Doubles vendor Donald Ramroop, who was shot when bandits stormed his Barataria home seven months ago, is seeking the public’s help to raise $70,000 to get back on his feet. Speaking with the media outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday during a stop-off on their way to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital Ramroop’s brother, Nirmal, and other relatives said they were tired of the runaround from medical institutions.

Ramroop was at his home at Seventh Avenue, Malick, on May 7 when two armed bandits stormed in. He and his wife were preparing doubles just after 2 am. The bandits demanded money from the couple and shot the 42-year-old in the abdomen. The bandits escaped with a silver chain. Since then the couple have been assisted by relatives. After spending close to $100,000 at West Shore Medical they are now unable to afford another $70,000 for further surgery. 

Ramroop had colostomy surgery at the Eric Williams Medical Complex (EWMSC) and was turned away at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital because he was treated at EWMSC. “We applied for welfare since this happened because he can’t work and they said in December they would do it. When I went recently they said the person seeing about the file gone on holidays. We would appreciate any assistance,” Donald’s wife, Victoria, said.

She said during the robbery her husband threw hot oil on his attackers since their four children were in the house. She said another colostomy was needed for her husband who has lost weight since the shooting. The woman said the new surgery would cost $70,000 privately but that was more than she could afford. 

The Highway Re-route Movement (HRM) claims the Government embarked on a four-year campaign to escalate and prolong the impasse relating to the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin. The allegation is made in a 28-page letter to be delivered to the Office of the Prime Minister today by Wilfred Edwards, a supporter of the HRM and industrial relations consultant for the Point Fortin/Guapo/La Brea Farmers’ Association.

The group also claimed that propaganda was used to vilify and deliberately distort its message. “The HRM considers the Government’s approach predatory, reckless, dishonest, insincere and punitive. Many residents are suffering great emotional, sychological and financial hardship because the Government and State agencies have so far flouted proper, principled and transparent process, such as those outlined in the Armstrong Report,” the letter said. 

Reiterating the call for mediation, the letter said the HRM had met with “insincerity, stonewalling, prevarication and procrastination” in their meetings with public officials. Edwards, 58, a farmer, said yesterday he would begin the walk from the D’Abadie home of leader of HRM Dr Wayne Kublalsingh to the Office of the Prime Minister, t Clair, to deliver the letter. Other people will walk segments of the journey to Port-of-Spain.

He added: “I have gladly accepted these documents to be delivered to the Prime Minister. It is also significant as tomorrow (today) is also the international day against corruption. “This fight against corruption ought to be taken seriously. We must not accept corruption as a way of life.” Edwards said he was also expected to complete the last leg of the walk. He was speaking at a press conference at Kublalsingh’s home yesterday.

An emaciated-looking Kublalsingh yesterday marked 83 days of his second hunger strike in protest against the Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway. Edwards and HRM member Terrance Boodhai spoke to members of the media from Kublalsingh’s bedside who himself has expressed surprise as his body’s resilience.

more info
One of the letters, which is 67 pages, chronicles the alleged patterns of abuse against the HRM by the Government during 2010 to 2014. The other is a 28-page response by the HRM to Nidco’s (National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd) comments on the Armstrong Report. The HRM accused Nidco, the project manager of the $7 billion highway, of failing to show evidence that the proper social, environmental and economic analyses were conducted.

Chairman of the Las Alturas commission of enquiry Mustapha Ibrahim said yesterday the enquiry would “adhere to the principles of fundamental justice” and he intended to “ensure a sense of fairness pervades and permeates the conduct of this enquiry.” He gave the assurance in a brief opening statement at the start of the enquiry yesterday at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Henry Street, Port-of-Spain.

The commission is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the construction of two multi-storey apartment buildings at Las Alturas housing project, Lady Young Gardens, Morvant, in 2008 under the former People’s National Movement government. The buildings, which suffered severe structural damage after construction, are to be demolished as the land on which it was constructed began shifting. So far, only the windows, doors and other fixtures have been removed.

The three-member commission was appointed by President Anthony Carmona eight days ago. On September 18, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for a commission of enquiry into the construction of Las Alturas housing project after raising concerns about the two towers, valued $26 million, which are scheduled to be demolished.

Persad-Bissessar said then Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who was a former housing minister under the PNM, as well as Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde who succeeded him, have distanced themselves from blame. In response, Rowley welcomed the probe but said it would be another waste of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. 

Dick-Forde claimed when the contract for the second phase of Las Alturas was signed between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and China Jiangsu International Corp (CJIC), she was the minister. Ibrahim said yesterday the commission had started to gather evidence and accompanying documents. He said the counsel to the commission had assisted in drafting procedural rules by which the conduct of the enquiry would be guided.

