Yesterday’s nationwide roadblocks by police left thousands of workers and school children stranded in hours of gridlocked traffic which caused many to return home frustrated and upset. But those who made it to their destinations were sent scurrying for the doors early as news spread that officers intended to resume the action around 2 pm.

Confirming that the action had impacted both staff and student turnout at schools across the country yesterday, officials of the Ministry of Education said many school principals opted to dismiss classes early. The situation was similar in Tobago, officials said. The ministry said there would be no consequences for students who missed school or arrived late for classes.

Questioned about whether or not the action had disrupted end-of-term exams, as school closes on Friday for the two-week Easter break, officials said many schools had already completed exams but principals had the authority to rearrange or postpone further exams. Officials of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) refused to condemn the police action yesterday. TTUTA first vice-president and acting president Antonia De Freitas said: “The police have their job to do and they were just doing their job today (yesterday).”

She said she believed things would be put in place for schools to complete their activities for the end of term. However, she said they had contacted the chief education officer to alert him to the clause in the 1998 collective agreement n which notes teachers cannot be penalised for their absence in “unusual or extraordinary circumstances.” Senior officials at the Licensing Division also distanced themselves from the early morning roadblocks, which were carried out during the peak hour commute. One official said: “Many of our officers were also caught in it and had to return home.”

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley’s legal team suffered another blow yesterday as Senior Counsel Reginald Armour withdrew himself as lead attorney in all court matters with the PNM’s political leader. This decision came three days after Armour was elected president of the Law Association and one week after PNM Senator Faris Al-Rawi removed himself as instructing attorney for Rowley in a defamation suit filed by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan against the Opposition Leader surrounding Section 34.

Al-Rawi withdrew from the matter after senior legal authorities objected to him staying on as an instructing attorney for Rowley while being a witness in the same case. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last Monday called on Rowley to remove Al-Rawi as his instructing attorney and Opposition Senator, in the face of possible breaches of the Legal Profession Act. Yesterday Armour, who is currently in London attending to Privy Council matters, issued a brief statement announcing his withdrawal from all matters with the PNM leader.

His action follows questions raised within the legal fraternity about his nomination for association president. It was suggested his leading of Rowley’s defence team during the current heated election climate would create a perception of bias within the executive of the independent association. Armour dismissed these suggestions. He contended that he did not believe that his representing of Rowley would have any impact on his duties as president.

However yesterday he had a change of heart. Armour, in the statement, said owing to his election as president of Law Association “I have to give consideration to the appropriate balance achieved in the best interest of the association.” He advised that, with immediate effect, “I will be returning my High Court briefs to my instructing attorneys, to have them replace me. I do this for the reason of insulating the council and the Law Association from any charges of partiality against the association in anything to be done under my leadership.”

He said the Law Association was an “institution of national importance” and one of its statutory mandates was to promote, maintain and support the administration of justice and law. “This it must accomplish as a strong, independent association. Of importance to the rule of law is that clients are entitled to be represented by the lawyer of their choice and, lawyers in turn are obliged to represent those clients,” he said. 

Armour said it was of “equal importance that the association be insulated from those perceptions which may be created, exist or arise and which call that independence into question.” He said he had discussed his considerations with Rowley as it affected his continued role as lead attorney. “He fully understands and supports the decision I have taken and has released me of all my professional obligations to him in those matters,” Armour concluded in the release. Senior Counsel Martin Daly, in response to Armour’s announcement, commended the Law Association president.

“It was a responsible and praiseworthy step,” Daly told the T&T Guardian.

The T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC) has engaged auditing firm Ernst and Young Ltd to conduct an investigation into claims that it flouted rules in order to facilitate former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan. In a release yesterday, the commission said the audit was being done to determine the veracity of allegations that the commission “flouted its rules, procedures and processes involving a transaction between the commission and the former attorney general.” 

The audit was commissioned by the chairman of the board’s Audit Committee Aaron Henry and is being headed by the assistant general manager, engineering of the commission, Courtenay Mark. In an article on March 16, the Trinidad Express reported that T&TEC had flouted its rules for Ramlogan. The article named Ramlogan as one of several clients to benefit from the hefty reduction of contracting fees.

“T&TEC has commissioned this investigation in the interest of transparency and accountability, its adherence to procedural best practice and to remove any scepticism that may have arisen in the minds of the general public, and more particularly its customers, as a result of the allegations made in the article,” the release noted. The T&T Guardian obtained a copy of the terms of reference for the investigation, which instructs the firm to investigate how the costing for diversion works changed from $559,130.30 to $247,233.86.

The audit will also investigate whether disciplinary action was required or applicable in the situation and to make recommendations to improve processes.

