The day after the new owner of the historic Greyfriars Church of Scotland at Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, agreed to halt its continued demolition, a team  including a structural engineer visited the site yesterday morning to see whether the remains of the building could be salvaged.

The church hall was completely reduced to rubble and the northern wall of the church was bulldozed as part of the demolition work ordered by the owner, businessman Alfred Galy. The eastern, southern and western church walls remained standing. 

Labourers had to abandon the job when members of the NGO Citizens for Conservation intervened, along with the Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration Rodger Samuel and his adviser Dr Nurah-Rosalie Cordner.

The demolition started around 5 am and was only stopped after Cordner jumped onto the excavator, which was being operated by an employee of Joel Ramdeen and Co, St James.
After visiting the site on Sunday, Galy agreed to stay his hand on the demolition of the rest of the structure.

Galy was reportedly served with a notice three weeks ago that the property had been proposed to be listed as a historic site. On November 11 he started demolition but was served with a stop notice by the city corporation as he had not sought permission to demolish it.

After a lengthy discussion with Samuel at the site on Sunday afternoon, Galy also agreed to continue meeting with staff from the Town and Country Planning Division, the National Trust and Citizens for Conservation.

Concerned about the integrity of the remaining structure being compromised, as the church is now open to the elements, officials said talks were also taking place about temporarily covering the building. Worried that the continued exposure to the elements could lead to the remaining walls crumbling, officials said they would be exploring all possible options to ensure this did not happen.

Celestine said the current crisis surrounding historic buildings being listed and preserved was “inherited” from the previous board, which she said was “ineffective.” “We have been in talks with them (previous owners) as we have been trying to save this church for years,” Celestine said.

She said it had once been part of the international collection of churches owned by the Presbyterian diocese.

Talks still taking place
Although meetings were scheduled to begin yesterday, Samuel would only confirm that “discussions are continuing.” Unwilling to say much more about the Sunday meeting with Galy, Samuel said, “On site, we had a long chat with Mr Galy and he agreed to stay his hand so we could continue discussions. That conversation is still ongoing at this time.”

Executive secretary of Citizens for Conservation Michele Celestine confirmed that a team including two of the minister's appointees to the recently-installed council of the National Trust, a representative from Citizens for Conservation, a representative from the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, a structural engineer and Galy, visited the site during the morning to discuss the way forward. She said, “The visit today was to look at ways that the building can still be salvaged. Negotiations are ongoing.”

Revealing that Galy's initial decision to demolish the property was based on  the hurt and anger he experienced as a result of what he called his continued vilification in the media, Celestine said Galy also expressed concern that the Government was taking too long to issue a letter of comfort to him. Officials have been in discussions with Galy for several weeks since he began demolishing the property, which the National Trust planned to list as part of the Woodford Square Historic District.

Church history
Source: www.trinidadandtobagofamilyhistory.org/churchofscotlana.htm

The Rev Alexander Kennedy of Greyfriars Secession Church, Glasgow, arrived on January 25,1836 to begin a mission to the newly emancipated people of Trinidad. 

At this time, Port-of-Spain had a single Church of England church (Trinity) and a Wesleyan chapel, (now Hanover Methodist Church). 

The Governor offered land, and perhaps would also have given funds for a church, as he had done for Trinity, but the new Greyfriars congregation  insisted on buying the land and paying to build their own “kirk.”

Building started on April 10, 1837, and the first service was held on  January 10, 1838. The church opened under the name of Grey Friars on January 25, 1838.

Homicide detectives have launched a manhunt for two bandits who murdered a 28-year-old woman in front of her boyfriend during an attack in at their home in a gated community in central Trinidad on Sunday night. 

Although investigators released details of the getaway car reportedly used by the couple’s attackers to the public in a bid to identify the culprits, the suspects had not been apprehended up to late yesterday. 

According to reports, shortly after 7.30 pm, 35-year-old businessman Riaz Mohammed and his girlfriend Alisha Ali were at his Ozone Park, Gurahoo Trace, Chase Village, home, when they heard a loud bangs on the front door and then a man screaming Mohammed’s name. 

Police said as Mohammed opened the door to check on the disturbance, he was bundled inside by two knife and gun-wielding intruders. 

Using plastic tie straps, the two suspects restrained the couple and began torturing them to reveal Mohammed’s hiding spot for cash earned in his used car dealership. 

Both Mohammed and Ali were stabbed several times before they eventually acceded to the duo’s demands and pointed them towards $60,000 in cash which was hidden in the house. 
Investigators said the men retrieved the loot and while exiting the house without warning one of the men turned around and attacked Ali slitting her throat. They then escaped in a white Nissan Wingroad.

Traumatised by what he had just witnessed and reeling from his own injuries, Mohammed still managed to muster the strength to break free of his restraints and contacted police, who arrived within minutes. 

The couple was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility, where Ali, an employee of oil company Trinity Exploration and Production was pronounced dead on arrival.  Mohammed was stabilised and transfered to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope. 

The T&T Guardian understands that Mohammed relatives moved him to a private medical institution yesterday afternoon over fears that the attackers may return to kill him as he witnessed Ali’s murder and saw their faces.

In an interview at the Forensic Science Centre in St James following Ali’s autopsy yesterday afternoon, her father Ibrahim said he did not want to comment extensively on the incident as he only knew basic information from news reports. 

