Veteran runner Kelvin Johnson and Salina Scott were the winners of the Easter Sunday Run Diego Martin 10K.

Held annually by the Western Stars Philharmonic Steel Orchestra, Run Diego Martin is aimed at building camaraderie in the Diego Martin community, as well as promoting health and well being amongst participants.

Johnson and Scott walked away with a cash prize each of $2,500 courtesy Western Stars as well as a pair of sunglasses each courtesy Optometrists Today. Johnson finished in a time of 37.30 seconds while Scott came in at 48.49.

In the men's category, another veteran Curtis Cox came in second at 37.50, winning $1,500, while Anthony Phillip copped the third place at 38.48, taking home $1,000.

Chantell Le Mattre was the second female runner to cross the finish line at 52.30, taking home $1500, followed by Janeil Bailey at 58.45, who won $1,000.

Special prizes courtesy Western Stars, were also awarded to the first male and female Diego Martin residents who finished the race.

Cash prizes and hampers were also awarded to the Under-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus categories courtesy Xtra Foods Ltd, Hadco, Nestle and Western Stars.

The event was supported by the Diego Martin North Community Centre, REACT and Ultimate Events Limited.

Male police officers are only permitted to search female detainees in extremely rare circumstances.

Speaking at the weekly police press briefing on Wednesday, Insp Sean Sookram, of the Court and Process Branch, had claimed that while there is no law preventing male officers from arresting and searching female suspects.

However, he said such incidents were rare as female officers had been assigned to every police division and unit to reduce the chances of such a scenario occurring.

Less than 24 hours later, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) sought to clarify the issue of searching a female suspect after an arrest.

In a release issued yesterday morning, PCA Deputy Director Michelle Solomon-Baksh pointed out that the Standing Order 47 (8) of the TTPS’s Standing Orders requires that female officers be assigned to divisions and branches for participation in raids and searches involving women and children.

“It is therefore a practice and policy set out by the police themselves to have a female officer act on a daily basis. So it is only in extreme and limited circumstances that a male officer will have to search a female suspect,” Solomon-Baksh said.

She noted that on September 28, last year, the PCA had advised the Police Service on complaints it had received over the absence of female officers during raids and searches.

Solomon-Baksh also stated that the standing order required justification in cases where male officers were forced to search female detainees.

“Female suspects should not be subjected to any humiliation, inhumane or degrading treatment and searches by men should not be the usual practice. Furthermore, when a male officer searches a female suspect, an account and justification should be given for the absence of the female officer as prescribed by Standing Order 47 (8),” Solomon-Baksh said.

Like Sookram, Solomon-Baksh said that prisoners are to be searched upon arrest, before being placed in a cell and again on being taken from a cell.

However, she noted that the regulation stated: “At the station male prisoners shall be searched by two male officers and female prisoners by the Police Matron or women police officers.”

She also said the Firearms Act specifically calls for female suspects to be searched by female police officers.

“The PCA is of the view that the Police Service has not only implemented its own rules to ensure that female officers are always present but it also is guided by the law,” the release said.

In a telephone interview with CNC3 yesterday afternoon, TTPS corporate communications manager Ellen Lewis stated that the PCA’s position was not inconsistent with her organisation’s stance.

“It is not impossible for a male officer to search but it is not common in practice.There is no inconsistency with the PCA’s statement and what was said by the TTPS,” Lewis said.

Contacted yesterday, President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Insp Michael Seales suggested that the confusion over the issue was due by lack of a proper explanation at the briefing.

“For the association it was not explained properly so that prompted the PCA to make a pronouncement on it,” Seales said.

Like Sookram and Solomon-Baksh, Seales said that the legislation governing the TTPS allowed for male officers to arrest a female suspect who is committing, suspected of or is about to commit a crime.

“The only thing the association has a different understanding of is when a female becomes a prisoner, there is no room or doubt in our mind that only a female officer could search that person,” Seales said.

He called upon the TTPS to state its official policy to avoid further ambiguity.

“The association would simply say there needs to be a clear mandate by both parties so as to avoid the confusion that spills over to the public, which ultimately only affects the citizenry,” Seales said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday that he is now trying to find out what occurred in the issue of the Sport Ministry’s recent $150,000 court settlement.

Government recently said the settlement concerned a matter of “improper termination” of an employee and a non-disclosure clause was involved.

The Opposition has insisted Government disclose who in the ministry was involved and alleged certain statements point to the top.

Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference, the Prime Minister said, “I can’t pronounce on it without knowing details.”

On whether he still has confidence in Sport Minister Darryl Smith, Rowley said there is no Minister in Government in whom he didn’t have confidence. He said if he didn’t have confidence in anyone, he’d withdraw the portfolio.

He warned if people misconducted themselves at the workplace and were found guilty of wrong-doing, ...That’s for their account -that’s the general principle.”

Smith is also MP for Diego Martin Central.

STORIES - Gail Alexander

Public officials who usurped the authority of the political directorate and not Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses, were responsible for T&T’s recent refusal to support Dominica’s request for waiver of its dues for the Organisation of American States (OAS) last month.

That’s the direction in which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has pointed following receipt of reports from officials at all levels - including Moses - involved in the issue.

The issue recently brought a negative international spotlight after T&T refused to back Dominica’s bid for waiver of its 2018-2019 OAS dues at a March 23 meeting, in the face of its continuing struggles in the wake of the devastation caused to the country by Hurricane Maria last year.

Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Rowley revealed that a Foreign Affairs Ministry acting deputy permanent secretary eventually advised that T&T follow a February decision in which Caricom states refused to give one country a waiver on an issue different to Dominca’s.

Rowley said although the ministry’s Permanent Secretary later agreed T&T should support Dominica’s waiver, she failed to inform Moses of the matter.

Further, Rowley revealed T&T wasn’t represented at a March 15 meeting where all Organisation of American States (OAS) members unanimously agreed to support Dominica’s waiver request. He said he was still trying to find out why T&T was absent from this meeting, noting the country’s absence from this meeting had also contributed to the embarrassing situation.

Rowley said the reports he received, “... make for disturbing reading. Not for the first time, I’ve had to be concerned about certain actions taken by persons who may not have followed established procedure - or worse usurped the authority where that authority lies.”

He said the matter could have been easily avoided if simple procedures were followed.

“Not for the first time, I’ve had to deal with something like this where people have usurped the authority of the political directorate. So it’s easy to call for the minister’s head or mine, but I like to deal with facts and to hold people accountable for their actions.”

He said he’s now put the matter in the hands of former Foreign Affairs career diplomat Ambassador Christopher Thomas to analyse.

But Rowley made it clear that as Prime Minister - who appoints PSs - he can take action.

He said he was shocked and embarrassed by T&T’s refusal to support Dominica’s waiver request at the OAS’s March 23 meeting. The matter generated local and regional debate. Rowley, however, noted T&T’s strong support for Dominica following its 2017 hurricane devastation. This was articulated by Moses at the United Nations and T&T Ambassador to the UN Pennelope Beckles also.

The PM said it was therefore surprising and shocking that anyone could claim not to know T&T’s “level of empathy and commitment” to Dominica, “particularly office holders whose job it is to portray T&T abroad and those at home who support those abroad.”

When the Dominica issue occurred, he said he immediately enquired who was directing policy, “because clearly that was change of policy that required input from the political directorate.”

Moses never told of Dominica issue

In one aspect of the problem, PM Rowley said it’s now been discovered that T&T was absent from the OAS March 15 preparatory meeting, where member states unanimously agreed to support Dominica’s waiver request ahead of the March 23 meeting where the matter was voted upon.

He said OAS members’ unanimous decision was in keeping with statements by Moses and Beckles on T&T’s support for Dominica. But he noted the T&T Foreign Ministry headquarters was unaware of T&T’s absence at the March 15 meeting

He further noted that the ministry’s acting deputy PS then said T&T’s position should remain consistent with those expressed at an earlier Caricom/Association of Caribbean States meeting on grant of waivers. Back then, another country had requested a waiver within Caricom on a different matter and the Caricom group, including T&T, agreed this waiver shouldn’t be granted.

Rowley added, “This is the source of the problem - public officials are now deciding, that notwithstanding what the political directorate may come to on T&T’s position, that we maintain consistency with some prior position on some other matter - and to maintain that consistency, we say no to the Dominica waiver.”

He noted that the acting deputy PS was aware of the March 15 OAS meeting where members all agreed to support Dominica’s waiver

Rowley said the ministry’s PS had also agreed T&T policy should be changed to support Dominica’s waiver. But in reading the PS’ report, he said she admitted that she “failed to forward the matter to the minister as is standard procedure, as I’m accustomed to in matters in respect of which an official position of T&T is required.

“She acknowledged, on looking at the matter - including the March 15 meeting missed by T&T - it was therefore clear there was consensus among the membership to accede to Dominica’s request,” he said.

Rowley said Moses’ report on the issue had alluded to standard procedure “to process requests from missions and the position to be adopted in international fora. Requests are sent to the relevant ministry divisions for attention. Resulting output is sent to the PS, who submits it to the minister for consideration and authorisation. Once approved it’s sent to the PS for outward transmission to a mission.

Reading excerpts from Moses’ reports, the PM said the minister stated that the Washington T&T embassy’s request for guidance on the Dominica matter was processed by two ministry divisions. But he said consultations and a co-operative effort involving embassy personnel and the ministry “resulted in a changed position” from the embassy’s recommendation to support the Dominican request, to another position, to one being proposed by the PS via the acting deputy PS.”

In his report, Moses added he was “never consulted, nor was any submission made to me in this matter. I wasn’t even aware a request from Dominica for a waiver was to be considered by the OAS (on March 23).”

Moses also noted he’d had extensive discussions with the PS during the March 23 period when the “unauthorised position of T&T” was conveyed to the Washinghton embassy.

Rowley confirmed he maintains confidence in Moses, adding the T&T/Dominica relationship is still solid.

PSs in all-day meeting

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says he decided yesterday to send all the reports on the Dominica OAS faux pas and the situation to Ambassador Christopher Thomas for expert review. He said Thomas is a very experienced foreign service officer who was a Foreign Affairs Ministry PS, a former ambassador to Venezuela, OAS assistant secretary general, independent senator and service commission chairman.

“I’ll rely on him to give a more appropriate analysis of what we’re dealing with here, because it’s my intention to let the facts dictate what actions are taken, as Prime Minister,” Rowley added.

He said the analysis wasn’t to blame but to identify why the situation occurred to prevent recurrence. He said, however, that nothing prevented him from taking action at this stage.