The rules, he said, were to be posted on the commission’s Web site and comments and submissions on them were invited from people and entities who might be parties in the enquiry.  Dick-Forde, Rowley and Opposition Senator, former HDC director, Faris Al-Rawi, are expected to be among the witnesses to assist the enquiry when it continues next year. The first witness is expected to appear on January 26.

Terms of reference include
• To enquire into procedures, practices and procurement processes employed by Udecott and HDC in the award of the contract for the project.
• To investigate the circumstances concerning the procurement process and the award of all contracts since the inception of the project.
• To 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.

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 reasons for and effect of the site selection for the project and whether the HDC, Udecott and the ministry commissioned proper advice and reports into the suitability of the site.
 • Whether criminal and civil proceedings should be recommended to the DPP.

Commissioners
• Retired Justice of Appeal Mustapha Ibrahim
• Structural engineering expert Anthony Farrel
• Retired UWI lecturer Dr Myron Chin
• Secretary to the commission Lorraine Lutchmedial.

Legal representation
Counsel for the commission is led by Pamela Elder, SC. and includes Jagdeo Singh. Counsel for the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is Larry Lalla

Venue: Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Henry Street, Port-of-Spain

The enquiry resumes on January 26, 2015.

Given the current financial crisis over falling oil and natural gas prices, Government Ministries have reduced foreign travel expenses, slashed performance bonuses and reduced spending for social functions. So said Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal as he responded to questions about cuts in expenditure mandated by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Finance Minister Larry Howai. 

He also said the cutback in expenditure could also affect major infrastructural projects, including the completion of the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, one of the legacy projects of the People’s National Movement (PNM). Asked whether any other mega-projects will be put on hold, Moonilal said that would be decided after consultation with Howai and other members of Cabinet. 

“The Minister of Finance is looking at the overall financial picture and expenditure policy but the various ministries will be cautious in expenditure, given the prices of global commodities,” Moonilal said. He noted, however, that projects being done by the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), Estate Management Business Development Company (EMBD) and Housing Development Corporation (HDC), would go on.

“We don’t foresee any of the major projects in the health, education and housing sectors being stopped. There are some expenditure points we may have to look at in terms of getting external support but we will have to take a cautious approach in the coming months. We are now in the process of reviewing projects and the expenditure strategies at this time,” he added.

Pressed as to which projects might be affected, Moonilal said government could have to relook at its financing for repairs to the stadium. He noted that even though $1.2 billion had already been spent on the stadium, a further $200 million was still needed to complete repairs. “We did all technical work of assessment and it requires $189 million to complete that job so we have to source the funds.”

Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie also said government was reluctant to stop mega projects as that would have an impact on the economy. He added: “The one thing you don’t want to do is curb development programmes which will slow the economy. We don’t want to interfere with momentum of development because we had growth in the last two years and we anticipate growth this year.

“The balance has to be struck between keeping the development agenda going so that we can have the momentum of growth and continue investor confidence while at the same time cutting expenditure where you can.” He noted that discussions were ongoing with Ministry of Finance to decide which projects would continue.

Austerity measures
• Reduce foreign travel.
• Slash performance bonuses.
• Reduce expenses for social functions.

Taxpayers will have to bear the cost of sabotage and protests that delay work on the $7.5 billion Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin, says National Infrastructural Development Company (Nidco) president Dr Carson Charles. Responding to Sunday’s fire bombing of a crane used for piling at OAS Construtora’s Guapo camp site, Point Fortin, by French firm Solateng, Charles said Nidco would now have to bear the cost for police to  guard worksites between Point Fortin and La Brea.

“These are thugs, I would believe, who are trying to shake down the contractor and Nidco because it was said that they demanded compensation. This means they are demanding money for Christmas.” Charles said it was the contractor’s responsibility to secure all its facilities and equipment and it has the support of a private security firm hired by Nidco. 

Although the new expense comes from the highway budget, he said he did not foresee a cost overrun. He said police security would continue until OAS felt it was no longer necessary and there was no more disruptions by vandals. Work did not resume at the site yesterday as Charles said the crane needed to be replaced. He said it was not destroyed as reported and could be repaired.

Point Fortin mayor Clyde Paul ruled out any possibility of sabotage by Point Fortin residents, saying he believed there is a war between local contractors. Paul said the crane had not been functional as no work on the highway was being done in the past weeks.

“Junior Sammy had his equipment burnt and SIS as well. It’s only big-name contractors had their equipment destroyed by fire. I don’t know who did it. The police will have to tell me that. I think it can be that people are not satisfied with OAS or Nidco for whatever reason,” Paul said in a telephone interview.

frequent attacks
Third incident in a month

Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan said he met with National Operation Centre director Commander Garvin Heerah and ACP in charge of crime Carlton Alleyne to discuss a series sabotages of projects under his ministry. Within the past four months, heavy-duty construction equipment worth millions has been destroyed and damaged at Matura, Valencia, Caroni and now Point Fortin. 

