The number drawn on Crime Watch yesterday was 001404.

If the mask on the back of your yesterday’s T&T Guardian has that number you win the prize of $3,500. 

You have until 3 pm today to come to the T&T Guardian head office, 22-24 St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, with the newspaper containing the winning number and photo identification. 

Lecturers from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the auxiliary staff stormed the St Augustine Campus’ principal’s office yesterday to demand their backpay owed to them from their 2011 wage negotiations.

President of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) St Augustine Campus Dr Russell Ramsewak led a group of lecturers in what he called a “docile demonstration” to deliver a letter to the principal, Prof Clement Sankat. 

They have been withholding students grades because of the arrears owed to them. The arrears, for the period August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2014, were supposed to be paid by September 3 last year. 

The lecturers were expected to receive the arrears by December 31 last year. However, they were promised to be paid in two tranches in March and June.

 Ramsewak told the media: “This is not a firm offer. 

“What was given was a conditional offer to possibly pay in March and June from campus management. 

“Based on the fact that WIGUT already has a breach of agreement, both in the Memorandum of Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding which indicated a clear, fixed date for repayment, and I remind you is December 31.”

Ramsewak said the agreement of the payment of arrears was a conditional offer. It was based on the condition that the Ministry of Tertiary Education paid the money owed to UWI for Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) fees. 

WIGUT rejected this offer and Ramsewak said the membership agreed to give campus management one month beyond the date agreed upon to receive the arrears. If lecturers do not receive their $87 million by January 30, Ramsewak said lecturers would take further action against the university.

“We will do whatever it takes to get our payment to get what is owed to academic staff,” Ramsewak said. 

WIGUT was joined by Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) which represents the Administrative, Technical and Service (ATS) staff who are also engaging in wage negotiations.

UWI’s OWTU vice-president, Sherbert Mckie told the media that OWTU was there to show solidarity with the lecturers. 

However, some OWTU members expressed discontent with their union joining with WIGUT. Some stated that WIGUT never joined OWTU with their negotiations and others stated that since some of the ATS staff were also students, they were suffering from the withholding of grades by the lecturers.

Mckie said they would stand with WIGUT because they were in the middle of their negotiations and the six per cent offer given to the OWTU members was not acceptable. Regarding the members of OWTU who were also staff, Mckie said they needed money to be students so they would join together to get their fair wages.

The group, which gathered at the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) on campus walked over to the principal’s office to demand Sankat and Professor Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor-designate, meet them. 

When neither campus official went out to the gate to speak with the crowd, members of WIGUT and OWTU found an open entrance to the principal’s office. The Campus Estate Police tried to bar the rest of the group from entering by forming a human barricade but the group pushed past the guards and forced themselves into the area where they demanded that Sankat meet with them.

Sankat, deputy principal Prof Rhoda Reddock and the campus registrar Richard Saunders were among the campus officials in the principal’s office at the time. 

Sankat agreed to meet with WIGUT to discuss their arrears but told the OWTU members that the negotiations were still on going on “the tables.”

Registration deadline extended

​Following the meeting with WIGUT, Sankat held a press conference where he disclosed that the Ministry owed UWI an estimated $200 million in GATE fees for the past two semesters. 

The present arrangement UWI has with the Ministry is that they would receive $100 million of the GATE fees, $50 million at the end of February and $50 million at the end of May. This money would go to the payment of arrears.

At the moment the impasse between the campus and the lecturers continue and WIGUT said it would formally put its rejection of UWI’s offer in writing. 

Regarding the students, Sankat said regional students who need access to their grades to receive funding would get letters of comfort from UWI. Also, all students would have financial amnesty until February 2 to account for late registration and the registration deadline would be extended to February 20, he added.  

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is scheduled to leave for Washington, DC, United States, on Sunday to attend the first ever Caribbean Energy Security Summit hosted by US vice-president Joe Biden. 

The summit will include remarks by Biden, an energy security roundtable with heads of government, and meetings and events with government officials, representatives from the private sector and officials from multilateral institutions, a statement issued by the White House said.

It said the meeting is a key component of the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative that Biden announced last June, and will be hosted by the White House and the State Department in partnership with the Atlantic Council and the Council of the Americas.

The statement said Biden looked forward to welcoming Caribbean leaders and representatives of the international community to promote a cleaner and more sustainable energy future in the Caribbean through improved energy governance, greater access to finance, and donor co-ordination. 

The Prime Minister’s overseas trip was announced by press secretary Francis Joseph at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

Joseph said Persad-Bissessar would also travel to Costa Rica for the third summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on January 28-29.

The meeting is expected to be attended by 33 heads of state and governments of member countries of the regional bloc, which was established in Caracas, Venezuela, almost four years ago.

Joseph did not say who will be acting as prime minister during Persad-Bissessar’s absence from the country.

PNM Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon has withdrawn her nomination to re-contest the seat because the distance to travel the constituency was a problem and she feels constituents should have an MP who lives in the area.

Gopee-Scoon spoke about her withdrawal just before PNM screening started yesterday at the San Fernando East constituency office.

She had received the majority of party group nominations (ten) among other contenders retired Brig Edmund Dillon, Kenwyn Hackshaw, Peter Bharath and Joanne Delicia.

Gopee-Scoon said the decision was her own and though difficult was made in everyone’s best interest. 

Saying distance was the primary issue she noted that she lives in Port-of-Spain. She said constituents saw her once or twice weekly and she was effective in her representation in Parliament but felt the people deserved an MP who lived in the area. 

“I’ve developed a bond with Point and am emotionally attached to the people as it’s made me what I am so while I hesitated in reaching a decision, it’s in everyone’s interest.

