Forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov is being criticised for phoning the mother of a man who died recently and claiming he was “investigating” her son’s death, while questioning her about the man’s history, including his tattoos and whether he had been involved in criminal activity.

Alexandrov’s phone calls follows a report made by that same mother to the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over discrepancies in an autopsy Alexandrov conducted in June, labelling her son’s death a suicide.

The mother, Charlene Talbot Paul, suspects her son may have been killed and the results of a second autopsy, conducted by pathologist Hubert Daisley, supported her concerns.

Alexandrov’s initial autopsy, ruling Henry’s death suicide, has been repeatedly questioned by Paul, who is requesting that police begin an investigation into her son’s death, pending the results of a third post mortem.

Her son’s body remains unburied and housed at a funeral home while Paul awaits answers. As Paul continued to grieve for her son, she received an unexpected phone call from Alexandrov while driving home from her job in Miramar, Florida.

Alexandrov, who admitted to calling Paul last week Thursday, told the grieving mother he was conducting an investigation. Paul had made a complaint to the police and the DPP in mid-June. 

Alexandrov proceeded to ask Paul what year she had moved to Florida, whether she was aware of the meaning of her son’s tattoos and why he had returned to Trinidad at a young age. He asked if her son was in a gang and what kind of crimes he had committed, questions which left Paul shaken.

The call resulted in Paul making two police reports regarding Alexandrov’s call, which she considered to be “harassment”, one to the St James Police Station and one to Miramar Police Department, Florida.

Paul has been making multiple requests for police to conduct a third autopsy on the body of her son, 22-year-old Jean Paul Henry, who died on June 10 at his home at Petersfield, Chaguanas.

Her requests have failed to bring about any change, causing her lawyer Gerard Ramdeen to question the failure of the police to investigate.

“Here is a woman reporting what is a potential breach of the law and the police don’t seem to have any interest in investigating,” Ramdeen said in a brief telephone interview. He described the entire situation as worrying.

In an interview, Alexandrov admitted to calling Paul and confirmed that he had asked her questions which the T&T Guardian listed for him. He then proceeded to share the information he gleaned from their conversation.

“The boy was with her in the States but she sent him back when he was 12 because of his inadequate and anti-social behaviour,” Alexandrov said.

When asked how this information factored into the post mortem which he conducted that pointed to suicide, he said the whole picture mattered.

“He was a member of a gang. The problem is this country. It is that people here do not understand,” Alexandrov said. He said the proof of Henry’s alleged gang activity came from a tattoo.

“I cannot tell my son’s children that he committed suicide if it isn’t true. I don’t want them to have to deal with that psychological impact when they grow up. 

“They need to know the truth and I need to know the truth about my son,” Paul said in an interview las week.

Henry had two children, a four-year-old son and a two-year-old girl and was the sole caretaker of the two, helped by relatives when he left to go offshore to work. He was a third engineer with Delta Logistics and had done a series of courses to improve his career.

Family members say he wanted to be a captain of a vessel in the future and that he was hardworking and loved his children. “Right now, the only evidence is his body,” one said.

The second autopsy, conducted by Daisley, who is a pathologist but not a forensic pathologist noted “blunt force trauma to the skull, fingernail marks in the left arm, left ear and a contusion of the frontal skull bone.”

Daisley said those injuries were most unusual in suicide and more consistent with homicide.

Those are the words Paul reads repeatedly as she tries, so far without much success, to get the T&T Police Service to re-open her son’s case and conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Jean Paul’s girlfriend and a male friend called the police shortly after lunch on that Friday afternoon and reported that they had found the young man hanging at his apartment at Petersfield, Chaguanas. 

Police came to the scene and found Henry on the floor of his apartment. They were informed that he had used a scarf and a canvass belt to hang himself.

“I need justice for my son. His father and I want justice. If it is that he committed suicide then the second State autopsy and an investigation should be able to prove that but if there is a chance that it is something else, that he was murdered, then I need to know.

“It is appalling to me that the police cannot re-open the case on their own,” Paul said

In an interview last week, Forde made it clear that police officers depended on the State forensic pathologist to determine the types of investigations.

The Forensic Science Centre reports directly to the Ministry of National Security and not to the Police Service. He added: “Police officers are creatures of the law. If there is a death, we do not pronounce on that death. 

“At the end of the day, we depend on a forensic pathologist at the Forensic Science Centre to give us the information we need to proceed in a case.

“If the Government forensic pathologist says the cause of death isn’t natural and feel it is a homicide and family members hire another pathologist to do a post mortem and that pathologist says it is natural then the police will be guided by the forensic pathologist at the Forensic Science Centre.

The police might feel the person died of natural causes but if the pathologist says different that is what we are guided by. He said if the family wanted to have ten post mortems performed they were free to do so but the police were guided by the State pathologist.

“Suicide is also the only ruling the Police Service can accept as it came from a forensic pathologist attached to the State.”

Forde, who said he was aware that Paul had hired an attorney, said that was one option available to her. He said another option was to wait for an inquest into her son’s death.

“There will be an inquest down the road because the person did not die naturally. The family comes forward with their findings and the coroner looks at all of it,” Forde said.

The inquest however can take up to two months to begin. 

“Right now, the only evidence is his body,” one said. The second autopsy, conducted by Daisley, who is a pathologist but not a forensic pathologist noted “blunt force trauma to the skull, fingernail marks in the left arm, left ear and a contusion of the frontal skull bone.”

Daisley said those injuries were most unusual in suicide and more consistent with homicide.

Those are the words Paul reads repeatedly as she tries, so far without much success, to get the T&T Police Service to re-open her son’s case and conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Jean Paul’s girlfriend and a male friend called the police shortly after lunch on that Friday afternoon and reported that they had found the young man hanging at his apartment at Petersfield, Chaguanas. 

Police came to the scene and found Henry on the floor of his apartment. They were informed that he had used a scarf and a canvass belt to hang himself.

“I need justice for my son. His father and I want justice. If it is that he committed suicide then the second State autopsy and an investigation should be able to prove that but if there is a chance that it is something else, that he was murdered, then I need to know.

“It is appalling to me that the police cannot re-open the case on their own,” Paul said

In an interview last week, Forde made it clear that police officers depended on the State forensic pathologist to determine the types of investigations. The Forensic Science Centre reports directly to the Ministry of National Security and not to the Police Service. He added: “Police officers are creatures of the law. If there is a death, we do not pronounce on that death. 

“At the end of the day, we depend on a forensic pathologist at the Forensic Science Centre to give us the information we need to proceed in a case.

“If the Government forensic pathologist says the cause of death isn’t natural and feel it is a homicide and family members hire another pathologist to do a post mortem and that pathologist says it is natural then the police will be guided by the forensic pathologist at the Forensic Science Centre.

The police might feel the person died of natural causes but if the pathologist says different that is what we are guided by.