However, Ibrahim was critical of police officers who he claimed were abusive when they prevented him from viewing his daughter’s body when he visited the crime scene on Sunday night.
“What it is to let a grieving father see his daughter after that? I love my children the only thing I ain’t do is breastfeed them” an emotional Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim also said he was skeptical that police would solve his daughter’s murder. “Look at how much murders it have for the year. How much get solve? How much people get convicted?” Ibrahim lamented. Anyone with information on the incident or the getaway vehicle, which may assist in police in their investigation are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS (8477) or their nearest police station.

Police appeal for help
Speaking with media personnel at the crime scene on Sunday, head of the Central Division Senior Supt Johnny Abraham called on members of the public to assist in solving the crime. 
“I am asking the public for help because somebody would have seen that vehicle in their area at some point in time in the day,” Abraham said.

While the senior police officer stated that his officers were working hard to curb an recent increase in homicides in their division he said they were still facing challenges.“This kind of homicide really hard to detect unless you in close proximity and you get the call one time because this happen in a house. 

“We are really concentrating on the residential and shopping areas but we have to do some more patrols on the outer areas and more road blocks,” Abraham said. He also suggested that home owners invest in personal home security devices which have become popular and affordable in recent years. 

“People need to be more cautious and take more responsibility. Cameras very cheap, everybody supposed to have a camera now for their well being,” Abraham said.  
 

Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Ganga Singh says there are no plans for a desalination plant in the near future to boost the water supply.

Singh was speaking with members of the media yesterday at the launch of the Beetham Transmission Pipeline project opposite the Ministry of Works on the Beetham Highway. “People need to conserve and water is expensive to treat it and to bring it to your home. People need to be responsible and conserve. There is not any plan for that, we have the expansion of Desalcott (Desalination Company of T&T) but there is no plan unless it is associated with an industrial estate,” he said.

Singh added that there had been a vast improvement in the water supply. “There has been a significant improvment in water supply and when we (the People’s Partnership) entered government the level of service was 18 per cent 24/7 and now the it has reached 70 per cent. We are constantly improving that,” he said.

During the launch, Singh said the Beetham transmission mains replaced the mains from the Black River west to the Beetham Flyover. The main which is 60 years old is 30 inches in width and will be replaced at a cost of $26 million. “The water will supply an estimated 20,000 in Port-of-Spain and environs. In the last five years we have collected data there were 200 leaks and several major disruptions in the water supply.” He said another main would be replaced at Big Yard in Carenge for $6.5 million.

Water woes in North East
In a statement yesterday WASA said customers in parts of north east Trinidad who are served by the North Oropouche Waterworks are currently without a pipe borne water supply as a result of a leak on the 42 inch transmission main at Plantation Road, Valencia. Emergency repairs are expected to be completed by 6 pm today.

The areas affected include:
Sangre Grande, Guaico, Manzanilla, Coryal and environs
La Horquetta
Malabar Phases 1, 3 and 4
Tumpuna Road South, Brazil Village, San Raphael 
O'Meara Road
Carapo 
Sunrise Park, Millennium Park
Mausica Road, Crescent Gardens
Maloney 
Oropune Gardens
Golden Grove Road
Five Rivers, Arouca

Trade, Investments and Communications Minister Vasant Bharath says the UNC and the Government were not involved in last weekend’s placement of racists posters on vehicles and slashing of car tyres at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain.

One of the posters which were allegedly placed on a vehicle said in part: “We black African King anointed by the Blood of Jesus Christ has decreed that it is we time again.” It also said: “Starting from today the terror shall begin...today is just a flat tire.”

Tyres from an estimated ten cars were deflated, sources said. Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, when contacted for comment yesterday, said he was unable to say if the matter was being investigated.

Bharath commented on the incident after public relations officer of the Opposition PNM, Faris Al-Rawi, distanced the PNM from the incident, saying the PNM was disgusted by it.

He said the posters “contained vile racist and seditious comments clearly designed to create hatred, fear and division in our country.”

He said the incident was a repeat of two previous “heinous” incidents, the first of which took place during a Joint Trade Union Movement-led march in Port-of-Spain last May. During that march, which included PNM supporters, placards alleged to be racist were displayed at the Parliament. The Opposition denied any involvement in that incident and called for police to investigate, but no one has been arrested. 

Al-Rawi said in that incident racist placards were displayed and later determined to have been distributed by unknown people to paid troublemakers. He said the second was the placement of “equally racist posters on several vehicles at the PNM’s immensely successful Divali celebration this year.”

The PNM was accused of orchestrating that incident too, he said, and had called for the perpetrators to be charged by the police in both incidents. “This incident is no different,” he added.

Al-Rawi said: “The tragic idiocy of these messages of hate benefits no one other than those desperate to maintain division in an attempt to stop the solid ascendancy of the PNM.” He said there was no place for any form of racism in the country, adding: “The PNM condemns such acts in the strongest possible terms.” 

Al-Rawi said if that was what opponents to the PNM had used to start their 2015 general election campaigns: “Good citizens should be wary of what is still to come and should collectively denounce and hold with greatest intolerance the desperate actions of the wickedly insidious.”

Bharath: This should stop 
Bharath made a similar comment, saying it was “regrettable that anyone would descend into this kind of action.” He said no political party, be it the UNC or PNM or any other party, would engage in such acts, and distanced the UNC and Government from them. He said people should “cease and desist from such incidents...they can only create further polarisation in the country.”

The Guardian School of Journalism will help the profession of journalism and the field of media in T&T says Norman Sabga, chairman of the ANSA McAL Group. He also called the University of the West Indies (UWI) the “intellectual brain” of the country and the region. “We are very proud of growing that intellectual capacity in the country and region. The Guardian Media Group is the largest in T&T and we have been sending journalists abroad for many years for specialised training. 

