Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard yesterday ordered police to release the 33-year-old woman who stabbed her common-law husband to death in an alcohol-fuelled argument last week. 

Gaspard gave the instructions after he reviewed the police file on the death of 46-year-old Neal Sharma, of Bamboo Settlement No 1, and decided that a coroner’s inquest should be conducted into his death. She was released by detectives of the Region Two Homicide Bureau, yesterday evening. 

In the inquest, a magistrate will be appointed as coroner, and will then review the circumstances surrounding Sharma’s death and determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant the 33-year-old woman being charged with an offence. A date for the start of the inquest is yet to be set. 

Sharma died at his home last Tuesday night after he was stabbed in his chest by the woman. The couple were reportedly seen drinking at a bar in the community before Sharma was killed. 

During a three-hour interview at the Arouca Police Station last Friday, she reportedly claimed that she shared a turbulent relationship with Sharma and they would usually engage in violent arguments whenever they consumed alcohol. 

The suspect was represented by attorney Fareed Ali. 

Rosemarie Sant

GML Enterprise Desk

Former House Speaker Occah Seapaul is contemplating legal action against Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for allegations made by him that she was placed under house arrest in 1995 because she had publicly declared she was going to suspend other government members of Parliament following the suspension of Diego Martin Central MP Ken Valley, thereby reducing the government’s majority in the Parliament.

Rowley told the media last Thursday “we were not going to allow Speaker Seapaul to remove the mandate of a government that we earned from an election.” 

He explained that “she took it on herself to reduce the government majority so that the Government would fall. She suspended Ken Valley and said the next time the Parliament reopens, she would suspend, me (Rowley), (Wendell) Motley and (Keith) Sobion. 

“We took action as a government to protect ourselves from being suspended from Parliament by a Speaker who had gone rogue,” he added. 

But Seapaul is denying she ever indicated to anyone she had planned further suspensions following the suspension of Valley. 

She told the GML Enterprise Desk: “Dr Rowley is going to be very hard pressed to find any evidence of such an indication or declaration because I never made any such declaration and I never intended to put anybody out of the House.” 

She said it was only when Dr Rowley spoke last week that “I realised what motivated then, this untruth that I was going to move these men out.”

She laughed heartily when she reflected on Rowley saying she planned to remove Wendell Mottley. She asked: “How his name come up here? I can’t imagine how Dr Rowley came up with these names. I don’t know... somebody, somewhere concocted a story. I had absolutely no quarrel with these four people. Why would I have put them out of the House?” 

Seapaul recalled that prior to the state of emergency and her house arrest Sobion and then education Minister Augustus Ramrekersingh had come to her and told her the Prime Minister wanted her to vacate the chair.

She said: “I had very good relationships with both of them. I told them I am sorry I am not stepping down because I did nothing wrong.”

Seapaul is of the view that the then prime minister Patrick Manning who went to the acting President Emmanuel Carter to declare a limited state of emergency acted on the basis of hearsay. 

She said: “You don’t willy-nilly put people out of the House. It is now abundantly clear to me that whatever they went and presented to the President for the issue of the warrant were false allegations based on false premises.”

She said she had never been able to defend herself because everything that was said about her back then was under the cloak of parliamentary privilege “but 20 years later he is still perpetuating these falsehoods against me again. These are lies. A complete fabrication by person or persons for whatever means.”

Seapaul said she was now weighing her legal options because “20 years ago I could not have taken action because everything was said in Parliament and there was parliamentary privilege but 20 years later they still perpetuating these falsehoods against me. I now have to determine what to do. So I ask for legal redress or leave it to the higher universe for redress?” 

Seapaul said she had been left to wonder why the then President did not ask the relevant questions before agreeing to impose a limited state or emergency.

She believes if the substantive president Noor Hassanali was there he would have informed the Prime Minister that one could not act on hearsay evidence.

“As a former judge he would have asked if there was sworn testimony. Is there any affidavit sworn by people saying yes I heard her say she is going to remove them by virtue of this,” she added.

The moves to have her removed, she believed, also stemmed from a court matter involving Victor Jattan.

She said if the then government “had lost confidence in me because of what the magistrate said then they could have moved a motion of no confidence against me. That would have been in order and appropriate,” she added.

AUGUST 11, 1995 REVISITED (HANSARD)

In August 1995 days after the state of emergency the Parliament met to debate the President’s statement on the state of emergency.

Hansard quotes then AG Keith Sobion as saying “the member for St Joseph (Ramrekersingh) and the member for Ortoire/Mayaro (Sobion) were both warned, in no uncertain terms, that the question of their contempt of the Chair was deferred for further consideration. 

That was on the occasion when prepared scripts and extensive notes were used in relation to the speaker’s particular problem. 

What is clear is that there was a course of action taking place in this Parliament over a period of weeks which led one to the reasonable conclusion that action was being contemplated by the presiding officer against Members of this House and particularly against members sitting on the Government benches.

Sobion said he had no doubt that the President was concerned by what was taking place in the Parliament and had by Section 8(2)(c) of the Constitution, analysed the facts and circumstances which existed and had come to a reasonable conclusion and expressed his view in clear and unambiguous language saying: “As a consequence of these events I was satisfied that the public safety was endangered to an extent that warranted the declaration of a state of public emergency.”

But there was no indication from the Prime Minister or the then AG as to what evidence would have been put to the President to proclaim the state of emergency.

Then opposition leader Basdeo Panday took issue with this, telling the Parliament: 

“The President accepts that he is going to act on a possible aberration of the Prime Minister; something that he had a dream about, not evidence. 

“Where is the hard, cold evidence that the Speaker intended similarly to apply contempt charges against other Government ministers? Not a shred of evidence has come out in this Parliament today.“

A member of the Unruly ISIS Gang attempted to stop the burial of reputed gang leader Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis yesterday when he stormed into the Muslim cemetery at Monroe Road and pulled a gun on the gravediggers and ordered them to cover back the grave.

Gravediggers Imtiaz Mohammed, 58, and Omar Douglas, 54, described their experience as “horrifying.”

“We were digging the grave and the man just came up on us and pulled out a gun and pointed to us. He also knew where one of us lived and asked us if we wanted to live. He then told us to cover back up the grave which we did,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed said the gunman waited until the grave was covered and then left. A vehicle was waiting for him at the cemetery’s entrance.

Mohammed said as soon as the car drove off he called the police and told them what had just happened.

“The police came and stood guard while we dig back up the grave. The police stayed with us right through. We were real frightened but then okay when the police came with their guns,” Mohammed said.