How he died
The day he died, Henry, a devout Muslim, had attended the St Thomas Village Mosque to pray. He had been fasting for Ramadan. Police had Henry’s body removed and taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, where the autopsy was performed by Alexandrov. 

On June 11, Paul, who lives in the United States, returned to Trinidad, heartbroken over the death of her child. She attended the autopsy at the centre where Alexandrov pronounced Henry’s death a suicide.

“It was the first time I saw his body and while I had been trying to accept that he had killed himself, I noticed marks on his body and his head looked odd. He had obvious head injuries. I am not a medical professional but I saw it clearly,” Paul said. She asked Alexandrov about what she had notice, but he dismissed her concerns, stating it was definitely a suicide.

Resigned, but still doubting her son would kill himself, Paul had her son’s body transported to Guide’s Funeral Home, Couva. as relatives began arriving in Trinidad to say goodbye. A few days before the funeral was scheduled, Paul visited the funeral home but was stopped by mortician Mikhail Ragoobarsingh.

Ragoobarsingh told Paul that a couple of marks on Henry’s body looked strange for someone who was ruled as a suicide. Paul began calling local pathologists to ask that they examine her son’s body. Dr Hubert Daisley agreed to conduct the second post mortem.

His report found several injuries on Henry’s body that was inconsistent with suicide. Paul immediately abandoned all plans for a funeral. He gave the family a referral to take to the Chaguanas Police Station, where Paul met Senior Superintendent Jayson Forde.

Forde, who she described as understanding and helpful, advised her that the police were guided by law and could not begin a homicide investigation unless the State’s forensic pathologist stated that the cause of death was murder. She returned to the Forensic Science Centre and requested a second autopsy but was told only the police could make such a request.

Following advice, she retained attorney Gerard Ramdeen, who wrote to the Police Service and the DPP on her behalf.

Conversation excerpt
Part of the  six-minute conversation between Paul and Alexandrov:

Paul: This is Sharlene calling back. I am on a cellphone so the call may keep dropping.

Alexandrov: I am investigating this case. I am a  medical examiner. I have to appreciate and evaluate every information I receive. “The second autopsy was done not by forensic pathologist, Daisley. Daisley is not a forensic pathologist. He never was. Everything was done by this (insults Daisley) was simply a matter of publicity. My question is how long ago did you move to Florida. How many years ago?

Paul: What does that have to do with the case? I don’t understand.

Alexandrov: Listen, listen. Investigation is investigation and I am determined not to stop until I get to the root of all the bullshit that is going on in this country. I understand your feelings as a mother but my question is how long ago did you move to Florida?

Paul: I don’t understand what this has to do with an autopsy. Can you explain the rationale please?

Alexandrov: Investigation can last as long as it needs. If he was arrested and spent time in custody, for what?

Paul: What does this have to do with an autopsy?

Nourish, a local NGO that was established a year ago, is on a drive to end food waste and to assist the 100,000 people in T&T affected by hunger and poverty.

The 2012 World Bank Report, What A Waste, found T&T to be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to wasting food. Nourish has joined with others across the globe like Hands for Hunger (Bahamas), Foodcloud (Ireland) and Fareshare (UK), all of which were formed to fight hunger in their respective countries.

Today, Nourish will host its official launch at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Founder Krista Santos said the launch will feature discussions on the NGO’s background, its successes and testimonies from its partners and beneficiaries of its services. There will be a keynote address from Dr Lystra Fletcher-Paul, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation representative and an expert in the field of food security.

Santos, a former investment banker, said she was always very passionate about not wasting food. In fact, she is well known to her local grocery as she frequents the establishment almost every day of the week just so food won’t spoil in her refrigerator. The impetus for which the business came last June, after Santos witnessed some heavy food wastage by a local retailer she believed was throwing away perfectly good food. So bothered by what she’d seen, she quickly pulled together the Nourish pitch and successfully presented it to some of the people who now make up the NGO’s eight-member board. 

The self-funded NGO believes that good food should never be thrown away but given to people in need. 

To enable companies to be part of Nourish’s endeavour, they use the company’s website to post about possible food donations to the Nourish website. Charities can then place orders for food and these orders are collected by Nourish and delivered to the charities. Santos has said that so far Nourish has never received food that cannot be eaten. The stuff they get is always in date and fit for consumption. On an average, Nourish’s distributes 2,500 meals per week.

The Nourish food distribution plan sounds like an attractive idea for individuals, and that idea is being explored at the moment. “Community food drives are something that we are exploring, so it is very possible that you may see one in a supermarket near you soon. We are also very excited about some initiatives which would involve volunteers, so anyone who is passionate about this cause should go on our website and click on Connect with Nourish. We will register your details in our system and get in touch about volunteering opportunities.”

A recently-released report by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) has found that a growing number of T&T secondary school students are turning to the recreational use of marijuana.

The report notes an increase in prevalence from 6.4 per cent in 2010 to 10.7 per cent in 2013 in T&T. The regional average is 8.8 per cent. Over 4,100 local students were surveyed.

The CICAD report reflects research conducted in 13 countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and T&T.

Researchers noted that while “by far the most widely consumed substance is alcohol,” that was followed by marijuana, which “continues to be the most widely used illegal substance reported by students.” 

It was also recognised as being readily available in most countries of the region and, in some instances, more widely used than tobacco, with an average “first use” age of 13.

Ironically, in Jamaica, which has more relaxed laws on the use of marijuana, there has been little change in prevalence among secondary school students, 21.1 per cent of whom have tried it at least once, lower than in countries such as Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Kitts and Nevis.

In T&T, close to 70 per cent of students said they had tried alcohol at least once, about 49.4 per cent within the previous 12 months and 27.6 per cent less than a month before being surveyed, with girls marginally outnumbering boys. This was almost three times the prevalence for recent marijuana use.

A majority of students surveyed regionally for the report said they believed that frequent marijuana use was “very harmful.” This perception, however, was noted to be in decline, 71.4 per cent in 2010 and 63 per cent in 2013.

There is also concern about the effects of second-hand marijuana smoke. More than half of all students surveyed (53.4 per cent) felt that inhaling second-hand marijuana smoke was also “very harmful.” In T&T, the statistic was 56.7 per cent.

A Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) was used to determine the level of risk of abuse. It was found that the risk of cannabis abuse was 64 per cent region-wide, 37.3 per cent at low risk and 26.6 per cent at high risk. The “high risk” factor in T&T is 30 per cent.

The study also looked at the use of other illegal substances, such as crack cocaine. A little more than two per cent of students surveyed in T&T reported either in the past year or during the course of their lifetime having tried the drug. Up to 11.1 per cent also reported that crack cocaine was “easy to obtain.”

Lifetime experience with cocaine was marginally higher, though the “past year” report was much lower at under 1.5 per cent. Up to 15 per cent of T&T students also reported that cocaine was relatively easy to find.

