In a letter to the Editor of the T&T Guardian on June 17, 2015, Trevor Sudama stated that in “his column in the Sunday Guardian of 14/06/15, Hamid Ghany, constitutional expert, distinguished academic and apologist for incumbent administrations, stated that in 2001 Ramesh Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and myself switched our support from then PM Basdeo Panday to then Leader of the Opposition, Patrick Manning. 

I am not sure what is the source of Hamid Ghany’s erroneous information…” I would like to state for the record that the source of my information was not erroneous, but rather it was taken from a lead story in the T&T Guardian dated Friday October 5, 2001, under the headline “Done Deal: UNC rebels, PNM join forces” by Afiya Butler. That story opens as follows: “The PNM and the dissident UNC Three have reached an agreement which could lead to the establishment of a new government. 

The announcement of the agreement came yesterday after a meeting between PNM Leader Patrick Manning and his team and UNC dissidents Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama at the Hilton Trinidad. When they came out of the meeting, all sides were smiling and Manning told reporters ‘We have reached agreement on an accommodation in principle.’” 

I shall be grateful if you could publish my letter to (i) correct the erroneous information presented by Mr Sudama in his letter on June 17th in which he suggested that he and his colleagues had not switched their support from Basdeo Panday to Patrick Manning, (ii) to confirm that the source of my information was not “incorrect” as he has suggested, but rather to confirm that my information was taken from the front page of the Trinidad Guardian for Friday 5th October, 2001, and (iii) that in writing my articles for the Sunday Guardian, I make every attempt to ensure that all of my articles are well-researched as I did for my article in the Sunday Guardian of June 14th 2015.

Dr Hamid Ghany,
Senior Lecturer in Political Science,
Faculty of Social Sciences,
University of the West Indies,
St Augustine.

We live in a world where the greatest crime is defending oneself against criminals. There have been numerous riots and protests in recent times in the US over known criminals and drug dealers who were killed in encounters with the police.

Now in Trinidad, there is a case where two residents of Danny Avenue, Endeavour, Chaguanas, have been detained by the police for inflicting a single chop wound on an alleged home intruder from the Dominican Republic. This year, there has been a surge in house break-ins which have resulted in numerous deaths of law-abiding citizens. Citizens are once again living in fear of criminals inside the sanctuary of their own homes. How many of these cases have been solved by the police?

With this background, someone broke into the home of some Chaguanas residents, and they defended their lives and property by inflicting one chop wound to the intruder’s hand. They did not chop him ten times. They did not chop him until he died. There is no planet in which a single chop wound could be construed as excessive force. 

Yet the police were very quick to rule this death a homicide and to detain two members of the family. With all the serious crime taking place in this country, this is what the police are pursuing. It seems that the only thing they are good at is keeping law-abiding citizens in check while brazen criminals roam free. It is a very sad day when law-abiding citizens could be prosecuted for the self-defence death of a criminal home intruder. I sincerely hope the citizens of this country will stand against this kind of extreme injustice.

Denver Cheddie,
Via email.

Reference is made to the article headlined, “Judge halts CDA on farmers’ land,” written by Sharlene Rampersad, which appeared on Page A7 in the June 18, 2015, edition of the Guardian newspaper. The headline and the content of the article are inaccurate.  The errors in the report are as follows:

• Contrary to the headline, the judge did not halt CDA’s development activities. The injunction was not granted and all our scheduled work activities will continue as planned. However, as a show of good faith, the CDA has given an undertaking to the Court that it will stop works in the area in question until the matter is heard on June 30, 2015.
• Justice Frank Seepersad did not grant an interim Order in favour of Guave Road Farmers as reported in your article. In addition, he gave no instructions to the CDA to refrain from clearing the land or erecting any structures on the lands under review.
• Our work plan for the area already includes the preservation of all the trees and mature forest elements in the area.
• The CDA Act of 1972 has clearly vested the lands in Chaguaramas to the CDA and therefore referring to the property as owned by any other group or body would be inaccurate and prejudicial.
• The CDA only received the Summons on Tuesday and the Judge initially sought an early date for the hearing of June 24. However, Colvin Blaze, Council for the Haig Community Limited which represents the group requested an extension to June 30 as Mr Blaze will be out of the country next week.
• The CDA will be ready to proceed at the next hearing on June 30 as we are looking forward to an early resolution of this matter.

Joycelin Hargreaves
Chief Executive Officer 

UNIVERSITY PLACE—He won the first one the way players like to take majors, leading from the start at the Masters on a romp to the green jacket. The second for Jordan Spieth came Sunday night with a bit more difficulty. Had Dustin Johnson been a little more steady with the putter on the final green Sunday, they might still be playing for the US Open trophy.

Johnson wasn’t, much to the astonishment of the 6,000 or so who crowded the grandstands at maligned Chambers Bay for an Open finish like no other. He had to settle for holding his infant son off the 18th green on Father’s Day, instead of the US Open trophy.

That belonged to Spieth, the phenom from Texas who impressed so many by not only winning the Masters but the grace and composure he showed while doing it. He spoke after that win about bringing a present home to his special needs sister, and it was clear that meant almost as much to him as winning his first green jacket. He’s now halfway to history, yet still barely old enough to drink. The last player who did things like Spieth was named Tiger Woods, which seems so long ago.

Now he’s the youngest since Bobby Jones nearly a century ago to win back-to-back major championships. Spieth has a chance to do what even Woods couldn’t and win all four of golf’s major tournaments in one year. Watching him Sunday on the crunchy greens at Chambers Bay, it was hard not to get the sense that he’s only just begun.

“He’s gritty, he’s fiery, he doesn’t give up on any shot,” caddie Michael Greller said. “If anything, this week just validated who I know he is, which is just a world-class player with an unbelievable mind.” The story line at this Open unfolded easily, like it was written by a golf historian of the future. Woods came here to try and salvage his game, while Spieth came to cement his mark as a generational champion in the making.

Woods didn’t even make it to the weekend in yet another display of how humbling golf can be. The greatest player of his time seems forever stuck on 14 majors, and it remains to be seen how long he will keep embarrassing himself like he did here when he couldn’t even come close to beating a 15-year-old amateur before getting out of town on his private jet before the weekend began.