Alexis’ body was subsequently brought to the Enterprise Community Masjid at Boodram Street, Chaguanas, under heavily-guarded police escort.

As the hearse pulled up near the gate of the mosque, members of the Unruly ISIS gang, simultaneously, were reportedly shooting up the air, ringing out “joy fire” in celebration of Alexis’ demise.

Back at the mosque there was a heavy police presence, including officers from the T&T Police Service’s Riot Squad, Special Branch and Guard and Emergency Branch. Also, keeping a watchful eye on the evening’s proceedings were members of the T&T Defence Force. Hovering overhead was a helicopter attached to the Ministry of National Security.

Several minutes after Alexis’ body was carried onto the compound of the mosque, Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, and his entourage of security walked in for the viewing of Alexis’ body.

When Abu Bakr reached up to the coffin he placed his hands together up to the chest and whispered a Dua (Islamic prayer) for his dear friend, Alexis.

Alexis, 51, was killed on Sunday while at his business place at Freedom Street, Enterprise. His hit was ordered by the Unruly ISIS gang and carried out by a senior member, Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe, who was himself killed by Alexis during the attack.

The T&T Guardian was told yesterday that after Alexis was killed, a senior member of the rival gang wrote on his Facebook wall: “Dead or alive mission accomplished.”

Speaking with the T&T Guardian, an unidentified member of the Unruly ISIS gang claimed that Alexis was an “oppressor” and they were left with no choice but to get rid of him.

“Robo served us injustice and oppressed us. Also, Abu Bakr and his men. All of them are oppressors that we intend to get rid of. It’s our goal. We, the youths, are being oppressed for too long,” the Unruly ISIS gang member said.

When asked about the claims of the gang later during Alexis’ funeral, Abu Bakr told the T&T Guardian that those claims were unheard of.

“We are not oppressors. My men in the red hats and boots are not oppressing you (directing to the T&T Guardian). No one is afraid of us,” Abu Bakr said.

Speaking with members of the media just before he left, Abu Bakr, referring to calls made to lock down the Enterprise community, said there was no need for the police to do so.

“Why would they want to cause discomfort to the residents in the area? It is grossly unfair,” Abu Bakr said.

A member close to Alexis told the T&T Guardian on Monday that he was killed because he was about to expose the gang and its links with members of the protective services in criminal enterprise.

Imam Taulib Searles, who officiated the funeral service, called on the community to understand the reality of what had happened and strive to do better for themselves and the community.

Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis shot Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe six times in the head before he himself succumbed to a gunshot in the right of his head, an autopsy revealed yesterday.

According to police, forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov explained to them that Alexis was shot most likely with a high-powered rifle, with the bullet entering the right side of his head and exploding through the opposite side. 

Before he was shot, Alexis managed to shoot Sharpe six times in the head, with the impact forcing a wig he had on to fall off. 

Residents of Enterprise told the T&T Guardian on Sunday that Alexis had always warned he was not going to die alone if attacked, after he had received numerous death threats. They lamented that he was true to his word in the end. 

According to police reports, around 4.30 pm on Sunday, Alexis, a self-employed businessman of, Enterprise, Chaguanas, was at his business on Freedom Street, Chaguanas, when he was ambushed and killed. 

Kevin Escayg, 43, a project manager of Saldenah Terrace, Macoya, was also killed while his son, Kirchard Scott, five, was shot in the abdomen, while at Alexis’ carwash.

Sharpe, wearing a black wig, had initially walked onto the compound to talk to Alexis, who recognised him. 

Soon after, a number of reputed Unruly ISIS members pulled up in a silver Nissan Almera and opened fire. Alexis shoved his granddaughter into a nearby vehicle and it was then he realised Sharpe was one of the attackers. 

The two men struggled and Alexis was shot but he also managed to shoot Sharpe. 

Escayg, who was also was a close friend of Alexis, was shot trying to shield his son from the bullets of the other men. 

Up to yesterday, Escayg’s son remained in hospital in a serious condition after undergoing spinal surgery. 

Escayg was expecting his fifth child with his wife Shenelle, who is due any day now. 

Shenelle’s friends were having a baby shower for her on Sunday when she received news of the shooting.

Meanwhile, an online petition seeking financial aid for the family has been established with a goal of $10,000. At 6.28 pm 46 people had pledged over $3,000. Those interested can view the petition at http://bit.ly/2aatzKK

Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, 51, even in death, has his loyalists who will do what they have to do.

This was the opinion given by Alexis’ close friend, Crown Trace Mosque Imam Morland Muakyil Abdullah, yesterday, hours after he was released by police who held him more for his protection than anything else.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian at his mosque, Abdullah said during his detention he was told by police officers that in the aftermath of Alexis’ murder they were concerned about his safety. He said that concerns were also raised that he would be the one to take over from Alexis and be the type of leader that Alexis was.

“I told the police that a year ago they killed my son and I did not retaliate and why I would look to retaliate now for Robo,” Abdullah told the T&T Guardian.

“They realised that I made sense. I told them a leader is a leader and I am a leader, but Robo has plenty family who will do anything for him even in death.”

Abdullah was taken into police custody at 6 am on Monday. He was first taken to the Chaguanas Police Station, transferred to the Barataria station then finally taken to the Central Police Station.

Abdullah said he and Alexis were fighting the same cause, to restore peace in the community, at the time of his demise.

He also said both of them were against the same group of people who have strayed from the true teachings of Islam and have gotten themselves involved in senseless acts of crime.

“Those guys are determined to get rid of all the old guards, the old heads in the community, so they would be in charge,” Abdullah said.

Asked if he feared that his life would now be in danger, the Imam replied, “I am not afraid of death. When you live a life of peace and of God you don’t be afraid to die and I’m ready. You must only fear Allah and not man.”

Abdullah described the out-of-control youths in the community as “monsters” and urged residents to come out and stand up against them.

Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, 51, was well known to the police in the Central Division over the years to be involved in high-level criminality.

However, he had another side to him—the Robin Hood of the community of Enterprise.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, retired assistant commissioner of police Stephen Ramsubhag, who was in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the Central Division between 2005 and 2008, said he knew Alexis very well.

Ramsubhag said Alexis had his criminal past but yet he commanded great respect from the people within the community.

“He had another side of him, the Robin Hood, where he took monies from people he perceived as the rich and gave handouts to the needy, the youths under him and the residents in the community,” Ramsubhag said.

“I think it would have been to maintain a sort of rank to fellow criminal elements, also to residents, so that they would look up to him and turn a blind eye in giving information on the criminal conduct of Robocop and that was who Robocop was.” 