“I joined PNM in 2002 and continues to support the party. I still feel there’s a place for me in politics but I’m not attached to high office,”

Asked if she would take the candidate around, she said she supported whoever was chosen and was sure they would have a campaign manager and election strategy which she would support.

— with reporting by Yvonne Webb

Warner, starting the motion, said if Sunshine publications lifted the information from him, it was fine. He said he had brought the motion on Howai’s ability and competence as Howai had been FCB’s CEO and to see if Howai was fit and qualified for the turbulent times ahead. He said he would not  speak of the court issue. Mark advised him to read his motion, which he did. Warner said he was guided by Mark’s ruling.

He said trust was an issue in T&T and the public was being told things would be alright in the face of the oil price drop. He said he was concerned about the ordinary man‘s position, if a CEO was paid “$11.2 million after losing a lot of money in a  bank” and it was said they did a great job. Warner thanked the PNM for allowing his motion to go to the top of the agenda list for debate before other PNM motions. 

He expressed concern on how Howai’s behaviour as FCB’s CEO would impact on his behaviour as a minister now. He said a Cemex issue was a case in point, noting a meeting Howai had in 2002 on a Cemex takeover. Warner attempted to speak on a report by Henry Ford, QC, on alleged insider trading but he was advised by Mark to stick to the issues of his motion. 

Mark said Warner could not bring other matters into debate, only what was approved in the motion. He said Warner was entering a new area which was not approved. Warner said when he had earlier noted he would deal with matters pre-2006 and post-2009, he thought that was approved by Mark. Mark said he could not approve until he had heard what Warner was saying and had now heard. ”You are going in the wrong direction,”Mark added.

With that Warner said: “Thank you, I’m through.” He  then packed up. Mark sought a seconder for the motion. PNM MPs — Deyalsingh and Fitzgerald Jeffrey — attempted to but were told by Warner not to bother. Warner then left. Mark then pronounced: “This debate has come to a premature end.”

The motion
Warner‘s motion called for MPs to express loss of confidence in Howai and for Howai’s appointment to be revoked by the Prime minister in connection with the. The motion noted Howai was CEO of state-owned FCB during 2006 to 2009 when a loan was granted to Carlton Savannah Limited for which the funds were to be used for the construction of a hotel. 

It noted the Carlton Savannah Limited had been placed in receivership and the outstanding loan balance had negatively affected First Citizens Bank's non-performing loan ratio. The motion claimed Howai’s conduct in his previous capacity as CEO of FCB had eroded the confidence of the public in the minister’s ability to administer over the finances of the nation in the best interest of the public. 

Police yesterday continued their search for the person of interest in the murders of Sharlene Charles and Salma Chadee. According to police, the man is wanted for questioning in connection with the killing of his estranged wife, Mahangoo-Charles, who was shot multiple times on May 8, 2014. 

The man, who goes by the alias “Goat”, is still on the run and has been deemed as the Central Division’s most wanted man. It is alleged following an argument on Saturday night, the man shot Chadee twice in the chest and escaped. Azad Ali, the man who police say can assist with their investigation, got into an accident on December 1, at Kelly Village Caroni. He broke both of his legs in the accident and uses a wheelchair to get around. His legs from just beneath the knees to the toes are in a cast.

Ali was taken to the Eric Williams Sciences Complex (EWMSC) by emergency health services without any police escort. According to the report, filed in the police station diary, which was obtained from Ian Alleyne, host of Crime Watch, the report confirmed police were able to identify Ali at the scene of the accident and allowed him to be taken to the EWMSC without being escorted by police. 

The report said Ali was seen lying on the island on the Western side of the St Helena Bypass Road. A black Rx8 was seen crashed on the same side of the road. He was first taken to the Arima Health Facility and from there to the EWMSC. Other documents showed that the suspect checked out of the EWMSC on December 1, 2014 where he had been sent after the accident. 

Further, the documents indicate that Ali was released from the hospital against medical advice and that “the patient and his relatives stated that they prefer the patient be seen at a private facility and not at the hospital,” the document stated. The medical documents also stated that the patient and his relatives were concerned that he may have incurred a spinal injury and they preferred that he be taken to a private health facility, using the family’s transport.

The “Release Against Medical Advice” EWMSC’s document, was signed by Ali at 12.35 pm, just under one hour after Ali was taken from the accident scene to the EWMSC.

Arrears of $87 million owned by UWI to the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) will be made in tranches by May 31 following yesterday’s accord on the issue, says Science and Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim yesterday. Karim delivered a statement in Parliament on the resolution of the impasse which had plagued UWI in recent days. He was responding to an Opposition question.

Karim said an accord was reached between UWI campus administration and WIGUT following a meeting yesterday at 10.30 am at the campus principal’s office. He said: “The arrears of $87 million for revised terms and conditions over the period August 1, 2011 and July 31, 2014 owed to academic, senior administrative and professional staff will be made in tranches by May 31, 2015.

“With respect to the non-academic staff, negotiations are currently underway with the campus administration and their bargaining unit. “The campus principal of the St Augustine Campus had advised that WIGUT will make an official release on the matter.” Karim thanked all parties involved. He was asked by the Opposition what role Government’s indebtedness played in the campus impasse. 

Karim said Government stood resolute to ensure all students could study and had facilitated the financing with sums to pay WIGUT. He said he would supply further information at another session. The lecturers have been withholding the semester one grades of the students for more than three weeks. This has caused many students to have problems with registration and for some regional students  have not been able to access their tuition funding for semester two.

This prompted two protests from students. On Monday a modest protest was held, with a little more than a score of students, around campus to demand their grades. On Wednesday, students from UWI’s various halls or residents, most of whom were regional students, had a protest, locking the campus’ main gates and blocking vehicles and people from entering the school’s compound.

