Claiming there was “dictatorship” in the Diego Martin Central constituency executive, scores of angry People’s National Movement (PNM) members forced a scheduled meeting of the executive to be shifted to a different venue yesterday.

The meeting had been called to weigh fresh candidate options to go before the PNM screening committee in the wake of the rejection last week  of incumbent MP Amery Browne.

But the constituents, reportedly upset at Browne’s general election snub by the Diego Martin executive, reportedly disrupted the meeting at the Diamond Vale Community Centre, forcing the executive to move to a new venue due to the uncomfortable situation  in which they were put.

Sources told the T&T Guardian that Browne, who got no votes from the Diego Martin executive during the screening process, was neither aware of the meeting nor was he invited to it.  

But a vocal group of supporters said they got word of the meeting via a text message and felt it was necessary to attend.

The mainly female group which assembled outside the community centre said they were initially told it was a constituency meeting and felt they should attend to voice their anger over Browne’s rejection but they said when they entered the facility they were told that it was not a constituency meeting but a meeting of the executive.

Not wanting any confrontation or bacchanal, Irene Hinds, vice chair of the constituency and PNM operations officer, and others left for the nearby office of Diamond Vale councillor Gail La Touche, where they conducted the meeting.

Constituency member Emerita Sambrano said they were supporting Browne because he remained a “very hard working MP.”

Another party supporter shouted: “We are hurting.”

Later the group shouted: “Dictators!”

Another upset member, Joy Belfon, said it was “unfair” for the executive to control the process in the manner it did. She said the constituency was not only two or three people, adding the “dictatorship” must not be allowed to continue. 

“The dictatorship has to stop,” she demanded as others all applauded.

She insisted: “What goes around will come back around 500 million times with a different force.” 

She stressed there was “dictatorship in the constituency.”

“Why must one set of people dictate who represents us in Diego Martin Central?” another supporter shouted.

The executive meeting ended shortly before 8 pm. 

Chairman of the constituency Osborne Charles offered “no comment” as he departed. 

 But Hinds said: “We had an executive meeting to decide where we go from here.” 

She said what was discussed at the meeting was private and the chairmen and secretaries of all party groups in the Diego Martin constituency would be told of their decision tomorrow.

The constituency was given until Monday to find a new candidate.

No comment

Contacted last night, Browne declined comment.

However, Browne said last week that although he respected the decision of the screening committee he intended to run again and hoped “that ultimately the best decision will be made.” 

“My life has been one of service to the less-fortunate since long before I entered politics and my commitment and sense of duty to my constituents and to the people of Trinidad and Tobago remain as strong and binding today as ever before,” he said. He did say, however, that he was still very committed to the party. 

“Diego Martin Central remains critical to the fortunes of the People’s National Movement in this coming election and I am committed to playing a role in ensuring our success,” he added.

Also contacted last night, PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said the executive meeting was called because the members had a limited time to do its work. It was given until Monday to find a new candidate to be screened for the seat, he added.

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley paid a private visit to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation late Tuesday night to probe issues and questions raised against its chairman Darryl Smith during last Thursday's screening for the Diego Martin Central seat.

Insiders at the Diego Martin Regional Corporation said yesterday Rowley expressed a concern about allegations of mismanagement of funds at the corporation, which was allegedly raised at the screening stage for selection for the Diego Martin Central seat.

The T&T Guardian was informed that Rowley and Member for Diego Martin North East, Colm Imbert, visited the regional corporation and also met with several councillors for the area that same night. 

While Rowley confirmed yesterday he was there, Imbert did not respond to questions on the matter.

However, Rowley denied that he was there to investigate allegations of embezzlement.

“That is a total lie,” he said in a text response yesterday.

He did, however, confirm that the visit was to probe information the screening committee received.

“We met with councillors to check on information put to the screening committee. Our interest was to assess the effectiveness and leadership of Mr Smith as a chairman of the corporation and the kind of management relationship he had with various councillors in the corporation,” Rowley said.

The PNM screening committee is expected to reconvene on Monday. The Diego Martin Central Committee has until then to find a new batch of contenders for the Diego Martin Central seat after incumbent Dr Amery Browne received no votes from the committee last Thursday. 

Smith, who also contested the position, topped the shortlist with just two nods of approval out of an 18-member committee.

It has since been reported that the PNM has  left the door open for Browne to return for screening. Browne has also indicated he is prepared to re-offer himself for the position he has held for two terms.

Martlet and Compton Mill will probably be short-priced winning favourites today on Chelmsford polytrack and Southwell fibresand, respectively, but a total of ten runners represents a travesty for the betting industry; many countries wont/don’t even include small fields on their daily race-sheets.

Chelmsford has been a disappointment since it re-opened after five years (formerly Great Leighs!) and there are only 41 ‘decs’ for a seven-race programme; one is the eleven-runner ‘aged’ handicap.

Too often nowadays we see less than a handful of runners and my partner, formerly a supervisor for the Tote, continually mentions such small ‘fields’ as a turn-off because her customers loved to bet each-way.

There’s not too much racing, moreso too much rubbish and it’s littering the English racing scene; a sad, unnecessary state of affairs that isn’t being addressed by the BHA.

John Gosden-trained Martlet will win the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes by default unless Bishara improves a ‘ton’ from one run or newcomer Brandybend is exceptional; it’s unlikely and this selection will be coupled with Compton Mill in the six-runner Maiden Auction Stakes over seven furlongs of Southwell fibresand.

We’re low-key about the opening of Aintree’s Grand National Festival; not only because race-times have been diabolically innaccurate these last few months but both feature races have attracted just seven runners. Again no each-way opportunities!