Reminiscing on Alexis’ past, Ramsubhag said he started off as a maxi taxi tout.

“I remember one day Robocop brought in a police officer who was highly intoxicated to the police station and with his handgun. This was funny, but this was who Robocop was also.”

He described Alexis as a man with a lot of street sense who used it wisely and in a way that no one could beat him on.

“He used his street sense to capitalise on it to gain money, illegally and legally. Robo was that man,” Ramsubhag said.

While he did not admit to knowing the type of relationship Alexis shared with the many senior superintendents who passed through the Central Division over the years, Ramsubhag said as one in charge of the CID back then, he carried out his duties and conducted several raids at Alexis’ house.

A former superintendent of police, who wished not to be identified, described Alexis as a highly respected individual by people and even by police, including seniors.

The former cop even described Alexis as “super-influential with law enforcement officers throughout all the police stations within the Central Division, especially the Cunupia station and Longdenville post.”

Asked what relationship Alexis had with the senior superintendents who passed through the division, he would only say, “There are all kind of relationships—for good reasons and for bad.”

Former national security minister, Gary Griffith, said during his tenure he found it very unfortunate and strange that there was very little data given on Alexis at that time.

“No intelligence, only information. This was required from the law enforcement officials in this area. But whilst the area was safe and all other gangs and criminal elements were being targeted and arrested, nothing was being said or done involving Robocop,” Griffith said.

Asked why he thought this was so, Griffith said he believed it was either Alexis was a model citizen in Chaguanas and all that was said about him was a lie, or that certain elements in law enforcement in Chaguanas were on a different payroll and were protecting certain gang leaders whilst targeting others.

He said it was because of this situation and others like it that he established the National Security Special Operations Group under the National Operations Centre (NOC). He said the elite unit’s goal was to target all gangs and their leaders.

Some of the cases involving Alexis over the past decade

May 2002

Charged with demanding $5,000 from Deonanan Ramdial by threats and menaces. Case dismissed against him by a Chaguanas magistrate after Ramdial said he did not know Alexis. 

September 2003

Alexis freed of kidnapping San Fernando businessman Sarran Kissoondan after the state’s main witness, Kevin Richards, was found in a Longdenville pond wrapped in a black garbage bag and weighed down with rocks.

November 2007

A nine-member jury found Alexis and three other men not guilty of kidnapping Sangre Grande jeweller Henry Francis in 2002, after the state’s main witness refused to give evidence.

June 2008

Alexis, Kevon Nurse, Justice of the Peace Stephen Young and van driver Kenneth Martin were all committed to stand trial at the High Court for attempting to pervert the course of public justice. They were charged with attempting to deter a witness from giving evidence in the kidnapping of Henry Francis during the period April 24 to September 27, 2007.

July 2009

Alexis and two other men charged with kidnapping Imtiaz Khan, an employee of Ghany Distribution and Marketing Ltd, at Industrial Lane, Champ Fleurs. They were also charged with armed robbery, being in possession of a stolen seven-tonne truck valued at $575,000, and $2.6 million worth of cigarettes, which also belonged to the company. They were eventually found not guilty by Magistrate Ramraj Harripersad, after defence attorney Wayne Sturge argued that the officer who laid the charges admitted under cross-examination that he did not have enough evidence to charge the men and he only did so based on orders from his seniors.

September 2010

Alexis was found guilty of assaulting PCs Nigel Duncan, Andy Mohammed, Kevin Richards and Bijay Gangaram on September 8, 2008, and was ordered to pay fines. 

November 2010

Alexis and his wife Bernadette Alexis were charged with receiving four arc welders between September 14 and November 9, 2010, valued at $8,800, knowing them to be stolen. The case was later dismissed. 

September 2011

Alexis arrested at apartment at One Woodbrook Place in Woodbrook and charged with the murder of Vincent Simmons, at Nimblett Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas in 2008. The charge was eventually discontinued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). 

Several months later, Alexis was among 16 men detained for an alleged plot to assassinate then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and members of her Cabinet. All were eventually released without charge at the expiration of the state of emergency imposed by the then government. 

The five Human Resources heads at State-owned Petrotrin who were suspended last week will know their fate next month.

This was outlined in Ryerson Bagoo, Fareeda Mohammed, Gillian Cherotiere, Franka Mohammed and Bianca Attong’s suspension letters, signed by Petrotrin’s acting senior manager of Human Resources, Alvin Stephenson.

Under the headline “Notice of Suspension Pending Investigation of Complaint”, Stephenson wrote in one letter: 

“You are hereby suspended from work with effect from July 12, pending investigation of a complaint which has been received regarding your work and/or conduct in respect of the following matters. 

The suspension will be without loss of pay and is not to be regarded as disciplinary action.”

During the company’s investigation, the workers were advised that they would also be interviewed on the matter of complaint.

“You are urged to give your fullest co-operation in this regard. You may, if you so desire, furnish a written statement to the officer instead of or in addition to the interview,” Stephenson penned in another letter.

The five would know their fate by Petrotrin, following an investigation, which will be concluded before mid-August.

Last Wednesday, the T&T Guardian published exclusively the suspension of the five workers who have since sought legal advice on the matter.

In defence of the move, Petrotrin stated it conducted an internal audit of its recruitment processes for four years to review the company’s control processes and as a result of its findings and recommendations, further investigations involving key employees were being conducted.

Hours after the workers’ suspension, president general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), Ancel Roget, called on Petrotrin to fire the HR heads.

Some of the transgressions outlined in the suspension letters Petrotrin claimed the workers allegedly committed were:

• Failed to adhere to the company’s human resources policies/procedures and practices. 

• Recruiting individuals without first advertising the jobs.

• Giving offer letters to employees before having received the results of pre-employment medical tests.

• Recruitment of people who failed to meet the minimum qualifications and experience requirements.

• Conduct interviews without first determining the availability of suitably qualified internal company employees. 

But a source told the T&T Guardian that none of the five suspended employees had final decision-making authority to hire anyone so if any unqualified person was hired they would not be to blame.

The source explained that hiring personnel outside of the existing organisation structure outlined in Petrotrin’s documents, entitled HR Authorities, dated February 2011, item 11, gives full authority to the vice-presidents and president to re-organise and restructure the company. 

“Therefore any hiring that was outside of a pre-existing organisation structure would have been appropriately approved by the relevant vice-president or president,” the source said.

With regards to giving offer letters to employees before having received the results of pre-employment medical tests, the source explained that (Petrotrin’s) medical testing policy did not require that a pre-employment medical be done before every hire.