Rambachan said those matters all required investigation and action needed to be taken. National Security Minister Gary Griffith said all resources were being used to solve the investigations. “I don’t know what the tipping point is but there is definitely a trend. This is the third time within the last month or two that there have been incidents like this. “Whether they are related that is yet to be seen. If this is so, it has to be based on evidence, so I can’t say at this time whether there is a link.”

UWI lecturer Dr Hamid Ghany is among nominees from Guyana and Jamaica vying for the post of secretary general of the African, Caribbean and Pacific group (ACP) which will be finalised between today and Friday. The decision will be made by the ACP’s Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels currently taking place. The ACP Group involves 79 states. Apart from Ghany, the nominees include Jamaica’s Patricia Francis and Guyana’s Dr Patrick Gomes.

The appointed person will hold executive powers as head of the Brussels-based ACP secretariat in the administrative and technical body of the ACP group. The group is the largest inter-governmental organisation of developing countries, working under a partnership treaty with the European Union, through which EUR 31.5 billion has been committed for development co-operation in 78 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific for 2014-2020.

At an ACP meeting in Suriname recently the council agreed the next secretary general for the March 2015-March 2020 period would come from the Caribbean. Communication Minister Vasant Bharath said yesterday: “T&T’s chance in the situation is very high, due to the level of qualification and experience of our candidate. We are monitoring the outcome.”

Ghany is a senior lecturer in the area of government and a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad. He is also director of the non-profit organisation Principles of Fairness (since 2005), a position he has held for nearly ten years.

An expert in governance, legal and parliamentary issues, Ghany recently served as a commissioner of the Constitution Commission as well as the Equal Opportunity Commission of T&T and led a number of public consultations and national committees on constitutional reform since the 1990s until the present. He was a director of the T&T Chamber of Industry for over seven years, during which he chaired several committees, including the Crime Committee and Committee on Delays in Judicial Hearings.

A prominent Caribbean academic, Ghany is widely published, in particular on regional politics and social issues, in addition to being a regular media commentator and columnist on public affairs. He has developed a range of important innovative academic programmes at UWI and expanded the university’s international linkages. 

In 2012, he was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold)—the second highest award of the National Awards of T&T—for “long and meritorious service” as an educator in the field of education.

Other nominees
Francis is the former executive director of the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC). She led the multi-lateral organisation from 2006 to 2013, managing major transition processes and expanding project implementation. Among key roles in the private sector, she served as president of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies for four years and was president of Jamaica Promotion Corporation (JAMPRO) from more than a decade.

She currently chairs Jamaica’s Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Committee, while also serving on advisory boards of academic institutions, such as SciencesPo in Paris and the IESE Business School in Barcelona, as well as board of the Jamaica Producers Group.

Gomes is Guyana’s ambassador to the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium and accredited to six other European nations and the country’s representative to the WTO, FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Gomes has led various high-level ambassadorial committees in the ACP system, currently serving as chair of the Working Group on Future Perspectives of the ACP Group, which will submit its final report on “transforming the ACP Group into a global player” to the ACP Council this week. He is also the dean of ACP ambassadors in Brussels and chair of the sub-committee on sugar. 

He previously served as chair of the Committee of Ambassadors, a decision-making body of the ACP Group, in 2010-2011.

President general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget remains unapologetic for his tirade on Friday against Government as he dismissed allegations that he was a bully. Instead, Roget turned the tables on the People’s Partnership Government, suggesting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was the bully and not him. 

He pointed at the actions of Persad-Bissessar in Parliament on Friday, who, during her statement to the House, released details of an alleged accident caused by the OWTU leader while he was a Trinmar foreman in 1999. She alleged Roget caused injury to co-worker Irwin Toolsie and attempted to cover it with a $300 bribe. However, Roget, who categorically denied the Prime Minister’s statement, said she bullied him by making such as statement. 

“Persad-Bissessar,” he said, “used the cloak of parliamentary privilege to tarnish my name and reputation, tarnish the name and reputation of a private citizens who she knows does not have the opportunity to respond in Parliament, so that is the bullying that took place, if any at all.” Roget made the statement yesterday in response to Congress of the People (COP) leader Prakash Ramadhar who, on Sunday, described him as a bully. 

“If anybody is a bully at all, it is the Prime Minister,” Roget said in a telephone interview. He said he did nothing to apologise for during the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) “korruption” march in Port-of-Spain last Friday, adding it has been quite a while since he stopped listening to Ramadhar. 

Roget said Persad-Bissessar “chooses not to deal with the latest revelation of the assassination plot (against DJ Kevaughn “Lerbz” Savory and allegations of a government official‘s involvement) or the fiasco in LifeSport.” He said he was “undeterred and unfazed” by the Prime Minister statement in Parliament. “In due course I am going to make another statement and respond to it in a detailed way. I categorically deny, as I have always denied that particular allegation. 