“With the growth of the Guardian School of Journalism which will look at all arms of the media, it will be a huge development for the growth of the media in video, print and voice,” he said.
Sabga spoke yesterday at the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding between UWI and the ANSA McAL Group at the 10th Floor, Tatil Building, Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain.
ANSA McAL Group will fund the construction of a building that will house three schools, the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, the Anthony N Sabga School of Entrepreneurship, and the Guardian Media School of Journalism.

Sabga hopes that the School of Entrepreneurship will go beyond just producing executives but will produce executives who can run businesses efficiently. “We want executives who will continue to grow the economy and the country and the region. That is why we have gotten involved in this programme,” he said.

Clement Sankat, principal of UWI who also spoke, said the ANSA McAL Group continues to contribute to the human resources of the region. “They have contributed through a very generous donation to the UWI to construct the Anthony N Sabga Building.  “This building will be located at the centre of our campus. Our new programme of journalism has just been revised and the journalism programme will begin in August of next year,” he said.

He said the School of Entrepreneurship will create “transformational leaders” as this is important in creating a new economy that is private sector driven. “In terms of T&T’s development we have been looking too much to the state for leadership in almost all sectors.  “It is important that the role of the state provides the enabling environment for private sector led growth that ensures productivity and competitiveness,” he said.

Sankat also said dependence on the state is growing day by day and this is not good for the economy. “We are seeing what is happening in our economy, falling prices for oil and gas and we have heard firm statements from the Finance Minster on the matter. It is time T&T wakes up and shift gears and direction to diversify the economy. What obtains now is unsustainable,” he said.

As countries recognised World Aids Day yesterday, T&T is still lagging behind in many instances, particularly in bridging the gap between mother-to-child transmission. In fact, UNAids Caribbean Regional Support Team Director Dr Ernest Massiah said there is no reason why the virus should be passed on to infants as T&T has the technology, resources and medicine to prevent this.

Massiah made the statement while speaking at the “Close the Gap” seminar on the status of the HIV epidemic and response in T&T by UNAids in commemoration of World Aids Day held at UNIC Office at Bretton Hall, 16 Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain. “On the elimination of mother-to-child transmission T&T has the opportunity to eliminate that in 2015. No child should actually be born in 2015 HIV positive. We have the resources, we have the technology, we have the health care workers so it is a question of the will and the reach to ensure that mothers who are HIV positive can have their children  but not pass on HIV to their child. “But we are also seeing a slight increase in the number of new infection but that can also be as a result of testing being increased. We must look carefully at how we can protect and empower women so that they go to clinic early, get tested, get treated and follow-up with their babies,” Massiah said. 

He said while the Bahamas, Jamaica and Suriname currently have transmission rates between two and five per cent, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Haiti and T&T lagged behind with more than five percent of children born to mothers living with HIV becoming infected. In 2013 T&T’s rate was 6.3 per cent, Massiah added.

He added that 13 Caribbean countries were on track to be certified as having eliminated HIV transmission from mother-to-child while three were close to reaching this goal. Over the last decade, countries had successfully increased access to antiretroviral medicines during pregnancy and empowered women to make informed decisions about their health and that of their children, Massiah added.

“Before treatment was available, at least one in four babies born to HIV positive women in many Caribbean countries was infected with HIV. Today Anguilla, Barbados, Cuba, Guyana, Montserrat and St Kitts and Nevis all have shown that they have reached the elimination target of below two per cent transmission. 

He described yesterday’s event as a way of celebrating World Aids Day in T&T with the purpose of remembering those who had died,  what was needed to be done in ensuring that those living with the virus had access to services and also to prevent more people from becoming HIV positive in the future. Massiah said people were still unwilling to get tested as they did not trust that their information would remain confidential.

Condoms in schools
A public opinion poll commissioned by UNAids in December last year showed that the majority of citizens supported giving young people access to age appropriate “sex and sexuality education” in schools as well as access to condoms and contraceptives, Massiah said. 

He said respondents were asked if they generally supported the teaching of “age appropriate” sex education in schools at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. While more than half of those polled supported such education in primary schools, there was widespread support for it in secondary schools, Massiah said.

He added that such a finding may reflect awareness about the high levels of sexual activity among teenagers. Respondents were also asked if they supported the provision of condoms and contraceptives to boys and girls in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. 

Over 60 per cent supported making these available to secondary school students, Massiah said. “Addressing the lack of knowledge, sexual and reproductive health services and social protection available to young women can help reduce their vulnerability to HIV,” he said.

Ending the Aids epidemic by 2030 was possible, but only by closing the gap between people who had access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and those who were being left behind, Massiah urged. On the attitude towards homosexuals, the overall responses showed 56 per cent of citizens were either accepting or tolerant of them.

Trends in people tested for HIV in T&T between 2011 to 2013:
• 2011—52,393
• 2012—55,221
• 2013—54, 308

A Canadian woman and her husband who spent the past five days in custody were each granted $120,000 bail yesterday on arms and ammunition charges. 

Andrea Hansen, 53, a programme assistant at Corporate Health Environmental and Safety Solutions, and her husband, Simon Alexander, 59, a labourer, both re-appeared before San Fernando Magistrate Natalie Diop in the San Fernando court yesterday.