“Additionally, every offer letter contains a clause that indicates the offer is contingent on the results of a medical test if one was done. 

Therefore it is not necessary to wait for the results before an offer is made. 

“There are numerous examples of this being done over the years and is actually something that the OWTU has pushed for to minimise delays in the recruiting of employees,” the source added.

Touching on the recruiting personnel without first advertising the jobs, the source said Petrotrin’s policy indicated that advertising would “normally” be done.

“It does not require advertising. In practice, all executive positions are advertised. The company is also allowed to promote from within, without advertising for a job opening. 

“This is standard business practice. What these employees have in common is that they were all promoted by the former vice-president of Human Resources and Corporate Services,” the source added.

A total of 43 local and foreign companies have expressed an interest to build and operate Tobago’s first million-dollar desalination plant at the Cove Industrial Estate.

So said Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) chairman, Romney Thomas, yesterday.

Of the 43, Thomas added, many were local firms while several came from North America and Europe. 

Earlier this year, WASA invited expressions of interest to build and operate the plant at the mushrooming Cove Industrial Estate at Canoe Bay.

WASA chose the cove since it has a power plant, was near to the sea and close to its water mains so that the essential element could be easily pumped into its mains for distribution. 

Refusing to identify the companies that expressed an interest, Thomas said WASA would now move full speed ahead to get the plant up and running.

In March, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley agreed that WASA, as a matter of urgency, would build a desalination facility to provide a sustained water supply for Tobago.

For a decade Tobagonians have been hearing about plans in the pipeline for a desalination plant but nothing came to fruition.

Trinidad has two desalination plants at Pt Lisas and Pt Fortin which are operated by Desalcott on the basis of build, own and operate.

The Point Lisas plant produces just about 50 million gallons of water a day. It transforms sea water into potable water.

“We will definitely follow through with that policy set out by the Government and the Prime Minister,” Thomas assured in a telephone interview.

With a growing demand for water in Tobago, Thomas said WASA between February and March sent out an invitation for the expressions of interest for the plant to be constructed and operated.

Thomas said the next stage was for WASA to send out tenders so companies could submit bids for the project.

He said the company that was awarded the contract must have a proven track record and experience in building and operating a desalination plant.

“We are hoping that the award will be finalised before the end of the year and construction of the plant, from start to finish, would take 18 months.”

Thomas said the successful company would only be paid for the water it produced.

“The higher the volume of water it produces WASA would pay less water rates and vice versa,” he added.

He could not say what would be the cost to build the plant. “When the tenders go out we would know the price range,” he explained.

WASA currently produces 9.5 million gallons of water daily in Tobago.

Construction of the plant will ramp up production to an additional five million gallons to WASA’s system.

Though WASA has faced some challenges with its water distribution, Thomas said it has improved its service this year, compared to its acute shortages last year. 

“This year, while there were some challenges, we have brought three new wells on line for our drilling programme. The shortages have not been so acute. We have also stepped up delivery of water trucking,” he added.

In addition to that, Thomas said WASA would undertake a desilting exercise at the Hillsborough Dam which would increase water capacity.

With a population of 60,000, WASA serves 22,177 customers in Tobago.

After decades of fiery protests, muddy roads and damaged vehicles, Government is forking out millions of dollars to correct approximately one kilometre of road in La Brea that will hopefully bring long-lasting relief to residents.

But in outlining the task yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said major work would have to be done over the next three months as experts at the Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency (PURE) Unit had found a large amount of water under the earth's surface, which continued to undermine the road.

In addition, he said, the Pitch Lake was expanding, causing the road surface and surrounding areas to be pulled into its base located at the end of the affected stretch. Speaking at Point D’Or Junction, La Brea, he noted the recent protests that led to a brief halt in commercial activity along the southwest peninsula. He said the work had nothing to do with the protests as it was already on the ministry’s agenda for repairs. However, he said the Government was strapped for cash, given its large debts, fall in oil and gas prices and a depleted Treasury.

“Part of the reason we are here now is because money has now become available to do the work, notwithstanding a clear need. On that point I want to say, as you may now be aware, that mother Trinidad and Tobago is not as well resourced as she used to be.

“The Government is faced with serious cash flow issues. Your country is not earning the kind of money through oil and gas that it earned in the years past. Your country is faced with major public debt which has to be repaid,” Hinds said.

Dozens of pieces of equipment from Junior Sammy Group of Companies Ltd were already working on the road, which caused major traffic disruption for morning commuters. Although they were already removing parts of the road surface, Hinds said pumps would first have to be used to remove both surface and subsurface water. He said this large amount of water had accumulated because of poor drainage and ruptured WASA mains.

Crackdown on overloaded vehicles

Like many damaged roads around the country, Hinds said, the La Brea stretch was constantly damaged by truck drivers who were breaking the law. He explained that when the trucks were licensed, there was a specific load capacity given to the vehicle. 

However, he said, people were overloading their trucks to cut back on transport cost and time.

“Perhaps there are not sufficient weigh bridges around the country so that law enforcement officers can easily and readily measure the weight of vehicles they see fit. Vehicles are, for selfish reasons and for profit reasons, overloaded. This overload has a serious adverse impact on our roads so as Minister of Works and Transport, one of the things I am obliged to do...is protect all roads.”

He said the La Brea stretch had to be built to a higher standard because it was a main thoroughfare for heavy vehicles. 

Truck drivers protest

While Hinds, La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre and Junior Sammy, the managing director of Junior Sammy Group of Companies Ltd, viewed the work yesterday, several truck drivers from the Sobo area held a quiet placard protest across the road.

According to Seelal Narine, there were many independent truck drivers in the community who were out of jobs while the contractor had come to work in the area. 

He said they had made attempts to meet with the contractor but were unsuccessful. 

But in an immediate response, a meeting was arranged for tomorrow between the contractor and the truck drivers.

Landslip to be fixed

Hinds also said an invitation for tenders was sent out for slope stabilisation work in Chatham, which will be closed on July 28. He said the work will include 150 metres of reinforced concrete retaining walls, drains and other rehabilitation work, which will begin by mid-August.

Scammers have hacked the social media profile of a Government Minister and are using her account to solicit private information from unsuspecting citizens.

Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis told the T&T Guardian one of her two online profiles had been hacked and she had not had access to it in months.

Robinson-Regis said she had made a report about the profile and following the telephone conversation with the T&T Guardian directly reported the profile to Facebook as being fraudulent.

