The Immigration Division is seeking Cabinet’s approval to spend $2.5 million to charter a private jet to deport an illegal immigrant from Ghana who has failed in his bid to stay in T&T while seeking permanent residency through his wife and three-year-old son.  The department is being forced to fork out the sum as Musah Ibrahim has repeatedly refused to sign visa applications required for proposed commercial flights. According to an affidavits filed by acting chief immigration officer Gerry Downes to support his application to vary a September 30 deportation deadline set by a High Court judge, the only chartered flight the department has found will be available at the end of the month. “Chartering flights is not a routine thing. It has only been done once in the past, in 2009, so apart from getting the money, I had to revise what special arrangements needed to be made and then put them into effect,” Downes said.

During a hearing in the Port-of-Spain High Court yesterday, Justice Vasheist Kokaram accepted complications raised by the department and changed the deadline to November 6.
There are no direct commercial flights to Ghana but Downes explained that indirect routes with connecting flights through Brazil and South Africa were available at a fraction of the cost. “That requires three plane tickets, because the carriers will not accept a deportee unless he is accompanied by at least two escorts, and the cost of that is a little over $150,000,” Downes said.  To make optimum use of the hefty sum, which represents more than a half of the department’s budget allocation for approximately 100 deportations a year, it is trying to expedite deportation lawsuits filed by immigrants from several other West African states, including Ghana and Nigeria, who will possibly accompany Ibrahim on the flight. 

In opposing bail for Ibrahim to return to his family pending his deportation, Downes referred to his constant refusal to comply with the department’s requests to sign the necessary travel documents and the fact his wife, Ashley, is encouraging his ongoing action. “If he is put on such an order, all he will need to do to avoid being deported is fail to report for the flight and avoid arrest until it is gone which I believe will not just be likely, but inevitable, given his attitude and past conduct,” Downes said. Kokaram agreed and refused the request. Ibrahim was represented by Farid Scoon and Richard Isaac, while Rajiv Chaitoo represented the Immigration Department. 

Background 
Ibrahim, from Accra, Ghana, has admitted to entering Trinidad illegally in May 2009. According to an affidavit from his wife, Ashley, with whom he lived with at Second Street, Barataria, before his arrest, Ibrahim wrote to the Ministry of National Security in March last year, seeking permission to leave the country and re-enter officially to begin his residency application. His wife said after consulting a member of staff at the Immigration Department’s Port-of-Spain office, her husband decided to go ahead. On April 2, last year, Ibrahim was arrested at Pier One, Chaguaramas, while boarding a boat bound for Venezuela with his son, Jamal. He was charged with entering the country through an illegal port of entry and was taken to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court. 
After pleading guilty, Ibrahim was ordered to be deported and was handed a $5,000 fine which his wife paid. 

Ashley claimed since being sentenced, her husband has been “inflicted with the most cruel and inhumane form of punishment” at the Immigration Detention Centre, Aripo, which culminated in a recent incident with guards that reportedly left him with a cracked skull. He has been isolated from other detainees after he suffered head injuries in the alleged altercation with staff on July 22. 
The incident reportedly prompted  Ashley, whom he married in 2010, to file a writ of habeas corpus before Kokaram and to seek to convince the judge to reverse the deportation order against him. 
While Kokaram ruled in favour of the Immigration Department, he ruled it was obligated to deport Ibrahim within a reasonable period. As part of his ruling on August 2, Kokaram granted Ibrahim a conditional release if the department was unable to deport him by September 30.

The path is now clear for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to “very easily” go back to Parliament and amend the Equal Opportunity Act to protect people from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation. So said attorney Douglas Mendes, SC, as he addressed the media following the launch of the results of a poll done by UNAids. The launch took place on Wednesday afternoon at the UN House, Chancery Lane, Port-of-Spain.

Last month, while in New York, Persad-Bissessar said T&T was nowhere near ready to establish a referendum dealing with the decriminalisation of homosexuality and gay rights as it was not legally possible.  She said tremendous opposition was faced, especially from the Roman Catholic Church, but the issue of gay rights was not really for the Government to decide. Mendes said the issue was about the protection of gay people against discrimination.

Merle Ali, founding member of the Network of Faith-based Organisations, said while there were concerns about religious bodies being forced to marry gay citizens, the organisation stood against discrimination against all people, for any reason. The poll, which revealed public opinion on three specific issues, sexual health education in schools, Aids discrimination and homosexuality, was done in 2013. It showed the majority of T&T’s citizens believe discrimination against homosexuals is unacceptable. When asked if people should be treated differently on the basis of their sexual orientation, 78 per cent of respondents said no, while 13 per cent were unsure and nine per cent did not answer. Asked whether they believed violence against gays or sexual minorities could be considered discrimination, 64 per cent of respondents said yes.

Mendes, who was part of a panel responding to the poll results, said the information was as close as one could get to a consensus. “The path has been cleared very easily for legislators to go back to Parliament to amend the Equal Opportunity Act, where you would need a simple majority,” Mendes said. He said amending the act would send a clear message to the population, the region and the international community that T&T did not discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation. The research was done by Caribbean Development Research Services (Cadres). It used a stratified random sample of T&T and analysed data from 1,176 questionnaires from interviews done in October 2013.

Police officers have been advised not to leave home without their personal gun, even when they are off-duty. This latest statement comes from Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenn Hackett.
Hackett admitted the Police Service was not aware of any personalised threats given to any specific police officer but added that it was a broad-based threat that there was a $20,000 bounty for the killing of any law enforcement officer. “I have ordered an investigation into the authenticity of the threat and its source. I am yet to receive any update’” he said.

Hackett added that while he waited on the update, he was not going to sit idly and have the threat linger in the air and pass by. He said: “I have asked for police officers to be extra vigilant in the performance and execution of their duties and make sure that they were properly equipped to ensure their personal safety.” “I am aware that many of them have their licence for their personal firearms and I advise them to walk with their firearms when they are off-duty, especially. They have to look out for themselves and need to secure their own lives.”

Hackett, however, assured the public that while the officers protected themselves, they would not let their guards down with respect to protecting them from criminal elements.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan says there is no need to cancel Carnival 2015 because of the threat of the Ebola virus. However, he does not rule out the possibility that this could change if the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) declare otherwise. Some members of the public have been calling for Carnival to be cancelled on social media and in letters to the press.

In a telephone interview, Khan said he planned to hold a press conference today to discuss the Government’s moves to deal with Ebola. A National Ebola Response Unit and a four-bed isolation unit at the Caura Hospital have been set up to deal with any suspected cases. Khan said a National Health Committee was appointed to work with the Ministries of National Security and Transport to ensure that precautions were taken when dealing with passengers entering T&T. Two rooms at the Piarco International Airport have also been upgraded as containment units to deal with travellers suspected of carrying the virus.

Chairman of the National Carnival Bands Association David Lopez said his organisation would follow the ministry’s guidelines on Ebola. “We cannot discount the fact that Ebola is at our doorstep. However, unless instructed otherwise, we will continue to prepare for Carnival 2015,” Lopez said. He added that it would not be the first time this had happened, as Carnival was postponed in 1972 because of a polio outbreak. Several bandleaders also said it was too early to say whether Carnival should be cancelled because of Ebola.