Though up to 9.4 per cent of T&T students reported that ecstasy was easy to access, just over 1.5 per cent reported they had used it at least once.

The study reports a “consistent positive relationship, between past year prevalence and behavioural problems,” including low grades, associated as much with alcohol use as with cigarettes, inhalants and marijuana, though there is specific concern about alcohol use.

In T&T, students were most concerned about the impact of substance abuse on important school grades, the possibility of physical confrontation, memory loss and family conflict.

The CICAD report says its findings point to the need for “policies and strategies that are appropriate to the local conditions in each geographic locale” and that “country specific data must be used to formulate policies and provide for prevention initiatives.”

“Alcohol and marijuana are the main drugs of use in most countries,” it concludes. 

“Prevalence is relatively high but there is substantial variability from country to country.”

“Tobacco,” the report adds, “is also used throughout the region but to a lesser extent than alcohol and even marijuana.

“Prevalence suggests that cigarette use is mainly for the purpose of experimentation, given that current use rates are very low.

“What is interesting is the comparison of use of cigarettes versus marijuana, past year marijuana prevalence surpassed past year cigarette prevalence in most of the countries by a factor of two to three times in some instances and past month prevalence for marijuana was also notably higher than past month cigarette use in most countries,” the report says.

As more dead fish continued to wash ashore along the Mosquito Creek yesterday, president of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, Gary Aboud, put the blame squarely on Petrotrin’s shoulders.

In an interview on CNC3’s Morning Brew programme, Aboud lashed out at Petrotrin, claiming harmful chemicals, such as Corexit, which was used in the clean-up of the 2013 oil spill, were still affecting marine life.

“This started in 2013 with the Petrotrin oil spills. We had never seen this before in the southland. There were some fish deaths about 15 years ago caused by oxygen deprivation but that is naturally occurring phenomenon. 

“This is not a naturally occurring phenomenom and it is happening in the same area where Petrotrin used thousands of gallons of Corexit to clean up the oil,” Aboud said

He called on President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to intervene and call an environmental state of emergency in the Gulf of Paria.

“We are calling on the President and Prime Minister to intervene and close these beaches. Nobody should be allowed to walk on these beaches. We have evidence that there is Corexit six inches below the sand on these beaches,” he claimed.

“The entire food chain is being contaminated. If you go to the Gulf of Paria, the water smells like faeces and oil. 

“No one has quantified the amount of toxic waste that is in the gulf. We need an environmental state of emergency. We have said that and people say we are being extreme,” Aboud added.

While he is pointing fingers at Petrotrin, activist Edward Moodie told the T&T Guardian yesterday different types of fish continued to wash up overnight in the Oropouche River. 

“There were a lot of branch, a kind of flat fish, washing up in the river mouth on Wednesday night. The EMA came out and did onsite tests for micro-carbons and of course they found nothing. The IMA is supposed to go up today (yesterday) and do their tests,” he added.

Moodie said he believed the dead fish were coming from the Point Lisas area.

“The fish is coming from Point Lisas and are being brought down to the creek by the long shore drift. Those fish were dead for more than 48 hours and more than enough time for them to drift down here because these fish did not die here. They died somewhere else,” he added.

The T&T Guardian contacted Petrotrin’s head of External Communications & Branding, Corporate Communications Department, Joy Antoine, yesterday for a comment on the issue. She asked that questions be sent via email but up until yesterday evening there no response. 

IMA: Fish dumped

Preliminary investigations into the cause of death of thousands of fish along the shoreline of the Gulf of Paria have indicated they were dumped in the area, a joint press release by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) said yesterday afternoon. 

The release said a team of representatives from the EMA’s Emergency Response and Investigations (ERI) Unit and the IMA, headed by Dr Farahnaz Solomon, fisheries biologist, made site visits to the Mosquito Creek and environs yesterday. 

“Ninety-nine per cent of the dead fish observed were herrings (bait fish) approximately four inches in length. Other specimens were in a moderate to advanced stage of decomposition. No dying fish were observed, indicating this is not an ongoing event,” the release added.

The investigators also noted that the herrings appeared to have bruises, in the form of red marks, along the body. The release indicated the position of these marks were variable and in some cases accompanied by “net” impressions or markings. 

The release added that during interviews with fishermen from the area, investigators were told herring was currently being caught in that area.

It added that there were no visible signs of an oil spill or a red tide in the area and the preliminary results were that the fish may have been dumped.

The two agencies were still testing the water and soil from the sea bed up until yesterday afternoon and promised to release the results once the tests were completed. 

EMA warns public

Meanwhile, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) issued a press release yesterday, stating that the Ministry of Health has been alerted to the potential sale of the dead fish by unscrupulous fishermen.

The authority said: “The EMA also notes with concern media reports of fish from the incident being collected and attempted to be sold by individuals. 

“The EMA, out of an abundance of caution, has alerted the Ministry of Health and the County Medical Officers of Health (CMOH), especially in the Victoria County, of the reports so that increased surveillance and preventative measures can be implemented, given the fact that there is no definitive cause of the fish kill at this time.”

The release also stated that the authority was investigating the deaths, with the support of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of the Animal Production and Health Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries.

After two years, Jemilia Forde received the first step towards justice when a pre-school teacher appeared in court on Wednesday charged with manslaughter, arising out of her daughter’s drowning at a public pool.

Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Forde, a manager at a casino, said although nothing could bring her daughter back, there was some glimmer of hope, knowing someone had been made accountable for her daughter’s death.

Jemimah Agard, five, drowned moments after a swimming lesson at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) pool, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. 

According to reports, Agard, of Rose Hill, Laventille, who attended Sharon’s Nursery School, Woodbrook, was part of a class which went to the YMCA for swimming lessons on June 16, 2014 between 9 am and 10 am. 

After the class ended and the children went to change, little Jemimah reportedly asked to use the toilet and was allowed to do so. 

After some time the teachers noticed the child was missing and began searching for her. 

She was found at the bottom of the pool in the deep end, fished out and was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before being rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she died. 

Euralia Thomas, appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar on Wednesday charged with manslaughter and wilful neglect. 

Thomas, 56, was granted $75,000 bail and the matter adjourned to August 17.

Yesterday, Forde said since her child’s death, her days have been filled with tears and sleepless nights, not just by her but other relatives. 

She said she did not know how to feel about a teacher at the school being held criminally culpable for her child’s death.

“It has been challenging since her death. I have been getting sick but doctors say there is nothing physically wrong with me. 

“Everyday I cry for her. Seeing parents on mornings with their children is extra hard. Only last week doctors gave me sleeping tablets.

“It takes only a second for an incident to happen. Be more observant, receiving a phone call like that is...,” Forde said before she began crying.

She recalled her daughter being very active in her womb but was the complete opposite when she was born. She described her child as a “cry-cry baby” who was obedient and respectful. 

Forde said he daughter “wanted to dress up in a suit and go to work. She wanted to work in an office she used to tell me. 