Roget dismissed calls for him to apologise for the mannequin he unveiled during Friday’s march.  Meanwhile, People’s National Movement (PNM) PRO Faris Al-Rawi, also responding to Ramadhar’s statement, said:

“It is conspicuous how quickly the now decimated People’s Partnership can quickly unlock from people that propped them up around the time of the birth of the Fyzabad accord.” He said Government, by the end of its tenure, would have spent close to $300 billion of taxpayers’ dollars and “the average citizen is asking where the evidence of the government expenditure is to be found.”

Al-Rawi added: “It is therefore not unsurprising that the trade union movement will be finding the Government’s story as to wage freezes in need of explanation.” The PNM Senator also described Ramadhar’s statement, as well as Trade Minister Vasant Bharath’s accusation that the PNM and OWTU were undermining the stability of T&T, as a “distracting commentary.”

Citizens for Conservation (CFC) president Rudylynn Roberts said the demolition of a wall of the Greyfriars church, Port-of-Spain, will not affect the decision to save the rest of the building. In a telephone interview, Roberts said her activist group had several engineers and architects as members and one of those engineers had taken a look at the building.

She added: “We had a structural engineer look at it and he said the north wall (which was demolished by the building’s owner) would have to be rebuilt and the roof would have to be entirely redone. “It can still be restored. The manse is gone and rebuilding it is something that would have to be seriously discussed but what we need to look at now is the possibility of bringing the church back.” 

While the different stakeholders are still in discussions with property owner Alfred Galy, the church itself remains open to damage from natural elements, including the intermittent rainfall. “The National Trust recommended that we prop the existing roof or take it down and salvage all the bits and pieces that will give us the template to properly reproduce the roof and the wall,” Roberts said.

She said the next step, in terms of conservation of the property, was to collect all the materials from the building site and sort through what could be re-used and what would have to be replicated. “That is what is done at President’s House. We need to go in and salvage and get materials to reuse,” she added. Yesterday, CFC member Christine Millar sought to clear up some misconceptions voiced by the public about the group’s  involvement with Greyfriars restoration. 

Millar said people had been saying that CFC only became involved when it was too late. She said: “About four years ago we were approached for help in their restoration. “We had many onsite meetings, both at Greyfriars and the Charlotte Street Presbyterian Church, discussed many ways of raising the money and decided that we should send a delegation to an appropriate minister of Government.” 

She said that was done and in an “amicable meeting” the group  pointed out to the minister that other denominations, both Christian and otherwise, had received much larger sums towards the needs of their buildings. “After this there was not another word from the ministry, neither to us nor to the restorer. Our involvement and interest with the Banwari Trace reads much like the above.  

“We are mostly a lobbying group as we are without the resources necessary to put money where our voices are but continue to try to save our historic and heritage sites,” Millar added She said hopefully the new National Trust Board would help to get things right.

Overall market activity resulted from trading in 14 securities of which six advanced, three declined and five traded firm. Trading activity on the first tier market registered a volume of 537,260 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $1,381,948.72.

National Commercial Bank Jamaica was the volume leader with 300,170 shares changing hands for a value of $334,666.53, followed by Trinidad Cement Ltd with a volume of 182,745 shares being traded for $475,137.00. Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 20,367 shares with a value of $121,183.65, while Guardian Holdings Ltd added 17,666 shares valued at $234,074.50. Praetorian Property Mutual Fund enjoyed the day’s largest gain, increasing $0.10 to end the day at $3.50. 

Local executives of Brazilian construction giant OAS Construtora are tight-lipped about whether the arrests of top company executives in Brazil will have any impact on the construction of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin. The executives were accused of making bribe payments to politicians and committing administrative irregularities in several Latin American countries. OAS is the main contractor on the Government’s $7.4 billion highway project, which is being supervised by Nidco.

Contacted on his cellphone yesterday, OAS country supervisor Rodrigo Ventura reserved comment. “I will get in touch with you later,” Ventura said. OAS’s production manager Alvaro Antonia-Silva-Lopes was also unavailable for comment. However, Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan said the internal matters involving OAS Construtora were of no concern to him and the corruption scandal involving OAS would have no impact on the construction of the highway.

He added: “Our highway construction will not be impacted upon because of this international matter. We have a firm contract with OAS and they have to deliver. “Their internal matters are not of any concern to me. I am concerned only with OAS fulfilling their obligations and contract which they signed with us.” Last week, Junior Works Minister Stacy Roopnarine also said the highway construction project would not be affected by the OAS involvement in the scandal in Brazil. 

But a source at Nidco said yesterday it was not surprising OAS had found itself in an international corruption scandal. “Over the past few months there were several administrative changes in the company. We saw many new faces on the local scene,” the official said. 

Earlier this week, Brazil's federal prosecutor’s office announced it was charging 35 people in connection with a massive corruption scheme at Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras. The officials are accused of corruption, money laundering and forming a criminal organisation.