“What pertinent action I can take, I’ll take,” he added, saying he’ll take his time dealing with it.

But he said the matter, under standard procedure, should have been brought to the minister’s attention and the PS admitted she failed to follow this procedure.

Foreign Affairs Ministry PS Jennifer Daniel was said to be in a meeting yesterday, her secretariat indicated when the T&T Guardian called. Deputy PSs Rita Toussaint and Ted Herbert weren’t available either. They were also said to be in a meeting.

------------------------------------------------------

DOMINICA OAS REPORT TRAIL SHOWS

FEBRUARY CARICOM MEETING

Another country requested a waiver within Caricom on a different matter and the Caricom group, including T&T, agreed the waiver shouldn’t be granted. In the OAS Dominica matter, T&T officials then said the same position should be used consistently and say no to all waivers.

MARCH 15

OAS meeting where member states unanimously agreed - in preparation for the March 23 vote meeting - to Dominca’s fee waiver request. It was determined T&T wouldn’t have to foot Dominica’s waiver costs.

MARCH 22

T&T officials in Washington sought guidance from T&T headquarters on how to respond on Dominica’s waiver request. Concerns included if T&T would have to foot Dominica’s waiver costs if the waiver was given

ACTING DEPUTY PS

Felt T&T’s position should remain consistent with those expressed at several meetings of Caricom and the ACS concerning waiver grants.

MARCH 23

The deputy director of the ministry’s Americas Division wrote the PS indicating that the division felt Dominica’s waiver request be supported. This was transmitted to the PS.

THE PS

Agreed T&T policies should be changed and T&T should reserve support for the waiver. However, she admitted failing to forward the matter to Moses according to standard procedure she was accustomed to in matters concerning where an official position of T&T is required.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses’s report details how a changed position - from the T&T embassy recommendations to support the Dominican request to another position proposed by the PS via acting deputy PS - arose. Says he was never consulted, no submission was made to him and he was unaware of Dominica’s request was being considered by the OAS on March 23.

As ferry passengers continue to complain about long waiting times at the airports in travelling to and from Tobago, no dates have been given for the return of the T&T Express and the T&T Spirit to the seabridge.

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the T&T Spirit was scheduled to undergo a sea trial yesterday and once all criteria was satisfied, certification should follow.

However, plans were still in the making for the T&T Express to be taken to the dry dock for repairs.

Meanwhile, the Water Taxi Service’s Trini Flash, which sustained a fire while transporting passengers to Tobago last week Tuesday, remains out of commission. Only the Cabo Star, which has a capacity of 90 seats, was available to ferry passengers.

In a Facebook post yesterday by Nafeesa Mohammed, a former advisor to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, she stated: “ This airbridge has really collapsed. Since midday yesterday, folks have been waiting to get on a flight to return to Trinidad. At midnight last night, they said no more stand byes, you have to come back and validate your ticket then put your name on the list again.

“Since 4.45 am, waiting in line to get into Caribbean Airlines office to renew the tickets. 70 people ahead of you and you haven’t reached to the counter to get your name on a list. Meanwhile, you can’t even hear or see a plane coming in. Who is really monitoring and helping to deal with this crisis? Why can’t arrangements be made to send a jet to clear the pile up once or twice during the day? This is not rocket science! This is a serious indictment on the management of the affairs of our country. I will be criticised for speaking out, but too many people suffering. It is totally unacceptable and inexcusable! Power is ephemeral and the writing is on the wall for all who have ears to hear and eyes to see. You cannot run a country on the basis of public relations ... This is madness!”

Calls were made to Mohammed’s phone yesterday but there was no answer. In responding to the issues, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) head of corporate communications Dionne Liguore said people have to understand the logistics involved in the airlines picking up the slack of the sea bridge. Ligoure said that given the small area they operate at the ANR Robinson International Airport, it would mean that the lines would seem long. CAL also has five employees operating at the airport.

She said in addition to their core schedule, additional flights were added to clear up any backlog and that at 11.51 am yesterday, there were no ferry passengers at the ANR Robinson International Airport.

Currently, the airport closes at 1.30 am and reopens at 5.45 am meaning the standby passengers, those who had not made a previous reservation, would not necessarily get on a flight before the airport closes.

“At this time, Caribbean Airlines continues to closely manage the airbridge. As the public is well aware, the airline has been supporting the operation of the sea bridge by increasing capacity to enable persons to travel between Trinidad and Tobago.

She said that between March 29 to April 2, the airline operated 283 flights on the air bridge, which provided 20,964 seats of which 16,583 were utilised.

“With respect to the issue of the long lines, by virtue of the space in which we are operating, by sheer logistics and the high volume of persons, there are lines because there is a process that has to be observed that is in place where customers must be issued with a valid travel document. The public may not be aware that airline tickets are auditable documents and the airline operates in a highly regulated industry.”

Contractor Emile Elias has lost his over three decade long legal battle with a property developer over a townhouse community in Westmoorings.

Delivering a 24-page judgment at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday morning, Appellate Judges Peter Jamadar, Gregory Smith and Andre Des Vignes dismissed Elias’ appeal over the decision of a High Court judge in 2013 to order him to pay Westmoorings Limited $1.2 million in compensation for delays in completing the project in the 1980s.