It was Spieth who salvaged this Open, making it one to remember for all the right reasons instead of the wrong. His 3-wood to the 18th green on Sunday was the kind of shot that will live in Open lore, even if Spieth didn’t make the eagle putt and even if he had to rely on Johnson 3-putting from 12 feet to seal the deal.

“This was just an odd deal, very odd,” Spieth said. “I very much feel for Dustin. He deserves to be holding the trophy just as much as I do, I think, this week. It just came down to him being the last one to finish and I was able to have one hole to rebound from my mistakes, and he wasn’t able to get that hole afterward.” That Spieth did it without his best game should give his fellow competitors pause. His ball striking was just a bit off, he said, his putting not always up to his standards.

It was the kind of thing Woods used to say, then go out and beat everyone anyway. It didn’t seem possible another player of that caliber would come along in his time, but here Spieth is at the age of 21 brimming with confidence as the British Open at St. Andrews approaches and the possibility of a Grand Slam looms.

“I’m just focused on the Claret Jug now,” he said of the British Open trophy. “I think that the Grand Slam is something that I never could really fathom somebody doing, considering I watched Tiger win when he was winning whatever percentage of the majors he played in and he won the Tiger Slam, but he never won the four in one year. I figured if anybody was going to do it, it would be him.”

After doing all the right things to win his second title, Spieth said all the right things. He thanked his caddie, said he was happy just to be the brother of Steven Spieth, a shooting guard at Brown University. And he held the trophy and looked at his beaming father just off the 18th green to show off the best Father’s Day present ever.

“To win this tournament on Father’s Day, I just hope my dad’s proud of me,” he said. “Dad, this one was definitely for you today. This trophy is for you, and this is a day we’ll never forget.” They won’t, after a Sunday that a lot of people in golf won’t soon forget either.

Mindy Charles and Cristina Abreu were both on target as  Harvard Checkers edged past Notre Dame 2-1 to stay in the hunt for the T&T Hockey Board Women’s Championship Division at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua on Sunday. After a 0-0 first two quarters, Charles opened the scoring for Checkers in the 45th minute to lead 1-0 at the end of the third quarter while Abreu doubled the advantage in the 50th.

But four minutes later, national forward Blair Wynne sliced the deficit in half to give the Dames hopes of turning the contest around. However, Checkers held on for the valuable win to join Paragon in second spot with 16 points, but while the latter has played eight matches, Checkers which tackle Magnolias from 8pm tomorrow has played nine.

At the top of the table is Georgetown Cricket Club of Guyana which ended its 12-match campaign with 20 points while Magnolias is fourth with 13 points from eight matches as well, three more than Notre Dame which is still in the title race with ten points from eight matches.

In the Men’s Championship Division, Petrotrin leads the table with 28 points from 11 matches and needs only one win from its three remaining matches to claim the title as it sits seven points ahead of defending champions Notre Dame which also has three matches left to play. Queen's Park is third on the table with 19 points from 12 matches, three ahead of Paragon which has four left to play while Defence Force has 12 points from 11 matches in fifth spot.

Sunday’s T&T HB Results
Trinity Men:
Paragon 1 (K Quashie 25th) vs Notre Dame 0
Women’s Championship:
Courts Malvern 7 (Krizia Layne 21st, 23rd, 29th, 53rd, Kherdine Gonzales 17th, Liselle Parris 53rd, Sherlan Cabralis 56th) vs Ventures 0
Harvard Checkers 2 (Mindy Charles 45th, Cristina Abreu 50th) vs Notre Dame 1 (Blair Wynne 54th)
Current T&THB selected tables:
Men’s Championship:
Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Petrotrin    11    9    1    1    41    16    28
Notre Dame    11    6    3    2    29    16    21
QPCC    12    5    4    3    29    21    19
Paragon    10    5    1    4    25    24    16
D/Force    12    2    6    4    24    26    12
Malvern    11    2    4    5    16    21    10
Fatima    12    2    3    7    17    33    9
Paradise    9    2    0    7    16    41    6
Women’s Championship:
GCC    12    6    2    4    22    20    20
Paragon    8    4    4    0    18    7    16
Checkers    9    4    4    1    10    5    16
SC Magnolias    8    4    1    3    20    9    13
Notre Dame    8    3    1    4    13    15    10
Malvern    7    2    2    3    14    13    8
Ventures    8    0    0    8    1    29    0
Trinity Men:
Notre Dame    8    4    1    3    24    13    13
QPCC    6    4    1    1    18    7    13
Paradise    6    4    1    1    18    11    13
Malvern    6    4    0    2    9    6    12
Paragon    6    3    0    3    4    10    9
Carib    4    2    0    2    6    6
Shape    5    2    0    3    7    9    6
Fatima    5    0    1    4    3    14    1
Police    4    0    0    4    1    13    0
Trinity Women:
Magnolias    4    4    0    0    24    12
Checkers    4    3    1    0    21    3    10
Paragon    5    3    1    1    11    10    10
Malvern    3    1    0    2    10    8    3
Police    4    1    0    3    4    14    3
Paradise    4    0    0    4    1    12    0
Raiders    2    0    0    2    0    24    0
Under-19 Boys:
Malvern    7    7    0    0    54    2    21
QPCC    7    6    0    1    37    6    18
Fatima    6    3    1    1    13    12    11
Paragon    7    3    1    3    15    10    10
Petrotrin    7    2    1    4    7    43    7
Shape    4    2    0    2    11    10    6
Paradise    5    1    1    3    8    14    4
Notre Dame    8    1    0    789    38    3
Raiders    5    0    1    4    0    19    1
Under-19 Girls:
Magnolias    5    5    0    0    75    1    15
Paragon    5    3    1    1    47    5    10
Malvern    5    3    1    1    30    13    10
Checkers    5    1    2    2    10    4    5
Notre Dame    3    1    0    2    3    13    3
Petrotrin    5    1    0    4    3    90    3
Raiders    4    0    0    4    2    42    0

With three rounds of matches left to complete the season, Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh remained firm favourites to sweep the three divisions, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 of the Malta Carib Youth Pro League. But while Under-13s and Under-17s both won their matches over visiting Central FC at the San Juan North Secondary Ground, Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan to stay five and two points clear at the top of their respective tables, the Under-15 squad suffered its first loss in 15 matches.

