around the neck and walking him back out to the front of the house. A few seconds later, the second man came out of the house and walked to the front behind the first man and Mahabir. The men were wearing bandanas covering their faces.

Mahabir, a graduate of the University of T&T, has spent the last five years teaching Mathematics, English and Human and Social Biology at his private school. He is expected to take up a teaching position at the University of the West Indies in St Augustine from September.

Shayas Khan, the father of baby Maleek, who was mauled to death by the family’s pet, Simba, says he supports the decision by the T&T Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) to have the dog euthanised. Khan admitted that he took the dog into his care after Simba’s previous owner threatened to have him euthanised because of his aggression.

“Simba had at one time tore up the shirt of his previous owner and I felt sorry for him when I was told that he would be put down. I asked for the dog, in a bid to save his life and see how best I could have taken care of him,” he said.

He said while in the beginning Simba showed signs of aggression towards him, he eventually calmed down and the Rottweiler/German Shepherd mixed breed dog proved to be a good watchdog, keeping thieves away.

Ironically, on the day of baby Maleek’s funeral, thieves broke into Khan’s home and ransacked the place, including baby Maleek’s clothes and toys.

“Simba wasn’t around and we did not have any other dog in the yard and in our distress, while burying our son, thieves broke in putting us in even more distress. These people have no heart,” Khan said.

On Thursday, the TTSPCA announced that Simba had been euthanised after his aggression escalated without any indication or provocation. It was felt that he posed a threat to the safety of his handlers.

“Simba was aggressive to me and then he was okay and then suddenly he became aggressive again and took the life of my baby so he just had to be put to death. I don’t believe that he could have ever changed and to make it worse, he tasted blood and might have attacked again. I tried my best with Simba and I am sure the TTSPCA tried their best too.  It was the best thing. You cannot train an old dog new tricks,” he said

On March 8, six-month-old baby Maleek, who was left in his stroller, was attacked by Simba and bitten in the head. He eventually died. The following day, a petition to save Simba was started by Daniella Daniel, who said the dog could be rehabilitated and properly trained. To date, more than 20,000 signatures have been collected.

Yesterday, Daniel told the T&T Guardian she felt hurt, lied to and a bit sceptical on hearing the news that Simba had been euthanised. She said she strongly felt that 11 days was not enough for Simba to show signs of rehabilitation. “I don’t want to hear any dog was put down, no matter the circumstances,” she said.

The TTSPCA’s full statement
The dog Simba, reported to have been responsible for the recent death of a child was brought into the TTSPCA Shelter by the Chaguanas Corporation on March 10. The Corporation requested informally that we house the dog for a period of time until funeral arrangements were completed.

Simba was housed in the secure Class A section, examined by the shelter veterinarian and by a qualified behaviourist and a trainer. At the time, Simba was found to be "head-shy, showing fear, aggression, wary of human contact, cowering and tensing his body when touched. His behaviour is that of a very poorly socialized dog.

On March 21, Simba started to display signs of aggression towards our veterinarian, and to members of staff who had previously worked with and interacted with him. 

On March, 22 his aggression escalated without any indication or provocation, and it was felt that he now posed a threat to the safety of his handlers. We requested help from the trainer to assist us with his unstable behaviour and to see how best we could manage the change in his temperament. Following this assessment however, a collective decision was taken to euthanise Simba.

While we know that many will feel disappointed by our action, we would like everyone to know it has also been a difficult decision for our team who worked with him daily.

The TTSPCA believes that this case is not just about one dog, it is also about a lack of public education, poor ownership practices and outdated and inadequate laws to protect animals. We urge the Attorney General to consider amending the Dog Control Act to include Duty of Care protection for all dogs and to initiate the drafting of Animal Welfare laws in general.

Citizens must obtain fire permits before they set any outdoor fires, or they could face a fine of $1,500 and six months imprisonment.