General manger of Passion, Sheena Tang Nian, said: “No, I don’t believe that Carnival should be cancelled unless Ebola becomes an imposing threat. Currently the Government has the situation under control.  If it is a world-wide threat then certainly Carnival should be reviewed.” CEO of Island People Colin Greaves also said it was too early to decide whether Carnival should be cancelled.
“Our Carnival involves a lot of person-to- person interactions, and notwithstanding the large number of foreigners from Europe, Japan, US and the Caribbean islands, the threat of Ebola is something we have to be concerned about,” Lopez said.  

“We are aware of the possibilities that Carnival could be cancelled. I heard on one of the talk programmes that when Ebola reaches the US, it reaches the Caribbean,” he added.
Saying precautionary measures must be taken, Greaves said thousands of people would be affected if Carnival was cancelled and called on the ministry to liaise with bandleaders and other organisations before taking any decision.

Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas said he met regularly with Carnival organisations and would be guided by the Ministry of Health on Ebola. “If Ebola becomes a threat to the country, then Government will have to take the necessary steps. I have always had conversations with Carnival associations. That is given, we will meet,” he added. He said that was an issue that affected national security and it would be Government’s top priority to ensure that citizens were safe. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran said he had not given the cancellation of Carnival much thought but the Ministry of Health would provide guidelines in the coming months.

Armed police escorted construction workers out of a job site at Guapo yesterday, as angry residents shut down the multi-billion dollar highway, accusing Government of bulldozing private lands and destroying thousands of dollars in produce.

From 7 am, police from the Guapo and Point Fortin stations, led by Cpl Seurattan and including PCs Thompson, Meighoo, Deosaran and Bedassie, were forced into action after reports that workers were under siege at the construction site at 8 Battery Road, Guapo. The site is located in a forested area on the Perseverance Estate, which is owned by Petrotrin.

After shutting down the construction site, protestors pushed down signs erected by main contractor OAS Construtura. They prevented water from being delivered to the highway workers, as they called on the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) to compensate them for their losses. Spokesman Brendon Julien said over the past two weeks OAS had been bulldozing acres of land without their permission. 

“They have cut down the forest hills, almost 35 feet excavation without any consultation,” Julien said. He said the initial route was not intended to go through the forests in the Perseverance Estate. “They changed the route without consulting with us,” he said.  Showing the EMA’s Certificate of Environmental Clearance, which he obtained using the Freedom of Information Act, Julien said the application was granted on May 12 but the application for the CEC was filed on May 13.

“How can they grant a CEC a day before the application was filed?” Julien asked. Keeno Andrews, who says he owns two acres of land off Battery Road, said over 40 breadfruit trees, yams, chataigne and mangoes were destroyed. “This is Divali and we normally sell in the market. Now that they destroyed the trees, we have nothing to get,” Andrews said. Allister Vesprey had a similar story. He said he spent over $22,000 in fertilizer for his fruit trees and crops. 

“They want to give us small money like $5,000 and $8,000. Since I small I working the land and now they come to bulldoze everything,” Vesprey said. Merlisa Sarju said she had a deed for two acres of land. She said since the bulldozing started her home has been filled with dust. She said a river at the back of her house was also clogged and filled with mosquitoes.

“Chikungunya and dengue going around and this is what we have to live with. It’s over 15 years now we planting the land and now they just come here and take it away,” Sarju said. Clifford James, who works at the Chaguanas market, said he was losing out on finances because of the bulldozing. “Normally, around Divali time I sell 25 bags of mangoes. Chataigne going for $7 per pound. Nobody bothering to listen to us or compensate us,” James said. 

He called on Nidco to meet with 32 residents and organise their compensation. The residents vowed that no work will be done on the site unless they are compensated. 

Nidco responds
Nidco chairman Dr Carsen Charles said yesterday that residents will be compensated for their losses. He said he signed off on 19 cheques on Thursday, which will be distributed soon. Saying there was no need to protest, Charles said teams were also working in the areas to verify claims. He said some discrepancies had arisen in which workers of farmers, farmers and land owners were all claiming compensation for the same piece of land.

“It is not easy to distinguish between people who farm land on their own land, on Petrotrin land and those working on the lands of farmers. This takes a while for us to process, but most of the claims are ready,” Charles said. 
He added that every time there is a protest the highway construction slows down because the very people who will benefit from the project were causing delays.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar broke her silence on the impasse with environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh on Thursday night. But while she did not deal directly with the Highway Re-route Movement leader’s cause, she said she did not want him to die. “Some people think I have no heart,” Persad-Bissessar said during a cocktail reception in celebration of Republic Day at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. 

“But I am no monster. I do feel pain when it comes to the sanctity of life. However, as your Prime Minister I cannot operate or run my office based on personal pain.” Persad-Bissessar told guests she did not initially intend to speak on the subject, but felt compelled to digress a little because it had become a contentious issue.

The PM said earlier in the day she had met with the Inter-religious Organisation to discuss some method of going forward with respect to Kublalsingh and the HRM’s attempt to stop construction of the Debe to Mon Desir leg of the Point Fortin Highway, which she said was much needed. 

“I met with the IRO today and I have asked them to seek a meeting with Dr Kublalsingh to intercede, and they have agreed to. Because from my heart, knowing the sanctity of life and as a wife, a sister and a human being, I don’t think that anyone of us here tonight wants a citizen to die,” Persad-Bissessar said. She said her Government had challenges like all other governments, but she has placed her faith in the hands of God that this issue will work out to benefit all involved.

“My conscience remains very clear about the founding principles upon which this nation was built,” she added. But Kublalsingh yesterday refused to end his hunger strike, which entered its 24th day, despite being visited by the members of the IRO.

Earlier Thursday night, Persad-Bissessar paid special tribute to members of the protective services, saying they were ones who worked tirelessly to keep the nation safe. She also praised NGOs, charitable organisations and faith-based bodies for their continued collaboration with the Government in working to build better communities and improve the quality of life for every citizen. 

The belated celebration was held Thursday because the PM was on New York on Republic Day attending the United Nations General Assembly. She noted that on Republic Day, although she was not home, the pride of this great nation was still celebrated, as she was fortunate enough to raise the T&T flag high while delivering her Republic Day message in Bowling Green Park, which is located in the Wall Street district, the financial capital of the US.

She said this country had made giant leaps in its 52 years of independence and 38 years as a republic. “We have truly come a long way as a nation, as a democracy, but more importantly as a people. And as we celebrate this milestone, we must chart our way forward together. For together we aspire, together we achieve,” she declared.

State attorneys in the Highway Re-route Movement (HRM)’s ongoing civil lawsuit challenging the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Point Fortin Highway have applied to have “irrelevant” aspects of the group’s evidence removed from the case. The lawyers along with those for the HRM met before High Court judge James Aboud at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday morning as the group’s leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh marked the 24th day of his hunger strike in protest of the project. 

Presenting the application, Deborah Peake, SC, claimed the contentious aspects of evidence from Kublalsingh, some of the group’s members and its foreign expert witnesses should be struck out as the issues raised were not mentioned when the group filed its constitutional motion almost two years ago. 

The main issue highlighted by Peake was the HRM’s opposition of an Environmental Impact Assessment report for the billion-dollar project prepared in 2009 and the Environmental Management Authority’s decision to grant the Government a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) in 2010. “The fact is the CEC was granted. They (the HRM) maybe unhappy about it but the time to record your dissent was during public consultations,” Peake said. 

Peake also took issue with an affidavit from a marine ecologist based in Washington DC, which the group is using to prove its case that a comprehensive technical review of the project should have been done prior to construction.“There is no evidence that this lady has touched the soil of T&T, but she is talking about property value along the Solomon Hochoy Highway,” Peake said. 