A 25-year-old sidewalk clothing vendor was gunned down in front of his store in yet another brazen attack in Downtown Port-of-Spain on Wednesday night, a short distance from the mobile police post on Independence Square. The incident that occurred around 9.30 pm and pushed the murder toll for the year to 389, is the latest in a series of shootings this week, which have prompted police to review their security measures in the city. 

Police said Stephen Pollard, of First Street, Phase One, Beetham Gardens, was standing on the sidewalk along Broadway after closing his clothing store when a car with two men drove up. Eyewitness told police two men—one armed with a sub-machine gun and the other a pistol—got out and began shooting at Pollard. He was shot several times and as he collapsed his attackers returned to the car and drove away. 

Police responded to the scene soon after and the father of one was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Pollard was stabilised by doctors but died three hours later while undergoing emergency surgery to treat the serious interal injuries he got after being shot over ten times. In a interview at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, moments before Pollard’s autopsy, his mother Nola Wilson denied his son’s murder was due to being involved in illegal activities.

She said her son owned two successful businesses which he started by selling clothes, shoes and household items to help support her and his seven siblings while he was still in school. “People watching his things and think that he in drugs or do something to get it but that is not true. He work hard since he is a little boy,” Wilson said. She admitted that police had recently raided his house and business in search of drugs.

“They come and they search and search and they didn’t get nothing so they leave it like that,” Wilson said. The grieving mother also claimed Pollard’s murder may be due to “jealous” rival store owners. She said  her son’s store was destroyed in an arson attack three years ago. “My son was a good person. It didn’t matter if he driving the biggest ride or living in a big house, he was still down-to-earth. That is why they jealous of him,” Wilson said. 

Wilson expressed optimism that police would solve the crime as it occurred along a busy thoroughfare. “I really hope somebody see something or one of them cameras on the buildings pick it up,” Wilson said. Homicide detectives said they were exploring the possibility that Pollard’s murder was connected with two others in Port-of-Spain. 

On Tuesday night, Simba La Roche was shot along Independence Square and 32-year-old Rene La Fleur was shot dead on Observatory Street around midday on Wednesday. However, initial checks indicated that all three may be unconnected.

MAYOR: SPORTS THE KEY
Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee said yesterday the answer to solving crime was getting youths involved in sporting activities because jail was no longer a deterrent. He added: “Sometimes I wonder where our country is, with people killing in front of a police station and all kinds of illegal things. “I hope we see a change. That is the function of education and a lot of conversation. The nation seems to be angry. 

“I don’t know if jail is a deterrent because crime is committed every day and it seems not to be the impact with what we are looking for.” Rene La Fleur, a labourer at the city corporation, was shot dead  on Wednesday on Observatory Street, Port-of-Spain. He was one of three people killed in the city. Tim Kee said sports seemed to be the alternative for the young people.

“A lot of nations have that as an initiative in their economy. I see how sports impacted on communities.  It occupies their time and people following instructions.  It is more effective than what a police gets out of them,” he added. Also contacted yesterday, chief executive officer at the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Catherine Kumar, said: 

“I don’t know what else to add and in 2015 we will like to see some serious changes to the administration of justice in the country. Everything starts with proper administration.” 

As killers return to the scene of the crime, eyewitnesses said, so did Stephen “Tee Tee” Pollard’s attacker yesterday morning at Broadway, Port-of-Spain. Vendors along Broadway said hours after the murder, Pollard’s attacker visited the area early yesterday as if he was an ordinary onlooker curious about what had occurred at the scene. One of the vendors said they saw Pollard’s assailant asking questions and having conversations with people who were milling around.

“Like he was looking for somebody. He was asking people questions,” the vendor said. “I am not afraid of him. All this happen because of some war going on here over somebody thieving some orange or fruit. I believe somebody hired him to get rid of Tee Tee.” Another vendor, who was liming with Pollard at the time of the shooting, said intuition may have saved him from death. 

He said he and Pollard were liming and taking a drink when he saw a car slow down and pull up in the middle of the road where people park their vehicles along Broadway. “Nothing happened for a while,” he said. But, he said, he then began to have a “bad feeling as if something was going to happen.” 

“So Tee Tee said, ‘Nothing’s going to happen to me.’ Then I saw the back door of the car open and somebody raise something silver in their hand to me. So I ran across the road and I heard the shots fired and then he (the gunman) get out and shoot him again,” he said. Other vendors on Broadway described Pollard “as a nice man who did not get into trouble.”

One of the female vendors said Pollard was busy daily running two clothing stalls. “He owned two clothing stalls and he would run back and forth to each one. He was very nice and I never know him to be in anything with anybody. I wasn’t here when it happened. He was quiet,” she said.

Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (Doma) president Gregory Aboud says more could be done to prevent the ongoing spate of crimes this holiday season. He was speaking in the wake of three murders in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday. The latest was clothing vendor Stephen Pollard who was shot dead in front of witnesses in a brazen attack. 

In a phone interview yesterday, Aboud said: “It seems to us, from the reports coming in, that the country is experiencing another low point in the state of law and order, and that from the incidents that are occurring in east Port-of-Spain, in Petit Valley and areas of San Fernando and elsewhere in the country, that there is another seasonal rampage taking place.” 

He said the current shootings were occurring in broad daylight and in front of many witnesses which was a testimony to the arrogance of the criminals. “We do not want to make any comments about the same services that give rise to this sort of disrespect which is being exhibited by criminals and thieves, but it is obvious that something more can be done at the time of year like Christmas,” he said.

He said, unfortunately, people were now forced to rethink helping people or taking assistance to them, since the mere act of going to your gate could cost you your life. Aboud said every game required a referee and the game of life in T&T was now crying out for a strong impartial referee to blow his whistle “when an infraction is committed and this is simply not happening. This is the root of the problem.”

The name of former government minister Christine Kangaloo has arisen in some of the party’s San Fernando East circles in the event the incumbent MP Patrick Manning does not wish to contest the seat, PNM officials said yesterday. Kangaloo, an attorney and minister in the Manning administration, was among speakers at the PNM’s November 16 convention when she launched a stinging verbal attack on the Prime Minister. 

She could not be reached for comment yesterday. After a letter from PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley to Manning was leaked to a newspaper a few days ago, the San Fernando East executive met on Wednesday, then sent a renewed appeal to PNM general secretary Ashton Ford to change the deadline for nominations from December 22 to January 3. The unit said Manning’s medical evaluation, to assess whether he can contest, would be done on December 23. 

The executive asked Ford to “use your good office of trust and influence to support and facilitate, not to deny and frustrate... we provide you with the assurance that any extension to the deadline for nominations to a date after the holiday period will not have any adverse impact on the preparation of the constituency. The executive sent the letter, dated December 10, to Ford by e-mail and hand-delivered it to Balisier House on Wednesday. 

Yesterday Ford was non-committal, saying he had not seen the letter.

Group pleads Manning’s case
The unit’s letter said it was grateful for the reference in Rowley’s letter to “private discussions” with Manning, since it served to confirm it has not been out of order or outside the PNM’s constitution for the leader to discuss matters with individual MPs. On the leadership’s first nomination extension, from December 15 to December 22, the executive said: “The extension granted is rendered meaningless for it completely ignores the reasons offered by the executive for the request in the first place. 

“It’s a nominal extension for it doesn’t allow us the opportunity to satisfy the purpose of the request. It certainly creates the impression that our request may not have been taken seriously. “It was as a consequence of our request and insistence to our MP that he reconsider his previous position with respect to his availability to accept a nomination, that he agreed (to reconsider) subject to a medical evaluation. 

This medical evaluation is now scheduled to take place during December 23 to December 31. “

There are several medical doctors involved in this exercise, at least one of whom will arrive from the United States. It’s simply not humanly possible for the evaluation to be completed by December 22.” Praising Manning’s service, the unit wrote: “Notwithstanding uncouth, malicious, or disrespectful voices from outside the constituency, we continue to hold Mr Manning in high regard... as he has stood by us, we have stood by him and propose to continue to do so.

“Accordingly, we consider permitting the time to allow for his medical assessment to be conducted to be eminently reasonable, respectful, courteous and to the advantage of our constituency. It is absolutely the constituency’s wish to benefit from the report of Mr Manning’s medical team before we proceed.” The letter added: “In all the circumstances and particularly that of our justification, we consider it bizarre (for) the extension (to) be limited to December 22. 

“There are five working days between December 23 and December 31, two of which are Christmas Eve and Old Year’s Day. Balisier House is scheduled to be closed over several of those days... as such we’re unable to understand the rationale or merit in denial of the extension over this period.” The executive said the nomination process had to involve party groups, which would hardly be available over the Christmas period.

The search is on for 59-year-old US Army veteran Kevin Petway, who went missing on Wednesday night after setting out for a Princes Town supermarket. Petway, a US citizen who fought in the Vietnam war, and his wife, Radica, both of Queens, New York, were vacationing at their home at Dooglin Street, Mount Stewart Village. Speaking by telephone, Radica said he left home to walk to Jai Supermarket between 9 pm and 9.30 pm to buy a few items.

She said the supermarket was a five-minute walk but when an hour passed and he had not returned, she became worried. Petway does not have a cellphone so relatives and police searched for him but without success. It is unclear whether Petway actually made it to the supermarket, as his wife said the supermarket owner told her the business was closed at 8.30 pm. She said they would usually close later but after being robbed last week the opening hours changed.