It’s my intention to scrutinise this wonderful fixture and selections will be posted on www.dailyearner.co.uk-spend a little and gain a lot because this has long been my absolute Spring-time ‘favourite’ meeting. 

Selections 

2.40 Compton Mill 

5.35 Pabusar (nap-e.w)

7.10 Martlet

T&T midfielder Joevin Jones enjoyed the biggest week of his professional career as he earned selection on the American Major League Soccer (MLS) “Team of the Week” and was contender for the “Goal of the Week” for his fine strike in Chicago Fire’s 3-2 victory over Toronto FC.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed many title success moments with W Connection in the local league but surely his ability to send Chicago fans into a frenzy and earn plaudits by MLS media followers would stand out over the rest of his accomplishments inside a week in pro football.

And Jones couldn’t question that.

“The experience has been great so far. It’s been a high level of football for me. And my first goal in the MLS was a memorable one for me. It’s been a memorable week. I’m trying to make a name for myself and this was a good way to get it going. I felt great making the team of the week and I think it’s been a good start to my MLS career,” Jones said on Tuesday.

The Carenage-born has been on trial overseas before. His 37 appearances for T&T since making his debut in 2010 means he has established himself in the national team. But he knows fully that non-stop dedication and extra hours on the training field is now the order of the day for him.

“The level of training here at Chicago is very high and professional. It’s a lot of commitment and you have to stay focused all the time because in a city like Chicago you can get distracted very easily,” said Jones, who is the son of former T&T Strike Squad player Kelvin Jones and brother of T&T-based defender Alvin.

Surely it’s a big change from being based in a place like Couva and now the windy city of Chicago. Just the memories of Michael Jordan and the Bulls could make you “fly” out of control in that city. But Jones is determined to keep his feet on the ground. And with T&T’s opening Gold Cup fixture set for Chicago on July 9 against Guatemala, he’s set his sights on walking out in the Soca Warriors strip on that day.

Kluivert’s Curacao eyes T&T clash

With the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers for 2018 now its early stages the tiny island of Curacao is hoping that their new head coach with a big pedigree could help lead them to the final stages of qualification.

Former Holland international Patrick Kluivert is now the new head coach of Curacao. They drew with Montserrat 2-2 in their second leg qualifier last week to advance 4-3 on aggregate. They will now try to overcome Cuba in June in an effort to reach into the semifinal stage to possibly meet teams like T&T, Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, USA and others.

“My mother is from the island and I really want to give something back to it—that is why I am here,” Kluivert told The Observer from the national team’s base in Willemstad, the capital city. “The federation asked me if I was interested in the job of head coach and I didn’t have to think. I still have a lot of family here and feel a strong connection with the place. It seems like home, and that was a big part of it for me.”

Kluivert’s current hand includes a squad bolstered by Netherlands-based players who fell over themselves to commit after his appointment was confirmed. There may be a place, too, for the Brighton and former Holland Under-21 midfielder Kemy Agustien. Kluivert is aware of the successes of T&T, led to the 2006 World Cup by his countryman Leo Beenhakker. But he says he will not predict his team’s potential based on other performers.

Soca Warriors Kit now available via WorldSoccershop.com

The T&T Football Association (TTFA) has formed a partnership with World Soccer Shop to make the 2015 T&T kit and other casual wear available to fans in T&T and worldwide.

WorldSoccerShop.com launched in 2001 after its sister site WorldRugbyShop.com successfully opened two years prior. 

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, and now with an office full of passionate supporters, WorldSoccerShop.com travelled to six continents to watch matches and participate in soccer events, along the way forging partnerships with high-profile teams such as Manchester United, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Arsenal, MLS, and Chelsea FC.

Now available to fans will be the new T&T kit used by the Soca Warriors in their recent international friendly versus Panama as well as hoodies, longsleeve sweaters, jackets and women tees bearing the new Soca Warriors emblem.

Hackshaw wants to stay on top of dreams

North East Stars midfielder Neveal Hackshaw seems to be one of the home-based who impressed national senior team head coach Stephen Hart during the recent friendly international against Panama.

The 19-year-old, just out of representing T&T at the Concacaf Under-20 World Cup qualifiers, got the nod from Hart to start against the Panamanians last month and from all accounts was able to hold his own against the two time Gold Cup runners up. He then went onto help North East Stars capture the TTFA FA Trophy title two days later.

“He’s has a good head on his shoulders and appears to be willing to learn and work hard,” Hart said. “He’s one of them that did well for us against Panama and that was a pleasing sight for us.”

Hackshaw promises not to get carried away.

“It was a wow feeling for me when I got the news of the call up and then to find out from the coach that I was in the starting team. It’s a big step up for me and the other guys. The level is very different but I think I showed some good signs and I want to continue working hard to improve my level and to keep earning my call ups, It’s always been my dream to play international football and I want to keep living that dream,” Hackshaw said.

Shaun Fuentes is the director of communications for the T&T Football Association – shaunfuentes@yahoo. com

Horace Diaz capitalised on being dropped early in his innings to blast a tournament-best 54 runs to lead defending champions Santa Cruz Cruzers to a commanding 95 runs defeat of previously unbeaten Head Quartes Blue Steel in the 2015 T&T Fire Service Northern Division Windball League final at the Tyro Recreation Ground, Bourg Mulatresse on Sunday. 

Winnings of its round-robin five-team group with a 4-0 record, Blue Steel won the toss and elected to give Cruzers first strike in the 12-over per-team final.

However after restricting the title-holders early on, Blue Steel missed the chance to snare the vital wicket of Diaz when he was dropped in the deep by the normally sure Kylie Sylvester off the bowling of Hayden Sookraj when he waas on 17.