As she continued to accuse the HRM of refering to external issues which it had failed to raise during the over two-year-old lawsuit, Peake suggested that the group’s action was slowing the pace of the case. “Why are you (Aboud) being burdened with all these technical issues when it is not necessary or relevant,” Peake said. The State’s application was filed in June, last year, during a case management conference held to clarify evidential issues to facilitate the eagerly awaited trial of the case. 

However, timelines for the application and the substantive case were derailed after the group filed for an injunction stopping the project after it claimed that the Government has intensified its construction work. The HRM is currently due to take its injunction battle to the Privy Council, after it was blanked by both Aboud and the local Court of Appeal. 

In a bid to convince Kublalsingh to end his hunger strike, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, on Thursday, agreed to ask the British court for an expedited hearing, when the appeal is eventually filed. Aboud is expected to give his ruling on the State’s application on October 31. 

Background 
In their constitutional motion filed on August 3, 2012, the group is contending that the Government contravened its constitutional rights to “life, security, enjoyment of property, to freedom of expression and freedom of association” by building the highway without consulting them properly. However, the group says it is not opposed to the entire highway extension project but only a specific segment.

 As a secondary issue, the group is seeking a declaration that the alleged actions of former National Security Minister Jack Warner and a group of soldiers in destroying their Debe protest camp and arresting Kublalsingh and some of the group’s members on June 27, 2012, were illegal. 

They also claim they have a legitimate expectation that the Government would abide by the findings of a study done by the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) led by former Independent Senator Dr James Armstrong.

Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley is calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to commission an immediate status review of the entire Solomon Hochoy Highway extension. He said that during a news conference at his office on Charles Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

Rowley said he met with the Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon and asked her to use her office to attempt to directly or indirectly intervene in the hunger strike by the leader of the Highway Re-Route Movement, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh. Kublalsingh is in his fourth week of the protest  against the construction of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the $7.5 billion highway extension project from San Fernando to Point Fortin. 

He said he told Persad-Bissessar at the meeting: “Within 24 hours we expect that you will act with the humanity your office demands.” He said the Opposition expects the Government will continue to take all appropriate steps to ensure the country is spared the outcome of the current developments.

Rowley said: “If a life is at risk firemen go through fires, risking their own lives to save a life. So a public officer, who is required to intervene in whatever way she chooses to save a life, if a life is at risk, then that should be normal.” He said he agreed the Government must not be seen to be coerced unnecessarily by people with their own agenda but it has a responsibility, especially when it was the root cause of the problem. 

He said it was easy to “personalise this and make it a Wayne Kublalsingh (matter), how much is one life worth, and be disparaging about it.” However, he said, “When these things happen, in any society, the nation is on trial, and it is how we deal with it that will determine who we are. T&T is on trial and this Government is on trial, because the Government’s actions are the root causes of this particular problem.”

Rowley said he promised the PM he would not make any public comment for 24 hours as she considered his request, and it was after their meeting that the PM decided to meet the leaders of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). After that meeting the IRO said it would visit Kublalsingh yesterday to encourage him to end his protest, as his life was now at risk after not eating or drinking for almost a month. Rowley was critical of some of the members of the IRO who visited Kublalsingh. 

Without calling names, he said, “Some of those persons are not honest brokers and the Government should not choose persons who are not honest brokers to intervene.” He said many of those people have “made comments that were quite insensitive and self-serving. Some of them were even praising the Prime Minister for the action she was taking (not to meet Kublalsingh). Such people are not honest brokers.”

He said the Government had the responsibility to do all it could to prevent the nation’s image from being tarnished, but expected that when the State acts improperly and Kublalsingh continued to act in a manner to lead to his demise, then the people of T&T would be accused of not having gone the extra mile to prevent any unpleasant outcome.

Rowley said the highway status review should be done by competent experts who would present a report within three months and should look at “the beginning, the current status, the challenge ahead and how the Government intends to proceed.” He said the project was the largest undertaken by any government in this country but was “mired in controversy and clouded in significant secrecy.”

The problem, he said, was that the Government in 2011, despite public objections by the Opposition and the HRM, decided to take the project to Debe and Mon Desir, which were “in the backyards of (its) MPs.” Although there was inadequate preparation for the project being constructed through a built-up area and a lagoon, he said, no money was available and no proper technical study was completed. “That was the root cause of this problem.” 

He said the same court judgment which said there should be no stopping the project also “pointed to a failure on the part of the Prime Minister to keep commitments that she made, and the judge was not very complimentary in describing such a development from such an officer.” Rowley said there was no law preventing the Government from acting. 

In response to a question he said he did not announce his meeting with the PM until afterwards because he wanted her to act “in the quiet of her study before any public information was made known, so that whatever she did would have been seen as a measured response to an appeal which I made to her.”

Leader of the Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM) Dr Wayne Kublalsingh was yesterday unmoved by prayers and pleas from various members of the Inter-Religious Organisations (IRO) who implored him to give up his hunger strike. Instead, Kublalsingh advised the members to return to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and tell her mediation was the only answer to the impasse.

Around noon yesterday, the IRO team, led by its president Brother Harripersad Maharaj and including Episcopal Archbishop Barbara Gray-Burke, Bishop Albon Daniel Dean, Mother Joan Isis and Pundits Surju Mukram and Ramdeo Maharaj, visited Kublalsingh’s camp outside the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair. The environmentalist completed day 24 of his hunger strike yesterday, in protest of the controversial Debe to Mon Desir segment of the San Fernando to Point Fortin highway.

Clasping Kublalsingh’s hand, Harripersad said, “We acknowledge what you are doing, but at the same time we are all very concerned about the state of your health.” He added that yesterday was an auspicious day as it marked the International Day of Mental Health. While Harripersad was speaking, however, some HRM supporters questioned his intentions. Earlier this week during a television programme, the IRO head had described Kublalsingh’s cause as being “political.”

Burke, who also asked God to spare Kublalsingh’s life and to take charge of his actions, also prayed for him to be blessed with wisdom. “I think Lord he has made his point very clear and help him to stop his hunger strike,” Burke urged. As other IRO members also prayed, however, tensions flared as HRM members shouted, “Why allyuh crowding the man? Give him air. Time for that to done.”

There was a brief moment of silence when Morvant resident Elizabeth Vernette rushed to Kublalsingh’s side, warning him that if he did not stop the strike he would die. “I don’t want you to die. You have too much to live for,” Vernette implored. Kublalsingh calmly took her hand and told her he would live. Daniel also told Kublalsingh that God gave life and it was only Him who could take it.

After the praying ended, IRO members were given copies of the Armstrong report and were urged by Kublalsingh to tell Persad-Bissessar to honour her promise and to put the segment of the highway on hold and to review the report. “There are many advantages to our system. It will save the Northern Range, large parts of the Oropouche Lagoon, houses and over one billion dollars. It is basically complimenting the work already done by the Government,” Kublalsingh said.

His sister Judy said while the prayers were welcomed she was disappointed that the IRO did not come with a “real plan” to put on the table. “I thought they might have come with a proposal in terms of a way forward, because I think the Highway Re-route Movement has made its position very clear in terms of what they are asking for,” she added.

Members of te IRO agreed to meet Kublalsingh yesterday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday. During that meeting, the PM urged the religious leaders to try to convince Kublalsingh to end his hunger strike.

