DIMSOY ERROL of Toco Road, Sangre Grande, departed this life on August 14th 2015 at 72 years of age. He was a retired Principal of Malabar Government and Retired Teacher of Sangre Grande and North Oropouche Government. Loving Brother of Phyllis Maharaj, Joyce Dimsoy- Thompson, Joan Gomes (USA), Vernon Dimsoy (Deceased), Pearl Jemmotte (Deceased) and Carl Dimsoy (Deceased). God Father of Kerlene, Kody, Kemora and Kayden.

Uncle of Tara Maharaj- Ali, Terry Maharaj (USA), Rion and Azzam Ali, Lou Ann Superville, Roc, Marcia, Marie and the Dimsoys of Siparia, Donna, Liz, Brian (USA), Roger (UK), Paula, Pricilla and Joel (USA). Brother-in-Law of Phyllis Dimsoy of Siparia. Funeral Service if the late Errol Dimsoy takes place on Thursday 20th August 2015 at 11.00am at the Church of the Nazarene, Picton Road, Sangre Grande and thence for Cremation at Allen s Arima at 3.00pm.

Enquires can be made at Wight's Funeral Home Ltd., #15-17 Toco Road, Sangre Grande, 668-2453/ 3510.  

GRIFFITH, Nigel Victor lovingly known as Pa Fish passed away on Saturday 15th August. He was the son of the late Victor and Enid Griffith (dec.). Beloved husband of Monique (dec.). Devoted father of Tara-Lee-Aché and Farley.

Loving grandfather of Maelle Hunt. Father-in-law of Alan-Paul Aché. Brother of Marlene Chestlock (dec.), Gary (dec.) and Jeffrey. Brother- in-law of Anne, James Chestlock (dec.), Gaby and Leonie Bellemare, Bleuette Farrell, Pauline Diaz and Serge Bellemare (dec.). Uncle of the Chestlocks, Griffiths, Bellemares, Diaz and Farrells.

Funeral arrangements to be announced at a later date. For enquiries; call C&B: 625- 1170  

CELIA LODHAR (nee Gokool) of #260 St. Charles Village passed away peacefully on Friday, August 14, 2015.Wife of the late Boney Lodhar, Mother of Frank, David, Vera Ragbir, Sarah, Roy, Marion, Cintrah Coolman, Margaret Manchoon, Carol, Annette Seelal, Andre, Dennies Rattan. Mother-in-Law of Gladys, Rebecca, Joy, Ralph, Carl, Curtis, Dhanraj and B e n . G r a n d m o t h e r ofCathryn,Loreen,Curtis,Shane, Ricardo, Larry, Laurence, Larina, Larissa, Larry Lodhar,Lana, K e r r y , Crystal,Terri,Sherri,Cheriece, Clinton, Carla, Celeste, Jared, Josh, Darrell, Travis, LeAnn, Lauren and Mark.

Great-grandmother of 16.Sister of Deo Gokool.Aunt of many.Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 12:30 pm at Jordan Hill IPA church, Churkoo Village, Princes Town. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted to support a charity of choice.  

BLAIZE: CECIL passed away peacefully on Wednesday 12th August, 2015. Husband of Ena. Father of Franklyn (Annette), Ronald (Nadia), Patricia Ann (Peter), Robert, Richard (Theresa). Grandfather of Jeanne, Marcelle, Stuart, Randall, Dionne, Josée, Krystle, Samantha and Ethan. Great Grandfather of Liam and Abi.

Funeral service for the late Cecil Blaize takes place at 9:00am on Wednesday 19th August, 2015 at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church, Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley.

Cremation at the St. James Crematorium, Long Circular Road, St. James at 11:00am. For enquiries, please contact R. M. de Souza Memorial Chapel Limited, 223-2007/637-2009.  

Local drag racing champion Dale Mayers will transition to the water when he throttles Rug Rat for the first time in the Carib Great Race on Saturday. The 44-year-old has over 25 years experience competing on the local circuit and holds the record for the fastest RX7 in the country, finishing the quarter mile in 9.3 seconds.

Seeking a new challenge, he purchased Rug Rat, a 21’ Bowen, earlier this year and is set to compete in the 60 mph G Class. “I just like the rush of racing so I fell into this nicely,” he said. “Nothing can fully prepare you for the Great Race but I’m really enjoying the challenge.”  Needing a driver, Mayers recruited fellow drag racer and Great Race veteran Andrew Savary, who will be returning to the event for the first time since the 1990s.