However, for the past few weeks, the person who had taken over Robinson-Regis’ account has been soliciting private information from citizens connected to the account.

The minister said, “ I have no knowledge of this..they are not to send any information and it should be reported to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Police Service.”

Jerene Charles said she first got a friend request from the account a few months ago and thought nothing of it.

However, last week a message from Camille Robinson-Regis account came to her inbox asking whether she had signed up for a new government assistance programme.

When she asked for more information, the sender replied saying:

“I mean the alleviation scheme set up by the Government to help improve the standard of living of the people.”

A request followed later for private information to be sent to an email address.

Robinson-Regis said she was concerned that people would fall for the lure and noted that she would not make any such request on a social media site.

Robinson-Regis said her Facebook account had been hacked twice, with her being blocked from the account in the first instance.

She said, I have no knowledge of this..they are not to send any information and it should be reported to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Police Service

Ministers and ministries responsible for their own social media

Yesterday, Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie said there was no over-arching communications strategy or social media policy for the dissemination of information from government programmes.

“The policy is basically that all ministries are responsible for their own communication and are encouraged to use social media to communicate.

“We are all aware of the advantages and potential threats and every ministry has a communication staff and would include people that are adept at dealing with these issues,” he added.

He said all ministers had their personal accounts and would engage the public in ways they found suitable.

“It is a social media tool. You have fake profiles and social media issues that arise whether you are a minister or not.

“We all need to be careful and to ensure we take the necessary precautions to minimise the occurrence of these things,” he added.

Report to police

Head of the Cyber Crime Unit, ASP Amos Sylvester, in a brief telephone interview yesterday said there had been no reports of the hacking of social media accounts but acknowledged it was an issue his unit was capable of investigating.

He advised that the public to be more vigilant and cautious about information shared online.

“If anybody was to set up anything on social media, saying that they should send money or personal information then that is to be avoided.

“I would advise people not to send their information, call or visit the person contacting you in their offices. 

“Social media in this country is not used as a formal method of communication, it is used just to share information,” Sylvester said.

He said if someone’s account was hacked and being used for fraudulent or nefarious purposes, they could make a police report.

The police would then send the information to the Cyber Crime Unit for further investigation.

This is how Public Utilities Minister Ancil Antoine has described the conditions that workers at the Beetham landfill are operating under daily.

Standing a few feet away from an open sewer located outside the male and female washrooms yesterday, Antoine promised to provide immediate relief for the workers by ensuring that the water supply which was disconnected two years ago was restored; and that an improved electricity supply was made available.

Vowing to take a note to Cabinet next week detailing the plight of the workers, Antoine said interim measures would include paving the compound yard in order to reduce the dust and mud; refurbishing the cafeteria, office and recreational facilities; upgrading the bathrooms and change rooms; as well as the laundry area and various work bays.

Antoine said, “That is something that I am looking forward to bring to my Cabinet colleagues for the immediate relief of the sanitation workers at the landfill, so I don’t think I will have problems putting through the request.”

Halfway through his fact-finding visit to the landfill, which began around 10 am, Antoine agreed that the conditions were “inhumane, but we could improve it.”

Accompanied by officials of the Solid Waste Management Company Ltd (SWMCOL) and the Industrial General and Sanitation Workers Union (IGSWU), Antoine toured the facility as he heard of the mosquito and pigeon infestation; the non-existent water supply; the lack of modern equipment and protective clothing; the unsanitary conditions which included non-functional toilets; polluted river water often used to wet the general yard; the extensive collection of derelict vehicles; and the general lack of facilities for workers.

Revealing that the Government had a comprehensive plan for waste management facilities at Beetham, Guanapo and Forres Park, Antoine said a special committee had been convened by Cabinet to formulate forward-thinking strategies in this area.

This committee was said to include officials and technocrats from the ministries of Rural Development and Local Government; Planning and Development; Energy and Public Utilities.

Adding that he would soon be taking a note to Cabinet inviting expressions of interest for the construction of a Waste to Energy Plant at the Beetham landfill, Antoine said future initiatives included the establishment of a recycling plant, also at Beetham, making this location the leading waste station in terms of government’s future plans for waste development in the country.

Elaborating on parts of the macro plan regarding waste management, Antoine said the Government recently secured US$10 million to address the problems of leaching at the Guanapo landfill.

Concern has surfaced about the ability of local landfills which are not lined to retain leachate which is the liquid that results from the decomposition of waste.

Adding that the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government was set to take over the portfolio of waste collection while his ministry would be tasked with landfill management, Antoine said they had to get serious about reducing the amount of waste that was being generated and get involved in transforming it into usable energy.

Antoine said this would tie in with future plans to develop a power complex in the El Socorro/Barataria area, which would reduce the dependence on the supply from the South and feed the North-west corridor and Tobago.

Providing a first-hand account of the issues faced by long-suffering employees, president of the IGSWU Robert Benacia expressed hope that Antoine would deliver on his promises as he said workers were prepared to stop protesting and return to work as a sign of good faith.

Highlighting the myriad problems which he claimed successive governments had failed to address, Benacia said the current SWMCOL board, which was only installed in January, wanted to do the right thing and improve the working conditions but was severely constrained in terms of funding.

Subjecting the minister to a very candid look at the deplorable conditions, Benacia said, “We are the leaders in waste management but there are contractors around the country raping the Treasury and treating the workers like they are slaves.”

He said the 200-plus workers at various landfills endured the conditions as they were committed to providing an essential service to the population.

However, he said, the time had come for Government to do its part to improve the infrastructure for the workers and the security guards who preserve law and order at the different sites.

Benacia also suggested ways of reducing SWMCOL’s dependency on government funding with the immediate introduction of a tipping fee.

A gate fee or tipping fee is the charge levied upon a given quantity of waste received at a waste processing facility.

In the case of a landfill, it is generally levied to offset the cost of opening, maintaining and eventually closing the site.

Having received no increase in the budgetary allocation for the past eight years, SWMCOL’s chief executive officer Ronald Roach said, “A lot of the things we are doing is below standard and we need to address it.”

Admitting that some of the problems pointed out yesterday were easy fixes, Roach said some others required increased funds to rectify.

He said SWMCOL needed approximately $120 million per year to adequately carry out its operations, but they had been forced to operate on $75 million since 2009.

Declaring that this was “woefully short,” Roach said the World Bank had calculated that a country with the reported level of income of T&T should have a daily waste disposal budget that ranged between a minimum of US$40 per tonne and a maximum of US$100 per tonne.