That is the warning coming from the T&T Fire Service after more than 20 bush fires were recorded in the past week throughout T&T. Under the Agricultural Fires Act (Ch63:02 Act 20 of 1965) a permit, obtainable from the nearest fire station, is required to light outdoor fires big or small, during the period December 1 to June 30.

Once a permit is granted, guidelines are provided by fire guardians which should be adhered to during the period specified on the permit.

This year’s dry season has seen drier than average conditions occurring across the country along with hotter than usual temperatures. According to the T&T Meteorological Service (TTMS), rainfall amounts are predicted to be the least during the rest of this month and April, with significant increases expected in May. It is very likely that the 2016 wet season may start earlier and be more intense than usual.

Hot days are expected to be enhanced during the period and the number of hot days are predicted to be more than usual during March, April and May.

“Both day-time and night-time temperatures from March to May 2016 are more likely to be higher than average over all areas of T&T. Expect a higher than usual number of hot days when the maximum temperatures will surpass 33.6 degrees celsius and longer than usual periods of consecutive hot days, along with larger number of warm nights when the minimum temperatures will be greater than 24 degrees celsius,” the TTMS said.

Prevention of bush fires
• Create and maintain a fire trail around all structures by removing flammable vegetation.
• Ensuring grass and lawns are mowed.
• Store rubbish bins, refuse and other flammable items away from buildings.
• Create a maintenance programme for daily removal of leaf litter and other flammable waste from around buildings.
• Clear bark and leaves from roof gutters, timber decks and other areas that may trap embers.
• Enclose under-floor and under-deck areas with ember proofing
• Ensure all windows, doors and screens can close and seal to prevent embers and smoke entering buildings.
• Remove dead branches, leaves and undergrowth from around your home, especially under trees.
• Reduce, remove and manage vegetation such as long grass within 20 metres of your home and within five metres of any sheds and garages.
• Prune tree limbs that are lower than two metres above the ground or overhanging your home.
• Remove bark, heavy mulch, wood piles and any other flammable materials close to your home and sheds. 

Cricketer Kevon Cooper and former national footballer Shane Calderon spent Easter Sunday morning in the holding cell of the Woodbrook Police Station after they were arrested for using obscene language and resisting arrest in an altercation.

Cooper’s attorney Christian Chandler said at around 3 am the two parked their car on Baden-Powell Street, Woodbrook, near the police station. A police officer told them they could not park there but the two said they did not see a “no parking” sign on the street and objected. When Cooper and Calderon refused to move, they were arrested.

Cooper was charged for using obscene language, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, while Calderon was charged for using obscene language, two counts of obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty and assault to prevent lawful detention.

Both were granted station bail of $20,000 and are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate tomorrow.

Bullies, gangs, weapons, and substance abuse contribute to the violence in T&T’s schools, says security expert Commander Garvin Heerah. 

“Violence in our nation’s schools is a legitimate concern for everyone. Likewise, research and statistics regarding juvenile victimization cannot be entirely discounted as mere media sensationalism,” he said.

The former head of the National Operations Centre said recent studies have shown that our school children are frequent victims of theft, extortion or school, property damage, being threatened with or without a weapon. He said the data also shows that many of them have either witnessed or been a victim of bullying; or participated or witnesses cyber bullying and cyber pornography. 

He told the T&T Guardian: “Many young people are aware of the dangers that exist within their communities and school environment. It has become acceptable and to a sad extent the norm for our young children to go to bed with the rattle or explosion of sporadic gunfire and awaken having to dodge yellow caution tape, with a marked off crime scene—most of the times a homicide—on their way to school. 

“Even worse, many of our children are in neighbourhoods and communities festered with violent behaviour, music and attitudes. These are the same children populating our nation’s schools.”

Commander Heerah said the roots of violence are now deep in the society, tapping into complex conditions such as poverty, racism, joblessness, and hopelessness. 
“Each epidemic of violence triggers “knee-jerk” calls for legislation and quick fixes. Often, however, little is done to change conditions that give rise to violent behaviours,” he said. He said the educators by themselves cannot carry out their mandate of educating children while trying to rid their schools and surrounding communities of violence. 