PM shrouded in darkness-Minshall
Renowned masman Peter Minshall, who has pledged support to the HRM, said yesterday that a good artist was by the same token a priest and told the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) members to return to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and pray for her. “A good priest is an artist, so I say to my fellow priest artists your prayers need to be directed to the Prime Minister.

“Let the darkness that envelops her lift from her and she sees the light,” Minshall said outside the Office of the Prime Minister, after IRO members failed to convince HRM leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh to end his hunger strike. HRM members clapped loudly in approval saying, “Well said.”

“My dear Dr Kublalsingh, the masman everybody knows does not usually play mas, but today is a special day and I play the mas of the lord of light...I stand here with my lord of light opposed to the princes of darkness,” Minshall added. He described Kublalsingh as a warrior, a hero and a leader like no other.

Founder of the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA), Paula Lucie-Smith, who represented several civil society organisations, and an HRM supporter said recommendations put forward for better governance and to serve the people better had been ignored. Using ALTA as an example, Lucie-Smith said the organisation has never been consulted by the Education Ministry. “We are here because we as a population need to empower ourselves and we need to make our voices heard. 

“And if a man will go so far to endanger his health and put his life at risk, it is to me my civic duty to come out and support so that we as a nation could go to a level of development where government listens,” Lucie-Smith said. She added that people had reached the point where they did not bother to comment on anything again because they felt it was pointless.

Hundreds of commuters were left stranded yesterday at several of the Public Transport Services Corporation’s (PTSC) terminals following protest action by bus drivers. The terminals at Port-of-Spain, San Fernando and Tobago were adversely affected. Bus drivers claimed they had no buses to drive as all buses were shut down pending mechanical repairs because of the lack of parts. 

They also claimed that about $3.5 million worth in bus parts were still at the Port in Port-of-Spain for the past four months, waiting to be cleared. The workers added that the reason allegedly given was that PTSC had no money to clear the goods. In an interview yesterday, president of the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union, Roland Sutherland sought to describe the severity of the situation.

“Between a fleet of 250 buses, most of it does not work. When the drivers come on the ready line, half of the buses cannot move and the ones that do after about two hours they shut down because of defects.” He added that the workers ought to be commended on their efforts to still report for duty but blamed the corporation of their lack of responsibility to make available the proper parts for the buses. 

Sutherland said most of the buses are more than 15 years old, considering that its lifeline amounts to just ten years. “What happens is that they now taking parts from one bus to fix another bus, which is very ridiculous.” Most of the parts for the buses are imported from China and Brazil. PTSC mechanic Nigel Alexander said he and other mechanics are under pressure: “They quick to blame the mechanics and engineers but we does real struggle to make the buses run, to make ends meet.”

PTSC responds
However, contrary to Sutherland’s statements and the bus drivers’ concerns, PTSC’s general manager marketing and communications, Carl Ramdeo, said there are repairs being done on a consistent basis.  He added that initially there were complaints of asbestos at the workplace at Port-of-Spain and added that as a result the workshop was relocated to Vemcott’s compound in Morvant.

Ramdeo also revealed that there will be an addition of 35 new CNG-powered buses on November 9 but its official launch, he said, will take place on December 3. As he said so there was a confrontation between Ramdeo and some of the disgruntled bus drivers and mechanics. However, Ramdeo stood quietly and allowed them to vent their frustrations. “We are making every effort to enhance the fleet, including the upgrading of other buses.” 

He insisted that there were no defected buses in the existing fleet, but admitted that some of them were about 20 years old. “We intend to increase the fleet to 500 or 600 buses.” Ramdeo explained that the process of acquiring buses is not that simple as their are special requirements and specifications to be met. 

The 13 Jamaican nationals who were denied entry in T&T were found to be in breach of several regulations, according to National Security Minister Gary Griffith. The Jamaicans were denied entry at Piarco International Airport last week Tuesday. They reportedly told the Jamaican Gleaner they were not only denied entry but treated very bad and claimed they were traumatised as a result. However, Griffith, in a release, insisted that the Jamaicans’ actions were not above board.

“They were found providing conflicting information on the reasons for their visit, with their stories not being corroborated by their intended hosts, being hosted by Jamaican nationals in the country with illegal visitor status and having insufficient funds to support the length of their intended stay in the country,” the minister said. 

An investigation conducted by the Ministry of National Security showed the Jamaican nationals entered the country on September 30 at 11.30 pm and underwent interview checks until 1 am. They then had a five-hour wait at Piarco International Airport before their repatriation via a return flight to Jamaica, which departed on October 1 at 8 am, a length of time that did not require them being put up at a hotel.

“Additionally, subsequent to the decision of repatriation, the nationals were not under the watch of immigration officials but strictly under the supervision of the airline, which provided them with food and blankets during their wait for their return flight.” Griffith reiterated that the actions taken by the immigration officers were fully compliant with T&T’s Immigration Act and all laws and regulations.

“Entry into T&T for Caricom nationals under the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Declaration of Single Market Readiness is not automatic. Each and every visitor must also meet the immigration requirements to be allowed entry.” He added that Caricom nationals can be refused entry into a member state if it is determined they fall within two broad categories, namely “an undesirable” or “someone who is likely to become a charge on public funds.”

“The Ministry and the Immigration Division continue to adhere to our obligation to protect the nation’s borders. While we welcome all visitors including our Caricom neighbours, we will do so in accordance with the laws of the land,” the minister said.

Despite advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that travel bans and visa restrictions should not be imposed on countries where the Ebola virus is most rampant, officials are currently seeking legal advice on whether or not T&T can introduce these measures. Revealing this during a press briefing yesterday, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said the suggestion was put before the Cabinet on Thursday.

He said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan was charged with the responsibility of exploring the legality and  the repercussions of such a move. Addressing reporters at the ministry in Port-of-Spain, Khan said the WHO had indicated there were to be no travel restrictions placed on countries where outbreaks had been reported, as this was not in keeping with international protocols and best practices. Given the deadly effects of the virus, Khan said concerns were raised at Thursday’s meeting.

However, he admitted  there was a need to determine what international treaties and agreements would be violated if government were to go ahead with this action, which Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar had approved in principle and pending Ramlogan’s findings. 

Assuring citizens that “Ebola as it is now, is not in T&T,” Khan said government had to adopt proactive measures to prevent the importation of the virus, and that it was to this end that Persad Bissessar had given him “full rein” to deal with it. Acknowledging that Ebola was no longer confined to West Africa and had begun spreading to other countries like the US and Spain, Khan said, “That makes us vulnerable.”

He added, “The only way the Ebola virus can enter our community is through international travel.” Khan also revealed that the authorities had revised the entry health form to be filled out by arriving passengers, and were also awaiting Ramlogan’s legal opinion before it is introduced.

Faced with the possibility that a passenger may withhold crucial information from the authorities and may be tempted to lie on the form, Khan said, “That is something we can’t deal with. At the end of the day, we are just hoping that people will be truthful on the form, based on the panic that can result from not doing this.”

“T&T is on emergency alert for Ebola because one case in T&T that is not handled correctly, can spread very fast and also have a detrimental effect on the population,” he continued. “This is not something that is going to give you a cough and cold, this is something that is going to kill people and in some cases, 90 per cent fatality and 50 per cent sometimes if treated.” 

Chief medical officer Dr Colin Furlonge spoke of the effects of 9/11 on global travel, as he said, “We foresee that Ebola may well change it yet again.” The travel form requests information about an individual’s travel patterns within the last six weeks before arriving in T&T, the countries visited, the reason for the visit, and their interactions while abroad.