Terms of reference

• To determine whether T&TEC’s Act, Chapter 54:70, as well as any of the commission’s rules, policies, procedures and general instructions, were breached under the following circumstances as it relates to pole relocation.
• Whether the application to the commission made by Azad Mohammed to relocate the commission’s infrastructure was undertaken by the owner or duly authorised agent.
•To determine as reported if the assistant general manager, distribution, Kelvin Ramsook, in 2011 had the requisite authority to send an e-mail correspondence to members of his divisional staff dated September 22, 2011 giving clarification as it relates to cost associated with pole relocation and if so was this conveyed to the Transmission Division.
• Whether the commission’s method of costing to complete the works at Estate Drive, Phillipine, for pole relocation should have been in line with GI FA 03/1208 as reported by the newspaper article.
• If GI FA03/1208 was in fact applicable in this transaction to determine whether the GI was altered to
a. benefit particular  individuals/organisations,
b. was administered consistently and evenly,
c. was being administered in a transparent and accountable manner.
• To determine the circumstances under which the cost of $559,130.30 (plus vat) for diversion of the Penal-Phillipine 66kV circuit was changed to $247,233.86 (plus vat) and whether this was in keeping with T&TEC’s Act 54:70, Standard Operating Policies, Procedures and Practice.
• To determine whether the reduction in cost was properly assessed or whether there was a sinister motive to do so.
• To determine whether there was any person or persons who acted improperly and in contravention of T&TEC’s Act 54:70, policies rules, standard practices or general instructions and if so whether they can be held liable for disciplinary action.
• Whether preferential treatment was afforded to the customer in question.
• To make recommendations for the improvement of the process.

Almost all the cases in High and Magistrates’ Courts in Port-of-Spain had to be postponed because of yesterday morning’s nationwide police roadblocks. Judges, magistrates, lawyers and even police officers were not immune from the situation as most had not arrived at the courts by the 9 am daily start. The few police officers of the Court and Process Branch who did manage to evade their colleagues actions were seen patrolling the corridors of both courts as they updated members of the public on the situation.  

Only two magistrates at the St Vincent Street courthouse had arrived for work by 10 am with both of them spending the rest of the morning adjourning cases. Among those affected was businessman Shaun Sammy, who was due to be sentenced for drunk driving. Sammy, the son of contractor Junior Sammy, was present in court for yesterday’s hearing but the case was adjourned to April 23.

The T&T Guardian understands that despite having police escorts at their disposal, prisoner transport services were also crippled by the action, preventing remand prisoners from being brought to the courts on time. People in police custody who were brought to court for their first court hearings were either returned to the police stations where they were charged or were forced to wait several hours as the handful of administrative staff present at the court processed their paperwork. 

The situation was not much different at the civil and criminal courts at the Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain. Justice Malcolm Holdip was forced to adjourn the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman trial in the absence of the 12 accused men. The case is expected to resume tomorrow. Several civil judges who live in south Trinidad attempted to mitigate the situation by conducting their scheduled hearings in Port-of-Spain via video conferencing from courtrooms at the San Fernando High Court. 

Despite their efforts, they were still forced to adjourn their cases as lawyers were unable to attend either court. The situation is also said to have affected other courts acrosss the East West Corridor. This is the second time in less than a month that the police’s ongoing wage negotiations have crippled the courts. Similar scenes occurred when police, fire and prison officers engaged in a go slow on March 9.   

Chaguanas police are searching for a close male relative of a man who was murdered at his Felicity home yesterday. Channilal Mangroo, 54, was found dead with multiple wounds about his body near a jhandi (Hindu religious flag) in his yard on Dookan Street, Felicity, early yesterday morning.
According to reports a man on his way to work shortly after 7 am saw blood in the yard of Mangroo’s home. Upon closer inspection, he saw his body lying near the jhandi.

A report was made to the Chaguanas police who arrived at the scene shortly after. Central Division head Senior Supt Johnny Abraham said the police were looking for a close male relative in connection with the murder. He said the murder stemmed from a family dispute but there were only speculations, so far, as to the cause of the argument. Others reports indicate that a land dispute led to Mangroo’s death. 

Residents of the area told the T&T Guardian Mangroo, popularly known as “Mouth”, was a former sugar cane worker. He lived with the close relative, his spouse and their children. They said he was already chopped some time ago by the same relative during an argument. “‘Mouth’ left the home and was renting an apartment nearby. Apparently he came back home on Sunday night to check them for something,” it was stated.

A resident who said he went to school with the relative said he was a pleasant fellow who never troubled anyone. “That’s why this murder has everyone in the area confused,” he added. Earlier this month, retired nurse and community activist, Shirley McMillan, was stabbed to death at her home in Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas. Her daughter, Gillian Anthony, reportedly mentally ill, was arrested and charged. Residents of Felicity were also thrown into a state of shock over the death of four childhood friends in a car accident in the area over the weekend.