In the Under-13 age-group, Jabloteh whipped Central FC 3-1 thanks to two late goals. After a 0-0 first-half, Jerry Morris put San Juan ahead four minutes after the restart, but Mattew De Souza responded for Central FC in the 70th minute. However, De Souza’s effort was not enough to earn his team a share of the points as the visitors buckled under some sustained pressured and conceded an own goal in the 72nd and a minute later Daniel David added a third item for Jabloteh.

The win moved Jabloteh to 43 points from 15 matches, five more than lone challenger Caledonia AIA, 3-0 victors over Police FC at Valtrin Recreation Ground, Valsayn with a goal each from Kareem Trotman (13th), Atiba Weeks (47th) and Malachi Daniel (69th). Both Jabloteh and Caledonia will lock horns  Sunday at Valsayn in a potential title decider from 10am.

Central FC had better fortune in their Under-15 encounter with Jabloteh at Bourg Mulatresse as it came away 1-0 victors thanks to a 35th minute effort from Sherwin Williams. Despite the loss, Jabloteh which had won 11 of its previous 14 matches, stayed top of the standings with 36 points and three matches remaining and still four clear of Japs North East Stars, which failed to take use of the leaders slip-up, following its 1-1 draw with Club Sando at Ojoe Road Recreation Ground, Sangre Grande.

Stars got a perfect start to the match with Kishorn Hackshaw scoring inside the first minute which it failed to add to, and was made to pay when Isa Bramble tied the match with a 74th minute strike. Third placed DirecTV W Connection which can finish no higher than second edged Defence Force 2-1, the same score for St Ann’s Rangers over Pt Fortin Civic while Police slipped past Caledonia AIA 1-0.

The Jabloteh camp ended the day on a high though, as for the second match in-a-row Dereem Daniel stole the spotlight with his second match winner in as many outings, for a 2-1 triumph over Central FC. But from early the result looked in doubt when Raheem Borde fired Central FC into a 1-0 lead three minutes before the half-time whistle.

On resumption, Jabloteh pressed for the equaliser and it came through Maciek Hoyte in the 79th while a minute before the final whistle Daniel struck the decisive item to push his team to 34 points, two ahead of North East Stars which ran out 5-0 winners over Club Sando led by a hat-trick from Isiah Lee, in  the first, 14th and 68th minutes.

Renaldo Francois (71st) and Malick Mitchell (87th penalty) added one each for Stars.

Also still in the title chase is W Connection with 31 points after blanking Defence Force 2-0 at Trinity College East, Trincity on goals from Aaldn Minors (13th) and Ken Bhola (83rd) while Pt Fortin Civic, fourth with 27 points, trounced St Ann’s Rangers 3-0 at Trinity College, Moka; Marala inspired by a  double from Jeremiah Kesar (13th & 22nd) and Darnel Hospedales’ 58th minute goal.

Results

Sunday’s Malta Carib Youth League results

• Under-13 Division
Jabloteh 3 (Jerry Morris 49th, own goal 72nd, Daniel David 73rd) vs Central FC 1 (Matthew De Souza 70th)
W Connection 2 (Joshua Joseph 48th, Josiah Allen 61st) vs Defence Force 0
Club Sando 2 (Josiah Thomas 21st, Noah Simmons 60th) vs North East Stars 1 (Jeremiah Lewis 44th)
St Ann’s Rangers 3 (Darius Douglas 20th, 48th, Ronaldinho Clarke 23rd) vs Pt Fortin Civic 1 (Ezekiel Kezar 57th)
Caledonia AIA 3 (Kareem Trotman 13th, Atiba Weeks 47th, Malachi Daniel 69th) vs Police FC 0

• Under-15 Division
Central FC 1 (Sherwin Williams 35th) 
vs Jabloteh 0
W Connection 2 (Christian Ransome 7th, Jevaughn Humphrey 60th) vs Defence Force 1 (Marlie Graves 50th)
North East Stars 1 (Kishorn Hackshaw 1st) vs Club Sando 1 (Isa Bramble 74th)
St Ann’s Rangers 2 (Che Benny 44th, Justin Foncette 75th) vs Pt Fortin Civic 1 (Ezekiel Kezar 19th)
Police FC 1 (Kaiyel Kent 75th) vs Caledonia AIA

• Under-17 Division
Jabloteh 2 (Maciek Hoyte 79th, Dereem Daniel 89th) vs Central FC 1 (Raheem Borde 42nd)
W Connection 2 (Aaldn Minors 13th, Ken Bhola 83rd) vs Defence Force 0
North East Stars 5 (Isaiah Lee 1st, 14th, 68th, Renaldo Francois 71st, Malick Mitchell 87th pen)
vs Club Sando 0
Pt Fortin Civic 3 (Jeremiah Kesar 13th, 22nd, Darnel Hospedales 58th) vs St Ann’s Rangers 0
Caledonia AIA 1 (Jeron Blackman 21st) vs Police FC 1 (Isaiah Learmont 9th)

Standings
Latest Malta Carib Youth League standings:

• Under-13 Division

Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Jabloteh    15    14    1    0    77    9    43
Caledonia    15    12    2    1    41    7    38
W Connection    15    8    5    2    48    8    29
Central    15    7    4    4    19    13    25
Rangers    15    6    3    6    32    28    21
Club Sando    15    4    3    8    14    61    15
D/ Force    15    4    2    9    21    34    14
P/Fortin Civic    15    4    2    9    16    40    14
Police    15    1    4    10    12    41    7
N/East Stars    15    0    4    11    9    48    4

• Under-15 Division
Jabloteh    15    11    3    1    38    13    36
N/East Stars    15    9    5    1    41    16    32
W Connection    15    7    5    3    33    20    26
P/Fortin Civic    15    7    3    5    23    16    24
Club Sando    15    7    3    5    20    15    24
Central    15    6    3    6    19    23    21
Rangers    15    4    2    9    25    32    14
Defence Force    15    2    6    7    22    31    12
Police    15    3    2    10    10    51    11
Caledonia    15    1    4    10    10    24    7