“That old feeling never leaves you,” said Savary. “It’s just like riding a bike.” The pair developed a good friendship after drag racing against each other for over a decade, which Savary felt would serve them well on the water. 

“We go back a long time so it’s an easy transition,” he said. “Lots of fellas nowadays are migrating from car racing to boat racing… It’s been a learning experience for the both of us and I’ve been trying to prepare him mentally for the North Coast. We’ll have to take it one wave at a time.”

A mechanic by trade, Savary raced Pyramid at the Great Race from 1984 to 1993 and has been been involved in the preparation of several boats including Devil Woman and Long Shot over the years. He reckoned that Rug Rat, which he raced once in the 1990s as Overdose, stood a good chance against a field including Infusion IV, Matrix Reloaded, Outcast and Pum Pum Conqueror.

“Once the boat stays together I think we can be some competition,” he said. “It might be rough, and on a 21-foot boat you’re going to feel everything. It’s not easy to take that beating and it will take a toll on my old body. You need a lot of fitness but it should be a good challenge and I look forward to it.”

Rug Rat underwent an upgrade recently when damage to its 350 HP Chevy engine forced Mayers to replace it with a new 500HP Mercury. “The boat feels a lot more powerful and stable in the water,” he said, adding that he could not wait to get going on the day. “From the word ‘go’ I’m not going to be holding back.”

Derron Douglas emerged winner of the World Junior Table Tennis Circuit which took place in Guatemala from August 6-9, 2015. He was successful despite numerous obstacles which he and his teammates faced during the tournament. 

Despite the late arrival of the team in Guatemala City, twelve-year old Douglas defied the odds to stunned table tennis world with his mature level of play as he battled against his more experienced opponents at this level. In the group stage he blazed pass Oscar Davidson of Panama 11-4, 12-10, 11-6. 

Douglas went under to Diego De La Cruz of Guatemala 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 but bounce back in his third group stage match to defeat Wilfred Chicas also of Guatemala 11-7, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6. In the quarter-finals stage Douglas got pass Luis Ton 9 -11,11- 9,14-12,11-9 in the semi-finals he was defeated by the top seed Sergio Carrillo of Guatemala 11-5, 11- 4, 11-8. Douglas therefore had to settle for the bronze medal. 

The other members of the six-man team fought gallantly but failed to register victories. In the junior division (under 18) there was Benoni Daniel and Shaquille Mitchell. Jakeem Welch in the boys cadets (under 15) while Jasher DeGannes and Ackayla Lucas represented us in the  girls’ cadets division (Under 15).

Some Selected Scores

Shaquille Mitchell Vs Gary Castro (Nicaragua) 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 12–14.
Shaquille Mitchell Vs Martian Betancourt (Argentina) 11–8, 11–5, 11-2     
Benoni Daniel Vs Jamie Galeano (Spain) 12–10, 7-11, 5-11, 5-11
Benoni Daniel Vs Luis Medina (Honduras) 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11–4, 6-11
Jakeem Welch Vs Federico Cherny (Argentina) 8–11, 5-11, 8-11
Jakeem Welch Vs Miguel Jose Cachafeiro (Panama) 8–11, 8–11, 9-11 
Jasher DeGannes Vs Candela Molero (Argentina) 7–11, 2–11, 6-11
Ackayla Lucas Vs Ingrid Marin (Guatemala) 8–11, 11–9, 8–11, 7–11.
Ackayla Lucas Vs Angela Palomo (Guatemala) 7–11, 11–9, 5–11, 8-11 

After arch rivals South Africa had beaten the New Zeaand rugby team for the third straight time in 2009, New Zealand captain Richie McCaw laid an All Black jersey in front of his men at the Heritage Hotel and said: "There have been some great men who spilt blood for this jersey, made sacrifices. The toughness, ruthlessness, power, pace. The want. That's got to come from within, the inner desire if that's what it takes."

The above quote is an apt summary of what representing your country is about. All sportsmen and women can attest to that deep down emotional resonance. National pride. Sport stakeholders have national pride and commitment in abundance. It’s the power of sport. As we head into the final three weeks of general election campaigning,  many questions are being asked and platform promises are aplenty.