They were arrested last week Wednesday at Royal Road, San Fernando, after a revolver and five rounds of ammunition were allegedly found in their possession. They were charged by PC Bacchus.

The couple first appeared in court on Thursday, but were remanded into custody for tracing to determine if they ever had other matters in court.

Court prosecutor Sgt Gordon Maharaj said a name check was done since the fingerprint results were not ready and nothing was found on record. Their attorney Annalee Girwar said Hansen suffers with certain medical conditions and did not have the “best experience” in custody. 

The prosecutor did not object to bail. 

Also re-appearing in court were Clint Bhagwandeen, a bar manager and Crystalan Daniel, a clerical assistant, who were also arrested on Royal Road last week Wednesday.

They were charged by PC Morris with possession of a revolver, 31 rounds of ammunition and 442 grammes of marijuana. 

Bhagwandeen and Daniel were granted bail in the sum of $200,000 and $150,000 on Thursday because they are the parents of a six-month-old baby.
 
The two couples will reappear in court on December 12.

For the first time in T&T’s history a husband and wife team will sit together as High Court judges. 

The historic Judiciary milestone was created yesterday as President Anthony Carmona swore in Margret Mohammed, the wife of long standing High Court judge Vasheist Kokaram, as this country’s latest puisne judge.

A press release issued by the Office of the President yesterday afternoon said Carmona described the event as a defining moment for T&T’s Judiciary and for those acrosss the wider Caribbean region. “Judges are not appointed on the basis of popular support or popular will and must possess certain qualities among them jurisprudential prowess, legal acumen, integrity, equipoise and a deep sense of justice. Justice Mohammed possesses these qualities and more,” Carmona said. 

Like Carmona, Chief Justice Ivor Archie also commended Mohammed for her previous professional achievements and described her as “dedicated, proactive and very disciplined.” “I was delighted to see her application and all members of the JLSC were impressed with her credentials...She was a candidate of calibre. We have done the right thing by recommending Justice Mohammed to His Excellency. She is an excellent lawyer,” Archie said. 

The release also made special note of Mohammed’s achievements during her brief one-year tenure as a High Court Master between 2011 and 2012. 

About Mohammed
Justice Margaret Mohammed, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, was called to the bar in October 1995. 

She served as an associate attorney at Alexander, Jeremie & Company for two years before taking up the post of legal advisor to the Public Utilities Commission.

Her appointment as a High Court judge is not her first stint in the Judiciary as she held several posts between 2001 and 2011 including assistant registrar, acting deputy registrar and acting High Court master. 

In 2012, Mohammed was appointed a High Court judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and was part of a several committees tasked with reducing a backlog of civil cases in Grenada. 
Mohammed has also completed training in caribbean criminal asset recovery, complex fraud trial management, and international commercial arbitration.

The Central Bank of T&T has once again raised the repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to 3.25 per cent yesterday, just months after raising the repo rate by the same margin in September. 
Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran, at a Monetary Policy Forum in Chaguanas yesterday, said: “You’ve seen the monetary policy stance changing which means once we start to improve the appeal of TT dollar assets, there will be a greater level of attractiveness of those assets, and that means funds could start to stay home rather than go outside of T&T to search for higher yields.”
Rambarran also cut the country’s projected gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for 2014 to 0.5 per cent from over 2 per cent “on dismal energy sector performance,” saying gas producers BP and BG continued to have disruptions in supply mainly due to maintenance and planned shutdowns.

Taking reporters questions after his presentation, when asked about only one bank taking the cue from the Central Bank to raise its interest rates, Rambaran said: “We expect to see an adjustment from the commercial banks in terms of their interest rate structure. What we have to bear in mind is that the repo rate is a signalling rate, so it tells you what we would like to see. “Second, we have an excess liquidity overhang, so a 25 basis points increase in the repo rate is not going to fundamentally affect the assets and liabilities structure of the bank.”

Asked by when he estimated to see more banks raise interest rates, Rambarran said that depends on each bank and what their balance sheet can handle. He said he does not anticipate the banks will disregard the signal. “Interest rates are going to move from historical lows and gradually increase,” he said. Inflation climbed to a two-year high at 9 per cent in October, Rambarran confirmed: “To guard against further inflationary pressures going down the road.” 

He said the Central Bank was changing the repo rate, the effect of which is usually not seen before nine months. Asked if T&T could see double-digit inflation going forward, he said it is “quite possible that food prices will go up,” for the upcoming Christmas season, and double-digit inflation could occur. Rambarran said he expects the Ministry of Finance and the Economy “to cut expenditure to match shortfalls in energy revenue” as a prudent measure in the face of falling oil prices. “That would help with liquidity in the system,” he said. 

Fiscal spending accounts for 37 per cent of GDP according to RBC Caribbean research released November 26. Asked why the US$1.0174 billion proceeds from the sale of CL Financial’s stake in MHTL are being counted in foreign reserves, bolstering the latter to climb to over US$11 billion, Rambarran said: “The bank couldn’t hold that amount of US dollars because it would have actually hit all its exposure limits.” 

He said the aim was “to prevent the bank from breaching all exposure limits, and to sterilise the impact of that amount of USD money coming into the system.” After faulting debt maturities for much of the $8 billion liquidity now in the country’s financial system, Rambarran said government will be returning to market with a $440 million bond issue, a continuation of “the August last year issue.” The government’s August 2013 $1 billion bond issue was under-subscribed.