A third demonstration happened on the campus’ compound when WIGUT members were joined by Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) members, who represents the Administrative, Technical and Service (ATS) staff of the campus.

—With reporting by Rachael Espinet

The Port-of-Spain City Corporation and property developer Alfred Galy have been given a little over two weeks to come to a compromise over the future of the Greyfriars’ Church of Scotland, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain. The parties, who have been locked in legal battle since Galy began demolition work on the property in November last year, met at the Hall of Justice yesterday for a status hearing of the corporation’s ongoing injunction preventing work on the over 200-year-old church. 

Minutes after appearing before Justice Judith Jones, the parties and their respective legal teams exited the court began impromptu discussions. Members of the media present were not allowed in court as the hearing was held in chamber. Despite their best efforts an agreement could not have been struck immediately, forcing the parties to seek an extension from Jones. 

The T&T understands that Galy is requesting that the injunction be varied to allow his company to use a portion of the property where the church hall previously stood before the demolition began. The corporation is reportedly resisting the move as it claims Galy is yet to submit a plan for the removal of hazardous asbestos found on the site.

Commenting briefly afterwards, the corporation’s lawyer Kerwin Garcia said the parties had made significant headway in their discussions. “We expect to be completed by the next hearing,” Garcia said. The case has been adjourned to February 11, when the parties are expected to indicate the outcome to Jones. The corporation is also being represented by Senior Counsel John Jeremie and Kahaya Nanhu while Ronald Dowlat and Anthony Manwah represent Galy and his company, NABCO.

Retired Maj Gen Edmund Dillon was given the all clear to contest the Point Fortin seat for the People’s National Movement (PNM) following the screening of four possible candidates at the party’s South Regional office, San Fernando, on Thursday night.
Candidates from three other constituencies in the South also received the screening committee’s approval. They are:
• Clifford Rambharose for Oropouche West.
• Senator Avinash Singh for Caroni Central. 
•Dr Lovell Francis for Moruga/Tableland. 

The three candidates for San Fernando East—Christopher Chinapoo, Kenny Phillips and Eber Steele-Attong—were rejected. The executive was given a February 6 deadline to return with new nominees. The executive of the Couva North constituency, who were also called into a meeting following discrepancies uncovered with one of their potential candidates, were also asked to return on February 6 with other more suitable nominees.

Dillon replaces current MP Paula Gopee-Scoon who was not among the nominees. The T&T Guardian understands that while Gopee-Scoon had the support of the party groups, Dillon had the support of the executive.  As Point Fortin councilor Peter Bharat, the second candidate to be screened emerged from before the committee, he grabbed his stuff, shook hands with Dillon and appeared to be congratulating him and made his departure from the venue. 

Asked if he was leaving before all the candidates were screened and the results announced, Bharat said it did not make any sense sticking around, as the political leader Dr Keith Rowley had indicated to him this may not be his time. Kenwyn Hackshaw and Jo-Anne Bowen Delysia were the two other unsuccessful nominees.

In an interview after his nomination, Dillon congratulated Gopee-Scoon for her achievements and committed to consulting with her to better understand the challenges and issues she encountered during her tenure and build from the foundation she has laid. He said there was never any doubt in his mind that he would have been given the nod to contest the seat. 

“I approach everything with confidence and with the Lord above me. So I had the Lord on my side, confidence based on my prayers and my own confidence so there was no doubt in my mind,” he added. Dillon said his first order of business was to understand and move Point Fortin from being a place of problems to one of solutions. He committed to addressing the issue of the long outstanding Point Fortin hospital and the diversification of the energy-based constituency.

“Point Fortin as you know is based on oil and gas and if you understand the world, there is a drastic drop, so we have to look at how we can diversify the economy, looking at places like Cedros and Icacos, fishing villages also known for agriculture. We have to look at alternatives to the oil and gas economy of Point Fortin,” he said.

Dillon, who has been in the employ of Atlantic LNG following his retirement from the Defence Force some two years ago, said he brought to the party not only strength in security matters but also knowledge  of the energy and other sectors. About his evolution into the political arena Dillon admitted it has also been one of his goals.

“We always jokingly said in the military, there are two professions you will go into when you retire, either politics or religion. I have not ruled out the latter and I am getting into the first at this point in time,” he said. With the exception of 1986 election when the National Alliance for Reconstruction secured a unprecedented 33-3 landslide at the polls, the PNM has maintained its stronghold in Point Fortin.

At the opening of the UNC Regional Office in San Fernando earlier this week, co-ordinator of the Point Fortin constituency Marlene Coudray said that was one of three seats her government intended to wrest from the PNM as it made its  re-election bid. Dillion responded to this challenge. 

“We are in this election battle for victory at all cost. The question is one of mobilisation, understanding the issues and challenges of Point Fortin and developing a strategic plan working together. We are going to win this election for Point Fortin,” he said.

Two relatives of a 10-year-old boy featured in a video crying and clearing bushes with a garden hoe were detained by police yesterday, even as members of the public expressed outrage that the child was initially returned to the couple. Since being posted on Thursday morning, the video has gone viral on social media sites with over 20,000 people sharing it and thousands of others commenting, sparking heated debates on child abuse in T&T. 

In the video, the boy tells the woman filming him that he has to clean the entire plot of land before one of the relatives returns home. When prompted, he raises his T-shirt and displays the bruises and marks on his body that he said he got after a beating with a belt buckle. The T&T Guardian contacted the woman who shot the video, using her cell phone, and visited her at her home in Crown Trace, Enterprise, yesterday.