“All I wanted was for her to be successful and do better than me. I did not want her working at a casino like me,” adding she no longer want to have any more children.
​

Truck driver James Baptiste, who was caught by police over 12 years ago with a crocus bag containing 25 kilogrammes of marijuana, was remanded into custody yesterday after he pleaded guilty.

Baptiste, 51, of Williamsville, is before Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas in the San Fernando High Court charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

He was arrested and charged in 2004 after the drugs were found in his car at Bonne Aventure Road, Gasparillo.

State attorney Brandon Sookoo said PC Michael Seales, now inspector and head of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, was driving an unmarked police vehicle accompanied by other officers when they received a wireless transmission. 

A white Royal Saloon, driven by Baptiste, then overtook the police vehicle but was subsequently intercepted.

When the police searched the car they found a crocus bag containing 24 red taped packages of marijuana on the floor of the front passenger seat. 

Baptiste told the police: “Boss a man paid me $200 to collect that green for him.” 

The packets of marijuana were counted in court and tendered into evidence. Baptiste’s attorney Subhas Panday is expected to give his mitigation plea on Monday. 

Baptiste, who was out on $150,000 bail, was remanded into custody pending sentencing. 

The judge ordered the drugs be destroyed. He also dismissed a jury which was empanelled on July 18 but heard no evidence in the matter because Baptiste opted to plead guilty.

The Book Industry Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (BIOTT) is set to meet with Education Minister Anthony Garcia today to discuss how publishers and booksellers can continue to work together harmoniously to resolve issues arising out of the Textbook Rental/Loan Programme (TRLP).

Responding to Garcia’s statements on Wednesday that there was a widespread racket involving the sale of textbooks belonging to the Ministry of Education, BIOTT president, Rico Charran, said they were “disturbed” by the minister’s attack on booksellers and publishers as he claimed they had a part to play in the “textbook racket.”

Charran said yesterday: “To be clear, there is no textbook racket.”

During a press conference earlier this week, Garcia produced a Language Arts textbook which he claimed was sold by an Arima bookseller and contained a seal from the ministry in which it was advised the sale of the book was illegal and was the property of the Government.

Seeking to explain how such a textbook could have ended up in the hands of the booksellers, Charran confirmed he had spoken with officials from the Arima store where the book was reportedly sold.

He said the books could have come from two publishers affiliated with the TRLP.

This, out of more than 20 publishers who are registered to supply textbooks to the ministry for use in the TRLP.

Pointing out it was not the fault of the bookseller, Charran said there were more issues at play, much of which the public was not privy.

He added: “The textbooks were printed with the Government label since last year in anticipation of Government orders. To date, the ministry has not ordered or paid for any textbooks for the TRLP.

The Education Minister promised to have textbooks available in schools since January 2016. As there have been no orders, the textbooks remain the sole property of the publisher.

“I reiterate that these books are not ministry’s property as there have been no orders or payment for them.”

He said as a result, the publishers were free to sell the books to whomever they desired.

The BIOTT head added: “The publishers released them to booksellers in response to numerous requests from anxious parents concerned over the availability of textbooks.”

Revealing what the process entailed, Charran added: “In preparation for sale to the public, the Government label was covered by an opaque adhesive sticker which was a cheaper and better alternative than to destroy the covers.”

Charran said ministry officials had not been honest with the public as he added: “The publishers have also stated that the ministry was aware and approved of the practice of covering the Government sticker since 2009/2010.”

Asked what advice he would give to parents anxious to buy textbooks for their children as they prepared for the reopening of schools in September, Charran replied:

“To ease the concerns of parents, teachers and students, BIOTT recommends that the industry continue to sell all textbooks, including those in the TRLP.”

Going forward, he assured the BIOTT would liaise with publishers to review guidelines for the printing and sale of textbooks related to TRLP.

A High Court judge has ordered the State to pay $375,000 in a malicious prosecution and false imprisonment lawsuit arising from an incident nine years ago.

Justice Peter Rajkumar delivered judgment in favour of claimants Ricky Layne, Stephanie Dickson and Jesse Choon who claimed the police gave them a “frame case” for marijuana and detained them for six days in filthy cells in the San Fernando Police Station.

Represented by attorneys Cedric Neptune and Dane Halls, the claimants contended they were at Layne’s home on March 27, 2007 at Cachipe Village, Moruga, along with Darren Richards (now deceased) when PC Bacchus, then Cpl Smith and other police officers arrived at the home.

They said the officers barged into the house without a warrant, conducted a search and found nothing illegal. 

The officers, according to the claimants, told them they believed the deceased was a wanted man and they would all have to be taken to the police station “on inquiries.”

They were arrested and taken to the San Fernando Police Station where they were put in filthy cells in the station, not allowed drinking water and had to eat with their dirty hands in a filthy environment filled with urine and faeces.

Although they were charged with marijuana possession on that same day, the claimants remained detained at the station for six days before being taken to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

Dickson, who was experiencing her menstrual cycle at the time, complained she was not allowed to take a bath for three days while the other two claimants were not allowed a bath at all. 

Neither PC Bacchus or Cpl Smith were present when the matter was called in the San Fernando court, the claimants were granted bail and the matter was transferred to the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court.

The matter was adjourned 25 times until it was eventually heard and determined in September 2013. 

The claimants were subsequently freed by the magistrate who expressed concerns about the prosecution’s case and said she had “great doubts” the incident ever happened.

The claimants’ attorneys submitted their clients suffered mental, emotional and psychological anguish. 

They outlined several aggravating factors including:

“The illegal search of the home of the first-named claimant, the planting of marijuana on the third-named claimant and the subsequent charging of all three claimants for possession of marijuana; the oppressive and unlawful behaviour of the agents and/or servants of the defendant at the San Fernando Police Station in the incarceration of the claimants for six days before they were taken to court; the ‘sub-human’ conditions of the cells the claimants were forced to occupy at the said station, denying them their rights, among other things.”

The case for the defendant was that PC Bacchus obtained a warrant after conducting inquires to search Layne’s home for guns and ammunition. 

During the search, he found a bag on a table in the living room with marijuana.

The State submitted the reason the claimants were detained for six days was because inquires were being conducted in relation to jewellry and a vehicle found on Layne’s premises which were believed to be stolen.

Giving judgment in the claimants favour, the judge awarded $125,000 to each claimant, inclusive of aggravated damages. The judge also ordered the defendant to pay costs on a prescribed basis.

The owner of SureWay Weight Loss Clinic was denied bail after appearing in court charged with fraud. 

Dr Surelia Reid, who was detained by the Fraud Squad for five days last month before she was released without being charged, appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of issuing a dishonored cheque to a customer last September. 

She pleaded not guilty to the charge and attempted to profess her innocence openly in the courtroom before being restrained by her attorney. 

Magistrate Christine Charles said she was willing to grant Reid bail but would only do so when police were able to ascertain her primary residence. 