Five students of a Islamic school in Cunupia who were arrested over the weekend for terrorising residents of Munroe Road, have been granted a total of $750,000 bail. Abdul Aleem Mohammed and Zaheer Mohammed, both 18, and their three friends—ages 13, 16 and 17—who cannot be named as they are minors, were each granted $150,000 bail when they appeared before Magistrate Joan O’Connor in the Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

However, the teenagers’ relatives could not access bail for them by late yesterday afternoon and as such they were remanded to the Golden Grove State Prison and the Youth Training Centre (YTC), Arouca. As part of the conditions of their bail, O’Connor ordered them to report to police every Saturday and gave them each a 6.30 pm curfew. The five teens were slapped with charges for assault, common assault, possession of an imitation gun, unlawful possession of a walkie talkie and possession of dangerous weapons, knives and a taser. 

The teens, who are students of the Darul Uloom Islamic School, Cunupia, were arrested on Sunday when Cunupia police responded to a report. During their brief court appearance yesterday, their lawyer Fareed Ali claimed the two teens suffered physical and verbal abuse while in police custody. Ali said the 17-year-old was forced to take a “push-up” position before he was ‘planassed’ with a cutlass. He claimed the teen collapsed and was kicked several times in the face but still refused to talk to police. 

“He was placed in a push up position again for 15 minutes and told to not bend and again he refused to talk. It was then the officer stamped on the back of his head smashing his face against the terrazzo floor, causing him to suffer facial injuries and three broken teeth,” Ali said. O’Connor expressed shock over Ali’s claims but said she could do very little apart from making a note of the allegations. The teens will reappear in court on April 20.

With so much digital media consumption now taking place on mobile apps, it’s no surprise that many tech innovators are focusing not on desktop computers but on smaller, do-it-all, handheld devices. You could say small is the new big.

The Eastern Caribbean island of Grenada is keen to join countries around the region in helping its youth participate in the lucrative global mobile-app industry. Thirty eager participants ranging from secondary students to civil servants and seasoned tech practitioners recently took part in BrightPath Foundation’s AppMaster mobile workshop, held as part of the country’s National ICT Week activities.

The AppMaster Workshop is specially designed by BrightPath, an international tech education non-profit organisation that encourage development and uptake of mobile apps in emerging markets like the Caribbean.

“I never thought I would be able to turn my ideas into mobile apps, until this workshop,” said 22-year-old Clevon Joseph, one of participants at the one-day workshop at the Grenada National Stadium in St Georges, last week.

"I have a whole new understanding of the app development process. It was an excellent workshop with great practical exercises," said Cherry-Ann Lewis, one of several young ladies taking part in the event.

The workshop targeted the country's tourism, agriculture, health and entertainment sectors as potential beneficiaries of a Caribbean mobile app development thrust. 

“At a time when the region is looking for new ways to spur economic growth and sustainable development, encouraging innovation and creativity of youth is key,” said Bevil Wooding, Executive Director of BrightPath.

“Technology education provides a natural attraction point for the youth but by itself it is not enough. Training programs have to also impart a sense of mission and civic responsibility if they are to be effective in making a national and regional impact.”

Guiding participants through the BrightPath AppMaster curriculum was Emmanuel Simon, a New York-based Harvard University graduate, entrepreneur and mobile app developer. Simon’s hands-on sessions navigated participants through the process of building customised apps that focused on solving specific local problems.

Makeva Lewis, a workshop participant said, “I didn’t realise app development could be so much fun. I have a much clearer picture of the importance of team work, and the role I can play. Doing the AppMaster training has made me really eager to find and solve problems from my own community!”

The ICT Week included a series of technology education and community outreach initiatives, held throughout the country over five days.

Eric Nurse, Grenada’s National ICT Coordinator, said, “This mobile application training has been the one of the most anticipated and engaging sessions at our ICT Week 2015 event. It has been amazing to witness the level of interaction between the facilitator and the participants. The BrightPath team’s practical approach and focus on identifying local opportunities really impacted the participants and made this workshop a success.”

Since its launch in 2012, BrightPath's AppMaster program has touched more than 800 participants in nine Caribbean countries. Directly addressing the challenges of the region and highlighting the local, regional and global opportunities available to Caribbean app developers, Wooding said, was key to the programme’s continued success.

“From the inception, there has been great participation in all our digital content creation programs. We have been working with the private sector and governments across the region to deliver training, facilitated by regional and international experts, that combines technical know-how with values-based principles. Participants often tell us that they feel more confident and empowered to start technology businesses or seek employment in the region’s growing IT industry.”

Over the coming months, BrightPath plans to host similar workshops in St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In September, a regional App Development hackathon will give participants from across the Caribbean a forum to fully develop their mobile applications for presentation and distribution. Apps will tackle regional problems in education, health, tourism, culture, agriculture and civic services.