Revealing that T&T was currently operating at US$17 per tonne, Roach said legislation was also another way to ensure that the population followed the regulations.

Heartened by the minister’s appearance yesterday, many of the workers at the site said they were eager to witness the transformation of the facility which, they claimed, had been neglected for too long.

While the recommendations of the Gate Task Force have not as yet been accepted by the PNM Cabinet, former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh says Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley should remove the incumbent minister Anthony Garcia for his handling of the education system over the past months.

One of the major recommendations of the report was for students to pay one-third of their fees. Under the current arrangement the full cost is being met by the State. 

Gopeesingh said the recommendation, if implemented, would “punish ambitious tertiary students.”

He said the recommended cutback on the progressive and successful Gate follows the abandonment of several proven, performance-driven and visionary initiatives implemented by the former PP regime.

He said the PNM Government stopped the computer laptops initiative for secondary school students, scrapped the Continuous Assessment Component (CAC), declined to deliver textbooks, shut down homework centres and cancelled construction of schools and Early Childhood and Care Centres (ECCE).

He said in less than a year, the Government and Garcia have dismantled much of the gains in the education sector. 

Gopeesingh said the expansion of Gate led to an increase in the rate of tertiary education from 42 per cent to 65 per cent

He said any systemic challenges to the initiative could have been appropriately dealt with through suitable measures, instead of cruelly punishing forward-thinking and progressive tertiary students.

He said the cumulative effect of those retrograde steps had been to undo the calculated progress of the Trinidad and Tobago society in meeting the challenges of the contemporary innovation-driven world.

Gate was introduced in 2004 under the then prime minister Patrick Manning. It offered students financial assistance for tertiary-level education by covering 100 per cent of tuition expenses for undergraduate students and up to 50 per cent of tuition expenses for postgraduate students.

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In March, Garcia announced the establishment of the task force to investigate the operations of the Gate programme and determine if it was making any significant contribution to the nation’s economic development.

The task force, chaired by management consultant Simms, included Theresa Davidson, director of Funding and Grants, Ministry of Education; Neville Niles, education research specialist; Dr Gaylene Holdup, Scholarship and Advanced Training Division, Ministry of Education; two Finance Ministry representatives; a Planning and Development Ministry representative; a Labour and Small Enterprise Ministry representative; a Tobago House of Assembly (THA) representative; Dr Rolph Baloghia, T&T Manufacturers’ Association.

It also included Natasha Subhero, T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce; Richard Saunders, campus registrar, UWI St Augustine Campus; Dr Ruby Alleyne, quality assurance, UTTA; Dr Harrison Guy, Human Resource Association of T&T; Dr Foaled Mutato, Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINA) and the president of the Guild of Undergraduates at the UWI, St Augustine.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday defended Ministry of Education employees and members of the Gate Task Force Committee, saying they were not responsible for leaking the 70-page report to the media.

Hinting that the leak would have come through high-ranking officials, Garcia yesterday stopped short of confirming it had been leaked by a member of the Cabinet.

“Persons who occupy positions of trust must accept the positions in which they find themselves and act with that element of trust at all times,” Garcia said at a press conference at the ministry.

Pressed further about the leak, Garcia added: “The leak did not come from any member of the Task Force nor did it come from the Ministry of Education.”

On Monday, Garcia confirmed a copy of the report was presented to each Cabinet minister during last Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. Recommendations from the report later appeared in the media on the weekend.

He said the leak was a “great source of concern for us,” adding he was saddened over how the issue was being played out in public. He assured that the recommendations contained in the report remained only that, and Government would announce within the next week-and-a-half what the final decision would be. 

Garcia also warned those involved in selling textbooks for the school programme to desist or face the full brunt of the law.

Holding a textbook bought from an Arima bookseller, Garcia said there had been attempts to “disguise the book before selling it to the unsuspecting public.” 

He ripped off a plain sheet of paper which had been glued onto the book’s inside cover to hide the ministry’s warning that it was not to be sold but declined to say if the text contained a school stamp.

He said an investigation had been launched by the Ministry of National Security and his ministry's Legal Department.

Estate Police Association (EPA) president Steve Smart yesterday filed a criminal report and sought medical treatment after he was allegedly assaulted by members at the Marabella headquarters.

Smart, also a Special Reserve Policeman (SRP), claimed he was ambushed and assaulted by members who converged on him as he arrived at his office at Battoo Avenue shortly before 11 am.

However, Natalia Bleasdell, branch secretary of the association’s Airports Authority branch, also filed a report against the president at the Marabella Police Station, claiming he had assaulted her. 

Members had converged at the headquarters to voice concerns over poor representation and to demand answers regarding back pay for Airport Authority members among other issues.

When contacted Smart, who was at the Marabella Health Centre awaiting treatment, said he was punched in the head and was feeling dizzy and nauseous.

Among those who protested were members of the Airport Authority branch, led by its chairman, Videsh Bhagwandeen; Petrotrin branch, led by president Deryck Richardson; University of the West Indies, Chaguaramas Development Corporation and Central Bank branches.

Smart said he was aware of disenchantment within the association but the protest caught him by surprise. 

He said when he arrived at work he had to park on the road because he could not get to his usual parking spot because the area was blocked by a group of people. Smart claimed he was surrounded by more than 75 people.

“I returned to go upstairs, in passing through the car park I was assaulted. I was held and I was punched in the head. 

“I am at the health centre now because I was vomiting and all that. My laptop dropped. It is broken. The laptop is damage and the police has taken it to photograph and check it.”

He added:  “When I got through the crowd, I went upstairs. I felt really giddy because I got the blow to the head and my bag dropped, my computer dropped. I am not going to leave this so.”

Smart said he was also verbally abused. During the melee, Smart said he was cautioning members to behave themselves. 

“The media was there so the media would have the footage of exactly what happened.”  

Responding to members’ allegations against the executive, he said since attaining office in 2014 he has been facing strong opposition by the various branch boards because he was an estate sargeant with MTS.

Bleasdell, however, claimed she was assaulted by Smart who was pushing through the crowd. 

Several members of the EPA yesterday expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of representation they were receiving from the current EPA executive, led by Smart.

Over 70 members gathered at the EPA head office yesterday where they intended to meet with the Smart but when he arrived there was no discussions. 

Imam Shaykh Munuf Muhammed yesterday called on Muslims not to take the law into their own hands when a wrong has been committed against them. They were instead advised to report their injustices to the police.

However, Muhammed said if the aggrieved person fails to get satisfaction from the law, they should leave everything in Allah’s hands.