While Reid told police she lived at Carmody Drive, St Augustine, investigators informed Charles that residents at the address claimed Reid did not live there. 

Her lawyer, Chris Seelochan, explained the address was Reid’s fiancé’s, also the father of one of her four children, and she lived at Timberland Park, D’Abadie. 

Charles remanded Reid into custody and ordered her to reappear in court this morning when police are expected to inform her of their checks on the new address provided. 

In applying for bail for Reid, Seelochan stated his client was a qualified doctor and had no criminal record. He also claimed she was a single mother to three of her children, ages five, 12 and 13. 

Reid is accused of issuing the $4,900 cheque to Keegan Constantine last September 23. 

WPC Lizanne Lazarus of the Fraud Squad laid the charge.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday heaped praises on St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar for his sterling contribution to T&T efforts rekindling its relationship with Jamaica during a five-day trip there. 

Questioned last night about his decision to invite Opposition members to Jamaica, Ramadhar’s contribution and if the Government would extend further invitations to the Opposition MP on State trips, Rowley said:

“Mr Ramadhar is a very experienced lawyer. He is a very experienced parliamentarian and he is a member of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. 

“I can tell you, at critical moments in our discussions in Jamaica his input was very valuable as a member of the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Probed on if Government intended to invite more Opposition MPs on State visits after his delegation’s arrival from Kingston, Rowley said:

“Maybe, maybe not. I don't know. It all depends on the members of the Opposition. If they are invited and they turn up, then so be it. If they do not turn up, well we would go without them.”

Ramadhar, however, steered clear of fielding questions from the T&T Guardian concerning comments made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who criticised him for accepting the invitation by Rowley.

Instead, he said he would hold a press conference soon to clear the air on certain issues.

“Tonight was all about the Prime Minister and the trip. I don’t want to comment,” a smiling Ramadhar said in the VIP room of the Piarco International Airport.

Last week, Persad-Bissessar knocked Ramadhar for accepting the invitation, saying an Opposition parliamentarian could not represent the Opposition bench without holding consultations with her.

She said neither Rowley nor Ramadhar had consulted her about the issue or sought any advice from her.

Couva North MP, Ramona Ramdial, who was also invited, declined the invitation after consulting her, Persad-Bissessar said. 

Also among Rowley’s delegation were Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and Minister of Legal Affairs Stuart Young.

Rowley described his five-day trip to Jamaica as hectic, exhausting and successful, he having met the business community, University of the West Indies students, academia and government and opposition officials.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness had invited Rowley to his country when they first met in Belize.

The invitation was prompted by the seemingly strained trade relationship between the two countries, after Jamaicans, who were deported from T&T, had called for a boycott of T&T goods there.

Rowley said if he had not made the trip to deal with the issue, which was a deteriorating situation, could have resulted in some very undesirable consequences for both countries. 

In particular, Rowley said T&T’s capacity could have been faced with challenges within the manufacturing sector here, leading to the possible loss of jobs.

Among the issues discussed during the trip, he said, were the Caricom Single Market and Economy, free movement, security, Caribbean Airlines and the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (Gate). 

Some of the businesses Rowley and his delegation met were the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, health services, Foreign Affairs and the Manufacturing Association 

He said his trip was to put T&T”s position to Jamaicans to whom some misunderstandings and misrepresentations were advanced from certains quarters.

Rowley said the position of free movement of citizens from across the region came up.

“We discussed at length a requirement for our citizens of our region, governed under the Chaguaramas Treaty, to be properly informed about the conditions under which free movement of citizens exists,” Rowley said.

While there is substantial free movement in the region, Rowley said there were some conditions where the movement could be restricted. He noted that T&T has had to restrict movement of some people to our shores.

Rowley said he was able to speak to some people in Jamaica who were particularly aggrieved, mouth pieces and influence-makers.

He said his Government left Jamaica with the understanding that matter was not behind us.

As leaders of Caricom, he said, both Jamaica and T&T have to set good examples.

He said at the level of the Caricom Single Market and Economy, steps had been taken for a review of work to be done and on work that had been done.

Another eyebrow-raising development, Rowley said, was when they were informed that Jamaica had put in place a committee to review its relationship with Caricom.

“That discussion was the subject of extensive discussions in some quarters,” he said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the importance of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to regional air transportation was one of the key areas discussed during his five-day trip to Jamaica.

He said the issue came up when the delegation met with a committee which had been set up to look at Jamaica’s relationship with Caricom-member countries.

Noting they also met with former Jamaica prime minister Bruce Golding, he said it led to extremely valuable discussions for our country.

“We discussed at length Caribbean Airlines in the context of air transport and the role of Air Jamaica in Caribbean Airlines and the expectation of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as shareholders in this airline.”

Discussions also focused on developing inter-island sea transport in the region, which T&T can pursue to improve inter-regional travel.

Rowley said they met also with Jamaica’s head of security, as things have been put in place for further contact.

“A number of things would have to be done with what we have been discussing in terms of carrying out our commitments, as well as making adjustments in our locals laws to regionalise some actions which have to take place,” he said.

Rowley said Caribbean Airlines had acquired Air Jamaica under certain conditions, one of which was that Jamaica had a 16 per cent shareholding in CAL. He said there was a bit more appetite for a regional airline, where CAL could become the carrier of more than one nation.

Following a trip to UWI’s Mona Campus, Rowley said his Government was able to get an insight into what was happening at the university and what it held for T&T students studying there and those who had plans on going there in the future.

Many of the students there, Rowley said, had concerns about the proposed cuts to the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (Gate) programme, which he said was “getting ahead of itself in terms of a report being before the Cabinet.

“And until that report is digested by the Cabinet and it considers its recommendation, while that is going on there is some anxiety which we had to respond to.”

Having toured the Mona Campus, Rowley said they made some comparisons with what existed in T&T.

“Not just in servicing the students on campus, but servicing the nation of Jamaica. We would have to look to see toward what extent we are serviced in a similar way in Trinidad and Tobago,” he added. 

He said his visit to the campus, where he assured T&T students there was no need to panic about the impending Gate adjustments, was valuable.

He said the intervention between both countries were necessary and timely.

Although the water supply was restored to Port-of-Spain and west Trinidad yesterday after two days of interruption Downtown Owners & Merchants Association (DOMA) president, Gregory Aboud, has remained peeved.

He said businesses and residents got back their water supply yesterday morning but he remained upset over the treatment meted out to him and others from the Water & Sewerage Authority (WASA) when they sought information during the cut-off period.

He said no prior warning was given by WASA that the water supply would have been cut off in the Port-of-Spain area. 

They searched WASA’s website and called the authority for information, all to no avail, he added.

Food businesses and residents went into panic mode because of the lack of information on what was happening and they endured two days of tension and stress, “especially in the city centre, where a lot of food businesses, restaurants and bakeries operate,” Aboud added.