• Under-17 Division
Jabloteh    15    11    1    3    29    11    34
N/East Stars    15    9    5    1    36    13     32
W Connection    15    9    4    2    36    13    31
P/Fortin Civic    15    8    3    4    30    22    27
Central    15    6    5    4    27    20    23
Police    15    6    5    4    24    17    23
Caledonia    15    6    3    6    28    20    21
Club Sando    15    3    2    10    11    39    11
D/Force    15    1    1    13    11    37    4
Rangers    15    1    1    13    14    54    4

Upcoming fixtures

Under-13 Division, 10 am kickoff
Under-15 Division, 2 pm kickoff
Under-17 Division, 4 pm kickoff

Next Sunday
St Ann's Rangers vs Club Sando, Trinity College, Moka, Maraval
W Connection vs Police FC, Gilbert Park, Couva
Central FC vs North East Stars, New Settlement Ground, Chaguanas
Caledonia AIA vs San Juan Jabloteh, Valtrin Recreation Ground, Valsayn
Defence Force vs Pt Fortin Civic, Trinity College East, Trincity
 

Davonne Joseph of the University of T&T was crowned champion of the North Zone of the T&T Table-Tennis Association (T&TTTA) A-2 Division at T&T Electricity Commission Sports Club, Flament Street, Port-of-Spain on Saturday. In a very competitive A-2 Division, Joseph of UTT, currently ranked 18th on ranking list, upstaged all to capture the title with a 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8 beating over Kourdell Powell.

Earlier on Joseph although losing in the round-robin group stage to Vino Maharaj of Tough Guys had victories over Ambika Sitram of UWI and Che-Pierre Fournillier of Carenage Blasters, winner of the B Division last year to finish second in group. He was on fire from the quarterfinals and proved too strong for Keon Constantine with a 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 and followed up by cruising past number four ranked women’s player, veteran Merle Baggoo in the  semifinals, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Powell and Baggoo had surprised top seeded Kamal Hunte in the group stages. Powell who recently helped St Augustine Campus to the team title in the UWI Games improved with every match scoring victory after victory. He first put a spoke in the wheels of former national women’s champion and current top ranked player  Brittany Joseph  12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 and then raised his game a notch to beat Vino Maharaj of Tough Guys in the last-four, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9.

In the B Class, the talented and ever improving Finn Bos of Carenage Blasters was unbeaten in a field that included Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s Stuart Morales, winner of last year’s Classified C competition. And in  the end neither junior women’s national Anjana Valsalan, or Morales could match him.

In the final he scored a comfortable victory over Alex Walcott 13-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6. This after Boss battled past Anjana Valsalan 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 and Walcott ousted Nikoli Barbour-Alexis 11-6, 11-9, 12-10 in the semifinals. Barbour-Alexis won the Novice class, last year.

Today the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) joins the rest of the global Olympic Movement in celebrating Olympic day. The occasion will be marked by a number of activities at Olympic House, 121 Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain. Various schools will be hosted at Olympic House. Members of the public are invited to visit and join in the celebrations. Olympic day in T&T comes against the backdrop of troubling times for local sport.

Sport is at a critical juncture and transition, decisions can either harm or help the sustainable development of sport here. Decisions that impact directly on the national sport organisations and their capacity to develop and run their sport require transparent two way discussions. Any perception of a lack of transparent discussions in and of itself damage claims of a commitment to good governance. 

In some quarters, the argument is still potent that both the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company has not done enough to calm fears and allay concerns in respect of good governance. Post Life Sport, the local sport community remains troubled. International bodies are intolerant of government interference. 

As the focus was put on a few individuals who may well have had less to do with the entire Life Sport debacle than the public has been led to believe. For certain individuals it’s business as usual and it serves a purpose to perpetually sing the song that national sport organisations don’t know what they are doing. Hence the refrain that Ministry of Sport and Sport Company is the solution.

Take away the fear of a loss of funding or access to funding there is need for broad discussions in respect of the sport system. Somethings aren’t as above board as some purport. Why is the Sport Commission and the establishment of the Commission on the back burner? What are the policy perspectives and imperatives informing the sidelining of the sport Commission? Who decided and why?

Has there been open and transparent consultation in respect of the way forward? What is the vision and strategic imperatives driving decision making? As the Ministry of Sport and Sport Company hold the microscope on national organisations and the Olympic Committee, there is a saying fix your own house first.

There are a number of extremely capable and honest individuals who make a hugely positive difference inside the Ministry of Sport and Sport Company. They have a clear sense of what needs to be done and why respecting the national sport organisations is a critical success factor. They know the hidden truth and need to be given a fair hearing. Ministers of Sport, generally, aren’t the intractable problem. Short term thinking overides the policy  cycle. 

In countries perceived as best practice, the public sector functions  effectively and efficiently  on the basis of policy and a policy cycle. What the sport community wants to understand from the political parties contesting the upcoming general elections is a loud and clear perspective on how will sport be integrated as a key pillar  in their respective economic and national vision and development plans.

Resource allocation of$57 million dollars to national sport organisations is not adequate and reflective of a sustainable  approach to sport development. 

Brian Lewis is the president of the T&TOlympic Committee. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Olympic Committee. Support #10 Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund make your donations to any branch of Scotiabank account number #171188. Share and support the Olympic Dream. 

The pair of Andy Gomez-Burke and Alan Elias won the 11th edition of the Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Charity Golf Tournament which was contested at the Magdalena Grand Resort and Spa Golf Course from June 12-14. Gomez-Burke and Elisa won ahead of  Shaffick Ali and Warren Steel while Johansen Singh and Dave Rajkumar were third.

A grand stroke was made marking not only this year’s commencement of the tournament but also its 11 years of existence as many  came out to the venue  to experience all the offerings. The tournament’s major sponsor Digicel, was not far behind, highlighting their sixth year of dedicated involvement with the event.

The beautiful Digicel Brand Ambassadors were also at hand to be a part of the prize giving ceremony that was later held at the Ballroom of the Magadalena Grand Resort with Niel Guiseppi as the master of ceremonies. The golfing was preceded by a welcome reception held at the club house of the Magdalena Grand where tournament co-ordinator, Jeffrey Azar and Chief Secretary,  the Honourable Orville London gave their welcome remarks. 

The trio of Mc Leod brothers, Olympian David, Joshua and Abraham along with USA-based Alexandria Donahue will spear-head this country’s medal hopes, when the 2015 edition of the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships splashes off at the National Aquatic Centre, Wildey, Christ Church, Barbados from today until Saturday. 