Asked why the deficit is being financed with bonds again if upon maturity they add liquidity to the system he said: “When you issue the bond, you actually take liquidity out the system, so it helps. When the bond matures then liquidity is put into the system, and we have a programme of open market intervention. We know when the bonds will mature, and therefore we programme to neutralise that particular liquidity impact by issuing open market bills.”

Juvenile homes are being established. So said Local Government Minister Marlene Coudray during her contribution to yesterday’s Senate debate on a motion to approve the Children’s Authority, Children Community Residences and the Foster Care Regulations. Approval of the regulations are necessary for the full implementation of the package of children protection legislation.

Coudray’s announcement came in the wake of several calls from Opposition and Independent Senators for the police report on the investigation into the death of 14-year-old Brandon Hart-Greaves who had been a resident at the St Michael’s Home for Boys in Diego Martin. Hart-Greaves died in April from head injuries  sustained while “play-fighting” with a fellow resident of the home.

Coudray, a former Gender, Youth and Child Development Minister, said both orphaned and young offenders were housed at the home, managed by the Anglican Church. She said Government was moving to have the orphaned separated and the young offenders accommodated at juvenile homes. Independent Senator Helen Drayton said while the Government was investing “so much more in fighting crime and yet it can’t see the hole in the bucket, through which the monies fall.”

She said there was a lack of justice for so many children who had been killed in recent years in T&T and other children who continued to be brutalised and abused. Drayton said such incidents did not begin with the death of Akiel Chambers who was found dead in a pool at the home of Charles and Annelore James in Haleland Park, Maraval, on May 24, 1998. “His death marked a steady decline in the failure to protect children’s lives,” Drayton told legislators.

While admitting the Government was making an effort in the fight against crime, Drayton wanted to know why there was no report on the death of Hart-Greaves. She added: “Was any value placed on the life of that child? “Unless we are serious about stemming the tide of this huge social failure, which is the worst of all our failures, I think the future can only get angrier, more violent and the quality of life will continue to deteriorate.”

The Government is moving to create two new positions within the Justice Ministry, the director and deputy director of the Electronic Monitoring Unit (EMU). This is according to the 99th report of the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) which was laid in the Senate yesterday.

It says among the functions and powers of the EMU are to ensure the security system of the electronic monitoring of individuals; retrieving and analysing information for the system and reporting any non-compliance with the decision of the court or competent authority and breaches related to the use of an electronic device. The SRC is proposing that the salary of the director be $25,370 a month with additional transport, subsistence, housing, entertainment and other allowances.

This development was in keeping with the passage of legislation to initiate the electronic monitoring of pensioners. 

Greyfriars Church of Scotland is affiliated with the Scottish Presbyterians and is a completely different body to the Presbyterian Church of T&T (PCTT) says Independent Senator Rev Joy Abdul Mohan. She was asked by reporters following yesterday’s Senate session about the effect of the Greyfriars’ issue on the Presbyterian Church in T&T. 

Several senior members of the church have privately expressed concern that the controversy following the sale of Greyfriars to businessman Alfred Galy has negatively affected the entire Presbyterian fold in T&T, particularly since Greyfriars is largely described as “Presbyterian” with little detail on the separation between the Church of Scotland and the PCTT.

Abdul said: “Greyfriars is a completely different church. PCTT was started by Canadian missionaries but Greyfriars is Scottish Presbyterian. We have an amicable relationship with them where we share each other’s church but they have a completely different synodical and administrative body.

“At one time we were considering becoming partners but we never made a dent in that direction. We share in various church activities but as far as the decision to sell (Greyfriars) is concerned, it has absolutely nothing to do with PCTT.” Saying she was speaking on her own behalf and not the PCTT’s she added:

”I don’t know what everybody thinks it’s one body as it’s a completely different administration, that’s why we are not getting involved. We don’t know the actual decision on the issue which was made by that church.” She said she had been out of T&T and was uncertain that Presbyterian moderator Brenda Bullock had made any statement on the matter. 

Abdul added: “I must say, however, I feel for the people who have a very interesting history there and those affiliated with the Church of Scotland. “It’s understandable when a church is being demolished that you will have some very deep-seated feelings. It’s historical and I understand the sincerity displayed but we don’t have the facts as to why the decision was made.

“So it will be unfair for me to comment about what happened but in terms of history, I appreciate those who fight to keep such a building and maintain its integrity. “At the same time though, I have to understand what the Church of Scotland went through in terms of maintaining the building and also whether it was going to survive in terms of membership.

“I know they had some challenges with membership at Greyfriars as most of the members transferred to St Ann’s Church of Scotland (on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain).”

The Port-of-Spain City Corporation now has an injunction preventing Alfred Galy from carrying out any further demolition work at Greyfriars Church, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, but that move is being viewed as an act of provocation. In an interview at his office yesterday, Galy described it as “vindictive and wicked.”

Lawyers for the corporation—John Jeremie, SC, Kerwyn Garcia and Kahaya Nanhu—went before Justice Ricky Rahim at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday night and obtained the court order. No date has been fixed for the matter to be heard. The injunction has upset Galy. He warned: “I was asked to hold my hand and not clear the site which I have complied with but in the present circumstances I may have to reconsider...”

He confirmed the injunction had been served on him around 2 pm during a meeting with Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, at the Parliament chamber. Galy said the injunction “restricts me from knocking down the already crumbling church.” He bought the disused, deconsecrated church in August. Galy, a businessman, said then he had bought it for its sentimental value but also said there was “nothing classic” about it. 