She said she did not know if he went to another grocery and was hoping he is safe and will return to her soon. “I just want whoever it is to just send him home. I am trying to think positive, not negative. I don't want to think it’s a kidnapping because once you thinking like that, it is negative thinking.” Radica said. Petway was last seen wearing a blue, black and grey flowered short-sleeved shirt, blue denim pants and black sneakers.

He was also wearing his wedding band and a silver bracelet and has four tattoos of Vietnamese symbols on his arms.

How to help
Anyone with information can contact:
Radica Petway: 737-9815.
Denise Merrique: 496-8090.
Ste Madeleine Police: 653-1023, 652-3348.
Crime Stoppers: 800-8477.
Anti-Kidnapping Hotline: 623-6793.

Contractors working on the flood-damaged Manzanilla/Mayaro Road have been given a Christmas deadline to restore the link between the two communities to allow for light to medium traffic. The road-repair project, which began on Monday, is expected to cost some $57 million, which includes acquiring two to three properties along the Manzanilla stretch to put proper drainage and road infrastructure in place. 

Yesterday Roger Ganesh, who retired on Wednesday as Director of Highways, as he had turned 60, revealed the price tag for the project and said the first priority for the three contractors on the project is “to get back connectivity before Christmas.” Ganesh said, during a telephone interview yesterday, the contractors have been given until next week to have a road in place. 

“That is road-paving established for light to medium traffic, and they will be working round the clock, 24/7 as well,” Ganesh said. He said contractors Junior Sammy (Jusamco Pavers), Coosal’s Construction and Danny Enterprises Ltd were awarded the contract through the Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency (Pure). 

Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan yesterday said that Raghunath Singh & Co had also been added to the list. “We will have a number of smaller contractors coming in to do the drainage and other works. Right now, we are trying to establish a road that will connect people back to the community so they could get back driving through there as early as possible. 

“I want to emphasise it will not involve heavy vehicles, but buses will probably be able to get through,” the minister said. Last month a three-kilometre stretch of the road was damaged when floodwaters raged through Mayaro.

Construction on the Point Fortin end of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project remained at a standstill yesterday, even though three security firms were hired to protect OAS workers. Two additional firms were hired after a multi-million-dollar crane was damaged in a firebomb attack at the site on Saturday night. When the T&T Guardian visited, there were more guards than workers on the site. Only three excavator and forklift operators were at the site, identified as 42 Guapo Reserve. 

The guards, who ran away from media cameras, were from Ned Security, First Response Service Ltd and HBS Security. An OAS official who requested anonymity said 21 workers were stationed at the reserve but since the firebombing the team had been despatched to work at Silver Stream, Mon Desir, where a four-kilometre stretch of road is being built, along with the Berridge Trace underpass.

“We do not know when construction will start. We do not want to have people idle, so we sent most of them out to other areas to work,” the official said. Workers said because of the destruction of the crane it may be weeks before construction resumed on the Point Fortin leg of the $7.4 billion extension. Excavator operator Pooran Ramadhar said since the firebombing, he had not been working.

 “The crane has to lift the piles to auger. We putting the steel more than 100 feet in the ground, but because they destroyed the crane, nothing can happen here as yet,” Ramadhar explained. Asked whether he was scared to work at the site, Ramadhar said no but called for increased police and army protection. “Since this weekend, I have not seen a single police patrol here. They should have brought down the army to watch over workers by now,” he recommended. 

His colleague Christopher Bridgelal, who operates a telehandler forklift, said OAS staff had visited the site but were yet to give instructions to resume work. “We just sitting here waiting. We hoping that they will give us some more directives soon,” Bridgelal added. First Response officer Andy Wallace said yesterday that even though additional security was hired, police were continuing to make patrols.

“We have officers passing through a few times during the day and especially at nights,” Wallace said. Police said they were yet to arrest the three men who set fire to the crane.

Part of the second phase of the Chaguaramas boardwalk will be completed and launched this month, says CEO of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) Jocelyn Hargreaves. In a phone interview, she said phase two was split into two parts, with the second due to start soon after the first part is completed this month. Part one of the second phase includes approximately 1,300 feet of boardwalk. Part two will extend 1,700 feet further eastward.

Hargreaves said the first part was in its final stages of completion, but would be closed to the public “until it is perfectly ready.” Responding to a question about the pond a few yards from the sea that forms part of that phase, Hargreaves said: “It is not a pond. It is a water feature.” She said it was equipped with a good filtration system and denied it was a breeding ground for mosquitoes or posed any related threats to public health and safety.

Asked the purpose of a water feature so close to the sea, Hargreaves said details of all features of the new boardwalk would be explained in an impending press release. She added: “It’s not completely ready. There is still work to be done on the water feature but there is no public health issue. “In any case, there can’t be complaints (of public health risks) if it’s on a construction site that is not yet open to the public.”