Desiree Cabrales-Cupidore, a mother of one, said she and her husband, Chris, were chatting at the back of their home around 9.15 am on Thursday when they heard crying coming from some bushes next door. “We came outside and were talking, when we heard crying coming from the bushes. When we walked up this boy was just weeding the grass and crying,” she said. “I asked why he was doing that and he said he had to finish the work before the male relative comes home or he would be beaten.”

Cabrales-Cupidore said the boy looked exhausted and she offered him something to eat. Cabrales-Cupidore said the boy told her the male relative beats him and his seven-year-old brother. “I asked him why he was not in school and he said when he finish clean the land he could go to school.” 

“He said he didn’t eat yet for the day. I want to know how they could find a boots for him to wear but not something for him to eat,” she said. “He said his mother does not know about the beatings and that he could not go home.” She gave him two pieces of cake and a Smalta, all the while asking him about his home life. “I asked him why he was not in school and he said when he finish clean the land he could go to school.”
                                                  
Cabrales-Cupidore, who said she has known the child’s relatives her entire life, was appalled. She was even more distressed when, after the matter was reported to the police and they took the boy and his relatives into custody, hours later the police returned and dropped the family back off at their home.

Cops face disciplinary action

Head of the Central Division, Senior Supt Johnny Abraham, said the officers in question would face disciplinary action. Abraham said the police were awaiting the results of a medical done on the boy before charges could be laid. Psychologist Dianne Douglas, a guest on the Morning Brew, yesterday, said one of the problems with child abuse in T&T was that different agencies were not working with each other.

She said the police were supposed to report the incident to the Children’s Authority. Child rights activist, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, who heads the Child Protection Task Force, said the Children’s Authority was awaiting one final piece of legislation before it could intervene in child abuse cases referred to them by the police. She said the legislation would be dealt with in Parliament next week and might be proclaimed by monthend.

She said for now the police would have to act on their own, adding, “Child labour and corporal punishment are against the law. “In cases like these, the police can pick up the parents.” Mahabir-Wyatt said the Children’s Authority, though not fully up and running, could still work with the police in such a situation. “The authority is fully staffed. There are trained people waiting to help abused children who are brought here.”

Minister: I’m appalled
Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development Clifton De Coteau said he was disturbed after viewing the video. In a media release, De Coteau said he saw the video and was totally appalled and saddened by the incident.  He said he informed the director of National Family Services and the Victim Support Services. He said the family who were alleged to be involved were then interviewed at the Chaguanas Police Station. 

De Coteau said the children  were then taken by police to the District Medical Officer (DMO) for medical examination. “At this juncture it is felt that the children are at risk and so a community residence is currently being sourced. Counselling is also being provided to the mother.”

“I would like all citizens to know we will execute every measure possible to ensure the safety of these children and I sincerely congratulate the members of the public who brought this situation to my attention. I ask the public to remain vigilant as our children are our responsibility,” he said.

A 42-year-old accountant will spend the weekend in prison after appearing in Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court yesterday evening charged with defrauding her employer of more than $1.5 million. Joanne Gobin, of Upper Bournes Road, St James, was denied bail when she appeared before Magistrate Christine Charles in the First Court on 515 fraud and larceny charges. 

Gobin, an employee of SMJ Limited, sat patiently in the prisoner enclosure of the court for close to three hours as Charles read each charge individually to her. The company, based at the Fernandes Industrial Estate, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, operates an employment outsourcing service for supermarkets.  

Half the charges were for allegedly stealing the money in tranches ranging from $500 to $15,000, while the rest were for making fraudulent entries in the company’s accounting records. The charges carry maximum sentences of ten years and five years in prison, respectively. Gobin is accused of registering fake staff into her company’s payroll database and of withdrawing their corresponding salaries from the company’s account. 

The offences are alleged to have taken place from January 2011 until the discrepancies were discovered by the company and reported to the Fraud Squad last year. After Charles completed the tedious process, which was punctuated by an occasional rest break, court prosecutor Sgt Callistas Charles (no relation) immediately objected to bail.

Charles pointed to the fact that her criminal tracing was not available for yesterday’s court appearance, as well as the serious nature of the charges and the substantial sum she was accused of stealing. In response Gobin’s lawyer, Criston J Williams, accused police of engaging in delaying tactics since, he claimed, the process could have been sped up as his client was in police custody for the entire week. Despite acknowledging Williams’s complaint, Charles denied the bail application.  

“Because of the number of matters I would like to see the tracing to satisfy my mind,” Charles said. The magistrate adjourned the case to Monday when the tracing is expected to be ready for her to reconsider the bail application.

Despite high crime and band members’ fears for their safety, steelband Witco Desperadoes says the community of Laventille will always be home. Band Manager Finbar Fletcher said this yesterday, as the steelband presented its performance piece for 2015, Pan Hooray, written by arranger Robert Greenidge and Austin (Super Blue) Lyons. The band also celebrated the 50th anniversary of its partnership with tobacco company Witco.

The steelband was in the news recently when Atiba Pantin of Diego Martin, who was helping move pan racks, was shot and killed by gunmen during gang warfare at Rudolph Link Road in Laventille. Since the murder, supporters and members have been cautious, with diminished numbers visiting the steelband, despite its temporary relocation to Queen’s Park East, opposite the Savannah.

Fletcher acknowledged that members and supporters were afraid to go to Laventille to support the band. However, he said, the band’s management had tried to make the environment as safe as possible. He said while the crime in the community was affecting the steelband, the band would not die. “We are trying to fight against it but, yes, it is affecting us. We have been around for 75 years and we will still be around to fight it in the years to come.”

For the past five years, the band has relocated to Belmont during the Carnival season, to give fans, wary of visiting their pan theatre in Laventille, an opportunity to watch them practice. “We’d prefer to stay in Laventille but apart from crime, an equally compelling reason to move down is because of the space,” Fletcher said. 