Since then he has twice made attempts to demolish it. The church hall was knocked down last Sunday as well as one wall of the church and part of the roof. Declining to reveal any details of his meeting with Tewarie, Galy said he also was presented with a “draft commitment copy” that he would not carry out any further work at the site until an agreement had been finalised. He said the documents he received had since been forwarded to his attorney for advice.

Referring to the continuing discussions, Galy said: “It’s reached the point where we are almost at an agreement on the fundamental issues. The minister (Tewarie) has promised to take it to the next Cabinet meeting. “In the meantime, I have decided not to take any further action.” Members of the National Trust and the NGO Citizens for Conservation have both appealed to Galy not to remove the debris as they hope to salvage items that could be used in the restoration of the 180-year-old former church.

Guardian Media Ltd achieved significant gains across all its media arms—CNC3, TBC Radio Network and the T&T Guardian—according to the latest Market Facts & Opinions (MFO) Media Trak survey. GML managing director Lisa Agard noted that in television CNC3 continued to dominate with six of the top ten programmes overall.

In addition, the T&T Guardian newspaper increased its overall share of readership by 13 per cent on weekdays. Of the two other dailies, one grew by two per cent and the other declined by eight per cent. There has been growth in print circulation over the last year (the survey only tracked print newspaper readership), while the T&T Guardian is embracing a digital future, with several online editions. Across all media, online digital products clearly posed a challenge for measurement.

The print edition of the paper nevertheless made strides in key demographic sectors when compared with the last Media Trak. In the 15-19 age bracket, the paper attracted 46 per cent more readers, whilst of the other two newspapers, one declined by 22 per cent, and the other grew by six per cent. Within the 25-34 age group the T&T Guardian also grew by 21 per cent, with one competitor showing a decline of seven per cent. The other remained flat.

Within the 35-44 age group the T&T Guardian also increased by 18 per cent. Within the East Indian market the T&T Guardian demonstrated 21 per cent growth. Viewed by socio-economic strata, the paper’s high-income readers increased by 22 per cent, low-income readers by 36 per cent and middle-income readers by 12 per cent. The survey showed that the paper’s sister station, CNC3, has a viewing audience of whom 40 per cent are aged 20–44, and 62 per cent of CNC3’s viewers are female.

From the perspective of ethnicity, 26 per cent are of African descent, 45 per cent East Indians and 29 per cent mixed/other. This means that 32 per cent more East Indians view CNC3 when compared with its closest competitor. In radio, it was noticeable that 15-34-year-olds were accessing radio digitally through their mobile devices as well as their PCs.

Within this study, 32 per cent of all listeners made up the Adult Contemporary segment, among whom 95.1fm, the Right Mix, was the clear leader in morning drive time, claiming a seven per cent rating. The TBC Radio network claimed a 14 per cent rating in evening drive time in three major segments, including Slam 100.5fm, Vibe CT 105.1fm and Aakash Vani 106.5fm.

Another key observation was that among high-income listeners, three GML stations had a 25 per cent share. These were 95.1fm (17 per cent), Vibe (five per cent) and Slam (three per cent). Noble Phillip, managing director of MFO, in presenting the survey results on Tuesday, urged media practitioners and advertisers to use the data wisely. 

The survey has a margin of error of 3.5 per cent, so in a scenario such as that of the TV news, where there are ratings of 22 per cent vs 19 per cent for two programmes, neither can claim definitively to be in the lead.

Almost a year after the Agricultural Society of T&T (ASTT) held its annual election, a High Court judge has found there was ballot tampering and has ordered fresh elections within 35 days. Ruling in favour of members Sylvester Pino and Hassanali Yatali in the judicial review matter, Justice Frank Seepersad quashed the election results because of serious irregularities in the filling out of ballots.

“The court therefore holds that the filling out of ballots by persons other than by the issued voter, was a substantial irregularity that was calculated to affect the election result and the sanctity of ballot secrecy was not preserved. “Accordingly the results of the election cannot be upheld and must be set aside,” the judge said. Saying that was of “great concern to the court,” Seepersad, in his 23-page judgment delivered in the San Fernando High Court, said: 

“Such a circumstance is unacceptable and must be condemned and denounced.”

Pino and Yatali challenged the results, claiming several irregularities in the election process after they contested and were defeated for the posts of president and sugar representative respectively in the January 19 election.  

“The interested party (Ministry of Food Production) has produced sufficient evidence to convince this court that the filling out of ballots by persons other than the person (s) to whom a ballot (s) was issued was fundamental and serious irregularity that is so intricately connected with the principles of freedom and fairness that underlie the electoral process, that doubt has been cast on the ability to reply on the election result,” Seepersad said.

Saying canvassing cannot be sanctioned, he said ballot secrecy was a basic democratic principle and it was the right of each individual to vote for the candidate of his choice without coercion or direction by any party. Because a large percentage of its membership was illiterate, he added, that alternative systems of ballot voting should have been implemented to cater properly to members who could not read or write.

Expressing concern about the ASTT’s lack of accountability and its ad hoc manner of operation, he suggested the Ministry of Food Production revisit its arrangement with the ASTT. Seepersad said it was unacceptable that for three consecutive years financial reports were not presented during the annual general meetings. 

He added: “It is evident to this court that there is a considerable and unacceptable degree of informality that governs the affairs of the ASTT and its ad hoc manner of operation must be addressed.” “The lack of clear regulations in relation to the manner in which ASTT election should be conducted, ought to be addressed by all those concerned as a matter of urgency since the taxpayers of this republic ought to be able to repose confidence in the ASTT.”