Diaz, the eventual “man-of-the-match” went on to be the main stay in his team’s massive total of 133 for the loss of five wickets with Akil Melville adding 29 while Giovanni Sylvester was Blue Steel’s best bowler with one for 19 from his three overs.

In their turn at the crease, Blue Steel never got going and following the early loss of key batsman Giovanni Sylvester’s wicket for duck, folded for a meagre 38 all out with Heston Wilson and Nigel Meltz, grabbing two wickets each for Cruzers to keep hold of its title.

In the semifinals, Cruzers defeated Headquarters Black The Bravest by six wickets while Blue Steel won by four wickets over Headquarters Red Rockets.

Red Rockets were gifted third spot after The Bravest failed to show for their playoff encounter. 

Results

Quarterfinals:

March 30:

Santa Cruz Cruzers def HQ White Eagles by 1 run in a super over. 

Eagles 108 for 4 (Othieno Manuel 51 n.o, Darren Roberts 10, Horace Diaz 1/20, Susan Bobb-O'Brien 1/14) vs Cruzers 108 for 7 (Crayson Balkaran 33, Nigel Meltz 21; Garvin DesVignes, 2/10 Elwin Mitchell 1/15, Kori Dollaway 1/14) - In the super over, Cruzers batted first and scored 10 for 2. Eagles scored 9 for 2, in reply.

March 31:

Headquarters Red Rockets def Woodbrook Playaz by 7 wickets.

Playaz 68 for 7 (Kenneth Lindsay 17, Jameel Collins 13 n.o, Ranjeev Maharaj 2/13, Onika Charles 1/4) vs Red Rockets 71 for 3 (Kiel Murray 35 n.o, Reon Balotje 11 n.o, Barry Alleyne 1/10, Brian James 1/14)

Semifinal:

Headquarters Blue Steel def Headquarters Red Rockets by 4 wickets. 

Red Rockets 77 all out (Reon Balotje 15, Curtis Boatswain 13; Larry Roberts 2/5, 1/15 Hayden Sookraj) vs Blue Steel 81 for 6 (Jeremy Carter 28, Hayden Sookraj 10 n.o, Ranjeev Maharaj 2/20)

Santa Cruz Cruzers defeated HQ Black The Bravest by 6 wickets. 

The Bravest 74 all out (Lesely Sam 10 n.o, Lee Wilson 3/18, Horace Diaz 2/12) vs Cruzers: 75 for 4 (Horace Diaz 15; Ricardo Mejias 2/13)

Final: 

Santa Cruz Cruzers def Headquarters Blue Steel by 95 runs. 

Santa Cruz Cruzers 133 for 5 (Horace Diaz 54, Akil Melville 29; Giovanni Sylvester 1/19) vs Blue Steel 38 all out (Kylie Sylvester 12; Heston Wilson 2/6, Nigel Meltz 2/11) *Man of the Match: Horace Diaz 

Individual awards:

Men:

Most runs: Jeremy Carter (Blue Steel) - 92 runs

Highest Score: Ricardo Mejias (The Bravest) 36, vs Blazers 

Most wickets: Hayden Sookraj (Blue Steel) - 8 

Best bowling performance: Garvin Des Vignes, 4 for 7 vs Swordsmen 

Player of the Tournament: Ricardo Mejias

Women:

Most runs: Carla Bolah (Rebels) 25 

Highest Score: Carla Bolah, 20 vs Cruzers 

Most wickets: Nikita Frederick 7 

Best bowling performance: Nikita Fredericks, 3 for 12 vs Swordsmen 

Player of the Tournament: Carla Bolah

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley paid a private visit to the Diego Martin Regional Corporation late Tuesday night to probe issues and questions raised against its chairman Darryl Smith during last Thursday's screening for the Diego Martin Central seat. Insiders at the Diego Martin Regional Corporation said yesterday Rowley expressed a concern about allegations of mismanagement of funds at the corporation, which was allegedly raised at the screening stage for selection for the Diego Martin Central seat.

The T&T Guardian was informed that Rowley and Member for Diego Martin North East, Colm Imbert, visited the regional corporation and also met with several councillors for the area that same night. While Rowley confirmed yesterday he was there, Imbert did not respond to questions on the matter. However, Rowley denied that he was there to investigate allegations of embezzlement. “That is a total lie,” he said in a text response yesterday. He did, however, confirm that the visit was to probe information the screening committee received.

“We met with councillors to check on information put to the screening committee. Our interest was to assess the effectiveness and leadership of Mr Smith as a chairman of the corporation and the kind of management relationship he had with various councillors in the corporation,” Rowley said. The PNM screening committee is expected to reconvene on Monday. The Diego Martin Central Committee has until then to find a new batch of contenders for the Diego Martin Central seat after incumbent Dr Amery Browne received no votes from the committee last Thursday. 

Smith, who also contested the position, topped the shortlist with just two nods of approval out of an 18-member committee. It has since been reported that the PNM has  left the door open for Browne to return for screening. Browne has also indicated he is prepared to re-offer himself for the position he has held for two terms.

Overall market activity resulted from trading in 15 securities of which four advanced, five declined and six traded firm. Trading activity on the first tier market registered a volume of 285,710 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $6,723,533.08. 

Agostini’s Ltd was the volume leader with 188,070 shares changing hands for a value of $3,249,849.60, followed by Sagicor Financial Corp with a volume of 33,255 shares being traded for $198,831. Republic Bank Ltd contributed 25,527 shares with a value of $2,961,132, while Flavorite Foods Ltd added 14,072 shares valued at $67,545.60.