Muhammed made the call yesterday at the Janazah of Thomas “Hamza” Sharpe at the Caroni Mosque in the presence of a small group of mourners, many of whom were young men dressed in shemaghs and sunglasses which hid their identities. 

Sharpe, 31, a known member of the Unruly ISIS gang, was killed by Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis on Sunday at the latter’s business at Freedom Street, Enterprise. Alexis was also killed as he returned fire at Sharpe and other members of the gang who came out of a car shooting at him. Kevin Escayg, 43, was also killed in the shooting and his son was injured.

Addressing those who came to bid Sharpe farewell, Mohammed said as an Imam his duty was to promote peace in society.

“If a person chooses to live his life otherwise then the Imam has no control over the actions of people. If you have a problem with someone, there are certain rules and regulations that must be followed.”

If anyone should take the life of an innocent person, Muhammed said, in the sight of Allah it was as if you had taken the life of all of mankind, he said. 

He also urged mourners that when they knew of a wrong and were silent about it, “do not take things in your own hands. No! That is not what Islam is. If you are living in a Muslim state it is un-Islamic if you take the law into your hands. It is not correct.”

Muhammed said if a Muslim had a misunderstanding with someone, they should go to the police and report it.

“If you are not satisfied and you feel you have not gotten justice... we must also understand that there is a day when we will all stand up in front of our Creator, where there will be justice, whether we are Muslims or not. Your Lord is not unjust to anyone. This is the teaching of Islam.”

The Imam said a person should never feel malice, hatred or animosity against another, because that did not reflect Islam, which propagated peace.

“It is not a part of Islam. It is satan and devil that is coming and we have to rid ourselves from these mean qualities. 

“One thing, Muhammed urged Muslims to hold strong to was the Holy Q’uran. You would never go astray,” he added.

Describing Islam as a tranquil religion, Mohammed said when people came into the fold of the religion and they did “crazy things... it also happens in other religions too... people do things in the name of their religion and what happens in the long run, is that everyone belonging to that faith now has to suffer. They suffer because people have the wrong impression and understanding of what this faith is about.”

Jamaal Al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr yesterday described the killing of Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis as “insanity.” Bakr said the fact that Alexis’ killer could disguise himself by wearing a wig to snuff out his life was the action of no right thinking individual. 

Having attended Alexis’ funeral on Tuesday, Bakr said as a Muslim he would not judge him.

“Islam states that on the day of judgment when we come before God our deeds will be put on a scale. If the bad deeds are more than the good deeds then we would have to face the fire of hell,” he added. If the good deeds outweigh the bad, Bakr said one is promised paradise.

Bakr said all humans made mistakes and were fallible.

“God accepts us with our good and bad. However, for Muslims we try to ensure that we do more good than the bad,” he said. He said Islam did not have confessions in its religion.

“We have something that is called tarawa, which says if you do something wrong you must do something right to erase the wrong that you have done. That is the religion of Islam to which I try to practise and which I think ‘Robocop’ would belong to.”

Bakr said at the funeral, one reporter told him that Robocop’s wife described her husband as a good person, who helped the people in the Enterprise community.

“Who is better to describe Selwyn Alexis than his wife. She knew him more than I did,” he said.

Admitting he knew Alexis for many years but was not his close friend, Bakr said: “He was one of the young people we took off the streets and gave them an alternative way to live. I knew ‘Robocop’ for many years since he was a young man.”

Bakr said he would not join others who often make pronouncements without facts. Told that the police had labelled Alexis as a bandit and reputed gang leader, Bakr questioned how many police officers were before the court for stealing and robbing people.

“And they are throwing the same stone. That is the society in which we live in. That is the society that breeds these kinds of incidents. 

“A young man who has three children Sunday evening should be home... just had a meal, sitting down with his three children, with his wife talking, instead he takes his wife’s dress, puts on her wig and goes to a next man premises to kill him. 

“This is insanity. No right thinking man would do that. That is the minds that is living among us,” he added. SH

Fed up of being robbed, a Penal man’s decision to run from bandits proved deadly when he was shot in the chest outside a San Fernando bar on Tuesday night.

A wounded Capildeo Harrilal managed to walk back to Kanhai’s Bar, along Cipero Road, Retrench Village, for help but despite doctors' efforts at the San Fernando General Hospital he was dead within an hour.

Reports said Harrilal, 58, a salesman with Massy Distribution Ltd, was with others celebrating the retirement of a colleague at the bar. 

While sitting on a bench outside, two men dressed in security uniforms, one armed with a gun, approached and ordered them to hand over their cash and jewelry. 

One man was robbed of a silver beera and a cellphone, and according to one witness, Harrilal got up and told the bandits: “Nah! Allyuh cyah do me this.”

The witness said he did not know Harrilal or his colleagues but they all were liming. He said Harrilal ran and jumped into a neighbour’s yard and was pursued by the gunmen who then shot him in the chest. The bandits ran off and boarded a waiting car.

The witness explained: “I was sitting here, waiting for my brother. There were three other fellas and myself sitting but I did not really know them. 

“While listening to them, I fell into the conversation. Another fella walked across in security uniform with a gun and said ‘Allyuh doh move from here, gimme allyuh wallet and allyuh phone.’ The man who got shot (Harrilal) got up and told the fella, ‘No! No! Allyuh cyah do me that.’

“I ran inside and told the owner of the bar, ‘Boss, there is a robbery going on’ and when we walked out, we heard the shots. 

“In my mind, I thought they burst a shot in the air but when we walked out, we saw the guy over the wall. He raised his jersey and said ‘Allyuh I get shoot.’ 

“With that we opened the gate and he walked him back here and he sat down. He started to go down until we put him to lie down on the ground and the police came,” the witness added. He said the men were planning a lime for Saturday.

Highway Patrol officers responded quickly and took Harrilal to the hospital and were able to get some information from him.

San Fernando CID and Ste Madeleine police, led by ASP Rawle Ramdeo, Insp Don Gajadhar and PC Morris, processed the scene and carried out searches for the suspects. However, no one was held up to yesterday.

Bar owner Sastri Kanhai said he was inside watching a soap opera as the bar had closed since 7.30 pm. 

But as the patrons were still there, he said he left a side door open so that they could use the washroom. He said it was only when one of the men ran inside to inform him of the robbery that he knew something happened.

Government is failing on crime

Since age 20 Harrilal got into sales, starting off as cigarette salesman and according to his brother, Don Harrilal, he was robbed at least five times. Fearing for his safety, he said Harrilal transferred to another section.