Two years ago when the event was held in San Jose, Costa Rica, Joshua Mc Leod and Florida-based Christian Homer both won three individual gold medals while Donahue took home two, in helping T&T to a tally of 34 medals overall (16 gold, seven silver and 11 bronze) and the highest place on the table of any English-speaking country, seventh and with 433 points for sixth. 

Venezuela emerged as champions with 1, 067 points well clear of Costa Rica (711) and Guatemala (497), while Honduras was fourth with 473 and Aruba fifth (450). T&T was next ahead of Barbados (362) and Bahamas (292). In terms of medals, the Venezuela won a whopping 94 (42 gold, 27 silver and 25 bronze), while T&T followed by Hoduras with 35 (11 gold, 12 silver, 12 bronze), Aruba with 37 (ten gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze) and Guatemala with 26 (ten gold, nine silver and seven bronze). 

Other medal winners from two years back to bolster the T&T swim squad, which has Paul Newallo as head coach, are Abraham Mc Leod and Kael Yorke who had one golden swim each. 

However, this time around, Homer is not part of the T&T squad along with Kristien Julien (two gold) and Cherelle Thompson, another individual gold winner from 2013. But the T&T squad will benefit from the inclusion of Donahue’s younger sister  Gabriela who will compete in the 11 to 12 age-group  This year’s event will be void of swimmers from Venezuela and Mexico. 

When swimming gets going from 9 am today, Yorke and Gabriela will be first in action in the 100m backstroke heats followed by Graham Chatoor in the 800m freestyle. Gabriela also swims in the 200m breaststroke while her elder sister Alexandria goes in the 100m breaststroke with Abraham Mc Leod. 

Yorke will return to the pool for the 50m freestyle heats with Jeron Thompson while the trio of Alexandria, Vrisnelit Faure and Thompson face the starter in their respective age-group 200m individual medley events ahead of the medley relays. The Open Water competition comes off from June 27 to 30 and the seven-member T&T squad for the 5K and  events will depart T&T on Friday along with coach Hazel Haynes at the helm. 

But, they will be without top medal hope in Christian Marsden as he focuses on his preparations for next month’s Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. In addition to host Barbados and T&T, the other countries listed to compete from today are Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Panama, Suriname, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Honduras, US Virgin Islands, Curacao, Jamaica, St Lucia, Grenada and Aruba.

T&T CCCAN swim team 

Girls:
• 11-12: Jada Chatoor, Gabriela Donahue
• 13-14: Vrisnelit Faure, Racine Ross
• 15-17: Amira Pilgrim, Ariel Cape
•18 & over: Alexandria “Allie” Donahue 

Boys: 
•11-12: Aqeel Joseph
• 13-14: Kael Yorke, Graham Chatoor, Luke Gillette, Jeron Thompson 
• 15-17: Bradley Thomas, Justin Samlalsingh
• 18 & over: Strasser Sankar, Christian Awah, Joshua Mc Leod, Abraham Mc Leod, David Mc Leod

Technical Staff: 
• Paul Newallo (coach), Brian Wickham (assistant coach), Shastri Sankar (manager), Lyder George (chaperone).

Open Water team
• Girls 14-17: Sabrina David, Briana Patterson, Chisara Santana
• Boys 14-17: Gabriel Bynoe, Sebastian Marchand
• Boys 18 & over: Aleem Mohammed, Keanu Otero

Technical staff: 
• Hazel Haynes (coach), Bertram Blackman (chaperone)

Wardat Dubai first, the rest nowhere, in the Maiden Stakes over an extended mile of ‘good to firm’ Beverley today; that’s what BHA ratings suggest will be the outcome and my time-handicap concurs with officialdom!

It’s imperative this Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Mawatheeq filly gains ‘winning brackets’ for stud purposes and veteran trainer Barry Hills is certainly mindful of his responsibility; he’s been ultra-patient with thrice-raced Wardat Dubai and we both reckon this is nigh on a ‘penalty-kick’ which Paul Hanagan shouldn’t be troubled to convert.

Presumably Paul will be told to set a strong pace and sort out the wheat from the chaff; he knows these courses better than most and indeed by virtue of his knowledge of the Northern circuit racetracks was able to win two jockeys’ championships, under the guidance of Richard Fahey. When given positive instructions Hanagan is top grade, he falls short strategy-wise but he can certainly compete favourably at the highest level and there isn’t a better finisher around; superb balance in the closing stages.

Later there are two evening fixtures, Newton Abbot and Leicester where Anneani justifies patience in the 3-y-o handicap over an extended mile, mount of Aaron Jones. Recently Aaron had his apprentice allowance cut to 5lbs but he’s as good as it gets currently and Anneani is definitely on a winning mark.

At the popular west country venue Midnight Mint is strongly-fancied in the Maiden Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles and comes out TH ‘best-in!’ Not an easy day but selections should all make the frame and could make into a tasty each-way treble. 

SELECTIONS

10.45 Wardat Dubai
2.00 Midnight Mint
5.00 Aneani  

Kallco Ltd yesterday confirmed that it has signed up as a principal partner of the T&T Red Steel squad for the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League. The news came following the T&T Red Steel abandoned match against the St. Lucia Zouks on Sunday which ended with a point for each team due to inclement weather. It also follows news of the T&T franchise's acquisition by the owners of the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Kallco managing director, Arvin Kalloo said his company was delighted to partner with  Red Steel, which has been acquired by the shareholders of KKR. “The Kolkata Knight Riders is an experienced and professional organization, particularly in light of their first class knowledge in franchise cricket and their huge success in the IPL. Kallco Limited is thrilled to be a major sponsor and see our involvement as an opportunity to help further develop and nurture local talent and by extension raise the standard of Caribbean cricket.”

Caribbean Premier League commercial director, Jamie Stewart welcomed  Kallco. “Red Steel and CPL would not be possible without support of key sponsors and Kallco Ltd. stepping up to support is the perfect welcome for the new franchise owners.”

Jacques Kallis, Kamran Akmal and Johan Botha are just some of the international superstars who have joined the Caribbean’s finest cricketers, such as Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree and Kevon Cooper, as well as exciting up-and-coming local talent on the T&T Red Steel squad to bring the Biggest Party in Sport to the people of the Caribbean region.