The lawsuit centered around 92 townhouses built for the developer between 1983 and 1985 at a cost of $11,568,812.

In the appeal, Elias was challenging the decision of Justice Devindra Rampersad to uphold a clause of the contract which required Elias’ company to pay the developer $1,000 per week for every townhouse not completed by the agreed delivery date.

Smith rejected Elias’ claim that the clause was exorbitant and unconscionable as he noted that the evidence suggested that it served a legitimate business interest and was agreed upon after negotiations between the parties.

“The clause was a genuine pre-estimate of loss and a matter of commercial expediency agreed to between the parties. I find no fault with this finding of the trial judge on the evidence before him,” Smith said. He noted that the contract also contained a clause awarding Elias a $500 bonus for each week that a townhouse was delivered in advance of its due date for completion.

Smith also rejected Elias’ claim that the clause was negated by the fact that the developer had granted him extensions to complete the project as he said that Elias’ contention was not supported by evidence.

“A fact to note is that in assessing the evidence, the trial judge felt compelled to stress and justify on at least three occasions, that he disbelieved the evidence of Elias on critical issues,” Smith said.

The legal dispute first arose in 1988, however, it took 25 years to be determined by the High Court as it did not fall under the Civil Proceedings Rules, which were introduced by the Judiciary in 2005 to increase the efficiency of disposition of cases.

“Without proper case management provisions, this bulky building contract dispute languished in the system until, to his credit, Justice Rampersad, took up the challenge posed and effectively managed and disposed of this case,” Smith said.

As part of the judgment, Elias was ordered to pay the developer’s legal costs for the appeal.

Elias was represented by Alvin Fitzpatrick, SC, while Christopher Hamel-Smith, SC, represented the developer.

A little over two months after prison officer Devendra Boodooram was murdered, a man from east Port-of-Spain was charged with the crime.

According to a post on the Police Service Twitter account posted yesterday afternoon, Andre “Famo” Lavia, also known as “Brandon Thomas” and “Wetman Andre” was charged with murdering Boodooram on January 26.

Lavia is expected to appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Boodooram, 50, was driving along Frederick Street in Port-of-Spain after finishing his shift at the Port-of-Spain State Prison, when he was ambushed by a gunman near to St Mary’s College.

The father of two was shot four times- once to the head, once to the next and twice in his chest. He died on the scene.

His attacker than ran up Frederick Street, across Oxford Street and then towards Chardord Courts in East Dry River.

Within days of the murder, homicide detectives released a sketch of Boodooram’s killer but Lavia was only arrested near his home at East Dry River, on Sunday afternoon.

Police sources said that he was pointed by an eyewitness to the shooting during an identification parade held on Wednesday afternoon.

He was charged by Sgt Sheldene Bacchus of the Region One Homicide Bureau after she received advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Boodooram’s murder came amid threats against prison officers over excessive force alleged used by prison officers during a routine search exercise in January. Police had claimed that Boodooram’s murder was a case of mistaken identity as he was not on duty on the day of the alleged abuse.

A 47-year-old serial rapist and robber, who was arrested while attacking his latest victim last week Thursday, remained in police custody up to late yesterday.

The suspect, of Chase Village, Chaguanas, was expected to participate in identification parades with his three previous victims yesterday afternoon.

According to police reports, the suspect attacked his latest victim, a 21-year-old student, while they were passengers in the same maxi taxi traveling along the Priority Bus Route (PBR).

The man reportedly pointed what appeared to be a gun at her and robbed her of cash. He allegedly told her that if she alerted the other passengers or the driver, he would shoot her.

The victim waited until the maxi taxi was passing a police traffic check exercise at Cane Farm Junction before she pressed the bell for the driver to stop. She got out and reported the incident to the police, who immediately arrested the suspect.

The suspect was found to have a knife and not a gun in his possession.

Police later learned that the suspect matched the description of a man who committed three separate rapes in central Trinidad.

The attacks reportedly occurred after the suspect was released from prison in February after serving a 13-year sentence for rape and robbery.

Investigations are continuing.

Republic Bank Ltd workers protested yesterday after talks between the bank and the union, Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) for the bargaining period July 2017-May 2020, “stalled”.

The workers and the company are at loggerheads as the bank has tabled six per cent wage increase, while the union has tabled 19 per cent for the same period.

In the face of the protest action, the bank stated: “Independent reviews of compensation packages, within the banking and financial services industry in Trinidad and Tobago, all confirm that Republic Bank’s salaries and benefits are among the best in the country.”

BIGWU’s Labour Relations Officer Jason Brown said, in a telephone interview yesterday, there are several issues which have culminated over time that pertain to the current negotiations. For instance, he said “over 500 workers were affected last year when the bank took away the mall allowance, and the union had to fight to get it back. The bank, without any consultation with the union, changed the hours of work (of employees who work at the malls) and took away the allowance.”

He added that there are issues of job evaluation which are before the court, there are issues where the bank has not paid workers for three days and it is also before the court.

Brown said there was an occasion during the last negotiations where workers were ill and could not report for duty.

“There is an issue where the bank has adopted a performance appraisal system which is a bit oppressive to workers. That performance appraisal system is something that allows them to get a percentage increase in their salary.”

In response to the scheduled protest action, RBL yesterday defended its compensation package offered to employees saying that the packages are based on job roles, and the salaries are paid commensurate with the industry standard, taking into consideration the prevailing economic climate.