“The space is not adequate for us. You would have seen in the newspaper tenders for the reconstruction of the panyard. We are trying to address the problem of the space, we can’t fit in the yard anymore. “So even if there was no crime, we might still be down here.”  Referring to the murder, Fletcher said, “The band was not targetted in that incident but we will still have a police presence at the pan yard.” 

He added that the band was working with the Police Service to monitor practise sessions and give the public peace of mind.

The union representing employees of the Licensing Office in Port-of-Spain says they will continue to work half-day only, until the Transport Ministry presents a structural engineer’s report attesting to the integrity of the building they occupy. In a telephone interview yesterday, president of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke said the action taken last year would continue for the foreseeable future.

However, he has warned that if the ministry failed to present a report soon, protest action could be intensified. In response, Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz said the PSA’s request for a copy of the building’s foundation drawings was proving to be a challenge for the ministry. He said records for the building, which was constructed in 1951, were “proving not very easy to get.” Cadiz admitted that the “situation” with the PSA continued, the effects of which the public was feeling.

In response to the union’s demands, he said, “We have done all that we can do right now. We have done major renovations to the building.” The renovations include the erection of a new steel roof over the main building, rewiring of the electrical system, installation of new air-conditioning units, and the introduction of a new computerised system and modern fire alarm system.

Insisting that the PSA was disregarding the ministry’s efforts to improve the working conditions of staff, Cadiz said, “Mr Duke is playing hardball with us and until they get what they want, they are claiming the building is not safe.” The ministry had done a complete overhaul of the physical infrastructure, Cadiz said, as well as complied with building code regulations by obtaining certificates from agencies including the Occupational Safety and Health Unit, the Fire Services and the electrical inspectorate.

“There is no other agency for us to go to for approval,” Cadiz said, adding that they had obtained the necessary approvals deeming the building safe to occupy. Turning the tables on Duke, Cadiz questioned if the same thing could be said for the PSA’s head office on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.

Again referring to the “ridiculous situation,” Cadiz said his ministry had taken steps to improve the level of service to the public at the Licensing Office in Port-of-Spain. He said, “While it still is not where it is supposed to be as we are still trying to achieve same-day service, we have been able to provide customers with an improved service.” 

Duke, on the other hand, accused Cadiz of being less than honest and said a critical aspect of the building’s safety was its structural integrity, which he believed had been compromised. “A critical aspect of working there is the structural integrity and we have requested an independent structural engineer’s report as we have good reason to believe that the building has been further compromised by the addition of a cow shed over the building,” Duke said.

The cow shed Duke referred to is the new steel roof which was erected over the main building. He added that the concrete was flaking and falling off the walls in some areas, and that only a “solid report” could ensure that operations returned to normal. Duke said workers were still providing a service to the public and in the interest of the country by working half-day.

Anna-Lisa Paul
President of the Foreign-Used Car Dealers Association Visham Babwah said while the Government and the PSA continued to wrangle, his members were losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Asking why it was taking so long to ensure the Licensing Office was OSH compliant, Babwah suggested that an alternative location be found if the ministry was unable to satisfy the union’s demands.

Babway said the delays were “keeping back production,” and simple transactions such as the registration of a new vehicle—which would normally take a maximum of three days to complete—were now taking as many as three weeks. This, he said, was additional time and money that members could ill afford as rent charges and employee payments were increasing daily.

Unable to say exactly how many vehicle registration, transfers and other transactions had been deferred as a result of the protest action, Babwah estimated that this figure could “have been as much as by half.” He said attempts by his organisation to get those figures from Licensing officials had been futile.

The completion date for the Motor Vehicles Authority in Caroni had again been pushed back, Babwah said, but he hoped that despite falling energy prices and moves to curb spending the new facility would be ready this year. The completion date was last given as May 2014. Babwah’s organisation represents over 100 foreign used-car dealers.

The country was left reeling this week with the murder of 20-year-old Salma Chadee, of Chadee Street, Caroni. Chadee’s life’s was cut tragically short at the hands of a jealous ex-boyfriend who is now the subject of a national manhunt. CrimeWatch host Ian Alleyne visited the scene minutes after getting the information of the shooting. Alleyne, who knew Chadee, was shocked by the reality of her death, as he had been previously assisting the deceased.

According to eyewitness accounts, at approximately 9.30 pm last Saturday (December 17), Chadee and her ex-boyfriend got into an argument at her home, where the suspect made claims of her infidelity.  During the argument the enraged man pulled out a gun and fired several shots, hitting Chadee a number of times. The suspect then fled the scene in a waiting vehicle, stunningly getting assistance as he did so.

Alleyne was spellbound at the fact that the suspect had two broken legs, which came in a recent accident, yet was able to not only kill Chadee but get away quite easily. He got footage from the security cameras on the property and it clearly showed the suspect was severely impeded by his injury as he crawled away from the scene. But no one was able to intervene or stop him from escaping. 

Chadee sadly leaves behind her 11-month-old son Noah. Alleyne attended the funeral of the deceased and after further investigations revealed the suspect may have help from high places is vowing to bring the man responsible into custody. Alleyne also aired yet another robbery, where an armed gunman robbed V&R wholesale and retail located at 222 Union Road, Marabella on January 9.The man was able to steal over $30,000 in cash and jewellery in less than three minutes and escape on foot.

Alleyne was able to get the security footage from the location and freeze framed a picture of the suspect live on the programme. He urged the public to view the video on the Ian Alleyne Facebook fan page and contact him if they had information on the identity or whereabouts of the suspect.