 More than 65 million people tuned in for last year's CPL and this year's League is poised to exceed that figure, drawing viewers worldwide with high-quality cricket and the party atmosphere for which the CPL is known.

 
Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Jack Warner says he delivered audio files, photographs, locations and other information regarding allegations of misconduct by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to the Integrity Commission in 2013.
 
 
Warner revealed this to the media today during a press conference at his ILP head office in Port-of-Spain.
 
 
As he played audio tapes for the public, Warner said the commission's only responses to him were a letter acknowledging receipt of the information, and a correspondence one year later indicating that they were doing a vocal analysis on the audio tape.
 
 
After playing a tape, where an alleged whistle-blower spoke haltingly to Warner about collecting payment of $2 million for a house and further $2.5 million, Warner said it was his responsibility to bring the evidence to the citizens of T&T.

 
"Everything you have heard here I took to the Integrity Commission two years ago. Not a soul was touched," Warner said.
 
 
He said he didn't go to the police because he thought they may have been compromised.

"Two years later, nothing has been done," Warner said.

See the full details of this story in tomorrow's Guardian.

Special Reserve Police Officer Jitnarine Hardeen is denying outright that it is his voice heard on a recording played for the media by Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner yesterday. Hardeen issued a legal letter to Warner yesterday threatening action.

“There is no truth in any of these allegations nor the contents of any of your statements, nor the contents of the tape or tapes,” Hardeen said through his lawyer.

Hardeen, who was the retained driver for former minister of social development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh, yesterday countered Warner’s damning recording of telephone conversations, alleging that Warner in fact offered him some $250,000 to agree that the voice on tape was his. 

In a three-page legal letter, Hardeen’s attorney, Dennis Rampersad, picked apart Warner’s tape, denying every bit of the alleged conversation between Hardeen and Warner.

Hardeen, through his lawyer, confirmed he has been in contact with Warner but said it was Warner who “tried to influence him to unlawfully and illegally accept that he is the voice on these tapes and the provider of the information thereon.”

“In fact, you would recall that you offered my client the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be part of your nefarious and sinister conspiracy to defame innocent persons. My client has consistently refused to be part of any untrue plot to defame innocent persons,” the letter stated.

The letter added that at Warner’s request, Hardeen was interviewed by Frederick John.

“And you are aware that he confirmed officially that he was not the voice on the tape and that the contents of any tape has nothing to do with my client,” the letter stated.

On one of the recordings played by Warner, the voice claims to have collected as much as $3 million as kickbacks for contracts awarded through Ramadharsingh’s former ministry.

“My client denies that he ever picked up any money from anyone for any illicit purposes. He has never received $3,000,000 from anyone or at all,” Hardeen said through his lawyer.

Hardeen also denied any knowledge of a relationship between Kristyan Gokool and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as alleged on the recordings played by Warner.

“My client is of the view that your statements are maliciously untrue and calculated to bring him into disrepute, odium and contempt among right thinking members of society,” the lawyer said.

“Your statements are calculated to defame my client and wrongfully accuse him of being involved in criminal matters.

“My client confirms that he has no knowledge of what is on the tapes in your possession or that the telephone number that you have mentioned publicly is his or belongs to him,” he added. 

Ramadharsingh is also threatening legal action against TV6 for airing snippets of the same tapes played by Warner. 

In a statement yesterday, he said, “I listened with amazement at the defamatory statement made on TV6’s television report entitled “The Hardeen Expose” aired on Monday 22nd June, 2015. I have expressed my horror that such an untrue statement was made. 

“While I understand the need for free press, it must be a free and responsible press. Also, I have taken note that no one exercised the simple courtesy of a call for a comment on this matter. 

“It is remarkable and I hope that they can prove that I was involved in bribing someone or got someone to change a statement or make a statement that was false. I have always supported the truth but it appears that the truth in this matter will emerge in the courts, as clearly the need for financial gain trumps professionalism and responsible journalism.”

Both Ramadharsingh and Hardeen are represented by the same attorney and it was Ramadharsingh’s secretary who issued Hardeen’s legal letter to the media last night.

When the T&T Guardian contacted Hardeen to find out the connection between the two, Hardeen quickly disconnected the call and refused to respond to subsequent attempts to reach him.

In a text exchange with Warner yesterday, the former national security minister called on Hardeen to sue him if any of the information he released was untrue.

“Well let them sue me,” Warner said.

Warner has been given 24 hours to respond to the legal letter.

Immediate dismissals from Jitnarine Hardeen and the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. 

That’s what embattled Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner received yesterday following his latest tapes, alleged to be former minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh’s former driver Hardeen doing a wide-ranging “expose” on alleged People’s Partnership intrigue and corruption, including involving the Prime Minister.

During a news conference at the Normandie, St Ann’s, Warner played the tapes, focusing on the Kristyan Gokool matter, again claiming he had to warn T&T about the Prime Minister, since she was “unfit for office.”

“The Prime Minister says Kristyan Gokool is her neighbour I’m saying they are more than neighbourly,” Warner claimed.

However, when contacted on Warner’s tapes later, an angry sounding Hardeen said: “That is not my voice on any tape! It is a total fabrication. 

“There will be a response from me on this very soon, That’s all I have to say for now.”

Hardeen added on what action he would take against Warner. (See Page A5)

Persad-Bissessar, in an immediate response to Warner’s various claims, also dismissed the allegation, saying last night they are “more delusional claims which my lawyers will deal with.

“He (Warner) has to answer to the US Attorney General and the FBI for his racketeering, money laundering and fraudulent wire transfers, so he seeks to come out of his box with these delusional claims.” 

Asked yesterday by reporters if he had any information to verify it was Hardeen on the tapes, Warner said if the need arose for other evidence “they shall be produced.”

Warner said he had given the same tapes to the Integrity Commission since 2013 and the tapes allegedly told of “sleaze, graft, corruption, sexual misconduct and misbehaviour in public office.”

Asked if he had made a complaint to the commission about the PM and Ramadharsingh—on which his claims focussed—Warner said he gave the Integerity Commission the tapes and said “...make your own judgement... I don’t have to make a complaint.” He said he didn’t go to the police as the police may have been compromised.