In a statement yesterday, the bank said, “independent reviews of compensation packages, within the banking and financial services industry in T&T, all confirm that RBL’s salaries and benefits are among the best in the country.”

The bank said it was currently in negotiations with the union for a new collective agreement related to its clerical staff.

The bank said it noted, with concern, “incorrect and misleading statements made in the media by representatives of the union over the last week.”

“Compensation packages are determined based on job roles and the salaries paid within the specific industry, and grouping for comparative jobs.

Consideration of the prevailing and projected economic climate is also relevant in determining wage proposals.

Republic Bank adopts this approach,” the bank said.

“Additionally, in recognition of the valuable contribution made by all employees of Republic Bank to its annual performance, its staff share in the profits generated each year by the Group, through its profit sharing plan.

The plan offers employees a combination of Republic Bank shares and cash, every year. As an investment, their Republic Bank shares generate annual dividends and capital appreciation, depending on the performance of the Bank. This is a benefit that is not offered to employees in the majority of other companies in Trinidad and Tobago.

Republic Bank also provides its employees with performance-based incentives that are above industry norms,” the statement said.

Samsung launched its S9 and S9+ cellphones to customers at Trincity Mall yesterday.

Samsung’s sales manager for Latin America Terry Weech told cellphone enthusiasts the new devices are the most modern cellphone in the world and can serve for many purposes.=

The phone has the capacity to take photos which are comparable to the quality used by media houses, Weech said.

The phone carries a 12-megapixel rear mcamera.

People who were shown the capacity of the phone were excited by the functions of the S9 and S9+ cellphones.

Managers of bmobile, Digicel and cellphone dealers were among those present for the launch.

The cost of the prepaid cellphones ranges from $6,000 up, said Weech.

Overall Market activity resulted from trading in 14 securities of which 6 advanced, 3 declined and 5 traded firm.

Trading activity on the First Tier Market registered a volume of 269,017 shares crossing the floor of the Exchange valued at $1,994,237.13.

GraceKennedy Limited was the volume leader with 99,926 shares changing hands for a value of $314,766.90, followed by FirstCaribbean International Bank Ltd with a volume of 59,150 shares being traded for $554,858.00.

Sagicor Financial Corporation Ltd contributed 47,615 shares with a value of $371,397.00, while JMMB Group Ltd added 39,000 shares valued at $72,540.00.

T&T NGL Ltd registered the day’s largest gain, increasing $0.38 to end the day at $27.71. Conversely, FirstCaribbean International Bank Ltd registered the day’s largest decline, falling $0.12 to close at $9.38.

Clico Investment Fund was the only active security on the Mutual Fund Market, posting a volume of 24,533 shares valued at $494,346.95.

Clico Investment Fund remained at $20.15. Bourse Brazil Latin Fund remained at $8.40. Calypso Macro Index Fund remained at $20.48.

Fortress Caribbean Property Fund Ltd SCC—Development Fund remained at $0.67. Fortress Caribbean Property Fund Ltd SCC—Value Fund remained at $1.70. Praetorian Property Mutual Fund remained at $3.05.

The Second Tier Market did not witness any activity. Mora Ven Holdings Ltd remained at $14.49.

Whether it was a matter of miscommunication or misinterpretation, T&T’s entire foreign relations system is being shown in a bad light following the vote against Dominica’s request for a waiver of its Organisation of American States (OAS) membership fees.

That is because foreign relations is all about maintaining good healthy relations with our neighbours in the region and the wider world.

What happened on March 23, when this country’s representative to the OAS, Ambassador Anthony Phillips-Spencer voted against the request, making us the only nation in the 35-member bloc to do so, suggests a lack of properly developed and enunciated policies in key areas.

It looks like Ambassador Phillips-Spencer was not properly briefed and T&T came across at a regional forum as a blundering, bungling nation not sure of its position on key issues. And the silence from Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses only helps reinforce the perception of little or no meaningful communications and exchanges throughout the country’s diplomatic network.

Damage control is already under way, which is good since that OAS blunder could easily trigger all kinds of negative fallout, particularly within Caricom where some relationships are already fragile. We are not completely out of the woods from recent trade and immigration disputes and could be courting further trouble if we don’t get it right from now on.

This country needs a more skilful foreign relations policy and rules so that at all times, T&T’s representatives at all levels in the diplomatic system can effectively represent the country’s position at various fora.
Over to you, Minister Moses.

Paying for waste and neglect

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young must have been genuinely trying to deliver some good news when he revealed that $30 million less will be spent on restoration work at President’s House.

That would have been good news were it not for a back story of neglect leading to the collapse of a portion of that historic building in 2010. The structure had become termite-ridden and that problem had been ignored by successive governments.

It would have been bad enough had President’s House been an isolated case. However, millions of dollars of restoration work also have to be done on the Red House and some of the Magnificent Seven buildings around the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Had there been regular cycles of maintenance and preservation work on these and other historic buildings, there would be no need to spend all these millions now to save them from being completely destroyed.

Why doesn’t Trinidad and Tobago have official arrangements regarding Presidential and Prime Ministerial collections which document the papers, speeches, activities, and memorabilia of the nation’s leaders?

If we are going to find the historical context for our leadership each President or Prime Minister should have a formal set of precedents to inform their own administration or tenure. Academic researchers and the general public should also have the opportunity to peruse the records and mementos of the office holders.