In another story, Alleyne is seeking assistance from the public in identifying the gunman caught on camera at the Summer Foods Supermarket in McBean, Couva, a video which he also aired. If you have any information on the suspect you can text or watsapp Alleyne on 294-4081. A woman also appeared on CrimeWatch live for assistance from Alleyne.

She claimed Carlos Lacaille, of Southern Main Road, Arouca, owes her over $16,000 for a Toyota Corolla since November, 2014. She said she has not been able to contact Lacaille since then and pleaded with Alleyne to help her. Lacaille is asked to contact CrimeWatch or Alleyne at 294-4081 urgently.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Mother of one Rakhiba Telemaque also visited the show to complain about Kevin Lewis, the father of her child. Lewis is asked to contact Alleyne at 294-4081.

Breakthrough Story
Alleyne was able to recover $13,000 for Mr Ranjitsingh, who was owed for some time by a man who allegedly has mental illness. Ranjitsingh, a money lender, was paid by the wife of the man who allegedly borrowed the money. The wife was able to pay the loan but not the interest. Alleyne managed to get Ranjitsingh to accept the payment.

Unsolved Mystery
A land owner also re-appeared on Crime Watch to complain that illegal quarrying was being carried out by a contractor who does not have a quarrying license. Alleyne re visited the quarry site in Santa Rita where trucks were still operational moving material out of the quarry. Alleyne called on the authorities to get involved.

Director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West said he is prepared to defend a witness statement he made in a defamation matter brought by the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.

“I stand by my witness statement and I am ready to defend it under oath,” he said in a brief statement yesterday.

He said he hoped that did not affect or distract from the work he was doing at the PCA.

West has not denied the contents of a witness statement published in the Sunday Express in a defamation lawsuit involving Section 34 applicants Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh.

The reports claim the AG attempted to influence West to withdraw the statement in exchange for the appointment as PCA head. 

Ramlogan, noting that the matter is still before the court, has since denied the allegation that he asked West, during a telephone conversation on October 31, 2014 or any time after that, to withdraw his witness statement. 

The swirling controversy has drawn the ire of individuals and groups, including the Congress of the People, calling for Ramlogan to step down and for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to remove him while and independent investigation takes place to determine whether a criminal offence had been committed.

Former attorney general Ramesh Maharaj has called a news conference for 11 am today to speak on this issue as well as the statement made by the AG that he obtained a default judgment against Rowley, and House Speaker Wade Mark’s statement which said he got notice from the High Court in respect of the matter which collapsed before it was to be debated on the ground that the matter was subjudice. 

Maharaj said all of those issues have serious consequences for the enjoyment of democracy, the rule of law, the integrity of government, the accountability of government, the enjoyment of fundamental rights and the principles of good governance in our country.

West’s statement

I, David V.W. West , am a witness to a matter between Anand Ramlogan and Dr Keith Rowley CV 2012-02948. On 27th June 2014 I submitted a signed witness statement to my attorneys on said matter. 

My witness statement has since been in the possession of my attorneys and was subsequently filed on 22nd December 2014. The content of this statement is a matter of public record. 

During this time frame any individual with interest in this particular matter would have been privy to the list of witnesses and would have known that I am a witness in this matter. I stand by my witness statement and I am ready to defend it under oath.

Queen’s Counsel James Lewis, who was retained by former attorney general John Jeremie on the Steve Ferguson/Ish Galbaransingh extradition matter, had said it was unlawful, unconstitutional and unfair to simply surrender a person to a requesting state without an opportunity to challenge the extradition.

Lewis had stated that in a witness statement in 2012 concerning the defamation matter between Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and PNM leader Keith Rowley.

He had been instructed by former AG Jeremie to advise the State and prosecute extradition proceedings against Ferguson and Galbaransingh by the US. 

Lewis led a team, including attorney Douglas Mendes and David West, then with the Central Authority. Lewis was later kept on by PP administration AG Ramlogan .

Lewis’ witness statement noted that he had advised that the defendants should be able to exercise their legal rights by seeking judicial review of the AG’s decision pursuant to Section 16 of the Extradition Act and this was a “perfectly normal and proper.”

Ramlogan said yesterday: “I kept him on because of his impressive impeccable credentials as an acknowledged expert in the field of extradition and he advised me throughout the matter. 

“There was no need for me to rely on anyone else’s opinion because Mr Lewis had been retained by the former PNM administration and had excellent qualifications with the relevant institutional memory of the case.”

Ramlogan is now at the centre of an issue concerning West, now Police Complaints Authority chairman, following allegations that six days before West was appointed PCA director, Ramlogan asked him to withdraw his witness statement in the defamation lawsuit, involving PNM’s Rowley, relating to the failed extradition involving Section 34 applicants Ferguson and Galbaransingh in exchange for him being selected for the  PCA job. 

In Lewis’s witness statement in the defamation matter between Ramlogan and Rowley on the extradition issue Lewis gave a procedural history of the matter. The statement noted that Lewis was contacted by Ramlogan for advice in election to his jurisdiction and decision making in the extradition issue. 

Lewis said Ramlogan asked if he wanted the help of local counsel who had been appointed by the then AG (Jeremie) to work with him on the case. However, Lewis said he didn’t think it was necessary at that stage.

He said he advised Ramlogan the decision needed to be carefully examined and reasoned and there was need for caution and fairness as the defendants would closely analyse the decision if it was averse to them to ensure it complied with public law principles.

Lewis stated that even though he had been told by those in the Central Authority—where West had worked—that the requesting state makes an extradition order and the defendant isn’t given time to make a judicial review and is surrendered to the requesting state, it was inconceivable that could happen in the UK.