A question that come to mind is: are the political parties mindful that sport stakeholders have a vote? What will be the future like for sport in T&T? Will the cuts and belt tighten have a devastating impact on sport? What are the respective parties’ policy regarding to sport? Under which party and government will sport be better served?

There are pertinent questions that have to be asked by sport stakeholders. If sport is going to be looked at in the usual way then it is going to be a long hard road. Harbour no illusions of grandeur. If sport is to achieve any semblance of sustainable progress, growth and development it requires a quantum leap forward.

Sport stakeholders have a vote and like all citizens sport stakeholders have a stake in determining what T&T will look like post September 7. A fundamental, foundational and radical change in thinking is needed for sport to thrive in the coming years. The reality of falling oil and gas revenues is not an illusion. Sport stakeholders must value their vote.

These days are not the best of times for harried sport administrators,  athletes, coaches and sport clubs, sport fans and supporters and sport club members. Any one with a passion and keen interest in sport in T&T will be failing in their duty, responsibility and obligation if they didnt give serious consideration to the future of sport. 

So much is still needed to be done to develop a sporting culture in T&T. With media houses cutting back on the alloted time and space for sport in the election frenzy, it is very clear that sport is low down on the national value chain. Sport has a vote and that vote should not be taken for granted or underestimated. 

Sport has the power to make a difference in all areas of national life. If, however, sport stakeholders don’t have respect for their collective power then don’t expect anyone else to take sport seriously. Sport in T&T should not allow itself to be designated as insignificant and unimportant. It has been said that you can’t win or lose a general election on the basis of a lack of a sport policy or because you have one.

That may well be so but we are in changing times. Post  September 7, sport will move up the national value chain and be a serious topic on the national agenda. Sport matters. Sport has a vote and sport can and will make a positive difference.

Brian Lewis is the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic 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

First meetings can set a trend for the rest of your life. I met up with Barbados in 1978. I had just been appointed Lecturer in Child Health and my bosses (there were many) wanted me to attend the annual research meeting being held that year in Bridgetown. They flew me over to meet the rest of the half-drunken English expats and loquacious Jamaican experts that constituted the Faculty of Medicine. There was no room at the Holiday Inn where the conference was being held so I was put up at the old Silver Beach hotel run and owned by two elderly Bajan ladies.

My flight was an evening one and I arrived late. At the front desk I asked about dinner and was quietly told that dinner was only served at a certain time but that if I wanted I could go down the street and perhaps get a sandwich from the local pub.

Not feeling like walking I retired to my bedroom, unpacked and had began opening a bag of Crix when the phone rang and a voice said: “Dr Bratt, I am (name called) and I am the owner of this establishment. I am just finishing my dinner and I wonder whether you would be interested in having a bite with me?”

I eagerly agreed and walked over to where she had directed me. It was the private living and dining room of the owners. One of the ladies was sitting down watching television, the other, setting a place with knife and fork and plate, looked up and said sweetly, “Good evening, I hope you don’t mind eating here, the hotel dining room is closed.” Stunned, I did my best to say thanks and sat down. Within minutes she arrived back with a plate of flying fish and coocoo, apologised for having nothing better but that was what they had eaten for their dinner that night, smiled and left to join her sister in front the TV set. 

Imagine arriving new in a country and being invited by two old ladies into their private rooms to share their dinner!

That memory, my introduction to old time Bajan manners and courtesy, will remain forever.

Baltimore. Another arrival, a few years before, this time with wife and two year old child. I had graduated six months before in Venezuela and after working 12-hour stretches in health centres for six days a week to make some desperately needed money, we were on our way to Franklyn Square Hospital in Baltimore where I had been matched to do an internship. Franklyn Square was my seventh pick. None of the big university hospitals I had applied for had wanted a recently graduated doctor from an unknown country (apart from the incident where Nixon had been stoned when he came to Caracas, Americans knew nothing about Latin America and really, still don’t.) 

So off we flew on the Pan Am flight direct to the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. We were seated at the very back of the plane. We were nervous, going up to who knew what. Even though the pictures and letters from FSH were pleasant, we had heard all sorts of things about Baltimore. Our daughter caught our nervousness and cried incessantly. My wife had to constantly hold her. It didn’t help. The flight attendants came around with food. I began eating. My wife looked on hungrily. I tried to take the child. She cried more. My wife tried eating and holding her. Nothing doing. Suddenly one of the “air hostesses” appeared and said. “Let me have her, honey!” She took Natasa who immediately stopped crying and walked her up and down the aisle until we had completed the meal. 