Those businesses had water tanks but because they were not given prior warning, they did not implement a water conservation plan, he explained.

“If they got prior warning they would have contacted people contracted to supply water beforehand. 

“Remember, it was not one street, it was the whole city, St James, Westmoorings and others parts of west Trinidad these contractors have to service,” he added.

Aboud said when they called WASA to find out what was happening they were told: “It have no supervisor here right now’ and “WASA servicing a pump in El Socorro and we don’t know how long that will take.”

He said they were told to call back at 7 pm for an update but when they called back none was given.

Aboud said to date he had not seen any release by WASA prior to the cut-off of water in the area.

Charging WASA with being guilty of not communicating properly with customers, he added: “What’s the use of a release if nobody sees it.”

He lamented that WASA’s communications department was not operating like it used to. Previously, it would get reliable information and updates from the authority, he said. 

The authority’s head of communications, Daniel Plenty, told the T&T Guardian the water supply was returned to most of the impacted areas in Port-of-Spain during the course of Wednesday night.

He said the previous two-day water cut-off was due to “plant maintenance”, adding works went on a bit beyond the stipulated time.

Plenty said a release was issued about it.

A Siparia father, who was helping out a female bar owner in the area, was shot to death by gunmen he tried to prevent from entering and robbing the establishment yesterday morning. 

The valiant efforts of Terrence Cain, 45, were in vain, as he died on the operating table as doctors fought desperately to save his life at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) several hours after the shooting. 

Cain was one of two people killed as bandits terrorised citizens in the southland between Thursday night and yesterday.

Cain’s grieving sister Gloria, who recounted the tragic circumstances under which her brother lost his life yesterday, said the bandits had taken away a good man and a father.

Gloria recalled that Cain normally helped out once a week at the Real Steal Bar in De Gannes Village, Siparia. She said Thursday night was no different and when the bar closed at 3.20 am yesterday, patrons were still liming outside. On this occasion, however, two gunmen, hiding their faces with a jersey and bandana respectively, stormed the compound and robbed patrons of cash and cell phones. Cain and the bar owner, who were inside, were oblivious to what was happening outside. Police said after robbing the customers who were still outside, the gunmen ordered one of their victims to go to the bar and ask the owner for another round of drinks so they (bandits) could force themselves inside. But Gloria said when her brother opened the door for the customer, he noticed the gunmen and attempted to close it back. 

“The bar was already closed, but he was inside when he heard a knocking on the door. The bar owner looked on the camera system and saw a customer who left the bar earlier. He told Cain to open the door. The customer said he wanted a next round. As he opened it (the door), they (gunmen) just started shooting so he slammed the door but they continued to shoot. Eventually he just fell on the ground and they ran into the bar,” Gloria said. Cain was shot four times by the bandits, who subsequently cleaned the cash register of some $5000. Siparia police were contacted and Cain was taken to the hospital, where he died around 9 am. Relatives who gathered around Cain’s home yesterday said he had celebrated his birthday and first wedding anniversary with his wife, Nathalie Lee-Cain, on June 1. They said Cain worked hard as a “wackerman” to provide for his family. Up to yesterday afternoon, investigators were at the bar conducting inquiries and had secured CCTV footage of the shooting. No one has been arrested. The murder toll stood at 250 yesterday, 25 more than for the same period last year.

Woman survives gun attack

In an unrelated incident, a supermarket attendant escaped death after she was ambushed by a gunman lurking in the bushes near her home yesterday afternoon. 

Stacy Gumbs, 28, of the Penal Rock Road, was warded in the stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital last night, after she suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and shoulder in the attack. Police said Gumbs was driving her beige Mazda 323 along Fazal Avenue, Penal, around 2.10 pm, in the company of Mario Meade at the time of the attack. Police said on reaching a junction, the gunman came out some bushes and opened fire on the car. Gumbs was hit but managed to speed off. However, she later crashed the car into a barbershop. On seeing this the gunman ran off. 

Gumbs was taken to hospital by a passerby where she received emergency treatment. Meade suffered minor injuries from the crash and was treated and discharged. 

Penal police, including Insp Brian Ramphal, Sgt Ryan Ramsingh and PC Brian Cummings, responded and several people were interviewed. The Crime Scene Unit also processed the scene, but up to last night no one was held. Police suspect the shooting was related to a dispute over a recent crime in the area.

A string of taxi driver robberies between Central and South Trinidad turned fatal on Thursday night, when PH driver Kurt Levero was stabbed to death in Marabella.

Levero, 43, of Calcutta #3 Extension, Couva, was stabbed in the neck and hands while plying a Nissan Almera car for hire. As he lost consciousness, the car crashed into a parked van. 

Two teenagers from Sixth Street, Marabella, who rushed to help the driver when they saw no one came out the car, made the chilling discovery. 

One of the young men told the T&T Guardian yesterday that he and a friend were standing at the front of a shop on Sixth Street around 9.20 pm, when they noticed the car driving slowly down the street. He said the car crashed, but after two minutes or so when no one came out they decided to check to see if anyone was hurt.

“I said to myself, ‘wait nah, nobody coming out.’ I waited for about two minutes because the car was not going fast, it was going around 5 km/h, so I didn’t think anything was wrong. We walked across and when I looked inside I saw him (Levero) hanging over, with the seatbelt holding him up,” the young man, who did not want to be identified, said,

“He had stab wounds on his hands and blood running down the back of his head. We thought he was choking so we reclined his seat and put him to lean back. We called the ambulance and the people there told us not the touch him.”

Residents said Levero did not die immediately. They said it took the police about half of an hour to respond and by the time they arrived he was dead. The ambulance came 10 minutes after the police, they claimed.

Reports indicate that Levero’s car was recently stolen and he was working the Almera as a taxi for the owner, who lived in the Marabella area. 

While police are still trying to find a motive for Levero’s killing, residents are offering the theory that it was a robbery turned fatal. The residents say quite a number of other taxi drivers have been held up and robbed in the area. They recalled an incident about one month ago, when a PH taxi driver ran to them for help, telling them he was held up by two men and taken to a dark and lonely area along Sixth Street Extension. 

The Region Three Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.

Approximately 1,300 prisoners in remand are now being considered for bail by the State from August 15.

In light of this new development, due to the failure of the Opposition to support the Government’s recent move to extend the Bail Amendment Bill, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi yesterday admitted that the release of these prisoners, who are facing charges of kidnapping for ransom, could be a security risk to the country. However, he assured that security forces will be out in full force to deal with whatever comes as a result of this situation.

Al-Rawi broke the news at a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain, saying the Opposition’s decision to blank the Bail Bill extension means he will now have to make certain amendments to the Bail Act.

He said the judiciary will be put on high alert to deal with the applications which will now come before magistrates and judges for access to bail.

But as Government considers the amendment to the Bail Act, Al-Rawi said they would not approach Parliament since he believed the judiciary process was the key factor.