During the hearing, ASTT’s secretary Gaynelle Seenath revealed that the ASTT was in a state of virtual bankruptcy. The judge also ordered the ASTT to ensure all revelant reports, including financial reports were produced to its membership prior to the casting of votes to the election. He also ruled that a representative, selected by the two claimants and another selected by the ministry, were included in all decisions relating to the conducts and supervision of the election.

The ASTT was also ordered to pay costs to the ministry and the claimants in the sum of $14,000. Representing the claimants were attorneys Michael Rooplal and Saira Lakhan. The ministry was represented by attorney Kelvin Ramkissoon while the ASTT was represented by attorney Kiel Taklalsingh.

Outgoing PNM St Ann’s East MP Joanne Thomas says she told PNM leader Keith Rowley last week of her decision not to contest the seat in the upcoming general election and is also prepared to support whoever is chosen for the candidacy. Thomas is the second PNM MP who has decided against contesting. Port-of-Spain North MP Patricia McIntosh told the PNM leadership in August she would not be running again and attorney Stuart Young was subsequently confirmed as Port-of-Spain North candidate.

Thomas, a well known banking sector professional who has been involved in representing the public since 1996 in local government, became MP in 2010 succeeding former MP Anthony Roberts. Roberts, a former PNM minister, now chairman of San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation, was screened for the seat yesterday, along with Eldon Coker and Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly. Thomas said after speaking to Rowley on her decision, she informed her constituency executive of it. 

Thomas, who acknowledged there were constituents who had wanted her to “go up”  again, added: “At this point, however, as one MP whose parliamentary contributions, as you would have seen, was always constituency based, can say that I feel a sense of satisfaction concerning the level of my achievements in the constituency.

“There’s a solid foundation already laid for whoever is coming in, including work which was long outstanding over the years. I will now do my best to follow up on things after someone is chosen.” Thomas said she was able to get a lot of social development work done in the area, some through the Government but also a great deal from business sector professionals she was acquainted with from her private-sector career, including the banking field.

She said she would serve with the PNM in whatever capacity she was asked to contribute but, for now, her immediate plans include returning to the private sector.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) and the Ministry of Housing will be under scrutiny as the commission of enquiry begins into the $40m Las Alturas housing project.

This as the commission, in its terms of reference, is required to enquire into the decisions and actions taken by the HDC, the then Calder Hart-led Udecott and the Ministry of Housing, as well as, the procurement procedure used in the People’s National Movement (PNM) project.

On Tuesday the commission, chaired by retired justice of appeal Mustapha Ibrahim, was sworn in by President Anthony Carmona at President’s House. It is expected that the commission will hold its first session on Monday in Port-of-Spain at the Caribbean Court of Justice. Yesterday the T&T Guardian obtained a copy of it’s terms of reference which sets out the areas of enquiry the three-member commission is expected to conduct into the project. 

Two multi-storey units of the Las Alturas housing project, Morvant, which was constructed by the Housing Development Corporation, suffered major structural damage after construction. The commission is expected to enquire into “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. 

It is also required to determine whether HDC and Udecott, then led by Calder Hart, had “fulfilled or complied with the responsibilities and duties imposed upon them by law and by good corporate governance and practice, by commissioning the construction of Las Alturas” at the Morvant site. The commission, according to its terms of reference, is also called upon to enquire into the “identity of the officials, if any, who have so failed in their duties.”

Ibrahim and his commissioners are required, at the end of their probe, to make findings, observations and recommendations arising out of their deliberations to determine whether “there are any grounds for criminal and civil proceedings against any person or entity.” 

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The commission is also mandated to enquire into procedures, practices and procurement processes employed by Udecott and HDC in the award of the contract for the project.

Additionally, the commission has to investigate the circumstances concerning the procurement process and the award of all contracts since the inception of the project. It will look into the advice, reports and minutes made available to the HDC, Udecott, and the ministry “concerning the suitability or unsuitability of the site for the construction” of Las Alturas and the consideration, if any, or action taken arising out of the advice or report.

It is required to determine whether the board of HDC, Udecott and the ministry “commissioned proper advices and reports into the suitability of the site” for the project. The commission has also been asked to determine the reasons for and effect of the site selection for the project and whether the HDC, Udecott and the ministry commissioned “proper advices and reports into the suitability” of the Morvant site.

The first hearing of the commission of enquiry into the collapse of Las Alturas begins on Monday at the Caribbean Court of Justice courtroom, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, where preliminary matters will be addressed.

The commission of enquiry, chaired by Ibrahim, also comprises of structural engineering expert Anthony Farrell, a past president of T&T’s Association of Professional Engineers and structuring engineering consultant and retired UWI lecturer Dr Myron W Chin. Lorraine Lutchmedial is the secretary to the commission.

There have been some cancellations by tourists to Tobago since the brutal murders of a German couple on the island. This was confirmed by several hoteliers in Tobago. The cancellations are suspected to be linked to the double murder of Herbertus, 71, and his wife, Birgid Keil, 74. They were found dead on Minister’s Bay, Bacolet, on November 22.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian on Tuesday at the Sea Horse Inn, president of the Hotel and Tourism Association in Tobago Nicholas Hardwicke said he confirmed three cancellations but was not certain if they were related to the recent double murder. Hardwicke called on the relevant authorities to do their jobs effectively and efficiently to bring those responsible for the murders to justice.