We will never forget the simple kindness of that American woman. 

We arrived at the airport, went through immigration with my letter of introduction from the hospital, picked up our battered, old suitcases and timidly walked through the exit almost into the arms of a slender, hugely smiling Afro-American man, dressed in a brown suit, who said to us, “Welcome to the States!”, shook my hand vigorously, almost bowed to my wife, took the heaviest bag and walked us out to the parking lot. 

Mr Smith turned out to be the manager of the intern and resident housing complex where we were to spend a year. He was efficiency and kindness personified. In the car he kept up a constant chatter, aimed at settling our nerves and when he found out that I knew a bit about baseball, settled down to instructing me in the finer aspects of the game, all the while repeating to my wife how she was going to enjoy her stay, talking about where the best places to shop were and how he would arrange for us to go to the supermarket and in the meanwhile he had stocked the fridge with bread and butter and cheese and coffee and he had! “You’ll be happy here!” he exclaimed as he opened the door to our flat and left us to rest. 

The next day as soon as he realised that our apartment did not have a TV set, he arrived with apologies and one in his arms and then drove us to the supermarket. Memories are made of this. Could there have been a better introduction to the USA?

There is a critical need for a national trauma centre in T&T to heal our victims of trauma. Ms Seecharan’s suicide could have been avoided if she had received the immediate psychological treatment she needed at the time.

The T&T Association of Psychologists (TTAP) has been lobbying for more than five years for the establishment of a national trauma centre. The original TTAP proposal sought to establish four trauma centres across the country. The then minister of finance assured us that these centres would become a reality. However, in 2015, the association accepted the delayed political reality and lobbied Government ministers for one trauma centre. We received promises but nothing else.

Traumatic events are defined as unexpected, life-threatening or perceived to be life-threatening events that we have little or no control over, that happen to us or we witness happening to others. Trauma changes reality forever. This is one definition of trauma. It changes reality. Everything about life changes. Trauma causes intense fear and helplessness, behaviour is disorganised and agitated. The stress experienced is more than any individual can cope with, and the demands made on the self are more than any individual can handle.

These are some of the many reasons why TTAP has been relentless with its call for setting up this centre. We have heard over many years that T&T is a nation in trauma. In the past two weeks, we have four families with members whose realities have changed, without any warning. Four families could mean that as many as forty people are suffering from trauma.

The TTAP knows how devastating, immobilising or agitating trauma can be. Trauma affects the brain. Emotions and impulses go out of control. There is difficulty controlling anger, suicidal preoccupation, excessive risk-taking, inappropriate sexual behaviour and the possibility of self-harm.

Psychologists get angry too, but we have learned to find ways of coping. We will not burn tyres or threaten anyone. We engage in learning, mastery and competence, which give us ways of handling our anger at being taken for the proverbial ride. 

We continue to lobby with all the energy we collectively possess, pleading for the setting up of at least one trauma centre manned with professionals—who have been trained in the many techniques used to assist our citizens to find socially-acceptable ways to handle the unexpected, frightening change in their realities. There is no single way that human beings respond to trauma. This is why we need to have trained professionals who know exactly what needs to be done. Trauma treatment is a specialised field and requires specific skills.

TTAP has been knocking and banging at the doors of the powers that be for years. We are not an election-time noise maker, but we see that T&T is walking down a path that is cause for concern. Any mentally healthy citizen will know that what we see at the end of this current path is troubling. 

We at TTAP call for the establishment of a national trauma centre which will give our citizens, especially our children (three of whom we know are in extreme trauma over the violent death of a friend—they need help now) a chance to find happiness, peace of mind and success in life. There are too many of our children who are being left behind, in a country which seems to have the wherewithal to fund self-aggrandisement.

The T&T Association 

of Psychologists

Every incoming government takes forever to fill the over 130 state boards. They are limited by the selecting of party hacks or supporters. The cadre of candidates to fill the boards may not achieve the objectives of divergent views or a fresh perspective on issues.