To make matter worse, he said, community violence gives rise to subsets of associated violence that impact schools and can be devastating to individual students and learning environments. He said: “Schools that lack effective discipline respect for academic standards and basic humanitarian values falter in their mission to provide safe and effective learning environments.

“Students who live in fear of violence, witness violent acts, or actually become victims of violence suffer an array of consequences ranging from personal injury and debilitating anxiety that interrupt the learning process to a pattern of absence and truancy that can lead to dropping out of school and delinquency. Such disassociation restricts individual options and limits the development of academic and life skills.”

Commander Heerah said the solution to school violence must be holistic, inter-governmental and inter-ministerial. 

“We have to move feverishly to remove territoriality and boundaries, stop looking at an isolated approach and begin with immediate effect a collaborative approach that incorporates a team effort,” he said.

“Quite frankly, there must exist, especially at the strategic level, the political will and a zero tolerance to ensure that there is a concentrated effort on this crisis.”

In the underground world of narcoticss he was called “Total” because anything he did, he did to the maximum. “I did hire work for drugs men. If somebody was owing the boss, I would get the money for them. I would give them some licks or get serious with them,” Ricardo “Ricky” Sorzano, 41, and now reformed, recalled.

Sorzano, who once drove flashy cars, had loads of money and “ran the route” in the drugs world, now operates a gospel CD and handbags booth in Sangre Grande with his wife, Crystal. He also does construction work. Now he focuses on bringing up in the right way his six children with Crystal, as well as three others he had when he was “out there.”

Sorzano said in his former life he was the first man in T&T to come out with a street CD business and was so successful he had people working for him all over the country. Today, he is totally positive. 

From his humble booth, Total in Christ Ministries, Sorzano offers prayer and deliverance to anyone in need. He also has a microphone and preaches to shoppers and passers by in the busy heart of Sangre Grande, urging them to come out of negative lifestyles.

“I was selling punch too but the regional corporation told me I cannot be selling punch and preaching, so I gave up the punch,” Ricky, as he is popularly known in the area, said.

Giving an insight into the criminal world he came out from, Ricky said: “My mother migrated and I was staying with my stepfather. I ain’t know my dad much.

“I started out on the block and worked my way up. I was taking hire work, transporting people with drugs and also running my own thing.” 

Ricky said he also used drugs and suffered spiritual attacks for 25 years.

“If anybody disrespected me, or wanted to do me something, I didn’t wait to start. I started you. I just didn’t care. Out there, is either you kill or get killed.”

Ricky said he lived at Pinto Road, Arima, La Horquetta and San Juan and watched “many brothers get shoot out.” Machine Gun Kelly came to mind. 

“They shoot him in the house and then burn it down. I outlived many brothers,” he said.

Ricky revealed an astonishing fact from the gangster world to explain why so many young men are killed: “Fellas don’t care if they die. They see old people suffering and don’t want to get old. They rather be killed young.” He said he was stabbed in the throat, came close to being killed many times and was involved in more than one serious vehicular accident.

“And God still have me alive.”

On one occasion, the car Ricky was driving crashed head on into a Hilux van.

“The two people in the back seat were injured and I was spared,” he said.

“Once, I was transporting a man and drugs down a steep hill in Laventille and the car went totally out of control and I couldn’t stop it. I tell myself I gone through and started saying a lil’ prayers.

“Suddenly, I felt the whole back of the car lift up and then pelt down inside a bank and my life was spared again.” He said all this time, he faced constant spiritual attacks and could hardly sleep or eat.

“My mom carried me all over to get healing but nothing worked. I got worse.” 

Ricky said he pelted down pastors in churches and tried to run between cars to kill himself.

“My mother got me to cross the sea by taking me to New York but when I went there I beat up the priest real bad.” He got his deliverance at 2 am one morning. “I stretched out my hands to heaven and prayed and got instructions.