Furlonge said the ministry had embarked on an aggressive public education campaign with the production of posters and pamphlets because, “We want persons to know exactly what they need to know so they don’t expose themselves and they don’t create rumours and don’t start a panic. It is critically important that the one thing you don’t do when you are handling something like this, is create panic. Panic will undo everything. Panic will prevent you from acting appropriately.”

Assuring that the National Operations Centre (NOC) had increased security and surveillance at all legal and illegal ports of entry, Furlonge reiterated that Ebola could only be imported into the country. Appealing to everyone’s sense of patriotism, Furlonge said, “One has to recognise that with Ebola, one has to put country first. You have to be patriotic and recognise that we are not just preparing for anything, but also preventing a diabolical epidemic.”

Explaining that the virus had begun transmitting from animals to humans more and more, owing to deforestation and closer contact between the species,  Furlonge said there had been over 8,000 cases recorded across West Africa, of which more than 50 per cent had been fatal.

Head of the NOC Garvin Heerah said a training course will get under way from Monday, during which security forces will also be trained in how to deal with anyone suspected of suffering from the virus. Customs and immigration officers are also being trained. Heerah warned that T&T was “at an escalated alert,” as he said foreign missions had also been urged to implement stringent security measures and increased vigilance.

Responding to the question of whether T&T was prepared for the Ebola virus, Khan responded, “We are as ready as we can be at this point in time.”

...No plans to stop Carnival
Carnival celebrations for 2015 are set to go ahead as normal. But Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan has warned again that this could change as the season approaches. He said it would depend on several factors, including the local and global situation surrounding the Ebola virus. Khan made the statements as he addressed reporters during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health, Port-of-Spain, to update the nation on the measures to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.

Denying claims that chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Allison Demas had called for the Government to cancel the event, Khan assured, “There are absolutely no plans by Cabinet or the Government to deal with the stopping of Carnival as I speak.” Demas was reported to have made the call because of  the continuing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has now spread to Spain and the US.

Seeking to clarify what Demas actually said, Khan told reporters, “She has not said that (Carnival should be cancelled). What she had indicated is that it is a prerogative of the Ministry of Health and the Cabinet and is something that should be looked at.” For now, Khan said, “We will be looking at the movement of travellers for Carnival. Once things are put in place and it remains contained in West Africa and internationally, that won’t be necessary. It may be something to look at in the future.”

Khan said the National Operations Centre (NOC) was helping to collate information on where the majority of Carnival visitors came from. “One has to look at the international escalation of the virus and where it is occurring in various parts of the world. “All these things must be considered prior to making a decision about stopping one of the major festivals of the country.” 

Key points
• Khan assures no Ebola in T&T
• Country on escalated alert 
• T&T to consider banning people travelling from countries with Ebola
• Increased surveillance at ports of entry 
• Revised forms to be filled out by passengers 
• Major public education campaign to start 
• Protective services to be trained to deal with • Ebola suspects
• Govt acquiring hazmat suits 

The Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain was packed with mourners yesterday attending the funeral service of Marlene Grant, the 57-year-old grandmother who was killed outside her St Paul Street home last week. Grant’s standing in her community was shown by the outpouring of support at her funeral. During the homily, Deacon Edwina Peters said she, too, felt touched by Grant’s life as she interacted with the mourners. 

Peters said she met a woman before the funeral and swore by her demeanour she was Grant’s daughter, only to learn it was a neighbour. She added this was the mood among all those gathered. Peters said how a person lived was more important than how they died and by the turnout of the gathering, Grant had lived well. 

Peters called on the country to be more forgiving. She added that in spite of the wickedness of this world we all must love one another and forgive those who do us wrong, admitting that it was “not an easy road.” Police said Grant was killed on her way to a doctor’s visit by two masked gunmen. The killers, reports said, were tired of Grant consistently opposing them and their nefarious activities. 

Three months before she was killed, thugs firebombed her home in an attempt to get her out but she refused to be driven away from her home and the community. She was shot ten times, an autopsy said. Her relatives said they doubted her murder would be solved. During the eulogy, which was given by her nephew Shaquille James, who had to be assisted by his friend Nikita Griffith, Grant was remembered for being a happy and hardworking woman.

James said his aunt would always bring him joy and no words could express how hurt he was at her killing. “She was outspoken and her legacy will live on forever and those of you in the surrounding area where we live will know that. “Marlene was an open book and there is nothing I can say that you all don’t already know.”

Five-time calypso monarch Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste continues to recovery “beautifully” at his San Fernando home, his wife Patsy Calliste has confirmed. However, doctors who treated him are unsure he’ll ever be able to sing properly again. Speaking soon after Black Stalin was released from the San Fernando General Hospital this week, his wide said, “He is doing very well and is very comfortable. He is expected to begin therapy at the San Fernando General Hospital.” 

Two weeks ago, Black Stalin was struck down by an ischaemic stroke which affected both his speech and movement on the right side of his body. He was discharged on Tuesday. Now concerns are being raised about the calypsonian’s ability to sing again. 

Stalin has had a distinguished 54-year career, but both the medical director at the SFGH, Dr Anand Chatoorgoon, and Stalin’s consultant physician in internal medicine Dr Joel Teelucksingh, said they are unsure whether his vocal cords will be able to sustain the rigours of performing. “The honest answer is that we can’t tell, at least in the initial stage, what would be the long-term outcome,” Teelucksingh told the T&T Guardian. 

“However, we really and truly have hope, high hopes there will be an improvement.” Chatoorgoon said while he too was optimistic Stalin will recover, “it will take a long time before he could sing again.” He said he was basing this on the fact that Stalin was conscious when he was brought into the hospital, was aware of his surroundings at all times and was always able to eat and swallow. And while his speech has been affected, he never lost his speech entirely, the doctor said.

He said with physiotherapy, time and rehabilitation, Stalin will get better, but he could not say how long that will take. “What I can tell you is that he will not be able to sing like he used to, at least not for a while. We have to take into consideration things like his age—he is 73—but people do get better with time.”

Chatoorgoon drew reference to calypsonian Sparrow (Slinger Francisco), who survived a diabetic coma last September, a mere month before he gave an hour-long performance alongside Stalin at De Nu Pub, Woodbrook. Earlier this year, Sparrow was awarded the highest honour to be bestowed on any citizen, the Order of T&T. 

“Sparrow is doing well and is performing again, and I am optimistic Stalin will recover with time, physiotherapy and love and support from his wife Patsy and family,” Chatoorgoon said. 

Long road to recovery
Teelucksingh explained that the road to recovery will be a long one, as Stalin will have to relearn how to do basic functions.  “Usually, after the management of a stroke, intense rehabilitation is of paramount importance, which includes physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. The third being that aspect of care where you move into new things again, like to wash and dress and to eat, using the affected side.

“But you wouldn’t be able to tell, at least in the initial stage, what would be the long-term outcome.” He said calypsonians are very mobile individuals, “who have to be jamming, they have to be jumping and using their voice, so a man who was accustomed to a very lively and enthusiastic performance ... we’ll we have to wait and see.” 

Teelucksingh said so far, Stalin has been responding beautifully to the physiotherapy therapy which has been instituted and medication to prevent a future stroke. “The watch word after a stroke is prevention, which includes a change in diet and lifestyle.” Stalin is a heavy smoker and suffers from hypertension. “His recovery now requires very good nursing and home care. The beautiful thing about Stalin is that he has a wonderful support structure from his family.”