“So working with the Chief Justice and their team... to get the judiciary ready to hear the applications which will come when the law sets for the bail amendments and for the anti-gang was of immediate priority. I have spoken to the Chief Justice and I have alerted him, obviously he would be aware as to the situation. You also have to deal from a judicial perspective with how judges deal with the issue of bail,” Al-Rawi said.

“On August 15, 2016 we are going to see the sun set on the anti-gang legislation and also the 22 years of amendments which happened on the bail law of Trinidad and Tobago. That means that the statistical appreciation of who will be approaching the court of T&T for release, in some cases immediate release, if they are incarcerated for only anti-gang matters and for access to bail, if it is the situation in which they were denied bail for 120 days or with trials starting within one year of the 120 days.”

He said when August 15 comes, the country will not to be “caught entirely ill-prepared.”

The AG said there are 2,300 individuals incarcerated in remand, of which 1,000 are facing murder charges and not entitled to bail.

“1,300 of them are entitled to be considered for bail. Roughly 650...680 of them have been granted bail, but are still in remand because they cannot access bail because the stricture of bail is too tight.”

To get bail you must have a surety and land, he noted.

“What we are doing is factoring the access to bail for the 600-odd people who are in jail, granted bail, but cannot get out of the system. That is being worked alongside the electronic monitoring capability...the bracelets. Again, that law was passed in 2011 or 2012 and it was not operationalised.”

Al-Rawi said in default of the passage of the law, the Government must prepare a system to process the several hundred applications, which he said is going to be “a big event for the country.”

Al-Rawi said the 600-plus prisoners who were granted bail have been waiting years to be processed. Asked if allowing these prisoners to be released would cause a security concern, Al-Rawi said, “There is a capacity concern and obviously there is a security concern, yes. There would obviously be a concern which can be met by being ready.”

He said the security forces would also have to be ready with an operational surveillance mechanism and Government was prepared to deal with the consequences.

Asked if the judiciary hold off on going on vacation to deal with the granting of bail to the prisoners, Al-Rawi said the magistracy does not have that problem but the High Court will.

No electronic bracelets 

The electronic bracelets to monitor released prisoners, Al-Rawi said, are yet to be purchased and need to be operationalised with a telecommunications network and a security responding team to deal with those try to go beyond the distance stipulated.

Al-Rawi said it would take the Government several months before this system comes on stream.

“It is a mechanism we can use to help the criminal justice system by giving conditional releases for prisoners who are on pre-trial detention who are appropriate for release.”

The AG said while this exercise with the judiciary, Commissioner of Prisons, Commissioner of Police and Director of Public Prosecutions was ongoing and giving assistance, they need more time to appreciate what was going to happen.

“The submission to the country is not only that justice delayed is justice denied...justice delayed is extremely expensive from the taxpayers and family perspective as well, because of the rights of the victim and the rights of the accused. The impacts upon their families must be considered as well.”

Al-Rawi said, however, that T&T was not able to access the effectiveness of anti-gang law because nothing was done in the last five years. He said consultation on the bail legislation was still underway.

Late former prime minister Patrick Manning will be forever remembered for his powerful example of leadership and solidarity within T&T and throughout Latin America, US President Barack Obama has said.

Obama made the comment in a condolence letter to Manning’s family, which was posted on Manning’s still active Facebook page yesterday.

Manning died on July 2 at age 69 after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare, aggressive cancer, on June 30 at the San Fernando General Hospital. He was laid to rest on July 9 after a state funeral.

In a letter dated July 11 to Manning’s wife Hazel, Obama stated: “On behalf of the American people, I extend my deepest condolences on your husband’s passing. Prime Minister Manning was guided by his commitment to strengthening T&T in our time and for generations to come.

“Through his service, he endeavoured to express possibility in the lives of his fellow citizens and in so doing, he helped change the life of his country. His legacy will live on and for his powerful example of leadership and solidarity - - within T&T and throughout Latin America - he will be forever remembered.

“At this difficult time, please know Michelle and I are keeping you, Brian and David in our thoughts.”

Obama also singed the letter.

Obama had met Manning in 2009 when T&T hosted the Summit of the Americas - one of Manning’s pioneering initiatives. This involved North, South and Central (Latin) American leaders.

The Summit, which “introduced” Obama to his hemispheric colleague leaders, was one of his first engagements soon after assuming the US Presidency. It was seen as historic for the new plank of elevation Obama sought to introduce concerning US/Cuba relations particularly, and his statement that the US was seeking a new beginning with Cuba following decades of a US embargo against Cuba and frosty relations with Venezuela. 

Family sources yesterday confirmed a service will be held in San Fernando on August 12 to mark the 40-day period after Manning’s death.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Office of the PM Stuart Young said queries on the Manning family’s rejection of the offer of the Order of the Republic T&T for Manning were not addressed at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press conference.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had said last weekend that he would recommend the ORTT for Manning in upcoming August 31 Independence awards. But the Manning family instead reiterated that the best way to honour Manning’s life would be the re-establishment and expansion of the Divine Echoes Orchestra initiative and establishment of the Patrick Manning Development Fund at the International Finance Centre.

Both Manning and Basdeo Panday refused the ORTT in 2014 after then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recommended they receive it.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi yesterday clarified statements that the $12 billion in uncollected Value Added Tax (VAT) which he spoke about was taken out of context by the media.

Yesterday, Al-Rawi cleared his position on the matter at a press conference at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, stating that it was important for the media to listen carefully on what ”we say in the context of what we said.”

It was during an address at a Chamber of Industry and Commerce event on Wednesday, Al-Rawi said he spoke about outstanding liabilities on VAT, which was taken out of context by the media.

“I specifically spoke about it over several years and in answer to questions that came, I cautioned that the $12 billion figure was a combination of events. It was actual amounts due, interest, penalties on those amounts over a span of a number of years, including the estimation of what should have been in the system, but what was not in the system.”

Al-Rawi said that conversation was put to Finance Minister Colm Imbert at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, resulting in someone asking if he was going to collect $12 billion this year.

Imbert, in response to the question, stated that the $12 billion was incorrect, stating that he did not know where Al-Rawi got the figure from.

Imbert explained that while the State was planning to recoup a significant amount of outstanding taxes via a tax amnesty, $500 million is the Government’s target.

“That is certainly not the conversation that was had at the Chamber of Commerce. Nor was the honourable minister (Imbert) present when the discussion was had and obviously could only answer the question put to him.”

Al-Rawi said the media should have understood the context in which he spoke. 

“The fact is, when we speak about civil asset forfeiture that money laundering and tax evasion is a big issue for our country and if we mop up the leakage in revenue then we can certainly use that money for the running of our country particularly when revenue is a significant item on the national agenda.”

The ayes have it.

That was the consensus of over 300 teenagers who yesterday unanimously agreed at a public consultation that children should not get married before the age of 18.