“At the same time we have to sit and wait patiently for the police to apprehend the suspects and have them brought to justice. This is unacceptable and outrageous. “We have to move beyond this, beyond just investigating when something happens. There needs to be a system, a structure so that things like these would be less likely to happen. We can sense the outrage, hear the outcry and the vexing,” he added.

Hardwicke said since the incident there have been no briefing by the TT Police Service (TTPS) with the association and other stakeholders. “I think we would have felt a bit more comfortable if there was a meeting with us but maybe there is nothing to say. Yes, there have been several statements issued already. However, investigators still remain tight-lipped about how the investigations are progressing.”

He disclosed that only the senior members of the association met in an informal meeting to discuss the ramifications, strategies and views. A hotel manager in the Crown Point area, who wished not to be identified, said while she could not disclose the personal information of tourists, she confirmed that when it was reported that the German couple was hacked to death, two of her guests, from Europe, decided to leave on the next flight out.

“They were an elderly couple and currently traveling the world. Tobago was their fifth stop and it was only three days they were here when the news broke and they just left because they said they became traumatised over the incident and wanted to get out. They had planned to stay for about two weeks,” the manager added.

Christmas is looking gloomy for the capital city, according to many venders, shop owners and even consumers. The usual buzz on the streets of Port-of-Spain, with loud Christmas music and frenzied buying, was not in evidence when the T&T Guardian visited the main shopping areas on Tuesday.

Nisha Small, a vendor at the corner of Frederick Street, said it was the worst she had seen. Small has been selling clothes at her stall for the last two years and said usually her sales pick up in November but so far this year she has seen no increase. She believes this is so because people do not have money to spend on Christmas.

One of the fruit vendors at the same location, who did not want to share her name, echoed the sentiment, adding that she hoped it picked up closer to Christmas Day. Manager of All In One Ltd on Charlotte Street, Ann Ayoung-Chee said sales were “fair to middling” and was hoping  more people would come in to shop later in the season. 

She said owning a business in Port-of-Spain is an “uphill battle” because they receive little support. Sales are slow because many people no longer choose to come in to the capital city to shop for a number of reasons, which include a lack of parking and severe congestion caused by street vendors.

Another woman, who did not want to be named, said her boss mentioned to her that sales have dropped by at least 40 per cent for this time of the year. The woman said it was already a slow year and she was very worried about what next year may bring if sales don’t increase soon. “A lot of people may be unemployed if it continues like this. I am terrified for small businesses because if it continues like this many people will not have their jobs next year,” she said.

At least one worker was hopeful because of improved sales in the last two weeks. Charmaine Morris, who work at the Cosmetic Counter at Town Centre Mall, said she expected things would only get better as the season progressed because they will introducing new features like promotional sales, waxing and facials.

The dismal forecast did not seem to apply to the cloth stores, as most of them were filled with customers. At  Jimmy Aboud, The Textile King, shoppers packed the store as they chose curtain designs. But one customer said she found shopping was extremely expensive this year. “In general, not just curtains: everything is expensive this year but I have to get my sheeting because you just need that.”

Another woman, who also did not share her name, said she stopped shopping for Christmas seven years ago and was only in Port-of-Spain looking for mats.

Doma optimistic 
Even though things may not look so good yet, Gregory Aboud, president of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (Doma), believes  consumers will not stay away from downtown Port-of-Spain. 

“Despite its many problems, downtown Port-of-Spain continues to be a strong destination for the shopping public. The city centre is burdened by the same problems year in and year out, but it continues to be resilient because of the unique combination of businesses that are still located in downtown Port-of-Spain,” he said in a hone interview. To make sure the capital city continues to grow and more people come to shop for the season the authorities must play their role, he said.

“We are hoping that the authorities recognise some of the pressures of building for the future wellbeing of the city and that the future of Port-of-Spain will not be regressed,” he said.

No park-and-ride yet
Councillor for St Ann’s East Janelle Young, will be leading the charge to have Woodford Square lit up as the coporation seeks to encourage participation from the private sector with  its drive: “Adopt a Tree and Brighten the City.” She said as far as she knew there was no new parking allowances for shoppers, and only the Government could decide if the park-and-ride service from the  Queen’s Park Savannah would return this year.

Police arrested three drug runners in Cocorite yesterday in what was described by some as a scene straight from an action movie. The drama started after armed Coast Guard officers were seen chasing a fishing boat in the Gulf of Paria with five suspects, illegal guns and drugs. Police onshore were alerted and prepared themselves to assist their colleagues. 

According to police reports, around 1.45 pm members of the Coast Guard received a tip that a pirogue was smuggling drugs and guns into the country. The Coast Guard, after liaising with their police counterparts, chased the vessel, which had four men on board, to shore near the dock of party boat, Harbour Master. Police said three men jumped off and headed for land. The fourth suspect attempted to escape on the open sea but was stopped a short distance away at the Cocorite fishing depot. 

Coast Guard officials said as the boat was coming ashore the men threw a bag overboard which they believed was filled with guns. When police searched the boat they found a quantity of marijuana. The bag thrown overboard had not been found up to last night. 

With assistance from the National Operations Centre (NOC) helicopter, one of the three men arrested initially pretended to be an employee of Reel Tackle, which is located along the Western Main Road. The other two suspects were held after running through the compound of Econo Car Rentals. Eyewitnesses told the T&T Guardian that after the trio came ashore police were seen chasing them and firing in the air in attempt to get them to surrender. 

The police eventually caught one of the men and later arrested the other, even as he attempted to “blend in” with members of the public. Up to press time the fourth man was still on the run.