A new government must try to empower citizens to take an active part in the politics of the country. One way of doing this is to invite the average Joe to be on state boards. There are qualified individuals out there who want to participate in governance. They may be apolitical or affiliated with other parties. Isn’t it better to have divergent views on a topic rather a room full of yes-men?

The party in power can have the privilege to appoint both the chairmen and vice chairmen. They would still have a measure of control. The other members on the board could be party hacks and citizens from the general public who may not have any political allegiance.

The adoption of this method shows that citizens have been emboldened to serve. It’s a feature of the new politics of accountability, fairness, a judicious mix of competent people, a radical departure from the collection of incompetent supporters who are only there just “to eat ah food.”

Up to this day there are some state boards that have not been legally constituted even though the Government has come to the end of its term. Politicians always say there are too many boards yet they do nothing to cut out the fat.

I recommend that they advertise for the general public to participate on all state boards. It would not take three years to appoint the full complement of members. There are accountants, financial experts, retired teachers, engineers and other experts just waiting for the opportunity to serve with no strings attached.

John Jessamy

Fyzabad

What is badly needed in T&T is a legislated Foundation for the Arts, so that artistic expression can be funded on a yearly basis. This is how it is done in China, Europe and North America. The government of the day should know that setting up a foundation for the arts is its responsibility.

There must also be a functioning national theatre, like the one in England. Not an empty building like the Napa, which is destined to become a white elephant. 

What we want is a national theatre with an appointed artistic director and full staff to run a theatre, so that playwrights like myself can have our plays staged at a highly professional level.

It’s a shame that this year we are 53 years as an independent nation and we don’t have a real, fully functioning national theatre. The incoming government must see that we don’t continue this way.

Ronald John

Diego Martin

Those of us (a dwindling minority) who still follow Test cricket would have been thrilled at the latest match between Sri Lanka and India at Galle. Batting first, Sri Lanka made 183. India replied with 375, with centuries from Dhawan and Kohli. Facing a deficit of 192, Sri Lanka was reeling at 95 for 5, still needing 97 to avoid an innings defeat.

But Chandimal (162 not out) and Thirimanne (44) first put on 125 for the sixth wicket and then Chandimal and Mubarak (49) added 82 for the seventh wicket to help take Sri Lanka to 367, setting India a victory target of 176. India was bundled out for 112, losing by 63 runs, with Herath the hero taking 7 for 48.

Those are the statistics. What they will not show is that had India not been so pig-headed in their refusal to use the DRS (Decision Review System), they would have won the match easily, probably by an innings. (Not only does India not use the DRS at home but they have bullied the ICC into letting them have their way in overseas matches as well. Money talks.)

With DRS, Thirimanne would have been out on 0, and Chandimal would have been out on 5. The score, at that stage, would have been 99 for 7, with Sri Lanka still trailing by 92 runs. With no real batting to come, they would, most likely, have not made India bat again.

I guess India’s refusal to use DRS stems from the belief of their administrators (not the fans and most players who are howling for its use) that, on balance, they get more decisions in their favour than against. But that’s just not cricket. They should use whatever is available to get the fairest decision, not the one that favours you. If this match does not change their attitude to DRS, nothing will.

With all its “perfect imperfections” (with apologies to John Legend), almost everyone agrees that the DRS has made the game fairer. Its shortcomings is not so much in the technology itself but in its poor use by silly, artificial rules created by the ICC (International Cricket Council). I mean, what could be sillier than the notion of “umpire’s call” or not getting to review an obvious howler because you have no reviews left?

The purpose of the DRS should be to give the fairest decision at all times. Given that, the restriction of two reviews for a Test match and one for a limited-overs match must be scrapped. A team should be entitled to review any close decision. If it goes against you, why should you be penalised for “wasting” a review?

Better yet, in the same way the on-field umpires review run-out and boundary calls, they should be free to ask for help with LBW decisions. Did the ball pitch outside leg stump, was the batsman hit between wicket and wicket, was the ball going to hit the wicket? Those are difficult decisions to make in real time and mistakes can be made. It’s foolish to have to make a decision and then ask DRS to check, only if a team requests it. Why not use DRS to make the correct decision in the first place, as they do for run-outs and close boundary calls?