The consultation, titled Married Acts and Issues Related to Children, hosted by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s office at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain, discussed issues such as child marriage, domestic abuse, teenage abortion, teenage pregnancy and sexual offences matters.

Addressing the children, Al-Rawi said the consultation was one of many his office held, which sought views so far from religious leaders, the judiciary and magistracy. He said he wanted the views from young people on whether abolishing under-age marriages was necessary and which the Government can act legislatively to increase and harmonise the age of marriage across the four statuses.

Under the existing law, Al-Rawi said, the Hindus, Muslims, Orisha and Civil and Christian allowed marriages under the age of 18. 

He said the Government could not amend the laws itself, hence the reason they had been seeking consultation on the matter from all quarters.

Many of the attendees represented religious bodies and were secondary school students.

Al-Rawi said the police needed to do more in bringing men to justice who impregnated girls between the ages of 12 and 16, which was considered statutory rape.

He produced statistics which showed that for the period 2006 to 2016 there were 84,330 marriages in T&T, with 548 cases being minors.

Of this figure, Hindus had 328 marriages of minors, followed by Civil with 117 and Muslims 103. Orisha had none.

The 548 children who tied the knot, Al-Rawi said, ranged in age between 11 and 16.

With regard to sexual offence matters pending in the magistracy as at July 2015, Al-Rawi revealed there were 1,089.

Of this figure, there were 559 who were charged with sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 14, while sexual intercourse with a person attaining 14 years and under 16 years were 268, followed by 128 matters of sexual intercourse with a person over 14 and under 16 years without consent.

Al-Rawi described the figures as harrowing.

Between 2011 and 2015, Al-Rawi disclosed, there were 743 teenage abortions, 67 of which fell in the age bracket of 13 to 16.

Al-Rawi said from 1999 to 2015 there were 15,231 teenage pregnancies, with 6,115 coming from the San Fernando General Hospital alone. Twenty three of these pregnancies were from girls under the age of 12.

The AG said “What we are seeing is that thousands of children are having babies.”

For two hours, Al-Rawi questioned each person who came up to give their views on the contentious matter and asked them whether they would support a child marrying under the age of 18.

He also threw out the questions if they thought a 12-year-old was ready for marriage.

The majority disagreed, saying that children between the ages of 12 and 18 were not mature and ready to take on the responsibility of marriage The participants called for sex education to be part of the syllabus in schools along with the establishment of parenting programmes.

Among those who were against child marriage was Tyshad Ashton, 17, who asked the AG why was it okay to steal a child’s innocence.

Ashton’s sister, Alexia, 13 a Form Two Caribbean Union College student, said that making a decision on marriage at such a tender age required a mature mind.

Naparima Girls’ High School students Amba-Vaani Persad and Chloe Jade Ramdeo, both 13-year-olds concurred that a child should be able to enjoy his or childhood and not be pressured into marriage.

Several called for child marriages to end, while others felt that the issue should be determined by consenting adults.

Pleased with the turn out and the responses, Al-Rawi said he was encouraged that the country was on the right path.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, who embarked on a nationwide drive several months ago to encourage citizens to rid their surroundings of potential breeding sites in order to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne viruses, has contracted the dengue fever virus.

Diagnosed earlier this week, the minister is now one of 23 people nationally to have contracted the virus for the year thus far.

Although he returned to work last Monday, Deyalsingh yesterday said his workload had been greatly reduced as per doctors’ orders.

Saying he was still being monitored, the only visible sign that Deyalsingh was under the weather was reflected in his eyes, which appeared to be glassy and slightly red.

Speaking during yesterday’s weekly media briefing at the Ministry of Health, Port-of-Spain, Deyalsingh was candid as he gave an insight into the health scare which saw him end up at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for two days.

“I had dengue fever and my platelet count went dangerously low, so the doctors thought it best that I come in there and be monitored so that I don’t bleed out,” Deyalsingh said.

“Sadly, my platelet count is not up to where it should be as yet, so I am still being monitored very, very closely and I am trying to conserve energy as much as possible.”

He said he was told to cut back on official weekend engagements, but noted he had two important conferences he did not want to miss this weekend.

Dispelling media reports that he was a victim of the national drug shortage affecting hospital, he explained, “When treating this type of virus, intervention is not pharmaceutical but monitoring the platelet count with blood tests. If my platelet count had continued to drop dangerously low, then the solution would have been a transfusion intervention, so the reports are slightly exaggerated.”

Deyalsingh, however, declined to say what his platelet count currently was.

President of the T&T Medical Association, Dr Stacey Chamely, explained that a healthy individual’s platelet count should range from 150,000 to 400,000 but that doctors became worried when this drops to below 100 in dengue patients and “really, really worried when it drops below 60.”

Responding to this, Deyalsingh said in his case, “The doctors were very, very worried.”

Chamely recommended paracetamol, fluids and lots of rest in this case.

The Tunapuna man accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend says that story is a lie.

“She too big for me to lift up. It not adding up, how I could run up behind she and pick she up and put she in the backseat of a car and drive to Tunapuna and no time she decide to jump out or pull up the hand brakes? Who open the gate to the cemetery, because that does be locked at night. This girl lying,” the man said in a telephone interview.

The man, who is alleged to have kidnapped Shevon Veris, 26, from near her La Horquetta home on Wednesday night, beating her and throwing her into an empty grave in the Tunapuna Cemetery, said the entire thing was made up. The jack of many trades, as he described himself, said he will be clearing his name next week when his main witness returns to the country.

The Tunapuna man admitted to once being in a relationship with the woman and to thinking he was the father of her unborn child. He also confirmed the two of them were at the cemetery on Wednesday, but said it was not by force, and he is itching to clear his name.

According to a newspaper article yesterday, Veris claimed she was walking along Plumbago Avenue, La Horquetta, around 7.30 pm Wednesday when she was grabbed from behind, blindfolded, lifted bodily and placed in a car. In the vehicle, Veris was beaten by the man, whom she later recognised as an ex-boyfriend and thrown into a grave. The man then fled when he saw a police car’s lights.

The man’s version of events countered hers.

He claimed: “She call me and tell me she coming to see me for me to rub her belly and she was planning to come by me on Sunday too. I say no scene. We was by the cemetery, I was washing my car there, me and another man. When she come I say let we go in the car and talk, while we was in my car talking she get a message and “baby” pop up. So I grab she phone and ask who is this and we start to scuffle.”

He alleged that after the scuffle in the car they got out, argued and fought again, but that time he accidentally poked her in the eye. This, he said, caused her to hit him and he dealt her a blow which “connect to she face”. He said the woman left and headed in the direction of the Tunapuna Police Station, while he and a female companion who was close by drove off.

The suspect said he was arranging to surrender with an attorney and organising to get his female companion and another witness to verify his story. 

The T&T Guardian was told the suspect has a pending matter before a Tunapuna magistrate and police are planning to arrest him when he appears in court on that matter.