“Soon after I walked into an Arima church and since then there has been no turning back. I am happy now,” Ricky said. He said he faces new dangers now because people opposed to his preaching come and shoot up the area around his booth.

“I love all of them and pray for them,” he said.

Agricultural economist Omardath Maharaj is using the message of Easter to bolster his call for citizens to support the revival of local food production, processing and consumption.

“We must, as a country, begin to focus on food sovereignty as a critical and sustainable step on the path ahead. We must return to this old time religion,” he said echoing calls made recently by the Tableland Pineapple Farmers Association (TPFA) and the Felicity Charlieville Fishing Association (FCFA).

While noting that the cost of food to consumers is a concern, Maharaj said fiscal policies such as the recent VAT adjustments can lead to more efficient spending and behaviour in households as Government seeks to evenly share the burden of adjustment. He said supporting production and consumption of local fruits, vegetables, root crops, seafood and meats can increase their price competitiveness and appeal.

“There is already a movement in society to identify healthier eating and lifestyles by adopting less imported and processed foods in the diet. Additionally, a return to home gardening and other forms of food sovereignty is developing as consumers are not enticed by market prices and are also interested in varying forms of family recreation,” Maharaj said.

“Therefore, in addition to national socio-economic and financial gains, enhanced local food production and consumption not only possesses the potential to feed ourselves but also break the cycle of poverty, stabilize household food and nutrition security, generate income and promote healthy food, eating and lifestyles.”

At the policy level, he said, unhindered access to food production opportunities is one of the largest social safety nets that can be offered in any country and it must be managed. He added that there can be industrial and economic development  with the agricultural sector giving support to the process by supplying food and raw materials, transferring capital, generating foreign exchange, and providing a consumer market.

Maharaj said with industrial development taking place in larger urban areas, there is a growing need for agricultural goods, either as food for the urban population or as raw material, for the industrialisation process to continue to be feasible.

“The low productivity of the agricultural sector did not allow the growing demand to be met, and even caused problems of food safety in several countries, as reported by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),” he said.

“We must consider that the strength and force of national food sovereignty discourses, the role of the consumer and of household action, the ability of advocates to convince others of the legitimacy and viability of the approach, and the willingness of the State to create the necessary conditions to foster food sovereignty are all important factors when evaluating its potential to be successfully adopted into public policies.”

Although he is reluctant to introduce closed circuit television cameras into primary and secondary schools as one way of monitoring students, Education Minister Anthony Garcia has not dismissed its usefulness nor has he discounted it as a safety mechanism.

Describing it as "pitiful" that school authorities had to resort to using such measures, Garcia yesterday stressed, "Schools must not be seen as detention centres."

Instead, he said, "They must be places of learning, comfort and enjoyment."

Garcia said while he was "saddened that we had reached the stage where we have to install surveillance cameras," he was hopeful that "it is not the way we have to go with all our schools."

Acknowledging that there were students who exhibited deviant behavior, the minister insisted, "We have to weed them out."

Questioning why students were locking themselves in classrooms all day to gamble on the school's compound, Garcia vowed, "This has to end. Gambling will not be tolerated."

Revealing that the ministry and other stakeholders were collaborating on several initiatives, Garcia has promised an update when the new school term begins on April 11.

Just last week, principal of the Arima North Secondary School revealed the secret behind her success in erasing the stigma attached to her school several years ago.

Vashti Ramdeen-Steele detailed the initiatives used to regulate both teachers and students, and monitor performance both in and outside the classroom with the use of CCTV's.

Acknowledging that her school had once been labelled a high-risk institution, Ramdeen-Steele said they now conducted daily body scans and searches of all 960 students before they entered the school; had introduced strict regulations for visitors and workers on the compound; implemented a strict dress code for all persons on the school's premises; and used cameras to detect criminal offences on the compound and also identify students engaged in deviant acts.