More information about the BrightPath AppMaster Initiative is available from BrightPath’s official website www.brightpathfoundation.org and on Twitter @brightpathorg.

Electronic security threats levels are on the rise globally, and the stakes are getting higher.

Kaspersky Lab’s Global IT Risks Report (2014) estimated that, after a data breach, small and medium sized business could spend up to $22,000 on staffing, training, and systems. Larger enterprises could potentially spend up to an additional $59,000 on staffing, $35,000 on training, and $75,000 on systems, the report said.

The Caribbean is far from exempt. Computer networks in both the public and private sector are increasingly under attack by a variety of malicious sources, and successful attacks can cause physical damage, economic loss and other cascading effects that could disrupt services, communications or trade.

But the engineering needed to strengthen the region’s digital defenses is not only technical but social, says Bill Woodcock, Executive Director of Packet Clearing House, a US-based non-profit research organisation. Speaking on cyber security at the recently held Grenada ICT Week, in St. Georges, Woodcock said the key is better information-sharing.

"One of the best strategies for Governments and businesses to strengthened security is to share critical cyber security information, analyse vulnerabilities, verify emerging threats, and disseminate mitigation strategies," he said.

Information-sharing between governments, the private sector, law enforcement and the global Internet community is vitally important in mitigating the vulnerability of Caribbean critical Internet infrastructure to cyberattacks, he said.

Woodcock commended the work of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG) and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union in creating greater awareness about cyber security issues across the region.

“Threat information sharing has been a challenge for governments and private sector for years," said Stephen Lee, CEO of ArkiTechs Inc and a cybersecurity expert at CaribNOG. “Information in cyber security is continuously evolving so even short delays in sharing information can be harmful.”

The volunteer-based CaribNOG group has staged a series of workshops and public awareness events to help organizations and network administrators across the region tackle the increasing barrage of cyber threats and attacks.

Countries, particularly in resourced constrained developing regions, are only just beginning to understand the complex, cross-border nature of the challenge being faced, and the damaging consequences, Woodcock explained.

“As government networks, financial institutions and even small business come under attack, the urgency to train personnel, strengthen computer systems and update antiquated laws and policy is becoming apparent.”

Going forward, trust will play an important role in information sharing, said Woodcock.

"It requires trust on both parts—on the government to disclose information as expediently and consistently as possible, as well as trust on private companies receiving information to share some of their intelligence with governments and public-good security agencies like CaribNOG, so that solutions and safeguards can be implemented more efficiently."

A High Court judge levelled harsh criticism towards two doctors who engaged in a war of words over each other’s qualifications and professional conduct. Justice Frank Seepersad did so in the Port-of- Spain High Court as he ordered the former president of the Medical Council of T&T, Dr Steve Smith, to pay Professor Courtenay Bartholomew and his daughter, Maria, who is also a doctor, $200,000 in compensation for defamation which arose out of a series of exchanges in 2006.

Seepersad described the conflict between the two parties as unfortunate and unacceptable. “No one, no matter how qualified or distinguished ever attains the right to adopt a stance of moral superiority over members of his chosen profession,” Seepersad said.

While he criticised both parties actions, he said Smith’s statements “exceed the parameters of an acceptable response.” He also ruled the Bartholomews were not entitled to a large amount of damages as the family failed to prove Smith’s comments had a negative effect on their respective practices.

“There is also no evidence before this court that the claimants’ social interaction was adversely affected nor is there any evidence that the claimants’ distress and hurt affected their ability to discharge their professional obligations or that ​there was an impact upon their ability to engage socially or undertake public appearance,” Seepersad said in his tenpage decision.

The Bartholomews filed the lawsuit in 2010 as they alleged Smith’s statements, contained in two letters sent under the council’s letterhead between June and July 2006, attacked their professional reputations and integrity. The discourse between the two began when Smith allegedly criticised Maria’s academic qualifications, prompting the elder Bartholomew to respond.

Smith responded in two letters in which he alleged Bartholomew was suffering from a mental disorder. Bartholomew, who is credited for diagnosing the first case of AIDS in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, obtained a default judgment after Smith’s lawyers failed to meet the court’s deadline for filing his defence in the case. The Bartholomews were represented by Michael Quamina while Krishendath Neebar appeared for Smith.

Almost a year after mounds of dirt were excavated from the bottom of San Fernando Hill and stockpiled in a vacant lot near the Marabella Police Station, it continues to be a health hazard and eyesore.

San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein has expressed frustration, saying he continues to get complaints from the residents and business community about the unsightly pile, but his inquiries about its removal were being ignored.

“It (stockpile) was supposed to have been removed months ago. The material was supposed to be moved to Williamsville, but nobody is paying me any attention when I ask about it. I am fed up of asking questions,” the mayor said.

The material was reportedly removed from excavation done on the compound of Stackhouse Co Ltd, on Pointe-a-Pierre Road, San Fernando, for the construction of a car-park.