A batsman should be “out” when he is out and “not out” when he is not. (If there is doubt then, according to the rules, the benefit goes to the batsman.) A cricket result should be the outcome of batting, bowling and fielding, not the “strategic use” of one or two reviews. Proper use of DRS could go a long way to achieving this goal. Over to you, ICC.

Noel Kalicharan

The directors and chairman of Republic Bank Ltd must be congratulated on the recent good profits published for this company.

The shareholders of the bank, however, need help in their getting foreign exchange in US dollars to pay for their foreign invoices. The bank’s profits have been augmented by the purchase of foreign banks in Ghana and Suriname. I suspect this was done by using US dollars supplied to Republic Bank Ltd from the T&T Central Bank—which money was mainly to help their customers get foreign exchange to pay foreign invoices.

This type of purchase of foreign banks does not appear to be happening among the other banks in T&T. I would like to suggest therefore that Republic Bank borrow from the investments in these banks in Ghana and Suriname. This can be done in US dollars by converting these countries’ currencies into US dollars through international banks like Barclays Bank, and send these funds to Republic Bank in T&T. 

This should allow the foreign exchange situation locally to improve greatly and will allow Republic’s customers to pay their invoices to foreign suppliers.

Anthony Arrindell,

Trinidad Import & Export Co Ltd.

Two citizens of the United States, both former politicians with alleged negative political backgrounds, addressed a political rally.

I am personally appalled that two foreigners are allowed to address a political rally and then give advice to citizens of T&T on how to vote. These same individuals then jump on a plane and fly away. They do not stay to live here to see the results of their advice.

But then this is a country that thrives on foreigner advisers. We see it in all aspects of our livelihood with total acceptance.

Recently a group of criminologists wrote about “visiting criminologists” who after spending a few days, sometimes mere hours, are publishers of crime solutions for T&T.

In health care, a group of foreigners in 1992, recommended a plan of less staff and less facilities. Hospitals in Point Fortin, Arima, Couva, Princes Town, Siparia, Mayaro, etc were closed. This was adopted by all regimes since 1992. Today, we still wonder why there are staff shortages and lack of facilities, especially hospital beds. 

Whilst in England, I was asked to register to vote for the general elections at my front door. I refused stating that I was a foreigner and had no right to decide the fate or their country. The election officer produced the legal documents to show that all members of the Commonwealth are entitled to vote. I refused.

I call upon the Immigration and national security authorities to do their legal obligation to have both individuals promptly out of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Philip Ayoung-Chee

High Court Judge Vasheist Kokaram will today decide whether a 14-year-old boy accused of murder should be released into the custody of his mother. 

Lawyers representing the teenager proposed the unconventional move, which is in direct contradiction of bail legislation that does not allow for release of prisoners charged with murder under any circumstance, yesterday after both Kokaram and attorneys for the State conceded that his detention at the Youth Training Centre in Arouca over the past 18 months was unlawful. 

Presenting submissions on behalf of the teenager from Diego Martin in the Port-of-Spain High Court, his lawyer Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan stated that his stay at the facility breached his client’s fundamental constitutional rights as YTC was only allowed to house inmates and remand prisoners who are between 16 and 18 years old. 

“Our primary concern is to get him out of YTC because he has been put in a place where convicted persons, who are not of his age, are kept. To keep the child there amounts to child cruelty,” Ramlogan said. State attorney Karel Douglas agreed with Ramlogan’s statement but noted that a conditional release to his parents was not an option which the State was willing to accept. 

While he was forced to admit that there were no facilities in T&T which were approved by the Children’s Authority to house the teen, Douglas suggested that the teen be held temporarily at the St Michael’s Home for Boys in Diego Martin. 

“I admit that there is not the best but under the circumstances it is the only option,” Douglas said after a representative from the authority who was present in court informed Kokaram that the home was not given approval based on issues with security, the facilities and lack of training of staff to properly care for juvenile offenders. 

As he pointed to the concerns raised by the representative, Ramlogan said he was also hesitant to accede to the suggestion because the Children’s Act and Children’s Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act, which govern the court’s handling of minors charged with serious crimes, require that offenders be only housed in approved facilities. 

He said the child should not continue to be subjected to unlawful and unconstitutional detention at another inappropriate facility because the State had failed to facilitate the implementation of all the provisions of the legislation. “If Parliament has provided that you be detained in accordance with the law and that is not provided then your constitutional right to liberty and to not be deprived of it without due process of law becomes paramount,” Ramlogan said. 