Stellar career
Stalin suffered a stroke at his San Fernando home on September 21 after performing at a concert at the Couva Joylanders panyard with the Roy Cape orchestra. Stalin has captured the National Calypso Monarch crown five times, the first time in 1979 with Caribbean Man and Play One. He repeated the feat in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995. For his contribution to T&T culture, Stalin was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) in 1987.

The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, also conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 2008.
 

For the fifth consecutive year, Presentation College, Chaguanas, has copped the President’s Medal based on the performance of students who wrote the Cape 2014 examination earlier this year. The proud winner this time around is Sandeep Maharajh, 19, of Arena Road, Freeport, who shared the award with Soleil Baldeosingh of St Augustine Girls’ High School (SAGHS). He follows in the footsteps of previous Pres winners Abhinav Karan, Brad Chateergoon, Shastri Ram and Brad Bachu. 

Maharajh credited Bachu with making him realise his potential and working hard to achieve his goal. Presentation College also captured six open scholarships and 19 additional. Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh made the announcements at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing. Maharajh, a first year medical student at the University of the West Indies’ Mt Hope campus, said he learned of his success from one of his former biology teachers while on his way home from medical school on Thursday.

He is the last of three children to his parents Kamla and Umanath. His dad is employed with ANSA McAL group company Sissons Paints, where he is a marketing manager, while his mom works as a manager at the Central Colour Shop. He has two older sisters, Hema, a pharmacist and Sheetal, a chemical engineer. “I am overjoyed,” Maharajh told the T&T Guardian of his achievement.

“When my mom and dad came from work we started to cry, we hugged everything and family keeps calling to congratulate. It is amazing, I did not think I could get this medal and I got it.”

Formula for success
Maharajh credited his success to working ten hours a day for three months, in the vacation period and on weekends, and with the help of his teachers from Presentation College. “I really appreciate the extra efforts teachers put into me. They had confidence in me at times when I did not have confidence in myself and that helped me go the extra mile, to put the extra effort.”

He also said all of the prayers his mother said would have allowed him to contribute to the legacy of excellence and medal count at Presentation College, which, overall, numbers 14 to date. Maharajh said he was encouraged to pursue medicine by his parents, who felt it was a safe and honest profession, but also because of his compassion to help the less fortunate. 

“I also have a few relatives who are doctors and from their work ethics, I like what I see and I am really encouraged by what I see.”

More than 500 former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers collected their agricultural leases for two-acre parcels of land on Wednesday, 11 years after the company was shut down. The workers, 510 in total, were invited to a distribution ceremony at Rienzi Complex, Couva, where Minister of Land and Marine Resources Jairam Seemungal handed out the leases.

As his ministry prepares to celebrate its first anniversary this month, Seemungal boasted that in the past year over 1,500 leases were distributed to Caroni workers, with 4,000 more distributed by the People’s Partnership Government before that.

“In the past year alone, my ministry has located and given out over 1,500 leases. I want to apologise to all of you for the long wait you had to endure under the previous administration,” he said. He urged recipients to use their land to aid in bringing food security to T&T. “Make the best use of these lands. Those of you who are too old to work the land yourselves, employ the youths in your area,” he said. 

“These lands, if put to proper use, can strengthen the country’s drive to diversification away from the oil and gas industry.” He added that 10 per cent of the land should be planted with local fruit trees, as children now do not know most local fruits.

“They don’t know what is sapodilla or fat pork. We need to create an environment where future generations will not forget where we came from.” He also sent out a warning to those squatting on land belonging to the former Caroni workers, telling the workers to take action against squatters. “Those lands are yours, because you worked, sacrificed and toiled for it. Do not let people exploit you, and prevent squatters from occupying your land. If you have to take them to court to get them out, do it.”

Workers glad for land
The T&T Guardian spoke to several recipients, who expressed joy over the distribution. Golin Ramkhalawan, 64, thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Government for her lease. “I want to thank the PM. If not for her we would not get this lease today,” she said. She added that the land will be passed on to her sons-in-law, as she is too old to plant on it.

“I used to cut cane at Caroni, I work real hard in my life. But now is time to pass it on, I too old to plant anything again,” she said. Former factory manager Arjune Singh, 66, who worked at Caroni for over 43 years, said while the wait for the lease was long, he is grateful for the land. “It became a headache, waiting on this lease, but I welcome it now and I intend to make the best use despite any challenges I may face,” said Singh.

Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne quickly arrived on the scene of what was believed to be another revenge killing this week.The deceased was identified as Jason Nero. Nero was gunned down on October 5 in Kelly Village while attending his mother Patricia Spinks’s wake. Someone reportedly called Nero outside and as he ventured out to speak the person he was shot several times. Spinks, 52, of La Solita Road, Kelly Village, was killed in her bed two days before.

Her family had not even had time to bury her when Nero was killed. Within minutes of Nero’s shooting, Central Police arrived on the scene, cordoned off the area and began investigations. There are many theories on the motives of both crimes. Police suspect Nero had killed his mother after she began legal proceedings to evict him from her home. They believe he was subsequently killed by people who were unhappy with his actions in a case of vigilante justice. 

On October 7, Alleyne visited the Cumana Village, Carenage, where a former basketball player of the 1970s was found dead and his body in a decomposed state. Alleyne and the police are investigating the matter. The Crime Watch host also raised eyebrows as he visited the scene where another body was found decomposing in a St Joseph home. The victim was identified as Margaret Alleyne, 43, who was described by her family as mentally unstable. 

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the woman’s death had crime fighter Alleyne baffled. In a similar case, the decomposing body of Vilma Harriett was discovered at Dolphin Court, Westmoorings. This alarming discovery brought the number of decomposed bodies found in the last week to four.

UNSOLVED MYSTERY
An excavator and forklift was stolen from 2 O’meara Road, Arima, on October 9. Anyone with video or information regarding this crime can contact Alleyne or the Crime Watch hotlines.

BREAKTHROUGH
In the matter concerning Davie Mohammed, who rears chickens, and Marla Agard, a depot owner, Alleyne intervened in a money dispute. A settlement figure was reached by both parties and it was agreed the monies would be paid off on an undisclosed date.

T&T is running out of natural gas and its shortage is pointing to a bigger problem. At the same time, the downstream sector is facing real challenges from Shale gas in the United States, with companies already preparing to move some of their operations there. Those were some of the arguments used by Proman Holdings, through its consortium Consolidated Energy Ltd (CEL), in seeking to have the Court of Arbitration rule that it should pay less that US $900 million for Clico’s 56.53 per cent of Methanol Holdings Company Ltd. In submissions which have never before been made public, since the proceedings were held in secrecy, and which the Sunday Guardian has copies of, it was revealed that the natural gas shortages, which have cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars, may have also hurt the Government’s valuation of MHTL.

CEL told the court that T&T’s gas shortages were likely to continue for years and it had already cost the company significant revenue while hurting the sales of the National Gas Company.
In a scathing review of the country’s natural gas challenges and allegations that the NGC has consistently underestimated the problem, CEL argued that both the Clico directors on the MHTL and the NGC made incorrect assumptions of gas supply issues. Proman representative on the MHTL board Joseph Cassidy told the Court of Arbitration, “Past and present experience shows that management, like the NGC, has underestimated the probable impact of curtailments in 2014 and beyond. Yet Clico has claimed that management’s assumptions concerning curtailments are too liberal. In particular, Clico-appointed directors, including Mr (Rampersad) Motilal, have continuously questioned management’s curtailment allowances of five per cent from 2016 to 2018 and five per cent thereafter.”