The City Corporation had stopped the excavation as investigations were conducted to determine whether a part of the historic landmark, a heritage site which borders Stackhouse compound, was being excavated. Stackhouse was later cleared of any wrongdoing and arrangements were made to remove the stockpile to Williamsville. 

However, up until yesterday, when the T&T Guardian visited the site, the stockpile, though now overgrown with bushes, is still very much there. 

Hosein, when contacted, said he was still receiving complaints about the stockpile, but he was fed up of begging for answers and getting none.

Stackhouse response

The T&T Guardian was advised by  Stackhouse owner, Truman Lochan Dass, to direct all queries to his lawyer. However, when asked who was his lawyer, Lochan Dass hung up the telephone. 

The T&T Guardian also spoke to councillor and attorney Kevin Ratiram who was a member of a committee set up last year to investigate whether the San Fernando Hill was being illegally mined as a result of work on the Stackhouse compound. 

Ratiram said the corporate secretary had written to the Planning Ministry asking them to take some action on those responsible for the stockpile but to date they have received no response. 

“Nothing has been done in respect to that and even though the letter was written months ago, no response has been forthcoming,” said Ratiram. 

He declined to speculate on the identity of the owner of the stockpile, but said: “A document was granted to a particular individual for excavation work and one condition of the work was that the material was to be stored in Williamsville.” 

He described the stockpile as an ongoing insult to the city. 

“I can’t say who is the owner but I am very disappointed at the person responsible for this, I thought they would have removed it by now. It shows disdain and contempt for the city. It is an insult.” Ratiram said the only thing the city was able to do at this point was to issue a notice to the owner of the land in Marabella to cut and clear the overgrown bushes. 

Harbouring rodents

Several business owners who operate around the Marabella based stockpile said it was an eyesore in the community. 

Vashti Joshua, one of the owners of Rajkumar’s Roti Shop, located opposite the stockpile, said the grass growing on the pile has solved the problem of excessive dust flying.

“Since the grass get so big, there is not much dust and sand flying, but it is still an eyesore,” she said. “I strongly think it should be removed from here. At one time we used to be able to see straight across the road, the place was so clean and clear, now look at it.”

An employee of a safety company nearby agreed, adding: “Apart from being an eyesore it does not affect us much anymore.”

One businessman, who asked to remain anonymous, said the overgrown piles of dirt are harbouring rodents and vermin.

“Since the grass grew up like that, there has been an increase in rats and other pests in the area. They are obviously coming from those overgrown mountains,” he said.

Children of single parents are six times more likely to be poor, says Edward Clarke, dean of the School of Science at the University of the Southern Caribbean.

Clarke was speaking at the Positive Youth Development Project 2015 at the Sir George Alleyne Building, Warner Street in St Augustine, on Monday. 

He said research had revealed that the impact of absentee fathers was important because children who lived with only one parent were six times likely to be poor than children who lived with both parents.

“In addition, some researchers found that children suffered more emotional, behavioural and intellectual problems resulting in higher risk of dropping out of school, and alcohol and drug abuse,” he said. 

Clarke said it was noted the absence of fathers in families had tremendous consequences. 

He said 60 per cent of the women incarcerated at the Golden Grove Prison and 60 per cent of boys at the Youth Training Centre were single mothers and had absentee fathers, respectively. 

He said the now defunct LifeSport programme was a success to the children who visited the centres. 

Clarke said the findings at three centres at La Horquetta, Mayaro and Malabar revealed that under the programme the boys benefitted but over 60 per cent had absent fathers.

“This was important, all dropped out of school and were in some gangs or just hanging out,” he said.

Clarke said the boys learned to control anger, improve life and were thinking which determined their life. 

“It internalised the issues. They came there with an attitude and they said it made them a better person, gave them certain changes with life by respecting others,” he said. 

He said many of the boys went on to pursue employment, their education, skills and training.

Gregory Sloane-Seale, programme co-ordinator of the Ministry of National Security’s Citizen Security Programme, said the youths were at risk.

“There are environmental, social and family conditions that hinder their personal development in society and now there is a cyber society in our homes. Our children are at risk and we need to elevate our consciousness,” he said. 

Sloane-Seale said youth-friendly spaces needed to be created, youth workers needed to be available, go the extra mile, communicate and make the youths feel special while being honest.

If the People’s Partnership Government is re-elected for another five years, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar promises major infrastructural development for south Trinidad, including new highways, a hospital and a tourism site.

Boasting that 95 per cent of the PP’s 2010 election promises were fulfilled at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at Debe junction, Persad-Bissessar warned against voting the People’s National Movement (PNM) into office, saying the party was opposed to development south of the Caroni Bridge. 

Among the election goodies she promised was the development of the San Fernando waterfront, a specialist hospital in Clarke Road, Penal, and a highway from San Fernando to Mayaro, all of which she said would boost business and bring jobs. 