It is not as lofty a process as it would seem because we need to encourage interest in every aspect of national development.

I noted the comments of the President Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes during her inaugural address on March 19 this year. She said “Well before the date of assumption of any new position the candidate had better be clear about the job description… with that in mind, I first looked at the Constitution and while it outlined certain duties and functions of president, the office holder’s role was not defined. Then aided by memory, anecdote and available material I analysed the leadership and decision-making styles of my predecessors in office. This unscientific research led me to the conclusion that it falls to each President to define within prescribed limits his or in this case her own role”.

The words “unscientific research” are worrying because there is really little that informs incoming presidents about their predecessors.

On the other hand there is the Eric Williams Memorial Collection comprising material that Mrs Erica Williams-Connell loaned to the University of the West Indies. The collection is going to be relocated to the former Public Library at Knox Street, Port-of-Spain where it will be renamed the Eric Williams Memorial Library.

I understand the site may also house information applicable to other state and government leaders. If that is so it will be welcome because we need documentation for the five PMs after Eric Williams as well the first five Presidents. However, I do not know under whose auspices the collection may fall.

The Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, named for Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, was established in 1964, under the Ministry of Culture, in New Delhi. It features the life and times of Nehru and his prominent political contemporaries. It also houses most of Mahatma Gandhi’s writings.

In the USA Presidential records used to remain among the possessions of past incumbents until 1939 when Franklin D Roosevelt passed over his personal and presidential records to the federal government.

The Presidential Libraries Act became law in 1955, to formalise this project.

Such collections in the USA are now started by enterprising private persons or institutions.

Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President, planned the Obasanjo Presidential Library following the example of the American presidential libraries. He financed it and had it formally established in 2005 as the first of its kind in Africa.

There are two Prime Ministerial memorial libraries in the United Kingdom. The first was the Gladstone Library set up by William Ewart Gladstone, the 19th Century British Prime Minister. The Margaret Thatcher Library, established in 2013, was based on the US Presidential Libraries. Nonetheless there are separate records at the UK Prime Minister’s office.

I know the personnel at the National Archives have done a considerable amount of work collecting material about our leaders so at least a foundation has already been established.

Print and electronic media have done great service to the nation by featuring the careers of former Presidents and Prime Ministers. Those corporate entities who sponsored ads in the media may wish to fund collections and have them lodged at the UWI, the National Archives or any other facility.

However, the effort would be more worthwhile if there are guidelines that facilitate the acquisition of any and all the records of Presidents and Prime Ministers to make sure that they are available for researchers.

Aiyegoro Ome

In a time of great uncertainty and lack of trust in our nation’s highest office holders, recent events have told us much about the Government’s approach to transparency, accountability and its poor attitude towards legitimate public interest in the conduct of Government officials.

First there was the public outcry involving our Ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS) objecting to hurricane-ravaged Dominica’s request for a temporary waiver of its fees to the OAS.

According to our Ambassador, our country’s position was a deferral of payment of fees, together with a payment plan.

The assistance rendered by us to Dominica after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria was lost in the flurry of statements of outrage which followed the revelation of what had actually happened at the OAS meeting.

Immediately following that revelation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs put out a statement that the position stated by the Ambassador was, “not aligned with the actions, policy or orientation of Trinidad and Tobago towards Dominica”. Embarrassingly, that assertion by the Ministry that the Ambassador had misrepresented our country’s policy was then shown to be untrue by leaked memos which showed that the

Ambassador was in fact acting as directed and in accordance with the policy of the Ministry and the Government.
The misrepresentation by the Ministry and by extension the Foreign Affairs Minister, showed disregard and disrespect for the goodly Ambassador and the public. To date, the Minister has so far avoided

resignation or firing, and it will be interesting to see how the Prime Minister deals with the report from the Minister on the “OAS mishap” (as it is now being described by the Government).

Then there was the controversy surrounding the $150,000 settlement in a matter in the Industrial Court brought by a female worker who had been fired from the Ministry of Sport and who had alleged that before termination she had been sexually harassed by a senior Ministry official.

The Industrial Relations Act requires that the parties in the case had to be a trade union acting on behalf of the aggrieved worker, and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) representing the Government. This was not a sexual misconduct lawsuit but the termination of employment being challenged by the worker.

In such a case there is nothing unusual about the matter being settled and the worker paid fair compensation for being fired in breach of good industrial relations practice and procedure. It is the signing of a non-disclosure agreement by the parties to the court case which has raised eyebrows, because the specific allegations of sexual harassment, as well as the identity of the alleged harasser, are being hidden from the public who pays the alleged harasser’s salary and who must now pay $150,000 of taxpayers’ money as compensation.

Government’s insistence through the AG and Minister Young that all of this is the usual practice where court matters are settled, suggests that they are intent on keeping hidden allegations which may possibly be damaging to their Government. This is wrong. It is unfair to keep the public in the dark about possible inappropriate conduct by those it pays, and it is not unreasonable for the public to believe that some kind of cover up has been achieved using taxpayers’ money.

Finally there was the civil (not criminal) matter involving Minister Dillon in New York (NY), and settled in court on Wednesday. By the court sealing the proceedings the public’s right to know has been frustrated.