Sagicor Financial Corp enjoyed the day’s largest gain, increasing $0.18 to end the day at $5.98. Conversely, Republic Bank Ltd suffered the day’s greatest loss, falling $1.79 to close at $116. Clico Investment Fund was the only active security on the mutual fund market, posting a volume of 40,600 shares valued at $915,530. It advanced by $0.01 to end at $22.55.

On Wednesday, bandits struck two business people, one mortally, in brazen daylight robberies. Donna Surjusingh, a 59-year-old supervisor in Gasparillo was robbed of $57,000 as she walked along Gomez Street. The gunman walked up to Ms Surjusingh, pushed her to the ground, snatched the money and ran off.

Hi Hong Huang, a 35-year-old supermarket owner was killed in Curepe by assailants who attacked him as he left his panel van with a large sum of money in a box. Mr Hong resisted the attack until another bandit approached, and loud explosions were heard. In chilling CCTV footage, the businessman was seen stumbling from his attackers and into his supermarket. He succumbed to his injuries at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, the victim of a bullet to the chest.

Mr Hong is the fifth Chinese national to lose his life to crime in T&T, and the incident sparked a strong response from Chinese Ambassador Xingyan Huang who demanded of local law enforcement: “Find the killer, and bring the killer to justice as soon as possible, for the murder of Hong Huang.” Unfortunately, it’s not just Chinese nationals being targeted by opportunistic and increasingly bold bandits.

After a Chaguanas robbery in July 2010 that netted robbers $150,000, police officers appealed to businessmen to take advantage of their free escort service when moving large bundles of cash. In November 2014, thieves entered the home of Bruce Chen in St Margaret’s Village in Claxton Bay and took $310,000. In far too many of these incidents, bandits are clearly operating with foreknowledge of how businessmen manage their cash and more significantly, how they move it around.

The victim is never to blame, but businessmen can reduce risk to themselves by not holding large quantities of cash in their home or transporting large quantities of cash on their person or in their vehicles. Most major companies delivering goods nationwide abandoned cash transactions on their trucks years ago as a deterrent to roadside highwaymen. That’s proven to have been a sensible decision and that kind of thinking clearly needs to be replicated on a wider scale throughout the business community.

Some businesspeople feel more comfortable walking around with huge sums of cash, or worse, sending their staff out with bundles of money that make them a target. These unfortunate tragedies signal the need for the police service, banks and chambers of commerce to pool their thinking about improved cash handling methods that meet a more challenging criminal landscape. Banks, especially, can help here, either with education outreach programmes or advertisements in the media that target small businesses. 

Large businesses, including the parent company of the Guardian newspaper, already conduct much of their commercial business through cashless transactions. Global companies such as Ebay and its partner Paypal have shown that it’s possible to safely transfer small sums from buyer to seller. More and more retail outlets have swipe and pin systems for cashless transactions.

Such systems must be robust enough to challenge thieves who are demonstrating a clear capacity for patiently monitoring the schedules of businesses and a ruthless ability to execute their plans to exploit such weaknesses. When delivery vehicles were endangered, the response was both well thought out and robust. 

Meaningful systems and managerial support for small and medium enterprises have traditionally lagged behind the resources available to big business in this country, and when it comes to this basic matter of security, lives are being both endangered and lost. The business sector and our police force can do better. Indeed, they must do better.

Monkey pants: A bad situation (Dictionary of the English/Creole of T&T, Lise Winer)

Bespoke: (of goods): commissioned, made to order, as opposed to “ready-made” (Shorter Oxford English Dictionary)

Sometimes you wonder how Trinis could ever have thought of something—like: how, in the name of God or the Devil, did we conceptualise expressing someone’s being in a dreadful situation as their being “in a monkey pants”? Picture it and you see William Shakespeare green with envy. It’s sheer firetrucking poetry. But, then, you also have to wonder how a people capable of such linguistic elegance are also simultaneously so stupid as to repeatedly put themselves in a bespoke monkey pants.

Last week, as if to prove Explainer was right when he sang, In Parliament, They Kicksin’, our legislature passed a law North Korea might have thought too draconian to foist on their subjugated population—and our entire population cheered for it (apart from the Law Association, Senators Elton Prescott, Helen Drayton, Aysha Edwards, and me and the usual journalistic suspects).

After its passage all but unopposed in both chambers, the Bail (Amendment) Act 2015 needs only presidential proclamation to make it legal for our police to arrest and keep in jail for 120 days anyone they say they found with a gun; not anyone with a gun, you know, but anyone THEY SAY they found with a gun.

They do not have to prove anything at all to anyone to be able to lock up any- and everyone they feel like, for three full months. They do not even have to tell a magistrate anything they know about an accused person (which would arise in the application for and affect the granting of bail).

In yet another abdication of their own responsibility to govern the firetrucking place by creating effective crime-fighting policy or requiring the police to do any actual police work, our Houseful of Jokers washed their hands of the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”—and threw it into the dirty hands of our police!

The same police who, three Mondays ago, staged a highway version of a palace coup in furtherance of their own wage negotiations. Abusing both their powers and roadblocks meant for national security purposes, not their own industrial relations wishes, our police kept hundreds of thousands of citizens unlawfully detained for five hours or more, inhaling leaded petrol fumes, while they pretended to check oil levels of cars they stopped.

International flights were missed, countless working man-hours wasted, contracts broken, huge sums of money—and possibly lives—lost; and all because a group of people with guns felt like flexing their muscles.

(I am told they did it again on a lesser scale on the public holiday Monday, with roadblocks at Westmoorings and the Saddle, detaining anyone foolish enough to go to Chaguaramas or Maracas for an Easter swim.)