But with criminals reigning freely in T&T, Don said, and despite his brother’s best efforts to protect himself and his family, it counted for nothing. 

Don, who lives in Canada with his wife and children, was speaking at a relative’s home in Debe. He said he only came in on Friday to spend time with relatives. Instead he will be burying his brother. He criticised the Government, saying nothing was being done about crime in T&T and the detection rate was unacceptable. He said although he would retire soon, he would not be returning to T&T as he did not feel it was safe for his family. 

“They are savages. Murders are no surprise to me but I am just shocked it happened to one of us. I drink in my garage here because I don’t feel safe going out.

“Now crime has actually hit home and it is a fact that the Government of the day is not doing anything about it. The detection rate is under ten per cent and it is truly sad that crime in this country has reached this level,” Don added. He said he would rather advise people to visit Barbados or Grenada than risk coming to T&T.

Two more murders in north Trinidad are being investigated, including that of a 51-year-old schizophrenic woman, who police initially thought had committed suicide.

According to police, Jenny Jones’ decomposing body was found in the floor of her living room on Tuesday night and given her mental illness and reports that she had injured herself in the past it was assumed that she committed suicide. 

Police said Jones’ nude body was found around 7 pm on Tuesday at her home at Harold Joseph Street, Phase Four, Malabar, when relatives went to check on her after not hearing from her. 

Following the autopsy police were informed Jones’ throat was slit. She had a gash on her neck “from ear to ear” along with stab wounds on her buttocks and upper inner thigh prompting pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov to suggest that she was sexually assaulted. 

Alexandrov in a telephone interview said  Jones might have been dead for at least three days before she was found. Police had suspected something sinister in Jones’ death because her home was in a disarray but shelved the idea after hearing of her mental illness.

Police said nothing of noteworthy value was missing from the house and believed the intruder became fearful after he and Jones struggled and fled without taking anything. 

In the second killing, a Morvant man was found dead around 5 am yesterday along Poinsettia Drive after residents reported hearing gunshots around 10 pm the night before. 

The man remained unidentified up to late yesterday.

The Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) have promised to work together to improve a number of issues plaguing the education system, including appointments, transfers, promotions, vacancies and disciplinary matters.

Speaking at a press conference at the ministry, St Clair, yesterday Education Minister Anthony Garcia described a meeting with the TSC as fruitful as he said they had pledged to try as much as possible to remove “impediments” which could hamper the re-opening of all schools in September.

Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan said the meeting was aimed at improving the administrative functions and providing training opportunities for staff. Admitting  they were concerned about the inordinate delays in filling vacancies which have been existing for a long time, both Garcia and Seecharan agreed it had stymied the efforts of persons acting in the respective posts to discharge their duties properly and effectively.

Revealing that the ministry and the TSC had agreed to the formation of a special committee to arrive at a speedy resolution to some of the issues highlighted in the meeting Garcia said it was to present its recommendations in two weeks.

Referring to the decision by the previous administration to dis-establish the posts of Assistant Teacher II and Assistant Teacher III in both primary and secondary schools, Garcia said legal advice had been sought as those positions were still included on the official schedule.

Vowing to work with all stakeholders, including the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) and the principals associations for both primary and secondary schools, Garcia admitted there were too many persons acting as deans, heads of departments, vice-principals and principals.

Asked about the delays in filling positions, Seecharan explained it was a lengthy process but the meeting had explored various ways in which such matters could be addressed in a more timely manner. With close to 16,000 teachers in the system, Garcia said the ministry and the TSC had promised to look at ways of honouring those who continued to excel at their work.

However, he admitted there were teachers who continued to ignore the TSC regulations and that an investigation had been launched into that. Adding that it was less than 100 people who were to be interviewed and investigated, Garcia said: “The number is still quite substantial.” These teachers are scattered across primary and secondary schools and come from both denominational and government institutions from the seven education districts in Trinidad.

Thousands of dead herring, mullet and catfish have been washing up along the shoreline of the Mosquito Creek over the past few days. 

The dead fish started coming to shore late on Monday afternoon and president of the Debe to Penal Action Committee, Edward Moody, is now calling on the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) to investigate the cause of the fish kill.

The T&T Guardian visited the area yesterday and were met by the stench of thousands of rotting fish. Many curious passersby stopped to get a closer look as the rising tide sucked the carcasses towards the mouth of the Godineau River. 

Moody, who did not hesitate to get his hands dirty, plucked several of the larger fish from the water. He said: “For the last 48 hours, we have been noticing hundreds of pelicans diving into the water and catching fish.   

“What is happening...if you look out you will see the pelicans now, just sitting in the water, whether they were poisoned by the thousands of dead fish we are seeing here now, we do not know. 

“We made reports to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and what we are requesting is that some testing of these fish be done to determine what actually killed them.”

While he said herring are easily killed, it’s the death of so many catfish that has him worried.

“Now if you watch, you will see the little herring dead. They die very easily but when you start to see the catfish dying by the dozens along the shore, you know something went wrong in this water somewhere.”

He said late on Tuesday and up to early yesterday morning, several unscrupulous fishermen were seen trawling in the area.

“The question is, are we going to sit by and allow fishermen... like we saw some men trawling out there just now...what are they catching and what are they selling?” he asked.

With a mouthful of questions, Moodie is calling on the IMA and the EMA to do the necessary to get to the root of the deaths. He asked: “What caused the problem? Did it start here? Did it come down the Oropouche River? 

“We are asking the IMA to come in and do sampling. People in South Trinidad should know, be careful where you buy fish and where the fish came from because if the fish were poisoned by heavy metal or some kind of pesticide or something, it would move up the chain from whoever eats what.

“We want people to be aware of this and we want answers from the IMA. The EMA does not have boating equipment to go out there and catch the fish. The IMA is responsible for this and we are demanding answers.”He dismissed the suggestion that the dead fish were a result of overfishing, saying: 

“The idea that it came up because a trawler caught bigger fish and threw these out to sea is wrong. No way so many fish would be caught by one trawler, so let us rule that out of the game here.”

One man who stopped off at the Godineau Bridge for some afternoon fishing was shocked to see the dead fish but he believes the problem did not originate at the creek.

“When I came here around noon, the water was clear and I threw my line in,” the man, who asked to identified only as Raj, said. “About half-an-hour later, I see all these fish start washing up closer and closer,” he added.

He said he still caught several small living fish, leaving him with this conclusion: “It can’t be because of something here or there would be no living fish at all so it looks like they came in with the tide.”

Efforts to contact the offices of the EMA and the IMA were unsuccessful yesterday.