Citing progress made, she said the $7.5 billion Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin and the University of the West Indies Faculty of Law, in Debe, were well on the way, whereas the sod would soon be turned for the construction of the Arima and Point Fortin hospitals. She said the Port-of-Spain General Hospital would be upgraded.

“We will build the highway from San Fernando to Princes Town and down to Mayaro. Work has already begun and we will turn the sod for the Point Fortin Hospital. We will turn the sod for the Arima Hospital and in south Trinidad, we have opened the first-ever teaching hospital at Chancery Lane, San Fernando.

“In Penal/Debe region, we will develop a specialist hospital centre in Clarke Road, Penal. They will say we are building hospitals in Arima, Point Fortin and Penal, and what about nothing in Port-of-Spain? We already have a hospital in Port-of-Spain and in Mt Hope, but we are going to refurbish and modernise the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

“We intend to do the waterfront development project for San Fernando. Cabinet will this week consider and finalise one of the largest government projects, the San Fernando waterfront development. The feasibility study for the project has been completed...T&T must be the jewel of the Caribbean.”

She said the PNM had forgotten that it had supporters in south Trinidad, noting that San Fernando East, Point Fortin and La Brea were all PNM constituencies. Despite this, she said, they would all be taken on board in the PP’s drive for development. She said her promises were not an election gimmick, but part of the party’s vision onward to 2020.

Launching his attack on Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said while the PNM boasted of building the failed Las Alturas apartment complex in Morvant, the party was upset when the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) began distributing 100 houses per week.

Moonilal said it had been a PNM tactic to use the former National Housing Authority (NHA) to effect voter padding. 

He said checks within the HDC showed that some tenants were in arrears by as much as $13,200 for an apartment costing $100 per month because they had not paid rent in 11 years. He said this was because of the PNM’s practice of giving away houses as if they were theirs.

kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar entered her, or at least the UNC’s, hometown of Debe, in an entirely different set of the empress’ new clothes. The Keith Rowley-and-Faris Al-Rawi-bashing outfit from earlier this month vanished, replaced by a more statesmanlike Kamla P-B.

Mrs P-B’s actual voice also changed to match, mixing the Standard English that working class voters admire so much in their superiors and the dialect in which they must be addressed if they are to feel connected. Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s predecessor, Basdeo Panday, the best exponent of the art, segued from Oxbridge to cow-pen seamlessly. On Monday night, the kinder, gentler, more-prime-ministerial-than-Keith Rowley Mrs P-B switched from the Queen’s English accent befitting Queen’s Counsel to something closer to local dialect. “Man could born and die in 35 years” she called out, “but them never build a single hospital in all that time.” Sadly, it is difficult for someone who naturally speaks as well as the Prime Minister to speak badly at short notice, but she tried gamely – even if Keith Rowley or, indeed, anyone else, would have said, “Man could born and dead in 35 years.” 

The attempt to straddle both linguistic worlds sometimes resulted in oratorical bumps between the caring, statesmanlike Kamla and the bragging, look-how-much-we-did-for-you Kamla. “Healthcare is important,” she declared, “because, if you’re not alive, you can’t enjoy the road or the university or the nursing academy we built!” The listener, at that point, could be forgiven for recalling supermodel Brooke Shields’ observation that, “Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.” 

At what might have been the night’s most crucial moment, though, the packaging of the new Kamla seemed more like repackaging: specifically, the recasting of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s pet Waterfront Project in Port of Spain into what she hoped might be taken as a new UNC idea – to have a Waterfront Project in San Fernando. The waterfront project – the San Fernando/UNC one – would, the PM insisted, bring “bottom line, bottom dollar, money in your pockets as you get jobs.” 

 “I see,” went on the PM, before correcting herself to “statesmanlike” mode and declaring, “My vision for Trinidad & Tobago” included the Chaguaramus boardwalk and the National Cycling Velodrome. Both projects, she said, were “first class, world class,” which sounded a bit too much like Patrick Manning for perhaps even Patrick Manning’s own comfort.

The night’s big selling point, though, was less about world-class attractions than local house-and-land dispersals. Under the Act she helped to pass in 1988, the PNM gave out fewer than 1,000 certificates of comfort to people illegally occupying land. The UNC, she boasted, has given out 7,000 in the last five years alone, with more to come, if the electorate should only be discerning/house hungry enough to reelect the UNC. 

In her closest sally at wit, Mrs P-B declared that the PNM wanted the UNC to cut public spending but “won’t tell us what to cut. Maybe they have some barbers in that party.” The UNC simply will not cut jobs or the social safety net – perhaps an implication that the necessary cuts might come in contracting out less state work at lower prices to friends of the party, making the night’s biggest untruth also its only unspoken one. The “prophets of doom and gloom” she declared (channelling her inner George Chambers), were clamouring that the oil price was dropping and the country going bankrupt but, “in the first quarter of 2015, we have a surplus of revenue.” 