Lewis said to give a person affected by a legal decision no opportunity to challenge such a decision was unfair, unconstitutional and unlawful. He said it was inconceivable that such a situation could happen in the UK and never did.

He said he advised the Central Authority on the phone that they should collect all the various documents and representation and put them before the AG so he could make a reasoned decision and further advised the AG and Central Authority.

An affidavit by Sunita Harrikissoon, a legal officer of the authority, corroborated that, noting Lewis’ functions in his discharge as “team leader of the Central Authority.”

She said the essential points of his advice were that the AG should consider if it would be wrong or oppressive in all the circumstances to issue a warrant of surrender regarding the claimants, he should consider the claimants’ representations very carefully and not rush his decision, the decision whether to order the surrender of the claimants was separate and the decision was an independent one, and “was for him and him alone.” 

Ramlogan says it was not the practice for the Attorney General to be consulted by the President in appointments of the PCA head and such, since that involved the Prime Minister and other officers.

He said while it was alleged he had a conversation with David West on October 31, West was appointed on November 6.

He said he was only aware West had a witness statement when it was served on December 22 when he returned from vacation. 

He said he, therefore, could not have asked West to withdraw the statement and even if he did West would surely have mentioned it in his statement and amplified it to include that, or  would have reported it to the relevant authorities

 Meanwhile, the COP executive which wants prompt investigation into the allegations against Ramlogan met last night on the issue.

COP chairman Nicole Dyer-Griffith said an extraordinary meeting was called since the party was committed to the highest ideals where public office is concerned and specifically because of the players involved and the offices they hold.

The special meeting was also being held with the COP leadership’s own advisory team to consider the implications of these allegations,” mindful of the heightened political climate of this election year.”

A COP statement also noted: “Neither the party nor its leadership have arrived at any conclusions on this matter and will not be engaging in the prejudging of any person, and neither this release nor this action is to be interpreted that way. 

“But the actions of any one individual or group must not bring a government or this nation into jeopardy, and we  would welcome and support prompt investigations into these allegations so as to bring it all to a swift conclusion.”

House Speaker Wade Mark yesterday came under further criticism after he admitted he made a mistake in the statements he made in last Friday’s Parliament session on Independent Liberal Party MP Jack Warner’s motion of censure against Finance Minister Larry Howai.

Moments after Mark so to correct the error, he was severely criticised by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and Martin Daly, SC, who both called on him to produce the letter that he acted on when he made his initial judgement last Friday, and the Independent Liberal Party, who wants him to step down.

Warner’s no-confidence motion against Howai collapsed after Warner was cautioned by Mark about heading in the wrong direction and the full requirements for the motion were not completed after Warner walked out of the Parliament that day.

Before starting debate, Mark had told the Parliament it was not his intention to muzzle freedom of speech. 

He noted, however, that he had received Warner’s motion on December 30, 2014 and approved it on January 5, 2015, and said he had only received “a few hours ago” (that day) notice from the High Court, dated January 16, 2015, on a matter concerning Howai and Azard Ali of Sunshine Publishing Company Ltd.

Mark had noted Parliament’s sub-judice rule but had allowed Warner to proceed on the approved content of the motion concerning a Carlton Savannah issue. 

Warner was later cautioned when he strayed from the approved content to another matter concerning a Cemex matter. Warner packed up and walked out after that.

The Speaker’s remark about the “High Court notice” was subsequently spotlighted when Daly issued a press release taking issue with the perceived “mixing of politics in judicial affairs.” 

Rowley: He has questions to answer

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley wants House Speaker Wade Mark to show him the letter which effectively ended a motion of censure by Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner against Finance Minister Larry Howai. 

Speaking at a press conference at his Charles Street, Port-of-Spain, office yesterday, Rowley said an admittance of error by Mark was not enough.

“The Speaker now has questions to answer. And based on the answer, my first reaction is: There may be here a question of privilege. I have been in the Parliament since 1987 January and I have never seen anything like this.

 “A communication from the High Court to the Parliament, in the circumstances as prevailed last Friday, would have serious consequences with respect to the separation of powers in T&T.”

Rowley said he was also concerned about members’ privilege arising out of the matter and wanted to see for himself what inspired the Speaker’s actions. 

“This morning, I have written to the Speaker asking him to assist the members of the Opposition, and the Parliament as a whole, and the country as a whole, by providing us with a copy of the notice that he received from the High Court,” he added.

“So I am here once again, calling on the Prime Minister to remove the Attorney General from office in protection of the interests of the people of T&T. And I am calling on the Director of Public Prosecution to immediately open a criminal investigation into the allegations made by Mr David West as they are contained in an affidavit in a lawsuit before the court.”

The AG has denied the allegations and says he is ready to defend himself in court.

ILP: He must go​

The Independent Liberal Party (ILP) yesterday called on House Speaker Wade Mark to resign, saying his “ex-post facto ‘admission of error’ following the Judiciary's public advice is unsatisfactory.”

In the statement yesterday, the ILP said Mark’s statement didn’t “undo the damage caused to our democracy and the institution of the Parliament. The only thing achieved is the removal of the unjustified scandal from over the head of the Judiciary and for it to be placed where it rightfully belongs, over the head of the Speaker.”

The ILP said after reviewing the circumstances and comments made by Mark during the motion, it no longer had any confidence in him continuing in the chair. 

“We therefore hereby call upon Mark to do the honourable thing and resign, as his continued presence in the chair would only further undermine confidence in the impartiality of the Office of the Speaker and bring the office into further odium and disrepute.

“It is unacceptable and cannot be sanctioned that in such a critical matter as the censure of a minister, that a Speaker could make such a mistake as to misquote the source of a communication, especially where that Speaker would have repeated twice that the source of his notification was the High Court, a powerful and independent institution. It also raises the question of in what other areas has the Speaker erred.”