The statement by the Minister that the NY court has authorised him to reveal that no “finding of wrongdoing” has been made against him is another example of the Government’s playing with words, because obviously there cannot be a finding of wrongdoing if a case is settled before trial. (This is not to suggest that Minister Dillon has done anything wrong).

That being said, it is this lack of transparency and accountability that continue to plague this government, as it did their predecessor. If they do not wish to suffer the same fate, their approach to these matters and the like must change.

Mickela Panday

Calypso queen Heather Mac Intosh is hosting her first ever concert appearance, Hues of Heather, at Kaiso Blues Cafe, Newtown tonight, at 9 pm. She will have an all star band led by Michael “Ming” Low Chu Tung (keyboards); Dougie Redon (bass); Marva Newton (guitar); Daniel Ryan (saxophone); and, Richard Joseph (drums). Mac Intosh will be featuring three other calypso singers, former National Calypso Monarch Devon Seale, veteran Organizer and Ms Dija (Kadija Jeremiah.

The much-accomplished Mac Intosh began singing calypso in 1987 as her first junior calypso monarch competition and then as an adult in 2001 and almost every year made it to the National Calypso Monarch finals.

Her performances are noted for the humour she injects into current political and social commentary responding to the latest issues from visas to sport scandals, banking practices to medicalexams.

Mac Intosh attended college in Brazil and now teaches Portuguese at UWI.

So, beyond calypso, tonight’s repertoire will feature some sambas as well as calypsoes, even a few surprises.

Ms Dija has only been in the calypso arena for a few years and had previously been in the Divine Echoes and part of the new generation.

Seale has been a friend of Mac Intosh since they were competing in junior calypso competitions (which Heather won in 1995) and both went to school in Brazil—though at different locations.

The stalwart that will be featured tonight is Organizer known for songs like That’s a Bandit.

A past Kitchener Calypso Revue performer, he has been in Cro Cro’s Icons tent with Mac Intosh and has passed on advice to her about calypso singing and he has grown to be someone she really respects.

Hues of Heather will be hosted by Mac Intosh’s father Shortpants who has been in the calypso world for decades as a singer, composer, extempo artist, talk calypso companion and has become a wellknown radio personality hosting Culture Talk on Saturdays and Kaiso Kafe on Sundays at Talk Radio 91.1 FM. He has been composing for his daughter for many years.

Mac Intosh had beenfeatured a few years ago  in a concert called The Queen, the Princess and the Duchess with Calypso Rose and Anne Fridal.

But this is her first chance to put her own show.

She said: “I wanted to offer culture out of the Carnival season, without the stress of competition, featuring favourites of my calypsoes and also sambas, use great musicians and feature other singers, great friends in the relaxed setting of Kaiso Blues Cafe.”

(Courtesy Ray Funk)

Mas and pan goes to Point Fortin

Expect lots of action on the first weekend of May when the annual Point Fortin Borough Day Festival is held. As usual, the two-week festival will be a cornucopia of all that is good in T&T as far as indigenous art forms are concerned, inclusive of pan, mas, folk, culinary, arts and craft, mas, kaiso, calypso and chutney soca.

The much anticipated May 5 Pan on D Move parade of steelbands will traverse its traditional route and some of the nation’s top steelbands are expected to be on the street.

Among them will be 2018 National Panorama (Large) champion bpTT Renegades, runners-up CAL Skiffle and Desperadoes, Massy Trinidad All Stars, Exodus, Invaders, First Citizen Supernovas, Shell Invaders, Phase II Pan Groove, medium band Panorama champion Pan Elders, Single Pan winner Angostura Newtown Playboys Steel Symphony and others.

Expected to be lead of the parade as usual will homegrown Point Fortin Single Pan band Jah Roots. But, before the pan parade, from 4 am on Saturday Mas and pan goes to Point Fortin morning, the very popular Point Fortin J’Ouvert will be held and returning to the southern borough is the Fete Rat de J’Ouvert Band.

Celebrating its eighth year of existence, the band will be portraying Smack Dat.

Its fun and sensual theme is indicative of the band’s portrayal hence section names include Mesmerize, Playmate and Bite Me which is also available in Plus Sizes. The Fete Rat de J’Ouvert Band is fully all inclusive and all masqueraders enjoy and receive a premium goodie bag with their costume, and on the road will be provided with a fully-stocked premium bar, breakfast, cutters, security personnel and a 20- foot music truck during the six-hour parade.

DreadFest in Woodbrook

Reggae artistes from around the world are expected to arrive in Trinidad to perform at the April 21 DreadFest event.

DreadFest is a Reggae festival exhibiting a unique assortment of reggae infused art, craft, food, fashion, literature and music and it will be held in Woodbrook at Izinga’s Place, 23 Fitt Street.

Among the foreigners billed to perform, and the places of origin are Wapapah II and Princess Kazayah (Chicago); King Mas (Boston); and, Iyata Safari (NY). They will be joined by local songsters Lion King, Solid Rock, System Rebel, King Tafari, Buzzrock, Jah Mender and others.

DreadFest is expected to commence during the day and will also include local craftsmen, fashion designers and other small business owners, promoting and selling their products and food items, with a backdrop of musical selections from the Dread Radio cast.

There will also be live reasoning sessions on health and wellness among a few other prevalent topics.

Epic leap for Silver Harps steelband

Point Fortin Silver Harps Steel Orchestra was the proud recipient of an EPIC grant of $33,750 from the Digicel Foundation.