Warner said after two years nothing had happened and when he checked the commission a year ago, the body said they had to match Hardeen’s voice with the tape through overseas sources.

He complained at length that while the commission had failed to deal with the matter, it wanted to ask him questions and had sought a tribunal to investigate him.

On the alleged “Hardeen tape,” Warner claimed Hardeen detailed allegations in a taped session at Warner’s office in Arouca on August 8, 2013, where the police officer came “of his own volition.”

Warner resigned from Government in April 2013 under fire for alleged corruption after a Concacaf probe.

Playing 17 minutes of an alleged 90-minute tape yesterday, Warner was heard instructing the person to state his name and address. 

The person gives Hardeen’s name. Warner is then heard asking the person to tell him about the minister’s “houses, the corruption, apartments, the deals they make, with Danny’s son going through security, tell me everything, tell me everything...”

The person on the tape starts off with allegations about Ramadharsingh, in which Warner’s voice can be heard also interjecting and summarising information.

The voice claimed on one night he was told to go to a nearby hotel to collect someone, as “Dip Centre security wouldn’t let them enter with their private vehicle.” 

The person claimed it was a “fair-skinned Indian fella.” They claimed the DC security “saw someone in the backseat and knew I left without anyone.” The voice claimed the security sought the person’s name and it was given. 

The person claimed the passenger “said he was the assistant to the PM’s husband, Greg, and he came to pick up some clothes.” 

The person on the tape claimed authorisation to enter was given and around 2.30 am someone allegedly came out and said “it was time for us to go home, Kristyan can fix up now...” 

Warner alleged to reporters that the Diplomatic Centre sentry diaries were changed to hide this matter.

Warner also said he had heard “they” had contacted Hardeen to swear to an affidavit to say what was on the tapes was false.

He claimed Hardeen subsequently called him three times and he taped all three calls on June 1, June 9 and June 16, 2015.

He played those tapes of the voice, purportedly of Hardeen, in which the caller asked if Warner had (on the platform) asked if “Kristyan” ever spent a night by the PM residence” and saying Warner didn’t want to meet him.

“You know they watching me... they watching me, from the time I enter (the Centre of Excellence) they go lick me up, you know that,” the voice said.

I have more tapes—Jack

After this, he claimed a good friend of the PM sought a meeting with him at the Works Ministry and allegedly accused Warner of bias towards Jusamco and Coosals in getting contracts. 

Warner alleged that in 2011 the PM shut down the Ministry of Works’ PURE unit for an audit because of complaints from that friend. He claimed contracts had to be approved by her, “which made things testy” between them and in June 2012 he was transferred to National Security. 

Warner claimed there were more tapes and while he would not play them each week, he would decide when prudently and then “more Special Branch officers will have to resign.”

The person taped also alleged a former minister had six houses and he was responsible for making payments, that monies allegedly came from a well known government contractor, including $3 million in four months, and that two named ministry managers were aware of the situation.

The person alleged the government contractor “benefitted from URP programmes, had 52 companies and got 70 per cent of URP and the former minister’s brother became adviser to another minister, whose appointment the former minister knew about before the PM announced it. 

The person also claimed a minister’s relative managed a government-run social programme in Sangre Grande. 

The person alleged a former minister got a “$2 million kickback” from the Preysal Interchange but this was put in UNC’s accounts as the minister “stole” money from UNC’s 2010 campaign. 

The taped voice claimed UNC general secretary Dave Tancoo was told of the situation and he told the PM.

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) must do overhaul work on its old mains to avoid them rupturing and causing inconvenience to commuters. 

So said chairman of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation Daryl Smith in response to yesterday’s massive gridlock in west Trinidad caused by a ruptured eight-inch water main in Cocorite.

“We really need to look at doing a proper overhaul on the mains. At this point the candle is costing more than the funeral. We need to do a proper assessment, check the mains and the systems. This ad hoc system of repairs is not working,” Smith said.

A ruptured water main on the eastbound lane in Cocorite, near Powder Magazine Phase 1, caused a massive traffic jam which extended to Chaguaramas, Diego Martin, Petit Valley, Maraval and surrounding areas. 

Commuters coming out of the western side of Trinidad were stuck in the traffic jam for hours while a WASA crew hastily conducted repair work.

According to officials from WASA the main broke on Monday night obliquely opposite West Shore Medical Hospital, Cocorite. This caused a large amount of water to fill the road. 

However, eyewitnesses and drivers said the problem of the broken main was first detected on Friday when water began gushing through the roadway.

Smith said that was not the first time the area had a traffic problem when a water main ruptured. 

On February 2, traffic came to a standstill on the westbound lane of the highway near Peake’s Service Station, Cocorite, when a water main ruptured and left part of the highway almost impassable.

Smith said the traffic was eased when the gas station opened up to allow motorists to pass through to avoid the main.

He said some sort of contingency plan should be created to avoid those types of traffic jams. He is willing to meet with stakeholders to create a traffic plan but said any issues with major roads fell under the purview of central Government.

Minister of Works and Infrastructure Surujrattan Rambachan said the Police Service should have been more responsive to avoid a traffic pile-up.

“It is very unfortunate that those responsible at the Police Service did not do what they were supposed to do. If the main ruptured overnight, the police should have been on the ball to fix the traffic situation,” he said.

He said the police should have been more cognisant of the fact that there would have been a traffic problem.

Director of customer care of WASA, Doodnath Bhola, apologised for the inconvenience. He said the main which ruptured was an old one which was laid more than 20 years ago.

Residents in Diego Martin/Cocorite area were without water. However, WASA supplied a truck-borne supply to the nearby West Shore Medical and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospitals.

The failure of the Police Service to investigate properly major crimes is the main reason given by the Police Social and Welfare Association for its opposition to a move to buy out the vacation leave of several senior police officers due to retire soon. 

Several executive members of the association expressed the view yesterday at a press conference at its office at the Besson Street Police Station held in response to the plan reportedly being considered by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and National Security Minister Carl Alfonso. 

Referring to multiple investigations which have remained unsolved, including last year’s murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and a multi-million dollar security van heist in Trincity, two years ago, the executive members stated that the senior officers being considered in the buyout were mainly to blame. 