What Judiciary said

Yesterday, the Judiciary, noting the media reports on the matter, distanced itself from the issue, saying:

“While there appears to be some misunderstanding which we expect the Honourable Speaker to clarify, the Judiciary can confirm that no notice, letter or any other communication on the matter was forwarded by the court or any of its officers to the Speaker or any officers of the Parliament.”

Around the same time Mark issued a statement saying he was notified by a letter from claimant Finance Minister Larry Howai, and not the Judiciary, of certain High Court proceedings started on January 16 against Azard Ali, which brought into “urgent consideration a novel application of the sub-judice rule in last Friday’s motion by ILP MP Jack Warner.”

Clarifying the matter and apologising to the Judiciary, Mark’s statement said:

“The Speaker of the House wishes to clarify the statement which was made by him before debate in the House on Friday January 23, 2015, which conveyed the impression the High Court of T&T had sent him a notice dated 16 January, 2015, of a matter before it. 

“The Speaker of the House was by letter, dated January 22, 2015, notified by the claimant of certain legal proceedings commenced by the claimant in the High Court on January 16, 2015, which brought into urgent consideration a novel application of the sub-judice rule in the debate on the motion before the House. 

“It was in these unprecedented circumstances that the statement was made inadvertently.”

Mark added: “The Speaker of the House deeply regrets any embarrassment which may have been caused to the Judiciary, particularly having regard to the comity and mutual respect which exists between the Parliament and the Judiciary, and will write to the Honourable Chief Justice conveying his regrets.”

Mark said he proposed to correct the record during the next Parliament sitting.

Daly: Release Letter

In another press release soon after Mark’s statement, Daly said: “With considerable regret I am bound to say I consider the contents of the Speaker’s statement dated today, January 26, 2015, intended to clarify the basis of his actions in the House of Representatives on January 23, 2015, reflective of a breach of nearly every fundamental tenet of fair play. 

“It is difficult to understand how a letter from the claimant in the lawsuit and the person who was the subject matter of the motion could possibly be mistaken as a communication from the High Court and to be described as such. It was manifestly from the claimant/the person who was the subject matter of the motion.

He added: “The Speaker acted exclusively on the representation of an interested party. The Speaker acted with secrecy in the sense that the real basis of his action was never disclosed to the House of Representatives. 

“This irregularity is compounded by the fact that he was acting secretly on the basis of a letter from an interested party.

“How can anyone accept that the letter raised ‘a novel application of the sub-judice rule’ without the Speaker disclosing what was said to be the novel application (even if he did not disclose the letter) and thereby give the members of the House an opportunity to be heard on whether the point was novel or should form the basis of enforcement of the sub-judice rule. “

Daly said while the Speaker promptly disclosed the basis on which he acted to the House of Representatives and had apologised to the Judiciary, which he commended Mark for, the House Speaker should also release the letter he acted on for public scrutiny in the interest of fairness.​

After months of uncertainty, former prime minister and political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), Patrick Manning, yesterday told his constituents he intends to offer himself as the candidate for the San Fernando East seat in this year’s general elections.

He made the comment to lusty applause during a constituency meeting at the Pleasantville Community Centre yesterday. 

In announcing that he was giving notice to all party groups within the constituency to nominate him, Manning said his health and his speech, “although not the best,” had improved significantly.

“Accordingly, in light of the improvement in my health and my continued dedication to the PNM and the people of our beloved constituency, I wish to advise that I will make myself available for nomination for the PNM San Fernando East constituency.”

He added: “There is only one leader, he is Keith Rowley. To be a good leader you have to be a follower,” said Manning, who has held the seat for 43 years.

Manning initially failed to meet the party’s December 22 nomination deadline because he was due for a checkup with his doctors. However, he got a second chance when the par screening committee rejected the three candidates who offered themselves at last Thursday’s screening session. 

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan says he feels vindicated and now has no problem with the default judgment in the Emailgate defamation lawsuit against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley being set aside.

He was responding to a statement from the Judiciary yesterday on its preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding how attorneys representing Rowley failed to get critical information on the filing of their defence in the lawsuit.

The Judiciary said its initial probe found there was no evidence of a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice but there was a failure on the part of an officer to inform Rowley’s attorneys about the deadline date.

At the last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Ramlogan had claimed victory in the lawsuit, which was granted by the assistant registrar in default after Rowley’s attorney failed to meet the January 7 deadline to file their defence. 

Rowley’s lawyers, however, claimed they never received the deadline date and questioned how Ramlogan’s attorneys alone received that information from the Judiciary.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Ramlogan said: “Dr Rowley and (attorney Faris) Al-Rawi are quick to pounce on every opportunity to articulate dangerous conspiracy theories. 

“The same way I have been vindicated of any wrongdoing in this matter, so too will I be vindicated in all of the other outrageous and malicious allegations Dr Rowley has made against me.”

Welcoming the quick response by the Judiciary, Ramlogan said he had no problem if the judgment was set aside in the interest of justice. 

“What I deserve is a full trial in the matter so that Dr Rowley can be cross-examined and asked to produce the evidence to justify his dangerous claims about Emailgate. 

“Now that the Judiciary has confirmed that it was a failure on its part, I had no difficultly in agreeing to the judgment being set aside in the interest of justice.”

In a subsequent statement, Ramlogan said: “I seek no favours from anyone and I anxiously await my day in court.

“Dr Rowley is seeking to have trial by media instead of trial by the court of justice. His statements at today’s press conference are provocative and completely baseless and highlight his political desperation, as everything he has tried over the last four- and-a-half years to get at me, has failed.” 

(See page A6)