Every police officer who took part two weeks ago in what was plainly a criminal action should be fired, sent to jail, or both. Indeed, the Director of Public Prosecutions might want to research just how treason—the crime of betraying one’s country—is committed. The difference between what the police did three Mondays ago and what Abu Bakr did in 1990 was that the Muslimeen used live ammo and the police will not be locked up at all before being paid a lot of money by the state.

Our police cannot be trusted. They have plainly demonstrated a willingness—indeed, an eagerness—to stand the law on its head and to inflict pain and suffering on vast numbers of innocent, law-abiding citizens to gain a possible personal advantage.

Even if you turn a blind eye to what seems more and more like the police murder of suspects—otherwise known as “citizens”—in places labelled “hot spots”—otherwise known as “the country”—you cannot fail to notice that you have been illegally detained for no reason at all for several hours when you should be going to work or the hospital.

And these firetrucking bandits are the people to whom we have now handed the right to lock anyone at all up for 120 days without bail. Imagine your teenaged son driving the family car home with a girl he wants to impress. Imagine a police roadblock created, not to serve, but to harass, intimidate and inconvenience the public—it’s really not so hard to do—and now imagine your son, in his innocence, giving slight backchat to a police with attitude.

Now stop imagining because here’s the reality: you will see your son three months later, when he gets out of the Remand Yard and all its joys (such as nine men and one bucket in a space you couldn’t park a Mini in, with little food and a great deal of violence). You have to wonder how Trinis could come up with some of the things they come up with—like naming strains of flu; but you only have to look at the choices they make, and the work they avoid doing, to see why they end up, not in a monkey pants, but in a monkey firetrucking straitjacket.

• BC Pires is encouraging every journalist in the country to get off their Facebooks and fat a---- and attend the MATT meeting at 10 am tomorrow at either north or south venue, the TSTT booth at the Queen’s Park Oval or the TSTT office, St James Street, San Fernando; especially you, Erline Andrews, and anyone else who wonders what MATT can really do for them. Go figure out what you can do for MATT.

Part Two

Chain link fencing
Two important factors in selecting chain link are the mesh size and the gauge of the wire. The mesh size is the minimum clear distance between the wires forming the parallel sides of the mesh.  The smaller the mesh size the more difficult the fence is to climb or cut and the heavier the gauge of the wire the more difficult to cut. See security levels guide for varying gauges and mesh sizes. 

Wire wall
Recent technological innovations mean that one is no longer limited to brick walls or chain link fencing. One fencing option that is now available is wire wall. This was originally specifically developed for maximum security prisons but is now also used for high-end residential properties. Wire wall is a welded wire mesh and the unique welded mesh design and construction features narrow openings that are highly resistant to climbing or cutting. 

Attempting to cut through wire wall takes many minutes and if cut it will not unravel or lose its stability. The narrow openings prevent any would-be climber from getting a handhold or toehold. Wire wall has no blind spots, providing a clear line of sight at any angle so that it is easily seen-through. 

Electric fencing
Another option that has begun to appear in the Caribbean is the use of electric fences. These are certainly a strong deterrent to unauthorised entry. There is, however, a definite liability issue for accidental death or injury arising from these fences. Just imagine the homeowner’s predicament if an old lady, tiredly walking home, leans against the fence to rest for a few moments, or a little child playing near the fence touches the fence while retrieving a ball. 

If a homeowner chooses this security option, we recommend that it be used as a topping for a wall. That wall should be at least seven feet high and then the electric fence placed on top so that there can be no accidental touching of the fence. Warning notices should be visibly posted at multiple locations along the fence. Even with those precautions one still has to take into account workmen who may place ladder nearby. 

Razor spikes
A very recent entry on the perimeter protection market is the use of razor spikes. These consist of a continuous double row of razor sharp spikes. The outer spikes are barbed and the narrow inner spikes have high penetrating power. Razor spikes are a wall topping to deter anyone attempting to climb over a wall. They are a formidable barrier but unlike razor wire they do not have that prison-like appearance and indeed have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 

As a result of their galvanise coating, they have a long life and are very easy to install as they simply have to be bolted into the top of the wall. In addition, they can also be painted to match the colour of the wall. They also have the advantage that they can also be used as a topping for a wire wall or a gate. As is normal with many products, there are cheap imitations made with a lighter grade of metal that can easily be bent, defeating the purpose and greatly reducing the security effect. 

In addition, the imitations tend to be painted but not galvanised and so rust easily. So at the end of the day, what is the best choice for someone looking for perimeter protection for their home or business? As always, the answer is that it depends. In this case, it would depend on the physical characteristics of the property, your relationship with your neighbours and the amount of money available for the perimeter protection. 

As a general rule, however, a good choice is a wall at the back topped with razor spikes, if the back of the property is an area not seen by others, and fencing at the front and sides to provide visibility for the neighbours.

Training courses that deal with physical security, risks assessments, security systems, security supervision as well as law enforcement and public safety areas topics like fire safety, first aid and first responder training are available to organisations, groups of people and individuals at the Caribbean Institute for Security and Public Safety. Contact us at 223-6999, info@caribbeansecurityinstitute.com or www.caribbeansecurityinstitute.com

Security level guide
A. Extremely high security    3/8” mesh 11 gauge
B. Very high security    1” mesh 9 gauge
C. High security    1” mesh 11 gauge
D. Greater security    2” mesh 6 gauge
E. Normal industrial security    2” mesh 9 gauge 

These five levels are all above the type of chain link that is most often used in the Caribbean around homes and residential properties. 

The T&T Guardian headline of April 7 “Panday bashes Kamla” after the PM fails to call internal UNC elections is instructive. The report quotes Bas as saying that the PM was leading the UNC illegally as internal elections have been overdue for three years since she was elected as party leader in February 2010. He said elections for that post should have been held since 2013. Panday’s criticism no doubt carries negative undercurrent of him being displaced by Kamla Persad-Bissessar as political leader in 2010, but are the facts in order? 