The Prime Minister then fixed the camera firmly in the eye and avowed that a surplus “doesn’t mean you run out there and spend all your money” – the posh, sophisticated packaging of the old Trinidadian adage that “Indian money might run low but it doesn’t run out.”   

Abruptly, Mrs P-B declared it was getting “little late” and everybody should get home safely, but even she appeared to be surprised by her sudden ending of the night’s proceedings: she almost forgot to play her high cards, one of which was a promised “Marlene-gate,” a reference presumed to be to PNM MP Marlene McDonald, and the other of which earned her a genuine Bravo; specifically, Dwayne, the T&T and West Indies cricketer dropped from the team for leading the Indian Tour Mutiny, a friend of new Sports Minister and old Soca Warrior, Brent Sancho.

The last, perhaps most memorable image of the night was Bravo (wearing a bright blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, not a yellow T-) clasped in a big hug.

Perhaps Mrs P-B could be forgiven for hoping that the connection between them does not reveal itself to be that they should both, at the end of a strongly, indeed bitterly, fought campaign, lose their jobs. 

Former UNC St Joseph MP Herbert Volney on Tuesday mandated the Alliance of Independents (AI) to put up candidates in constituencies for the general election.

“Offer candidates to the people. You can’t have a AI’s first public meeting at the Diego Martin community centre.

The medium-sized hall were full with some people also standing. The gathering included 50 people from Tunapuna. 

Frontliners hailed by the chairman included businessman Sam Salloum, radio deejay Luis Hart, Ronald John and Omar Abdullah. 

The latter dressed in traditional Muslim garb and flak jack said he represented 300,000 Muslims and sought to lobby attention to five T&T nationals detained in Venezuela on terrorism charges.

 Audience members included businessmen Rocky Garcia, Reginald McClean in front rows and other Diego Martin/Petit Valley/Westmoorings residents.

 Speakers included session chairman Trevor Edwards,  former BWIA worker Roslyn Aimon, talk show host Gerard Small, consultant and former NAR/ONR team Unity/COP member Karen Bart-Alexander and businessman Joe Pires.

 They spoke respectively of visions for youth, agriculture and voiced grouses with Government. Group founder Nicole Dyer-Griffith’s address climaxed speeches which was followed by statements from floor members.

Bart-Alexander, calling for “transformation”, said T&T’s national conversation had denigrated to “kyat” talk and condemned what she described as the “Piss poor leadership, piss poor governance; PP: Piss poor.” 

Other speakers repeated the term to  describe the PP, main target of their criticism. Bart-Alexander said it was time to “set up our own first class show.”

Volney, fired from Government in 2012 for the Section 34 issue, admitted in 2014 to being wrong and also apologised to former attorney general Anand Ramlogan for alleging Ramlogan had anything to do with it. 

At the meeting, Volney raised a hand when the chairman asked to see those who were non-aligned.

Volney said he once voted for the PNM and NAR and himself as UNC St Joseph candidate. 

He said AI could be a tremendous force which could move mountains, win a majority and affect the balance of power in determining who rules and how.

 Volney complained T&T was a country “without justice.” 

He said he wanted to see what was left of it returned and wanted swift justice for people who broke the law and to see them jailed. 

He said he left his job on the Bench to try to make a difference but he and the Griffiths only received “abuse.”

Volney said the PNM and UNC could not go anywhere without the AI since the parties may get 20 and 21 seats. On AI he added: “we need the interim leadership to put together a framework and have candidates for the people,”

Dyer-Griffith, who resigned from the COP after her husband Gary was removed from the Cabinet, said people felt disappointed in 2015 and needed to continue to analyse issues and the politics and advocate as Independent voters.

 She alluded to, if the opportunity came for independent voters to be in Parliament  or local government forums. 

She said AI would be willing to work with groups with similar aims and would subscribe to the political code of conduct. She said every vote counted.

Pires said: “Even with Manning’s faux pas,” the PNM had 300,000 voters, the UNC 250,000 and there are 500,000 marginal voters who aren’t happy.”

He called for that group to voice concerns and get people to fight for T&T. 

Pires, VMCOTT chairman, asked why there could not be one bus supply company or why there was not a highway from Toco to the city and why traffic lights could not be removed.

 “We should have a highway patrol and police looking for lawbreakers. Why do we still own NP, the Hyatt, Hilton, a radio and TV station... these should be private sector publicly traded companies,” he added.

 Michael Awai, of Westmoorings, said AI had to decide what “we want” and if that was not possible then they would not have an alliance.

 Rocky Garcia said he, Pires and the Griffiths worked to make the Diego Martin seats marginal yet the PP “gives us nothing.” 