“It is the same managers that are responsible for the detection rate so nothing will be different if you allow them to stay on. What we need to do is allow somebody else to come with newer ideas and fresher professional energy to take us to a different realm,” the association’s secretary, Insp Michael Seales, said. 

He also claimed that although not yet implemented the proposed move had already begun to demoralise qualified junior officers who have been aspiring to take over the senior officers’ post on their retirement. 

“The commissioner is not saying openly that he does not have confidence in these other officers because if he does so he knows the dangers in that but he is saying that indirectly by his actions,” Seales said. 

His views were supported by the association’s president Insp Anand Ramesar, who also claimed that the Government’s involvement in the process may compromise the perceived integrity of the senior police officers. He also contended that the buyout process was illegal. 

“We are also saying there is no structure in place for the commissioner to introduce a policy to buy out vacation leave. 

“I don’t know what Police Service Act or Regulation the commissioner is reading but it is clearly not the one that is designed for the membership and well being of the TTPS,” Ramesar said as he noted his organisation had already retained a senior attorney to file an injunction preventing the move. 

Both Seales and Ramesar also criticised Williams by pointing to a similar situation last year when he (Williams) opposed a move to buy out former head of the Homicide Bureau ACP Wayne Dick’s vacation leave. 

“When he (Dick) comes back he must take his rightful place in the TTPS and not be kept out from where he should be because the very thing he asked for you giving it to these others,” Ramesar said, as he contended that the move to buy out Dick’s leave was a ploy to block his promotion to the rank of Deputy Commissioner. 

In an interview with radio station I95.5 yesterday morning, Williams said the association was free to file an injunction if it wanted. 

However, he defended his position as he stated there was no favouritism involved to the buyout process as all first division officers who have more than 90 days leave were being considered in the scheme. 

Kristyan Gokool has declined to comment on the alleged scandal involving himself and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, saying the matter was now in the hands of his attorneys for “appropriate action.”

His comment yesterday came in the wake of another released taped conversation purportedly involving former special branch officer Jit Hardeen, the driver of former minister Glenn Ramadharsingh and Independent Liberal Party leader (ILP) Jack Warner.

Hardeen has since denied he was the person on the tape. However, the man on the tape spoke about a clandestine visit to the Prime Minister’s private home in Phillipine, allegedly on Ramadharsingh’s instructions.

On the tape, which was aired on Monday night and at Warner’s press conference yesterday, it is alleged Ramadharsingh also met Gokool at the residence. 

When T&T Guardian visited Gokool’s home at Lengua Village, Barrackpore, yesterday, a man who was washing one of the vehicles in the yard said no one was home. He, however, asked for contact numbers which were given to him.

Not long after, Gokool called one of the numbers but declined to comment on any of the allegations.

Instead, he said: “I listen to the press conference on 102FM and the TV6 last night and the issues which were brought up have been directed to my lawyers to take appropriate action.”

Gokool said he would not make any further comment on those matters.

He has been in the spotlight since Warner called on the Prime Minister, at an Embacadere meeting last Wednesday, to tell the nation who Kristyan was.

Persad-Bissessar subsequently confirmed that Gokool was her neighbour at her private residence in Phillipine. 

Gokool, the son of businessman Daniel Gokool, who is listed as a director of Danny Enterprises, has admitted his parents helped him to buy a multi-million dollar property near the PM’s residence but he had not moved into it as yet because his child was ill.

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday said that tapes played by Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner warranted “urgent police attention” to determine the veracity of the information.

“To the extent that any of these allegations are sustainable it points to a disturbing trend of criminality in public affairs and disturbing developments of moral decay, which can only confirm our worse fears,” he added.

While Rowley said it might by customary to dismiss “unsavory exposes” as election drama, in this instance it was the words of a former national security minister and former government member.

“Given what we have been living through for the last five years and the person making the allegations or providing the information is a former chairman of the ruling UNC, a former national security minister and a former acting Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, whichever way we chose to respond to our latest predicament will tell us that there are serious issues and choices confronting the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” he noted.

Rowley said it was now expected that the Police Service “rises to the level of competence expected in this matter” to show that there were consequences to wrongdoing. 

National Security Minister Carlton Alfonso says a combined effort will be made among the protective services and the Prisons Service to protect prisons officers.

He was speaking in the wake of several reports of threats against members of the Prisons Service. 

Commissioner of Prisons Sterling Stewart has advised his fellow prisons officers to be vigilant after members of the service received information about a hit man who was hired to "kill" several prisons officers.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Alfonso said: “I am very concerned about what is happening. They have their challenges and the Commissioner of Prisons has his hands full at this time.

“They need the law enforcement assistance and the Defence Force. They have the offer of assistance if they want it.” 

Alfonso said a meeting on the threat was held between acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Stewart on Monday.

“Things are pretty grim and he (Stewart) has to handle it and he has to get assistance from the combined ministry. 

“We have spoken and the Commissioner of Prisons is going to get the law enforcement praterity who will deal with the situation. It is clearly getting out of hand in prisons. 

“We have to stop it, with the assistance of the Defence Force and other law enforcement agencies, before it gets worse,” he said.

Alfonso said there was a lot of violent talk being done over social sites.

“The law enforcement people will have to take command of it,” he added.

Sources said the riot that began last week was all part of a ploy to kidnap and hold several prisons officers for ransom at the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca.

Last week, a riot began in the prison after several cells were searched and contraband items found.

ASJA president Yacoob Ali said his organisation did not condone violence.

“We would not encourage any violence or action of that nature. I am sure there are other ways and disciplinary action can be taken and dealt with. 

“Law and order have to take charge and we hope peace will prevail. if they wish to fast they should allowed to practice freely,” he added.

MORE INFO

• Statements made against prison officers on a social site:

One man: “Find out the prisons officers involved. I am going to extract retribution in Shaa Allah.”

Another’s answer: “Just as they class us as one when they are beating us likewise my brother Abu Dharr class them as one when you are extracting retribution. No need to know the officers who did this.”

First answer: “Officers who was not in the beating of the brother give us the names of the officers that did the beating if you don't we will take your head instead.“In Shaa Allah.”

Another discussion: “We need to rise up against the protective services. When last a police or soldier get murdered.”