Garcia said he was aware of the transformation as this school previously had a lot of students who were exhibiting undesirable behaviour.

However, with the intervention by the principal and school management team, he said they had witnessed a reduction in this type of behavior.

Providing an update on the situation at the El Dorado East Secondary School where 21 students have been identified for removal as a result of deviant behavior, Garcia was unable to confirm if all the parents had been notified or if all the suspension letters had been distributed.

He said suspension letters had been prepared for the 21 students and instructions had been given for them to be delivered and that they had even sought the assistance of the police in the process.

Declaring that "Everything was on stream" for the enrollment of the students at the Learning Enhancement Centre which occupied the former Couva West Secondary School, Garcia said the remaining ten students will be assessed while remaining within the school environment.

Asked how this would be done, Garcia explained that there were school deans who had responsibility for enforcing the school rules, along with the principal, school supervisors, guidance officers, school safety officers and social workers.

Garcia said the Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education includes psychologists and, from next term, almost 500 officers would be deployed to schools across the country to assist with the smooth running of the institutions.

At the Chaguanas North Secondary School, Garcia again appealed to parents to join hands with them to rehabilitate students who were suspended several weeks ago.

He said 13 students had continued to attend classes at the Learning Enhancement Centre, while the remainder were over the age of 16 and had to be compelled by their parents to attend classes.

A 36-year-old La Brea man is expected to appear before a San Fernando magistrate today charged with possession of a firearm after he was caught with it in La Romaine last Thursday.

Police believe they found the man just in time before he committed a crime since he could not say what he was doing in the area. 

They said that around 11.30 pm members of the Southern Division Task Force which included PC Ragoonanan and WPC Caesar were driving along the La Plaisance Road when they saw the suspect acting suspiciously. 

They stopped and searched him and found a Glock pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. He was arrested and charged over the weekend.

In a separate incident, around 4 pm yesterday, Cpl Ramsingh and Task Force officers learned about illegal guns in a forested area in Tableland. When the officers arrived at a hunting camp, they found two home-made shot guns hidden in a gutter. 

There were several anti-crime operations over the weekend. Around 6 am Friday, Sgt Pacheco and Moruga police officers were on an exercise in a forested area in La Lune when they found a home-made shotgun and one round of 12-gauge ammunition hidden in a fig patch. PC Ochoa is continuing inquiries.

Two hours later, Princes Town CID and Task Force officers led by Sgt Ramlogan and Cpl Ramsingh raided several drug blocks in Princes Town and St Mary’s district. Among them was the home of a known drug peddler at Jules Avenue, Manahambre Road.

The suspect, along with his 39-year-old common-law wife, was arrested after officers found 37 grammes of cocaine and 35 grammes of marijuana in the house.

The operations, which were coordinated and executed by Snr Supt Irwin Hackshaw, Supt Phillip, ASP Ramdeo, Insp Gajadhar, Insp Pooran, Insp Persad, Insp Bhagwandeen, Insp Knut and Sgt Ramroop, saw 62 people being arrested between last Wednesday morning and yesterday. The arrests include seven people for drunk driving and 19 on outstanding warrants. Thirty-six tickets were also issued. 

The closing date for the Las Alturas Commission of Enquiry has been extended as attempts are still being made to secure the long-awaited evidence of former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), Calder Hart.

Officials have confirmed that the extension was as a result of the long holiday season, coupled with the non-submission of Hart’s witness statement.

Revealing that they were yet to receive the statement which had been promised within ten days of a request by his attorney for additional documents on February 24, commission officials said up to yesterday they were still awaiting word from Hart’s attorney Tecla Duncan.

The enquiry was due to officially conclude tomorrow. 

During the last hearing on February 24, commission chairman Mustapha Ibrahim pointed out the time constraints they faced and instructed that Hart’s statement be submitted within seven days of the request by Duncan. Contacted yesterday, attorneys and commission officials were unable to say if a new closing date had been decided upon.