The funds were used to refurbish the panyard by changing the galvanise for the roof, upgrading of bathrooms and electrical work, installing fans and resurfacing the floor.

This space which is located on Salazar Trace, is the centre of community activity and home to 50 pannists many of whom are youth between the ages of seven-25 years.

In receiving the funds, a proud Ronnie Williams, assistant manager of the Point Fortin orchestra, was high in praise for the Foundation for the donation.

Said Williams: “The panyard is not just a place to play pan” he stated, “it is a place where we focus all our efforts on youth development in the community.

“Teaching them how to play, read and arrange music, discipline, team work, camaraderie and critical thinking skills and anything we can to enforce positive change.”

Silver Harps’ motto Difficult does not mean Impossible has helped the orchestra to sustain its activities over the years. Part of this year’s vision is to get enough financial support to enter the Panorama competition’s Medium Band and Junior Panorama categories for Carnival 2019.

Trustee Curtis Yearwood also added: “The panyard is active throughout the year and not just for Carnival.

“In fact,the group will be headliners at the launch of Point Fortin Borough Day on April 28 and will be featured in Republic Bank’s Pan on the Parkway”for the popular city event.

Silver Harps Steel Orchestra is committed to enhancing and preserving the culture of T&T by promoting the national instrument.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Spice Mas Grenada 2018
is scheduled to take place in August.

One of the strongest clubs in recent history in T&T, PowerGen finds themselves in danger of being demoted from the T&T Cricket Board Premiership Division I.

The southern club finds its in last place in the eight-team standings with 32 points, 11 short of Victoria United and 24 short of QPCC II which is on 46 points. Today, there challenge to stay in the top flight will not be easier as they battle defending champions QPCC I at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The Oval Boys have not been their normal ruthless selves this season and are in third spot with 63 points. PowerGen will be looking for great contributions with the bat from the Cooper brothers Akiel and Cephas, as well as national player Ewart Nicholson. However, their biggest boost should come from returning West Indies player Jason Mohammed. They have struggled in the batting department this season, while the slow bowlers led by Ancil Bhaggan have held sway. PowerGen started off the season in fine form by winning the UWI T20 and will be hoping to rekindle that kind of form in the last two rounds of the Premiership.

Leaders Alescon Comets on 93 points will be on the road to Victoria at Barrackpore. With Victoria struggling the Charlieville men will be looking to take advantage and out themselves in an unassailable position going into the final round.

Central Sports will be playing QPCC II and an outright win can keep up the pressure on Comets. Richard Ramkissoon team has been in great form with the veteran Shazan Babwah showing great form.

In the other game, Merryboys will battle old rivals Clarke Road at St. Anthony’s College in a mid-table clash.

All matches start at 10am.

T&T junior netballers will open their account in the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) Jean Pierre Under-16 Championships today against Barbados from 6.30 pm at the Vigie Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Castries, St Lucia.

Captain Esther James with support from vice-captain Tamiah Hernandez will lead T&T in their quest to capture it first-ever title in the junior tournament.

However, they will start against a worthy opponent in Barbados "Gems", a team who has captured the crown three times so there will not be much room for error.

Guiding them from the sideline will be coach Velma Hazelwood and assistant coach Lystra Solomon-Simmons, a former national senior captain, in the seven-team competition. The other teams are from Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In recent times, the national junior "Calypso Girls" have finished down the lower order but Hazelwood said earlier this week that their main goal is to place among the top three positions as the have done before in the Tournament named after the renowned international netballer, the late Jean Pierre of T&T. The youth championships, has been staged annually since 1998.

T&T was runner-up twice to the Jamaican team who has won the tournament a record ten-times.

In today's opening match-up following the opening ceremony at 4 pm will see the host country take on Dominica, from 5.30 pm. The final match of the evening will be between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada from 7.30 pm.

Football is on the minds of many as the 2018 World Cup count down taking place.

As the official licensed broadcaster of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Guardian Media Limited through its subsidiary CNC3, cranks things up a bit with its unique and innovative Fete Five Football (FFF) competition which kicks off today at ML Ball Park (formerly Marvin Lee Stadium) in Macoya from 2pm and runs for nine consecutive weekends ending on June 2.

FFF is essentially, a skills and drills competition which adapts some of the sport's most basic training exercises into fun, novelty drills to test the technical ability of the average player as it targets fete match teams and amateur players over the age of 18.

Each match day will be filmed and subsequently developed into nine episodes which will be aired on CNC3 every Thursday from 8pm hosted by popular social media comedian Keevan "Keevo" Lewis.

Think you can pass, shoot, dribble and score? Well let's see you do it under the pressure of a ticking clock, heavy expectation from your teammates and unrelenting banter from the opposition.

With six "man caves" on the line for the winning team on June 2, the competition will be intense.

Added to the skills and drills component, teams will also be engaged in the more traditional form of the game with a 5-a-side small goal "bragging rights" competition to complete each of the 9 match days.

Best of all, to the event is absolutely free as the GML team aims to create the perfect atmosphere for competition and television.

The first teams in action:

Bompton United (Bon Air Gardens)

Ghetto Youths (Arouca)

Retro Stars (San Fernando)

Ronco FC (Barrackpore)

Yellow Fever (Gasparillo)

Dream Team (El Socorro)

Grande Stars (Sangre Grande)