She reiterated that the CDA’s project was being executed “in unison with all relevant authorities,” including the Town and Country Planning Division. “We are about safety. We got all regulatory approvals. A lot of time and energy went into bringing this programme to life. “Mechanisms are in place to keep the boardwalk sanitary and safe. The boardwalk will meet the needs and expectations of the public,” Hargreaves said

She said once the project was completed, all concerns would be put to rest and the public would be more than satisfied with the final product. Hargreaves said the project would open opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors while bringing families closer. “It will encourage family bonding... each member of the family, the child, the young adult... will enjoy a different form of entertainment. 

“This also provides socio-economic opportunities,” she added. She said the project was “ecologically motivated” and would “bring awareness of the historic, geographic and geological elements” of Chaguaramas. “We will deliver a product that T&T will be proud of,” Hargreaves said.

NEW FEATURES
Among the features of the 1,300-foot boardwalk are numerous gazebos for the use of families and small corporate events, vendor booths, a jogging trail and other attractions. 

Boardwalk details
The first phase of the three-part project opened in May 2012, after seven months of work, at a cost of $6 million. The current phase was budgeted at $35 million and split into two parts. The final phase is expected to be completed with a further 1,700 feet of boardwalk, two beaches, washroom facilities, a water park, an amusement park, another bike trail, more gazebos and activities.

Shaken and disturbed, activist, broadcaster and media owner Inshan Ishmael says his TV programme, “Breaking Barriers”, will not return to the airwaves unless threats against him have been removed. Ishmael said yesterday his programme, which shows on the Islamic Broadcasting Network (IBC), would end after he had received word of threats to his family. “They talked about putting me to kneel down and watch as they dealt with my family,” he added.

Ishmael said he was no stranger to threats but it had never reached a point where his family also was targeted. The programme has run for nine years on the network and focuses mainly on highlighting issues in and out of government. He said it also raised money for people who needed medical treatment. He added: “It was a successful show but within the last few months we started getting a lot of threats at the station.”

He said they started around the time he started doing stories on contracts for the Curepe interchange. He believed there was a “contractors’ war” happening which needed to be investigated. “Last week a contractor who works for the Government threatened me and my family outside of MovieTowne in Chaguanas. “Yesterday evening, a friend called and asked to see me about an urgent matter before the show and told me about a plan to burn down my house and my business,” he added.

He said he was told a certain contractor was behind it. Ishmael said a few months ago he made a report to the police Cyber Crime Unit about threatening text messages, which were investigated, but nothing came of it. Yesterday morning, he said, National Security Minister Gary Griffith contacted him about the threats. “I have to commend the minister because the ministry has been working with me,” he added.

Ishmael said he had also increased his own personal security. “I am now secured up to my teeth,” he added. As for his staff, he said they would remain employed with him despite the show’s end.

Two US crime fighters will be returning to T&T to help improve the dismal detection rate of the police service, says National Security Minister Gary Griffith. Griffith, speaking to the media at the passing out parade ceremony for the latest batch of police officers at the Police Academy in St James, said the foreigners were expected next month.

Both former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and police commissioner of the City of New York William J Bratton have been retained previously by the National Security Ministry to help map a way forward. The minister said their arrival was “tied up” by red tape. Back in June, an announcement was made that Giuliani and Bratton were coming to conduct an audit of the police service to help improve investigation methods, including better forensic testing, to improve the detection rate.

Griffith said serious crimes were at the lowest level in 31 years and from 2009 to now crimes had been reduced with the exception of homicides. 

Asked how they would differ from the Scotland Yard officers who were in T&T to assist the Police Service several years ago, Griffith said, “We had a lot of foreign-used tired men who were basically raping the Treasury from $150,000 a month with very little training. You can’t compare Scotland Yard to Mayor Giuliani and commissioner Bill Bratton who has become the most successful person in the world. A major city like the United Kingdom brought them there to deal with criminal activity.”

Referring to the recent murders in the capital city, he said: “It seems to be a lot of bitterness and hate and rage in this country and it is unfortunate people can take the law into their own hands. This is where law enforcement comes in.”  

Manpower boost
Griffith said the manpower boost in the police service would allow soldiers to go out and police rural areas. “Soldiers are now patrolling with the police and now we can allow the soldiers to do the training they are supposed to do. This won’t stop unless we get the full complement established in the Police Service.” The manpower of the Police Service now stands at 6,617 with the intake of 287 new officers. The sanctioned strength of the TTPS is 7,715.

As he addressed the audience, Griffith said he was happy to see so many female recruits which was the largest number in eight years. A total of 130 women and 157 men who completed six months of training will now be hitting the streets. He urged the officers to be loyal, patriotic, use minimum force, not to abuse their authority, and not be arrogant.

Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said the new officers would fill some vacancies. He said the country was crying out for the Police Service to deliver and they needed to help improve the standards.