One official said, “We have one in mind but it is yet to be finalized.” Duncan had requested certain documents before submitting Hart’s witness statement.

Legal minds close to the enquiry said it included some of which they “did not have in hand yet.” Pressed to reveal what documents these included, officials declined to answer.

Asked if it was possible that the commission would schedule a seventh evidence hearing for this week, in order to accommodate Hart, officials said while this was not on the agenda, if it was done it would definitely be “short” compared to the other sessions.

The official went on to explain that the hearing would be to allow Hart to submit his witness statement and be cross-examined by the attorneys for the various parties appearing before the commission. 

It is expected that Hart would be grilled by attorneys via video link, as he currently resides in Florida.

Prior to the close of the last session, Ibrahim had also instructed all attorneys to file their written submissions within ten days of the commission’s ending, in order to aid the three-member team in their review of the evidence before them and for them to submit recommendations based on the findings.

The Commission of Enquiry was appointed by President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Carmona, on December 2, 2014.

AT A GLANCE

The Commission of Enquiry was set up to investigate “the entire process which led to the construction of the Las Alturas Towers at Lady Young Gardens, Morvant, and all other acts, matters or decisions done or undertaken incidental to and including the construction” of the project, which include the procurement process.

Two multi-storey units of the Las Alturas housing project began falling apart after construction and the $26 million towers were earmarked for demolition. 

They were part of a larger project, which was originally budgeted at $65 million and then rose to $90 million. 

The commission is chaired by former Justice of Appeal Mustapha Ibrahim. The other members include civil engineers Dr Myron Wing-Sang Chin and Anthony Farrell. 

Attorney Laraine Lutchmedial is the secretary. They were appointed by President Anthony Carmona in December 2014. 

In September 2014, former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recommended an enquiry into the project after raising concerns about the two towers.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who was a former housing minister under the PNM, and Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde who succeeded him, have both denied blame in the matter. At the time, Rowley said though he welcomed the probe, it would be another waste of taxpayers’ money.

The commission’s attorneys include Senior Counsel Pamela Elder and Jagdeo Singh, instructed by Alvin Pariagsingh. 

Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson and Larry Lalla are appearing for the HDC.

Kathryn Denbow and Brendon Sullivan are appearing for Udecott. Vinda Maharaj and Kirt Walrond are appearing on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. 

Justin Phelps instructed by Anabelle Sooklal is appearing for Geotech Associates Limited (GA).

Emerson John-Charles is appearing on behalf of Civil Engineering Management and Services (CEMAS) and Steve Kistow Engineering Services. Colin Kangaloo, instructed by Danielle Nieves, appears on behalf of Udecott’s chairman Noel Garcia. Tecla Duncan appears on behalf of Calder Hart.

After kicking down his neighbour’s door and attacking him with a cutlass, a 24-year-old Barrackpore man is now in a critical condition in hospital after he was chopped in his head on Sunday night.

Police said if the man recovers from his life-threatening injury, he is expected to face several criminal charges. 

According to a report, Shamir Khan, 47, was at his home in Ramlal Trace, Barrackpore, when around 10.30 pm he heard a commotion in front of his house.

On looking out, he saw his neighbour chopping the windscreen of his Nissan Almera with a cutlass. 

The man then stormed into his house and began chopping several items. Khan told police he was fearful for his life and took up a cutlass to defend himself. The two men began to fight and Khan struck the suspect in the back of his head.

He then contacted Barrackpore police and Cpl Toussaint and other officers responded along with an ambulance. 

The suspect was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital by an ambulance, where he underwent emergency surgery. 

He remains warded under police guard.

A Gasparillo gardener returned home on Sunday night to meet his home in rubbles after it was destroyed by a wild fire.

Hardeo Ramsumair, 44, of Lightbourne Road, Bonne Aventure, was spending the day with his brother in Toco when his neighbour phoned him around 6 pm to say that his house was on fire. 