A UNC release, according to the same report,  suggests that the constitution is under review and elections, inclusive that of the executive since that is also overdue, will be held when the exercise is completed and ratified by the party’s national executive by March 2014. This explanation seems plausible, but with March 2014 long gone, and further postponement to after the national elections according to the party’s interim chair on Wednesday, it’s unlikely that questions will arise about this continuing deferral of internal elections constitutionally due.

Considering the critical role being given to the PM’s image for the forthcoming elections, is she deliberately using the loyalty of party members to her own advantage, and thus tarnishing that image with one of an absolute leader willing to break the rules with impunity? 

The undecided 33 per cent which the party is targeting will ask those questions. If this group goes further to compare this interference with the party’s constitution with the democracy of one-man, one-vote leading to the appointment of Rowley in the PNM, and further with the forthright approach of the screening process daring to discard the old and give the party a new face with new blood, won’t the latter appear to this undecided 33 per cent as having a more enlightened, progressive approach to politics? 

Winning this group is key to PP’s performance.  But it is by no means a done deal as one mouthy party spokesman seems to think if the largesse goes on unabated and the demonising of Rowley becomes more relentless. The latter is food for the sycophants but for the crucial 33 per cent undecided there is need to appeal to their intelligence in providing a plan for a better T&T, which means that the PP strategists must rethink their strategies or die!

Dr Errol Benjamin

I have read with interest the comments by Colm Imbert and the response thereto by Nigel Henry. Permit me to observe that on February 9, 2015, I had commented on the then recent poll which had been conducted by Henry and I daresay I am led to conclude that I need now but to offer the same comments in respect of Henry’s latest poll.  

These were, and I quote:
1. The poll saw Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar leading Dr Rowley by a fairly substantial margin in terms of acceptability for the job of Prime Minister;
2. Notwithstanding item (1), the poll then (as now), saw a “slight” PNM victory;
3. Some 20-30 per cent of voters were “undecided” and thus not allowing a meaningful scientific evaluation;
4. Did the position at items (1) and (2) lead one to wonder whether there was a “Trinidad prejudice” against Dr Rowley, he being a “Tobago boy” or is it that he is “too black.” I went on to hope that this was not the case.

I do however reiterate my view that it is unusual for a party leader and the party which he or she leads to be moving in different directions in terms of public acceptability and popularity. Here one recalls the relatively recent outcome of the Bush/Gore presidential election race where, despite Gore winning the popular vote, he nevertheless lost the presidential election. This, of course, was   due to the peculiarities of the American presidential election apparatus.

In terms of Henry’s last poll, I would not go as far as Imbert and describe the methods he uses as “unscientific.” My doubt revolves around the “representative” nature of the poll sample itself. Thus, because of the homogeneity of its population, it might be fairly easy to predict the outcome of an election in Tobago say as Henry was able to do for the last THA elections. However, I am not sure that a poll conducted by telephone would hold steadfastly for Trinidad given the variations which need to be put into a “frame” for the non-homogeneity country of T&T.

Finally, Henry has said that his latest poll was conducted just when the “no-confidence motion” was about to be in train. My own feeling is that were a poll to be conducted today, the results would be somewhat different. Indeed I expect that there would be a relatively large reduction in the “Don’t Knows”—a shift which would hardly see this category of voters returning to its previous position.

Errol oc cupid
Trincity, Tacarigua

It is just unbelievable that policemen in any country in the world could pull a stunt as our policemen did, deliberately creating road blocks as an obvious protest in support of their demands for more pay, and get away with it. The police should not be allowed to be judge and jury in cases where the police have committed an offence. This verdict has now given a wink and a nod to policemen to act as a law onto themselves and will encourage more resentment and disrespect for the police by the citizens.

It would appear that on this island those in responsible positions of authority have lost their power of logical reasoning, morals, and can no longer distinguish between right and wrong. We the citizens are now left vulnerable, subject to more disrespect and wrongdoings by our local police without any hindrance or due punishment whatsoever. This verdict reflects the thinking of those senior officers in the hierarchy of our police system.   

GA Marques

If for nothing else, history will be kind to Patrick Manning for having the foresight and intelligence to try to set up a parallel police force (SAUTT), and to veto the appointment, at that time, to Commissioner of Police, of the now acting CoP. I say this with the greatest of respect. Mr Williams must have a very low opinion of the intelligence of the people of T&T and the temerity to give a press conference to insult us by trying to convince us that what took place had “no link to the wage negotiations” and that the action was “legal” and to talk a lot of nonsense about “total policing.” 

Really? So what do we get the rest of the time? Less than total policing? What took place on March 23 was a disgrace. It was a serious threat to the country, and the perpetrators should be brought to justice, starting from the top. In any other organised society, the first man to go would have been the man at the top, and by his own volition to boot. 
​
Bring back Dwayne Gibbs and Jack Ewatski, as this would never have taken place under their watch.

F Mouttet,
Westmoorings

Over the Easter weekend, I watched a televised leaders’ debate in the run-up to the 2015 UK general election. 

Seven political parties were represented; the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, the UK Independence Party, the Scottish National Party, the Green Party and Welsh party, Plaid Cmyru. 

Each leader made a brief opening statement and then questions were fielded from the audience. The programme was expertly moderated by ITV presenter, Julie Etchingham, who herded and corralled her charges with consummate ease.

The debate kicked off with a question from a 17-year-old who challenged the leaders to convince him of how each proposes to whittle away at the staggering £70 billion deficit without increasing taxation or introducing more cuts to vital public services. 