The group served “eats” after the meeting as the COP usually does after its meetings.

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AI was scheduled to meet with MSJ leader David Abdulah yesterday, Gary Griffith said.

 Abdulah, however, said any meetings with the group were strictly informal. 

Louis Lee Sing, who attended the first meeting of the group, said he did not attend Tuesday’s meeting since he had a prior engagement.

 He could not say if he would attend another meeting since he said he remained unconvinced the group’s leaders grasped the magnitude of the challenges before them.

Over 300 Plum Mitan farmers are now legally extracting water from the Jhagroma and Canque Cushe rivers after permits were granted by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) for that purpose.

President of the Agriculture Society of T&T (ASTT), Dhano Sookoo, said the ASTT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WASA on Monday and collected two water abstraction permits for farmers.

“This will service over 300 farmers in Plum Mitan cultivating mixed vegetables,” she said.

Sookoo said shortly after they got the permits, Ministry of Food Production pumps, which were ready and waiting, were put into operation and began sending water into irrigation channels in farmers’ fields.

She said the ASTT had submitted requests for water licences for seven other areas.

Sookoo said the granting of the permits would take some time since information had to be obtained on the number of farmers in a particular area needing water and the type of crops.

“We don’t want to be pumping water for people and they are not planting anything.”

She said the licences would allow farmers to abstract water for one year, after which they could apply for a renewal of the permit.

The permits come after WASA recently enforced the water abstraction rule which has been in effect since 1997.

This move was met with protests by farmers’ groups who claimed they were losing acres of crops because of a lack of water.

They said the process to get licences was too lengthy.

Water rules

WASA said licences are required for the abstraction of raw water from any river, pond or well for farming or commercial purposes.

It said charges were minimal, amounting to ten cents for every 220 imperial gallons for registered farmers and a minimum charge of $120 if less.

The ASTT and the Food Production Ministry had been seeking to help farmers get their permits and be in compliance with regulations.

A compromise to achieve a possible win/win situation was reached by the Ministry of Health and the Public Services Association (PSA) yesterday, after an hour-long protest outside the Health Ministry’s Port-of-Spain offices by disgruntled healthcare workers.

As a result of the compromise, PSA president Watson Duke was asked by the Minister of Health, Dr Fuad Khan, to drop all legal proceedings against him as he has agreed to form an Oversight Committee to address all health and safety issues at all Regional Health Authorities (RHA) throughout T&T.

The committee will consist of a nine-member team—five members from the Health Ministry and four from the PSA.

From as early as 9 am yesterday, RHA workers assembled outside the Health Ministry’s offices in Port-of-Spain and staged a placard protest. After one hour of protest action, Duke presented Khan with a document that contained some of the important issues to be addressed.

Among them, the establishment of the committee, to which Khan immediately agreed, providing that Duke drop all legal proceedings. Duke obliged with no objection.

It was also agreed by Khan that all letters handed out to workers with respect to disciplinary action and threat of dismissals would be recalled.

Duke said the Oversight Committee would also be responsible for developing a priority list of critical issues to be addressed. “The committee will also evaluate and supervise the process and make sure they are done according to standards,” Duke said.

Duke also asked Khan to have work shifts reduced from 12 hours to eight hours. 

However, Khan said, he would respond to this request on Friday, after meeting with human resources and his legal team on the matter.

With respect to overtime payments, Khan also promised to give feedback on Friday.

Another issue raised was the $2,000 housing allowance given to foreign nurses brought to T&T. Duke said local nurses should also be beneficiaries of this type of allowance. Khan admitted that he had been advocating for local nurses to be given the allowance as well and, if not the entire sum, at least a part of it. Khan said a note was taken to Cabinet on the issue and it was also raised with Finance Minister Larry Howai. 

Khan promised to let Duke know Howai’s response by Friday, when he would update Duke on the progress made on the issues.

Duke said he expected a win/win situation, “The PSA never engaged to destroy the country or to pull down the Government. We [want] only to highlight our plight and get the ears of those in Government.”

Lima will host a highly anticipated meeting of the regional Internet community from May 18 to 22.

Organised by the Internet Address Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACNIC) and Red Científica Peruana, LACNIC 23 will bring together more than 400 experts and professionals, representaing governments, private companies, civil society organisation and universities from across Latin American and Caribbean.

The five-day conference has created a much-needed space for sharing experiences and analysing key issues affecting the future of the regional and global Internet. 
 
Major industry players such as Cisco, Optical Networks, NIC.br/CGI.br, Google, the Internet Society, ICANN, AMS IX, OSI Hardware, Netflix and Convergencia Latina are all taking part in and providing support to the event.
 
It is no coincidence that the event will be hosted in Peru, the country that leads the deployment of IPv6 in Latin America. Among the topics to be addressed is the issue of IPv6 deployment in the region.