But with several gas-powered pieces of equipment in his wooden home, the neighbour said, it took just ten minutes to reduce Ramsumair’s house to rubble.

As he rummaged through the ruins yesterday, the water pump, generator and weed whacker he used to cultivate his small plantation were all destroyed. Even his plants were gone.

“By the time I came back here around 10 o’clock last night, the house was already burnt. When we spoke to the fire officers, they said they could not save anything,” Ramsumair said.

“They said by the time they came, it was already burnt. A bush fire from on top the hill came down and here has real breeze. When it was lit, all the bamboo started to fall on top the house and it started to burn,” he added.

While bush fires are common in the hills of Gasparillo, he said there was none near his home in the last four years and when he left home on Sunday morning, there was no blaze. 

The neighbour said the fire started after noon and spread quickly. With nothing to salvage, the self-employed gardener said he does not know how he will recover with over $50,000 in losses.

Asked about his next step to rebuild, he said: “That is what I don’t know right now. As you can see I have nothing to start back with really. All my tanks, barrel, everything is gone.” 

Luckily for Ramsumair, he did not tie his three-year-old pothound Brownie who ran to a neighbour’s home when the fire broke out and returned yesterday morning. 

He said he and Brownie would now have to look for a new home.

MP for the Barataria/San Juan constituency Dr Fuad Khan is calling for the perpetrators who allegedly set fire to Chancellor Hill in Port-of-Spain last week to be arrested and charged.

During the blaze, forest ranger Keith Campbell, 56, lost his life while attempting to prevent the spread of the fire.

Khan, who echoed the sentiments of the Chancellor Hill residents, also asked that Campbell’s death not be in vain, adding that fire prevention authorities had a responsibility to investigate the matter thoroughly.

“Such matters are covered by the Agricultural Fires Act of 1965 which governs the act of starting fires outside of our homes during the fire season, and offenders who illegally start outdoor fires can be fined $1,500 and imprisoned for six months if they are caught. 

“That being said, that this incident was directly responsible for the loss of Mr Campbell’s life means that not only can these persons be charged with breaches of the Agricultural Fires Act, but also manslaughter, if they are found,” Khan said.

He said each year, forest and bush fires caused severe damage not only to wildlife, flora and fauna but also property and in some cases resulted in the loss of human life. 

While there was legislation that governed the act of lighting outdoor fires, it was, however, not upheld or enforced.

“Those who are defiant are then allowed to perform these illegal activities without consequence or penalty, and as such, the number of incidents will increase. 

“Persons who use fires as a means to clear land for either agricultural purposes or squatting will continue to use this method unless the penalties for this practice are increased. Not only do these fires cause damage to the land which they are inhabiting, but it also severely hampers water retention thereby resulting in the flooding of downtown Port-of-Spain and other low-lying areas during the annual rainy season,” Khan added.

He said upon initial investigation it was suspected that the fire, in which Campbell lost his life, was lit by someone who wanted to dispose of garbage.

“It is therefore imperative that the person who ignited it be arrested and charged for this crime,” Khan urged.

Over the weekend two 40-foot containers and one 20-foot container containing tyres and car parts caught afire at the Port Authority’s Spectrum Compound, Invaders Bay. The blaze was caused by a brush fire at Invaders Bay.

Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon is confirming that the much maligned Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba will be completed.

However, she was unable to give a similar commitment to questions posed by the Penal/Debe chamber president Shiva Roopnarine as to when the denominational colleges in Penal, Shiva Boys’ and Parbatee Girls’, the UWI South Campus, the sporting complex, fire station and highway project will be completed.

Addressing an economic forum hosted by the chamber at FunSplash, Debe, last week, Gopee-Scoon said that completing the stadium, which was earmarked for completion in time for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, does not constitute a waste of money. 

Sport Minister Darryl Smith and Lara visited the site in November 2015 and promised it would be opened by mid-2016.

Gopee-Scoon was responding to a question from the floor as to whether the Government “was going to waste money to finish the Brian Lara Stadium.”