In addition to the deficit, the seven leaders crossed swords on three other major issues: the National Health Service, education and immigration.

But here’s the thing, they not only espoused their ideas for building a better UK, they also spelled out where they would get the money to implement those ideas. A mansion tax, a banker’s bonus tax, a crackdown on tax evasion, less funding for weapons and foreign aid; each participant explained how campaign promises would be converted into “Johnny Punch-clock,” everyday reality.

The most resounding impact of this debate (at least for me) was the confident manner with which the leaders flexed their erudition on important national concerns. They all seemed to have historical context on tap, as well as ready recall of statistics which they deployed in the service of their message. 

There was no cringe-worthy fumbling for facts and figures. Even with a rigid time frame to respond, each leader was able to articulate their party’s policies because they’ve been repeating them at every opportunity during the course of campaigning. It should be noted at the time of the ITV debate, manifestos had not even been published yet.

British Prime Minister David Cameron stoutly resisted goading from Labour’s Ed Milliband, sticking to his message of “let’s keep a good thing going.” Ed Milliband, at times, appeared to take control of the stage, knowing exactly when to turn to a particular camera and speak to the people at home. 

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and David Cameron’s coalition partner, Nick Clegg, warned against both his partner in government and opponent in labour, offering instead, a “goldilocks” approach to fiscal governance. Clegg posits that while the Tories have taken a reckless scythe to budgets affecting health care and education, Labour is sure to go the extreme opposite. His party espouses social responsibility with fiscal prudence. 

UKIP’s Nigel Farage played to his xenophobic constituency. All of his anti-immigration powered responses, as distasteful as they may have been, were direct and to the point; exit the EU and vanquish the immigration succubus. The leaders of the other small parties held their own, hammering away at the need to put more of their MPs in parliament to prod for greater accountability with whomever leads the house. 

The ITV debate unfurled a broad range of perspectives among parties contesting the vote and that was just one debate. There are several other planned televised debates, even though Prime Minister David Cameron agreed only to the ITV round. 

After the debate I felt more comfortable with my vote, except I can’t vote in the UK elections. 

Here at home, the T&T Debates Commission has always had a tough time of seeding the debate culture. Funding issues, the exhaustive search for impartial moderators and the frustrating vacillation of the political leaders themselves; the headaches are legion. 

Make no mistake about it, similar challenges confronted the televised debates in the UK. Planning for the various debates began a year in advance of the election. Such preparation would be useful to our Debates Commission if they knew when the hell the election will be! 

The immense value of these debates was revealed in the Tobago House of Assembly election in January 2013. While it lacked polish and pace, it was an encouraging start and could very well have affected the fortunes of the participants. With the broader reach of television, voters had an opportunity to get a better appreciation for the candidates’ policies (or lack thereof) to improve the lives of Tobagonians. 

Battle lines have been redrawn by the immense influence of social media in modern politics and, for our closely-contested polls, televised debate must be accepted by our leaders as obligatory.

Furthermore, they must have a well-rounded knowledge of the economy, crime suppression, health, education and political reforms. They must present a clear-cut vision of the way forward on all of these pressing concerns. An electoral landscape transformed by social media, will accept nothing less. 

A more informed electorate wants these debates, so our political parties better get their act together. The debate environment will force our politicians to fine-tune their message and jettison the picong and spurious inferences. 

A properly moderated contest should leave the voter, particularly the undecided, with a clear understanding of what each leader is about and with informed choice of where their vote would best be invested. 

For a minute there at Wednesday’s Parliament session, it seemed PP and PNM MPs were trading political colours (along with the inevitable picong).

PP MPs Stephen Cadiz, Nizam Baksh and Rudy Indarsingh sported red ties. PNM MP Paula Gopee-Scoon, an orange blouse and Joanne thomas, a light yellow outfit.

“Come on this side,” Cadiz and Indarsingh cajoled PNM’s Pat McIntosh who left her PNM row to approach them, though declining their invitation.

“(PNM MP) Amery (Browne) get fired already?” asked PP senator Devant Maharaj of the absent Browne. “Or he practising for dat?”

Browne whose fate as candidate is being determined, isn’t the only one affected by the fluidity of the political landscape where highs and lows of varying degree have been occurring among political entities not only resulting from polls. 

If cut from the 2015 PNM team as seven of his colleagues have been, Browne would be yet another who’s made way for the changed PNM face which the Opposition, ahead of any corresponding offering by the ruling PP coalition, is offering for upcoming general elections. The changes erase any hint of previous leadership and marks the incoming team as fully that of the current PNM hierarchy.

Also, as of PNM’s March 29 function marking the 34th anniversary of the death of founder Eric Williams—three months ahead of the end of the term—party management has moved to finesse other issues perceived to stand in the way of the victory the PNM anticipates.

After various issues—from “kyat” statements to “wining” behaviour—which have affected PNM leader Keith Rowley’s bid for a solid national leadership image and in fending off the PP’s no confidence motion against him, Rowley that day presented a speech designed to effect a turnabout of his profile. Taking advantage of the back foot PP had been cast on to by MP Vernella Alleyne-Toppin’s controversial statements about him. 

Set against the backdrop of Williams’ life and addressing an audience of mainly PNM officials and activists (and a minority of MPs), Rowley, and reading from a prepared speech (when he usually speaks off the cuff) promised to be a prime minister for all, acknowledged he’d heard the criticisms of himself and the political environment being made. Both he and PNM handlers must know that he will be held stiffly to the pledges of that particular speech—in terms of action—before the change in perception the words were crafted to bring about, can ensue.