Cassidy pointed to last September as an example of the strain that gas shortages had put on MHTL, saying that while the NGC had estimated curtailments of 12 per cent under the DCQ (Daily Contract Quantity) levels for September 2013, the average curtailment rate was actually 25.96 per cent and on September 3, a 34 per cent curtailment rate made it impossible to maintain concurrent operations of all five methanol plants, so it was necessary to take plants offline. He said, “As a result, management decided to perform maintenance work on M2, followed by M5000. Curtailments have also impeded management’s ability to improve and achieve greater reliability in the melamine operations. Also, to appreciate the significance of current conditions, one must understand that prior to 2011, MHTL operated at name plate levels—the maximum quantities it could obtain, not DCQ levels. MHTL essentially took as much gas as it needed.”

Cassidy added, “Just by limiting MHTL to DCQ levels, MHTL’s production is significantly lower regardless of gas curtailments. The gas curtailments, which result in MHTL receiving even less than DCQ levels, just make the situation that much worse. And as I have repeatedly stated to the board, this would not be an issue today if the NGC had contracted for sufficient gas, but it will continue to be the case until they do so.” The Court of Arbitration heard despite the NGC’s previous assurances that curtailments would not be an issue going into 2014, the gas supply in early January was five to ten per cent below DCQ levels, and the NGC issued a force majeure notice on January 5, 2014. Cassidy said, “The average supply reduction in January was even greater—8.7 per cent below DCQ levels. Yet, based on a presentation, the NGC gave to the Point Lisas Energy Association (“PLEA”) in December 2013, management assumed that supply rates in 2014 would average just two per cent below DCQ levels.”

Clico's argument
Clico tried to counter this argument and sent in an expert witness in the former director of Resource Management at the Ministry of Energy Helena Innis King. She argued that there was no issue of T&T running out of gas nor a structural problem, but rather it was due to significant maintenance work that was being done by the country’s two largest gas producers, bpTT and BG.
Innis King opined, “There are no grounds for concern that the gas is running out.” Innis King’s suggestion that it was due to maintenance issues is in keeping with what Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine consistently told the country prior to 2014, but which bpTT itself is now denying is the root cause of the problem. The company argued that the 2008 global economic crisis, unfavourable fiscal environment and the expectation by the National Gas Company and the National Energy Company that an oversupply of gas was likely due to the cancellation of downstream projects created uncertainty which invariably affected investment decisions.

BPTT said its heightened maintenance activity that took place following the Macondo disaster was necessary to ensure continued safe and reliable operations and while it did contributed to the current gas curtailments, it is not the primary factor. The issue of gas shortages at Point Lisas has also set off a firestorm with Ramnarine accusing the Point Lisas Energy Association of politicising the issue. Cassidy also told the International Court of Arbitration that last year alone, MHTL lost 410,000 metric tonnes of production. “These are not only metric tonnes MHTL cannot sell, but also about US $70 million worth of gas it does not pay to the NGC. Thus, everyone in the value chain suffers as a result.” He also said MHTL was not as profitable as is suspected because of the escalation agreement with the NGC where the higher the methanol price, the higher the price of gas the NGC sells to MHTL.

Cassidy showed that in 2005 to 2008 methanol prices were projected by MHTL’s management to average US $186, which was consistent with recent history. But the average actual price for that period turned out to be US $383 per tonne. “The difference between projected and actual profits after tax for these periods is explained by (1) the structure of the gas contracts and (2) the economic downturn. For the period of 2004 to 2008, forecast profits were US $171 million while actual profits were US$208 million—a difference of only 22 per cent, despite a 106 per cent increase in prices. This is due to the structure of MHTL’s gas contracts with the NGC.” Cassidy said.

Cassidy acknowledged that the present low gas prices in the US was likely to increase, but he said it would do so minimally and would continue to be a threat to T&T downstream sector.
Innis King rubbished that argument saying, “Notwithstanding developments in Shale gas in the US, Trinidad’s gas industry has a strong future: given the difficulties of developing Shale gas resources, the US Shale gas industry is unlikely to have a real competitive advantage over Trinidad, whose gas reserves are, by contrast, far easier to develop.” CEL has been the minority shareholder in MHTL and the German group has been Clico’s partner including marketing and selling its methanol since its inception. The NGC gave to the Point Lisas Energy Association (“PLEA”) in December 2013, management assumed that supply rates in 2014 would average just two per cent below DCQ levels.”

Clico's argument
Clico tried to counter this argument and sent in an expert witness in the former director of Resource Management at the Ministry of Energy Helena Innis King. She argued that there was no issue of T&T running out of gas nor a structural problem, but rather it was due to significant maintenance work that was being done by the country’s two largest gas producers, bpTT and BG.
Innis King opined, “There are no grounds for concern that the gas is running out.” Innis King’s suggestion that it was due to maintenance issues is in keeping with what Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine consistently told the country prior to 2014, but which bpTT itself is now denying is the root cause of the problem.

The company argued that the 2008 global economic crisis, unfavourable fiscal environment and the expectation by the National Gas Company and the National Energy Company that an oversupply of gas was likely due to the cancellation of downstream projects created uncertainty which invariably affected investment decisions. BPTT said its heightened maintenance activity that took place following the Macondo disaster was necessary to ensure continued safe and reliable operations and while it did contributed to the current gas curtailments, it is not the primary factor. The issue of gas shortages at Point Lisas has also set off a firestorm with Ramnarine accusing the Point Lisas Energy Association of politicising the issue. Cassidy also told the International Court of Arbitration that last year alone, MHTL lost 410,000 metric tonnes of production. “These are not only metric tonnes MHTL cannot sell, but also about US $70 million worth of gas it does not pay to the NGC. Thus, everyone in the value chain suffers as a result.”

He also said MHTL was not as profitable as is suspected because of the escalation agreement with the NGC where the higher the methanol price, the higher the price of gas the NGC sells to MHTL. Cassidy showed that in 2005 to 2008 methanol prices were projected by MHTL’s management to average US $186, which was consistent with recent history. But the average actual price for that period turned out to be US $383 per tonne. “The difference between projected and actual profits after tax for these periods is explained by (1) the structure of the gas contracts and (2) the economic downturn. For the period of 2004 to 2008, forecast profits were US $171 million while actual profits were US$208 million—a difference of only 22 per cent, despite a 106 per cent increase in prices. This is due to the structure of MHTL’s gas contracts with the NGC.” Cassidy said.

Cassidy acknowledged that the present low gas prices in the US was likely to increase, but he said it would do so minimally and would continue to be a threat to T&T downstream sector.
Innis King rubbished that argument saying, “Notwithstanding developments in Shale gas in the US, Trinidad’s gas industry has a strong future: given the difficulties of developing Shale gas resources, the US Shale gas industry is unlikely to have a real competitive advantage over Trinidad, whose gas reserves are, by contrast, far easier to develop.” CEL has been the minority shareholder in MHTL and the German group has been Clico’s partner including marketing and selling its methanol since its inception.