She said, “I don’t know it is considered to be a waste of money to finish the Brian Lara Stadium. Finishing the stadium means something to a considerable portion of the people of T&T, sports enthusiasts and sports lovers as well.”

She said considerable sums have already been invested and not much will be required for completion, which should have been done over the last five years when energy prices were much higher. Smith said they were working with a $90 million budget.

“So it is not a question of wasting money. It is, in fact, finishing a project that is required by the vast majority of the population and there has been a commitment by the Government to complete it so it is not a waste of funds at all.”

Former Planning minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie, who was also a member of the panel discussing the economic situation, differed with the minister’s position.

Tewarie said, “I think if you have to make a choice between Brian Lara Stadium, given where it was and where you are trying to take it, and with other options in a situation of tight revenues, of very, very challenging options, I would not spend the money on the stadium.”

Roopnarine said the course this Government charts now will have a significant impact on all future generations.

“Once again, days before the mid-year budget review, we are at the point where prudent fiscal management is required and all of our resources need to be utilised effectively and efficiently.”

Roopnarine told the minister, “The electoral boundaries that separate us should not be the line that divides us.”

Public Administration and Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie is claiming victory in the election petition case brought against him by the United National Congress following the September 7 general election.

Attorneys for the UNC, led by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, are challenging a decision by the Elections and Boundaries Commission to extend the hours of voting by one hour, moving it from 6 pm to 7 pm in Trinidad, because of the rain. 

Other MPs who have been served with the election petitions are San Fernando West MP Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Toco/Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings Smith, Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde, St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh, Moruga/Tableland MP and Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis .

Cuffie, MP for La Horquetta/Talparo, welcomed last Thursday’s ruling saying he always “felt confident that I was validly elected on September 7, and I have operated since then on that basis.”

He said his matter was “separate from all the others because there was one peculiarity in my issue.”

Cuffie said he had a different defence because he “was not served properly and on time.”

He said his attorneys, which included Douglas Mendes SC and former attorney general John Jeremie SC, “made an application to the court for my petition to be struck out and it was successful.”

Cuffie said he remained confident that the other matters would end in favour of the Government MPs.

But UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the matter was “under appeal.” 

She said the ruling was given on a technicality adding that the MPs were evading service of the petitions. 

The other matters are expected to be heard in June.

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Besides the petitions, Justice Mira Dean-Armorer has also been assigned two cases in which three private citizens are challenging the EBC’s decision. 

Social activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj has filed a judicial review seeking the court’s clarification on whether the EBC had the constitutional power to make the extension decision while Irwin Lyne and Melissa Sylvan are claiming that the EBC breached the constitutional rights of Tobagonians by not allowing them an extension. Both cases have been deferred as they would be directly affected by the outcome of Dean-Armorer’s decision on the petitions. 

The UNC is being represented by Timothy Straker, QC, Anand Ramlogan, SC, Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge and Kent Samlal. The PNM’s legal team is being led by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and John Jeremie and includes Michael Quamina, Kerwyn Garcia, Terrence Bharath and Celeste Jules. Senior Counsel Russell Martineau and Deborah Peake are leading the EBC’s legal team. A pre-trial review of the petitions, in preparation for the oral hearings, will take place on April 28. 

The body of a 27-year-old man has been discovered on the sea-shore in Mayaro.

Authourities believe he drowned after disappearing in the water on Sunday.

Police have identified the man as Trevin Lalla of Balmain, Couva.

He was discovered around 6.30 am on by a passerby, in the vicinity of JR Animal Farm, Grand Lagoon, Mayaro.

The Mayaro police were then contacted.

Lalla went missing around 4.45pm on Sunday while bathing with friends in the vicinity of New Lands Village, Guayaguayare beach. 

Relatives said that Lalla did not know how to swim.

His body was viewed by the District Medical Officer  Dr Chinedu and then taken to the Forensic Sciences Complex for an autopsy.