In response, Douglas raised the issue of the precedent that may be set if Kokaram opted to grant the child bail. “It sets a bad precedent and may open the floodgates for other persons who may seek release when charged with murder,” Douglas said. Besides the illegality and suitability of his place of detention, the teen is also claiming that he suffered abuse during his stay at the facility. 

Speaking through his mother, a witness in the case, the teenager alleged that he was constantly physically abused by older residents who robbed him of his food and toiletries. The teenager was not brought to court for yesterday’s hearing. However, Kokaram ordered that he be present at 2 pm today. 

The teenager is also being represented by Gerald Ramdeen, Kent Samlal, Varun Debideen and Delicia Helwig. 

Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding Tuesday night’s killing of 53-year-old Phillip McKenzie. According to police reports, at about 7.45 pm on Tuesday residents of Fourth Street, Simeon Road, Petit Valley, heard several loud explosions and later found McKenzie at the side of the road with bullet wounds.

When approached at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday his relatives did not speak with the media. His killing has taken the murder toll to 260 for the year according to the Homicide Bureau of Investigations.

The 18-year-old Beetham woman who is accused of fatally stabbing a 16-year-old in the neck surrendered to police yesterday. The teenager surrendered to Beyond The Tape hosts Insp Roger Alexander and Marlan Hopkinson around 3 pm yesterday at Express House, Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. 

The woman is wanted in connection with the killing of Jernice Francis who was killed on August 12. According to police reports, officers of the St Barb’s Police Post responded to a report of a stabbing at Bowen Trace, Snake Valley, around 9 pm Wednesday. Witnesses said Francis and her friend were walking along the road when the attacker said something to them. 

They reportedly responded and continued walking. Suddenly, witnesses said, the attacker rushed Francis and stabbed her in the neck. Francis began screaming as her friend rushed to her assistance, telling her attacker she had attacked the wrong person. Francis was later taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she died while undergoing treatment.

Residents said Francis had just returned from Macqueripe with her friend and was getting her belongings together to return to her Second Caledonia, Morvant, home when she was killed. Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday Francis parents—Ricardo Francis and Lisa Barrow—said they were both happy to hear that the teen surrendered. 

The father said his family had “flashes” of his daughter and would become saddened by her death, mere two weeks after her 16th birthday. He said despite that his family was “holding up well” and at the time was meeting with a social worker. “I put everything in God’s hands and I know she would have given up herself. I just hope justice will be served and we just praying for this young lady to come and know Jesus as Lord and saviour.

“I pray and ask my children let us come and pray to find that strength to forgive her because it is very hard because it now coming to that understanding that Jernice not coming back,” Barrow said. Francis, who was supposed to enter Fourth Form at the opening of the school term in September, was buried last Saturday following a ceremony at the Church on the Rock Open Bible Church, Lady Young Road, Morvant.

General secretary of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Indra Maharaj has written to the Elections and Boundaries Commission’s (EBC) Chief Elections Officer Ramesh Nanan to officially complain about the conduct of one of its returning officers and to establish whether one of their nominees may still be eligible to contest the September 7 election.

The letter comes two days after the ILP’s nominee for Tabaquite Hayden Borrell was barred from filing nomination papers on Monday by returning officer Carol Dyal. Dyal claimed Borrell failed to arrive within the time specified to do so, arriving some seven minutes after the 3 pm deadline. The ILP has challenged her timing, contending that Borrell was on the premises three minutes before the deadline and that the process was already in train and should have been continued.

A letter signed by Maharaj and dated August 18 was dispatched to Nanan at the EBC Port-of-Spain office yesterday. In the letter the ILP formally expressed their concerns and lack of confidence in Dyal in her capacity as the returning officer for the electoral district of Tabaquite.

“Due to the actions of Ms Carol Dyal, taken on nomination day, the ILP does not have a candidate registered to contest this Electoral District in the September 7 general election and therefore questions of confidence or lack thereof in the ordinarily impartial nature of a Returning Officer have been raised and are now a public matter,” Maharaj wrote.

The ILP has accused Dyal of bias in her decision because two ILP aldermen in the Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC), where she sits as the chief executive officer (CEO), have openly questioned her performance as the accounting officer over the past 21 months.