Energy Minister: Reserve hike coming
Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine yesterday said he could not comment on what Proman or their legal representatives have said at the arbitration hearing. In an e-mail exchange with the Sunday Guardian, Ramnarine said the valuation of any asset is based on a range of assumptions of probabilistic variables.  “On the issue of curtailments, this matter has been well ventilated in the public domain. I have spoken on it several times, and I will do so again. The facts are that firstly there was a period of underinvestment by major upstream companies in the period 2008 to 2010 that has led us to where we are today,” Ramnarine said.

He cited the Central Bank study for that period to support his claim. “It is also reflected in public statements by major multi-national companies and is the principal reason that we have experienced the disruptions in supply,” he said. Ramnarine also said that there was a period of “major asset maintenance conducted by BP and BG that has caused disruptions in supply.” 
“This is a consequence of companies placing a higher emphasis on safety in a post Macondo world,” he said. Ramnarine said in response to those consequences, the Government has re-engineered the fiscal regime which managed upstream objectives. “This has resulted in record levels of investment in the period 2011 to 2014. As I have indicated previously, the projected investments by energy companies, based on their submissions to the MEEA, is expected to be US$3bn per year over the next three years.”

He said added to that, the recent approval by BP of the Juniper project and the approval by BG of the Starfish development in 2012 (due to be online in November 2014) are “positive signs that the country’s two major natural gas suppliers are responding to improve natural gas supply.” “Consequently, we expect to see improvements in reserves and output in the near to medium term.
Ramnarine said in the last three years the Ministry of Energy has co-ordinated the supply-demand balance to mitigate the impact of curtailments on Point Lisas and Atlantic.  “In this effort we have worked and will continue to work with all stakeholders,” he said.

He has been criticised severely for the past four weeks, but more support is coming for environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh in a candlelight gathering in St Clair, today. Saying that his hunger strike was not just about the highway, founder of the Adult Literacy Tutors’ Association Paula Lucie-Smith is urging citizens to walk with their candles, deyas or flags to Nelson Mandela Park—between 5 pm to 7 pm—to support Kublalsingh.

With veteran mas man Peter Minshall and 3 Canal expected at the gathering, Lucie-Smith said Kublalsingh’s stance was not political, but one that can make the difference in how citizens and civil society interact with governments. 

“I think it will be a reflective mood but also an expression of strength and resilience that we will see this through. This is not about conflict, and it is not about one side versus the other side, because the whole purpose of this event tomorrow (Sunday) is to say let us resolve our differences through dialogue and mediation.”

Lucie-Smith said citizens cannot continue to allow decisions about public resources to be made without proper dialogue and compromise, adding that if T&T is to progress, everyone should support calls for good governance. She said, “It is really incredible, and I am just amazed because you can see he is wasting away, and you know he is not eating or drinking. It is amazing that his mind is clear, his resolve is certain. It’s an incredible thing.

“I think it is something that every Trinidadian should experience, when you have something that is so much bigger than the average that goes into the realm of the extraordinary.” Lucie-Smith likened Kublalsingh’s struggle to her literacy programme, saying that both helps to empower people who feel their voices are not being heard.

She said if citizens take a stand on issues, such as what is now being displayed outside the Office of the Prime Minister, “then slowly those is authority will have to listen if we just never back down.”

Health effects of hunger strikes 
Depending on the length of a hunger strike a person can do severe, in some cases irreparable, damage to their body.
 The following is a short list of the serious health risks involved in carrying a hunger strike beyond two to three weeks—this information assumes that you are engaging in a water-only hunger strike and you are basically healthy when you begin your hunger strike, also some of these effects are not permanent:
• Damage to muscle tissue (after approximately four weeks)
• Weakening of bones (after approximately four weeks)
• Hallucinations/dementia (after approximately three weeks)
• Potentially permanent brain damage (after approximately four to five weeks)
• Potentially permanent damage to internal organs (after approximately four to five weeks)
• Potential failure of internal organs (after approximately four to five weeks)
• Death (could happen at any time depending on the state of your health)

According to an article on how stuff works, medical practitioners said, “People have gone longer and been fine, and people have starved to death in less time. Being strong and in good physical shape can help you survive longer, but so does having extra body fat. The body stores energy needed to live in the form of fat, carbohydrates and proteins. 

The carbohydrates are the first thing to be used up without more food coming in. The fat goes next, which explains why people with more of it can survive longer. Then the proteins go. If you get to the point that your body is using up proteins, basically the body itself, then you’re in bad shape.” It added that climate and metabolism are also contributory factors to how long one survives.

Symptoms if one goes without food for a couple of days are:
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Irritability
• Bad decision making
• Decreased sex drive
• Immune deficiency

Advanced starvation will cause your organs to shut down one by one. People in the throes of severe starvation might experience the following:
• Hallucinations
• Convulsions
• Muscle spasms
• Irregular heartbeat

(Taken from Medic Wiki)

Harts bandleader Luis Hart says if the National Carnival Commission (NCC) shuts down Carnival because of the threat of the Ebola virus, it will break the backs of the tourist and Carnival industries. NCC chairman Allison Demas had said that the threat of an Ebola outbreak was becoming more real daily and that Carnival celebrations scheduled for February 16 and 17, which attracted thousands of tourists and brought in millions in revenue, may have to be postponed.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan held a news conference on Friday and reiterated that there was no need to postpone the Carnival celebrations as yet. The Ebola virus has claimed the lives of thousands of people mainly in West Africa. Speaking to the Sunday Guardian in a telephone interview on Friday, Hart said, “Shutting down Carnival will be a disaster and will break the backs of the Carnival and tourism industries. 

“You’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars and it would have a domino effect on downstream industries from airlines, hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfast establishments, nightclubs, bars, caterers, the bake and shark vendors in Maracas, spas, masseurs to makeup artists, everything will collapse. “Unless the WHO (World Health Organization) makes an announcement on Ebola in T&T, I think the NCC is getting way ahead of themselves. 

“What about gyms, Carnival parties and fetes, will thay have to close down too? How far is this going to go?” He said that it was very irresponsible of a Carnival entity such as the NCC to be talking about the likelihood of an Ebola outbreak, with no reason or justification for doing so. Hart said as a consequence of the ‘scare-mongering’, the Carnival industry would suffer, and masqueraders would be afraid to book their costumes with Carnival bands.

He said small bands would not survive financially the shutting down of Carnival, since all bandleaders had overdrafts to pay and the banks will foreclose on them. Hart said he was concerned about the health and safety of the country but the commission was being premature on this. He said to date, there was not one Ebola case recorded in T&T and even if there was one, it did not justify shutting down Carnival.  

Ackin: Tribe continuing with Carnival preparations but will support Govt decision 
When Tribe bandleader Dean Ackin was contacted on Friday, he said, “As of now, we’re continuing with our preparations for Carnival. We will leave it up to the authorities to determine the level of risk to our nation, and we will support any decision they make.” 

Kalicharan: Masqueraders’ and citizens well-being top priority
Aaron Kalicharan, assistant bandleader for Kalicharan Carnival, from the South,s aid that the band enjoyed providing its loyal masqueraders with a fun experience each year. He said that it was with its masqueraders’ well-being in mind that it must recognise the threat that the Ebola outbreak can bring to T&T. Kalicharan said although there would be adverse effects of not bringing the band, financial and otherwise, the band must do what was best for the citizens of the country.

He said Kalicharan Carnival would, without a doubt, bring its mas band so long as it was deemed safe to do so by T&T’s health authorities.

Trini Revellers: No comment
A spokesman from Trini Revellers offered a terse no-comment and that the band was not even considering the possibility of an Ebola outbreak for Carnival 2015.