His mellow tones there gave way to his usual acerbic stylings at Thursday’s St Augustine meeting via which he lashed Government, targeted the PM’s judgment (much as she has his) mimicked the President’s 2013 “powers I have” line, dropped “rats” into the mix and threatened legal action against some radio hosts/commentators (while condemning the NGC for contemplating same for the Express). In between, he revealed PNM governance policy.

How much the PNM’s external stocks—currently trending upward—will be affected by internal issues such as candidates, the fallout from two withdrawals (Tobago East, Chaguanas East) and the depth of assistance which rejected incumbents will give successors, remains to unfold.

Diego Martin Central’s Browne’s absence from Parliament on Wednesday also absented his support from PNM’s walkout on the PP’s no confidence motion against Rowley. The latter at Thursday’s public meeting sought to handle screening fallout, saying Parliament wasn’t the only place to serve.

The PNM’s forward roll may also be due in part by the fact it has presented new candidates for the electorate to consider and has been revealing governance alternatives. The PP hasn’t presented new faces (beyond few in January’s changes) or hinted at manifesto contents.

Despite large numbers at its meetings, the PP is therefore confined to being perceived in part as battle-torn and allegation-ridden and has been more focused on targetting Rowley with various action, than promoting its election profile beyond the usual practices. Consequently, it was quite vulnerable to the depth of the damage (particularly in Tobago) which MP Alleyne-Toppin’s unfortunate delivery caused.

The PP’s wooing of the undecided sector (separate from a potential PNM “undecided” segment that could result from the assorted changes in the Opposition) will also have to factor in the entry of new political opponents, Alliance of Independents (AI) in the next two weeks since AI targets Tunapuna and other east-west corridor seats the PP needs for victory. Once PP colleagues and now foes, AI’s entry has also compounded the PP’s already fragmented image.

From Monday’s UNC forum resumption and onwards, it remains to be seen how the coalition will recoup from the Alleyne-Toppin “blow,” handle Rowley’s “new” image and counter the challenge being mounted on the ground by the Opposition in areas including San Fernando (PNMites confirmed) where residents are being advised to accept whatever Government offers “...and still vote PNM.” 

On what lies ahead, a PP official said yesterday: “When you’re down politically, there’s only one way to go...”

A PNM official has however, countered that, “It’s out...”

I wish to bring to your attention the miserable condition of Nanlal Trace, Enterprise, Chaguanas. Part of the road was last resurfaced with oil sand about 20 years ago by the villagers through self-help efforts. 

For the last four years the road has become almost impassable. We have made several complaints but the road has remained neglected. 

The surface is broken by heavy rains and there are heaps of road materials on both sides leaving only little room in the middle. The side drains are either non-existent or blocked and the water flows onto the road. 

There are pits and ditches everywhere and the condition becomes all the worse during the rainy season. The broken culvert is also a danger for vehicles especially at night. 

This road serves a large number of houses and taxis are refusing to service this area. 

I, therefore, request that necessary action be taken to effect repairs so that people of the area can have good roads at least once in their lifetime.

T Nanlal

My daughter is a second-year (second semester) medical student at the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex.

On March 19 at approximately 9 am, she disembarked a vehicle in Car Park 6 and began to proceed towards her class. A brown stray dog attacked and bit her in the area of the left ankle. The dog apparently just had pups and according to my daughter, was very aggressive.

She called me at approximately 9.15 am, upon which I left my workplace to journey to Mount Hope. I got there at approximately 10 o’clock. The relevant personnel had already cleaned her up and she was waiting to be administered with a tetanus injection, which was done in a fairly timely fashion. Antibiotic was also prescribed.

After this, various Incident/Accident/OSHA forms had to be completed by my daughter which, by this time, the swelling had started in the ankle area and the fever and pain were coming on.

My issue here is (1) as a single parent having to take time away from my workplace; and (2) a member of the public which is more than concerned for what happened to her, and for the relevant authorities to ensure that there is not a recurrence of an incident of this nature.

From information received and confirmed, this is the third incident of this nature (students being bitten by stray dogs in the car park of the Mount Hope Medical Complex) for the year, 2015.

This could have happened to anyone, namely a child or an elderly person visiting someone at the Mt Hope Hospital.

In recent times, we have read of numerous people being attacked by dogs in various places in the country. I am not seeking compensation here, however, as a concerned parent and a member of the public I am asking that the relevant authorities please rid the complex and its environs of stray dogs.

I want to add at this point, the pigeons in and around the environs (their droppings are deadly) also pose a health problem. This is a medical institution, even sick people can get more sick.

Joanette Pariag

Williamsville

There is always a hue and cry that politicians must keep religion out of politics and that religious leaders must stay out of politics. 

However, I am always intrigued when religious public holidays come around to hear or read what politicians say on these occasions.

No matter how hard they try by beginning to sound religious, they always end with a tinge of politics in their delivered speeches. I really do not blame them, after all, are they not politicians trying to sound religious?

It reminds me of some folks who always trumpet that sports and politics should not mix. Do they not realise that the minister of sports is a politician?

In ancient biblical days, Kings led their armies to war only after consulting their religious leaders. In fact, religious leaders were summoned by rulers or kings to interpret dreams and signs before these leaders set foot outside the safety of the walls of their kingdom. 

It was therefore not strange for former PM Manning to have a religious guru as one of his advisers. Neither is it strange for PM Persad-Bissessar to give Sat Maharaj more than a listening ear. 

It is only in recent times that politicians are trying to detach themselves from religious leaders. Politicians will never say how many pundits, imams, pastors or priests that they visit for guidance, but they do.

So come on people, enough of this foolhardiness about religion and politics. Politics rule our lives daily, especially in this silly season. If we want to escape the cut and thrust of politics, why not try living on Mars!

Laurence Percival